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The regulatory systems in place prior to the development and expansion of agricultural biotechnology are still responding to this new form of technology. Such systems include trade law, intellectual property law, contract law, environmental regulations and biosafety regulations.This book reviews these regulatory changes and consists of 24 chapters developed from papers presented at a conference of the International Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology Research, held in Italy in July 2002. It primarily considers the relationship between these changes and innovation, market development and international trade. ... Read more

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Focusing on the application of biotechnology to agricultural devlopment, this work begins with a farmer's view, assesses farmer-based and science-based technology, and then looks at the socio-political context. A range of technologies from the simple to the technologically sophisticated are considered, as are long established and widely applied technologies. The first part of the text examines rural peoples' existing biotechnology practices in the areas of animal health, bio pesticides, food processing and crop genetic resources. Part two focuses on science-based biotechnology research and assesses the potential of existing technologies and the socio-political context of formal sector research. The book presents a participatory and interactive methodology for development for biotechnologies for small scale farmers in the tropics that builds on farmers' knowledge and makes use of scientific insights. The final part sets out a model for integrating the formal and informal research and development systems. ... Read more

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This book presents the first thorough economic analysis of current agricultural biotechnology regulation. The contributors, most of whom are agricultural economists working either in universities or NGOs, address issues such as commercial pesticides, the costs of approving new products, liability, benefits, consumer acceptance, regulation and its impacts, transgenic crops, social welfare implications, and biosafety.

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Vexing Nature? On the Ethical Case Against Agricultural Biotechnology is a collection of philosophical essays on the ethical dimensions of agricultural biotechnology and genetically modified (GM) crops. Agricultural biotechnology refers to a diverse set of industrial techniques used to produce genetically modified foods. Genetically modified (GM) crops are plants manipulated at the molecular level to enhance their value to farmers and consumers.The ethical issues discussed in Vexing Nature? On the Ethical Case Against Agricultural Biotechnology are diverse and complex. Comstock addresses such concerns as the possibility of genetic engineering producing unanticipated allergens in previously safe foods, unexpectedly toxic health supplements, novel GM diseases, environmental catastrophe, bizarre new lines of animals possessing genes taken from humans, exceedingly wealthy corporations more powerful than the nations trying to regulate them, bankrupted family farmers in the US and Europe, exploited peasant farmers in developing countries, inhumanely treated animals in our labs and on our farms, and corrupted attitudes to nature among our children.In a fascinating narrative account of a journey that began in 1988 and ended twelve years later, Comstock tells the story of how he, an early and somewhat vocal critic of agricultural biotechnology, changed his mind about the ethical acceptability of GM organisms (GMO). Once tempted to oppose all uses of genetic engineering in agriculture, Comstock came to believe that many uses are morally justifiable, and even required. Vexing Nature? On the Ethical Case Against Agricultural Biotechnology explains his early, anti-GMO, position; the ethical, environmental, economic, social justice and animal rights arguments that led him to reverse himself; and the implications of his new position for public policy. ... Read more

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Thought out and risky
Not often do you find a philosopher in mid-career willing to go out on a limb and share their personal search for truth in such a emotionally charged area of ethics.Must read for anyone who takes Bioethics seriously. ... Read more

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During the past twenty-five years, biotechnology has revolutionized agricultural research. The enormous potential, together with a landmark decision by the US Supreme Court to allow the patenting of genetically-engineered organisms has encouraged private sector companies to invest in agricultural biotechnology research programmes. This has contributed to a rapid growth in interest in intellectual property rights as applied to this subject.The first edition of this book was published in 1998. Now fully revised and updated it presents definitive information on intellectual property law in a simplified form (with a minimum of legal jargon). New chapters have been added which cover plant variety protection and farmers rights, and additional case studies. ... Read more

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Biotechnology offers great potential to contribute tosustainable agricultural growth, food security and poverty alleviationin developing countries. Yet there are economic and institutionalconstraints at national and international levels that inhibit the poorpeople's access to appropriate biotechnological innovations.Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries: TowardsOptimizing the Benefits for the Poor addresses the majorconstraints. Twenty-three chapters, written by a wide range ofscholars and stake-holders, provide an up-to-date analysis ofagricultural biotechnology developments in Latin America, Africa andAsia. Besides the expected economic and social impacts, the challengesfor an adjustment of the international research structure arediscussed, with a special focus on intellectual property rights andthe roles of the main research organizations. Harnessing thecomparative advantages of the public and private sectors throughinnovative partnerships is the only way forward to optimize thebenefits of biotechnology for the poor. The book will be an invaluableresource for both academics and policy-makers concerned withagricultural biotechnology in context of developing-countries. ... Read more

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Advances in biotechnology are beginning to have a major impact on agricultural productivity in developed countries. This book reviews the prospects for effective application of biotechnology in developing countries and its potential impact on North-South trade. ... Read more

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Following on from earlier titles in this series, this volume presents further material generated by the World Bank/ISNAR/Australian government biotechnology study. It covers the present status and future prospects for the application of biotechnology to solve agricultural and environmental problems in twelve countries: Kenya, Zimbabwe, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. ... Read more

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With contributions from internationally recognized experts, Food Safety of Proteins in Agricultural Biotechnology comprehensively addresses how toxicology testing of proteins should be accomplished and how protein safety assessments should be carried out. Beginning with a background on protein biology, the book delineates the fundamental differences among proteins and small molecular weight chemicals that impact their safety assessment. It discusses the life cycle of proteins and explains why some protein toxins exert toxic effects and others do not.

Drawing attention to the increasingly popular insect-protected Bt crops, contributions provide a detailed history of the safety assessment and environmental impact of these crops and answer many safety questions. The editors include the safety assessment process developed for enzymes, one of the earliest applications of proteins in food processing and production. The book addresses protein pharmaceuticals, focusing on the unique challenges of testing protein therapeutics in humans. It summarizes the food safety issues and controversies surrounding the use of bST to increase milk production in dairy cows.

This unique volume also provides nuts and bolts information on conducting safety tests such as how to confirm that an introduced protein does not fit the profile of known allergens, how to carry out dietary exposure assessments for proteins introduced into food crops, and how to use sources of food consumption databases that are available internationally. It provides four case studies on the safety assessment of proteins of different structure and function to be introduced into biotechnology-derived agricultural crops. The final chapter is a review and distillation of the previously presented information on protein safety assessments and provides strategies for the safety assessment of future biotech products under development. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting and unbiased and highly recommended
Public Health and Agricultural Biotechnology by Mitchell Berger is "A report submitted to the Faculty of the Dept of Environmental and Occupational Health of the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory Univ. in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Public Health."As such, it is a highly interesting, educational, factual, and highly unbiased accountof agricultural biotechnology.

As the sub-title indicates, this book deals with the Legal, Ethical, and Scientific controversies presented by genetically altered foods.Berger does a great job of telling both sides of the story.This book is well written, easy to understand, and educational.

I purchased this book as a companion to two other excellent books on this subject, Seeds of Deception and Shedding Light on Genetically Engineered Food. I wish everyone in the U.S. would read Mitchell Berger's most excellent book. ... Read more

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The decision of the Environment Council of the European Union (EU) to impose a moratorium on the authorization of new genetically modified crops and foods has led to a high profile trade conflict with the United States. This book analyses the EU-US conflict over GMOs and uses it to explore the governance of new a technology.

Although a lot has been written about the EU-US conflict over GMOs this book discusses aspects of the case that are rarely, if ever, reported and examined. This is particularly so with respect to the roles played by various transatlantic networks of stakeholders and the links between public controversy and changes in regulatory science in the EU and the US. This book will also deal with the EU-US conflict over GMOs as a case study through which to discuss broader issues, focusing particularly on how the case contributes to our understanding of the governance of new technology.

This accessible book will appeal to undergraduate and post-graduate students, academics and policy makers working on a wide range of issues including international relations, politics, economics, geography, business management, environmental and development studies, science and technology studies. ... Read more