This dissertation examines the multifaceted and pervasive impact of globalisation on the Canadian public policy environment through a detailed analysis of the monopoly marketing of prairie wheat. The study argues that forces associated with globalisation, working through regionally differentiated configurations of farmer opinion and interest groups amidst varying partisan settings, are key to understanding the changing nature of policy-making processes, structures, and outcomes in the wheat marketing arena. The forces associated with globalisation include the increased presence of transnational corporations, the expansion of international trade regimes, increased interaction and cooperation between Canadian provincial governments and US state governments, the international harmonisation of regulations, advances in transportation technology, and heightened levels of education, knowledge, and information. In attempting to understand how globalisation influences the wheat policy arena, the examination uses a comparative analysis focusing on Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The inter-governmental harmony that had prevailed since the 1940s on the matter of Canadian Wheat Board's (CWB's) wheat monopoly was replaced by conflict by the 1990s as the forces of globalisation washed across the Canadian prairies. The dissertation shows that where the absence of these forces once reinforced the CWB's wheat monopoly, the presence of these forces now poses a formidable challenge to its continuation. Farmer opinion data indicates that a trend away from monopoly selling toward open marketing is present throughout the prairies. Like the presence of the forces of globalisation, anti-monopoly opinion is particularly strong in Alberta. The dissertation will also show how the conflict over monopoly wheat marketing was projected into the policy arena through differentiated sets of interest group configurations and partisan environments. In doing so, the examination points out that institutions, while often providing resistance to change, can also serve as conduits facilitating change. The analysis shows that the public policy network involved with the marketing of prairie wheat, as well as actors within this network, have become increasingly internationalised. The examination indicates that domestic governmental regulation and control have been severely undermined in the wheat marketing arena as north-south ties increasingly undermine and replace the east-west unity previously forged by the National Policy.

No description available.

This dissertation examines the multifaceted and pervasive impact of globalisation on the Canadian public policy environment through a detailed analysis of the monopoly marketing of prairie wheat. The study argues that forces associated with globalisation, working through regionally differentiated configurations of farmer opinion and interest groups amidst varying partisan settings, are key to understanding the changing nature of policy-making processes, structures, and outcomes in the wheat marketing arena. The forces associated with globalisation include the increased presence of transnational corporations, the expansion of international trade regimes, increased interaction and cooperation between Canadian provincial governments and US state governments, the international harmonisation of regulations, advances in transportation technology, and heightened levels of education, knowledge, and information. In attempting to understand how globalisation influences the wheat policy arena, the examination uses a comparative analysis focusing on Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The inter-governmental harmony that had prevailed since the 1940s on the matter of Canadian Wheat Board's (CWB's) wheat monopoly was replaced by conflict by the 1990s as the forces of globalisation washed across the Canadian prairies. The dissertation shows that where the absence of these forces once reinforced the CWB's wheat monopoly, the presence of these forces now poses a formidable challenge to its continuation. Farmer opinion data indicates that a trend away from monopoly selling toward open marketing is present throughout the prairies. Like the presence of the forces of globalisation, anti-monopoly opinion is particularly strong in Alberta. The dissertation will also show how the conflict over monopoly wheat marketing was projected into the policy arena through differentiated sets of interest group configurations and partisan environments. In doing so, the examination points out that institutions, while often providing resistance to change, can also serve as conduits facilitating change. The analysis shows that the public policy network involved with the marketing of prairie wheat, as well as actors within this network, have become increasingly internationalised. The examination indicates that domestic governmental regulation and control have been severely undermined in the wheat marketing arena as north-south ties increasingly undermine and replace the east-west unity previously forged by the National Policy. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The protection of South Africa’s agricultural sector and in context, the wheat industry, is vital to ensure the food security and rural development of the country. The wheat industry contributes about R 4 billion to the gross value of agricultural production in South Africa and currently provides about 28 000 job opportunities. Preceded by maize, wheat is the second most important grain produced in South Africa. The phasing out of the Wheat Board in 1997, which led to the deregulation of South Africa’s wheat industry, has exposed the market price of wheat to international market forces. Post-harvest agricultural logistical services have also been transformed by the deterioration of agricultural infrastructure, leading to the employment of alternative transport and storage systems. Wheat production in South Africa has decreased significantly over the past two decades. The wheat industry is currently struggling to generate sufficient revenue for it to remain a financially viable crop. Producers are either shifting their focus to more profitable commodities or are abandoning farming altogether. It is the objective of this study to describe and define the dominant factors which influence wheat production in South Africa. This includes all the relevant post-harvest logistical activities and market related forces which influence the production volumes of wheat in South Africa. A qualitative research approach was undertaken to gather input data for the research presented. This was inclusive of liaising with producers as well as expert interviews with members in the wheat value chain. This provided unique and valuable insights into the dominant factors influencing wheat production in South Africa. The research presented in this thesis concluded that wheat production in South Africa is being negatively influenced by a decrease in the market price of wheat and a further increase in the cost of post-harvest logistical services. Furthermore the market price of wheat is being lowered by the implementation of an open market policy which allows the importation of cheap subsidized wheat. The cost of post-harvest logistical services has increased due the inefficiency of transport services resulting from a deteriorated transport infrastructure. In order to sway preference to wheat production in South Africa, government support will be required in the form of import tariffs, used to protect local farmers, and agriculture infrastructure development, which will be required to decrease the cost of post-harvest logistical services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beskerming van die Suid-Afrikaanse landbou-sektor en in hierdie konteks, die koringbedryf, is noodsaaklik vir die versekering van voedselsekuriteit en landelike ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika. Die koringbedryf dra ongeveer R4 miljard tot die brutowaarde van landbouproduksie in Suid-Afrika en bied tans sowat 28 000 werkgeleenthede. Voorafgegaan deur mielies, is koring die tweede belangrikste graan wat in Suid-Afrika geproduseer word. Die uitfasering van die Koringraad in 1997, wat gelei het tot die deregulasie van Suid-Afrika se koringbedryf, het gelei tot die blootstelling van die markprys aan internasionale markverwante kragte. Na-oes landbou logistieke dienste is ook verander deur die agteruitgang van landbou-infrastruktuur, wat gelei het tot die ontwikkeling van alternatiewe vervoer- en berging stelsels. Koringproduksie in Suid-Afrika het oor die afgelope twee dekades beduidend afgeneem. Die koringbedryf sukkel tans om voldoende inkomste te genereer vir produsente. Produsente verskuif tans hul fokus na meer winsgewende kommoditeite of laat vaar boerdery heeltemal. Dit is die doel van hierdie studie om die faktore te beskryf wat koringproduksie beïnvloed in Suid-Afrika. Dit sluit in na-oes logistieke aktiwiteite en markverwante kragte wat die produksie-volumes van koring in Suid-Afrika beïnvloed. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is onderneem om insette in te samel vir die navorsing wat aangebied word. Dit sluit in onderhoude met produsente, sowel as deskundiges in die koring-waardeketting. Dit het ‘n unieke en waardevolle insig gelewer in die dominante faktore wat koringproduksie in Suid-Afrika beïnvloed. Die navorsing wat in hierdie tesis onderneem is het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat koringproduksie in Suid-Afrika negatief beïnvloed word deur 'n afname in die markprys en 'n toename in die koste van na-oes logistieke dienste. Die markprys van koring word verlaag deur die implementering van 'n opemark beleid wat die invoer van goedkoop gesubsidieerde koring toelaat. Verder het die koste van na-oes logistieke dienste toegeneem weens die ondoeltreffendheid van vervoer, bygedra deur ‘n verswakte vervoerinfrastruktuur. Om voorkeur terug na koringproduksie in Suid-Afrika te swaai, sal dit die ondersteuning vereis van die regering deur die implementering van invoertariewe, wat beskerming sal bied vir plaaslike boere, asook landbou-infrastruktuur ontwikkeling, wat die koste van na-oes logistieke dienste sal verbeter.

Research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce in Development Theory and Policy. / Over one billion people in the world are under-nourished, and over two billion suffer from malnutrition of micro-nutrients – known as ‘hidden hunger’1. This is largely due to the fact that two thirds of the world’s population depend on cereal or tuber based diets (e.g., wheat, maize, potatoes) which tend to satisfy energy demands but not essential micro-nutrients2. The industrialisation of food production systems that occurs as part of the process of economic development has been linked to great improvements in access to food on the one hand, but this has also resulted in major transitions in population-level food consumption and lifestyle patterns. The changes affecting both dietary and physical activity have been termed the ‘nutrition transition’3, which signals the change from consuming large amounts of fibre and low amounts of fat, to a diet comprised of highly processed, high-energy foods. Developing countries now face a ‘triple burden’ in terms of overcoming under-nutrition of micro and macro nutrients, as well as addressing over-consumption related to the ‘nutrition transition’ that accompanies economic development4. Given this setting, this paper sets out to understand how the industrialisation of the wheat to bread chain in South Africa has influenced population consumption patterns and to what extent consumer interests have been marginalised in the pursuit of industrial efficiencies during the development of this chain. This will be done using a ‘Systems of Provision’ approach which enables a vertical analysis of the processes leading up to consumption, whilst allowing for the incorporation of historically defined, context-specific influences on chain development and consumption patterns, including political, socio-economic and cultural factors, which other vertical approaches, such as the Global Value Chain framework do not enable. / MT2017

This thesis is motivated by the impacts of contemporary political and economic issues such as microeconomic reform and regulatory control on the Australian wheat industry. Firstly, the suggestion of whether the AWB (International) Ltd commands market power and secondly, that the objectives of the AWB Ltd have changed since semi-privatisation of the Australian Wheat Board under the Wheat Marketing Act, 1989. The AWB (International) Ltd’s ability to price discriminate is a key component to the retention of the single desk regulatory arrangement for the export of Australian wheat. Due to data restrictions the market power of the AWB (International) Ltd has not been determined within this thesis. To complement this traditional approach, a more novel proposal is developed to determine the effect of microeconomic reform on the Australian wheat industry. Conceptualising the change of the AWB Ltd’s objectives as a shift from revenue maximization to profit maximization, this study examines the impact of such a change on the pricing policies of a multi- market price-setting firm. More specifically, this study investigates, for two hypothetical objective functions, a risk averse firm’s price-setting behaviour in an “overseas” and a “domestic” market, given differing costs of supply, uncertain demand functions and differing price elasticities of demand in each market. The aim is to generate empirically testable hypotheses relating to the impact of a change of objectives on pricing behaviour.

With many genetic traits discovered and many more in progress, it is imperative to the industry that firms (biotechnology companies) decide on the trait valuation and pricing. This includes more than one trait (also referred to as stacked traits) in a single variety of crop; the risk and uncertainty of expected returns associated with the development and release of a variety increases even more in case of stacked traits. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a model that can be used for the valuing and pricing of genetically modified (GM) traits that are random, sporadic, and non-persistent (e.g. drought tolerance, heat/cold stress) using the real option approach. The efficiency gain in case of occurrence of random event and expression of GM traits will be measured and used as a decision factor in determining the value of GM trait(s) at different phases of development. Risk premiums representing the value of GM trait to growers is calculated across risk averse attitudes. The return to labor and management (RTLM) provided by a GM trait is used to calculate the risk premiums when variation in parameters is allowed to be same as that reflected in historical data and gains from GM traits are realized. Monte Carlo simulation and stochastic efficiency with respect to a function (SERF) are used to estimate the certainty equivalents that decision makers would place on a risky alternative relative to a no risk investment. Certainty equivalents are estimated across a range of risk aversion coefficients and used to rank alternatives and determine where preferences among alternatives change while estimating risk premiums for the base case (no trait), drought tolerance, cold tolerance, NUB, and All traits (all traits combined into one as a stacked trait). Premiums provide perspective on the magnitude of differences in relative preferences among choices. The range of ARAC utilized was from 0.00 to 0.15 for all three crops. The risk premiums are treated as a potential source of revenue in the model as a technology fee charged by a biotech company. This thesis uses the Real Option methodology to evaluate GM traits as Option values at various stages of development. This approach helps managers decide the best possible option in making a certain decision today. It is also helpful in comparing different pathways (series of decisions) and thus better exploits the potential cash return in the future from investments made today (Figure D.1, Figure D.2). Three possible options to "continue", "wait", and "abandon" were modeled in this thesis. Such modeling determines the possible option values of GM traits at different stages of development depending on the kind of choices made at different points of time. This thesis shows that various GM traits that are out-of-money (OTM) at initial stages have increased probability of being in-the-money (ITM) at later stages of development. Sensitivities show that a share of potential technology fees and acreage of GM crops play a significant role in option values being ITM. Stacked traits provide a better chance of being ITM, thus the option to continue will be exercised by management. The option to wait causes reduction in option value. Among individual traits, drought tolerance has the greatest maximum option value in most cases. Therefore, if management has to choose the development of only one GM trait, it is most likely to choose to invest in the development of drought tolerance.

Thesis (M.A. Agricultural Management (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Wheat forms part of the most essential grain crop produced in South Africa after maize. In South Africa, most of the wheat produced is used mainly for human consumption while the remaining is used for animal feed and seed. The wheat industry in South Africa is undergoing severe pressure, with drastic decreases in the area planted to wheat production while imports of wheat continued to increase since the year 1997. This has in return affected the performance and competitiveness of the South African wheat industry at the international stage and its ability to produce enough to meet local demand, hence continuous reliance on imports which later affect domestic wheat prices. Regardless of wheat as one of the most essential grain crop produced in South Africa, very little research is done to evaluate the co-movement, magnitude and speed of price transmission from world to domestic wheat market in South Africa. The study intends to analyse the transmission of world wheat prices to the domestic wheat market in South Africa using average weekly prices for wheat for the period between January 2010 and December 2019. The objectives of the study are to determine the level of cointegration or long run relationship between the world wheat prices and the domestic wheat prices in South Africa, and to assess the degree of world wheat price transmission to the domestic wheat prices in South Africa, with the application of the Error Correction Model. While several authors indicted that long run relationship does exist between spatially separated markets, this study also finds evidence of cointegration or long run relationship between world wheat markets and the domestic wheat market in South Africa. The results confirmed this priori expectation, that in a long run world wheat prices are ultimately transmitted to the domestic market in South Africa. The results further indicate that the speed of corrections or adjustments towards equilibrium conditions were established to be fairly low for domestic wheat prices. The study recommends further research with more emphasis on vertical price transmission from wheat to wheat flour and other wheaten products such as bread and cereals. Further recommendation suggested by the study is that government intervention through implementation of Dollar-Based Reference Price and Variable Tariff Formula for wheat must continue with more caution and improved speed for a quicker response, once there is a newly triggered import duty. / Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Thesis (MScAgric.)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After sixty years of state control, the agricultural sector in South Africa has been transformed to the so-called free dispensation, with the driving forces being market access and rules of the WTO. On the one hand, this increased the exposure of the sector, particularly at international level where interest for South African produce developed. On the other hand, transformation induced a considerable degree of price squeeze and risk in the production of certain commodities including wheat. Notwithstanding, local wheat producers like any other farmers are generally price takers, and in some cases do not have a comparative advantage in what they produce. This is worsened by policy distortions in product markets, although to a lesser extent than before. These distortions are responsible for farmers to make decisions that are neither economically efficient nor optimal in a social sense. Therefore, the uncertain future of the wheat industry, particularly in the Western Cape, including the changing business environment, urges producers to adapt quickly if they wish to stay in business. Hence, the challenge for a farmer and agricultural support organisations is to find solutions to these problems. One of the factors that can be looked into in finding solutions is to look at the demand side of the equation by taking product differentiation and market identification into account. In other words, products that carries a specific character, and a niche market where these products attain higher prices are the main objectives of this exercise. In looking at these options, it is necessary to first study the end consumer of these products. Looking at the local market first, there is a relatively small but growing market for high priced niche products, but for the most part, local consumers are looking for low cost commoditytype products. In many cases, South Africa is marginally competitive in these products and so must look at alternative markets. On the export market, on the other hand, consumers are generally more sophisticated and specific in the kind of food they demand, where they are looking for quality and tracebility, and are willing to pay a premium which can be exploited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine whether wheat would have a comparative advantage if produced under organic management, as a system that have products with these attributes. The study first evaluates the comparative advantage of the existing industry, the so-called conventional wheat, specifically looking at the policy environment around this commodity, as these are likely to affect the potential of organic wheat. The Policy Analysis Matrix technique is used to calculate various indicators of comparative advantage and to identify the effects of policy measures with regard to wheat. The analysis used the available data for ten selected farming areas. On the other hand, organic wheat farming is not practised in the Western Cape at present. As a result, expert assessment was used to provide information based on the reference method. As the study is the comparison of two systems, the results therefore indicates that some areas of the Western Cape do not have a comparative advantage in wheat production under conventional practices, which would not be the case if produced under organic management. The reasoning underlying this is complex, but mainly traced from high levels of input use that carries a distorting effect, partly because of tariffs on imported inputs, unlike organic production which is less subject to this effect. The net effect of the whole policy environment has a negative impact on producers including those of potential organic wheat, as some policies are likely to affect this potential industry. Consequently, it is recommended that farmers must evaluate their options by looking at systems that utilise less distorted inputs, and hence higher profits like organic farming. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Na sestig jaar van staats-geheer is die landbsektor van Suid-Afrika omvorm na In sogenaamde vrye bedeling met marktoegang en die reels van die WHO as drywers. Hierdie omvorming het enersyds die blootstelling van die landbou sektor verhoog, veral in die buiteland waar belangstelling in Suid-Afrikaanse produkte toegeneem het. Aan die ander kant het die transformasie die realiteite van die prys-koste knyptang en produksierisiko, ook in die geval van koring, na yore gebring. Plaaslike koringprodusente, soos aIle ander boere, is in die algemeen prysnemers en in sommige gevalle het hulle weinig mededingende voordele in wat hulle produseer. Dit word vererger deur beleidsversteurings in produkmarkte al is die versteurings minder as in die verlede. Die versteurings gee egter steeds daartoe aanleiding dat boere soms besluite neem wat nie ekonomies of sosiaal optimaal is nie. Dit volg dus dat die onsekere toekoms van die koringbedryf, veral in die Wes-Kaap, asook die vinnig veranderende besigheidsomgewing produsente noop om vinnig by die veranderende omstandighede aan te pas indien hulle in besigheid wil bly. Die uitdaging is dus vir boere en hul ondersteuningmeganismes om oplossings vir voorgenoemde probleme te vind. Een moontlike oplossing kan gevind word deur die potensiaal van produkdifferensiasie en mark identifikasie aan die vraagkant van die vergelyking te ondersoek. Met ander woorde, die identifikasie van nis-produkte met In spesifieke karakter wat hoer pryse behaal. Ten einde sodanige produkte te identifiseer is dit nodig om die verbruiker daarvan te analiseer. In die plaaslike mark is daar In relatiewe klein maar vinnig groeiende mark vir hoewaarde nis-produkte. Dit moet egter toegegee word dat die grootste gedeelte van plaaslike verbruikers meer ge'interesseerd is in goedkoop kommoditepe produkte. In die meeste gevalle is Suid-Afrika marginaal kompeterend in hierdie produkte en moet altematiewe markte dus ondersoek word. Hierteenoor is verbruikers in sekere gedeeltes van die uitvoermark meer gesofistikeerd en spesifiek in die aard van die produkte wat verlang word. Die fokus is veral op kwaliteit en naspoorbaarheid en sodanige verbruikers is gewoonlik bereid om In premie te betaal vir produkte wat hierdie behoeftes bevredig. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om te bepaal of organiesgeproduseerde koring In mededingende voordeel sou he indien dit aan die eienskappe van kwaliteit en naspoorbaarheid sou voldoen. In hierdie studie word die relatiewe mededingendheid van die bestaande stelsel, sogenaamde konvensionele koringproduksie, geevalueer met spesifieke verwysing na die beleidsomgewing waarbinne produksie plaasvind. Hierdie beleidsomgewing sal natuurlik ook In invloed uitoefen op die organiese produksie van koring',f 'n BeleidS}nalise ¥atriks word gebruik om verskillende indikatore van mededingende voordeel te bereken en om sodoende die invloed van die beleidsmaatreels op die koringbedryf te analiseer. Vir konvensionele produksie is bestaande data uit tien verskillende boerderygebiede gebruik. Alhoewel geen voorbeelde gevind kon word van bestaande gesertifiseerde organiese koringproduksie in die Wes-Kaap nie, is die ekspert-groep tegniek met behulp van die verwysingsmetode gebruik om die nodige data te genereer. Aangesien die studie 'n vergelyking tussen twee stelsels is, is gevind dat waar die konvensionele produksie van koring geen mededingende voordele in sekere gebiede van die Wes-Kaap geniet nie, dit weI mededingende voordele tydens organiese verbouing in hierdie gebiede geniet. Alhoewel die onderliggende redes hiervoor kompleks is, kan dit herlei word na die hoe vlakke van beleidslersteurde insette wat tydens die konvensionele produksie van koring gebruik word. Hierteenoor steun organiese produksie meer op plaasgeproduseerde insette wat die distorsies dus verminder. Die netto effek is egter dat die beleidsomgewing 'n " negatiewe impak op produsente, ingeslote potensiele organiese produsente, inhou. Gevolglik word dit aanbeveel dat produsente hul opsies moet oorweeg deur veral te fokus op stelsels, soos organiese verbouing, wat minder beleidversteurde insette gebruik en waar die winsmoontlikhede dus hoer is.