The results of a study conducted by the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) are now available. The book Concentration
in Seed Markets provides an in-depth assessment of structural changes in
global markets for seed and biotechnology based on new data on market
concentration across a broad range of countries and crops, and considers
potential policy responses.



Recent mergers in the seed industry have led to concerns about market
concentration and its potential effects on prices, product choice, and
innovation. The OECD study provides new and detailed empirical evidence on
the degree of market concentration in seed and GM technology across a broad
range of crops and countries, and analyzes the causes and potential effects
of concentration. It also explains how competition authorities have
responded to recent mergers, and suggests policy options to help safeguard
and stimulate competition and innovation in plant breeding by avoiding
unnecessary regulatory barriers, by facilitating access to genetic resources
and intellectual property, as well as by stimulating public and private R&D.
As this study shows, policymakers have several levers besides competition
policy to ensure an innovative and competitive seed industry.

[www.oecd-ilibrary.org]
kets_9789264308367-en