This paper examines state agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) data, 1950-1982, for evidence of convergence, i.e., TFP growth rates of the future are inversely related to the TFP level at the starting data. After finding evidence of convergence, the paper examines the contributions of public and private R&D to convergence and presents implications for a more efficient organization of public agricultural research. For example, we &id that increasing a states own investment in public agricultural research reduces the rate of TFP convergence but larger public investments in surrounding areas that potentially spilling increase the rate of convergence. Also, the results imply that the average rate of convergence in our best fitting model is about 10 percent per year. The finding of strong positive interstate spillover effects of public agricultural research suggests incentives should be considered for stronger cooperation across states on agricultural research funding and new political jurisdictions for financing public agricultural research.
We examine the welfare impact of different intellectual property protection (IPP) regimes in private sector seed research and development (R&D). We take into account the period after expiration of legal IPP, and require simultaneous equilibrium in markets for R&D, seeds, and final product. Optimal IPP is remarkably insensitive to alternative parameterizations, except for R&D productivity. Results suggest that optimal IPP is greater than IPP in the U.S. seed corn market, but lower than the IPP that could be attained with genetic use restriction technologies. Optimal IPP is much higher than IPP achieved under open-pollinated crops or where legal IPP is limited. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.
Many changes affecting the management of genetic diversity occurred following recommendations made by the National Research Council in the aftermath of the Southern Leaf Corn blight epidemic of 1970–1971. New maize (Zea mays L.) breeding programs involving both publicly and privately funded collaborators were initiated. The number and scope of international maize breeding programs increased. Changes in germplasm usage included reduced usage of Lancaster Surecrop Oh43 and Mo17 types with increased use of Iodent. In contrast, continued and significant reliance upon Iowa Stiff‐Stalk Synthetic (BSSS) germplasm has persisted. The availability of exotic germplasm for potential use in U.S. maize breeding has increased. However, we could find no publicly available information confirming the recent deployment of exotic germplasm on U.S. farms. Estimated global dependence upon Corn Belt Dent (CBD) germplasm is highly skewed; four countries producing 55% of global maize are 84–88% reliant on CBD. The United States and China, which collectively contribute 46% of global maize production, are 92% dependent. Trends in global usage of CBD germplasm mirror those previously seen in the United States. Concerns about genetic vulnerability that were initially addressed by the U.S. National Research Council should now be considered on a global scale.
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