Title: Use and Economic Value of Glyphosate in European Agriculture

Presenter: Prof. Dr. Ludwig Theuvsen

Abstract:

Glyphosate is the most important active substance in nonselective herbicides worldwide. Currently there is a vivid public debate about the future use of glyphosate in European agriculture. On the one hand, there are strong advocates of a complete ban of glyphosate due to its potential negative effects on human health and the environment. On the other hand, it has frequently been stressed that glyphosate is crucial for successful arable farming and reduced tillage cultivation practices in Europe. So far little is known about the actual use and the economic value of glyphosate. Most prior studies analyze the use and economic value of glyphosate when genetically modified crops are cultivated. This is not the case in Germany and most other European countries. Against this background, the study presents empirical data on the use of glyphosate in German agriculture. Second, it is analyzed from a farmer?s perspective which economic consequences a ban of glyphosate could have. This includes in-depth calculations of the costs of agronomic practices which have the potential to substitute glyphosate. The results have manifold managerial and political implications.

About the author:

Ludwig Theuvsen is a full professor for "Management in Agribusiness" at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development of Georg-August University of Goettingen. His research interest include, but are not limited to, the organization of food supply chains, human resource, strategic and quality management in the agribusiness sector, and the economic assessment of alternative production standards (for instance, higher animal welfare standards, ban of glyphosate, reduced irrigation). In a large number of research projects he has empirically analyzed various agribusiness subsectors such as the dairy sector, the meat industry and bioenergy production. Ludwig Theuvsen is a former member of the editorial board and former editor-in-chief of German Journal of Agricultural Economics. Currently he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, the International Advisory and Editorial Board of Journal on Chain and Network Science and the Editorial Board of Journal of Agricultural Informatics. Ludwig Theuvsen is member of the scientific advisory board of the German animal welfare label "Für mehr Tierschutz" and chairman of the scientific advisory board of the Food Initiative of Lower Saxony.

http://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/18662.html