Global Status of Biotech Crops: Islamic Perspectiveand Benefits to Developing Countries

An introduction to agricultural biotechnology and its benefits for developingcountries are elaborated. Global status of agricultural biotechnology with emphasis onthe growth in area under the transgenic crops is reviewed. Status of modembiotechnology in Islamic countries is presented. This review shows that almost allMuslim countries are involved in one way or another in research and development onagricultural biotechnology. However, so far only four Islamic countries (Iran, Pakistan,Egypt and Burkina Faso) have been able to commercialize any transgenic crop plants.Status of modern biotechnology in Argentina as an example of a non-Muslimdevelopingcountry is reviewed. Biosafety and religious concerns related to theapplication of modern biotechnology are elaborated. Finally, attempt to extract Islamicview on the application of modern biotechnology from Holly Quran is made. It isconcluded that lslam not only permits but also in some cases urges and even obliges theapplication of modern tools of science and technology including genetic engineering forthe improvement of human livelihood and welfare