FAO
Forest Genetic Resources Working Paper 59
Preliminary review of biotechnology in forestry, including genetic modification
December 2004

Forest Resources Development Service Working Paper FGR/59E
Forest Resources Division FAO, Rome, Italy

Background

At its 13th Session, in November 2003, the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources reviewed the relevance and discussed the feasibility of a global review of biotechnology in forestry, as part of an FAO effort to assess the global status and trends of forest tree genetic diversity. This paper is the first attempt to provide statistical information on the extent and patterns of biotechnology research and applications in forest trees, worldwide. Other studies are anticipated, in particular analyses of economic and other forces driving biotechnology development in forestry.

Summary

As part of its Forest Genetic Resources Working Papers series, FAO's Forest Resources Division has just published a "Preliminary review of biotechnology in forestry, including genetic modification". The document provides a summary of four studies commissioned by FAO between 2002 and 2004 to investigate the worldwide extent and patterns of biotechnology research and application in forest trees. According to the report's Executive Summary, "though no doubt incomplete, the resulting data set of over 2,700 major biotechnology activities (from the last 10 years) and responses to questionnaires provides a comprehensive summary of worldwide activities, particularly those in the public domain". Individual reports are provided in Appendixes 2.1-2.4 (Biotechnology in the forestry sector, by G. Chaix and O. Monteuuis; A global study on the state of forest tree genetic modification, by C. Walter and S. Killerby; The state of genetically modified forest trees in China, by H. Wang; Anticipated contribution to and scale of impact of biotechnology in forestry, by Y.A. El-Kassaby). The Executive Summary and Chapter 1 (Synthesis: a snapshot of the global status and trends in forest biotechnology) are both by N. Wheeler.

See complete report at http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/ae574e/ae574e00.htm.

Contact forest-genetic-resources@fao.org for more information.