Renowned key-note speakers and panel participants from all over the world will be present at the symposium which is organised by the Swiss GMO-Free Alliance and its partners in order to initiate an in-depth discussion about the risks and benefits of the use of biotechnology in agriculture. Another point for discussion is the precautionary principle: Does it facilitate innovation or is innovation on the contrary prevented by it? In the afternoon the topics innovation, research and food sovereignty are approached in the context of agroecology.