nep-agr New Economics Papers
on Agricultural Economics
Issue of 2025–02–24
38 papers chosen by
Angelo Zago, Universitàà degli Studi di Verona


  1. Organic Situation Report, 2025 Edition By Raszap Skorbiansky, Sharon
  2. Nature-positive agriculture for people and the planet: A qualitative analysis from Kenya By Kinuthia, Dickson; Oingo, Balentine; Bryan, Elizabeth; Davis, Kristin E.; Wallin, Elsa; Bukachi, Salome A.
  3. Tajikistan’s agrifood sector review By Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Goibov, Manuchehr; Aliev, Jovidon
  4. Strengthening Food and Nutrition Security in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic By Allen , Emma; Leuangkhamsing , Soulinthone; Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay; Sarmiento , Jon Marx; Zafar , Omer
  5. IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND HAZARDS ON KEY SECTORS IN MADAGASCAR By Mikhail Miklyaev; Owotomiwa C. Olubamiro
  6. Baseline analysis for an impact evaluation of a home-grown school feeding program in Osun State, Nigeria to support smallholder farmers By Andam, Kwaw; Amare, Mulubrhan; Bamiwuye, Temilolu; Gelli, Aulo; Kosec, Katrina; Abay, Kibrom; Fasoranti, Adetunji
  7. Impacts of repetitive droughts and the key role of experience : evidence from Nigeria By Mélanie Gittard
  8. Training of farmers to raise awareness and usage of EzyAgric’s digital innovation bundles By Ategeka, Stewart; Luyinda, William B.; Arach, Zilla M.; Ogutu, Sylvester; Ajambo, Susan; Birachi, Eliud A.; Kikulwe, Enoch M.
  9. An evaluation of farmers' digital literacy and awareness on the adoption and implementation of bundled digital innovations in Uganda By Ogutu, Sylvester; Kikulwe, Enoch; Ajambo, Susan; Ategeka, Stewart; Birachi, Eliud
  10. Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya By Ceballos, Francisco; Chugh, Aditi; Kramer, Berber
  11. The state of food insecurity measurement: A mix of methods, and a mix of messages By Headey, Derek D.
  12. Assessing the gender dimensions in the true costs of food production in Kenya By Baragu, Geoffrey; Boukaka, Sedi-Anne; Benfica, Rui
  13. Can economic development and forest conservation coexist? Revisiting growth and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon By Pedro Henrique Batista de Barros; Ariaster Chimeli
  14. Proceedings of National Seminar on Regulations and Governance Issues in India’s Seed Sector By Dadlani, Narendra
  15. Cointegration analysis of sesame prices in Ethiopian commodity exchange warehouses By Tazeze, Aemro; Kassie, Girma T.; Abate, Gashaw T.; Worku, Yonas; Asnake, Woinishet; Minot, Nicholas
  16. Adoption of Cocoa Certification Scheme and Farmer’s Technical Efficiency in Cameroon: A Double Bootstrap Procedure By Longang, Saubaber Gamo; D., Soh Wenda Boris.; Bergaly, Kamdem Cyrile; Tamwo, Severin
  17. Are we at a watershed? An integrated assessment model for Italy By Tiziano Distefano; Raphael Porcherot; Benedetto Rocchi; Gino Sturla; Mauro Viccaro
  18. Effects of Russian-Ukraine War (RUW) on Gender and Food Security in Kenya (Policy Brief) By Musyoka M. P
  19. Advancing biomonitoring of eDNA studies with the Anaconda R package: Integrating soil and One Health perspectives in the face of evolving traditional agriculture practices By Pierre‐louis Stenger; Audrey Léopold; Kelly Dinh; Pierre Mournet; Nadia Robert; Julien Drouin; Jacques Wamejonengo; Sylvie Russet; Thomas Ibanez; Laurent Maggia; Fabian Carriconde
  20. Which Countries are “Particularly Vulnerable†to Climate Change? A New Climate Vulnerability Indicator By David Dosso
  21. Transformative Territorial Assessment of Food Systems: A Post-normal Science Perspective By Pedro Lopez-Merino; Claire Lamine
  22. Food Waste: You Can't Always Want What You Get By Carmen Camacho; Agustin Perez-Barahona; Cagr Saglam
  23. Droughts, Migration and Population in Kenya By Mélanie Gittard
  24. The Costs of Achieving Forest Resilience in California By Wibbenmeyer, Matthew; Zhu, Yuqi; Wear, David N.
  25. The Impacts of Palm Oil Expansion on Deforestation and Economic Activity in the Eastern Amazon By Pedro Henrique Batista de Barros; Ariaster Chimeli
  26. Agrivoltaics increases public acceptance of solar energy production on agricultural land By Zeddies, Hendrik Hilmar; Parlasca, Martin; Qaim, Matin
  27. Market information and R&D investment under ambiguity: A framed artefactual experiment with plant breeding professionals By Trachtman, Carly; Kramer, Berber; do Nascimento Miguel, Jérémy
  28. Environmental Migration and Race during the Great American Drought, 1935-1940 By Christopher Sichko; Ariell Zimran; Aparna Howlader
  29. Gendered Differences in Household Cooking Coping Strategies for the Russia-Ukraine War in Kenya By Dickson Wandeda Onyango; Kenneth Kigundu Macharia; Dianah Ngui; Lanoi Maloi
  30. Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems By Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus; Nilgen, Marco; Vollan, Björn
  31. Human Rights as a Prism for Analysing the Ecological Transition By Jérémie GILBERT
  32. Constructing an Alternative and Resisting Degeneration: The Case of a Multi-Stakeholder Cooperative in the Field of Regulated Professions By Charlène Arnaud; Pascale Chateau Terrisse
  33. When Quality Management Helps Agri-food Firms to Export By Charlotte Emlinger; Karine Latouche
  34. Too calm in the storm? Revisiting the Relationship Between Vulnerability and Climate Action By Giorgos Galanis; Giorgio Ricchiuti; Ben Tippet
  35. Summer Glacier Skiing Amid Climate Change: What Does Production Transformation Mean For Sustainability? By Emmanuel Salim; Jeanne Fournier; Abraham Ephraim Gerber; Emmanuel Fragnière; Leila Kebir
  36. Climate change policies and technologies: diffusion and interaction with institutions and governance By Labhard, Vincent; Lehtimäki, Jonne
  37. Innovations in low-income country food systems By Michelson, Hope C.
  38. Effects of Russian-Ukraine War (RUW) on Gender and Food Security in Kenya By M.P Musyoka

  1. By: Raszap Skorbiansky, Sharon
    Abstract: Organic agriculture is an important agricultural sector, experiencing substantial growth in sales for the past two decades. In 2023, total organic retail sales were $69.7 billion. Despite continued interest in organic products, domestic acreage devoted to organic commodities declined in recent years. This report analyzes current trends in domestic and global organic production, U.S. Department of Agriculture initiatives to remove barriers to transition, imports and exports, price premiums relative to conventional commodities, and value of retail sales. The report also includes a discussion on regenerative agriculture—a term not regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture—which, similarly to organic agriculture, is concerned with improvements in soil health.
    Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Dairy Farming, Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Risk and Uncertainty
    Date: 2025–02
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uersib:349417
  2. By: Kinuthia, Dickson; Oingo, Balentine; Bryan, Elizabeth; Davis, Kristin E.; Wallin, Elsa; Bukachi, Salome A.
    Abstract: Agricultural intensification that prioritizes profits over people and the environment is increasingly recognized as harmful to people’s wellbeing and the sustainability and resilience of smallholder farming systems. Nature-based solutions are part of nature-positive eco-agrifood systems and are critical for restoring ecosystems and preventing further biodiversity loss and environmental degradation during a climate crisis. To support more widespread adoption of nature-based solutions, it is important to understand dynamics within local communities where these solutions will be applied. This includes deeper understanding of environmental challenges, institutional and governance arrangements, current farming practices, gender relations, and perceptions of nature-based solutions. This study draws on qualitative data on these topics collected from smallholder farmers and key informants in three counties of Kenya. The discussion centers on the potential for nature-based practices to place agricultural production systems on a more sustainable path.
    Keywords: agricultural production; gender; natural resources; nature-based solutions; smallholders; sustainability; Africa; Eastern Africa; Kenya
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:2319
  3. By: Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Goibov, Manuchehr; Aliev, Jovidon
    Abstract: This study examines the growth and challenges in Tajikistan’s agriculture sector, highlighting its role as a key driver of the country’s development despite significant constraints and challenges, including inputs scarcity and climate change. The agriculture sector has seen an increase in gross outputs and sectoral value added, contributing to domestic needs due to population and income growth. However, Tajikistan still has the lowest agricultural value added per worker in Central Asia and remains a net importer of agrifood products, primarily due to the underdevelopment of the food processing sector. Key growth drivers include sectoral reforms, shifts in land allocation, and government incentives. Despite these efforts, regional disparities in productivity persist, and access to inputs such as fertilizers and mechanization remains limited. The paper emphasizes the need for improved access to finance, agricultural inputs, and extension services to ensure sustainable development and food security. Recommendations include enhancing the capacity of national agricultural research and development institutions, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and improving water and irrigation management. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of developing the livestock sector through improved feeding, breeding, and veterinary services. Overall, a comprehensive approach addressing policy, institutional, economic, and technological gaps is crucial for the sustainable advancement of Tajikistan’s agriculture sector.
    Keywords: agriculture; development; policy analysis; reforms; Asia; Central Asia; Tajikistan
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:2317
  4. By: Allen , Emma (Asian Development Bank); Leuangkhamsing , Soulinthone (Asian Development Bank); Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay (University of Western Australia); Sarmiento , Jon Marx (University of the Philippines); Zafar , Omer (Asian Development Bank)
    Abstract: Two-thirds of people in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic live in rural areas, yet agriculture contributes less than one-fifth of gross domestic product. As such, farm incomes remain low and many lack access to safe and nutritious food sufficient to meet dietary needs and risk falling into poverty and food insecurity. Food insecurity has risen to as many as one-in-ten households, with most food-insecure households dependent on rice farming and lacking educational attainment. Gender, household size, and livelihood are also important determinants in whether one is food insecure. Long-term food security challenges relate to agricultural productivity, market infrastructure, and climate factors. In addition, food security is diminished by macroeconomic instability that has elevated inflation and limited fiscal space for investing in health and education services which manifests in high rates of malnutrition. This multidimensional challenge calls for integrated solutions that strengthen foundations for a food and nutrition secure future.
    Keywords: food security; Lao PDR; availability; accessibility; utilization; stability; agency and sustainability; recommendations for investment in priority areas
    JEL: H50 Q10 Q50
    Date: 2025–02–19
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:adbewp:0770
  5. By: Mikhail Miklyaev (Department of Economics Queen’s University, Canada, and Cambridge Resource International Inc.); Owotomiwa C. Olubamiro (Cambridge Resources International Inc.)
    Abstract: Madagascar is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, facing a range of climate hazards such as tropical cyclones, droughts, floods, and rising sea levels. These hazards have profound effects on key sectors including agriculture, water and sanitation, health, education, and infrastructure, exacerbating poverty and food insecurity. The agricultural sector, which employs 80% of the population and contributes 25% to GDP, is particularly affected by erratic rainfall and extreme weather events, leading to significant crop losses and increased food insecurity. Water resources are under stress due to irregular rainfall patterns and contamination from cyclones, impacting both rural and urban populations. The health sector faces challenges from malnutrition, vector-borne diseases, and damage to healthcare infrastructure caused by extreme weather events. Education is disrupted by the destruction of school infrastructure and increased absenteeism due to food shortages and health issues. Infrastructure, particularly roads and energy systems, suffers from frequent damage due to cyclones and floods, hindering economic development and access to essential services. To address these challenges, Madagascar has implemented various adaptation strategies and policies, supported by international organizations. These include enhancing agricultural resilience, improving water resource management, climate-proofing health and educational infrastructure, and strengthening road and energy systems. Despite these efforts, the country's limited economic capacity and high poverty rates continue to hinder its ability to fully adapt to the changing climate. This report underscores the urgent need for continued and enhanced support to build climate resilience and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on Madagascar's key sectors.
    Keywords: Climate Change, Madagascar, Climate Hazards, Agriculture, Food Insecurity, Climate Resilience
    JEL: I15 O13 H84 R11 Q18 Q25 Q54
    Date: 2025–02–05
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qed:dpaper:4626
  6. By: Andam, Kwaw; Amare, Mulubrhan; Bamiwuye, Temilolu; Gelli, Aulo; Kosec, Katrina; Abay, Kibrom; Fasoranti, Adetunji
    Abstract: Home-Grown School Feeding Programs (HGSFPs) are becoming important policy instruments to improve food security, nutrition, education, agricultural production, and local economic growth (Adeyanju et al., 2024; Abay et al., 2021; Sitali, 2021; Takeshima et al., 2018; Fernandes et al., 2016; Karisa and Ordho, 2014; WFP, 2013). While the potential of HGFSPs to tackle undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies is well documented (Alderman, Bundy, Gelli, 2024), their role in supporting local value chains and smallholder farmers remains an area of active inquiry. Following international trends and lessons, Nigeria started delivering HGSFP which includes utilizing locally sourced foods instead of imports (Dennis et al., 2021). These programs provide school meals using locally sourced food from smallholder farmers within the same community (Sumberg & Sabates-Wheeler, 2011). In 2004, Nigeria’s National HGSFP was piloted in 12 states, covering all six geopolitical zones. However, the national government abruptly halted the program, with Osun relaunching the program in 2012 using state-level funds. Osun State is currently the only Nigerian state that implements the program—and considered one of the more successful states for implementing it. Despite stoppages of the program, lessons learned from the pilot phase offered valuable operational and policy insights for implementing the National HGSFP in 2016, with the aim of using farm produce locally grown by smallholder farmers to provide children with nutritious mid-day meals on every school day (Adeyanju et al., 2024).
    Keywords: school feeding; smallholders; food security; nutrition; agricultural production; value chains; children; Africa; Western Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Nigeria
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:170261
  7. By: Mélanie Gittard (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - 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, ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées)
    Abstract: Western African Sahel faced severe droughts in the 1980s, affecting agricultural production and food security. In recent decades, farmers have faced uncertainty in the timing and amount of rainy seasons and are confronted with erratic rainfall with high interannual variations. Can the experience of past dry events reduce the vulnerability of households to short-term rainfall shocks? In this paper, I match three waves of panel household surveys focusing on agriculture in Nigeria (GHS, from 2010-2016) and high temporal resolution precipitation data set from the Climate Hazard Center (CHIRPS). I show evidence of the extreme importance of the long-dry period of the 1980s and identify more recent droughts in 2013/2015, which are in line with a change in the characteristics of the rainfall trends. Through a two-way-fixed effect strategy, I exploit the spatial variation of the exposition to the 2015 drought. First, I look at the short-term effects of being hit by a drought on agricultural production and food security indicators. I show that being hit by a drought decreases yields by 14%, and decreases the food diversity of households by around 1%. Second, I look at the impacts' heterogeneity according to the plot's experience, using the timing of the year of acquisition of the plot. I compare short-term droughts' effects on households that acquired their first plot before the 1980s dry period to those that acquired it after. Results suggest that acquiring the land before 1985 attenuates the harmful effects of a climate shock, as these particular households have only a 3% reduction in their yields due to the 2015 drought. This is especially the case when households were severely hit in the 1980s. This result might suggest that having a long-lasting experience under extreme dry events on cultivated land reduces vulnerability to rainfall variability.
    Keywords: Nigeria, Droughts, Climate Change, Agricultural Production, Adaptation
    Date: 2024–09
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:psewpa:halshs-04685420
  8. By: Ategeka, Stewart; Luyinda, William B.; Arach, Zilla M.; Ogutu, Sylvester; Ajambo, Susan; Birachi, Eliud A.; Kikulwe, Enoch M.
    Abstract: This technical report presents outcomes of EzyAgric’s digital innovation awareness raising campaigns that aimed to enhance awareness and usage of EzyAgric’s digital innovation bundles among farmers and agro-inputs merchants in Luwero, Nakaseke, and Mityana districts. The objectives included fostering knowledge about EzyAgric's digital products and services, promoting quality assurance of agro-inputs, training on the safe use of agro- chemicals and climate-smart agriculture. Overall, 293 farmers were engaged, including 246 target farmers, and 47 non-target farmers. The training emphasized hands-on activities and practical demonstrations of the EzyAgric digital innovations, actual delivery of agricultural products ordered by the merchants. Key topics covered included agro-input requirements for coffee, maize, banana, tomatoes, and climate smart agriculture practices. The initiative saw a 32% increase in participation due to localized training sessions and the involvement of community leaders. Key achievements include 50 new users onboarded on the EzyAgric App, 246 farmers enrolled on EzyAgric’s USSD platform, and some agro-input sales to the newly onboarded merchants. Major challenges were low smartphone penetration, low digital proficiency among the target farmers, and lack of for- mal farmer organization structures. The next steps include continuous farmer engagement, demand aggregation, and timely supply of quality inputs to farmers and agro-input merchants. The report recommends the utilization of farmer organization structures and localized group training as a scalable approach in awareness raising campaigns on the adoption of digital innovations.
    Keywords: digital innovation; farmers; farm inputs; climate-smart agriculture; training; Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Uganda
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:169865
  9. By: Ogutu, Sylvester; Kikulwe, Enoch; Ajambo, Susan; Ategeka, Stewart; Birachi, Eliud
    Abstract: Global agri-food systems face numerous challenges, including the adverse effects of climate change, low productivity, limited adoption of technologies, and restricted access to input and output markets. These constraints contribute to increased food insecurity, decreased income from agriculture, and stagnated growth rates in many agrarian economies. Digitizing the agriculture sector presents a sustainable solution to these challenges by providing critical information that supports optimal decision-making, enhancing efficiency and productivity. However, the widespread adoption of digital innovations in this sector is hindered by low awareness of existing technologies, limited digital literacy, and prevailing social norms and power dynamics affecting various population segments, particularly women and youth.
    Keywords: agrifood systems; digital innovation; farmers; implementation; Africa; Eastern Africa; Uganda
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:169805
  10. By: Ceballos, Francisco; Chugh, Aditi; Kramer, Berber
    Abstract: The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has heightened interest in digital models to strengthen agricultural extension. Such tools could help provide personalized advisories tailored to a farmer's unique conditions at scale and at a low cost. This study evaluates the fundamental assumption that personalized crop advisories are more effective than generic ones. By means of a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT), we assess the impact of personalized picture-based advisories on farmers’ perceptions, knowledge and adoption of recommended inputs and practices, and other downstream outcomes. We find that personalizing advisories does not significantly improve agricultural outcomes compared to generic ones. While farmers who engage relatively more with advisories (i.e., those who receive and read a substantial number of messages based on self-reports) tend to achieve better outcomes, this is irrespective of whether the advisories they receive are tailored to their specific situation or not. We conclude that investments in digital extension tools should aim to enhance engagement with advisories rather than focusing solely on personalization.
    Keywords: agricultural extension; artificial intelligence; farmers; inputs; Asia; Southern Asia; Africa; Eastern Africa; India; Kenya
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:2322
  11. By: Headey, Derek D.
    Abstract: Robust food insecurity indicators are needed for monitoring development targets, humanitarian advocacy efforts, and rationally allocating foreign aid. Longstanding dissatisfaction with the FAO’s undernourishment indicator prompted the development of new metrics in recent decades, including the FAO’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and the unaffordability of healthy diets. However, no previous research has assessed whether food insecurity and poverty indicators are in broad agreement on which countries are insecure/poor, and whether global food insecurity is rising or falling. Unfortunately, this new mix of methods produces mixed messages. At the country level, FIES severe food insecurity is often higher in Latin America and the Caribbean than in Niger and other extremely poor African countries. On global trends, the FAO reports increasing undernourishment and FIES food insecurity over 2014-2022, whereas the World Bank reports monetary poverty declining and healthy diets becoming more affordable. Moreover, trends in FAO food security indicators are not statistically explained by hypothesized factors cited in FAO reports, such as conflict or climate change, and increases in the FAO’s calorie consumption inequality metric are inconsistent with declining income inequality reported by the World Bank. We provide four concrete suggestions to improve food security measurement and monitoring: (1) the FAO should cease modelling undernourishment; (2) new independent studies should re-evaluate the FIES and test new metrics; (3) international agencies should implement coordinated, high-frequency, multi-purpose, open-access surveys; and (4) researchers should further improve the “nowcasting†of poverty and food insecurity for data-scarce crisis contexts.
    Keywords: food insecurity; malnutrition; prevalence of undernourishment; poverty; stunting
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:2323
  12. By: Baragu, Geoffrey; Boukaka, Sedi-Anne; Benfica, Rui
    Abstract: Key takeaways- Gender-based environmental and social external costs create substantial economic inefficiencies in the agricultural sector. The gender wage gap contributes 12.8% to total external costs. Women's limited access to resources leads to reduced productivity, with female farmers investing 36% less in inputs than their male counterparts. Workplace harassment, which disproportionately affects women, accounts for 10.8% of total external costs. Unequal land management practices (women managing smaller plots) and having restricted access to improved agricultural inputs create additional inefficiencies in resource allocation and production outcomes.
    Keywords: gender; accounting; food production; agricultural sector; remuneration; resource allocation; Africa; Eastern Africa; Southern Africa; Kenya
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:172444
  13. By: Pedro Henrique Batista de Barros; Ariaster Chimeli
    Abstract: Assessing the impact of economic development on the environment depends on a number of factors that have plagued the empirical literature for decades and led many economists to focus on more microeconometric and RCT studies on the underlying forces behind income and environmental quality. The micro-level literature has produced a number of insights on the growth-environment nexus, but its conclusions are viewed with caution in policy making due to the difficulty in accounting for general equilibrium effects that often evade these studies. We take advantage of the recent microeconometric literature on the determinants of environmental quality along the development path to revisit the aggregate relationship between income and deforestation with a focus on deforestation and ecosystem health of the Brazilian Amazon region. Our results indicate a significant, negative, and non-linear relationship that is mediated by factors such as urbanization, poverty, policies to combat extreme poverty, access to both local and national markets and more efficient production in the agricultural frontier. Heterogeneity tests shows that this relationship is significant only in middle- and high-income municipalities, aligning with the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis.
    Keywords: Economic Development; Deforestation; Amazon
    JEL: Q23 Q56 Q57
    Date: 2025–02–17
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:spa:wpaper:2025wpecon2
  14. By: Dadlani, Narendra
    Abstract: India has a very mature and vibrant seed sector with a wide network of public and private sector enterprises working closely together to make quality seeds available to farmers at affordable prices, ensuring seed security in the country. Presently ranked fifth in the global seed trade with a reported turnover of more than USD 6 billion India is likely to double this figure by 2028 due to a healthy growth rate (CAGR) which is already faster than the global rate. With improved seed replacement rate (SRR) of major food security crops, better variety replacement rate (VRR) in most crops and a declining informal trade of farm saved seed (FSS), the industry is showing a strong upswing in its growth. Much of this progress can be attributed to the continued scientific contributions of both the public and private sector which were assisted by the enabling policies of the government. A National Seminar on ‘Regulations and Governance Issues in Indian Seed Sector’ was organized on 26-27 September 2023 at New Delhi by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), South Asia Regional Office, New Delhi, in collaboration with CGIAR Initiative on Seed Equal, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi and the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), New Delhi. The Seminar was Inaugurated by Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) and Director General, ICAR. Dr. P.K. Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Govt. of India, presided over the Inaugural Session, which was also addressed by Dr. M. Ramasami, Chairman, FSII. A total of 122 scientists, industry professionals, policy makers and other stakeholders, participated in the seminar.
    Keywords: seeds; farmers; agriculture; prices; seminars; Southern Asia; India
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:169879
  15. By: Tazeze, Aemro; Kassie, Girma T.; Abate, Gashaw T.; Worku, Yonas; Asnake, Woinishet; Minot, Nicholas
    Abstract: This study examines the cointegration of sesame market prices in eight Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) warehouses and its implications for improving the functioning of sesame markets. We analyzed 489 weekly market price data points for each of the eight ECX warehouses, covering the period from end of 2014 to mid-2024. We estimate the Multivariate Vector Error Correction Model (ECM) to analyze short- and long-term spatial price adjustments across warehouses. Of the eight warehouses, six showed significant spatial integration. The VECM results showed effective price transmission and strong short- and longterm market relationships. Short-term dynamics particularly revealed complex interactions. These findings highlight the varying impacts of price fluctuations between warehouses and the need to understand these interactions for better strategic decision making, resource allocation, and pricing strategy refinement. Furthermore, accelerating the speed of price pass through is vital to improve the livelihoods of sesame farmers in Ethiopia.
    Keywords: market prices; commodity markets; farmers; livelihoods; sesame seed; food security; Africa; Eastern Africa; Southern Africa; Ethiopia
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:169871
  16. By: Longang, Saubaber Gamo; D., Soh Wenda Boris.; Bergaly, Kamdem Cyrile; Tamwo, Severin
    Abstract: In a bid to promote the adoption of certification schemes in the cocoa subsector, this study used data collected from 100 cocoa farmers applied on the two-stage double bootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) procedure to estimate the bias-corrected technical efficiency scores of cocoa producers with respect to the level of adoption of the Rainforest Alliance/UTZ cocoa certification scheme in the Centre region of Cameroon. The result indicates that yields per hectare remain low for cocoa farmers but is highest for partial adopters, followed by complete adopters and non-adopters; inefficiency remains rampant amongst cocoa farmers but declines as one moves from non-adoption to partial and then complete adoption. However, partial adoption appears to be more favourable for technical efficiency relative to complete adoption in the short run. Moreover, inefficiency is highest for nonadopters as their respective ages and the year of their experience increase. Likewise, non-adopters and partial adopters with secondary or higher level of schooling tend to be less efficient than complete adopters with similar level of schooling. This study therefore shows that the level of adoption of certification schemes matter for farmers’ technical efficiency. Hence certification bodies and agricultural extension programs should promote the adoption of certification schemes and encourage farmers to adopt the certification norms progressively and move from nonadoption to partial adoption in the short run and then to complete adoption in the long run.
    Date: 2023–06–23
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:africa:2r7qa_v1
  17. By: Tiziano Distefano; Raphael Porcherot; Benedetto Rocchi; Gino Sturla; Mauro Viccaro
    Abstract: As global warming intensifies, the availability of water poses an increasing challenge for countries such as Italy. Italy's socioeconomic structure places significant pressure on domestic and international water resources, especially through imports. In 2014, more than half of Italy's total water footprint (WF, 126, 453 Mm³) was sourced from abroad. The agricultural sector is the largest contributor, accounting for 78.6% of the WF---70.9% domestically and 83.7% externally. As climate change concerns grow, efficient water management is crucial, yet research often overlooks the complex interactions between socio-economic factors and water resources. To address this gap, we extend the EUROGREEN model by integrating a new hydrological module that explores the water-economy nexus. This module evaluates feedback loops and the effects of policy measures on both water and economic outcomes, providing a comprehensive view of their interdependencies. The model introduces an Extended Water Exploitation Index (EWEI), considering variations in water stress by fully accounting for grey water demand and supply constraints. We present initial results from a base scenario and several alternatives, analyzing the impact on agricultural productivity, industrial output, and regional water scarcity. The base scenario suggests that endogenous growth and climate change could exacerbate water stress, underscoring the need for integrated water management strategies to ensure socioeconomic stability.
    Keywords: System Dynamics; Ecological Macroeconomics; Policy Scenario Analysis; Climate Change
    JEL: Q54 H68 C63 C67
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:frz:wpaper:wp2025_02.rdf
  18. By: Musyoka M. P
    Abstract: This brief shows that the Russia-Ukraine War (RUW) led to increased food insecurity, declining monthly wages, with disproportionate effects on women, particularly those residing in urban areas. Domestic policies are better suited to mitigate the negative effects of the exogenous shocks (Russia-Ukraine War, RUW) on food security, but female-headed households continued to suffer disproportionately.
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:a0956c8f-b511-4d56-9e58-cff50394ea82
  19. By: Pierre‐louis Stenger (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, Equipe Sol & Végétation (SolVeg) - IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien); Audrey Léopold (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, Equipe Sol & Végétation (SolVeg) - IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien); Kelly Dinh (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, Equipe Sol & Végétation (SolVeg) - IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien); Pierre Mournet (UMR AGAP - Amélioration génétique et adaptation des plantes méditerranéennes et tropicales - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - 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, Cirad-BIOS - Département Systèmes Biologiques - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement); Nadia Robert (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, Equipe Sol & Végétation (SolVeg) - IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien); Julien Drouin (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, Equipe Sol & Végétation (SolVeg) - IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien); Jacques Wamejonengo (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, Equipe Sol & Végétation (SolVeg) - IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien); Sylvie Russet (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, Equipe Sol & Végétation (SolVeg) - IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien); Thomas Ibanez (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, Equipe Sol & Végétation (SolVeg) - IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, UMR AMAP - Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - IRD [Occitanie] - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - UM - Université de Montpellier); Laurent Maggia (UMR AGAP - Amélioration génétique et adaptation des plantes méditerranéennes et tropicales - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - 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, Cirad-BIOS - Département Systèmes Biologiques - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement); Fabian Carriconde (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien, Equipe Sol & Végétation (SolVeg) - IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien)
    Abstract: Soil health and One Health are global concerns, necessitating the development of refined indicators for effective monitoring. In response, we present the Anaconda R Package, a novel tool designed to enhance the analysis of eDNA data for biomonitoring purposes. Employing a combination of different approaches, this package allows for a comprehensive investigation of species abundance and community composition under diverse conditions. This study applied the Anaconda package to examine the impact of two types of duration fire-fallow cropping systems, using natural forests as a reference, on soil fungal and bacterial communities in Mare ´Island (New Caledonia). Condition-specific taxa were identified, particularly pathogenic fungi and bacteria, demonstrating the importance of long-term fallowing efforts. Notably, this package also revealed the potential contributions of beneficial soil microbes, including saprophytes and plant-endophyte fungi, in suppressing soil-borne pathogens. Over-represented microbial ASVs associated with both plant and animal pathogens, including those of potential concern for human health, were identified. This underscores the importance of maintaining intrinsic balance for effective disease suppression. Importantly, the advanced analytical and statistical methods offered by this package should be harnessed to comprehensively investigate the effects of agricultural practice changes on soil health within the One Health framework. Looking ahead, the application of this method extends beyond the realm of One Health, offering valuable insights into various ecological scenarios. Its versatility holds promise for elucidating complex interactions and dynamics within ecosystems. By leveraging this tool, researchers can explore the broader implications of agricultural practice modifications, facilitating informed decisions and sustainable environmental management.
    Keywords: Fungi, Agricultural soil science, Plant fungal pathogens, Fungal pathogens, Taxonomy, Fungal structure, Community structure, Islands
    Date: 2025–01–16
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04904826
  20. By: David Dosso (University of Sorbonne Paris Nord)
    Abstract: This paper examines the effects of climate change with a focus on climate vulnerability. In recent decades, climate change has emerged as a significant concern for governments, policymakers, and international institutions, highlighting its universal threat. Countries across all continents are susceptible to its impacts. While various indicators have been proposed to assess the extent of vulnerability to climate change, many of these are closely tied to the level of economic development, which may not accurately reflect the experiences of both developed and developing nations. Additionally, reliance on indicators that correlate strongly with economic conditions can introduce biases in empirical research. This paper addresses this issue by introducing a new indicator denoted “CV03†that is less influenced by a country’s economic status.
    Keywords: Climate change, climate change vulnerability, economic development
    JEL: Q
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inf:wpaper:2025.2
  21. By: Pedro Lopez-Merino (GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur); Claire Lamine (ECODEVELOPPEMENT - Ecodéveloppement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)
    Abstract: The importance of food systems' transformations worldwide in order to achieve sustainability is recognised at all levels and scales, and the assessment of the said sustainability appears as a central element to understand the very aspects that need transforming. In parallel, the territorial scale is increasingly seen as the right one to produce such transformations, both in the scientific literature and in policy debates. There has been a proliferation of sustainability assessment methods and tools over the past couple of decades. Yet, researchers agree that these have been mostly unable to support the aforementioned transformations. A post-normal outlook may help in doing so, and it is of interest to identify the aspects that can help rendering assessment coherent with post-normal science. We identify three central categories that can help in doing so, and should thus be considered as central elements in sustainability assessment of Food Systems. These are interdependencies between system components, the system's trajectories and actors' participation. We draw elements from the scientific literature to justify the importance of these elements, and carry out a focused literature review of Food System sustainability assessment at the territorial scale to see the extent to which the methodologies proposed incorporate them.
    Keywords: sustainability assessment, food systems, territorial scale, post-normal science, participatory approaches
    Date: 2024–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-04747594
  22. By: Carmen Camacho (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement); Agustin Perez-Barahona (THEMA - Théorie économique, modélisation et applications - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CY - CY Cergy Paris Université); Cagr Saglam (Bilkent University [Ankara])
    Abstract: Food waste constitutes a significant economic inefficiency and should therefore be a central policy issue. While in low-income countries food waste is often associated with poor harvesting, storage and transportation conditions, in middle-and high-income countries consumers' behavior is considered to be the main driver of this problem. The general aim of our paper is to contribute to the understanding of food waste. We focus on household food waste and the economic mechanisms behind it. We propose a stylized model in which food waste appears as an economic decision of households. Our framework of "rational food waste" relies primarily on consumer behavioural biases, which could be further encouraged by aggressive pricing strategies such as quantity discounts.
    Keywords: Rational food waste, Behavioural bias, Price policies
    Date: 2024–11
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:psewpa:halshs-04777546
  23. By: Mélanie Gittard (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - 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)
    Abstract: Since 2000, Kenya has experienced an increase in the frequency of droughts, significantly affecting agriculture and driving labor force migration. This paper investigates strategic migration patterns among farmers and pastoralists in response to repetitive droughts. I use fine-grained data that enables the capture of shortdistance migration and heterogeneity, combining satellite-based data on daily rainfalls (CHIRPS) with exhaustive censuses from 1989, 1999, and 2009. I use a two-way fixed-effect model to exploit the spatial variation in drought frequency across 2, 518 sub-locations, comparing their demographic growth according to the number of dryrainy seasons over each decade. First, I show that increased drought frequency triggers out-migration, as one additional drought decreases demographic growth by 1.7 p.p, equivalent to a 1% population decline. This result is consistent within the [15; 65] age group, excluding other demographic effects and confirming migration as the driving factor. The main contribution of this paper is the identification of different migration strategies across livelihoods. Rural areas dominated by pastoral activities experience significant out-migration, leading to a rural-rural shift from pastoral to agriculture-oriented regions. Herders' migration displays little heterogeneity, suggesting the migration of entire households and consistent with migration as a last resort. Agricultural rural areas are less vulnerable to drought and display significant heterogeneity. The results show the migration of the most educated individuals in the working age, while uneducated individuals are trapped in affected areas. This paper highlights the importance of using detailed data to understand diverse migration strategies, thereby facilitating the implementation of effective policies.
    Keywords: Kenya, Droughts, Migration, Population, Census data
    Date: 2024–09
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:psewpa:halshs-04685409
  24. By: Wibbenmeyer, Matthew (Resources for the Future); Zhu, Yuqi (Resources for the Future); Wear, David N. (Resources for the Future)
    Abstract: Wildfires in California have become increasingly severe and costly, prompting a significant policy focus on reducing the risk through forest fuel treatments. We provide a novel spatially explicit analysis of the costs associated with achieving forest resilience in California. Our approach integrates empirical models of treatment choice and treatment costs, generating site-specific estimates of the costs of, and the likelihood that managers would choose, two treatment strategies.With data from the US Forest Service (USFS) Forest Activity Tracking System and landscape data from the Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools program, we use hierarchical clustering methods to aggregate USFS activities into two primary treatment types: mechanical thinning and prescribed burns. We then use a choice model to predict which treatment type is selected at each site based on site-specific landscape characteristics. Finally, we estimate per-acre treatment costs for each treatment type by linear regression. To address sample selection bias, we apply a Heckman two-step correction procedure to the cost models.Our results highlight variability in treatment costs across locations and landscape conditions. On average, mechanical thinning and prescribed burns cost $577 and $170 per acre, respectively. We find that mechanical thinning is more commonly applied in areas with higher slopes and elevation; prescribed burns are more likely in flatter areas farther from populated zones. Our cost models indicate that proximity to populated areas, vegetation type, and topography significantly influence treatment costs.We use our models to project statewide treatment costs for policy scenarios that vary in ambition and identify areas for treatment based on wildfire hazard potential (WHP) and proximity to the wildland–urban interface (WUI). Treating 17 million acres in high-WHP areas is projected to cost $9.7 billion, and treating only high-WHP areas near the WUI (8.7 million acres) is estimated to cost $5.0 billion. A hybrid scenario, which includes all moderate-WHP areas near the WUI and high-WHP areas elsewhere, would require treating 30.7 million acres at an estimated cost of $16.8 billion.Our analysis is subject to several important limitations. The cost data we use come from 2 USFS-administered projects, and although they are the most comprehensive available, they may not fully capture costs on private or state lands. Additionally, we do not account for permitting or environmental review costs, which are a major component of overall treatment costs. Moreover, as treatment capacity scales up, increased demand for labor and equipment could raise per-acre treatment costs.Despite these limitations, our study provides policymakers with critical insights into the spatial heterogeneity and key cost drivers of forest fuel treatments. By offering granular, site-specific cost projections, we aim to support more efficient and cost-effective wildfire mitigation strategies. Our findings suggest that current levels of state and federal funding may be sufficient to achieve the lowest-cost treatment goals, but more ambitious strategies would require substantial increases in funding.
    Date: 2025–02–11
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rff:dpaper:dp-25-03
  25. By: Pedro Henrique Batista de Barros; Ariaster Chimeli
    Abstract: In recent years, the Brazilian government has designed policies to promote the palm oil industry and forest protection, limiting oil palm plantations to already degraded areas. As a consequence, oil palm crops have increased rapidly in the eastern Amazon region and contributed to a low-carbon energy transition. However, little is known about the effectiveness of these policies in avoiding oil palm-induced deforestation. This paper estimates the impact of oil palm plantations on deforestation and nightlight intensity, a proxy for less land-intensive economic activities that could contribute further to forest protection. We do so in two steps. First, we combined optical spectral bands from Landsat-8 and radar backscatter values from Sentinel-1 to produce a more accurate map of oil palm plantations with a random forest machine learning algorithm. Next, we used the maximum agro-climatically attainable palm oil yield from the Global Agro-Ecological Zoning (GAEZ) as an instrument for oil palm expansion between 2014 and 2020, and estimated the impact of the crop on deforestation and nightlights. Oil palms expanded mainly on pastures, but also contributed to deforestation. We do not find any evidence that the crop stimulates less land-intensive economic activities.
    Keywords: Oil Palm; Deforestation; Amazon; Remote Sensing
    JEL: Q15 Q23 Q28 Q56
    Date: 2025–02–17
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:spa:wpaper:2025wpecon3
  26. By: Zeddies, Hendrik Hilmar; Parlasca, Martin; Qaim, Matin
    Abstract: Competition for land is a key challenge for decarbonized energy transitions. Open-space solar energy farms are gaining in importance but have large land requirements and displace agricultural production. Agrivoltaics offers a compromise, integrating solar panels into existing farming operations. However, adoption of Agrivoltaics remains limited, as it has lower energy output per hectare and higher installation costs than open-space solar. Here, we compare public attitudes towards Agrivoltaics and open-space solar in Germany, using experimental data from a nationally representative sample. Participants were shown three images of a landscape that only differed in terms of land use, namely an agricultural field without solar, an Agrivoltaics system, and an open-space solar system, together with some technical information. While both solar systems have perceived negative impacts on landscape attractiveness, the impacts are less negative for Agrivoltaics. In comparison to their regular electricity bill, 44% of the participants expressed their willingness to pay more for electricity from Agrivoltaics, compared to 29% for electricity from open-space solar. We also find a higher monetary willingness to pay for Agrivoltaics. These results hold across different agricultural systems, implying that Agrivoltaics could play an important role for socially-acceptable energy transitions. More widespread Agrivoltaics adoption may depend on targeted policy support.
    Keywords: Resource /Energy Economics and Policy
    Date: 2025–02–14
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ubzefd:349432
  27. By: Trachtman, Carly; Kramer, Berber; do Nascimento Miguel, Jérémy
    Abstract: Investments in R&D are often made under ambiguity about the potential impacts of various projects. High-quality, systematic market research could help reduce that ambiguity, including in investments in agricultural research-for-development, such as plant breeding. Using an online framed artefactual experiment with a diverse sample of breeding experts working in various disciplines across the world, we ask how market information and information quality influences breeding experts’ investments in prospects with ambiguous returns, and how the quality and source of information affect willingness to pay for market information. We find that providing market information leads participants to make more prioritized (rather than diversified) decisions. However, participants do not consider differences in information quality, instead over extrapolating from noisy and biased information signals. Finally, while most participants are willing to use experimental funds to purchase market information, around half prefer lower quality information even if higher quality information is available at the same price. We conclude that prioritizing R&D projects with greater impact opportunities will require better awareness among decision-makers of quality issues in various types of market research.
    Keywords: agricultural research for development; plant breeding; experimental design; market research
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:2314
  28. By: Christopher Sichko; Ariell Zimran; Aparna Howlader
    Abstract: We study racial differences in internal migration responses to one of the most severe climatic shocks in US history—the drought of the 1930s. Using data from the 1940 census on 65 million adults, we find that individuals exposed to more severe drought between 1935 and 1940 were more likely to make an inter-county move and that this responsiveness was greater for black individuals than white individuals. This racial difference was particularly pronounced among the rural population. Black individuals' migration premium came despite their systematic disadvantage in the economy of the 1930s and evidence along dimensions other than race that disadvantage limited individuals' ability to adapt to the drought through migration. Federal relief spending under the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) magnified this racial difference, reducing the migration response to drought for white individuals and increasing it for black individuals. These results help to better understand how the reaction of different groups aggregate to determine the magnitude and composition of migration responses to natural disasters, as well as the roles of migration and government policy in disadvantaged groups' responses to natural disasters.
    JEL: D63 J15 N32 N52 O13 O15 Q12 R11 R23
    Date: 2025–01
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:33409
  29. By: Dickson Wandeda Onyango; Kenneth Kigundu Macharia; Dianah Ngui; Lanoi Maloi
    Abstract: The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted global supply chains, leading to higher fuel prices as well as food and fertilizer prices, exacerbating existing gender disparities in Kenya. The study uncovered significant gendered differences in cooking strategies and found that women spent more time on fuel collection and meal preparation.
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:c20718eb-cbc7-4461-9d84-b8116964a29f
  30. By: Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus; Nilgen, Marco; Vollan, Björn
    Abstract: Citizens’ Juries (CJs) are increasingly implemented as a means to engage citizens in deliberation on complex policy challenges, yet their effectiveness can be undermined by cognitive biases and limited value-driven reasoning. This study evaluates the impact of bias alleviation and value activation exercises on deliberative quality and civic engagement in four CJs conducted in Bogotá, Colombia. Two juries incorporated these exercises as treatment interventions, and two served as controls with extended deliberation time. Results reveal that deliberation itself modestly reduced confirmation bias compared to non-participants, while the structured interventions enhanced participants’ awareness of biases and value-based reasoning. However, the interventions did not significantly reduce the occurrence of biases and led to a perceived trade-off with deliberation time. Participation in CJs also showed improved trust in science and political self-efficacy, demonstrating their potential to foster civic engagement. These findings highlight the nuanced benefits and limitations of integrating debiasing interventions into mini-publics to enhance deliberative quality and equity in policymaking.
    Keywords: democracy; environmental economics; food systems; participatory research; public participation; sustainability; Americas; South America; Colombia
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:2320
  31. By: Jérémie GILBERT
    Abstract: The fight against the ecological crisis and the protection of human rights are interdependent challenges that require collective efforts from governments, international organizations, civil society, businesses, and individuals. Most human rights are negatively affected by the ecological crisis. However, in a more positive sense, the international human rights normative framework highlights numerous pathways to ensure an effective, sustainable, just, and equitable ecological transition. Not only does environmental protection contribute to the realization of human rights, but the protection of human rights also plays a role in environmental preservation and provides avenues for ecological transition.The right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment encompasses fundamental rights such as access to clean air, a safe climate, potable water, healthy and sustainably produced food, non-toxic environments, as well as healthy biodiversity and ecosystems.As this study emphasizes, a human rights-based approach encourages states to commit to transitioning towards agroecological food systems, halting and reversing deforestation and land degradation, and improving adaptive capacities, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations. By adopting an approach centered on the role of human rights in addressing the ecological crisis, this report provides insights into how human rights can serve as a guiding principle to ensure that the ecological transition is just, sustainable, and equitable.Many rights are directly affected, particularly several economic and social determinants of the right to health, such as access to nutritious food, drinking water, sanitation, and housing. Addressing the global ecological crisis from a human rights perspective helps highlight the principles of universality and non-discrimination while underscoring that these rights must be guaranteed for all, including members of vulnerable groups.While nearly all individuals experience the effects of environmental degradation, the consequences are more severe for those already in situations of marginalization or vulnerability. The most exposed populations often include children and young people, the elderly, persons with disabilities, those living in poverty, ethnic, racial, or other marginalized minorities, Indigenous peoples, displaced persons—whether within a country or across borders—refugees and migrants, as well as human rights defenders.Fighting inequalities in the face of the ecological crisis requires a human rights-based approach that incorporates environmentally, socially, and economically just solutions to ensure that no one is left behind in the transition to a more sustainable future. This report analyzes how, in response to the various impacts of the ecological crisis on human rights, both human rights doctrine and case law are rapidly evolving to promote a human rights-based approach that aligns with the ecological transition.By aligning the principles of a just transition with human rights, policymakers and stakeholders can work together to ensure that the shift toward sustainability is socially just and does not compromise the rights and well-being of individuals and communities.
    JEL: Q
    Date: 2025–02–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:avg:wpaper:en16769
  32. By: Charlène Arnaud (AGIR - AGroécologie, Innovations, teRritoires - Toulouse INP - Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) - UT - Université de Toulouse - INP - PURPAN - Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan - Toulouse INP - Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) - UT - Université de Toulouse - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, LGTO - Laboratoire de Gestion et des Transitions Organisationnelles - UT3 - Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier - UT - Université de Toulouse); Pascale Chateau Terrisse (AGIR - AGroécologie, Innovations, teRritoires - Toulouse INP - Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) - UT - Université de Toulouse - INP - PURPAN - Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan - Toulouse INP - Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) - UT - Université de Toulouse - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)
    Abstract: This research is rooted in the recently emerging stream of research on cooperative degeneration that acts as a counterpoint to the initial orthodox approaches and focuses on the processes, conditions, and practices that enable cooperatives to avoid degeneration. This research therefore analyzes a repertoire of practices that constitute an alternative organization and provides us with insight into the organization of work, coordination mechanisms, cooperative practices, and the rights and capacity for expression and decision-making of each individual within FINACOOP, a French multi-stakeholder accounting cooperative (SCIC – société coopérative d'intérêt collective). This makes it possible to assess under what conditions and how the SCIC studied maintains its alternative character, that is, combats the various dynamics of degeneration (of work, organization, and culture). Based on an atypical case study (FINACOOP is the only chartered accountancy firm operating under SCIC status in France), this research makes a significant contribution to the theory of degeneration by improving our understanding of the conditions for the establishment of this alternative that is distinctive in two ways: the fact that it operates within a regulated profession and its multi-stakeholder nature.
    Keywords: Neo-weberian perspective, Degeneration, Multi-stakeholder cooperative, Liberal profession
    Date: 2024–12
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04906039
  33. By: Charlotte Emlinger; Karine Latouche
    Abstract: This article examines the impact of firms' quality policies on export performance. Using French administrative data at the employee and firm level, we assess the level of firms' commitment to issues related to product reliability and safety through the presence of quality management personnel. We merge these data with French customs data, which provide the value and quantity of exports for each firm by product and destination. We show that firms with quality management employees have better market penetration, export higher volumes and have longer trade relationships, especially in markets with high standards requirements (higher number of sanitary and phytosanitary or technical measures). Overall, our paper highlights the role of agri-food firms' "quality investment" in export performance and emphasizes that product quality is not limited to product differentiation perceived by the final consumer. Product traceability and reliability are essential factors for firms' competitiveness, especially in the context of global value chains.
    Keywords: Quality Management;Trade Margins;Trade Duration;Non-tariff-Measures
    JEL: F14
    Date: 2025–01
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cii:cepidt:2025-01
  34. By: Giorgos Galanis; Giorgio Ricchiuti; Ben Tippet
    Abstract: Most countries are expected to become more vulnerable to climate change over the coming decades. Existing literature suggests that increasing vulnerability might incentivize mitigation, as climate-induced disasters often act as ``focusing events'' that spur action. This viewpoint is somewhat optimistic, implying more action due to increases in damages. However, there is limited empirical support for this. Conversely, wealthy countries (which are generally less vulnerable) are expected to take greater action under the principle of \emph{Common But Differentiated Responsibilities} due to their high incomes and historic responsibility for climate change. These two observations raise the research question of whether the negative relationship between vulnerability and climate action holds, even when controlling for countries' income per capita. Using relevant vulnerability data and controlling for output per capita, we find a strong negative association between vulnerability and three proxies of climate action (pledges, mitigation laws, and growth rate of emissions). Our findings challenge the ``focusing events'' argument, highlighting the importance of not relying on damages and vulnerability increases to foster action.
    Keywords: Climate Risk, Vulnerability, Mitigation Laws, Global Warming
    JEL: C1 C4 Q54 Q57
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:frz:wpaper:wp2025_04.rdf
  35. By: Emmanuel Salim (UNIL - Université de Lausanne = University of Lausanne, CERTOP - Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail Organisation Pouvoir - UT2J - Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès - UT - Université de Toulouse - UT3 - Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier - UT - Université de Toulouse - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ISTHIA - Institut supérieur du tourisme, de l'hôtellerie et de l'alimentation (Toulouse) - UT2J - Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès - UT - Université de Toulouse); Jeanne Fournier (UNIL - Université de Lausanne = University of Lausanne); Abraham Ephraim Gerber (HES-SO - Haute École spécialisée de Suisse occidentale = HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland = Fachhochschule Westschweiz [Schweiz]); Emmanuel Fragnière (HES-SO - Haute École spécialisée de Suisse occidentale = HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland = Fachhochschule Westschweiz [Schweiz]); Leila Kebir (UNIL - Université de Lausanne = University of Lausanne)
    Abstract: This paper examines the impact of climate change on the sustainability of summer glacier skiing (SGS) in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Summer glacier skiing (SGS) is a niche tourism activity that is particularly vulnerable to climate change. This is evidenced by the notable reductions in snowpack and glacier retreat, which are affecting the viability of SGS. By applying the valuation system framework, the study examines the relationship between the production and consumption systems of SGS and how climate-induced transformations influence sustainability. Methodologically, the research employs a qualitative approach, integrating fieldwork, direct observations, and semistructured interviews with key stakeholders, including tourism operators, local authorities, and ski athletes. The findings demonstrate that climate change intensifies the scarcity of resources, necessitating augmented investments in infrastructure and modifying consumer behaviour, which in turn affects the economic and environmental sustainability of the activity. Notwithstanding these challenges, the existence of institutional cooperation within Saas-Fee offers the region the opportunity to transition towards more sustainable practices. The paper emphasises the necessity for a comprehensive approach to comprehend and oversee the sustainability of SGS in the context of ongoing climate change.
    Abstract: Niniejszy artykuł analizuje wpływ zmian klimatu na zrównoważony rozwój letniej turystyki narciarskiej na lodowcu (SGS) w Saas-Fee w Szwajcarii. Letnia jazda na nartach na lodowcu (SGS) to niszowa działalność turystyczna, która jest szczególnie podatna na zmiany klimatu. Dowodem na to jest znaczne zmniejszenie pokrywy śnieżnej i cofanie się lodowca, które wpływają na rentowność SGS. Stosując ramy systemu wyceny, badanie analizuje związek między systemami produkcji i konsumpcji SGS oraz wpływ transformacji spowodowanych zmianami klimatu na zrównoważony rozwój. Metodologicznie, badanie wykorzystuje podejście jakościowe, integrując badania terenowe, bezpośrednie obserwacje i częściowo ustrukturyzowane wywiady z kluczowymi interesariuszami, w tym operatorami turystycznymi, władzami lokalnymi i sportowcami narciarskimi. Wyniki pokazują, że zmiany klimatyczne nasilają niedobór zasobów, wymagając zwiększonych inwestycji w infrastrukturę i modyfikując zachowania konsumentów, co z kolei wpływa na zrównoważony rozwój gospodarczy i środowiskowy tej działalności. Niezależnie od tych wyzwań, istnienie współpracy instytucjonalnej w Saas-Fee oferuje regionowi możliwość przejścia na bardziej zrównoważone praktyki. Dokument podkreśla konieczność kompleksowego podejścia do zrozumienia i nadzorowania zrównoważonego rozwoju SGS w kontekście zachodzących zmian klimatycznych.
    Keywords: climate change, qualitative research, summer glacier skiing, sustainability, tourism adaptation
    Date: 2024–10–01
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-04789645
  36. By: Labhard, Vincent; Lehtimäki, Jonne
    Abstract: Climate change is a global-scale structural change, affecting economies across the world, alongside global fragmentation, digitalisation and demographics. This paper analyses the diffusion of climate policies and technologies and the role of institutions and governance in that process. It discusses theory, models and data available to date, and the empirical evidence for the 20 European Union and all 40 countries covered by the OECD’s Environmental Policy Stringency index. The results indicate that institutions and governance have significant effects towards a greater speed and spread of diffusion of climate policies and technologies, and that separating the speed and spread effects is essential for assessing the green transition. JEL Classification: E02, O11, Q20, Q55, Q58
    Keywords: adaptation, mitigation, renewability, sustainability, transition
    Date: 2025–02
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20253027
  37. By: Michelson, Hope C.
    Abstract: The food sector is a critical area of employment and economic activity in most low-income countries, especially for the rural poor, providing incomes and sustenance, employment and growth. In many low and middle-income countries, two configurations, formal and informal, overlap in economically significant grey areas. This overlap between the formal and informal is particularly common and therefore relevant to research and policy in the food sector of low-income countries. This paper is concerned with identifying innovations in the informal sector of food systems in low-income countries, in particular innovations that improve participation and circumstances for those at the bottom: farmers, small traders. This focus requires some distinction between formal and informal; this distinction will abstract away from a lot of the overlap and the dynamism of the sector. We organize the definition of formal and informal primarily around the degree of compliance with official regulatory frameworks and financial systems, acknowledging that this definition has some limitations. For example, the nature of activities and actors in the informal sector—such as smaller firm size or transaction size—can in some cases mean that their operations are not subject to the regulations that apply to larger firms. Formality, in such economies and under such a definition, is then tightly correlated not just with regulatory compliance but also the economic scale of the operations (which may be endogenously determined as a means of avoiding regulation). While this framework helps to clarify the boundaries of what is considered formal or informal, is important to recognize that these boundaries can be fluid, and in many contexts, the distinction may not fully capture the nuanced realities of economic activity.
    Keywords: agro-industrial sector; employment; less favoured areas; economic activities; farmers; regulations; innovation
    Date: 2024
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:169866
  38. By: M.P Musyoka
    Abstract: The Russia and Ukraine crisis escalated into a war in February 2022, with devastating economic consequences. However, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine War (RUW) on gender dynamics remains largely unexplored, particularly at the microeconomic, household, and individual levels. This study considers the Russian-Ukraine War as an exogenous shock with gender and food security effects at the household level. Data was collected from a random sample of 2, 030 respondents through phone interviews conducted in April and May 2024.
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aer:wpaper:15d7e874-0626-4adb-9c1a-df8382b2b175

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