Resource information
The World development report 2010:
development and climate change highlights the link between
biotechnology, development, and environment. Aside from
recognizing biotechnology's potential to improve crop
productivity, increase crop adaptation to climatic stresses
such as drought, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, the
report emphasizes the need to establish science-based
regulatory systems 'so that risks and benefits can be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis, comparing the potential
risks with alternative technologies' (World Bank 2010).
This paper explores how the Cartagena protocol to the
convention on biological diversity, as well as other
important drivers, have affected the regulation of
Genetically engineered (GE) crops in developing countries.
It examines the impact of biosafety regulation on research
and development of GE crops and on product approvals.
Finally, it identifies opportunities to advance biosafety
regulation in those developing countries that wish to access
the potential benefits of agricultural biotechnology. As is
true for capacity development in other regulatory arenas,
progress in biosafety regulation in developing countries is
often impeded by limited political and financial commitments
from national governments and by insufficient technical,
human resource, and institutional capacity for
implementation. It is also confounded by competing or
redundant capacity building projects and the absence of
products to regulate.
