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Consumer Activism, EU Institutions and Global Markets: The Struggle over Biotech Foods

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  • KURZER, PAULETTE
  • COOPER, ALICE

Abstract

This paper takes a critical look at the struggle between the European Commission and European consumer markets over the future of agricultural biotechnology. While the Commission is keen to normalize the commercialization of biotech foods and crops, European consumers refuse to eat/buy products containing genetically modified organisms (GMO) and have effectively closed the market to GMO. Is this a rare example of European citizens prevailing over the elitist technical decision making procedures in Brussels and the pro-GMO coalition of agro-chemical companies, biotech research institutes, big farming, and selected member states? We show that peculiar circumstances enabled consumer-protection and environmental NGOs to mobilize consumers and to deflect the Commission’s goal of introducing biotech foods for a time, a rare achievement in the annals of EU policymaking. However, shifts in global agricultural markets will render this more difficult in the future, in part by awakening dormant tensions within the European anti-biotech movement.

Suggested Citation

  • Kurzer, Paulette & Cooper, Alice, 2007. "Consumer Activism, EU Institutions and Global Markets: The Struggle over Biotech Foods," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(2), pages 103-128, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jnlpup:v:27:y:2007:i:02:p:103-128_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Ivan Bozhikin & Nikolay Dentchev, 2018. "Discovering a Wilderness of Regulatory Mechanisms for Corporate Social Responsibility: Literature Review," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 2, pages 145-174, June.
    2. Iván Darío Gómez Lee, 2016. "La Seguridad Jurídica. Una Teoría Multidisciplinaria Aplicada A Las Instituciones Vol.Ii," Books, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Facultad de Derecho, number 851, htpr_v3_i.
    3. Varios Autores, 2016. "Lecturas Sobre Derecho Del Medio Ambiente. Tomo Xvi," Books, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Facultad de Derecho, number 852, htpr_v3_i.
    4. Reinhard Steurer, 2013. "Disentangling governance: a synoptic view of regulation by government, business and civil society," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 46(4), pages 387-410, December.

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