Challenges of Global Technology Assessment in Biotechnology—Bringing Clarity and Better Understanding in Fragmented Global Governance

Abstract

AbstractBiotechnology involves the use and manipulation of living organisms such as plants, animals, humans, and biological systems, or parts of this, to modify their characteristics in order to create desired organisms or products. Biotechnology as a field touches on many aspects that are central to technology assessment (TA), and have been the focus of TA activities since the 1980s. By presenting three key topics in biotechnology—genetically modified food and crops, synthetic biology, and human genome germline editing—we show that a central feature of biotechnology is that the science is evolving globally and the products that it brings forth are traded across the globe. Yet, there are major differences in the regulation and governance of the academic and industrial sectors between countries. These stem from different needs and interests per country, as well as differences in traditions, cultural differences and public perceptions. As global governance is fragmented, with little scope for harmonization, global TA of biotechnology can bring clarity and better understanding, and enable better governance. In order to do so, an integrated global TA framework should consider international trade and differences in risk assessment; cultural variation and different value-systems between countries; and differences in countries’ capacities in R&D and coordination of public engagement efforts.