Agricultural Inputs and Plant Breeding: Herbicide Tolerance – Part I
Submitted by ETC Staff on
The use of genetic engineering to make plants tolerant of the damaging effects of herbicides.
Submitted by ETC Staff on
The use of genetic engineering to make plants tolerant of the damaging effects of herbicides.
Submitted by ETC Staff on
The development of high-yielding cacao varieties could lead to overproduction and jeopardize prize and stability of cacao-producing countries while shifting production from small-scale producers to large-scale plantations, the use of biotechnology to convert low-priced oils into cacao butter could drastically reduce the demand and price for cacao beans.
Submitted by ETC Staff on
Issue: The use of biotechnology to produce the intensely sweet thaumatin protein.
Plant: Thaumatin is derived from a fruit of a West-African rain forest shrub.
Countries affected: Product will be marketed as a low-calorie sweetener in Europe, Japan, USA
Impact: In combination with other newly developed sweeteners, these products offer the potential to erode traditional sugar markets
Submitted by ETC Staff on
Issue: Natural vanilla production via tissue culture technology.
Crop: Vanilla planifolia - the commercially important species of Vanilla orchis
Countries affected: Madagascar, Comoros islands, Reunion, Indonesia
Impact: possible loss of $67 million in annual export earnings.
Submitted by ETC Staff on
Product: Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) or Bovine Somatotropin (BST)
Purpose: Designed to dramatically increase milk production in dairy cattle
Counties affected: USA and Europe initially
Impact: Drop in milk prices, loss of 25-30% of dairy farmers, changes in cropping patterns, narrowing of genetic base of dairy cattle
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