AGRO-BIOLOGICAL POWER AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY FOREIGN POLICY

Abstract: Agricultural biotechnology has transcended conventional agricultural policies over the past four decades, laying the groundwork for novel forms of power in international relations. This study analyzes the strategic role of agricultural biotechnology in contemporary foreign policy through the concept of agro-biological power, presenting a theoretical and analytical framework to reveal the transformative impact of biotechnology on international relations. Agro-biological power refers to the capacity of a state to create dependency relationships, set agendas, and export norms in the international arena through its agricultural biotechnology capacity, control over seed systems, authority to determine intellectual property regulations, and power to direct food supply chains. The central problematic of the research is to explain how and under what conditions agricultural biotechnology capacities enable states to generate effective agro-biological power in foreign policy. The research is designed as an analytical opinion article and conducted using qualitative methods. Official documents of international organizations, policy reports, and academic literature were systematically examined, and comparative analysis was performed through case studies of the United States, the People's Republic of China, and the European Union. The findings reveal that agro-biological power operates through four fundamental mechanisms: infrastructural dependency, normative hegemony, epistemic control, and crisis diplomacy. The impact of digitalization on agricultural biotechnology demonstrates that algorithmic decision support systems increase the effect of agro-biological power by making it invisible. The theoretical contribution of the study lies in developing the concept of agro-biological power by synthesizing biopolitics, power theories, and global governance literature, and conceptualizing agricultural biotechnology as a central component of international relations. At the policy level, it is recommended that developing countries strengthen their biotechnological autonomy and democratize global governance mechanisms.