The Cost of Product Development of Bt Corn Event MON810 in the Philippines

Abstract

The estimated total cost of developing Bt corn MON810 in the Philippines is $2.6 million (128 million Philippine pesos) at 2004 discounted prices. This includes the entire process of product development, from concept initiation done in the US in 1985 to implementation of post-commercial approval requirements in 2004. Lindahl pricing was employed to allocate the share of total relevant cost incurred in the US to the Philippines. Costs were converted into corresponding 2004-year equivalents and capitalized using literature-recommended values to reflect baseyear real monetary value. The biggest costs were incurred in the conduct of post-commercial application activities followed by the 17 multi-location field trials across the country. Project spending was highest in 2002 when field trials and supporting studies were being completed and the product stewardship plan was being developed. The study discovered that two-thirds of total cost went into activities conducted in compliance and support of government regulatory requirements.