What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology has been defined as the application of scientific techniques that use living organisms, or substances from those organisms, to make or modify products, improve plants and animals, or to develop micro-organisms for specific uses. It includes a range of powerful "enabling technologies" which have economic, social and environmental impacts that could rival those of information technology and telecommunications.

Biotechnology is used in research, development and manufacturing across a range of sectors. Modern biotechnology techniques deliver essentially the same products as traditional techniques but with far greater accuracy and precision and at greater rates. As such, biotechnology has the potential to improve the competitiveness of traditional industries, as well as to develop new industries. (Biotechnology in Queensland - a background paper July 2000)