Biotechnology and development - moving technology forward using environmental assessment; biosafety training programs and their importance in capacity building and technology assessment; genetically modified organisms - biosafety implications for India; environmental impact of crops transformed with genes from bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for insect resistance; biosafety issues of genetically engineered herbicide-tolerant plants - agriculture and agri-food Canada's perspective; biosafety issues of genetically engineered virus-resistant plants; marker gene controversy in transgenic plants; ethical dilemmas in the conservation of biodiversity; ecological context of biodiversity; biodiversity and biotechnology - ethical issues in developing countries; ethics and biodiversity; plant breeders and farmers in the new intellectual property regime -conflict of interests? aspects of biosafety in the conservation of biological diversity; IPR controversy and the Indian seed industry; new genes for old genes; the IPR debate for India; symposium participants.