Ekin Birol
International Food Policy Research Institute
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Featured researches published by Ekin Birol.
Environment and Development Economics | 2009
Ekin Birol; Eric Rayn Villalba; Melinda Smale
Mexico is the centre of origin of maize. Maize is Typically grown as part of a set of associated crops and practices called the milpa system, an ancient mode of production that is practiced today in ways that vary by cultural context and agro-environment. We use a choice experiment to estimate the farmers’ valuation of three components of agrobiodiversity: crop species richness, maize variety richness and maize landraces. We include the option to cultivate genetically modified (GM) maize. Data were collected from 420 farm households across three states of Mexico. We analyze the heterogeneity of farmer preferences with a latent class model, which enables us to identify the characteristics of farmers who are most Likely to continue growing maize landraces, as well as those least likely to accept GM maize. Findings have implications for debates concerning the use of GM maize in Mexico and the design of on-farm conservation programmes.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management | 2007
Ekin Birol; Victoria Cox
Abstract This paper reports the results of a pilot valuation study, which was undertaken to investigate whether the public located around the Severn Estuary derive positive economic values from its sustainable management. One hundred members of the public took part in a choice experiment, the results of which indicate that overall the public derives positive and significant values from sustainable management of this wetland, however, there is some preference heterogeneity. The findings demonstrate that the choice experiment method is a promising tool, which can aid the design of socially optimal policies for sustainable management of the Severn Estuary, with possible implications for other similar wetlands in the UK.
Journal of Environmental Management | 2010
Ekin Birol; Sukanya Das
In this paper we employ a stated preference environmental valuation technique, namely the choice experiment method, to estimate local publics willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements in the capacity and technology of a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Chandernagore municipality, located on the banks of the River Ganga in India. A pilot choice experiment study is administered to 150 randomly selected Chandernagore residents and the data are analysed using the conditional logit model with interactions. The results reveal that residents of this municipality are willing to pay significant amounts in terms of higher monthly municipality taxes to ensure the full capacity of the STP is used for primary treatment and the technology is upgraded to enable secondary treatment. Overall, the results reported in this paper support increased investments to improve the capacity and technology of STPs to reduce water pollution, and hence environmental and health risks that are currently threatening the sustainability of the economic, cultural and religious values this sacred river generates.
Water Resources Research | 2009
Ekin Birol; Nick Hanley; Phoebe Koundouri; Yiannis Kountouris
This paper employs a choice experiment to estimate the value of management options for the Bobrek wetland in Poland. The local public’s valuation of several wetland management attributes, including flood risk reduction, biodiversity conservation and improvement of recreational access, are investigated. A latent class model and a covariance heterogeneity model are estimated to account for heterogeneity in the preferences of the local public. The results reveal that there is considerable preference heterogeneity across the local public; however on average they derive the highest values from reductions of flooding risk. The results of this study are expected to assist policy makers in undertaking effective flood risk reduction measures and formulating efficient, equitable and sustainable wetland management policies in accordance with the European Union Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).
Archive | 2008
Ekin Birol; Phoebe Koundouri
This innovative book is a compilation of state-of-the-art choice experiment studies undertaken in several European Union (EU) countries, including Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. The case studies presented concern a variety of environmental, agricultural and natural resource issues – such as the management of water resources, forests and agricultural landscapes; conservation of biodiversity and cultural heritage; noise pollution reduction and food labeling. The book highlights how the choice experiment method can be employed to inform efficient and effective design and implementation of various EU level agricultural and environmental policies and directives, including the Common Agricultural Policy, Water Framework Directive, Forestry Strategy, Habitats Directive and food labeling systems.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management | 2008
Ekin Birol; Phoebe Koundouri; Yiannis Kountouris
Abstract This paper employs a contingent valuation (CV) study to estimate the value of the economic benefits generated by the Akrotiri wetland in Cyprus. It aims to show how CV estimation results can inform efficient, effective and sustainable wetland conservation policies, as required by the European Unions Water Framework Directive, and to suggest economic instruments that can facilitate the implementation of such policies. The results indicate that the design of these instruments require the capturing of both the use and non-use values generated by wetland services and functions.
Archive | 2007
Ekin Birol; Phoebe Koundouri; Yiannis Kountouris
This paper employs the contingent valuation (CV) method, to investigate Cypriot farmers’ willingness to adopt a new water resource, namely recycled wastewater, and to estimate farmers’ willingness to pay for varying quantities and qualities of recycled wastewater. A pilot CV study is undertaken with 97 farmers located in the Akrotiri aquifer area in Cyprus, a common-pool water resource with rapidly deteriorating water quality and quantity. The results reveal that farmers are willing to adopt this new water resource, and they derive the highest economic values from a recycled wastewater use program, which provides high quality recycled wastewater, and high water quantity in the aquifer.
MPRA Paper | 2008
Ekin Birol; Phoebe Koundouri; Yiannis Kountoyris
This chapter reviews several noteworthy applications of the choice experiment method undertaken in the European Union (EU) countries to this date. The review summarises choice experiment studies implemented in various EU countries, covering a wide geographical area, including those EU countries located in the West (e.g., France, Germany and UK), South (e.g., Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal) and North (e.g., Finland and Sweden) of the EU, as well as those countries located in East and Central Europe which have recently joined the EU (e.g., Romania and Hungary).
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences | 2017
Amy Saltzman; Ekin Birol; Adewale Oparinde; Meike S. Andersson; Dorene Asare-Marfo; Michael T. Diressie; Carolina Gonzalez; Keith Lividini; Mourad Moursi; Manfred Zeller
Biofortification is the process of increasing the density of vitamins and minerals in a crop through plant breeding—using either conventional methods or genetic engineering—or through agronomic practices. Over the past 15 years, conventional breeding efforts have resulted in the development of varieties of several staple food crops with significant levels of the three micronutrients most limiting in diets: zinc, iron, and vitamin A. More than 15 million people in developing countries now grow and consume biofortified crops. Evidence from nutrition research shows that biofortified varieties provide considerable amounts of bioavailable micronutrients, and consumption of these varieties can improve micronutrient deficiency status among target populations. Farmer adoption and consumer acceptance research shows that farmers and consumers like the various production and consumption characteristics of biofortified varieties, as much as (if not more than) popular conventional varieties, even in the absence of nutritional information. Further development and delivery of these micronutrient‐rich varieties can potentially reduce hidden hunger, especially in rural populations whose diets rely on staple food crops. Future work includes strengthening the supply of and the demand for biofortified staple food crops and facilitating targeted investment to those crop–country combinations that have the highest potential nutritional impact.
Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies | 2015
Ekin Birol; Dorene Asare-Marfo; Bhushana Karandikar; Devesh Roy; Michael T. Diressie
Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to explore farmer acceptance of a biofortified staple food crop in a developing country prior to its commercialization. The paper focuses on the hypothetical introduction of a high-iron pearl millet variety in Maharashtra, India, where pearl millet is among the most important staple crops. Design/methodology/approach - – A choice experiment is used to investigate farmer preferences for and trade-offs among various production and consumption attributes of pearl millet. The key pearl millet attributes studied include days it takes pearl millet to mature, color of the Findings - – The results reveal that there are three distinct segments in the sample, and there is significant heterogeneity in farmer preferences across these segments. High-iron pearl millet is valued the most by larger households that produce mainly for household consumption and currently have lower quality diets. Households that mainly produce for market sales, on the other hand, derive lower benefits from consumption characteristics such as color and nutrition. Research limitations/implications - – The main limitation of the study is that it uses a stated preference choice experiment method, which suffers from hypothetical bias. At the time of implementing this study biofortified high-iron pearl millet varieties were not yet developed, therefore the authors could not have implemented revealed preference elicitation methods with real products and payment. Originality/value - – The method used (stated preference choice experiment method) is commonly used to value non-market goods such as environmental goods and products that are not yet in the market. It’s application to agriculture and in developing countries is increasing. As far as the authors know this is the first choice experiment implemented to investigate farmer/consumer preferences for biofortified crops. The study presents valuable information for development and delivery of biofortified crops for reducing micronutrient deficiencies.