History and Past Activities
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History and Past Activities |
ESA Conference: Ageing Societies, New Sociology
September 23-26, 2003 in Murcia, Spain
Two streams of sessions of the
Research Network 18: Sociology of Science and Technology (SSTNET)
Convenors:
Raymund Werle: Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Köln, Germany (werle@mpi-fg-koeln.mpg.de)
Marja Häyrinen Alestalo: Dept. of Sociology, University of Helsinki, Finland (marja.alestalo@helsinki.fi)
Luísa Oliveira: DINÂMIA/ISCTE, Lisboa, Portugal (luisa.oliveira@iscte.pt)
Maarten Mentzel: 38 Johan de Wittstraat, 2334 AR Leiden, The Netherlands (m.a.mentzel@planet.nl)
First Stream: Governing Science and Technology in the Era of Globalization
Wednesday Sept. 24
14.30 - 16.30 session 3 (Campus de La Merced)
Chair: Maarten Mentzel
3.2. Author(s): Fernandez, M./Corripio, Reyes
Institution: Pontificia Comillas de Madrid University (Corripio, Reyes)
Professional Category:
City: Madrid
Country: Spain
E-mail: mcarmen@cee.upco.es, rcorripi@infjur.upco.es
CONTROVERSIAL INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS AFFECTING INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES IN THE EUROPEAN AGRIFOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY SECTOR
In the European Union (EU) public opinion toward agro biotechnology seems to reflect a consumers' negative attitude liked to uncertainty and a host of diffuse negative risk perception. In addition, other institutional factors like regulatory norms has been reinforced starting in 1990. Since that time, regulatory framework has been frequently revised increasing uncertain market conditions. As a result Biotechnology industry has focused most of investments in non-plant related areas where mechanisms for product approval are in place and functioning. This evidence could contrasts with the public European strategies innovation implemented to increase levels of private and public R&D in order to reduce technical gap and competitiveness with the United States. The main objective of this article is to evaluate the possible effects of biotechnology legislation enforcement in the economic welfare of consumers, farmers and food industry in the EU. By doing so this study tries to balance the advantages (or benefits) and the risks (or costs) posed by regulating the use and expansion of these new technologies. We will focus on the difficulties in the clarification and harmonisation of the European legislation as a controversial institutional factor that can constraints on the development of agricultural biotechnology industry. Finally we present policy recommendations in regulation of genetically modified organisms identifying a number of areas in which improvements are needed.
Sociology of Science and Technology NETwork - last update: April 2006