Between January 29 and February 14, 2024, the Introduction to Biotechnology and Genome Editing Workshop was held remotely for public policy decision-makers in Mexico.
This virtual workshop focused on building capacities for public policymaking using genome editing technology in Mexico. The facilitators, Daniel Domínguez and Luis Ventura Martínez, addressed decision-makers, mainly legislators and technical support personnel in the national and state legislative chambers, using a technical-scientific approach to bring them closer to the possibilities that biotechnology offers for various problems that evidence-based public policy could solve.
Genome editing is a biotechnological tool different from transgenesis. It allows genetic sequences to be modified precisely and enhances their function in living organisms. Various applications of genome editing generate positive impacts in improving agricultural productivity, conservation of biodiversity, biomanufacturing of industrial interest, and effective medical treatments.
However, its development raises various ethical questions and security challenges, so it is necessary to define effective regulatory frameworks that favour innovation and growth while promoting the responsible use of technology. The objective of this virtual workshop was for public policymakers to acquire a basic understanding of the technology and its scope, which will allow them to make informed decisions based on the available scientific evidence.
This workshop was developed jointly between Allbiotech and the Biotechnology Program for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations University.
You can download the document "Recomendaciones para el diseño e implementación de políticas públicas para el desarrollo de la edición de genomas en México" from the link at the bottom of this page.
