• Energy Research

Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture (IMA) has the potential to simultaneously address the challenges of environmental degradation arising from conventional shrimp production, the expected impacts of climate change, and the growing global demand for shrimp. These challenges affect coastal livelihoods in Satkhira and Khulna districts of Bangladesh. However, IMA adoption in coastal Bangladesh so far remains low. This study explores the factors that influence IMA adoption by extensive smallholder shrimp farmers in Bangladesh using a questionnaire-based survey of 128 farmers. We identified potential drivers of adoption by combining exploratory data analysis and a logit regression analysis. Key findings were that lack of adoption appeared to be mainly attributed to a lack of awareness of IMA (65% of non-adopters were not aware of the existence of IMA), as well as a lack of trust in own required management skills and technical know-how. On the other hand, positive evaluation of IMA benefits and its main use as a risk mitigating strategy were the main enablers. The logit regression analysis indicated that perceived suitability of the pond to integrate IMA and availability of technical assistance were the factors most important to adoption, explaining respectively 30% and 26% of adoption. To enhance adoption of IMA and reduce the need for new pond excavation in mangrove stands, tailored technical training and social learning opportunities are required to increase awareness of IMA and its potential benefits, as well as for effective IMA management. Additionally, the development of new market opportunities for novel mangrove products is vital to foster incentives for adoption. Further work is needed on how to maximize the potential of IMA by thorough study of its various implementation options.

In this paper we assess the benefits and costs of introducing biologically contained genetically modified (GM) crops, with an application to the potential introduction of GM tomatoes and eggplants in Italy and Spain. Such crops possess both the standard beneficial GM traits, and they prevent introgression of transgenes from GM crops to their conventional or wild relatives, thereby adding to the safety of their cultivation. As a result, coexistence regulations for these crops are less stringent than for crops without biological containment. The potential adoption of biologically contained GM tomatoes and eggplants is assessed in a cost-benefit framework for Italy and Spain. We conclude that biological containment has considerable potential benefits if policy makers are willing to loosen the restrictions on the introduction of these varieties.

North Sea fisheries are managed by the European Union (EU) through a system of annual quota. Due to uncertainty about future fish stocks, yearly revisions of these policies lead to fluctuation in quota, which in turn affects harvest and investment decisions of fishermen. Determination of quota requires high management costs in terms of obtaining information and negotiations between experts and policy makers. To reduce both quota fluctuation and management costs, the EU has proposed a system of multiannual quota. In this paper we study the effect of multiannual quota on quota volatility and resource rents, while accounting for management costs. We develop a bi-level stochastic dynamic programming model, where at level one, the EU determines the quota that maximizes resource rents. At level two, fishermen decide myopically on their harvest and investment levels, subject to the quota. Results show that policy makers can reduce quota volatility and improve resource rents from the fishery with multiannual quota. Important trade-offs are involved in the accomplishment of these objectives: fish stock and investments become more volatile, which leads to more overcapacity.

In dit rapport wordt een overzicht gegeven van de ervaringen die in Frankrijk en het Verenigd Koninkrijk zijn opgedaan met het bevorderen van duurzame landbouw. Tevens wordt bekeken welke beperkingen internationale beleidsregels opleggen aan nationale pogingen tot duurzaamheidsbevordering. Voorts wordt onderzocht welke mogelijkheden er zijn voor het bevorderen van duurzaamheid en welke factoren deze bedreigen, een en ander in het kader van internationale ontwikkelingen (zoals marktverhoudingen en veranderingen in het Consumentengedrag). Het rapport presenteert een aantal overwegingen ten behoeve van beleidsvorming, waarbij de nadruk ligt op de bijdrage die beleidsvorming (op nationaal en Europees niveau) kan leveren aan de pogingen tot bevordering van duurzame landbouw. Trefwoorden: Duurzame landbouw, Frankrijk, Nederland, Verenigd Koninkrijk, milieu, Gemeenschappelijk Landbouwbeleid, EUbeleid, indicatoren The report offers an overview of experiences in France and the United Kingdom as regards efforts to promote sustainability in agriculture. It also identifies international policy constraints on national efforts to promote sustainability. In addition, it explores opportunities for and threats to the promotion of sustainability, in the context of international trends (e.g. market conditions and changes in consumer demands). A series of considerations for policy making is presented, emphasising the contribution of policy making (at national and EU levels), in an effort to promote sustainability in agriculture.