Consequences, Opportunities, and Challenges of Modern Biotechnology for Europe

The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) has published a report commissioned by the European Commission’s Joint Research Center on the Consequences, Opportunities and Challenges of Biotechnology in Europe. The IPTS’ mission is “to provide a customer-driven support to the EU policy-making process by rewarding science-based responses to policy challenges that have both a socio-economic as well as scientific/ technological dimensions”.

The report covers a study conducted from autumn 2005 to spring 2007 utilizing stakeholder groups to obtain the first comprehensive evaluation of the contribution of modern biotechnology in the context of major European policies. The report assessed the applications of modern biotechnology in medicine and health care, in primary production and agri-food, in industrial production, energy and environment, and analyzed the economic, social and environmental impact of modern biotechnology. The authors hope that the report can be a valuable basis for the better understanding of biotechnology, its impacts and challenges. It has already been used by the Commission to help draw its midterm review of the EU strategy of Life Sciences and Biotechnology.

The full report can be downloaded at: http://bio4eu.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/eur22728en.pdf