Agricultural biotechnology and poverty reduction in low-income countries

SummaryWhile biotechnology innovation is concentrated in high income, “Tier I” countries, international diffusion of innovations to improve the diet, health, and incomes of the poorest will be largely driven by “Tier II” innovators such as China and Brazil. Adoption of beneficial biotechnologies in “Tier II” and “Tier III” countries will increase as more transgenic versions of conventionally grown varieties become available and as costs decline, which in turn will depend upon regulatory approvals being needed only once for each transformation event and transaction costs for accessing technologies being minimized. Investments in higher education and intellectual property clearinghouse institutions can greatly facilitate technology transfer.