Purpose
The notion that agricultural biotechnology would affect food supply chains "beyond the farm gate" is not new. For agricultural output with altered traits, redefinition of the commodity supply chain has long been recognized as at least necessary for value to be captured, if not desirable so that brand premiums could be achieved. Traditional supply chains were envisioned as sufficient for distribution of input trait-modified crops, since these biotech inventions assumedly do not affect value to the end-user or are not physically differentiable. The current public controversy surrounding agricultural biotechnology, however, indicates that the need to redefine the food supply chain may be necessary for agricultural biotechnology to continue to evolve and its benefits captured in society. This project evaluates options to redefine the commodity supply chain so agricultural biotechnology can play an accepted evolutionary role in helping to provide improved food to the public.
Objectives
This project consists of four main objectives:
- To develop a conceptual and empirical framework for understanding how consumers and the general public perceive risks associated with biotechnology in the food system.
- To identify producer attitudes towards risks and returns in agricultural biotechnology.
- To design and examine strategic options that contribute to successfully or mitigating consumer concerns about risk.
- To design supply chain which meet the needs of food consumers and agricultural producers.
Impact
The research program seeks to understand the interrelationships that are inherent in the current structure of the agrifood chain and their influence on biotechnology acceptance. It is expected that insights from such interrelationships can clarify current and future market placement of biotechnology and project institutional and market solutions related to the deployment of biotechnology through the agrifood chain that will improve social welfare and improve efficiency.
