Economics and Policy of Pesticide Reductions in Perennial Crops: The Role of Information within the Supply Chain
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Date
2024
Publication Type
Doctoral Thesis
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yes
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Abstract
Pesticides, while indispensable for agricultural productivity, have negative consequences on human health and the environment. In response to growing concerns within societies, numerous countries including Switzerland have embarked on ambitious plans to curtail pesticide use and its associated
risks. However, the progress towards these use and risk reduction objectives has been insufficient, leaving many targets unmet.
Perennial crops such as grapevines and apples that remain planted for multiple seasons rank among the most pesticide intensive but also economically relevant crops. Addressing pesticide use and risk reductions in these crops feature large leverage for achieving substantial pesticide reductions in agriculture overall.
This thesis consists of four standalone chapters, accompanied by four supporting appendices, with the overarching goal of investigating factors that influence the uptake of pesticide use and risk reduction strategies at the farm in perennial crops without compromising yields and as such
agricultural productivity. Confining policy focus solely to farmers, who constitute the ultimate users of pesticides, does not exhaust the full reduction potential. Instead, acknowledging the role of the supply chain emerges as a crucial factor in molding strategies for pest management decisions taken on the farm. The exchange of information and motives of actors within the supply chain may influence pest management decisions at the farm, and is thus focus within this thesis. Using survey data from 681 grapevine and apple growers across Switzerland, the thesis examines factors affecting the uptake of fungus-resistant grapevine varieties that feature large potential to cut pesticide use in vineyards without compromising yields. However, their uptake remains low. Moreover, the thesis examines factors affecting the use of cosmetic pesticides which aim at augmenting the visual quality of dessert apples without affecting output quantities.
After setting the introductory context in chapter 1, the thesis documents in chapter 2 a significant increase in the land share grapevine growers expect to devote to fungus-resistant grapevine varieties within the next decade. Specifically, the land share is expected to grow by 169% compared to the current level, with one third of new plantings being fungus-resistant. Farm- and farmer characteristics explain most of this increase, opposed to farmers’ perceptions, preferences, regional characteristics or personality traits. Furthermore, the thesis documents in chapter 3 that nudging grapevine growers with personalized information about their use of environmentally toxic fungicides demonstrates limited efficacy in promoting the uptake of fungus-resistant varieties. Instead, providing personalized information to grapevine growers whose beliefs are intervention incompatible might yield unintended adverse effects. In chapter 4, the thesis examines the effect of fungus-resistant varieties’ eligibility for geographical denominations on their use by grapevine growers. The results show that fungus-resistant varieties are more likely to be taken up if they are eligible for geographical denominations, yet at a smaller magnitude compared to traditional varieties. In chapter 5, the focus is on explanatory factors of the use of cosmetic pesticides. The results show that the more distant the producer is to the final consumer, i.e. by marketing via intermediaries, the more likely is the use of cosmetic pesticides.
In conclusion, the thesis provides five practical public policy considerations towards reducing pesticide use and risks in perennial crops, as well
as limitations and avenues for future research.
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Examiner: Finger, Robert
Examiner : Pertot, Ilaria
Examiner : Van den Broeck, Goedele
Examiner: McCallum, Chloe
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ETH Zurich
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09564 - Finger, Robert / Finger, Robert
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Funding
193762 - Evidence-based Transformation in Pesticide Governance (SNF)