Assignment #6: Abstracts
Johanny
As part of the German bioeconomy strategy and in pursuit of sustainable and
diversified energy supply, biogas has been supported with the Renewable
Energy Source Act (EEG, in German) of 2014. The purpose of this study was to
estimate the potential environmental impacts of this policy in Germany until
2030. The European Simulation Model (ESIM), a global partial equilibrium
model of the agricultural sector was utilized. Results indicate that this
regulation improves sustainability of the biogas sector compared to the
previous ones, by prompting a large substitution of energy crops with
manure and biowaste as main substrates for biogas production.
Biogas is supported with the Renewable Energy Source Act (EEG, in German)
of 2014 as part of the German bioeconomy strategy and in pursuit of a
sustainable and diversified energy supply. The purpose of this study is to
project the environmental impacts of this policy compared to the previous
regulation until 2030. The European Simulation Model (ESIM), a global partial
equilibrium model of the agricultural sector, is used. Results indicate that this
regulation improves sustainability of the biogas sectorby prompting a large
substitution of energy crops with manure and biowaste as main substrates
for biogas production.
Xiaoxi
Most land use models treat technological change exogenously due to data
deficiencies. This may lead to biases for estimating the adaptability of the
agricultural sector, especially in the long run. To simulate endogenous
technological change, a global dynamic agro-economic optimization model
links R&D investments to yield increase based on estimates of the current
yield augmentation index. Productivity is measured as both partial and total
factor productivity. The interplay between technological change and land
expansion under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways indicates different
trajectories of productivity growth even within similar social-economic
conditions and exerts different impacts on deforestation paces and food
security levels.
Land use models treating technological change exogenously may
underestimate the adaptability of the agricultural sector, especially in the
long run. To simulate endogenous technological change, a global dynamic
agro-economic optimization model links R&D investments to yield increases.
The interplay between technological change and land expansion under
Shared Socioeconomic Pathways generally shows that deforestation
decreases and food security level increase with increasing productivity.
Laura
Technology transfer in the bioeconomy comes into sharp focus to exploit its
strong innovation potential and to make its way to market oriented
applications. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify the most
important criteria for observing technology transfer effectiveness in the
bioeconomy. In doing so, we adapt the Contingent Effectiveness Model of
Technology Transfer developed by Bozeman (2000) to the characteristics of
the bioeconomy. This conceptual framework is supported by expert
interviews and case studies. Our findings suggest that the opportunity costs
and the scientific human capital criteria are the most important determinants
for observing technology transfer in the emerging bioeconomy.
In the bioeconomy, technology transfer from academia to industry may
exploit the strong innovation potential. The purpose of this paper is to
identify the most important criteria for effective technology transfer in the
bioeconomy. We adapt the Contingent Effectiveness Model of technology
transfer developed by Bozeman (2000) to the characteristics of the
bioeconomy. This adaptation is supported by expert interviews and case
studies. Our findings suggest that opportunity cost of the investment and the
scientific human capital are the most important determinants for observing
successful technology transfer.
Elsa
Michoacán, a Mexican state with a great variety of ecosystems, has had the
highest deforestation rates in the country in the last decades. The
government introduced in 2003 a scheme of payments for environmental
services to enhance reforestation; however, up to now there was no
empirical evidence on its additionality. Based on panel data regressions and
propensity score matching, this study analyzes the overall effect that these
payments have had in that state until 2010. Our results suggest a lack of
additional forest area because of spillover effects to non-contracted areas,
such as decreased reforestation efforts and deforestation leakage.
The Mexican government introduced a scheme of payments for
environmental services to enhance reforestation in 2003. Up to now
empirical evidence on its impact is weak. This study analyzes the overall
effect of these payments in the state Michoacán until 2010 using panel
regressions and propensity score matching techniques. Results suggest a lack
of additional forest area because of spillover effects to non-contracted areas
implying reforestation efforts and deforestation leakage.
Olivier
Many studies have focused on consumers‘ risk perception of products made
from genetically modified (GM) crops. However, there is a lack of research on
differences between products including gene technology. To bridge the gap,
this study focuses on the differences in risk perception between GM food and
non-food products. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze stated
preferences of 440 German consumers. While general risk perception is
higher for GM food, the effect size depends on the risk dimension. Health
risks are most important, followed by environmental risks. Interestingly, risk
perception is higher for non-food products in the socio-economic dimension.
There is a lack of research on how different types of products made from
genetically modified (GM) crops affect consumer’s risk perception. This study
focuses on the differences between GM food and non-food products.
Structural equation modeling allows analyzing stated preferences of 440
German consumers. General risk perception is higher for GM food which may
also be explained by different risk dimensions. Health risks are most
important followed by environmental risks. Interestingly, risk perception is
higher for non-food products in the socio-economic dimension.
Carolin
The state-of-the-art on acceptance studies of novel food technologies has
clearly demonstrated an imbalance of the selected target group, focusing
generally solely on consumers. Nevertheless, the success of new food
technologies depends on the acceptance and adoption of all stakeholders in
the food supply chain. This paper reviews previous research into acceptance
behavior of several food supply actors (consumer, processor, farmer),
extracts key learnings from this literature and integrates them into a new
conceptual framework. The latter promises to improve the identification of
critical factors for success and failure of new food technologies by looking
along the supply chain.
Previous studies on the acceptance of novel food technologies generally
focus on consumers despite evidence that the success of these technologies
depends on acceptance and adoption by all stakeholders in the food supply
chain. This paper reviews previous research on acceptance behavior of food
supply chain actors (consumers, processors, farmers), extracts key findings
and integrates them into a new conceptual framework. The latter promises
to improve the identification of critical factors for success and failure of new
food technologies along the supply chain.
Xinyue
The efficiency of market is an important subject of research on agricultural
land market. However, the literature on spatial integration, as one approach
to consider the market efficiency, of agricultural land market is thin.
Therefore, this research investigated spatial integration of Germany land
markets between 1990 and 2014 in order to find how the gap between land
price in West and East Germany evolves over time. By using panel data unit
root tests on adjusted average county-level land sale price, it found that land
price formation in West and East Germany converges over time due to
increasing spatial integration.
Agricultural land market efficiency is an important subject of research. Spatial
integration of land markets as one aspect of market efficiency is, however,
rarely considered. Therefore, this study investigates spatial integration of
German land markets between 1990 and 2014 controlling for price
determinants. Panel unit root tests on county-level land prices show that
land price formation in West and East Germany converges due to increasing
spatial integration over time.
Iroda
Following the researches re-discovering the potentials of farmers’
participation in efficient irrigation management few initial successful
replications were spotted across the world. However later such reproduction
turned into rarity. The global experience evidences that the rules of wateruse are usually voluntarily observed and are not enforceable. This paper by
employing evolutionary game theory attempted to understand the
circumstances in which the individual farmer voluntarily commits himself to
such institution. It was found that adaptive behavior of farmers may lead to
cooperative use of water that represents the socially optimal solution to a
dynamic coordination game, though is not stable one.
Current evidence suggests that the success of self-governed irrigation
schemes depends on the voluntary acceptance of rules for water use. This
paper attempts to understand the circumstances under which the individual
farmer voluntarily commits himself to such an institution. Using evolutionary
game theory, we find that adaptive behavior of farmers may lead to
cooperative use of water representing the socially optimal solution to a
dynamic coordination game. However, this solution is not a stable one.
(Remaining problem: key message does not fit to objective. Objective:
“understand circumstances” and key message: “socially optimal, but not
stable solution”)
Fabio
Rural development is an extremely complicated issue to be tackled. However,
the theoretical framework “heritages of the peasantry” offers a broad set of
indicators to analyse it. This paper shows the results of the quantification of
rural development indicators in six Colombian rural territories and examines
them according to this theoretical framework. The most critical indicators for
defining rural development level in Colombia are infrastructure, pluriactivity
and access to markets. Based on these findings, public policies for
overcoming these matters should be the priority of rural development
strategies. Nevertheless, to success these policies must take into
consideration many stakeholders involved.
The theoretical framework “heritages of the peasantry” and it suggested
operationalization potentially offers improvement over previous approaches
to analyse rural development. This paper is the first application of the
concept quantifying rural development indicators in six Colombian rural
territories. The most critical indicators for defining rural development in this
context are identified as infrastructure, pluriactivity and access to markets.
Based on these findings, public policies for overcoming these matters should
be the priority of rural development strategies.
Sukhada
The Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (EC) 1924/2006 (NHCR) aims to
promote food innovation in Europe by means of pre-market approval system
and scientific substantiation of nutrition and health claims. This paper
analyses the impact of NHCR on innovation in the European food industry,
based on an online survey of 105 food companies. Descriptive statistics and
Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) are used to
study compliance challenges and the impact of NHCR on product, process
innovation and the degree of innovation. Results indicate that the NHCR
currently has a negative impact on innovation, despite its opposing claim.
One of the objectives of the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (EC)
1924/2006 (NHCR) is to promote food innovation in Europe. It introduces
scientific substantiation of nutrition and health claims as the basis for premarket approval. This paper analyses the achievement of the objective based
on an online survey of 105 food companies. Descriptive statistics and
Structural Equation Modeling are used to study compliance challenges and
the impact of NHCR on type and degree of innovation. Results indicate that
the NHCR currently has a negative impact on innovation, despite its claim of
the opposite.
Jovanka
In 2005 the quarantine pest anoplophora glabripennis was observed in the
city of Bornheim on the border to Bonn.This paper quantifies the costs of
successful eradication measures in a newly infested area and of a potential
spread in Bonn.The quarantine measures quantified comply with the
implementing provision (EU) 2015/893. Areas and host tree abundances
where determined by spatial analysis of tree cadastres and ATKIS data. A
successful eradication costs 1 to 2 Mio. EUR depending on host tree density.
Halving the propagation speed with quarantine measures is less expensive
than an unhindered spread in the area of Bonn.
In 2005 the quarantine pest anoplophora glabripennis was observed on the
border to Bonn. Using a spread simulation model, this paper quantifies costs
of quarantine measures differentiating between successful and nonsuccessful eradications as well as between different speeds of spread. The
measures considered comply with the implementing provision (EU) 2015/893
and are assessed using a unique dataset allowing to take actual tree
distribution in Bonn into consideration. A successful eradication costs 1 to 2
Mio. EUR depending on host tree density. Even non-successful measures
halving the propagation speed are less expensive than an unhindered spread
in the area of Bonn.
Carolin
Due to high production costs and the omission of the milk quota system
farms are challenged and the structural change is assumed to intensify. The
objective is to improve the understanding of structural change in the german
dairy sector. A multinomial logit approach is used to identify variables
explaining the exit from milk production. For the time period 2001-2012 data
of about 20,000 dairy farms is available. The results show a positive impact of
other production activities on farm. Further the exit from milk production
depends on the proprietor’s age and education as well as the number of
family workers.
The objective of this paper is to identify determinants of and quantify their
impact on exits from dairy production on German farms. A multinomial logit
approach allows distinguishing different strategic decisions accompanying
exit from or continuation of dairy activities. The data used covers the time
period 2001 to2012 and about 20,000 dairy farms. Results show that other
production activities with high income share increase the probability to exit
milk production. Furthermore, the exit decision depends on the proprietor’s
age and education as well as the number of family workers.
Silvan
In the context of technology development, little attention has been drawn to
operationalize the theory of path dependence. However, practical application
is needed to prevent firms of lock-in technology developments. This paper
serves as first proof of concept and assesses technology paths through patent
analysis based on three examples of the overlapping industries of food and
pharmaceuticals
(phytosterols,
*
and
*).
Our practical application indicates that phytosterols and * were developed
more narrowly with developments dependent on previous paths whereas *
was developed more diversified and showed less dedication to previous
activities.
Empirically analyzing path dependence in the context of technology
development may offer highly useful information to prevent firms from lockin technology developments in the long run. This paper is the first one
developing and applying a methodology to assess technology paths of an
entire industry through patent analysis. Three examples of the overlapping
industries of food and pharmaceuticals (phytosterols, * and **) are
considered. Results indicate that the methodology is operational and allows
characterizing the path dependency phenomenon in industry’s technology
development.
[at some point the type of new insights generated should be made more
specific]
Chiaoya
Continued growth of human population results in the increasing demand of
aquatic food. Being the fastest growing food producing sector, aquaculture
has the potential to provide high quality protein sources and meet the future
need for aquatic products. However, competing for feed resources with
other sectors and complex regulations will limit the expansion of
aquaculture. This paper reviews the existing literature which reveals the
interaction between aquaculture and agriculture, sustainable development
and the restrictions for aquaculture industry. Our goal is to provide an
overview on expansion of aquaculture and offer suggestions for future policy
reform.
Being the fastest growing food producing sector, aquaculture has the
potential to provide high quality protein sources and meet increasing future
food demand. However, competition for land - direct and through feed
competition – and restrictive regulations may limit the expansion of
aquaculture. A literature review, competition for feedstock is not so relevant
but further expansion will crucially depend on the successful development of
alternative feeding technologies.
Tesfaye
Reliable information on the state of scarce water resource is crucial for
careful management and efficient allocation. Lack of this has been a limiting
factor for effective decision making in the Lake Naivasha Basin in Kenya. To
fill this gap, we have used semi-distributed multi-objective hydrological
model to fit observed lake level and streamflow with model simulation.
Climate and hydrological data from 1965-1985 is used. The model is encoded
in GAMS for optimal parameter solutions. We found including basin wide
data on rainfall and runoff and controlling for data uncertainty leads to more
accurate simulation of the lake water balance.
Accurate projection of temporal and spatial water availability will strongly
enhance effective decision making in the Lake Naivasha Basin in Kenya. A
semi-distributed multi-objective hydrological model is fitted to observed lake
and streamflow levels to make progress in this direction. Compared to
previous approaches, the model structure now explicitly represents the
rainfall-runoff process and controls for data uncertainty. The approach
successfully improves upon the accuracy of simulation the lake water
balance.