The Political-Economy of Science and (Bio)Technology: The Emergence of Agricultural Biotechnology in Canada

The development of genetically modified (GM) seeds has been followed by the rapid production of GM crops. Many insightful contributions have been made in the academic literature on the emergence of agricultural biotechnology, however, some gaps remain. First, there is a lack of emphasis on capitalist development in relation to agricultural biotechnology. Second, the capitalist character of the state is underemphasized. Third, there is little discussion about the interests underlying pro-GM crops discourses. Fourth, economic studies on GM crops rely on data and mathematical models to reach conclusions but do not explain them.

The problematic for this research is: how are capitalist social relations manifested in and supported by the development, adoption, and production of GM crops? The development of agricultural biotechnology is the result of capitalist social relations that demand innovation. This is enabled by a conjunction of social actors and scientific practices. The outcome is a research and development (R&D) structure that broadly accommodates capital by promoting the patenting of life forms in agriculture, concentration and centralization among multinational GM seed and agrochemical corporations, and the global production of GM crops.

In the Canadian case, an attempt is made by the state to secure the agricultural biotechnology industry through the procurement of R&D, legislation, and regulation and by the state countering civil society organizations that challenge such outcomes. In addition, the state and sections of civil society, government scientists and bureaucrats, corporations, and industry supported websites and NGOs play an important role in the construction of a pro-GM crops discourse that serves to control the discursive norms and institutional contexts that surround agricultural biotechnology. This seeks to represent the interest of capitalist accumulation and those of individual capitals as the general interests of the Canadian public and farming communities. Lastly, the restructuring of the agricultural sector encompasses different conditions among which has been greater concentration and centralization of multinational GM seed and agrochemical corporations and the increase in the production of GM crops. The consequences for Canadian farmers include stagnant net farm income despite increasing yields and gross income, higher farm expenses and debt, and stringent patent laws.