Costa Rican agriculture and livestock modern Biotechnology and genome editing legal framework
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Abstract
Biotechnology catalyzes development in the agricultural and livestock sectors, exerting significant
influence on the world economy and advancing sustainable development goals. Examples of its
considerable impacts include biocontrol, food security, and carbon sequestration. Costa Rica
stands out in the region for its extensive research and development efforts in biotechnology,
boasting 87 companies and 42 research centers and creating jobs equivalent to 1.05% of the
national GDP. Since 1998, the country has established a legal framework to regulate the use of
conventional, organic, living-modified organisms (LMOs) and gene-edited organisms, promoting
economic growth rooted in biotechnology. This legal framework includes mechanisms for
managing LMOs and facilitating inter-institutional coordination for evaluating and granting use
permits. The present article elaborates on Costa Rica’s modern biotechnology and genome
editing regulatory framework, encompassing manuals, guidelines, and forms to assist users
in using LMOs. Regarding genome editing, Costa Rican legislation shares similarities with
current legislation in several countries. Genome Editing breed organisms are compared and
defined as equivalent to those obtained from conventional methods. The agricultural sector’s
favorable perception of this technology further enhances the country’s prospects for economic
development. Consequently, Costa Rica provides a friendly environment for biotechnologydriven economic growth and investment, aligning with sustainable development goals.
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Los autores conservan los derechos de autor y ceden a la revista el derecho de la primera publicación y pueda editarlo, reproducirlo, distribuirlo, exhibirlo y comunicarlo en el país y en el extranjero mediante medios impresos y electrónicos. Asimismo, asumen el compromiso sobre cualquier litigio o reclamación relacionada con derechos de propiedad intelectual, exonerando de responsabilidad a la Editorial Tecnológica de Costa Rica. Además, se establece que los autores pueden realizar otros acuerdos contractuales independientes y adicionales para la distribución no exclusiva de la versión del artículo publicado en esta revista (p. ej., incluirlo en un repositorio institucional o publicarlo en un libro) siempre que indiquen claramente que el trabajo se publicó por primera vez en esta revista.
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