Files in this item
Files | Description | Format |
---|---|---|
application/pdf ![]() | (no description provided) |
Description
Title: | Welfare effects of new fire blight control methods on the U.S. apple industry |
Author(s): | Busdieker, Nichole L. |
Advisor(s): | Nogueira, Lia |
Department / Program: | Agr & Consumer Economics |
Discipline: | Agricultural & Applied Econ |
Degree Granting Institution: | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Degree: | M.S. |
Genre: | Thesis |
Subject(s): | Fire blight
Genetically Modified (GM) Technology Apple |
Abstract: | Technology development for production methods of new varieties and for disease control has been widely explored throughout agriculture including the apple industry. Recent progress has been made to fight against apple fire blight, which cost the Michigan apple industry nearly $42 million in the 2000 fire blight outbreak. Researchers are currently working to control fire blight through development of a microencapsulated chemical and bio-control agents as well as genetically modified (GM) varieties based on current fire blight resistant varieties. This thesis uses dynamic simulations to evaluate the impact of those new technologies on consumption and production as well as world trade. Through development of a dynamic temporal and spatial partial equilibrium model, I am able to evaluate the welfare impact to the apple industry. This thesis shows the overwhelming benefits of GM technology over other methods such as microencapsulation of chemicals and biological agents where the cost-reduction benefits of the technology outweigh the yield-increase benefits. If no hesitation by producers and consumers towards GM crops existed, technology would be readily adopted and society would benefit overall. In the choice between GM and the bio-control technologies of this study, GM technology is adopted with minimal market adjustments. |
Issue Date: | 2011-08-25 |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2142/26131 |
Rights Information: | Copyright 2011 Nichole L. Busdieker |
Date Available in IDEALS: | 2011-08-25 |
Date Deposited: | 2011-08 |
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
-
Theses - Agricultural and Consumer Economics
-
Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois