In India, viruses, bacteria, fungi and environmental pressures destroy crops each year, reducing the agriculture sector’s productivity and diminishing farmers’ incomes. Biotechnology allows for the development of crops resistant to these stresses and increases farmers’ abilities to secure a better livelihood. For biotechnology to address India’s needs safely and appropriately, the country requires a regulatory infrastructure with public participation.

USAID’s Program for Biosafety links India with U.S. expertise and information on biotechnology. The program brings together an international research center, a private consultancy, a national science center, and access to U.S. government and non-government institutional resources to help India:

• Develop new models for the regulation for biosafety that address India’s unique needs while adhering to international standards
• Build India’s capacity to implement science-based regulations
• Conduct collaborative policy research to examine the economic, food security and trade implications of biotechnology policies
• Improve its ability to examine, evaluate and manage the impact of agricultural biotechnology products on the environment.