Commodity Production Research Articles

Georgia’s potentials for sustainable intensification, increasing food security and rural incomes.

Abstract Increasing global demand for agricultural commodities spurs conversions of natural ecosystems. Sustainable intensification in areas of high yield gaps has been proposed a pathway to achieve food security, support rural livelihoods, while also reducing the impact of commodity production by narrowing yield gaps on existing agricultural lands, while improving resource efficiency. Following the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Georgia experienced one of the highest losses of agricultural productivity among all former USSR countries and is now highly dependent on food imports. Closing yield gaps in Georgia through sustainable intensification has the potential to increase food self-sufficiency, support rural livelihoods, and strengthen food security and sovereignty. We estimated its potential for sustainable intensification in current agricultural areas to achieve self-sufficiency for wheat, maize, and barley. We found that crop yields can be doubled to tripled under high-input production systems, using high-yielding varieties, optimized inputs, fertilizers, and pest control. Yet, self-sufficiency in wheat can only be reached if at least 80% of the potentially attainable yields are achieved and if land is strategically allocated between crops. To achieve such increases, farmers need access to and training for using different crop varieties, fertilizers, and pest and disease control practices and products. Intensification increases the risks to ecosystem services’ health and livelihoods, particularly raising equity concerns. Yet, intensifying very low input systems is often found to be more sustainable, with high yield increases compared to limited impacts on the environment. The high employment rate in the agricultural sector in Georgia particularly provides opportunities to reduce poverty and increase livelihoods through increasing incomes and food security.

ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF INDONESIAN SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL (ISPO) CERTIFICATION AND THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CRUDE PALM OIL (CPO) EXPORTS VOLUME

This study examines the impact of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification on Indonesian Crude Palm Oil exports and other factors, such as commodity production and prices, exchange rates, and production levels. The data covers total CPO volume (HS codes 15111000 and 15119000) from January 2006 to December 2022, focusing on ISPO certification for large State-owned and Private Enterprises in palm oil cultivation and processing. The analysis employs the Difference-in-Differences (DID) method and multiple linear regression (MLR) to identify the linear relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The DID analysis revealed that Indonesian CPO production and global CPO prices significantly affected CPO export volumes, while soybean oil prices and effective exchange rates were not statistically significant in the regression model. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders in developing strategies that support sustainable growth, enhance competitiveness, and maintain Indonesia's leading position in the global palm oil market. Policymakers should focus on encouraging broader adoption of ISPO among palm oil producers through incentives, training, and technical support, especially for smaller producers.

Patriarcapitalism? Towards an Intertwined History of Inheritance law and Capitalism from the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution (c. 1350–1850)

Abstract This article examines the patriarchal nature of inheritance law in late medieval and early modern England, the existence of an aristocratic offensive in the field of law against women’s inheritance rights between the 14th and the 18th century, and the relation between this offensive and the rise of agrarian capitalism. It then investigates the favorable effects of this legal legacy on the accumulation and concentration of the means of agrarian, coal and industrial commodity production in the hands of a minority of male aristocrats and bourgeois who played a significant role in the making of the Industrial Revolution.

The Intersectionality Between Amazon and Commodities Production: A Close Look at Sustainability

Food production’s environmental, economic, and social challenges should be demystified through quantitative data. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to investigate the ecoregional sustainability of the Amazon biome from the perspective of the environmental life cycle, economic feasibility, and social life cycle analysis, emphasizing the pillars of sustainability in the production of three commodities: soybean, beef cattle, and Brazil nuts. Carbon footprint, net present value, and worker endpoint were the metrics evaluated. According to the results found in this study, the livestock presented greater environmental burdens in terms of carbon balance when compared to the production of Brazil nuts and soybean production with carbon balances in the order of 4.75 tCO2eq/ha, −0.02 tCO2eq/ha, and −1.20 tCO2eq/ha, respectively. From an economic viewpoint, the extractive production of Brazil nuts presented the highest net profit per hectare/year (USD 559.21), followed by the agricultural system (USD 533.94) and livestock (USD 146.19). Finally, in relation to the social aspect of the production systems analyzed, the negative impacts linked to beef cattle production are related to the subcategories of forced labor and equal opportunities, and the positive impacts linked to soybean production are related to the subcategories of salary and benefits. The results highlight a genuine and sustainable balance in Brazil nuts extraction, presenting it as an investment for a sustainable future while demystifying the multifaceted information related to food production as a whole, in order to assist in decision-making and the formulation of public policies.

The Necessary Illusion – Giannotti on Fetishism

The main aim of this article is to investigate the most fundamental meanings that José Arthur Giannotti attributes to the phenomenon of fetishism in Marx. His interpretation, as expounded in Certa herança marxista [Certain Marxist Heritage] and grounded in the concept of a necessary illusion in a predominantly Kantian sense, appears to challenge a fundamental aspect of the new readings that Uspian Philosophical Marxism, with Giannotti as a key figure, has advanced since the 1960s. These new readings have underscored the notion of real abstraction as the foundation of commodity fetishism in a predominantly Hegelian sense. The article aims to clarify that Giannotti's interpretation does not aim to replace one perspective with another but rather to integrate the initial insights of the critique of real abstraction with the illusory measurement practices inherent in the process of production and exchange of commodities.

Mapping of Food Crop Commodity Production Areas in Indonesia Using The Average Linkage Method

Mapping of Food Crop Commodity Production Areas in Indonesia Using The Average Linkage Method

Institutional investment in addictive industries: an important commercial determinant of health.

The production of addictive commodities is subject to a range of commercial determinants. There has nevertheless been a gap in understanding how investments into addictive commodities may function as commercial determinants. Institutional investors can yield important financial power with their investment decisions. Many investors apply responsible investment (RI) policies to address environmental, social, and governance concerns. Negative screening is used to exclude certain sectors or companies from investment portfolios, mainly for ethical concerns. Negative screening also affects investment into tobacco and other addictive industries. This article investigates RI policies toward addictive industries among institutional investors that are signatories of the Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge (TFFP; N = 161). The TFFP is an initiative created in 2021 to de-normalize tobacco-related investments. The mixed-method study uses descriptive statistics to quantify the extent and scope of exclusion policies as well as institutional and geographical profiles of investors, and a qualitative analysis of the justifications for these exclusion policies. Some TFFP signatories apply negative screening to other addictive industries (gambling: 35%; alcohol: 24%; cannabis 12% of signatories). There are important differences in the applied exclusion thresholds, with only 47% of TFFP signatories applying a zero-tolerance policy to tobacco. Thresholds are higher for other addictive industries. Signatories also differ in terms of their geographical and investor profiles. Justifications pertaining to compliance with international standards and reputational risks were the most common. Addictive industries, such as tobacco, alcohol, gambling, and recreational cannabis, are increasingly excluded by investors. However, different understandings of RI influence how sector exclusions are implemented. Divesting from tobacco and other addictive industries is a crucial step toward a public health approach that prioritizes population health over financial profits. Prominent institutional investors are influential opinion leaders who can change the behavior of other investors and de-normalize controversial industries and reduce or prevent harm.

The Economic Shockwaves of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Energy Sources Prices – The Impact on International Energy Markets

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has raised concerns regarding the stability of the global energy sector, considering that Russia is a big player in the industry, producing and exporting crude oil and natural gas globally. This study aimed to empirically investigate the impact of the conflict on the prices of energy sources in international markets. The analysis was conducted using secondary data. The data was for prices of various commodity products, including diesel, petroleum, natural gas, and crude oil. The data was collected on multiple international markets for periods from January 1, 2021 to November 30, 2023. The analysis was conducted using trend analysis and event study. The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) was adopted to run the event study analysis. The results indicated that immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, major energy products such as US crude oil, European crude oil, and the global energy index experienced a sharp rise in price, followed by significant price volatility over the following up to seven months. The review of OPEC energy prices also indicated an increase in prices, and volatility was experienced in countries producing and exporting oil products. The event study further revealed that there was a sharp increasing trend immediately after the event date and an upward trend for more than ten months after the event, resulting in the highest prices recorded in the event window. The study suggested three policy implications - conflict should serve as a wake-up call on diversification of energy sources, investment in alternative, sustainable and green sources of energy to reduce the dependence on oil, and promotion of international cooperation on energy security.

Insights into Boreal Forest Disturbance from Canopy Stability Index

The world’s forests are being increasingly disturbed from exposure to the compounding impacts of land use and climate change, in addition to natural disturbance regimes. Boreal forests have a lower level of deforestation compared to tropical forests, and while they have higher levels of natural disturbances, the accumulated impact of forest management for commodity production coupled with worsening fire weather conditions and other climate-related stressors is resulting in ecosystem degradation and loss of biodiversity. We used satellite-based time-series analysis of two canopy indices—canopy photosynthesis and canopy water stress—to calculate an index that maps the relative stability of forest canopies in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. By drawing upon available spatial time-series data on logging, wildfire, and insect infestation impacts, we were able to attribute the causal determinants of areas identified as having unstable forest canopy. The slope of the two indices that comprise the stability index also provided information as to where the forest is recovering from prior disturbances. The stability analyses and associated spatial datasets are available in an interactive web-based mapping app. that can be used to map disturbed forest canopies and the attribution of disturbances to human or natural causes. This information can assist decision-makers in identifying areas that are potentially ecologically degraded and in need of restoration and those stable areas that are a priority for protection.

Drought vulnerability assessment and its impact on crop production and livelihood of people: An empirical analysis of Barind Tract

North-Western section of Bangladesh is experiencing a protracted decrease in precipitation, irregular rainfall, and the depletion of ground water, which results in water scarcity and extreme dry weather that impedes the production of agricultural commodities and threatens the people's way of life. Analyzing the precipitation deficit and ground water deficit, along with vegetation cover, temperature condition, and the condition of the vegetation is a crucial component of drought vulnerability assessment. Rajshahi Zilla, a region of Bangladesh located in the middle of the Barind tract, is experiencing a severe water shortage. The irregular rainfall, decrease in rainfall, prolonged absence of rainfall and ground water depletion results in drought. This study aims to access the vulnerability of drought by analyzing precipitation rates, ground water depletion levels, temperature condition, vegetation condition and the vegetative droughts to find out the severe condition of droughts and the severe effects of this in the livelihoods of the farmers and their crop production practices. In this case the study focuses on determining NDVI, NDWI, NDMI, VCI, TCI, and VHI. The VHI results show a significant increase in extreme drought conditions from 2013 (4 %) to 2021 (7 %). By conducting a few questionnaire surveys and Focus Group Discussion the present situation of crop production and the livelihoods of people has been analyzed. Almost 18.3 % of farmers have made a permanent move away from agriculture, and 80 % of permanently relocated farmers report an improvement in their quality of life. Nearly 60 % of farmers believe that the construction of deep ditches has enhanced their crop yield. Once again, more than 20 % are in the same predicament as previously, with over 19 % reporting that deep irrigation has lowered agricultural yield. Comprehending the potential consequences of drought will enable planners and decision-makers to implement mitigation measures aimed at improving the communities' ability to manage drought risk. After analyzing data, it has been found that Rajshahi is facing a critical drought problem, which has led to water scarcity, severely affecting agricultural production and livelihoods.

"Green Hills And Golden Brews: The Tea Profile Of Kerala"

The plantation sector in Kerala, encompassing key crops like tea, coffee, and rubber, faces significant challenges that threaten its economic viability and the livelihoods of workers. High production costs, coupled with fluctuating market prices, have positioned Kerala as one of the highest-cost producers of plantation commodities in India. The cost of producing tea has escalated dramatically over the years, severely impacting profitability and leading to financial instability for many growers. Additionally, climate change has introduced further complications, resulting in unpredictable weather patterns, increased pest infestations, and damage to plantation infrastructure. These factors have not only diminished productivity but have also jeopardized the sustainability of the entire sector. To address these issues, a multifaceted approach is necessary. Implementing a support price mechanism can stabilize incomes for growers, while crop diversification can enhance revenue generation and reduce dependency on a single crop. Moreover, investing in skill development programs tailored to the needs of the plantation workforce is vital, enabling workers to adapt to value-added production processes. Strengthening worker welfare through the enforcement of the Plantation Labour Act and improving access to education and healthcare in remote plantation areas are also crucial. Collaborative efforts between government entities and plantation stakeholders can lead to enhanced infrastructure, better access to technology, and educational opportunities, ensuring a resilient and sustainable plantation sector that benefits both producers and local communities alike. By prioritizing these strategies, the plantation industry in Kerala can navigate its current challenges and pave the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future

Development of Community Economic Potential through Soybean Commodities in Sidorukun hamlet, West Stabat Lama Village, Langkat Regency

Most of the people in Sidorukun Hamlet depend on their livelihoods through the soybean commodity business which is then produced into tempeh, tofu, soy milk and tempeh crackers. This research aims to find soybean commodity products that have the most potential in developing the community's economy, as well as ways to increase the selling power and quality of soybean commodity products. This research is descriptive research using a qualitative approach. Data collection techniques in this research were carried out through observation and interviews. There were 6 informants in this study. The soybean commodity with the most potential is tempeh crackers, due to its longer shelf life and flexibility in distribution. To increase selling power, this can be done through e-commerce, diversifying products and brand image. In improving product quality, producers must have high quality human resources and routine quality control.

Beyond mining: physical commodity traders, market intermediation and the role of (de-)coupling

ABSTRACT Economic activities that involve natural resources are often associated with precarious terms of employment, uneven relationships between local communities and state authorities and transregional inequalities. In anthropology, the role of intermediaries who connect producers and consumers in the context of commodity trade remains largely unexplored. In this article, I want to go beyond mining to share an ethnographic account of how physical commodity traders sell and buy goods and organise logistical operations and to elaborate on how their mode of trading influences questions of social and economic inequalities. In doing so, I wish to shift the focus of research on mining and capitalism from the sites of production to the sites of exchange and to show how market intermediaries play a critical role in creating and sustaining unequal relationships between commodity producers and consumers through what I call (de-)coupling.

Unravelling of cellulolytic fungal consortium from humus soil for efficient lignocellulosic waste degradation

Cellulose is a complex polysaccharide composed of β 1, 4 glycosidic linkages and these linkages are broken down by a complex enzyme system called cellulase. Cellulase is an enzyme complex associated with β 1, 4 endoglucanase, β 1, 4 exoglucanase, and β glucosidase. The fungal strains were isolated from decomposed humus soil and screened for the best cellulolytic activity. Thirty-two isolates were screened among these; three were selected based on their morphological characters and hydrolytic capacity, viz, Cladosporium oxysporum N5, Aspergillus sigurros N6, and Cladosporium cladosporioides N12. Among these fungi, Cladosporium oxysporum N5 shows potential hydrolytic activity and was selected for optimization studies and evaluation of their cellulolytic capability. Cellulolytic strain Cladosporium oxysporum N5 produced maximum amount of cellulase enzyme at 5 days of incubation at 30 ℃ and pH 7, viz, β 1, 4 endoglucanase (167.83± U/ml), β 1, 4 exoglucanase (29.04± U/ml), and β glucosidase (34.07± U/ml). SEM coupled Energy dispersive X-ray and FTIR spectroscopy methods revealed the cellulose degradation efficiency of fungal cellulase by microscopic, elemental percentage, and functional group, respectively. An affordable and eco-friendly fungal-based cellulase that will boost industrially important commodity production such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, and biofuels.

An approach to risk categorization of Products of Animal Origin imported into the United Kingdom

There are thousands of potential hazards associated with imported foods and to achieve an excellent food safety record, resources need to be focused on higher-risk foods and preventive mechanisms.We were tasked to develop an automated tool to assess public health risks from imported foods across multiple countries of origin, hazards and product types to replace manually conducted single product-hazard qualitative import assessments.In this paper we describe the generic import assessment of risk to consumers from importing foodborne microbiological hazards into the UK, to identify those higher-risk foods. A risk categorization approach was developed as recommended by international standards laid out in the CODEX principles and guidance by FAO and WHO on food control. The approach combines an assessment of the inherent risk of the commodity (product characteristics), and any hazard mitigation or control measures undertaken in the producing country (control characteristics) and incorporates real-world global data relating to food safety incidents over a three-year time window (compliance) for that product.With the broad diversity of foods imported, food stuffs are grouped into commodity groups using the codes in the international Harmonised System of classification. The mapping of trade into commodity groups and the scoring system developed to estimate risk are presented.Results by exporting country were generated for 16 selected public health hazards identified from global food safety incident data using expert elicitation.To ensure the approach is dynamic, can keep pace with global trends, and uses resources efficiently, the assessment has been automated and predominantly uses data that is global, publicly available and routinely updated.The results support risk managers in their regular reassessment of the controls that should be placed on foodstuffs imported into the UK.

The decline and transformation of smallholders in Chinese agriculture: national trends

ABSTRACT Using data from official statistical sources and a nationally representative survey, we find that since 2001, China’s agricultural labor force has declined by over 50 percent—a loss of over 200 million smallholders, probably the largest in human history. This trend is the most pronounced in livestock sectors: from 2012 to 2021, 62.5 million smallholder units have disappeared. The 150 million remaining smallholders are mostly commodity producers, participating widely in commodity relations to access agrochemicals, machinery, rental land, and wage labor to produce for markets. The ageing smallholder population also face challenges in intergenerational reproduction, which will accelerate its decline.

Commodity prices and production networks in small open economies

We study the role of domestic production networks in the transmission of commodity price fluctuations in small open economies. First, we present a tractable model of a small open economy's production network to explain sectoral propagation patterns. We demonstrate that the domestic production network is crucial in shaping the propagation of commodity prices. Using a panel of 31 sectors across 9 small open economies, we empirically confirm the model's predictions. Next, we construct a dynamic model of a small open economy featuring a production network to study the macroeconomic importance of the network structure in shaping both aggregate and sectoral responses to commodity price shocks. We show that: (i) the network-adjusted labor share of the commodity sector, rather than the sector's size, is key to understanding the real wage's response to commodity price fluctuations; and (ii) non-unitary elasticities of substitution in production are crucial for understanding the cross-sectional implications of these fluctuations.

The permanent global crisis of working-class social reproduction: ten propositions

The maintenance and reproduction of the working class remains a necessary condition for the reproduction of capital. But the capitalist may safely leave this to the labourer’s drives for self-preservation and propagation. (Marx [1867] 1976: 718) The capitalist mode of production gives rise to a crisis of working-class social reproduction from the outset, and continually exacerbates that crisis in the course of its development. Far from being in principle a crisis for the capitalist mode of production itself, then, crises of working-class social reproduction are the empirical effects of changes in the capitalist economy, reflecting capitalist power over the fate of the propertyless population. The inherent characteristics of the capitalist mode of production – competition between individual capitals, uninterrupted scientific and technological revolution, an ever-increasing division of labour on local to global scales, the constant process of ‘creative destruction’ as obsolete capitalist enterprises die and new ones are born, the universalisation of commodity production, concomitant to proletarianisation and the creation of a permanent ‘reserve army of labour’, and the tendency for capital to invade and take over any form of production more ‘primitive’ than itself – all continually disrupt areas of social and economic activity within capitalist social formations and those which capitalism has not fully penetrated yet. The effect of state government policies and governance on the part of international organisations is to induce or exploit crises of working-class social reproduction in order to further the hegemony of capital over their own territory and the world market as a whole.

Comments on Nobuo Okishio’s review of Piero Sraffa’s Production of commodities by means of commodities (1960)

AbstractIn this note we scrutinize and comment on Nobuo Okishio’s review of Piero Sraffa’s Production of Commodities by Means of Commodities. We limit ourselves only to observations by Okishio which we consider debatable. These concern in particular his treatment of wages in the price equations, his interpretation of Sraffa’s Standard commodity and his criticism of the marginalist theory of value and distribution.

Labor migration and commodity production in Africa: global entanglements

This introductory article presents the objectives, scope and contents of the Special Issue titled Labor Migration and Commodity Production in Africa: Global Entanglements. By congregating a diverse team of scholars from Brazil, Turkey, Germany, France, the United States, and Cameroon, all at different stages of their careers, this Special Issue seeks to build upon current trends in the fields of Global and African History to expand our current understanding of the centrality of African subjects in the making of the contemporary, densely globalized yet deeply unequal world. This introduction sets the theoretical framework that guided our call for papers, summarizes the key findings of each article, and situate their individual contributions within the topics related to the agency of African subjects in the creation of increasingly interconnected societies. We argue that the articles in this Special Issue offer a path to further strengthen and expand both fields of African and Global History by incorporating the analysis of understudied sources from diverse linguistic backgrounds, such as Arabic, Turkish, Portuguese and German, as well as legal documents produced by contemporary African states.