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Economics, Ecology and GMOs: Sustainability, Precaution and Related Issues

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  • Tisdell, Clement A.

Abstract

Ecological, evolutionary and economic issues involved in introducing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), mainly in agriculture, are discussed. The ecological and evolutionary impacts identified hamper (economic) valuation of GMOs and their biosafety regulation and creates difficulties for planning for sustainable development. Assessment of the desirability of releasing GMOs is difficult because of lack of communal agreement about the risks involved, about how much precaution should be exercised given collective risks, and disagreement on the appropriate social criterion to apply. Changes in legal liability are not always economic and cannot eliminate the social conflict generated by GMOs. The economics of developing and marketing GMOs is explored, assuming the type of intellectual property rights in GMOs in the United States. It is found that the economics of developing and marketing GMOs favours large enterprises as primary suppliers. In marketing GMOs, sales to larger-sized commercial farms rather than smaller-sized ones are preferred. GMOs preferred for development are those designed to satisfy large agricultural markets, mostly located in higher income countries. The patenting of GMOs, co-evolution, various social conflicts in the use of GMOs and legal liability for damages caused by GMOs are discussed both from a socioeconomic and biosafety point of view.

Suggested Citation

  • Tisdell, Clement A., 2011. "Economics, Ecology and GMOs: Sustainability, Precaution and Related Issues," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 122726, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uqseee:122726
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.122726
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Clem Tisdell, 1983. "Law, Economics and Risk‐Taking," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(1), pages 3-20, August.
    2. David Zilberman, 2006. "The Economics of Biotechnology Regulation," Natural Resource Management and Policy, in: Richard E. Just & Julian M. Alston & David Zilberman (ed.), Regulating Agricultural Biotechnology: Economics and Policy, chapter 0, pages 243-261, Springer.
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    4. Clem Tisdell, 1996. "Bounded Rationality and Economic Evolution," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 960.
    5. Dayuan Xue & Clem Tisdell, 2000. "Safety and socio‐economic issues raised by modern biotechnology," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(7/8/9/10), pages 699-708, July.
    6. Clem Tisdell, 1999. "Diversity And Economic Evolution: Failures Of Competitive Economic Systems," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 17(2), pages 156-165, April.
    7. Joseph Cooper & Leslie Marie Lipper & David Zilberman (ed.), 2005. "Agricultural Biodiversity and Biotechnology in Economic Development," Natural Resource Management and Policy, Springer, number 978-0-387-25409-8, December.
    8. Eduardo A. Haddad & Jaime Bonet & Geoffrey J. D. Hewings, 2023. "Introduction and Overview," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Eduardo A. Haddad & Jaime Bonet & Geoffrey J. D. Hewings (ed.), The Colombian Economy and Its Regional Structural Challenges, chapter 0, pages 1-16, Springer.
    9. Tisdell, Clem, 2003. "Socioeconomic causes of loss of animal genetic diversity: analysis and assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 365-376, July.
    10. Matin Qaim & Cherisa Yarkin & David Zilberman, 2005. "Impact of Biotechnology on Crop Genetic Diversity," Natural Resource Management and Policy, in: Joseph Cooper & Leslie Marie Lipper & David Zilberman (ed.), Agricultural Biodiversity and Biotechnology in Economic Development, chapter 0, pages 283-307, Springer.
    11. R. J. Scholes & R. Biggs, 2005. "A biodiversity intactness index," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7029), pages 45-49, March.
    12. Richard E. Just & David Zilberman & Julian M. Alston, 2006. "Regulating Agricultural Biotechnology: Introduction and Overview," Natural Resource Management and Policy, in: Richard E. Just & Julian M. Alston & David Zilberman (ed.), Regulating Agricultural Biotechnology: Economics and Policy, chapter 0, pages 3-17, Springer.
    13. Clem Tisdell, 2010. "The Precautionary Principle Revisited: Its Interpretations And Their Conservation Consequences," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 55(02), pages 335-352.
    14. Sandra S. Batie, 2003. "The Environmental Impacts of Genetically Modified Plants: Challenges to Decision Making," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 85(5), pages 1107-1111.
    15. Batie, Sandra S. & Ervin, David E., 2001. "Transgenic crops and the environment: missing markets and public roles," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 6(4), pages 435-457, October.
    16. Richard E. Just & Julian M. Alston & David Zilberman (ed.), 2006. "Regulating Agricultural Biotechnology: Economics and Policy," Natural Resource Management and Policy, Springer, number 978-0-387-36953-2, December.
    17. Tisdell, Clem, 1970. "Implications of Learning for Economic Planning," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 177-192.
    18. George A. Akerlof, 1970. "The Market for "Lemons": Quality Uncertainty and the Market Mechanism," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 84(3), pages 488-500.
    19. Tisdell, Clement A., 2010. "Core Issues in the Economics of Biodiversity Conservation," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 92772, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    20. Tisdell, Clement A., 2009. "Is Posner's Principle of Justice an Adequate Basis for Environmental Law?," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55337, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
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    Keywords

    Agricultural and Food Policy; Crop Production/Industries; Environmental Economics and Policy; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety;
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