Agricultural diversification, productivity, and food security across time and space

Abstract

This article presents an investigation of agricultural production risk over time and across space and its implications for food security. The econometric approach involves a Quantile Autoregressive (QAR) model and a copula to provide a flexible representation of the distribution of yield risk and its evolution over time and across space. The analysis relies on a two‐step estimation method to evaluate the multivariate yield distribution and its spatial and temporal evolution. Linkages between agricultural production risk and the economics of food security are explored, with implications for the welfare cost of food insecurity. The approach is illustrated in an econometric application to regional wheat and corn yields in Italy. The analysis provides new and useful information on the evolving linkages between agricultural production risk, productivity, and food security. Our integrated approach documents the role of regional diversification and of productivity growth along with their effects on food security.

Spatial-Temporal Pattern of Agricultural Total Factor Productivity Change (Tfpch) in China and Its Implications for Agricultural Sustainable Development

“…The technical change was an important driver of China's agricultural TFP growth, while technical efficiency change played a hindering role in general. Technical change can help reduce the harm of risks, especially climate risks [58]. (2) The spatial variation of China's agricultural Tfpch was significant, with the western, eastern, central and northeast China in descending order.…”

“…Future studies will focus on Chinese spatial differentiation of agricultural potential and explore whether it is positively or negatively correlated with natural conditions, economic factors and so on [56,57]. In addition, combining remote sensing data with statistical yearbooks and taking international trade into consideration in the future can be more convincible [52,58].…”

Effect of subsidies on farms' exit decision

“…The adoption of farm technologies is connected to downside risk exposure (lower crop failure rate). At the same time, climate change is increasing such risks (Chavas et al, 2022). This question became increasingly relevant for Ukraine as climate change substantially alters the production environment in South Ukraine through lower precipitation rates and higher temperatures, leading to a higher frequency of droughts and crop failure rates in these areas, potentially altering the exit decisions of the local farms.…”

Food companies' productivity dynamics: Exploring the role of intangible assets

“…Furthermore, during the COVID‐19 lockdown and amid economic recovery from the pandemic, food insecurity has risen in many countries, including advanced economies, such as the United States (US) (Tian et al, 2022). Therefore, it has become increasingly important to improve the productivity of food production for the well‐being of human beings, as recent research has found positive associations between productivity and food security (Chavas et al, 2022; Villacis et al, 2022) and between food security and human well‐being (Kornher & Sakketa, 2021).…”