Economic Insights in Ecological Compensations : Market Analysis With an Empirical Application to the Finnish Economy

Peer reviewe

Contents of trichothecenes in oats during official variety, organic cultivation and nitrogen fertilization trials in Finland

Natural toxins, such as mycotoxins, have emerged as a significant factor affecting the safety image of cereal grains as a raw material for the food and feed industry. The aim of the present study was to investigate the contents of trichothecenes in representative samples of oats during official variety, nitrogen fertilization and organic farming trials in Finland, 1997–1999. Further objectives were to promote industry and commerce by selection of high-quality oat varieties for various applications. The official variety trials conducted at 8–10 locations were managed following standard protocol. There were 2 types of agronomy trial, the first included comparison of oat cultivars grown in conventional and organic farming systems at 6 locations, and the second used 5 nitrogen rates (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha-1) at 2 locations. Regardless of wet cold summer occurring in Finland during 1998, the concentrations of Fusarium toxins were lowest during this 3 year monitoring period. More mycotoxins were produced during the warm, dry summers of 1997 and 1999 than in 1998. In all, 55% of the oat samples in the official variety trials contained deoxynivalenol (DON) within the range of 50– 896 µ g kg-1. The differences in DON concentrations between organic and conventional cultivation were small. The results showed also that the use of various nitrogen fertilization levels only slightly affected the trichothecene concentrations. The contents of trichothecenes in Finnish grains appeared to be similar to or lower than those reported earlier in the Northern Hemisphere

A PES scheme promoting forest biodiversity and carbon sequestration

Forests can play a significant role both in halting biodiversity loss and in mitigating climate change. A variety of payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes exists to promote biodiversity conservation in forests. These schemes could be used to strengthen the role of forests as carbon sinks as well. This paper analyzes the implications of supplementing a PES scheme that targets boreal forest biodiversity with a carbon index. We use a site selection framework to examine how the proposed scheme impacts the promotion of both targets. We compare a case where the selection is done solely based on biodiversity values to a case where the selection is done based on both biodiversity and carbon benefits. The carbon index is formulated as current carbon storage or as future carbon sink. Correspondingly, biodiversity is maximized based on either current ecological values or potential ones. We compare equal or differing weights for biodiversity and carbon indexes, and examine trade-offs between biodiversity and CO2 in current and future values. Combined index values increase with the carbon index, but there is a trade-off between biodiversity and CO2 values if the conservation budget is not increased when the carbon index is introduced. There is a temporal trade-off in biodiversity and carbon values between selecting sites based on current or future values. Younger stands are preferred at the expense of old-growth stands with the carbon index. Weights can be used to balance the trade-off between biodiversity and carbon benefits. Overall, risks to losing significant ecological value from the conservation network are negligible, but the limited number of sites decreases the generalizability of the results.Peer reviewe

Selenium content of Finnish oats in 1997-1999: effect of cultivars and cultivation techniques

Se-supplemented fertilization is the main factor affecting the selenium (Se) contents of cereals in Finland. Soil and climatic conditions determine the activity of selenate added to soils and bioavailability to plants. In the present study the Se contents and its variation in Finnish oats, the differences between oat cultivars and cultivation techniques were examined. The selenium (Se) contents of oats (Avena sativa L.) in Finland were examined during 1997-1999 in 3 types of trial: official variety, organic cultivation variety and organic vs. conventional cultivation trials. Farm samples were also examined. The mean Se contents of oats in official variety trials were 0.110, 0.120 and 0.160 mg kg-1 dry weight (dw) range 0.016-0.460 mg kg-1dw in 1997-1999, respectively. The mean Se contents in farm samples were 0.050 and 0.130 mg kg-1dw in 1998 and 1999, ranging between < 0.010 and 0.330 mg kg-1 dw. Considerable regional and seasonal variations existed. The Se contents of oats were significantly higher in 1999 probably due to the combined effect of not increased fertilizer level (from 6 to 10 mg Se kg-1 fertilizer) and very low precipitation in 1999. The Se contents of oats were significantly lower in organic cultivation, due to the absence of Se-supplemented fertilization. Significant (P < 0.001) cultivar differences were detected in official variety trials. The cultivars Veli and Leila showed higher levels of Se

ß-Glucan contents of groats of different oat cultivars in official variety, in organic cultivation, and in nitrogen fertilization trials in Finland

ß-Glucan is a beneficial chemical compound in the diet of humans by decreasing the levels of serum cholesterol and blood glucose. The ß-glucan contents of oat groats were studied in official variety trials (1997-1999), nitrogen fertilization trials (1997-1999) and organic variety trials (1997-1998) in Finland. Eight cultivars were studied in the organic variety trials. Two of them, cultivars Puhti and Veli, were cultivated also with a conventional method at the same fields. The years 1997 and 1999 were very warm and dry and 1998 very cool and rainy. The effects of year and cultivar on ß-glucan content were significant in all three trial series. The Kolbu oat cultivar had a significantly lower ß- glucan content than other cultivars in all trials. N fertilization did not increase the ß-glucan contents of oats in Finland. The effect of cultivation method (traditional vr organic cultivation) had no significant effect on the ß-glucan content. The year x cultivar interaction significantly affected the ß-glucan contents of oat groats in N fertilization trials. The reaction of different cultivars to weather conditions was different. Kolbu oat cultivar had significantly lower ß-glucan contents in 1998 than in warm years in all three trial series

Parkanon tutkimusalue. Hoito- ja käyttösuunnitelma 2001-2010

liitteit

Precision, Applicability, and Economic Implications: A Comparison of Alternative Biodiversity Offset Indexes

The rates of ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss are alarming and current conservation efforts are not sufficient to stop them. The need for new tools is urgent. One approach is biodiversity offsetting: a developer causing habitat degradation provides an improvement in biodiversity so that the lost ecological value is compensated for. Accurate and ecologically meaningful measurement of losses and estimation of gains are essential in reaching the no net loss goal or any other desired outcome of biodiversity offsetting. The chosen calculation method strongly influences biodiversity outcomes. We compare a multiplicative method, which is based on a habitat condition index developed for measuring the state of ecosystems in Finland to two alternative approaches for building a calculation method: an additive function and a simpler matrix tool. We examine the different logic of each method by comparing the resulting trade ratios and examine the costs of offsetting for developers, which allows us to compare the cost-effectiveness of different types of offsets. The results show that the outcomes of the calculation methods differ in many aspects. The matrix approach is not able to consider small changes in the ecological state. The additive method gives always higher biodiversity values compared to the multiplicative method. The multiplicative method tends to require larger trade ratios than the additive method when trade ratios are larger than one. Using scoring intervals instead of using continuous components may increase the difference between the methods. In addition, the calculation methods have differences in dealing with the issue of substitutability.Peer reviewe

Virallisten lajikekokeiden tulokset 1992-1999

Virallisen lajiketoimikunnan tehtävänä on selvittää uusien peltokasvilajikkeiden viljelyarvo ennen niiden viljelyyn ottamista. Peltokasvien viralliset lajikekokeet järjestää Maatalouden tutkimuskeskus. Lajikekokeita on tärkeimmillä viljelykasveilla eri puolilla maata vähintään kahden vuoden ajan ennen lajikkeen viljelyyn ottamista. Virallista lajikekoetoimintaa johtaa Maatalouden tutkimuskeskuksen Alueellinen tutkimus. Viralliset lajikekokeet ovat perusta peltokasvien lajikkeista annettavalle tiedolle. Uusien lajikkeiden viljelyarvo tutkitaan alustavassa ja virallisissa lajikekokeissa. Uusien lajikkeiden viljelyarvoa, viljelyvarmuutta, satoisuutta ja laatua selvitetään alustavissa ja virallisissa lajikekokeissa. Alustavat ja viralliset lajikekokeet ovat maksullista tutkimusta. Kasvinjalostuslaitos tai lajikkeen omistaja ilmoittaa lajikkeen kokeisiin ja vastaa kokeiden kustannuksista. Lajike on virallisissa kokeissa vähintään kaksi vuotta tai kunnes se hyväksytään maa- ja metsätalousministeriön kasvilajikeluetteloon. Tämän jälkeen lajike on vielä kokeissa 2-3 vuotta neuvonnan tarpeita varten. Lajikkeen kokeilu virallisissa lajikekokeissa kestää yhteensä 4-6 vuotta. Virallisia lajikekokeita järjestetään tärkeimmillä viljelykasveilla. Lajikekokeet tehdään kunkin lajikkeen viljelyyn soveltuvalla alueella. Esimerkiksi kevätvehnän lajikekokeita on vain Etelä-Suomessa. Ohran lajikekokeita on vastaavasti mallasohraa lukuun ottamatta koko maassa. Lajikekokeet ovat käytännön viljelyä vastaavia kenttäkokeita. Virallisia lajikekokeita on vuonna 1999 ollut kaikkiaan 17 koepaikalla (Kuva l). Virallisia lajikekokeita ovat suorittaneet MTT:n toimeksiannosta ja valvonnassa myös Mildola Oy, Kemira Agro Oy ja Perunantutkimuslaitos.The task of the Plant Variety Board is to determine the value of new field crop varieties before they are released. The official variety trials of field crops are arranged by the Agricultural Research Centre of Finland. Variety trials of the most important plants are conducted around Finland for more than two years before they are released. The official variety trial operations are organised by the Regional Research of the Agricultural Research Centre of Finland. The official variety trials form a basis for the provision of information on the value of field crops. The value, cultivation stability, yield potential and quality of new varieties is evaluated in preliminary and official variety trials. The preliminary and official variety trials are subject to a charge. The Plant Breeding Institute or the owner of the variety enters the variety for the trials and covers the expenses related to the trials. The variety undergoes official trials for at least two years or until it is entered in the National List of Cultivars of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland. Thereafter the variety undergoes trials for another 2-3 years to collect information for growers. Altogether the testing of a variety in official variety trials lasts a total of 4 to 6 years. Official variety trials are arranged for the most important cultivated crops. The variety trials take place in areas suitable for the cultivation of the crop in question. For instance, variety trials on spring wheat are conducted only in South-Finland, whereas variety trials on barley, except for malt barley, are arranged all over the country. The variety trials are field trials which simulate practical cultivation. Official variety trials were conducted at a total of 17 trial sites in 1999 (Fig. 1). In addition, official variety trials have been conducted by Mildola Oy, Kemira Agro Ltd. and Potato Research Institute to order and under supervision of the Agricultural Research Centre of Finland.vokMyynti MTT tietopalveluyksikk

Uudet lajikkeet satoisia ja taudinkestäviä

Uusissa peltokasvien lajikkeissa on valinnan varaa. Eniten uutuuksia löytyy ohrasta ja kaurasta. Näiden viljojen tuotantoon lajikeuutuudet tarjoavat satoisuutta, laatua ja taudinkestävyyttä. Myös syysvehnän, herneen ja perunan sekä rehunurmien tuotantoon on tarjolla uusia lajikkeita.vo