Bioversity's position statement on GMOs

CGIAR has collectively developed the "Centers Position Statement on Biotechnology" and individual Centers have issued guiding principles for specific crop species. In 2005, Bioversity International approved its own set of guiding principles regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

GMOs have two distinct roles in agricultural research: as tools, to facilitate discovery, and as outputs with specific benefits.

In both, Bioversity International will adhere to five primary principles.

• Bioversity International will ensure transparency in all its work related to GMOs

• Bioversity International's work with GMOs will be designed to produce global public goods

• Bioversity International will only engage in projects that take into account socio-economic implications, intellectual property rights and environmental and health impacts

• Bioversity International will only engage in projects that observe the highest standards of safety in the conduct of laboratory and field experiments, meeting national and international legislation and codes of conduct

• Bioversity International will work with partners to study the impact of potential and actual gene flow from GMOs to local varieties and wild relatives, especially in centres of origin or diversity and as it relates to the use and conservation of agricultural biodiversity

For more information on CGIAR policy, download:

 The Booklet of CGIAR Center Policy Instruments, Guidelines and Statements on Genetic Resources, Biotechnology and Intellectual Property Rights (307 KB)  [1]