Application of Science Diplomacy for Regulation of Genome Editing

Lack of harmonisation of regulations is a major hurdle for the commercialisation of biotechnology products globally. This has resulted in an environment where non-tariff barriers, lack of evidence-based policy change, misinformed public dialogue and expensive uptake of technology has prevailed; all of which are contributing to food insecurity. Science diplomacy is the use of scientific interactions among nations and stakeholders to address the common problems facing humanity and to build constructive, knowledge-based international partnerships. Current international regulatory structure through the Cartagena Protocol is not fit-for-purpose in addressing new biotechnologies such as genome editing. Science diplomacy is one such conceptual framework which evolves the growing relevance of the intersection of science, technology and foreign policy. Furthermore, there is a lack of interdisciplinary approaches to inform policy on regulation of biotechnology. This study explores mechanisms to involve diverse stakeholders in an evidence-driven discourse for biotechnology products. Science diplomacy as a novel interdisciplinary platform for capacity building in science policy will equip researchers, industry, farmers, state entities and organisations in Australia and globally to future proof technologies such as genome editing. This study has also generated a negotiation simulation as a science communication toolkit which can be used globally and will create a cohesive engagement on the scientific, political and economic dimensions of biotechnology regulation through role-play simulations. Pre- and post-simulation surveys of different sets of audiences has empirically shown that their was an uptake of knowledge as well as positive correlation between the simulation and communication of bio-technologies.