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Pressure Group Competition and GMO Regulations in Sub-Saharan Africa - Insights from the Becker Model

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  • Takeshima Hiroyuki

    (International Food Policy Research Institute)

  • Gruère Guillaume P

    (International Food Policy Research Institute)

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that pressure groups play influential roles with regard to decision making on the agricultural and food use of genetically-modified organisms (GMO) in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, there has been relatively minimal examination of when these lobbying efforts actually influence GMO policies, and how such influence changes when other exogenous constraints associated with GMO improve. Using the model of competition between pressure groups developed by Becker (1983), this paper shows that if anti-GMO lobbying appears to be working, it is likely because conditions in SSA are unfavorable to the introduction of GMO. This result is validated by a discussion of existing capacity constraints for the development, regulation, and dissemination of GMO in SSA countries, and of how these constraints may make conditions less favorable despite the reported potential benefits of GMO. The findings of this paper confirm the importance of relaxing capacity and institutional constraints, and suggest that these constraints should be addressed before considering a possible lack of political will for promising GMO in SSA countries. Political influence may not have as much of an impact on the slow adoption of GMO by SSA countries as insufficient scientific and institutional capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Takeshima Hiroyuki & Gruère Guillaume P, 2011. "Pressure Group Competition and GMO Regulations in Sub-Saharan Africa - Insights from the Becker Model," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bjafio:v:9:y:2011:i:1:n:7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Binenbaum, Eran & Pardey, Philip G. & Zambrano, Patricia & Nottenburg, Carol & Wright, Brian D., 2000. "South-North trade, intellectual property jurisdictions, and freedom to operate in agricultural research on staple crops:," EPTD discussion papers 70, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Smale, Melinda & Zambrano, Patricia & Gruère, Guillaume & Falck-Zepeda, José & Matuschke, Ira & Horna, Daniela & Nagarajan, Latha & Yerramareddy, Indira & Jones, Hannah, 2009. "Measuring the economic impacts of transgenic crops in developing agriculture during the first decade: Approaches, findings, and future directions," Food policy reviews 10, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Takeshima, Hiroyuki & Oyekale, Abayomi & Olatokun, Segun & Salau, Sheu, 2010. "Demand characteristics for improved rice, cowpea, and maize seeds in Nigeria: Policy implications and knowledge gaps," NSSP working papers 16, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Carl Pray & Anwar Naseem, 2007. "Supplying crop biotechnology to the poor: Opportunities and constraints," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 192-217.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vigani, Mauro & Olper, Alessandro, 2014. "GM-free private standards, public regulation of GM products and mass media," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(06), pages 743-768, December.

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