Avoiding extreme perspectives-unwarranted hype and absolute rejection-What can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology? explores the diverse territory of proponents and opponents of challenging but potentially risky technologies. Considering the lessons to be learned from the controversy over genetically modified foods, and how those lessons can be applied to developing nanotechnologies, particularly agricultural and other food-related applications, it explores the challenges and issues of the environmental, social, and ethical impact of nanotechnology in addition to the technical and economical impacts.

New technologies face two kinds of extra-technical risk: public acceptance risk and regulatory risk. Effectively engaging the public in timely dialogue and communicating potential benefits and hazards of proposed applications is imperative. Developing standards for worker safety, environmental protection, and consumer protection is essential. Veterans of the biotechnology controversy, especially that of genetically modified foods, know that successfully developing, producing, regulating, and selling such applications requires addressing concerns and issues of the various stakeholders: citizens/consumers, NGOs, scientists, engineers, and regulatory agencies in order to protect against consumer rejection and financial loss by producers.

Key Features:

Contributions from recognized experts in their fields represent the perspectives of a diverse range of stakeholders

Includes important considerations regarding the risks and challenges of nanotechnology

Uses real-world experience to outline practical approaches for emerging technologies

Examines the rights of people impacted by biotechnology science, and how the lessons learned by GMOs should be considered

Content – Acknowledgments, Preface, About the Authors, PART 1 Analytic Introduction, 1 Socio-Technical Analysis of those Concerned with Emerging Technology, Engagement, and Governance, PART 2 Looking Back to the Bio Debate, 2 Learning from Mistakes: Missteps in Public Acceptance Issues with GMOs, 3 The Ethics of Agri-Food Biotechnology: How Can an Agricultural Technology be so Important?, 4 A View from the Advocacy Community, PART 3 Questioning the Analogy (From Bio to Nano), 5 The Three Teachings of Biotechnology, 6 From Bio to Nano: Learning the Lessons, Interrogating the Comparisons, 7 Nano and Bio: How are they Alike? How are they Different?, 8 “It’s Like Deja-Vu, All Over Again”: Anticipating Societal Responses to Nanotechnologies, PART 4 Areas of Ambiguity in Implementing an Emerging Technology, 9 A Framework for Translating Biotechnology Experiences to Nanotechnology, 10 Engagement and Translation: Perspective of a Natural Scientist, 11 Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Media, and Public Opinion, PART 5 Looking Forward to the Nano Situation, 12 Lessons from the Bio-Decade: A Social Scientific Perspective, 13 What Can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology?, Index, Series