Provision of nutritious, affordable foods for a rapidly growing world population is a significant challenge. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the way for the use of genetically engineered animals in our food production systems, providing new opportunities and challenges for science in improving animal-based food production. Other new technologies such as nanotechnology and synthetic biology hold promise to interface with genetic engineering to decrease the cost of food production and to improve food safety. However, we must also consider the potential risks associated with these technologies. Are there unseen risks associated with eating foods derived from genetically engineered animals or animals that have been treated with nano-based medications? What lessons have we learned from the development of genetically engineered plant-based foods? How will regulators stay ahead of these fast-advancing technologies and what are the challenges in formulating policy to ensure public safety? This symposium will provide a bridge to bring public awareness to the science that underlies these technologies and the ways in which they interface and explore the potential risks and benefits.