Rice Biotechnology: Opportunity, Perceived Risks and Potential Benefits to Bangladesh

This paper has been prepared as part of CPD's ongoing agricultural policy research and advocacy activities with IRRI under the PETRRA project. It discusses the benefits and risks of rice biotechnology research and genetically engineered varieties developed from such research. It assesses the potential benefits of biotechnology for rice improvement in the context of Bangladesh. The paper collated perceived risk of biotechnology. It reports the findings of a survey on knowledge, perceptions and attitude of civil society to identify the constraints to adoption of rice biotechnology in Bangladesh. It also raises some issues for debate that may assist the government to take up positions on this issue vital to achieving and sustaining food and nutrition security in Bangladesh.