June 2011: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released the proceedings of the FAO international technical conference on “Agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries: Options and opportunities in crops, forestry, livestock, fisheries and agro-industry to face the challenges of food insecurity and climate change” (ABDC-10), which was held from 1-4 March 2010 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Titled “Biotechnologies for Agricultural Development,” the proceedings are organized in two main sections. The first 10 chapters contain FAO background documents prepared ahead of ABDC-10, on the current status and options for biotechnologies in developing countries in crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries/aquaculture and food processing/safety, and related policy issues and options, including: targeting agricultural biotechnologies to the poor; enabling research and development (R&D) for agricultural biotechnologies; and ensuring access to the benefits of R&D.

The second section contains five chapters dedicated to the outcomes of ABDC-10, namely the reports from 27 parallel sessions of sectoral, cross-sectoral and regional interest, most of which were organized by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional fora; keynote presentations; and the conference report adopted by delegates on the final day of ABDC-10. [Publication: Biotechnologies for Agricultural Development]