Agri-environmental Policies and their Impacts on the Environment and Different Farm Types in Japan: An Economic-Biophysical Model Approach

Promoting environmentally friendly farming products is crucial to meeting consumer demand. Although governments implement policy measures to improve the environmental performance of the agriculture sector, their impacts are difficult to assess. This study analyses the performance of agri-environmental policies in Japan, by using the OECD’s policy impact model and reference level framework. In particular, it identifies the environmental impacts of three simulated agri-environmental policies based on farms’ characteristics. The results suggest that a policy mix of regulation and an incentive payment would reduce environmental impacts, suggesting that targeted approaches could improve the cost-effectiveness of agri-environmental policies

Agri‐environmental Policies to Meet Consumer Preferences in Japan: An Economic‐Biophysical Model Approach

Promoting environmentally friendly farming products is crucial to meeting consumer demand. Although governments implement policy measures to improve the environmental performance of the agriculture sector, theirimpacts are difficult to assess. This study analyses the performance of agri‐environmental policies in Japan, by using the OECD’s policy impact model and reference level framework. In particular, it identifies the environmental impacts of three simulated agri‐environmental policies based on farms’ characteristics. The results suggest that a policy mix of regulation and an incentive payment would reduce environmental impacts, suggesting that targeted approaches could improve the cost‐effectiveness of agri‐environmental policies

A report on ice core drilling on the western plateau of Mt. Belukha in the Russian Altai Mountains in 2003

A 171m deep ice core from the surface to the bottom has been successfully drilled on the West Belukha snow-firn Plateau in the Russian Altai Mountains in the summer of 2003. The drill system used in this project was an electro-mechanical drill with a barrel 135cm long and 9.5cm in inner diameter manufactured by Geo Tecs Co., Japan. The maximum core length for a drilling run is 55cm. It took 87.5 hours in actual working time of 7 working days to drill the core down to the bottom of the glacier. The total number of drilling runs was 325. The mean length of the drilled core was 48.6cm. Most of the cores were not brittle and had a good cylindrical shape. High air temperature above the melting point in the drilling shelter caused some trouble in drilling. One of the major troubles was slip of cutters due to adhesion of cutting tips to the cutters and shoes

Randomised phase II trial of mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab versus mFOLFOX6 plus cetuximab as first-line treatment for colorectal liver metastasis (ATOM trial)

BackgroundChemotherapy with biologics followed by liver surgery improves the resection rate and survival of patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). However, no prospective study has compared the outcomes of chemotherapy with bevacizumab (BEV) versus cetuximab (CET).MethodsThe ATOM study is the first randomised trial comparing BEV and CET for initially unresectable CRLM. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive mFOLFOX6 plus either BEV or CET. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).ResultsBetween May 2013 and April 2016, 122 patients were enrolled. Median PFS was 11.5 months (95% CI 9.2–13.3 months) in the BEV group and 14.8 months (95% CI 9.7–17.3 months) in the CET group (hazard ratio 0.803; P = 0.33). Patients with a smaller-number but larger-sized metastases did better in the CET group. In the BEV and CET groups, the response rates were 68.4% and 84.7% and the resection rates were 56.1% and 49.2%, respectively.ConclusionAlthough CET achieved a better response rate than BEV for patients with a small number of large liver metastases, both biologics had similar efficacy regarding liver resection and acceptable safety profiles. To achieve optimal PFS, biologics should be selected in accordance with patient conditions.Trial registrationThis trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT01836653), and UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR number UMIN000010209)

Policy Mixes for the Provision of Agri-environmental Public Goods and Additionality: Some country experiences

Agriculture is a provider of food, feed, fibre and, to a certain extent, public goods. In order to secure the provision of agri-environmental public goods, some form of public intervention may be needed. Indeed, various agri-environmental policies are implemented in many countries. However, it is not clear which policy measures target which agri-environmental public goods, and identifying the appropriate policy mix for providing specific agri-environmental public goods is still open to debate. The study examines how policy measures target agri-environmental public goods in Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, and how they mix policies. Targeted agri-environmental public goods vary depending on the country. Regulations, agri-environmental payments and technical assistance in these countries target multiple agri-environmental public goods; while environmental taxes and tradable rights are used only for a limited number of agri-environmental public goods (e.g. water quantity). A complex set of policy measures in these countries also address the additionality of a policy measure, i.e. the extent to which the policy is a necessary condition for achieving the environmental target. Good policy mixes are key to providing agri-environmental public goods. This study can contribute to appropriate policy design for the delivery of agri-environmental public goods

Distribution of Burdens for Providing Agri-environmental Public Goods and Application of Reference Level Framework

To secure the provision of agri-environmental public goods such as biodiversity, in many cases, government intervention is necessary. Government intervention means taxpayers cover parts of the costs for the provision. Thus, it is necessary to examine the distribution of burdens for the provision among stakeholders. Environmental reference levels are defined as the minimum level of environmental quality that farmers are obliged to provide at their own expense. By applying the reference level framework established by OECD to some cases in some countries (Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States) this paper examines the distribution of burdens for providing agri-environmental public goods. This paper found several patterns of the reference levels. They should be clearly defined so as to clarify the extent to which farmers and other stakeholders should bear the costs

Providing Agri-environmental Public Goods through Collective Action: Lessons from New Zealand Case Studies

Agriculture is a provider of food and, to a certain extent, public goods such as biodiversity and landscape, but it can also have negative impacts on natural assets such as biodiversity and water quality. In addition to implementing policies that target individual farmers, different approaches are needed to promote collective action. The literature review and three New Zealand case studies (Sustainable Farming Fund, East Coast Forestry Project and North Otago Irrigation Company) have identified some findings including benefits and barriers of collective action and key factors for its success. Collective action should be given serious consideration in addressing agri-environmental problems

Agri‐environmental Policies to Meet Consumer Preferences in Japan: An Economic‐Biophysical Model Approach

Promoting environmentally friendly farming products is crucial to meeting consumer demand. Although governments implement policy measures to improve the environmental performance of the agriculture sector, theirimpacts are difficult to assess. This study analyses the performance of agri‐environmental policies in Japan, by using the OECD’s policy impact model and reference level framework. In particular, it identifies the environmental impacts of three simulated agri‐environmental policies based on farms’ characteristics. The results suggest that a policy mix of regulation and an incentive payment would reduce environmental impacts, suggesting that targeted approaches could improve the cost‐effectiveness of agri‐environmental policies

Agri-environmental Policies and their Impacts on the Environment and Different Farm Types in Japan: An Economic-Biophysical Model Approach

Promoting environmentally friendly farming products is crucial to meeting consumer demand. Although governments implement policy measures to improve the environmental performance of the agriculture sector, their impacts are difficult to assess. This study analyses the performance of agri-environmental policies in Japan, by using the OECD’s policy impact model and reference level framework. In particular, it identifies the environmental impacts of three simulated agri-environmental policies based on farms’ characteristics. The results suggest that a policy mix of regulation and an incentive payment would reduce environmental impacts, suggesting that targeted approaches could improve the cost-effectiveness of agri-environmental policies

Agri‐environmental Policies to Meet Consumer Preferences in Japan: An Economic‐Biophysical Model Approach

Promoting environmentally friendly farming products is crucial to meeting consumer demand. Although governments implement policy measures to improve the environmental performance of the agriculture sector, their impacts are difficult to assess. This study analyses the performance of agri‐environmental policies in Japan, by using the OECD’s policy impact model and reference level framework. In particular, it identifies the environmental impacts of three simulated agri‐environmental policies based on farms’ characteristics. The results suggest that a policy mix of regulation and an incentive payment would reduce environmental impacts, suggesting that targeted approaches could improve the cost‐effectiveness of agri‐environmental policies