Ongoing Impact Studies
Environmental Impacts of Bt Eggplant in the Philippines
Adoption of insect resistant biotech crops had shown to offer significant health and environmental benefits due to reduction in pesticide use. In the Philippines, development of biotech eggplant that confer resistance to fruit and shoot borer (FSB) is underway. This study aims to quantify environmental and health benefits of Bt eggplant using different valuation models available. Health benefits are quantified using health costs function and risk avoidance model. Environmental impacts are assessed by determining differences in field environmental impact quotient (EIQ) based on pesticide load of eggplant production using conventional hybrids and the Bt technology.
Costs and Benefits of the Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV) Resistant Technology in the Philippines
The development of biotech crops entails long process and significant costs. These include research costs in developing the technology and the regulatory costs that account for the real resources used, government regulation, transitional costs, and social welfare costs. As the experience to develop and regulate biotech crops increases, understanding the process and the costs involved becomes indispensable in rationalizing the whole biotechnology development and regulatory framework. This study attempts to estimate development and regulatory costs involved in the development of PRSV resistant papaya in the Philippines. Benefits that will accrue to both producers and consumers are quantified using economic surplus model.
