Innovation, Supply Chain Control, and the Welfare of Farmers: The Economics of Genetically Modified Seeds

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Genetically modified seeds offer farmers dramatic new innovations that revolutionize how they grow crops. An ever more concentrated supply industry is marketing these innovations in novel ways, using technology fees, product bundling, patent protecting contracts, and strict enforcement. Farmers face a choice between dramatic new technologies accompanied by restrictive contracts and conventional technologies readily purchased in a spot market. This article explains why there is greater concentration among seed suppliers, why new marketing arrangements are emerging, and how these conditions might make farmers better or worse off.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1302-1326
Number of pages25
JournalAmerican Behavioral Scientist
Volume44
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Education
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • General Social Sciences

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