Abstract During the 2000s and 2010s, the growth in sugar and ethanol production stimulated the expansion of sugarcane in new regions of Brazil, reducing the concentration in the state of São Paulo. This paper aims to investigate whether the rise in sugarcane production in peripheral areas has led to the growth of knowledge capabilities. In order to consider regional asymmetries, the article uses the differentiated knowledge base (DKB) approach in association with regional innovation systems (RIS) and core-periphery relations. Data on formal employment and scientific research on the Central-South region are analyzed from 2003 to 2017. The results show that there are limits to the diffusion of sugarcane knowledge as an important part of knowledge production remains concentrated in the regions of early growth in São Paulo.

Resumo: A inserção dos Organismos Geneticamente Modificados (OGM) nas redes globais de comércio, em 1996, e a rejeição de demanda em alguns mercados importantes levaram à significativa reorganização do comércio mundial de soja. O Brasil adotou a tecnologia relativamente mais tarde, de forma que se especializou na oferta de soja convencional entre 1996 e 2005. Por outro lado, os Estados Unidos e a Argentina adotaram a tecnologia em 1996, e passaram a exportar, sobretudo, para destinos com menor aversão à tecnologia. O objetivo deste artigo é explorar as relações entre a adoção da tecnologia das sementes geneticamente modificadas e as mudanças nos mercados globais (preços, origens e destinos e parcelas de mercado), buscando, sobretudo, verificar a existência de preços diferenciados para a soja brasileira, a partir da análise dos valores unitários de comércio. Para tanto, foram utilizados métodos de análise multivariada (análise de componente principal e de agrupamento) e estimou-se um modelo de efeitos aleatórios a partir de uma base de dados de comércio de 1986 a 2010. Os resultados reforçam que a tecnologia altera o padrão de comércio, mas diferenciais de preço para a soja brasileira são verificados apenas em mercados de nicho, em que a parcela de mercado do Brasil é relativamente menor.

Abstract: The introduction of GMO technology into global market chains and the rejection by consumers in some markets have led to the reorganization of soybean trades. Brazil has adopted the technology later than other countries and specialized in supplying non-GMO soybean between 1996 and 2005. On the other hand, the United States and Argentina, which adopted the technology in 1996, exported to countries with less social aversion to the GM-technology. The aim of this paper is to investigate the relation between changes in global market chains (price, source and destination and market shares) and GMO technology adoption, focusing on evidences for price premiums for non-GM soybeans produced in Brazil, by the analysis of the trade unit values (TUV). In order to do so, we employ multivariate methods (Principal Components and Hierarchical Cluster analyses) and estimate a Random Effect model based on a bilateral trade dataset covering the years from 1986 to 2010. Results show that GM-technology adoption significantly changed trade patterns. However, premiums were paid for Brazilian soybean only in niche markets, where the market share is lower.