Although the true economic impact of genetic modifications is yet to be realized, the potential of this new technology to benefit the food processing industry and to improve food quality is enormous. Specific genetically modified whole foods and food ingredients that have recently become available or are about to become available are described and discussed in relation to their technical performance and consumer acceptance. The regulatory, ethical and communication issues in food biotechnology are also reviewed. As the products of gene technology come on stream, decisions need to be made as to whether or not to use them. Yet, many food industry professionals have little or no background in biotechnology and have a limited concept of possible applications in foods. Therefore, this book aims to foster a greater understanding of the benefits and potential pitfalls of this new technology.

This volume brings together fresh insights from top agricultural economists in the areas of consumer attitudes, environmental impacts, policy and regulation, trade, investment, food security, and development, in an attempt to provide a new perspective on the most pressing policy questions facing GM technology.

The debate about the use of genetically modified organisms in European agriculture is fuelled by the fear of the general public about potential risks of GM farming, whether substantiated or not. Transgenic food is suspected to cause bodily harm, have a negative impact upon the health of animals, weaken the productivity of conventional farmland, reduce biodiversity or otherwise deteriorate the environment, to name but a few dangers popping up in the public debate. Apart from setting standards for GM farming and requiring safety checks for transgenic products, all jurisdictions also provide for the case that such risks should materialize. These are not necessarily novel approaches - classic tort law already offers remedies for such losses. Sometimes these traditional solutions are enhanced or replaced by alternative redress schemes. This volume compares twenty European and four non-European jurisdictions in this respect and provides special analyses from an economic and insurance perspective as well as surveys of cross-border dispute resolution and international law.