USAID - Biotechnology

USAID - Biotechnology information page:

"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. "