IMPACT VAN BIOTECHNOLOGIE IN EUROPA: DE EERSTE VIER JAAR BT MAIS ADOPTIE IN SPANJE

In the present paper we estimate the impact of a biotechnology innovation in Spanish agriculture. Transgenic Bt maize offers the potential to control corn borers, that cause economically important losses in Spanish maize cultivation, more efficiently. Since 1998, Syngenta commercializes the varieties 'Compa CB' and 'Jordi CB', equivalent to an annual area of 20.000 ha, or an average adoption rate of 5,2% of Spain's total land allocation to maize. The profit increase engendered by this technological change during the four-year period 1998-2001 is estimated to be 8,7 million E for Spanish agriculture and 2,8 million E for Syngenta and the seed suppliers. The industry appears to be able to extract only one fourth of the total benefits. The lion share, i.e. three fourths, accrues to farmers.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

IMPACT VAN BIOTECHNOLOGIE IN EUROPA: DE EERSTE VIER JAAR BT MAIS ADOPTIE IN SPANJE

In the present paper we estimate the impact of a biotechnology innovation in Spanish agriculture. Transgenic Bt maize offers the potential to control corn borers, that cause economically important losses in Spanish maize cultivation, more efficiently. Since 1998, Syngenta commercializes the varieties 'Compa CB' and 'Jordi CB', equivalent to an annual area of 20.000 ha, or an average adoption rate of 5,2% of Spain's total land allocation to maize. The profit increase engendered by this technological change during the four-year period 1998-2001 is estimated to be 8,7 million E for Spanish agriculture and 2,8 million E for Syngenta and the seed suppliers. The industry appears to be able to extract only one fourth of the total benefits. The lion share, i.e. three fourths, accrues to farmers

Performance evaluation of a modified chromogenic medium, ChromID MRSA New, for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from clinical specimens

A novel chromogenic medium for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), ChromID MRSA New, was evaluated and compared with the original ChromID MRSA agar, using 355 consecutive screening specimens from nose (120), throat (121) and perineum (114). The specimens were collected with an E-swab and inoculated within 24 hours onto both ChromID MRSA New and on ChromID MRSA. ChromID MRSA New was more sensitive than ChromID MRSA in detecting MRSA after 24 hours of incubation (94.3% versus 81.4%; p < 0.05). With the ChromID MRSA New, processing time is reduced from 48 h to 24 h and confirmation of the resistance to methicillin is redundant