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Agricultural Biotechnology: Recommended Readings

Contents
 

Use of Crop Genetically Engineered Crops Rising—Driven by farmers' expectations of higher yields, savings in management time, and lower pesticide costs, the adoption of first-generation genetically engineered crop varieties with enhanced input traits has increased rapidly. Adoption of genetically engineered soybeans, corn, and cotton by U.S. farmers has climbed most years since introduction. These data cover the 2000-07 period by State. See also the Amber Waves Summary (7/07).

The Changing Face of the U.S. Grain System—U.S. grain handling and marketing is increasingly marked by product differentiation and market segmentation. More specialty crops now require either some form of segregation or full-scale identity preservation to keep them separate from conventional commodities. Market segmentation within the grain system is driven by the need to preserve market value or ensure product purity (2/07).

The First Decade of Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States—Over the past ten years, farmers have adopted genetically engineered (GE) varieties of corn, soybeans, and cotton widely and at rapid rate and benefited from such adoption. While the level of consumer concerns about foods that contain GE ingredients varies by country, with European consumers being most concerned, these concerns have not had a large impact on the market for these foods in the United States (4/06).

Economic Issues in Agricultural Biotechnology—The emergence of agricultural biotechnology introduces new concerns about the supply of new technology and its impact on the marketplace New developments in marketing and contractual arrangements between farmers and grain and food processors will likely become critical issues as more genetically engineered (GE) crops enter the marketplace. This report explores some implications for grades and standards for GE products, as well as the extent of biotechnology adoption by U.S. farmers and some of the farm-level effects. Other topics include important advances in biological science, the roles of public and private research, and recent changes in input industry structure. Also examined are consumer preferences, particularly U.S. versus European, and biotechnology's potential to feed a growing world population (3/01).

See all recommended readings...

 

For more information, contact: Jorge Fernandez-Cornejo

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Updated date: June 21, 2010