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

Clement Tisdell

No 122726, Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers from University of Queensland, School of Economics

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.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Crop Production/Industries; Environmental Economics and Policy; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33
Date: 2011-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-env and nep-hme
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https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/122726/files/WP176.pdf (application/pdf)

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Chapter: Economics, ecology and GMOs: sustainability, precaution and related issues (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uqseee:122726

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.122726

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