Estimate of the Potential Adoption of Genetically Modified Cotton by Farmers in Southern Spain and its Economic Implications

This paper analyses the potential adoption and economic on-farm impact of Bt cotton in the Andalusia region (southern Spain). Survey data have shown that, on average, 58% of the responding farmers know about genetically modified (GM) cotton. Another outcome of the survey is that 95% of the farmers declaring that they know about GM cotton would be willing to grow Bt cotton. In the main cotton-producing districts, farmers' attitudes are positive, and they would be willing to adopt the technology. In areas where the crop is more important, the farmers who are willing to adopt Bt cotton represent over 75% of the area under cotton. As regards the on-farm economic impact resulting from a potential adoption, the assessment is that savings on the cost of direct pest control will be achieved by reducing the number of insecticide treatments. This analysis is applied to a representative Andalusian cotton farm. On the basis of the worst-case scenario derived from a review of the literature on the economic performance of Bt cotton, a reduction of 2.6 insecticide treatments is assumed. For our representative farm this would result in a cost saving of € 148.2 per hectare.biotechnology, cotton, economic impact, Andalusia, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q16, Q20, Q12, O52,

Adoption of GMHT Crops: Coexistence Policy Consequences in the European Union

Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries,

Framework for assessing the socio-economic impacts of Bt maize cultivation

Bt maize is the only genetically modified (GM) crop grown in the EU for commercial purposes and so far adopted mainly in Spain. Its cultivation can have a number of socio-economic consequences for farmers, upstream and downstream industries, as well as consumers. The European GMO Socio-Economics Bureau (ESEB) has compiled topics, indicators, methodological guidelines and potential data sources to carry out analyses of these socio-economic effects. This document provides a framework applicable to EU Member States currently growing Bt maize and those potentially cultivating it in the future. Over 30 topics and 100 indicators, which range from farm adoption rates to consumer surplus, have been identified by the ESEB Technical Working Group, which is composed of representatives of Member States and assisted by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. Evidence of impacts in the EU already exists for some topics both ex post and ex ante, but for most topics it is very limited. Methodologies have been developed by the scientific community for many of the topics and indicators, from simple partial budget analysis to complex aggregated models. It is concluded that while methodologies are available for many of the topics and indicators, the main constraint is a lack of data.JRC.D.4-Economics of Agricultur

Framework for the socio-economic analysis of the cultivation of genetically modified crops

In the future the cultivation of GM crops in the EU may increase, which can have a number of socio-economic consequences for farmers, upstream and downstream industries as well as consumers. The European GMO Socio-Economics Bureau (ESEB) has compiled topics, indicators, methodological guidelines and potential data sources to carry out analyses of these socio-economic effects. This document provides a framework applicable to any GM crop that has been or might be grown in EU Member States. Almost 100 indicators, which range from farm adoption rates to consumer surplus, have been identified by the ESEB Technical Working Group composed of representatives of Member States and with assistance from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. Evidence of impacts in the EU already exists for some crop/trait combinations both ex post and ex ante but for most topics it is very limited. Methodologies have been developed by the scientific community for many of the topics and indicators (from simple partial budget analysis to complex aggregated models). It is concluded that while methodologies are available for many of the topics and indicators, the main challenge to conducting socio-economic assessments is a lack of data.JRC.J.4-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF CO-EXISTENCE MEASURES IN MAIZE CROP AND SEED PRODUCTION - A CASE STUDY OF FRANCE

Paper prepared for presentation at the Second International Conference on Coexistence between Genetically Modified (GM) and non-GM based Agricultural Supply Chains (GMCC) Montpellier (France), 14th and 15th November 2005Genetic engineering, GMO, Maize, Co-existence, Agricultural and Food Policy, L51, O32,

The EU bio-based industry: Results from a Survey

Providing regular analysis and data is fundamental for policy makers and stakeholders to monitor the development of an economic sector and make the necessary decisions to maximize the benefits it generates, be them of economic, social or environmental nature. In this line, this report contributes to quantifying and benchmarking a relevant economic sector in the so-called European Union Bioeconomy, the bio-based industry. The use of biomass feedstock in this specific industry has the potential to contribute to Europe's industrial and economic growth while significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, other environmental burdens, and resource dependency, through the displacement of fossil-based products with bio-based alternatives. The report focuses on a list of relevant and bio-based products and it is based on a survey of 133 companies, the full population, producing or about to produce these products (with turnover or employing labour in the EU). We find a high diversity of companies in terms of size, products and time in the market. Some companies' operations are entirely bio-based and for some other bio-based products represent a relatively small fraction of their operations. The population includes companies producing commodity and speciality chemicals and material goods into a wide range of sectors. Fifty companies answered a structured questionnaire of about 70 questions during the survey (in 2015). The response illustrates that there are a diverse set of active players ranging from large to micro companies, developing and producing a wide range of products from a wide range of feedstocks. The companies that responded to the survey report total bio-based product turnovers of the order of 6.8 billion EUR globally and 1.4 billion EUR in the EU. All respondents are positive about the outlook for growth in the industry. The response also indicates a rise in company activity since 2011, and there appear to be shifts in products being developed and produced, probably as a result of market testing, and technical development. The active European companies produce and sell globally, testimony of the global nature of the sector.JRC.J.4-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Datasets on technological GHG emissions mitigation options for the agriculture sector

The 2030 EU policy framework for climate and energy confirms that all sectors, including agriculture, should contribute to climate stabilisation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction in the most cost-effective way. Since 2009, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) analyses the economic impact of GHG mitigation policy options for EU agriculture. However, the lack of precise, integrated and harmonised data on the current and potential uptake, cost-effectiveness and GHG emissions reduction potential of technological (i.e. technical and management based) mitigation options hampers the analysis of the economic impacts of GHG mitigation in agriculture. Against this background, the JRC organised a workshop in Seville on 14th June 2016 which gathered European Commission staff and experts from diverse international institutions aiming to: i) identify current activities conducted by research institutes on the building of datasets for GHG mitigation technologies and their state and development, ii) establish synergies and working mechanisms among the different institutions working on the topic, iii) identify which are the current gaps and limitations of existing datasets and models and, iv) conceive a roadmap to build possible new datasets per mitigation technology. The present report is based on the workshop results and concludes on how to move forward.JRC.D.4-Economics of Agricultur

Consequences, Opportunities and Challenges of Modern Biotechnology for Europe

Modern biotechnology products and processes are an integral part of the EU economy, mainly in manufacturing, including pharmaceuticals, agro-food and healthcare. While some products are not recognizable to the broader public (e.g. the use of genetic markers in livestock breeding), others are used on a daily basis (detergents with enzymes, recombinant insulin) or have become subject of public discussion (e.g. genetically modified crops). Modern bioetchnology contributes significantly to the achievement of major EU polciy objectives.JRC.J.5-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Consequences, Opportunities and Challenges of Modern Biotechnology for Europe - The Analysis Report

Biotechnology is generally considered one of the key technologies of the 21st century, with a potentially wide range of applications in e.g. healthcare, agriculture, and industrial production processes. However, this notion has not yet been substantiated, as the diversity of sectors in which biotechnology is applied makes it difficult to investigate its actual degree of diffusion. Against this background and following a request from the European Parliament, the European Commission initiated the Biotechnology for Europe Study (Bio4EU Study). The study's objectives are to assess the contributions of modern biotechnology to the achievement of major European policy goals, and to increase public awareness and understanding of modern biotechnology.This report presents an analysis of the collected data with a view to assessing the contributions of modern biotechnology to major EU policy goals such as economic growth and job creation (Lisbon Agenda), and environmental sustainability and public health (Sustainable Development Strategy). As such, the report can be considered a background document of the Bio4EU synthesis report, which sets out the main findings of the study.JRC.J.5-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

EU commodity market development: Medium-term agricultural outlook

The workshop 'Medium-term Outlook for the EU Agricultural Commodity markets' is an integral part of the intensive validation procedure of the results of the European Commission’s report 'Prospects for EU agricultural markets and income'. It provides a forum for presentations on preliminary medium term projections of the most relevant EU agricultural commodity markets and discussing in-depth the EU prospects in a global context. This year the workshop was held on 22-23 October in Brussels. The workshop was jointly organised by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI). Participants included policy makers, modelling and market experts from various countries, as well as stakeholders of the agri food industry. This document summarises the presentations and discussions on the macroeconomic and energy assumptions associated with this outlook, and on each of the EU agricultural markets addressed: biofuels, cereals and oilseeds, sweeteners, milk and dairy, meats and wine. Additionally this year challenges regarding international trade disputes, organic agriculture and climate change were also discussed.JRC.D.4-Economics of Agricultur