UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Sewell, Ashleigh
Dept./Program:
Community Development and Applied Economics
Year:
2014
Degree:
M.S.
Abstract:
This thesis makes two original and related contributions to literature on the economics of sustainable agriculture. First, the thesis presents a new conceptualization of the agricultural production function that promotes a better understanding of the global hunger crisis and agricultural sustainability, and how these may be addressed. I propose a production function framework within the Fund-Flow production paradigm developed by Georgescu-Roegen (Georgescu-Roegen, 1971, 1984). Stock-flow and Fund-service factors of production are distinguished and shown to have a complementary relationship within the agricultural production system. Within the stock-flow and fund-service categories; inputs may be categorized as renewable or non-renewable. This second step of classification allows for an analysis of production sustainability based on a viability concept also proposed by Georgescu-Roegen (Georgescu-Roegen, 1984). By identifying where a system is not viable, opportunities to substitute factors of production to move toward viability are highlighted.
As an example of this, a brief overview of the recent history of substitution between renewable and non-renewable resources in agriculture is presented with a focus on examining changes over time in management of soil fertility and water, defense against weeds and pests, and the provision of energy. These examples demonstrate a trend in the agricultural system toward undermining its foundation by causing ecological degradation that ultimately affects crop and livestock production (Beddington et al., 2012; Conway, 2012; FAO et al., 2013; Mazoyer and Roudart, 2006). Based upon insights from the agricultural production function developed herein, agroecology is proposed as an agricultural production paradigm with potential to shift production reliance back to sustainable fund-service inputs from limited stock-flow inputs while maintaining production and farmer livelihoods.
Second, the thesis presents a case study conducted with dairy farm families in the Encosta da Serra Geral within the southern Brazilian state of Santa Caterina. A sample of 60 farming families was drawn from a population of cooperative members with dairying operations utilizing pasture-based, Voisin rotational grazing. These family farms are subject to the Brazilian Forestry Code (BFC), which obligates private landowners to maintain portions of their land under forest cover. The goal of this research was to determine if there is a correlation between farmers' knowledge and perceptions of silvopastoral pasture management and their willingness to comply with the forestry code. An analysis of parts of the survey by Schmitt et al. (2013) identified three clusters of farmers based on their responses to questions regarding knowledge and perceptions of the ecosystem and the BFC.
Building on their work, I report herein on the farm families' responses to questions within the another portion of the survey treating perceptions of silvopastoral management and present a contingency analysis of these results and the clusters identified by Schmitt et al. I hypothesize that unwillingness to comply with the BFC is associated with lack of knowledge about or negative perceptions of silvopastoral methods, which are a potential solutions to the non-compliance problem. However, despite largely positive views of silvopastoralism among the subject farmers, the analysis herein does not support such a conclusion, as no strong association was found between the clusters identified and perceptions of silvopastoral grazing practices.
As an example of this, a brief overview of the recent history of substitution between renewable and non-renewable resources in agriculture is presented with a focus on examining changes over time in management of soil fertility and water, defense against weeds and pests, and the provision of energy. These examples demonstrate a trend in the agricultural system toward undermining its foundation by causing ecological degradation that ultimately affects crop and livestock production (Beddington et al., 2012; Conway, 2012; FAO et al., 2013; Mazoyer and Roudart, 2006). Based upon insights from the agricultural production function developed herein, agroecology is proposed as an agricultural production paradigm with potential to shift production reliance back to sustainable fund-service inputs from limited stock-flow inputs while maintaining production and farmer livelihoods.
Second, the thesis presents a case study conducted with dairy farm families in the Encosta da Serra Geral within the southern Brazilian state of Santa Caterina. A sample of 60 farming families was drawn from a population of cooperative members with dairying operations utilizing pasture-based, Voisin rotational grazing. These family farms are subject to the Brazilian Forestry Code (BFC), which obligates private landowners to maintain portions of their land under forest cover. The goal of this research was to determine if there is a correlation between farmers' knowledge and perceptions of silvopastoral pasture management and their willingness to comply with the forestry code. An analysis of parts of the survey by Schmitt et al. (2013) identified three clusters of farmers based on their responses to questions regarding knowledge and perceptions of the ecosystem and the BFC.
Building on their work, I report herein on the farm families' responses to questions within the another portion of the survey treating perceptions of silvopastoral management and present a contingency analysis of these results and the clusters identified by Schmitt et al. I hypothesize that unwillingness to comply with the BFC is associated with lack of knowledge about or negative perceptions of silvopastoral methods, which are a potential solutions to the non-compliance problem. However, despite largely positive views of silvopastoralism among the subject farmers, the analysis herein does not support such a conclusion, as no strong association was found between the clusters identified and perceptions of silvopastoral grazing practices.