28 July 2011: The 22nd issue of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Biotechnology Update provides up-to-date information on OECD activities related to biotechnology, including applications of biotechnology for green growth and sustainable development, and climate change adaptation.

The newsletter serves as a resource document for delegates to OECD meetings and the interested public. It provides updates on current and future work, recent meetings and publications, upcoming meetings and contact information and resources in various fields of OECD work relating to biotechnology. Activities most relevant for biosafety and sustainable development include: green growth in biotechnology; harmonization of biotechnology oversight; safety of novel foods and feeds; biodiversity economics and policy; marine biotechnology; environmental biotechnology; bioenergy; agricultural innovation systems; agricultural seed and reproductive material certification schemes; and biological resource management for for sustainable agricultural systems.

On climate change adaptation, the newsletter reports on an ongoing case study on inventive activity in developing crop varieties that are more resilient to certain abiotic stresses through a patent analysis. This analysis aims to provide an indication of trends in innovation in adaptation-related biotechnology, where innovation takes place and how knowledge is transferred across national borders. [Publication: OECD Biotechnology Update nº22, July 2011]