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Private Sector Participation in Sri Lanka’s Tertiary Education: A review of information and data
No full textThis study presents a review of the topics relevant to the debate on private sector participation in tertiary education. These include: the structure of the tertiary education sector; the legislation underlying the establishment of tertiary education establishments; and the current quality assurance and accreditation procedures for tertiary education institutions. Additionally, the study contains subject specific information on the educational sectors of medicine, engineering, law, architecture and the arts. Apart from collating and analyzing some of the information, the study does not aim to draw specific conclusions on either side of the current debate on private sector participation in tertiary education; rather, it aims to inform both sides of the debate
Assessing Future Market Opportunities and Challenges for E15 and Higher Ethanol Blends
No full textThis report was prepared as part of an effort to understand the barriers and opportunities to expand the use of higher blends of ethanol in the US gasoline market, and especially 15% ethanol blends. The report evaluates market conditions and provides an analysis of barriers for higher ethanol blends, including technical, regulatory, consumer acceptance, and economic challenges
Vulnerability of the agriculture of Burundi to climate change: A review and linkages between climate change, food security, and food production
No full text[EN] Climate change critically affects food production, availability, and stability, particularly in regions that rely on subsistence agriculture. This study examines the relationship between climate variables and food security indicators in Burundi from 1990 to 2022 using a co-integration model within an Error Correction Model framework. Results reveal that precipitation positively influences food production annually but negatively in the long run. Food consumption, producer prices, and rural populations also exhibited long-run negative effects. The findings highlight the adverse impact of climate change on agricultural yields, emphasizing the need for strategies to enhance productivity, resilience, and sustainability among smallholder farmers. [ES] El cambio climático afecta críticamente la producción, disponibilidad y estabilidad de los alimentos, especialmente en regiones dependientes de la agricultura de subsistencia. Este estudio analiza la relación entre variables climáticas e indicadores de seguridad alimentaria en Burundi (1990–2022) mediante un modelo de cointegración basado en el enfoque de Corrección de Errores. Los resultados muestran que la precipitación influye positivamente en la producción anual, pero negativamente a largo plazo. El consumo de alimentos, los precios al productor y la población rural también presentan efectos negativos sostenidos. Los hallazgos evidencian el impacto adverso del cambio climático y la necesidad de fortalecer productividad, resiliencia y sostenibilidad agrícola
Functional, organoleptic assessment and nutritional composition of akara produced from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)–fonio millet (Digitaria exilis) flour blends
No full textThis study investigated the effect of supplementing cowpea flour with fonio millet flour on the functional, organoleptic, and nutritional properties of akara. Flour blends were analyzed for their pasting and functional properties, while the proximate composition, mineral content, and sensory qualities of the resulting akara were also evaluated. Pure cowpea flour (100%) served as the control and was substituted with fonio millet at varying ratios (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 50%, 85%, and 100%). Pasting characteristics such as peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity, setback, peak time, and pasting temperature ranged from 181–1314 RVU, 161–1253 RVU, 8–20 RVU, 292–2905 RVU, 107–1652 RVU, 4.4–6.9 min, and 83.1–87.3°C, respectively. Functional properties, including bulk density, swelling capacity, foam stability, foam capacity, oil and water absorption capacities, and least gelation capacity, showed variation across blends. Substitution with fonio millet increased protein, fat, fiber, and mineral content, while moisture and ash contents remained relatively stable. Sensory analysis revealed high acceptability for akara, particularly from the 90:10 cowpea to fonio millet blend. The findings demonstrate the potential for producing nutritionally enhanced akara using cowpea-fonio blends, thereby promoting local crop utilization and dietary diversity
Is there an Animal Food Kuznets Curve, and does it matter?
No full textProteins from animal sources, including meat, and plant-based foods are essential for a healthy human diet. However, animal-based proteins have significantly higher environmental impacts (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water usage) and health risks (e.g., obesity, type 2 diabetes, kidney stones and cardiovascular diseases) compared to plant-based proteins. The consumption patterns of these proteins are strongly influenced by income levels. This study introduces the concept of an Animal Food Kuznets Curve by systematically analyzing the relationship between income and animal-based protein consumption. Utilizing a novel panel dataset spanning 28 years and covering 79 countries, we uncover an inverted U-shaped relationship between income and the consumption of animal-based and meat proteins. Our findings indicate that the turning points occur around 43,000-45,000 US$, corresponding to the 90th and 95th percentiles of the per capita income distribution in the sample. At these income levels, protein consumption is estimated at approximately 25 g/day for meat and 52 g/day for animal-based proteins, as compared to recommended total protein intake of 45-56 g/day. These insights highlight the critical need for targeted policy interventions, such as taxes, nudges, and informational campaigns to promote sustainable dietary choices across all income levels. Our study provides empirical evidence for the importance of integrating economic and environmental policies to enhance global food sustainability
From subsidy to land rent: how production-linked payments shape factor remuneration in agriculture
No full textThe paper aims to recognize the mechanism by which production-linked payments stimulate the inputs of production factors in agriculture and the mechanism for transforming subsidies into remuneration for production factors. The study is theoretical, and the research methods used are economic modeling and marginalist analysis. It was demonstrated that production-linked payments change the allocation of resources compared to the allocation that results from the market mechanism, as well as influence the amount and structure of remuneration for production factors in agriculture. A decomposition of the remuneration of production factors was performed. This comprehensive approach to evaluating the impact of these payments, taking into account the side effects of using this instrument, represents a contribution to the literature. The proposed model can be applied to support the design of agricultural policy instruments, policymaking decisions concerning the selection of tools for achieving established objectives, and academic education in agricultural economics
Impacts of heat waves on agricultural workers: An analysis of adaptation measures
No full textThis study evaluates the effectiveness of different farm-level adaptation measures aimed at mitigating the adverse impacts of heat waves on labour productivity. Despite the increasing frequency of heat waves, existing literature on occupational heat stress primarily relies on modelled estimates. To address this gap, exploratory interviews and structured questionnaires were employed to identify key challenges posed by heat waves, as well as the perceived benefits and limitations of different adaptation strategies. Data were collected from nine farms located in Emilia-Romagna (Northeast Italy), all of which were characterized by a long-standing commitment to improving working conditions. The Analytic Hierarchy Process was used to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of adaptation measures according to three criteria: acceptability, flexibility, and timeliness. Findings indicate that, in the absence of adaptation strategies, productivity losses may reach up to 30%. Among the measures assessed, shifting work hours was identified as the most effective strategy. The study underscores the need for structured thermal risk assessment protocols and provides recommendations to inform sustainable and worker-centered adaptation policies in the agricultural sector
Economic and policy analysis of technology uptake for the smart management of agricultural systems
No full textThe special issue of Bio-based and Applied Economics “Economic and Policy Analysis of the Adoption of Smart Agriculture Technologies” stems from the growing diffusion of innovative digital technologies as strategic solutions for the development of the agricultural sector, contributing to the ongoing debate on how digitalization is reshaping agriculture. The articles collected in this special issue aim to offer a broad and multifaceted view of the dynamics linked to the diffusion of innovative digital technologies in the agricultural sector, considering the behavioral, economic, and political dimensions that help or hinder farmers in adopting new solutions. The studies confirms that technology adoption is not merely a technical or economic process, but rather a socio-institutional transition, where interdisciplinary science can inform evidence-based solutions to ensure the deployment of smart technologies in for resilient agri-food systems
Utilizing Municipal Trees: Ideas from Across the Country
No full textExcerpts from the Introduction: In the United States over 200 million cubic yards of urban tree and landscape residue are generated every year. Of this amount, 15 percent is classified as “unchipped logs.” To put this figure in perspective, consider that if these logs were sawn into boards, they theoretically would produce 3.8 billion board feet of lumber, or nearly 30 percent of the hardwood lumber produced annually in the United States. The utilization (recycling) of municipal trees can contribute to the conservation of forestland resources by generating wood products from trees that need to be removed anyway. Examples include sawlogs for high quality furniture, cabinets, and flooring; pulpwood for paper products; fuelwood for residential and commercial heating; wood chips for mulch on landscaping projects, and specialty items such as burls and branch crotches for unique woodworking projects. Innovators who are utilizing street, yard, and park trees for traditional wood products have realized that it makes economic sense as well. To show how municipal tree removals can be utilized for traditional wood products, this publication highlights 16 successful projects from around the country. These case studies are organized by the different types of participants: State and regional partnerships, municipalities, tree service firms, entrepreneurs, and sawmills. Contact information is provided for each case study. Other resources on the topic of municipal tree utilization are listed at the end of this publication. A subject index is provided
Mapeos alimentarios: aportes antropológicos para pensar cartografías colectivas en una organización campesina argentina
No full textThe objective of this research is to recover the construction and realization of a type of social cartography, called “food mapping”, by an Argentine peasant organization. Its nomination as “mapping” does not explicitly refer to a geographical place, but it allows to account for the way in which people situate themselves in the world and transform it, based on their food. This mapping is carried out mainly in the horticultural areas of La Plata and Buenos Aires (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), epicenters of food production, along with other localities in the country. From an anthropological and ethnographic approach and perspective, two techniques were used: i) the reading of the maps according to the frequency of the preparations mentioned in them, and ii) the observant participation and participant observation during the realization of the maps. The technique of counting the frequency of food and beverages on the maps shows that 8.3% of the preparations are natural, 74.9% are processed; 16.8% are ultra-processed, and almost 42% of the total are regional or typical. It also allows us to observe continuities and transformations in food consumption, such as the recreation of regional foods in new contexts, as well as the massive incorporation of ultra-processed preparations. From the field analysis, the discussion on the territorialization / deterritorialization and personalization/de-personalization of food; the productive, access and consumption processes linked to them; and the affective, family and collective memories that nestle in them are recovered. It is concluded that the implementation of this cartography exceeds its initial purposes, of reflection on food consumption in an individualized manner, to become a tool to characterize and reconstruct the transformations of the entire agri-food model. At the same time, it provides an epistemology that discusses a certain Argentine “peasant fiction”, by placing the subjects that produce food in a leading role in social history