Essays on the economics of bee-friendly beef
| dc.contributor.author | Chishimba, Elizabeth | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Larochelle, Catherine | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Alwang, Jeffrey R. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Mills, Bradford F. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Bovay, John | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Economics | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-11-13T09:00:09Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2024-11-13T09:00:09Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-11-12 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | The decline in bee populations, driven by biodiversity loss, poses a major threat to food production systems, as many wild plants and agricultural crops rely on bee pollination services. Addressing this issue requires coordinated efforts from producers, retailers, and consumers to restore pollinator habitats. This study explores two key aspects of promoting bee-friendly beef as a potential solution to support pollinator conservation. First, the study examines beef cattle producers' willingness to adopt native warm-season grass and wildflower (NWSG-WF) pastures through conservation programs. A discrete choice experiment revealed that producers require cost-share payments to convert pastureland into NWSG-WF systems. For a 10% conversion, producers would accept an average of $134.58 per acre (51% of establishment costs), while increasing conversions to 20% or 30% would raise the required payments to $154.55 (59%) and $199.06 (76%), respectively. Factors influencing producer participation include education level and interest in pollinator restoration, with those having thin forage coverage being more likely to adopt NWSG-WF. Second, a nationwide choice experiment survey of 2,136 U.S. beef consumers reveals a clear preference for bee-friendly beef over conventional options. On average, consumers are willing to pay $0.87 more per pound for beef produced using pollinator-friendly practices. Certain consumer segments, such as those who volunteer or donate to environmental organizations ($1.74/lb) and those knowledgeable about pollinator decline ($1.39/lb), exhibit an even higher willingness to pay. This suggests that raising public awareness about pollinator conservation could drive greater support for eco-labeled products like bee-friendly beef. Overall, the findings highlight opportunities to promote bee-friendly beef through consumer awareness campaigns and targeted conservation incentives for producers. By aligning consumer preferences with producer incentives, bee-friendly beef production can contribute to both pollinator conservation and sustainable cattle farming. | en |
| dc.description.abstractgeneral | The decline in bee populations, mainly due to the loss of biodiversity, threatens food production since many crops and wild plants depend on bees for pollination. Solving this issue requires joint efforts from farmers, retailers, and consumers to help restore pollinator habitats. This study looks at promoting bee-friendly beef as a possible solution to support bees. First, the study looks at whether beef cattle producers are willing to convert part of their pasture to native warm-season grass-and-wildflower pastures, which are better for bees, through conservation programs. Results from the analysis show that if a conservation program requires cattle producers to convert at least 10% of their pasture to NWSG-WF pasture, they would, on average, ask for $134.58 per acre as cost-share payment. This amount covers about 51% of the cost needed to establish the new type of pasture. However, if the program requires them to convert 20% or 30% of their land, the cost-share payment producers would request increases to $154.55 per acre (for 20% conversion) and $199.06 per acre (for 30% conversion). These amounts cover 59% and 76% of the establishment costs, respectively. Factors that influence their decision include education, interest in helping pollinators, and the condition of their current pastures. Second, a survey of 2,136 U.S. beef consumers shows that people prefer bee-friendly beef over regular beef. On average, they are willing to pay $0.87 more per pound for beef produced in ways that help pollinators. Some groups, like those who volunteer or donate to environmental causes ($1.74/lb) and those who know about the decline in pollinators ($1.39/lb), are willing to pay even more. This suggests that raising awareness about bees could boost support for eco-friendly products like bee-friendly beef. In conclusion, the study shows that increasing consumer awareness and offering financial incentives to farmers can help promote bee-friendly beef. By matching what consumers want with support for farmers, this approach can benefit both bee conservation and sustainable cattle rearing. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Doctor of Philosophy | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.identifier.other | vt_gsexam:41563 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10919/121608 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | Bee-friendly beef | en |
| dc.subject | willingness to pay | en |
| dc.subject | choice experiment | en |
| dc.subject | willingness to accept | en |
| dc.title | Essays on the economics of bee-friendly beef | en |
| dc.type | Dissertation | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Economics, Agriculture and Life Sciences | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | doctoral | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Philosophy | en |
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