Agricultural Processing and the WA Economy: A General Equilibrium Analysis

This paper investigates the impact of an expansion in agricultural processing on the Western Australian economy by modifying and applying a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) economic model of Western Australia (called WAM). WAM was used to simulate the effects of a $1 million expansion in eight agricultural processing industries. The results show that there is a range of positive impacts from agricultural processing. On average, a$1 million expansion in agricultural processing is estimated to increase the State’s GSP (Gross State Product) by $649,000, and total output by$1.9 million. The expansion of the Wine and spirits industry is estimated to have the largest impact while the Textile fibres, yarns and woven fabrics industry has the smallest impact on the Western Australian economy.Agricultural processing, CGE model, Agribusiness,

What factors explain differences in learning climates?

Peer reviewe

What drives farmers to make top-down or bottom-up adaptation to climate change and fluctuations?:A comparative study on 3 cases of apple farming in Japan and South Africa

Agriculture is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. Farmers have been exposed to multiple stressors including climate change, and they have managed to adapt to those risks. The adaptation actions undertaken by farmers and their decision making are, however, only poorly understood. By studying adaptation practices undertaken by apple farmers in three regions: Nagano and Kazuno in Japan and Elgin in South Africa, we categorize the adaptation actions into two types: farmer initiated bottom-up adaptation and institution led top-down adaptation. We found that the driver which differentiates the type of adaptation likely adopted was strongly related to the farmers' characteristics, particularly their dependence on the institutions, e.g. the farmers' cooperative, in selling their products. The farmers who rely on the farmers' cooperative for their sales are likely to adopt the institution-led adaptation, whereas the farmers who have established their own sales channels tend to start innovative actions by bottom-up. We further argue that even though the two types have contrasting features, the combinations of the both types of adaptations could lead to more successful adaptation particularly in agriculture. This study also emphasizes that more farm-level studies for various crops and regions are warranted to provide substantial feedbacks to adaptation policy

The uptake and utility of seasonal forecasting products for commercial maize farmers in South Africa

Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-191)

THE ROLE OF COMPUTER AIDED ENGINEERING IN DEVELOPING A COMBINED TRASH AND RECYCLING TRUCK : A CASE STUDY

This work will illustrate how Environmental America Inc., EAI, and the Clemson University design team utilized lean manufacturing principles to revolutionize the curbside waste collection process. Through the application of lean manufacturing principles the number of non-value added steps was significantly reduced and the information gathered from the lean process tree acted as a framework to develop initial constraints and criteria for the vehicle\u27s development. The design team was asked to construct the fifth iteration of the prototype collection vehicle in an effort to minimize vehicle cost, size and weight. An extensive case study will be presented which illustrates how the design team utilized CAE to optimize the proposed prototype baling system. The investigation is conducted through the use of an \u27observer as participant\u27 form of case study. The EAI combined collection vehicle was selected as the focus of the study due to the complexity and size of the system, as it has a significantly larger scope than those presented in classic academic engineering design projects. Since previous prototypes have been developed without the use of CAE software or additional engineering tool support, a benchmark for comparison exists which will directly demonstrate the benefits and limitations of the chosen software. Currently, CAE and FEA software is often used for product validation, system optimization, and parametric studies, however, this paper will demonstrate how CAE and FEA can be utilized to verify physical experimentation. The results of this case study will show that although the use of CAE significantly reduces lead time and cost associated with product development, the software can be extremely hazardous when used inappropriately

A Discourse Analysis of Beginning English Teachers\u27 Identity Development

This dissertation was a discourse analysis of how beginning English teachers’ talk contributes to the development of their teacher identities. The study drew on the epistemological and ontological assumptions of discursive psychology, and as such it used methods consistent with discursive psychology and conversation analysis. The data for the study were comprised of twenty-one audio-recorded meetings of eight student teachers in a year-long internship and their field supervisor, who was also the researcher. Orienting to the construct of identity as socially negotiated, unstable, and multiple, the study sought to identify specific discursive strategies that beginning English teacher’s employ to negotiate their identities. The analysis resulted in six discursive strategies, including making explicit identity claims, emphasizing the personal importance of a pedagogical concept, locating themselves in relation to other educators, orienting to feedback, talking about failures, and working up the impact of students on lesson outcomes. Implications for how the identities that are developed in conversation through these strategies can limit and license specific teacher practices and recommendations for how teacher educators can encourage beginning teachers to develop fruitful identities are discussed