Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a broad term that encompasses a range of techniques for modifying biological organisms. Some of these techniques - artificial selection and hybridization in agriculture - are ancient. Since the 1970s, however, biotechnology has more narrowly referred to laboratory-based procedures to manipulate organic materials and has had wide application in medicine, agriculture, and food science.
In agriculture, modern biotechnology has been increasingly able to achieve plant characteristics long sought through traditional breeding: increased tolerance to environmental stresses (e.g., drought, frost, salt); disease resistance; improved nutritional profiles of plant foods; increased yield; and altered growth or development.
IFBiC Delivers Science for Risk/Benefit Evaluation
Given the international flow of agricultural products, IFBiC's biotechnology programs provide many stakeholders - the World Health Organization; the Food and Agriculture Organization; regional and national governments; consumer groups; and industry - with the scientific information to evaluate risk/benefit of biotechnology-derived products.
IFBiC makes significant scientific contributions to the development and harmonization of the food safety assessment of biotechnology crops, and provides access to critical, up-to-date scientific information to key public and private stakeholders around the world.
IFBiC Does Not Lobby
IFBiC's role is to generate and deliver up-to-date scientific information and to provide technical training in risk assessment when requested. IFBiC hopes the best science available is used to make important safety, risk assessment, and other regulatory decisions. However, IFBiC never lobbies for specific regulatory or legislative outcomes.