A growing pool of genomic knowledge and remarkable reductions in the cost of genetic sequencing is revolutionizing the identification of plant pathogens and phytosanitary risks. This article examines ...available technologies of plant testing for genetics, residues, and contamination that can be imposed at port locations for the trade of bulk commodity crops. Access and deployment of lower-cost detection technologies could fundamentally change phytosanitary practices with potential consequences for agricultural trade. Investment in testing for the presence of transgenic dockage or plant and soil diseases will likely decrease time and arbitration costs. Implementation of diagnostics testing could not only protect the exporters’ position, but it could also lead to future implications of trusted trade or higher standards of phytosanitary policy. The lack of rigorous export testing creates the opportunity for trade protectionist countries to claim that commodity imports fail to meet import standards, which can either lower the price or result in shipment rejection. The failure of commodity shipments to comply with import thresholds is a regular occurrence, yet resolutions are achieved that do not disrupt international trade. This rise in the ability to accurately test for pathogen detection provides the opportunity for safer commodity trade, but also the rise in protectionism.
When GM crops were first commercialized, science-based risk assessments and regulations were applied to ensure food (human and animal) and environmental safety. Early adopting countries were ...Argentina, Canada, China, Europe and the United States. Over the intervening 20 years, commercial production spread to an additional 25 countries. With 20 years of adoption history, it is possible to assess if the diffusion of regulations away from a primarily science-based approach has impacted not only the adoption of GM crops, but also the diffusion of specific GM traits. By assessing GM crop adoption patterns it is possible to gain insights into the relationship between regulatory systems and adoption. To do this an analysis of adoption patterns has been utilized. The objective of the analysis is to look for differences and trends in GM crop adoption across traits, countries and years of diffusion. Timelines of adoption are used to show the correlation between regulatory systems and adoption. This analysis provides insights into whether market saturation points are shortening or lengthening, whether familiarity with traits is reducing regulatory timelines and whether the diffusion curve plateaus or trails off over time. Determining the impact regulations have on GM crop adoption provides both regulators and industry development firms with valuable information on the efficiency of GM crop regulations over time.
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