Changes in ‘Keystone Genes’ May Disrupt Entire Ecosystems

This recent study shows how changes in a single ‘keystone gene’ can have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, an issue of relevance for new GE techniques. […]

Mainstreaming Agroecology in Southeast Asian Higher Education

This policy brief advocates greater support for institutional reforms that are essential to building or strengthening agro-ecological foundations in Southeast Asian higher education institutes to achieve the SDGs. […]

Learning from Indigenous Peoples to Build Climate-Resilient Food Systems

Indigenous Peoples’ food systems are probably amongst the best placed to provide insights, lessons and empirical evidence that could facilitate the transition towards more sustainable food systems. […]

New GMOs Will Not Reduce Pesticide Use

This briefing provides evidence that new GM crops will not reduce pesticide use and shows that system-based solutions like agroecology can effectively do so. […]

The Need for Horizon Scanning and Technology Assessment to Address the Evolving Nature of Genetic Engineering

This TWN Briefing Paper, “The Need for Horizon Scanning and Technology Assessment to Address the Evolving Nature of Genetic Engineering”, provides some examples of new developments in genetic engineering – gene drives, genetically engineered viruses and RNA interference – to demonstrate why horizon scanning and technology assessment are urgently needed. […]

Urgent Need for Precautionary Regulation of New GE Techniques

Many potential intended and unintended effects are specific to the techniques of new GE and may result in a new quality of risks that demand independent and mandatory risk assessment. […]

UN Special Rapporteur: Recognize Farmers’ Rights to Seeds as Human Rights

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food has called for national laws to recognize farmers’ rights as human rights, and establish farmers’ rights as the fundamental aspect of national seed systems. […]

The Need for Horizon Scanning and Technology Assessment to Address the Evolving Nature of Genetic Engineering

Examples of new developments in genetic engineering – gene drives, genetically engineered viruses and RNA interference – demonstrate why horizon scanning and technology assessment are urgently needed. […]

How the CBD Can Improve Governance of Synthetic Biology Developments

This report, published by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, aims to enable governments to be prepared for current and future developments in synthetic biology, namely through the process of technology horizon scanning, monitoring and assessment. […]

Bt Cotton in India is Not a Pro-Poor Technology

This study argues that Bt cotton in India contains an inherent ‘sociobiological obsolescence’ , which has resulted in the dispossession of resource-poor farmers and has thus never been a pro-poor technology. […]