The CGIAR is a strategic alliance of members, partners, and 15 international agricultural research centers that mobilizes science to benefit the poor. Agricultural research at the CGIAR Centers entails various technologies, including biotechnology, and the extent to which modern biotechnology is part of the overall research activity differs greatly from center to center. The mode of collaboration between centers and their national counterparts on such research projects also vary. Drawing examples from two in-house surveys as well as from the outcomes of a recent workshop, the article provides a synopsis of current biotech-related activities conducted in the CGIAR Centers and considers what the CGIAR\'s role(s) might be in ensuring the safe and responsible use of biotechnology for conducting agricultural research that responds to the needs of developing countries.