Regulating Agricultural Biotechnology
| Series: | |
| Publisher: | Springer US |
| Subject: | Agricultural biotechnology--Economic aspects, Agriculture and state |
| Authors: | Richard E. Just , Julian M. Alston , David Zilberman |
| Pages: | 732 pages |
| Binding: | Hardcover |
| ISBN: | 9780387369525 |
| Call No: | S 494.5 B563 R45 2006 |
This chapter introduces the topic of this book, drawing upon the content of its chapters. An overview is provided on the economics of technological regulation as applied to agricultural crop biotechnologies. Key elements of agricultural biotechnology regulation in the United States are summarized. Key words: agricultural biotechnologies, causes and consequences of technological regula tion, overview and synthesis 1. INTRODUCTION Agricultural biotechnologies apply modern knowledge in molecular and cell biology to produce new varieties and similar genetic materials. The use of genetically modified (GM) crop varieties has grown dramatically since they were introduced in 1995, and large portions of the land allocated to corn, soybeans, and cotton are grown with these varieties. The evidence from the United States, Canada, China, India, Brazil, and Argentina suggests that these applications of biotechnology in agriculture increase yield, reduce the use of pesticides, and save production costs.