Climate Change Changes the Equation on Investments in Circular Agriculture: The Potential of Anaerobic Digesters in Uruguay

37 Pages Posted: 14 Sep 2023

See all articles by Katie Kennedy Freeman

Katie Kennedy Freeman

World Bank

Daniel Mason-D’Croz

Cornell University

Hannah H.E. van Zanten

Wageningen University

Rogier P.O. Schulte

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Abstract

On-farm manure management technologies have an important role to play in protecting natural resources, balancing human and animal health, and boosting farmers resilience to climate shocks. This paper demonstrates the potential of anaerobic digesters on dairy farms to make farms more resource independent for adaptation to climate change. It answers the question – what would the economic benefits be if every dairy farmer in the country were using an anaerobic digester? This study demonstrates how on-farm investment in sustainability under the current scenario requires complementary public investment, because most benefits accrue at societal level. However, in facing some of the worst impacts of climate change, benefits shift to become private, and farmers have larger incentives to invest in resilience. These findings have implications for investments worldwide, as water is projected to become a major limiting factor to agricultural production worldwide.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion, climate change, circular economy, on-farm, circular technologies, water

Suggested Citation

Freeman, Katie Kennedy and Mason-D’Croz, Daniel and van Zanten, Hannah H.E. and Schulte, Rogier P.O., Climate Change Changes the Equation on Investments in Circular Agriculture: The Potential of Anaerobic Digesters in Uruguay. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4572485 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4572485

Daniel Mason-D’Croz

Cornell University ( email )

Ithaca, NY 14853
United States

Hannah H.E. Van Zanten

Wageningen University ( email )

Rogier P.O. Schulte

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

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