News | May 30, 2023

Biotechnology: How the United States Can Mitigate Risks and Increase Opportunities for the Next Industrial Revolution

Like the previous industrial revolutions in chemistry and engineering, the era of biotechnology is swiftly altering human progress and the global landscape. The biotech industry is rapidly changing how humans create food, acquire resources, and approach healthcare – it has the potential to impact every facet of human life. Biotechnology provides tools through which humanity can effectively tackle the adverse consequences of human development, encompassing environmental degradation, climate change, and the inequitable distribution of food supplies. Biotechnology is also presenting society with new challenges, compelling people to confront ethical dilemmas, security threats, and divisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of this rapidly expanding industry.

The breadth and depth of the potential impacts of biotechnology have profound implications for national security. The biotech industry offers viable solutions to address the expected geopolitical instability caused by climate change in the coming decades. The escalating demands on natural resources, including crops, energy, and minerals, pose significant security challenges. However, the biotech industry shows a promising avenue for addressing these challenges and easing the strain on resources. In addition, finding solutions to the increasing healthcare costs and aging population can be addressed by exploring innovative biotech methods for human development, which can also help ensure the safety and security of the United States and our allies. However, the emergence of biotech innovations that provide new avenues to enhance national security gives rise to ethical dilemmas and security considerations. The United States needs to develop its strategy carefully and promptly to stay ahead in the biotech revolution. This paper outlines a few of the many national security issues biotechnology presents. It offers policy recommendations to ensure the U.S. government and other authorities can safely, sustainably, and ethically foster the constructive growth of the biotech industry.

Read the report →