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Results 91 to 120 of 318:

Corn price forecasts in the shadow of the Russian–Ukrainian conflictOriginal Paper

László Vancsura, Arnold Csonka

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2026, 72(7):461-472 | DOI: 10.17221/102/2025-AGRICECON

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused serious disruption to agricultural markets, affecting both food prices and food security. In our study, we examine how global economic problems, such as COVID-19 or wartime conditions, affect corn prices and their predictability. We used deep neural network models [Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU)], experimenting with both simple and hybrid versions, as well as univariate and multivariate types. The results show that the GRU model outperformed the other models in predicting corn prices. It was also found that multivariate models tended to yield more accurate results than their univariate counterparts, suggesting that forecast quality can be significantly improved by including additional variables. In the robustness analysis, it was shown that the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022 led to a deterioration in model performance. The research contributes to the development of forecasting methods for the corn market and provides a basis for decision-making strategies for market players. To ensure methodological rigour, the forecasting results were statistically validated using the Diebold–Mariano test.

Economic determinants of the development and sustainability of family farms in SlovakiaOriginal Paper

Katarína Novotná, ¥ubomír Gurèík, Zuzana Lu¹òáková

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2023, 69(7):291-299 | DOI: 10.17221/143/2023-AGRICECON

The sustainability of the family business mirrors the business success and functionality of the family. Sustainability cannot be ensured without sufficient business profitability, solvency and financial stability. A company unable to pay its obligations on time is insolvent and, therefore, unhealthy. The paper’s main goal is to evaluate the impact of selected economic aspects on the sustainability of family farms in Slovakia. The Finstat database serves as the source of input data for the research. For the economic analysis of the family and non-family sets of companies, Grünwald's bonity index (GIB) was chosen for its universality. According to the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, family businesses can be considered less risky, especially considering the conservative way of management and the effort for long-term sustainability. However, the results of our research may differ. Family businesses show higher profitability of total and mainly equity capital but also low current liquidity and an undercapitalised state. The most increased non-credit current liquidity was achieved in family businesses in the pandemic years 2020 and 2021. The family businesses we monitored are more profitable than non-family businesses, they do not show an excessive increase in investments, and most of them seem to have a targeted and purposeful high level of short-term liabilities.

The influence of photovoltaic and nuclear energy sources on the use of land in the Czech RepublicReview

Luká¹ Martinec

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2022, 68(8):307-316 | DOI: 10.17221/61/2022-AGRICECON

The human population is highly dependent on electricity, and to maintain the current progress of its use and for future requirements, it is necessary to look for ways to ensure sufficient energy. The aim of the article is to compare nuclear energy as a representative of non-renewable energy sources with photovoltaic energy as a representative of renewable energy sources (RES). The comparison is made in terms of the effect on agricultural land occupation, given that soil as a basic production factor is completely unique and that nuclear energy sources are often used as a backup for RES. We used a quantitative research method based on deduction using available real data to compare agricultural land occupation by these two energy sources. The results indicate that the effect of photovoltaic power plants on agricultural land occupation is 100 times greater than that of nuclear power plants. In terms of the effect on agricultural land occupation, the combination of solar and nuclear power plants seems to be appropriate. This combination partially eliminates the negative agricultural land occupation consequence of using solar power plants.

The impacts of agricultural subsidies of Common Agricultural Policy on agricultural emissions: The case of the European UnionOriginal Paper

Jeremiás Máté Balogh

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2023, 69(4):140-150 | DOI: 10.17221/51/2023-AGRICECON


Agriculture is one of the main contributors to carbon emissions and is also significantly affected by changing climate. This article investigates the impacts of agricultural support on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from agriculture in the European Union. Panel regression models were used to examine the influence of subsidies in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on reducing GHGs from agriculture. First, estimates show that direct agricultural subsidies encouraged agricultural-related carbon emissions. Second, the study concludes that the expansion of organic agriculture and the rural development expenditures contributed to emissions reduction in the member states. Finally, the CAP Health Check reform decreased while the Ciolos reform stimulated GHG emissions.

Analysis of global warming potential: Organic vs. conventional tomatoesOriginal Paper

Alessandro Scuderi, Giuseppe Timpanaro, Mariarita Cammarata

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2023, 69(7):267-275 | DOI: 10.17221/104/2023-AGRICECON


Climate change threatens the possibility of ensuring sufficient and quality food for the population. The agricultural sector, considered to be one of the main contributors to the increase of CO2-equivalents (CO2-eq) in the atmosphere, faces one of the most difficult challenges for the sector: increasing production while reducing its impact on the environment. The improvement of adopted practices should be preceded by the quantification of generated emissions. This study aims to provide information on the analysis of the global warming potential (GWP) of tomatoes in Sicily, comparing organic and conventional cultivation methods. The methodology applied is the Life Cycle Assessment, which revealed a reduction in CO2-eq for the organic method compared to the conventional one due to the use of organic fertilisers and crop protection products allowed by organic specifications. The possibility of reducing tomato GWP offers farmers the opportunity to act on the cultivation stage by making it more sustainable and at the same time to communicate the beneficial action, towards the environment, through the product label. The research also highlights that organic production, with the application of new production and pest management techniques, is comparable in terms of quantity produced per hectare to conventional production and with excellent fruit quality.

Human potential of talents in agriculture and forestry in context of Agriculture 4.0Original Paper

Milo¹ Hitka, Lenka Li¾betinová

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2023, 69(6):223-233 | DOI: 10.17221/153/2023-AGRICECON


Agriculture 4.0 creates a challenge for agricultural and forest enterprises in the form of changes in the processes and strategies set up to now. The ability for flexibility, personal development, and further education will be critical in transforming agriculture and forestry organisations. The transition to Agriculture 4.0 will also affect the need for human resource management in terms of their need and competence structure. This work aims to identify a group of employees in the environment of the Slovak Republic’s agricultural and forest enterprises with the prerequisites to acquire additional work competencies and the interest to develop flexibly. The mentioned group of employees, understood as progressive, will be examined from the point of view of motivational preferences and the level of satisfaction with them. The presented outputs follow searching the sample unit of 2 193 employees in agriculture and forestry organisations. Based on inferential statistics, it was confirmed that the progressive group of employees is identifiable in terms of their education and, compared to other groups, has a significantly higher perception of the importance of motivation factors with the highest difference in the case of factors related to career aspiration and social needs.

Analysis of the perception and presence of design in the fruit and vegetable cluster: The case of southeast SpainOriginal Paper

Mónica Arroyo-Vázquez, Óscar González-Yebra, Bélgica Pacheco-Blanco, Miguel Ángel Artacho-Ramírez

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2023, 69(8):321-331 | DOI: 10.17221/169/2023-AGRICECON


Companies must provide economic, environmental and social added value based on innovation strategies, design and creative thinking in a globalised and competitive world characterised by rapid change and constantly evolving technologies. In this context, this paper analyses the role of design practice in companies in the agri-food sector (i.e. what is the design component present like; what are its relevance and importance?) An exploratory, descriptive study was conducted with 30 companies in southeast (SE) Spain’s fruit/vegetable sector. The findings reveal that all the surveyed companies make financial investments in design and positively value this (7.6 out of 10), which indicates they recognise its strategic and operative importance. However, integration, training and design promotion in the agri-food sector remains somewhat limited. Most companies lack an in-house design department or design professionals as staff members and perform mainly design activities limited to the visual and communication tasks related to marketing initiatives. These results unveil opportunities for enhancing design incorporation and appreciation in the agri-food sector, which could boost its competitiveness and differentiation in the market. Finally, this study can be considered a starting point for future development in line with the horticultural sector’s theory, practice, and design management policies.

Structural and weather-related factors of the sustainable intensification process in agriculture of the European Union regionsOriginal Paper

Jakub Staniszewski, Anika Muder

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2023, 69(10):385-393 | DOI: 10.17221/235/2023-AGRICECON


Sustainable intensification (SI) is a widely discussed concept that aims to increase agricultural production without harming the environment. This study assessed the process of SI that took place in the EU regions from 2004 to 2018 and the impact of structural and weather-related factors. In doing so, a single index based on DEA environmentally adjusted efficiency and kernel regression were applied to data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) Public Database and the Agri4Cast resource portal. The study found an overall positive trend of SI in the EU regions in which land and animal concentration had a significant impact on this process. Sun radiation, as the only significant weather variable, had a decreasing impact on efficiency due to potential droughts. The findings emphasise the need for political support for regions with a low degree of SI and for those particularly affected by climate change.

Farmland accumulation and rural household income: evidence from the Red River Delta region of VietnamOriginal Paper

Thi Long Vy Le, Truong Lam Do, Huu Nhuan Nguyen, Trung Thanh Nguyen

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2023, 69(11):458-469 | DOI: 10.17221/260/2023-AGRICECON


We identify the factors affecting the participation in land accumulation of rural households by using a multinomial logit model and assess the income effects of participation in land accumulation by using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. We use household data from a rural survey in three provinces in the Red River Delta of Vietnam in 2019. Our results show that farmland accumulation is significantly correlated with age and gender of household head, as well as agricultural productive assets, non-farm income, saving and access to credit. The participation in farmland accumulation leads to an increase in total household income, although the effect is different between land increasing and land decreasing groups. We suggest enhancing access to credit and supporting non-farm activities to accelerate the accumulation of agricultural land and consequently improve household income.

Are futures markets functioning well for agricultural perishables? Evidence from China’s apple futures marketOriginal Paper

Qianqian Mao, Jens-Peter Loy, Thomas Glauben, Yanjun Ren

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2023, 69(12):471-484 | DOI: 10.17221/278/2023-AGRICECON


Emerging economies often establish commodity futures markets to discover price signals, manage price risks and improve market integration, but establishing a futures market may not be feasible for agricultural perishables. In this study, we evaluated the function of the world’s first fresh fruit futures contract for apples. Combining partial cointegration with state-space modelling, we derived time-varying price discovery metrics for the apple futures market. Our findings revealed a limited and time-varying dominance of price discovery by the futures market, while a substantial share of price discovery occurred in the spot market. Moreover, poor convergence of disaggregated spot prices to the futures price suggests that commercial traders in the apple supply chain tended to focus more on the spot market than on the futures market. Thus, emerging economies should be cautious about the new establishment of futures markets for agricultural perishables. Future research using more specific data on the spot market may provide a better insight on the limited function of the futures market.

Subsidy policies for the grain supply chain considering postharvest loss of grain and agricultural pollutant emission in ChinaOriginal Paper

Pan Liu, Bin Zhao, Haodong Tang, Jiamin Zhu

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(5):207-225


To reduce agricultural pollutant emission (APE) and postharvest loss of grain (PHLG), the Chinese government enacted a series of subsidy policies; however, the profit-oriented supply chain members are seriously lacking or reducing APE and PHLG efforts. To address this issue, we considered as the research objective a grain supply chain consisting of a producer, a retailer and the government. We proposed the concept and functional expressions of supply chain members’ reduction efforts for APE and PHLG. We then proposed two main variables: the environmental innovation subsidy coefficient and the quantity attenuation factor of grain. According to the actual situation, four investment subsidy models were proposed. The results showed the following: i) supply chain members’ equilibrium prices and incomes were negatively correlated with the degree of the producer’s APE effort regardless of whether the supply chain members were investing in PHLG technology; ii) when the government subsidises APE and PHLG technology for other supply chain members, the government should stop subsidising the retailer’s inputs in reduction loss technology to ensure that the government’s own interests are not damaged; iii) the government’s income was restricted by the degree of its subsidising of other supply chain members. This study provides a theoretical support for the government to formulate appropriate policies to reduce APE and PHLG, which is important for maintaining national food security.

Understanding the cross-cultural chicken consumers' behaviorOriginal Paper

Fallah Samuel Kassoh, Baichen Jiang, Achara Boonkong, Hui Li, Abdelrahman Ali, Tanapon Srisukwatanachai

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(2):73-90 | DOI: 10.17221/331/2023-AGRICECON


Concerns for human health and food safety are gaining momentum in emerging and developing nations as well as in food research due to the reputations that products have established over time. Understanding cross-cultural consumers’ purchasing behaviour for chicken meat (CM) could provide valuable insights into the global food sector since it is the most consumed meat worldwide. This study examines the effect of buying features (BF), culture factors, behavioural attitudes (BA), subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioural control (BC) on CM actual purchase behaviour (APB) in China and Sierra Leone. Primary data were sourced from 588 Chinese and 410 Sierra Leonean participants. We adopt structural equation modelling (SEM) to verify the model and test the associations between the variables. The SEM results confirm that BF, BA, SN and BC stimulate customers’ intent and actual purchase of CM in both nations. The findings indicate that cultural factors (CF) significantly moderates the association between the independent constructs (BF, BA, SN and BC) and APB in Sierra Leonean markets. This study provides significant insights for chicken industry stakeholders that can help them increase CM sales along the supply chain via a marketing strategy focused on cultural and psychological factors.

Strategic interactions and market equilibrium in China’s agricultural catastrophic insuranceOriginal Paper

Xiaolan Wang, Xinli Wang, Jundi Liu, Jing Wang

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(10):495-512 | DOI: 10.17221/358/2023-AGRICECON

In China’s agricultural catastrophe insurance market, issues of non-equilibrium are prominent. To understand the causes of non-equilibrium in agricultural catastrophe insurance and to develop prevention strategies, this study employs an Evolutionary Game Model, incorporating disaster and insurance data for three types of cereal crops in Henan Province to analyse the Evolutionarily Stable Strategies in the agricultural catastrophe insurance market. The research also considers government policies and disaster reinsurance as implicit participants in the model. The findings reveal significant differences in the impact of non-equilibrium in the agricultural catastrophe insurance market and the choice of game strategies, dependent on the scale of farm operations, the type of crops cultivated, and regional variations. Significantly, decision-making evolutionary paths vary between small and medium-scale farmers, with rice growers emphasising income insurance more. In regions prone to frequent catastrophes, the insurance rates for agricultural catastrophe insurance exhibit greater flexibility. By scientifically delineating agricultural catastrophe risk zones, appropriately expanding the scale of cultivation, reducing insurance rates, and adjusting agricultural catastrophe insurance products, a balanced development in the agricultural catastrophe insurance market can be promoted.

Innovation for development of sustainable integrated plantation polyculture on dry land: Using Structural Equation ModellingOriginal Paper

Rina Nuryati, Lies Sulistyowati, Trisna Insan Noor, Iwan Setiawan

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(6):291-308 | DOI: 10.17221/287/2023-AGRICECON

The land in the South Tasikmalaya Regency is dominated by dry land with a steep and hilly land contour. In addition, the area has a shallow soil solum, so it has a high potential for erosion and landslides. Therefore, it is necessary to innovate an integrated cultivation system that is economically feasible, but still maintains environmental sustainability. In this research, the aim is to formulate a model for the development of integrated plantation polyculture farming (IPPF) for the welfare of farmers. The method in this study uses a mixed method design. The location of the research carried out is in the Tasikmalaya Regency. The data used are the results of interviews and questionnaires to 250 IPPF farmers. The data used were obtained by multistage cluster random sampling. The sustainable IPPF development model was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). This analysis is used to determine the various potential capital factors for agricultural development on the sustainable development of the IPPF and farmers’ welfare. The results of the study show that the potential development capital [natural resources (SDA) capital, economic capital, socio-cultural capital, physical capital, and multifunctional IPPF], jointly or partially affect the IPPF sustainability. Human resource capital has no effect on the sustainable IPPF development, while the sustainable IPPF development affects the farmers’ welfare levels, and the potential agricultural development capital and its multifunctionality affect the sustainable IPPF development and farmers’ welfare. The IPPF development model that improves the welfare of farmers is carried out through the development of specific local superior commodities, increasing the added value and cooperation, developing access to credit, regenerating farmers, sustainable assistance and infrastructure improvements. The results of this study are expected to be a reference for the government in improving IPPF sustainability to achieve the welfare of its farmers. Apart from that, the model that has been developed can make a contribution to science in the form of a comprehensive analysis of the factors that influence the sustainability of IPPF.

The effect of climate-smart agriculture on productivity and cost efficiency: Insights from smallholder wheat producers in PakistanOriginal Paper

Panhwar Ghulam Mustafa, Shangao Wang, Gershom Endelani Mwalupaso, Yi Yu, Zhou Li

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(7):334-348 | DOI: 10.17221/74/2024-AGRICECON


Unique challenges have been elicited by climate change, demanding the utilisation of effective adaptation strategies that are both environmentally and economically sustainable. Regrettably, the agricultural sector has not been spared from the effects of climate change, but it is among the largest employers and the primary source of food security globally. The situation is worse in Pakistan, where poverty, hunger, and malnutrition are reported to be prevalent. The complexity of risks posed by climate change has called for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies, which potentially could augment cost efficiency and yield in wheat production. Surprisingly, previous studies have largely overlooked this crucial aspect. Therefore, our research seeks to address two fundamental questions: What is the comparative cost efficiency between adopters and non-adopters of CSA practices in wheat production? And what are the yield effects associated with CSA adoption, particularly compared to non-adopters? To this end, a multi-stage sampling technique was employed to randomly select 400 farm households in a climate risk hotspot province in Pakistan, on which the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and endogenous switching regression (ESR) were applied. The results revealed that CSA adoption was associated with improved cost efficiency and yield. Interestingly, if non-adopters decided to adopt CSA, they would increase their wheat yield by about 20%. Given the importance of wheat for food security, this would contribute to poverty and hunger eradication. Therefore, our study conforms to the aspirations of the 2030 agenda by promoting rethinking food production through possible improvement in cost efficiency and yield in the face of a changing climate.

Analysing the consequences of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership on the agricultural economies of China, Australia and New ZealandOriginal Paper

Shilong Yang, Xiao Liang, Zhichao Lou, Yanwen Tan, Abdelrahman Ali

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(7):362-381 | DOI: 10.17221/327/2023-AGRICECON

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement is an important free trade agreement in the Asia Pacific region. The implementation of RCEP is greatly significant for ensuring the effective supply of agricultural products to member states. On the basis of the analysis of the agricultural product trade structure among China, Australia and New Zealand since 2000, we summarise in this article the potential consequences of tariff reduction for the agricultural products among the three countries under the RCEP framework. The Global Trade Analysis Project model has been used to analyse the effects of RCEP on the macroeconomic indicators, agricultural products trade and domestic agricultural output of the three countries. The research findings indicate that agricultural product trade among the three countries has grown rapidly since 2000. The results of the Global Trade Analysis Project simulations revealed that implementing RCEP will foster macroeconomic growth in the three countries. China’s imports of beef and dairy products and wheat from Australia and New Zealand will substantially increase, and China’s domestic production of this agricultural sector will decrease. Furthermore, India’s potential participation in RCEP will further affect China’s imports and exports of grain. These findings could guide the policymakers in the three countries in designing future agricultural production and trade strategies according to the different scenarios of international trade among the three countries and considering the potential of India joining.

Driving factors of green production behaviour among farmers of different scales: Evidence from North ChinaOriginal Paper

Yong Liu, Jixin Yang, Guanghong Zhang, Xufeng Cui

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(10):474-494 | DOI: 10.17221/188/2024-AGRICECON

The agricultural production in China is gradually transitioning from extensive agriculture to green agriculture. In this context, identifying the driving factors and dimensions of farmers’ green production behaviour can contribute to promoting sustainable agricultural development. Existing studies lack investigation into the identification of driving factors and dimensions of green production behaviour among farmers of different scales. This study examined 1 142 farm households from five major grain-producing provinces in the North China Plain in 2019. We employed probit-ISM (interpretive structural modelling) models to analyse the driving factors of green production behaviour among farmers of different scales and identify dimensional differences. The study concluded the following: i) Personal characteristics, household characteristics, operational characteristics, social network characteristics, organisational characteristics, and cognitive characteristics were factors driving green production behaviour among small-scale farmers. However, social network characteristics and organisational characteristics had insignificant effects on green production behaviour among large-scale farmers. ii) Personal characteristics, number of agricultural workers, scale of operation, degree of land fragmentation, and whether relatives and friends are civil servants were the deep-rooted factors driving farmers’ green production behaviour. Part-time farming status, proportion of grain income, types of agricultural machinery, relationship with local farm machinery operators, and organisational characteristics were middle indirect factors. Cognitive characteristics represented the direct surface factors. This study can provide crucial information for government departments, which formulate differentiated policies to promote green production behaviour among farmers of different scales.

Has the agricultural productivity increased after European Union enlargements in Central European countries? Evidence from four countries' cereal productionOriginal Paper

Luká¹ Èechura, ©tefan Bojnec, Jan Falkowski, Imre Fertõ

[Ahead of Print]Agric. Econ. - Czech, X:X | DOI: 10.17221/156/2023-AGRICECON

It was widely expected that following European Union's enlargement in 2004, farmers in new member states would improve their performance by increasing the efficiency of their production processes. In this study, using the Farm Accountancy Data Network data, we look at changes in total factor productivity, a measure which captures how efficiently and intensely inputs are utilised in production, that took place in farms producing cereals in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia between 2004 and 2017. We find that in all four countries total factor productivity increased in the first years after the accession, but later declined. Overall, in the three former countries, total factor productivity in 2017 was higher than observed in 2004, whereas in Slovenia it was lower. This pattern largely corresponds to the dynamics observed with technological change: an initial technological progress was followed by a technological regress. Our results also suggest that over time farmers faced increasing problems with finding an optimal size of their operation. Finally, we observe that the technologies adopted on the farms were not used in an efficient way.

The role of primary producers in agricultural waste management: Perceptions and challenges in the transition to a circular economyOriginal Paper

Francisco José Castillo-Díaz, Luis Jesus Belmonte-Ureña, Fernando Diánez-Martínez, Francisco Camacho-Ferre

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(1):1-13 | DOI: 10.17221/225/2024-AGRICECON

This study aims to evaluate the perceptions of Spanish primary producers on waste management practices and different regulatory and administrative proposals. In addition, it identifies the socioeconomic and technical factors influencing these perceptions and highlights the types of agricultural residues that present the greatest management challenges for primary producers. To achieve these objectives, a survey was conducted among 396 primary producers throughout Spain. Results revealed two distinct groups of producers: younger, more educated individuals who showed higher awareness of waste management and older, less educated producers who perceived waste management as less critical. The study also analysed the magnitude of the relationships between these influencing factors and waste management perceptions. Agricultural plastics, biomass, and used oil emerged as the most problematic waste types. The findings suggest the need for a national strategy to improve agricultural waste management in Spain, including awareness campaigns, financial incentives, and stricter regulations to ensure sustainable practices.

How does urbanisation affect agricultural economic resilience? Evidence from ChinaOriginal Paper

Ruihan Wang, Zheng Lu, Chunyu Tang

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(10):513-526 | DOI: 10.17221/207/2024-AGRICECON

As an important path to breaking the urban-rural dual system and promoting agricultural modernisation in China, the process of urbanisation might have a strong influence on promoting agricultural economic resilience (AER). Using panel data from provincial-level administrative regions of China’s mainland, we constructed a novel indicator system to measure AER, and employ the system generalised method of moments model to examine the impact of urbanisation on AER and the moderating roles of land transfer and heterogeneous human capital. Our study yielded three notable findings. First, the urbanisation process can significantly enhance AER. This finding remained robust after conducting multiple robustness tests and addressing endogeneity using the instrumental variable method. Second, the influencing mechanism analysis results indicated that land transfer and human capital had significant moderating roles, and the level of land transfer and educational improvement can enhance the positive impact of urbanisation on AER, while the migratory human capital weakened this positive effect. Third, the heterogeneity analysis revealed regional differences in the impact of urbanisation on AER, demonstrating that the promotional effect of urbanisation was much greater in the major grain-producing areas. Our study offers a new perspective and evidence for researchers and policymakers investigating how to enhance AER.

Approach to the differentiated motivation of employees in agricultureOriginal Paper

Milo¹ Hitka, Lenka Li¾betinová, Jozef Ïurian, Agota Giedré Rai¹iené

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(1):46-57 | DOI: 10.17221/118/2024-AGRICECON

The capacity for flexibility, personal development, and intrinsic motivation is a crucial aspect needed by employees in the process of transforming agricultural organisations. This paper aims to determine the typically oriented groups of employees in terms of their motivation and verify whether the identified groups are invariant even under changing conditions over time. The data from 2019–2023 (from 374 respondents employed in agricultural enterprises in south-central Slovakia) were evaluated using descriptive and inferential (K-means cluster) statistics. According to preferences and constancy of attitudes, three clusters of employees called ‘Materialists’, ‘Team progressives’, and ‘Preferences settled’ were determined. The clusters were also solved in terms of stability over time. Despite the differences in the preferences of these clusters, relational factors indeed played one of the most critical roles, even in the case of materialistically oriented employees. The practical result of the research is the possibility of designing a differentiated motivation program specifically targeted to individual groups of employees with similar motivational preferences based on a competent statistical analysis of motivation. The results are used by agricultural businesses to design motivation programs for similarly motivationally oriented employees sophisticatedly.

Agribusiness resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of credit constraintsOriginal Paper

Ekin Ayse Özsuca

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2024, 70(12):591-605 | DOI: 10.17221/56/2024-AGRICECON

This paper investigates the effect of pre-COVID credit constraints and the moderating role of government support on agribusiness resilience following the outbreak of COVID-19. Using a dataset covering 42 countries, we provide empirical evidence on how firm characteristics and credit constraints affect agribusinesses’ likelihood of survival and performance during the pandemic. On the enterprise level, size, foreign ownership and gender of the manager are found to display a statistically significant relationship with closure and sales performance. The findings reveal that pre-existing credit constraints tended to magnify the negative impacts of the pandemic. Specifically, agribusinesses with better access to finance were less likely to experience a decline in sales and exit from the market and, hence, were in a better position to withstand pandemic-induced shock. The results further highlighted the positive role of government support on agribusiness resilience, whereas obtaining government aid was found to have no significant effect on moderating the link between financial conditions and resilience. Finally, the results showed that financially constrained agribusinesses are more likely to suffer from liquidity/cash flow problems and experience overdue financial obligations during the pandemic. In coping with their liquidity shortfalls, these agribusinesses were less likely to access formal credit and more likely to delay payments to suppliers/workers.

Supply chain management practices of SMEs in developing countries: Bibliometric and systematic reviewsReview

Megawati Citra Alam, Budi Setiawan, Hery Toiba, Silvana Maulidah, Moh Shadiqur Rahman

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(2):99-112 | DOI: 10.17221/290/2024-AGRICECON


This study explores the ways in which small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have successfully implemented global supply chain management procedures that make the necessary adjustments to the realities of the specific problem, such as resource constraints, regulatory complexity, and supplier issues. It demonstrates how developing cooperation with partners grows the sustainability of the institutions. Another point highlights that government support and advancements in IT are enabling SMEs to streamline business processes and expand into new markets. Moreover, recommendations are supplied to the policymakers and practitioners, thereby instigating the SME's growth in developed countries. SMEs are using more creative and localised supply chain strategies to address these issues; frequently, the SMEs actors do this by working with regional suppliers and utilising government aid initiatives. SMEs can increase productivity, save costs, and enter new markets by streamlining operations, utilising technology, and adapting global supply chain management principles to local requirements. This study offers insights for policymakers, industry practitioners, and academics to design supportive policies for SMEs in developing countries. It highlights the importance of innovation, sustainability, strategic partnerships, and external support for SMEs' sustainable growth and inclusive economic development.

Improving the public's willingness to purchase near-expired food to reduce food waste: The case of milk products in ChinaOriginal Paper

Shujun Cheng, Xuanhao Shi, Yanjun Ren, Minjuan Zhao

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(2):86-98 | DOI: 10.17221/166/2024-AGRICECON


The near-expired food (NEF) is a significant opportunity to reduce food waste, while consumers often associate NEF with safety issues, which results in a large amount of safe and healthy food being wasted globally. This research focuses on food date labelling (FDL) and explores how consumers' label cognition impacts their willingness to purchase NEF. Using a random sampling method online, we obtain 2 113 valid samples from China and conduct an information intervention 'quasi-natural experiment' to obtain participants' FDL cognition and willingness to purchase the near-expired milk (NEM) before and after the intervention and evaluate the impact of the intervention through the differences-in-differences model. The results show that consumers' initial purchase willingness for NEM is low, and their FDL cognition has a positive effect, especially in Eastern China and higher education consumers. Information intervention increases consumers' willingness to purchase NEM by changing their label cognition, and the intervention has a more pronounced impact among older, male, and higher education consumers. Considering the pressure on resources and the environment caused by food waste has become an impediment to sustainable development, the findings expand the application of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (K-A-P) theory in the NEF field and clearly reveal the important role of eliminating consumer prejudice of FDL in reducing food waste to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 'Halve food waste.'

Effect of agricultural socialisation services on green grain production efficiency: Evidence from Jiangsu Province, ChinaOriginal Paper

Yue-Dong Zhang, Jing-Jing Li, Yi-Fang Zheng, Jia-Xian Xu

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(4):173-184 | DOI: 10.17221/296/2023-AGRICECON

In this study, we examine the effect of Agricultural Socialisation Services (ASS) on green grain production efficiency in Jiangsu Province, China, by using data from the China Land Economy Survey. We used the generalised random forests model in this research to address potential issues of farming household self-selection into ASS and unobserved heterogeneity in treatment effects. The results show that participation in ASS significantly improves green production efficiency, particularly for small-scale farmers. Efficiency gains are most pronounced in critical agronomic operations such as pest control, seeding and planting, whereas smaller efficiency effects are observed in plowing, harvesting and straw treatment. The findings suggest that targeted expansion of ASS could substantially enhance sustainable farming practices, especially for resource-constrained farms. This study provides important policy insights for promoting agricultural sustainability through improved access to and delivery of agricultural services, contributing to more efficient and ecofriendly grain production.

Synergic strategies in reinforcing the pluralistic paradigm, inclusion and diversity as a catalyst for social sustainability focusing on agribusinessesOriginal Paper

Hana Urbancová, Pavla Vrabcová, Peter Madzík, Ale¹ Kocourek

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(5):273-284 | DOI: 10.17221/371/2024-AGRICECON

Addressing social sustainability, gender dynamics, strengthening educational diversity and ensuring inclusive partnership structures are all key components of promoting inclusion, not only in the agricultural sector. Diversity management is a human resource trend based on respect for inclusive culture, gender and ethnic diversity, multifaceted equality or the use of virtual teams under the right working conditions, but when not applied correctly it may produce undesired effects in agribusinesses as well as in other economics sectors. This paper aims to identify effective approaches to setting working conditions used by organisations to promote inclusion, management diversity and the development of social sustainability. The data were obtained through quantitative research using the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing method (n = 202) and processed using the chi-square test at a 0.05 significance level as well as through qualitative research involving focus groups (n = 10). The study results have demonstrated that investment in diversity education remains crucial. Not only agricultural but also other businesses have begun to use metrics to monitor their diversity and inclusion progress. Organisations are beginning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to remove prejudices in recruitment, identify inequalities in remuneration and ensure inclusion in online communication.

Unintended consequences of trade in environmental innovation: Agricultural emissions, sectoral leakage, and the Kuznets curve hypothesisOriginal Paper

Xinyi Gu, Jianmin Li, Farzan Yahya, Muhammad Waqas, Amad Rashid

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(6):298-307 | DOI: 10.17221/399/2024-AGRICECON

Mitigating emissions from the agricultural sector is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals. However, controlling emissions in one sector can lead to unintended consequences in others through leakage effects. Grounded in the theoretical propositions of sectoral shift theory (SST), the rebound effect, and leakage effects, this study investigates the asymmetric impact of environmentally sound technology (EST) imports and exports on agricultural emissions (N₂O and methane) within the framework of the agricultural Kuznets curve (AKC). Utilising a balanced panel dataset of 105 countries from 2010 to 2020, we employ the Westerlund cointegration test to establish long-run relationships among variables. Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) estimations reveal a positive effect of EST imports and exports on agricultural N₂O emissions, intensifying the impact at higher quantiles. This suggests that industrial emission reductions through EST may have unintended consequences in agriculture via two mechanisms: emission leakage from industry to agriculture and increased agricultural emissions resulting from productivity improvements through the rebound effect. Nevertheless, in line with SST, our results indicate that sustainable agricultural trade can contribute to mitigating agricultural emissions. The AKC hypothesis holds across almost all models. These findings underscore the importance of developing tailored policies to design EST specifically for the agricultural sector, ensuring more effective emission reductions.

Protection of geographical indication products and sustainable agricultural development: The role of public policiesOriginal Paper

Chunyan Li, Lanqing Ge, Qi Ban, Xiaoting Song

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(2):59-70 | DOI: 10.17221/82/2024-AGRICECON

This research employed co-word clustering analysis to classify 62 geographical indication (GI) protection policies from 2009 to 2023 into three distinct types. Employing Sankey diagrams, we dynamically analysed the evolution of these policy tools. These insights provide valuable experiential guidance for reforming and innovating China’s GI protection system and agricultural sustainable development.

The path to smart farming: Profiling farmers' adoption of technologies in TürkiyeOriginal Paper

Huseyin Tayyar Guldal, Hasan Sanli, Metin Turker

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(5):229-241 | DOI: 10.17221/401/2023-AGRICECON

This study investigates the characteristics associated with the adoption of smart farming technologies in Turkish agriculture. By surveying 325 farmers across six regions in Türkiye, the research identifies key attributes influencing adoption patterns. Four distinct profiles emerge: technology users, non-users, young educated female farmers, and traditionalists. Exploratory findings from Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) indicate that attributes such as agricultural insurance, credit utilisation, knowledge of smart farming systems, and tractor ownership are commonly observed among technology users. Ordinal logistic regression further quantifies these associations, highlighting the significant role of financial accessibility and knowledge dissemination in shaping adoption likelihoods. Non-users, on the other hand, are characterised by smaller landholdings, lack of credit use, limited awareness, and absence of tractor ownership, reflecting structural barriers to adoption. Tailored financial solutions and shared machinery parks could help address these challenges. Empowering young, educated women farmers, identified as a key demographic for innovation, offers an opportunity to catalyse broader technology adoption. By addressing knowledge gaps and fostering inclusive policies, this study provides actionable insights to accelerate the technological transformation and sustainability of Türkiye's agricultural sector.

The overall spatial spillover effects of local agricultural policy: A study on China's corn stockpiling policy based on Adaptive Expectation Theory and Spatial Durbin ModelOriginal Paper

Yue Liu, Haoran Yang

Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(3):160-172 | DOI: 10.17221/9/2024-AGRICECON

In 2007, the Chinese government introduced a temporary corn storage policy targeting four regions: Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia. This policy aimed at stabilising grain markets and ensured farmers' income by providing price support for corn. Its implementation significantly impacted corn prices and the regional distribution of corn cultivation, offering a valuable case for analysing the economic outcomes of China's agricultural policies. This study adopts the adaptive expectations hypothesis to explore the policy's effects, focusing on its influence on farmers' price expectations (mean) and price volatility (variance). Using a Spatial Durbin Model (SDM), we empirically investigate the policy's dynamic regional impacts on corn planting areas. The results show that the temporary corn storage policy significantly increased corn planting areas in the targeted regions, while simultaneously reducing planting areas in non-targeted regions due to negative spatial spillover effects. At the national level, the policy had no statistically significant impact on total corn planting areas, indicating that abolishing the policy alone is unlikely to rationalise or optimise the agricultural planting structure.

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