Th e introduction of hybrid rice in the United States gives producers an alternative to traditionally cultivated, conventional lines. Th e objective of our study is to estimate the economic (consumer and producer welfare) and environmental impacts of the commercial adoption of hybrid rice in the Mid-South of the United States. In our study, the revenue gains associated with hybrid adoption were estimated at an average of $76.24 million annually from 2003 to 2013, using existing research fi ndings in combination with original modeling. Disease packages, specifi cally the blast resistance found in all publically released hybrids, led to both cost and fungicide reductions, which in turn result in higher profi ts and increased levels of environmental sustainability. Th e cost savings from eliminating fungicide applications and mitigating yield loss through embedded blast resistance in hybrids were estimated at $14.35 million annually from 2003 to 2013. Th e RiceFlow model results from our study suggest that the yield premiums through heterosis and blast resistance associated with hybrid adoption in the MidSouth increased US exports by 383,000 Mg annually and has fed an additional 5.89 million people annually. Furthermore, the results from our detailed Life Cycle Assessment show that hybrid rice has lower environmental (fossil fuel depletion, ecotoxicity, carcinogenics, eutrophication, acidifi cation, global warming, and ozone depletion) impacts per megagram of rice than conventional rice.
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