Title: The impact of CRISPR/gene-edited wheat technology adoption on global wheat trade and welfare: evidence from partial equilibrium analysis

Authors: Prince Fosu

Addresses: Department of Economics, College of Business Administration, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA

Abstract: Previous research analysing the impact of biotech has focused on yield and production of corn, soybeans, cotton, and barley with limited studies on wheat. In addition, most of these studies focuses on countries such as the USA, Canada, and Australia with little focus on Argentina and Russia. This study analysed the impact of gene-edited wheat technology adoption on global wheat trade, consumer welfare, and producer welfare for five producing and 23 consuming countries using the partial equilibrium analysis. The results from trade flows show that developing (low-income) countries mainly import gene-edited wheat from Argentina and Russia. In addition, low-income countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Nigeria, Brazil, Egypt, and Venezuela continue to consume gene-edited wheat in all scenarios. The welfare analysis shows that all consuming countries experience a welfare gain except Japan, Korea, Belgium, Netherlands, and Italy. More so, all producing countries experience a gain in producer welfare. The results of the study suggest that the adoption of gene-edited wheat technology promotes both consumer and producer welfare and total welfare from trade. The outcome of the study has important implications for global food security.

Keywords: gene-editing; wheat; trade; partial equilibrium analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2025.144599

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2025 Vol.15 No.1, pp.52 - 73

Received: 28 May 2024
Accepted: 27 Oct 2024
Published online: 23 Feb 2025 *

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