AgBioForum, vol. 04, no. 1, (2001)
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Issue title: "Influence of Government Policy on Biotech Innovation in Europe." Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the contents of this issue.
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Item How Will US-Based Companies Make It in Europe? An Insight from Pioneer and Monsanto(AgBioForum, 2001) Lemarie, StephanePioneer and Monsanto are two major players in the seed and the agricultural biotechnology business. They have both tended to develop an integrated innovation strategy around a limited range of key innovations, which have been United States (US) oriented until now. A set of signals suggests, however, that this picture might change substantially during the next decade.Item Bayer AG--Chemicals and Life Sciences(AgBioForum, 2001) Sogaard, VillyBayer AG is a global pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and life sciences group. Its structure reflects important synergies based on core competencies within the field of chemistry. A number of research collaborations and joint ventures serve to expand this platform into agricultural biotechnology, which is expected to play a much more important role in the future, complementing rather than simply substituting for agrochemical crop protection.Item Zeneca Agrochemicals(AgBioForum, 2001) Tait, JoyceZeneca's agrochemical strategies had two major strands: developing the profit potential from existing patented and off-patent chemicals where this was feasible; and major investment in discovery of new, patented products. In developing genetically modified (GM) crops, managers were mainly focusing on output rather than input characteristics. The new "whole crop strategy" was based on an understanding that agrobiotechnology markets are likely to be based on a combination of chemicals and transgenic methodology, and included the assumption that GM-based output traits would enhance the economic value of the crop, increasing the demand for effective crop protection from a combination of chemicals and GM input traits.Item BASF : AgBio Fast Follower(AgBioForum, 2001) Wield, DavidBASF has been a latecomer to agrobiotechnology. Until mid-1998, BASF continued its longstanding focus on chemicals production with massive economies of scale, in particular, but also of scope. In 2000, it announced the acquisition of the Cyanamid (crop protection) part of American Home Products, roughly doubling its agrochemicals business to join the "big four" (with Syngenta, Aventis, and Monsanto). BASF moved into plant biotechnology in 1998, describing itself as a "fast follower," with a commitment to focus on second and third generation products. Investment in biotechnology research and development (R&D) has increased rapidly, now totaling around 20% of life sciences' R&D.Item Limagrain : A Cooperative Spirit Among the World's Seed Leaders(AgBioForum, 2001) Joly, Pierre-BenoitLimagrain is a strange company: the first international independent seed producer, and a local cooperative. This paper investigates the relationship between this company's identity, organizational structure, and its innovation strategies. The main objective of the company is to help the farmers (who are both shareholders and stakeholders) maintain a central place in the agricultural economic system. However, the innovation strategies that have been developed accordingly face important internal tensions as well as external viability problems.