Title: Plant biotechnology and agricultural supply industry restructuring

Authors: Gerald Assouline, Pierre-Benoit Joly, Stephane Lemarie

Addresses: Universite Pierre-Mendes France (Grenoble) and QAP Decision Consultants (Theys), UFR DGES, Grenoble Cedex, France. Universite Pierre-Mendes France, BP 47 X, 38040 Grenoble Cedex, France. INRA-Grenoble, Universite Pierre-Mendes France, BP 47 X, 38040, Grenoble Cedex, France

Abstract: The strategic horizon of the agricultural supply industry (pesticides and seeds) is darkened by grave uncertainties. These are the result of the growing multiform resistance of society to the present or potential risks of genetically modified organisms to health and the environment. They are also the consequences of counter-strategies implemented by economic players who are close to final consumer markets. This type of situation generates an increasing distrust among financial community towards this activity its profitability is no longer attractive compared with the pharmaceutical industry, thus encouraging the massive ongoing restructuring process [1].

Keywords: pesticides; seeds and agrochemical industries; risks; uncertainties; profitability; industrial strategies; biotechnologies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2002.000188

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2002 Vol.4 No.2/3, pp.194-210

Published online: 13 Jul 2003 *

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