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ARE 242 Spring 2005 Course Syllabus   Gordon Rausser Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-2:00 201 Giannini Hall     Class Date Reading Assignment Tuesday January 18 Rausser, G.C. and R.E. Goodhue. "Public Policy: Its Many Analytical Dimensions," in Handbook of Agricultural Economics, B. Gardner and G. Rausser (eds.). Volume 2, Chapter 39, Elsevier North Holland, 2002.   Thursday January 20 Alston, J.M. and J.S. James. "The Incidence of Agricultural Policy," in Handbook of Agricultural Economics, B. Gardner and G. Rausser (eds.). Volume 2, Chapter 33, Elsevier North Holland, 2002.   Chambers, R.G., "The incidence of agricultural policies," Journal of Public Economics 57, (1995) 317-335.   Floyd, J.E. "The Effects of Farm Price Supports on the Returns to Land and Labor in Agriculture." Journal of Political Economy 73 (1965), p. 148-158.   Tuesday January 25 Baylis, K., G. Rausser, and L. Simon, "Agri-Environmental Program in the United States and European Union," in Agricultural Policy Reform and the WTO: Where Are We Heading?," G. Anania, M.E. Bohman, C.A. Carter, and A.F. McCalla (eds.) Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2004.   Glebe, T.W. "Multifunctionality: How "Green" is the "European Model of Agriculture"? Environmental Economics, Resource Economics and Agricultural Policy Research Group, Discussion Paper 01-2003.   Swinbank, A. "Multifunctionality: A European Euphemism for Protection?" Presented at the FWAG Conference: Multifunctional Agriculture-A European Model, Stoneleigh, UK, November 29, 2001.   Thursday January 27 Hodge, I. "Agri-environmental Relationships and the Choice of Policy Mechanism," The World Economy, 26 (5), May, 2003, 705-725.   Blandford, D. and R.N. Boisvert, "Multifunctional Agriculture-A View from the United States," Plenary paper presented at the 90th EAAE Seminar: Multifunctional Agriculture, Policies and Markets: Understanding the Critical Linkage; Rennes, France, October 28-29, 200

Donald F. Larson's Scholarly Papers Click on the title of any column to sort the table by that column. Aggregate Statistics Total Downloads 5,552 Total Citations 84 Papers (30) Authors Date Downloads  (Rank) Citations ACTIONS:    Email Selected Abstracts    Export Selected Bibliographic Info    VIEW: Selected      Original List     All Versions       All Abstracts       Legend 1.   Commodity Risk Management and Development | Show Abstract | Download | World Bank Policy Research Paper No. 1963 Working Paper Series Donald F. F. Larson World Bank Development Research Group Panos Varangis World Bank - Agriculture and Rural Development Department Nanae Yabuki United Nations - Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Posted: 07 Oct 04 1,081 (5,084) 8 2.   Dealing with Commodity Price Uncertainty | Show Abstract | Download | World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 1667 Working Paper Series Panos Varangis World Bank - Agriculture and Rural Development Department Donald F. F. Larson World Bank Development Research Group Posted: 24 Nov 04 599 (12,921) 13 3.   Uncertainty and the Price for Crude Oil Reserves | Show Abstract | Download | World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 1655 Working Paper Series Donald F. F. Larson World Bank Development Research Group Posted: 20 Oct 04 536 (15,210)   4.   Warehouse Receipts: Facilitating Credit and Commodity Markets | Show Abstract | Download | Working Paper Series Daniele Giovannucci Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA) Panos Varangis World Bank - Agriculture and Rural Development Department Donald F. F. Larson World Bank Development Research Group Posted: 15 Jan 07 375 (24,641) 1 5.   Carbon Markets, Institutions, Policies, and Research | Show Abstract | Download | World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 4761 Working Paper Series Donald F. F. Larson World Bank Development Research Group Philippe Ambrosi World Bank Ariel Dinar World Bank - Agriculture and Rura

Special Issue "Renewable Agriculture" Quicklinks Special Issue Editors Published Papers Special Issue Information Keywords Planned Papers A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2009) Special Issue Editor Guest Editor Dr. Stephen S. Jones Director, Northwestern Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, Washington 98273, USA E-Mail: joness@wsu.edu Published Papers Click here to see a list of 19 papers that have been published in this special issue. Special Issue Information Dear Colleagues, For centuries the perceived need for an immediate and dramatic increase in agricultural production has been a theme throughout the developed world. But only very recently, and with less urgency, has society recognized the need for the true sustainability of agricultural production. For long-term sustainability, agriculture must have the capacity for renewal. Even the most basic forms of agriculture require an input of energy, this in essence is what defines the system as agricultural. Starting with human and animal labor, energy inputs have developed into an industrial system using fertilizers, water, seed, pest control, and other products often brought in from off the farm. While these products may increase production, for the most part they are non-renewable, require vast amounts of fuel to produce and transport, are costly, and may harm the native organisms and environment. Additionally, most seed in industrial agriculture is non-renewable due to legal and genetic mechanisms that make it problematic for farmers to save and replant what they have grown on their farms. Is a renewable agriculture with a high level of productivity possible? What research is underway to test the robustness of current systems when measured against a standard of true long-term sustainability? Stephen S. Jones, Ph. D. Guest Editor   Submission Information All papers should be submitted to

Search About CSDi CSDi is firmly committed to proven, results-based solutions to end suffering and poverty. Our goal is to spread these solutions across the globe through our in-depth field guides and interactive online workshops. Work with us and become the solution. We've trained development professionals... in 103 countries who have developed course projects... impacting over 100,000 people. ~ What our students are saying: I really appreciate the time you have taken to go through correcting assignments.... I am very confident that all your labours are producing lots of learning and stimulation for your students. MATT, IRELAND Facebook Like Box Upcoming Courses ¡Cursos Nuevos en Español! May 17 - July 11 101: From the Ground Up May 17 - July 11 341: Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change May 17 - July 11 Adaptación Basado en la Comunidad-CBA May 17 - July 11 Upcoming Online Development Courses May 2011 Community Based Adaptation: 300 Hands-On Field Activities Donate CSDi, a 501c3, relies on your generous donations for our work, training individuals to be the solution in communities across the globe. News Newsletter: March Newsletter: Project Sustainability: Put the Community in Charge. Field Project of the Month: Rainwater Harvesting: Mexico City Google Translate Translate This Website Powered by Google Tradutor iLearning Experience Student Testimonials International Partnerships Learning Environment Student Field Projects Example Assignment: Kenya Student Countries, Organizations, Project Challenges HANDS-ON FIELD ACTIVITIES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ADAPTATION Module OL 340: Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change Posted by Tim Magee CSDi is pleased to present a compilation of Community Based Adaptation Field Activities-complete with links to source materials and technical information-compiled from case studies & from projects developed by CSDi field partners & online students. We encourage you to submit activities: Onl

Intellectual Property Rights And Concentration In Agricultural Biotechnology William Lesser Cornell University AgBioForum Fall98 v.1, n.2 The relationships between intellectual property rights (IPRs) and structural change are examined in this paper. Intellectual property rights are a complex, multifaceted area and one in which corporate strategies are poorly understood. Nevertheless, it is argued here that IPRs can affect firm entry, can make vertical integration in downstream industries more or less necessary, and can create financial incentives for downstream mergers and acquisitions. Hence, IPRs can have significant structural impacts. Key words: intellectual property rights; agrobiotechnology; industry structure; research and development (R&D) The later 1990s have been a tumultuous time for merger and acquisition activity among firms involved in agricultural biotechnology. By the end of the third quarter of 1998, Monsanto alone had been involved in 18 acquisitions and had itself agreed and then reneged on a merger with American Home Products. In addition, Monsanto completed overseas acquisitions worth a total of $7.3 billion over two years. Novartis was formed by the merging of Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy, while DuPont chose to enter the market through joint ventures; a total of 20 joint ventures valued at over $5 billion (Moore, 1998). These mergers have contributed greatly to a restructuring of the seed industry. Most notably, Monsanto controlled up to 40 percent of seed for the 1998 United States (U.S.) soybean crop and, if approved, full acquisition of Delta & Pine Land will give Monsanto ownership of at least 80 percent of the U.S. cotton seed industry (Kilman & Warren, 1998). This is not the only incidence of major acquisition activity, a previous one occurred about 20 years earlier. Butler and Marion (1985) list 27 mergers during the period 1978-80. The 1980 date is pivotal as it marks some strengthening amendments to the United States Plant Variety Prot

Donovan Campbell and Clinton Beckford Article: Negotiating Uncertainty: Jamaican Small Farmers' Adaptation and Coping Strategies, Before and After Hurricanes-A Case Study of Hurricane Dean Sustainability 2009, 1(4), 1366-1387; doi:10.3390/su1041366 Received: 29 October 2009 / Accepted: 10 December 2009 / Published: 16 December 2009 Show/Hide Abstract | Download PDF Full-text (1801 KB) (This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Agriculture) Philip H. Howard Article: Visualizing Consolidation in the Global Seed Industry: 1996-2008 Sustainability 2009, 1(4), 1266-1287; doi:10.3390/su1041266 Received: 28 October 2009 / Accepted: 4 December 2009 / Published: 8 December 2009 Show/Hide Abstract | Download PDF Full-text (933 KB) (This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Agriculture) Hossein Mousazadeh, Alireza Keyhani, Hossein Mobli, Ugo Bardi and Toufic El Asmar Article: Sustainability in Agricultural Mechanization: Assessment of a Combined Photovoltaic and Electric Multipurpose System for Farmers Sustainability 2009, 1(4), 1042-1068; doi:10.3390/su1041042 Received: 9 September 2009 / Accepted: 6 November 2009 / Published: 17 November 2009 Show/Hide Abstract | Download PDF Full-text (910 KB) (This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Agriculture) Madhu Subedi, Trevor J. Hocking, Michael A. Fullen, Alison R. McCrea and Eleanor Milne Article: Lessons from Participatory Evaluation of Cropping Practices in Yunnan Province, China: Overview of the Effectiveness of Technologies and Issues Related to Technology Adoption Sustainability 2009, 1(3), 628-661; doi:10.3390/su1030628 Received: 9 August 2009 / Accepted: 9 September 2009 / Published: 16 September 2009 Show/Hide Abstract | Download PDF Full-text (195 KB) (This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Agriculture) Travis A. Smith, Biing-Hwan Lin and Chung L. Huang Article: Growth and Development in the U.S. Retail Organic Food Sector Sustainability 2009, 1(3), 573-591

Title: Agricultural biotechnology in international development. Personal Authors: Author Affiliation: Michigan State Univ., Agricultural Biotechnology for Sustainable Productivity (ABSP), East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Editors: Ives, C. L., Bedford, B. M. Document Title: Agricultural biotechnology in international development Abstract: A conference on biotechnology for agricultural development was held in Pacific Grove, California, in 1997. Subjects included: (1) the Agricultural Biotechnology (AB) for Sustainable Productivity project, which was established in 1991; (2) addressing agricultural development in Egypt through AB; (3) the release of transgenic varieties in centres of origin; (4) current status of AB research in Indonesia; (5) AB and agricultural needs in sub-Saharan Africa; (6) the application of AB to food security crops, such as maize, potato, rice and sweet potato; (7) the application of AB to non-traditional crops, such as banana, date palm, cucurbits and oil palm; (8) AB development, transfer, adaptation and utilization; (9) considering beneficiaries and sustainability while undertaking AB research; (10) rice AB capacity building in Asia; (11) the benefits and costs of international biosafety regulations; (12) cassava biotechnology research; (13) AB capacity building in Peru; (14) the technology transfer system in Thailand; (15) the development of AB business; and (16) bioprospecting in Cost Rica. International, US and developing country issues, perspectives and experiences in developing and accessing ABs are examined. KEYWORDS: TROPAG | Oryza sativa | Zea mays | Musa | Elaeis guineensis | Ipomoea batatas | Phoenix dactylifera | biotechnology | research policies | plant breeding | genetic engineering | technology transfer | agriculture.

Despite a significant growth in food production over the past half-century, one of the most important challenges facing society today is how to feed an expected population of some nine billion by the middle of the 20th century. To meet the expected demand for food without significant increases in prices, it has been estimated that we need to produce 70-100 per cent more food, in light of the growing impacts of climate change, concerns over energy security, regional dietary shifts and the Millennium Development target of halving world poverty and hunger by 2015. The goal for the agricultural sector is no longer simply to maximize productivity, but to optimize across a far more complex landscape of production, rural development, environmental, social justice and food consumption outcomes. However, there remain significant challenges to developing national and international policies that support the wide emergence of more sustainable forms of land use and efficient agricultural production. The lack of information flow between scientists, practitioners and policy makers is known to exacerbate the difficulties, despite increased emphasis upon evidence-based policy. In this paper, we seek to improve dialogue and understanding between agricultural research and policy by identifying the 100 most important questions for global agriculture. These have been compiled using a horizon-scanning approach with leading experts and representatives of major agricultural organizations worldwide. The aim is to use sound scientific evidence to inform decision making and guide policy makers in the future direction of agricultural research priorities and policy support. If addressed, we anticipate that these questions will have a significant impact on global agricultural practices worldwide, while improving the synergy between agricultural policy, practice and research. This research forms part of the UK Government's Foresight Global Food and Farming Futures project.

Learning Resources This page contains learning resources for the e-agriculture.org community.  These are courses and modules focused on e-Agriculture as a field or designed to teach participants skills relevant to areas of e-Agriculture.  If you come across other such resources, we hope you will contribute them. Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK) The Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK) is a partnership-based e-Learning initiative to train individuals and support institutions and networks world-wide in the effective management of agricultural information. IMARK consists of a suite of distance learning resources, tools and communities on information management. IMARK learning materials are being developed as a series of modules available online and on CD-ROM. The modules are being developed using the latest methods in e-learning, providing an interactive environment for self-paced learning. List of IMARK Modules ItrainOnline Multimedia Training Kit  The ItrainOnline MMTK is a growing collection of "workshop kits" for face-to-face training. The materials use a standard set of templates, and offer building blocks for trainers to build their own courses. Materials are available in English, French, Arabic, and Russian, and cover technical skills, content development skills, developing thematic content, organizational development and planning, and ICT policy, advocacy, and the digital divide. CGIAR Online Learning Resources Center From this page you can access a repository of CGIAR Centers' learning objects and other training resources, as well as Web-based training courses. You can access these sites anonymously to search and retrieve information and resources as well as enrol in courses. If you wish to contribute resources or need further information please contact the Learning Resources Team. Thank you for visiting. The Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) This is a partnership of over 120 learning centres (GDLN Affiliates) in nearly

Freedom to Innovate: Biotechnology in Africa's Development Report of the High-Level African Panel on Modern Biotechnology Report, African Union and New Partnership for Africa's Development August 2007 Authors: Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development; Director, Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; Principal Investigator, Agricultural Innovation in Africa, Ismail Serageldin Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Science, Technology, and Globalization; Science, Technology, and Public Policy; Agricultural Innovation in Africa   This report is about the role of biotechnology in the transformation of African economies. The implications of its recommendations, however, need to be seen beyond the confines of biological innovations. They address critical issues related to Africa's place in a globalizing economy. Undertaken at the request of heads of state and government this report demonstrates what is needed to build the required capacity to harness and apply biotechnologies to improve agricultural productivity, public health, industrial development, economic competitiveness, and environmental sustainability (including biodiversity conservation) in Africa. It also shows that the measures needed to address biotechnology will strengthen Africa's capacity to adapt other technologies to economic development. In fact, previous inabilities to build capacity in fields such as information technology hamper the continent's efforts in biotechnology. This report has placed these systemic considerations in the context of the role of innovation in economic transformation. It challenges Africa's heads of state and government to take seriously the importance of a coordinated approach in promoting technological innovation in development. African governments have recognized the importance of regional cooperation to address possibilities and the range of issues associated with biotechnology. Within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa's De

Appropriate biotechnology in small-scale agriculture: how to reorient research and development. Personal Authors: Author Affiliation: Department of Biology and Society, Faculty of Biology, Free University, De Boelelaan, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Editors: Bunders, J. F. G., Broerse, J. E. W. Document Title: Appropriate biotechnology in small-scale agriculture: how to reorient research and development. Abstract: The first chapter (by the editors) outlines the potential of various biotechnology techniques for developing countries, and the gap between need and access to new technology. Tissue culture, improved biological nitrogen fixation, biological control and diagnostics are seen as the most applicable. Part 1 of the book (by the editors and Steen Joffe) is entitled 'Towards criteria for assessment of project proposals' and consists of the following chapters: a case study: yam tissue culture in the Caribbean; guidelines for assessment of project proposals; and practical implications. The guidelines suggested include meeting specific end-user needs, assessing economic, social, environmental and cultural impacts, having government and institutional support, technical feasibility and safety, superiority to existing options, and building indigenous research capacity. Successful projects are characterized by the vision of entrepreneurs and the opportunities that they see, a formal interdisciplinary team of intermediaries to initiate projects which involve scientists from a range of disciplines, networking and team building through informal channels, a carefully designed preparatory phase in which a rough idea is further specified, legitimized and justified, and a prestigious sponsor to give moral support to the idea. Part 2, 'An interactive bottom-up approach in agricultural research' (by the editors and Annelies Stolp), contains the followng chapters: different approaches to technology development for Third World agriculture; implementation strategies for innov

Bacillus thuringiensis: a cornerstone of modern agriculture Matthew Metz 1 Resenha Routledge, 2003 - 242 páginas Make the right decisions when it comes to pest control in agriculture! "Bacillus thuringiensis": A Cornerstone of Modern Agriculture explores the impact that one of the most prominent biologically based pesticides has had on pest control technology--and the issues that surround its use. The book examines the development, use, and management of technologies derived from "Bacillus thuringiensis" ("Bt"), addressing the health, economic, environmental, and social concerns generated by the deployment of genetically engineered crops. Authors representing a diverse cross section of the international scientific community contribute review articles and research findings that address the use of "Bt" in microbial formulations and transgenic crops, technological advances in the genetic engineering of plants, advances in methodologies, and improved agricultural practices and productivity through the use of "Bt" cotton. "Bacillus thuringiensis": A Cornerstone of Modern Agriculture examines the vital issues surrounding this Gram-positive bacterium. Contributors from academia, government, and industry address the safety of "Bt" for human consumption, its effects on non-target organisms, the role of microbial "Bt" products in crop production in the United States, and the utility and management of transgenic plants. The book also explores: engineering "Bt" transgenic rice for insect pest protection the "Bt" potato in developing countries Bt expression in sugarcane and cauliflower a comparative analysis of "Bt" cotton in Argentina the ecological impact, gene expression, and current resistance management requirements of "Bt" cotton in the United States and much more! "Bacillus thuringiensis": A Cornerstone of Modern Agriculture is an essential resource for advanced students and technical specialists working in agriculture, biotechnology, entomology, pest management, and

Water resource management is of paramount importance in agricultural development. Sustained socioeconomic development in countries with irrigated agriculture could be limited by water availability and deterioration in water quality. Consequently, any effort made to improve water use in irrigation practices will have a marked effect on sustainable agriculture and on conservation of soil and water resources. Problems associated with irrigated agriculture have been attributed to poor water management due to lack of knowledge of soil-plant-atmosphere relations, inadequate form of water application, hydrochemical relations triggered by irrigation, and soil's microbiological surroundings. Optimal design and selection of irrigation systems permit high efficiencies and uniform distribution of the applied water. Advanced planning and management of water is needed to ensure a sustainable agricultural process with optimal crop production, considering physical, environmental, financial, and technological restrictions. In addition, drainage techniques have also been developed, allowing removal of excess water from the soil profile. However, there is still a need to optimize water resource use and management to maintain sustainable irrigated agriculture considering water demand, water quality, economic evaluation of water, and decision support systems.

This book explores the economic impact of supermarkets on food supply chains in developing countries, with particular emphasis on the generation/displacement of employment, the (re)-distribution of benefits along the food chain and the role of government is attracting, facilitating and regulating the growth of supermarkets in South America, Africa and Asia. Aimed primarily at academics but will appeal to practitioners in developing countries, civil servants, policy-makers and NGOs. The internationalization of food retailing and manufacturing that has swept through the agri-food system in industrialised countries is now moving into middle- and low-income countries with large rural populations, causing significant institutional changes that affect small producer agriculture and the livelihoods of rural communities the world over. Farmers and policy-makers are struggling to keep up with the wave of new demands being made on their supply chains by food manufacturers and retailers. In the process, new questions and challenges are arising: Can small-scale farmers organize to meet the demands of corporate giants? Should governments liberalize Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector and expose numerous small shops to competition from multinationals? Can distribution systems be adapted to make markets work better for the poor? This book offers a contemporary look at what happens when the modernisation of food supply chains comes face to face with the livelihoods of rural and poor people. The authors are drawn from eighteen countries participating in the 'Regoverning Markets' programme, which aims to not only improve our understanding of the way modernization and re-structuring of food supply chains is affecting food production and distribution systems, but also identify best-practice in involving small-scale producers in supermarket supply chains, and ascertain the barriers to inclusion which need to be removed. Contents: Part One The Economic and Policy Context: The

Following up on recent debates about sectoral systems of innovation and production, the paper introduces a heuristic framework for analyzing and explaining distinct patterns of technology-based sectoral change. The concept is based on two interrelated influencing factors. The first is the sectoral-specific transformative capacity of new technologies themselves, that is, their substantial or incremental impact on socioeconomic and institutional change in a given sectoral system. The second is the sectoral adaptability of socioeconomic structures, institutions, and actors confronted with the opportunities presented by new technologies. The first factor-the sectoral transformative capacity of new technologies-enables us to identify the technology-based pressure to change and adjust the structural, institutional, and organizational architectures of the sectoral system. The second, complementary factor-sectoral adaptability-helps us to discern the distinct social patterns of anticipating and adopting this technology-based pressure. The specific interplay between the two influencing factors creates distinguishable modes of sectoral transformation, ranging from anticipative and smooth adjustments to reactive and crisis-ridden patterns of change. Even processes of radical sectoral change continue over longer periods of mismatch and are characterized by numerous and mostly gradual organizational, structural and institutional transformations. Article Outline 1. Technology-based socioeconomic and institutional change: starting points 2. Sociotechnical systems and periods of mismatch 3. New technologies and their transformative capacity 3.1. Specification I: endogenous vs. exogenous technology 3.2. Specification II: low vs. high transformative capacity 4. New technologies and sectoral adaptability 4.1. Specification I: low adaptability 4.2. Specification II: high adaptability 4.2.1. High intensity of innovation and market competition 4.2.2. Transformation-supporting in

FAO provides free access to statistics treasure trove 12-Jul-10 World's largest database of food, hunger and agricultural information now fully accessible online  Free access to FAO database contributes to sustainable development   9 July 2010, Rome - FAO is granting free and open access to its central data repository, FAOSTAT, the world's largest and most comprehensive statistical database on food, agriculture, and hunger, the UN agency announced today.  Previously, it was possible to download without charge a limited amount of information from FAOSTAT - which contains over one million data points covering 210 countries and territories -- but access to larger batches of statistics required a paid annual subscription.  The power of numbers  "We are now providing totally free access to this immense pool of data," said Hafez Ghanem, FAO Assistant Director General for Economic and Social Development. "This information is an important tool in the fight to alleviate poverty, promote sustainable development and eliminate hunger. We're particularly keen on making sure that economists, planners, and policy-makers in the developing world, where that tool is needed most, can get at it and put it to good use."  Ghanem also noted that the move forms part of an ongoing FAO effort to provide easier and more direct access to its vast information assets, an initiative that came out of an independent external evaluation and strategic planning process initiated by FAO's Members in 2008.  "FAOSTAT is a powerful tool that can be used not just to see where hunger occurs, but to drill down and better understand why hunger occurs -- and what might be done to combat it," added Pietro Gennari, FAO Statistics Division Director. "It's especially designed to support monitoring, analysis and informed, evidence-based policy-making specifically related to rural and agricultural development and hunger reduction, the only tool of its kind."  In addition to aiding development

This book presents the first thorough economic analysis of current agricultural biotechnology regulation. The contributors, most of whom are agricultural economists working either in universities or NGOs, address issues such as commercial pesticides, the costs of approving new products, liability, benefits, consumer acceptance, regulation and its impacts, transgenic crops, social welfare implications, and biosafety. Richard E. Just is Distinguished University Professor and former Chair, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland at College Park. Julian M. Alston is Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Davis. David Zilberman is Chair, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Berkeley.

Federal Rural Development Policy in the Twentieth Century Dennis Roth, Anne B. W. Effland, Douglas E. Bowers United States Department of Agriculture - Economic Research Service 2002 Links modified July, 2008 Contents Summary .pdf [20 KB] Introduction -- Douglas E. Bowers .pdf [47 KB] Section I. From the Country Life Movement Through Passage of the 1972 Rural Development Act -- Dennis Roth Chapter 1. The Country Life Movement .pdf [38 KB] Chapter 2. The New Deal .pdf [91 KB] Chapter 3. True D. Morse and the Beginnings of Postwar Rural Development Work .pdf [63 KB] Chapter 4. The Kennedy Administration Picks Up the Pace .pdf [57 KB] Chapter 5. The Johnson Administration and the Great Society .pdf [78 KB] Chapter 6. The Nixon Administration Through Passage of the Rural Development Act of 1972 .pdf [42 KB] Section II. From the Rural Development Act to the 21st Century Anne B. W. Effland Chapter 7. Shared Goals, Opposing Strategies: The Nixon and Ford Administrations and the Rural Development Act of 1972 .pdf [43 KB] Chapter 8. Rural Renaissance: New Policy Questions for the Carter Administration .pdf [60 KB] Chapter 9. Federalism in the 1980s: Fiscal and Policy Restraint by the Reagan Administration .pdf [73 KB] Chapter 10. Cooperation, Innovation, and Information: The Bush Administration Renews the Federal Commitment .pdf [51 KB] Chapter 11. Rural Amenities, Global Economy, and the Environment: The Clinton Administration Confronts the New Paradigms .pdf [97 KB] Conclusion: One Hundred Years of Rural Development Policy Anne B. W. Effland .pdf [42 KB] Appendix Table: 100 Years of Federal Programs for Rural Development Anne B. W. Effland .pdf [41 KB]   Media Help: To view PDF files you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. The report describes and assesses Federal rural development policy and programs during the 20th century, focusing on trends of change and continuity. Definitions of rurality and characteristics of rural populatio

Encyclopedia of Environmental Health Pages 498-504 doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-52272-6.00733-9 | How to Cite or Link Using DOI Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.   Permissions & Reprints Carbon Sequestration and Agriculture     Purchase $ 31.50 S. Mandlebauma and J. Nriagua a School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Available online 23 February 2011. Abstract Recent increases in global temperature are correlated with carbon dioxide emitted from natural and anthropogenic sources, most importantly fossil fuel combustion and land use changes. Although technologies and policies are being proposed and tested to reduce emissions, modification of carbon sinks may provide an important mitigation option. Sinks of some global importance include terrestrial vegetation, oceans, rock weathering, soils, and artificially created dumpsters. Increasing carbon storage in soils through agriculture could be used as a short-term intervention. Many agricultural practices can increase the amount of organic carbon in soil. These include agronomic practices, water management practices, agroforestry, land cover change, and reduced or no-till practices. The effect of these practices on global warming needs to be considered, including the environmental conditions of various farms, the actual mitigation potential of soil sequestration, and the requirement of continuing no-till practices once implemented. This article elaborates on the concept that changing agricultural practices represents a possible climate change mitigation strategy by increasing the soil sequestration potential. This intervention is expected to result in increased crop production and a betterment of human health, especially in the developing countries. Author Keywords: Agriculture; Agronomic practices; Capacity; Carbon; Carbon cycle; Carbon dioxide; Climate change; Conservation; Health; Sequestration; Sink; Soil; Storage; Tilla

Water Policy Vol 12 No 4 pp 543-563 © IWA Publishing 2010 doi:10.2166/wp.2010.042 India's groundwater irrigation boom: can it be sustained? A. Narayanamoorthy Centre for Rural Development, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Fax: 91-4565-225202. E-mail: na_narayana@hotmail.com; narayana64@gmail.com ABSTRACT Development of groundwater irrigation (GWI) has been very impressive in India, especially after the introduction of the green revolution. The area under GWI accounts for 62% of the net irrigated area today. Though GWI provides added benefits to farmers, compared to other sources of irrigation, the continuous exploitation of groundwater of late has resulted in a drastic drop in the water table, and led to salinization and quality deterioration in different parts of the country. Since groundwater contributes overwhelmingly to agricultural growth, the unrestrained exploitation of groundwater could hamper the future growth of agriculture. GWI is controlled by many factors, which are dynamic and bound to change along with the agricultural development. Therefore, one needs to understand the factors determining groundwater development in different regions over time to understand the dynamics of groundwater use. Though many studies are available on different aspects of GWI in India, not many studies have looked at the sustainable aspects of GWI, considering the major States of India together. An attempt is made in this paper to study the development as well as the factors determining GWI over time, using state-wide data to suggest appropriate interventions to sustain the use of groundwater. Keywords: Groundwater exploitation; Indian agriculture; Irrigated area; Sustainability