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Economic Incentives and Resource Allocation in U.S. Public and Private Plant Breeding

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Keith O. Fuglie  and
Thomas S. Walker
Keith O. Fuglie
Affiliation:
International Potato Center in Bogor, Indonesia and Lima, Peru
Thomas S. Walker
Affiliation:
International Potato Center in Bogor, Indonesia and Lima, Peru
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Abstract

Private investment in plant breeding has been increasing while public plant breeding has stagnated or declined. Moreover, research investment among crop commodities is uneven. Using a comprehensive survey of U.S. plant breeders from 1994, we use a simultaneous equations model to examine incentives and public-private tradeoffs in plant breeding research among 84 crop commodities. Allocation of private breeders among crops is strongly influenced by market size, hybrid seed technology, and ease of breeding improvement. In general, the allocation of public breeders does not appear to “crowd out” private breeders, but some competition may occur in applied breeding. Public breeding declines as private breeding increases on a commodity. Public breeding is also affected by market size, ease of breeding improvement, and political influence.

Keywords

agricultural research policyhybrid seedplant breeders' rightsthree stage least squarestobitQ160L330O310O320
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , December 2001 , pp. 459 - 473
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2001

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