Biotechnology

Crops

Improved varieties, drought tolerance, pest resistance: helping crops feed more people under harder conditions.

Livestock

Breeding, disease diagnostics and vaccines: improving animal productivity, health and resilience.

Fisheries and aquaculture

Molecular tools for species identification and disease detection: strengthening sustainable aquaculture management.

Forestry

Tree breeding, tissue culture, genomic tools for pest and disease resistance: strengthening forest health and productivity.

Agro-industry

Fermentation, enzyme production and bio-based processes: turning biological resources into food, feed and industrial inputs.

Biotechnology encompasses a wide range of tools applied across all agricultural sectors, from genetic improvement and disease diagnostics to fermentation and enzyme production. Used responsibly, these technologies can increase productivity, reduce inputs and open new bio-based value chains, particularly for smallholder farmers and producers in developing countries.

FAO's work on biotechnology spans policy, science and governance, helping countries navigate a fast-moving field responsibly. FAO maintains a dedicated biotechnology portal covering crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry and agro-industry, and hosts international platforms for biosafety transparency including the GM Foods Platform. FAO also works at the intersection of biotechnology and bioeconomy, exploring how fermentation, bioinformatics and industrial biotechnologies can help valorise biological resources within sustainable agrifood systems.

Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture