Steven Wolf and David ZilbermanUniversity of California Concentration in the agricultural biotechnology sector and general patterns of restructuring raise important policy questions regarding public investments in research and extension. We argue that the most valuable contributions public sector organizations can make to…
Greg TraxlerAuburn University The structure of the United States (US) public-private plant genetic research system is being transformed by the emergence of practical biotechnology protocols for creating transgenic plants; and by strengthened intellectual property protection in plants. This paper draws on some…
Carl E. PrayRutgers University Public private collaboration in plant biotechnology is unusual in China because the private sector plays a very small role in the Chinese agricultural input industry. There are few public private collaborations and also some examples of collaboration between…
Vernon W. RuttanUniversity of Minnesota A combination of population and income growth will more than double the demand for food and other agricultural commodities over the next half century. Advances in crop productivity during the twentieth century have largely been based on…
Nicholas KalaitzandonakesUniversity of Missouri A barrage of mergers and acquisitions (M&As;) in the seed industry, executed by a few large biotechnology and agrochemical companies at sensational prices, has attracted much attention over the last three years. These M&As; have coincided with the…
Marvin HayengaIowa State University In this paper, the restructuring of the seed and chemical industries is discussed. Impacts on the herbicide and insecticide markets are detailed, along with the contractual relationships between biotechnology seed suppliers and farmers. Antitrust issues raised by the…
William LesserCornell University The relationships between intellectual property rights (IPRs) and structural change are examined in this paper. Intellectual property rights are a complex, multifaceted area and one in which corporate strategies are poorly understood. Nevertheless, it is argued here that IPRs…
Sano M. ShimodaBioScience Securities, Inc. Technological innovation is creating a catalyst for new dimensions of growth and a corporate restructuring around the value creation potential of agriculture. This paper provides an overview of the recent commercialization of agricultural biotechnology. The key strategic…
Bruce BjornsonUniversity of Missouri Market values of agricultural seed and biotechnology firms have increased in recent years due to expected future growth increases from a proliferation of new genetic technologies. In this paper, a market valuation index is constructed for leading firms….
Paul E. KindingerAgricultural Retailers Association Consumer driven developments in biotechnology will create new food systems with customized food products. It is argued that a large percentage of agricultural products will be produced under strict contractual guidelines, and that relationships between farmers, manufacturers,…
