Biotechnology and vertical co-ordination in the agrofood chain: A case study of the Dutch potato chain

Although biotechnology research made significant advances in the 1980s, the commercial applications in agriculture and food production have not developed so quickly in this decade. A few restricted products have been produced through this research, and these are subject to numerous socio-economic restrictions. Innovation, public acceptance, and regulation are all key issues in this arena. This examination of biotechnology research in the Dutch potato chain, based on interviews and literature reviews, suggests that interaction between the public and private domains is critical, and not without problems.