Agriculture at a Crossroads: The Synthesis Report of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development

Biotechnology is defined as "any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for a specific use." In this inclusive sense, biotechnology can include anything from fermentation technologies (e.g., for beer making) to gene splicing. It includes traditional and local knowledge (TLK) and the contributions to cropping practices, selection and breeding of plants and animals made by individuals and societies for millennia [CWANA Chapter 1; Global Chapter 6]. It would also include the application of tissue culture and genomic techniques [Global Chapter 6] and marker assisted breeding or selection (MAB or MAS) [Global Chapter 5, 6; NAE Chapter 2] to augment natural breeding