The government of Egypt is increasingly aware that it must use its own limited resources in a cost effective way to develop its own appropriate biotechnology applications. Inability to acquire technology developed else-where could deny Egypt timely access to new, important advances that could overcome significant constraints to increased agricultural productivity. A very significant contribution could be the protection of the crops from losses to pests, pathogens and weeds, which currently ranges from 20 to 40% despite the widespread use of synthetic pesticides. Biotechnology offers great benefits by replacing the present policy of blanket sprayings of crops with herbicides, fungicides and pesticides.