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Adoption of GM Technology at Farm Level

Author

Listed:
  • Conor Keelan

    (Rural Economy and Development Programme, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland)

  • Fiona Thorne

    (Rural Economy and Development Programme, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland)

  • Paul Flanagan

    (Oak Park Research Centre, Teagasc, Carlow)

  • Carol Newman

    (Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin)

  • Ewen Mullins

    (Oak Park Research Centre, Teagasc, Carlow)

Abstract

In this paper a probit model is used to assess the factors that will influence the decision of Irish farmers to adopt GM technology should they be given a choice in the near future of selecting between GM and non-GM varieties of crops. The theory underlying the model emanates from the wide literature on adoption and diffusions theory. The decision of whether or not to use new agricultural technologies has generally been found to be a function of specific features of the particular technology and farm and farmer characteristics. The results from the probit model indicate that among the likely early adopters of GM technology in Ireland are farmers with large farm acreage who are specialist crop farmers and who have formal agricultural education together with access to high quality soils. Contrary to expectations and theory the age of farmer was insignificant in the final specification of the model, indicating that agricultural education and age of the farm operator are highly correlated. Furthermore having an off-farm job did not positively influence the adoption decision. Neither tenure nor profitability had any influence in determining the likelihood of adoption once farm size was accounted for indicating that farm size may dominate other farm level characteristics which was supportive of the results of the correlation matrix.

Suggested Citation

  • Conor Keelan & Fiona Thorne & Paul Flanagan & Carol Newman & Ewen Mullins, 2008. "Adoption of GM Technology at Farm Level," Working Papers 0810, Rural Economy and Development Programme,Teagasc.
    • Handle: RePEc:tea:wpaper:0810
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    References listed on IDEAS

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