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The Limits of intellectual property rights: Lessons from the spread of illegal transgenic seeds in India

Author

Listed:
  • N. Lalitha

    (Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad)

  • Carl E. Pray

    (The State University of New Jersey)

  • Bharat Ramaswami

    (Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi)

Abstract

Genetically modified seeds have to be approved by biosafety regulators before they can be commercialized. Illegal seeds are, however, common in many developing countries including Brazil, China and India. They potentially pose dangers to biosafety and also undermine the intellectual property rights of firms that own the genetically modifed traits. Their unchecked spread has been attributed to the near impossibility of enforcement when potential violators involve millions of small farmers. Based on a survey of cotton growers in Gujarat, India in 2004, and an examination of the structure of cotton seed production this paper finds that the government, in fact, possesed the information and means to enforce the law. A contingent valuation exercise reveals high relative valuations for illegal seeds correlated with the perceived costs of pesticide application. We discuss how that matters to the political cost of enforcement and to socially optimal policies

Suggested Citation

  • N. Lalitha & Carl E. Pray & Bharat Ramaswami, 2008. "The Limits of intellectual property rights: Lessons from the spread of illegal transgenic seeds in India," Discussion Papers 08-06, Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi.
    • Handle: RePEc:alo:isipdp:08-06
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    File URL: http://www.isid.ac.in/~pu/dispapers/dp08-06.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ronald Herring, 2007. "Stealth seeds: Bioproperty, biosafety, biopolitics," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 130-157.
    2. Devparna Roy & Ronald Herring & Charles Geisler, 2007. "Naturalising transgenics: Official seeds, loose seeds and risk in the decision matrix of Gujarati cotton farmers," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 158-176.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Minten, Bart & Singh, K.M. & Sutradhar, Rajib, 2013. "Branding and agricultural value chains in developing countries: Insights from Bihar (India)," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 23-34.
    2. ARORA, Anchal, 2014. "Pricing Of Bt Cotton Seeds In India: The Debate Behind," Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics (RAAE), Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, vol. 17(2), pages 1-4, November.
    3. Huang, Jikun & Chen, Ruijian & Qiao, Fangbin & Wu, Kongming, 2015. "Biosafety management and pesticide use in China's Bt cotton production," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 67-75.
    4. Gruere, Guillaume P. & Sun, Yan, 2012. "Measuring the contribution of Bt cotton adoption to India's cotton yields leap:," IFPRI discussion papers 1170, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Anchal Arora & Sangeeta Bansal, "undated". "Diffusion of Bt Cotton in India: Impact of Seed Prices and Technological Development," Centre for International Trade and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Discussion Papers 11-01, Centre for International Trade and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Intellectual Property Rights; Biosafety Regulation; Genetically Modified Seeds; Transgenic Varieties; Bt Cotton;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services

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