Biotechnology
Modern molecular biology offers powerful new tools for improving
agricultural productivity, environmental quality, and the
nutritional quality of staple foods. At the same time, some
applications of biotechnology raise concerns of safety, access,
and equity in benefits. The science of biotechnology is helping
to guide more precise crop and livestock breeding efforts,
to diagnose crops and livestock diseases, to develop more
effective livestock vaccines, and to engineer plants resistant
to diseases and pests. The goal of USAID is to assist developing
countries in building the framework for decision-making that
will facilitate access to these opportunities the science
holds and will ensure the safe and effective application of
this technology.
USAID supports development of biotechnology as a component
of our strategy to increase agricultural productivity and
economic growth. Biotechnology compliments other USAID agricultural
research programs in breeding, natural resources management,
integrated pest management, and post-harvest technologies.
In 1989, USAID launched an innovative approach to biotechnology,
one that integrates technology development with the establishment
of the policy frameworks necessary for the safe and effective
application of the technology in developing countries. In
addition, this strategy harnesses the private sector’s
investment and expertise to further the goals of public research
in developing countries.
USAID has recently expanded its support for biotechnology,
reflecting the increasing demand in developing countries to
be part of this new scientific revolution and to build their
capacity to ensure the safe application of biotechnology.
The Agency’s Collaborative Agricultural Biotechnology
Initiative (CABIO) provides a comprehensive strategy for technology
development, management, and decision-making through a variety
of programs. CABIO links investments at the national, regional
and global levels.
These collaborative programs engage the expertise of U.S.
and developing country universities, the private sector, non-governmental
organizations, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research (CGIAR), and other international institutions.
The goals of the programs include:
- develop technologies targeted to small farmers in developing
countries,
- build scientific capacity through short and long
term training,
- enable public research systems to address regulatory
and intellectual property rights issues as they move research
forward,
- develop and strengthen the systems to regulate
the safety of biotechnology,
- fund environmental research to inform risk assessment
and management of biotechnology.
To promote the safe application of biotechnology, and to ensure
compliance with national and international policies, USAID
has implemented the following biotech policies and practices:
- USAID will not support the transfer of bioengineered
materials intended for planting without the host government’s
explicit advanced informed consent. Grantees and contractors
must comply with national and international laws applicable
to biotechnology research and testing. Further, USAID conducts
an independent assessment of the potential environmental
or safety risks before supporting the transfer of materials
intended for direct release into the environment.
- USAID supports activities to build the capacity
of governments to evaluate and manage the safety of bioengineered
products. In addition to regulatory policy development and
training, USAID also supports efforts by developing country
scientists and policy makers to address local public outreach
on issues of biotechnology.
- USAID supports environmental research to address
potential risks to biodiversity from bioengineered products
in the specific environmental and agroecological environments
of developing countries.
The ultimate objective of USAID’s investments in biotechnology
is to provide farmers with improved crop varieties and livestock
technology to increase productivity. We work to develop staple
food crops that will fight off devastating diseases that contribute
to food insecurity and low productivity in Africa, such as
insect-resistant cowpeas, disease-resistant bananas, and disease-resistant
cassava, the staple foods of many poor in Africa. Biotechnology
also provides the opportunity to increase nutritional quality
of crops to address the debilitating impacts of malnutrition,
supporting the development of Golden Rice for Asia, golden
mustard for India, and vitamin A enhanced maize for Africa.
Back to Top ^
|
