The objective of this thesis is to include strategic and tactical level decisions into the biorefinery supply chain design for a specific region while comparing multiple conversion technologies and biomass feedstocks. The allocation of biomass feedstocks, products, and the respective supply chain configuration locations are determined while ensuring the regions monthly biomass availability and product market demand constraints are met. This research considers all actions required to bring the bio-based products to market from harvesting, storing, and processing the biomass to market distribution. Two different conversion technologies are chosen for comparison: one advanced conversion technology and one conventional technology. Potential investors and policy makers will be able to use this region specific tool by maximizing annual profitability to evaluate potential lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies for the production of energy, fuels, and chemicals. The tool utilizes ILOG OPL software for optimization while interfacing with Microsoft Excel for parameter inputs and results output. From the sensitivity analysis, further insight is gained to what key drivers greatly influence the performance of each supply chain. The results demonstrate the practicality of this tool, which then can be further analyzed through other models such as discrete event simulation.

Tyrimo objektas: e-agroverslo reiškinys. Tyrimo tikslas: išnagrinėti e-agroverslo reiškinį teoriniu ir praktiniu aspektu. Uždaviniai: 1. Atskleisti e-verslo ir e-agroverslo teorinius aspektus. 2. Išanalizuoti e-agroverslo reiškinį empiriniu tyrimų metodu t.y. atlikti apklausą ir nustatyti faktinę e-agroverslo padėtį Lietuvoje. 3. Išnagrinėti e-agroverslo reiškinį kiekvieno iš transakcijų modelių pagrindu ir pagrįsti internetinių technologijų taikymo transakcijose privalumus. Tyrimo metodai: analizuojant e-agroverslo reiškinį e-verslo transakcijų pagrindu buvo naudojami šie tyrimo metodai: mokslinės literatūros analizė ir sintezė, loginis apibendrinimas, anketinė apklausa ir sisteminė analizė. Tyrimo rezultatai: • pirmojoje darbo dalyje pateikta e-verslo samprata ir išanalizuota e-agroverslo koncepcija. • antrojoje darbo dalyje aptartas atliktas tyrimas t.y. išnagrinėti Kauno rajono gyventojų anketinės paklausos metu gauti duomenys. • trečioje dalyje išanalizuoti verslas-darbuotojui (B2E), verslas - vartotojui (B2C), vartotojas-verslui (C2B), verslas - verslui (B2B), verslas valdžios institucijoms (B2G) ir valdžios institucijos - verslui (G2B) transakcijų modelių taikymo e-agroversle ypatumai. Aptarta interneto prieigos stoka Lietuvos kaimo teritorijose bei įsigilinta į elektroninio marketingo diegimo e-agroverslo įmonėje perspektyvas. • šiuolaikinis e-agroverslas yra priverstas įgyvendinti naujas strategijas ir veikti žemės ūkiui naujoje - elektroninėje erdvėje, kuri... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Research object: the phenomenon of agribusiness. Research aim: to analyse e-agribusiness phenomenon theoretically and practically. Objectives: 1. To reveal theoretical aspects of e-business and e-agribusiness; 2. To perform empirical analysis of e-agribusiness, to execute survey in order to identify factual status of e-agribusiness in Lithuania. 3. To discuss the concept of e-agribusiness on the basis of all e-business transaction models and to substantiate the usage of internet technologies in the transactions. Research methods: analysis and synthesis of literature, logical generalization, survey and systemic analysis. Empirical study was based on logic and methodological setups of similar surveys. Research results: • Theoretical analysis of e-business and e-agribusiness concepts is performed in the first part of master thesis. • The overview and analysis of survey results are discussed on the second part of the thesis. • The implementation of e-business transaction models in e-agribusiness and overview of e-marketing strategies for e-business as well as the benefits of implementation of internet technologies are discussed on the third part of the thesis. • Nowadays e-agribusiness is obliged to implement new strategies and operate in new electronic network. Contrary to traditional agribusiness this network is very dynamic. Electronic data exchange and other forms of internet technology implementation in business transactions change the traditional - paper based -... [to full text]

Food security is a global topic of discussion and agricultural sectors play a vital role in the provision thereof. In South Africa the agribusinesses are some of the key players in providing financing, risk management and market advisory services to producers. Since the deregulation of the grain industry during 1996, many of these agribusinesses have converted their business form from cooperative to company and therefore adhere to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). These agribusinesses trade commodity derivatives on the South African Futures Exchange (SAFEX) to hedge themselves and their producers against commodity price risk. Globally there has been a tremendous increase in the use of derivatives and other financial instruments and with the emergence of these new and more complex financial instruments, accounting regulations had to follow these developments. The applicable accounting practices at the time were considered as being insufficient and being applied inconsistently. The major global standard setters namely IASB and FASB separately tried to develop adequate standards to address the accounting treatment of these products. The IASB developed International Accounting Standard (IAS) 39 dealing with the recognition and measurement of financial instruments, while the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) 133. These two standard setters have signed the Norwalk Agreement committing to plans to converge the IFRS and US accounting standards. This study focused on the application of IAS 39, with reference to commodity derivatives, with the main research objective being to investigate the accountancy implications of commodity derivatives in the South African agricultural sector. Furthermore it also serves to establish a standard methodology for the interpretation of IAS 39 and to serve as a benchmark and best practise for South African agribusinesses and commodity processors. For this purpose seven case studies were investigated by utilising a developed questionnaire, an illustrative flow diagram of IAS 39 and recorded structured interviews with the respondents. The accounting treatment of commodity derivatives was investigated by utilising nine transaction types which are typically found when producers sell grain to an agribusiness or a processor purchases grain from an agribusiness. The seven case studies were identified by utilising convenience sampling (unrestricted non–probability sampling). A literature review and empirical study were conducted. The findings on the accounting treatment of commodity derivatives were communicated thematically. The main findings were discussed during interviews with representatives of the technical departments of three of the Big Four audit firms in South Africa. A discussion of similar studies performed globally was performed. The recommendations following from this research study include that entities carrying “own use” inventory and applying hedge accounting can elect to apply the base adjustment consistently as part of their accounting policy on the valuation of inventory. Entities holding grain inventory for trading purposes should, based on industry practice, fair value such inventory. Various recommendations regarding the classification of a supply contract with a producer (as defined in a pre–season fixed price contract) depending on whether an entity applies hedge accounting or not, were made. Recommendations regarding the determination of fair value include that, based on industry practice and guidance by IAS 39, the SAFEX–based price should be utilised to fair value derivatives and to fair value inventory held by commodity–broker traders. The fair value movement on the option contracts taken out on behalf of the producer by an agribusiness should be transferred to the relevant producer's loan account. The recommendations concluded with a recommendation that entities should proactively consider and plan the impact of the replacement of IAS 39 on current business practices. Areas for further research could include investigating the accounting treatment of commodity derivatives of the newly issued accounting standards on financial instruments by IASB and the impact of these new standards on the business practices of entities. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Management Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Food security is a global topic of discussion and agricultural sectors play a vital role in the provision thereof. In South Africa the agribusinesses are some of the key players in providing financing, risk management and market advisory services to producers. Since the deregulation of the grain industry during 1996, many of these agribusinesses have converted their business form from cooperative to company and therefore adhere to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). These agribusinesses trade commodity derivatives on the South African Futures Exchange (SAFEX) to hedge themselves and their producers against commodity price risk. Globally there has been a tremendous increase in the use of derivatives and other financial instruments and with the emergence of these new and more complex financial instruments, accounting regulations had to follow these developments. The applicable accounting practices at the time were considered as being insufficient and being applied inconsistently. The major global standard setters namely IASB and FASB separately tried to develop adequate standards to address the accounting treatment of these products. The IASB developed International Accounting Standard (IAS) 39 dealing with the recognition and measurement of financial instruments, while the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) 133. These two standard setters have signed the Norwalk Agreement committing to plans to converge the IFRS and US accounting standards. This study focused on the application of IAS 39, with reference to commodity derivatives, with the main research objective being to investigate the accountancy implications of commodity derivatives in the South African agricultural sector. Furthermore it also serves to establish a standard methodology for the interpretation of IAS 39 and to serve as a benchmark and best practise for South African agribusinesses and commodity processors. For this purpose seven case studies were investigated by utilising a developed questionnaire, an illustrative flow diagram of IAS 39 and recorded structured interviews with the respondents. The accounting treatment of commodity derivatives was investigated by utilising nine transaction types which are typically found when producers sell grain to an agribusiness or a processor purchases grain from an agribusiness. The seven case studies were identified by utilising convenience sampling (unrestricted non–probability sampling). A literature review and empirical study were conducted. The findings on the accounting treatment of commodity derivatives were communicated thematically. The main findings were discussed during interviews with representatives of the technical departments of three of the Big Four audit firms in South Africa. A discussion of similar studies performed globally was performed. The recommendations following from this research study include that entities carrying “own use” inventory and applying hedge accounting can elect to apply the base adjustment consistently as part of their accounting policy on the valuation of inventory. Entities holding grain inventory for trading purposes should, based on industry practice, fair value such inventory. Various recommendations regarding the classification of a supply contract with a producer (as defined in a pre–season fixed price contract) depending on whether an entity applies hedge accounting or not, were made. Recommendations regarding the determination of fair value include that, based on industry practice and guidance by IAS 39, the SAFEX–based price should be utilised to fair value derivatives and to fair value inventory held by commodity–broker traders. The fair value movement on the option contracts taken out on behalf of the producer by an agribusiness should be transferred to the relevant producer's loan account. The recommendations concluded with a recommendation that entities should proactively consider and plan the impact of the replacement of IAS 39 on current business practices. Areas for further research could include investigating the accounting treatment of commodity derivatives of the newly issued accounting standards on financial instruments by IASB and the impact of these new standards on the business practices of entities. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Management Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This paper looks at the impact of agricultural subsidies on beef production in the fifty states of America, due to the adverse effects that large-scale agriculture production has on the Earth's climate. I examine production, sales, and employment data from the 2012 and 2007 USDA Agriculture Census to examine if there is or isn't a link between these factors and the level of beef subsidies received by each state.