IMPACT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN EUROPE: THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF BT MAIZE ADOPTION IN SPAIN

Abstract

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 variety Compa CB, equivalent to an annual area of 25.000ha, or an average adoption rate of 5,2% of Spains total land allocation to maize. The profit increase engendered by this technological change during the four-year period 1998-2001 is estimated to be E8,4 million for Spanish agriculture and E2,8 million 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 fourth, accrues to farmers.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,