Sustainability analysis of bioethanol promotion in Thailand using a cost-benefit approach

Haputta, Piyanon; Puttanapong, Nattapong; Silalertruksa, Thapat; Bangviwat, Athikom; Prapaspongsa, Trakarn; Gheewala, Shabbir H.

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119756

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The total treated area for a specific crop in Thailand in 2018 was primarily based on the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) (OAE 2020a), and the Department of Agriculture Extension (DOAE) (DOAE 2019a, b) (see the total treated area of each crop in the ESM1, Section S-9). The valuation factor of 591,788 (THB/ DALY) for human health and 1.02 (THB/PDF m 2 year) for ecosystem quality was projected due to inflation according to Haputta et al (2020) as shown in Eq. 7.…”

Section: Damage Cost Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing country-specific human and ecosystem health impact and damage cost of agricultural pesticides: the case for Thailand

Mankong

Fantke

Phenrat

et al. 2022

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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Purpose Existing emission and toxicity characterization models in life cycle assessment are currently not suitable for assessing pesticide-related impacts of crop cultivation in tropical regions. This study aims to parameterize the scientific consensus model USEtox for Thai environments to derive toxicity characterization factors of pesticide emissions from agricultural systems in Thailand. Potential human toxicity and ecotoxicity impacts and related damage costs of pesticides used on nine crops cultivated in Thailand are quantified. Methods Considering country-specific conditions, USEtox was adapted by applying the landscape and consumption parameters specific to Thailand. Related Thai-specific characterization factors of identified pesticides used in Thai agriculture were quantified. Four emission inventory models were applied to determine pesticide emission fractions in different environmental compartments. The consistent combination of pesticide emission mass and associated characterization factors yielded potential toxicity impact scores. Pesticide impact-related damage costs (external costs) on human health and ecosystem quality were quantified using valuation factors for Thailand. The crops with the highest total damage costs were selected and compared with the annual net incomes of the respective crop production systems. Results and discussion Pesticide toxicity impacts assessed by using Thai-specific factors were different from the use of global average factors ranging from 1 to 169% (human toxicity) and from 0.1 to 3587% (ecotoxicity). Our results indicated the variability in impact scores influenced by emission modeling choices. Following PestLCI consensus emission estimation model, mango cultivation showed the highest human toxicity impacts of 0.07 DALY/ha, resulting in high human health damage costs mainly caused by Propineb (93%). Rice cultivation with a dry direct-seeded system exhibited the highest ecotoxicity impacts (3934 PDF m3 day/ha) and associated damage costs mainly caused by Oxadiazon (92%). Pesticides used in cultivation of nine crops resulted in total damage costs of 7188 and 3.01 million THB/crop-year for human health and ecotoxicity, respectively. Mango and rice production accounted for 70% and 17% of the total damage costs, which were 36% and 20% of the respective crops’ annual net income. Conclusions Our study illustrates the ranking of pesticides applied throughout the crop calendar causing toxicological impact and related damage costs on human health and ecosystem quality. This helps identify crops and the main contributors to pesticide-related toxicity impacts in Thailand. Our study highlights the need for proper emission quantification and for the use of characterization factors locally parameterized to increase accuracy. Our results will be useful for future improvement toward more sustainable pesticide use. Graphical abstract

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Section: Damage Cost Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing country-specific human and ecosystem health impact and damage cost of agricultural pesticides: the case for Thailand

Mankong

Fantke

Phenrat

et al. 2022

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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“…The shadow prices of pollutants, therefore, reflect environmental benefits that are positive externalities in the CBA. Equation (1) was then used to account for the exchange rates of the currencies and the difference in gross domestic product based on purchasing power parity (GDP (PPP)) per capita in Spain and Thailand, reflecting the difference in the ability to purchase goods and services per capita in the two countries [36]. The values of the money in 2020 were estimated using Equation (2).…”

Section: Direct Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility Study of Water Reclamation Projects in Industrial Parks Incorporating Environmental Benefits: A Case Study in Chonburi, Thailand

Intaraburt

Sangsanont

Limpiyakorn

et al. 2022

Water

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Financial feasibility is usually a concern in water reclamation projects. Aside from internal benefits, water reclamation in industrial parks delivers health and environmental benefits not normally considered in cost–benefit analyses (CBA). This study investigated the influence of environmental benefits on the feasibility of water reclamation projects with flow rate scenarios in accordance with industrial parks in Chonburi, Thailand. CBAs of water reclamation plants for industrial water supply, consisting of ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO), with flow rates of 5200, 10,000, 15,000, and 25,000 m3/day and discount rates of 3%, 5%, 7%, 9% and 11% were conducted. Considering only the direct costs and benefits, none of the projects were financially feasible. However, when the environmental benefits were included, the projects became profitable in all cases except those with a flow rate of 5200 m3/day and discount rates of 5%, 7%, 9%, and 11% and those with flow rates of 10,000 and 25,000 m3/day and an 11% discount rate. Further, CBAs of water reclamation projects in industrial parks for irrigation were conducted with post-treatment processes consisting of sand filtration and chlorine disinfection for flow rates of 240, 480, 2400, 3600, and 4800 m3/day. The projects are profitable, regardless of environmental benefits.

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“…The damages could be converted into monetary units (THB) on the basis of the monetary conversion factors provided by Kaenchan and Gheewala [33]. However, before being utilized, the monetary conversion factors were adjusted for the time value of money following Haputta et al [34] as explained in Equation (18) where MCF 2017 indicates the value of monetary conversion factor in 2017; MCF y denotes the value of monetary conversion factor in the year that it was initially calculated (year y); and r is an average inflation rate of Thailand over 2008-2017, i.e., approximately 0.02 [35]. The monetary conversion factors that were adjusted for the time value of money are shown in Table 5.…”

Section: Fossil Fuel Consumptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Biofuel Crop Expansion on Green Gross Domestic Product

et al. 2022

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: Following Thailand’s Alternative Energy Development Plan, lands for sugarcane and oil palm are being expanded to support biofuel production, thus decreasing the availability of land for other crops. Not only does this lead to the change in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but also environmental consequences. This study assessed the effects of land expansion caused by biofuel promotion on Green GDP, which is the conventional GDP after adjusting for environmental damage. A static computable general equilibrium (CGE) model combined with life cycle impact assessment was used to estimate the effects of land expansion on economic transactions and conventional GDP. Results showed that compared with the business-as-usual scenario, expanding land for biofuel crops increased the Green GDP. However, rice cultivation and milling were adversely affected by the substitution of biofuel crops. Furthermore, expanding biofuel crops slightly reduced the production capacity of some industrial sectors. The Green GDP for biofuel crop expansion policies was greatest when abandoned rice fields were utilized for agriculture and lowest when forests were transformed. Using CGE to investigate the effects of policy on Green GDP yielded results that were comprehensive for decision making. The method presented in this study can be utilized for future Green GDP research focusing on other biofuel productions.

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Sustainability analysis of bioethanol promotion in Thailand using a cost-benefit approach

Cited by 19 publications

References 17 publications

Characterizing country-specific human and ecosystem health impact and damage cost of agricultural pesticides: the case for Thailand

Characterizing country-specific human and ecosystem health impact and damage cost of agricultural pesticides: the case for Thailand

Feasibility Study of Water Reclamation Projects in Industrial Parks Incorporating Environmental Benefits: A Case Study in Chonburi, Thailand

Effects of Biofuel Crop Expansion on Green Gross Domestic Product

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