Government Incentive Programs Research Articles

Sustainability, profitability, and resiliency of the fast fashion industries during a pandemic

The size of the global textile market was estimated at nearly one trillion USD in 2021 and the circularity of fashion items are of utmost practical and economic interests. Many postconsumer textile wastes are not recycled, and are sent to landfills for permanent disposal. This study examines the profitability of the selected fashion companies and compares the financial performance through weighted average net profit margin and business characteristics. The 10 companies are divided into 2 groups (conventional and sustainability) for analysis. The conventional fashion companies have a total sales revenue approximately 23 times higher than that of the sustainability fashion companies. The weighted average net profit ratio of the conventional fashion industry averaging +4.7 during the 5-year study period, much higher than the sustainability fashion group. Sustainability fashion industry is emerging and appears more sensitive to fluctuations in business expenses and COVID lockdowns. Net profit was negative for the sustainability group in 2022, and more aids such as government initiatives and incentive programs may be critical to the growth of the sustainability fashion sector. Both sustainability and conventional groups have positive relations between net profit and number of employees and net profit and market shares, respectively. The results suggest that fashion industry has opportunities to be more profitable by adopting socially responsible goals.

Renewable-based load shifting system for demand response to enhance energy-economic-environmental performance of industrial enterprises

A market characterized by economic uncertainty and increased competition has led industrial enterprises to find ways to improve operational efficiency and reduce energy costs. In this context, the Demand Response (DR) has drawn ever greater attention from industries, allowing the shift of the electricity usage from their normal consumption patterns in response to changes in the price of electricity over time. This study proposes an innovative control strategy for renewable-based Load Shifting (LS) system designed on, at the same time, energy, economic, and environmental performance to realize an effective DR for industrial enterprises. The proposed techno-economic model is based on power flow management, economic indicators, such as NPV, IRR, and DPP, and associated CO2 emissions, adopting both deterministic and stochastic approaches. A realistic government incentive program framed in a potential carbon-based market is also assessed and validated. The resulting solution is obtained through a sensitivity analysis of several parameters, including the operating conditions of 15%, 20%, 30%, 35%, and 45% LS. MATLAB-Simulink simulations provide the following sizes for both storage and photovoltaic systems of 38, 68, 87, 115, 153 kWh and 18, 18, 32, 43, 61 kWp, respectively. Results show the profitability of the proposed DR, with a payback period that ranges from 6 to 10 years and within 3 years when incentives are considered. NPV and IRR range from 34,261 to 101,428 € and from 7% to 15.9%, respectively. The amount of CO2 emissions is reduced up to 47.7% for the highest LS percentage. Finally, the investigated incentive program led to CO2 prices between 18.2 and 551.9 €/tonCO2. Finally, results from the stochastic analysis show a good consistence with deterministic results.

РИНОК ПРАЦІ: ВИКЛИКИ ЦИФРОВОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ ТА ВОЄННОГО ЧАСУ

The article discusses topical issues related to the impact of the digital economy and wartime on the labor market. It is determined that the consequences of the war are primarily reflected in job losses, the difference between labor supply and demand, deepening imbalances in qualifications and the difficulty of reproducing the labor force. It is analyzed that, in addition to traditional methods of labor reproduction, digital reproduction is effective in this context, providing technological industrial renewal and reforming the educational system. Although digital transformation poses challenges, such as the displacement of certain social groups from the labor market and the growing digital divide, it has been shown to increase productivity, increase wages, and reduce labor needs. The study concluded that amid the war in Ukraine, there is a problem of access to the digital economy, technological modernization of industry, legislative reform, and intensification of entrepreneurship. An important area for the implementation of these measures is the development of a program of state incentives, reform of the educational system and social unemployment insurance. Digital innovations are affecting the skills requirements for employees and for successful employment in general, which can lead to social disputes and significantly widen the gap between different social groups. The consequences of the war, including active hostilities and shelling, are leading to increased imbalances in the labor market and a reduction in the number of jobs. The author concludes that in order to minimize the risks associated with digital transformation, it is critical to use strategic solutions, including the creation of a government incentive program to increase jobs, legislative regulation of employee rights protection and restrictions on automation, and the creation of an education system to meet the requirements of digital labor market reforms. In addition, it is necessary to ensure effective social unemployment insurance measures to ensure stability and protection of citizens in the new labor market conditions.

Ecosystem services from partially harvested riparian buffers can offset biomass production costs

There is a broad consensus that riparian buffers provide environmental benefits and increase resilience to climate change. In this study, we examined the potential benefits of multi-zone riparian buffers with outer layers planted in perennial crops (i.e., partially harvested buffers). This was accomplished by developing a simplified regional modeling tool, BioVEST, which was applied in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA. Our analysis revealed that a substantial portion of variable costs to produce biomass for energy can potentially be offset by values provided by ecosystem services from partially harvested riparian buffers. Ecosystem services were monetized and found to represent a substantial fraction (median = ~42%) of variable crop production cost. Simulated water-quality improvements and carbon benefits generally occurred where buffer area was available, but hotspots occurred in different watersheds, suggesting potential trade-offs in decisions about buffer locations. A portion of buffers could be eligible for ecosystem service payments under US government incentive programs. Partially harvested buffers could represent a sustainable and climate-resilient part of multi-functional agricultural landscapes, and one that could become economically viable if farmers are able to reap the value of providing ecosystem services and if logistical challenges are resolved. Our results suggest that payments for ecosystem services can close the gap between what biorefineries are willing to pay and what landowners are willing to accept to grow and harvest perennials along streams.

Management of U.S. Agricultural Lands Differentially Affects Avian Habitat Connectivity

Despite frequently being implicated in species declines, agricultural lands may nonetheless play an important role in connecting wildlife populations by serving as movement corridors or stopover sites between areas of high-quality habitat. For many North American bird species, agricultural intensification over the past half century has substantially impacted populations, yet recent studies have noted the potential for supporting avian biodiversity on agricultural lands through the promotion of functional connectivity. To support avian conservation efforts on agricultural lands across the United States, we used publicly available data from eBird to quantify and map the effects of agriculture on habitat suitability (using random forest models) and functional connectivity (via circuit theory) for three focal species that have experienced agriculture-linked declines or range contractions in recent decades: Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), American Black Duck (Anas rubripes), and Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). Our analysis drew on novel, remotely sensed estimates of agricultural management intensity to quantify the effects of management practices on avian habitat and movement, revealing complex, species-specific relationships between agriculture and habitat value for the three focal species. Rangelands and croplands exhibited relatively high connectivity values for Greater Sage-grouse and Bobolink, respectively, mirroring these species’ strong habitat preferences for open sagebrush and cultivated grasslands. By contrast, American Black Duck migratory connectivity was low on all agricultural cover types. Mapping our model results across each species’ geographic range in the U.S. revealed key areas for agricultural management action to preserve high-quality habitat and connectivity, and we link these spatial recommendations to government incentive programs that can be used to increase wildlife-friendly management on U.S. agricultural lands.

Assessing long-term impacts of cover crops on soil organic carbon in the central US Midwestern agroecosystems.

Cover crops have been reported as one of the most effective practices to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) for agroecosystems. Impacts of cover crops on SOC change vary depending on soil properties, climate, and management practices, but it remains unclear how these control factors affect SOC benefits from cover crops, as well as which management practices can maximize SOC benefits. To address these questions, we used an advanced process-based agroecosystem model, ecosys, to assess the impacts of winter cover cropping on SOC accumulation under different environmental and management conditions. We aimed to answer the following questions: (1) To what extent do cover crops benefit SOC accumulation, and how do SOC benefits from cover crops vary with different factors (i.e., initial soil properties, cover crop types, climate during the cover crop growth period, and cover crop planting and terminating time)? (2) How can we enhance SOC benefits from cover crops under different cover crop management options? Specifically, we first calibrated and validated the ecosys model at two long-term field experiment sites with SOC measurements in Illinois. We then applied the ecosys model to six cover crop field experiment sites spanning across Illinois to assess the impacts of different factors on SOC accumulation. Our modeling results revealed the following findings: (1) Growing cover crops can bring SOC benefits by 0.33 ± 0.06 MgC ha-1 year-1 in six cover crop field experiment sites across Illinois, and the SOC benefits are species specific to legume and non-legume cover crops. (2) Initial SOC stocks and clay contents had overall small influences on SOC benefits from cover crops. During the cover crop growth period (i.e., winter and spring in the US Midwest), high temperature increased SOC benefits from cover crops, while the impacts from larger precipitation on SOC benefits varied field by field. (3) The SOC benefits from cover crops can be maximized by optimizing cover crop management practices (e.g., selecting cover crop types and controlling cover crop growth period) for the US Midwestern maize-soybean rotation system. Finally, we discussed the economic and policy implications of adopting cover crops in the US Midwest, including that current economic incentives to grow cover crops may not be sufficient to cover costs. This study systematically assessed cover crop impacts for SOC change in the US Midwest context, while also demonstrating that the ecosys model, with rigorous validation using field experiment data, can be an effective tool to guide the adaptive management of cover crops and quantify SOC benefits from cover crops. The study thus provides practical tools and insights for practitioners and policy-makers to design cover crop related government agricultural policies and incentive programs for farmers and agri-food related industries.

Forests from the grass: natural regeneration of woody vegetation in temperate marginal hill farmland under minimum interference management

Marginal hill farmland is a key target for the restoration of temperate indigenous forest, which can help mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. Reliance on natural regeneration and minimum interference management (MIM) is a low‐cost restoration strategy for farmers, with the transition from pasture to woody scrub vegetation (whether indigenous or exotic) an important early successional phase. However, few studies have determined the key factors that influence the regeneration of woody vegetation on pastoral farmland, nor the rate at which regeneration occurs. Using a geospatial analysis of a New Zealand pastoral hill farm subject to variable grazing and MIM, this study found that only 3.8% of grassland experienced detectable regeneration of woody vegetation over 16 years. The key factor influencing natural regeneration was proximity to existing woody vegetation, with the probability of regeneration decreasing as distance increased. Cattle grazing had a significant negative impact, with regeneration more likely to occur in areas free from cattle. Sheep grazing exhibited no significant positive or negative relationship with regeneration. To support natural regeneration of woody vegetation, landowners should prioritize areas with a higher presence of existing woody vegetation and exclude cattle. To increase the rate of regeneration, landowners should consider active management regimes and supplemental restoration strategies, such as applied nucleation and the introduction of nurse species. Given the increased cost and complexity of such approaches, effective government incentive programmes may be needed to provide landowners with financial support and expertise.

Mapping connectivity and conservation opportunity on agricultural lands across the conterminous United States

Depending on management practices, agricultural lands can either pose substantial barriers to species movement or can support landscape connectivity by linking areas of high-quality habitat. Balancing connectivity and sustainable food production on agricultural lands is critical to conservation in the conterminous United States (CONUS) where agriculture makes up close to half of total land area. However, limited guidance exists on where to target conservation resources to maximize benefits for native species and food security. To quantify the potential contribution of agricultural lands to the movement of organisms, we developed a novel method for estimating agricultural management intensity (based on remotely sensed temporal variation in vegetation cover) and incorporated these estimates into a CONUS-wide model of ecological flow connectivity. We combined our connectivity results with data on the productivity, versatility, and resilience of agricultural lands (PVR) to identify conservation opportunities that support both biodiversity and food production. The highest levels of connectivity on agricultural lands occurred on relatively unmodified rangelands and on cropland and pasture surrounded by large amounts of natural land cover. Mapping connectivity and PVR across CONUS revealed 10.2 Mha of agricultural lands (2.7 %) with high value for both connectivity and food production, as well as large amounts of agricultural land (>140 Mha in total) with high value for either cultivation or supporting biodiversity. Drawing on these findings, we provide recommendations on the types of conservation approaches most suitable for a given agricultural system and link these recommendations to specific government incentive programs.

Anaerobic Digestion and Alternative Manure Management Technologies for Methane Emissions Mitigation on Californian Dairies

California is the leading dairy state in the United States. The total sale of milk and its products represents about $6.3 billion annually out of the $50 billion generated from all agricultural production in the state. However, methane emissions from dairy manure and enteric fermentation represented nearly half of all annual methane emissions in California, with dairy manure accounting for 25%, and enteric fermentation for 20%. Methane emissions originating from manure are produced primarily from anaerobic settling basins and lagoons, which are the most common manure storage systems in the state. To achieve sustainability on dairy farms and to comply with state regulations for air and climate pollutants, dairy farms have implemented technologies such as anaerobic digestion and alternative manure management technologies. In addition, governmental incentive programs have been deployed to partially fund these technologies for eligible dairies in the state. The present article reviews the design and operations, effectiveness, and economics of the most common technologies employed in Californian dairies in reducing methane emissions. The technologies studied include anaerobic digesters, mechanical separators, compost-bedded pack barns, manure vacuuming followed by drying, and weeping walls. The current status and estimated effectiveness of government incentive programs are reviewed and recommendations for improvements presented. Finally, future trends and research needs for mitigating the emissions in Californian dairies are identified.

The Prevention of Child Marriage Through The Women’s School To Improve Quality of Life (Sekoper PKH) In Mengen Village, Bondowoso Regency

Child marriage is one of the serious problems faced by Bondowoso Regency. As a district with the lowest economic level and high child marriage rates, the quality of life and generations in Bondowoso Regency are threatened and vulnerable because of socio-economic problems such as poverty and high divorce rates, health problems such as increased maternal and child mortality, increased stunting rates, and malnutrition. One of the villages in Bondowoso which has problems with child marriage is Mengen Village. To overcome these problems, the Department of Social Affairs of Bondowoso which focused on the empowerment of women and protection for children (P3AKB) launched the Women's School program to improve the quality of life or Sekolah Perempuan Peningkatan Kualitas Hidup (SEKOPER PKH) which aims to improve the quality of PKH (Program Keluarga Harapan, Government Incentive Program) beneficiaries. SEKOPER PKH has been up and running since 2018 and focuses on household financial management. The presence of a community development grant scheme by the Institute for Research and Community Service (LP2M) University of Jember can help solve the problem of child marriage in Bondowoso. The approach used to solve this is the grounded method with the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method to collect data and evidence as the basis for preparing textbooks and modules. After the module and reference book has been published, the team will conduct Training of Trainers (ToT) to improve the ability of teaching for voluntary teachers. When the voluntary teachers have the ability to teach and implement the teaching module properly, the module will be implemented to the PKH beneficiaries.

Огляд європейських тенденцій розвитку електротранспорту та його взаємодії з енергетичним сектором

An overview of the trends in the development of electric transport in European countries is presented, including the state and tax policy of supporting electric transport owners, the dynamics of the growth of the European fleet of electric vehicles, the development of charging infrastructure and the main principles of the interaction between electric vehicles and power system. The experience of countries that have successfully developed electric transport was reviewed, and it was found that the demand for electric cars mostly depends on the price of electric cars for the end user, infrastructure development and government incentive programs. The review also showed that, in practice, the wide spread of electric vehicles should occur simultaneously with the development of the corresponding infrastructure, as well as the development of systems for their interaction with the energy system and compliance with global environmental standards. The growing number of electric vehicles certainly requires special attention from network and power system operators, because the appearance of charging stations of various manufactures and capacities, installed in residential areas, private and apartment buildings, can lead to the number of problems, the emergence of which is associated with electromagnetic compatibility, overloading of electric cables and distribution transformers, safety of operation, that as a result can negatively affect the reliability and quality of power supply. There is also the potential risk that with a certain number of EVs, there will not be enough existing generation capacity and capacity of the electricity grid to charge EV batteries. The analysis of the principles of interaction between electric vehicles and power system in Europe showed that they are based on the concept of Smart Grid - smart or intelligent power supply networks, by means of which the electric vehicle charging system can be managed by the energy supplying company in order to solve a number of energy system tasks: increasing the efficiency of network infrastructure using, peak load shift and the development of smart grid infrastructure. Keywords: electric vehicle, electric charging station, charging infrastructure, power system, environmental requirements, the Smart Grid concept

Obstacles to Acquire Modern Medical Institutional Facility with Special Reference to Maternal Health Care among Tribals of South Bastar in Chhattisgarh

Introduction: The Maternal Mortality Ratio of Chhattisgarh is 269 (SRS 2010-11) which are higher than the National average (178). If we analyze the state wise data of MMR we found that Chhattisgarh is fourth in position amongst all states of India. Maternal and child health care is an important aspect of health seeking behaviour which is largely neglected among the tribal groups (Basu et al., 1990). It has been seen that inspite of a lot of government incentive programmes for women health care and development, some obstacles create obstruction to acquire modern medical institutional facilities. It is a burning concern for the development because the problems of tribal women differ from a particular area to another area owing to their geographical location, historical background and the processes of social change (Chauhan, A., 1990). Objectives: The study concerned with the objective of understanding the gap between government modern health facilities and tribal women with special reference to maternal health care. Study Area: For the study purpose tribal dominating villages of south Bastar, Chhattisgarh was selected. Chhattisgarh is known as 10th largest state of India where Bastar is known as its rich and uniqueness of bio-cultural diversity in the whole world. Methodology: Random sampling technique was the key instrument for selecting sample as well as Snowball sampling is also used to identify a few households where maternal and infant related problems occurred through some key informants in the village and ask each of them to identify households where maternal problems have occurred. Questionnaire on different variables of knowledge, attitudes, belief and opinion about government health institution were organised by direct interview. Along with above semi participatory observation was strength for the data collection. Result: The findings stated that the acceptance of modern institutional health facilities is poor amongst tribal people. In addition, a lot of females suffered from ill health due to pregnancy and childbirth in the absence of a well defined concept of health consciousness. Conclusion: The health problems of mothers arise as a result of synergistic effects of malnutrition, poverty, illiteracy, unhygienic living conditions, infections and unregulated fertility. Apart from that superstitious beliefs play an essential obstruction to acquire modern medical facilities. At the same time, poor infrastructure and ineffective public health services is also responsible for low inadequate obstetric care. Keywords: Maternal mortality; Seeking behavior; Modern medical institutional; Tribal women; Superstitious beliefs.

The Evolution of the Dialogue and Perspectives on Sustainable Forest Management with Special Emphasis on the United States of America

ABSTRACT A review covering a synopsis of the history of forest sustainability concepts and how it has led to the social, economic, and legal frameworks, criteria and indicators, and key incentive programs, which promote and influence conservation and sustainable management of forests in the United States of America is presented in two parts. The main findings show that the United States of America is a world leader in sustainable forest management, demonstrated by the fact that since the beginning of the 20th Century, forest area has been relatively stable although the population has increased, and the country remains one of the top timber producers in the world. Sustainable forest management in the United States of America is achieved in the context of private and public ownership, stakeholder collaboration, a federalist system with overarching federal laws that give freedom to state and local jurisdictions to use regulatory and voluntary means to achieve those aims, and a variety of government incentive programs offering technical assistance, financial assistance, and tax relief for landowners who proactively practice responsible forest management. This framework is reinforced through consistent enforcement of laws, monitoring, and reporting of changing conditions, and an array of future modeling to inform management actions.

Simulador de energia solar para implementação de sistemas fotovoltaicos no contexto urbano

The scenario in Brazil is favorable to leverage the photovoltaic solar energy market, as it presents positive conditions for taking advantage of the generation of this kind of energy, due to its geographic location and high levels of solar irradiation. Since the installation of the first solar power plant in the country, the electricity sector has been expanding thanks to government incentive programs that enable a better and more efficient market. However, when the technology is treated in urban centers, it has been little used, due to the lack of financial resources to invest in this high cost system or the lack of knowledge about the financial return that the owner will have over the years. In this context, this work presents a tool to verify the economic viability of a photovoltaic project, which can be used by any user interested in installing a photovoltaic system in their home or commercial space. To build this tool, a research methodology based on case studies was used, which used the PVSyst platform to obtain the necessary data and Microsoft Excel to perform the calculations and present the results. From the data collected in the software and the methodology of previous works, the developed simulator collects user input information and brings as a result the estimated cost for the implementation of the photovoltaic system, in addition, it brings the savings data over the years after the investment.

The Role of Government in the Market for Electric Vehicles: Evidence from China

AbstractGovernments in many countries have offered various incentives to promote the diffusion of electric vehicles (EVs). This study examines the effectiveness of various policy measures that underlie the rapid development of the EV market in China, by far the world's largest such market. The analysis is based on detailed data on EV sales, local and central government incentive programs, and charging stations in 150 cities from 2015 to 2018. The empirical framework addresses the potential endogeneity of key variables, such as local policies and charging infrastructure, by using a city‐border‐regression design and instrumental variable approach. We find that consumer subsidies for vehicle purchases accounted for more than half of EV sales in China. Nevertheless, investments in charging infrastructure were much more cost‐effective than consumer subsidies. An inexpensive policy that merely provided EVs with a distinctive, green license plate was strikingly effective. These findings demonstrate the varying efficacy of different policy instruments and highlight the critical role of the government in promoting clean technologies.

Towards a circular economy: Investigating the critical success factors for a blockchain-based solar photovoltaic energy ecosystem in Turkey

Novel business models can be implemented through digital platforms to enable better circular economy (CE) performance in the renewable energy industry. For example, blockchain can assist in developing innovative business models throughout the solar photovoltaic energy ecosystem (SPVEE) to improve CE. Ranked fifth in total installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity, Turkey, as a developing country, should take the necessary steps and make progress towards achieving CE in the SPVEE. The solar PV industry requires further innovation to address the negative environmental impact of existing linear business models. To ensure favorable results, identifying and evaluating critical success factors (CSFs) are necessary. However, no study has investigated CSFs for SPVEE or any other renewable energy source to achieve a blockchain-based infrastructure towards increased CE performance. Therefore, the goal of this study is to identify and examine the CSFs to improve the performance of a blockchain-based SPVEE towards CE in Turkey. To this end, first, the CSFs for blockchain-based SPVEE were identified through both a literature review and the Nominal Group Technique (NGT). Then, Intuitionistic Fuzzy (IF)-DEMATEL was used to explore their interrelationships based on the expert data. Finally, IF-DELPHI was employed to validate the results. Our findings suggested that effective government incentive programs and regulations are significant for blockchain-based SPVEE towards CE in Turkey. The findings of this study assist macro and micro decision-making in the potential implementation of blockchain in Turkish SPVEE to improve CE. They are also invaluable for other countries and can be used as a reference point.

Assessment of the feasibility of the production of alternative jet fuel and diesel using catalytic hydrothermolysis technology: a stochastic techno‐economic analysis

AbstractThe use of renewable fuels has emerged as an important method for reducing fossil‐fuel consumption. Different pathway technologies can lead to different fuel products. The feasibility of many such pathways has been analyzed with mixed results but new technologies are being developed continuously. This study uses stochastic analysis to determine the feasibility of producing biofuels from carinata oil using catalytic hydrothermolysis (CH) technology. We perform the analysis with and without government incentive programs. We also address uncertainties in input costs and government incentives. The study analyzes a pioneer greenfield plant. The results show that the mean net present value (NPV) without government incentives is −$924.4 million. Ninety percent of the simulated NPV is between −$1040 million and −$810 million, which indicates a 100% probability of loss. The mean breakeven price of jet fuel is $4.72 gal–1. With government incentives including Renewable Identification Number (RIN) and Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), the mean NPV is $62.3, and the probability of loss is reduced to 21%, which makes the process much more financially feasible. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Disparate Racial Impact: Tax Expenditure Reform Needed

Although U.S. federal tax laws don't have explicit difference in rules by race, the outcomes of those facially race-neutral rules can have differential effects across racial groups. The article analyses government subsidy and incentive programs run through the tax system: tax expenditures, and how income and wealth inequalities combined with the peculiar design of certain tax expenditures provide disproportionate benefits to white households compared to Black and Hispanic households. Tax expenditures can be designed to not favor high-income and wealthy families. The article suggests eight steps to reform tax expenditures for reducing racial and income disparities. Reforming tax expenditure with the goal of reducing racial, income and wealth inequalities can be an important first step toward a more inclusive and fairer tax system.

The Role of Government in the Market for Electric Vehicles: Evidence from China

Governments in many countries have offered various incentives to promote the diffusion of electric vehicles (EVs).This study examines the effectiveness of various policy measures that underlie the rapid development of the EV market in China, by far the world's largest such market. The analysis is based on detailed data on EV sales, local and central government incentive programs, and charging stations in 150 cities from 2015 to 2018. The empirical framework addresses the potential endogeneity of key variables, such as local policies and charging infrastructure, by using a city-border-regression design and instrumental variable approach. We find that consumer subsidies for vehicle purchases accounted for more than half of EV sales in China. Nevertheless, investments in charging infrastructure were much more cost-effective than consumer subsidies. An inexpensive policy that merely provided EVs with a distinctive, green license plate was strikingly effective. These findings demonstrate the varying efficacy of different policy instruments and highlight the critical role of the government in promoting clean technologies.

PSXI-5 Best production practices for improvement of Beef Cattle carcass quality

Abstract Best production practices for Beef Cattle (BPP) is a protocol created by Embrapa Beef Cattle in Brazil, to guide farmers towards more sustainable production. The protocol includes checkpoints to the whole production system (management, nutrition, animal health and welfare, pasture, reproduction, environmental, etc.). Despite the benefits of the BPP, it is not mandatory for Brazilian farmers. As such, until the present moment only a few farmers have adopted it. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of the BPP on the carcass classification of animals from farms registered in the Brazilian government incentive program “Precoce MS.” The program was created in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul - Brazil in 2017 and provides tax benefits to beef producers who harvest animals at young ages with superior carcass quality. Nowadays, almost a quarter of the total beef harvested in MS State is originated from this program. The bonus ranges from 49% up to 67% of tax refunds, depending on the carcass classification. We have analyzed data from all animals slaughtered from the beginning of 2017 until the end of 2018, with a total of 1,107 million animals from 1,437 farms. At the slaughterhouse, animals were submitted to carcass classification. To comply with the program requirements, carcasses should meet three basic criteria: age (maximum 4 permanent teeth), fat deposition (between 1 mm and 10 mm) and carcass weight (> 225 kg for steers and bulls, and > 180 kg for heifers). Farmers that adopted BBP had only 12.4% of disqualified animals compared to 16,1% from farms that did not adopt the protocol (P < 0,001). We concluded that farms that follow the BPP protocol achieved significantly higher quality carcass, which should encourage more farmers to adopt the protocol in the future.