RESOURCE USE IN SYSTEMS OF INTENSIVE ANIMAL PRODUCTION

The purpose of this paper is to describe several alternative mixes of resources used in animal production, explain why they came about, and question their appropriateness. My main thesis is that capital-intensive systems, although not inherently good or bad, have social and economic consequences for a country that may be either very good or very bad.Livestock Production/Industries,

SOME SPECULATIONS ON THE LONG RUN FUTURE OF RICE IN THAILAND

Crop Production/Industries,

RICE IN THAILAND

Crop Production/Industries,

BACKGROUND TO THE INTRODUCTION OF HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES OF RICE IN THAILAND

This paper describes Thailand's experience to date with new technology in rice, namely new high yielding varieties with associated inputs, which forms one part of the "green revolution." First, the historical background in exports, production, and domestic marketing and pricing is presented. Next the significant developments in rice research in Thailand are described, followed by a brief outline of the adoption of new varieties. In the final section, some implications are drawn for future developments, based on the experience gained until now.Crop Production/Industries,

TECHNOLOGY AND THE AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT MIX

The purpose of this paper is to show how the allocation of research resources among commodities and the effects of such allocations on the output mix depend upon (a) the initial production conditions, (b) the nature of the research production functions, and (c) the nature of the demand relations for the commodity outputs. The basic model used is a two-factor, two-product model in which certain types of technical change are introduced.Farm Management,

THE PERFORMANCE OF BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE TROPICS: EVIDENCE FROM NORTHEAST THAILAND

Crop Production/Industries,

SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES IN IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS, COMMODITY MIX, AND RESEARCH RESOURCE ALLOCATION

The purpose of this paper is to show how the allocation of research resources among commodities and the effects of such allocations on the output mix depend upon (a) the initial production conditions, (b) the nature of the research production functions, (c) the nature of the demand relations for the commodity outputs, (d) relative factor endowments, and (e) the existence of different types of environmental constraints. The basic model used is a two-factor, two-product model in which certain types of technical change are introduced.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Carbon-Neutral Design Guidelines for Medium Density Urban Areas in Warm-Humid and Cool-Dry Climates

This thesis combines Architecture 2030’s carbon-neutral performance targets with the SmartCode transect-based development principles, to generate guidelines for design of medium-density carbon-neutral districts. The topic examines these guidelines in medium density planned and built sites (transect types T4, General Urban Zone, and T5, Urban Center Zone) in representative cities within a cool-dry climate (IECC climate zone 5B, Denver) and a warm-humid climate (IECC climate zone 3A, Atlanta). The thesis assumes that a carbon-neutral district is more effective and potentially easier to achieve than designing independent carbon-neutral urban buildings. Within an urban context, it is now possible to connect buildings to a renewable power source and design for lower energy requirements as a neighborhood/district. This strategy relies on intensive conservation and passive design strategies for each building in addition to providing access to on-site resources for the district as a whole. The project approaches design thinking as a research method resulting in neighborhood/district, block and street, and building volume and massing strategies and guidelines. Two existing New Urbanist developments were selected in the IECC climate zone example cities for the U.S. Existing energy demand and Architecture 2030 targets were estimated from Energy Information Administration data based on building types and region. Problematic issues for each development were identified based on analyses of climate, solar access, daylight access, and ventilation patterns. A new design for each site outlines climatically driven urban design guidelines to promote access to solar energy, daylight, and ventilation resources for each block and building. Analysis of revised development patterns shows increased density is possible in both sites while achieving high site resource availability for passive design strategies. A simple method for estimating roof area required for photovoltaics under different fossil fuel reduction targets was developed and applied to each site. Finally, building-scale access to resources and block patterns of sun and shade are maximized through multiple design and analysis iterations of block types. New design guidelines are generated to promote carbon-neutral performance in each climate zone