Agricultural Affairs
Agricultural Affairs
Agricultural Biotechnology
Biotechnology holds great promise in the fields of medicine, food production and environmental management. A host of biotechnology-based pharmaceuticals are now available to treat diseases; and new methods of producing vaccines are quickly evolving.
In the area of food production, biotechnology has resulted in significant benefits such as reduced production cost, higher crop yield, increased farm profit, and reduced use of pesticides and herbicides. While the "first generation" transgenic crops benefited the producers and the environment, the "second generation" crops promise benefits for the consumers. Examples include rice enriched with iron and vitamin A, edible vaccines in bananas and potatoes, and healthier oils from soybean and rapeseed.
Like other new technologies, Ag Biotechnology is not without controversies. Public concerns include food safety and the preservation of biodiversity and the environment. The U.S. already has existing food safety and environmental protection laws and regulations on biotech products. U.S. regulators stress scientific evidence and exercise precaution in evaluating products derived from biotechnology. However, the U.S. is wary of policies that are influenced by political considerations as opposed to scientific principles.
The U.S. supports Malaysia's efforts to develop this revolutionary new technology. In the past, the U.S. Embassy has sponsored Malaysian policy-makers, regulators, academicians and journalists to visit the U.S. to study the development of agricultural biotechnology in the U.S. as well as our regulatory system.
For more information, please visit the following websites:
U.S. Department of Agriculture Website on Biotechnology
Foreign Agricultural Service Website on Biotechnology