Concentration and Technology in Agricultural Input Industries

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英文名称：

Concentration and Technology in Agricultural Input Industries

作者：

John King

工作单位：

USDA's Economic Research Service

来源地址：

https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=42326

关键词：

Industry concentration;  consolidation;  biotechnology;  market efficiency;  market power;  intellectual property rights agricultural input industries;  mergers;  acquisitions; 

年份：

2001

出版地：

Washington, DC, USA

总页数：

14 pp

语种：

English

摘要：

Consolidation in the agricultural biotechnology industry can both enhance and dampen market competition. This report examines the causes and consequences of industry consolidation and its effect on market efficiency. In some cases, concentration realizes economies of scale, which can improve market efficiency by driving down production costs. The protection of intellectual property rights is integral to the agricultural biotechnology marketplace, stimulating research and development, investment, and the development of substitute markets. However, excessively broad intellectual property rights can hinder the market for innovation. Recent data on mergers, acquisitions, and strategic collaborations in the agricultural biotechnology industry, as well as the emergence of life science conglomerates, indicate some level of consolidation. However, the move by some companies to divest their seed operations calls into question the long-term viability of these conglomerates.