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Summary: While biotechnology innovation is concentrated in high income, “Tier I” countries, international diffusion of innovations to improve the diet, health, and incomes of the poorest will be largely driven by “Tier II” innovators such as China and Brazil. Adoption of beneficial biotechnologies in “Tier II” and “Tier III” countries will increase as more transgenic versions of conventionally grown varieties become available and as costs decline, which in turn will depend upon regulatory approvals being needed only once for each transformation event and transaction costs for accessing technologies being minimized. Investments in higher education and intellectual property clearinghouse institutions can greatly facilitate technology transfer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Biofuels have been criticized for raising food prices and reducing food production. While biofuels have rightly been blamed for contributing to reduced food security at a time of record-high food prices in 2008, they have not been credited with reducing the cost of gasoline, also at a time of record-high prices. We discuss the food-versus-biofuel trade-off associated with biofuel production and model the effects of biofuel production in markets for key crops and gasoline, showing that food consumers lose from biofuels but gasoline consumers enjoy substantial benefits. We also suggest ways to address the food-versus-biofuel debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]