Using economics to explain spatial diversity in a wheat crop : examples from Australia and China
Material type:
TextLanguage: English Series: CIMMYT Economics Working Paper ; 99-12Publication details: Mexico : CIMMYT, 1999.Description: 20 pagesSubject(s): Online resources: Summary: Spatial diversity indicators may serve an important function for policymakers as they seek to manage crop genetic diversity and potential externalities associated with diffusion of some types of genetically improved crops. This paper adapts spatial diversity indices employed by ecologists in the study of species diversity to area distributions of modern wheat varieties in contrasting production systems of Australia and China. The variation in three interrelated concepts of diversity - richness, abundance, evenness - is explained by factors related to the demand and supply of varieties, agroecology, and policies using the econometric method of Zellner's seemingly unrelated regression (SUR). Results suggest that in addition to expected yield and profitability, other variety characteristics are important in explaining variation in the spatial distribution of modern wheat varieties. Environmental factors and policy variables related to the supply of varieties, international research spillins, and market liberalization are also determinants of the diversity in these systems Explanatory factors affect richness, abundance and evenness in the distribution of modern wheat varieties in different ways. Comparing results between a small, commercial wheat-producing shire in Australia and a large, heterogeneous area in seven provinces of China illustrates the importance of scale and the nature of the farming system. Further research might include: (1) refinement of methods used to construct spatial diversity indices by incorporating geographically-referenced information; (2) more explicit treatment of the relationship between scale of measurement and diversity indices; (3) refinements in the specification of policy variables, and (4) application of similar methods in Zones where traditional varieties are grown.
| Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library | CIMMYT Publications Collection | Look under series title (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 628980 | |||
| Book | CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library | CIMMYT Publications Collection | Look under series title (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 2 | Available | 640004 |
Browsing CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library shelves, Collection: CIMMYT Publications Collection Close shelf browser (Hides shelf browser)
| Look under series title Institutionalizing the role of the economist in national agricultural research institutes | Look under series title La producción de maíz de temporal en México : | Look under series title Nutritive and economic value of triticale as a feed grain for poultry | Look under series title Using economics to explain spatial diversity in a wheat crop : examples from Australia and China | Look under series title Fertilizer use and maize production in Sub-Saharan Africa | Look under series title CIMMYT Internacional Maize Testing Program : 1984 final report = Programa de Ensayos Internacionales de Maíz del CIMMYT : informe final de 1984 | Look under series title Wheat supply in Kenya : production technologies, sources of inefficiency, and potential for productivity growth |
Open Access
Spatial diversity indicators may serve an important function for policymakers as they seek to manage crop genetic diversity and potential externalities associated with diffusion of some types of genetically improved crops. This paper adapts spatial diversity indices employed by ecologists in the study of species diversity to area distributions of modern wheat varieties in contrasting production systems of Australia and China. The variation in three interrelated concepts of diversity - richness, abundance, evenness - is explained by factors related to the demand and supply of varieties, agroecology, and policies using the econometric method of Zellner's seemingly unrelated regression (SUR). Results suggest that in addition to expected yield and profitability, other variety characteristics are important in explaining variation in the spatial distribution of modern wheat varieties. Environmental factors and policy variables related to the supply of varieties, international research spillins, and market liberalization are also determinants of the diversity in these systems Explanatory factors affect richness, abundance and evenness in the distribution of modern wheat varieties in different ways. Comparing results between a small, commercial wheat-producing shire in Australia and a large, heterogeneous area in seven provinces of China illustrates the importance of scale and the nature of the farming system. Further research might include: (1) refinement of methods used to construct spatial diversity indices by incorporating geographically-referenced information; (2) more explicit treatment of the relationship between scale of measurement and diversity indices; (3) refinements in the specification of policy variables, and (4) application of similar methods in Zones where traditional varieties are grown.
Socioeconomics Program
Text in English
LSLinks|0001|AGRIS 0101|R99-00CIMPU|AL-Economics Program|AL-Wheat Program|DSpace 1
CSME01
CIMMYT Publications Collection
6031.jpg
Click on an image to view it in the image viewer