AgBioForum, vol. 09, no. 3 (2006)Contents of volume 9, number 3.https://hdl.handle.net/10355/752024-03-28T16:45:52Z2024-03-28T16:45:52ZAn Analysis of McLean County, Illinois Farmers' Perceptions of Genetically Modified CropsSpaulding, Aslihan D.Chimmiri, NageshTudor, Kerry W.https://hdl.handle.net/10355/782021-08-26T21:45:30Z2006-01-01T00:00:00ZAn Analysis of McLean County, Illinois Farmers' Perceptions of Genetically Modified Crops
Spaulding, Aslihan D.; Chimmiri, Nagesh; Tudor, Kerry W.
McLean County, Illinois farmers were surveyed in order to explore their perceptions of biotechnology and genetically modified crops, and to analyze the relationships between those perceptions and choices regarding use of genetically modified crops. Statistical analyses revealed that perceptions could be used to distinguish between users and non-users of genetically modified crops, but the approach was more effective for past use than for planned use. Perceptions that were related to past use of genetically modified crops included satisfaction with the benefits of biotechnology, the perception that biotechnology would be beneficial to agriculture, and the perception that farmers were well informed and could easily obtain objective information about biotechnology. Perceptions of the agronomic and economic benefits of genetically modified crops, with the possible exception of Bt corn, were of limited use when distinguishing between users and non-users. Age, education, and farm size had limited impact on choices regarding genetically modified crops.
2006-01-01T00:00:00ZBales and Balance : A Review of the Methods Used to Assess the Economic Impact of Bt Cotton on Farmers in Developing EconomiesCartel, MelodieSmale, MelindaZambrano, Patriciahttps://hdl.handle.net/10355/812021-08-26T21:45:31Z2006-01-01T00:00:00ZBales and Balance : A Review of the Methods Used to Assess the Economic Impact of Bt Cotton on Farmers in Developing Economies
Cartel, Melodie; Smale, Melinda; Zambrano, Patricia
We assess 47 peer-reviewed articles that have applied stated economics methods to measure the farm-level impacts of Bt cotton in developing agriculture from 1996. We focus on methods, although findings are also contrasted and compared in qualitative terms. The central research question assessed by the articles reviewed is: what are the current and potential advantages of transgenic cotton with respect to yield, pesticide use, input cost, revenue and/or profits at the farm-level, by farm type, and geographical region? We find that, while the evidence is promising, the balance sheet remains inconclusive in part because of some methodological limitations and in part because institutional and political context, which is mutable and often ignored, shapes economic impacts, especially over the longerterm. Most often, the contextual factors that influence whether a new variety succeeds or fails are more critical than whether yield advantages can be demonstrated in on-farm trials.
2006-01-01T00:00:00ZConsumers' Willingness to Pay for Biotech Foods in China : A Contingent Valuation ApproachTuan, Francis C.Bai, JunfeiHuang, JikunLin, WilliamSomwaru, Agapihttps://hdl.handle.net/10355/792021-08-26T21:45:30Z2006-01-01T00:00:00ZConsumers' Willingness to Pay for Biotech Foods in China : A Contingent Valuation Approach
Tuan, Francis C.; Bai, Junfei; Huang, Jikun; Lin, William; Somwaru, Agapi
Based on a large-scale survey, this study employs the contingent valuation method to estimate consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for biotech foods in China and to account for the effects of respondents' characteristics on the likelihood of purchasing biotech foods and WTP. The survey, covering 1,100 consumers in 11 small-to-large cities (including Beijing and Shanghai) along China's eastern coast, was conducted in the fall of 2002. Although the survey covers eight different kinds of biotech foods, soybean oil made from imported biotech soybeans and insect-resistant biotech rice are the focus. A majority -- about 60% or higher -- of respondents were willing to purchase biotech foods without any price discounts. However, about 20% of them would only accept non-biotech foods. Price premiums that respondents were willing to pay for non-biotech foods averaged about 23-53% for non-biotech soybean oil and 42-74% for non-biotech rice. The lower bound WTP comes closer to the true value in light of hypothetical bias associated with the contingent valuation method.
2006-01-01T00:00:00ZGlobal Impact of Biotech Crops : Socio-Economic and Environmental Effects in the First Ten Years of Commercial UseBrookes, GrahamBarfoot, Peterhttps://hdl.handle.net/10355/772021-08-26T21:45:29Z2006-01-01T00:00:00ZGlobal Impact of Biotech Crops : Socio-Economic and Environmental Effects in the First Ten Years of Commercial Use
Brookes, Graham; Barfoot, Peter
Genetically modified (GM) crops have now been grown com- mercially on a substantial scale for ten years. This paper assesses the impact this technology is having on global agricul- ture from both economic and environmental perspectives. It examines specific global economic impacts on farm income and environmental impacts of the technology with respect to pesti- cide usage and greenhouse gas emissions for each of the coun- tries where GM crops have been grown since 1996. The analysis shows that there have been substantial net economic benefits at the farm level amounting to $5 billion in 2005 and $27 billion for the ten year period. The technology has reduced pesticide spraying by 224 million kg (equivalent to about 40% of the annual volume of pesticide active ingredient applied to ara- ble crops in the European Union) and as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with pesticide use by more than 15%. GM technology has also significantly reduced the release of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, which, in 2005, was equivalent to removing 4 million cars from the roads.
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