AgBioForum, vol. 21, no.1 (2018)
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Item Implementing the national bioengineered food disclosure standard : will consumers use QR codes to check for genetically modified (GM) ingredients in food products?(University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, 2018) Tallapragada, Meghnaa; Hallman, William K.The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard of 2016 mandates the disclosure of Genetically Modified (GM) ingredients in food products in the US by including text, a symbol, or a digital link such as a Quick Response (QR) code on product labels. Many food manufacturers will use QR codes that connect to a website, because they enable provision of detailed contextual information about GM ingredients. However, critics argue that this approach is inadequate because many consumers will be unable/unwilling to use QR codes to access information. Using a telephone survey of US adults (N=1,011), this study finds that consumers likely to use QR codes to check for GM ingredients are: those who already use UPC or QR codes, consider GM Organisms to be risky, approve of the mandatory labeling law, and are less likely to buy products with GM ingredients. The study concludes by discussing implications for implementation of the policy.Item Identifying GM crops for future cultivation in the EU through a Delphi forecasting exercise(University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, 2018) McFarlane, Ian D.; Jones, Philip J.; Park, Julian R.; Tranter, Richard B.This article reports on a Delphi forecasting exercise carried out to identify crop traits that could feasibly be introduced to the advantage of arable farmers and for the general benefit of the public in EU member states. An expert stakeholder panel was recruited and asked for opinions on scenarios concerning the availability of GM events and also scenarios that envisage novel crops developed using advanced technology not classified as GM. In a second round of consultation, panel members commented anonymously on opinions elicited in the first phase. Results indicate that crops with input traits most likely to become available in the EU before 2025 are HTIR maize, HT sugarbeet, and HT soybean; these are already widely adopted outside Europe. The crops with output traits most likely to become available and offering benefits to consumers are wintersown varieties of rape with reduced saturated fats, spring varieties of which are already available outside the EU (notably Canadian canola).Item Public perceptions of genetically engineered nutraceuticals(University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, 2018) Britwum, Kofi; Yiannaka, Amalia; Kastanek, KarolineWe examine public attitudes and purchase intentions for genetically engineered (GE) nutraceuticals that either offer general health benefits or disease prevention/treatment. A survey that elicited views on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), preferences and purchase intention for GE nutraceuticals and how they are perceived with respect to their conventional and organic counterparts, as well as demographic information, was completed by 1,271 randomly selected students at a Midwestern university. Survey results show that even though the majority of respondents preferred GE nutraceuticals that could prevent or treat diseases to those that offer general health benefits, only a quarter of participants were willing to pay more for these products -- an average premium of 20%. Empirical results show that familiarity with genetic modification, shopping habits, and attitudes towards GMOs influence preferences for GE nutraceuticals.Item The economic impacts of the US tariffs for fuel ethanol and biodiesel(University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, 2018) Helmar, Michael; Johnson, Stanley R.; Myers, Robert J.; Whistance, Jarrett; Baumes, HarryThis article provides a review of production, price, and trade data for fuel ethanol and biodiesel for the 2000-2016 period and projections for the 2016-2021 period. The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) model is used for the projections. We find that the 2.5% US ethanol tariff could be eliminated with almost no consequences. For biodiesel, the situation is different. The 6.5% biodiesel tariff provides modest protection for US producers -- US domestic production is estimated to be around 3.5% lower without the tariff, and domestic prices about 2.4% lower. A major decision about antidumping rules is likely forthcoming, in part, because US producers lost the domestic biodiesel subsidy in 2016. Proposed antidumping restrictions are in the range of 50-64% for Argentina and 41-68% for Indonesia. But this does not take into account the fact that by 2022, the Argentina export subsidies will be essentially zero. An antidumping suit is likely in near future.Item New breeding techniques and their possible regulation(University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, 2018) Seyran, Esra; Craig, WendyNew breeding techniques (NBTs) are gaining greater uptake in plant breeding programs around the world, due to their greater precision and potential to reduce varietal development times. As the first products of research begin to enter the commercial domain, some of their technical and conceptual overlaps with GM biotechnology have become the focus of international discussions concerning their regulatory status. This review provides an insight into the mechanisms of NBTs, how their products may/may not differ from existing plant products which themselves may/may not be subject to government regulation, and whether a case can be made for them to fall under/escape GMO regulatory oversight. What is especially obvious is that until there is certainty of their regulatory status in key territories and regions, innovation in plant breeding risks stagnation, and both costly delays in market rollouts and trade disruptions are likely due to incompatible and non-harmonious regulatory practices and policies.