It has done little to tackle the rudimentary problem in Russia's agricultural sector -- namely the absence of institutionalized ownership of land -- and has likely retarded the privatization process.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Some evidence has emerged suggesting this could happen, though a breakthrough announced this month by a group of Canadian scientists may overcome the problem: they have developed a sort of agricultural contraceptive, in which GM plants that pollinate their non-GM relatives produce only sterile offspring.

ECONOMIST: Invasion of the transgenics

The only problem is that current law precludes the extension of Commodity Credit Corporation agricultural export credits unless there is a reasonable prospect of repayment.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Trying to put Moscow on the dole