Under the weight of a burgeoning global population, changing climate, rising food prices, emerging pathogens, and concerns over environmental integrity and food safety, agriculture faces a period of transition as it is challenged to respond rapidly at local, regional, and global levels to the complex dimensions of food security. Agricultural biotechnology, as a promising way forward, looks to play a key role in the development of technologies that will help feed the world, yet substantial debate remains on how to best capitalize on its benefits while mitigating its risks.

The conference focus on food security emphasized safety, chiefly from the perspectives of contamination and terrorism rather than on global food adequacy by 2050.