|
on Agricultural Economics |
|
Issue of 2015‒03‒22
53 papers chosen by |
| By: | Amarasinghe, Upali A.; Sharma, Bharat R.; Muthuwatta, Lal.; Khan, Z. H. |
| Keywords: | Forecasting Sustainability Feed crops Animal products Nutrients Irrigated land Rice Food consumption Food supply Groundwater Water productivity Water demand Water supply |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iwt:rerpts:h046592&r=agr |
| By: | Uetake, Tetsuya; Sasaki, Hiroki |
| Abstract: | Promoting environmentally friendly farming products is crucial to meeting consumer demand. Although governments implement policy measures to improve the environmental performance of the agriculture sector, their impacts are difficult to assess. This study analyses the performance of agri-environmental policies in Japan, by using the OECD’s policy impact model and reference level framework. In particular, it identifies the environmental impacts of three simulated agri-environmental policies based on farms’ characteristics. The results suggest that a policy mix of regulation and an incentive payment would reduce environmental impacts, suggesting that targeted approaches could improve the cost-effectiveness of agri-environmental policies. |
| Keywords: | Agri-environmental policies, Water quality, Climate change, Economic-biophysical model, Reference levels, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199367&r=agr |
| By: | Dumortier, Jerome |
| Abstract: | This paper evaluates the effect of agronomic uncertainty on bioenergy crop production as well as endogenous commodity and biomass prices on the feedstock composition of cellulosic biofuels under a binding mandate in the United States. The county-level simulation model focuses on both field crops (corn, soybean, and wheat) and biomass feedstocks (corn stover, wheat straw, switchgrass, and miscanthus). In addition, pasture serves as a potential area for bioenergy crop production. The economic model is calibrated to 2022 in terms of yield, crop demand, and baseline prices and allocates land optimally among the alternative crops given the binding cellulosic biofuel mandate. The simulation scenarios differ in terms of bioenergy crop type (switchgrass and miscanthus) and yield, biomass production inputs, and pasture availability. The cellulosic biofuel mandates range from 15 to 60 billion liters. The results indicate that the 15 and 30 billion liter mandates in the high production input scenarios for switchgrass and miscanthus are covered entirely by agricultural residues. With the exception of the low production input for miscanthus scenario, the share of agricultural residues is always over 50% for all other scenarios including the 60 billion liter mandate. The largest proportion of agricultural land dedicated to either switchgrass or miscanthus is found in the Southern Plains and the Southeast. Almost no bioenergy crops are grown in the Midwest across all scenarios. Changes in the prices for the three commodities are negligible for cellulosic ethanol mandates because most of the mandate is met with agricultural residues. The lessons learned are that (1) the share of agricultural residue in the feedstock mix is higher than previously estimated and (2) for a given mandate, the feedstock composition is relatively stable with the exception of one scenario. |
| Keywords: | agricultural residues, crop prices, land use, Miscanthus, pasture, switchgrass, Crop Production/Industries, Land Economics/Use, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iuspea:198707&r=agr |
| By: | Schreiner, Julia A. |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates farmers’ willingness to adopt a Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)-free milk production scheme introduced by the dairy. Incentives like a price premium, advice, quality control and feed procurement are set to encourage the conversion. The analysis is based upon Discrete Choice Experiments with 151 dairy farmers in Germany. Alternative-specific conditional logit estimation reveals the marginal effects of incentives and the amount of compensation. The results indicate that attributes like the price premium, takeover of feed procurement and an external audit affect the likelihood of adoption. Farmer, farm characteristics and attitudes concerning GMO as well as expectations on feed prices were found to be significant determinants of adoption. Moreover the findings demonstrate variation in the values of attributes across regions. |
| Keywords: | GMO-free milk production, choice experiments, incentive instruments, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199373&r=agr |
| By: | Schouteten, Joachim; Van Lembergen, Katrien; Molnár, Adrienn; Tarantini, Federico; Heene, Aimé; Gellynck, Xavier |
| Abstract: | During the last decades, the variable agricultural commodity prices and the increasing producer and consumer prices illustrated the need for more transparency about the pricing of food products in the European food system. Therefore, the European Commission launched in 2009 a public tool, the European Food Prices Monitoring Tool (EFPMT), to compare prices to increase transparency for price transmission in the food chain and to facilitate comparisons across the European member states. The main purpose of this paper is to examine how the EFPMT can contribute to a fair competition and increase the price transparency and competitiveness in the European food system. |
| Keywords: | European Food Price Monitoring tool (EFPMT), food chain, price transparency, Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199387&r=agr |
| By: | V. Saravanakumar |
| Abstract: | This study uses panel data for 39 years and 13 districts to estimate the yield sensitivity of major food crops to climate change in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. We first estimate the marginal impacts of climate variables on crop yield using Panel Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) models. These estimates are then used to identify yield sensitivities in the future based on projected climate variables from theRegional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4). Empirical results show a quadratic (inverted U shaped) relationship between rice and sorghum yield and climate variables. As temperature and rainfall increase, crop yield initially increases up to a threshold level, and then decreases. Following the RegCM4 projections that observed warming and anomalies in rainfall will continue, this could result in a significant loss in crop productivity. Projections suggest that there may be a 10 percent decline in rice yield and 9 percent decline in sorghum yield by the end of the 21st century relative to average yields during 1971-2009. This indicates a need for new seed varieties that are less sensitive to rainfall and temperature thresholds, and, adaptation practices such as adjustments in sowing time. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, Agriculture, Productivity changes, Panel corrected standard errors, Regional climate model, India |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:snd:wpaper:91&r=agr |
| By: | Salamon, Petra; Bürgelt, Doreen; Christoph-Schulz, Inken |
| Abstract: | In Germany, productivity gains and other factors induce structural changes in agriculture since decades. While the number of farms decreases simultaneously average farm sizes with respect to area and herd sizes increases. Conflicts between agricultural reality and society’s perception will always surface when production methods of large farms become public and significantly divert from the societal expectations mainly if the society still have romantic views from story-books in their mind. In this study societal perception of structural change in agriculture is analyzed using a mixed method approach to identify the main conflicts and to evaluate options to cope with these. In the focus group discussions as well as in the online survey a rejecting or critical attitude towards structural change in agriculture was stated. Structural change in agriculture was often associated with ‘mass production’, ‘mechanization’ or ‘agrarian factories’. Participants requested a restructuring of agriculture towards smaller and more diversified farms; however, most are aware that the technical progress require also adjustments in the agriculture. As expected, results do not provide an easy solution to cope with societal expectations. Responsibility for a better alignment of structural change to societal expectations is seen multi-layered: The government, the farmers, the processing industry as well as the consumers seem to be in demand. |
| Keywords: | Structural change in agriculture, societal expectations, responsibility, mixed method approach, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Agricultural Finance, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199404&r=agr |
| By: | Kellou, Imene |
| Abstract: | Talking about food sustainability, including environmental, social and economic issues concerns the whole product life-cycle (i.e., from the production to the consumption as well as transportation, distribution, waste and losses). Thereby, new forms of food supply chain have emerged over the last decade such as farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), organics and Fairtrade stores, online sales. These different marketing channels are called Alternative Food Networks (AFN’s) and are considered as an alternative to conventional system (Renting et al. 2003; Ilbery and Maye 2005a; Sonnino and Marsden, 2006). It will be noted in this respect that conventional system dominated by the retail sector is characterized by products standardization, specialization and concentration of the actors, globalized procurement and buyer-driven chains (Gereffi, 1994). |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199345&r=agr |
| By: | Heise, Heinke; Pirsich, Wiebke; Theuvsen, Ludwig |
| Abstract: | The process quality of food products is currently the subject of increased attention. In the area of meat production, public discussion has centered on perceived low standards of animal welfare. Besides an increase in legislative regulations, improved animal welfare standards are most frequently achieved through the establishment of so-called animal welfare labels. So far these labeling concepts have not been substantially evaluated in terms of how well they carry out their goal of improving process quality in agricultural animal husbandry. This paper will use a recognized list of criteria to evaluate selected animal welfare labels Results show that competing labels vary strongly regarding the improvement of process quality. This has far-reaching effects not only for consumers and other label users, but also for companies that want to enter the animal welfare segment of the meat market. |
| Keywords: | Animal welfare label, certification systems, process quality of food products, Agribusiness, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199057&r=agr |
| By: | Martino, Gaetano; Bavorovà, Miroslava |
| Abstract: | The general focus of this study is to investigate the decision to invest in food safety as a field of connection between public and private strategies. The objective if the study is to investigate how the legislation pressure influence the decision to invest in food safety systems. The basic idea is to conceptualize the allocation of the decision right to invest among the transaction party, counterparty and regulator as a source of drivers of investments. While the allocation of the decision rights is recognized as the key factor in coping with uncertainty (Gibbons, 2005), it is also here held as term of the micro-foundations of the organizational arrangements (Grandori, Furnari, 2008). Food companies and agricultural farms pay a great and necessary attention to technologies and economic relationships and arrangements aimed at enhancing and ensuring the due degree of products safety. In all the chain stages, adequate technologies are needed in order to carry out the productive process according to the best prerequisites identified by health and food sciences. Policy interventions intended to prevent food safety crisis have shaped the institutional environment of food systems channelling the companies strategies and have induced, with the technological requirements, the raise of complex organizational forms (Hobbs, 2002; Mènard and Valceschini, 2005). The food chain actors elaborate complex strategies in which technological and organizational choices and institutional commitments assure the food safety level demanded by public and private safety regulations and strategies. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199366&r=agr |
| By: | Declerck, Francis |
| Abstract: | The researh aims at explaining stock performance of processing companies in function of commodity performance on commodity markets. The results show that stock prices of food companies do not significantly depend on agricultural market prices. So, risks of agricultural market price volatility cannot be hedged using food firm stocks, whose markets are more liquid. Objective The objective is to explain stock performance of processing companies in function of commodity performance on commodity markets. If results are robust, onet could be able to hedge commodity price fluctuations in using stocks whose markets are a lot more liquid. The paper is organized as flows. First, it roots the the research in theoretical foundations. Second, the methodology is presented. Third, results are shown and analyzed. Fourth, conclusion is drawn. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199388&r=agr |
| By: | Peri, Massimo; Vandone, Daniela; Baldi, Lucia |
| Abstract: | Water, food and energy (WFE) are strongly interconnected: each depends on the other for a lot of concerns, spanning from guaranteeing access to services, to environmental, social and ethical impact issues, to price relations. The development, use, and waste generated by demand for these resources drive global changes and fears of resource scarcity. To date, a new approach to the concept of sustainable development is emerging and a joint analysis of these three areas is needed. “Demand for water, food and energy is expected to rise by 30-50% in the next two decades, while economic disparities incentivize short-term responses in production and consumption that undermine long-term sustainability. Shortages could cause social and political instability, geopolitical conflict and irreparable environmental damages. Any strategy that focuses on one part of the WFE relationships without considering its interconnections risks serious unintended consequences” (World Economic Forum, 2011). |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199346&r=agr |
| By: | Nakano, Yuko; Tsusaka, Takuji W.; Aida, Takeshi; Pede, Valerien O. |
| Abstract: | How far can new technologies taught to a small number of selected farmers diffuse to other farmers in a village? In order to answer this question, this paper investigates the impact of JICA training on the adoption of rice cultivation technologies and productivity in an irrigation scheme in Tanzania. By using a unique five-year panel data set and spatial econometric techniques, we found that non-trained farmers learned new technologies from trained farmers through social networks and by observing their plots. As a result, the paddy yield of directly trained farmers increased from 3.1 tons per hectare in 2008 to 4.7 tons per hectare in 2012, while that of non-trained farmers increased from around 2.6 tons per hectare in 2008 to 3.7 tons per hectare in 2012. |
| Keywords: | technology adoption , agricultural training , social learning, rice , Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Date: | 2015–03–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jic:wpaper:90&r=agr |
| By: | Weber, Sascha A.; Salamon, Petra; Hansen, Heiko |
| Abstract: | The dairy sector is one of the most important agro-food markets in the European Union (EU). In addition to the fresh dairy products, cheese and butter considerable amounts of other dairy products with long sell-by dates are produced like skimmed milk, semi skimmed milk and whole milk powder. These products have some advantages in longer storage periods and easy transportation and thus they are often designated not only for domestic storage but also for international markets. As other internationally traded dairy products milk powders depict remarkable price variations in the last years which do find good matches in the domestic markets. Despite these variations the German industry regards milk powder as an interesting product for further investments driven by luminous international demand prospects. So the likely impacts between the international and the domestic prices movements are an important topic for the German dairy industry as well as German milk producers. In the past, the EU dairy market has been highly supported by the Common Market Organization (CMO) while, at the same time, milk supply has been restricted by the milk quota regime. High administrative price for dairy products were protected by significant import tariffs isolating the EU dairy sector from international trade. In addition, exports subsidies allowed successful competition with exports from third countries, not only for intervention products but also for other dairy products like whole milk powder. However, with the restructuring of the support starting with the Agenda 2000, the coupled market price support in form of intervention prices of butter and skimmed milk powder were stepwise reduced in favour of decoupled payments. Also invention purchases were restricted and the abolition of the milk quota regime was announced for 2014/15 and phased in by yearly increases of the national quotas. At the same time applied export refunds were suspended for most dairy products. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199389&r=agr |
| By: | Rota, Cosimo; Zanasi, Cesare; Reynolds, Nikolai |
| Abstract: | Defining a supply chain governance structure able to adapt to the supply chain technical and organizational characteristics positively influences the relationships between the agents and its overall competitiveness. The present study proposes a tool for the evaluation of the impact on the supply chain governance structure resulting from the adoption of sustainability improvement options in the area of organization and management in the agri-food sector. Two different approaches, proposed by (Gereffi et al., 2005) and (Hobbs and Young, 2000) are merged to provide a theoretical framework supporting the tool implementation. Gereffi et al., suggest that supply chains fall into one of five different governance structures, depending on the relative levels of three dimension: complexity of transaction, ability to codify and capabilities in the supply-base. Hobbs and Young link the product characteristics, regulatory and technology aspects to a change in supply chain vertical coordination. The parameters linking the sustainability improvement options to the change in the supply chain governance structure should result by interviewing a panel of experts, considering the difficulty to generalize the influence of the improvement options in different food chains contexts. This difficulty seems to be, to date, the main methodological limitation to the tool application. However, its represent a first step towards the assessment of the existing governance structure and its management. |
| Keywords: | supply chain governance, agri-food, assessment tool, TCE., Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199341&r=agr |
| By: | Hubeau, Marianne; Mondelaers, Koen; Coteur, Ine; Marchand, Fleur L.; Lauwers, Ludwig |
| Abstract: | Due to pressures such as climate change, globalization, price volatility and scarcity of natural resources, our agri-food chain is urged to make a transition towards more sustainable production. How to organize such a transition, given the various stakeholders involved, and how to monitor progress still remain important challenges. This paper presents a new conceptual framework that follows an integrated chain approach to help address these challenges. First, it tackles the complex ecological and socio-economic challenges along the chain and its members (agriculture and food industries), and second, allows for decision support to chain members and policy. This framework combines two existing theoretical frameworks. The first framework is global chain value analysis (GCVA) of Gereffi (2005) which has its roots in institutional economics. GCVA categorizes five governance types of value chains (markets – modular – relational – captive – hierarchy) based on three variables: (i) the complexity of information and knowledge transfer required to sustain a particular transaction, (ii) the ability to regulate transactions, and (iii) the capabilities of actual and potential suppliers. The second framework, which was first formulated in ecological economics, extends the set of traditional economic resources to various forms of capital in the production system. These are natural (land, water, …), manufactured (buildings, machinery, ...), human (labour, skills,…), and social capital (networks,…). The economic system is fully embedded in the social system which in turn is embedded within the finite ecological system. Throughput of natural, social, human, and manufactured capital allows for the description of agri-food systems in terms of the maximal sustainable use of their stocks and flows. These two frameworks can be combined to perform an integrated system analysis of the agri-food chain, including the governance structures and the boundary conditions for the various types of capital. This paper describes this new conceptual framework illustrated by means of a case study of the agri-food chain in Flanders, Belgium. |
| Keywords: | Global value chain analysis, ecological economics, agri-food chain, sustainability, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199340&r=agr |
| By: | Mukhamedova, Nozilakhon.; Wegerich, Kai. |
| Keywords: | Case studies; Water user associations; Income; Poverty; Households; Farms; Agriculture sector; Employment; Female labor; Women; Gender; Feminization; Land reform |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iwt:rerpts:h046493&r=agr |
| By: | Romsdal, Anita; Strandhagen, Jan Ola; Dreyer, Heidi Carin |
| Abstract: | This paper addresses the complex production planning and control (PPC) challenges in food supply chains. The study illustrates how food producers' traditional make-to-stock (MTS) approach is not well suited to meet the trends of increasing product variety, higher demand uncertainty, increasing sales of fresh food products and more demanding customers. The paper proposes a framework for differentiated PPC that combines MTS with make-to-order (MTO). The framework matches products with the most appropriate PPC approaches and buffering techniques depending on market and product characteristics. The core idea is to achieve more volume flexibility in the production system by exploiting favourable product and market characteristics (high demand predictability, long customer order lead time allowances and low product perishability). A case study is used to demonstrate how the framework can enable food producers to achieve efficiency in production, inventory and PPC processes – and simultaneously be responsive to market requirements. |
| Keywords: | food production, planning and control, responsiveness, case study, Agribusiness, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199374&r=agr |
| By: | Dreyer, Heidi C.; Strandhagen, Jan Ola; Thomassen, Maria K.; Romsdal, Anita; Gran, Erik |
| Abstract: | Based on an analysis of four local food producers this paper explores the relation between the supply chain design and control principles, and the strategic fit. Local food has arisen as a popular supplement to the traditional supermarket product range offered by retailers and restaurants. However it has been shown that local food struggles with the market access, and that the supply chain is one of the obstacles preventing local food producers to gain a solid market position. We analyse how the supply chain of food specialties could be designed and controlled in order to fit with the competitive features of local food producers. It identifies a number of features of the local food chain, analyzes the obstacles and discusses how the characteristics could be dealt with by adjusting design and control principles. It develops generic designs and control principles for local food producers. |
| Keywords: | Local Food Production, Norwegian food artisans, Supply chain design and control principles, Agribusiness, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199344&r=agr |
| By: | Zander, Katrin |
| Abstract: | With the introduction of the mandatory EU organic logo for all organic food products in 2010 the European Commission aimed at supporting a sustainable development and the effective functioning of the internal market for organic food. This approach presupposes consumers’ knowledge of the logo and their understanding of its meaning. By means of an online survey with 3000 participants in 6 European countries, knowledge of the logo and attitudes towards organic farming and European labelling as well as organic food purchase behaviour and socio-demographic indicators were elicited. The results indicate that knowledge of the logo is low. Only about 15% of all respondents knew its meaning. A binary logistic regression revealed that knowledge of the logo is higher among consumers who regularly buy organic food, who have good knowledge on the principles of organic farming and who consider freedom of chemical residues, of synthetic additives and organic production as important features of a high quality product. High education has a positive impact on the awareness of the logo, while age has a negative one. Large differences in knowledge exist between countries: the probability to know the EU logo is highest in Estonia and in Poland. Generally, knowledge of the EU organic logo is such low that the achievement of its purpose is doubted. Reasons are supposed to be the limited self-explanatory content of the logo as well as lacking awareness, resp. promotion campaigns. |
| Keywords: | Organic farming, labelling, trust, product quality, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199365&r=agr |
| By: | Olsen, Nina Veflen |
| Abstract: | This paper presents a new approach for food innovation—a Design Thinking approach that challenges the strong product orientation that still exists in the food industry. Consumer researchers widely believe that innovation in the food sector can be much more user oriented. Fork to Farm projects try to maximize value creation for the end user, but; unfortunately; many of these projects appeals to an undifferentiated mass market. The food industry needs to understand individual consumers and the context in which they live to be able to deliver successful new food solutions. The aim of this paper is to discuss and exemplify how Design Thinking can contribute to innovation in the food industry. After introducing the Design Thinking approach and describing an innovation project conducted within the seafood industry in Norway, four specific aspects of Design Thinking: a) Begin at the beginning, b) Take a human-centered approach, c) Try early and often, and d) Seek outside help, are discussed in more detail. I conclude that Design Thinking is a faster and cheaper way to include the voice of the consumer into the process —a learning approach that needs to be further discussed, improved and tested out within the food domain. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199343&r=agr |
| By: | Kertész, Zsófia; Hegyi, Adrienn; Stolz, Hanna; Jahrl, Ingrid; Sebők, András; Garibay, Salvador; Rota, Cosimo; Zanasi, Cesare |
| Abstract: | Long, complex and globalised food chains often pose major challenges in terms of the sustainability of their environmental, economic and social impacts. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the sustainability of the beef and soy supply chains in Latin America and the European Union (EU). Within an FP 7 project called SALSA, we explored the attitudes towards, preferences for, and awareness of specific sustainability aspects of supply chains from the perspective of non-business and business stakeholders as well as consumers. |
| Keywords: | supply chain LA and EU, sustainability, Agribusiness, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199066&r=agr |
| By: | Supanida Ngiwdee; Ravissa Suchato Author-Email : rsuchato@gmail.com (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics,Faculty of Economics,Kasetsart University,Thailand) |
| Abstract: | The objectives of this research were to 1) study farmers' perceptions on crop insurance of first rice and 2) examine key characteristics of crop insurance as viewed by farmers. A field survey was conducted to interview 246 famers. The research findings were as follows 1) overall perception of 109 farmers who had purchased the insurance in the past on 17 key characteristics is satisfactory 2) a conjoint analysis exercised on desirable characteristics found that bundling insurance premium with credit is the most preferred option. The second characteristic related to the level of indemnity covered. The last characteristic was the level of premium charged. Among all of the attributes offered, the most preferred option containing attributes consisted of 1) bundling insurance premium with production factor, 2) threshold yield of 276 kilogram per rai; 3) premium payable of 100 Baht; and 4) maximum indemnity of 1,700 Baht per rai. |
| Keywords: | Crop insurance, Area yield index, Major rice, Conjoint analysis |
| JEL: | Q10 Q13 Q18 |
| Date: | 2015–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kau:wpaper:201504&r=agr |
| By: | de Carvalho, Bernardo Reynolds Pacheco |
| Abstract: | Economic efficiency is a key issue for economic research and for policy design, and certainly for food security challenges. In the food system dynamics the understanding of changes and trends is crucial to improve our capacity in dealing with sustainable development and quality of life objectives. The links with food consumption behavior, mainly in less developed countries are main drivers to understand changes in the food system. Food system efficiency evaluation is necessary, in regard to production/consumption efficiency, market and government/governance – regulations and institutional efficiency, and efforts should be made to improve our capacity to deal with those methodological needs. In many situations, in the real world, data and measurements are difficult or even impossible in numeric/quantitative terms. Frequently, qualitative evaluation is the only way to proceed, but measurements and numeric references are still important, mainly when changes over time is the focal aspect of the research about real world conditions and respective changes. The actual paper follows a structural food system model (WFSE – World Food Security Equation) to show the important role of Markets and Institutions “vis a vis” regulation practices directed to improve economic efficiency subject to demand behavior in a country case study. Cape Verde is a very challenging country in regard to “food security status,” with great success in global/macro terms in the last 10 years, where now the main problems are clearly at local level. The present research tries to highlight the global achievements and explores local assessment efforts on food consumption conditions. A specific region is studied, the island of Santo Antão, in a very important production region. Two different communities are analyzed, and three different production systems are considered to better understand the local dynamics and possible interactions among those factors and food consumption habits. The results deserve deeper discussions and further research, with evidences that food habits are very strong factors to be considered, sometimes “over passing” clearly the expectations in regard to income, and also in regard to direct influences between production systems and consumption. Several other studies were compared, providing a good overview about results obtained in several other regions, showing that food consumption at local level is also in reasonable good conditions, which means that solutions for improvements are complex and very dependent on social systems, somehow with a similar position with the problems of the industrialized economies. |
| Keywords: | Demand constraints, food policy, regulation, institutional innovation and economic efficiency, Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, Demand and Price Analysis, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199390&r=agr |
| By: | Israel, Danilo C.; Briones, Roehlano M. |
| Abstract: | The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint outlines the plan of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to unify into a single market and production base. A priority focus for integration is the enhancement of trade among ASEAN member-countries and long-term competitiveness of food and agriculture products produced within ASEAN. Based on key-person interviews, this study identifies the specific gaps in the implementation of the blueprint in the case of Philippine agriculture and makes appropriate recommendations. The widest gaps in AEC Blueprint implementation appear to be in areas of cooperation related to private sector linkages, agricultural cooperatives, research and development (R&D), and technology transfer. For the private sector, a key factor accounting for the gap is preference for own networking and business arrangements. Development of producer cooperatives is at a nascent phase in the country. The following measures are recommended: First, reexamine objectives and targets for cooperation with the private sector, agriculture cooperatives, R&D, and technology transfer. Trade standard harmonization is relatively easily justified; however, the collective rationale for cooperation in the other areas needs to be better articulated. Second, within trade standard harmonization, a couple of action items are: i) expediting completion of the ASEAN GAqP; and ii) highlighting the issue of small producer inclusion. ASEAN-wide mechanisms toward the inclusion of small producers hold a long-term potential for uplifting the livelihoods of millions of small farmers and fishers in Southeast Asia. However, this cannot follow the same modality as standards certification for large exporting companies. The blueprint objectives for cooperatives, including other types of producer associations, should be reexamined toward more collective approaches to gain approval and certification. |
| Keywords: | Philippines, market integration, trade harmonization, product standards, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:pjdevt:pjd_2012_vol__39_nos__1-2f&r=agr |
| By: | Ana C Rostran Molina; Anindya Banerjee; Federico Lampis |
| Abstract: | The primary goal of this paper is to examine credit access of farmers in Nicaragua. We identify the primary factors determining their probability of securing a loan. We are also concerned with understanding the impact on agricultural sector of the large number of micro-finance institutions (MFIs) operating in the country. Multiple correspondence analysis is used and several logit models are estimated. The results indicate that poor farmers face serious problems regarding financing, despite the extended presence of MFIs. In particular, uncertainty in property rights and low levels of education are severe constraints when farmers try to secure financing. |
| Keywords: | Micro-finance, farmers credit access, Logit models |
| JEL: | G21 O13 O16 C35 |
| Date: | 2015–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bir:birmec:15-04&r=agr |
| By: | Klink, Jeanette; Hecht, Stefanie; Langen, Nina; Hartmann, Monika |
| Abstract: | Purpose/Value – The objective of this paper is to determine (1) the extent to which sustainability serves as a sales argument and (2) which areas of sustainability are communicated in the fruit juice industry. This seems promising against the background that there are several ethical challenges the fruit juice chain is increasingly confronted with and consumers demand for sustainable products is also rising. Design/Methodology – A market investigation at the Point-of Sale (POS) was conducted in July 2013. On-product communication of all fruit juice products (direct fruit juices, fruit juices from concentrate, fruit nectars and smoothies) from five retailers (two full-range retailers, two discounters, one organic store) was analyzed. The data was evaluated using content analysis. Results/Findings – Overall, 562 fruit juices were examined. Results reveal that nearly one quarter of the prod-ucts has labels signaling sustainable aspects. However, most of those products were found in the organic food retailer and are organic juices. Only a small number of products consider other areas of sustainability, such as social concerns or regional production. Discussion/Conclusion – Communicating sustainability aspects of fruit juice production via on-package labels is scarce in conventional retail stores. In view of the ethical challenges present in the fruit juice chain and dis-cussed in the paper, the increasing demand of consumers for sustainable products and the high competition in the sector, communicating different sustainability aspects can be an opportunity for fruit juice producers and retailers to differentiate their products on the highly saturated fruit juice market. |
| Keywords: | Sustainability, Content analysis, On-product-communication, Fruit juice industry, Agribusiness, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199065&r=agr |
| By: | Cavaliere, Alessia; De Marchi, Elisa; Banterle, Alessandro |
| Abstract: | Diet-related chronic diseases, such as overweight and obesity, are worrisome not only from a medical point of view, but also in terms of monetary expenditures, these health problems are strictly linked to sizeable sanitary costs (Chou et al., 2004; Yaniv et al., 2009; Cawley and Meyerhoefer, 2012; Ruhm, 2012). These costs are mainly due to the purchase of medical care (direct costs), and to the loss of productivity caused by hill-health (indirect costs) (Rosin, 2008). To challenge these problems and improve public health it is of particular importance to study the determinants of food consumption, and understand the best way to effectively address consumers toward healthy eating. To this purpose, one of the most investigated topics in the last decades has been the role of food-related information. Economists have found evidences that food information can exert a positive effect in increasing consumer nutrition knowledge and in promoting healthier consumption. Hence, policy makers have proposed different policy interventions to provide consumers with more, and more detailed, information. These information measures have included the diffusion of dietary guidelines, the promotion of nutritional education programs in the schools, and also specific campaigns to increase public awareness concerning fruit and vegetables consumption or the negative effects of some unhealthy food and drinks. In this context, another and maybe more direct way to provide consumers with food-related information is represented by on-package food labels, which currently constitute the principal tool through which consumers can easily acquire information about food products. The key role of food labels in making individuals able to do more conscious diet choices has been well established by the main findings of the economic literature (Drichoutis et al., 2006; Drichoutis et al., 2008a; Drichoutis et al., 2009; Norgaard and Brunso 2009; Barreiro-Hurlè et al., 2010). Therefore, given the importance of on-packaging information, the EU has recently introduced the EU Regulation No. 1169/2011, published in October 2011, in order to make labels even more effective and boost their utility for consumers. This new low has established some rules concerning mandatory information, nutritional facts and also the graphical standards allowed on food labels in all the EU. Nonetheless, consumers are not always willing to make use of the information reported on labels, and this makes of crucial importance to investigate and understand which factors can be able to discourage consumers in using labels. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199401&r=agr |
| By: | Feucht, Yvonne; Zander, Katrin |
| Abstract: | Aquaculture is criticized for its potential negative impacts on the environment and for its consequences on fish welfare. One solution to these problems and a promising development track for the German aquaculture sector is the adoption of sustainable production methods. The establishment of a new market segment for domestic sustainable fish would accommodate to the trend towards ethical consumerism. So far, only little is known about the consumers’ knowledge and perception of sustainable aquaculture. Against this background the present contribution aims to explore perceptions and knowledge of German consumers with regard to sustainable aquaculture, its production systems and related labels by using focus groups. Recommendations for further communication of sustainable aquaculture to consumers are deduced. One central result is that consumers were mainly unfamiliar with aquaculture in general. However, they had some clear expectations towards sustainable aquaculture. The use of drugs should be minimized; production systems should be close to nature and should respect fish welfare. Obviously, participants deduced their understanding of aquaculture from theirs of terrestrial animal husbandry. The study also shows consumers’ low awareness of the existing sustainability labels on the German market. |
| Keywords: | Aquaculture, fish farming, sustainability, consumer, communication, label, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199347&r=agr |
| By: | Njavro, Mario; Sopov, Monika Blomne; Alić, Antonija |
| Abstract: | Goal of the paper is twofold: value chain analysis of soft fruit sector in Croatia and to present use of soft fruit sector analysis in agribusiness management education by support of video material. Creation of value chain map and quantification of the chain is described. SWOT analysis is shaped and it is basis for endorsement of strategies for soft fruit trade on the EU and World market. During work on soft fruit sector analysis interviews with seven stakeholders were filmed. Films were edited and clips arranged. Workbook was also created. Video material together with the workbook constitutes the case study on soft fruits sector analysis. Main purpose of the case study is to serve as a tool for teaching students (preferably MSc level) value chain analysis in the limited data environment. It could also serve, with some modification, in preparing students to design interviews and in interviewing process. Paper has been developed on the framework of the joint project between Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation and University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture and financed by the Netherlands government. |
| Keywords: | value chain analysis, soft fruits, survey, agribusiness management education, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199402&r=agr |
| By: | Meixner, Oliver; Haas, Rainer; Perevoshchikova, Yana; Canavari, Maurizio |
| Abstract: | In the last decades the market for organic food was well developed in Western European Countries and com-parable markets like the US or Canada. While these markets more or less approach market saturation, other markets still have huge potentials and are of special interest for exporting companies. In this paper we analyze demands, knowledge and expectations in the emerging market Russia. It is well documented that the Russian market for organic food has much higher growth rates compared to Western markets. According to the USDA, the market rose from about 640 million Rubel in 2004 to about 7.4 billion Rubel in 2011 (about 155 Mio €). This dramatic boost in sales might also be due to a significant change in Russians’ consumer behavior. Howev-er, some challenges have to be considered when entering the Russian market with premium products (organic food is usually sold at comparable high prices in Russia). (1) There is a huge number of low-income consumers who are not able to pay for premium products. (2) Up to now, there are no official organic labels available in Russia. Therefore, it is likely that the Russian population has a lack of knowledge on what organic food is and which requirements are connected to the organic production process. Considering these restrictions, it was interesting to analyze important factors for the food choice on the one hand and the knowledge of Russian consumers about organic food on the other. This contribution will present results for one specific product (organic potatoes) which can be considered to be a typical alternative to low priced, conventional products. A conjoint analysis was conducted in Saint Petersburg investigating the importance of buying attributes con-nected to organic potatoes (n = 300); obviously, the results are not representative for the whole Russian mar-ket. But the results impressively show how different consumers’ attitudes are compared to Western markets and how low the average knowledge about this product category still is. The findings deliver valuable infor-mation for all members within the supply chain who want to enter a market with high growth rates but also with obvious shortcomings. |
| Keywords: | Russian Federation, organic food, organic labels, food choice, consumer perception, conjoint analy-sis, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199363&r=agr |
| By: | Sánchez-Pérez, Manuel; Marín-Carrillo, María Belén; Bourlakis, Michael |
| Abstract: | In a context of increasingly intense competition, creating a unique mix of value through innovation has been considered one tenet for creating a competitive advantage (Porter, 1996). During the past decades, innovation has become a central issue of strategic management (Nag et al., 2007). The literature has identified several problems in relation to firm failure innovation decisions, focusing on the supply-side (organizational competence, Henderson 2006; dependence of actual most profitable customers, Christensen, 1997; out-of-date competence due to technological breakthroughs, Tushman & Anderson, 1986), and on the demand-side (market turbulence, Abernathy & Clark 1985; institutional environment, Chesbrough, 2001). |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199339&r=agr |
| By: | Furesi, Roberto; Madau, Fabio A.; Palomba, Andrea; Pulina, Pietro |
| Abstract: | In Sardinia sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) roe is a basic ingredient for several dishes (e.g. pasta, pizza, croutons) and its demand is constantly increasing. However marketable value of local sea urchin appears to be potentially higher than the current value. This paper aims to estimate the value of a based sea urchin dish according to the stated preference of consumers. A Choice Experiment (CE) analysis on 475 consumers was carried out in order to estimate their willingness to pay (WTP) for consuming sea urchin. Seafood was proposed as alternative to sea urchin. CE regarded two attributes: certification of local origin and place where dishes are consumed. Findings suggest that WTP for a generic dish is significantly higher for sea urchin (11.65 Euros) than for seafood (7.94 Euros) based dish. Furthermore, we found that WTP is higher when both foods are consumed with spaghetti and as raw fresh product, whereas an opposite effect is associated to pizza. Finally, the influence of some socio-economic characteristics of responders on their preferences was estimated. |
| Keywords: | Choice experiment, sea urchin demand, stated preferences, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, D12 Q13 Q22, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199372&r=agr |
| By: | Plastina, Alejandro |
| Date: | 2014–09–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:isu:genres:39091&r=agr |
| By: | Giraud, Georges |
| Abstract: | The paper explores the strategies of the wine stakeholders with respect to outsourcing versus integration of the wine-making process by analyzing original and recent data issued from the companies producing wine in Burgundy. Our research question is: Does terroir matter for wine business model between staying viticulturist or becoming winemaker? We investigate this question within the mosaic of the Burgundian vineyard. A Principal Components Analysis highlights the latent variables explaining the different strategies of stakeholders in Burgundy, and a cluster analysis tries at identifying the differences existing between the winegrowers, with a special focus on the viticulturists and the winemakers. The results show that the strategies of the Burgundian wine stakeholders with respect to outsourcing vs. integration differ according to the level of Appellation d’Origine. Consequently the terroir operates as discriminant factor between outsourcing whether integrating some, if not all, of the stages of the wine-making process, including sales. Each sub-region of the Burgundian vineyard has a specific business model strongly related to the territory nesting the wine estates. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199067&r=agr |
| By: | Mehta, Foram; Deodhar, Satish Y. |
| Abstract: | India is the only country in the world which has now made CSR spending mandatory. Food industry is not an exception to this requirement. In a developing country like India, food industry has a larger social purpose, for food and nutrition are inextricably linked to hunger and health. At the same time, however, food firms are not philanthropic institutions either. We address the issue of whether or not making CSR activity mandatory has impacted the food industry negatively. Events that are expected to affect an industry negatively get reflected in significant lowering of firms’ stock prices, for they capture the current and future profitability of firms. We conduct an event analysis by considering stock prices of food firms around two important events – passing of the CSR bill in two houses of parliament. We find that stock prices of select top performing food firms and select food firms that barely qualify for the CSR norms have not been adversely impacted by the two events. This means that food firms can turn mandatory CSR activities into an opportunity to build brand value. Using their core competence, they could spend on delivering nutrition-rich packaged foods, drinks, potable water, and neutraceuticals to disadvantaged communities. |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:13304&r=agr |
| By: | Israel, Danilo C.; Briones, Roehlano M. |
| Abstract: | This study identifies and examines "choke points" in the supply chain of two selected commodity groups that are of interest to the region of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations: crude coconut oil (which belongs to the HS15 group), and fish and crustacean, mollusks, and other aquatic invertebrates (which belong to the HS03 group). For crude coconut oil, no major choke points were identified from mill site to export stages, but cost and delay factors were found at the farm-to-mill stage, such as low farm productivity, poor postharvest practices (leading to low quality of copra), and inefficiencies in marketing to the mill. For fisheries, several choke points were identified, such as poor quality of domestic roads and low capacity of vehicles, high cost and poor sevice of interisland shipping, inadequate conditions in some ports and weak link in the cold chain, poor compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations, and inadequate number of certified laboratories. The study recommends specific types of road investments, a competition policy in domestic shipping (both for crude coconut oil and fisheries), industry restructuring in the case of coconut, and compliance with SPS measures in the case of fisheries. |
| Keywords: | infrastructure, Philippines, logistics, choke points, agricultural supply chain |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:rpseri:rps_2014-02&r=agr |
| By: | Jarzębowski, Sebastian; Bezat-Jarzębowska, Agnieszka |
| Abstract: | In the paper, the authors considered estimation of efficiency, which measures the ability of a company to obtain the maximum output from given inputs. The comparison of results obtained by using two approaches: parametric (on the example of the SFA method, Stochastic Frontier Analysis) and non-parametric (on the example of the DEA method, Data Envelopment Analysis) has been carried out. Data from the companies of a key food processing sector in Poland, namely the milk processing sector, was used in the paper. This sector was chosen due to the large size of the sample, as well as the strategic importance and significant contribution to the production of the entire agri-food sector. Furthermore, with respect to the milk processing sector there are no comparative analyzes carried out, which justifies the need for their conduction. The analysis covered the period 2006-2011, the sample included from 103 up to 160 enterprises (depending on the analyzed year). Basing on the conducted analysis it was claimed that the integral use of the SFA and the DEA methods– combining advantages of both methods – allows preserving the analogy when comparing the results and formulating reliable conclusions. |
| Keywords: | efficiency, the SFA method, the DEA method, food processing sector, Agribusiness, Production Economics, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199379&r=agr |
| By: | Holden , Stein (School of Economics and Business, Norwegian University of Life Sciences); O’Donnell, Christopher J. (School of Economics, The University of Queensland, Australia) |
| Abstract: | We make cross-sectional comparisons of productivity in a risky agricultural setting. To make meaningful comparisons, we find it necessary to define a new productivity index that satisfies important axioms from index number theory (e.g., transitivity). The index can be computed without any information on output or input prices. However, it cannot be computed without an estimate of a state-contingent production frontier. We use maximum likelihood methods to estimate a state-contingent stochastic production frontier that explicitly allows for variations in input quality. We find that differences in productivity are mainly due to differences in environment and scale-mix efficiency. In turn, we conjecture that differences in scale-mix efficiency are partly driven by variations in access to input subsidies. The maximum likelihood estimator appears to do a poor job of disentangling the effects of technical inefficiency and statistical noise. |
| Keywords: | agricultural productivity; risky environment; imperfect factor markets; state-contingent analysis; total factor productivity; input subsidies |
| JEL: | C40 O13 Q10 |
| Date: | 2015–03–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:nlsseb:2015_002&r=agr |
| By: | Petterson Molina Vale |
| Abstract: | More cattle, less deforestation? Land use intensification in the Amazon is an unexpected phenomenon. Theories of hollow frontier, speculative behaviour and boom-bust all share the prediction that livestock production will remain largely extensive. Yet between 1996 and 2006 productivity of cattle grew by an astounding 57.5% in the average Amazon municipality. Does rising land productivity of cattle increase deforestation? I use secondary data and spatial econometrics to look for evidence of a positive relation between cattle intensification and deforestation (‘rebound effect’). The reduced-form model I employ is based on a spatial econometric specification by Arima et al. (2011) and uses panel data at the municipality-level. I show that mounting productivity in consolidated areas has been associated with lower deforestation both in frontier and consolidated municipalities. This suggests that any process of out-migration spurred by the rising productivity is insufficient to have a positive impact on deforestation. |
| Date: | 2014–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lsg:lsgwps:wp174&r=agr |
| By: | Liu, Xing; Niemi, Jyrki |
| Abstract: | The last twenty years has witnessed substantial changes in retailing across most European countries. Private labels (PL) has become increasingly important strategic tool for European retailers to gain market share, loyalty of customers and reinforce the bargaining power toward suppliers and countervailing power against manufacturing brands. (Bonfrer and Chintagunta, 2004; Hansen et al., 2006; Groznik et. al. 2010 EU commission, 2011). The combination of recession and a retail food price spike during the last 5 years provides even more opportunity for PL growth as increasingly price-sensitive customers shift to PL alternatives.1(Volpe, 2011) According to statistics from Private Label Manufacturer Association (PLMA), the market share of PLs accounts for 17 to 48% of the groceries market in the EU in 2012. In Finland, the sales of private labels have been growing significantly during the last five years. However, the total share of the sales is still lower than in the EU countries on average. PL share is positively correlated to concentration levels in food retail. (Lincoln and Thomason, 2009). Table 1 presents the concentration of national grocery markets in a number of EU countries versus the market shares of PLs based on the volumes obtained from PLMA. Figure 1 displays the total market share of PLs including food and non-food in Finland calculated in value. Clearly, Finnish grocery trade is the most concentrated amongst EU members of states. Even though the market share of PLs in Finland has not reached as high level as the other European countries such as Germany and UK, the market share of PLs in food sector based on sales value, has been steadily grown from 7.6% in 2003 to 12% in 20122(See Figure 1). Given the close link between concentration levels and PL share, the expectation that PL market share in Finland is projected to increase by between 3- 5% points yearly in the coming five years. Compared to the current level of 12 percent, this entails that PL market share is set to over 20% in value in the coming 5 years. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Consumer/Household Economics, Production Economics, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199060&r=agr |
| By: | Lambrecht, Evelien; Kühne, Bianka; Gellynck, Xavier |
| Abstract: | Innovation is widely recognized as being an important strategic tool for companies to increase their competitive advantage. Hereby, networks have become increasingly important as external sources for the necessary knowledge, ideas and financial resources. The main contribution of this paper is to shed light on how different network partners can explain or facilitate the different types of innovations in the agricultural sector. In contrast to other studies, we make a distinction between all four types of innovation: product, process, marketing and organizational innovation. Thus, this study has the objective to gain insight into the innovation process of farmers in terms of how they innovate, which network partners they consult in relation to innovation type, the obstacles they face, and where the network activities could be better aligned with the needs of the farmers, which could help to enable them to optimally support innovation and networking. The study is based on 36 in-depth interviews with farmers spread over five subsectors in Flanders (northern Belgium). Our most important findings are that the consulted partners and the observed barriers are different dependent on the innovation type. Hence, our study delivers a set of valuable insights and implications for farmers, network coordinators and policymakers. Farmers must be aware of the importance of partner suitability and network heterogeneity for the innovation type they are aiming at. Furthermore, farmers have to be aware of the fact that efficient networking is not the optimisation of single relationships independently of each other, but instead the management of synergies and coordination of all relationships in an efficient way. In addition, network coordinators should set up a clear strategy and communicate for which innovations their network can advise and help the farmer. These first conclusions should be further proven and supported by future research in order to draw general conclusions for the agricultural sector. As the sample of our study is limited to 36 respondents spread over five subsectors, it is necessary to conduct a quantitative study to achieve a representable sample and to include more subsectors. In addition, the study is limited to the Flemish region and literature in other countries about this subject is scarce. Hence, other researchers are encouraged to investigate if the results of Flanders can be supported by other regions in Europe and the world. |
| Keywords: | Farmers, network, innovation, Flanders, qualitative research, Agribusiness, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199370&r=agr |
| By: | Sebők, András; Homolka, Fruzsina; Hegyi, Adrienn |
| Abstract: | The majority of SMEs needs repeated explanations and evidences to be convinced about the feasibility of adopting measures for improving sustainability. This is a particularly challenging task since meeting the requirements of business growth, reduction of environmental impact, social responsibility and good governance at the same time requires complex thinking and ability to find trade-offs. Human and financial resources of SMEs are usually limited. It is difficult to motivate them to change their practices until they can’t see that these changes improve or at least maintain the viability of their business and will bring them clear benefits and relatively quick return of their invested efforts and resources. Although everybody agrees that the reduction of the environmental impact and increasing the social responsibility of food and agriculture businesses is unavoidable and beneficial for the society in general, SMEs are not convinced that their additional costs and efforts will be acknowledged by the customers and consumers. If during the explanation of the sustainability requirements the main emphasis is put on the environmental aspects this message may not be satisfactory effective to persuade food SMEs to take actions, particularly in the less affluent countries. Similar typical causes of the reluctance to act on improving compliance to environmental and social requirements were found in the Latin- American countries and in Hungary, which include the following arguments and concerns: • The smaller is a business, the smaller is its contribution to the total environmental impact. • Many other businesses including larger ones than us can continue to make business without making major changes in their activities. Why should we make the first step? Is it a real consumer requirement? • Who will cover the additional costs of the changes, sustainability measures? • Our limited resources have to be focused on production. We do not have time to spend on measurements and calculations. Why shall we share our data with our competitors, why shall we give them information, what they can use for competing with us? Although customer requirements can be used to impose pressure on suppliers to achieve some changes their impact will be limited until the suppliers can find alternative markets for their products produced with the current practices. Better improvement can be achieved by convincing SMEs that the changes towards improved environmental and social performance will result in improved competitiveness and profitability. For persuading SMEs their main problems in operating their business should be understood – e.g. the permanent struggle to cope with the pressure of the customers to reduce prices and in parallel to comply with the more and more demanding legal and customer food safety, environmental and social requirements while price of energy, water, material and cost of labour is permanently increasing. Such value propositions should be offered for them which provide a solution for harmonised improvement of several aspects of some of these expectations. Both in LA and in South-East Europe farmers and SMEs have to be convinced about the benefits and trained on the appropriate methods of collaborating with peers, to share resources and costs without disclosing confidential information Experiences collected during work with food SMEs showed that resource efficiency and improving competitiveness are very attractive subjects for nearly all of them. Improving the efficiency of using resources such as energy, water, material, and packaging material not only results in reduction of costs but also leads to reduction of environmental impact. More efficient use of labour force will also reduce costs and potential solutions for using the staff saved to increase the added value of the products and services can be explored instead of making them redundant. Thus the subject of resource efficiency provides an approach through which the interest of food SMEs can be raised and direct benefits reflected by better competitiveness can be offered in parallel with the reduction of environmental impact. In addition to that several benefits of collaboration along the food chain can also be explained to SMEs. |
| Keywords: | resource efficiency, value proposition, cost reduction, sustainability, knowledge transfer, Agribusiness, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199380&r=agr |
| By: | Deiters, Jivka; Heuss, Esther; Schiefer, Gerhard |
| Abstract: | The food sector in Europe can be characterised as a complex, global and dynamically changing network of trade streams, food supply network relations and related product flows and offers a big spectrum for economic output and employment. Innovation isimportant for the competitivenessof the food industry that is to a large extent comprised by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore innovation has grown extremely subordinate to interaction in networks. Network initiatives that could provide appropriate support involve social interaction and knowledge exchange, learning and competence development, and coordination (organization) and management of implementation. This paper was designed to assess the factors that affect the performance of German food SME formal networks. It also addressed the consequences at the network and macro level. The analysis was explored by using the laddering technique based on means-end chain theory. These findings will help to build up a “network learning toolbox” that is adapted to the particular requirements of the different segments of the target group of SMEs, network managers and policy makers. The “network learning toolbox” should improve the network learning, which drives to raised innovation, economic growth and sustainable competitive advantage for food SMEs. |
| Keywords: | Factors, performance, networks, food, Agribusiness, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199391&r=agr |
| By: | Brunt, Liam (Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration) |
| Abstract: | We estimate a time series model of weather shocks on English wheat yields for the early nineteenth century and use it to predict weather effects on yield levels from 1697 to 1871. This reveals that yields in the 1690s were depressed by unusually poor weather; and those in the late 1850s were inflated by unusually good weather. This has led researchers to overestimate the underlying growth of yields over the period by perhaps 50 per cent. Correcting for this effect would largely reconcile the conflicting primal and dual estimates of productivity growth over the period. |
| Keywords: | Weather; agriculture; productivity |
| JEL: | N50 O30 Q10 Q20 |
| Date: | 2015–03–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:nhheco:2015_002&r=agr |
| By: | Novelli, Emanuele; Scherschel, Claus; Schiefer, Gerhard |
| Abstract: | Due to raising pressures from civil society, consumers, businesses and public institutions, appropriate methodological, technological and organizational innovations acquired a central role for the establishment of global sustainable food supply chains. This paper presents an-line software able to support the implementation of sustainable policies for two highly traded products between Latina America and Europe that still raise environmental, social and economic concerns, namely soymeal and beef. The E-Platform propose itself as a synthesis of both scientific and management requirements, therefore combining complex analysis methods as life cycle analysis in the back-end and implementation and monitoring modules in the front-end. The system, currently in its test phase in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, has its primary objectives in facilitating the implementation of new sustainable production policies, in opening access to new markets and in complying with stringent requirements minimizing the certification costs and time investments for the actors of the supply chain. |
| Keywords: | sustainability management, implementation, life cycle analysis, audit, information organization, Agribusiness, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199381&r=agr |
| By: | Hamza, Kanar H.; Rich, Karl M.; Baker, A. Derek; Hendrickx, Saskia |
| Abstract: | Goat producers in Inhassoro follow traditional management practices that lead to low supply of low quality goats. This has negative impacts on profitability, and on market access. Traders who buy in the Inhassoro locality buy only small volumes, and buyers from external markets are unaware of potential market supply in Inhassoro. This interaction of production constraints and limited information flows in the value chain was addressed using a system dynamics model for various commercialization scenarios. Simulation results show that improving goat production and animal health practices alone without concomitant improvements in market access have negative impacts on the financial performance of producers and no impact on other value chain actors. However, interventions that both improve market access and animal health have significant positive impacts on the financial performance of all value chain actors. The model’s explicit treatment of herd dynamics contribute significantly to these conclusions, particularly the lagged production response inherent in livestock breeding systems. |
| Keywords: | Mozambique, Inhassoro, smallholders, goats, value chains, system dynamics, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199342&r=agr |
| By: | Dokken, Therese (School of Economics and Business, Norwegian University of Life Sciences); Angelsen, Arild (School of Economics and Business, Norwegian University of Life Sciences) |
| Abstract: | An emerging body of knowledge has established that poorer households in forest adjacent communities in developing countries are generally more forest reliant (higher forest income share) while richer households tend to extract more and generate higher absolute forest income. These studies commonly categorize households based on observed income in cross-section data, presenting a snap-shot reflecting both inter-household and inter-annual income variation. In this paper we introduce a new approach to categorize households based on a combination of the observed one-year income and predicted income by an augmented asset approach. Applying this approach on household data from Tanzania, we find forest reliance to be high among structurally poor households (low observed income and assets). The highest forest reliance is, however, found among the stochastically non-poor households (high observed income and low assets), and this group also has the highest absolute forest income. |
| Keywords: | Forest dependence; poverty categories; asset poverty; cross-sectional data |
| JEL: | C53 I32 Q23 |
| Date: | 2015–03–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:nlsseb:2015_006&r=agr |
| By: | Garcia, Roberto J. (School of Economics and Business, Norwegian University of Life Sciences) |
| Abstract: | WTO trade disciplines and commitments on market access (MA) are assessed for their ability to foster agricultural liberalization and policy reform in four Norwegian meat markets (beef, pork, lamb/sheep and chicken). The analysis addresses three issues: (1) the role that non-trade barriers played relative to the tariff regime in the overall MA of meats; (2) the changes in the composition of trade by product sub-categories and source country (and the role that quotas may have played); and (3) a comparison of the cost of imported meats and the average domestic price of the like good at the HS 6-digit level. The results suggest that MA opportunities required and created by the WTO have not initiated a process of liberalization or reform in the context of Norwegian meat markets. Only a limited scope of import penetration was permitted and was often use in collaboration with other bilateral and preferential quotas. The net effect of the policy mix continues to resemble a variable levy that limits/controls the volume imported and maintains/stabilizes prices. The analysis of the comparison of the cost of imported meat, inclusive of relevant border, with the average domestic price generally shows that imports under non-discriminating MA entered the domestic market within a 10% margin of the domestic price. There is little indication that rents are generated on imports under multilateral MA, but substantial rents could have been earned under preferential MA quotas. |
| Keywords: | Norway; meat product markets; market access; WTO commitments; non-tariff barriers; bound tariffs; preferential quotas; cost of imports; domestic prices |
| JEL: | F13 F14 Q17 Q18 |
| Date: | 2015–03–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:nlsseb:2015_003&r=agr |
| By: | Ghazouani, W.; Molle, F.; Swelam, A.; Rap, E.; Abdo, A. |
| Keywords: | Case studies; Profitability; Cost benefit analysis; Pumps; Drainage water; Food security; Irrigated farming; Irrigation water; Yields; Crop management; Conflict; Adaptation; Farmers; Canals; Deltas; Water availability; Water scarcity |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iwt:rerpts:h046836&r=agr |
| By: | López, Cristina Segovia; Pérez, Manuel Sánchez |
| Abstract: | The relevance of innovation as source of competitive advantage is clearly justified in the literature (Adner and Kapoor, 2010; Song and Thieme, 2009). In particular, knowledge, as well as all items related to organizational learning, represents a main factor contributing to the innovation success (i.e., Song and Parry, 1997). In this sense, different authors have emphasized the importance that external sources of knowledge possess for the development and success of the innovation capability (Li and Tang, 2010; Spithoven et al., 2010). The globalization of manufacturing companies is closely linked to the globalization of distribution activities (Mattsson, 2003). It can be said that globalization of retailers drives globalization of manufacturing companies. So the latter will be influenced by the supply conditions of the target markets, the possibilities to supply new markets, or the possible threat to be replaced by alternative suppliers (Ruiz, 2000, Etemad, 2004). At the same time, supply chains have progressively become more international and complex (Monczka and Trent, 2005), representing principal sources of competitive advantage in terms of availability of technological and organizational competencies and access to minor operative costs (Pagano, 2009). The international supply tends increasingly to be considered as a strategic tool chasing to take advantage of the previous advantages. Consequently, organizations should promote this critical organizational relational capability (Kotabe and Murray, 2004). |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199371&r=agr |
| By: | Sundmaeker, Harald |
| Abstract: | The paper will present an approach for an incremental solution development that is based on the usage of the currently developed Internet based FIspace business collaboration platform. Key element is the clear segmentation of infrastructures that are either internal or external to the collaborating business entity in the food network. On the one hand, the approach enables to differentiate between specific centralised as well as decentralised ways for data storage and hosting of IT based functionalities. The selection of specific data exchange protocols and data models is facilitated. On the other hand, the supported solution design and subsequent development is focusing on reusable “software Apps” that can be used on their own and are incorporating a clear added value for the business actors. It will be outlined on how to push the development and introduction of Apps that do not require basic changes of the existing infrastructure. The paper will present an example that is based on the development of a set of Apps for the exchange of product quality related information in food networks, specifically addressing fresh fruits and vegetables. It combines workflow support for data exchange from farm to retail as well as to provide quality feedback information to facilitate the business process improvement. Finally, the latest status of the FIspace platform development will be outlined. Key features and potential ways for “real users and software developers” in using the FIspace platform that is initiated by science and industry will be outlined. |
| Keywords: | Business Collaboration, Food Networks, App Development, FIspace, Future Internet, Fruits & Vegetables, Agribusiness, |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi14:199375&r=agr |
| By: | R. M. Wasantha Rathnayake |
| Abstract: | Turtles at the Rekawa sanctuary in Sri Lanka are under threat due to ongoing illegal activities such as killing turtles for meat, egg collection for sale, and the use of turtle shells to make products for markets. This study estimates the entrance fee that can be charged to visitors for ‘turtle watching' to ascertain whether revenues from such fees can be used to compensate fishermen and reduce such illegal activities. We carried out a contingent valuation study at the Rekawa sanctuary and Bundala and Yala national parks to examine the foreign and local visitors' willingness to pay (WTP) for turtle conservation under two different management scenarios. Scenario 1 sought to ascertain visitor preferences if visitor services were improved, while Scenario 2 focused on both visitor services and potential conservation initiatives. The findings suggest that a majority (63%) of visitors are willing to pay an entrance fee, which can be used for protecting turtles and improving visitor facilities at Rekawa. The estimated mean WTP per visit for local visitors was LKR 93 (USD 0.73) and LKR 143 (USD 1.12) for Scenarios 1 and 2, respectively, while the mean WTP of foreign visitors was USD 15 and USD 19 for Scenarios 1 and 2, respectively. Further, if we implement scenarios 1 and 2, annual revenue would increase by LKR 70 million and LKR 50 million respectively. These results, which suggest potentially huge gains in revenue, can be used to re-design entry fees for the Rekawa sanctuary and secure the cooperation of low income fishermen in turtle conservation. |
| Keywords: | Turtles, Willingness to pay, Revenue changes, Turtle watching, Conservation, Rekawa, Sri Lanka |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:snd:wpaper:92&r=agr |