Sustainable Societies

Biotechnology

Biotechnology refers to technology based on knowledge acquired through the study of molecular biology. Its contributions are and will likely be in the fields of food and agriculture, human health, protection of the environment, and safety. Risks involved in biotechnology are growing and raise important ethical and social issues, including the equitable distribution of benefits, biosafety, and responsibility to future generations. The impacts cannot easily be confined within national boundaries and will often differ among countries, depending on local ecological, social and economic situations. Because this economically important industry is driven and dominated by the private sector, information and innovation are largely unobtainable by developing countries.