Biotechnology and Agricultural Development: Transgenic Cotton, Rural Institutions and Resource-poor Farmers (Routledge Explorations in Environmental Economics)

This book addresses the continuing controversy over the potential impact of genetically modified (GM) crops in developing countries. Supporters of the technology claim it offers one of the best hopes for increasing agricultural production and reducing rural poverty, while opponents see it as an untested intervention that will bring corporate control of peasant farming. The book examines the issues by reviewing the experience of GM, insect-resistant cotton, the most widely grown GM crop in developing countries. The book begins with an introduction to agricultural biotechnology, a brief examination of the history of cotton production technology (and the institutions required to support that technology), and a thorough review of the literature on the agronomic performance of GM cotton. It then provides a review of the economic and institutional outcomes of GM cotton during the first decade of its use. The core of the book is four country case studies based on original fieldwork in the principal developing countries growing GM cotton (China, India, South Africa and Colombia). The book concludes with a summary of the experience to date and implications for the future of GM crops in developing countries. This review challenges those who have predicted technological failure by describing instances in which GM cotton has proven useful and has been enthusiastically taken up by smallholders. But it also challenges those who claim that biotechnology can take the lead in agricultural development by examining the precarious institutional basis on which these hopes rest in most countries. The analysis shows how biotechnology’s potential contribution to agricultural development must be seen as a part of (and often secondary to) more fundamental policy change. The book should be of interest to a wide audience concerned with agricultural development. This would include academics in the social and agricultural sciences, donor agencies and NGOs.

this Book Addresses The Continuing Controversy Over The Potential Impact Of Genetically Modified (gm) Crops In Developing Countries. Supporters Of The Technology Claim It Offers One Of The Best Hopes For Increasing Agricultural Production And Reducing Rural Poverty, While Opponents See It As An Untested Intervention That Will Bring Corporate Control Of Peasant Farming. The Book Examines The Issues By Reviewing The Experience Of Gm, Insect-resistant Cotton, The Most Widely Grown Gm Crop In Developing Countries.

the Book Begins With An Introduction To Agricultural Biotechnology, A Brief Examination Of The History Of Cotton Production Technology (and The Institutions Required To Support That Technology), And A Thorough Review Of The Literature On The Agronomic Performance Of Gm Cotton. It Then Provides A Review Of The Economic And Institutional Outcomes Of Gm Cotton During The First Decade Of Its Use. The Core Of The Book Is Four Country Case Studies Based On Original Fieldwork In The Principal Developing Countries Growing Gm Cotton (china, India, South Africa And Colombia). The Book Concludes With A Summary Of The Experience To Date And Implications For The Future Of Gm Crops In Developing Countries.

this Review Challenges Those Who Have Predicted Technological Failure By Describing Instances In Which Gm Cotton Has Proven Useful And Has Been Enthusiastically Taken Up By Smallholders. But It Also Challenges Those Who Claim That Biotechnology Can Take The Lead In Agricultural Development By Examining The Precarious Institutional Basis On Which These Hopes Rest In Most Countries. The Analysis Shows How Biotechnology’s Potential Contribution To Agricultural Development Must Be Seen As A Part Of (and Often Secondary To) More Fundamental Policy Change. The Book Should Be Of Interest To A Wide Audience Concerned With Agricultural Development. This Would Include Academics In The Social And Agricultural Sciences, Donor Agencies And Ngos.

This Book Addresses The Continuing Controversy Over The Potential Impact Of Genetically Modified (gm) Crops In Developing Countries. Supporters Of The Technology Claim It Offers One Of The Best Hopes For Increasing Agricultural Production And Reducing Rural Poverty, While Opponents See It As An Untested Intervention That Will Bring Corporate Control Of Peasant Farming. The Book Examines The Issues By Reviewing The Experience Of Gm, Insect-resistant Cotton, The Most Widely Grown Gm Crop In Developing Countries. Biotechnology And Agricultural Development / Robert Tripp -- Cotton Production And Technology / Robert Tripp -- Development, Agronomic Performance And Sustainability Of Transgenic Cotton For Insect Control / Ann M. Showalter ... [et Al.] -- Transgenic Cotton : Assessing Economic Performance In The Field / Robert Tripp -- Transgenic Cotton And Institutional Performance / Robert Tripp -- Farmers' Seed And Pest Control Management For Bt Cotton In China / Jikun Huang ... [et Al.] -- India's Experience With Bt Cotton: Case Studies From Gujarat And Maharashtra / N. Lalitha, Bharat Ramaswami, And P.k. Viswanathan -- The Socio-economic Impact Of Transgenic Cotton In Colombia / Patricia Zambrano ... [et Al.] -- Ten Years Of Bt Cotton In South Africa : Putting The Smallholder Experience Into Context / Marnus Gouse -- Summary And Conclusions / Robert Tripp. Edited By Robert Tripp. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [246]-267) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 Illustrations......Page 10 Contributors......Page 16 Acknowledgements......Page 18 Abbreviations......Page 20 Foreword......Page 22 1 Biotechnology and agricultural development......Page 26 2 Cotton production and technology......Page 48 3 Development, agronomic performance and sustainability of transgenic cotton for insect control......Page 74 4 Transgenic cotton: Assessing economic performance in the field......Page 97 5 Transgenic cotton and institutional performance......Page 113 6 Farmers’ seed and pest control management for Bt cotton in China......Page 130 7 India’s experience with Bt cotton: Case studies from Gujarat and Maharashtra......Page 160 8 The socio-economic impact of transgenic cotton in Colombia......Page 193 9 Ten years of Bt cotton in South Africa: Putting the smallholder experience into context......Page 225 10 Summary and conclusions......Page 250 References......Page 271 Index......Page 293 The controversy over genetically modified (GM) crops in industrialized countries is paralleled by a loud debate over their potential role in developing countries, with supporters claiming that GM crops are the best hope for reducing rural poverty and hunger, and opponents predicting that they can only bring corporate control of peasant agriculture and environmental disaster. This book offers an examination of the performance of the new technology in the broader context of the agricultural institutions that govern its generation