Incorporating socio-economic considerations (SECs) into national biosafety regulations regarding genetically modified (GM) crops have opportunity costs. Australia approved the cultivation of GM canola through a science-based risk assessment in 2003, but allowed state moratoria to be instituted based on potential trade impacts over the period 2004 to 2008 and 2010 in the main canola growing states. This analysis constructs a counterfactual assessment using Canadian GM canola adoption data to create an S-Curve of adoption in Australia to measure the environmental and economic opportunity costs of Australia's SEC-based moratoria between 2004 and 2014. The environmental impacts are measured through the amount of chemical active ingredients applied during pest management, the Environmental Impact Quotient indicator, and greenhouse gas emissions. The economic impacts are measured through the variable costs of the weed control programs, yield and the contribution margin. The environmental opportunity costs from delaying the adoption of GM canola in Australia include an additional 6.5 million kilograms of active ingredients applied to canola land; a 14.3% increase in environmental impact to farmers, consumers and the ecology; 8.7 million litres of diesel fuel burned; and an additional 24.2 million kilograms of greenhouse gas (GHG) and compound emissions released. The economic opportunity costs of the SEC-based moratoria resulted in foregone output of 1.1 million metric tonnes of canola and a net economic loss to canola farmers' of AU$485.6 million. The paper provides some of the first quantified, post-adoption evidence on the opportunity cost and environmental impacts of incorporating SECs into GM crop regulation.

中文翻译：

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转基因作物延迟采用的经济和环境成本：以澳大利亚暂停使用转基因油菜为例。

将社会经济因素（SEC）纳入有关转基因（GM）作物的国家生物安全法规中会产生机会成本。澳大利亚于2003年通过了基于科学的风险评估，批准了转基因油菜的种植，但允许根据2004年至2008年和2010年主要油菜生长州的潜在贸易影响而实行州暂缓措施。该分析使用加拿大GM双低油菜籽的采用数据构建反事实评估，以创建澳大利亚的采用曲线，以衡量2004年至2014年之间澳大利亚基于SEC的禁令的环境和经济机会成本。有害生物管理中使用的化学活性成分，环境影响商指标和温室气体排放量。经济影响通过杂草控制计划的可变成本，产量和贡献边际来衡量。推迟在澳大利亚采用转基因双低油菜籽所带来的环境机会成本包括向双低油菜籽土地上再添加650万公斤有效成分；对农民，消费者和生态的环境影响增加了14.3％；燃烧了870万升柴油；以及另外释放了2420万公斤的温室气体（GHG）和化合物排放。基于SEC的禁令的经济机会成本导致油菜籽产量下降了110万吨，油菜籽农户的净经济损失为4.856亿澳元。本文提供了一些首先量化的内容，