DOCSLIB.ORG

Factory Farming: Assessing Investment Risks

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Factory Farming: Assessing Investment Risks FACTORY FARMING: ASSESSING INVESTMENT RISKS 2016 report Find out more, or join us, at: fairr.org Follow us: @FAIRRinitiative FACTORY FARMING: KILLER STATS INVESTORS CAN’T IGNORE DOWN INVESTORS IN 52.3 reason for rapid user of MCDONALDS AND KFC O O antibiotics HIT BY US$10.8BN LOSS 27.6 N 1 spread of bird (H5N2) N 1 OF MARKET CAP IN 2014 DUE TO FOOD 11.4 and swine (H1N1) flu in the US SAFETY SCANDAL AT A CHINESE SUPPLIER 7.9 industry losses due to US bird of all antibiotics in the US now used UP 88.2 [FarmEcon] [CDC] $3.3bn flu outbreak in 2015 80% in animal factory farms ALTERNATIVE FOOD TECH COMPANY 65.3 HAMPTON CREEK SET TO BE FASTEST GROWING 59.9 FOOD COMPANY IN HISTORY, BENEFITING 12.7 FROM IMPACT OF 2015 85% US BIRD FLU CRISIS 66.2 of all soya DOWN 39.4 globally is used ANIMAL WELFARE in animal feeds, SCANDAL LEADS TO 57.1 a major cause of LARGEST MEAT RECALL deforestation [WWF] IN US HISTORY, 28.4 of global GHG AND BANKRUPTCY emissions, more FOR MEAT-PACKER 75.5 14% consumer HALLMARK/WESTLAND than the transport O IN 2012 24.9 N 1 of water in sector* [FAO] drought-stricken DOWN 11.4 INVESTORS IN TYSON [Pacific Institute] FOODS EXPOSED AFTER 7.9 * from livestock sector as a whole, with factory California COMPANY REVEALS farming as key component ENVIRONMENTAL 88.2 VIOLATIONS. rise in 'heat stress' days set to hit cattle and rising hit on profits of California POSSIBLE $500M OF 59.9 [UC Davis] 21% industry due to warming climate $250m dairies due to drought in 2015 REGULAR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AT RISK 12.7 fairr.org fairr.org | 1 KEY FINDINGS FOREWORD AND IMPLICATIONS FOR INVESTORS Animal factory farming is exposed to at least 28 environmental, social This report explores the industrialisation of the world’s meat and fish production, a relatively recent Increasingly, major investors and governance (ESG) issues that could significantly damage financial trend, and assesses the potential risks that a range are paying attention to value over the short or long-term. Many of these risks are currently of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues present to that model. Looking at the industry through an factory farming’s risk and hidden from investors. ESG lens produces alarming results that should raise a incorporating them into red flag to mainstream investors across the world. This is the first study to undertake this important analysis. their decisions All 28 issues can potentially affect the financial performance of companies across the food value chain. Including large agri-business, NEW TREND CREATES A KNOWLEDGE GAP AMONG INVESTORS For example there is evidence that the 2009 H1N1 strain food retailers and restaurants. Over 70% of the world’s farm animals are now factory of swine flu, which killed over 150,000 people and wiped farmed, including an estimated 99% of US farm animals. billions off the value of many agriculture investments, Cattle feedlots can hold upwards of 100,000 cattle at originated in a US factory farm. Factory farming also A knowledge gap exists within the investment community about any one time – equivalent to almost the entire dairy cow catalysed the spread of H5N2 bird flu in the US this year, managing these risks and opportunities. Even among those population of Greece in one farm. This industrialisation estimated to have cost £3bn to the wider economy. of meat and fish production is currently set to continue investors who are integrating ESG issues into their investment at pace as prosperity in emerging economies rises. Increasingly, food companies and consumers are starting decision-making processes. to see these risks and now some major investors and asset Our research reveals the many investment risks that need managers the world over are paying attention to factory to be considered if this trend continues. Most obvious are farming’s risk and incorporating them into their decisions. The window of opportunity for investors to act is finite and shrinking. the short-term risks such as the threat of a reputational or regulatory backlash against any investee company involved But there's still a long way to go. Even many of the The magnitude of risks generated by animal factory farming is set to increase in factory farming and shown to have poor ESG (including investors publicly committed to taking ESG issues into through rising capital costs, the shifting gravity of production to developing animal welfare) standards. However this report also digs account as signatories of the UN-supported Principles deeper and explores, perhaps for the first time, some of of Responsible Investment overlook this issue when it countries with less robust regulation, the impacts of climate change and the longer-term risks that might affect value. comes to their risk management. increasing social concerns over animal welfare and sustainability. It identifies 28 ESG issues which can have a negative PROTECTING LIVESTOCK, financial impact on companies connected with animal PROTECTING VALUE Investors should undertake additional research in a number of areas to factory farm-related investments. These range from food This report does not have all the answers, but it does safety scandals to environmental fines and the industry’s highlight a knowledge gap which I urge the investment support the initial exploratory findings contained in this report. If they are reliance on government subsidies, and affect companies community to address. That would not only create a to close the knowledge gap and protect long-term value creation. right through the value chain. One particularly worrying more sustainable farming industry but would also give issue is the overuse of antibiotics. Around 80% of all investors the information they need to help safeguard antibiotics produced in the US are now used on farm long-term value. animals and there is a real risk of drug resistant bacteria developing as a result of this. In addition, factory farms also Jeremy Coller provide ideal conditions for viruses to develop and spread. Founder, FAIRR Initiative Research by Verisk Maplecroft fairr.org | 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY > Ignoring ESG issues associated with animal The key risks are: factory farming leaves investors exposed to While industrial farm animal significant material risks. production has benefits, • Environmental – These are the most quantifiable Animal factory farming has not historically received of the three (ESG) areas and include issues such as meaningful attention from the responsible investment it brings with it growing climate change, water scarcity and water pollution. community. However, in a relatively short period of time concerns for public health, For the latter the example of North Carolina is cited, it has come to dominate global meat production despite which permanently banned new pig factory farms in wider risks over its potential impacts on areas such the environment, animal 2007 to protect water courses and prevent pollution. as public health, the environment and food safety. welfare, and impacts on Reports indicate that if the industry was forced to The available literature studied for this report shows meet the costs of its pollution, this could equate to 3 that these risks are material for mainstream investors, rural communities. billions of dollars2. The chapter also cites the large especially those with significant exposure to the contribution of the livestock sector to climate change Pew Commission on Industrial Farm agricultural and food value chains. (14.5% of all man-made GHGs) and shows how the Animal Production (US) costs of ‘heat stress’ could significantly harm cattle > Animal factory farming is a new phenomenon that farmers in the next 30 years. has established itself as the predominant mode of the sector’s vulnerability to policy and regulation and livestock production. we believe that this report is the first study to reveal • Social – The report concludes that there is a Over the past half century drivers such as population unpriced risks from the impacts of wider environmental, tremendous amount of financial value potentially growth, rising incomes and urbanisation have driven social and governance issues on animal factory farms. at risk as a result of social issues. These include a sharp increase in meat consumption and a shift health impacts from the overuse of antibiotics towards factory farming as the way to meet demand. > Animal factory farms are vulnerable to at least in factory farms, pandemic risk and reputational An estimated 70% of farmed animals are now raised 28 ESG issues that may damage their financial damage to companies due to changing consumer in this system, including 99% of US farm animals1. performance and returns. attitudes. For example, it describes how the 2015 Now many Asian countries have started to industrialise This diverse range of 28 issues are split into outbreak of bird flu in the US, thought to have their animal farming systems at pace and scale. ‘environmental’, ‘social’ and ‘governance’ risks. been catalyzed by factory farms, caused over The links between ESG issues and financial outcomes $3.3bn of economic costs. The example of Yum! > A knowledge gap exists about animal can be complex and difficult to assess, but nevertheless and McDonalds losing US$10.8bn of combined factory farming risks among investors. a hard line can often be drawn between issues such as market capitalisation after a food safety scandal This report analysed several economic, academic and droughts or food contamination and financial performance. in a Chinese supplier is also explored. NGO studies to understand whether there was financial This report has developed a framework to link ESG issues vulnerability for long-term investors due to the rise of with four key financial levers: ‘production and price’, intensive farming.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Forestry
    Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Forestry International IUFRO Symposium Anssi Niskanen and Johanna Väyrynen (eds.) EFI Proceedings No. 36, 2001 European Forest Institute IUFRO Working Unit 3.08.00 Academy of Finland Finnair Metsämiesten Säätiö –Foundation MTK – The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, Finland University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry, Finland EFI Proceedings No. 36, 2001 Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Forestry Anssi Niskanen and Johanna Väyrynen (eds.) Publisher: European Forest Institute Series Editors: Risto Päivinen, Editor-in-Chief Tim Green, Technical Editor Brita Pajari, Conference Manager Editorial Office: European Forest Institute Phone: +358 13 252 020 Torikatu 34 Fax. +358 13 124 393 FIN-80100 Joensuu, Finland Email: [email protected] WWW: http://www.efi.fi/ Cover photo: Markku Tano Layout: Johanna Väyrynen Printing: Gummerus Printing Saarijärvi, Finland 2001 Disclaimer: The papers in this book comprise the proceedings of the event mentioned on the cover and title page. They reflect the authors' opinions and do not necessarily correspond to those of the European Forest Institute. The papers published in this volume have been peer-reviewed. © European Forest Institute 2001 ISSN 1237-8801 ISBN 952-9844-82-4 Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................... 5 Special Session: Economic Sustainabiliy of Small-Scale Forestry – Perspectives around the World – John Herbohn Prospects for Small-Scale Forestry
    [Show full text]
  • Sample Costs for Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf Production
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGRICULTURAL ISSUES CENTER UC DAVIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS SAMPLE COSTS FOR BEEF CATTLE COW – CALF PRODUCTION 300 Head NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY 2017 Larry C. Forero UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Shasta County. Roger Ingram UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Placer and Nevada Counties. Glenn A. Nader UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Sutter/Yuba/Butte Counties. Donald Stewart Staff Research Associate, UC Agricultural Issues Center and Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis Daniel A. Sumner Director, UC Agricultural Issues Center, Costs and Returns Program, Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis Beef Cattle Cow-Calf Operation Costs & Returns Study Sacramento Valley-2017 UCCE, UC-AIC, UCDAVIS-ARE 1 UC AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGRICULTURAL ISSUES CENTER UC DAVIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS SAMPLE COSTS FOR BEEF CATTLE COW-CALF PRODUCTION 300 Head Northern Sacramento Valley – 2017 STUDY CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 ASSUMPTIONS 3 Production Operations 3 Table A. Operations Calendar 4 Revenue 5 Table B. Monthly Cattle Inventory 6 Cash Overhead 6 Non-Cash Overhead 7 REFERENCES 9 Table 1. COSTS AND RETURNS FOR BEEF COW-CALF PRODUCTION 10 Table 2. MONTHLY COSTS FOR BEEF COW-CALF PRODUCTION 11 Table 3. RANGING ANALYSIS FOR BEEF COW-CALF PRODUCTION 12 Table 4. EQUIPMENT, INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS OVERHEAD 13 INTRODUCTION The cattle industry in California has undergone dramatic changes in the last few decades. Ranchers have experienced increasing costs of production with a lack of corresponding increase in revenue. Issues such as international competition, and opportunities, new regulatory requirements, changing feed costs, changing consumer demand, economies of scale, and competing land uses all affect the economics of ranching.
    [Show full text]
  • An Evaluation of Others' Deliberations
    CHAPTER FOUR An Evaluation of Others’ Deliberations 4.1 Introduction If ethics is a search for rules of behaviour that can be universally endorsed (Jamieson 1990; Daniels 1979; Rawls 1971), the values underpinning my own deliberation on the issues explored in this book must be compared with the values underlying the deliberation of others. By considering the challenges raised by others’ views, qualified moral veganism might either be revised or, if it survives critique, be corroborated. Though some scholars who work in ani- mal ethics have defended views that are—to a reasonable degree—similar to my own (e.g. Milligan 2010; Kheel 2008; Adams 1990), many people consume animal products where they have adequate alternatives that, in my view, would reduce negative GHIs. This raises the question whether qualified moral vegan- ism overlooks something of importance—the fact that so many people act in ways that are incompatible with qualified moral veganism provokes the follow- ing question in me: Am I missing something? The ambition of this chapter is twofold. Its first aim is to analyse the delib- erations of two widely different groups of people on vegetarianism, veganism, and the killing of animals. By describing the views of others as accurately as I can, I aim to set aside my own thoughts on the matter temporarily—to the extent that doing so is possible—to throw light on where others might be coming from. The second aim of the chapter is to evaluate these views. By doing so, I hope that the reader will be stimulated to reflect upon their own dietary narratives through critical engagement with the views of others.
    [Show full text]
  • Economics of Competition in the U.S. Livestock Industry Clement E. Ward
    Economics of Competition in the U.S. Livestock Industry Clement E. Ward, Professor Emeritus Department of Agricultural Economics Oklahoma State University January 2010 Paper Background and Objectives Questions of market structure changes, their causes, and impacts for pricing and competition have been focus areas for the author over his entire 35-year career (1974-2009). Pricing and competition are highly emotional issues to many and focusing on factual, objective economic analyses is critical. This paper is the author’s contribution to that effort. The objectives of this paper are to: (1) put meatpacking competition issues in historical perspective, (2) highlight market structure changes in meatpacking, (3) note some key lawsuits and court rulings that contribute to the historical perspective and regulatory environment, and (4) summarize the body of research related to concentration and competition issues. These were the same objectives I stated in a presentation made at a conference in December 2009, The Economics of Structural Change and Competition in the Food System, sponsored by the Farm Foundation and other professional agricultural economics organizations. The basis for my conference presentation and this paper is an article I published, “A Review of Causes for and Consequences of Economic Concentration in the U.S. Meatpacking Industry,” in an online journal, Current Agriculture, Food & Resource Issues in 2002, http://caes.usask.ca/cafri/search/archive/2002-ward3-1.pdf. This paper is an updated, modified version of the review article though the author cannot claim it is an exhaustive, comprehensive review of the relevant literature. Issue Background Nearly 20 years ago, the author ran across a statement which provides a perspective for the issues of concentration, consolidation, pricing, and competition in meatpacking.
    [Show full text]
  • Permaculture Design Plan Alderleaf Farm
    PERMACULTURE DESIGN PLAN FOR ALDERLEAF FARM Alderleaf Farm 18715 299th Ave SE Monroe, WA 98272 Prepared by: Alderleaf Wilderness College www.WildernessCollege.com 360-793-8709 [email protected] January 19, 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 What is Permaculture? 1 Vision for Alderleaf Farm 1 Site Description 2 History of the Alderleaf Property 3 Natural Features 4 SITE ELEMENTS: (Current Features, Future Plans, & Care) 5 Zone 0 5 Residences 5 Barn 6 Indoor Classroom & Office 6 Zone 1 7 Central Gardens & Chickens 7 Plaza Area 7 Greenhouses 8 Courtyard 8 Zone 2 9 Food Forest 9 Pasture 9 Rabbitry 10 Root Cellar 10 Zone 3 11 Farm Pond 11 Meadow & Native Food Forest 12 Small Amphibian Pond 13 Parking Area & Hedgerow 13 Well house 14 Zone 4 14 Forest Pond 14 Trail System & Tenting Sites 15 Outdoor Classroom 16 Flint-knapping Area 16 Zone 5 16 Primitive Camp 16 McCoy Creek 17 IMPLEMENTATION 17 CONCLUSION 18 RESOURCES 18 APPENDICES 19 List of Sensitive Natural Resources at Alderleaf 19 Invasive Species at Alderleaf 19 Master List of Species Found at Alderleaf 20 Maps 24 Frequently Asked Questions and Property Rules 26 Forest Stewardship Plan 29 Potential Future Micro-Businesses / Cottage Industries 29 Blank Pages for Input and Ideas 29 Introduction The permaculture plan for Alderleaf Farm is a guiding document that describes the vision of sustainability at Alderleaf. It describes the history, current features, future plans, care, implementation, and other key information that helps us understand and work together towards this vision of sustainable living. The plan provides clarity about each of the site elements, how they fit together, and what future plans exist.
    [Show full text]
  • Britain's Failing Slaughterhouses
    BRITAIN’S FAILING SLAUGHTERHOUSES WHY IT’S TIME TO MAKE INDEPENDENTLY MONITORED CCTV MANDATORY www.animalaid.org.uk INTRODUCTION 4,000 0 SERIOUS BREACHES slaughterhouses SLAUGHTERHOUSES OF ANIMAL filmed were IN FULL COMPLIANCE WELFARE LAW breaking the law WHEN AUDITED More than 4,000 serious breaches of animal welfare laws in British slaughterhouses were reported by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the two years to August 2016.1 The regulator’s audit showed that not one UK slaughterhouse was in full compliance when the data was analysed in June 2016.2 Yet together, these are just a small sample of the breaches that actually occur inside Britain’s slaughterhouses. We know this because Animal Aid and Hillside Animal Sanctuary have placed fly-on- the-wall cameras inside 15 English slaughterhouses and found how workers behave when they think they are not being watched. Fourteen of the slaughterhouses were breaking animal welfare laws. From small family-run abattoirs to multi-plant Some of these slaughterhouses had installed CCTV, companies, all across the country, and in relation to which shows that the cameras alone do not deter all species, slaughterhouse workers break the law. law-breaking, and that unless the footage is properly Their abuses are both serious and widespread, and monitored, Food Business Operators (FBOs) do are hidden from the regulators. not detect – or do not report – these breaches. It is unknown whether FBOs fail to monitor their When being secretly filmed, workers punched and cameras properly or they monitor them and choose kicked animals in the head; burned them with not to report the abuse.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Animal Law Received Generous Support from the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Michigan State University College of Law
    JOURNAL OF ANIMAL LAW Michigan State University College of Law APRIL 2009 Volume V J O U R N A L O F A N I M A L L A W Vol. V 2009 EDITORIAL BOARD 2008-2009 Editor-in-Chief ANN A BA UMGR A S Managing Editor JENNIFER BUNKER Articles Editor RA CHEL KRISTOL Executive Editor BRITT A NY PEET Notes & Comments Editor JA NE LI Business Editor MEREDITH SH A R P Associate Editors Tabb Y MCLA IN AKISH A TOWNSEND KA TE KUNK A MA RI A GL A NCY ERIC A ARMSTRONG Faculty Advisor DA VID FA VRE J O U R N A L O F A N I M A L L A W Vol. V 2009 Pee R RE VI E W COMMITT ee 2008-2009 TA IMIE L. BRY A NT DA VID CA SSUTO DA VID FA VRE , CH A IR RE B ECC A J. HUSS PETER SA NKOFF STEVEN M. WISE The Journal of Animal Law received generous support from the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Michigan State University College of Law. Without their generous support, the Journal would not have been able to publish and host its second speaker series. The Journal also is funded by subscription revenues. Subscription requests and article submissions may be sent to: Professor Favre, Journal of Animal Law, Michigan State University College of Law, 368 Law College Building, East Lansing MI 48824. The Journal of Animal Law is published annually by law students at ABA accredited law schools. Membership is open to any law student attending an ABA accredited law college.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrated Pest Management: Current and Future Strategies
    Integrated Pest Management: Current and Future Strategies Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, USA Printed in the United States of America Cover design by Lynn Ekblad, Different Angles, Ames, Iowa Graphics and layout by Richard Beachler, Instructional Technology Center, Iowa State University, Ames ISBN 1-887383-23-9 ISSN 0194-4088 06 05 04 03 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging–in–Publication Data Integrated Pest Management: Current and Future Strategies. p. cm. -- (Task force report, ISSN 0194-4088 ; no. 140) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-887383-23-9 (alk. paper) 1. Pests--Integrated control. I. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. II. Series: Task force report (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology) ; no. 140. SB950.I4573 2003 632'.9--dc21 2003006389 Task Force Report No. 140 June 2003 Council for Agricultural Science and Technology Ames, Iowa, USA Task Force Members Kenneth R. Barker (Chair), Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh Esther Day, American Farmland Trust, DeKalb, Illinois Timothy J. Gibb, Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana Maud A. Hinchee, ArborGen, Summerville, South Carolina Nancy C. Hinkle, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens Barry J. Jacobsen, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman James Knight, Department of Animal and Range Science, Montana State University, Bozeman Kenneth A. Langeland, Department of Agronomy, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville Evan Nebeker, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State David A. Rosenberger, Plant Pathology Department, Cornell University–Hudson Valley Laboratory, High- land, New York Donald P.
    [Show full text]
  • Sterilization, Hunting and Culling : Combining Management Approaches for Mitigating Suburban Deer Impacts
    Poster Presentation Sterilization, Hunting and Culling: Combining Management Approaches for Mitigating Suburban Deer Impacts J.R. Boulanger University of North Dakota P.D. Curtis and M.L. Ashdown Cornell University ABSTRACT: Based on decades of growing deer impacts on local biodiversity, agricultural damage, and deer-vehicle collisions, in 2007 we implemented an increasingly aggressive suburban deer research and management program on Cornell University lands in Tompkins County, New York. We initially divided Cornell lands into a suburban core campus area (1,100 acres [4.5 km2]) and adjacent outlying areas that contain lands where deer hunting was permitted (~4,000 acres [16.2 km2]). We attempted to reduce deer numbers by surgically sterilizing deer in the core campus zone and increasing harvest of female deer in the hunting zone through an Earn-a-Buck program. During the first 6 years of this study, project staff spayed 96 female deer (>90% of all deer on campus); 69 adult does were marked with radio transmitters to monitor movements and survival. From 2008 to 2013, hunters harvested >600 deer (69–165 each hunting season). By winter 2013, we stabilized the campus deer herd to approximately 100 animals (57 deer/mi2 [22 deer/km2]), a density much higher than project goals (14 deer/mi2). Although we reduced doe and fawn numbers by approximately 38% and 79%, respectfully, this decrease was offset by an increase in bucks that appeared on camera during our population study. In 2014, we supplemented efforts using deer damage permits (DDP) with archery sharpshooting over bait, and collapsible Clover traps with euthanasia by penetrating captive bolt.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of the Energy Potential of Chicken Manure in Poland
    energies Article Assessment of the Energy Potential of Chicken Manure in Poland Mariusz Ta´nczuk 1,*, Robert Junga 1, Alicja Kolasa-Wi˛ecek 2 and Patrycja Niemiec 1 1 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Opole University of Technology, 45-271 Opole, Poland; [email protected] (R.J.); [email protected] (P.N.) 2 Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Opole University, 45-047 Opole, Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +48-664-475-355 Received: 2 January 2019; Accepted: 25 March 2019; Published: 1 April 2019 Abstract: Animal waste, including chicken manure, is a category of biomass considered for application in the energy industry. Poland is leading poultry producer in Europe, with a chicken population assessed at over 176 million animals. This paper aims to determine the theoretical and technical energy potential of chicken manure in Poland. The volume of chicken manure was assessed as 4.49 million tons per year considering three particular poultry rearing systems. The physicochemical properties of examined manure specimens indicate considerable conformity with the data reported in the literature. The results of proximate and ultimate analyses confirm a considerable effect of the rearing system on the energy parameters of the manure. The heating value of the chicken manure was calculated for the high moisture material in the condition as received from the farms. The value of annual theoretical energy potential in Poland was found to be equal to around 40.38 PJ. Annual technical potential of chicken biomass determined for four different energy conversion paths occurred significantly smaller then theoretical and has the value from 9.01 PJ to 27.3 PJ.
    [Show full text]
  • Land Degradation and the Australian Agricultural Industry
    LAND DEGRADATION AND THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY Paul Gretton Umme Salma STAFF INFORMATION PAPER 1996 INDUSTRY COMMISSION © Commonwealth of Australia 1996 ISBN This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, the work may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source. Reproduction for commercial usage or sale requires prior written permission from the Australian Government Publishing Service. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager, Commonwealth Information Services, AGPS, GPO Box 84, Canberra ACT 2601. Enquiries Paul Gretton Industry Commission PO Box 80 BELCONNEN ACT 2616 Phone: (06) 240 3252 Email: [email protected] The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the Industry Commission. Forming the Productivity Commission The Federal Government, as part of its broader microeconomic reform agenda, is merging the Bureau of Industry Economics, the Economic Planning Advisory Commission and the Industry Commission to form the Productivity Commission. The three agencies are now co- located in the Treasury portfolio and amalgamation has begun on an administrative basis. While appropriate arrangements are being finalised, the work program of each of the agencies will continue. The relevant legislation will be introduced soon. This report has been produced by the Industry Commission. CONTENTS Abbreviations v Preface vii Overview
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Energy Efficiency of Food Production Systems
    energies Article Economic Energy Efficiency of Food Production Systems Bartłomiej Bajan * , Aldona Mrówczy ´nska-Kami´nska and Walenty Poczta Department of Economics and Economic Policy in Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Pozna´n,Poland; [email protected] (A.M.-K.); [email protected] (W.P.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +48-61-846-6379 Received: 19 September 2020; Accepted: 6 November 2020; Published: 8 November 2020 Abstract: The current global population growth forecast carries with it a global increase in demand for food. In order to meet this demand, it is necessary to increase production, which requires an increase in energy consumption. However, forecasted energy production growth is insufficient and traditional sources of energy are limited; hence, it is necessary to strive for greater energy efficiency in food production systems. The study aimed to compare the economic energy efficiency of food production systems in selected countries and identify the sources of diversification in this field. As a measure of energy efficiency, the indicators of the energy intensity of food production were used in this study. To calculate these indicators, a method based on input-output life-cycle assessment assumptions was used, which enables researchers to obtain fully comparable results between countries. The study showed that despite an increase in energy consumption in the food production systems of the analyzed countries by an average of 27%, from 19.3 EJ to 24.5 EJ, from 2000 to 2014, their energy intensity decreased, on average, by more than 18%, from 8.5 MJ/USD to 6.9 MJ/USD.
    [Show full text]