Most recent papers:

• Evaluating Consumer Willingness‐to‐Pay for State Marketing Program Branded Products: An Eye Tracking Study.
  Hannah Williams, Alicia Rihn, Karen DeLong, Pralhad Bajgain, Ricky Chen.
  Agribusiness. yesterday
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nState marketing programs (SMPs) assist in‐state producers with marketing their products to consumers through the creation of brands. To evaluate the effectiveness of these programs, we utilized a discrete choice experiment (DCE) combined with eye‐tracking to estimate consumers' willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) for tomatoes and tomato transplants displaying Tennessee's (TN) state managed Pick TN Products (PTP) logo. A 2023 in‐lab DCE eye‐tracking experiment was used to collect data under one of three conditions: a control, a local benefit information treatment (text based), or an image oriented farm connection treatment. Data from 145 consumers were analyzed using mixed logit models. The PTP logo, compared to the products being declared “out of state,” heirloom varieties, and red color, compared to orange, generated premiums regardless of product type (i.e., tomatoes, tomato transplants). For both products, the treatments increased WTP for PTP logoed items. Together, this suggests that SMPs help farmers market local products especially when coupled with additional promotional information.\n"]

  April 30, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70109   open full text
• Food Prices and Inflation Expectations in New Zealand.
  Puneet Vatsa, Gabriel Pino, Alex Acheampong.
  Agribusiness. yesterday
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nFood prices are conspicuous, and spending on food constitutes a considerable share of household expenditure. In this study, we use partially identified Bayesian structural vector autoregression models to analyze the effects of food price shocks on core inflation and 1‐ and 5‐year inflation expectations in New Zealand. Our findings show that food price shocks caused a slightly delayed yet persistent rise in 1‐year inflation expectations, while 5‐year expectations and core inflation were largely unaffected. These shocks explained 9.40% of the variability in 1‐year inflation expectations but only 4.47% in 5‐year expectations. Furthermore, counterfactual analyses reveal that 1‐year inflation expectations would have been lower over the period 2020–2023 in the absence of food price shocks. In contrast, 5‐year inflation expectations would not have been materially different.\n"]

  April 30, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70102   open full text
• The Pathway to Common Prosperity: An Empirical Assessment of Rural Characteristic Industry Policy on Income Growth and Equity.
  Hao You, Tao Pang, Hongjun Peng, Xin Feng.
  Agribusiness. 2 days ago
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nDeveloping characteristic rural industries has become an essential strategy for optimizing rural industrial structures and enhancing farmers' incomes. In this paper, we consider the policy of establishing Chinese Characteristic Agricultural Product Advantage Zones (CAPAZ), and employ county‐level panel data and a multi‐period difference‐in‐differences (DID) model to assess the policy's contribution to common prosperity from the dual perspectives of income enhancement and equity improvement. The results show that CAPAZ development significantly raises rural incomes and reduces the urban‐rural income gap. Specifically, the policy increases rural residents' income by an average of 0.9% and narrows the urban‐rural income gap by approximately 2.5%. Mechanism analysis reveals that the policy promotes rural innovation, facilitates the emergence of new business entities, and amplifies innovation‐driven and entity‐driven effects, thereby supporting both income growth and equity outcomes. Further, the common prosperity effects exhibit notable nonlinearities: the impact on income growth follows a U‐shaped trajectory, while the gap‐narrowing effect strengthens with larger initial disparities. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the policy's effects are more pronounced in remote counties and are reinforced by strong fiscal support and favorable financial environments. The effects on common prosperity also differ by product type. Specifically, the impact is stronger in CAPAZs that specialize in food crops, aquaculture, and livestock, while it is comparatively weaker in those focused on cash crops. These findings provide robust empirical evidence for advancing characteristic industrial development as a viable pathway toward achieving common prosperity.\n"]

  April 29, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70105   open full text
• Does Participating in Agricultural Global Value Chains Promote Agricultural Growth?
  Taner Turan, Halit Yanıkkaya, Hüseyin Alperen Özer.
  Agribusiness. 4 days ago
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study examines the relationship between GVC participation and agricultural value‐added growth in 43 countries over the period 1995–2022. In contrast to prior literature, we disaggregate the agricultural sector into four sub‐sectors namely crop cultivation, animal production, forestry and fishing. Using EXIOBASE‐3 multi‐regional input‐output data, we analyze how backward and forward GVCs affect agricultural growth. The empirical findings reveal that backward GVC participation significantly boosts value‐added growth in agriculture, particularly in crop cultivation and forestry. In developing countries, both backward and forward linkages positively influence agricultural and forestry value‐added, while backward participation adversely affects animal production growth. On the other hand, in developed countries, backward participation exhibits growth‐enhancing effects across agriculture, animal production, and forestry.\n"]

  April 27, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70104   open full text
• Too Complex to Choose? The Role of Heuristics in Shaping Farmers' Willingness to Pay for Income Stabilization Tool in Italy.
  Alice Stiletto, Ruggiero Rippo, Samuele Trestini, Elisa Giampietri, Roberta Raffaelli, Simone Cerroni.
  Agribusiness. 4 days ago
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nEuropean agriculture is increasingly exposed to economic instability driven by extreme weather events, market volatility, and geopolitical tensions. To manage these growing risks, farmers are encouraged to adopt innovative risk management strategies such as the Income Stabilization Tool (IST), which offers protection against severe income fluctuations. However, under uncertainty, decision‐making becomes challenging, often leading farmers to rely on simplified decision rules, the so‐called heuristics. This study explores how two shock‐experience heuristics affect farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) to join a IST fund, before and after learning the actual participation cost (external treatment). Through a framed‐field experiment with 150 Italian apple growers, we tested the effect of individual past (personal shock experience) and general past (shocks in their social network). Results show that, before learning the actual participation cost, farmers rely on heuristics to assess risk, with individual past yielding the highest WTP (€ 421.11/ha). Once the actual price is revealed, heuristics no longer influence decisions, and WTP converges across all groups to match the control (€ 268.08/ha).\n"]

  April 27, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70103   open full text
• Do Politically Motivated Import Bans Leave Lasting Scars? Evidence From Australian–Chinese Beef Trade.
  K. Aleks Schaefer, Youngjune Kim.
  Agribusiness. 8 days ago
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nIn May 2020, China abruptly suspended imports from several major Australian beef processors, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two countries. This trade measure disrupted one of the largest beef export relationships in the world almost overnight. We nest a difference‐in‐differences (DID) design in a structural gravity model to estimate the effects of the imposition and subsequent removal of this ban on bilateral beef trade. We find that the initial ban reduced Australian beef exports to China by roughly 59%, driven largely by losses in frozen beef. Partial easing of restrictions produced only modest gains. However, full removal led to sharp rebounds. These findings suggest that when politically motivated sanitary and phytosanitary measures are lifted, trade flows can recover rapidly—reclaiming lost market share in a matter of months.\n"]

  April 23, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70099   open full text
• Beef Supply Chain Price Dynamics: Event Analysis of Alleged Price Fixing, 2015 to 2019.
  Joe Parcell, Jason Franken.
  Agribusiness. 10 days ago
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nConcerns for fed‐cattle price‐fixing collusion by beef packers persist. Though beef packers have recently settled these claims, they did so while issuing a statement of no wrongdoing on their parts. To better understand future allegations of packer price‐fixing, we examine beef supply‐chain price dynamics within an event analysis over periods of purported collusive activity. Error‐correction vector autoregressive analysis yields no concerns over collusive activity. Next, absolute values of time‐varying speed‐of‐adjustment coefficients are regressed on event periods and market factors to determine whether commerce reaction is slower to react during these time periods. There is only slight evidence of a change in price responsiveness during the purported period of collusive activity, but of insufficient magnitude to warrant much economic importance.\n"]

  April 21, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70101   open full text
• Realization Mechanism for Sustainable Operation of Platform‐Driven Fresh Supply Chain: A Longitudinal Case Study From China.
  Xiaoling Jiang, Bin Dan, Chenye Ma, Linqing Pu.
  Agribusiness. 11 days ago
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nOver the past decade, the platform‐driven fresh supply chain, a new business model, has been changing consumer lifestyles and the agricultural industry. Platforms are the leading force in this process of change. However, sustainable operation has become a major challenge for platforms. Focusing on JD, an extreme and revelatory case from China, this paper explores how the platform can drive the sustainable operation of the fresh supply chain from a process‐oriented perspective, with a proposed logical chain comprising “driving logic–adaptation mechanism–performance outcome.” Driving logic guides the platform in selecting intra‐chain mechanisms to yield constructive outcomes that can precipitate inter‐stage transitions, while intertemporal mechanisms enable inter‐stage transitions. Through a longitudinal case study, a process model for the sustainable operation of the platform‐driven fresh supply chain is developed. The model addresses dynamics in platform sustainability emerging through three stages from open legitimation to cautious expansion and then to principled enhancement, undergoing switches in driving logics. Adaptation mechanisms include three intrachain mechanisms (shaping, sorting, shifting, i.e., 3S) within stages and two intertemporal mechanisms between stages, for example, developing consumption proximity and advocating industrial interconnection. Legitimate identity, growth momentum, and organizational brand are performance outcomes in the process. This paper makes theoretical contributions to operations management in fresh produce businesses from a process‐oriented perspective and provides practical implications for the platform to operate the fresh supply chain.\n"]

  April 20, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70100   open full text
• Exploring the Impact of Meat Alternative Labeling Regulations on the U.S. Meat Consumption Patterns.
  Jeong Hun Ji, Sang Hyeon Lee.
  Agribusiness. April 16, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe global demand for conventional meat continues to rise, but it is also associated with substantial environmental and health challenges. In response, meat alternatives have gained popularity, sparking debates over meat alternative labeling regulations. This study investigates the effects of meat alternative labeling regulations in the United States on meat consumption patterns. Using data from the Meat Demand Monitor (MDM) dashboard and an event study design, we analyze state‐level consumption trends before and after the implementation of labeling regulations. Our findings reveal no significant changes in the consumption of beef, chicken, pork, fish/seafood, and alternative proteins following these regulations, suggesting that labeling restrictions have minimal impact on consumer behavior.\n"]

  April 16, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70095   open full text
• Impact of Digital Ability and Rice Technology Adoption on Rice Farming Performance in Benin.
  Landry Bellarmin Kassa, Takeshi Sakurai.
  Agribusiness. April 15, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\n\n\n\n\n\nABSTRACT\nThis study examines the combined effects of digital ability and the adoption of various rice technologies among smallholder rice farmers, using GPS‐spatially matched data sources that include household surveys and a general census of rice value chain actors in Benin. Using weighted instrumental variable estimation, the main findings indicate that both digital ability and technology adoption help improve rice farming results, mainly by increasing income and fertilizer use. However, their combination has adverse effects due to the ineffective integration of farmers' digital proficiency into rice technology applications. The results highlight the importance of developing interventions that consider both the skills of the farmers receiving the technology and the available technologies. Policymakers should prioritize training initiatives that improve farmers' digital and technological skills, helping them to fully leverage the sustainable advantages of new agricultural technologies amid increasing agricultural digitalization in Benin."]

  April 15, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70097   open full text
• No Risk, No Reward: Does Risk Attitude of Smallholder Farmers Affect Profit Efficiency? Evidence From Ghana.
  Arnold Missiame, Patrick Irungu, Rose Nyikal, Stephen Mukembo, Simeon Kaitibie.
  Agribusiness. April 15, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study examines the impact of risk attitudes on the profit efficiency of smallholder agricultural enterprises. Using output and input quantity and price data from smallholder maize farmers in Ghana, this study employs a three‐stage feasible generalized least square (3SFGLS) framework to determine farmers' risk attitude; data envelopment analysis to estimate farmers' profit efficiency; and the endogenous switching regression (ESR) model to measure the impact of risk attitude on profit efficiency. Our analysis leads to three key findings. First, smallholder maize farmers in our sample are risk‐loving, and their socioeconomic characteristics and some institutional factors influence their risk attitudes. Second, farmers are generally inefficient, with an average profit efficiency score of 53.3%, indicating potential to increase their profits. Third, our analysis suggest that risk‐averse farmers could improve their profit efficiency by 7% if they took more productive risks.\n"]

  April 15, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70094   open full text
• Consumers' Stated Responses to Wine Drinking Guidelines and Health Warning Labels.
  Ly Nguyen, Daniel Solís, Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr.
  Agribusiness. April 15, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nHow do wine consumers report adjusting their drinking habits in response to standard drinking guidelines or cancer risk warnings? Using online survey data from 2078 U.S. respondents, we examine how stated responses to adjust wine consumption are associated with alcohol drinking guidelines, health warning labels, perceptions, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results indicate older consumers, frequent wine drinkers, higher‐income households, and higher wine expenditures are less likely to report intentions to change their consumption. In contrast, the respondents living in a household with children under 21, respondents familiar with guidelines, and higher‐educated individuals are more likely to report reduction in their intentions to adjust wine consumption. Social media influence emerges as a significant covariate, with those reporting stronger influence being more likely to state that they would reduce wine consumption. In addition, support for warning labels is positively associated with stated intentions to reduce wine consumption, highlighting a connection between endorsement and self‐reported intended action under hypothetical exposure. Overall, these findings suggest that one‐size‐fits‐all communication strategies are unlikely to be effective. Tailored approaches that leverage digital platforms, adjust message framing to counter possible “warning fatigue,” and incorporate family‐oriented appeals may be more effective in shaping stated intentions across consumer groups.\n"]

  April 15, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70098   open full text
• Asymmetric Effects of the Global RTA Regulatory Cooperation Network on Agricultural Export Quality.
  Zilin Zhang, Yinguo Dong.
  Agribusiness. April 14, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nIn the post‐tariff era, regulatory differences have become a key barrier to agricultural trade, and RTA regulatory cooperation provides an important channel for coordinating domestic measures across countries. Using RTAs signed by 181 economies worldwide during 1995–2018, this paper constructs a regulatory cooperation network and employs degree centrality and structural holes to capture countries’ embedded positions and examine their effects on agricultural export quality. The results show a clear asymmetry: degree centrality reduces export quality, whereas structural holes enhance it. A one‐standard‐deviation increase in degree centrality is associated with a 0.0017 decline in the export quality index, while a comparable increase in structural holes raises the index by 0.0005. Mechanism analyses suggest that this asymmetry operates through three channels. First, through the market access channel, the results suggest differentiated market positioning across destinations: export quality rises in high‐standard markets, whereas lower‐quality products expand in lower‐standard markets, thereby reducing average export quality. Second, in terms of resource allocation, degree centrality has limited effects, whereas structural holes facilitate cross‐cluster reallocation. Third, at the institutional level, both contribute to improvements in institutional quality. Heterogeneity analyses further show that these effects are stronger for regulation‐intensive products and certain types of regulatory provisions, and differ across development levels: positive for developing economies but negative for developed ones.\n"]

  April 14, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70096   open full text
• The Economic Dimension of Sustainability: Assessing the Impact of Sustainability Standards on Small‐Scale Banana Farmers in Colombia.
  Julieth Lizcano‐Prada, Jahir Lombana‐Coy, Leydis Marcela Maestre‐Matos.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 486-499, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nSustainability standards (SS) have emerged in response to changes in sustainable consumer behavior, affecting the production and distribution of agri‐food products. This study assesses how SS influence the economic dimension of sustainability among small‐scale banana farmers in Colombia. Drawing on a comprehensive survey of 99 small banana farmers associated with six cooperatives, the study employs Structural Equation Modeling (PLS‐SEM) to examine how SS criteria contribute to the economic dimension of sustainability, using banana agribusinesses in Magdalena (Colombia) as a case study.\nThe findings reveal a strong and statistically significant correlation between SS criteria and the economic dimension of sustainability. Specifically, Market conditions were identified as the most influential factor shaping sustainability in this context. Meanwhile, Business partnerships exert moderate effects, whereas Local development shows no appreciable impact. SS have the potential to enhance market and financial access, and economic sustainability for small‐scale farmers; however, its success depends on targeted interventions and robust partnerships within agri‐food value chains.\nThese findings provide policy recommendations for developing strategies to improve the sustainability performance of small‐scale producers and promote their sustainable growth. Future research should adopt longitudinal approaches and explore the interconnected economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability to gain a more comprehensive understanding of SS impacts on agriculture.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70012   open full text
• The Fallacy of Sustainability: Evidence From Yangtze River Fishing Ban.
  Xiaoyu (Ross) Zhu, Ashok K. Mishra, Wenbiao Sha.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 500-515, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study examines the impact of a sustainability policy, the 2015 Chinese ban on fishing in the Yangtze River, on economic outcomes. Utilizing Chinese county‐level data and the DID approach, results reveal that the policy has a negative consequence, reducing growth in the agricultural sector by 3% in counties located within prefecture‐level cities adjacent to the Yangtze River. Notably, the largest adverse effects is found in the central Yangtze River Basin, compared to the western and eastern regions. The findings remain robust across a variety of econometric specifications. However, results show that the extended fishing ban does not induce significant job losses or income reductions, suggesting that the policy facilitated a shift from traditional fishing to other sectors, thereby reducing income volatility for workers within the agricultural industry.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.22062   open full text
• The Role of Certifications in Improving Household Food Security Among Peruvian Farmers.
  Lisa‐Marie Schulte, Awudu Abdulai.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 603-622, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nAchieving global food security requires sustainable transformations in agri‐food systems. Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) such as Organic and Fairtrade aim to internalize certain social and environmental costs while promoting more equitable value distribution, improved market access, and sustainable production practices. Using farm‐level data from 392 mango producers in Peru, this study examines the determinants of certification adoption and evaluates the welfare effects of Organic and Fairtrade certifications, both individually and in combination. To address potential selection bias arising from both observable and unobservable factors, we employ a two‐stage Multinomial Endogenous Switching Regression (MESR) model. Our findings indicate that several factors significantly influence the adoption of certifications, including farmers' age, land tenure, access to transportation, land size, as well as crop and mango variety diversification. The results also show that Organic + Fairtrade double certification increases total household and food expenditures per adult equivalent among mango farmers. Disaggregating the effects by farm size further reveals a positive impact of Organic certification on food security among medium holders ( > 5 ha ≤ 16 ha), whereas Fairtrade certification enhances dietary diversity, particularly among marginal holders ( ≤ 2 ha) and smallholders ( > 2 ha ≤ 5 ha). These findings underscore the importance of taking into account scale effects in certification impact analysis and highlight the potential of Organic and Fairtrade schemes to improve household welfare and food security among mango producers in Peru.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70050   open full text
• Understanding Factors Influencing Economic Viability of Farmer Producer Organizations: Empirical Evidence From India.
  Vinayak Nikam, T. M. Kiran Kumara, Samarth Godara, Pratap Singh Birthal.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 831-844, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nFarmer producer organizations (FPOs) play a crucial role in smallholder‐dominated agrarian economies by addressing challenges of access to markets, credit, and information faced by individual farmers. Nevertheless, their long‐term economic viability and sustainability remain a complex issue. Factors such as their organizational structure, member participation, enterprise diversification, access to finances, and policy support can significantly influence their performance. However, our understanding of these factors is limited. This study undertakes a comprehensive analysis of approximately 1069 FPOs in India to identify the factors influencing their economic viability. Findings indicate that their economic viability is positively associated with the maturity level, membership size, geographical scope, and access to finance. Conversely, their larger top management and high proportion of economically and socially disadvantaged members present significant challenges in improving their economic performance. Moreover, this investigation determines the optimal levels of key factors underlying the economic performance of FPOs, which indicate that by attaining an optimal scale of operations, enhancing financial stability, and streamlining governance structures, FPOs can potentially improve their long‐term economic viability while more effectively serving their members.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70028   open full text
• Impact of Sustainable Agricultural Practices on Labor Use Among Rice Farmers in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.
  Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Ho Thanh Tam, Koji Shimada, Hoang Ha Anh, Nguyen Van Cuong, Le Cong Tru.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 845-861, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe Mekong Delta (MKD), Vietnam has achieved high rice productivity through rapid intensification. However, this progress has led to environmental degradation and adverse economic and health effects. To mitigate these challenges, sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) have been promoted. While previous studies have examined SAPs' economic impacts on farmers, their labor implications remain underexplored. This study investigates how the adoption of SAPs affects labor requirements in rice production in Vietnam's MKD. Specifically, it examines the impact of adopting multiple SAPs (seed rate reduction, fertilizer reduction combined with organic fertilizer, pesticide reduction, and water reduction) on total labor demand, labor sources (family or hired), and gender participation. Using cross‐sectional survey data from 152 rice farmers and applying a multinomial endogenous treatment effect model, the analysis reveals that full adoption of all four SAPs significantly reduces labor demand by 29% compared to non‐adopters. Partial adoption yields smaller labor‐saving effects. The reduction is more pronounced for hired labor than for family labor, with minimal involvement of female family members in rice production. These findings suggest that promoting comprehensive SAPs adoption can lower labor requirements and improve rice yields, offering a pathway to more sustainable and economically viable rice farming in the MKD.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70033   open full text
• Willingness to Pay for Traceability in the Post‐Fukushima Nuclear‐Contaminated Water Era: Chinese Consumers’ Attitudes and Preferences for Seafood.
  Yingxue Ren, Runzeng Gao, Min Zhang, Maotong Cheng.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 553-568, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nBased on the stimulus‐organism‐response (S‐O‐R) framework, this study explores Chinese consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for traceable seafood after the Fukushima nuclear‐contaminated water incident. A valid sample of 510 respondents (88.6% from coastal regions) was analyzed using structural equation modeling with bootstrap‐mediated path analysis. Key findings reveal: (1) Emotional attitude (β = 1.495, p < 0.001) exerted a significantly stronger direct effect on WTP than cognitive assessment (β = 0.273, p < 0.05), validating affective dominance in crisis contexts; (2) Sociocultural factors indirectly amplified WTP through emotional attitude (β = 0.981, p < 0.001), while market information influenced WTP via cognitive assessment; (3) Product awareness positively impacted emotional attitude (β = 0.075, p < 0.05). Theoretically, the research expands the S‐O‐R framework by integrating nuclear‐risk contexts and cultural schemas, demonstrating emotion‐behavioral primacy under crises. Practically, enhancing blockchain‐based traceability systems—particularly for coastal consumers—could significantly elevate WTP, advising regionally differentiated policies (e.g., real‐time radiation certifications for coastal zones, subsidized labels for inland markets). Notable limitations include regional sampling bias, reliance on self‐reported data, and a cross‐sectional design, warranting future longitudinal, cross‐regional, and mixed‐method studies.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70036   open full text
• Optimizing Resource Allocation to Enhance Sustainable Management of Agricultural Enterprises: Insights From Biological Asset Management Practices of Listed Companies in China.
  Jiali Han, Wenjie Ouyang, Zhiyi Gai, ZhiDong Feng.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 748-765, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nBiological assets are the core production factors for agricultural enterprises and significantly affect their sustainable operations. This article takes A‐share listed agricultural companies that disclosed biological assets separately from 2012 to 2021 as the research sample to explore the impact of biological asset holdings on corporate profitability. The study finds a dual effect and regulatory mechanism between agricultural enterprises' holdings of biological assets and their profitability: the expansion of scale has a lagging inhibitory effect on profitability; current growth significantly promotes profitability; and the lagging scale inhibitory effect is weakened by the regulatory effect of biological asset growth fluctuations. This means that the growth fluctuations of biological assets can activate and enhance the operational efficiency of enterprises regarding their existing large‐scale assets, transforming redundant resources into competitive advantages and alleviating the burden of the scale of biological assets on the enterprise. Furthermore, a high inventory turnover rate will inhibit the profitability of agricultural enterprises holding biological assets; in the context of policy support, fiscal and tax subsidies have a phased impact on corporate profitability, initially suppressing and then promoting it due to excessive reliance and the timing of fund disbursement. Based on this, the article proposes suggestions from three aspects: optimizing biological asset operation strategies, improving market‐oriented sales mechanisms, and enhancing the timeliness of government subsidies, aiming to provide references for agricultural listed companies to improve asset efficiency and for the government to refine industrial policies, thereby supporting the sustainable development of agricultural enterprises. [EconLitCitations: M14, M21,M41, Q12].\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70052   open full text
• Government Support, Collaboration, and the Circular Economy: Impacts on ESG Performance and Firm Reputation.
  Marcelo Werneck Barbosa, Paulo Renato de Sousa, Marcelo Bronzo.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 534-552, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nDespite the growing emphasis on the importance of circular economy strategies in increasing a firm's performance, the relationship between Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) and circular economy needs to be further justified. This study assessed the effects of government support and circular economy‐oriented collaboration on the implementation of circular economy strategies. In addition, we investigated the effects of circular economy strategies adoption on firms' ESG performance and reputation. This study surveyed 235 Brazilian agri‐food firms. Data were analyzed using the Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling method. This study found a positive and significant effect of circular economy‐oriented collaboration on circular economy strategies and a positive but lower effect of government support on circular economy strategies. The study's findings also demonstrate that the adoption of circular economy strategies has a profound effect on ESG performance and firm reputation. We also identified a partial mediation of circular economy‐oriented collaboration on the relationship between government support and circular economy. This study's findings contribute to advancing the theoretical discourse on CE and collaborative governance by validating their interconnected roles in enhancing sustainability outcomes. Moreover, our research contributes to the theoretical discourse on CE by showing how internal capabilities and relational assets jointly influence agri‐food firms' sustainability transitions.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70061   open full text
• The Role of Coordination Mechanisms and Transaction Costs Promoting Sustainability Performance in Agri‐Food Supply Chains: Evidence From Ecuador.
  Carlos Moreno‐Miranda, Liesbeth Dries.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 653-676, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nSocial tensions and resource depletion pose significant challenges to the agri‐food sector, highlighting the need for coordinated strategies to ensure sustainability in supply chains. Despite its critical importance, the relationship between coordination mechanisms and sustainability performance remains underexplored. This study examines the interrelations between transactional characteristics, relational and formal coordination, and sustainability performance in agri‐food supply chains. By surveying 204 farmers and 135 downstream players across diverse supply chain arrangements, this research employs structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis to analyze data suitability and test hypotheses. The empirical findings reveal nuanced relationships: relational governance has a significantly positive connection to economic and social sustainability within supply chains. There is also a positive, indirect relation between relational governance and ecological performance through the promotion of resource efficiency. Formal coordination practices facilitate strategic relationships and efficient resource allocation and as such connect to social and economic viability of supply chains. Transaction costs play a role as mediator between formal and relational coordination, and sustainability outcomes. Effective management of transaction costs can mitigate inefficiencies and foster collaborative efforts. By understanding these dynamics, policymakers and stakeholders can develop strategies to promote resilience and sustainability in global food systems.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.22003   open full text
• Assessing Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity in Latin America.
  Tianxiang Li, Vanessa Ormeño‐Candelario, Xueli Chen.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 784-797, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe agricultural sector in Latin America plays a vital role in ensuring food security while impacting the environment. However, there remains a lack of analysis regarding the inputs responsible for pollution within its sub‐technologies. Hence, this article aims to assess agricultural green total factor productivity (TFP) through a novel decomposition of the Luenberger–Hicks–Moorsteen (LHM) indicator. Utilizing panel data from 23 Latin American countries covering the period from 2000 to 2019, our study reveals that green TFP has achieved a consistent annual growth rate of 0.71%. Specifically, technical efficiency change (TEC) accounts for 0.26% of the TFP, with the technical change component (TP) and scale efficiency change (SEC) contributing 0.74% and 0.30%, respectively. These findings suggest that Latin American countries have increasingly utilized agricultural inputs more efficiently over time. The results provide valuable insights for developing innovative measures and effective policy strategies to promote sustainability in the agricultural sector."]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.22006   open full text
• Trade and Sustainability: The Green Dividend of Grain Trade.
  Ting Xu, Chante Jian Ding, Kunqian Zhao.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 677-693, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study delves into the potential influence of China's grain trade on carbon emissions from grain production in 169 countries during the period 2001–2020. The investigation utilizes data on grain trade between China and these nations, along with corresponding data on carbon emissions from grain production. The results reveal that China's grain trade contributes, to a certain extent, to the reduction of carbon emissions from grain production in partner countries. This conclusion withstands various robustness tests conducted. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the impact of grain trade in driving the reduction of carbon emissions from grain production is more notable in developing countries. Moreover, soybean trade emerges as particularly advantageous in promoting carbon emission reduction from grain production in these trading partner countries. Mechanism tests conducted to explore further aspects indicate that the establishment of free trade areas (FTAs) plays a crucial moderating role in China's grain trade, fostering carbon emission reduction. This is deemed beneficial for advancing efforts in reducing carbon emissions from grain production. The increased use of fertilizers has intensified carbon emissions in the grain production and distribution process. The findings not only offer fresh insights into understanding China's role in global grain trade and its impact on carbon emissions from global grain production but also provide strategic considerations for global grain security governance, international collaboration addressing climate change, and avenues for accessing green dividends.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.22036   open full text
• Sustainability Strategies in the Cocoa‐Chocolate Value Chain: An Analysis Using Stakeholder Theory, Global Value Chain Theory, and Resource Dependence Theory.
  Stella Marschner, Luigi Orsi, Alessandro Olper, Stefanella Stranieri.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 694-716, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe cocoa‐chocolate value chain faces significant environmental and social challenges, driving firms to adopt sustainability strategies ranging from individual practices to third‐party certifications. This study investigates the factors associated with these strategies by analyzing 304 cocoa‐chocolate companies using firm‐level data from the Orbis database and website content analysis. The analysis employs negative binomial and hurdle regression models. Results, interpreted through Stakeholder Theory, Global Value Chain Theory, and Resource Dependence Theory, highlight that firm size, value chain position, consumer engagement, and risk identification are key factors influencing sustainability practices. Larger, consumer‐facing firms tend to adopt in‐house practices, while smaller firms and publicly listed companies prefer certifications for market differentiation. Traders and grinders, as midstream actors, play a crucial role in driving sustainability efforts, particularly through sourcing practices. Firms with high consumer engagement and risk awareness are more likely to adopt a broader range of sustainability initiatives. These findings offer practical insights for managers and policymakers, helping firms align their strategies with industry standards or tailor them to specific needs. The study also underscores the need for policy interventions to promote sustainability adoption, particularly among SMEs, contributing to the broader literature on corporate sustainability and value chains.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.22044   open full text
• Economic and Environmental Tradeoffs in Cultivating Short Food Supply Chains With Urban Indoor Agriculture.
  Joseph Seong, H. Christopher Peterson, Simone Valle de Souza.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 798-814, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study advances the literature on sustainable urban agriculture and alternative sustainable food production systems, which have gained momentum due to the need to strengthen regional food supply chains and meet the growing urban demand for fresh food. Indoor agriculture (IA) holds promise for year‐round cultivation of fresh produce even in regions with less favorable climate by using controlled environment technologies. The study evaluates the economic and environmental sustainability potential of IA, advocating for short food supply chains to enhance urban food security. A multiobjective optimization model (IA‐MOO), integrating a bioeconomic model for lettuce production and optimal farm size based on planting schedules and densities, captures IA system dynamics from seeding to sales. The revenue module introduces an endogenously determined price premium for the hyper‐local attribute of IA‐produced crops. Two objectives, expected to present competing solutions, are defined: profitability, measured by earnings before taxes (EBT), and energy use efficiency (EUE). A coefficient of economies of scale was adopted to encapsulate capital investment and operating costs across farm sizes. To capture the social benefits of reduced food miles, IA‐MOO optimizes farm location relative to urban centers. It evaluates tradeoffs between land cost, transportation cost, and a hyper‐local price premium for IA crops produced within urban areas. Results indicated that EBT and EUE are generally not conflicting objectives, except for a short production schedule frame. This study provides insights into optimizing IA systems contributing to the sustainable development of urban agriculture and advancing the goal of sustainable food production for urban populations.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.22063   open full text
• Does ESG Matter for Unlisted Companies in the Agri‐Food Industry? Evidence From Japan's Unlisted Agri‐Food Companies.
  Ying Wang, Satoru Shimokawa.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 516-533, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nWhile ESG (environmental, social, and governance) is emphasized among listed companies for their stakeholders and ESG disclosures, ESG engagement among unlisted companies has been rarely examined due to data limitations. This is particularly problematic for the agri‐food industry that has significant impacts on the environment and consists mostly of unlisted companies. Thus, by constructing a unique data set of 514 unlisted agri‐food companies in Japan from 2018 to 2024, we investigate the patterns of ESG engagement and its association with economic performance across food supply‐chain sectors and companies' ownership types in the agri‐food industry. We find that ESG practices are more prevalent in the agricultural, food manufacturing, and wholesale sectors than in the retail sector, particularly among independent companies. However, these ESG practices have no influence on total sales in all cases and are negatively associated with net profits in the wholesale sector and among independent companies. These results suggest that ESG implementation may impose economic burdens on unlisted companies, underscoring the need for more effective public support and cross‐sector collaboration.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.22067   open full text
• Do All Food and Beverage Firms Benefit From Voluntary ESG Reporting? Evidence From China's Listed Companies.
  Hongqiang Yan, Ashok K. Mishra, Xi Zhou.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 623-640, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study investigates the relationship between voluntary Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and firm performance—measured by Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Tobin's Q—in China's food and beverage (F&B) sector. Using a fixed effects panel model on a data set of both reporting and non‐reporting listed firms from 2008 to 2023, we find that, overall, the issuance of standalone ESG reports is negatively associated with firm performance across all three measures. However, the results also reveal that this relationship becomes positive when firms exhibit ESG performance above the industry median. These findings suggest that ESG reporting, in isolation, may represent a costly signal in the short term. Nonetheless, firms that effectively implement ESG initiatives and earn superior scores from third‐party agencies can achieve improved outcomes over time. Implications for the F&B sector are discussed.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70004   open full text
• Global Climate Risks and Agricultural Firm Performance in Vietnam.
  Dao Le Trang Anh, Huy Pham, Pham Thi Thu Tra, Dinh Trung Nguyen.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 766-783, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study investigates the impact of global and local climate risks on agricultural firms in Vietnam, with the moderating effects of export orientation and export intensity. Using Vietnam agricultural firm‐level data from 2010 to 2020, global climate risk indexes (Physical Risk Index—PRI and Transition Risk Index—TRI), and local temperatures, this study demonstrates that global climate risks reduce the profitability of Vietnam's agricultural firm performance. However, the relationship between global climate risk and firm performance turns positive for exporting agricultural firms, confirming learning‐by‐exporting hypothesis. On the contrary, the relationship between Vietnam's increased temperature and agricultural firm profitability is negative for exporting firms due to the growing difficulties in maintaining diversified export strategies for exporting firms. Finally, our findings reveal that exporting agricultural firms still gain benefits under both global and national climate risks, especially for small and medium‐sized firms in Vietnam. Our study provides insights into the potential of export activities to mitigate the effects of climate variability on agricultural sector in Vietnam and other agricultural nations.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70007   open full text
• Climate Risk and Green Productivity in African Agriculture: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Implications.
  Su Liu, Bingjie Huang, Zhiyang Shen.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 733-747, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nAs climate change intensifies global challenges, agricultural systems face escalating risks, with vulnerable zones like Africa bearing heightened exposure. Climate risks refer to the economic and financial impacts arising from extreme weather events and the global transition to a low‐carbon economy. This study investigates how climate risk impacts Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP) in African agriculture, using a balanced panel dataset with 630 observations from 30 African countries spanning from 2000 to 2020. The regression analysis reveals a significant stimulatory effect of climate risk on GTFP, primarily by fostering infrastructure development and accelerating digital transformation. Heterogeneity analysis further reveals that this effect is particularly pronounced in sub‐Saharan Africa and in resource‐dependent economies. Additionally, vulnerabilities related to water resources and infrastructure enhance the positive relationship between climate risk and GTFP. These findings offer a novel perspective on advancing sustainable and high‐quality agricultural development in Africa in the face of climate challenges, providing a scientific basis for policy optimization and bolstering the resilience of African agriculture.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70034   open full text
• ESG Decoupling and Innovation: Are China's Agri‐Food Companies Walking the Walk?
  Yanyan Zhang, Tao Xiong.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 473-485, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nPromoting sustainable, innovation‐driven growth is crucial for achieving high‐quality economic development in the new era. As a key indicator of companies' sustainability, ESG practices have gained significant attention. However, the lack of a unified ESG evaluation framework and standardized disclosure regulations has led some companies to exaggerate or misrepresent their ESG performance—an issue known as “ESG decoupling.” This study examines the impact of ESG decoupling on agri‐food companies' innovation, using panel data from 2011 to 2022. The results show that ESG decoupling undermines a company's credibility, hindering innovation. However, independent directors mitigate the negative effects of ESG decoupling on innovation. Further analysis reveals that the impact of ESG decoupling is less severe in companies with low digital transformation levels and state‐owned enterprises (SOEs). In contrast, the negative effects are more significant in large companies and the food industry. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between ESG decoupling and innovation. It offers empirical evidence and expands the theoretical framework linking ESG behavior with innovation. Ultimately, the study highlights the need for improved ESG disclosure systems and enhanced companies' credibility to foster a more innovation‐friendly environment.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.22059   open full text
• Who Are the Farmers Participating in a Carbon Sequestration Program? Results of a Discrete Choice Experiment in Germany.
  Julia B. Block, Michael Danne, Oliver Mußhoff.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 590-602, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nAgricultural soils offer great potential for carbon sequestration through humus formation. One way to motivate farmers to build up humus is through humus programs. These are still at an early stage of development, poorly explored, and the number of participating farmers is low. Our aim is to explain the heterogeneity of farmers' willingness to participate in humus programs by typologizing them according to different design preferences and socioeconomic backgrounds. To this end, we conducted a survey with German farmers including a discrete choice experiment and questions about environmental awareness, profit orientation and farm characteristics. We summarized farmers' attitudes towards for example, climate change with a factor analysis and included the results into the latent class model we used to analyze the discrete choice experiment. The farmers surveyed can be divided into four classes. The results show that the classes differ in the farmers' preferences for the characteristics of a humus program, for example, type of reference value and program duration, and according to the factors of the factor analysis, for example, advocacy of humus programs. The classes distinguish between disinterested and motivated farmers, farmers focusing on safe money and farmers focusing on quick money. With this study, we improve the understanding of farmers' acceptance of humus programs, which is essential before starting targeted (political) efforts.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70000   open full text
• Creating Shared Value as an Antecedent of Value Co‐Creation: B2B Relationships in the Agri‐Food Sector.
  Luis Ricardo Solís‐Rivera, Marcelo Royo‐Vela.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 815-830, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study analyzes the effects of value co‐creation and creation of shared value in agricultural input marketing. This study used a sample of 178 agricultural companies in Costa Rica. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM) with SMART PLS software. Our findings reveal the significant influence of the creation of shared value on relationship quality and highlight the role of value co‐creation in fostering economic satisfaction. Furthermore, the results indicate that economic satisfaction has a stronger impact on loyalty in the early stages of business relationships than in later stages. This novel study contributes to the understanding of both constructs from empirical approach, generating contributions to value creation, relationship dynamics, and B2B literature, reaching academia and agricultural input industry in developing countries.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70019   open full text
• Climate‐Smart Dairy Practices: The Role of Practice Clusters in Enhancing the Performance of Dairy Farms in Kenya.
  Mercy Mburu, Amin Mugera, John Mburu, Rose Nyikal, Oghaiki Asaah Ndambi.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 717-732, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nClimate variability is affecting the productivity, profitability, and resilience of smallholder dairy producers in developing countries. The adoption of climate‐smart (CS) dairy practices has been promoted to mitigate these negative effects. However, while interest in dairy CS practices is growing, empirical evidence on their adoption patterns and impact on key farm performance indicators, particularly cost of production and gross margin, remains limited. Moreover, the influence of adoption drivers appears to be highly context‐specific, underscoring the need for more nuanced and rigorous analysis. This study evaluates the impact of adopting seventeen CS dairy practices, grouped into four dominant clusters, on milk yield, variable production costs and gross margin. The analysis is based on a cross‐sectional survey of 665 smallholder dairy farmers across three milksheds in Kenya. Latent class analysis is employed to group the practices into dominant clusters. The multinomial endogenous treatment effects model is used to estimate the effects of those clusters on milk yield, variable production costs and gross margin, while accounting for selection bias and endogeneity stemming from both observed and unobserved heterogeneity across households. The findings reveal that belonging to any of the four clusters is influenced by access to and frequency of extension services from various providers. There is significant variability in milk yield, production costs and gross margin across the clusters. These results underscore the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance smallholder dairy productivity, profitability, and resilience amid climate variability.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70021   open full text
• More ESG Practices, Higher Financial Performance? The U‐Shaped Pattern in China's Agricultural and Food Firms.
  Yanyan Zhang, Tao Xiong.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 641-652, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nESG (environmental, social, and governance) practices, an internationally recognized concept of a firm's sustainability, can serve as a bridge to enhance effective communication between firms and various stakeholders. It is also a new tool for measuring firms' value. This study employs a balanced panel data set of 114 publicly traded agricultural and food firms in China from 2016 to 2022. It empirically investigates the relationship between ESG and financial performance based on shareholder primacy theory and stakeholder theory. Employing a two‐way fixed effects (FE) model, our findings reveal a U‐shaped nonlinear pattern in how ESG impacts financial performance. It differs from previous studies that found predominantly positive relationships: Specifically, the average ESG score for firms is 0.396, the median is 0.390, and the inflection point of the U‐shape occurs at 0.53. When firms' ESG investments are less than 0.53, the high initial ESG cost makes it difficult to transform ESG into financial improvement. However, once this threshold is surpassed, good ESG can convey an excellent reputation to the public and increase anti‐risk ability—which, in turn, significantly improves firms' financial performance and facilitates long‐term development. Also, our study demonstrates that firms' ownership and different positions in the supply chain differentially affect the relationship between ESG and financial performance. This paper also offers insights into promoting the sustainable development of Chinese agri‐food firms.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.21989   open full text
• Outsourcing Fertilizer Mechanization Services to Different Types of Service Providers: Assessing the Impact on Fertilizer Application for Wheat Producers in China.
  Jiaojiao Ding, Amin Mugera, Xia Zhao.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 460-472, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nAgricultural mechanization services (AMS) are important for promoting sustainable agricultural development. However, little is known about the effect of outsourcing fertilizer mechanization services (FMS) for fertilizer application to different types of service providers. This study simultaneously investigates the determinants and effect of outsourcing FMS to different types of service providers for fertilizer application in rural China. The multinomial endogenous treatment effects model that accounts for potential selection bias and endogeneity is employed to analyze cross‐sectional survey data of wheat producers. The results reveal that the likelihood of outsourcing FMS is influenced by household (gender, education, off‐farm employment, and risk attitude) and farm (farm size, land topography, soil fertility) characteristics, membership to cooperative, and the availability of AMS at village level. The treatment effect estimates suggest that outsourcing FMS can decrease fertilizer application by at least 6.6%. Outsourcing both FMS and fertilizer supply has a greater reducing effect on fertilizer application compared to only outsourcing FMS. Besides, outsourcing both FMS and fertilizer supply to organization providers has a higher effect on reducing fertilizer application and enhancing yield compared to outsourcing to individual service providers. The results have policy implications for promoting agri‐environmental sustainability in the agricultural sector.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.22048   open full text
• Towards Sustainable Agri‐Food Systems: The Role of Environment, Society, and Governance in Upgrading Export Quality.
  Ping Wei, Hongman Liu, Junbo Wang.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, Volume 42, Issue 2, Page 569-589, Spring 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nAs climate change and food safety incidents rise, global markets demand stricter sustainability and quality standards for agri‐food products. Environment, society, and governance (ESG) plays a crucial role in sustainable transformation for agri‐food exports. Utilizing matched data from Chinese listed agri‐food companies and China Customs, this study reveals a positive impact of ESG performance on upgrading the export product quality within agri‐food enterprises. The mechanisms driving this optimization include promoting green technology innovation and establishing brand reputation advantages. However, a detailed examination demonstrates that this positive impact of ESG performance is not absolute. Companies that implement quality competitive strategies, undergo digital transformation, engage in general trade, and export to regions with stringent nontariff barriers rely more on ESG capacities. Lastly, we also consider the international coordination of ESG standards. The findings reveal that firms adopting the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework in ESG disclosure are more likely to achieve quality upgrading through ESG. This highlights the critical importance of maintaining consistency and comparability in ESG standards. Within the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and the transition towards sustainable agri‐food systems, these findings offer novel insights for establishing green, efficient, and sustainable agri‐food systems.\n"]

  April 10, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70031   open full text
• Market‐Based Nutrition Regulation and Adult BMI Dynamics in Latin America.
  Emiliano Lopez Barrera, Grace Melo.
  Agribusiness. April 09, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nMarket‐based nutrition policies, including interpretative labeling systems and taxes on sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs), have been widely adopted across Latin America to influence dietary choices and address rising obesity rates. While prior research documents change in food purchasing and product reformulation following these policies, evidence on their association with population‐level health outcomes remains limited. This study examines adult body mass index (BMI) responses to interpretative food labeling systems and SSB taxation policies in Mexico, Chile, and Ecuador between 2008 and 2020 using country‐level panel data. We apply complementary quasi‐experimental methods, namely synthetic control methods (SCM) and difference‐in‐differences (DID), to compare observed BMI trajectories with counterfactual outcomes. Across countries and methods, observed BMI closely tracks synthetic and matched control counterparts, indicating that aggregate BMI responses are modest in magnitude. At the same time, the analysis reveals small, heterogeneous, and gradual deviations that emerge over time and differ across policy settings. SCM results show mild mid‐term adjustments in Chile and Ecuador and near‐parallel trends in Mexico following the 2014 SSB tax. DID estimates similarly indicate small and statistically imprecise average effects after accounting for country heterogeneity and trends. Overall, the findings suggest that targeted market‐based nutrition policies can influence BMI at the margin through gradual food‐system and consumer adjustments, but that their population‐level effects are likely to remain modest when implemented in isolation."]

  April 09, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70092   open full text
• Homestead Withdrawal, Village Identity, and Farmers' Intentions to Migrate to Cities: Evidence From Jiangsu, China.
  Junlong Wang, Yu Hao, Zengzeng Fan.
  Agribusiness. April 07, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nAgainst the backdrop of concurrent land‐institution reform and the advancement of urbanization, clarifying how homestead withdrawal shapes rural households' migration behavior is crucial for improving the efficiency of urban–rural factor flows and enhancing the quality of urbanization. Using 6954 valid household survey responses collected in rural Jiangsu Province during 2021 to 2023, this study employs Probit models and the KHB decomposition method to examine the effect of homestead withdrawal on rural households' intentions to migrate to cities and the underlying mechanism operating through village identity. We obtain the following results. (1) Homestead withdrawal significantly increases rural households' willingness to migrate to cities, and this finding remains robust under a series of checks, including alternative variable specifications, subsample regressions, and instrumental‐variable approaches. (2) The effect is heterogeneous across groups and is more pronounced among households in northern Jiangsu and those with a higher share of non‐farm income. (3) Mechanism analysis indicates that homestead withdrawal primarily enhances migration willingness by weakening farmers' sense of identification with rural living conditions and social relationships. The overall mediating effect accounts for 30.77%, with the influence of residential environment identification being particularly pronounced. (4) Regarding destination choice, homestead withdrawal significantly increases the propensity to relocate to county seats or county‐level cities, highlighting counties as an increasingly central spatial platform for absorbing rural households into urban citizenship. These findings provide policy‐relevant evidence for economically developed regions to refine the homestead withdrawal system, promote nearby and in‐situ urbanization, and advance integrated urban–rural development, offering theoretical and policy implications for comparable regions.\n"]

  April 07, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70090   open full text
• Cost Pass‐Through in Crisis: Evidence From the German Malt‐Beer Supply Chain.
  Nikolas Bublik, Lukáš Čechura.
  Agribusiness. April 07, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nAbstract\nGlobal agri‐food supply chains are increasingly exposed to geopolitical shocks, climate volatility, and market consolidation, factors that disrupt traditional price relationships and reshape market power dynamics. Nowhere is this more visible than in the brewing sector, where agricultural raw materials meet complex industrial processing and branded consumer goods. Focusing on Germany, Europe's largest malt and beer producer, this study traces price transmission from malting barley to final retail beer prices between 2010 and 2024. Using a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) with structural break dummies and different regimes with and without an energy‐related control variable, we identify how external disruptions, most notably the 2015 AB InBev–SABMiller merger, the COVID‐19 pandemic, the August 2021 price surge, and the Russia‐Ukraine war, altered price dynamics along the supply chain. The results show stable long‐run price relationships along the German beer supply chain, but price transmission dynamics differ markedly between a stable period (2014–2021) and a more volatile crisis phase from 2021 onward. External shocks affect upstream and downstream prices differently, with upstream prices reacting more strongly. Energy prices emerge as a key transmission channel in the crisis phase, amplifying volatility and strengthening cost pass‐through across the supply chain. These findings highlight the conditional nature of price transmission and the vulnerability of even consolidated agri‐food chains to sustained external pressure.\n"]

  April 07, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70091   open full text
• Unintended Doses: How Livestock Insurance Fuels Antibiotic Use on Chinese Hog Farms?
  Qingyin Cai, Xingguo Wang, Calum Turvey, Xudong Rao.
  Agribusiness. April 07, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nWhile antibiotics boost livestock productivity and reduce disease risk, their overuse raises public health concerns, notably antimicrobial resistance. This study examines livestock insurance as an alternative to direct regulation of antibiotic use, like bans or prescription mandates. We present a framework showing how insurance interacts with antibiotics' dual roles, both risk‐reducing and risk‐increasing, and test it using a natural policy experiment in China. Using survey and insurance data, we apply difference‐in‐differences models and find that insurance significantly increases antibiotic use among hog farmers. This suggests antibiotics act as risk‐increasing inputs at current levels. Our findings highlight the need to align insurance with sustainable livestock and antibiotic stewardship strategies."]

  April 07, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70093   open full text
• Spillover Effects of Energy and Grain Futures Volatility: Time‐Varying Impacts of WTI, Natural Gas, and EUA Futures on U.S. Wheat, Corn, and Soybean Markets.
  Chi Zhang.
  Agribusiness. April 04, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study investigates the time‐varying impacts of WTI crude oil (WTI), natural gas, and EU Allowance (EUA) futures on U.S. wheat, corn, and soybean markets using thermal optimal path (TOP) analysis and time‐varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP‐VAR) models. The findings reveal dynamic heterogeneity in price transmission mechanisms between energy and agricultural markets. WTI crude oil affects grain prices through its impact on biofuel demand and shipping costs, while natural gas directly influences wheat markets via its effect on fertilizer production costs. EUA futures exhibit long‐term policy effects with weaker short‐term impacts. Empirical results demonstrate that extreme events significantly amplify the transmission of energy shocks to grain markets, with notable differences in sensitivity to energy price fluctuations across grain varieties. The study provides empirical evidence for agricultural risk management, energy policy formulation, and climate governance, suggesting a future exploration of long‐term policy shocks on energy‐agriculture linkages.\n"]

  April 04, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70089   open full text
• Return Migration and Household Financial Behavior in China.
  Erqi Ge, Wenbiao Sha.
  Agribusiness. April 03, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis paper examines the causal effect of return migration on household financial market participation in China, drawing on the New Economics of Labor Migration (NELM) framework. Using three waves (2017–2021) of the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), covering 69,511 household‐wave observations, we employ inverse probability weighting (IPW) to address selection into return migration. IPW estimates indicate that return migration increases the probability of holding risky financial assets (stocks, mutual funds, wealth management products) by 1.67% points in the full sample, 3.58% points in urban areas, and 0.36% points in rural areas. The attenuation from OLS to IPW confirms positive selection, and bound analysis indicates that unobserved confounding is unlikely to overturn the main results. Mechanism analysis identifies wealth accumulation as the primary channel, explaining 45%–58% of the effect, suggesting that policies reducing investment thresholds could further promote financial inclusion among return migrants.\n"]

  April 03, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70086   open full text
• Effect of Food Safety Perceptions and Time Preferences on Consumer Demand for Organic Leafy Vegetables in Benin.
  Mondoukpè G. Merveille Hounkponou, Ogoudele Simon Codjo, Sidol Houngbo, Djromahuton Modeste Dohou, Olakounlé Salim Kakpo, Alice Bonou, Ygué Patrice Adegbola, Pepijn Schreinemachers.
  Agribusiness. March 31, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nConsumers in developing countries are increasingly interested in organic vegetables as they are concerned about pesticide residues affecting their health. In southern Benin, gboma eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon) is the most popular leafy vegetable, but certified organic produce is not commonly available. We explored the market potential for organic labeling by quantifying consumers' willingness to pay (WTP). More specifically, we analyze how consumers' WTP is affected by their food safety perceptions and their time preferences—the extent to which people are willing to trade immediate gratification for future benefits. We used a choice experiment based on four product attributes: freshness, production method, leaf color, and price. Data were collected from 154 vegetable shoppers from seven urban markets in Benin. The results show that freshness, production method, and price significantly influence consumer choice. On average, consumers are willing to pay $0.30 more for organic and $0.032 more for freshness (per leaf pile). Consumers who view organic vegetables as free of chemical pesticides prefer organic over conventional vegetables. Time preference did not significantly influence the preference for organic vegetables. These results show a potential market for organic leafy vegetables and that this market can be expanded by influencing consumer perceptions of organic vegetables. The findings of this study are instrumental in designing policies to support organic vegetable market development and consumption.\n"]

  March 31, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70087   open full text
• The Geography of Success: A Spatial Analysis of Export Intensity in the Italian Wine Industry.
  Nicolas Depetris Chauvin, Jonas Di Vita.
  Agribusiness. March 16, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis paper investigates the paradox of how Italy's fragmented, SME‐dominated wine industry achieves global export success. Moving beyond purely firm‐centric explanations, we test whether export intensity is spatially dependent, clustering geographically in regional ecosystems. Using a unique nationwide dataset of 1091 geolocated wineries, we employ a Bayesian Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) model to quantify this relationship. Our approach addresses the classic identification challenge in agricultural settings of disentangling economic spillovers from shared natural endowments (terroir) by using official DOC/DOCG status as a robust institutional proxy for geographic identity. Controlling for a rich set of firm‐level characteristics, we find robust evidence of significant positive spatial autocorrelation: a winery's export intensity is positively and significantly associated with the export intensity of its geographic neighbours, even after accounting for its own resources. This result provides strong, micro‐level evidence for the role of agglomeration economies in driving international competitiveness. The findings imply that place‐based policies aimed at strengthening local industrial clusters may be more effective for enhancing export performance than aspatial, firm‐focused strategies.\n"]

  March 16, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70084   open full text
• Tariff and Non‐Tariff Barriers for Intra‐African Agricultural Trade and the Role of Governance Quality in Sub‐Saharan Africa.
  Gezahegne Seyoum, Wei Chen, Gemedo Furo, Yanan Wang, Aklok Getnet, Tadesse Tolera Ejeta.
  Agribusiness. March 16, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nIntra‐African agricultural trade (IAAT) is a critical driver of national income, food security, and demand‐supply stabilization across the continent. Despite initiatives like the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) designed to promote regional trade, IAAT remains below 20% of Africa's total agricultural trade. This study investigates the determinants of this persistent gap, focusing specifically on the relative impact of tariff measures (TMs), non‐tariff measures (NTMs), and governance indicators. Using an unbalanced panel dataset from 26 Sub‐Saharan African countries (2003–2023), the analysis employs the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) to account for substantial cross‐country heterogeneity, with robustness checks conducted using Powell's conditional quantile regression. The findings demonstrate that NTMs are the most significant barrier to IAAT. A 1% increase in NTMs reduces agricultural exports (IAAE) by 0.71%–0.83% and imports (IAAI) by 0.43%–0.83% across the quantile distribution. The effect of TMs is less consistent, showing a significant but smaller negative impact only on imports. Governance quality exhibits a complex role: regulatory quality consistently enhances IAAE (0.58%–0.83%), whereas government effectiveness shows a negative relationship with trade flows. Furthermore, the analysis reveals significant heterogeneity in these effects across Regional Economic Communities (RECs), to consider the region‐specific nature of trade barriers. The study concludes that policies aimed at enhancing IAAT must prioritize the reduction and harmonization of NTMs over mere tariff liberalization. Additionally, targeted improvements in regulatory governance and regionally tailored strategies are essential to unlocking the full potential of intra‐African agricultural trade.\n"]

  March 16, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70083   open full text
• Measuring Marketing Efficiency Under Risk: Evidence From Türkiye's Wheat Sector Using Risk‐Adjusted Marketing Efficiency Index and Bayesian Structural Time Series.
  Kemalettin Ağızan.
  Agribusiness. March 12, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study analyzes the processes by which producers in Türkiye's wheat market evaluate their products through different marketing channels using a multilayered approach. The Risk‐Adjusted Marketing Efficiency Index (R‐MEI), developed to overcome the limitations of the classic Marketing Efficiency Index (MEI), integrates risk factors such as price volatility and market uncertainty, enabling a more realistic assessment of farmers' decisions. This study also examines the effects of external shocks on marketing efficiency, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, Russia–Ukraine war, and the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake, using the Bayesian Structural Time Series (BSTS) model. Data were collected from producers, institutions, and market actors representing five key marketing channels: traders, commodity exchanges, licensed warehousing, cooperatives, and the Grain Board (GB). The findings show that GB and cooperatives are the most advantageous channels for farmers in terms of efficiency and risk management, while the trader channel stands out as the most fragile structure due to high costs and uncertainty. Although commodity exchanges and licensed warehouses offer relatively higher gross prices to producers, they generate limited net benefits for farmers because of transaction costs and volatility. This research comprehensively reveals not only the technical and economic dimensions of marketing efficiency, but also risk sensitivity, resilience to external shocks, and the relationship between producer behavior and the institutional context. In this respect, it provides policymakers with a concrete roadmap for developing transparent, data‐driven, and long‐term strategies for the Turkish wheat market.\n"]

  March 12, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70079   open full text
• Cost‐Benefit Analysis of the European Union Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in Fertilizer Trade.
  Natalie Crisci, Md Deluair Hossen, Andrew Muhammad, Seong‐Hoon Cho.
  Agribusiness. March 02, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), launching 2026, will charge EU importers for embedded carbon emissions, aiming to reduce emissions but raising import costs. Shifts in demand following implementation may reduce carbon emissions, but importers will bear the cost of increased prices. This study examines and weighs the economic costs and environmental benefits of the CBAM in a fertilizer sector‐specific policy analysis, testing whether the reduction of imported carbon emissions justifies the cost to EU consumers. To evaluate this trade‐off, EU import demand is modeled and analyzed before and after CBAM credits are included in the import price. Economic costs are evaluated through a welfare analysis calculating the decline in surplus due to reduced imports. Environmental benefits are calculated by determining the decreases in fertilizer demand, valued at the social cost of carbon (SCC) to compare directly with economic costs. The baseline scenario results show that the cost of the CBAM, equal to $4.04 billion, outweighs the benefit, equal to $2.58 billion, by $1.46 billion annually, when using a CBAM credit cost of $73.5 per metric ton CO2 and a SCC value of $254 per metric ton CO2. However, sensitivity analysis reveals that the CBAM benefit outweighs the cost when CBAM credits cost $91.8 per metric ton CO2 or the SCC is valued at $700 per metric ton CO2. This study helps relevant stakeholders, as trade partners examine strategies and EU agribusiness prepares for increasing input prices. In light of new EU agricultural goals aimed at reducing synthetic fertilizers, the CBAM's impact on demand for fertilizer imports could provide an opportunity for organic fertilizers as a substitute given policy support.\n"]

  March 02, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70081   open full text
• Consumer Acceptance of New Sustainable Food Technologies: Upcycling Technology, Biostimulants, and Artificial Intelligence.
  Greta Castellini, Guendalina Graffigna.
  Agribusiness. March 02, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nFood systems have a significant impact on environmental sustainability, underscoring the need for innovative technologies to support more sustainable agricultural methods. However, the adoption of these technologies hinges on consumer acceptance, making the analysis of consumer perceptions essential. This study examines consumer acceptance of three sustainable food technologies, namely upcycling technologies, biostimulants, and artificial intelligence (AI), in agriculture through a cross‐sectional online survey involving 2416 Italian adults representative of the population. It explores participants' knowledge, consumers' beliefs, and purchase intentions regarding these technologies and the novel foods treated with them. Findings indicate limited consumer knowledge, with AI applied in agriculture being relatively better known but perceived as less natural and riskier. Upcycled foods, while seen as sustainable, are associated with low levels of pleasantness. Biostimulants occupy a middle ground, being perceived as more innovative than Upcycling Technology but less artificial, risky, and reassuring compared to AI. Notably, the observed differences between technologies are small, despite statistical significance. Psychological and attitudinal factors, such as variety‐seeking in food choices, food technology neophobia and food involvement, have a stronger association with purchase intentions than socio‐demographic variables. Trust in actors within the agribusiness system, knowledge of new technologies, and consumers' beliefs about new foods are also positively associated with the purchase intention of foods treated with these technologies. The study emphasizes the importance of tailored communication strategies to overcome barriers, highlighting sustainability and quality while addressing perceived risks and unconscious fears. These insights are critical for advancing the adoption of innovative and sustainable food technologies in agriculture.\n"]

  March 02, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70082   open full text
• Impact of Climate Extremes on Food Security: A Study on Mechanisms and Mitigation Strategies.
  Min Liu, Zihao Yuan, Chien‐Chiang Lee.
  Agribusiness. February 26, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nFood security (FS) is fundamental to national stability, yet it faces a significant threat from extreme temperatures (ETs), which undermine both the quantity and stability of agricultural production. Understanding the mechanisms through which ETs impact FS and identifying effective adaptation strategies are therefore vital for safeguarding national food security and promoting agricultural sustainability. By constructing comprehensive indices for FS and ETs, this study employs a panel quantile regression model to investigate the non‐linear impact of ETs on FS. The empirical results indicate that ETs exert a significant negative effect on FS, particularly in regions characterized by medium‐to‐low FS levels. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that these adverse impacts are more severe in western China, regions outside the Yangtze River Basin, and areas with balanced food production and consumption. Furthermore, mechanism analysis shows that in medium‐to‐low FS regions, agricultural insurance effectively buffers against climate risks, whereas rural carbon dioxide emissions exacerbate the negative shock of ETs. This study provides a comprehensive perspective on how ETs affect FS, offering both theoretical insights and empirical evidence to support policies addressing these challenges."]

  February 26, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70077   open full text
• Do Chairmen's Rural Life Experiences Promote Product Safety Information Disclosure? Empirical Evidence From China.
  Yuan Chen, Xiaogang He, Yangyang Qi.
  Agribusiness. February 26, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nProduction safety information disclosure is critical for enhancing transparency and safeguarding public interest. Drawing on the imprinting theory and developmental psychology, this study explores how chairmen's early rural life experiences shape corporate product safety information disclosure and how this effect varies with industrial and regional policy contexts based on the imprint–environment fit perspective. Using the panel data of Chinese A‐share listed firms from 2007 to 2024, the empirical results reveal that: (1) chairmen's rural life experiences create enduring individual imprints associated with “safety production” and “reciprocal altruism,” which significantly promote corporate product safety information disclosure, particularly in private firms and those engaging in voluntary disclosure. (2) The imprinting effect is reinforced when firms operate within the agrifood industry or are located in National Food Safety Demonstration Cities. (3) The interaction between the agrifood industry membership and National Food Safety Demonstration City status produces a synergistic effect, amplifying the positive influence of chairmen's rural life experiences on product safety information disclosure. These findings underscore the dynamic interplay between micro‐level leadership imprints and macro‐level institutional environments in fostering corporate transparency and offer insights for enhancing product safety governance.\n"]

  February 26, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70080   open full text
• Mapping the Innovation DNA of Agribusiness Firms: A Multi‐Method Analysis of Strategic Capabilities and Performance.
  Beatriz Corchuelo Martínez‐Azúa, Alvaro Dias.
  Agribusiness. February 25, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nInnovation is essential for competitiveness in agribusiness facing dynamic environments. This study examines how market orientation, marketing, relational, and social capabilities influence innovation performance. Using data from 751 Spanish firms and a multi‐method approach that integrates Structural Equation Modeling (PLS‐SEM), Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA), and fuzzy‐set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), the research explores linear, non‐linear, and configurational relationships. Results show that market orientation, marketing, and social capabilities show significant linear relationships, while relational capabilities exhibit an inverted U‐shaped relationship. NCA identifies marketing and relational capabilities as necessary conditions within the SEM framework; however, none meet the strict necessity thresholds under fsQCA. Configurational analysis reveals multiple successful capability combinations, supporting the concept of equifinality. These findings contribute to innovation theory by integrating variance‐ and set‐theoretical approaches, offering a nuanced view of capability orchestration. Practical implications include guidance for managers on capability development and for policymakers aiming to strengthen innovation ecosystems in agribusiness.\n"]

  February 25, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70078   open full text
• Household‐Level Food Price Inflation Heterogeneity: Evidence and Insights From the U.S. Consumer Panel Data (2013–2023).
  Prayash Pathak Chalise.
  Agribusiness. February 24, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis paper investigates heterogeneity in household‐level food price inflation in the United States from 2013 to 2023 using scanner data from the NielsenIQ Consumer Panel. By combining prices paid and quantities purchased, we compute household‐specific inflation rates and document substantial variation in inflation experiences across U.S. households—variation that widened sharply during the post‐pandemic inflation surge. Inflation inequality is especially pronounced among low‐income, older, single‐person, Asian, Black, and SNAP‐eligible households, who faced higher food inflation than other demographic groups. We further analyze the behavioral mechanisms households use to mitigate inflation exposure, showing that strategies such as increasing shopping frequency, visiting multiple retailers, and purchasing products on sale are associated with lower inflation exposure. However, the strength of these strategies declined during the recent high‐inflation period. We also find strong evidence of substitution toward lower‐priced products as households adjust to rising prices. Finally, we discuss the managerial implications of these findings for food retailers and agribusiness firms, highlighting how pricing, promotions, and product assortment strategies can be tailored to support consumers facing disproportionate inflation burdens. In general, our results highlight the role of household‐level heterogeneity in understanding the unequal burden of inflation and its managerial implications for agribusiness retailers.\n"]

  February 24, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70076   open full text
• Economic Analysis of AI‐Driven Resource Efficiency in Sustainable Agriculture in Iraq.
  Shayma AL‐Rubaye.
  Agribusiness. February 16, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nAbstract\nWater scarcity, rising energy costs, and declining irrigation efficiency are significant barriers to wheat production in Iraq. This study evaluates the economic, environmental, and sustainability impacts of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into irrigation management under semiarid conditions. Field experiments conducted at the Al‐Ra'id Research Station in Baghdad during the 2025 season compared conventional diesel‐based irrigation with AI‐assisted irrigation that used soil moisture sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) controllers, and predictive weather algorithms. The analysis employed Cobb–Douglas production modeling, cost–benefit analysis, net present value (NPV), benefit–cost ratio (BCR), internal rate of return (IRR), and sustainability indices. Statistical validation using one‐way ANOVA confirmed that all observed improvements were highly significant, with treatment effects for wheat yield (F1,18 = 1335.66, p < 0.001), water use (F1,18 = 15228.16, p < 0.001), water‐use efficiency (WUE) (F1,18 = 13065.49, p < 0.001), and energy consumption (F1,18 = 24312.67, p < 0.001). The results demonstrate that AI‐assisted irrigation increased wheat yield by 35%, reduced water use by 36%, and decreased energy consumption by 30% (p < 0.001). Economic evaluation indicated strong feasibility, with a NPV of USD 18,121, a BCR of 2.81, and an IRR of 30%, corresponding to a payback period of 3.65 years. WUE improved by 109%, and the Sustainability Efficiency Index (SEI) increased from 0.25 to 0.51. Sensitivity analyses confirmed that investment profitability remained robust under adverse scenarios, including increased capital costs and reduced wheat prices. These findings indicate that AI‐assisted irrigation substantially enhances productivity, economic returns, and sustainability outcomes. The adoption of AI technologies offers a scalable, resilient strategy for modernizing water management and promoting agricultural sustainability in Iraq.\n"]

  February 16, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70073   open full text
• The Impact of Value Innovation of Fresh Food E‐Commerce on Consumers' Purchase Intention.
  Bing Wu, Hongxia Li.
  Agribusiness. February 12, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe swift advancement of fresh food e‐commerce has heightened market competitiveness, compelling enterprises to pursue distinct advantages via service enhancements and model innovation. Nonetheless, current research has not comprehensively demonstrated how value innovation in fresh food e‐commerce affects consumer purchase intention via the mediating role of perceived value and the moderating role of consumer innovativeness. Based on survey data from 838 fresh food customers in Shanghai, this study explores how value innovation in fresh food e‐commerce influences consumer purchase intention, addressing a gap in current research. The results show that (1) value innovation in fresh food e‐commerce increases consumer purchase intention; (2) perceived value plays an mediating role in connecting fresh food e‐commerce value innovation and purchase intention; and (3) consumer innovativeness moderates how perceived risks relate to purchase intention, but it does not significantly moderate the relationship between perceived benefits, perceived costs, and purchase intention. This study enhances the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying value innovation in fresh food e‐commerce, presents a novel perspective for its theoretical advancement, and furnishes practical suggestions for optimizing marketing strategies and improving customer engagement on platforms.\n"]

  February 12, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70072   open full text
• Consumer Preferences for Country‐of‐Manufacture in Japanese‐Cuisine: Introducing the Country‐of‐Cuisine Concept.
  Kohei Yagi, Massimiliano Calvia, Xinyuan Zhang, Yuki Maruyama, Mizuho Hayashi, Tomoo Higuchi, Guanjun Li, Asyari Hafidz Fikri, Roberta Selvaggi, Gioacchino Pappalardo.
  Agribusiness. February 06, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe concept of country‐of‐origin (COO) has at least five dimensions: country‐of design, of assembly, of parts, of manufacturing, and of brand. This complexity reflects the different ways in which the COO can influence consumers' product evaluations. This study investigated consumers' evaluation for the importance of the country‐of‐manufacture (COM) by proposing the country‐of‐cuisine (COC) concept, which is the new COO dimension, to distinguish from other dimensions and identified COM. This study employed Best‐Worst‐Scaling to evaluate the food values of Japanese‐cuisine in Shanghai, China. In addition, using latent‐class‐logit analysis, we classified respondents and compared the attributes characterizing their consumption behaviors to evaluate the COM. The main findings indicate that origin—conceptualized as COM as a food value ‐ was generally not considered important by residents of Shanghai, but it played a more significant role for older and more frequent consumers of Japanese cuisine. These findings have implications for Japanese‐restaurant owners and policymakers promoting Japanese‐cuisine and agricultural products internationally. This study, as an initial exploration utilizing the COC concept, will also serve as a reference for future researchers.\n"]

  February 06, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70075   open full text
• Video and Text‐Based Supplemental Health Information and Consumer Willingness to Pay for Nutrient‐Enhanced Eggs.
  Edeoba W. Edobor, Michael J. Best, Anita R. Best, Ondulla T. Toomer.
  Agribusiness. February 06, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nNutritional information is very important in the food choices of consumers. However, when they are too scientific or technical, they have the potential to confuse consumers, resulting in information asymmetry and dissuading them from making beneficial choices. In such cases, it might be important to also include supplemental information for such consumers. Using a discrete choice experiment, this study set out to determine how delivering supplemental health information through video and text formats affects consumers' willingness to pay for eggs enhanced with beta‐carotene and monounsaturated fatty acids in the United States. Beta‐carotene is a dietary precursor of vitamin A known to have immunological benefits, while monounsaturated fatty acids are a group of dietary fats that have cardiovascular benefits. We also examined whether there are individual heterogeneities that could affect the realized willingness to pay for such enhancements. We found that in the absence of supplemental information, consumers exhibited a disutility for, and negative marginal willingness to pay for, eggs enhanced with beta‐carotene and monounsaturated fatty acids. Consumers who received supplemental health information were willing to pay more for these nutritional enhancements, especially those who received it in video format. Compared to those who did not receive any supplemental health information, those who received text script treatment were willing to pay 41 cents more for beta‐carotene enhancement, and those who received video treatment were willing to pay 62 cents more. For monounsaturated fatty acids enhancements, we found that those who received video treatment were willing to pay 24 cents more. We also found that younger, non‐female respondents, and those whose family had health issues, were willing to pay more for nutrient enhancements. These results show that it is not just enough for consumers to have nutritional information. Such information must also be presented in ways that are comprehensible to them. For policymakers and producers, these results are very important, considering that when consumers make healthy food choices, it has strong positive externalities on society, ensuring a healthier population, and less financial burden on citizens and the government.\n"]

  February 06, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70071   open full text
• Alternative Policy Designs to Help Farmers Select Profitable Conservation Practices.
  Oranuch Wongpiyabovorn, Alejandro Plastina.
  Agribusiness. February 03, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nVoluntary private carbon initiatives (VPCIs) promote the implementation of agricultural conservation practices that mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) via financial incentives to participating farmers. Simultaneously, an array of public policies supports the adoption of conservation practices through technical and financial assistance. This article explores the potential impact of different policy designs on cover crops and no‐till adoption in the United States, under alternative limits on government program participation, when farmers voluntarily choose to adopt the practices only when it is profitable for them. The baseline is calibrated with actual adoption rate data by county and serves as benchmark for three scenarios: (1) unrestricted EQIP budget; (2) HEL‐limited EQIP payments; and (3) budget‐limited EQIP payments for HEL acres under perfect price discrimination. Incremental adoption rates and farmers' net returns are highest in Scenario 1; incremental adoption rates are lowest in Scenario 3; and farmers' net returns are lowest in Scenario 3. The required EQIP funding for Scenario 1 makes it unfeasible. Scenario 3 results in lower incremental adoption of conservation practices but also lower average EQIP payments per unit of GHG emissions reduction and higher EQIP cost‐effectiveness in mitigating GHGs against other scenarios.\n"]

  February 03, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70074   open full text
• Impact of Adopting Climate‐Smart Agricultural Practices on Smallholder Commercialization: Evidence From Maize Farmers in Ethiopia.
  Agerie Nega Wassihun, Yuchun Zhu, Taye Melese Mekie, Gezahegne Seyoum.
  Agribusiness. February 03, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nPrevious studies have extensively documented the yield‐enhancing effects of climate‐smart agricultural practices (CSAPs). However, empirical evidence on how CSAPs adoption affects commercialization remains largely unexplored. This study examines the impact of adopting CSAPs on smallholder maize commercialization, as measured by commercialization intensity and income. We also investigate the mechanisms through which CSAPs adoption affects these commercialization outcomes. We utilize survey data from 601 smallholder maize farmers across three major maize‐producing districts in Ethiopia. We employ an endogenous switching regression model to correct selection bias from both observed and unobserved heterogeneity, complemented by structural equation modeling to examine mediation pathways. Our empirical results show that the adoption of CSAPs is significantly associated with education level, family size, livestock holding, membership in farmer‐based organizations, access to market information, CSAPs‐focused trainings, proximity to extension services, and distance to the nearest market. Central to our findings, the analysis demonstrates that CSAPs adoption significantly enhances commercialization intensity by 60.79% and crop income by 19.33% per hectare. Robustness checks using propensity score matching and inverse probability weighted regression adjustment models consistently validate these results. Heterogeneity analysis shows significant variation in the treatment effects across study districts. Mediation analysis indicates that 27.6% of the total effect on commercialization intensity and 46.5% of the effect on maize income operate through the combined pathway of yield improvement and post‐harvest loss reduction. Our findings strongly suggest that policies aimed at enhancing smallholder commercialization should prioritize the adoption of CSAPs among smallholder farmers.\n"]

  February 03, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70070   open full text
• Advancing European Plant Variety Registration: Data‐Driven Insights and Stakeholder Perspectives.
  Sergio Urioste Daza, Ibtissem Taghouti, José María Gil Roig.
  Agribusiness. January 17, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nEfficient plant variety registration is crucial for fostering innovation in the European Union, yet the current regulatory framework is complex and faces calls for reform. This study provides data‐driven evidence to inform the ongoing legislative debate by employing a mixed‐methods approach. We integrate a large‐scale panel data analysis, covering 27 crops across 27 member states from 2004 to 2023, with insights from a survey of 54 key stakeholders in variety testing. Using a panel fixed‐effects model, we assess how the stock of market‐approved varieties and the time required for their approval impact agricultural productivity. Our results reveal a dual effect. We find a positive relationship between the stock of registered varieties and crop yield, suggesting that the system successfully enables productivity gains by providing a trusted portfolio of innovations. However, results suggested a significant productivity drag associated with longer registration times. This negative effect is borne almost exclusively by agricultural crops subject to mandatory Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) testing, providing quantitative evidence of a cost associated with this additional regulatory layer. These findings are reinforced by our stakeholder analysis, which highlights strong support for improving efficiency, particularly by integrating new technologies, adjusting VCU criteria, and promoting greater harmonization efforts. By linking the economic impact of regulatory delays to specific policy mechanisms, this research offers direct, evidence‐based insights for the reform of the EU's Plant Reproductive Material legislation.\n"]

  January 17, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70067   open full text
• Combining Machine Learning and Econometric Forecasts for Hog Markets: A Decision Framework for Price Prediction and Production Planning.
  Zhenfeng Ma, Tao Xiong, Lihua Wu, Weiyi Xia.
  Agribusiness. January 16, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nAbstract\nThe extraordinary fluctuations in China's hog prices, particularly since the outbreaks of the African swine fever in 2018, have brought tremendous risks to hog producers' production planning. This study proposes a decision framework for hog price prediction and production planning. Specifically, we use six forecast combination strategies to integrate multi‐step‐ahead forecasts of the hog price generated by 11 econometric and machine learning methods. Furthermore, we design a practical production plan based on the obtained hog price forecasts to determine the number of piglets purchased and fattened pigs sent to slaughter every month. Our results show that the forecast combinations consistently generate more accurate forecasts across six prediction horizons and three accuracy measures than individual forecasting methods. No model consistently performs best among the 11 individual forecasting models. The least absolute deviation strategy is particularly well‐suited for predicting hog prices. Concerning economic performance, the cumulative returns of hog producers who use the proposed production plan are consistently higher than those who use a naïve production plan. Experimental results indicate that our decision framework is a promising and practical tool for price forecasting and production planning in the hog industry.\n"]

  January 16, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70066   open full text
• Farmers' Willingness to Pay a Premium for Certified Maize Seeds in China.
  Bao‐Li Miao, Ying Liu, Hui‐Yao Chen, Rui‐Qian Zhang, Wen‐Jing Zhu, Yi‐Shi Huang, Xiao‐Wen Hu.
  Agribusiness. January 06, 2026
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nChina is one of the world's major grain importers. Currently, the country is actively promoting the adoption of certified seeds to improve agricultural productivity and bolster food security, especially grain security. However, a relatively low willingness to adopt certified seeds remains a significant barrier for certified seed promotion in many countries, including China. This study estimates farmers' willingness to pay a premium (WTPP) for certified maize seeds using the double‐bounded contingent valuation method (CVM) and survey data from 834 maize farmers in China. The results indicate that, on average, Chinese farmers are willing to pay a 31.78% premium for certified maize seeds compared to uncertified seeds. Farmers' WTPP for certified maize seeds varies significantly by level of awareness of certified seeds, farm size, experience with agricultural technology training, and region. Specifically, farmers familiar with certified seeds have a WTPP that is 5.213 percentage points higher than those who are unfamiliar; each additional hectare of farm size raises farmers' WTPP by 2.998 percentage points; and participation in agricultural technology training increases farmers' WTPP by 6.902 percentage points. Therefore, it is important to improve farmers' awareness and WTPP for certified seeds by expanding agricultural technology training, establishing demonstration bases, and enhancing outreach and publicity. These efforts can help promote wider adoption of certified seeds among farmers.\n"]

  January 06, 2026   doi: 10.1002/agr.70065   open full text
• Consumers' Willingness to Pay a Premium for Climate‐Friendly Food Production: The Role of Production Method Information and Social Norms.
  Kassa Tarekegn Erekalo, Tove Christensen, Sigrid Denver, Marilena Gemtou, Spyros Fountas, Søren Marcus Pedersen.
  Agribusiness. December 30, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study examines whether information about production methods and social norms can increase consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) a price premium for food produced using climate‐friendly farming methods. A randomized survey experiment was conducted with 1568 respondents across Denmark, Lithuania, and Spain, who were assigned to one of four experimental groups: a control group, a group receiving information on food production methods that can reduce climate impact, a group exposed to social norm messaging, and a group receiving combined interventions. Results show that while a substantial share of consumers expressed a positive WTP for climate‐friendly produced carrots and beef, the proportion declined rapidly as the premium increased. Moderate premiums were acceptable to many respondents but only about 10% were willing to pay a premium above 10%. The average WTP for carrots was 5% in the control group and increased by about 16% under the combined information and social norm intervention, indicating that the two strategies together modestly enhance premium acceptance. Very similar patterns were observed for beef. The effects of the treatments differed across demographic groups: respondents aged 41 or below were more responsive to social norms, while respondents above 41 reacted more to production method information. Overall, the findings suggest that leveraging production information with social‐norm message can modestly promote climate‐friendly produced food choices and offer useful guidance for designing tailored communication strategies.\n"]

  December 30, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70064   open full text
• Are Authenticity Tests in Demand? Consumers' Preferences for Authenticity Tests in the Chinese Online Food Market.
  Erpeng Wang, Yefan Nian, Zhifeng Gao.
  Agribusiness. December 16, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nWith the development of new technologies that can change food appearance and taste, food fraud has become an increasingly critical issue in the food market, especially in the online food market worldwide in recent years. This study examines 935 Chinese online beefsteak buyers' preferences for food authenticity test information (meat glue test and DNA test) and explores changes in consumer surplus when such tests are provided. Our findings indicate that Chinese consumers perceive a high risk of food fraud when buying beefsteak online and consistently prefer authenticity test information, such as meat glue tests, DNA tests, and authenticity clues like Halal food verification. We also find that consumers with high consumption levels are more likely to use price as a quality cue to avoid food fraud. Consumers with low consumption levels may receive more consumer surplus from authenticity testing. This study provides important insight for policymakers and food companies when evaluating the benefits of offering food authenticity test information and designing pricing strategies with consumption stratification in the online food market.\n"]

  December 16, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70058   open full text
• Temporal Alignment of Prices in the US Beef Marketing Chain.
  Panos Fousekis.
  Agribusiness. December 13, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe objective of this work is to investigate the temporal alignment of prices along the US beef marketing chain. This is pursued by combining two non‐parametric approaches, namely, the Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise and the Dynamic Time Warping. The pattern of temporal alignment depends on the timescale and the period considered. At the medium and (to a lesser extent) the small timescale, there have been switches in the lag‐lead links and changes in the size of phase differences. At the large timescale, the information invariably flows from the markets downstream to markets upstream in the chain. The structural changes in the beef sector do not appear to have any visible effect on the pattern of temporal price alignment whereas the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic and of the War in Ukraine were short‐lived.\n"]

  December 13, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70060   open full text
• Animal‐Based Brands Taking the Plant‐Based Opportunity: A Tasting Experiment Exploring Consumer Acceptance of Plant‐Based Brand Extensions.
  Federico Parmiggiani, Mirta Casati, Elena Castellari, Fosca Vezzulli, Veronica Vitali, Milena Lambri, Claudio Soregaroli.
  Agribusiness. December 09, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study investigates how consumer taste and brand equity perceptions shape the acceptance of plant‐based milk products. Using a blind/informed tasting experiment, we evaluated consumers' willingness to buy (WTB) and taste perception of a plant‐based milk alternative produced by a traditional dairy brand, compared with competing plant‐based brands. Specifically, we examined (i) the effect of taste and brand equity on WTB and (ii) whether taste mediates the effect of brand equity on WTB. The results show that the dairy brand was positively related to WTB both directly and indirectly, by enhancing taste perception, particularly for sensory attributes such as a milky, and creamy and sweet profile. In contrast, plant‐based brands were less effective in evoking similar dairy‐like sensory associations. These findings highlight the potential advantage for dairy brands of replicating the sensory experience of their conventional products in plant‐based alternatives.\n"]

  December 09, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70056   open full text
• Assessing the Impact of Promotions on Consumer Purchasing Behavior During Crises.
  Wafa Mehaba, José María Gil.
  Agribusiness. December 04, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nUnderstanding how households modify their food expenditure decisions during times of crisis is essential because consumer purchasing behavior frequently changes during these times. This study looks at these behavioral shifts during the COVID‐19 pandemic, concentrating on how price sensitivity and response to sales promotions changed over the course of the crisis. The study uses both fixed‐effects and quantile regression models to estimate the effect of prices and promotions on food expenditure using 499,600 observations from 5784 households in the Spanish Kantar Worldpanel Homescan dataset. According to the results, price sensitivity and promotion responsiveness significantly decreased during the initial lockdown and then increased during the new normalcy period. Results further indicate that low‐expenditure households were consistently more responsive to prices and promotions than high‐expenditure households. These insights highlight important implications for retailers, who may adjust communication and pricing strategies, and for policymakers, who should consider targeted interventions to support household food security during future crises.\n"]

  December 04, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70057   open full text
• Impact of Farmland Leasing on Farmers' Profitability and Its Components: Insights From Chinese Rice Farmers.
  Xiaoheng Zhang, Junwei Lu, Yujie Wang.
  Agribusiness. November 29, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nIn recent years, the decline in rice farmers' profit in China has become an undeniable fact, which has had negative impacts on various levels, including the individual farmer, society, and the nation. Although a few studies investigated the driving force of declining profitability, little is known about the role played by farmland leasing. This paper decomposes the profitability into four components: input price change, output price change, output change, and total factor productivity change, employing a stochastic frontier input distance function model. In addition, a two‐stage least squares model is used to evaluate the impact of farmland leasing on profitability change and its components. The results show that for each additional mu (≈0.067 ha) of leased farmland, the profitability change of rice farmers increases by 0.877 percentage points. This positive effect is stronger among large‐scale farms and after the implementation of the Three Rights Separation reform. Further results show that the positive influence of farmland leasing on profitability change mainly stems from “quantity‐driven” and “price‐driven,” with the latter largely shaped by input prices. Based on the above conclusions, this paper also proposes three policy implications aimed at providing references for farmland system reforms in China and other developing countries.\n"]

  November 29, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70054   open full text
• Sensory, Consumer Preference, and Willingness to Pay Analyses Comparing Predominantly Angus and Santa Gertrudis‐Influenced Beef.
  Ryan Feuz, Lillian L. Okamoto, Audrey D. Lidgard, Zachary C. Crump, Chandler D. Stafford, Kara J. Thornton, Sulaiman K. Matarneh, Silvana Martini, Haotian Cheng, Joana Pico Carbajo.
  Agribusiness. November 27, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study conducts a sensory analysis and assesses consumer preferences and willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) for beef steaks from predominantly Angus cattle relative to Santa Gertrudis (SG)‐influenced cattle. Understanding how consumers perceive beef from SG‐influenced cattle is important because these crossbred animals offer heat tolerance and hardiness traits that could benefit producers facing environmental stressors, yet concerns remain about their potential impact on meat quality. Using sensory analysis sessions conducted in 2023 and 2024, participants assessed beef samples for appearance, aroma, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptance. Additionally, participants indicated their preferred sample and stated a WTP premium for their selection. We found comparatively lower (p‐value = 0.009) consumer ratings of appearance and higher (p‐value = 0.019) consumer ratings for tenderness of SG‐influenced beef steaks relative to Angus. Ratings for other common sensory attributes, including aroma, flavor, juiciness, and overall acceptance, are similar (p‐values > 0.05) between the steaks of the two cattle breeds. Analysis of WTP suggests no difference (p‐values > 0.05) across treatments. Tenderness, flavor, and juiciness are identified as the most influential meat attributes affecting preference selection. These findings suggest that incorporating SG genetics into beef production does not negatively impact consumer experience or value. The results can aid stakeholders in making informed decisions regarding crossbred SG genetics and marketing.\n"]

  November 27, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70055   open full text
• Social Capital, Risk Attitude, and the Adoption of Agriculture Land Quality Improvement Technologies: Evidence From South‐West China.
  Yingmei Guo, Xueying Zhou, Lihao Yao.
  Agribusiness. November 19, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe challenges of desertification, paludification, and salinization of agricultural land in China demand urgent attention, making the enhancement of agricultural land quality critical. This study surveyed 440 family farmers in the high‐latitude mountainous regions of Yunnan Province to examine how social capital and risk preferences influence the adoption of agricultural land quality improvement technologies (LQITs). The entropy method was applied to construct a social capital index, while the “bomb” risk elicitation task was employed to measure risk preferences. The results indicate: (1) Social capital significantly promotes the adoption of LQITs, especially among farmers with moderate adoption levels. (2) Among the components of social capital, social participation has the greatest impact, with farmer‐to‐farmer communication being key for technology uptake. (3) Risk‐averse farmers show a greater willingness to adopt technologies to reduce uncertainty. (4) There are significant differences in the adoption behavior between ethnic minority and Han groups, particularly among those with lower income, less education, and younger ages. The study recommends leveraging social capital at the grassroots level, expanding agricultural services in minority regions, and using microfinance to overcome financial barriers for low‐income farmers, thereby fostering land conservation efforts.\n"]

  November 19, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70053   open full text
• Market Barriers to RNAi Adoption in Agriculture: Evidence From a Multi‐Country Discrete Choice Experiment Amongst European Consumers.
  Anna Simonetto, Fjona Zeneli, Achille Amatucci, Dario Gianfranco Frisio, Vera Ventura.
  Agribusiness. November 03, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nRNA interference (RNAi) technology offers promising alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides, particularly for fungal resistance. It can be applied in agriculture either through topical delivery, such as spray‐induced gene silencing (SIGS), or via genetic modification, as in host‐induced gene silencing (HIGS). While the European public has shown consistent aversion toward genetically modified (GM) technologies, the level of acceptance for topical RNAi applications remains largely unexplored. This study primarily investigates public acceptance for strawberries produced with Topical RNAi, GM RNAi, or Traditional breeding. A discrete choice experiment was conducted in Italy, France, Germany, and Spain including additional attributes for organic production, local origin, and price. Mixed logit and willingness‐to‐pay estimates were used to analyze preferences and identify socio‐demographic and attitudinal determinants. Results consistently reveal a marked consumer aversion to products developed using RNAi technologies relative to conventional breeding, with particularly strong skepticism in France and Germany. By contrast, organic and local attributes exert strong positive influence, confirming the enduring salience of “natural” and provenance‐related cues. Key factors that could facilitate a shift toward greater acceptance include improving understanding of biotechnology innovations, enhancing consumer confidence in safety assessments, and—most importantly—increasing awareness of the alignment between RNAi technologies and sustainability goals. Acceptance is higher among men, urban residents, and individuals with greater knowledge of biotechnology and trust in regulatory assessments. Conversely, older consumers, women, and those strongly committed to sustainability‐oriented behaviors display lower acceptance, perceiving RNAi as incompatible with their values. The findings underscore that the social readiness of RNAi technologies lags behind their scientific potential. Building consumer trust, improving understanding, and reframing RNAi within broader sustainability goals will be the themes on which to base future policy decisions."]

  November 03, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70051   open full text
• Bibliometric Review of FPCs in Agricultural Value Chain Optimization.
  Vaishali Vitthal Hadawale, Pooja Sharma.
  Agribusiness. November 03, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nA steady source of income and market access for small farmers is provided by farmer‐producer businesses, which are seen as an economic organization. Over the past 8−10 years, over 4200 producer groups have been established in India to encourage farmers to increase their revenue via communal action. However, due to several obstacles, the majority of these organizations are still in the early stages of their establishment. With an emphasis on horticultural crops, this inquiry uses a bibliometric approach to examine previous studies, contributions, and trends regarding the consequences of farmer‐producer companies (FPCs) on member producers. A thorough review and bibliometric analysis were carried out to quantitatively and methodically identify developments in this field. Forty studies were found and categorized using well‐defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data set was obtained from credible journals such as Emerald, Elsevier, MDPI, Wiley, Springer, and Taylor & Francis, and it included publications from 2017 to 2024. Bibliometric techniques were applied using the VOS viewer software to analyze journal trends and keyword cooccurrence. The findings highlight the critical role of FPCs in enhancing farmers' market access, income stability, and collective bargaining power, particularly in the horticulture sector. The analysis underscores the importance of crop specialization, regional adaptability, and value chain integration in driving FPC success for horticulture crops.\n"]

  November 03, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70048   open full text
• Pricing Dynamics in the US Hemp Market: A Vertical Price Transmission Analysis of the Hemp Value Chain.
  Solomon Odiase, Tyler Mark, Patalee Buddhika Appuhamilage.
  Agribusiness. October 31, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThe US hemp market is a new and nascent industry that has been devoid of research for about half a century. This study examined the effects of exogenous shock on price at each phase of the value chain—Farm (hemp biomass), and its impact on prices at other phases of the value chain—Intermediary Processor (crude cannabidiol hemp) and Final Processor (refined cannabidiol hemp oil). The research uses an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Error Correction model to assess the impact of an external shock on individual phases within the value chain. This model aimed to analyze how disruptions in each phase of the value chain affected other interconnected phases. In the event of a negative shock, the research showed that hemp biomass and crude cannabidiol oil prices adjusted significantly and symmetrically with each other, while the refined cannabidiol hemp oil adjusted asymmetrically and insignificantly. This implies that the refined cannabidiol hemp oil market price is the most stable in the incidence of disturbances in the hemp market. Based on these findings, some innovative ideas were proposed to boost hemp commodity demand and promote sustainability of the US hemp commodity market.\n"]

  October 31, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70042   open full text
• The Impact of Agricultural Digital Transformation on Income Inequality: Evidence From Rural China.
  Lei Liu, Yi Wang, Man Teng, Chenyun Lu.
  Agribusiness. October 28, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nAgricultural digitalization is indispensable for advancing China's agricultural modernization, while it has also caused job displacement and income differentiation in rural labor markets. However, its impact on income inequality and the underlying mechanisms remain under‐explored. Using survey data from 1239 villages across 264 counties in 29 Chinese provinces and cities, this study conducts an empirical test. Based on RIF regression (to address flaws in traditional income inequality modeling), it estimates the effect of agricultural digitalization on rural household income inequality. Results show: (1) Agricultural digitalization significantly boosts income, with a stronger effect on low‐income groups, thereby narrowing income inequality among rural households. (2) Mechanism analysis reveals that it stimulates employment and entrepreneurship, eases financing constraints, and strengthens interest linkages, all of which contribute to reduced inequality among rural households. (3) Heterogeneity analysis finds that its income‐boosting marginal effect is stronger in areas with poor accessibility to administrative facilities, marketplaces, and transportation networks, though it also widens income gaps within the rural population. This study confirms agricultural digitalization as a key driver for tackling rural income inequality in China, and it offers actionable evidence for comprehensive rural revitalization in other developing countries.\n"]

  October 28, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70049   open full text
• Transforming Agricultural Trade: The Role of Multilayer Bilateral Relations in China's Import Patterns.
  Wenjie Ji, Hong Zhou.
  Agribusiness. October 26, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study draws on a range of key variables, including United Nations (UN) voting patterns, Partnerships, Diplomatic Visits, as well as whether China has signed The Belt and Road Initiative (B&R) agreements and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with relevant countries. Using the entropy method, the study calculates a comprehensive bilateral relationship index between China and its major agricultural trade partners. The empirical analysis explores the effects of multilayer bilateral relationships on agricultural import trade. The findings indicate that improvements in multilayer bilateral relations have a positive impact on the institutional frameworks and rules governing interactions in the political, economic, and cultural spheres. Given the strong endogeneity between bilateral relations and international trade, the robustness of the results is tested by substituting alternative bilateral relationship indicators and employing both internal and external instrumental variables for re‐estimation. Additionally, heterogeneity analysis reveals that strengthening multilayer bilateral relations with countries in the Americas and Europe (particularly developed economies) has a more significant effect on expanding the sources and scale of China's imports. Furthermore, improvements in bilateral relations are found to positively influence China's imports of plant‐based products, food, tobacco, and tobacco products. These results further substantiate the reliability of the study's conclusions.\n"]

  October 26, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70047   open full text
• Consumer Preferences for Meal Delivery: The Offsetting and Complementary Effects of Virtual Restaurants.
  Dan Wang, Wuyang Hu, Jian Li, Xuesen Fan, Ping Qing.
  Agribusiness. October 21, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nAs meal delivery services continue to surge globally, the emergence of virtual restaurants presents unique opportunities and challenges. This study explores consumer preferences and willingness to pay for delivered meals from virtual restaurants and examines their interactions with branded restaurants, live kitchens, and consumer ratings through a discrete choice experiment. We find that consumers exhibit a stronger aversion to delivered meals from virtual restaurants. Furthermore, virtual restaurants and well‐known branded restaurants or live kitchens exhibit offsetting effects, leading to a lower combined consumer willingness to pay when these attributes coexist compared to each of them appearing separately. Conversely, virtual restaurants demonstrate complementary effects with positive or neutral consumer ratings. Simulation results indicate that combinations of single or multiple attributes contribute to alleviating potential consumer welfare losses associated with delivered meals from virtual restaurants, and mitigating their adverse impacts on market shares. Management strategies aimed at promoting restaurant diversity could focus on understanding these offsetting and complementary effects.\n"]

  October 21, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70045   open full text
• The Power of Unity: Collective Action and Smallholder Agricultural Performance in West Africa.
  Emmanuel Donkor, Bright Owusu Asante, David Boansi, Victor Owusu.
  Agribusiness. October 21, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nWe analyze the impact of collective action through farmer‐based organizations (FBOs) on smallholders' farm performance and income inequality in Ghana, Benin, The Gambia, and Mali. We find that FBO membership increases cereal yield in Ghana and The Gambia, legume yield in Mali, ruminant numbers in Benin and The Gambia, and total farm income in Ghana and Benin. While FBOs promote income equality among smallholders in Ghana, they widen inequality in the three countries. Ensuring inclusive participation, especially for vulnerable rural farmers and women, is key to equitable benefits from collective action.\n"]

  October 21, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70046   open full text
• Common Ground: Framing and the Potential to Mitigate Herbicide Resistance Using Collective Action.
  Ariel Singerman, Sergio H. Lence.
  Agribusiness. October 21, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nWe collected data on the willingness of row‐crop farmers in Argentina to coordinate actions to combat the impact of herbicide‐resistant weeds using a framed field economic experiment that elicited farmers' preferences in the gain and loss domains. This is a highly relevant case study because of the increasingly significant challenge that herbicide resistance poses worldwide as well as due to the increase in private and social costs associated with the market failure resulting from laissez faire. We find that the way the payoff from the decision is framed has a statistically significant impact on the probability that a randomly chosen individual coordinates, but such impact is not economically significant. However, we also find that the aggregation of responses disguises important underlying differences in how individuals responded to changes in the games' framing. We discovered that a large share of farmers exhibited a type of behavior that could be hypothesized to be induced by time pressure, which has been found to cause reversal of (prospect theory) preferences. When considering the responses that do not show such a reversal —to make the case more favorable for framing — we find that the impact on the probability that a randomly chosen individual coordinates and on the maximum coordination threshold tend to be larger but are still of rather little economic significance. This finding suggests that highlighting the potential benefits of coordination in terms of reducing losses is unlikely to have a major impact to incentivize collective action against herbicide‐resistant weeds."]

  October 21, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70044   open full text
• Swedish Consumers' Willingness‐to‐Pay for Plant‐Based Proteins in Pasta Sauce: Preferences and Policy Scenarios.
  Emilia Mattsson, Anna Kristina Edenbrandt, Jens Rommel, Sarah Säll.
  Agribusiness. October 11, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis paper explores Swedish consumers' protein preferences by estimating the willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) for minced meat and plant‐based proteins in pasta sauce from an in‐store experiment (n = 206) and an online discrete choice experiment (n = 517). On average, the WTP was highest for minced meat. The WTP for the plant‐based proteins was rarely statistically and economically different from the opt‐out option. We found significant preference heterogeneity, especially for the plant‐based options, which suggests that taking individual preferences into consideration could be important for achieving a more substantial shift towards plant‐based proteins. Policy scenarios are investigated by estimating market shares following the implementation of a meat tax. There is some potential for the meat tax to reduce meat consumption. However, the predicted market shares for plant‐based proteins do not substantially increase with the meat tax.\n"]

  October 11, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70041   open full text
• Examining Producer's Willingness to Incur Costs for Adopting Food Safety: A Case From Fresh Produce Farmers in Nepal.
  Sujan Ghimire, Aditya R. Khanal, Ram Hari Timilsina.
  Agribusiness. October 11, 2025
  ["Agribusiness, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nIn developing countries, there have been numerous challenges in ensuring food safety in food systems. Unsafe and poor‐quality foods lead to public health concerns of greater negative consequences. Particularly, the fruits and vegetables consumed raw as a salad are more susceptible to causing foodborne illnesses when contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Ensuring safer food entails commitment from all involved in the food systems. However, little is known about how producers perceive the extra costs associated with implementing food safety measures at the farm and market levels in developing countries. Using a nationwide primary survey in Nepal, this study investigates how willing commercial vegetable producers are to invest in food safety. To elicit this information, we employed a bidding experiment among 1052 commercial vegetable growers across 10 districts of seven provinces in Nepal. We assessed growers' willingness to accept (WTA) additional costs for food safety using multiple dichotomous choice questions for bounds and interval regression method. Our model prediction shows a positive WTA of around 13% additional costs in adopting food safety. Results indicate that improving access to credit and financial support, enhancing educational and awareness programs on food safety, efforts on risk management, and appropriate market channels would be key considerations to enhance farmers' investment in food safety.\n"]

  October 11, 2025   doi: 10.1002/agr.70043   open full text
• Efficiency of Egyptian organic agriculture: A local maximum likelihood approach.
  Bouali Guesmi, Teresa Serra, Amr Radwan, José María Gil.
  Agribusiness. September 20, 2017
  Productive efficiency analysis is a relevant tool that can be used to evaluate differences in the performance between conventional and organic farms. Such study is important for the assessment of the economic viability of these two agricultural systems. Although the existing research has widely used the stochastic frontier methodology and the data envelopment analysis nonparametric approach to assess farming performance, the use of the local maximum likelihood (LML) approach proposed by Kumbhakar et al. is scarce. This study represents the first analysis that compares the efficiency levels of organic and conventional farms in Egypt. To do so, we apply LML methods to cross‐sectional, farm‐level data collected from a sample of 60 Egyptian farms. Results suggest that performance of organic farmers is slightly better than performance of their conventional counterparts. Further, we find a positive relationship between technical efficiency and farm size. [EconLit citations: C14, Q12, D24].

  September 20, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21520   open full text
• The economic impacts of agricultural cooperatives on smallholder farmers in rural China.
  Wanglin Ma, Awudu Abdulai.
  Agribusiness. September 14, 2017
  This paper examines the impacts of agricultural cooperative membership on output price, gross income, farm profit, and return on investment (ROI) utilizing a recent household survey data of 481 apple producers in China. We employ a treatment effects model to account for potential selection bias that arises from the fact that cooperative members and nonmembers are systematically different in terms of both observable and unobservable factors. Our analysis reveals that cooperative membership has a positive and statistically significant impact on apple price, gross income, farm profit, and ROI. In addition, we find that the highest profit effect of cooperative membership does not in fact result in the highest ROI effect of the membership, revealing differences in farm income and profitability of investment. [EconLit citations: C35, D71, Q12, Q13].

  September 14, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21522   open full text
• Genetically modified labeling: The role of consumers’ trust and personality.
  Karen Lewis DeLong, Carola Grebitus.
  Agribusiness. September 14, 2017
  Despite the USDA’s genetically modified (GM) regulatory approval process, many U.S. consumers still want GM foods labeled. Therefore, this research identifies how individuals’ trust in the ability of institutions to ensure the safety of food, their personality, and their demographics affects their desire for GM foods to be labeled. A survey was administered to 566 consumers to elicit their desire for GM labeling of sugar and sugar in soft drinks. Results of a bivariate ordered probit model suggest that less conscientious individuals, males, and individuals who have a greater trust in food manufacturers and the government to ensure the safety of food are less likely to desire GM labeling. Cluster analysis further identified market segments of individuals based on their level of desire for GM labeling. Results are informative to policy makers and GM technology participants. [EconLit Citations: Q18]

  September 14, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21521   open full text
• Financial behavior of cooperatives and investor‐owned firms: An empirical analysis of the Spanish fruit and vegetable sector.
  MCarmen Martínez‐Victoria, Narciso Arcas Lario, Mariluz Maté Sánchez Val.
  Agribusiness. August 24, 2017
  A partial adjustment model was formulated to compare financial ratios between cooperatives and investor‐owned firms from a dynamic perspective. Empirical results from a sample of Spanish fruit and vegetable firms for the period between 2009 and 2012 reveal different adjustment processes of current, debt, and return on assets ratios between cooperatives and IOFs. We find significant differences between these firms, with slower adjustment rates for current and debt ratios in cooperatives. These findings may arise from the weakness associated with ownership structure in cooperatives, which reduces their adjustment processes compared to those of IOFs. The identification of differences in adjustment processes between cooperatives and IOFs may provide us with additional information regarding the specific management characteristics of these agri‐food firms, thus identifying those firms that are most dependent on external market conditions. [EconLit citations: C33, G30, Q13].

  August 24, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21513   open full text
• Dynamic versus static inefficiency assessment of the Polish meat‐processing industry in the aftermath of the European Union integration and financial crisis.
  Magdalena Kapelko.
  Agribusiness. August 24, 2017
  This paper assesses the dynamic inefficiency of the Polish meat‐processing industry during the period between 2004 and 2012. This study employs also a comparison of dynamic with static inefficiency measures to address the importance of accounting for adjustment costs when measuring a firm's inefficiency. Dynamic and static cost inefficiencies and their decomposition into technical, allocative, and scale inefficiency are derived using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Results show that firms’ low levels of dynamic cost inefficiency are mainly due to dynamic allocative inefficiency rather than technical and scale inefficiency. The 2008 financial crisis appears to hamper firms’ dynamic technical performance, but has also a positive influence on the dynamic allocative and scale inefficiencies. We further show that the average static measures tend to underestimate all inefficiency components compared to dynamic counterparts. [EconLit citations: C61, D61, L66].

  August 24, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21515   open full text
• International aggregate agricultural supply for grain and oilseed: The effects of efficiency and technological change.
  Nestor Clech, Carmen Fillat‐Castejón.
  Agribusiness. August 24, 2017
  This paper analyses the effects of the main determinants of international aggregate agricultural supply. We propose a new model that captures the farmers’ expectations through the storage approach, instead of using Nerlove's basic model. As an innovation, we add the effects of efficiency and technological change directly, thus achieving a more powerful and informative estimation than with the usual dynamic model. Moreover, we consider the effect of climate and construct a sowing and harvesting calendar for each country and each crop to measure the supply more precisely. We also analyze the effects of agricultural prices and their volatility, of commercial policy and of changes in inventories on the suppliers’ decisions. Finally, we examine the differences in these determinants depending on the level of development of the countries. [EconLit citations: Q11, Q16, Q18].

  August 24, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21514   open full text
• Economic feasibility of Campylobacter‐reduced chicken: Do consumers have high willingness to pay?
  Yukichika Kawata, Masahide Watanabe.
  Agribusiness. June 23, 2017
  We apply a choice experiment to estimate additional willingness to pay for Campylobacter‐reduced chicken compared with normal chicken. We select Japanese consumers as an example because Japan is the world's largest chicken importer. The additional willingness to pay is estimated to be 38.87 JPY (about 0.39 USD)/150 g (when food poisoning levels reduced from 1/500 to 1/1,000) and 80.29 JPY (about 0.80 USD)/150 g (1/2,000). These values are high enough to cover additional associated costs, implying that producers’ spontaneous provision of Campylobacter‐reduced chicken is feasible. Our study is the first to confirm this fact. In addition, we elucidate consumers’ characteristics that push up additional willingness to pay, thereby drawing useful implications for promoting safer chicken. Good progress in providing safer chicken in Japan would create more global business opportunities for companies and might trigger expansion of pathogen‐reduced table meat worldwide. [EconLit citations: Q13, Q18]

  June 23, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21512   open full text
• If you brew it, who will come? Market segments in the U.S. beer market.
  Trey Malone, Jayson L. Lusk.
  Agribusiness. June 13, 2017
  This article uses data collected from a large number of representative United States beer drinkers to identify potential market segments through consumers' taste perceptions of various beer brands. We use several well‐established marketing research methods to show that distinctive segments of the beer market underlie aggregate demand for craft beer. Using exploratory factor analysis, we find that consumers tend to group beers by two underlying factors of taste. We then use cluster analysis to provide a description of how market segments are influenced by brand familiarity. Overall, this article highlights consumer heterogeneity in the modern U.S. beer market and provides an example of how one might use primary data to analyze segmentation in a growing but highly competitive market. [EconLit citations: : C83, M3, Q1]

  June 13, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21511   open full text
• Agricultural technical education and agrochemical use by rice farmers in China.
  Ruiyao Ying, Li Zhou, Wuyang Hu, Dan Pan.
  Agribusiness. May 02, 2017
  Using participatory approaches and experimental economic methods, this paper analyzes the impacts of different types of agricultural technical education on farmers’ agrochemical use in China. Agricultural technical education is differentiated as training through a short course and additional personal guidance both offered through agricultural extension agencies. Results show that training alone may generate the desired result of reducing fertilizer usage. However, additional personal guidance does not support the intended goal of reducing the application of either fertilizer or pesticide. This study also detects technology diffusion effect in that farmers who are not offered education but are in the same village where the education programs are offered are more likely to change their behavior. Implications of this study call for better supervision and implementation of agricultural extension efforts in China. [EconLit citations: Q12, Q16, Q52]

  May 02, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21508   open full text
• Announcement from the Publisher.
  
  Agribusiness. April 24, 2017
  There is no abstract available for this paper.

  April 24, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21510   open full text
• Consumer preferences for pork attributes related to traceability, information certification, and origin labeling: Based on China's Jiangsu Province.
  Linhai Wu, Xiaoru Gong, Shasha Qin, Xiujuan Chen, Dian Zhu, Wuyang Hu, Qingguang Li.
  Agribusiness. April 19, 2017
  In this study, 110 consumers in Wuxi, China's Jiangsu Province were surveyed for their preferences for traceable pork in a real choice experiment. Using random parameters logit and latent class logit models, results revealed that consumers had the highest willingness to pay (WTP) for government certification of traceability information authenticity. Consumers also had higher WTP for origin labeling compared to uncertified traceability information. Moreover, traceability to slaughter and processing was viewed as a substitute for local farming labeling and complement to non‐local farming labeling. Despite the heterogeneity among consumer groups, all consumers had some positive WTP for the local farming labeling attribute of traceable pork. Therefore, it is beneficial to include origin labeling in the traceable food attribute systems during the initial construction of traceable food markets in China.

  April 19, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21509   open full text
• The use of a hybrid latent class approach to identify consumer segments and market potential for organic products in Nigeria.
  Muhammad Bello, Awudu Abdulai.
  Agribusiness. March 08, 2017
  Using data from a hypothetical stated preference survey conducted in Nigeria, we show how the relative importance that consumers attach to organic products’ attributes varies strongly as a function of underlying attitudes. We specify a latent class structure that allows us to jointly analyze responses to stated choice and assignment to latent classes, while avoiding measurement error problems. Our results reveal that consumers are willing to pay premium for both health and environmental gains achieved through organic production systems, although their quantitative valuation is higher for the health concerns. Furthermore, we note that individuals with stronger preferences for organic products tend to attach a global value to the certification program, whereas the valuation tends to be more restrictive among respondents that prioritize the status quo option (conventional alternative). We also observe that differences in respondents’ geographic location and level of awareness of organic food production characteristics (prior to the survey) have significant impact on consumers’ choices.[EconLit citations: D12, Q13, Q18, Q56]

  March 08, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21506   open full text
• Using labeled choice experiments to analyze demand structure and market position among seafood products.
  Nguyen Tien Thong, Hans Stubbe Solgaard, Wolfgang Haider, Eva Roth, Lars Ravn‐Jonsen.
  Agribusiness. February 25, 2017
  Understanding market competition and consumer preferences are important first steps in developing a business. In a competitive market, the effectiveness of the various elements of a firm's marketing mix depends not only on the absolute value of each element but also on the relative values of the elements with respect to the firm's position in the market. In this paper, we analyze the demand structure and market positions of a variety of seafood products in the French retail market. We used a labeled choice experiment to analyze 12 seafood species. The choice options were labeled by the names of the seafood, providing researchers the opportunity to analyze the competitive interactions among the species. Competitive clout and vulnerability measures were estimated for each species as summary measures of species competition. These measures were calculated from cross‐ and own‐elasticities and reveal that salmon and cod have the strongest market position, while monkfish and pangasius have the weakest. In general, the demand for seafood is moderately sensitive to price (market elasticity of −1.31). Large size and low‐income households, female consumers, people in the age range 35–44 years, and self‐employed consumers are the most sensitive to price. Four segments were identified and described in terms of both consumer characteristics and preferences. Our results are meaningful for producers and retailers to develop marketing strategies and production plans. [EconLit citations: D12, M21, Q13].

  February 25, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21504   open full text
• Substituting hake with sardines? Economic crisis and fish demand in Spain.
  Ikerne del Valle, Jordi Guillen, Kepa Astorkiza.
  Agribusiness. February 25, 2017
  The main objective of this paper is to investigate the existence of an economic crisis‐induced demand shift in the Spanish fish market. This is performed by endogenously examining whether the existence of a structural break in fish price trends around 2008, corresponding to the collapse of the Spanish economy, together with an asymmetric and specific price behavior regarding the sign and magnitude of the expected income elasticities of three staple fish species (i.e., sardine, anchovy and hake). Our data corroborate not only the structural break hypothesis for rooted luxury and inferior fish species in the Spanish market but also an opposite price response after the break, which explains the increasing pressure on cheap fish demand and conversely the lower demand for expensive fish products. Results show consistency for all market levels analyzed (i.e., origin, wholesale and retail). [EconLit citations: C22, Q31].

  February 25, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21499   open full text
• Implications of the 2006 E. coli outbreak on spatial price transmission in the U.S. fresh spinach market.
  Samantha L. Durborow, Chanjin Chung, Seon‐woong Kim.
  Agribusiness. February 25, 2017
  A regime switching error correction model is applied to weekly shipping point and terminal market spinach prices in order to assess the spatial price transmission impact of the 2006 E. coli outbreak on the U.S. fresh spinach market. A food safety index (FSI) related to the outbreak is calculated and used as the regime switching mechanism for 11 alternative farm‐to‐wholesale spatially separated market pairs. Results suggest not all markets responded uniformly to the FSI. The majority of the markets with alternative sources of spinach exhibited nonlinearities, whereas those which were primarily supplied by California producers did not. In general, shorter adjustment speeds were seen in terminal markets that were closer in proximity to the California shipping point. Southern market pairs exhibiting threshold behavior saw increased efficiency after the outbreak (potentially due to increased self‐regulation), whereas the remaining pairs saw a loss in efficiency. [EconLit citations: C32, Q11].

  February 25, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21497   open full text
• Estimating the cost of pre‐harvest forward contracting corn and soybeans in Illinois before and after 2007.
  Xiaoli L. Etienne, Mindy L. Mallory, Scott H. Irwin.
  Agribusiness. February 25, 2017
  Forward contracting historically has been the principal risk management tool of crop farmers in the United States. We use pre‐harvest forward contract bids from 1977 to 2013 in Illinois to estimate the cost of forward contracting corn and soybeans. Prior to 2007, it cost 1.55% of the October spot price or 3.74 cents/bushel on average to forward contract corn at the end of February. In 2007–2013, a period of high price volatility, the average cost increased to 3.31% or 16.40 cents/bushel. In the soybean market, before 2007 the average cost was 0.77% or 6.26 cents/bushel and thereafter increased to 1.46% or 15.62 cents/bushel. Default risk does not appear to be a determinant of forward contracting cost. However, evidence suggests that the higher cash flow risk associated with volatile market prices is likely to be the main driving cause of increasing forward contracting costs observed after 2007. [EconLit citations: Q11, Q13].

  February 25, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21500   open full text
• Influence of brand equity on the price premium for private labels in fresh produce: A contingent valuation survey.
  Kiyotaka Masuda, Shohei Kushiro.
  Agribusiness. February 25, 2017
  In recent years, premium private labels for fresh produce grown with reduced use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers have been developed by Japanese general merchandise stores. In this paper, the brand equity factors that affect willingness to pay (WTP) for private label vegetables are identified using the contingent valuation method. We consider four key dimensions of brand equity, namely brand awareness, brand loyalty, perceived quality, and brand associations. We find that brand loyalty factors based on the psychology of consumers who seek value‐added vegetables with health and safety characteristics have the largest effect on the WTP premium. Providing shoppers with clear information about the key product attributes of reduced use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers is particularly important to generate brand equity for private label vegetables. [EconLit citations: Q130, M310].

  February 25, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21498   open full text
• Consumers’ willingness to pay for edamame with a genetically modified label.
  Elijah Wolfe, Michael Popp, Claudia Bazzani, Rodolfo M. Nayga, Diana Danforth, Jennie Popp, Pengyin Chen, Han‐Seok Seo.
  Agribusiness. February 25, 2017
  Results from a sensory test of edamame, which is soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) harvested near the end of the pod filling stage, followed by a non‐hypothetical auction, and finally a questionnaire were used to determine WTP for GM labeled edamame in comparison to unlabeled and non‐GM labeled edamame. The results showed a significant price premium for non‐GM edamame even though overall sensory impression did not differ between GM and non‐GM edamame. Interestingly unlabeled and GM labeled edamame bids were similar suggesting that consumers wanted to be informed. Preconceived consumer notions appeared to play a role as did knowledge, opinion, income, and consumption frequency in subsamples of respondents. Labeling edamame is in the interest of producers as all edamame produced in the U.S. is non‐GM.

  February 25, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21505   open full text
• The media impact of animal disease on the US meat demand.
  H. Holly Wang, Paul Gardner Beville.
  Agribusiness. February 25, 2017
  Consumers are sensitive to food safety problems such as the outbreak of animal diseases. This paper examined the impact on consumers’ consumption behavior from information about food safety reported in news media. Taking avian influenza outbreak as an example, we counted articles published in major newspapers in the United States between 2001 and 2009, and included variables constructed based on these counts in an Inverse Almost ideal Demand model using monthly market consumption data on chicken, duck, other poultry, beef, and pork to estimate the impact of news on actual demand of these meats. We found that U.S. consumers would reduce their poultry demand and substitute by livestock meats when such news is reported by media negatively. This effect is boundary‐unconstrained, i.e., the U.S. poultry market suffers irrespective to the country of the disease outbreak. However, the magnitude of the effect is lower if the outbreak is from overseas.

  February 25, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21501   open full text
• Processor Linkages and Farm Household Productivity: Evidence from Dairy Hubs in East Africa.
  Immaculate Omondi, Elizaphan J. O. Rao, Aziz A. Karimov, Isabelle Baltenweck.
  Agribusiness. February 07, 2017
  Linking smallholder farmers to large enterprises could be a powerful mechanism to improve input and output markets as well as other productivity‐enhancing services for liquidity constrained smallholders. Dairy hubs promoted by East African Dairy Development project are collective farmer‐owned milk bulking and/or chilling plants through which farmers get access to output markets and inputs as well as other services necessary for their dairy enterprises. The hubs act as a linkage between large processors and smallholder dairy farmers. They enable farmers to supply milk to large dairy processors who are emerging key players in the East African dairy industry. In addition to the different forms of linkages with large processors, these hubs also differ in their level of growth toward sustainability. In light of this background, this work aims to provide evidence on the effects, at farm level, of different types of linkages between smallholder dairy farmers and large processors through dairy hubs. The study uses cross‐sectional survey data collected from 993 smallholder livestock keeping households living within the dairy hubs’ catchment areas in Kenya and Uganda. Statistical tests on technical efficiency estimates from dairy farm enterprises were conducted in order to provide evidence of the effects of the types of processor linkages on the performance of the dairy farm enterprises. The results provide evidence of no strong influence at farm levels that can be attributed to different forms of linkages with processor that dairy hubs adopt. Moreover, though hub sustainability is directly linked to the producer organization's efficiency level, our results show that it does not sufficiently translate to more productive farmers. These findings call for concerted efforts by development agents in the dairy sector, policy makers, and even large processors to intervene in order to support improved farm performance. As evident from the study, one direct policy tool at the disposal of these agents is extension messages. [EconLit citations D24; L25; Q12].

  February 07, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21492   open full text
• Factors Affecting Changes in Managerial Decisions.
  Joshua D. Woodard, Leslie Verteramo Chiu, Gabriel Power, Dmitry Vedenov, Steven Klose.
  Agribusiness. February 07, 2017
  It is commonly held that revealed managerial decisions depend on the interaction of risk attitudes and preferences, as well as market and firm conditions. In agriculture, production plans can have a horizon of a few months to several years. However, it is not always the case that managers follow through on their plans once established. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors that contribute to changes between managers’ planned decisions and eventual actions. A unique dataset consisting of farm financial data, consultant generated production plans, and a follow‐up producer survey was constructed with participants in the Texas FARM‐Assistance program. We evaluate the effects of managers’ behavioral attributes, farm financial indicators, and production characteristics on the decision to follow through on business plans. Our findings provide new insights into the decision‐making and planning processes of managers under risky market conditions, and the interactions of same with behavioral characteristics. [EconLit citations: Q12; Q13; Q14; D22; G02].

  February 07, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21496   open full text
• The Effects of Contract Mechanism Design and Risk Preferences on Biomass Supply for Ethanol Production.
  Kassu Wamisho Hossiso, Aaron Laporte, David Ripplinger.
  Agribusiness. January 30, 2017
  This study used a stated choice experimental survey to evaluate the effects of contract design mechanisms and farmers’ risk preferences in supplying biomass for ethanol production in a vertically coordinated biomass supply chain in Northern Plain of the United States. A rank‐ordered logit model was used to assess the effects of price‐ and quantity‐based contract mechanisms, risk preferences, and farm characteristics on ranking of contract preferences. Our empirical results show that, under price‐based contract, farmers are likely to prefer contract that set fixed price when a contract was offered over short term, however, over the long term, farmers prefer a contract item that set formula with a floor price. Under quantity‐based design mechanism, our model results illustrate that contract items that limit biomass quantity delivery requirement become less preferable even if farmers are allowed to negotiate on delivery price. In addition, farmer's risk perception factors toward engaging in marketing organization and vertically coordinated supply chains play a significant role in ranking contract preferences. [EconLit citations: D82; Q13; Q42]

  January 30, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21491   open full text
• Coordination of Winegrape Supply Chains in Emerging Markets.
  Fabio R. Chaddad, Jason R.V. Franken, Miguel I. Gómez, R. Brent Ross.
  Agribusiness. January 30, 2017
  This study investigates factors influencing coordination of winegrape procurement in emerging wine regions in Michigan, Missouri, and New York. Wineries in these emerging regions face different vertical coordination challenges than in well‐established regions, which may affect procurement choices. Results corroborate prior findings that quality considerations and the need to safeguard investments in specialized assets, respectively, increase usage of more formal coordination mechanisms like written contracts and vertical integration or ownership. Consistent with prior findings of studies of wineries in established wine regions, we find that perceived difficulty in measuring grape quality attributes leads to tighter coordination; a point previously undocumented for emerging regions. [EconLit citation: Q130]

  January 30, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21495   open full text
• Technical Efficiency in Chilean Agribusiness Industry: A Metafrontier Approach.
  Sebastian Lakner, Thelma Brenes‐Muñoz, Bernhard Brümmer.
  Agribusiness. January 25, 2017
  This study models the technical efficiency in the Chilean agribusiness industry between 2001 and 2007 by taking into consideration the structural differences between the different subsectors meat, fruit & vegetables, dairy, milling, and bakery. We analyze firm data from the Annual National Industrial Survey (ENIA) totaling 2,940 observations using a stochastic frontier model combined with a metafrontier model. We observe dynamic developments in the subsectors meat, fruit & vegetables, and dairy, with a pronounced export‐orientation. We show that especially meat and fruit & vegetables firms have experienced positive technological change, whereas dairy firms are exhibiting a slight decrease in efficiency and technical change. The milling and bakery subsectors, which mainly produce for the domestic market, show a rather constant status in efficiency and technical change. The results confirm that an in‐depth analysis of subsectors is necessary to evaluate the competitiveness of the agribusiness industry in Chile. [EconLit citations: D24; Q13].

  January 25, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21493   open full text
• How Much Do Consumers Value Protected Designation of Origin Certifications? Estimates of willingness to Pay for PDO Dry‐Cured Ham in Italy.
  Christian Garavaglia, Paolo Mariani.
  Agribusiness. January 25, 2017
  This study investigates consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for protected designation of origin certifications. First, the paper proposes the use of a new index in food studies to measure WTP. We focus on dry‐cured ham in Italy. Our results add a geographical dimension to studies of consumer preferences by providing evidence of the existence of differences based on place of residence. Consumers who live in the same area where certified ham is produced are willing to pay a lower premium price than consumers living farther away are willing to pay: the closer consumers live to the area of production of the certified product, the less they refer to extrinsic certification cues [EconLit citations: Q11; D12; C35].

  January 25, 2017   doi: 10.1002/agr.21494   open full text
• Information Content of USDA Rice Reports and Price Reactions of Rice Futures.
  Andrew M. McKenzie, Jessica L. Darby.
  Agribusiness. November 01, 2016
  Rice is a predominant food staple in many regions of the world, and it is important to determine how efficiently the U.S. rice market helps to ensure world food security. This question can be answered by gauging the price discovery performance of the U.S. rice futures market and the economic usefulness of the U.S. government's supply and demand forecasts. So, to this end, we employ two event study approaches: (1) to examine variability in returns on report‐release days as compared to returns on pre‐ and post‐report days, and (2) to regress price reactions on changes in usage and production information. It is found that the USDA provides the rice futures markets with valuable information and rice futures respond to the information in an economically consistent manner.

  November 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21489   open full text
• What's in a Name? The Impact of Fair Trade Claims on Product Price.
  Nicholas G. Marconi, Neal H. Hooker, Nicholas DiMarcello.
  Agribusiness. November 01, 2016
  Agribusinesses use credence claims reporting the sustainability of products and supply chains. One example, fair trade, relies on a diverse set of third party standards and certification organizations. Food marketing data are used to compare products launched between 1999 and 2013 in the coffee, tea, and chocolate categories. Out of 3,257 observations making a reference to fair trade, 2,745 were certified. The other items follow certain fair trade practices or support fair trade. Many products claim both fair trade and organic (congruent claim). Fairtrade Labeling Organizations – International (FLO‐I) certifiers dominate, but Fair Trade USA (breaking from FLO‐I in 2012) is important. A double hurdle hedonic regression model explores the relationship between claims and suggested retail price in the United States, Canada, and European Union over two periods (1999–2011 and 2012–2013). Two models are run, one aggregating non‐FLO‐I members and one accounting for each individual certifier. The models (first hurdle) are not able to identify factors explaining which products are certified. Results suggest (second hurdle) that after controlling for congruent claims, having a fair trade claim certified by certain third parties significantly raises the price (above an uncertified product). In particular FLO‐I certification leads to a higher price in all models in both periods. Conversely, there is a range of premia for non‐FLO‐I certifiers, not all statistically significant. Implications for stakeholders are advanced. [EconLit citations: D40, L15, L66].

  November 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21486   open full text
• Relationship between Children's BMI and Parents’ Preferences for Kids’ Yogurts with and without Front of Package Health Signals.
  Gregory Colson, Carola Grebitus.
  Agribusiness. November 01, 2016
  Childhood obesity has emerged as a critical national policy issue in many countries. One challenge in combating childhood obesity via induced shifts toward a healthier diet is that the majority of food consumed by younger children is purchased or prepared by someone else, i.e., a parent. Hence, it is critical to design initiatives and marketing efforts aimed at affecting parents' purchases of healthy foods for their children. In this study, we focus on the potential of front‐of‐package health labels specifically designed to signal to parents those foods that are healthy for children. We report results of a choice experiment administered to 733 parents. In the experiments, branded and unbranded yogurts marketed to children are considered with different health labels. In our analysis, we control for the child's body mass index (BMI) to assess how labels affect parents' food choices in the context of varying BMI data for the children. We also include whether parents worried about their children's eating patterns react differently to the labeling. Results from two multinomial logit models indicate that parents prefer and are more likely to purchase yogurts with a label denoting the food is a healthy choice for children. Critically, we find parents with children who are overweight or obese, and hence already in the high‐risk category due to their body weight, are most affected by the labels. Overall, results indicate that health labels can be an effective signal and marketing effort to nudge parents of overweight or obese children toward healthier food purchase. [EconLit citations: D12, I1, Q18].

  November 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21487   open full text
• Ornamental Plants in the United States: An Econometric Analysis of a Household‐Level Demand System.
  Vardges Hovhannisyan, Hayk Khachatryan.
  Agribusiness. October 26, 2016
  This study provides an empirical analysis of demand for a large group of ornamental plants using a theory‐based demand model. Specifically, consumer preferences are represented by the Almost Ideal Demand System where allowance is made for demand censoring. Given that revealed‐preference data are usually limited to certain ornamental plants and geographical locations, we exploit unique hypothetical purchase data collected via an online survey regarding 16 annual, perennial, and foliage plants from across the United States. The effect of various socio‐economic and demographic factors on demand for plants is quantified. Our findings indicate that ornamental plants are predominantly price‐elastic with foliage plants being more price‐responsive vis‐a‐vis other plant categories. Further, a majority of plants are expenditure‐elastic with the estimates of foliage plants manifesting the greatest variability. Finally, plants in the same category appear to be closer substitutes. Results benefit ornamental plant industry stakeholders as they determine the best pricing strategies in their specific markets.

  October 26, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21488   open full text
• Measuring Oligopsony Power in the U.S. Cattle Procurement Market: Packer Concentration, Cattle Cycle, and Seasonality.
  Inbae Ji, Chanjin Chung, Jungmin Lee.
  Agribusiness. October 03, 2016
  This study estimates the oligopsony power in the U.S. cattle procurement market in consideration of market structure of beef‐packing industry, cattle supply, and seasonality. Our conceptual model represents a price‐setting monopsonist competing with multiple monopsonists, and the corresponding empirical model includes a time‐varying parameter framework so that it can trace the change in packers’ imperfect competition behavior in the cattle procurement market over time. The empirical model is applied to three cattle procurement markets in the United States: national, Nebraska, and Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico. Empirical results show the existence of oligopsony market power in the U.S. cattle procurement market. The oligopsony market power is considerably influenced by cattle cycle and seasonality, which indicates that packers tend to increase their margin during the excessive cattle supply period while maintaining lower margin during the short cattle supply period. [EconLit citations: D43, L11, L13, Q13].

  October 03, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21490   open full text
• Agricultural Supply Management and Market Power: Evidence from the U.S. Dairy and Potato Industries.
  Yuliya V. Bolotova.
  Agribusiness. September 28, 2016
  Agricultural over‐supply, increasing output price volatility, and producers’ returns below production costs were the economic forces that influenced the decision of the organizations of agricultural producers in the U.S. dairy and potato industries to implement agricultural supply management programs. Using a theoretical framework, this research evaluates potential seller market power of agricultural cooperatives implementing agricultural supply management practices at the farm‐gate level. A theoretical analysis is conducted by comparing agricultural cooperatives with classic cartels. Available empirical evidence on the effects of agricultural supply management programs in the U.S. dairy and potato industries is discussed. [EconLit citations: L1, L2, Q13].

  September 28, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21485   open full text
• Market Power in the Chinese Wine Industry.
  Qiujie Zheng, H. Holly Wang.
  Agribusiness. September 26, 2016
  With the rapid expansion of China's middle class and the increasing Western cultural influence, the wine consumption in China has experienced a remarkable growth in recent decades. A quantitative study on market power of Chinese wine firms is conducted to assess the competition structure of this industry and to provide economic insights into effective strategies for existing and prospective firms. In this paper, we employ an econometric model to estimate markups using a firm‐level dataset collected from the Chinese wine industry allowing price heterogeneity. The results suggest that there exists an oligopolistic structure in the Chinese wine industry, and geographical region has significant impact on the market power. We also provide discussions on future directions of market structure for domestic as well as multinational firms. [EconLit citations: Q13, L11, L66].

  September 26, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21479   open full text
• Motivational Factors for Remaining in or Exiting a Cooperative.
  Lovisa Nilsson, Helena Hansson, Carl Johan Lagerkvist.
  Agribusiness. September 26, 2016
  Cooperative attributes were incorporated into a push–pull framework to explain exit/remain behavior for dairy farmers delivering to dairy cooperatives. The exit behavior meant establishing a marketing or processing operation in parallel to cooperative deliveries or the planning such an action. Scale development to measure cooperative attributes resulted in six latent variables: A need to restructure the farm business, the membership role in the cooperative, opportunity, fear of negative evaluation, self‐efficacy, and cooperative (dis)loyalty. The latent variables identified were tested against behavioral intentions in two logistic regressions where the dairy farmers’ plans for remaining or exiting the cooperative and their plans for postfarm gate entrepreneurial activities were the dependent variables. Two latent variables emerged as significant predictors: restructuring the farm business and the membership role. These predictors were push factors in the model, suggesting that dissatisfaction with delivery to existing dairy cooperatives, rather than job or life satisfaction from setting up their own business, acted as farmers’ motive to exit. These results can be used in developing communication and strategies for more viable dairy cooperatives and in understanding the incentives behind the ongoing restructuring of the dairy market from a supply perspective. [EconLit citations: Q130, J230, D810].

  September 26, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21480   open full text
• Consumer Willingness‐to‐Pay for Genetically Modified Potatoes in Ireland: An Experimental Auction Approach.
  Fiona Thorne, John A. (Sean) Fox, Ewen Mullins, Michael Wallace.
  Agribusiness. August 11, 2016
  It is recognized that many consumers are skeptical about genetically modified (GM) foods. Yet less is known about the extent to which consumers may purchase GM food products given suitable price positioning and marketing information on nonprice attributes of the products. In this study, we examine consumer acceptance of GM late blight resistant potatoes in Ireland. Our analysis uses an experimental auction methodology that facilitates positive and negative bids to provide a more complete revelation of preferences. Results show that a majority of participants preferred conventional potatoes to GM potatoes. Favorable information about GM increased subjects’ valuations of GM potatoes. After being informed about potential economic and health benefits, up to two‐thirds of our subjects indicated that they would choose GM potatoes at a 20% price discount, while 14% of subjects would still reject GM potatoes at any price. Higher levels of education, greater familiarity with GM, and the presence of children in the household were associated with lower valuation of the GM product. [EconLit citations: C91; D12].

  August 11, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21477   open full text
• Value‐Adding Practices in Food Supply Chain: Evidence from Indian Food Industry.
  Shashi, Rajwinder Singh, Amir Shabani.
  Agribusiness. August 08, 2016
  The study aims an attempt to realize the importance of value addition at different stages of food supply chain to see what the value addition practices mean across the food chain. To do so, this paper investigates the value addition relationships of different supply chain players from farm to retail level. Based on extensive literature review and deep discussions with supply chain practitioners as well as academicians, a conceptual framework is developed to assist those players in identifying the importance of adding value, defining a common definition of value addition practices, and getting motivation for superior value addition improvement. Value addition practices of five stages at the food supply chain, namely, farmer, supplier, processor, distributor and retailer, are conceptualized and formulated to tests the relationship among these stages. The study mainly focuses on the value addition of farm products in Indian scenario. The findings affirmed that the farmer's value addition is positively related to supplier's value addition, processor's value addition, and distributor's value addition. Moreover, supplier's value addition is positively related to processor's value addition, and processor's value addition is positively related to distributor's value addition. Besides, distributor's value addition is positively related to retailer's value addition. [JEL Classification: M210].

  August 08, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21478   open full text
• Spatial Price Transmission and Efficiency in the Urea Market.
  Zhepeng Hu, B. Wade Brorsen.
  Agribusiness. July 12, 2016
  Urea fertilizer is widely used in the United States, however, urea is not publicly traded and formula pricing is common. This article studies spatial transmission and efficiency of urea prices in the Arkansas River‐New Orleans urea markets and the New Orleans‐Middle East urea markets. A vector error correction model (VECM) and Baulch's (1997) parity bound model (PBM) are estimated. A threshold VECM is considered, but no threshold effects are found so threshold effects are not included in the final VECM. The estimated VECM shows that violations of spatial price equilibrium are corrected faster between Arkansas River‐New Orleans prices than New Orleans‐Middle East prices. The long term adjustments to deviations from spatial equilibrium in the New Orleans‐Middle East price relationship are made through adjustments in the New Orleans price. The PBM shows that New Orleans‐Middle East price spreads are greater than transportation costs about 23% of the time. [EconLit citations: C32, Q13, R32].

  July 12, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21475   open full text
• What Consumers Are Looking for in Strawberries: Implications from Market Segmentation Analysis.
  Jingjing Wang, Chengyan Yue, Karina Gallardo, Vicki McCracken, James Luby, Jim McFerson.
  Agribusiness. July 12, 2016
  An online choice experiment was conducted to investigate U.S. consumer preferences for attributes of fresh market strawberry fruit. Using a latent class logit model, three different groups of consumers are identified: “Balanced Consumers,” “Experience Attribute Sensitive Consumers,” and “Search Attribute Sensitive Consumers.” This information on consumer segmentation can help the fresh market strawberry industry identify target markets, and provides valuable information to breeders, growers, and retailers to prioritize fruit attributes in their breeding, growing, or product sourcing decisions.

  July 12, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21473   open full text
• Impacts of Increased Corn Ethanol Production on Price Asymmetry and Market Linkages in Fed Cattle Markets.
  Sungill Han, Chanjin Chung, Prasanna Surathkal.
  Agribusiness. July 11, 2016
  This study compares price transmission behaviors between pre‐ and post‐EPA (Energy Policy Act) periods to investigate the impact of increased production of corn ethanol on price transmission behaviors between five regional fed cattle markets in the United States: Colorado, Iowa‐Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas‐Oklahoma. Econometric models used in this study consider potential nonlinearity and asymmetry in price transmissions using threshold autoregression and threshold error correction methods, and generalized impulse response functions. Overall, the surge of corn ethanol production after the EPA enactment appears to lead lower integration and slower price adjustment between markets, particularly between noncorn‐belt and corn‐belt markets. Our analysis also finds strong evidence of the existence of threshold effects and limited evidence of asymmetric price responses in the short and long run for both pre‐ and post‐EPA periods. [EconLit citations: C32, Q13].

  July 11, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21476   open full text
• Retrospective Economic Analysis of Foot and Mouth Disease Eradication in the Latin American Beef Sector.
  Amanda M. Countryman, Amy D. Hagerman.
  Agribusiness. June 07, 2016
  Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) damaged Latin America's beef sector through both production losses and limits to international market access in the early to mid‐2000s. Using a base year of 2001, we utilize historical FMD outbreak data and a global economic model to estimate the consequences of FMD on domestic beef production, prices and trade across markets in multiple Latin American countries. Results show that, had FMD been prevented in 2001, Latin America may have benefited from increased access to the world market but relatively small impacts may have occurred on world beef prices. Regional welfare could have improved over observed 2001 market conditions. Regionally, Uruguay may have benefited most if production losses resulting from FMD would have been mitigated. [JEL Classifications: F10; Q11; Q17].

  June 07, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21472   open full text
• An Analysis of Past World Market Prices of Feed and Milk and Predictions for the Future.
  Bjørn Gunnar Hansen, Yushu Li.
  Agribusiness. June 06, 2016
  Understanding of price behavior is a critical element to make decisions in uncertain conditions that significantly influence the return of dairy market participants. Increased variability in both the world milk price and the world feed price during the last 7‐8 years has increased the need for research on price dynamics and price forecasting. The aims of this paper are to explore the dynamics embedded in and between the world milk and feed prices, and to produce reliable forecasts for both prices. We collected the world milk price and the world feed price series from 2002 to 2015 from the International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN). The analysis revealed that the two price series contain business cycles of approximately 32 months. Further, the two series are co‐ integrated, with the feed price as the leading variable. A combination of three different forecasting models can provide reasonably good forecasts of both prices.

  June 06, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21474   open full text
• The Choice of Local Food Products by Young Consumers: The Importance of Public and Private Attributes.
  Pilar Fernández‐Ferrín, Belén Bande, Aitor Calvo‐Turrientes, M. Mercedes Galán‐Ladero.
  Agribusiness. May 22, 2016
  In this paper, we propose an explicative model for the effective purchase of various brands of local products, incorporating private and public motivations into a causal chain and considering product availability as a possible moderator of the effects of these purchase factors on local products. The results obtained by applying conditional process analysis and a Tobit model to the responses of 195 young consumers show that local identity can have direct and/or indirect effects on the effective purchase of four different brands of local, traditional, and nontraditional products. Furthermore, for two of these brands, perceived product availability moderates the relationship between product valuation and effective purchase. [EconLit citations: C51, Q13].

  May 22, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21470   open full text
• Determinants Affecting Adoption of GLOBALG.A.P. Standards: A Choice Experiment in Thai Horticulture.
  Rattiya Suddeephong Lippe, Ulrike Grote.
  Agribusiness. May 22, 2016
  The present study employed a choice experiment to forecast the adoption of private GLOBALG.A.P. standards among Thai horticultural producers. It is based on primary data from 400 orchid and mango producers from the major production areas in Thailand. Mixed logit model estimations show that producers with higher levels of education and awareness about environmental and social requirements are more likely to adopt GLOBALG.A.P. standards. Prior experience in high‐value market channels and with public Good Agricultural Practice standards are also crucial factors that motivate producers to adopt GLOBALG.A.P. standards. However, certification costs and time needed for record keeping and training are major adoption barriers. Against this background, we propose more education and stakeholder workshops to increase the likelihood of adoption among Thai horticultural producers. The formation of regular discussion groups would allow fruitful interaction among producers and with advisors, eventually providing vital links between implementation of standards and day‐to‐day farm practices. [EconLit citation: Q13].

  May 22, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21471   open full text
• Asymmetry Price Transmission in the Deregulated Rice Markets in Bangladesh: Asymmetric Error Correction Model.
  Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Andrew M. McKenzie, Ismat Ara Begum, Jeroen Buysse, Eric J. Wailes, Guido Huylenbroeck.
  Agribusiness. April 15, 2016
  There is a widely held belief among public consumers that rice prices are manipulated in Bangladesh. This manipulation may have led to price asymmetry in the vertical chain of Bangladesh rice markets. This paper is an attempt to investigate the existence of asymmetry between wholesale and retail rice prices in Bangladesh. Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) based cointegration test was applied to determine long‐run equilibrium relationship. We examine whether the wholesale market dominates the retail market—in terms of price discovery and price leadership—or vice versa. Finally, we analyze whether the wholesale‐retail price relationship is asymmetric with respect to price increases and price decreases. To test the asymmetric price transmission we used the asymmetric error correction‐EG approach. Our results show that wholesale and retail prices are cointegrated, and wholesale market plays a leadership role in determining retail prices, which is in line with industrial organization theory. Our results confirm the fear and concerns of consumers about the existence of price asymmetry. [JEL Classification: Q110; Q113].

  April 15, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21461   open full text
• Agribusiness: An International Journal's First 30 Volumes.
  David D. Fleet, Michael W. Woolverton, James G. Beierlein, Ronald W. Cotterill.
  Agribusiness. April 01, 2016
  Agribusiness: An International Journal, now a well‐recognized journal in the discipline, completed its 30th year of publication in 2014. This article examines three decades of publication statistics to provide an understanding of its development and a brief look at its possible future. Thus, this is a bibliographic history of Agribusiness and a brief case study of organizational evolution.

  April 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21467   open full text
• Quality Choice and Market Access: Evidence from Chilean Wine Grape Production.
  Pilar A. Jano.
  Agribusiness. April 01, 2016
  This paper examines the determinants of becoming a producer of high‐quality wine grapes. We explore the case of wine‐grape farmers in Chile where we observe a bifurcation of farmer types.“Quasi‐subsistence” farmers produce traditional wine‐grape varieties and complement their subsistence income with cash coming from wine‐grape sale. On the other hand, we observe “entrepreneurial” farmers who produce classic varieties that have the potential to produce high‐quality wines. We study this bifurcation empirically using primary data collected during the 2011–2012 growing season. We find that wealth and cultivation ability provide economically and statistically significant explanatory power, but that buyer characteristics also matter. Our results suggest that a farmer's entry into the supply chain for high‐quality production is not an individual's choice. Rather it is a joint decision that cannot be fully understood without considering the objectives, incentives, and information of supplier and buyer. [EconLit citations: O14; Q140; L26].

  April 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21468   open full text
• Temporary Sales Prices and Asymmetric Price Transmission.
  Said Tifaoui, Stephan Cramon‐Taubadel.
  Agribusiness. March 11, 2016
  We hypothesize that temporary sales might bias the results of vertical price transmission analysis towards findings of asymmetric price transmission. We test this hypothesis using a scanner dataset of retail butter prices in Germany. To this end we first use filters to identify underlying reference retail prices and thus remove temporary sales prices. We then compare estimates of vertical price transmission from the wholesale to the retail level that are generated with raw and with filtered retail prices. Our results confirm that temporary sales prices increase the speed and asymmetry of vertical price transmission. These results add a potential cause of asymmetry to those, such as market power, that have already been identified in the literature. [EconLit citations: C22; L10; Q11].

  March 11, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21465   open full text
• CAP Reform and Price Transmission in the Italian Pasta Chain.
  Luca Cacchiarelli, Daniel Lass, Alessandro Sorrentino.
  Agribusiness. March 04, 2016
  During the last several years, wheat‐pasta chains have been affected by Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms in the durum wheat sector that have progressively reduced government intervention in the market. Specifically, the mid‐term reform, implemented in 2005, represented a deep change in the tools applied in the CAP, with a change from coupled income support to a single decoupled aid where farmers’ incomes are directly supported and are no longer linked to levels or types of production. We hypothesize that price transmission along the wheat‐pasta supply chain has been affected by CAP reform and other events through greater price volatility for durum wheat and market power exerted by some firms along the supply chain. For the present study, we are particularly interested in examining whether and how CAP reform has altered price transmission in the Italian wheat‐pasta chain, from farmer to retailer, including the wholesale stage. We employ the Kinnucan and Forker model, which provides a convenient instrument for analyzing the impact of policy intervention, and adapted its structure to the characteristics and the composition of the pasta supply chain by introducing an intermediate level (wholesale price), represented by semolina producers. The results suggest that pricing behavior has changed after CAP Reform introduction. [EconLit citations: Q110; Q130; L110].

  March 04, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21459   open full text
• Measuring Changes in Farmers’ Attitudes to Agricultural Cooperatives: Evidence from Swedish Agriculture 1993–2013.
  Karin Hakelius, Helena Hansson.
  Agribusiness. March 02, 2016
  This study assessed changes in farmers’ attitudes to agricultural cooperatives by developing a behavioral framework based in psychological and psychometric theory for measuring attitude change. The assessment focused on a unique dataset that allowed attitude coverage and strength of evaluation derived from data collected in 1993 and in 2013 to be evaluated. Explorative factor analytical methods revealed the attitude construct to be two‐dimensional in both datasets, covering the domains named “Commitment” and “Trust” in both cases. Thus, the coverage of the attitude construct seemed unchanged. However, the strength of evaluation of both attitude dimensions was significantly increased. These findings have clear policy implications for agricultural cooperatives, since understanding the nature of changes in attitudes to these organizations is important for their successful development. [EconLit citations: P13; Q13].

  March 02, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21464   open full text
• Impact of Public Infrastructure on Output of U.S. Food Manufacturing Industries: A Heterogeneous Dynamic Panel Approach.
  Tingting Tong, T. Edward Yu, Kimberly Jensen, Daniel De La Torre Ugarte, Seong‐Hoon Cho.
  Agribusiness. March 02, 2016
  This study analyzes the long‐run impacts of public infrastructure on output of 34 U.S. food manufacturing/processing industries during 1958–2000 using heterogeneous dynamic panel methods, including mean group and pooled mean group methods. The results suggest that public infrastructure has a long‐term output impact across U.S. food manufacturing and processing industries. A 1% increase in public infrastructure increases U.S. food manufacturing output by 0.06% in the long run. The long‐run positive impact of public infrastructure on food output suggests its importance to the food manufacturing sector of continuous public infrastructure investment [EconLit citations: Q13; H54; C33].

  March 02, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21455   open full text
• Analysis of Umbrella Branding with Crowdsourced Data.
  Timothy J. Richards.
  Agribusiness. March 02, 2016
  We test for umbrella effects among private label products using a new type of data: crowdsourced data, or data contributed by users of an in‐store shopping app for their own, and other users' benefit. We model umbrella effects in our crowdsourced data using a random‐parameter logit model with private‐label preference parameters correlated among product categories. Our results support the existence of umbrella effects in our limited sample data, where umbrella effects are defined as correlated preferences for private labels across categories. [JEL Classifications: D12; D43; L13; L83; M31].

  March 02, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21466   open full text
• What Is the Value of Extrinsic Olive Oil Cues in Emerging Markets? Empirical Evidence from the U.S. E‐Commerce Retail Market.
  Luigi Roselli, Domenico Carlucci, Bernardo Corrado Gennaro.
  Agribusiness. March 01, 2016
  Olive oil consumption in the United States has more than tripled over the past two decades and imports have grown considerably, in particular from Mediterranean countries. This is due to the spread of the Mediterranean diet and increasing consumer awareness about the health benefits of olive oil. We investigated the role of the main extrinsic quality cues (size of container, product category, organic certification, geographical indications, country of origin, and brand) in affecting the price of olive oil sold in the U.S. e‐commerce retail market. Using data from amazon.com, the leading e‐retailer in the United States, a hedonic price model was estimated. Results show that all the considered extrinsic quality cues have a significant impact on the price of olive oil, with interesting implications for both practitioners and policy makers. [EconLit citations: Q110; Q130; Q170].

  March 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21454   open full text
• An Analysis of Milk Pricing in the United States Dairy Industry.
  Yuliya V. Bolotova.
  Agribusiness. March 01, 2016
  The performance of the system of milk pricing within Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) has recently attracted increased attention. A dramatic increase in the volatility of milk prices received by dairy farmers has adversely affected dairy farm profitability. Furthermore, the effects that the private Exchange spot cheese market has on FMMOs milk pricing have raised concerns, mostly due to an imperfectly competitive nature of competition process in this market. This research analyzes the behavior of Class III milk price, which is the mover of the overall FMMOs pricing structure, during three milk pricing regimes: Minnesota–Wisconsin price series (1960s–1995), Basic Formula Price (1995–1999), and Multiple Component Pricing (2000–present). The empirical evidence presented in the article indicates that changes in the level of Class III milk price were rather minor in magnitude. However, changes in the milk price volatility were dramatic. There is empirical evidence indicating that the private Exchange spot cheese price is the main determinant of the Class III milk price, which is consistent with the design of Class III milk pricing during the analyzed FMMOs milk pricing regimes. [JEL Classifications: L1; Q1; K2].

  March 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21456   open full text
• Technical Efficiency in Agribusiness: A Meta‐Analysis on Ghana.
  Justice G. Djokoto, Korbla F. Gidiglo.
  Agribusiness. March 01, 2016
  The few meta‐analyses published on efficiency in agriculture focused on traditional agriculture to the neglect of agribusiness. This article presents a meta‐analysis on agribusiness using Ghana as a case. Databases including AgEconsearch, Google scholar, EBSCOHost, EmeraldInsight, and Wiley online Library among others were searched in order to identify published studies relating to the subsectors of agribusiness. The selected loglog fractional regression model revealed that mean technical efficiency (MTE) increased over time with a mean value of 62%. MTEs of geographical sections of Ghana are also similar. Time series models possess higher MTE than panel data MTEs. In line with theory, models without functional forms and distance functions elicited higher MTE than Cobb–Douglas and translog functions. Nontraditional agricultural production showed higher MTE than traditional agriculture. MTEs in the production subsector do not differ from those in the manufacturing subsector. While this indifference suggests that value adding manufacturing subsector is as efficient as the primary production agriculture, and the increasing MTE notwithstanding, efficiency improving measures including training in farm management are required to make up for the mean difference of 38% found. [JEL Classification: Q13].

  March 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21457   open full text
• Firm Size and Financial Performance: Intermediate Effects of Indebtedness.
  Ernesto Lopez‐Valeiras, Jacobo Gomez‐Conde, Teresa Fernandez‐Rodriguez.
  Agribusiness. March 01, 2016
  This paper offers a new perspective for the agricultural economics literature on the relationship between firm size and financial performance. We contribute to the literature by exploring the role of indebtedness in this relationship. Using archival data collected from 83 companies belonging to livestock industries, the empirical findings confirm the hypothesis that indebtedness leverages the effect of size on financial performance. That is to say, indebtedness can enhance the realization of the potential benefits of a larger organizational size. Contrary to expectations, these results reveal that the relationship between size and financial performance is negatively mediated by indebtedness. [EconLit citations: D23; M00; Q13].

  March 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21458   open full text
• Heterogeneous Preferences for Domestic Fresh Produce: Evidence from German and Italian Early Potato Markets.
  Francesca Colantuoni, Gianni Cicia, Teresa Del Giudice, Daniel Lass, Francesco Caracciolo, Pasquale Lombardi.
  Agribusiness. March 01, 2016
  In this research, we explore the market potential of a domestic agricultural product, the early potato, in two countries, Italy and Germany. We conducted two parallel marketing studies aimed at revealing the most desirable characteristics for the commercialization of this product in each of the two markets, and made comparisons among consumers’ attitudes for several attributes (country of origin, carbon footprint, production method, ethical certification and packaging). Motivation for this study is the declining market share of the domestic early potato, considered an important crop in both countries, due to the competition from abroad. A focal aspect of this research is the recent public interest for social justice, traditionally reserved for products imported from developing countries, with respect to ethical products made in developed countries. The possibility for Italian and German early potatoes to regain important market shares depends on the ability to differentiate their potatoes from potatoes supplied by competing extra‐European countries. [JEL Classifications: Q13; Q18].

  March 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21460   open full text
• Contractual Farming Arrangements, Quality Control, Incentives, and Distribution Failure in Kenya's Smallholder Horticulture: A Multivariate Probit Analysis.
  Isaac Maina Kariuki, Jens‐Peter Loy.
  Agribusiness. March 01, 2016
  With the rapid growth of horticultural value chains, the use of contractual farming arrangements, strategies of quality control (farm audits/crop rejections), pricing incentives, and distribution efficiencies (crop collection arrangements) are increasingly breaking market barriers, for example, private standards, certification, traceability, and supply reliability in developing countries. Cognizant of market access, farm produce value, sustainable production, and reduction of postharvest losses, this paper investigated whether farm size, schooling, producer price, farm visits, and social capital networks condition these strategies. The results show that use of written contracts is conditioned by farm sizes, more extension, and number of producer groups (PGs) while farm certification is positively predicted by farm sizes, more extension, number of sellers in the village and seasons with the same buyer. However, certification is less responsive to producer prices. Crop rejections are predicted to be less depending on a farmer's education, number of PGs, and the producer price but are more likely to increase the more the number of sellers. Further, the results show that a forward pricing incentive is highly correlated with higher producer prices, more extension, and number of seasons with the same buyer. Finally, uncollected produce at harvest is likely to decrease with farm sizes, more education and extension, higher producer price, number of PGs, and seasons with the same buyer but is more likely to increase the higher the number of sellers. Implications are made. [EconLit citations: L14; Q13].

  March 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21462   open full text
• The International Wine Trade and Its New Export Dynamics (1988–2012): A Gravity Model Approach.
  J. Sebastián Castillo, Emiliano C. Villanueva, M. Carmen García‐Cortijo.
  Agribusiness. March 01, 2016
  An acceleration of the wine industry globalization process has occurred in the last decades due to increased competition, the emergence of new producers and exporters, and the existence of new wine consuming countries. All this has led to global changes in production strategies and marketing. The aim of this paper is to analyze the changes that have occurred in the global wine export dynamics and define its determinants; to do so a gravity model was estimated in which (a) the main wine producers and consumers involved in international trade are present, (b) two distinctive scenarios are present: one of continuous change (1988–1999), and one of an established export dynamic (2002–2012), and (c) bulk and bottled wines are considered. The main results show that higher incomes, lower prices, cultural and geographical affinities, and trade agreements promote wine exports; the expansion of bottled wine trade, especially within the EU, is particularly highlighted. [EconLit citations: C40; F14; Q1].

  March 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21463   open full text
• Visual Attention's Influence on Consumers’ Willingness‐to‐Pay for Processed Food Products.
  Alicia L. Rihn, Chengyan Yue.
  Agribusiness. January 16, 2016
  The primary objective of our study was to investigate the impact of extrinsic cues (specifically production method, origin, and nutrient content claim labels) on consumers’ willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) for processed foods (apple juice and salad mix). Data were collected using an experimental auction in combination with eye‐tracking analysis. Tobit models were used to analyze the data. We found that participants were willing to pay a premium for local or domestically produced apple juice. Organic production methods positively impacted participants’ WTP for both products. Additionally, results suggest that consumer visual attention increases for important product attributes that positively or negatively impact their WTP bids. Supply chain members (producers, processors, and retailers) can promote important product attributes using labels and in‐store promotions to give consumers additional information and influence their food selection preferences. In turn, these promotions may help supply chain members acquire additional customers and encourage healthy consumption patterns. [EconLit citations: D120, M310]

  January 16, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21452   open full text
• Opportunities for Western Food Products in China: The Case of Orange Juice Demand.
  Xuqi Chen, Zhifeng Gao, Lisa House, Jiaoju Ge, Chengfeng Zong, Fred Gmitter.
  Agribusiness. January 12, 2016
  China's ever increasing demand for agricultural products provides new opportunities for both domestic and foreign food companies. With Western‐style products becoming increasingly popular across China, more information is needed to better evaluate the future market opportunities of different juice products. In this regard, we investigate Chinese consumer perception, knowledge, and willingness‐to‐pay for different types of orange juice products. Results show that Chinese consumers have limited knowledge of juice products, especially for Western‐style juices. Although consumers are willing to pay more for products with higher juice content, 10% orange juice drink will probably continue to dominate the orange juice product market in China unless there is a significant drop in the price of 100% not from concentrate orange juice. Consumers with better knowledge of juice products, females, and those with higher income are more likely to be willing to pay more for 100% not from concentrate orange juice. [EconLit citations: C34, D12, M31].

  January 12, 2016   doi: 10.1002/agr.21453   open full text
• Social Networks and Restaurant Ratings.
  Ashutosh Tiwari, Timothy J. Richards.
  Agribusiness. December 10, 2015
  When choosing among restaurants, consumers either look to their peers or to anonymous reviews on the Internet. In this study, we examine the impact of peer versus anonymous social networks on restaurant ratings and revisitation intent. We find that peer networks are substantially more effective in driving consumers' preferences for restaurants, even after controlling for the endogeneity of peer ratings, and that negative reviews have a greater impact on preferences than do positive reviews. Our results suggest a more general finding, namely, that peer networks may be more effective than anonymous networks for many important, complex choices. [EconLit citations: D12, L11, M31, Q13]. 

  December 10, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21449   open full text
• Risk Preferences, Transaction Costs, and Choice of Marketing Contracts: Evidence from a Choice Experiment with Fresh Vegetable Producers.
  Michael Vassalos, Wuyang Hu, Timothy Woods, Jack Schieffer, Carl Dillon.
  Agribusiness. December 09, 2015
  Growers’ preferences for a number of marketing contract attributes, as well as the effect of growers’ risk aversion levels on the choice of marketing contracts, were examined with the use of a choice experiment. The main data source for the study is a mail survey administrated to wholesale tomato growers. The findings validate the transaction cost hypothesis and indicate heterogeneity in preferences. On the other hand, risk preferences had limited impact on contract choice.

  December 09, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21450   open full text
• Menu‐Labeling Formats and Their Impact on Dietary Quality.
  Nadia A. Streletskaya, Wansopin Amatyakul, Pimbucha Rusmevichientong, Harry M. Kaiser, Jura Liaukonyte.
  Agribusiness. December 04, 2015
  The impact of three menu‐labeling formats on changes in dietary quality of an away‐from‐home meal is measured. The analysis is based on a lunchtime experiment using 232 student participants, with a control group and three treatments: (1) a calorie‐content posting, (2) a complete nutrition‐facts panel, and (3) health‐related claims. We find that the calorie content posting lead to the highest calorie reduction, but it was also the only treatment associated with a significant reduction in the fiber content of the meal. The complete nutrition‐facts panel treatment resulted in most sizable decreases in problematic nutrient content such as empty calories and calories from fat and added sugar. The health‐related claims treatment led to a reduction in carbohydrates and calories from fat. The nutrient density of selected meals remained mostly unchanged across all treatments, but the empty calories proportion of total calories was reduced in the nutrition‐facts and health‐related claims treatments, with the latter also leading to some reduction in added sugar density. [EconLit citations: I12, I18, Q18].

  December 04, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21444   open full text
• Effects of Policies on Yam Production and Consumption in Nigeria.
  Adesiyan Oluwafunmilola Felicia, Adesiyan Adewumi Titus, Adebayo Simeon Bamire, Coulibaly Ousmane, Robert Asiedu.
  Agribusiness. December 02, 2015
  Several efforts have been made through research, government programs and Non‐Governmental Organisations (NGO) interventions to improve yam production in Nigeria. In addition, some policies targeted at improving agricultural production have weakened the production and consumption of different commodities, especially yam. This study analyzed the effects of policy changes on yam production and consumption in Nigeria. A multi‐stage sampling technique was used to select 700 respondents for the study. Primary data was collected using pre‐tested structured questionnaire while interview guide was used to collect information in a Focus Group Discussion. Data were analyzed using Multi‐Market Model. The results showed that that policy changes on yam substitutes, particularly rice, sometimes have negative effects on yam production, prices, land share and real income among yam farming households in Nigeria depending on the nature of the policy.

  December 02, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21446   open full text
• Effects of Values and Personality on Demand for Organic Produce.
  Carola Grebitus, Jerome Dumortier.
  Agribusiness. December 02, 2015
  Personality and human values have shown effects on consumer preferences and willingness to pay. This paper analyzes simultaneously the impact of human values and personality on the demand for organic tomatoes applying open‐ended choice experiments. Results show that consumers make a distinction between conventional and organic tomatoes, such that human values have a differential impact with regard to predicting demand for products associated with organic labels. Consumers with strong individualistic domains of hedonism and stimulation are more likely to have a higher demand for organic, the same holds for consumers with the strong collectivist domain conformity, and those values that regard both (security and universalism). Also, consumers distinguish between conventional and organic tomatoes, such that personality has a differential impact with regard to predicting demand for organic products. The more agreeable the consumer, the higher the demand for organic tomatoes. In addition, results indicate that when modeled simultaneously, values are more stable in affecting demand compared to effects resulting from personality. Overall, results indicate that human values and personality are able to explain a portion of the variability of demand.

  December 02, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21445   open full text
• Can Strategic Capabilities Affect Performance? Application of RBV to Small Food Businesses.
  Laura Carraresi, Xhevrie Mamaqi, Luis Miguel Albisu, Alessandro Banterle.
  Agribusiness. December 01, 2015
  The paper aims to analyze the relationships between strategic capabilities and performance among food SMEs, identifying which capabilities play a leading role in establishing competitive advantage. Four strategic capabilities were analyzed: innovation, marketing, network, and information acquisition. We ran a Structural Equation Model involving 67 food SMEs located in Italy. The results revealed that the marketing, network, and innovation capabilities directly and positively affect performance. SMEs benefit from selling their products in the national market. The network capability plays a dual role: It has a direct positive influence on performance as well as an indirect effect on the capability to acquire information about market and supply chain agents. The acquired market‐ and consumer‐related information is extremely valuable in enhancing the marketing capability and improving performance. The innovation capability is slightly less significant than the others in affecting performance.[EconLit citations: L11, L25, L66, Q13]

  December 01, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21451   open full text
• A Hedonic Valuation of Health and Nonhealth Attributes in the U.S. Yogurt Market.
  Alessandro Bonanno.
  Agribusiness. November 24, 2015
  The U.S. yogurt category encompasses a multitude of subcategories including products carrying health‐related attributes, some products targeting specific segments of the population (i.e., yogurt for kids), and others of recent introduction (e.g., Greek‐style yogurts). Given the numerous attributes that can be present in a product, characterizing those leading to a higher premium can help manufacturers to engage in profitable product formulation. This paper investigates the role played by health and nonhealth‐related attributes on yogurt prices in the United States, both at the national level and in different geographic markets, by means of a large scanner database of yogurt sales and a hedonic price model. The findings indicate that health‐related attributes more commonly associated with yogurts such as the presence of probiotics, specific health claims, and other credence attributes (i.e., organic and “natural”) are valued positively while others, which may lead to lower product acceptance (e.g., fibers, Omega‐3) are not. Nonhealth‐related features, such as “for kids” and Greek‐style, show a positive market value, thus helping in product differentiation. The magnitude of the implicit price of most product attributes is found to vary across markets, hinting that food manufacturers should consider market‐specific product formulation strategies to achieve product differentiation more effectively.

  November 24, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21448   open full text
• Consumers’ Preference Heterogeneity for GM and Organic Food Products in Germany.
  Agnes Emberger‐Klein, Marina Zapilko, Klaus Menrad.
  Agribusiness. September 20, 2015
  According to the EU co‐existence strategy, no form of agricultural food production system should be excluded. The driving force for this policy is the need to ensure consumers' freedom of choice. The aim of this study is to analyze whether preference heterogeneity for a GM and an organic variant of the same product exists among German consumers. The analysis is based on a survey conducted in spring 2007 in Germany. The specified mixed‐logit and latent class model show significant preference heterogeneity for both production technologies. We found one consumer segment with opposing preferences for GM and organic products and a second one exhibiting positive preferences for GM and organic products. The consumers in the second segment are possibly those who would most benefit from the EU co‐existence strategy and would probably be willing to cover the additional costs associated with a co‐existence strategy in the existing food value chains (D12). [EconLit citations: D12].

  September 20, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21439   open full text
• Demand Side Change, Rurality, and Gender in the United States Veterinarian Market, 1990–2010.
  Tong Wang, David A. Hennessy, Seong C. Park.
  Agribusiness. July 27, 2015
  Little is known about how animal input sectors have been impacted by far‐reaching changes in global animal agriculture over recent decades. This paper explores the forces determining U.S. veterinarian practice location and how location choices have evolved over the past two decades. We provide a theoretical model of veterinarian market supply and demand with particular emphasis on rurality, gender, and demand side change. We also estimate bivariate Tobit models of location choice for 1990, 2000, and 2010. Results suggest that female veterinarians are less responsive to the presence of food animals than their male counterparts. For both genders, veterinarians are more responsive to animals of higher value. Using animal caretakers as a proxy for companion animals, we find that female veterinarians have become more responsive to this indicator over the 20 years. All else equal, female and male veterinarians tend not to locate in rural areas. Aversion to rural areas has remained fixed over time among males but has strengthened among females. [EconLit citations: J16, J43, Q13].

  July 27, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21433   open full text
• Detecting COOL Impacts on United States–Canada Bilateral Hog and Pork Trade Flows.
  James Rude, Marie‐Hélène Felt, Edgar Twine.
  Agribusiness. July 22, 2015
  This paper examines the impact of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling on American imports of Canadian hogs and pork by testing for structural change. Given the uncertainties over the timing of the implementation and reform of COOL, we implement statistical procedures that endogenously test for structural change over multiple time periods. We find evidence that COOL has impacted U.S./Canada feeder and slaughter hog trade flows. In contrast, we found no evidence of structural change for pork trade flows that could be associated with COOL. [EconLit citations: Q17; C12].

  July 22, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21436   open full text
• Investigating Technical Efficiency and Its Determinants by Data Envelopment Analysis: An Application in the Greek Food and Beverages Manufacturing Industry.
  Anthony N. Rezitis, Maria A. Kalantzi.
  Agribusiness. July 06, 2015
  In this paper, a two‐step procedure is applied in order to investigate technical efficiency and its determinants in the Greek food and beverages manufacturing industry for the period 1984–2007. Technical efficiency scores for the industry are estimated using the data envelopment analysis approach. Moreover, bootstrapped truncated regressions and OLS regressions are applied in order to investigate the factors affecting technical efficiency. The empirical results indicate that there is a fluctuation of technical efficiency scores among the sectors of the food and beverages industry. Furthermore, the findings obtained from both the Tobit and the OLS regressions support that the factors affecting positively the level of technical efficiency are sector size, capital productivity, labor productivity, and labor intensity. The results also show that the technical efficiency of the whole industry tended to decrease during the period 1984–2007. Moreover, the present paper provides some policy recommendations that may be useful for the industry to overcome the present economic crisis. Finally, in future research, the technical efficiency of the Greek food industry will be analyzed based on the meta‐analysis approach. [JEL Classifications: C60, L60, O14].

  July 06, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21432   open full text
• Consumer Preference for Sustainable Attributes in Plants: Evidence from Experimental Auctions.
  Chengyan Yue, Ben Campbell, Charles Hall, Bridget Behe, Jennifer Dennis, Hayk Khachatryan.
  Agribusiness. June 30, 2015
  Experimental auctions were employed to investigate U.S. and Canadian consumers’ willingness to pay for sustainable attributes in plants. The results show consumers are willing to pay a price premium for energy and water savings in plant production of $0.15 and $0.12, respectively. Consumers are only willing to pay $0.08 more for sustainably labeled product. Latent class segmentation analysis identifies three distinct consumer segments: Import‐Liking, Mainstream, and Eco‐local. Mainstream Consumers were the largest segment and willing to pay only modest premiums for eco‐friendly attributes. Eco‐local consumers comprised 14% of consumers and they were willing to pay the highest amount for the improved production methods and container types, while having the highest willing to pay for local and domestic products. [EconLit citations: D44, M31].

  June 30, 2015   doi: 10.1002/agr.21435   open full text
• Seasonal Quality Premiums for Wheat: A Case Study for Northern Germany.
  Jens‐Peter Loy, Thore Holm, Carsten Steinhagen, Thomas Glauben.
  Agribusiness. April 17, 2014
  Seasonal variations of the price premium for bread and feed wheat indicate opportunities to profitably adjust the grain marketing strategy of farmers that harvest (and store) both wheat types. In this article, we estimate the seasonal pattern of wheat price premiums on the German market using a vector error correction approach, which accounts for multivariate autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity of the error terms. Our results indicate a significant downward trend for the premium during the marketing season, with the trend's magnitude depending on the average quality of harvested wheat. If farmers separately store both bread and feed wheat, they should tend to sell bread wheat before they sell feed wheat, particularly in years of low average wheat qualities. Further, the volatility of the price premium significantly decreases over the season, indicating higher risks at the beginning and lower risks towards the end. The volatility of the premium may present opportunities that require a reevaluation of the recommended temporal sequence of selling bread and feed wheat.

  April 17, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21387   open full text
• The Production of Safe Food According to Firm Size and Regulatory Exemption: Application to FSMA.
  Sebastien Pouliot.
  Agribusiness. April 14, 2014
  One feature of recent food regulations is that they treat small and large farms/firms differently. In this article, the relationship between firm output and food safety depends on firm‐specific efficiency factors and how output and food safety interact in the cost function. The model shows that conditional on the distribution of firm output and food safety, new food safety regulations may increase the number of firms, with or without an exemption for small firms. Food safety regulations affect the composition of firms and may even create entry by less efficient firms. The article discusses implications of the Food Safety Modernization Act which includes exemption for small firms.

  April 14, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21385   open full text
• Assessing the Validity of the LOP in the EU Broiler Markets.
  Christos J. Emmanouilides, Panos Fousekis.
  Agribusiness. April 14, 2014
  The objective of this article is to assess the validity of the Law of One Price (LOP) in five major EU broiler markets. This has been pursued using weekly price data from 1991 to 2012 and recent developments in econometric methodology that account simultaneously for nonstationarity, nonlinearity, and structural breaks. The empirical results provide strong evidence that the LOP holds, predominantly in its weak version. This implies that shocks are fully transmitted from one spatial market to the others, but price differences among them are likely to persist even in the long‐run.

  April 14, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21386   open full text
• Effect of Price‐discount Distribution in Multi‐unit Price Promotions on Consumers’ Willingness to Pay, Sales Value, and Retailers’ Revenue.
  Faical Akaichi, Rodolfo M. Nayga, José M. Gil.
  Agribusiness. April 11, 2014
  Using multi‐unit auctions, we examined the effect of different distributions of price discount across multiple units of a relatively new product on consumers' Willingness to Pay (WTP), sales value and retailers' revenue. We found that allowing the price discount to be increasing in the number of units increases willingness to pay, sales value and retailers' revenue and that a price discount that is uniformly distributed across units also has the potential to motivate consumers to buy more units of the product. However, multi‐unit price promotions that concentrate all the amount of price discount on the last unit only generate a weak positive effect on sales value. [EconLit Citations: C910, D120, M310].

  April 11, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21389   open full text
• The Changing Structure of the Maize Seed Industry in Zambia: Prospects for Orange Maize.
  Melinda Smale, Eliab Simpungwe, Ekin Birol, Girma Tesfahun Kassie, Hugo de Groote, Raphael Mutale.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2014
  Zambia's maize seed industry is currently one of the strongest and most competitive in Sub‐Saharan Africa. This paper describes the changing structure of the maize seed industry and seed supply chain in Zambia. The aim of the paper is to propose elements of a marketing strategy for seed production and delivery of recently released, provitamin A‐rich, orange maize varieties. Information sources include a thorough review of the literature, a statistical survey of farmers in the major maize‐producing areas of the country, and key informant interviews conducted with seed company representatives. We discuss the merits of two strategies: (1) liberalizing the provision of original orange maize planting material to all seed companies with the aim of maximizing the impact of this public health intervention, and (2) exclusive rights granted to companies with the goals of preserving differentiated products and ensuring standard seed quality to protect the brand. We find that, exclusive or not, risk‐sharing contracts with any company that takes up this product, as well as building and maintaining a unique brand for orange maize would be essential for the success of this product.

  April 10, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21384   open full text
• The Demand for Pork Products in Canada: Discount Promotions and Cannibalization.
  Getu Hailu, Richard J. Vyn, Yong Ma.
  Agribusiness. March 26, 2014
  We estimate the effectiveness of offering discounts on the demand for featured pork products using Ipsos‐Reid's Consumer Panel of Canada data for a 1‐year period from April 2007 to March 2008, and explore whether there are any positive or negative spillover effects on non‐featured products because of these discounts. We find strong evidence that, as expected, discounts increase the purchases of the featured products. However, we find that offering discounts may have cannibalistic effects – negative cross‐discount effects – on non‐featured products, and that these effects vary considerably among pork products. From the retailers’ perspective, as profit margins have become smaller, our results indicate the need to develop a promotion strategy that minimizes the cannibalistic effects from discounts.

  March 26, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21383   open full text
• Price Volatility Transmission in Food Supply Chains: A Literature Review.
  Tsion Taye Assefa, Miranda P.M. Meuwissen, Alfons G.J.M. Oude Lansink.
  Agribusiness. March 13, 2014
  This paper reviews the literature on price volatility transmission in vertical food markets. The methods and major findings of the literature are discussed and avenues for future research are suggested. The literature review shows that price volatility is analyzed using a class of univariate and multivariate GARCH models. The reviewed studies conclude that price volatility transmits along food supply chains thereby exposing all chain actors to risk and uncertainty. Extension of the limited sample period, country, product, and chain stages coverage of the current literature are suggested as avenues for future research. A largely ignored aspect in the current literature is the identification and empirical testing of the role of contextual factors on the degree of price volatility transmission.

  March 13, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21380   open full text
• Competitive Drivers in Marsala's Wineries.
  Aldo Bertazzoli, Rino Ghelfi, Sergio Rivaroli.
  Agribusiness. March 12, 2014
  The objective of this article is to identify and evaluate the competitive strategies of niche enterprises selling traditional protected designation of origin (PDO) wine in domestic and international markets. This study employs the multidimensional scaling unfolding technique to analyze the perceptions of 24 representatives of wine‐making firms located in the Marsala area (Sicily, Italy). The cognitive maps highlight management choices regarding the competitive driving forces between 2007 and 2011. The results of this study reveal firms’ two main competitive strategies. The first strategy focuses on managing the functional assets; depending on the competitive environment in which the enterprises operate, the outcome seems to comply with Hotelling's model. The second strategy seeks to successfully exploit positional assets—such as the ability to manage intangible resources that have a strong emotional component—that are perceived to strengthen a firm's competitiveness by differentiating it from similar enterprises [EconLit citations: D220, L100, L290]

  March 12, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21381   open full text
• Optimal Generic Advertising under Bilateral Imperfect Competition between Processors and Retailers.
  Chanjin Chung, Youg Sook Eom, Byung Woo Yang.
  Agribusiness. February 27, 2014
  The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of bilateral imperfect competition between processors and retailers and of import supply on optimal advertising intensity, advertising expenditures, and checkoff assessment rates. First, comparative static analyses were conducted on the newly developed optimal advertising intensity formula. Second, to consider the endogenous nature of optimal advertising, a linear market equilibrium model was developed and applied to the U.S. beef industry. Results showed that the full consideration of retailer‐processor bilateral market power lowered the optimal values of assessment rates, advertising expenditures, and advertising intensity for the checkoff board whereas consideration of importers increases the optimal values. The results indicate that ignoring the import sector in optimal generic advertising modeling should underestimate these optimal values, whereas ignoring the bilateral market power between processors and retailers overestimates the values.

  February 27, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21379   open full text
• Promoting Fresh Produce: A Losing Battle?
  Edward W. McLaughlin, Harry M. Kaiser, Bradley J. Rickard.
  Agribusiness. February 20, 2014
  Previous research indicates that returns to agricultural producers from generic promotion of their products are substantial. Yet, despite public policy interest in increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, the United States produce industry has not embraced industry wide promotion. We conduct a survey to better understand stakeholder opinion of a proposed promotion program, and to examine how changes in program design might influence support. Econometric results indicate that support would increase if specific promotion examples were provided, if evidence of likely profitability was clear and if substantial government matching funds were available. Policy implications, including the importance of appropriate target audience and clear communication of program features, are suggested.

  February 20, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21378   open full text
• Measuring the Effects of a Sliding Scale Duty System on China's Cotton Market: A Spatial Equilibrium Approach.
  Xuejun Wang, Koshi Maeda, Satoshi Hokazono, Nobuhiro Suzuki, Harry M. Kaiser.
  Agribusiness. February 18, 2014
  We examined the impacts of China's implementation of a sliding scale duty (SSD) system on the world cotton market. The analysis was based on a spatial equilibrium model of major importing and exporting regions that incorporates key features of China's SSD. The model solutions suggest that implementation of the SSD system improved market access for imports of cotton in China, which benefitted cotton processors, and adversely affected China's cotton producers. The Chinese market price of cotton decreased, imports increased, and domestic production declined. Furthermore, subsequent adjustments of the SSD system increased market access for cotton, which benefitted China cotton processors. These changes in China's cotton trade policy altered conditions in the world. [EconLit Citations: C600; F130; Q170]. 

  February 18, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21374   open full text
• Price Discovery in the Chinese Corn Futures Market, With Comparisons to Soybean Futures.
  Yunxian Yan, Michael Reed.
  Agribusiness. February 12, 2014
  The Chinese corn futures market is the second largest after the CBOT in terms of trading volume in contracts. In 2012, the trading volume of corn futures was 37 million contracts (or 378 million metric tons). The relationship between Chinese corn futures and spot prices is studied to gauge the price discovery process. Formal statistical tests are conducted based on Johansen's co‐integration, Granger causality and the Garbade‐Silber approach for the corn spot prices and futures prices. All empirical analysis is also performed for GMO and non‐GMO soybeans to provide a contrast with the corn futures market. The results suggest that Chinese corn futures prices guide the spot prices; that is, the corn futures market can serve as legitimate guide for future cash prices. This conclusion is valid for GMO futures market, but is not found to be the case for non‐GMO soybeans, where spot prices guide futures prices.

  February 12, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21376   open full text
• The Hedonic Price for Italian Red Wine: Do Chemical and Sensory Characteristics Matter?
  Rosella Levaggi, Eugenio Brentari.
  Agribusiness. February 10, 2014
  In this article, we study the main determinants of price for Italian red wine sold on the domestic market via the estimation of a hedonic price function for the period 2005–2009. For each bottle considered, our dataset contains several characteristics, such as the price by retail channel (price in supermarkets and in wine shops), label characteristics, chemical analysis and sensory and experts’ evaluations. The unique features of the dataset allow us to study the price formation in the different market segments. The analysis shows that in the large‐scale retail trade consumers value most what is written on the label, but only if it is a verifiable characteristic; label characteristics are also important in wine shops, but a selection process exists to enter this market. Finally, selling wine via both channels appears to be a winning strategy: it allows the price to be increased in the large‐scale retail trade, but it does not reduce the price in wine shops.

  February 10, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21377   open full text
• Marketing Raw Milk from Dairy Farmers before and after the 2008 Milk Scandal in China: Evidence from Greater Beijing.
  Xiangping Jia, Hao Luan, Jikun Huang, Shengli Li, Scott Rozelle.
  Agribusiness. February 10, 2014
  China's 2008 milk scandal severely impacted its dairy industry. Afterwards, the government took prompt efforts to regulate and enhance food safety standards. For example, a dairy marketing management policy was implemented, and concentrated dairy complexes were recommended as options for smallholder dairy farmers. The results of this study show that the policies affected marketing channels at the farm gate. Since then, new dairy complexes have emerged and are becoming the primary marketing channel for milk. The marketing transformation has profound implications for food safety, and has strengthened vertical coordination in the Chinese dairy chain.

  February 10, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21375   open full text
• The Effect of Farmer Market Power on the Degree of Farm Retail Price Transmission: A Simulation Model with an Application to the Dutch Ware Potato Supply Chain.
  Tsion Taye Assefa, W. Erno Kuiper, Miranda P.M. Meuwissen.
  Agribusiness. February 06, 2014
  A classic oligopoly/oligopsony model is developed to assess the degree of price transmission in a two‐stage farmer–retailer supply chain. A simulation experiment based on data of the Dutch ware potato sector illustrates how price transmission may become imperfect and asymmetric as a consequence of retailer oligopsony power in the sense that farm price decreases are only partially passed on to consumers whereas farm price increases are more than fully transmitted. Oligopoly power by farmers to level their bargaining power vis‐à‐vis the retailers may even make the degree of price transmission worse.

  February 06, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21371   open full text
• A Double‐Hurdle Analysis of Demand for Powdered Milk: Evidence from Household Survey Data in an Urban Chinese Province.
  Beibei Wu, Yongfu Chen, Wei Si, Hsiaoping Chien.
  Agribusiness. February 03, 2014
  The objective of this study is to explore the determinants of urban at‐home consumption demand for powdered milk in Guangdong province from 2007 to 2009. A double‐hurdle model is used in this analysis based on survey data. The data include 8188 household distributed in 15 cities and prefectures of Guangdong province. Major findings show that the income growth of urban household, an increase in the level of education of the householder, and the different age groups within the household all have positive effects on urban at‐home consumption demand for powdered milk. The prices of powdered milk have negative effects on milk consumption. Families in the Pearl River Delta consume more powdered milk than families in the other regions. The powdered milk consumption has not been significantly affected by the 2008 Chinese melamine tainted milk scandal.

  February 03, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21373   open full text
• Survival of U.S. Sugar Beet Plants from 1897 to 2011.
  Corey C. Risch, Michael A. Boland, John M. Crespi.
  Agribusiness. February 03, 2014
  The objective of this research is to identify determinants that influence sugar beet plant survival. Important determinants identified from the literature are hypothesized to include capacity, market concentration, ownership, government policies, and historical industry events unique to this industry. As suggested by industrial organization theory, plants with greater capacity and multi‐plant firms have lower rates of closure. Likewise, the use of a high tariff on imports of refined sugar, the use of quotas on imports of sugar from various countries, and a price support program that encouraged plants to become more cost efficient have lessened the rates of closure.

  February 03, 2014   doi: 10.1002/agr.21372   open full text
• Underlying Motivations of Organic Food Purchase Intentions.
  V. Aslihan Nasir, Fahri Karakaya.
  Agribusiness. November 04, 2013
  There has been a great deal of increase in the production and consumption of organic foods. As a result, many researchers have attempted to explain the motivations and marketing issues dealing with the topic. Many of the previous studies provide conflicting results. With this in mind, we attempt to perform a comprehensive study of organic food consumption by examining the roles of a variety of factors on intention to purchase organic foods through a survey of consumers in a large metropolitan area in Europe by utilizing the scales developed in earlier studies. The results indicate that socially responsible consumption, health orientation, utilitarian, and hedonic consumption patterns are significant predictors of intention to purchase organic foods and consumption while controlling for demographical variables. In addition, environmental responsibility acts as a moderating factor in the relationship between socially responsible consumption behavior and intention to purchase. [JEL classifications: M30, M31, M48, Q56, Q57]

  November 04, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21363   open full text
• How Related Are the Prices of Organic and Conventional Corn and Soybean?
  Ariel Singerman, Sergio H. Lence, Amanda Kimble‐Evans.
  Agribusiness. November 01, 2013
  Cointegration was tested between organic and conventional corn and soybean markets in several locations throughout the U.S. using a unique dataset. Organic prices were found to behave like pure jump processes rather than diffusions. A simple specification for pure jump processes is introduced and used with Monte Carlo methods to compute appropriate critical values for unit‐root and cointegration tests. The findings indicate that no long‐run relationship exists between organic and conventional prices, implying that price determination for organic corn and soybean is independent from that of the conventional crops. This suggests that organic corn and soybean prices are driven by demand and supply forces idiosyncratic to the organic market. For each crop, cointegrating spatial relationships are found between prices at the main organic markets. However, such relationships are generally weaker than the ones for the corresponding conventional prices, implying that organic markets are more affected by idiosyncratic shocks than conventional markets. [JEL Classification: Q130 – Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness Q180 – Agricultural Policy; Food Policy].

  November 01, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21364   open full text
• Theoretical Restrictions on Farm‐Retail Price Transmission Elasticities: A Note.
  Henry W. Kinnucan, Omer Tadjion.
  Agribusiness. October 30, 2013
  Zero restrictions implied by Gardner's () model are exploited to develop a simple test for perfect price transmission. Applying the test to the domestic marketing channels for U.S. beef and pork, we reject the hypothesis of competitive market clearing for pork, but not for beef. A retest using the four‐firm concentration ratio in U.S. meat packing as a proxy for market power affirms results from the simple test. [JEL Classification: Q11, Q13].

  October 30, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21362   open full text
• The Direct or Indirect Exporting Decision in Agri‐food Firms.
  Marta Fernández‐Olmos, Isabel Díez‐Vial.
  Agribusiness. October 28, 2013
  Selecting an export channel is one of the most important strategic decisions for any exporting agri‐food firm. This paper presents a unified theoretical framework, integrating the two decisions (i.e., the export decision itself and the export channel decision) by jointly examining the effects of 1) intangible resources, 2) product quality, 3) firm size, and 4) international experience on the probabilities of these decisions. Our findings, obtained by analyzing the export behavior of 177 firms in the DOC Rioja (Spain) wine industry, can help policy‐makers understand how they should promote exports and the export channels for agri‐food firms. [JEL: Q170, M200].

  October 28, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21360   open full text
• Price Sensitivity Within and Across Retail Formats.
  Andreas Widenhorn, Klaus Salhofer.
  Agribusiness. October 21, 2013
  Applying a synthetic demand system approach, we examine if consumers in discount stores reveal different price elasticities of demand than those in conventional supermarkets. Based on a RollAMA dataset containing information on consumption in 12 different retail chains in Austria, we first analyze demand patterns for a scenario in which consumers only frequent either discounters or supermarkets, followed by an investigation of potential cross‐format effects when both types of stores are visited. Our empirical findings suggest that for the three categories of milk products under examination, price elasticities in discount stores are generally higher. Beyond that, demand reactions in supermarkets with respect to price changes in discounters differ from the reverse case, i.e., from demand reactions in discounters when supermarket prices are changed. This is especially true for the case of drinking milk, which confirms the strategic potential of drinking milk as a loss leader product.

  October 21, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21352   open full text
• Food SMEs Face Increasing Competition in the EU Market: Marketing Management Capability Is a Tool for Becoming a Price Maker.
  Alessandro Banterle, Alessia Cavaliere, Laura Carraresi, Stefanella Stranieri.
  Agribusiness. October 11, 2013
  The price‐making ability of food small and medium‐sized enterprises (SME) is important for their market survival. Since pricing is a part of marketing activities, by developing specific marketing capabilities, firms can improve their ability to make pricing decisions. This paper aims at evaluating the relationship between marketing capabilities and a firm's price‐making ability. A survey was conducted based on a sample of 371 food SMEs in the EU. We applied an Ordinal Regression Model to evaluate the determinants of a firm's price‐making ability. The analysis results revealed a certain ability of SMEs to set prices. Market analysis and marketing strategy planning capabilities are positively related to the price‐making ability of a firm, while firm size is not. Supply chain relationships play a crucial role in price‐making due to the strong constraint presented by the presence of vertical competition between food SMEs and supermarkets. (L25, L66, M31)

  October 11, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21354   open full text
• Achieving Efficiency and Equity in Sugar Factories and Sugar‐Cropping Patterns Under Climate Change in Upper and Middle Egypt.
  Youssef M. Hamada.
  Agribusiness. October 07, 2013
  Drought as a natural phenomenon, due to variability of meteorological conditions, strikes worldwide but the severity of its impact depends on the vulnerabilities of water supply systems and economical and sectors as well as on the effectiveness of the adopted mitigation measures. The aim of this paper is to study achieving efficiency and equity in sugar factories and sugar‐cropping patterns in Upper and Middle Egypt by focusing on the Strategic Water Shortage Preparedness Plan, introduction methodologies, and specific action to fight drought within the general water‐planning framework. The Linear Programming Model was applied to calculate the sugar crops, sugar cane and sugar beet acreage, production, and income of both Upper and Middle Egypt. As a result of an optimal cropping pattern, the cultivation season would lose acreage by 7.260%, farm income increase by 1.774%, water uses decrease by 18.511%, and CO2 emission and energy reduced by 14.96%. Overall, as a result of an optimal sugar‐cropping pattern, Egyptian sugar exports would decrease by $130.086 million US. [EconLit classification: Q130 and Q000].

  October 07, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21353   open full text
• Changes in the Structure of World Trade in the Agri‐Food Industry: The Impact of the Home Market Effect and Regional Liberalization From a Long‐Term Perspective, 1963–2010.
  Raúl Serrano, Vicente Pinilla.
  Agribusiness. October 07, 2013
  This study examines the reasons for changes in the composition of international trade in agricultural and food products. We use a Gravity Model to compare the impact of the key factors in bilateral agri‐food trade, which we split into three main product groups following Rauch's classification of goods, between 1963 and 2010 for a representative sample of 40 countries. Our results show that the greater rhythm of growth in differentiated and reference priced products can be explained by the existence of the home market effect. Regional trade agreements have had an unequal impact on distinct product types, being especially important in the processed product markets. [JEL Classification: F14, N70, Q17]

  October 07, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21355   open full text
• Retailer Motivation to Adjust Milk Prices: An Analysis Using Superelasticity of Demand.
  Vardges Hovhannisyan, Marin Bozic.
  Agribusiness. September 05, 2013
  Superelasticity of demand offers a quantitative measure of demand curvature which is an important consideration in firm pricing decisions. We derive superelasticity analytic formulations for logit and random coefficient logit (RCL) demand models that can be used to shed light on firm incentives to alter price, firm cost pass‐through, and market power potential. We use the RCL superelasticities that are obtained via simulated generalized method of moments (GMM) to examine retail market power potential in regards to the marketing of national and store‐brand milk in the U.S. Our findings show that elasticity of demand rises in price for both brands, with elasticity for store brand milk lagging behind that for national brand in magnitude. Similarly, elasticities for national brands tend to decrease faster when prices are on the decline. Such a condition suggests that retailers can identify a pricing position, possibly in relation to national brand prices, at which there is a low incentive to increase or reduce store brand prices. [JEL Codes: D22, L13.]

  September 05, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21349   open full text
• Does Income and Income Distribution Determine Global Food and Beverage Products Trade?
  Zahoor ul Haq.
  Agribusiness. July 24, 2013
  The author investigates the role of income in explaining the trade of 46 differentiated food and beverage products across 52 developed and developing countries. The Heckman maximum likelihood procedure with fixed effects was used to explore the role of income in explaining bilateral trade flows. The study finds that income but not income distribution is an important determinant of food products trade and the hypothesis that income does not influence food and beverage product trade is consistently rejected. For most of the food products, the empirical results reject the proposition that income elasticities are the same across the development spectrum. The assumption of homothetic preferences (expenditure elasticities equal to one) was most consistently rejected for middle‐income countries, but rarely rejected for lower‐ and high‐income countries. The results suggest that income plays an important role in food trade, and middle‐income countries are the growth markets of the future. [JEL Classifications: F140, F190, F430]

  July 24, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21345   open full text
• Stock Market Reactions to Contagious Animal Disease Outbreaks: An Event Study in Korean Foot‐and‐Mouth Disease Outbreaks.
  Dustin L. Pendell, Chulgu Cho.
  Agribusiness. July 16, 2013
  This study examines the market reactions by investors of Korean agribusiness companies following five foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks using an event study analysis. The results suggest that the FMD outbreaks caused the stock market to react in both a negative and positive manner to allied companies. The results also suggest that the market reactions were more gradual than instantaneous to the FMD outbreaks. Furthermore, the FMD outbreaks appear to have increased the volatility of the daily returns with the smaller companies facing the largest changes in volatility.

  July 16, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21346   open full text
• Technological Advances in Soybean Yields: A Disaggregated Approach.
  Dwight R. Sanders, Ira J. Altman, Nick Ferraro.
  Agribusiness. July 12, 2013
  Increasing row crop productivity—as measured by yields per acre—is an important topic from a number of perspectives. On a global scale, increased output per unit of land is needed to meet growing world food demand. On a regional scale, investments in yield‐enhancing basic research need to result in improved yields for producers. In this research we set forth to quantify the impact of technology, precipitation, and temperature on soybean yields. Specifically, a disaggregated approach is used to model Illinois soybean yields across the nine state crop reporting districts. The results show that weather impacts are similar across the crop reporting districts; however, technology benefits accrue at statistically different rates across regions. The results provide no evidence that soybean yields in Illinois are plateauing [JEL Classifications: Q130, Q160, Q190].

  July 12, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21348   open full text
• Co‐creation of Value by Open Innovation: Unlocking New Sources of Competitive Advantage.
  Marian Garcia Martinez.
  Agribusiness. July 08, 2013
  A focus on the consumer has been recognized as the key to unlocking new sources of competitive advantage. This paper looks at this new perspective in value creation where personalized consumer experience takes central stage as opposed to a product and firm‐centric view. Through an explorative case study, the paper illustrates how a joint innovation effort between Molson Coors Brewing Company UK (MCBC‐UK) and a supplier is leading to more open approaches as consumers are involved in the process. By understanding what consumers' value and engaging in active dialog and interaction, MCBC‐UK has been able to develop superior value propositions relevant to their target consumer base. The case underscores the role of consumer value creation in a commoditizing world where companies can seek to maximize the lifetime value of desirable consumer segments by taking consumers as a partner or co‐producer instead of an external element. Food and drink companies have the opportunity to add value and extricate themselves from commodity sectors where the lowest cost provider holds sway by embracing consumers' ideas as part of the innovation process.

  July 08, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21347   open full text
• In Pursuit of Safe Foods: Chinese Preferences for Soybean Attributes in Soymilk.
  Yue Zheng, Xianghong Li, Hikaru Hanawa Peterson.
  Agribusiness. April 24, 2013
  This study examines Chinese consumers’ preferences for organic and non‐GM (genetically modified) attributes of soybeans used in soymilk. An enumerated consumer survey was conducted in three types of grocery outlets in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. We found that respondents were willing to pay a premium for organic and non‐GM attributes as well as for information on where soybeans were produced. The organic attribute certified by U.S. agencies was valued more than that certified by Chinese agencies, but the converse was true for the non‐GM attribute. Preferences were heterogeneous, particularly toward U.S.‐certified organic and soybeans of Chinese origin. [JEL Classifications: Q13, Q17]

  April 24, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21342   open full text
• Advertising Soft Drinks to Children: Are Voluntary Restrictions Effective?
  Joshua Berning, Michael McCullough.
  Agribusiness. April 18, 2013
  Using nonlinear time series models, the authors explore the effects of an industry‐led initiative to have firms voluntarily restrict television advertising of carbonated soft drinks to children. They find that the market leader reduces its advertising to both adults and children and the second largest firm reduces advertising to adults. Advertising by a nonparticipating firm, however, increased for adults following the ban. The results emphasize the potential benefits and difficulty of coordinating cooperative behavior in this type of industry. Such policy strategies may be more effective directed at industries and not at individual firms.

  April 18, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21343   open full text
• Do Marketing Margins Change with Food Scares? Examining the Effects of Food Recalls and Disease Outbreaks in the U.S. Red Meat Industry.
  Oral Capps, Sergio Colin‐Castillo, Manuel A. Hernandez.
  Agribusiness. April 10, 2013
  This study examines the impact of different food scare events on marketing margins in the U.S. beef and pork industries. The authors analyze how market stresses induced by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) recalls and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreaks affect price spreads and the extent of price transmission at the slaughter‐to‐wholesale and wholesale‐to‐retail levels. They use monthly national data for the period 1986–2008, which includes records of FSIS recalls of varying severity and BSE events in the United States and Canada. The authors account for immediate and delayed effects of food scares and for potential cross effects across industries and countries. The results indicate that beef and food recalls do not affect their corresponding price margins and overall food safety incidents have minor cross‐industry and cross‐country effects. However, BSE discoveries in the United States considerably affect marketing margins in the beef industry, particularly at the wholesale‐to‐retail level. Interestingly, subsequent discoveries had smaller impacts on price margins. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreaks also appear to affect the extent of price transmission between wholesalers and retailers.

  April 10, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21340   open full text
• The Strategy of One Firm Offering a New Product with Willingness to Pay Elicited in the Lab.
  Stéphan Marette.
  Agribusiness. April 08, 2013
  This study analyzes the strategy of one firm offering a new product with willingness to pay (WTP) for the usual and new products elicited in the lab. By using WTP from an experiment, surpluses for consumers choosing between the usual and new products are inferred and lead to an estimated demand for the new product. From this demand, the author shows how to estimate the ex ante price of the new product along with the ex ante level of advertising selected by one firm for informing consumers. The socially optimal level of advertising maximizing the welfare is also determined. The previous methodology is applied to two experiments with food. For a same‐advertising formula regarding information diffusion to consumers, the estimated levels of advertising highly differ between these two experiments because of different WTP variations linked to the new product.

  April 08, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21341   open full text
• On the Evolving Relationship Between Corn and Oil Prices.
  Eskandar Elmarzougui, Bruno Larue.
  Agribusiness. March 06, 2013
  The authors identified three breaks in the relationship between corn and oil prices. The first break coincides with the second oil crisis. The second break marks the end of the agricultural export subsidy war between the European Union and the United States in the second half of 1980s; the third one occurred at the beginning of the ethanol boom at the very end of the 1990s. The relationship between corn and oil prices tends to be stronger when oil prices are highly volatile and when agricultural policies create less distortion. The ethanol boom strengthened the relation between corn and oil prices, which are cointegrated only in the fourth and last regime. Impulse response functions confirm that corn prices systematically respond to oil price shocks, but the converse is not observed.

  March 06, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21337   open full text
• Differences in Innovation Between Food and Manufacturing Firms: An Analysis of Persistence.
  Ángela Triguero, David Córcoles, María C. Cuerva.
  Agribusiness. February 22, 2013
  The authors examine the differences in the behavior of the innovation between the Spanish agrifood and manufacturing firms using firm‐level data from 1990–2008 to analyze the persistence in innovation and to explore the explanatory determinants of the probability of being product and process innovator. Survival functions, transition probability matrices, and dynamic discrete choice panel data models are combined to measure persistence. The results suggest that in the food industry the persistence of process innovation is higher than in product innovation. Environmental and market determinants such as market changes or appropriability are more decisive to explain innovation in food industry. By contrast, several determinant variables for innovation activities in the manufacturing sector seem not to be linked with the innovation in food firms. That is the case of the outsourcing ratio and the positive evolution of market share of the individual firm.

  February 22, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21335   open full text
• Implications of Agglomeration Economies and Market Access for Firm Growth in Food Manufacturing.
  Todd M. Schmit, Jeffrey S. Hall.
  Agribusiness. February 22, 2013
  With the persistent changes in technology and increased competition in food manufacturing, it is important to reassess the effects of agglomeration economies and market access on the performance of firms. Using survey data from New York food processors, an ordered logit analysis reveals that firm growth is related to important upstream and downstream market condiations. The clustering of similar manufacturers was found to have important effects on firm revenue growth, with the benefits of firm clustering increasing significantly with the level of local urbanization. For these reasons, policies that promote intra‐industry or cross‐industry collaboration would likely benefit food manufacturers, but these benefits would not be limited to firms in close geographic proximity to one another. Moreover, in rural areas especially, manufacturing firms and community planners need to be aware of possible negative effects of competition from growing concentrations of firms so that these issues can be addressed before local business growth is adversely affected.

  February 22, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21336   open full text
• Asymmetric Price Transmission in Food Supply Chains: Impulse Response Analysis by Local Projections Applied to U.S. Broiler and Pork Prices.
  W. Erno Kuiper, Alfons G.J.M. Oude Lansink.
  Agribusiness. February 22, 2013
  In this article, the author's set out Jordà's (2005) method of local projections by which nonlinear/ asymmetric impulse responses can be computed without the need to specify and estimate the underlying nonlinear/asymmetric dynamic system. The method is used to compute price‐reaction functions that show how the prices of the different stages in a food supply chain dynamically respond to each other and whether or not these responses reveal any asymmetric patterns. Empirical applications for the U.S. pork‐meat and broiler‐composite chains illustrate the convenience of the method and reveal that in the pork chain asymmetric price transmission enables retailers (wholesalers) to increase their marketing margin vis‐à‐vis the wholesalers (farmers), whereas in the broiler sector the retailers face both temporary decreases and increases in their marketing margin as a consequence of asymmetric wholesale‐retail price transmission.

  February 22, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21338   open full text
• Developing Brands for Patented Fruit Varieties: Does the Name Matter?
  Bradley J. Rickard, Todd M. Schmit, Miguel I. Gómez, Hao Lu.
  Agribusiness. February 15, 2013
  Brands have largely been absent for fresh produce products; however, apples are one of a few exceptions whereby varieties partially take the place of brands. Studying the role of brands in this market is particularly interesting given the introduction of several patented or so‐called managed apple varieties. We run an experiment to measure consumer response to a suite of apple varieties; treatments employ different branding strategies using different names for a new managed variety included in the experiment. Results suggest that the name does influence consumer valuation of the new variety and existing managed varieties, but has little impact on the willingness to pay for traditional apple varieties.

  February 15, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21330   open full text
• Oligopoly and Price Transmission in Turkey's Fluid Milk Market.
  Hasan Tekgüç.
  Agribusiness. February 15, 2013
  Farmers and consumers suspect that processing firms abuse their power in the milk marketing chain by engaging in price fixing behavior. The author employs threshold autoregressive and moment threshold autoregressive tests, and contrary to expectations, finds evidence for a downward trend in wholesale milk price without a corresponding decline in farm‐gate prices. The downward trend coincides with increased competition in the dairy industry and with the growing market share of the formal sector at the expense of the informal sector. Major dairy processing firms expand their market share and yet continue to enjoy healthy profits thanks to increasing returns due to economies of scale in their processing and distribution operations in a growing market.

  February 15, 2013   doi: 10.1002/agr.21333   open full text
• Improving Competitiveness of Small‐ and Medium‐Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Agriproduct Export Business Through ANP: The Turkey Case.
  Erhan Ada, Yigit Kazancoglu, Muhittin Sagnak.
  Agribusiness. November 29, 2012
  Agricultural production has considerable potential in Turkey. Different regions of the country are able to supply a variety of agricultural products due to the wide‐range of climate conditions and high land quality. Also, the majority of the water resources in the region are located within the country. Hence, with the implementation of the effective agricultural policies, agricultural products can be significantly increased in terms of quality and quantity. In this context, this study investigates findings from an explanatory study of dried fruit production and exports to improve SMEs’ competitiveness in the agriproduct export business. Turkey reported a trade deficit equivalent to USD 7533 million in November of 2011, and this shortfall is becoming more threatening day by day. Because Turkey has a comparative advantage in the dried food industry, it would be valuable to conduct a study to present a management decision tool to determine which factors are more important and to identify the weights that are most significant for dried fruit exporters. The analytical network process (ANP) method was selected to solve the problem because it has been successfully used to evaluate the factors when interdependency exists in between the decision criteria. The contributions of the study could be extended to other sectors and problem areas of business management because the approach, model, and methodology can be easily adopted by practitioners.

  November 29, 2012   doi: 10.1002/agr.21320   open full text
• A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Agricultural Prices: An Application to Colombian Data.
  Ana María Iregui, Jesús Otero.
  Agribusiness. November 20, 2012
  This study focusses on whether the geographical separation of markets constitutes a factor that helps explain the dynamics of agricultural prices. To do this, the authors employ a highly disaggregated dataset for Colombia that consists of weekly observations on wholesale prices for 18 agricultural products traded in markets scattered around the country. The sample period spans almost a decade. According to their results, which are based on generalized impulse response functions, distance (and thus transportation costs) is a factor that helps explain the speed at which prices adjust to shocks in other locations, thus confirming that price adjustments take longer for markets farther apart. [JEL Classifications: O18, Q13, R12].

  November 20, 2012   doi: 10.1002/agr.21319   open full text
• Market Development of Biomass Industries.
  Ira Altman, Jason Bergtold, Dwight R. Sanders, Thomas G. Johnson.
  Agribusiness. November 19, 2012
  Biomass‐based agribusiness industries hold significant potential to contribute to environmentally beneficial renewable energy. The authors explore survey evidence on producer preferences for organizational types that will influence market development. Although there are many features of market development that are important, they focus on understanding their organizational choices, the services producers may be willing to provide, and the assets producers currently own. Results indicate mid‐Missouri producers have higher preferences for spot markets compared to the southern Illinois producers; the southern Illinois producers prefer short‐term and long‐term contracts. [JEL Classifications: L220, Q130].

  November 19, 2012   doi: 10.1002/agr.21318   open full text
• Market Dynamics in Food Supply Chains: The Impact of Globalization and Consolidation on Firms’ Market Power.
  Eleni A. Kaditi.
  Agribusiness. June 04, 2012
  The author examines whether ownership and increased competitive pressure affect food retailers’ market power, analyzing whether all actors involved in the food supply chain deviate from the pricing behavior that exists under perfect competition. A method proposed by Roeger (1995) is used to estimate monopoly and monopsony market power, relaxing the assumptions of perfect competition and constant returns to scale, and avoiding any endogeneity issues. The results obtained indicate that foreign investments and consolidation have a positive and significant impact on food processors’ and retailers’ mark‐ups. Food processors, agricultural producers, and wholesalers have lower price‐cost margins than retailers, whereas retailers exert monopsonistic power in the upstream food market as well. The results are robust for various estimation techniques and specifications.

  June 04, 2012   doi: 10.1002/agr.21301   open full text
• Management Control Systems and ISO Certification as Resources to Enhance Internationalization and Their Effect on Organizational Performance.
  Jacobo Gómez Conde, Ernesto López‐Valeiras Sampedro, Vicente Ripoll Feliu, María Beatriz González Sánchez.
  Agribusiness. May 30, 2012
  There has been a general consensus in recent literature that internationalization is a key success factor in the competitive business environment we now live in. Using a sample of Spanish agri‐food companies, the main objective of this research is to determine the linkage of Management Control Systems (MCS), ISO certifications, internationalization and performance. The results obtained reveal, as expected, that internationalization has a direct and positive relationship with organizational performance. In addition, we find that both the use of MCS and the deployment of ISO certification positively influence companies' level of internationalization. Nevertheless, our findings clearly indicate that MCS and ISO do not influence performance directly.

  May 30, 2012   doi: 10.1002/agr.21300   open full text