Title: Science, technology and innovation policy to sustain agricultural biotechnology in emerging economies: evidence from Mexico

Authors: José Carlos Rodríguez; César L. Navarro-Chávez; Mario Gómez; Margarita Mier

Addresses: Economic and Business Research Institute, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio ININEE, Morelia, Mich., 58004, Mexico; Centre – Urbanisation Culture Société, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, 385, rue Sherbrooke Est, Montreal QC, H2X 1E3, Canada ' Economic and Business Research Institute, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio ININEE, Morelia, Mich., 58004, Mexico ' Economic and Business Research Institute, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio ININEE, Morelia, Mich., 58004, Mexico ' Economic and Business Research Institute, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio ININEE, Morelia, Mich., 58004, Mexico

Abstract: This paper analyses agricultural biotechnology in emerging economies. Particularly, the case of Mexico is studied as an example of how agricultural biotechnology has evolved in these countries. A system dynamics (SD) model is developed to evaluate alternative science, technology and innovation (STI) policy scenarios of biotechnology activity in Mexico. From this analysis, it seems that cooperative and mission STI policies are more suitable for supporting and developing agricultural biotechnology. This analysis supports the idea that the presence of venture capital markets, a positive attitude among consumers for consuming genetically modified organisms (GMOs), an entrepreneurial attitude among scientist, and the development of management capabilities are core variables to advance biotechnology innovation systems (BISs) in emerging economies.

Keywords: biotech firms; biotechnology innovation systems; BISs; science technology and innovation policy; STI policy; system dynamics; agricultural biotechnology; venture capital markets; management capabilities; emerging economies; Mexico; consumer attitudes; genetically modified organisms; GMOs; GM crops; entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.068934

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2014 Vol.13 No.4, pp.198 - 229

Received: 24 Jun 2013
Accepted: 27 May 2014
Published online: 30 Apr 2015 *

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