AgBioForum, vol. 12, no. 1 (2009)

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https://hdl.handle.net/10355/1411

"Special Issue: The Future of Agricultural Biotechnology: Creative Destruction, Adoption, or Irrelevance? In Honor of Prof. Vittorio Santaniello" Guest editors: Justus Wesseler and Sara Scatasta Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the contents of this issue.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 15

Private Sector Innovation in Biofuels in the United States : Induced by Prices or Policies?
(AgBioForum, 2009) Karmarkar-Deshmukh, Rupa; Pray, Carl E. (Carl Esek)
It has been shown in recent years that high energy prices induce investments in energy research. $100/barrel oil, strategic concerns, concerns about global warming, and pork-barrel politics have also rekindled the enthusiasm of the public and government for policies that encourage research and innovation on biofuels. This article is a first attempt to develop an econometric model to measure how innovations as measured by ethanol-related patents have responded to high oil prices and to government policies. We look at both the demand-side factors, such as federal policies subsidizing ethanol production or mandates for the use of biofuels, and supply-side factors, such as government funding for biofuels research. We find that both oil prices and federal research grants have significant positive effects on innovation. However, the size of the ethanol market has a negative effect, as do federal tax credits, with mandates being insignificant.
The Role of Biotechnology in a Sustainable Biofuel Future
(AgBioForum, 2009) Sexton, Steven; Zilberman, David, 1947-; Rajagopal, Deepak; Hochman, Gal
Biofuel production has increased dramatically since 2000, impacting markets for food and fuel. This article uses a partial equilibrium model to simulate biofuel impacts. We find that US biofuel production imposes costs on food consumers but benefits gasoline consumers by reducing gas prices. Current biofuels, therefore, create a trade-off between food and fuel. The demand for agriculture to provide food and fuel to a growing world population creates an imperative for improved agricultural productivity. Biotechnology and transgenic crops can be powerful drivers of productivity growth, but it demands increased investment and reduced regulation. We argue that biotechnology is essential to reduce land-use changes associated with rising biofuel demand that not only reduce biodiversity, but also release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Global Welfare Effects of GM Sugar Beet under Changing EU Sugar Policies
(AgBioForum, 2009) Dillen, Koen; Tollens, Eric F.; Demont, Matty
Ex-post impact studies of genetically modified crops indicate that society is capturing sizeable gains in agricultural biotechnology. In Europe, in contrast, due to limited adoption, research has been largely restricted to ex-ante technology and policy impact assessment of GM crop cultivation. In this study we assess the impact of a hypothetical introduction of herbicide tolerant sugar beet in the global sugar sector under both the former and the actual European Common Market Organization for sugar. The model starts from a farm- level analysis, introducing a perfect corporate pricing strategy under restricted monopoly power, which is expanded to a partial equilibrium model of the world sugar trade. We show that even under the given condition of private market power, significant gains accrue to farmers and consumers, while a smaller part goes to the seed sector (gene developers and seed suppliers). The global value of HT sugar beet for society in the period 1996-2014 is estimated at €15.4 billion, of which 29% is captured by EU farmers, 31% by farmers and consumers in the rest of the world, and 39% by the seed sector. However, the global sugar sector is foregoing most of this value, as the technology is currently only accepted by the US sugar industry.
A Model of Regulatory Burden in Technology Diffusion : The Case of Plant-Derived Vaccines
(AgBioForum, 2009) Castle, David, 1967-; Kumagai, Kira; Berard, Celine; Cloutier, L. Martin; Gold, Richard
Plant-derived vaccines may soon displace conventional vaccines. Assuming there are no major technological barriers undermining the feasibility of this innovative technology, it is worthwhile to generate quantitative models of regulatory burden of producing and diffusing plant-derived vaccines in industrialized and developing countries. A dynamic simulation model of technology diffusion -- and the data to populate it -- has been generated for studying regulatory barriers in the diffusion of plant-derived vaccines. The role of regulatory burden is evaluated for a variety of scenarios in which plant-derived vaccines are produced and diffused. This model relates the innovative and conventional vaccine technologies and the effects of the impact of the uptake of the innovative technology on mortality and morbidity. This case study demonstrates how dynamic simulation models can be used to assess the long-term potential impact of novel technologies in terms of a variety of socio-economic indicators.
Socio-economic Considerations, Article 26.1 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety : What are the Issues and What is at Stake?
(AgBioForum, 2009) Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety allows the possibility of including socio-economic considerations in biosafety regulatory approval processes and decision making for genetically modified products. Divergent opinions about the desirability of including socio-economic considerations have polarized the debate. For biosafety approval processes, assessment of socio-economic considerations will likely be before the fact, as the genetically modified product has not reached commercialization approval processes. This implies that there is a limited scope as to methods and approaches for assessments. To ensure that socio-economic assessments will not become an obstacle to the development and transfer of safe and efficacious products to farmers, all stakeholders need to understand clearly all regulations governing inclusion of socio-economic considerations. Furthermore, the decision-making process needs to clearly define decision-making rules and standards by which to guide approval processes.

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