Projects / Programmes
Agro-food and natural resources economics
January 1, 2014
- December 31, 2017
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.02.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Animal production |
|
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S187 |
Social sciences |
Agricultural economics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.02 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Animal and Dairy science |
| 4.01 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
Researchers (12)
Organisations (4)
Abstract
The aim of the research is to deepen the understanding of economic processes and the effects of changed conditions in the field of agriculture, food, rural development and natural resource management. With findings of qualitative research and quantitative techniques, the research group aims to support the decision-making process of public and private institutions, seeking for increased competitiveness, efficiency and environmental sustainability, and thus to contribute towards the strategic objectives of the EU (smart, sustainable and inclusive growth). The group will acquire new skills, use and develop state-of-art research methods in agricultural and resource economics at the following sets of activities.
A. Mathematical modeling and management support. Different methods of operations research (multi-criteria decision analysis, option modeling, Markov chains, machine learning and simulation models) will be applied at the level of individual farms or groups of farms to address optimization problems, volatility and stochastics in production and financial management in the agri-food chain.
B. Decision-making support in agricultural policies. Effects of different agricultural policy measures will be analyzed and interpreted through economic (and partly environmental) indicators for EU 27, selected neighboring regions (especially the Western Balkans) and in particular for Slovenia. The analyzes will be carried out with upgraded models of partial and general equilibrium (AGMEMOD and CAPRI-RD), and by applying the model for systematization and quantification of budgetary transfers CAP APM. Particular attention will be paid to input data for modeling tools and to the political economy aspects of the structure and decision-making processes in agricultural policy. Rural development policy will be quantitatively evaluated with agent-based modeling techniques and spatial econometrics.
C. Analysis of the agri-food chain and food consumer behavior. Studying the processes of consumers’ perception of food and new product development will be at the core of research interest. Inter alia, some new approaches will be applied in the analysis of food consumer behavior, combining sensory tests and perception surveys. Analyses of food purchasing behavior will study the impact of consumers’ objective knowledge about particular food, their sensory skills, and subjectivity in the assessment of food. They aim to refine and improve the scientific methodology in this area.
D. Economic issues of natural resource management. Questions dealing with valuation of ecosystem services and non-commodity outputs in agriculture and forestry will be tackled from different perspectives. Methods based on revealed and detected preferences will be applied. Alternative methodological approaches (emergy analysis) will be developed to evaluate different technologies in agriculture. The method of competitive bids will be tested as a tool for identification of cost-effective ways for maintenance of biodiversity in diversity of animal genetic resources.
The group will carry out the planned tasks by upgrading the existing knowledge, developing new methodological tools, and intensifying international cooperation. State-of ard knowledge and quantitative tools will be transferred and adapted to address new research issues in a new environment. In doing so, the group hopes to consolidate and develop its socio-economic relevance as a national reference group in Agricultural and Resource Economics. By publishing their results in top scientific journals, the group will increase its international recognition, bringing new possibilities to expand their work for international clients at the European level, as well as for the European institutions. Particular attention will be devoted to education and working with doctoral students and with their help to open up new horizons of knowledge in the management of natural resources and the production and consumption of
Significance for science
The global food crisis and the global economic crisis has once again highlighted the role of science in agriculture. Climate Change and Food Security re-emerged as key strategic challenges of mankind. Their solution is not possible without full contribution of the research work in the field of study of the socio-economic dimensions of natural resource management. These challenges are in the core of research interest in agricultural economics and economics of natural resources, which are mainly represented in this research program. They contribute to a better understanding of the processes and outputs, and identify economically and environmentally sustainable solutions in agriculture, food, rural development and environmental management.
These fields of research are subject to international research effort and remain a priority of the EU research policy. The research group sees its mission in involvement in international projects and networks to ensure the inclusion of Slovenia in the international arena on these issues, while allowing superior knowledge transfer to the Slovenian and Slovenian researchers' contribution to the creation of Europe-wide solutions.
With the program we want to fill the gaps in knowledge on a variety of issues and approaches. We list some examples of research fields, developed within the research program:
1. Upgrade and development of new methodological tools: a combination of mathematical modeling in the field of farm management, combining models of partial and general equilibrium to assess the effects of public policies in agriculture, models for systematization and quantification of the budgetary transfers in agriculture; combining discrete choice methods of factor analysis and the analysis of consumer purchase behavior.
2. Transfer and adaptation of modern tools to address new development challenges: agent-based modeling and the use of GIS to optimise integration processes along the food chain; evaluation of rural development measures with the help of spatial econometrics; emergy evaluation of technologies in agriculture, partial equilibrium models to study changes in agricultural markets in a changing economic situation in the Western Balkans and CIS countries, and the development of food products using sensory testing.
3. New findings: structural ontological analysis of the Common Agricultural Policy options, valuation of (plant and animal) genetic resources with the use of competitive bids,
4. Transfer of methods and their development in the Slovenian environment: application of machine learning methods in farm management, models for risk management in agriculture with Monte Carlo simulation methods, option modeling for assessment of the economic and financial viability of investment projects, assessment of the preferences of selected ecosystem services of forest resources.
Significance for the country
The intention of the programme team is to provide research support in public, social and economic decision making related to managing agriculture, the food industry, natural resources and rural development. Using modern quantitative methods of agricultural economics, it evaluates effects of economic and institutional changes on individual business entities (farms and food processing companies), on individual activities and sectors of the agri-food industry in a national and multi-national context, as well as on local communities and rural areas. The impact assessment encompasses socio-economic and environmental indicators.
The research of processes, impacts, concepts and mechanisms of public policies constantly develop and improve knowledge which is of direct or indirect value and interest to the general public. A few selected key aspects where the team’s research activity could benefit Slovenian socio-economic progress: (i) current and future agricultural and rural development policy scenario analysis, (ii) EU and national agricultural public finances, and (iii) taxation issues of agriculture. The knowledge gained from constantly monitoring the status and evaluating the effects in regard to specific issues will aid decision making of public and business organisations and help them adapt.
It is thus reasonable to expect that team members will continue to have opportunities to present their work to government institutions (the national assembly, respective ministries of the Slovenian government – especially the Ministry of agriculture and the environment) and non-government organisations (e.g. the Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia and Agricultural Co-operative Association of Slovenia). This facilitates national strategic document drafting (rural development programme, selecting a direct payment scheme).
Certain team members will presumably continue to conduct studies and analyses on behalf of the OECD, the European commission and European parliament, facilitating decision making also on the European level while at the same time contributing Slovenian cases and experiences. The team will also continue to support the European integration of Western Balkans states. Certain analyses pertaining to agricultural policies and accession effects are planned to support the candidate states, EU member states and European institutions alike in their decision making. Team members also contribute in several international research and expert teams; at the same time, they can represent Slovenia in those organisations (EAAE, hop growers’ associations).
The team conducts research and analyses vital to business entities. In an increasingly harsh and unpredictable business environment, timely and quality information support is immensely important in decision making. Our scientific methods are tailored to improve business decisions in agriculture and the food industry, enabling goals of the national agricultural policy to be accomplished.
All of the Slovenian research teams focusing primarily on agricultural economics will be merged into our team in the coming period. The formation of such a leading national research team will enable synergy in research and development support for public and private organisations.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
2016,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
2016,
final report
