Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Pavla BLAHOVA Author-Workplace-Name: Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Karel JANDA Author-Workplace-Name: Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ladislav KRISTOUFEK Author-Workplace-Name: Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Information Theory and Automation, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic Title: The perspectives for genetically modified cellulosic biofuels in the Central European conditions Abstract: This paper connects the biofuels literature with the genetic modifications literature by considering the potential of genetic modifications for increasing the efficiency of the cellulosic biofuels production. This is done for one particular case through analyzing the effect of genetically modified corn adoption on the overall yields of corn for silage. Our econometric model confirms that the use of genetically modified corn with the inserted MON810 gene increases the overall corn biomass yield in the production and environmental conditions of the Central Europe, in particular in the Czech Republic. Keywords: cellulosic biofuels, genetic modifications Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 247-259 Volume: 60 Issue: 6 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/96/2013-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/96/2013-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-201406-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:60:y:2014:i:6:id:96-2013-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Katja RUDOW Author-Workplace-Name: University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany Title: Less favoured area payments - impacts on the environment, a German perspective Abstract: In the European Union, the support of Less Favoured Areas (LFA) has a long tradition as a part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Above all, it is the objective of the subsidies to maintain the agricultural production in LFAs, but also to consider the environmental aspects in LFAs and its funding schemes. Investigations of the latter are subject of this article. After having discussed the theoretical possibilities to influence environmental impacts by the funding scheme, several analyses are compiled and complemented by own calculations. The research has shown that agricultural practices within Less Favoured Areas are more environmentally friendly than in other areas. Environmentally friendly in this regard means e.g. a lower use of fertilisers and pesticides, but also a higher participation rate in agri-environmental measures. In addition, the crop structures of farms are analysed, e.g. the share of maize and wheat in farms inside and outside the LFAs. While the results presented in this paper relate mainly to Germany, the information on the European level is also taken into consideration. Finally, based on these investigations, recommendations for the revision of the funding programmes following 2013 are given. Keywords: agricultural policy, ecology, funding schemes, Germany, land use Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 260-272 Volume: 60 Issue: 6 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/74/2013-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/74/2013-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-201406-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:60:y:2014:i:6:id:74-2013-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Chang Hwan YU Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China Author-Name: Jin Chae YOO Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture Economics, Chungbuk National University, Republic of Korea Author-Name: Shun Bo YAO Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China Title: Farmers' willingness to switch to ecological agriculture: A non-parametric analysis Abstract: The present study estimates the farmers' willingness to switch to organic agriculture by using the one-and-one-half-bound dichotomous choice contingent valuation method. We survey 200 farmers in the Kwangsi-myeon, Yesan-gun (Chungnam, Korea) and ask them at what revenue level (based on a 40 kg bag of eco-friendly rice) they would be willing to switch from the conventional agricultural methods to organic agricultural methods. The Turnbull model, a non-parametric method, was then used to estimate the willingness to switch to organic agriculture. The presented results show that farmers would be willing to convert to organic agriculture if their revenues were increased to 107 369-109 230 KRW per bag from the reference value of 60 000 KRW. Keywords: cheap talk, contingent valuation method, hypothetical bias, one-and-one-half-bound method, organic agriculture, Turnbull model, willingness to accept Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 273-278 Volume: 60 Issue: 6 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/82/2013-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/82/2013-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-201406-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:60:y:2014:i:6:id:82-2013-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Milan VOŠTA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of World Economy, Faculty of International Relations, University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic Title: The foodstuffs market in the CR and its regulation within the framework of the EU agricultural policy Abstract: The food market is created by the farmers, whose importance arises from their production of the raw materials from which food is made. These products are processed and supplied to the retail chains, where they are offered to the end consumers. The food market is further regulated, and in a certain sense limited, by the EU organs, as well as by the domestic agricultural policies, by the means of a whole host of directives, norms and regulations. The aim of this article is to define the individual organs on the food market in the CR, to evaluate their work in the food chain from the production of the primary raw materials to their distribution to the end consumer. The article will also present the selected regulatory factors of the market in the context of the EU agricultural policy. Keywords: agricultural products, food industry, food market, foodstuffs inspection, retail chains Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 279-286 Volume: 60 Issue: 6 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/103/2013-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/103/2013-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-201406-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:60:y:2014:i:6:id:103-2013-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Agim BINAJ Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania Author-Name: Pirro VEIZI Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania Author-Name: Enkeleida BEQIRAJ Author-Workplace-Name: Polytecnic University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania Author-Name: Fran GJOKA Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania Author-Name: Elian KASA Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania Title: Economic losses from soil degradation in agricultural area in Albania Abstract: Soildegradationis aserious and widespread problemin Albania. Itmanifests itselfin manyformsandcauses arange ofeffects. The aim of this study was to analyze the economic losses from soil erosion and compaction in relationship to agriculture in Albania. On-site effects of these two degradative processes affect farmers directly through reducingproductionand increasingthe costsof farming. Calculation ofeconomic losses was performed by using the replacement and lost production methods. According to our assessments, the wheat and maize yield losses due to the soil compaction are112 164 tons or US$ 40.2 million, and the plant nutrient losses due to the water erosion are 69 609 tons or US$ 98million. Economic losses from the erosion and compaction in the agricultural area in Albania are at least US$ 138.2 million per year or about 5.5% of the agricultural GDP. Based on the assessed economic losses from soil degradation, it can be concluded that the soil conservation in Albania is economically viable. Keywords: nutrient loss, replacement cost, soil compaction, soil erosion Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 287-293 Volume: 60 Issue: 6 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/12/2013-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/12/2013-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-201406-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:60:y:2014:i:6:id:12-2013-AGRICECON