The chapters in this book confront the controversy over biotechnology with new analyses and insights from economists and technologists. The topics covered include the differences in perceptions about biotechnology among rich and poor countries; the effects of rich-country restrictions on international trade in genetically modified crops on the welfare of poorer countries; the effects of intellectual property rights on the bioscience done by public agencies the world over; and the economic impacts of biotechnology.

Policymakers and partisans on both sides of the debate will find useful economic ways of thinking about the tradeoffs of biotechnology.

“At a time when the world is debating the merits of biotechnology, this book provides excellent insight into the themes of intellectual property protection and the economic ramifications of GM crops. The authors, all international experts on agricultural biotechnology, have distilled the critical issues in order to promote progress on the judicious implementation of this controversial technology.”

-- The Hon. Warren E. Truss, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia

“This important book places biotechnology directly in the context of developing-country concerns about food and agriculture. It is all the more valuable because it presents the science and economics of this controversial technology in a way that will help decisionmakers make the most informed choices- choices that will have profound consequences for how future generations feed themselves.”

-- Ismail Serageldin, Distinguished Professor, American University, Cairo, and Special Advisor to the Egyptian Government Alexandria Library

“This book presents the latest analyses of some 30 specialists on a rather contentious issue: the role of biotechnology in world food production. It is certain that biotechnology has the potential to meet some urgent needs of the world’s poor. As these articles make clear, bold international leadership is needed now to move this agenda forward.”

-- Bruce Alberts, President, National Academy of Sciences

Contributors: Jock R. Anderson, Kym Anderson, Walter Armbruster, Nicole Ballenger, Marc J. Cohen, Dan Dierker, Kate Dreher, Ron Duncan, Ruben Echeverría, Brian Fisher, Richard Gray, Richard Jefferson, Mireille Khairallah, Robert Lindner, Michele Marra, Michael Morris, Chantal Pohl Nielsen, Carol Nottenburg, Philip G. Pardey, Peter W.B. Philips, Per Pinstrup-Andersen, Carl Pray, Jean-Marcel Ribaut, Bob Richardson, Sherman Robinson, John Skerritt, Michael J. Taylor, Karen Thierfelder, Greg Traxler, Eduardo Trigo, and Brian D. Wright