Economic and Environmental Impacts of Agbiotech

Dr. Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes is the Editor of AgBioForum, as well as an editorial board member for several other related academic journals. As an active consultant and educator he has worked with the US and other international public organizations, industry organizations, and agrifood companies on biotechnology strategy. Dr. Kalaitzandonakes is a Professor of Agribusiness and the Director of the Economics and Management of Agrobiotechnology Center (EMAC) at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he teaches management and strategy of innovation and biotechnology. He received his BS in Agricultural Economics from the University of Athens and his MS and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Florida.

• 1. Economic and Environmental Impacts of Agrobiotechnology: an Introduction.- 2. The Impact of Agricultural Biotechnology on the Conventional Agrochemical Market.- 3. Trends in Pesticide Use Since the Introduction of Genetically Engineered Crops.- 4. Economic and Environmental Impacts of Herbicide Tolerant and Insect Resistant Crops in the United States.- 5. Environmental Effects of Glyphosate Resistant Soybeans in the United States.- 6. Adoption of Cotton Biotechnology in the United States: Implications for Impact Assessment.- 7. The Economic Impact of Herbicide Tolerant Canola in Canada.- 8. Deployment and Impact of Transgenic Bt Cotton in Australia.- 9. Transgenic Crops in Spain.- 10. Transgenic Cotton in Mexico: A Case Study of the Comarca Lagunera.- 11. Adoption of Herbicide Tolerant Soybeans in Argentina: An Economic Analysis.- 12. The Impact of Bt Cotton in China.- 13. The Adoption and Impact of Agricultural Biotechnology in South Africa.- 14. Economic Effects of Bt Cotton Adoption and the Impact of Government Programs.- 15. Substitution and Complementarities in the Biotechnology and Pesticide Markets: A Theoretical Framework.- 16. Economic and Environmental Impacts of Agrobiotechnology: Conclusions.- List of Figures.- List of Tables.

"Utilizing a diversity of study design, 16 papers explore the production, environmental, and economic impacts of introduction of "first-generation" biotechnology into agriculture. Focusing on the impacts of insect resistant (IR) and herbicide tolerant (HT) technologies in the production of corn, soybeans, cotton, and canola in countries around the world, the studies look at microlevel and aggregate economic impacts, explore environmental results (focusing largely on decreased use of pesticides), and look for links between the two. The general conclusions are largely positive, indicating improved environmental results and greater benefits for small farmers in developing countries, however many important questions remain to be addressed." (Book News, Inc.(R), Portland, OR) "This is an extremely useful and informative volume that should play an important role in informing the debate on the commercial release of GM varieties in Europe and elsewhere, where the potential benefits are yet to be realized." (Susannah Bolton, Rothamsted Research, Hertfordshire, UK)