No abstract

Some argue that the lack of modern agricultural development in the former socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe has made cutting-edge biotechnology attractive. However, enthusiasm for planting genetically modified (GM) crops varies greatly in the enlarged European Union (EU) and especially among the New Member States (NMS); the Czech GM maize area is progressively growing whereas Hungary imposed a de facto ban on GM crops. Remarkably, the Hungarian ban was not supported by any cost-benefit assessment. In the literature, ex ante impact assessments of monopolistically priced technologies are often based on cross-sectional comparisons of average cropping budgets. Such assessments ignore heterogeneity of farmers and underestimate the true impact of these technologies because of homogeneity bias. Therefore, we propose an improved method by explicitly modelling farmer heterogeneity under imperfect information, and assess the potential value and benefit sharing of GM crops in 1 Matty Demont is with the Africa Rice Center (WARDA), B.P. 96, Saint-Louis, Senegal.the two NMS using a stochastic partial equilibrium model. The total potential value of GM crops is estimated at €82 million for both countries, of which €60 million (73%) accrues to farmers and €22 million (27%) to the gene developers and the seed industry. This is in line with the literature on global benefit sharing of first-generation GM technologies.

There are major gaps between the actual and maximum attainable yields of crops. These gaps are largely attributable to pests, diseases and weeds. The main factors determining the intensity and occurrence of pests are the overall climate conditions of the locality and the course of weather within the given season, in addition to the abundance of host plants. While inter-seasonal weather variability and consequent fluctuations of individual pest species are well-known phenomena, The study compares two methods for modeling the potential distribution of pests when applied to the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner). The development of the European corn borer (ECB) is known to be closely correlated with daily air temperature as well as other climate variables. The climatic parameters are, therefore, used to predict the potential geographical distribution using tested tools such as CLIMEX or ECAMON. These models consider the climatic suitability of a given site/region for the pest's development and, thus, the possible establishment of a population at a given location. In this study, meteorological data from 1961 to 2000 and from 45 meteorological stations were used to characterise the current climate conditions in the Czech Republic. Validation was based on available field data of the occurrence of ECB in the same period. The climate parameters were later modified according to the estimates based on the combination of three SRES emission scenarios and three global circulation models. Under all climate change scenarios, we noted a marked shift of the pest's potential niches to higher altitudes, which might lead to an increase in the infestation pressure during the first half of this century. The present area of the univoltine population will increase due to temperature increases even above 800 m a.s.l. In addition there is a risk of the establishment of a bivoltine population in the main agricultural areas and 38% of arable land in the Czech Republic before 2050.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of cultivation, sowing, fertilisation techniques and chosen hybrids of maize upon infestation Ostrinia nubilalis. The experiment was performed in the maize monocultures in pilot plant test of Agrodružstvo Klas Křičeň (Pardubice district, Pardubice county) between 2001–2003. An increase in the number and the harmfulness of Ostrinia nubilalis were observed in the vegetation. This significant spread is the result of the monocultural way of growing the crop with the individual treatments being conducted on the same plots (damaged plant of year 2001 – 37 %, 2002 – 44 %, 2003 – 66 %). The time sowing method had a significant influence on the increased number of Ostrinia nubilalis (1st term of sowing 15,3 %, 2nd term of sowing 53,9 %). Only corn cobs were harvested and large amounts of postharvest remnants stayed on the field which acted as a reservoir for the next season. Neither various soil cultivation techniques, difference between the second sowing, soil protection technology, or traditional cultivation prove to be no significant (difference 7,0 %).

MU�KA, F.: Influence of meteorological factors on and their harmfulness to poppy stands in the Czech