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by David G. Victor (Author), C. Ford Runge (Author), Leslie H. PhD Gelb (Foreword by)
Genetically modified (GM) foods hold enormous economic, social, and nutritional potential but have also engendered strong opposition. Whether the promise of these agricultural innovations will ultimately be realized or derailed depends on the policies adopted by governments and firms during the next few years. This study outlines a long-term strategy for crop engineering and its implications for U.S. policy. It implores the U.S. and European governments not to lock horns in a formal trade dispute through the World Trade Organization over access to European markets for U.S.-grown and manufactured GM foods. Instead, the authors argue, the United States should support China and other countries that are more likely to advance the development of modified foods. The United States should also reinvigorate its investment in public agricultural research targeted to help the poorest farmers and consumers and should lead efforts to create new mechanisms for sharing the intellectual property rights essential to realizing this new technologys full potential. David G. Victor is director for the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development at Stanford University and adjunct senior fellow for science & technology at the Council on Foreign Relations. C. Ford Runge is distinguished McKnight University Professor of Applied Economics and Law at the University of Minnesota.
