agricultural biotechnology: the technology in the seed drew l. kershen earl sneed centennial law...
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Agricultural Biotechnology: The Technology in the Seed
Drew L. Kershen
Earl Sneed Centennial Law Professor
University of Oklahoma
Copyright 2001, all rights reserved
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The Seed The agronomic traits are in the seed – no other
input needed to gain access to the technology Similarity to hybrids but hybridization is primarily
about yield and the trait diminished rapidly from one plant generation to the next
Contrast to Green Revolution – fertilizers, irrigation, pesticides, herbicides – extraneous inputs
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Structural & Economic Implications
Scale neutral – the seed advantage accrues equally to any sized farmerEconomic calculation – more expensive seed versus
potential return – ordinary calculationHybrid calculation is identical on cost of seed versus
potential returnNo changes in horticultural practices – farm as before
with transgenic seed
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Structural & Economic Implications Scale positive – may benefit the smaller farmer more than
larger farmer Minimal learning curve No additional inputs Increased yield Reduced labor requirements Greater security; greater flexibility in farming
Key – access to seeds – assistance for the poorest farmers to acquired the seeds
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Structural Stabilization Niche markets – value-added crops
Functional foods; pharmaceuticals; alternative crops
Environmental constraints Adapted for drier climates – Ogallala Aquifer
Environmental compliance – No till cropping Environmental compliance, regulatory compliance is not scale neutral – small
entities adversely affected
May allow smaller farmers to have better risk management and slow the pace of structural change
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Structural Legal Relationships
Additional non-farm input – the seed Gene expression technology or gene use restriction
technology Intellectual property rights – seed companies Separate the technology from the structural
changes – agricultural biotechnology is not the cause of these structural changes
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Structural Changes Before and regardless of biotechnology Non-farm inputs: Internet, precision agriculture, identity
preservation Hybrids – Semen straws Contract production; vertical integration Concentration – in processing and particularly in food
retail Who captures value? – farmers doing very well in
capturing value of agricultural biotechnology.
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Hypothesis If separate the technology from the structural changes
The technology itself appears scale neutral and potentially scale positive
If the hypothesis is accurate Implications for developing world Major constraint is governmental policies that encourage or
discourage adoption
Good reasons for farmers to be positive and early adopters of the technology
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Constraints Pressure Groups & Scientific Ignorance
Cartagena Biosafety Protocol Food Scares and Food Aid Codex Alimentarius
Governmental Policies Robert L. Paarlberg, Governing the GM Crop Revolution: Policy
Choices for Developing Countries (Int’l Food Pol. Res. Inst., 2000) Five areas: Intellectual Property Rights, Biosafety, Trade, Food
Safety and Consumer Choice, Public Research Investment China 1.8; Brazil 2.2; Kenya 2.6; India 2.8 – Promotional,
Permissive, Precautionary, Preventive
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Constraints Domestic Production vs International Trade
Amartya Sen, Development as Freedom (1999) – the importance of economic freedom and opportunity
Public research investment in domestically important crops – NARS and CGIAR
Capacity-building, institutional development, infrastructure expansion – technical knowledge, appropriate regulation, farmer extension
South Africa (GMO cotton); Kenya (GMO banana) – the small farmers as the beneficiaries
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Conclusion
Agricultural Biotechnology – greater benefits to developing nations for food security and food safety
Urgency of the situation Opportunity lost? Ideology triumphant?