The impact of the Single Farm Payments on the Expenditure on Fertilizers and crop protection inputs: a comparative study of the Italian agriculture

The Health Check (HC) of the European Common Agricultural Policy in 2003 sped up the process of policy reforms toward decoupled payments in order to urge agricultural production to respond to market signals. However, since decoupled payments could generate “coupled” effects on production, it remains questionable how single farm payment (SFP) alters agricultural intensification. Therefore, through a comparative statistical analysis applied on Italian FADN regional data, this paper aims at evaluating whether the HC reform had positive impacts on the aggregate expenditure on fertilizers and crop production inputs. From the results, it is observed that the expansion of profitable crops like vegetables, flowers and vineyards, along with the receipt of SFP increased the expenditure of fertilizers and crop protection inputs. Such findings suggest that the HC reform has been so far effective in terms of aligning agricultural production to markets’ signals, but with the unintended consequence of higher intensification. We deduce that farmers may allocate higher proportions of SFP to purchase fertilizers and crop protection inputs whenever the opportunity of higher profits is found in those cropping activities requiring a higher intensive use of production’ factors.input use, agricultural intensification, CAP Mid Term Review, Single Farm Payments, cross-compliance., Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Health Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics,

Case study on economic return on investments for safety and emergency lighting in road tunnels

While planning a double-hole road tunnel with a length higher than one km, it is important to pay attention to the safety factor if an accident occurs. If there is a power outage, in order to avoid critical situations that could jeopardize the safety of the people present (facilitating the stream coming out from the tunnel and the arrival of the emergency personnel), it is really important to guarantee uninterrupted lighting of roadways, mandatory emergency lay-bys, and ways of escape. Uninterrupted service of the lighting systems supply must be guaranteed, in accordance with the current regulations, through the exertion of UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and power units. During tunnel construction, such devices represent a cost that must be amortized. In this case study, which takes into consideration a section of a road tunnel characterized by emergency lay-bys and ways of escape, emergency and security lighting were planned and installation and management costs were evaluated. The goal of this research was the creation of a cash flow thanks to the energy generated by photovoltaic panels, in a way that the service life of the system (25 years) coincided with the amortization of the costs of the backup electrical equipment installation (complying with the regulations). The possibility of over-dimensioning the UPS and providing it with a proper photovoltaic panel surface (235 kWp) to generate and exchange electric energy with the grid was taken into consideration

Dynamic thermal features of insulated blocks: Actual behavior and myths

The latest updates in the European directive on energy performance of buildings have introduced the fundamental “nearly zero-energy building (NZEB)” concept. Thus, a special focus needs to be addressed to the thermal performance of building envelopes, especially concerning the role played by thermal inertia in the energy requirements for cooling applications. In fact, a high thermal inertia of the outer walls results in a mitigation of the daily heat wave, which reduces the cooling peak load and the related energy demand. The common assumption that high mass means high thermal inertia typically leads to the use of high-mass blocks. Numerical and experimental studies on thermal inertia of hollow envelope components have not confirmed this general assumption, even though no systematic analysis is readily available in the open literature. Yet, the usually employed methods for the calculation of unsteady heat transfer through walls are based on the hypothesis that such walls are composed of homogeneous layers. In this framework, a study of the dynamic thermal performance of insulated blocks is brought forth in the present paper. A finite-volume method is used to solve the two-dimensional equation of conduction heat transfer, using a triangular-pulse temperature excitation to analyze the heat flux response. The effects of both the type of clay and the insulating filler are investigated and discussed at length. The results obtained show that the wall front mass is not the basic independent variable, since clay and insulating filler thermal diffusivities are more important controlling parameters

Definition of parameters useful to describe dynamic thermal behavior of hollow bricks

Dynamic thermal behavior of hollow bricks is attracting much interest nowadays as there is much concern on energy performance of building envelope. In fact, high thermal inertia of outer walls provides mitigation of the daily heat wave, which reduces the cooling peak load and the related energy demand. Different approaches have been used to study dynamic thermal behavior within the papers available on unsteady heat transfer through hollow bricks. Actually, the usually employed methods for calculation of unsteady heat transfer through walls are based on the hypothesis that such walls are composed by homogeneous layers, so they are not suitable for many common building components. In this framework, a study on the dynamic thermal performance of hollow bricks is brought forth in the present paper. A critical review of available data from the literature is provided. Literature data are used to propose a parameter useful to predict dynamic thermal behavior. A finite-volume method is used to solve two-dimensional unsteady thermal fields in some standard bricks with different imposed temperature solicitations, with a numerical code developed by the authors. New results are used to check the effectiveness of the proposed parameters

THREE PERSPECTIVES ON INNOVATION IN EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE: FROM PUBLIC RESEARCH TO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The dissertation examines the idea that current and future challenges faced by the European agricultural sector call for a multidimensional approach combining the classical path of productivity growth with more stringent commitments to environmental protection, and more incisive mitigation and adaptation actions to mitigate climate change, all within a policy context of a transition toward the cyclical management of resources (inputs, outputs and wastes) inspired by the circular economy concept. The three essays of the dissertation aim to show: that agricultural productivity in Europe is supported by complementarities between public and private investments in agricultural research with remarkable results in terms of rates of return; that the processes of knowledge-based innovation adoptions improve the economic performance of farms, especially by focusing on higher quality and value-added of agricultural production; and that an innovative approach, based on a combination of policy coherence and targeted technological solutions, can trigger the circularity of water use across urban and agricultural economic sectors, providing a valid solution for improving the allocative efficiency of irrigation water, while safeguarding the status of the aquifers and the river basins. The reading key for the dissertation is, innovation conditioned by policy priorities, and the three essays provide a perspective on the evolution of the role of agricultural innovation over time in the context of the changing policy priorities of the European Union. Since the 1950s innovation in agriculture has always been an engine of economic growth in Europe. Over time, patterns of the creation and diffusion of agricultural innovation in Europe changed notably, from improving farm productivity and intensification in the first periods, then to sustainable intensification and natural resource (environmental) protection in a second period, and most recently a new focus on implementing a more circular economy. The dynamics that lead from research to innovation, and from innovation to economic growth are changing as well. Europe is assisting a switch from the old linear transmission of knowledge approach (research-extension-farmer) to a more modern network-type agricultural knowledge and innovation system (AKIS) (Klerkx et al., 2009), as well in making transitions from the linear paradigm of economic growth to a more circular economy system by closing the loop and guaranteeing productivity improvement without impairing natural resources (EC, 2015). The objective of this dissertation is threefold: i) macro – to assess the economic impact of public investments in agricultural research on agricultural productivity in Europe through analysis of aggregate rates of return; ii) micro – to assess the impact of information, research in primis, at the farm level through the analysis of the effects of innovation adoption on individual farm profitability in one region of Italy; and, iii) environmental – to explore theoretical application of the circular economy concept to the reuse of water and irrigation management. The first essay provides an evidence-based assessment of the impacts of publicly supported R&D and innovation of agriculture in Europe. A panel model framework is applied to 16 European countries. The impacts of R&D investments and agricultural patents on agricultural productivity (TFP) were estimated, and rates of return (RoR) from public expenditures have been computed. The results vary according to the length of the imposed lags, showing a positive but decreasing pattern of effects both on TFP and return rates. Although preliminary, the values are deemed consistent with the evolution of research productivity over the last three decades in Europe, which has been characterized by a shift of the CAP from productivity enhancing investments, to a public commitment to improving environmental sustainability. The second essay aims at analyzing the determinants of farmers’ adoption of innovations and studying their effect on profitability. Different from existing literature, beyond examining adoption behavior, I investigate whether the source of information and the connection of agricultural research with an adopted innovation influences the economic performance of farms. Relying on primary data collected in the Bologna province (Italy), an econometric analysis is conducted in order to assess determinants of adoption and to estimate the impacts of such decisions on farm profitability. The results indicate that a farmer having a connection to scientific research, although not determinant for the adoption decisions, triggers significant improvements in profitability, in terms of value-added and quality of production, but does not affect other profitability-related parameters. The third essay proposes a framework for the Circular Economy (CE) concept to be applied to the water sector. The European Green Deal and the CAP post-2020 challenge the European agricultural sector by imposing stricter environmental cross-compliance measures linked to a strong demand for improved competitiveness, all within an overarching policy framework that pursues: the circularity of resources, climate neutrality, and economic growth decoupled from resource use. Although the agricultural sector has been excluded from the direct application of the CE concept, it remains highly subject to various requirements to pursue sustainable intensification, with frequent risks of: prosecution for environmental noncompliance, and of production and income losses, due to market volatility and climate change, especially related to the scarcity of water resources. However, a possible solution might be found in the proposal of a CE framework that is able to provide for a combined set of policy measures, coordinated across the urban and the agricultural sectors, and that mainly deal with specific technological improvements aimed at producing safe additional irrigation water from urban treatment plants and at optimizing the irrigation use, seemingly without consequences on levels of current water tariffs

Informing on Best Practices Using Design Builder and RET Screen to Calculate Energetic, Financial, and Environmental Impacts of Energy Systems for Buildings

Buildings represent 32% of total final energy consumption. In terms of primary energy consumption, buildings represent around 40% in most IEA countries (International Energy Agency). For such reason, strategies that lead to energy savings and greenhouse gases reduction are needed. This research aims to provide a methodology able to identify the best system configuration from a technical, economic and environmental point of view by using at the same time two energy software: Design builder, which is able to calculate buildings energy needs under dynamic conditions, and RETScreen, which allows feasibility analysis of clean energy projects. In order to assess the effectiveness of this operating procedure, a historical building has been modelled and a Combined Cooling, Heat and Power system based on an internal combustion engine has been chosen to ensure environmentally sound way. In this study it shows the application of the procedure to a case study as an historical building located in Orte City which is near Rome in Italy; the methodology could get a real preliminary analysis for choose the best active or passive system for improve the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of existing buildings, also allowing a cost-benefit analysis useful for the concrete realization of the interventions studied

Parameters affecting the efficiency of a heat transformer with a particular focus on the heat solution

The heat transformer is a reverse cycle absorption machine, suitable for the direct exploitation of heat wastes and solar energy. Part of these wastes are “transformed” into thermal energy at a higher temperature than the one provided. Hence some studies concern the evaluation of the performances of the working fluids used. They must ensure a high level of efficiency which, as for the conventional absorption machines, depends on several parameters. One of these parameters is the heat solution: it is defined as the heat absorbed when a mole of a given component is mixed with the amount of the other component required to generate the desired solution at a certain temperature and pressure. This is the reason why the decision was to examine its influence with respect to machines exerting two different fluids which are generally used. The first one is NH3-H2O, whereas the second is H2O-LiBr; they used as refrigerating substances ammonia and water respectively and as absorption substances water and lithium bromide. Through an analytical modeling and the processing of experimental data provided by the bibliography, it was possible to show how, for these fluids, the terms of the sensible heat represent a moderate fraction of the global energy balance, at one condition though: highly efficient recovery exchangers must be present. Moreover there were reported values of the refrigeration effect of the order of thousands of kJ/kg with satisfying responses energetically speaking. Then a high stability of the fluid NH3-H2O was revealed, as testified by the high value of the difference between the concentration of the refrigerator in the absorber and the concentration of the refrigerator in the generato

Analysis of thermal field within an urban canyon with variable thermophysical characteristics of the building's walls.

In a typical urban configuration, a microclimatic analysis has been carried out. Using a CFD method, a N-S oriented urban street canyon, with a given H/W ratio, has been examined. The standard k–ε turbulence model has been used to simulate a three-dimensional flow field and to calculate the thermo-fluid dynamics parameters that characterize the street canyon. In this study has been analyzed the thermal flow field when the walls of the building change the properties of solar radiation absorption, in particular for α=0.2 and α=0.8. Solar radiation considered is that of 21/07 in Milan in two different hours: at 11:00 a.m. and at 02:00 p.m. The study shows the importance of the thermophysical properties of a wall, in the development of the thermal field and flow field. This is a very important topic, in terms of improvement of well-being and the quality of the air within the cities, through the choice of materials and colors of the facades of buildings.

Index based compensation for weather risk in the Italian agriculture. A feasibility study based on actual historic data

The paper explores the feasibility of the use of weather index based derivatives for farms' risk management in an Italian province. Based on a combination of detailed local weather data and of data on farms' yields, various possible weather indexes are found that are highly correlated with yields of the major crops in the area. Simulations show that hedging through such index based derivatives can be effective in protecting the stability of farms' incomes, at a cost that is likely to be much lower than that of the current system of subsidized crop insurance and ex-post compensation.Agricultural risk management, weather derivatives, index based yield insurance., Production Economics, Risk and Uncertainty,

Definition of a Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Epitope of the Sin Nombre Hantavirus G2 Glycoprotein

Sin Nombre virus is a hantavirus first recognized in New Mexico in 1993. This virus is responsible for causing Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, an acute, life threatening illness characterized by pulmonary edema, capillary leaking, and extreme respiratory distress. CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell lines specific for Sin Nombre virus were isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a donor (NM3) who was naturally infected with the Sin Nombre virus, and has survived hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assays showed that one of these cell lines, 10K, specifically recognizes a nine amino acid epitope, TAHGVGIIP (amino acids 664-672 of the precursor GPC protein), which is located in the G2 protein after cleavage. Another cell line, 10c27, specifically recognized an eight amino acid epitope, AHGVGIIP (amino acids 665-672 of the precursor GPC protein), located in the G2 protein after cleavage. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and CTL assays, the recognition of these epitopes was shown to be restricted by the B35.01 Class 1 human leukocyte associated antigen (HLA) allele. This information will be useful in creating a vaccine for use in immunizing people against the Sin Nombre hantavirus, as well as elucidating the pathogenesis of this disease