Environmentally sound resource valuation for a more sustainable international trade : case of argentine maize

This study analyzed costs and benefits for Argentina when trading maize grain. Assigning an appropriate value to traded resources involves a comprehensive assessment of all kinds of sources driving the process, in order to avoid their misappropriation and non-profitable use, while at the same time...

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Main Authors: Rotolo, Gloria Claudia, Francis, Charles A., Ulgiati, Sergio
Format: Artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/2788
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344917303270?via%3Dihub
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.10.008
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author Rotolo, Gloria Claudia
Francis, Charles A.
Ulgiati, Sergio
author_browse Francis, Charles A.
Rotolo, Gloria Claudia
Ulgiati, Sergio
author_facet Rotolo, Gloria Claudia
Francis, Charles A.
Ulgiati, Sergio
author_sort Rotolo, Gloria Claudia
collection INTA Digital
description This study analyzed costs and benefits for Argentina when trading maize grain. Assigning an appropriate value to traded resources involves a comprehensive assessment of all kinds of sources driving the process, in order to avoid their misappropriation and non-profitable use, while at the same time enhancing the environmental performance of the region for the long term. Increasing amounts of slowly-renewable and non-renewable resources invested in producing intensive cash crops do not necessarily contribute to further development of local enterprises, nor does this strategy consider valuable contributions by local ecosystem services. The emergy method was applied to assess resource and environmental support used in production and trade of maize grain in the northern part of Argentina’s Pampas Region, in years 2009–10 and 2012–13. Exports were calculated for commercial periods 2010–11 and 2013–14. Results showed that intermediate organizations trading with importing countries through international grain traders (Emergy–to-Exchange Ratio, EER, for Argentina =0.51) exported more environmental resources (emergy associated with exported grain) than emergy imports associated with monetary returns from traders to Argentina. This situation places the country in an unfair exchange. When trade was performed through national trade organizations, the EER =0.91, resulting in a smaller disparity. Resource trade imbalance clearly appears when it is measured in emergy terms but not when it is accounted for in monetary units. This study provides data on which to open discussion and inform trade and production strategies that could help Argentina avoid jeopardizing its own natural resources in the long term.
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spelling INTA27882018-11-27T15:48:09Z Environmentally sound resource valuation for a more sustainable international trade : case of argentine maize Rotolo, Gloria Claudia Francis, Charles A. Ulgiati, Sergio Comercialización Maíz Productos Básicos Comercio Internacional Factores Ambientales Environmental Factors International Trade Commodities Maize Argentina Región Pampena This study analyzed costs and benefits for Argentina when trading maize grain. Assigning an appropriate value to traded resources involves a comprehensive assessment of all kinds of sources driving the process, in order to avoid their misappropriation and non-profitable use, while at the same time enhancing the environmental performance of the region for the long term. Increasing amounts of slowly-renewable and non-renewable resources invested in producing intensive cash crops do not necessarily contribute to further development of local enterprises, nor does this strategy consider valuable contributions by local ecosystem services. The emergy method was applied to assess resource and environmental support used in production and trade of maize grain in the northern part of Argentina’s Pampas Region, in years 2009–10 and 2012–13. Exports were calculated for commercial periods 2010–11 and 2013–14. Results showed that intermediate organizations trading with importing countries through international grain traders (Emergy–to-Exchange Ratio, EER, for Argentina =0.51) exported more environmental resources (emergy associated with exported grain) than emergy imports associated with monetary returns from traders to Argentina. This situation places the country in an unfair exchange. When trade was performed through national trade organizations, the EER =0.91, resulting in a smaller disparity. Resource trade imbalance clearly appears when it is measured in emergy terms but not when it is accounted for in monetary units. This study provides data on which to open discussion and inform trade and production strategies that could help Argentina avoid jeopardizing its own natural resources in the long term. Fil: Rotolo, Gloria Claudia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina Fil: Francis, Charles A. Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Department of Plant and Environmental Science; Noruega. University of Nebraska. Department of Agronomy and Horticulture; Estados Unidos Fil: Ulgiati, Sergio. Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie; Italia. Beijing Normal University. School of Environment; China 2018-07-13T14:49:28Z 2018-07-13T14:49:28Z 2018 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/2788 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344917303270?via%3Dihub 0921-3449 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.10.008 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Pampa (general region) Argentina (nation) Resources, conservation & recycling 131 : 271–282. (2018)
spellingShingle Comercialización
Maíz
Productos Básicos
Comercio Internacional
Factores Ambientales
Environmental Factors
International Trade
Commodities
Maize
Argentina
Región Pampena
Rotolo, Gloria Claudia
Francis, Charles A.
Ulgiati, Sergio
Environmentally sound resource valuation for a more sustainable international trade : case of argentine maize
title Environmentally sound resource valuation for a more sustainable international trade : case of argentine maize
title_full Environmentally sound resource valuation for a more sustainable international trade : case of argentine maize
title_fullStr Environmentally sound resource valuation for a more sustainable international trade : case of argentine maize
title_full_unstemmed Environmentally sound resource valuation for a more sustainable international trade : case of argentine maize
title_short Environmentally sound resource valuation for a more sustainable international trade : case of argentine maize
title_sort environmentally sound resource valuation for a more sustainable international trade case of argentine maize
topic Comercialización
Maíz
Productos Básicos
Comercio Internacional
Factores Ambientales
Environmental Factors
International Trade
Commodities
Maize
Argentina
Región Pampena
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/2788
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344917303270?via%3Dihub
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.10.008
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