A new mode of governance for science, technology, risk and the environment?

This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book outlines the new approaches to governance themselves; the challenges that have led to them; the changes they are making; and how they are being developed. It discusses the evolving role of Foresight as a policy instrument to guide the prioritisation of public support for particular areas of innovation and, where such support has been provided for the life sciences, present the results of research undertaken to gauge its effectiveness. The book describes the example of the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s approach to the potential allergenicity of genetically modified (GM) crops, involving arguments for and against a “decision tree” approach or a “preponderance of evidence” approach. It offers a number of useful suggestions on gathering evidence for the effectiveness of a policy initiative like the Inter-departmental Liaison Group on Risk Assessment (ILGRA).