Essential Features of Responsible Governance of Agricultural Biotechnology

This is the final published versionAvailable from PLoS via the DOI in this recordAgricultural biotechnology continues to generate considerable controversy. We argue that to address this controversy, serious changes to governance are needed. The new wave of genomic tools and products (e.g., CRISPR, gene drives, RNAi, synthetic biology, and genetically modified [GM] insects and fish), provide a particularly useful opportunity to reflect on and revise agricultural biotechnology governance. In response, we present five essential features to advance more socially responsible forms of governance. In presenting these, we hope to stimulate further debate and action towards improved forms of governance, particularly as these new genomic tools and products continue to emerge.This work was funded by the Norwegian Research Council (Grants 231146/F10, 220621 and 252593/O30), Leverhulme Trust (Grant RP2011-SP-013, https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/), and GenØk – Centre for Biosafety (http://genok.com)