Call for Papers
We are requesting papers on the definition and size of the bio-economy and in the four areas which are listed above. We have included some suggested topics but other topics which contribute to our understanding will also be considered:
1. The role of agricultural biotechnology in responding to the global food crisis:
i) Has the current food crisis influenced governments’ policies toward GM food crops?
ii) How can agricultural biotechnology reduce food crises in the developing world?
iii) What impacts are international trade policy and import regulations having on the biotechnology food crisis?
iv) What case studies exist that can document specific instances of how biotech is impacting the food crisis in Less Developed Countries?
2. Assessing the long-term sustainability of biofuels:
i) How is biotechnology research affecting the availability of feedstock for biofuel and the efficiency of the biofuel conversion process?
ii) What might the future market for biofuels and biofuels research look like once subsidies are removed?
iii) What will be the impact of the decline in oil prices on biofuel production and research on biofuels?
iv) To what degree has the drive towards bio-fuels affected the international food commodity crisis
v) Comparing the economic rational between using feedstocks for bio-fuel production and using cellulosic techniques for biofuel production?
3. Improvements to food safety and nutrition:
i) What role can biotechnology play in reducing the economic costs and liabilities of food safety?
ii) Can labeling for GM improved food safety affect consumer purchase preferences?
iii) What is the contribution of biotechnology to the traceability and efficacy of food safety systems?
iv) What role do, or should, regulators take in responding to food safety failures?
v) What impact has the consumer preference for local provenance and the regulator preference for globalization had on food safety?
4. Constraints and incentives for innovation and globalization:
i) Will the global financial crisis dramatically slow down research and the diffusion of biotechnology products?
ii) What are the impacts and benefits of international agreements, such as the Plant Genetic Resource Treaty?
iii) How will the proposed Liability and Redress Regime of the Bio-Safety Protocol impacts agricultural biotechnology?
iv) How does co-existence fit into the governance structure for innovative technologies?
v) Have the stronger intellectual property rights in some key developing countries stimulated private investment in biotechnology?
vi) Should governments and international institutions invest more massively in biotechnology research?
Abstract should be of a maximum of 300 words. Dead line for submitting an abstract is January 30th, 2009
The Conference also welcomes proposals for Panel Sessions or Round Table Discussion Sessions. To submit a proposal for one of these sessions, please include the topic, the speakers and the title of each speaker’s presentation. Dead line for organized sessions and round-tables proposal is January 30th, 2009
Instructions to Authors
To submit an electronic copy of the abstract, authors must log in to this site. Log in is allowed only if you are a registered website user. Please register as new website user.
Electronic versions have to be in PDF format. The documents must contain names of author and co-authors (with the name of the paper presented in capitals), institution of author(s), email address, title and theme of the paper, JEL classification codes.
A scientific committee will evaluate all submitted papers and select a limited number of them for presentation. Notification of acceptance is expected by March 15th, 2009 and final paper are due by June 1st, 2009
Information
Please contact the Scientific Organization Office: Dr. Sara Savastano, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Via Columbia, 2 - 00133 Roma, fax +39 062020687, e-mail: sara.savastano@uniroma2.it, or icabr2009@economia.uniroma2.it