Title: Innovation dissemination and the market impacts of drought-tolerant, genetically modified rice

Authors: Mamane M. Annou, Frank H. Fuller, Eric J. Wailes

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Economics and Business, University of Guelph 218 MacClachlan BLDG, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada. ' Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), Iowa State University, 575 Heady Hall, Ames, IA 50011-1070, USA. ' University of Arkansas, Agriculture Building, Room 226, Fayetteville, AR 72701

Abstract: Drought-Tolerant (DT) rice technology is a potential tool to improve productivity in regions with insufficient or variable water supply. The impacts of DT rice adoption are analysed using the Arkansas Global Rice Model to demonstrate that DT rice would benefit the early investors in developing and adopting DT varieties. Developing countries could take advantage of the technology if widespread adoption occurs. World rice prices would decrease substantially conferring a potential benefit to consumers. Producer welfare gains are small or negative, but overall impacts may result in increased food security in poor regions of the world.

Keywords: technology adoption; agricultural biotechnology; technology dissemination; drought tolerance; food security; market impacts; drought tolerant rice; simulation model; productivity improvement; developing countries; genetically modified rice; GM rice.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2005.006449

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2005 Vol.7 No.1/2/3, pp.113 - 127

Published online: 10 Mar 2005 *

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