This dissertation investigates three economic aspects of the climate change issue: optimal allocation of investment between adaptation and mitigation, impacts on a ground water dependent regional agricultural economy and effects on global food insecurity. This is done in three essays by applying mathematical programming. In the first essay, a modeling study is done on optimal temporal investment between climate change adaptation and mitigation considering their relative contributions to damage reduction and diversion of funds from consumption and other investments. To conduct this research, we extend the widely used Integrated Assessment Model?DICE (Dynamic Integrated Climate Economy) adding improved adaptation modeling. The model results suggest that the joint implementation of adaptation and mitigation is welfare improving with a greater immediate role for adaptation. In the second essay, the research focuses on the ground water dependent agricultural economy in the Texas High Plains Region. A regionally detailed dynamic land allocation model is developed and applied for studying interrelationships between limited natural resources (e.g. land and groundwater), climate change, bioenergy demands and agricultural production. We find out that the effect varies regionally across hydrologically heterogeneous regions. Also, water availability has a substantial impact on feedstock mix. In terms of biofuel feedstock production, the model results show that limited water resource cannot sustain expanded corn-based ethanol production in the future. In the third essay, a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model is applied in an attempt to study potential impacts of climate change on global food insecurity. Our results show that climate change alters the number of food insecure people in a regionally different fashion over time. In general, the largest increase of additional food insecure population relative to the reference case (no climate change) is found in Africa and South Asia, while most of developed countries will benefit from climate change with a reduced proportion of food insecure population. In general, climate change affects world agricultural production and food security. Integrated adaptation and mitigation strategy is more effective in reducing climate change damages. However, there are synergies/trade-offs between these two options, particularly in regions with limited natural resources.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of Geography, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-60).

Thesis (Ph.D. (Environmental Science)) - Rhodes University, 2009.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2010. / Thesis Advisor(s): Borer, Douglas A. ; Second Reader: Simons, Anna. "June 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 14, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Upstream states, Downstream states, sovereign territory, equitable utilization, national security, conflict, water scarcity, Nile river/basin, hegemony, control, legitimacy, absolute territorial sovereignty, natural rights, absolute integrity, acquired rights, negotiations, contentious agreements, prior appropriation, virtual water, interstate relations, competitive exploitation, political stability/instability, compromise, cooperation, unilateralism, food security, regional security, strategic interests, sustainable exploitation, riparian co-dependence, limited territorial sovereignty, limited integrity, arbitration, asymmetry. Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-74). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008. / Submitted to the African Centre for Food Security. Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2010.

Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

PURPOSE: This study is a quantitative analysis of the relationship between obesity and food availability in the United States. A vast amount of literature has been produced examining various food and socioeconomic variables for their effect on obesity rates; however, this is the first research project to use the USDA’s Food Environment Atlas in a nationwide quantitative study. METHODS: This study uses multivariate statistical analysis to study the effect of 24 variables identified in the 2015 USDA Food Environment Atlas on county-wide obesity rates. The primary regression of concern looks specifically at the effect five food availability variables (grocery stores, specialty food stores, SNAP stores, supercenters, and convenience stores) have on obesity rates. RESULTS: Grocery store and specialty food store density is negatively correlated to percent countywide obesity, while supercenter and SNAP store density is positively correlated to percent obesity. Convenience store density had virtually no effect on percent obesity. Potentially confounding variables such as density of recreational facilities and farmers’ markets were also negatively correlated with obesity. Additionally, density of fast-food and full-service restaurants were negatively correlated with obesity, while perpetual poverty was positively correlated to percent obesity. CONCLUSION: The analyses presented in this study suggest that greater availability of grocery stores and specialty food stores may help to curb rising obesity rates. Policy recommendation and considerations based on the results are discussed and explored for their potential utility in addressing the obesity epidemic confronting the United States.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The use of veterinary drugs a pesticides in a manner not specified in some stage of livestock production can not only be a waste of resources a capital, but mainly, a situation likely risk of environmental contamination a public health. Faced with this concern, milk samples were collected in northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, the collection of milk for residue analysis were collected monthly from February to June, August, September a November 2011, while the samples for analysis quality of milk, collected monthly from February to September 2011, we evaluated criteria such as: Waste of Veterinary Drugs a Pesticides, Total Bacterial Count, somatic Cell Count, acidity, freezing point, density, total dry extract is degreased, Fat, Lactose , pH, Protein, Temperature. Were found active ingredients of pesticides a veterinary drugs, showing the fragility of the evaluation systems of milk produced, because they were not a are not detected in the tests required by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock a Supply (MAPA), the Dairy Industry. The physical-chemical analysis of milk samples are mostly within the standards established by law, while the samples show problems in the sanitary conditions of milk, due to the high total bacterial count (CBT) found in samples. The high somatic cell count (CCS) in milk indicate deficiencies or lack of management treatments. / A utilização de medicamentos veterinários e agrotóxicos de maneira não determinada em alguma etapa da produção animal pode não somente representar um desperdício de recursos e capital, mas principalmente, uma situação provável de risco de contaminação ambiental e de saúde pública. Frente a esta preocupação, amostras de leite foram coletadas na região nordeste do Rio Grande do Sul, as coletas de leite para análise de resíduos foram feitas mensalmente de fevereiro a junho, agosto, setembro e novembro de 2011, enquanto que as amostras para análise de qualidade do leite, feitas mensalmente de fevereiro a setembro de 2011, avaliou-se critérios como: Resíduos de medicamentos Veterinários e Agrotóxicos, Contagem Bacteriana Total, Contagem de Células Somáticas, Acidez, Crioscopia, Densidade, Extrato Seco Total e Desengordurado, Gordura, Lactose, pH, Proteína, Temperatura. Foram encontrados princípios ativos de agrotóxicos e de medicamentos veterinários, mostra o a fragilidade dos sistemas de avaliação dos leites produzidos, pois estes não foram e não são detectados nos testes exigidos pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA), nas indústrias de Laticínios. As análises físico-químicas das amostras de leite encontram-se na sua grande maioria dentro dos padrões estabelecidos pela legislação vigente, enquanto que as amostras demonstram problemas nas condições higiênico-sanitárias do leite, devido à elevada contagem bacteriana total (CBT) encontrada nas amostras. As elevadas contagem de células somáticas (CCS) encontradas no leite indicam deficiências de manejo ou ineficiência dos tratamentos.