Increasing the economic benefits from agricultural research: the case of enhancing the diffusion of a pasture weed technology

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 779 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Vere ◽  
R. E. Jones ◽  
P. M. Dowling

The process of enhancing the diffusion of a new technology attempts to shorten the time between the completion and adoption of an agricultural research programme, as well as to increase the overall level of adoption. The economic benefits of introducing a new technology are influenced by the technology development lag, the adoption lag and the maximum, or ceiling, level of adoption. Technology diffusion embodies these issues and concerns the uptake of a new technology across a population of potential adopters. Diffusion enhancement is now considered to be a desirable component of pasture research programmes in Australia. This paper evaluates the economic benefits of enhancing the diffusion process for new technology in the management of Vulpia, which is a prominent annual grass weed of Australian temperate pastures. Differences in economic benefits were calculated for a range of scenarios, by varying the values of the main elements of the diffusion process relative to those of a base scenario which represented the most optimistic adoption expectations for the technology. The discounted total benefits to the Australian wool industry, calculated for a 15-year period from reducing Vulpia in temperate pastures, were between A$31.9 million and A$287.3 million, according to differences in the pasture's Vulpia content. While the 2 main time components of the diffusion process both had strong effects on the potential benefits, the technology lag had a much larger influence than the adoption lag. This result emphasises the importance of agricultural research programmes that are able to quickly diffuse such technologies to the potential adopters.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamadou Sissoko ◽  
Melinda Smale ◽  
Annick Castiaux ◽  
Veronique Theriault

Although it is commonly accepted that farmers’ participation in the process of technology development can improve adoption rates, few studies have tested this relationship. We tested the role of farmers’ participation in the decision to adopt new sorghum varieties in the Sudan Savanna of Mali. We applied a conditional mixed-process method to data collected from 496 households in 58 villages the national agricultural research program (Institut d’Economie Rurale) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) worked through farmer organizations to test varieties in farmer-managed trials and implement seed production activities. We found that the intensity of participation positively affects adoption rates on household plots. Intensity of participation was measured as the ratio of participants in the household to the total number of participants in the village. Several plot manager and household characteristics influence adoption, including education and proximity of the plot manager with head of household, household assets, and labor availability. This study draws attention to the importance of farmers’ participation as a sustainable practice that can stimulate the adoption of new technology and, in doing so, enhance food security. Future research should explore the intrahousehold dynamics of farm input adoption, and the role of different forms of participation in the innovation process.


1998 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Freeland

This paper uses the United Kingdom (UK) government's Department for International Development (DFID) centrally funded renewable natural resources research strategy (RNRRS) programme as an example to answer the key questions of: (i) what research; (ii) why conduct research; and (iii) why set an agenda?Donor research organizations may fund research through various channels. DFID funds research through its multilateral programmes (e.g. to the system of International Agricultural Research Centres which constitute the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research); as components of its bilateral development programmes with individual countries (e.g. assistance to the development of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and the Kenyan National Agricultural Research Programme) and sometimes through projects with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as part of the Joint Funding Scheme. Research funded through these avenues is, however, part of a larger agenda to which the DFID has agreed but not necessarily set. In the interests of pursuing strategic and wider research objectives, the outputs of which may later be applied through development programmes, DFID also has a centrally controlled fund for research, which is not specific to any one country or organization. The part of that research programme relevant to natural resources is called the RNRRS (Research Task Group, 1994). Other donors have similar centrally funded research programmes and it is these to which the title refers and for which it is appropriate that the donor organization sets its own agenda.


Author(s):  
Jianwei Zhou ◽  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Taekoo Lee

Abstract Multi-Chip Package (MCP) decapsulation is now becoming a rising problem. Because for traditional decapsulation method, acid can’t dissolve the top silicon die to expose the bottom die surface in MCP. It makes inspecting the bottom die in MCP is difficult. In this paper, a new MCP decapsulation technology combining mechanical polishing with chemical etching is introduced. This new technology can remove the top die quickly without damaging the bottom die using KOH and Tetra-Methyl Ammonium Hydroxide (TMAH). The technology process and relative application are presented. The factors that affect the KOH and TMAH etch rate are studied. The usage difference between the two etchant is discussed.


Author(s):  
Pablo Cazenave ◽  
Ming Gao ◽  
Hans Deeb ◽  
Sean Black

The project “Development of an Industry Test Facility and Qualification Processes for in-line inspection (ILI) technology Evaluation and Enhancements” aims to expand knowledge of ILI technology performance and identify gaps where new technology is needed. Additionally, this project also aims to provide ILI technology developers, researchers and pipeline operators a continuing resource for accessing test samples with a range of pipeline integrity threats and vintages; and inline technology test facilities at the Technology Development Center (TDC) of Pipeline Research Council International, Inc. (PRCI), a PRCI managed facility available for future industry and PHMSA research projects. An ILI pull test facility was designed and constructed as part of this project based on industry state-of-the-art and opportunities for capability improvement. The major ILI technology providers, together with pipeline operator team members, reviewed the TDC sample inventory and developed a series of ILI performance tests illustrating one of multiple possible research objectives, culminating in 16-inch and 24-inch nominal diameter test strings. The ILI technology providers proposed appropriate inspection tools based on the types of the integrity threats in the test strings, a series of pull tests of the provided ILI tools were performed, and the technology providers delivered reports of integrity anomaly location and dimensions for performance evaluation. Quantitative measures of detection and sizing performance were confidentially disclosed to the individual ILI technology providers. For instances where ILI predictions were outside of claimed performance, the vendors were given a limited sample of actual defect data to enable re-analysis, thus demonstrating the potential for improved integrity assessment with validation measurements. In this paper, an evaluation of the ILI data obtained from repeated pull-through testing on the 16 and 24-inch pipeline strings at the TDC is performed. The resulting data was aligned, analyzed, and compared to truth data and the findings of the evaluation are presented.


2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth E. Bennett

The Problem Initial explorations of virtual human resource development (VHRD) were published in the 12(6) issue of Advances, but these articles were only an initial step toward conceptualization. New perspectives on VHRD have developed over the past 4 years, particularly about human resource development’s (HRD) role in the development of new technology. The Solution This article provides a brief overview of existing published literature on VHRD, offers new conceptualizations of HRD’s role with technology development, and introduces the articles in this issue that advance their own new perspectives. This article argues that HRD must adopt new skills and develop explanatory models for growing organizational learning capacity in virtual work. The Stakeholders This article is of interest to practitioners and managers who lead technology projects and work within technology-enabled professional environments, as well as scholars interested in studying VHRD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne E. McNeish ◽  
Anthony Francescucci ◽  
Ummaha Hazra

Purpose The next phase of hardware technology development is focused on alternative ways to manage and store consumers’ personal content. However, even consumers who have adopted Cloud-based services have demonstrated a reluctance to move all of their personal content into the Cloud and continue to resist giving up local hard drives. This paper aims to investigate the characteristics of local hard drives and the Cloud that lead to simultaneous use. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses content analysis of online comments and ten depth interviews with simultaneous users of local hard drives and the Cloud. Findings Three factors influence the resistance to giving up local hard drives. Simultaneous users utilize local hard drives as a redundancy system and as a way to ensure the permanence of their digital content. They are unsure of the Cloud’s ability to support their content creation, management and storage activities (task-technology fit). Research limitations/implications Study findings are based on qualitative methods and thus the results cannot be considered conclusive. Practical implications The authors speculate that it is unlikely that Cloud-only will fully replace hard drives until these factors are understood and addressed by information technology developers. Cloud service providers may not be aware of how little that users understand the Cloud. In contrast to their certainty and confidence in local hard drives, simultaneous users are confused as to what the Cloud is and how it functions. This uncertainty exacerbates their risk perception and need for control. Originality/value This is the first study exploring simultaneous use of local hard drives and the Cloud with a view to understanding this behaviour in terms of the relative advantage of the incumbent technology over the new technology.


Author(s):  
Hyungtae Kim ◽  
Geonho Kim ◽  
Yunrong Li ◽  
Jinyong Jeong ◽  
Youngdae Kim

Abstract Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) has long been used for a new technology development vehicle because it is sensitive to process defects due to its high density and minimum feature size. In addition, failure location can be accurately predicted because of the highly structured architecture. Thus, fast and accurate Failure Analysis (FA) of the SRAM failure is crucial for the success of new technology learning and development. It is often quite time consuming to identify defects through conventional physical failure analysis techniques. In this paper, we present an advanced defect identification methodology for SRAM bitcell failures with fast speed and high accuracy based on the bitcell transistor analog characteristics from special design for test (DFT) features, Direct Bitcell Access (DBA). This technique has the advantage to shorten FA throughput time due to a time efficient test method and an intuitive failure analysis method based on Electrical Failure Analysis (EFA) without destructive analysis. In addition, all the defects in a wafer can be analyzed and improved simultaneously utilizing the proposed defect identification methodology. Some successful case studies are also discussed to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed defect identification methodology.


2011 ◽  
Vol 189-193 ◽  
pp. 612-617
Author(s):  
Hong Wei Xing ◽  
Yue Long ◽  
Xiu Li ◽  
Gao Liang Li ◽  
Yu Zhu Zhang ◽  
...  

A gas quenching process to deal with steel slag and its characteristics of the new technology was briefly introduced. The grinding characteristics, mineral phases of gas quenching steel slag and the potential economic benefits of using it as cement mixing material was studied by compared to heat-stew steel slag. The results indicated that the specific surface areas (S) and grinding times (t) of the gas quenching steel slag showed a first order exponential decay relationship. With the extension of time, the specific surface areas of heat-stew steel slag was tending to balance earlier than that of gas quenching steel slag; The energy consumption of gas quenching steel slag was much lower than that of heat-stew steel slag. Gas quenching steel slag was comprised of C2S, C3S, a certain amount of (Ca2(Al, Fe)2O5)and RO phase, but the content of RO phase was relatively low, which increased the grindability of the quenching steel slag, so that the grindability of gas quenching steel slag was much better than that of heat-stew steel slag. Gas quenching steel slag prepared for cement addictives would bring great economic benefits.


2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-77
Author(s):  
C. Kuti ◽  
L. Láng ◽  
M. Megyeri ◽  
J. Bányai ◽  
Z. Bedő

Genebanks are storage facilities designed to maintain the plant genetic resources of crop varieties (and their wild relatives) and to ensure that they are made available and distributed for use by plant breeders, researchers and farmers. The Martonvásár Cereal Genebank (MV-CGB) collection evolved from the working collections of local breeders and consists predominantly of local and regional materials. Established in 1992 by the Agricultural Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Bedő, 2009), MVCGB with its over 10,000 accessions of the major species (Triticum, Aegilops, Agropyron, Elymus, Thinopyrum, Pseudoroegneria, Secale, Hordeum, Avena, Zea mays), became one of the approx. 80 cereal germplasm collections that exist globally. In Martonvásár breeding is underway on a number of cereal species, and large numbers of genotypes are tested each year in the field and under laboratory conditions. The increasing size of the research programmes assisted by a modern genebank background involve an enormous increase in the quantity of data that must be handled during research activities such as traditional breeding, pre-breeding and organic breeding. A computerized system is of primary importance to synchronize breeding and genebank activities, to monitor the quality and quantity of seed accessions in cold storage, to assist the registration of samples, and to facilitate characterization, regeneration and germplasm distribution.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talat Genc

Abstract This paper examines General Electric's new combined-cycle gas turbine GT11N2 M upgrade. The new technology provides operational flexibility and promises output and cost efficiencies. To investigate the benefis of this technology, we propose a power supply chain model and construct cost functions for generation and service and maintenance using actual market and firm level data. The upstream firm is General Electric (GE) who invests in GT11N2 generators. The investment results in innovation of GT11N2 M upgrade facilitating different operational modes and efficiencies. The downstream firm is TransAlta's Sarnia plant which utilizes this new technology to produce and sell electricity to residential, small business, industrial, and wholesale market customers in Ontario, Canada. We quantify equilibrium prices and outputs under various efficiency rates in costs of fuel, service, and maintenance. We find a large variation in electricity generation depending on which operational mode ("Maximum Continuous Load" or "Performance" or "Lifetime") of GT11N2 M is selected. Under a mixed usage of all modes, we expect 44% output expansion to the industrial customers and 0.2% sales increase in the Ontario wholesale electricity market. Under this mode, GE's price should go down by 0.4% due to fuel cost efficiency. If GE's cost was $2.8 per MWh, GE should have asked Trans-Alta an average price of $5.822 per MWh for service and maintenance prior to the new technology. With the new technology, GE should charge $5.502 per MWh to Trans Alta. While GE's sales to wholesale market are almost stable, the sales to industrial customers increase nonlinearly in downstream efficiency rates. This shows that the amount of greenhouse gas emissions will be largely impacted by the choice of operational mode and how long it is used.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document