This book includes 6 chapters examining the relevance of transgenic crops in food production, prices and the environment. It initially describes the historical evolution of biotechnology and defines key terms, before moving on to explore transgenic technology and food regime concepts. It analyses...

This chapter discusses the safety and nutritional assessment of transgenic plants and their derived products in the European Union. The nutritional and safety assessment of transgenic plants in other parts of the world is also summarized briefly.

This chapter deals with some of the contentious court cases involving patent eligibility issues in life science areas in several countries, including the European Union (EU), USA, UK and India. Court cases on patent eligibility of thiopurine drugs to treat autoimmune diseases, diagnostic method for ...

This chapter emphasizes direct trade in GM crops. It notes that two distinct groupings of countries are emerging in formulations of regulatory regimes for GM foods. One group is the EU 'club' where a combination of bans and restrictions on trade are being implemented. The second group is the North...

This chapter investigates the potential cost of complying with the proposed European Union (EU) traceability requirements as they pertain to transgenic soyabean. The topics discussed include: EU labelling and traceability regulations; assessing the costs of traceability; adaptation and cost...

This chapter analyses the ex ante welfare effects of the adoption of herbicide tolerant sugarbeet in the sugar industry using a model. The geographical distribution of production and trade of sugar is analysed. A welfare framework shaped to the European sugar sector to assess the size and...

This contribution is based mainly on ongoing research in an EU Framework 5 research programme. Wheat is a self-compatible, wind-pollinated species whose flowers are often cleistogamous. Crop to crop gene flow is very limited. Field experiments demonstrate that the distance of wheat pollen dispersal ...

According to EU Directive 2001/18/EC and its Appendix VII, there will be mandatory monitoring of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) placed on the market to: (i) trace and identify eventual effects of the placing on the market of GMOs; and (ii) give feedback to the risk assessment procedure. A...