Agronomic research and productivity growth in post green revolution agriculture

This dissertation presents a methodology for measuring the impact of crop management research on agricultural productivity. The relationship between specific research projects and increases in producer surplus are identified. The methodology is used to derive an estimate of the return to public investment in crop management research in the Yaqui Valley of Sonora, Mexico;The impact of the crop management research effort is examined by looking at changes in producers\u27 practices 1981-1989 using farm survey data. An examination of changes in producers\u27 practices and modifications in crop management recommendations showed that only two practices were modified because of new research results. The quasi-rent impact of these research-induced changes in farmer practice are estimated using yield function estimation and the construction of enterprise budgets;The market setting for the case study is one of a small producing region facing perfectly elastic demand for output as well as perfectly elastic supply of production inputs. Changes in consumer surplus, therefore, do not occur and the impact on producer surplus is measured as changes in quasi-rent;Estimates of the internal rate of return (IRR) to the crop management research investment are derived under a range of assumptions about the benefit and cost streams. Under the most reasonable sets of assumptions, the IRR is estimated to fall between 16 and 26 percent;The study implies that the development of improved crop management practices can make a significant contribution to increasing agricultural productivity. One implication for the allocation of resources within agronomic research programs is that careful monitoring of farmer acceptance of research results can improve the efficiency of research investments

National and Regional Implications of Targeting the Conservation Reserve

Within the Conservation Reserve (CR) program, a change in program criteria could reduce the amount of erosion material entering our nation\u27s waterways. The inclusion of land adjacent to water bodies, flowing streams, and river waterways may reduce erosion from these lands and improve water quality. These buffer strip areas, removed from production and placed in the reserve with a vegetative cover, would limit sedimentation and act to prevent upland erosion materials from reaching waterway channels, thus enhancing the programs\u27 environmental benefits. This paper analyzes the economic benefits of including buffer strups as eligible CR land, and it reviews the problems of identifying such areas

Ex-ante Impact Assessment of GM Papaya Adoption in Thailand

Despite the evidence of benefits from GM papaya's adoption in other countries, concerns over the loss of export markets and health and environmental risks have led to great uncertainty and indecision about policies to support biotechnology in Thailand. Since 2001, field trials have been banned and the use of transgenic plants for production, consumption, or commercialization has been prohibited. Field trials in government fields were reinstated in December 2007, but agricultural biotechnology policies remain unclear. This article estimates what the economic impact of the adoption of GM papaya would be if Thailand were to authorize the use of GM technology.Financial support of this study was received from CropLife (Thailand) and the Biotechnology Alliance Association

Balancing basic, genetic enhancement and cultivar development research in an evolving US plant germplasm system

The structure of the United States (U.S.) public-private plant genetic research system is being transformed by the emergence of practical biotechnology protocols for creating transgenic plants; and by strengthened intellectual property protection in plants. This paper draws on some simple principles of incentives and appropriability to discuss the sharing of research responsibilities between the public and private sectors.Includes bibliographical reference

Assessing the prospects for the transfer of genetically modified crop varities to developing countries

Although genetically modified varieties (GMVs) have been commercially successful in the United States (U.S.), their future in developing countries (DCs) with smaller markets is uncertain. How likely is it that relatively small countries will gain access to GMV technology? Will the dominance of biotechnology by multinational firms make GMV technology too expensive for small DCs? In this paper we attempt to draw lessons from the U.S. experience to speculate on the prospects for developing countries to gain access to GMV technology. We conclude that small countries could be attractive markets for life science and seed companies if biosafety and intellectual property systems become institutionalized.Includes bibliographical reference

Transgenic Cotton in Mexico

We examine the farm-level impact of Bt cotton in Coahuila and Durango, Mexico. Bt cotton was introduced in Mexico in 1996. It has been an important tool in reducing pesticide use by more than 50% and generating annual benefits of US$2.7 million. About 85$100 less on pest control and had $295/ha higher net revenue than nonadopting farmers. The average holding of adopting farmers was 14 ha. Bt cotton has been a valuable technology for certain areas in Mexico. Cotton profitability and competitiveness have increased, and the risk of crop failure from insect infestation has been reduced. Victory over the pink bollworm, once the dominant insect pest, would not have been possible without Bt cotton. Because Bt cotton protects only against a certain spectrum of the pest population, national adoption stands at 33%.Includes bibliographical reference

Second-Generation GMOs : Where to from Here?

The driving force behind the growth of the agricultural biotechnology industry is the potential to increase efficiency in the production of commodities and to provide benefits to consumers and producers as well as profits for industry. Value-enhancedh genetically modified crops have the potential to provide new momentum to the industry. Using the US high-oil corn (HOC) industry as a case study, welfare measures indicate that those benefiting from HOC are HOC seed suppliers and conventional seed suppliers. Farmer gains are only attributed to larger premiums at the elevator level without technology fees and monopoly power.Includes bibliographical reference

Monopoly Power, Price Discrimination, and Access to Biotechnology Innovations

Price discrimination and monopoly power in the provision of an intellectual property (IP) protected innovation are analyzed. A general analytical model parameterized with data from the US introduction of Bt cotton is used to examine welfare transfers from the imposition of price discrimination. When two markets are being served under a one-price policy, total welfare increases from price discrimination because monopolist gains exceed farmer losses. If only one market is being served under a one-price policy, farmers in the new market and the innovator gain, while farmer welfare in the existing market is unchanged.Financial support was received from the USDA/IFAFS.Includes bibliographical reference

The distribution of benefits from the introduction of transgenic cotton varieties

Some concern has been expressed about the potential for abuse of monopoly power in the marketing of genetically modified (GM) seeds in the United States (U.S.). Are the firms marketing GM seeds extracting all of the benefits generated by their products? We attempt to partition the benefits from the introduction of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton in the United States among United States domestic and rest of the world consumers of cotton lint, the genesupplying firm, the germplasm-supplier, and U.S. cotton farmers. The benefit calculations were based on comparisons of pest control costs and yields for Bt and conventional cotton varieties. We estimate that an average of more than $200 million per year in benefits were generated by the use of Bt cotton. In each year, U.S. farmers received the largest single share of benefits, ranging from 42% to 59% of total surplus generated. The combined share of Monsanto and the seed firms ranged from 26% to 44%.Includes bibliographical reference

A Case-Study of Implementation of Improved Strategies for Prevention of Laboratory-acquired Brucellosis

Background: In 2012, the Alaska Section of Epidemiology investigated personnel potentially exposed to a Brucella suis isolate as it transited through three laboratories. Methods: We summarize the first implementation of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2013 revised recommendations for monitoring such exposures: (1) risk classification; (2) antimicrobial postexposure prophylaxis; (3) serologic monitoring; and (4) symptom surveillance. Results: Over 30 people were assessed for exposure and subsequently monitored for development of illness. No cases of laboratory-associated brucellosis occurred. Changes were made to gaps in laboratory biosafety practices that had been identified in the investigation. Conclusion: Achieving full compliance for the precise schedule of serologic monitoring was challenging and resource intensive for the laboratory performing testing. More refined exposure assessments could inform decision making for follow-up to maximize likelihood of detecting persons at risk while not overtaxing resources