Publication - 12 October, 2010
Thailand is the largest exporter of rice in the world, and
the Thai rice industry is therefore heavily dependent on
the perceptions of its export customers. An unintended
release of GE rice would disrupt Thailand’s rice grain
merchandising system and jeopardise its worldwide
reputation as being a premiere rice exporter.
Several scenarios are presented in this report that determine the
possible economic losses that would occur if GE rice were
to be found in Thailand’s rice industry, based on the experience of the US rice industry
when contamination occurred there in 2006. These losses would arise
from short and long term export losses and testing and segregation of
merchandising/processing systems. Adding these economic impacts together,
based on the US case, could mean total economic losses
and costs totaling as much as 96,327 million Baht (€2,031
million). While this amount takes into account export
losses over four years, it is the equivalent of 56% of the
value of Thai rice exports in 2009.
Several scenarios are presented in this report that determine the possible economic losses that would occur if GE rice were to be found in Thailand’s rice industry, based on the experience of the US rice industry when contamination occurred there in 2006. These losses would arise from short and long term export losses and testing and segregation of merchandising/processing systems. Adding these economic impacts together, based on the US case, could mean total economic losses and costs totaling as much as 96,327 million Baht (€2,031 million). While this amount takes into account export losses over four years, it is the equivalent of 56% of the value of Thai rice exports in 2009.
Download report.