Research

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22 pages, 1392 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agriculture–Tourism Integration’s Impact on Agricultural Green Productivity in China

by Yafei Wang, Zihan Zhao, Ming Xu, Zhixiong Tan, Jingwei Han, Lichen Zhang and Siying Chen

Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101941 - 05 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1055

Currently, the integrated development of agriculture and tourism is one of the most critical strategic measures in China. The rapid growth of agricultural tourism integration presents the typical characteristics of expanding regional differences. Exploring the impact of agricultural tourism integration on the growth [...] Read more.

Currently, the integrated development of agriculture and tourism is one of the most critical strategic measures in China. The rapid growth of agricultural tourism integration presents the typical characteristics of expanding regional differences. Exploring the impact of agricultural tourism integration on the growth of green total factor productivity in agriculture has important theoretical and practical significance. This study constructs a comprehensive index system for agricultural tourism integration, measuring the development level of agricultural tourism integration in 30 sample provinces from 2008 to 2018. Using the generalized system method of moments approach and Tobit model, the impact of agricultural tourism integration on agriculture was empirically tested, and the regulatory role of rural human capital was discussed. It was found that agricultural tourism integration contributes significantly to the improvement in green total factor productivity in agriculture, with rural mobility human capital, education human capital, and health human capital all playing a significant positive moderating role in this process. Finally, it is recommended that priority be given to agricultural tourism integration in the policy framework, promoting industrial chain upgrading, raising investment in rural infrastructure, and upgrading rural human capital levels to contribute the rural economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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15 pages, 585 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Characteristics of Transfer Plots and Conservation Tillage Technology Adoption: Evidence from a Survey of Four Provinces in China

by Yang Guo, Meiling Cui and Zhigang Xu

Agriculture 2023, 13(8), 1601; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13081601 - 13 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 736

Abstract

Degradation in farmland quality owing to overuse emphasizes the current need for the adoption of protective technologies to ensure food security and sustainable resource utilization. This study employs plot survey data from Heilongjiang, Henan, Zhejiang, and Sichuan provinces in China to investigate how [...] Read more.

Degradation in farmland quality owing to overuse emphasizes the current need for the adoption of protective technologies to ensure food security and sustainable resource utilization. This study employs plot survey data from Heilongjiang, Henan, Zhejiang, and Sichuan provinces in China to investigate how the spatial attributes of transferred plots influence the current adoption of farmland protection methods, such as deep tillage and straw-returning. Findings reveal that larger or interconnected transferred plots significantly increase the likelihood of farmers adopting conservation tillage technologies. However, the influence of the plot’s location on technology adoption varies among different plots. As the farmland transfer market expands, the spatial features of these plots emerge as critical determinants in the use of protective technologies. This underscores the pressing need for an integrated farmland transfer trading system and strengthened policy measures promoting land consolidation to foster widespread adoption of these conservation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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22 pages, 1350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simulated Ecosystem and Farm-Level Economic Impacts of Conservation Tillage in a Northeastern Iowa County

by Edward Osei, Syed H. Jafri, Philip W. Gassman and Ali Saleh

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040891 - 18 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1411

Abstract

While the ecological benefits of no-till are largely indisputable, the economic impacts are less certain, and the latter may be partly to blame for lower-than-expected adoption of no-till. In this study, we contribute to a better understanding of the ecosystem and farm-level economic [...] Read more.

While the ecological benefits of no-till are largely indisputable, the economic impacts are less certain, and the latter may be partly to blame for lower-than-expected adoption of no-till. In this study, we contribute to a better understanding of the ecosystem and farm-level economic impacts of no-till, with Buchanan County in the northeastern region of the U.S. State of Iowa as the backdrop due to previously established data and model validation efforts in that region. Using the Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) and Farm Economic Model (FEM), we simulated two tillage scenarios—a conservation tillage baseline and no-till—for continuous corn and corn–soybean rotations in Buchanan County using gridded historical climate data. We find that no-till provides clear ecosystem benefits, except that soluble nutrient losses might actually rise. We also find that under current commodity prices for corn and soybeans, no-till is not as profitable as the conservation tillage baseline. For no-till to be at least as profitable as the baseline under current commodity prices, the yield penalty associated with no-till cannot be higher than 1.5% for corn and 0.8% for soybeans, or similar combinations that entail a revenue penalty of about $24,000 for an 809-hectare continuous corn or corn–soybean operation. Given the simulated yield penalties associated with no-till, corn and soybean prices would have to be substantially lower in order for no-till to break even. Consequently, incentives for conservation practice implementation may need to be tied to commodity prices and yield penalties in order to elicit greater adoption rates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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16 pages, 375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Analysis of the Pass-Through of Exchange Rates in Forest Product Markets

by Selin Güney, Andrés Riquelme and Barry Goodwin

Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030515 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1825

Abstract

This paper assesses the exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) for forest product prices (i.e., sawnwood, logs) by applying a two-regime Self-Exciting Threshold Autoregressive (SETAR) model. We incorporate autoregressive second-order dynamics in the regime equations. This leads to better forecasts, as integrating more lags helps [...] Read more.

This paper assesses the exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) for forest product prices (i.e., sawnwood, logs) by applying a two-regime Self-Exciting Threshold Autoregressive (SETAR) model. We incorporate autoregressive second-order dynamics in the regime equations. This leads to better forecasts, as integrating more lags helps capture the cumulative effects of the price dynamics. We examine sawnwood and log products traded in the United States, Malaysia (Southeast Asia) and Cameroon (West Africa). Our results illustrate the importance of applying the two-regime SETAR-type models to analyze the non-linear exchange rate pass-through for forest product markets. The impulse response analysis of each price pair supports the changing behavior of price ratios in various regimes. This may be regarded as another justification to apply models accounting for structural changes to investigate the exchange rate pass-through in a non-linear fashion. The aftershock adjustment process is similar, but the amplitude of the impact differs among markets. The results reveal potential arbitrage opportunities in the forestry industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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22 pages, 1966 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Application of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to Examining Farmers’ Behavioral Attitude and Intention towards Conservation Agriculture in Bangladesh

by Riffat Ara Zannat Tama, Md Mahmudul Hoque, Ying Liu, Mohammad Jahangir Alam and Mark Yu

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020503 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3142

Abstract

Despite being widely advocated as a climate-smart farming system, the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) among Bangladeshi farmers has remained surprisingly low. Evidence indicates that farmers’ behavior regarding the adoption and continuation of CA is affected by their socioeconomic and psychological factors. This [...] Read more.

Despite being widely advocated as a climate-smart farming system, the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) among Bangladeshi farmers has remained surprisingly low. Evidence indicates that farmers’ behavior regarding the adoption and continuation of CA is affected by their socioeconomic and psychological factors. This study combined the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theories to examine the socio-psychological determinants of Bangladeshi farmers’ behavior regarding the adoption of CA. The proposed model included both reflective and formative measurements. Based on data collected from 201 CA farmers, this research used a variance-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach to test the model. The analysis showed that the components of this integrated model explained more variance (Intention: 48.9%; Attitude: 59.2%) than the original TAM framework (Intention: 45.8%; Attitude: 54.5%). Farmers’ attitudes toward the continuation of CA were most influenced by the Relative Advantage (RA) of CA (β = 0.337). The low level of Complexity (β = 0.225) and Compatibility (β = 0.273) of CA had a significant positive effect on attitude. In a campaign to encourage farmers to act more sustainably, interventions should emphasize CA’s long-term benefits, such as its effects on soil, yield, and the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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21 pages, 1594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change Impacts on Surface Runoff and Nutrient and Sediment Losses in Buchanan County, Iowa

by Edward Osei, Syed H. Jafri, Philip W. Gassman, Ali Saleh and Oscar Gallego

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020470 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1778

Abstract

Nonpoint source pollution from cultivated croplands has often been associated with downstream water quality impairment in various watersheds. Given projected changes in global climate patterns, this study contributes to the existing literature by elucidating the impacts of climate projections on edge-of-field surface runoff [...] Read more.

Nonpoint source pollution from cultivated croplands has often been associated with downstream water quality impairment in various watersheds. Given projected changes in global climate patterns, this study contributes to the existing literature by elucidating the impacts of climate projections on edge-of-field surface runoff and sediment and nutrient losses. We apply a well-tested ecohydrological model, Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX), to continuous corn and corn–soybean fields in Buchanan County, Iowa, using climate scenarios developed from three well-known representative concentration pathway (RCP) climate projections: RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5. Our results indicate that there will be a moderate to substantial increase in surface runoff, sediment, and nutrient losses depending upon the reference point of comparison (baseline scenario) and upon which climate scenario actually materializes. However, regardless of which climate scenario materializes and regardless of the baseline for comparison, soluble nitrogen losses are bound to increase, the magnitude depending upon the climate scenario. We find also that nutrient losses will be higher from continuous corn fields than from corn–soybean fields, given the tillage practices implemented on corn versus soybeans in the study area. Similarly, we find that nutrient losses may be higher from fields that receive manure than fields that receive only inorganic fertilizer, though this latter finding may be predicated upon the specific nutrient application rates utilized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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21 pages, 1870 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Simulated Climate Change Impacts on Corn and Soybean Yields in Buchanan County, Iowa

by Edward Osei, Syed H. Jafri, Ali Saleh, Philip W. Gassman and Oscar Gallego

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020268 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3324

Abstract

Projections of climate patterns through the end of the 21st century indicate varying impacts across the U.S. However, a common thread of these projections calls for increasing atmospheric temperatures in every region, some more pronounced than others. The significance of these projections for [...] Read more.

Projections of climate patterns through the end of the 21st century indicate varying impacts across the U.S. However, a common thread of these projections calls for increasing atmospheric temperatures in every region, some more pronounced than others. The significance of these projections for corn and soybean production cannot be overestimated. This study contributes to our understanding of climate change impacts on production and farm revenues by projecting their impacts on corn and soybean yields in Buchanan County, Iowa, a county in the center of the Corn Belt. Projections indicate that as atmospheric temperatures rise and precipitation levels vary markedly, the result is a significant decline in corn and soybean yields, the latter to a lesser extent, as compared to long-term yield trends. Depending upon the climate change scenario that will materialize, corn yields are projected to decline by up to 29%, while soybean yields are projected to decline by up to 24% from their normal upward trends by the year 2100. Due to the long-term upward trends in yields, corn and soybean yields will increase in absolute terms by the end of the century. Depending upon the climate change scenario, actual corn and soybean yields will increase by 30 to 57% and 30 to 66%, respectively, by the end of the 21st century, significantly less than they would have in the absence of these climate projections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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20 pages, 1088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Market-Oriented Reform of Agricultural Subsidies Promote the Growth of Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity? Empirical Evidence from Maize in China

by Feng Ye, Zhongna Yang, Mark Yu, Susan Watson and Ashley Lovell

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020251 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1884

Abstract

Green agriculture is the future of agricultural development. However, there has been little attention paid to the relationship between market-oriented reform of agricultural subsidies and green agricultural development. Based on the quasi-natural experiment of China’s maize purchasing and storage policy reform (MPSR), this [...] Read more.

Green agriculture is the future of agricultural development. However, there has been little attention paid to the relationship between market-oriented reform of agricultural subsidies and green agricultural development. Based on the quasi-natural experiment of China’s maize purchasing and storage policy reform (MPSR), this paper studied the impact of agricultural subsidy market-oriented reform on agricultural green development from the perspective of green total factor productivity using the difference-in-difference model. The results showed that the green total factor productivity (MGTFP) of maize in China from 2010 to 2020 presented an upward trend with an average annual growth rate of 0.70%, which mainly depended on the contribution of green technical progress in maize. MPSR could promote the improvement of MGTFP, but the result had a hysteresis effect. In addition, MPSR had a significant promoting effect on green technical change but had no significant impact on green technical efficiency. The policy implication of this paper is that developing countries should actively promote the market-oriented reform of agricultural subsidies to promote green agricultural development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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24 pages, 1357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Not Be Anticlimactic: Farmers’ Behavior in the Sustainable Application of Green Agricultural Technology—A Perceived Value and Government Support Perspective

by Wen Xiang and Jianzhong Gao

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020247 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1614

Abstract

The production mode of “high input, high yield and high waste” in the agricultural system poses a serious threat to the environment and the quality of agricultural products. Accelerating the adoption of green agricultural technology (GAT) by farmers is an emergency measure. However, [...] Read more.

The production mode of “high input, high yield and high waste” in the agricultural system poses a serious threat to the environment and the quality of agricultural products. Accelerating the adoption of green agricultural technology (GAT) by farmers is an emergency measure. However, according to microsurvey data, many farmers give up GAT within a year after adopting it. The implementation of this measure has been anticlimactic. Based on a survey of 1138 kiwi growers in Shaanxi Province, China, this paper builds a theoretical model and conducts empirical exercises to gain insight into the effects of perceived value, government support and their interaction with kiwi growers’ sustainable application of GAT. We find that perceived value and government support have a significant impact on the sustainable application of GAT. Government support plays a moderating role in the influence of perceived value on the sustainable application of GAT. Furthermore, in order to overcome the potential endogeneity problem caused by the two-way causal relationship between subjective variables, “owning a smartphone” was selected as the instrumental variable. The 2SLS model was used for endogeneity analysis, and the OLS model was used for the robustness test. This paper discusses the relevant theories and policy implications of environmental management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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19 pages, 2056 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perspectives of Farmers on the Decline in Pinus pinea Nut Yield and the Sustainability of the Production: A Case Study in Kozak Basin in Western Turkey

by Sezgin Özden, Taner Okan, Seda Erkan Buğday and Coşkun Köse

Agriculture 2022, 12(7), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12071070 - 21 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2236

Abstract

In the Kozak Basin, which is the most important pine nut production and trade center in Turkey, there has been a significant decrease in production recently. In this study, the perspectives of the farmers in this area were investigated, specifically about reasons for [...] Read more.

In the Kozak Basin, which is the most important pine nut production and trade center in Turkey, there has been a significant decrease in production recently. In this study, the perspectives of the farmers in this area were investigated, specifically about reasons for the decrease in yields. For this purpose, a face-to-face survey was conducted with 378 pine nut farmers from the Kozak Basin. It was determined that the average age of the farmers is high, their educational achievement level is low, they generally also work in alternative sectors and almost all of them grow pine nuts in their own pine groves. The farmers’ perception of cooperatives was found to be negative. In general, the local people continue to produce pine nuts in their own pine groves, but nearly half of the participants also worked in other sectors to maintain their standard of living. Farmers attribute the low yield in the Kozak Basin to both abiotic and biotic factors. Mining activities, which are increasing, are seen as a threat to the future of production in the area. Also, there is a growing perception of biotic harm, especially from Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis. Climate change and air pollution are other prominent factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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17 pages, 2247 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Conditional Cash Payments to Prevent Land-Clearing Fires: Cautionary Findings from Indonesia

by Walter Falcon, Gracia Hadiwidjaja, Ryan Edwards, Matthew Higgins, Rosamond Naylor and Sudarno Sumarto

Agriculture 2022, 12(7), 1040; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12071040 - 17 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3570

Abstract

Land-clearing forest fires in Indonesia cause enormous private and social losses in the form of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, habitat destruction, worsened human health, and strained international relations. These fires are almost always deliberately set, often (but not always) by smallholders as they [...] Read more.

Land-clearing forest fires in Indonesia cause enormous private and social losses in the form of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, habitat destruction, worsened human health, and strained international relations. These fires are almost always deliberately set, often (but not always) by smallholders as they seek to expand farm size. The Government of Indonesia has taken primarily a regulatory approach to preventing these fires by imposing bans and making them illegal. This paper studies an alternative approach, explored in part through a large policy experiment focused instead on the use of positive financial incentives. We first summarize our 275-village randomized control (RCT) policy experiment from 4 fire-prone districts in West Kalimantan. These results showed no effects on fire outcomes from a conditional cash payment, even though there were some changes in behavior. The article then draws on survey results and other published documents to explain qualitatively why the results occurred. We argue that climate variation, government policy on decentralization, population density, and accidents appear to explain fire outcomes among villages more than did the opportunity to “win” a conditional payment of USD 10,800. Fundamentally, this sum did not compete with the high net present value of land for growing oil palm. The high net present value appeared to prove irresistible to a small percentage of villagers, despite the illegality of using fire to clear forested margins. More generally, this article provides a broad, cautionary understanding of why policies that only use conditional payments to prevent fires are unlikely to be successful in Indonesia’s oil palm regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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Review

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27 pages, 449 KiB

Open AccessReview

Assessment and Principles of Environmentally Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems

by Ramazan Çakmakçı, Mehmet Ali Salık and Songül Çakmakçı

Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13051073 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 15055

Abstract

Feeding the world depends on protecting our valuable ecosystems and biodiversity. Currently, increasing public awareness of the problems posed by the current industrialized food system has resulted in increased support for the creative market for economically, socially, and ecologically sustainable food production systems [...] Read more.

Feeding the world depends on protecting our valuable ecosystems and biodiversity. Currently, increasing public awareness of the problems posed by the current industrialized food system has resulted in increased support for the creative market for economically, socially, and ecologically sustainable food production systems and enhanced demands for variations in agricultural policies and regulations. In food production, the restoration and protection of ecosystems and sustainable food systems must be given priority, which requires a forward-looking rational management strategy and fundamental changes in patterns and practices of economic development, product, and production. Food systems should be redesigned to have a neutral and positive environmental impact, as well as ensure healthy nutrition and food safety, and low environmental impact strategies should become a priority. This review paper aims to discuss, build, guide and evaluate sustainable food systems, principles, and transition strategies such as agroecological, organic, biodynamic, regenerative, urban, and precision agriculture, which are imperative visions for the management of agriculture and food production. To this end, we analyzed the evolution of the established strategies to develop sustainable agriculture and food systems, and we created assessment of key sustainability issues related to food, environment, climate, and rural development priorities and resource use practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

14 pages, 937 KiB

Open AccessReview

What If the World Went Vegan? A Review of the Impact on Natural Resources, Climate Change, and Economies

by Isaac Korku Dorgbetor, Gabrijel Ondrasek, Hrvoje Kutnjak and Ornella Mikuš

Agriculture 2022, 12(10), 1518; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12101518 - 22 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 39586

Abstract

Contemporary knowledge on climate change has given rise to a group of advocates who suggest global veganism as an adaptive means of mitigating the threat of climate change. Livestock farming is accused of contributing massively to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Some studies suggest [...] Read more.

Contemporary knowledge on climate change has given rise to a group of advocates who suggest global veganism as an adaptive means of mitigating the threat of climate change. Livestock farming is accused of contributing massively to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Some studies suggest that eliminating meat from the diet (i.e., moving to a vegan diet) can reduce GHG emissions globally, while other studies suggest that livestock farming may make a smaller contribution to GHG emissions compared to previous estimates. A paradigm shift in agricultural production is expected to have direct impacts on natural resources, biodiversity, and economies. However, crop-only production and an exclusively vegan diet may lead to the loss of important plant and animal genetic materials, increase pressure on land and water resources, and exacerbate problems with agricultural crop residues. This “all in one basket” approach may affect the global meat trade, change the dynamics of some economies, and threaten food security in the event of pest and disease pandemics. This review found that crop-based ideology would make a huge contribution to reducing GHG emissions, while the integrity of land and water resources could be threatened in the future. Agricultural policies need to develop appropriate instruments to ensure food security, consumer preferences, and environmental protection and to provide a fair income for farmers worldwide. Global stakeholders in the agri-food sector, from policy makers to farmers, need to be engaged in a coherent policy to reduce the C footprint in our diets, protecting the (agri)environment and securing incomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in Agriculture)

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