Reactions as IUCN Congress votes to adopt Policy on Synthetic Biology, rejects genetic engineering moratorium
Reactions as IUCN Congress votes to adopt Policy on Synthetic Biology, rejects genetic engineering moratorium
Tags: Biodiversity/Conservation, Genetic engineering, Policy, Regulation, Synthetic biologyEnvironNews Nigeria, 2025.
Following the vote at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, members have rejected a moratorium on genetic engineering of wild species (Motion 133) and adopted the IUCN Policy on Synthetic Biology (Motion 087), a move observers see as a signal of support for a science-based, case-by-case approach to innovation in conservation. The Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research has welcomed the outcome as a vote of confidence in scientific collaboration and evidence-led policymaking.
In a statement, the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research said: “As a coalition that champions the value of responsible research, we welcome the adoption of IUCN’s Policy on Synthetic Biology as a constructive, balanced and science-based approach towards the potential application of this emerging field for conservation. “The escalating biodiversity crisis poses a grave threat to the future of all life on earth, with more than a million species at risk of extinction. Synthetic biology, including genetic engineering, offers new hope for solutions that can rise to the scale and urgency of the challenge.
