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China's research and development (R&D) policy has changed considerably over recent decades, and great changes occurred in 2006 when the main programme objective of China's R&D changed from the 863 Programme and 973 Programme to the National Science and Technology Major Project. One topic that has drawn extensive attention is whether the investment reform improved R&D productivity in China. Using a unique panel dataset from 160 universities, this paper examines the effect of the investment reform on productivity improvement in China's agricultural biotechnology sector. We use a panel count data model with a dynamic feedback mechanism to model the knowledge production process. Strong evidence indicates that the investment reform greatly contributes to knowledge output production in China's agricultural biotechnology sector. We also find that the input quality is more important than the absolute quantity; human research capacity exhibits the greatest contribution to the output of patents; past knowledge accumulation helps produce more patents; and entry barriers to patent production exist in China's agricultural biotechnology sector. Moreover, the patent explosion in China may have been largely caused by improvements in the human capital input quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars and activists working from within a political economy perspective often fail to explore the distinct motives, interests and behaviours of powerful actors who appear to be working 'as one' on a common agenda. Such is the case in recent analyses of efforts to promote the use of biotechnology in Africa. While the critical literature largely focuses on the attempt to create what Peter Newell calls 'bio-hegemony', the present paper explores the diverse interests and tensions that have to be worked out in order to build such pro-biotechnology coalitions. I analyse the formation of an organization called the African Agricultural Technology Foundation to show how differences between two major pro-biotech actors - the Rockefeller Foundation and the agricultural biotechnology industry - were negotiated, so that these actors could work together towards the goal of getting GM technologies used and accepted in Africa. In the process, I reveal the inward projection of power that occurred as the biotech companies effectively determined the structure and terms of this alliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a symposium on transgenic crops and neoliberalism in Latin America. We address the question: What is the relationship between the neoliberal food regime and transgenic crops in Latin American agriculture? Our goals are, first, to provide the main conceptual definitions and analytical parameters to contextualize the case studies that follow; and, second, using the findings of our contributors as our empirical stepping stone, to briefly elaborate the concepts of expropriation, accumulation by dispossession and negative value as the primary consequences of the neoliberal food regime. We also offer a brief description of each of the papers in the symposium that follows, linking them to our theoretical proposal. We hope this symposium will help in further exploration of the connection between GM crops and the larger dynamics of capitalist development worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative impact on crop genomics, genetics, and agriculture is the result of his passion, dedication, and unyielding commitment to harnessing the potential of genomics to address the most pressing challenges faced by the global agricultural community. Starting from a small town in India and reaching the global stage, Professor Varshney's academic and professional trajectory has inspired many scientists active in research today. His ground‐breaking work, especially his effort to list orphan tropical crops to genomic resource‐rich entities, has been transformative. Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Varshney is recognized by his colleagues as an exemplary mentor, fostering the growth of future researchers, building institutional capacity, and strengthening scientific capability. His focus on translational genomics and strengthening seed system in developing countries for the improvement of agriculture has made a tangible impact on farmers' lives. His skills have been best utilized in roles at leading research centres where he has applied his expertise to deliver a new vision for crop improvement. These efforts have now been recognized by the Royal Society with the award of the Fellowship (FRS). As we mark this significant milestone in his career, we not only celebrate Professor Varshney's accomplishments but also his wider contributions that continue to transform the agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper examines how the application of advances in molecular biology change the relationships between nature and capital through a case study of Hawaiˋi's seed corn industry. Hawaiˋi's relatively minor role as a winter nursery changed in the late 1990s after the seed corn industry was reshaped by a series of techno‐scientific innovations and organizational restructuring. We draw attention to a molecular breeding technique called marker‐assisted selection (MAS) that accelerates crop improvement cycles by making parent lines selection more efficient and by taking advantage of extra growing seasons in tropical locations such as Hawaiˋi. Additionally, we argue that a wider application of MAS enhances seed firms’ geographical flexibility, allowing them to capitalize on the institutional rents of Hawaiˋi's agrarian politics and overcome challenges that might emerge in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the food regime literature to analyse the political and economic relations promoting the expansion of soybeans in Argentina following the post-neoliberal turn in the early 2000s. Continuities of the agrarian expansion from the neoliberal to post-neoliberal model highlight the state's role in supporting a neoliberal food regime. Neoregulation in the post-neoliberal agenda continues to favour increased production of transgenic food over ecological and human-health considerations. Moreover, the emergence of new corporate and transnational actors has contributed to a new form of corporate-agrarian governance premised on biotechnology. First, a food regime lens is used to describe the expansion of transgenic soybeans in Argentina, followed by an analysis of planning documents to show the state's position in reproducing neoliberal discourses and policies favouring the expansion of agriculture. The conclusion discusses the utility of food regime analysis for explaining the new forms of agricultural governance in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper challenges the recent hailing of agricultural biotechnology as a panacea for food insecurity and rural poverty in countries of the global South. Based on an empirical investigation of the neoliberal soy regime in Paraguay, I document how the profound transformation of this country's agricultural mode of production over the past two decades, spurred by the neoliberal restructuring of agriculture and the biorevolution, has jeopardized rural livelihoods. In particular, I demonstrate how the transgenic soyization of Paraguay's agriculture has led to an increased concentration of landholdings, as well as the displacement and disempowerment of peasants and rural labourers who have been rendered surplus to the requirements of agribusiness capital. At the same time, the consolidation of this new agro-industrial model has fostered a growing dependence on agrochemicals that compromise environmental quality and human health. Thus, I argue, a development policy based on industrial monocropping of genetically modified (GM) soy is inappropriate, unsustainable and unethical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of biotechnology is part of a global process of structural change in agriculture characterized by an increased integration of world agriculture with high corporate control. However, as the legal competence to allow the planting and trade of genetically modified (GM) crops commonly lies at the level of the nation state, this remains strategic in the politics of GM crops, both for actors promoting the technology and for social movements struggling against it. This paper illustrates this argument with an analysis of the struggles over GM crops in Brazil. It shows how the implementation of a food regime based on biotechnology, corporate control and neoliberal globalism depended on the state and was a contested process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: A growing body of research indicates that intellectual property policies for agricultural biotechnologies are hindering research and limiting the use of the technologies. Research also indicates that public resistance to agricultural biotechnologies, including transgenic and gene‐edited crops, is at least in part motivated by concerns about intellectual property restrictions. Therefore, changing the policies governing agricultural biotechnologies promises to reduce public resistance and to enhance the diffusion of research outputs. Because so many patents related to gene editing are held by universities and because so much cutting‐edge research is conducted by public scientists, exploring the scientists' perspectives on these policies offers insights into possibilities for policy changes. Summary: After the European Court of Justice's ruling that gene‐edited crops would be regulated the way transgenic crops are regulated, the European Commission consulted with stakeholders and concluded that policies governing gene‐edited crops are not fit for purpose. This research explores whether public scientists in Germany also consider intellectual property policies not fit for purpose.The data come from intensive interviews with 10 scientists working at German universities and research institutes.The interviewed scientists describe how intellectual property policies limited the use of transgenic breeding techniques and how they now limit applications of gene‐editing techniques. They overwhelmingly support policy changes that facilitate the use of their scientific breakthroughs to solve problems in the world, and they do not want to see large companies use the technologies to consolidate economic power or to profit at the expense of solving problems.Because intellectual property policies are often cited as a key reason for the resistance to agricultural biotechnologies and because research indicates that current policies are not enhancing crop innovations or social welfare, a change in intellectual property policies is likely to reduce resistance to the new crop breeding technologies and yield more social benefits. A growing body of research indicates that intellectual property policies for agricultural biotechnologies are hindering research and limiting the use of the technologies. Research also indicates that public resistance to agricultural biotechnologies, including transgenic and gene‐edited crops, is at least in part motivated by concerns about intellectual property restrictions. Therefore, changing the policies governing agricultural biotechnologies promises to reduce public resistance and to enhance the diffusion of research outputs. Because so many patents related to gene editing are held by universities and because so much cutting‐edge research is conducted by public scientists, exploring the scientists' perspectives on these policies offers insights into possibilities for policy changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene‐editing is a breakthrough technology for crop improvement that addresses many concerns associated with its predecessor and distinctly different technology, genetically modified crops. The commercial success of gene‐editing technology depends on the public's acceptance of its foods. This study used data from a national survey of United States consumers to identify the determinants of consumer acceptance of gene‐edited foods and compared them with those of genetically modified foods. Our study shows that consumer awareness and knowledge of gene‐edited foods are almost half those of genetically modified foods. In the study, we classified survey respondents in three clusters based on their attitudes toward food technologies and corporate distrust: technology‐loving, neutral, and technology‐averse. The technology‐averse cluster has the greatest share of individuals who indicated being aware of and knowledgeable about gene‐edited foods, and the largest share of respondents who stated having negative views toward agricultural biotechnology. Technology‐loving individuals have more positive perceptions about agricultural biotechnology and are more likely to consume genetically modified and gene‐edited foods in the future than neutral and technology‐averse individuals. Findings indicate that providing information on the technology and its health and environmental benefits did not affect consumers' willingness to consume genetically modified and gene‐edited foods. Prior perceptions of agricultural biotechnology, beliefs about safety, benefits, labeling, and the type of technology developer are important determinants of anticipated future consumption of genetically modified and gene‐edited foods. [EconLit Citations: Q13, Q16]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Politics & Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Politics & Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Facing current climate challenges and drastically reduced chemical options for plant protection, the exploitation of RNA interference (RNAi) as an agricultural biotechnology tool has unveiled possible new solutions to the global problems of agricultural losses caused by pests and other biotic and abiotic stresses. While the use of RNAi as a tool in agriculture is still limited to a few transgenic crops, and only adopted in restricted parts of the world, scientists and industry are already seeking innovations in leveraging and exploiting the potential of RNAi in the form of RNA‐based biocontrol compounds for external applications. Here, we highlight the expanding research and development pipeline, commercial landscape and regulatory environment surrounding the pursuit of RNA‐based biocontrol compounds with improved environmental profiles. The commitments of well‐established agrochemical companies to invest in research endeavours and the role of start‐up companies are crucial for the successful development of practical applications for these compounds. Additionally, the availability of standardized guidelines to tackle regulatory ambiguities surrounding RNA‐based biocontrol compounds will help to facilitate the entire commercialization process. Finally, communication to create awareness and public acceptance will be key to the deployment of these compounds. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Review of Policy Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Low carbon alternatives are an imperative for decarbonizing the transportation sector. There is growing interest in electrification of transportation but even with aggressive growth in sales, a significant share of transportation is expected to rely on liquid fuel by midcentury. Biofuels are appealing as low carbon fuels but those produced from food crops generate a food vs. fuel dilemma. We discuss the prospects for expanding biofuels, while mitigating the competition with food production though a transition to second generation biofuels from biomass as well as the potential for biotechnology to transform the agricultural sector globally to increase crop productivity and make biofuels and food production complementary. We highlight the role for policy, technological innovations, and institutions to achieve increased food and biofuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the contribution of Jikun Huang, founder and director of the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy (CCAP) to a wide range of issues on agricultural and rural development. Topics discussed include significant influence of his work on China's agricultural policies; his contribution towards the policies and reforms related to the market rain, R&D investment and agricultural biotechnology; mentions about his research works and achievements in the field of agriculture.

A recent FAO report estimates that more than 800 million people around the world have been facing malnutrition and hunger. This article develops a simple, empirically relevant multimarket framework of heterogeneous consumers and an imperfectly competitive innovating firm to analyze the profit‐maximizing strategies of innovating firms in hunger‐stricken areas of the world. The analysis shows that, when the association of the GM technology with malnutrition and hunger reduction in food insecure areas of the world decreases consumer aversion to the GM technology in the rest of the world, the innovating firm can find it economically optimal to reduce its price and increase consumer access to nutritious food in these hunger‐stricken areas. When the impact of hunger reduction on consumer attitudes toward the GM technology is relatively strong, the firm will find it optimal to offer its GM technology in the hunger‐stricken areas for free as its losses in these areas are more than compensated by its gains in the rest of the world. This result is in contrast with the standard assumption of innovators' desire to exercise the market power conferred by their intellectual property rights and provides some analytical support to the strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the role of fixed costs in research and development (R&D) in the market for genetically modified (GM) corn seed. In a mixed model of horizontal differentiation by genetic traits and vertical differentiation by productivity, we derive the empirically testable lower bounds to R&D concentration when R&D investments and market entry are jointly determined. When R&D investments translate into higher product quality, industries are said to be characterized by endogenous fixed costs such that the lower bound to R&D concentration increases with market size, but is less than the lower bound to market concentration based on sales. Using data on field trial applications of GM corn seed, we estimate the lower bound to R&D concentration, and find evidence of endogenous fixed costs with R&D concentration that is significantly greater than perfectly competitive levels. These endogenous fixed costs imply that concentration in the agricultural biotechnology industry is occurring due to the nature of R&D investment in product quality and not through anticompetitive practices. Adjusting for past merger and acquisition activity significantly raises the lower bound for infinitely-sized markets, but has no impact upon current market sizes, implying the industry may still undergo additional consolidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we show that differences between genetically modified ( GM) and non- GM comparators cannot be attributed unequivocally to the GM trait, but arise because of minor genomic differences in near-isogenic lines. Specifically, this study contrasted the effect of three GM traits (drought tolerance, MON 87460; herbicide resistance, NK603; insect protection, MON 89034) on maize grain composition relative to the effects of residual genetic variation from backcrossing. Important features of the study included (i) marker-assisted backcrossing to generate genetically similar inbred variants for each GM line, (ii) high-resolution genotyping to evaluate the genetic similarity of GM lines to the corresponding recurrent parents and (iii) introgression of the different GM traits separately into a wide range of genetically distinct conventional inbred lines. The F1 hybrids of all lines were grown concurrently at three replicated field sites in the United States during the 2012 growing season, and harvested grain was subjected to compositional analysis. Proximates (protein, starch and oil), amino acids, fatty acids, tocopherols and minerals were measured. The number of statistically significant differences (α = 0.05), as well as magnitudes of difference, in mean levels of these components between corresponding GM variants was essentially identical to that between GM and non- GM controls. The largest sources of compositional variation were the genetic background of the different conventional inbred lines (males and females) used to generate the maize hybrids and location. The lack of any compositional effect attributable to GM suggests the development of modern agricultural biotechnology has been accompanied by a lack of any safety or nutritional concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: There are about 80 biotech crop events that have been approved by safety assessment in Korea. They have been controlled by genetically modified organism (GMO) and livingmodified organism (LMO) labeling systems. The DNA-based detection method has been used as an efficient scientific management tool. Recently, the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA chip have been developed as simultaneous detection methods for several biotech crops' events. RESULTS: The event-specific multiplex PCR method was developed to detect five biotech maize events: MIR604, Event 3272, LY 038, MON 88017 and DAS-59122-7. The specificity was confirmed and the sensitivity was 0.5%. The screening DNA chip was developed fromfour endogenous genes of soybean, maize, cotton and canola respectively along with two regulatory elements and seven genes: P35S, tNOS, pat, bar, epsps1, epsps2, pmi, cry1Ac and cry3B. The specificity was confirmed and the sensitivity was 0.5% for four crops' 12 events: one soybean, six maize, three cotton and two canola events. CONCLUSION: The multiplex PCR and DNA chip can be available for screening, gene-specific and event-specific analysis of biotech crops as efficient detection methods by saving on workload and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has developed its own strong biotech program as well as a biosafety regulation system for genetically modified (GM) commercial production and import, but has yet started to seek approval for its GM events in any foreign country. China's biosafety regulations on biotech crop import, which requires that import applications start after approval from the country of origin and the zero tolerance rule, will have important implications for major GM producing countries that export GM products to China in terms of trade, price, and production and also to China itself in terms of food price and economic welfare. As China continues to expand its biotech crop commercialization, to minimize its trade conflicts with its exporting destination countries, China may also need to revisit its current policy of not seeking approval for its GM events in its major export destination countries in the future. A less trade-distorted regulation on low level presence (LLP) can benefit from the comparative advantage of agricultural production, stabilized domestic food price, and increased total social welfare. Global cooperation should be set up to enhance the safety management and also lower the multifarious and unnecessary costs of LLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]