Secretariat of National Biosafety Council of Iran, Depatment of Environment, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (8 Views)
In the context of intensifying climate change, increasing water stress, and growing global food demand, this article examines the role of emerging agricultural technologies, with a particular focus on genetically modified (GM) crops, and their implications for food security, water resources, and biosafety. The study aims to critically review and analyze the interconnections among water, food, and biosafety and to clarify the role of governance in managing the opportunities and potential risks associated with biotechnology under changing climatic conditions. The research method is based on reviewing studies from the past three decades and examining the evolution of approaches toward the interconnectedness of water, food, and biosafety. The findings indicate that the effects of GM crops on food security and water resources depend on the specific crop and trait, as well as on governance quality, risk assessment frameworks, patterns of agricultural chemical use, management practices, and climatic conditions. Accordingly, integrated governance, strengthened environmental monitoring, watershed-scale risk assessment, and greater policy coherence among the water, agriculture, and biosafety sectors are essential. These measures are important for the sustainable use of biotechnology and for achieving food security while safeguarding water resources and ecological integrity. The novelty of this article lies in proposing a conceptual Water–Food–Biosafety Nexus framework to support integrated decision-making for the governance of agricultural biotechnology under climate change.