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Economic Profitability (economic + profitability)
Selected AbstractsEconomic Analysis of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Production in TanzaniaJOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 4 2006Aloyce R Kaliba In Tanzania, Nile tilapia culture is a promising aquaculture enterprise. Information on production costs could assist fish farmers in economic and financial planning. Economic profitability of small-scale Nile tilapia production in Tanzania is analyzed using a model that simulates individual fish growth and takes into account fish population dynamics in the pond. The results suggest that the current practiced mixed-sex tilapia culture without predation is not economically sustainable. Extension efforts should be geared toward developing a Nile tilapia production system that is based on a hand-sexed all-male tilapia. Meanwhile catfish can be introduced in ponds to control overcrowding in mixed-sex tilapia culture without predation. Studies to determine optimal pond sizes, availability of feed, and a quality fingerling supply chain are also fundamental for developing a sustainable Nile tilapia production system in Tanzania. Under improved Nile tilapia production systems, returns are high enough to justify investment through borrowed capital from formal institutions. [source] Economic profitability of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) production in KenyaAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 11 2007Aloyce R Kaliba Abstract Economic profitability of Nile tilapia production in Kenya was analysed using a model that simulated individual fish growth and took fish population dynamics in the pond into account. The results suggest that the currently practiced mixed-sex tilapia culture is economically unsustainable. It is suggested that research and extension efforts be geared towards developing monosex Nile tilapia production systems. Nile tilapia culture with African catfish predation should be viewed as an intermediate step towards all-male Nile tilapia culture. This will allow accumulation of both physical and human capital to support all-male tilapia culture. Under all-male culture, economic returns are high enough to justify investment in Nile tilapia culture using borrowed capital. However, the success of monosex culture will depend on the availability and affordability of quality fingerlings and low-cost fish feeds. The results have a wide application in Sub-Saharan Africa where mixed-sex Nile tilapia culture is common. [source] Environmental and economic analysis of the fully integrated biorefineryGCB BIOENERGY, Issue 5 2009ELIZABETH D. SENDICH Abstract Cellulosic biofuel systems have the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the world's transportation energy requirements. However, realizing this potential will require systems level thinking and scale integration. Until now, we have lacked modeling tools for studying the behavior of integrated cellulosic biofuel systems. In this paper, we describe a new research tool, the Biorefinery and Farm Integration Tool (BFIT) in which the production of fuel ethanol from cellulosic biomass is integrated with crop and animal (agricultural) production models. Uniting these three subsystems in a single combined model has allowed, for the first time, basic environmental and economic analysis of biomass production, possible secondary products, fertilizer production, and bioenergy production across various regions of the United States. Using BFIT, we simulate cellulosic ethanol production embedded in realistic agricultural landscapes in nine locations under a collection of farm management scenarios. This combined modeling approach permits analysis of economic profitability and highlights key areas for environmental improvement. These results show the advantages of introducing integrated biorefinery systems within agricultural landscapes. This is particularly true in the Midwest, which our results suggest is a good setting for the cellulosic ethanol industry. Specifically, results show that inclusion of cellulosic biofuel systems into existing agriculture enhances farm economics and reduces total landscape emissions. Model results also indicate a limited ethanol price effect from increased biomass transportation distance. Sensitivity analysis using BFIT revealed those variables having the strongest effects on the overall system performance, namely: biorefinery size, switchgrass yield, and biomass farm gate price. [source] Assessing the current Brazilian sugarcane industry and directing developments for maximum fossil fuel mitigation for the international petrochemical marketBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 3 2009Ben Brehmer Abstract The EU proposes that 5.75% of the transportation fuels market consist of biofuels by 2010 and the USA proposes that all gasoline be blended with 10% bioethanol by 2012. While these targets have not yet been reached, an aura of critique is emerging, arguing that biofuel mandates are not sustainable. One of the major ensuing topics surrounding biofuel sustainability is the food versus fuel debate in reference to first-generation (or food-based) technology. This article will reveal that for the specific case of sugarcane in Brazil, first-generation bioethanol is more sustainable than expansion to include second-generation (non-food-based) technology. Two life cycle assessments are conducted. First, a cradle-to-factory gate analysis with focus on fossil fuel reduction potential. Fertile land is consumed and occupied by all biomass crops; the biomass option with the highest mitigation potential per land can be considered the most sustainable and least intrusive to food production. Ethanol, on average, can mitigate 104GJ/ha/a, which is equivalent to 17 barrels of oil annually. This can increase to 353GJ/ha/a for the foreseeable best practice situations, higher than the second-generation option. A first-step chemical biorefinery producing ethylene achieves 509GJ/ha/a. Second, the BASF-developed eco-efficiency model, which links both environmental impacts and economic profitability in one, easy-to-interpret graph, is used as validation. Overall it is calculated that a best practice first-generation ethanol and its later dehydration to ethylene are the most eco-efficient options. The biobased economy deserves highly specific assessments. © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] Comparative analysis of efficiency, environmental impact, and process economics for mature biomass refining scenariosBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 2 2009Mark Laser Abstract Fourteen mature technology biomass refining scenarios , involving both biological and thermochemical processing with production of fuels, power, and/or animal feed protein , are compared with respect to process efficiency, environmental impact , including petroleum use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and water use,and economic profitability. The emissions analysis does not account for carbon sinks (e.g., soil carbon sequestration) or sources (e.g., forest conversion) resulting from land-use considerations. Sensitivity of the scenarios to fuel and electricity price, feedstock cost, and capital structure is also evaluated. The thermochemical scenario producing only power achieves a process efficiency of 49% (energy out as power as a percentage of feedstock energy in), 1359 kg CO2 equivalent avoided GHG emissions per Mg feedstock (current power mix basis) and a cost of $0.0575/kWh ($16/GJ), at a scale of 4535 dry Mg feedstock/day, 12% internal rate of return, 35% debt fraction, and 7% loan rate. Thermochemical scenarios producing fuels and power realize efficiencies between 55 and 64%, avoided GHG emissions between 1000 and 1179 kg/dry Mg, and costs between $0.36 and $0.57 per liter gasoline equivalent ($1.37 , $2.16 per gallon) at the same scale and financial structure. Scenarios involving biological production of ethanol with thermochemical production of fuels and/or power result in efficiencies ranging from 61 to 80%, avoided GHG emissions from 965 to 1,258 kg/dry Mg, and costs from $0.25 to $0.33 per liter gasoline equivalent ($0.96 to $1.24/gallon). Most of the biofuel scenarios offer comparable, if not lower, costs and much reduced GHG emissions (>90%) compared to petroleum-derived fuels. Scenarios producing biofuels result in GHG displacements that are comparable to those dedicated to power production (e.g., >825 kg CO2 equivalent/dry Mg biomass), especially when a future power mix less dependent upon fossil fuel is assumed. Scenarios integrating biological and thermochemical processing enable waste heat from the thermochemical process to power the biological process, resulting in higher overall process efficiencies than would otherwise be realized , efficiencies on par with petroleum-based fuels in several cases. © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] | ||||||||||