This chapter focuses on Canada's novel approach to GM regulations. It discusses the recently adopted Agricultural Growth Act (AGA) which amends several key aspects of the Seeds Act and the Plant Breeders' Rights Act. The implications of AGA for intellectual property rights (IPRs), seed ownership...

This chapter covers the government regulation of transgenic fish and biotechnology products in different countries (USA, Canada and UK). Focus is given on regulations regarding the research and marketing of transgenic food organisms, culture of transgenic fish, introduction and release into the...

This chapter raises issues associated with gene flow in the case of plant-made pharmaceuticals (PMPs). Following an overview of the importance of PMPs, recent developments in this field and the possible environmental concerns are discussed. Recent developments include: plants with engineered...

This chapter compares trade patterns for Canada and the USA in oilseed rape, maize, and soyabeans by specifically examining the value of exports in these products. Data have been gathered from the 1990-96 period, prior to the commercialization of GM crops. This is compared with the...

This chapter uses firm-specific data from the Canadian oilseed rape industry to examine a number of research spillovers among public and private firms. The effect of 'spill-ins' is examined at the firm level in terms of their impact on research output, sales revenue and a measure of downstream...

This book examines why genetically modified (GM) agricultural crops that are approved as safe in North America (Canada and the USA) are facing significant regulatory hurdles in gaining access to the European Union. It illustrates the challenge of regulatory regionalism created by social regulatory...

This chapter characterizes the North American regulatory approach to agricultural biotechnology products by examining its development in the USA and in Canada. This includes identifying the public initiatives to promote biotechnology, as well as the efforts to regulate agricultural biotechnology....

This chapter summarizes the history of rapeseed cultivation and evolution of scientific knowledge leading to innovations in rape. It draws on a number of sources, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulatory directives on the biology of Brassica napus and Brassica rapa [Brassica...

The objective of this chapter is to estimate the returns to yield-increasing Canadian rape research over time (1960-97) as a means of examining whether the changes in the rape research industry have affected the returns to research. The chapter begins by presenting a simple economic model to show...

Regulations affecting marketing rights for transgenic crops are reviewed. Both Canada and the USA restrict field trials and selling of transgenic crops. The property rights situation for conventional pesticides in the USA is explained to demonstrate how rights could evolve for the 'plant pesticide' ...