Genetically Modified Organisms and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: What Is at Stake for Communities?

This working paper provides an overview of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, an international agreement expected to come into force by the end of 2003, with an emphasis on its implications and significance for poor communities worldwide. Because of its subject matter – the regulation of the transboundary movement (export and import) of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from one country to another, the Protocol could have an enormous impact on the food, livelihood and environmental security of communities in both developed and developing countries. This working paper analyzes the key challenges raised by modern biotechnology, the benefits and risks the technology poses to communities, and the opportunities for maximizing benefits and minimizing risks that are provided by the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.