Browsing by Person "Qaim, Matin"

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Can genetic engineering for the poor pay off? : an ex-ante evaluation of Golden Rice in India
(2006) Qaim, Matin; Sachdev, H. P. S.; Stein, Alexander J.
Genetic engineering (GE) in agriculture is a controversial topic in science and society at large. While some oppose genetically modified crops as proxy of an agricultural system they consider unsustainable and inequitable, the question remains whether GE can benefit the poor within the existing system and what needs to be done to deliver these benefits? Golden Rice has been genetically engineered to produce provitamin A. The technology is still in the testing phase, but, once released, it is expected to address one consequence of poverty ? vitamin A deficiency (VAD) ? and its health implications. Current interventions to combat VAD rely mainly on pharmaceutical supplementation, which is costly in the long run and only partially successful. We develop a methodology for ex-ante evaluation, taking into account the whole sequence of effects between the cultivation of the crop and its ultimate health impacts. In doing so we build on a comprehensive, nationally representative data set of household food consumption in India. Using a refined disability-adjusted life year (DALY) framework and detailed health data, this study shows for India that under optimistic assumptions this country?s annual burden of VAD of 2.3 million DALYs lost can be reduced by 59.4% hence 1.4 million healthy life years could be saved each year if Golden Rice would be consumed widely. In a low impact scenario, where Golden Rice is consumed less frequently and produces less provitamin A, the burden of VAD could be reduced by 8.8%. However, in both scenarios the cost per DALY saved through Golden Rice (US$ 3.06-19.40) is lower than the cost of current supplementation efforts, and it outperforms international cost-effectiveness thresholds. Golden Rice should therefore be considered seriously as a complementary intervention to fight VAD in rice-eating populations in the medium term.
Micronutrient malnutrition and the impact of modern plant breeding on public health in India: How cost-effective is biofortification?
(2006) Stein, Alexander J.; Qaim, Matin
Millions of people worldwide suffer from micronutrient malnutrition or ?hidden hunger?. The related deficiencies can have devastating consequences for the life, health and well-being of the affected individuals, but they may also perpetuate a vicious circle of undernutrition, low economic productivity and poverty. Hence, in many developing countries vitamin and mineral deficiencies are public health problems of primary concern. While economic development and rising incomes can only address undernutrition in the long run, conventional approaches also have weaknesses of their own. Therefore, ?biofortification? may be a promising intervention. The idea is to breed food crops for higher micronutrient content, which can be done through cross-breeding or genetic engineering. Targeting staple crops that fortify themselves has several advantages: the enriched crops simply follow the normal food chain and are eaten by the poor in bigger quantities. Moreover, the underlying germplasm of micronutrient-rich crops only needs to be developed once and can then be used around the world ? and farmers can grow and reproduce biofortified crops year on year and share the micronutrient-dense seeds. Therefore, the initial investments in R&D of biofortification can be followed by a continuous stream of benefits that accumulates over time and space, which suggests that biofortification can be a very cost-effective intervention. However, a more rigorous and comprehensive assessment of biofortification is still outstanding. This book has been written to narrow this knowledge gap and to offer a sound basis for future research and policy decisions regarding biofortification ? covering both, crops that are produced through conventional breeding and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). For this ex ante evaluation of biofortification, an impact assessment of five different crops (iron-rich rice and wheat, zinc-rich rice and wheat and beta-carotene-rich Golden Rice) has been done for India to determine their effectiveness. The main contribution of this study lies in the development of a methodology that reproduces the whole sequence of effects between the cultivation of the micronutrient-rich crops and their ultimate health impacts, taking into account various micronutrient levels in the crops, different rates of adoption and acceptance, and the ensuing improvements in individual nutrition status. To this end in this book the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) framework has been refined and applied to determine the disaggregate burden of disease of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), zinc deficiency (ZnD) and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in India. The assessment of the potential impact of the biofortified crops has been complemented by an economic evaluation, because mere effectiveness is a poor guide to policy making when resources are limited. Therefore, a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) have been carried out for each of the crops to determine their efficiency and their overall social profitability. The attributable costs of the R&D for the crops as well as the costs for related dissemination and extension activities within India have been juxtaposed to the expected health benefits. The resulting cost-effectiveness measure ($/DALY saved) has been compared to alternative micronutrient programmes and to benchmarks of international organisations for assessing public health interventions. By attaching a minimum value to each DALY saved, the benefits of biofortification were translated into monetary terms to calculate a lower bound of the social rates of return of the crops. These economic indicators could then be compared to those of other agricultural technologies. While conventionally bred biofortified crops are less contentious, genetically modified crops (GM crops) and, thus, the transgenic Golden Rice are controversially discussed in the ongoing debate about plant biotechnology. Therefore, related issues are discussed in more depth in special sections of this book, where the validity of common claims about Golden Rice is scrutinized. The study concludes that biofortification has the potential to help control vitamin and mineral deficiencies in a lasting and sustainable way ? even though the commitment and the support of key stakeholders may be necessary to achieve its full impact. The various economic analysis have also shown that biofortification promises to be a very cost-effective, efficient and socially profitable intervention, both if compared to alternative public health measures and if compared to other agricultural innovations. Nevertheless, to control micronutrient deficiencies, the importance of a more comprehensive strategy is underlined; in such a strategy other micronutrient interventions like targeted supplementation, fortification, dietary diversification, nutrition education and poverty reduction may all have a role to play.
On the distribution and adoption of genetically modified seeds in developing countries
(2004) Basu, Arnab; Qaim, Matin
Given the proprietary nature of most genetically modified (GM) seed technologies, the question arises as to how farmers in developing countries can gain proper access to these innovations. Based on empirical observations, a theoretical model is developed which focuses on farmers? adoption decisions in response to the pricing strategies of a foreign patent holder and the government. If the government is able to commit to the announced policy, subsidizing the use of traditional seeds can increase coverage of GM technology and domestic welfare. The possibility of the government obtaining a license to distribute GM seeds domestically through a transfer to the monopolist is also considered.
Potential impacts of iron biofortification in India
(2006) Bhutta, Zulfiqar A.; Stein, Alexander J.; Qaim, Matin; Meenakshi, J. V.; Nestel, Penelope; Sachdev, H. P. S.
Iron deficiency is a widespread nutritional problem in developing countries, causing impaired physical activity and cognitive development, as well as maternal mortality. Although food fortification and supplementation programmes have been effective in some countries, their overall success remains limited. Biofortification, that is, breeding crops for higher micronutrient content, is a relatively new approach. We propose a methodology for ex-ante impact assessment of iron biofortification, which builds on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and a large household data set. Our analysis of iron-rich rice and wheat in India indicates sizeable potential health benefits. The cost-effectiveness of iron biofortification compares favourably with other interventions.
Public attitudes towards genetically modified provitamin A Cassava in Brazil
(2010) Gonzalez Rojas, María Carolina; Qaim, Matin
Cassava is a basic staple food crop with worldwide distribution, mainly in developing countries. A fundamental source of energy for the poor, cassava grows well on marginal soils and resists pests and drought. In Latin America, Brazil is the largest cassava producer and consumer. The crop is especially important in the northeastern (NE) part of the country, where poverty and malnutrition rates are higher than in the rest of the country. However, despite the crop?s dietary importance, relatively little is known about consumer preferences, which holds true not only for Brazil but also for other developing countries. Understanding consumer preferences is crucial for technology and market development, especially in the context of provitamin A biofortification, as this entails a yellow-colored cassava root. The first article, titled ?Consumer Preferences for Cassava Characteristics in Pernambuco, Brazil?, addresses this research gap. Consumer preference for different cassava attributes are analyzed using household survey data and econometric techniques. A hedonic price model is specifically developed to estimate the values that consumers place on specific product attributes. Results show the most important characteristics for local consumers are ease of peeling, time of cooking, and texture; however, root color and size as well as market location are other relevant attributes in determining price. The second article, titled ?Consumer Acceptance of Second-Generation GM Foods: The Case of Biofortified Cassava in the Northeast of Brazil?, examines whether consumers would appreciate provitamin A biofortification and accept GM cassava. For this purpose, stated preference data, collected as part of the household survey, are used. Findings suggest that attitudes towards GM biofortified cassava are generally quite positive among local consumers. Three-quarters of all respondents in the survey said they would support the introduction of this new technology. Using contingent valuation techniques, consumers were shown to be willing to pay an average price premium of 64% for GM biofortified cassava. This is high but not unrealistic, given that vitamin A deficiency and related health problems are widespread in NE Brazil. In addition, a contingent ranking choice experiment was used to better understand the trade-offs between different cassava characteristics and estimate the partial willingness to pay (WTP) for each relevant attribute. For the provitamin A attribute alone, the average consumer is willing to pay a large premium of 160%. However, a discount is required for the color change of cassava from white to yellow (-29%), and an additional discount results from the fact that the cassava is genetically modified (-61%). These are important findings for biofortification research programs that have to make choices between conventional and GM breeding techniques. It is noted that a significantly positive WTP does not imply that GM provitamin A cassava will indeed be sold at a premium. The technology is being developed by the public sector with the aim to reduce malnutrition among the poor, so a low price should be sought to enable easy access. Hence, the WTP survey is a tool to better understand consumer attitudes rather than an approach to develop a pricing strategy for a new commercial product. The third article, titled ?Stakeholder Positions toward GM Food: The Case of Vitamin A Biofortified Cassava in Brazil?, gathers experiences from around the world and shows that stakeholder positions can crucially influence the efficiency of GM regulatory approaches and the success of new technologies. This research builds on a survey of a large range of local stakeholders. Overall, stakeholder perceptions about GM foods are relatively positive in Brazil. Statistical analysis shows that three groups of stakeholders can be distinguished: those in favor of GM crops, those against, and those that have a more or less neutral position. Representatives of local and multinational industries and those of several governmental entities belong mostly to the first group; international and national NGOs form the second group, while scientists are mostly found in the third group. Information sources and institutional/personal relationships influence individual stakeholder positions, as do socio-demographic characteristics, such as the level of education and age. An important result is also the high level of trust that stakeholders in Brazil have, in general, in the country?s research and academic sectors. Therefore, taking into account the relevance of information and the role played by the research sector, an effective system of distributing GM crop information via government agencies and/or public media is necessary to complement the knowledge of consumers so that they can make their own informed decisions.
The food system transformation in Vietnam : challanges for the horticultural sector posed by exports and changing consumer preferences
(2008) Mergenthaler, Marcus; Qaim, Matin
On the background of the food system transformation in developing countries, this cumulative dissertation answers the following research question in three articles: What are the determinants and implications of the food system transformation in the horticultural sector in Vietnam? The first article is entitled ?Quality Assurance Programs and International Market Access: Empirical Evidence from the Vietnamese Horticultural Industry?. It is based on a sample of 50 registered fruit and vegetable processing firms from allover Vietnam. With these firm survey data it is analyzed how private quality assurance programs (QAPs) in Vietnam?s horticultural sector influence the access to international markets. Results of different logistic regression models show that QAPs are critical determinants of international market access. However, the effect is market specific and depends on the type of program implemented. While international QAPs ? like HACCP, GLOBALGAP, or ISO 9000 ? notably improve access to countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), national QAPs seem to be sufficient for exports to non-OECD countries. Domestic market sales decrease the probability of being an OECD exporter and increase the probability of being a non-OECD exporter, suggesting a certain market segmentation between high-value exports on the one hand, and domestic sales and lower-value exports on the other. Although it is argued that the food system transformation is to a large extent demand driven, most of the studies available concentrate primarily on supply side aspects. For this reason, the second article entitled ?Changing Consumer Buying Habits in Developing Countries: A Disaggregate Demand Analysis for Fruits and Vegetables in Vietnam? analyzes changing purchasing and consumption habits for fresh fruits and vegetables. The analysis is based on data from a comprehensive survey of almost 500 households in Vietnam?s two major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Demand parameters are estimated with an almost ideal demand system (AIDS), disaggregating by product and process attributes that characterize modern, high-value supply chains, i.e. (i) place of purchase, particularly considering modern retailers, (ii) food safety indications, with an emphasis on formal labels, and (iii) region of production, with a focus on imports. Estimation results demonstrate that consumers? purchase decisions to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from emerging modern supply chains are heavily driven by household income (expenditures). Income elasticities range between 1.2 and 2.6. Own-price elasticities were found to be between -1.5 and -1.1 and the elasticities regarding distance to the nearest supermarket are between -0.6 and -0.3. Against the background of Vietnam?s current rapid economic development ? with incomes growing fast and supermarkets reaching higher penetration rates ? high-value agricultural products from modern supply chains will rapidly gain market shares at the expense of products from more traditional sub-sectors. In order to adapt to the new requirements in the horticultural sector, appropriate responses in supply chains are required. Such responses presuppose a good understanding of consumer preferences and valuation of new product attributes. Therefore the third article entitled ?Consumer Valuation of Food Safety and Quality Attributes in Vietnam? analyzes consumers? willingness to pay for different vegetable attributes, using contingent valuation techniques. In a mediation framework, special consideration is given to consumer perceptions. Comprehensive data from the above mentioned household survey in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City serve as the basis. Consumers are willing to pay an average price premium of 60% for vegetables that are free of agrochemical residues, and of 20% for a set of convenience attributes, like peeled and pre-cut vegetables. Rising income levels and media use have positive impacts on the willingness to pay. These impacts are partly mediated through different consumer perceptions. From a policy perspective, public media can and should be used to promote the spread of objective information, especially with respect to health issues. The results of the three articles have important implications for rural development strategies in poor countries, which are discussed in a concluding chapter.
Vitamin A and iron consumption and the role of indigenous vegetables: a household level analysis in the Philippines
(2006) Weinberger, Katinka; Qaim, Matin; Ecker, Olivier; Hönicke, Mireille
Micronutrient malnutrition is a public health problem in many regions of the developing world. Severe vitamin A and iron deficiencies are of particular concern due to their high prevalence and their serious, multiple health effects on humans. This paper examines dietary patterns and nutrient intakes, as well as their socioeconomic determinants among households in the Philippines. Since promotion of indigenous vegetables is often considered as an avenue to reduce micronutrient malnutrition, special emphasis is placed on analyzing the contribution of this particular food group to household vitamin A and iron intakes. We use a sample consisting of 172 resource-poor households located in peri-urban areas of Laguna Province. A 24-hour food consumption recall allows for detailed, meal-specific examination of diets. Results of the dietary analysis suggest that fish is of major importance for vitamin A and iron intakes. But also vegetables, and especially indigenous vegetables, play an essential role for balanced household diets. In order to determine socioeconomic factors influencing vitamin A and iron intakes, we employ an econometric model, which shows that deficiencies are strongly associated with low household incomes and poverty. Thus, poverty alleviation will help reduce the problem of micronutrient malnutrition in the medium and long run. However, in the interim, more targeted interventions will be needed. Our results suggest that promotion of indigenous vegetables can play a role in this respect, especially among the poor, who can often not afford sufficient amounts of animal products.