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FW: ERS Report on Green Technologies in Agriculture



SANet:

A USDA Economic Research Service report, 42 pages in Adobe (.pdf).
http://www.econ.ag.gov/epubs/pdf/aib752/index.htm

It includes some interesting data on adoption of conservation tillage and
IPM, data on wetlands and water pollution, and a large bibliography, among
other things.

Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: Crosby Greg NRE [mailto:GCROSBY@intranet.reeusda.gov] 
Sent: Monday, August 02, 1999 2:54 PM
Subject: SDCOUNTIL> ERS Report on Green Tech in Agriculture


Green Technologies for a More Sustainable Agriculture

Green Technologies for a More Sustainable Agriculture. By James
Hrubovcak, Utpal Vasavada, and Joseph Aldy.  Resource Economics
Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Agriculture Informaiton Bulletin No. 752. 

               Abstract

For U.S. agriculture to continue along a sustainable path of economic
development, further production increases must be generated by
technologies that are both profitable and more environmentally benign.
In this context, we assess the role of these "green" or sustainable
technologies in steering agriculture along a more sustainable path.
However, the lack of markets for the environmental attributes associated
with green technologies can limit their development. In addition, simply
making a technology available does not mean it will be adopted.
Experience with green technologies such as conservation
tillage,integrated pest management, enhanced nutrient management, and
precision agriculture demonstrates that even when technologies are
profitable, barriers to adopting new practices can limit their
effectiveness. 

Keywords: Sustainable agriculture, natural capital, nonrenewable
resources, renewable resources, environmental services, green
technology, integrated pest management, conservation tillage, enhanced
nutrient management, precision agriculture 

Contents

Summary 
Introduction 
I. The Sustainability Issue-Background 

II. The Case for a More Sustainable Agriculture 
Agricultural Productivity 
Soil Erosion 
Ground-Water Quantity 
Surface-Water Quality 
Ground-Water Quality 
Wetland Conversion Rates 
An Aggregate Assessment for U.S. Agriculture 

III. Steering Agriculture in a More Sustainable
Direction-The Role of Green Technologies 
Integrated Pest Management 
Conservation Tillage 
Enhanced Nutrient Management 
Precision Agriculture 

IV. Can Green Technologies Meet Sustainability
Goals? Impediments to Overcome 
Farm Structure 
Economic Risk 
Heterogeneity of the Resource Base 
Other Factors 

V. Conclusions 

References 

Appendix 1-Farm Level Case Studies on Profitability-Environment
Tradeoffs 

Appendix 2-Workshop on the Economics of Sustainable Agriculture 

ii Green Technologies for a More Sustainable Agriculture/ AIB-752 Economic
Research Service/USDA

Updated: July 6, 1999 

http://www.econ.ag.gov/epubs/pdf/aib752/index.htm

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