Productivity, Access, andRisk:
the Keys to Biotechnology in Developing
Countries
David Zilberman, University of California
EEP101/econ125
2.
What is biotechnology?
Biotechnologyis applying tools of molecular and cell
biology to problems of health, agricultural and industrial
production, and the environment.
It is a derivative of the discovery of the structure of
DNA in 1955 that revolutionized biology.
Techniques of biotechnology include cloning,
genetically modified varieties, genetic screening,
USDA Definition: Agricultural biotechnology is a collection of
scientific techniques, including genetic engineering, that are used
to create, improve, or modify plants, animals, and microorganisms.
Using conventional techniques, such as selective breeding,
scientists have been working to improve plants and animals for
human benefit for hundreds of years. Modern techniques now
enable scientists to move genes (and therefore desirable traits) in
ways they could not before - and with greater ease and precision.
3.
Lessons of medicalbiotechnology
major applications in terms of drugs, diagnostics, and
production of materials (like insulin).
The industry evolved around the universities. Many major
technologies were developed in universities and transferred
to companies. Examples: Genentech was originated by
scientists in Stanford and UCSF. Amgene by scientists
from UC San Diego, and Chiron by scientists at U.C.
Berkeley.
Process of technology transfer from universities to the
private sector sometimes evolved transfer of technology to a
start-up. The startup either grew to become a major
company or was taken over by Big Pharma.
4.
The Promise ofBiotechnology
Combating human diseases
Promoting human health - Researchers are creating ways to boost the
nutritional value of foods using biotechnology.
Combating animal diseases - Biotechnology helped produce a vaccine
that protects animals in the wild against rabies and a vaccine for
"shipping fever" of cattle, the biggest killer of beef cattle in feedlots.
Fighting hunger by resisting plant diseases and increasing crop yields -
Biotechnology can help farmers increase crop yields and feed even
more people. For example, by increasing areas where crops can grow
and fighting crop diseases.
Helping the environment by reducing pesticide use - Biotechnology can
help farmers reduce their reliance on insecticides and herbicides.
5.
Types of Agbiotech
1)pest control biotech, including resistance to pests (bT
corn), and resistance to pesticides (Roundup ready
soybean).
2) Yield-increasing varieties that are not pest-control
related. For example, drought-tolerant varieties.
3) Quality enhancing varieties that include longer shelf
life, better taste
4) Nutritionally-improved food (cholesterol free egg)
5) Fine chemicals and materials (silk, organic plastic,
oils)
6.
The Slow Evolutionof Agbiotech
While the first application of medical biotech were in
the 1980s, the commercialization of ag biotech
occurred in the late 1990s. There are several reasons:
In ag biotech, one deals with many species, in medical biotech,
with one species.
There is a much larger willingness to pay for drugs than for food.
There is more tolerance for risk when it come to production of
medical than food. Furthermore, ag biotech is produced in the field,
and requires extra care.
• Much more research money has been allocated to medicine than
crops
8.
Early Application ofAgbiotech
Early application of agbiotech includes Bt
and Roundup ready inserted varieties in
major field crops (corn, soybeans, tobacco)
Virus resistant papaya, and FlavorSaver
Tomatoes.
The Bt varieties mostly reduce pesticide use
in the U.S., but don’t affect yield.
There have been some drift of genetic
material towards wild corn.
There are some indicators of resistance-
buildup.
9.
The Case forAgbiotech
Agbiotech presents opportunities for
environmental quality improvement
and is a source of risk.
With good management, it has an
important role in the future of
agriculture.
Much of the value of agbiotech is in
the developing world. There is a big
debate whether it is appropriate
there. It will be addressed below.
10.
Attitudes toward Agbiotech
Therehas been significant resistance for the
introduction of agbiotech, especially in
Europe.
Agbiotech entails perceived risks, but
benefit to consumers of the early
applications are non-apparent.
There is lack of confidence in government
assurance, and in technology in Europe,
especially after mad cow disease.
Agbiotechnology may be opposed indirectly
by individuals that benefit from substitute
products. E.g. pesticide manufacturers.
11.
Presumed Points ofFailure
1. Productivity: Biotechnology aims to solve problems
of the North; will not make a difference in the
South.
2. Access: Biotechnology is controlled by corporations;
will not be accessible on feasible terms to poor
peasants.
3. Risks: Damage to environment and human health,
contamination of native genetic materials, and loss
of crop biodiversity
12.
Productivity: Yield-Increasing Potential
Yield= potential output x (1 - damage)
damage = f (pest, pest control)
Combination of high pest pressure and
minimal existing use of pest control
potential for yield-increasing effect
Attractive features of pest-control agricultural
biotechnologies
Simplicity of use
Reduction in use of chemicals or labor
13.
Productivity: Evidence forBt Cotton Gains
Bt cotton in:
United States: yield effect 0 – 15%
China: yield effect 10%
South Africa: yield effect 20%-40%
India: yield effect 60 – 80 %
In every country have reduction in chemical
usage
14.
The Impact ofBt Cotton in India
Bt cotton is used to provide resistance to the
American bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera).
The technology was developed by Monsanto
and was introduced in collaboration with the
Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco).
Field trials with these Bt hybrids have been
carried out since 1997 and, for the 2002/03
growing season, the technology was
commercially approved by the Indian
authorities.
15.
Our study
For ouranalysis, we use data from
on-farm field trials that were carried
out during the 2001/02 growing
season as part of the regulatory
procedure.
In 2001, field trials were carried out
on 395 farms in seven states of India.
These trials were initiated by Mahyco
and supervised by the regulatory
authorities.
16.
Experimental design
Three adjacent646 m2
plots were planted: the
first with a Bt cotton hybrid, the second with the
same hybrid but without the Bt gene (non-Bt
counterpart), and the third with a different hybrid
commonly used in the particular location (popular
check).
All three plots were managed by the farmers
themselves, following customary practices.
This setup allows reducing the effects of
differences in agroecological conditions and
managerial abilities when making technological
comparisons.
17.
The actual datasource
In addition to the regular trial records, more
comprehensive information was collected for
157 farms on agronomic aspects and farm and
household characteristics.
Observations from these 157 farms constitute
the data basis for this analysis.
They cover 25 districts in three major cotton-
producing states—Maharashtra and Madhya
Pradesh in Central India and Tamil Nadu in the
South. Plot-level input and output data were
extrapolated to 1 hectare to facilitate
comparisons.
18.
Results
Bt hybrids weresprayed three times less often
against bollworms than the conventional hybrids.
On average, insecticide amounts on Bt cotton
plots were reduced by almost 70%, which is
consistent with studies from other countries.
At average pesticide amounts of 1.6 kg/ha (active
ingredients) on the conventional trial plots, crop
damage in 2001/02 was about 60%. Bt does not
completely eliminate pest-related yield losses.
19.
Results II
Average yieldsof Bt hybrids exceeded
those of non-Bt counterparts and local
checks by 80% and 87%, respectively.
2001/02 was a season with high bollworm
pressure in India, so that average yield
effects will be somewhat lower in years
with less pest problems.
Bt
Non-Bt
counterpart
Popular
check
Sprays against bollworm0.62* (1.28) 3.68 (1.98) 3.63(1.98)
Sprays against sucking pests 3.57 (1.70) 3.51(1.66) 3.45(1.62)
Amount of insecticide (kg/ha) 1.74* (1.86) 5.56 (3.15) 5.43(3.07)
Toxicity class I 0.64*(1.10) 1.98 (1.78) 1.94(1.78)
Toxicity class II 1.07*(1.27) 3.55 (2.66) 3.46(2.60)
Toxicity class III 0.03 (0.08) 0.03 (0.08) 0.03(0.08)
Active ingredient (kg/ha) 0.48*(0.55) 1.55 (0.96) 1.52(0.95)
Yield (kg/ha) † 1,501*(857) 833(572) 802(571)
* Me an values are different from those of non-Bt counterparts and popular checks at a 5% significance
level.
† Yield levels refer to the amount of seed cotton before ginning.
Yield and pesticides use comparisons
22.
Region Pest
pressure
Availability
of chemical
alternatives
Adoptionof
chemicals
Yield
effect of
GM crops
Developed countries Low-med high high low
L.Am (commercial) medium medium high low -med
China medium medium high low- med
L.Am(non-commercial) medium low -med low med -high
South & So. east Asia high low -med low -med high
Africa high low low high
Predicted yield effects of pest controlling Biotech
Access: Biotechnologies inthe South
Most IP is generated by research in
the North
Transfer of public sector’s rights to the
private sector provides incentives for
development and commercialization
Companies have little incentive to
invest in applications specific to the
South
25.
Access: Biotechnologies inthe South
Companies are willing to give technologies for use
in South; good PR
Companies worry about liability, transaction costs
Universities with rights to technology will also be
open to transferring to South applications
Needed institutional mediation: IP clearinghouse
26.
Access: Objectives ofclearinghouse for IPR
Reduce search costs to identifying set of
technologies accessible
Reduce transaction cost for the
commercialization of innovations
Increase transparency about ownership of IPR
Provide mechanisms to manage negotiation of
access to IPR
Improve technology transfer mechanisms and
practices (mostly in public sector institution)
27.
Non-member
organizations
Member organizations
Non-member IPusers
Pooled sub-licensing
Assignment, license, or option for full or limited fields of use
Single patent sub-licensing
“Re-packaging”
IP providers:
IP users:
Member organization IP
users
Non-member IP users
Direct licensing
transactions
Access: Model of a clearinghouse for IPR
28.
Access: Reducing RegulatoryConstraints
Registration should be efficient. Excessive requirements
may be used as a source of political economic rent
seeking.
Borders are arbitrary. Countries can take advantage of
regulatory clearances granted elsewhere and
concentrate on addressing unique local problems and
risks.
Countries should develop regional alliances for
regulation and establish mechanisms for easy transfer
of regulatory information.
Environment: Sound Basisfor Risk Analysis
Is the Precautionary Principle a sound basis for risk
analysis?
There are always trade-offs between risks and benefits,
and between risks and risks.
In Africa, does risk of “genetic contamination” exceed risk of
starvation?
Agricultural biotechnology should be evaluated in
comparison to pesticides and other real alternatives.
In tropics, increased productivity would reduce pressure for
deforestation.
31.
Gmo’s are notperfect-
Gmo’s have problems-resistance buildup,
damage to secondary pests, genetic
contamination.
Refugia, monitoring of impacts, restriction of
use in some locations can address these
problems partially-but alternatives have
problems and risks that have to be considered.
Agricultural biotech is in its infancy- built up of
human capital and accumulation of -will lead
to eliminations of many bug and lead to better
technologies
32.
Environment: Sound Basisfor Risk Analysis
Risks and benefits should be quantified.
Sound reliability factors—i.e. confidence
intervals—should be used to standardize risk
estimates.
33.
Environment: Relative toModern Breeding
Biotech Can Enhance Crop Biodiversity
Main premise: Agbiotech allows minor
modification of existing varieties and under
appropriate institutional setup can be
adopted while preserving crop biodiversity
Conventional breeding involves often massive
genetic changes, and adjustments to
accommodate biodiversity are costly and
Well functioning IPR system can lead to crop
biodiversity preservation
Field data support this claim
34.
Table 1. Numberof available varieties for different GM
technologies in selected countries (2001/2002)
Country Technology
Area under
technology (ha)
Number of
local
varieties/hybrids a
Number of
imported
varieties/hybrids
USA RR soybean 22 million >1,100 0
Bt corn 7 million >700 0
Bt cotton 2 million 19 0
Argentina RR soybean 10 million 45 11
Bt corn 0.7 million 15 6
Bt cotton 22,000 0 2
China Bt cotton 1.5 million 22 5
India Bt cotton 40,000 3 0
Mexico Bt cotton 28,000 0 2
South Africa Bt cotton 20,000 1 2
35.
Environment: Biodiversity scenariosin the field
Strong IPRs, strong breeding sector, and low
transaction costs. (US) Private technology
owner will license the innovation to different
seed companies, who incorporate it into many
or all crop varieties, so that crop biodiversity is
preserved.
Strong IPRs, strong breeding sector, but high
transaction costs. (CGIAR) If an agreement
cannot be reached, companies will bypass
breeding sector, directly introduce GM crop
varieties that are not locally adapted.
36.
Environment: Biodiversity scenariosin the field
Weak IPRs and a strong breeding sector. (China)
Many different GM varieties are available
Farmers and consumers are beneficiaries. SR
social optimum.
Weak IPRs and a weak breeding sector. (Africa) If
foreign GM crop varieties are even introduced,
are done directly without adaptation. A loss of
local crop biodiversity.
37.
Biotech Could EnhanceCrop Biodiversity
Conventional breeding led to wholesale
replacement of land races with elite line
monocultures
Biotechnology could provide precise
improvements to traditional land races
Could lead to reintroduction of new
“technologically competitive” land races -
”Jurasic garden”
38.
Conclusions
Agbiotechnology has significantpotential for
developing countries; the challenge is to realize
that potential:
Productivity: yield effect of biotechnology tends to be
larger in developing countries
Access: institutions can reduce IP and regulatory
costs for developing countries
Risks: crop biodiversity can be preserved and could
even be restored with biotechnology
39.
Ag bio techis only part of the
solution
Ag biotech is more than Gmo’s.
It will evolve- alternative molecular
approaches will be developed-but
knowledge will not be accumulated without
experience
Development may be dependent on public and
private sector funding
Ag biotech must be pursued as part of a
portfolio of technology and knowledge tools
aiming to enhance productivity and
environmental sustainability of agriculture.
40.
Consider
250 million Americansare the “guinea pigs” for
agricultural biotechnology. Northern countries
also took the risk with cars and with modern
chemicals.
Africa missed the Green Revolution; will it also
miss the Gene Revolution?