Julian M. Alston
University of California, Davis
Jeffrey Hyde
Pennsylvania State University
Michele C. Marra
North Carolina State University
Paul D. Mitchell
Texas A&M University
If a new corn rootworm resistant transgenic corn technology had been adopted on all of the United States acres treated for corn rootworm in the year 2000, the total benefits in that year alone would have been $460 million: $171 million to the technology developer and seed companies, $231 million to farmers from yield gains, and a further $58 million to farmers as nonpecuniary benefits associated with reduced use of insecticides. Our nationwide survey of corn producers suggests that initial adop- tion might be as low as 30%, implying first-year benefits of about $138 million.
Key words: Biotechnology, corn rootworm, economic benefits, nonpecuniary benefits.