Conceptual framework for ex-ante evaluation at the micro/macro level of GM crops with health benefits

• Scientifically underpinned framework to evaluate GM crops with health benefits.
• Review topics: acceptance, willingness-to-pay, health impacts & cost-effectiveness.
• We present the state-of-the-art on the main methods and evidence for each topic.
• Application: Review of eight socio-economic studies on Folate Biofortified Rice.
• This GM rice crop has a large market demand and would be highly cost-effective.

Socio-economic research plays an important role to successfully introduce novel, controversial goods, such as GM food. This review presents a conceptual framework to explore the market potential of GM food with health benefits at both micro and macro level. While the former examines consumer acceptance and willingness-to-pay, the latter assesses the health impacts and cost-effectiveness. Thereby, underlying theories, methods and empirical research underpinning each line of inquiry are reviewed. By compiling results from eight socio-economic studies, Folate Biofortified Rice is taken as a case to illustrate how the framework contributes to assess its market demand as well as cost-effectiveness.