Biotechnology can be defined as any application of technology to biological systems. It has a long history, stretching back to the use of yeast in baking bread and fermentation in making alcoholic beverages. These historical applications have been joined by more modern ones, including genetic modification, biomimicry, and nanotechnology. Some of these new applications of biotechnology are both powerful and novel, calling for the application of a precautionary approach.
IUCN’s approach to modern biotechnology is guided by a series of resolutions from sessions of the World Conservation Congress and the best available science from within our Commissions as well as from other sources of expertise.
For more information on the work of IUCN on specific aspects of modern biotechnology, click on the links at left.
