Biotechnology, Prospects for Development in Emerging Economics

Throughout history, innovation has driven progress and helped people address the problem of the age. This progress has not been achieved without pain and controversy, at times war and famine and pestilence thwart our best endeavors. Despite setbacks, people in the world over continue to strive to understand the natural world, to pursue truth and beauty, and to create a better world for themselves and their children. Science has a role to play in all these pursuits. However, the very power of the new discoveries in the biological sciences raises fears that these discoveries will not be used wisely. Many believe that they will accelerate the destruction of the natural environment, damage human health, concentrate too much power in the hands of a few global companies, and widen the gap between the rich and the poor, within and between nations. The task of the scholars of today is to analyze where modern science can lead to technical innovation and how these can be used wisely, to improve agriculture productivity, conserve nature resources, and create wealth especially for poor people in developing countries.