Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo principal analisar o efeito da adoção das tecnologias utilizadas pelos produtores típicos de grãos (soja, milho e trigo) da região oeste do Paraná sobre a rentabilidades de culturas e sistemas entre os anos-safras 2007/08 e 2016/17, período que corresponde à mudança entre a baixa adoção de tecnologias modificadas geneticamente para um cenário de grande dependência e utilização. Este período também corresponde a uma mudança significativa na destinação das áreas e das culturas dentro da propriedade típica, com prioridade para o cultivo da soja no verão e incremento do cultivo de milho na 2ª safra, assim como maior utilização da área total na 2ª safra. A propriedade típica de Cascavel (PR) foi utilizada como base das informações analisadas. O ferramental utilizado se apoiou no trabalho realizado por Paiva (1975), comparando os resultados em termos de receita líquida de dois cenários produtivos específicos, um tradicional e outro moderno. A premissa é que o agricultor escolherá ou adotará a atividade e a técnica que apresentar melhor resultado e vantagem econômica. O período tradicional levou em consideração os resultados produtivos e de custos de produção das safras 2007/08, 2008/09 e 2009/10, em que a propriedade típica de Cascavel cultivava ainda um percentual alto de variedades de soja e híbridos de milho convencionais, assim como no portfólio de culturas semeava o milho na 1ª safra. A 2ª safra foi semeada com milho e trigo, mas sem ocuparem a totalidade da área disponível para o cultivo. O período moderno abrangeu os anos safras 2014/15, 2015/16 e 2016/17. Nestas safras, a propriedade típica de Cascavel (PR) passou a cultivar toda a área com soja e milho modificados geneticamente. A soja preencheu toda a área da 1ª safra e o milho a maior parte da área da 2ª safra. O trigo completou o cultivo da 2ª safra. Milho 2ª safra e trigo passaram a ocupar uma parcela maior da área disponível em 2ª safra. No geral, os resultados aqui apresentados indicaram que as receitas líquidas dos anos mais recentes (2014/15, 2015/16 e 2016/17) superaram as registradas nos anos bases de análise (2007/08, 2008/09 e 2009/10), direcionando para um contexto em que o produtor adotou técnicas com melhor benefício econômico/financeiro. / The research main objective is analyze the impact of technology\'s adoption on typical grain producers (soybean, corn and wheat) profitability on the western region of Paraná and between the years 2007/08 and 2016/17, a period that corresponds a change from low genetically modified technologies adoption to a scenario of high dependence and utilization. This period also corresponds to a significant change in the allocation of areas and crops within the typical farm, with priority for summer soybean production and increment of corn cultivation as second crop, as well as greater utilization of the total area in the second crop. The typical farm of Cascavel (PR) was used as the basis to the analyzed information. The tool used was based on Paiva (1975), comparing results in terms of net revenue of two specific production scenarios, one traditional and other modern. The premise was that the farmer will choose or adopt the activity and technique that present the best result and economic advantage. The traditional period considers productivity and production costs of the 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10 harvests where Cascavel\'s typical farm still cultivated a high percentage of conventional soybean varieties and corn hybrids as well as portfolio of crops sowed corn in the first crop. The second crop was sown with maize and wheat, but did not occupy the entire area available for cultivation. The modern period covered the 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 season. In these harvests, the typical property of Cascavel began to cultivate the entire area with genetically modified soy and corn. Soybean filled the entire area of the 1st crop and maize most of the area of the 2nd crop. The wheat completed the cultivation of the 2nd crop. Over the seasons it has been found more intensive cultivation system in the 2nd crop area, increasing corn sowing and reducing wheat. In addition, the typical farm no longer sowed maize in the first crop and began to sow only genetically modified soybeans and corn. In general, the results presented here indicate that most recent years (2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17) net revenues exceed those recorded in the base analysis years (2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10), leading to a context in which the producer has adopted better techniques over time.

by Chan, Yuk Wah. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-175). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii / ABSTRACT --- p.v / 摘要 --- p.vii / LIST OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xvii / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xviii / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- GENERAL INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Vitamin A --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- General and properties --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Biological importance of vitamin A --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Deficiency symptoms --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Dietary source of vitamin A --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Metabolism of dietary vitamin A and provitamin A in human --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.5.1 --- Digestion and absorption --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.5.2 --- Bioconversion --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.5.2.1 --- "β, β-carotene-15,15'-monooxygenase (BCMO)" --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.5.3 --- "Transport, uptake and storage" --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2 --- Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Present situation --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Global efforts in dealing with VAD --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Vitamin A supplementation --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Food fortification --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Biofortification --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.2.3.1 --- Conventional selective breeding --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.2.3.2 --- Biosynthesis of provitamin A in plants --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.2.3.3 --- Carotenoids enhancement in major plants and food crops --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3 --- Inherent problems of the present carotenoid enhancement --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Recommended Dietary Amount of vitamin A --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Factors affecting the bioefficacy of provitamin A in human body --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Bioavailability --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Bioconvertibility --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Health and nutrition status --- p.39 / Chapter 2.4 --- Previous study in our lab --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Overexpression of rice PSY1 --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Introduction of carotenoid genes and BCMOs into rice --- p.44 / Chapter 2.5 --- Overview of the project --- p.50 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.52 / Chapter 3.1 --- Chemicals --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2 --- Bacterial strains in regular cloning --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3 --- BCMO genes and carotenogenic genes --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4 --- Expression of BCMOs in bacterial system --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- lac promoter system --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- pBAD-TOPO® system --- p.56 / Chapter 3.5 --- Construction of gene cassettes for plant transformation --- p.58 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Gene cassettes for carrot transformation --- p.58 / Chapter 3.5.1.1 --- Construction of gene cassettes for chicken or zebrafish bcmo driven by CaMV 35S promoter --- p.58 / Chapter 3.5.1.2 --- Construction of gene cassettes for chicken or zebrafish bcmo driven by lycopene-β-cyclase promoter --- p.63 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Gene cassettes for Arabidopsis transformation --- p.67 / Chapter 3.5.2.1 --- Construction of gene cassettes expressing Dcpsy --- p.67 / Chapter 3.5.2.2 --- Construction of gene cassettes expressing mbcmos --- p.69 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Gene cassettes for Rice transformation --- p.72 / Chapter 3.5.3.1 --- Construction of gene cassettes expressing mbcmos --- p.72 / Chapter 3.5.3.2 --- Construction of gene cassettes expressing Ospsyl and mbcmos --- p.74 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Confirmation of sequence fidelity --- p.76 / Chapter 3.6 --- Carrot transformation --- p.76 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Plant materials --- p.76 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Preparation of Agrobacterium --- p.76 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Agrobacterium mediated transformation --- p.77 / Chapter 3.6.3.1 --- Seed germination --- p.78 / Chapter 3.6.3.2 --- Co-cultivation with hypocotyls --- p.78 / Chapter 3.6.3.3 --- Callus induction and selection --- p.78 / Chapter 3.6.3.4 --- Liquid cell culture preparation and embryogenesis induction --- p.79 / Chapter 3.6.3.5 --- Regeneration --- p.80 / Chapter 3.7 --- Arabidopsis Transformation --- p.80 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Plant materials --- p.80 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Preparation of Agrobacterium --- p.81 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Agrobacterium mediated transformation --- p.81 / Chapter 3.7.3.1 --- Co-cultivation --- p.81 / Chapter 3.7.3.2 --- Selection --- p.82 / Chapter 3.8 --- Rice transformation --- p.83 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Plant materials --- p.83 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Preparation of Agrobacterium --- p.83 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Agrobacterium mediated transformation --- p.83 / Chapter 3.8.3.1 --- Callus induction from mature rice seeds --- p.84 / Chapter 3.8.3.2 --- Co-cultivation and selection --- p.84 / Chapter 3.9 --- Detection of transgene expression --- p.86 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Detection at DNA level --- p.86 / Chapter 3.9.1.1 --- Genomic DNA extraction --- p.86 / Chapter 3.9.1.2 --- PCR screening --- p.86 / Chapter 3.9.1.3 --- Synthesis of DIG-labelled DNA probes --- p.86 / Chapter 3.9.1.4 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.87 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Detection at RNA level --- p.88 / Chapter 3.9.2.1 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.88 / Chapter 3.9.2.2 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.89 / Chapter 3.9.2.3 --- RT-PCR --- p.89 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Detection at protein level --- p.89 / Chapter 3.9.3.1 --- Antibody production --- p.89 / Chapter 3.9.3.1.1 --- B.CMO protein induction in pET30a-bacterial system --- p.90 / Chapter 3.9.3.1.2 --- Immunization of rabbit and serum collection --- p.93 / Chapter 3.9.3.2 --- Protein extraction and Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.93 / Chapter 3.9.3.3 --- Western blot analysis --- p.94 / Chapter 3.9.4 --- Detection at final product level --- p.95 / Chapter 3.9.4.1 --- UPLC analysis --- p.95 / Chapter 3.9.4.1.1 --- Extraction of total carotenoids and retinoids --- p.95 / Chapter 3.9.4.1.2 --- UPLC identification --- p.96 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- RESULTS --- p.97 / Chapter 4.1 --- Modified bcmo genes --- p.97 / Chapter 4.2 --- Expression of BCMOs in bacterial system --- p.102 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- lac promoter system --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- pBAD-TOPO® system --- p.106 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- UPLC detection --- p.108 / Chapter 4.3 --- Carrot transformation --- p.110 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Construction of gene cassettes for carrot transformation --- p.110 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Seed germination and co-cultivation --- p.112 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Callus induction and selection --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Embryogenesis induction and regeneration --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Callus induction in the dark --- p.115 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Detection of native BCMO --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.6.1 --- Genomic PCR screening of 35Spro - zebcmo transgenic lines --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.6.2 --- Southern blot analysis of 35Spro - zebcmo transgenic lines --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.6.3 --- RT-PCR of 35Spro - zebcmo transgenic lines --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.6.4 --- Detection at protein level --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.6.4.1 --- Antibody production --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.6.5 --- Western blot analysis of 35Spro - zebcmo transgenic lines --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.6.6 --- Genomic PCR screening of later transgenic lines --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.6.7 --- Western blot analysis of later transgenic lines --- p.125 / Chapter 4.3.6.8 --- UPLC analysis of later transgenic lines --- p.127 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Detection of modified BCMO --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3.7.1 --- Genomic PCR screening --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3.7.2 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.132 / Chapter 4.3.7.3 --- Western blot analysis --- p.134 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- UPLC analysis --- p.136 / Chapter 4.4 --- Arabidopsis transformation --- p.138 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Construction of gene cassettes for Arabidopsis transformation --- p.138 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Selection --- p.139 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Genmoic PCR screening of Arabidopsis transformants --- p.140 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- UPLC analysis for Arabidopsis transformants --- p.142 / Chapter 4.5 --- Rice transformation --- p.144 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Construction of gene cassettes for rice transformation --- p.144 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- "Callus induction from mature rice seeds, co-cultivation and selection" --- p.146 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Genomic PCR screening of Rice transformants --- p.147 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- UPLC analysis of rice transformants --- p.149 / Chapter CHAPTER 5. --- DISCUSSION --- p.151 / Chapter 5.1 --- Bacterial expression of BCMO --- p.151 / Chapter 5.2 --- Analysis of BCMO in plants --- p.153 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Carrot --- p.154 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- Expression of BCMO in carrot transformants --- p.154 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- UPLC analysis of carrot transformants --- p.155 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Arabidopsis --- p.156 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Rice --- p.158 / Chapter 5.3 --- Proposed explanation for the failure of retinal production --- p.159 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Retinal sequestration --- p.160 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Localization of BCMO --- p.161 / Chapter 5.4 --- Future prospects --- p.163 / Chapter CHAPTER 6. --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.165 / REFERENCES --- p.166 / APPENDICES --- p.176

As economies develop, novel products are created and markets for these products arise. Genetically modified food (GMF) is an example of such a novel product and provides economists with the opportunity to investigate an infant market. Of particular interest with GMF is the impact of consumer reactions on the market. The response of consumers to GMF and their willingness to pay for it has emerged as an important factor in the development of this technology. This research investigates these consumer responses. Prior research suggests that two aspects of consumer behaviour may be relevant for the GMF market. First, consumers may react differently to different types of GMF, so that some products are potentially more economically viable. Secondly, some consumers appear to prefer not having GMF at all. Consumer behaviour is often framed according to neoclassical economic theory. Consumer preferences over goods and the attributes of those goods are generally held to have certain properties. The aspects of consumers' reactions to GMF noted above, however, may be in conflict with two properties of preferences in neoclassical theory. First, preferences over food attributes are not separable, but may interact with each other. Secondly, some consumers may have preferences regarding GMF that are not continuous. As a result, aggregate impacts of introducing GMF may be difficult to measure, which raises a third issue for investigation, aggregation. Finally, an alternative model of consumer behaviour is bounded rationality, which theorises that choices may be discontinuous as a result of specific protocols. It also suggests that consumers seek to make good-enough choices, rather than attempting to maximise their satisfaction. Thus, optimisation or maximisation is the fourth issue considered in this thesis. In order to investigate these properties of consumers' preferences, a choice experiment survey was developed. The strength of a choice experiment for examining these issues is its focus on the impact of each product attribute on a respondent's choices. Thus, it may be possible to identify potentially discontinuous choice patterns and to identify choices affected by interactions between GM technology and other food attributes. Results from a neoclassical analysis of the survey data suggest that some consumers consider the type of benefit created with GM technology in making their choices. In addition, one-quarter to one-half of respondents may have had discontinuous preferences with respect to GMF. Reactions to GMF appear related to respondents' attitudes, but not to socio-economic or demographic descriptors. As a result, aggregate measures of the impact of GMF may not fully account for consumers' responses. A boundedly rational model also has reasonable goodness of fit, and may provide a different perspective on consumer behaviour. It is hoped that the results of this research provide a better understanding of consumer behaviour regarding GMF and, by extension, of the process of consumer adoption of novel products. It is further hoped that this attempt to incorporate choice protocols into discrete choice analysis will provide a useful example for further research.

No description available.

<p>This study examines the possible incompatibility between environmental conventions and agreements promoting international trade. More specifically, it aims at discussing the Precautionary Principle and the WTO agreements on trade and how they might contradict each other on the international arena. The study focuses on the international trade with genetically modified organisms and discusses probable needs of reformulating the principles and/or conventions concerned if these are to function as tools of equal importance when handling environmental problems through policy making. The controversy is illustrated through a case-study of a trade dispute where the conflicting principles: the Precautionary Principle and WTO agreements on trade are involved, namely a dispute where a formal complaint to the WTO by the US, Canada and Argentina about the European Community supposedly applying a de facto moratorium on genetically modified organisms had the final outcome of the European Community being found to contravene international trade rules. The study concludes that actors on the international arena are still opinions apart concerning the way to perceive possible risks connected to biotechnology and genetically modified organisms. This incongruence is also found to apply to the status of the Precautionary Principle as a rule of international law as well as to which of the conventions that were applicable to the concerned dispute.</p>

<p>The aim was to study consumer attitudes to and perceptions of organic and genetically modified (GM) foods and factors influencing the purchase/non purchase of these two types of foods. Data were collected by two questionnaire surveys (random nation-wide samples of 2000 consumers, response rate 58% and 39% respectively) and one interview study (n=40).</p><p>A majority of the consumers had positive attitudes towards purchasing organic foods but few reported purchasing organic foods regularly. The most common beliefs about organic foods were that they are more expensive and healthier. Choice of organic foods was related to the perceived consequences for human health and to environmentally friendly behaviour. Perceived positive health consequences appeared to be a stronger motive for purchasing organic foods than were environmental benefits.</p><p>Attitudes towards genetic engineering (GE) appear to be dependent on the application area. Medical applications were generally more easily accepted than were food and agricultural applications. However, all medical applications were not equally accepted. Consumers had generally rather negative attitudes towards GM foods, which were perceived as not being healthy. GM of animals for food production was perceived more negative than GM of plants. Tangible benefits of GM foods, like being better for the environment or healthier, seemed to have a potential to increase willingness to buy.</p><p>The results indicate that the attitudes to organic and GM foods differ: the attitude to organic foods is positive while the attitude to GM foods is more negative. Further, the perceptions of organic and GM foods are opposed in relation to health. The purchase of organic foods and the potential willingness to purchase GM foods appear to be related to positive consequences for health and the environment.</p>

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the Swedish debate regarding genetically modified food products. What does the moral disagreements within this debate entail? In which way would it be possible to obtain and maintain a true dialogue? Is consensus a plausible or even a desirable goal? Can communicative ethics contribute? These questions are analysed in this research project.</p><p>The project focuses on three themes of the debate on genetically modified food 1990-2000 in Sweden. The first theme is in relation to the concepts: natural and unnatural. Within the debate on genetically modified food, there have been various wide ranging arguments on whether or not genetic modification is natural or unnatural. </p><p>The second theme concerns the concepts of risk and benefit. Safety questions and possible risks and benefits have been subjects of discussion and debate for a long time. This analysis highlights the way risks or benefits are valued. What does it mean if something is a risk? </p><p>The third theme concerns the argumentations regarding democracy, mostlyin relation to labelling discussions. Democracy is used to describe freedom of choice, another argumentation focuses on the right to be a part of the decision making process.</p><p>The last part of the thesis discusses the question whether communicative ethics can contribute to obtain dialogue between various parties, and whether consensus is possible or even a desirable as a goal. How would this function in a debate where there is an ethical disagreement based on divergent ethical standpoints? </p>

The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the Swedish debate regarding genetically modified food products. What does the moral disagreements within this debate entail? In which way would it be possible to obtain and maintain a true dialogue? Is consensus a plausible or even a desirable goal? Can communicative ethics contribute? These questions are analysed in this research project. The project focuses on three themes of the debate on genetically modified food 1990-2000 in Sweden. The first theme is in relation to the concepts: natural and unnatural. Within the debate on genetically modified food, there have been various wide ranging arguments on whether or not genetic modification is natural or unnatural. The second theme concerns the concepts of risk and benefit. Safety questions and possible risks and benefits have been subjects of discussion and debate for a long time. This analysis highlights the way risks or benefits are valued. What does it mean if something is a risk? The third theme concerns the argumentations regarding democracy, mostlyin relation to labelling discussions. Democracy is used to describe freedom of choice, another argumentation focuses on the right to be a part of the decision making process. The last part of the thesis discusses the question whether communicative ethics can contribute to obtain dialogue between various parties, and whether consensus is possible or even a desirable as a goal. How would this function in a debate where there is an ethical disagreement based on divergent ethical standpoints?

The aim was to study consumer attitudes to and perceptions of organic and genetically modified (GM) foods and factors influencing the purchase/non purchase of these two types of foods. Data were collected by two questionnaire surveys (random nation-wide samples of 2000 consumers, response rate 58% and 39% respectively) and one interview study (n=40). A majority of the consumers had positive attitudes towards purchasing organic foods but few reported purchasing organic foods regularly. The most common beliefs about organic foods were that they are more expensive and healthier. Choice of organic foods was related to the perceived consequences for human health and to environmentally friendly behaviour. Perceived positive health consequences appeared to be a stronger motive for purchasing organic foods than were environmental benefits. Attitudes towards genetic engineering (GE) appear to be dependent on the application area. Medical applications were generally more easily accepted than were food and agricultural applications. However, all medical applications were not equally accepted. Consumers had generally rather negative attitudes towards GM foods, which were perceived as not being healthy. GM of animals for food production was perceived more negative than GM of plants. Tangible benefits of GM foods, like being better for the environment or healthier, seemed to have a potential to increase willingness to buy. The results indicate that the attitudes to organic and GM foods differ: the attitude to organic foods is positive while the attitude to GM foods is more negative. Further, the perceptions of organic and GM foods are opposed in relation to health. The purchase of organic foods and the potential willingness to purchase GM foods appear to be related to positive consequences for health and the environment.

This study examines the possible incompatibility between environmental conventions and agreements promoting international trade. More specifically, it aims at discussing the Precautionary Principle and the WTO agreements on trade and how they might contradict each other on the international arena. The study focuses on the international trade with genetically modified organisms and discusses probable needs of reformulating the principles and/or conventions concerned if these are to function as tools of equal importance when handling environmental problems through policy making. The controversy is illustrated through a case-study of a trade dispute where the conflicting principles: the Precautionary Principle and WTO agreements on trade are involved, namely a dispute where a formal complaint to the WTO by the US, Canada and Argentina about the European Community supposedly applying a de facto moratorium on genetically modified organisms had the final outcome of the European Community being found to contravene international trade rules. The study concludes that actors on the international arena are still opinions apart concerning the way to perceive possible risks connected to biotechnology and genetically modified organisms. This incongruence is also found to apply to the status of the Precautionary Principle as a rule of international law as well as to which of the conventions that were applicable to the concerned dispute.