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on Agricultural Economics |
| By: | Geoffrey, Baragu; Azzarri, Carlo; Boukaka, Sedi Anne; de Falcis, Eleonora; Ferguson, Nathaniel |
| Abstract: | The pressing need to achieve sustainable agriculture and mitigate climate change has led to a growing recognition of the importance of nature-based solutions (NBS). Defined as interventions that leverage the protective, restorative, and regulatory functions of ecosystems (Cohen-Shacham et al., 2016), NBS offers a holistic approach to addressing a range of environmental and societal challenges. This framework positions humans as active stewards of ecosystems rather than passive beneficiaries. Industrial agriculture, in prioritizing mass-scale food production, has exacted a heavy toll on both the environment and human well-being. Miralles-Wilhelm and Iseman (2021) report that 52 percent of global agricultural lands suffer from moderate to severe degradation due to unsustainable practices, contributing to 25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, industrial agriculture drives 80 percent of deforestation, threatens 86 percent of the 28, 000 species currently at risk of extinction (through habitat conversion and pollution), and accelerates soil and water degradation. The use of chemical inputs, monocropping, and poor waste management further compromise nutrition, reduce crop resilience, and depress farming incomes. These challenges highlight the urgent need to transition toward resilient, nature positive agricultural systems capable of sustaining smallholder farmers and ensuring that agriculture becomes a net contributor to environmental restoration. In response, the One CGIAR initiative, "Nature-positive solutions for shifting agri-food systems to more resilient and sustainable pathways" (NATURE+), seeks to enhance the adoption of nature-positive solutions (NPS) to promote sustainable agricultural productivity. NATURE+ addresses key systemic barriers in three areas: (1) land degradation and resource depletion, (2) limited evidence and knowledge gaps within the agricultural research for development (AR4D) community, and (3) the lack of viable business models to drive public-private partnerships in sustainable agriculture. While the harmful impacts of industrial agriculture are well documented, the AR4D community lacks robust evidence and tailored tools to support NPS planning. The 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and the COVID-19 pandemic have further underscored the need for systemic transformation. The 2020 World Economic Forum report, "The Future of Nature and Business, " estimates that NPS could create 395 million jobs by 2030, but achieving this potential requires substantial investment in evidence-based innovation and decision-support tools for biodiversity enhancement, soil management, waste management, and water conservation. |
| Keywords: | sustainable agriculture; climate change; ecosystems; intensive farming; India; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:173295 |
| By: | Warner, James; Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Mugabo, Serge; Ingabire, Chantal |
| Abstract: | As Rwanda emerges from the effects of COVID-19 and global price shocks caused by the Russia/Ukrainian conflict, there is an opportunity to focus on agricultural fundamentals to drive its economic transformation. One aspect of the transformation is how farm households are engaging in crop commercialization. This policy note outlines basic findings and suggested recommendations derived from a 2022 Rwandan commercialization household survey. Our basic unit of analysis is total crop sold divided by total value produced, averaged at either the household or individual crop level. Key findings include: Approximately 20% of our sampled smallholder households do not sell any crops. However, contrary to a subsistence/commercial farm dichotomy, most households sell on a broad continuum ranging from 1 – 100% with an average of 33% of their total crop production marketed. Crop value per hectare increases with greater marketed sales, indicating that farmers switch from lower value food crops (e.g. beans, cassava, maize) to cash crops such as fruits and vegetables where they market higher percentages. Crop value per hectare is not correlated with land size, revealing that crop choices drive value and not increasing land-related economies of scale. This finding underscores the pivotal role of crop selection in determining agricultural productivity and economic returns, rather than mere expansion of land holdings. Irrigation, land size, hiring labor and input purchases increase market participation as well as percentage of sales. Conversely, a larger family size has a negative effect on both. |
| Keywords: | agriculture; commercialization; food crops; markets; cash crops; food security; income; surpluses; Rwanda; Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Date: | 2024–05–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:141779 |
| By: | Reynolds, Elise; Mwombeki, Wiston; Kinabo, Joyce; Jeremiah, Kidola; Malindisa, Evangelista; Olney, Deanna K.; Kumar, Neha; Bliznashka, Lilia |
| Abstract: | Fruit and vegetable (F&V) production is growing rapidly across Tanzania, particularly among rural smallholder farmers. Increased F&V production could help improve diets within these communities and beyond. However, farmers face barriers in increasing production due to lack of access to key agricultural inputs including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, among others. Farmers also require financing to access these inputs as well as extension services to increase training and use of these agricultural practices. In response to these needs, the FRESH end-to end approach implemented in two regions in Northern Tanzania aims to increase the desirability, affordability, accessibility, and availability of F&V through interventions at various points of the food system, including demand creation, food environments and supply (production and post-harvest management). More information on the FRESH end-to-end approach and evaluation can be found in the FRESH Research Brief 1. The effectiveness of the FRESH end-to-end approach in improving vegetable production and F&V intake is being assessed through an impact evaluation conducted in 33 villages across 5 districts in the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions of Northern Tanzania. In this research brief, we describe findings on the baseline characteristics of the villages included in the evaluation with a specific emphasis on agricultural inputs, F&V storage and processing facilities, and other relevant agricultural characteristics. We explore these characteristics for the full sample of 33 villages, as well as at the district and regional levels. |
| Keywords: | agriculture; smallholders; inputs; extension programmes; Tanzania; Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:173282 |
| By: | Balana, Bedru; Popoola, Olufemi; Yamauchi, Futoshi; Olanipekun, Caleb; Totin, Edmond; Salaudeen, Kamaldeen Oladimeji; Muhammad, Aminu; Shi, Weilun; Liu, Yanyan |
| Abstract: | Creating a sustainable food system requires addressing the critical challenges of food waste and loss. This is particularly crucial for small-scale farmers who supply local markets but lack access to modern preservation technologies, leading to significant product losses between harvesting and selling. Research indicates that in low-and middle-income countries, approximately 38 percent of harvested perishable agricultural goods are lost before consumption. Globally, about 22 percent of fruits and vegetables are lost in the supply chain before reaching retailers (FAO, 2019). These postharvest losses have significant impacts to low economic return and household food and nutrition security. Post-harvest losses also contribute significantly to environmental concerns, accounting for roughly 8 percent of yearly global greenhouse gas emissions. Among all food categories, fruits and vegetables experience the highest losses by weight. |
| Keywords: | capacity development; food security; horticulture; households; nutrition; solar drying; sustainability; Nigeria; Africa; Western Africa |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:169151 |
| By: | Natalia Shagaida (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy); Dmitry Ternovsky (RANEPA) |
| Abstract: | Considering the main components of food security (availability and resilience of production; economic and physical access to food; food security), the situation in Russia on the eve of 2024 was not alarming. |
| Keywords: | Russian economy, agricultural production, food security |
| JEL: | I18 I19 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gai:ppaper:ppaper-2025-1414 |
| By: | Yao, Feng; Hernandez, Manuel A. |
| Abstract: | Low adoption of improved land management practices, including fertilizer use, is one of the main factors for low agricultural productivity in many developing countries. Rising agricultural productivity in many countries has been accompanied by greater fertilizer use. For example, sub-Saharan African countries, characterized by low agricultural productivity, have a very low fertilizer application rate, averaging 10 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) of nutrients of arable land, compared to 288 kg/ha in a high-income country (Hernandez and Torero, 2011). Considering the essential role that agriculture plays in the rural economy of many developing countries, many policies have been implemented to encourage sustainable fertilizer adoption. The effectiveness of different mechanisms remains though a topic of discussion. Hernandez and Torero (2013) and Hernandez and Torero (2018), for instance, note that fertilizer prices are generally higher in more concentrated markets at the global and local level. The authors argue that better understanding the dynamics of fertilizer prices in international markets can help in designing policies that promote sustainable fertilizer use in developing countries, which are increasingly dependent on imported fertilizer. |
| Keywords: | food prices; fertilizers; agricultural productivity; prices; shock; commodities |
| Date: | 2025–04–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:prnote:174361 |
| By: | Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Warner, James; Mugabo, Serge |
| Abstract: | Research from a recent IFPRI agricultural survey indicates that there is a broad spectrum of commercial engagement by Rwandan farmers. While this continuum is important for understanding commercialization, grouping farmers by relevant commonalities further improves our knowledge of how different groups engage in markets. Moving beyond simple subsistence and commercialized farmer dichotomies, this study provides a more nuanced understanding by grouping smallholder farmers into types, or typologies, based on 35 common characteristics that are both consistent within these groups and relatively diverse between them. Specifically, this analysis identifies five types of Rwandan farmers, in two broad groups, that disaggregates rural households into meaningful categories for varied potential responses to economic opportunities as well as potential strategic interventions. |
| Keywords: | agriculture; commercialization; farmers; markets; rural population; Rwanda; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–05–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:141776 |
| By: | Defrance, Dimitri; Lescure, Tiffanie; Sultan, Benjamin |
| Abstract: | This study presents a meta-analysis of 56 peer-reviewed studies on climate change adaptation among Nigerian farmers in West Africa. The analysis identifies five primary adaptation strategies: crop and variety diversification, water management, agroforestry, temporal adjustments, and livelihood diversification. It also highlights significant barriers to adoption, including limited access to credit, inadequate extension services, gender disparities, and cultural beliefs. The findings reveal a disconnection between the adaptation techniques modelled and the practices of farmers, often attributable to socioeconomic and institutional constraints. Notably, regional differences influence adaptation choices, with northern farmers focusing on drought-resistant crops and migration, while southern farmers prioritize flood management and soil conservation. The study underscores the importance of participatory approaches in designing effective adaptation policies that align with local contexts. By integrating scientific models with indigenous knowledge and addressing systemic barriers, policymakers can enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate variability. This research contributes to climate adaptation in West Africa by providing a comprehensive synthesis of existing literature and offering insights for targeted interventions in the Nigerian agricultural sector. |
| Date: | 2025–05–14 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:p8nb6_v1 |
| By: | Salazar, Lina; Bernal Hernandez, Sebastian; Miranda Baez, Luis Enrique |
| Abstract: | This study employs an experimental approach to estimate both the direct and indirect effects (i.e. spillovers) of an agricultural technology adoption program on small landholder farmers in Bolivia. Specifically, the evaluation focuses on the second phase of the "Creación de Iniciativas Agroalimentarias Rurales" (CRIAR) program, which aimed to increase agricultural productivity, income, and food security among smallholder farmers through technology adoption. Implementing a two-stage randomized experiment, the study uses instrumental variable (IV) analysis to measure the local average treatment effect (LATE) of the program. The survey sample includes 1, 684 farmers, consisting of direct beneficiaries, contaminated control households, and pure control households. Findings reveal statistically significant direct effects on household income, total production value, sales, technology adoption, and crop diversification. The results also suggest that most of the direct effects intensify over time. Furthermore, the analysis confirms the presence of spillover effects, supporting the hypothesis that farmers residing near program beneficiaries receive indirect benefits. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural Technology;Technology adoption;Agricultural productivity;food security;Smallholder farmers;Bolivia |
| JEL: | O13 O33 Q12 Q16 Q18 |
| Date: | 2025–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:14133 |
| By: | Mugabo, Serge; Warner, James |
| Abstract: | This study analyzes the costs, returns, and profitability of smallholder agriculture in Rwanda using a gross margin approach (definitions are provided below) and reveals that over 80 percent of farmers generate positive gross economic margins. However, only around 40 percent achieve positive gross marketing margins from crop sales. This difference is directly attributable to the fact that two-thirds of production is directly consumed by households. The analysis further identifies that farm households allocate about 80 percent of their total crop input expenditures to fertilizer, seed, and hired labor, while the remaining expenses associated with fixed production costs that are almost exclusively related to land rental costs. Furthermore, per hectare analysis reveals decreasing returns to scale for land size, disputing the notion that larger areas lead to efficiency gains. Instead, for example, smaller commercial farmers of less than 0.1 hectare, comprising 5.5 percent of our sample, sell over 50 percent of their crop value. Despite existing trends, this indicates that commercialization can take place on any size land holdings for relative income gains. Additionally, the study highlights the impact of factors like labor decisions and crop choice can significantly influence economic outcomes. The findings suggest that smallholder farming remains economically viable in Rwanda, though market participation is somewhat limited. With appropriate support and risk mitigation, farmers of all land sizes can commercialize production, boost incomes, and enhance household welfare by reorienting towards higher-value market crops. |
| Keywords: | commercialization; crops; smallholders; profitability; Rwanda; Africa; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–07–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:148879 |
| By: | Omamo, Steven Were; Andam, Kwaw S.; Balana, Bedru; Amare, Mulubrhan; Popoola, Olufemi; Nwagboso, Chibuzo |
| Abstract: | Main Messages: 1. Low-income households in both urban and rural areas are hardest hit by rising food prices. Post-reform (fuel subsidies removal and exchange rate liberalization) price shocks and persistent inflation have disproportionately affected poor urban and rural households, forcing them to reduce food consumption and dietary diversity. Malnutrition and food insecurity are on the rise, particularly among children and women-headed households, with sharpest impacts in conflict-affected areas. 2. Small-scale farmers are not benefiting proportionately from price increases. Despite surging food prices, small-scale farmers face escalating input costs, poor market access, and structural in-efficiencies that leave them with marginal gains far below the rate of inflation. 3. Trading networks maintain healthy margins, amplifying systemic inefficiencies. Traders and intermediaries dominate the food supply chain, passing on increased costs to consumers while pre-serving or even increasing their profit margins, highlighting inequities in the distribution of benefits along the value chain. 4. Recent economic reforms and external shocks exacerbate structural weaknesses. Economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate adjustments, have amplified existing challenges in the food system, including high transport costs, inadequate infrastructure, and fragmented markets. 5. Policy interventions should protect vulnerable groups and strengthen local food systems. Addressing these disparities requires targeted safety nets for consumers, support for small-scale farmers, and systemic investments to reduce inefficiencies in the value chain while promoting cli-mate-resilient food systems. |
| Keywords: | economics; food systems; households; inflation; Nigeria; Africa; Western Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Date: | 2025–04–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:174326 |
| By: | Benfica, Rui |
| Abstract: | Sustainable food systems provide enough quality, healthy, and affordable food to all without imposing a burden on planetary and social boundaries. By this standard, it is quite clear that food systems in many countries are not sustainable as they generate substantial environmental, social, and health costs while failing to provide affordable food to all (FAO et al., 2020). This implies the need to have a good understanding of the extent to which those externalities are present in country specific food systems. The key challenge is that such externalities are not reflected in market prices (Baker et al., 2020), being therefore hidden factors to drivers of choices by market players, as the link between market activity and those social and environmental harms is not directly visible or reflected in the incentives that drive economic systems (UNFSS, 2021). Internalizing the externalities of the food systems will require the full estimation of costs, including the measurement of externalities through “True Cost Accounting” (TCA) approaches. This document provides the analytical framework for the application of approaches in a research study to measure the true costs of food in Kenya and Vietnam. It focuses on: o Key research questions, their relevance, and policy implications o How the TCA analytical framework fits in The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) framework o Country selection and geographic focus – national, sub-national o Data requirements for estimating the true costs, including household surveys, workers’ surveys, externally compiled Global Impact Database (GID), and monetization factors. o A step-by-step process for estimating the true costs in the study area and country level GID analysis. |
| Keywords: | food; food systems; sustainability; markets; prices; Kenya; Vietnam; Asia; Africa; Eastern Africa; South-eastern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–06–27 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:148762 |
| By: | Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Spielman, David J.; Warner, James |
| Abstract: | Optimal agricultural mechanization strategies in Rwanda can be better informed by a closer assessment of diverse production environments and experiences in other countries with similar topography. The findings from Rwanda’s latest agricultural surveys, review of recent experiences in countries with rugged terrain and smallholder farming systems similar to Rwanda and reviewing mechanization support strategies from other countries suggest that identifying mechanization technologies suitable for different types of farms, promoting greater private-sector innovations while focusing on the relevant public goods aspect of mechanization is the most promising way forward. Key findings include the following: • Variations in agroecology and cropping systems, irrigated/rainfed systems, farm size, and labor use intensity, among other factors, characterize the key types of mechanization use in Rwanda. • In the medium term, smallholders cultivating rainfed maize and legumes, in addition to irrigated rice, can benefit from the use of tractors, as well as irrigation pumps. • However, farm wages may still be too low and tractor-hiring fees may still be too high in Rwanda to induce a shift to mechanization in the short term. • Policy support for mechanization can focus on improving the understanding of mechanization needs among each type of farmers identified, knowledge of suitable machines, and required skills for their operations and maintenance. • Developing competitive markets and supply networks for promising machines, parts, and repair services at a viable and integrated market scale is also important. |
| Keywords: | agricultural mechanization; smallholders; farmer systems; agroecology; maize; rice; legumes; irrigation; remuneration; markets; Rwanda; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–05–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:141775 |
| By: | Narayanan, Sudha; Belton, Ben; Kabir, Razin; Sakil, Abdul Zabbar; Khan, Asraul Hoque; Hernandez, Ricardo |
| Abstract: | Clustering farming has often been proposed as an effective way to overcome the significant transactions costs faced by downstream buyers in interacting and negotiating with many small farmers, while making it easier for extension workers and governments to dispense advice, provide upstream services and inputs. In this study, we evaluate the impact of a set of three initiatives in Bangladesh, implemented by a government department, a private sector processing firm and a not-for-profit industrial advocacy body, all involving clustering contiguous shrimp farm ponds to enable group certification necessary for global market access. We implement a canonical difference-in-differences model using two rounds of surveys of a sample of over 1, 222 farmers in 2023 and 2024 to assess the impacts on pond management practices, net profits and any unintended impacts on food security and dietary diversity. Our results suggest that the cluster interventions had impressive impacts on adoption of better farm management practices. However, these do not appear to translate into significant gains in net profits, perhaps because these interventions are still relatively new. Further, it appears that cluster farmers pay a penalty on account of a shift to more intensive cultivation, represented by a loss in species diversity and lower incomes from fish and vegetables. We find that there are no significant spillover effects as yet on shrimp farmers in the same village as the clusters. This study reflects critically on the efficacy of clustering that is presumed to enhance access to global markets. |
| Keywords: | transaction costs; farmers; shrimp culture; food security; profit; Bangladesh; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:172964 |
| By: | Warner, James; Rosenbach, Gracie; Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Mugabo, Serge; Niyonsingiza, Josue; Mukangabo, Emerence; Dushimayezu, Bertrand; Nshimiyimana, Octave; Ingabire, Chantal; Spielman, David J. |
| Abstract: | Increased commercialization of smallholder farmers is a major emphasis of Rwanda’s PSTA4 and will continue with PSTA5, as well as other policy documents related to agriculture. Although PSTA4 sought to increase the profitability of smallholder production, efforts to address accelerating commercialization were limited due to the absence of data and analysis on returns to commercial production systems. Relatively little was known about smallholder agricultural decision-making and the associated costs and returns to production systems among these farmers. This policy note introduces an important research initiative that will explore various aspects of commercialization by Rwandan smallholder farmers and is meant as a general introduction to smallholder commercialization. In subsequent research papers, more detailed studies based on these initial findings will contribute to an improved understanding of agricultural smallholders by providing (1) more nuanced analysis of commercial farmer typologies, (2) estimates of returns to commercial production systems across multiple farmers typologies, and (3) recommendations designed to improve interventions in smallholder commercialization. This brief provides a summary of the results obtained from the 2022 Smallholder Farmer Commercialization Survey (IFPRI 2024). Designed to be representative at the national and provincial levels, ten households were surveyed in 202 villages resulting in a total of 2, 020 interviewed households. The survey covered a wide range of topics including: 1) household demographics; 2) migration, household assets and house conditions, and shocks; 3) household farm characteristics; 4) household expenditures (consumption and non-consumption), and 5) household income sources. The survey instrument was developed using other IFPRI surveys and was referenced to the 2020 AHS and the 2016-2017 EICV5 surveys from NISR. |
| Keywords: | commercialization; smallholders; agriculture; decision making; surveys; households; migration; Rwanda; Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Date: | 2024–04–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:141467 |
| By: | Kruft, Krista; Herens, Marion; Namugumya, Brenda Shenute; De Groote, Bram |
| Abstract: | Food systems are failing to provide sustainable, healthy diets that promote health, environmental sustainability, affordability, and cultural acceptability, leaving over three billion people unable to access such diets. Following calls for transformation after the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and subsequent international dialogues, there is growing recognition of the need for systemic approaches to accelerate food systems transformation (FST). However, many stakeholders remain uncertain about how to implement effective changes, highlighting the need for sustainable development pathways that integrate health, environmental, and inclusion goals. This paper explores what capacities are needed for driving FST, emphasizing the need to strengthen skills and competencies in individuals, organizations, and societies to achieve transformative goals. Based on the capacity-strengthening experiences of the CGIAR Research Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets through Food Systems Transformation (SHiFT) in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Vietnam, the paper examines SHiFT’s capacity-strengthening practice used. Key questions addressed include identifying stakeholders who need transformative capacities, the capacities required for different roles, and strategies to inspire meaningful implementation. The reflections on capacity-strengthening trajectories for food system actors in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Vietnam underscore the need for tailored, inclusive, and adaptive approaches that address the unique dynamics of each food system. Seven guiding principles emerged: contextualizing within political and economic landscapes; employing adult-based, experiential learning; timing of capacity strengthening interventions; navigating power dynamics; embracing emergence and flexibility; fostering diversity; and stimulating personal agency and leadership. These principles highlight the importance of co-creation, continuous reflection, and iterative adaptation, ensuring capacity-building efforts are relevant, effective, and transformative. By exploring practice-based and case-based insights, this paper contributes to understanding how targeted capacity strengthening can support meaningfully to FST. |
| Keywords: | capacity development; food systems; healthy diets; stakeholders; sustainability; Bangladesh; Ethiopia; Vietnam; Asia; Africa; Southern Asia; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:173230 |
| By: | Namugumya, Brenda S.; Abedin, Jainal; Herens, Marion |
| Abstract: | Strengthening the multidisciplinary capabilities necessary to accelerate food systems transformation has garnered increased interest over the past decade. A capabilities assessment was done with the Strategic Partners of the CGIAR Research Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets through Food Systems Transformation in Bangladesh to understand their abilities to facilitate transformative changes towards sustainable healthy diets. Both Strategic Partners, the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) and the Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), have long histories and well-established structures for collaboration and coordination with diverse stakeholders to realize the nutrition-focused (BNNC) and the food-related (FPMU) ambitions of the Government of Bangladesh. They are engaged in food and/or nutrition policy development, governance of the sectors, and monitoring progress at both national and sub-national levels. Using a capability assessment tool tailored to capturing food systems transformation capabilities at organizational level, the capabilities to deliver results and adapt and self-renew were the highest scored for FPMU. BNNC scored more on the capabilities to achieve coherence and to relate to support food systems transformation higher. However, food systems transformation and sustainable healthy diets emerged as relatively new concepts in both organizations. It was acknowledged that whereas the current mandates of BNNC and FPMU may address issues relevant for sustainable healthy diets, to date this still lacks adequate translation into the current policy development and planning operations and has no intentional prioritization. Both teams underscored the urgency to invest in human resources and institutional capacity strengthening as well as earmarking finances to pursue food systems transformation agendas. Becoming more articulated and explicit about what comprises food systems change, what are sustainable healthy diets and what could be monitored is crucial to support the Strategic Partners to have tangible actions to track. Moving from food system narratives to specific actions will facilitate understanding of what is, or needs to be, monitored. |
| Keywords: | capacity building; sustainability; healthy diets; food systems; Bangladesh; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:169013 |
| By: | Ceballos-Sierra, Federico; Wiegel, Jennifer; Gómez, Miguel; Colindres, Mirian |
| Abstract: | This scoping study delves into the critical aspects of the coffee industry in Honduras, a major global coffee producer. It explores the significant growth in Honduran coffee production and productivity, while contrasting these achievements with rising environmental and social sustainability concerns. Key issues include the impact of climate change on coffee suitability, increasing rural poverty despite growing export values, and the challenges in maintaining consistent coffee quality and fair profit distribution along the supply chain. The study aims to review the agricultural policy context, describe the global coffee value chain (GVC), and identify constraints hindering production efficiency and inclusivity. It proposes interventions focusing on vertical coordination, quality improvement, digital innovations for traceability, and market information access, with special emphasis on environmental sustainability and gender and youth inclusion. The study utilizes an extensive literature review and inter views with sector stakeholders to analyze the dynamics within the Honduran coffee supply chain, identifying critical bottlenecks and potential solutions. The findings highlight issues in informal labor markets, oligopsonistic market conditions, and the need for improved contracting between international buyers and domestic sellers. The study sets the stage for detailed examination and intervention strategies in subsequent sections, aiming to enhance the overall performance and sustainability of the Honduran coffee industry. |
| Keywords: | coffee beans; agricultural productivity; sustainability; climate change; rural poverty; value chains; Honduras; Central America |
| Date: | 2024–02–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:139059 |
| By: | Dominic, Ditty Maria; Niranjan, A. Alagu; Mittal, Nimisha; Sulaiman, Rasheed V.; Malhotra, Aayushi; Singaraju, Niyati; Sharma, Sheetal |
| Abstract: | The majority of smallholder farmers in developing countries lack access to location-specific science-based information. Although digital advisory tools can potentially help such farmers in accessing information, often blanket recommendations and obsolete content shared through these digital tools discourage farmers from using them. Farmers need relevant information and knowledge which they can adopt in their specific situations, which can thus help them enhance their productivity and income from farming. Keeping these in view the Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR) developed FarmPrecise Application in 2019 with the support of Qualcomm Wireless Reach programme. WOTR adopted a holistic approach to digital tool deployment, especially for reaching women who often face barriers in digital access and proficiency. This comprehensive approach involved capacity building of women by providing digital skill trainings, building social capital to reach more women, and instilling a sense of empowerment among them by enhancing their participation in decision making. In this Good Practice Note, we highlight how FarmPrecise, an innovative digital solution developed by WOTR, is ensuring digital inclusion of women farmers and empowering them to overcome the barriers of gender digital divide. |
| Keywords: | watershed services; digital agriculture; digital innovation; software development; water availability; food supply; India; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:170273 |
| By: | Jeroen Struben (EM - EMLyon Business School); Derek Chan; Byomkesh Talukder; Laurette Dubé |
| Abstract: | Achieving food system transformation requires a deep understanding of the market mechanisms that underpin both the social benefits and the externalities of modern development. We examine how market dynamics affect the production and consumption of healthy and equitable diets in North America. Using causal loop diagramming, we show how three market feedback processes (industry capabilities, consumer category considerations, and systems and institutions) both constrain and enable food system transformation. Through behavioral-dynamic computational modeling, we demonstrate the ineffectiveness of isolated social or commercial interventions to achieve equitable access to nutritious foods across populations of varying socioeconomic statuses. Rather, self-sustaining transformations at scale require convergent innovations that bridge individual and collective action across typically siloed sectors, to achieve alignment between commercial, social, and environmental goals and activities. We discuss how this simulation-based analytical framework can inform policy for food system transformation, whether at the local, national, or global level. |
| Date: | 2025–05–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05083052 |
| By: | Benfica, Rui; Davis, Kristin E.; Dao, The Anh; Vu, Dang Toan; Naziri, Diego |
| Abstract: | Key takeaways True cost accounting allows for the measurement of hidden impacts of food production on the environment, human health, and society. • Our findings show that at the national level for all crop sectors: o Environmental externalities account for 73% and social for 27% of external cost structure. o Major environmental impact sources are land occupation, air pollution, and climate change. o Major social impact sources are underpayment of farm workers and the incidence of child labor. • In NATURE+ sites in Sa Pa and Mai Son districts for the crop sector: o External costs represent about 24% of all household crop production costs. o Environmental externalities (61%) are greater than social (39%). o Land occupation is the most important external impact source, followed by soil degradation and climate change. o Under earning (underpayment of workers and/or low famer profits) are significant social costs, followed by the gender wage gap and the incidence of child labor. |
| Keywords: | true cost accounting; food production; sustainability; crops; Vietnam; Asia; South-eastern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:163385 |
| By: | Robert Benassai-Dalmau; Vasiliki Voukelatou; Rossano Schifanella; Stefania Fiandrino; Daniela Paolotti; Kyriaki Kalimeri |
| Abstract: | Food market accessibility is a critical yet underexplored dimension of food systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Here, we present a continent-wide assessment of spatial food market accessibility in Africa, integrating open geospatial data from OpenStreetMap and the World Food Programme. We compare three complementary metrics: travel time to the nearest market, market availability within a 30-minute threshold, and an entropy-based measure of spatial distribution, to quantify accessibility across diverse settings. Our analysis reveals pronounced disparities: rural and economically disadvantaged populations face substantially higher travel times, limited market reach, and less spatial redundancy. These accessibility patterns align with socioeconomic stratification, as measured by the Relative Wealth Index, and moderately correlate with food insecurity levels, assessed using the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Overall, results suggest that access to food markets plays a relevant role in shaping food security outcomes and reflects broader geographic and economic inequalities. This framework provides a scalable, data-driven approach for identifying underserved regions and supporting equitable infrastructure planning and policy design across diverse African contexts. |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2505.07913 |
| By: | Ariong, Richard M.; Van Campenhout, Bjorn |
| Abstract: | This report is generated as part of a scoping study to identify possible areas that should be prioritized for intervention to improve performance and sustainability of the dairy industry in Uganda. The evaluation relies on primary and secondary data collected by IFPRI and DDA in 2021. Ten primary datasets are used for the results informing the several interventions and secondary data relies on literature review and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) dataset. The results underline five issues namely low productivity, low milk quality, and constrained markets. Low productivity is associated with production systems that undermine pasture improvement, disease control and animal health, yet these are primary drivers of milk output notwithstanding breed and effects of climate shocks. Secondly, milk production practices are directly linked to milk quality and low milk quality has negative chain effect on productivity/performance of all actors in the dairy value chain with consequence of low competitiveness of Uganda’s dairy products. The evidence suggests that there is need to explore new approaches to improve productivity and innovations in design of interventions in a holistic value chain approach to improve market performance. To improve production, innovations in livestock management and animal health coupled with milk volume (MV) based rewards are proposed. To improve milk quality, the establishment of qualitybased incentives are proposed. |
| Keywords: | innovation; value chains; dairy value chains; dairy industry; gender; Uganda; Eastern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Africa |
| Date: | 2024–01–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:138792 |
| By: | Abedin, Jainal; Herens, Marion; Brouwer, Inge D. |
| Abstract: | In 2022, the CGIAR Research Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets through Food Systems Transformation (SHiFT) conducted a stakeholder identification and analysis activity to develop its strategy for stakeholder engagement. As part of SHiFT’s Work Package 5, Catalyzing Food Systems Transformation, this analysis was used to prepare a stakeholder engagement strategy for Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Viet Nam, SHiFT’s three countries of work. The stakeholder identification and mapping, as well as a report on the country’s food system transformation process and issues, constitute a database that enables rapid selection of potential stakeholders for engagement, capacity sharing, and collaboration, among other purposes. The stakeholder identification process is repeated, typically on a quarterly basis, to update the database. This summary report is based on information first collected in 2022 and updated as of December 2024. Building understanding, engagement, and capacity with diverse food system stakeholders will help to foster collaboration and coordination across varied perspectives, and to drive transformative actions across the food system for positive outcomes on the environment, food security and nutrition, and livelihoods and inclusion. SHiFT’s approach is to engage with and provide technical support to relevant stakeholders, networks, and platforms whose objectives are aligned with the Initiative’s goals. This approach aims to contribute to local and national food systems transformation for sustainable healthy diets, rather than facilitating the formation of new networks or platforms that would require more time to build engagement and capacity, and might not be sustainable. The Initiative’s efforts are also meant to avoid overlapping with those of the country’s government and other development partners. Instead, SHiFT aims to create synergies through coordinated actions to achieve national food systems transformation and sustainable healthy diets, as well as broader national goals on food systems. |
| Keywords: | food systems; stakeholders; food security; sustainability; Bangladesh; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:173234 |
| By: | Rukundo, Emmanuel Nshakira; Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul; Gebrekidan, Bisrat Haile; Agaba, Monica; Padmaja, Subash Surendran; Dhehibi, Boubacar |
| Abstract: | A major challenge for countries dealing with conflict and instability is encouraging the use of farming technologies and natural resource management practices that are climate-smart. These practices boost productivity, build resilience to climate challenges and thus contribute to other dimensions of resilience such as those associated with conflict. In this review and meta-analysis, we assess factors associated with farmers' adoption decisions for such technologies and practices. We use advanced machine learning tools to analyze over 42, 000 published papers. Focusing on countries identified as fragile due to either climate shocks or conflict, we select 109 papers and extract 1330 coefficients and implement partial correlation coefficient analysis. Our findings show that most of the research comes from two countries; Ethiopia and Nigeria and we do not find any studies from Small Island States. We categorized the technologies into five technology groups, including soil health, erosion management, mechanization, input use and risk reduction technologies. Analysis reveals that factors such as farmer training, access to information, subsidies, and past experiences of using technologies predicts further technology adoption. However, there are significant differences across various technology groups and most especially, a very low coverage of risk-reduction technologies such as insurance. |
| Keywords: | Agriculture technology adoption, climate change, fragility, determinants |
| JEL: | Q12 Q16 Q20 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:rwirep:319082 |
| By: | Joshua Mabeta (University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper reviews the agricultural sector performance of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, specifically the efficiency of agricultural production and the overall competitiveness of their agricultural sectors. The study uses data spanning the period from 2001 to 2019 to assess agricultural production performance, and from 2001 to 2021 to investigate the competitiveness of the agricultural sectors. Using Malmquist productivity indices, the findings reveal that while overall productivity has increased in SADC, with 11 out of 15 countries recording an upward trajectory during the review period, technological progress has regressed. The gains in productivity have been driven by technical efficiency rather than advancements in technology. On the other hand, the Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage (NRCA) index shows that 11 out of the 16 SADC countries were competitive, especially among diversified economies like South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania, compared to less diversified countries. This demonstrates that diversification plays a critical role in resilience to shocks such as climate change, variability, and global commodity price fluctuations. The findings further reveal that mineral-rich countries have less competitive agricultural sectors, potentially reflecting the presence of Dutch disease. These findings highlight the need to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) not only to reduce the funding gap in the agricultural sectors of SADC countries but also to bring much-needed technological innovation that can drive agricultural productivity, meet the food needs of the fast-growing population, and contribute to the overall growth of their economies. |
| Keywords: | Efficiency, competitiveness, SADC, Malmquist index, Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage index |
| JEL: | F14 F15 F21 Q10 Q17 |
| Date: | 2025–05–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:boh:wpaper:02_2025 |
| By: | Warner, James; Manners, Rhys |
| Abstract: | Recent collaborative CGIAR research has developed a prototype for tracking district-level costs of a healthy diet using monthly eSoko data.1 High frequency monitoring of diets allows for near real-time generation of insights on price impacts on diet costs. The temporal richness of this data allows for immediate analytics of current food system events. This research provides an analysis of district-level price movements of healthy diet compositions, as well as food prices that compose the diet. We use this prototype to demonstrate how eSoko data could be used for monitoring an economic shock and how to evaluate the effects in near real time. The general goal is to demonstrate a potential early warning system that could improve the menu of policy choices for enhanced resilience. |
| Keywords: | market prices; healthy diets; data; trade; Rwanda; Africa; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–05–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:144172 |
| By: | Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Lambrecht, Isabel B.; Akramov, Kamiljon T.; Ergasheva, Tanzila |
| Abstract: | Climate change and increased frequency of abnormal weather are becoming growing threats to people’s livelihood, including in Central Asia. These threats are particularly challenging in Tajikistan, the poorest country in the Central Asia region. Despite the fact that migration is prevalent and remittances account for a significant share of GDP, evidence is scarce as to whether the decision to migrate is driven by weather shocks, whether migration is used as mitigating tool against adverse weather shocks, and how much of the loss in welfare is actually mitigated by such migration. This study aims to narrow this knowledge gap by providing evidence based on a unique panel dataset from one of the poorest and agriculturally dependent regions in Tajikistan (Khatlon province), combined with a detailed set of various climate data. In doing so, we apply a novel approach through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) to identify key weather shock variables among a vast set of potential variables associated with outmigration decisions in different districts. Our results show that different types of weather shocks are associated with outmigration decisions in different districts within the province, ranging from rainfall, temperatures, drought, and windspeed in different subperiods throughout the year. Regardless, more abnormal weather is almost universally associated with more outmigration, and outmigration significantly mitigates the potentially adverse effects on household consumption and food/nutrition security in the origin households. However, more abnormal weather in the origin location is also associated with reduced remittances per month per migrant sent to the origin location. Thus, the capacity of migration to mitigate against weather shocks is still limited. Combined with migration policies that increase net earnings during migration, supplementary support to enhance climate resilience in home locations, such as climate-smart agriculture and development of the non-farm sector, remains critical. |
| Keywords: | climate change; shock; migration; extreme weather events; agriculture; food security; Tajikistan; Asia; Central Asia |
| Date: | 2025–06–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:175059 |
| By: | Novy Aila B. Rivas; Giovanna Fae R. Oguis; Alex John C. Labanon; El Veena Grace A. Rosero; Jon Henly O. Santillan; Larry N. Digal |
| Abstract: | This study focuses on the coffee chain of Sultan Kudarat - the coffee capital of the Philippines, where most of the farmers are smallholders. Coffee farmers in this area allocate their harvested cherries as fresh cherries, dried cherries, and green coffee beans to five market outlets: Nestle Philippines, local traders, association, direct selling, and other markets not mentioned (e.g., coffee shops and hotels). Hence, a supply chain network design (SCND) model and simulation are developed to investigate the changes in the profits of coffee farmers as they market their products, whether to be sold as fresh cherries, dried cherries, or processed into green coffee beans before marketing to the market outlets mentioned above, based on the average annual costs affecting the production, primary processing, and market prices of coffee products. Assuming that the annual coffee yield per tree and the average prices of coffee products in different markets are constant, the simulations show that farmers can gain a positive annual profit if they sell all dried cherries. However, results show that if farmers decide to produce and sell all green coffee beans, the farmers gain a negative profit due to the additional annual average dehulling cost and the minimal difference in average selling prices between dried cherries and green coffee beans in different markets. Furthermore, members of the association producing dried cherries can gain by allocating the required 70 percent of their product to the association and 30 percent to the other markets. In contrast, selling 30 percent of green coffee beans to any market generates a negative profit. The developed model can also be modified and used for regular coffee farms and other commodities. |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2505.06323 |
| By: | Metcalfe, Hannah; Gardeazabal Monsalve, Andrea |
| Abstract: | The digital transformation of food, land, and water (FLW) systems holds potential for sustainability and resilience but remains hindered by fragmentation, infrastructure deficits, and governance gaps. Unlike fintech and healthcare, where structured digital adoption has flourished, FLW systems require multilateral collaborative partnerships to scale innovations effectively. This working paper examines five case studies from Latin America, Africa, and South Asia, highlighting how strategic partnerships—including those led by CGIAR, IICA, AGRA, and private sector actors— drive digital adoption. Findings reveal that successful collaboration hinges on two interdependent processes: a technical process for identifying digital solutions and an incentive process for aligning stakeholder interests. Trust-building, clear governance, and equitable participation emerge as key enablers. Lessons from fintech and healthcare emphasize the need for regulatory clarity, interoperable data frameworks, and inclusive financing models to scale digital transformation. Moving forward, addressing data sovereignty, power asymmetries, and financing constraints through structured partnerships will be essential for unlocking the full potential of digital innovation in FLW systems. |
| Keywords: | partnerships; digital innovation; agrifood systems; food systems; land; water; case studies; value chains; Mexico; Latin America; Africa; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:172712 |
| By: | Ulimwengu, John M.; Hema, Aboubacar; Marivoet, Wim; Omamo, Steven Were |
| Abstract: | This policy brief distills insights from a decade of IFPRI’s research and engagement across 54 African countries, offering a strategic synthesis to inform the Kampala 2026–2035 implementation phase of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Drawing from almost 5, 700 publications between 2015 and 2025, and using a combination of natural language processing (NLP), deep learning algorithms and rule-based approaches, the review maps key findings against CAADP’s six strategic objectives: (1) intensifying sustainable food production, agro-industrialization, and trade; (2) boosting investment and financing for agrifood systems transformation; (3) ensuring food and nutrition security; (4) advancing inclusivity and equitable livelihoods; (5) building resilient agrifood systems; and (6) strengthening agrifood systems governance. By aligning evidence with strategic priorities, this synthesis aims to sharpen the research and policy agenda needed to accelerate agricultural transformation, ensure food security, and deepen resilience across the continent. The review reveals areas of significant progress—such as advances innovative finance, nutrition policy, social protection design, gender equity, and market functioning—while also exposing enduring gaps in data, investment diagnostics, and imple mentation capacity. The brief is thus both a stocktaking and a springboard, harnessing what is known to guide the next phase of CAADP. |
| Keywords: | research; CAADP; food systems; development; social protection; food security; livelihoods; Africa |
| Date: | 2025–05–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:174708 |
| By: | Warner, James; Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Mugabo, Serge; Niyonsingiza, Josue; Mukangabo, Emerence; Ingabire, Chantal |
| Abstract: | The importance of maize for Rwanda cannot be overstated. Most smallholder farmers, along the spectrum of both land size and level of commercialization, engage in both production, own consumption, and sale of maize. Unlike most other crops, maize is commonly produced by all levels of commercialized and subsistence smallholder farmers. For example, recent research revealed that even though almost half of all maize produced is sold (44%), only an average of 23 percent is marketed at the household level (Warner et al. 2024). This indicates that while maize is widely sold by most smallholders, it is disproportionally sold by those with relatively larger farms. Therefore, maize is important for both own consumption as well as commercial sales and price movements are critical for understanding potential welfare impacts on both buyers and sellers. Research presented here outlines some important maize price relationships, including multi-year trends, interrelationships between Rwandan markets and seasonality. Overall, we find strong correlation between all markets suggesting a good degree of integration but persistent individual market prices above and below national averages as well as seasonality that generally conforms to maize’s main harvest period (Season A). This policy brief provides an overview of maize prices in Rwanda in order to enhance evidence-based policymaking for targeting recommendations aimed at more integrated and stable maize market prices throughout the country. For example, seasonal price changes suggest an annual average price fluctuation of approximately 30 percent and if targeted policies could reduce this seasonal price variation, smallholder welfare would likely be improved. |
| Keywords: | consumption; maize; smallholders; welfare; Rwanda; Africa; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–09–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:152398 |
| By: | Murugesan, Deiveegan; Quicho, Emma; Mathieu, Renaud; Faye, Omar Ndaw; Kane, Babacar; Sall, Moussa; Gatti, Luca; Holecz, Francesco |
| Abstract: | Rice is a fundamental staple food in Senegal and many parts of West Africa, where it holds significant cultural, economic, and food security importance. Despite its vital role in the nation’s di and agricultural landscape, rice cultivation in Senegal has struggled to keep pace with rising consumption, and the country has imported most of the rice it consumes for many years. Most rice production occurs in the Senegal River Valley (SRV) in the northern region, where it is cultivated under intensive, irrigated systems. The Casamance region in the south mainly relies on rainfed rice farming. To achieve the goal of self-sufficiency, reduce imports, and encourage economic grow Senegal is taking many interventions to improve their rice production, while monitoring rice area and production estimates is crucial for designing/targeting interventions and for making sound policy decisions. As part of the ‘CGIAR Initiative: Digital Innovation’, IRRI is developing a digital platform for rice production monitoring for Senegal, with sarmap, Switzerland, and the Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA). The goal is that the tool can be transferred to and implemented in Senegal Institutions to ensure long-term monitoring of rice crop production. The team first selected the SRV and irrigated lands for the pilot initiated in 2023 and extended the pil in the rainfed region of Casamance in the 2024 wet season. This report presents the activities and results of the development of the platform, including rice areas and yield, across Senegal during 2023-24 using the remote sensing-based Information and Insurance for Crops in Emerging Economies (RIICE) technologies. |
| Keywords: | food security; food consumption; trade; production; technology transfer; Senegal; Africa |
| Date: | 2024–12–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:172675 |
| By: | Mukashov, Askar; Mbuthia, Juneweenex; Omune, Lensa; Jones, Eleanor; Thurlow, James |
| Abstract: | This study explores Kenya’s vulnerability to economic shocks and identifies those contributing most to economic uncertainty. The Kenyan Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model was employed to simulate a range of po-tential economic outcomes under various sampled shock scenarios developed using historical data to capture do-mestic agricultural yield volatilities and world market prices uncertainty for traded goods. Data mining and machine learning methods were applied to quantify the contribution of each shock to the uncertainty of economic outcomes (gross domestic product [GDP], private consumption, poverty, and undernourishment). Key findings suggest that domestic yield volatility is the key risk factor for GDP, urban consumption and poverty, while external risks, partic-ularly world beverage crop prices, are more significant for rural consumption and poverty. As the majority of those below the poverty line are rural farmers, world beverage price volatility is the top risk for national poverty levels. Finally, for undernourishment outcomes, domestic cereal yield volatility is the dominant risk factor for all household types. Understanding how possible shocks would impact various segments of the Kenyan economy and population is a critical first step in facilitating discussions on relevant risk mitigation strategies, such as increasing average crop yields, adopting technologies and practices that narrow yield uncertainties, or diversifying production away from risky crops and sectors. |
| Keywords: | climate; shock; market prices; computable general equilibrium models; agriculture; crop yield; poverty; nutrition; machine learning; risk assessment; Kenya; Africa; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–12–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:168180 |
| By: | Inés Berniell (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP); Mariana Marchionni (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP & CONICET); Julián Pedrazzi (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP & CONICET); Mariana Viollaz (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP) |
| Abstract: | This paper explores how female political leaders impact environmental outcomes and climate change policy actions using data from mixed-gender mayoral races in Brazil. Using a Regression Discontinuity design we find that, compared to male mayors, female mayors significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This effect is driven by a reduction in emissions intensity (CO2e/GDP) in the Land Use sector, without changes in municipal economic activity. Part of the reduction in emissions in the Land Use sector is attributable to a decline in deforestation. We examine potential mechanisms that could explain the positive environmental impact of narrowly electing a female mayor over a male counterpart and find that in Amazon municipalities, female elected mayors allocate more space to the environment in their government proposals and are more likely to invest in environmental initiatives. Differences in the enforcement of environmental regulations do not explain the results. |
| JEL: | J16 D72 Q54 Q56 Q58 |
| Date: | 2028–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dls:wpaper:0351 |
| By: | Aragie, Emerta A.; Niyonsingiza, Josue; Thurlow, James; Warner, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian |
| Abstract: | The study systematically ranks investment options in the agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness across multiple development outcomes. Investments in SME processors and traders and livestock extension are the most cost-effective for promoting agrifood GDP growth and employment. SMEs and livestock services together with seed systems and credit access contribute positively to social outcomes (poverty, undernourishment, and diet). The analysis finds a trade-off between economic gains and environmental outcomes— higher GDP effects often come with greater environmental costs. The Rwandan case demonstrates a slight shift in the relative cost-effectiveness of investments when accounting for historical climatic risks. The study emphasizes the need for data-driven investment planning, climate-aware policies, and balancing short-term gains with long-term sustainability objectives. |
| Keywords: | sustainable development; agrifood systems; investment; agricultural extension; Rwanda; Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Date: | 2025–05–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:rssppn:174709 |
| By: | Mukashov, Askar; Duchoslav, Jan; Kankwamba, Henry; Jones, Eleanor; Thurlow, James |
| Abstract: | This study explores Malawi’s vulnerability to economic shocks and identifies those contributing most to economic uncertainty. The Malawian Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model was employed to simulate a range of potential economic outcomes under various sampled shock scenarios developed using historical data to capture domestic agricultural yield volatilities and world market prices uncertainty for traded goods. Data mining and ma-chine learning methods were applied to quantify the contribution of each shock to the uncertainty of economic outcomes (gross domestic product [GDP], private consumption, poverty, and undernourishment). Key findings sug-gest that domestic cereals and oilseeds yield volatility risks are the most important for the uncertainty of total GDP and consumption across all household types except rural low-income households. Rural low-income households’ consumption and poverty are exposed to a wide range of risks, including production volatility of livestock, yield volatility of oilseeds, cereals, vegetables and world market price of beverage crops. Finally, for undernourishment outcomes, volatility in the yields of staple cereals is the dominant risk factor for all household types. Understanding how possible shocks would impact various segments of the Malawian economy and population is a critical first step in facilitating discussions on relevant risk mitigation strategies, such as increasing average crop yields, adopting technologies and practices that narrow yield uncertainties, or diversifying production away from risky crops and sectors. |
| Keywords: | shock; economic shock; computable general equilibrium models; agriculture; market prices; poverty; nutrition; crop yield; machine learning; climate; Malawi; Africa; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–12–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:168174 |
| By: | Wolfgang Stojetz; Tilman Brück; Carlo Azzarri; Erdgin Mane |
| Abstract: | This paper provides evidence on the impacts of armed conflict and climate change on individual labor intensity. Based on pooled labor force survey, climate, and conflict event data from 21 African countries, we document that climate change and armed conflict can create a polycrisis: the negative impacts of extreme climate events on labor intensity in and outside of agriculture are more severe in conflict environments. This interaction effect, driven by heat waves and floods, is concentrated among young people, and it is the result of violent conflict presence before a climate event occurs, not of conflict events that occur at the same time as the climate event. In addition, our results suggest that conflict contributes to gender-specific shifts in labor allocation in response to climate events exacerbating women’s work burden. Our findings emphasize the importance of concerted, evidence-based policies to tackle climate-conflict polycrises, taking into account the specific vulnerabilities shaped by individuals’ gender and age. |
| Keywords: | africa, agriculture, agrifood systems, climate, conflict, employment, gender, polycrisis, youth |
| JEL: | D74 J16 J22 O12 Q10 Q54 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hic:wpaper:430 |
| By: | Arteaga, Julian; Klaus W. Deininger |
| Abstract: | As with most agricultural inputs, the optimal use of fertilizer leverages the production complementarities between different types of nutrients. Wide variation in the intensity of nutrient application rates suggests there are potentially large productivity gains to be had from rebalancing fertilizer use across nutrient types even under a fixed expenditure budget. Using detailed information on a large sample of rice fields across three states in eastern India, this paper investigates whether a more balanced use of fertilizer—measured as the ratio of potash to nitrogen applied to a field—can lead to higher yields and revenues. To address the endogeneity of fertilizer application decisions, the analysis exploits the fact that nitrogen-based fertilizers demanded by Indian farmers are mostly produced domestically in a limited number of manufacturing plants, while all potash-based fertilizers must be imported by ship from abroad. Instrumenting for the ratio of potassium-to-nitrogen fertilizer applied on a field with the relative travel distances between farmers’ villages and both the nearest urea production plant and the nearest international port, the paper estimates the impact of more balanced fertilizer use on yields and revenues. The estimates show that at median levels of fertilizer use, and keeping the level of expenditure on fertilizers constant, rebalancing fertilizer application choices such that the potassium-to-nitrogen ratio of fertilizer is doubled would lead to a 4.8 percent increase in yield. |
| Date: | 2025–05–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11134 |
| By: | Stanislas Rigal (UMR TETIS - Territoires, Environnement, Télédétection et Information Spatiale - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - AgroParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, ESE - Ecologie Systématique et Evolution - AgroParisTech - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Coralie Calvet (MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - UM - Université de Montpellier, SENS - Savoirs, ENvironnement et Sociétés - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - UMPV - Université de Montpellier Paul-Valéry); Léa Tardieu (UMR TETIS - Territoires, Environnement, Télédétection et Information Spatiale - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - AgroParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Sébastien Roussel (CEE-M - Centre d'Economie de l'Environnement - Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement - UM - Université de Montpellier); Anne-Charlotte Vaissière (ESE - Ecologie Systématique et Evolution - AgroParisTech - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ECOBIO - Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution [Rennes] - UR - Université de Rennes - INEE-CNRS - Institut Ecologie et Environnement - CNRS Ecologie et Environnement - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - OSERen - Observatoire des sciences de l'environnement de Rennes - UR - Université de Rennes - INSU - CNRS - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers - UR2 - Université de Rennes 2 - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement) |
| Abstract: | Transport infrastructures dedicated to low-carbon public transport are seen as a central tool in public policy strategies to mitigate climate change. Yet, the development of transport infrastructures has significant direct and indirect negative effects on biodiversity and social acceptability of these impacts remain little assessed. In this study, we analyse potential impacts of 20 tramway existing projects in France and social preferences with regard to their ecological and landscape integration. Using a discrete choice experiment on 1000 respondents, we show that users, even the most time constrained, are accepting an average travel time lengthening of 15 %, if tramway project integration retains a more wooded landscape, more diverse and abundant species and access to a natural area. We show that brief information provided on the state of biodiversity through framing encourages environmental consideration. We quantify the estimated impact of these projects on the naturalness of habitats and the buffer effect that project ecological integration could allow. These results highlight the non-negligible ecological impact of low-carbon transport infrastructures. They underline the need to consider climate change mitigation strategies in tandem with biodiversity preservation, while taking into account user preferences which affect the acceptability of the ecological and landscape integration of these projects. |
| Keywords: | Choice experiment, Tram, Transport policy, Urban biodiversity |
| Date: | 2025–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05085536 |
| By: | Koyratty, Nadia; Silva, Renuka; Ranathunga, Thilanka; Olney, Deanna K. |
| Abstract: | • Sri Lanka faces a double burden of malnutrition with the co-existence and persistence of multiple forms of malnutrition, e.g., stunting, wasting, underweight, overweight/ obesity, anemia, and micronutrient deficiences. • Inadequate intake of many micronutrients is common across several population groups in Sri Lanka, indicating low intake of nutrient-dense foods such as F&Vs and animal-source foods. • A diverse diet with adequate intake of nutrient-dense foods should be encouraged to address nutrient gaps among Sri Lankans and reduce the risk of NCDs. • Many government-issued diet- and nutrition-related policies, strategies, and programs have been adopted in Sri Lanka. However, these often do not place enough emphasis on F&Vs. • While national food based dietary guidelines exist, as well as other guidelines and policies, there is uncertainty about the level of public awareness and the population’s adherence to the recommendations. • Evaluations of diet- and nutrition-related interventions are also scarce, indicating a need for rigorous evidence on what works to help guide programs and policies that aim to improve diet and nutrition outcomes among Sri Lankans. |
| Keywords: | diet; micronutrients; nutrition; stunting; Sri Lanka; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–08–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:151536 |
| By: | Radic, Ivana; Gardeazabal Monsalve, Andrea |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the transformative potential of blockchain-enabled digital identities in empowering smallholder farmers, with a specific focus on CIMMYT’s initiatives in the Global South. By providing farmers with secure, verifiable credentials and data wallets, these technologies address critical challenges in financial inclusion, supply chain traceability, and data governance. Leveraging case studies from CIMMYT’s partnerships with Bluenumber and Identi, the paper explores the application of blockchain to enhance data ownership, improve market access, and foster transparency within agrifood systems. Findings highlight how digital identities enable farmers to control and monetize their data, access financial services, and comply with traceability standards, thereby strengthening their position in global value chains. Despite significant potential, challenges such as digital literacy gaps, infrastructure limitations, and regulatory disparities persist. The paper concludes with recommendations for scaling these solutions, emphasizing region-specific adaptations, collaborative frameworks, and robust data governance to maximize impact and inclusivity. |
| Keywords: | smallholders; financial inclusion; value chains; blockchain technology; digital divide |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:172557 |
| By: | Holden, Stein T. (Centre for Land Tenure Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences); Makate, Clifton (Centre for Land Tenure Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences); Tione, Sarah (Centre for Land Tenure Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences) |
| Abstract: | We assess the reliability of measured farm sizes (ownership holdings) in the Living Standard Measurement Study – Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) in Ethiopia and Malawi based on three survey rounds (2012, 2014, 2016) in Ethiopia and four rounds (2010, 2013, 2016, 2019) in Malawi. Using the balanced panel of households that participated in all the rounds, we utilized the within-household variation in reported and measured ownership holdings that were mostly measured with GPSs and/or rope and compass. While this gives reliable measures of reported holdings, we detect substantial under-reporting of parcels over time within households that largely have been overlooked in previous studies. The problem causes an unrecognized bias in agricultural statistics. We find that the estimated farm sizes within survey rounds are substantially downward biased due to systematic and stochastic under-reporting of parcels. Such biases are substantial in the data from both countries, in all survey rounds, and in all regions of each country. We estimate models with alternative estimators for the ownership holding share of maximum within-household holding to examine factors associated with variation in reported farm sizes. Based on the analyses, we propose that the maximum within-household reported farm sizes over several survey rounds provide a more reliable proxy for the real farm size, as these maximum sizes are less likely to be biased due to parcel attrition. The ignorance of this non-classical measurement error is associated with a downward bias of 12-41% in average and median farm sizes and an upward bias in the Gini coefficients for farm size distributions. We propose ideas for follow-up research and improvements in collecting these data types and draw relevant policy implications. |
| Keywords: | Farm size measurement; plot attrition; measurement error; LSMS-ISA; Ethiopia; Malawi |
| JEL: | C81 C83 Q12 Q15 |
| Date: | 2025–06–18 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:nlsclt:2025_004 |
| By: | Lucia Stephanie B. Sibala; Novy Aila B. Rivas; Giovanna Fae R. Oguis |
| Abstract: | The study investigates the coffee value chain dynamics in Davao del Sur using an agent-based model. Three main factors driving interactions among key players were identified: trust, risk, and transaction costs. The model was constructed using NetLogo 6.3.0, and data from a survey questionnaire collected three data points from BACOFA members. Five cases were explored, with each scenario simulated 1000 times. Findings suggest that producers often sell to the market rather than the cooperative due to higher prices. However, producers tend to prioritize trust in buyers and their risk attitude, leading to increased sales to the cooperative. The producer's risk attitude significantly influences their decision-making, affecting performance outcomes such as loans, demand, and price changes. All three factors play a role and exert varying impacts on the value chain. So, the stakeholders' decisions on prioritizing factors in improving relationships depend on their priorities. Nonetheless, simulations show that establishing a harmonious system benefiting all parties is possible. However, achieving this requires adjustments to demand, pricing, trust, and risk attitudes of key players, which may not align with the preferences of some parties in reality. |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2505.05797 |
| By: | Kodzovi Senu Abalo; Boehlert, Brent; Bui, Thanh; Andrew Burns; Castillo, Diego; Unnada Chewpreecha; Alexander Haider; Stephane Hallegatte; Charl Jooste; Florent McIsaac; Heather Jane Ruberl; Smet, Kim; Strzepek, Ken |
| Abstract: | Estimating the macroeconomic implications of climate change impacts and adaptation options is a topic of intense research. This paper presents a framework in the World Bank's macrostructural model to assess climate-related damages. This approach has been used in many Country Climate and Development Reports, a World Bank diagnostic that identifies priorities to ensure continued development in spite of climate change and climate policy objectives. The methodology captures a set of impact channels through which climate change affects the economy by (1) connecting a set of biophysical models to the macroeconomic model and (2) exploring a set of development and climate scenarios. The paper summarizes the results for five countries, highlighting the sources and magnitudes of their vulnerability --- with estimated gross domestic product losses in 2050 exceeding 10 percent of gross domestic product in some countries and scenarios, although only a small set of impact channels is included. The paper also presents estimates of the macroeconomic gains from sector-level adaptation interventions, considering their upfront costs and avoided climate impacts and finding significant net gross domestic product gains from adaptation opportunities identified in the Country Climate and Development Reports. Finally, the paper discusses the limits of current modeling approaches, and their complementarity with empirical approaches based on historical data series. The integrated modeling approach proposed in this paper can inform policymakers as they make proactive decisions on climate change adaptation and resilience. |
| Date: | 2025–05–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11133 |
| By: | Aragie, Emerta A.; Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Goibov, Manuchehr; Aliev, Jovidon; Diao, Xinshen; Fang, Peixun; Thurlow, James |
| Abstract: | This paper presents a model-based and data-driven analysis of alternative public investment options for Tajikistan’s agrifood system based on cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development outcomes. The study indicates that there is no single intervention that is the most cost-effective across all economic and social outcomes, including agrifood GDP growth, job creation, poverty reduction, lowered undernourishment, and improvement in diet quality. Irrigation infrastructure development, R&D in husbandry, and food loss and waste reduction are the most cost-effective investments in the combined economic outcomes, including growth and jobs. In contrast, irrigation, food loss and waste reduction, and seed systems are more effective in the combined social outcomes, including poverty, undernourishment, and diet. Considering time horizons, extension services are more effective in the short run, while irrigation and R&D deliver greater impact over time. Sector variations in the magnitude of effects are also observed among investment interventions. Overall, comparisons across development outcomes, sectoral focus, and timeframes reveal important synergies and trade-offs, underscoring the need for evidence-based tools to guide effective policy and investment decisions. |
| Keywords: | public investment; agrifood systems; development; economic impact; Tajikistan; Asia; Central Asia |
| Date: | 2025–06–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:175060 |
| By: | Florian Fizaine (IREGE - Institut de Recherche en Gestion et en Economie - USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry] - Université Savoie Mont Blanc); Guillaume Le Borgne (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement) |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we investigate the causal link between individuals' objectively assessed knowledge of climate change and their personal carbon footprints. Using a novel survey of 780 participants, we comprehensively measure perceived and actual climate knowledge, as well as individual beliefs, intentions, and behaviors. We find that individuals tend to overestimate their climate knowledge, with those possessing lower actual knowledge exhibiting the highest overestimation. While simple correlations indicate a weak negative relationship between objective knowledge and carbon footprint, our instrumental variable approach reveals a substantially stronger causal effect: individuals with greater objectively assessed climate knowledge tend to exhibit significantly lower carbon footprints. This effect varies across footprint subcomponents, showing strong proportional reductions in transport-related emissions, moderate reductions in food-related emissions, and no discernible effect in housing, miscellaneous and digital consumption. Our results highlight the importance of addressing knowledge gaps as a pathway to enhancing climate action at the individual level. By using a refined knowledge scale and accounting for confounding variables, we provide robust evidence that increasing factual climate knowledge can meaningfully contribute to lowering carbon footprints -by up to 1 ton of CO 2 -equivalent per year. These findings call for targeted educational interventions that go beyond raising awareness to actively improving public understanding of effective mitigation strategies. |
| Keywords: | Climate knowledge, Literacy, Causal inference, Instrumental variables, Pro-environmental behavior |
| Date: | 2025–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05079084 |
| By: | Peterson, Andrew |
| Abstract: | We provide a basic codebase for creating early warnings of famine from data on food availability and prices. In contrast to models for predicting agricultural yield based on satellite imagery, these tools are meant to work in the context of rapidly-evolving situations, such as war affected regions where parties to the conflict may cut off access to food aid. We provide methods for resource-scarcity based models and price-models, along with utilities for conducting sensitivity analyses and diagnostic plots. We also provide Jupyter notebooks to illustrate model usage, alongside detailed code comments and technical documentation. Having found no similar repositories on GitHub, we aim for this resource to inform and enhance public discussions of famine prediction and response -- an endeavor that, as current crises in Sudan, Gaza, and elsewhere unfortunately illustrate, remains urgently needed. |
| Date: | 2025–05–14 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:p5jg9_v1 |
| By: | Mukashov, Askar; Warner, James; Jones, Eleanor; Thurlow, James |
| Abstract: | This study explores Rwanda’s vulnerability to economic shocks and identifies those contributing most to economic uncertainty. The Rwandan Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model was employed to simulate a range of potential economic outcomes under various sampled shock scenarios developed using historical data to capture domestic agricultural yield volatilities and world market prices uncertainty for traded goods. Data mining and machine learning methods were applied to quantify the contribution of each shock to the uncertainty of economic outcomes (gross domestic product [GDP], private consumption, poverty, and undernourishment). Key findings suggest that domestic root and cereal yield volatility risks are the most important for GDP, poverty, and undernourishment outcomes, while external factors like world energy prices pose the most significant risks to high-income households’ consumption. Understanding how possible shocks would impact various segments of the Rwandan economy and population is a critical first step in facilitating discussions on relevant risk mitigation strategies, such as increasing average crop yields, adopting technologies and practices that narrow yield uncertainties, or diversifying production away from risky crops and sectors. |
| Keywords: | risk assessment; climate; shock; economic shock; market prices; computable general equilibrium models; machine learning; agriculture; crop yield; Rwanda; Africa; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–12–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:168183 |
| By: | Laura Eline Slot (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement); Mechthild Donner (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement); Isabelle Piot-Lepetit (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement); Fatima El Hadad-Gauthier (CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes, UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement) |
| Keywords: | Business models, Digitalisation, Agroecology, Circular economy, Agrifood value chains |
| Date: | 2025–01–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05078590 |
| By: | Ebun Akinsete (ICRE8); Alina Velias; Lydia Papadaki; Lazaros Antonios Chatzilazarou; Phoebe Koundouri |
| Abstract: | The increasing pressure on global water supplies from over-exploitation, drought, and pollution necessitates efficient and sustainable water management. Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) strategies have shown effectiveness in decision support, but a deeper integration of economic and participative methodologies is needed. This research reviews the core characteristics and directions of experimental economics and Living Labs (LLs) and it aims to address three research questions, namely, how the participatory, real-world environment of living laboratories can be incorporated into the controlled, hypothesis-driven nature of experimental economics; what is the significance of behavioural insights that are derived from experimental economics in the design and implementation of living labs; and how these two approaches can be merged under one framework. The focus of this paper is the improvement of water resource management through collaborative and stakeholder-driven innovation. Living Labs provide authentic environments for co-creation, allowing scientists and stakeholders to address water-related issues like supply, demand, and shortage. These environments connect controlled experimental conditions with real applications, providing comprehensive insights into behavioural reactions and policy formulation. LLs can enhance and be strengthened by economic methodologies, particularly in water valuation through integrated frameworks accounting for environmental externalities and opportunity costs. Finally, this paper shows that integrating behavioural insights and experimental approaches within LLs improves the external validity of experimental economics by putting interventions in real-world settings. |
| Keywords: | Behavioral Microeconomics, Field Experiments, Water Resource Management; Water Supply and Demand, Analysis of Collective Decision-Making |
| Date: | 2025–06–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aue:wpaper:2540 |
| By: | Davis, Kristin E.; Rosenbach, Gracie; Spielman, David J.; Makhija, Simrin; Mwangi, Lucy |
| Abstract: | The fourth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA IV) of the Government of Rwanda emphasizes extension and advisory services (EAS) as a priority area (MINAGRI 2018). In support of PSTA IV, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) began enhancing extension and advisory services by introducing a Customized Agriculture Extension System (CAES) (MINAGRI 2020). The CAES calls for ICT-supported extension services, stating that “ICT can revolutionize agriculture in Rwanda” (MINAGRI 2020: 34). Despite an enabling policy environment and Rwanda’s embracing of the ICT revolution, extension services have not taken advantage of the potential of ICTs (MINAGRI 2020). This paper looks at capacities of agricultural extension staff and the readiness of Rwandan public and private extension staff to use ICTs in their work—to be digitally equipped. A phone survey of 500 agricultural extension agents (EAs) was conducted in February and March 2021 across all districts of Rwanda among EAs in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in Rwanda. We examine their demographics, education, and work backgrounds. To assess the ‘digital readiness’ of EAs, we assess the impacts of various factors on an EA’s digital experience and their attitudes toward digital modernization. |
| Keywords: | agricultural extension; capacity development; policy innovation; gender; Rwanda; Africa; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–07–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:polbrf:149000 |
| By: | Nicola Garbarino; Sascha Möhrle; Florian Neumeier; Marie-Theres von Schickfus |
| Abstract: | Dealing with the consequences of climate change will put an increasing burden on public and private finances. We use the example of floods in a survey experiment among 8, 000 German households to elicit households’ preferences for climate adaptation policies. In Germany, as in many countries, we observe low flood insurance penetration in combination with high ex-post state aid in the event of large disasters. We find that prior expectations of flood aid, conditional on severe flooding, are low. After learning about high ex-post flood aid, households adjust their aid expectations upwards and increase their support for a mandatory flood insurance scheme. We show that the latter result is driven by fairness concerns, with reactions being stronger among uninsured households in low-risk areas. In contrast, information about announcements to cut flood aid does not significantly alter expectations and views. We conclude that fairness concerns are relevant in the discussion of public and private responsibilities in dealing with climate change. |
| Keywords: | climate change, public finance, mandatory insurance, political support, survey experiment |
| JEL: | G52 H23 H84 Q54 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11884 |
| By: | Berdegué, Julio; Trivelli, Carolina; Vos, Rob |
| Abstract: | Key messages: • Seven agriculture and agrifood value chain innovations are found to improve employment and income opportunities in the agrifood value chains. • Such income and employment require adequate enabling policies, including infrastructure investments, support to wholesale market development, social protection, labor market regulation, and supporting collective action organizations. • Eleven knowledge gaps need to be addressed to better inform agrifood system policy and investment decision-making. |
| Keywords: | agriculture; agrifood systems; value chains; income; employment; policies |
| Date: | 2024–01–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:138794 |
| By: | Bruns, Bryan; Khadka, Manohara; KC, Sumitra; Rauniyar, Amrita |
| Abstract: | Groundwater is a crucial source of water for domestic use and increasingly used for irrigation in the southern Terai region of Nepal. However, increasing groundwater extraction and other changes are depleting groundwater levels. Well drillers interviewed in Barahathawa said that water used to be available at 35 feet below the surface but now in some places they have to go to 60 feet or more for reliable water. This is an example of problems and the need for better institutions to govern a shared, invisible, and often poorly understood resource. Groundwater crop-choice games are part of a toolbox of activities that can help people learn and work together to improve groundwater governance. This brief presents lessons and implications from an initial exercise with groundwater games in Barahathawa Municipality in Madhesh Province in Nepal. |
| Keywords: | capacity development; governance; groundwater; irrigation; Nepal; Asia; Southern Asia |
| Date: | 2024–11–21 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:162554 |
| By: | Roshen Fernando (World Bank); Warwick J. McKibbin (Peterson Institute for International Economics) |
| Abstract: | Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural phenomenon where microorganisms acquire resistance to antimicrobial medicines as part of their evolution. However, overuse, misuse, and underuse of antimicrobials in healthcare, agriculture, and industrial applications have aggravated AMR. Socioeconomic, sociocultural, demographic, and environmental factors have also contributed to AMR. These include climate change, demographic trends (such as the growth in population, population aging, population density, urbanization, and migration), and plastic and metal pollution. Given the widespread consumption of antimicrobials in healthcare, agriculture, and industry, worsening AMR threatens global economic stability, growth, and development. Thus, addressing AMR collectively is vital to preventing global economic disruptions from AMR. Using the G-Cubed model, a global multisectoral intertemporal general equilibrium model, the authors attempt to quantify the economic consequences of AMR under six scenarios via four main pathways: (1) labor productivity changes from morbidity and mortality due to AMR-related diseases, (2) agriculture productivity changes due to AMR effects on livestock, (3) risk premia changes in financial markets due to the differential exposure to AMR risks, and (4) fiscal expenditure changes to manage AMR risks. The authors account for demographic trends (growth in population and population aging) and physical climate risks when projecting changes in AMR-related diseases. They find a significant global economic burden of worsening AMR due to demographic change and climate change risks, as well as significant economic benefits of taking action to address AMR. They emphasize that a "one-health" approach to managing AMR will have substantial economic benefits over the coming decades. |
| Keywords: | Antimicrobial Resistance, Antibiotic Resistance, Infectious Diseases, Macroeconomic Modelling |
| JEL: | C51 C53 C54 C55 C63 C68 E37 F01 F41 Q51 Q54 I10 |
| Date: | 2025–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iie:wpaper:wp25-12 |