Agricultural biotechnologies have been a hotly controversial issue for decades. While their desirability has typically been evaluated through risk assessment practices, there is now increasing pressure to incorporate questions of values, ethics, sustainability and socio-economic impacts into decision-making. What the integration of these issues looks like in practice though, and how it might be achieved, remain open for discussion and further development. Drawing on perspectives from the three research fields of risk assessment, responsible innovation, and ethics, this round table discussion will explore visions of what good governance of agricultural biotechnology might look like and require. The round table will begin with brief presentations from international experts in these fields, followed by commentaries from national stakeholders and an open discussion with the audience.
International speakers:
Prof. Richard Owen Associate Dean of Research and Knowledge Transfer and Professor of Science and Innovation Governance, University of Exeter Business School
Dr. Marion Dreyer Deputy Scientific Director of DIALOGIK and expert in risk governance
Sir Roland Jackson Executive Chair of Sciencewise, Member of the Nuffield Council of Bioethics, Visiting Fellow at the Royal Institution and Research Associate in the Department of Science & Technology Studies, University College London
National Stakeholder Commentaries from:
Prof. Sissel Rogne The Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board
Dr. Øystein Rønning The Research Council of Norway
Mr. Bjarte Rambjør Heide The Norwegian Environment Agency