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New Plant Breeding Technologies: An Assessment of the Political Economy of the Regulatory Environment and Implications for Sustainability

Author

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  • Vincent Smith

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA)

  • Justus H. H. Wesseler

    (Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy Group, Section Economics, Social Sciences Department, Wageningen University and Research, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • David Zilberman

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

Abstract

This perspective discusses the impact of political economy on the regulation of modern biotechnology. Modern biotechnology has contributed to sustainable development, but its potential has been underexplored and underutilized. We highlight the importance of the impacts of regulations for investments in modern biotechnology and argue that improvements are possible via international harmonization of approval processes. This development is urgently needed for improving sustainable development. Policy makers in the European Union (EU) in particular are challenged to rethink their approach to regulating modern biotechnology as their decisions have far ranging consequences beyond the boundaries of the EU and they have the power to influence international policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincent Smith & Justus H. H. Wesseler & David Zilberman, 2021. "New Plant Breeding Technologies: An Assessment of the Political Economy of the Regulatory Environment and Implications for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:3687-:d:524560
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Robert M'barek & Justus Wesseler, 2023. "The Rapid Development of Bioeconomy Policies in the EU and other Regions of the World," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 22(3), pages 5-12, December.
    2. Stéphan Marette & Anne‐Célia Disdier & Anastasia Bodnar & John Beghin, 2023. "New plant engineering techniques, R&D investment and international trade," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(2), pages 349-368, June.
    3. Simona Romeo Lironcurti & Federica Demaria & Raffaele D’Annolfo & Roberta Sardone, 2023. "Consumer Evaluations of and Attitudes towards New Genome Editing Techniques: An Italian Case Study," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Linde Götz & Miranda Svanidze & Alain Tissier & Alejandro Brand Duran, 2022. "Consumers’ Willingness to Buy CRISPR Gene-Edited Tomatoes: Evidence from a Choice Experiment Case Study in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Eileen Bogweh Nchanji & Cosmas Kweyu Lutomia & Odhiambo Collins Ageyo & David Karanja & Eliezah Kamau, 2021. "Gender-Responsive Participatory Variety Selection in Kenya: Implications for Common Bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Breeding in Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-17, November.
    6. Götz, Linde & Svanidze, Miranda & Tissier, Alain & Brand Duran, Alejandro, 2022. "Consumers’ willingness to Buy CRISPR gene-edited tomatoes: Evidence from a choice experiment case study in Germany," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 14(2).

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