Biotech Innovations in Agriculture: Principles, Policies and Conflicts, between Usa and EU

This paper deals with the policy and regulatory options currently adopted for managing the main issues raised by the recent large diffusion of the genetically modified crops. A first aim is to analyse in depth which are these policy options and which is the rationale behind them. Though many different national approaches can be observed worldwide, Usa and UE are the most relevant and cited cases of alternative (strongly permissive vs. strongly preventive) regulatory frameworks. In particular, the paper stresses the main explanations and implications of this Usa vs. UE controversy in terms of international market access also outlining the involvement of the international negotiations and, therefore, the possible role of the current Wto agreements in eventually admitting both national precautionary regulations and international free trade for Gmos.