Darja Majkovič

A Multi-Criteria Analysis of Spelt Food Processing Alternatives on Small Organic Farms

ABSTRACT The nutritional, technological and processing characteristics of spelt wheat make it suitable for organic farming. Furthermore, spelt wheat can be directly processed into different kinds of food products on the farm itself, and represents additional business and market opportunities for organic farmers. In this paper we examine different spelt processing alternatives on a chosen organic farm in northeastern Slovenia. Simulation modeling, cost-benefit analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis were applied in order to find the most suitable spelt processing solution for the analyzed farm. The presented methodological framework upgrades the standard financial cost-benefit analysis with a quantitative utility function and a qualitative DEX-i modeling approach. The calculation of utility function (u) and DEX-i evaluation produced the following spelt processing project rankings: spelt husking (u = 2,67) spelt cookies (u = 2,18), spelt flour (u = 1,65) and spelt bread (u = 1,63). The proposed methodology enables multi-criteria spelt processing project ranking; however, further studies are suggested for the development of multi-criteria decision analysis-based methods for this topic.

The Use of Multi Criteria Models for Decision Support on Organic Farms

ABSTRACT The need for reliable information in the organic farm planning process dictates the use of modern decision support methods. The methodology of an integrated deterministic simulation system application for decision-making support on organic farms is described in this article. The deterministic simulation system KARSIM 1.0 consists of 74 deterministic production simulation models that enable different types of costs and financial feasibility calculations for organic production and food processing. The KARSIM 1.0 was applied on a sample organic farm for the simulation of five different business alternatives. The simulation model results are further evaluated with two multi-objective analysis methods: analytical hierarchical process (Expert Choice Decision Support System software) and DEX-i expert system (computer software for multi attribute decision making). Alternative 3 (spelt grain processing) results with the highest multi-objective decision evaluation (Expert Choice = 0.275 and DEX-i evaluation = very good). The combination of deterministic cost simulation model and multi criteria decision analysis with the emphasis on financial, technological, market and risk objective presents a powerful decision support tool for organic farms, however, further improvement and development of proposed methodology would be suggested.

Development of New Members' EU Trade: Evidence from the Slovenian Agri-Food Sector

With the recent enlargement of the European Union (EU), ten new member states (NMS) have entered the borderless Single European Market (SEM) and adopted common EU policies in trade with third countries. This policy change causes trade creation effects within the borderless SEM and trade diversion effects in trade with third countries. Slovenia is a typical example of trade creation effects within the enlarged EU-25 and trade diversion effects particularly with traditional former Yugoslav markets. We investigate Slovenian agri-food trade structures and trade types prior to and after EU accession in 2004 to evaluate a turning point for development of Slovenian agri-food trade. Trade creation effects are found to be much more significant in Slovenian imports than exports, indicating lack of Slovenian export competitiveness.

Comparison of using regression modeling and an artificial neural network for herbage dry matter yield forecasting

This study presents an application of artificial neural network and regression modeling techniques for forecasting grassland dry matter yield. Using data from a field plot experiment on semi‐natural grassland in Maribor (Slovenia), the multiple regression and artificial neural network methodologies were employed to explain the patterns of dry matter yield during a 6‐year period. On the basis of the two proposed approaches forecasts were conducted for the independent, validation year (6). The results in terms of Theil inequality coefficient, mean absolute error, and correlation coefficient show a better forecasting performance for the artificial neural network (likely due to the non‐linear relationships prevailing among regressors and regressand) while relationships between observables can be better explained by regression modeling results. Copyright

Prevalence of key developments in trade of agro-food producers in the new member states of the European Union

Abstract The ten new member states (NMS-10) of the European Union (EU) have contributed to an enhancement in the agro-food trade among the EU-25 members. Intra-industry trade (IIT) represents only a minor part of NMS-10 trade in agro-food products. Their trade in agro-food products is specialized to different countries in terms of economic distance, factor endowments and/or degree of competitiveness of their agro-food sectors. The borderless EU markets are likely to influence the increase of IIT with implications for the EU trade policy, since more than one-third of agro-food trade in the EU-25 members is represented by NMS-10.