Mini-Symposia

1. The role of the energy sector in Australia's net zero emissions target

As Australia transitions towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the rapid rollout of renewable energy will present many opportunities and challenges for the energy sector, as well as for energy intensive sectors. Many states and territories are already investing in new renewable energy generation and storage options, such as solar and wind. Join this symposium to contribute to the debate about energy transition.
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2. Non-market valuation and environmental accounting

Even though the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting framework was adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission in March 2021, challenges around the monetary valuation of ecosystem services and ecosystem assets still remain. Challenges are associated with the need to elicit exchange instead of welfare values, which requires adjusting how non-market valuation methods are employed. This mini symposium aims to explore some of these challenges. At the end of the symposium, participants will have a better understanding on the applicability of non-market valuation techniques for ecosystem accounting purposes, their limitations, and potential areas for improvement.
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3. Valuing recreation with the Travel Cost Method

The travel cost method is commonly used to estimate economic use values associated with sites or areas that are used for recreation. The method is most easily applied when recreation assets are unique and geographically separate from population centres, so visitors are travelling specifically for recreation benefits on single purpose trips. But patterns of recreation use are often not that simple. Travellers often engage in multi-purpose and multi-destination trips where recreation is co-mingled with other goods, or recreate close to home where minimal travel is involved. In some cases, the challenge is to identify how visit behaviour changes with the condition and quality of the asset, or with the provision of substitute assets. Join this symposium to learn about recent developments in the application of the travel cost method for valuing recreation, including opportunities for greater inclusion of values for recreation impacts to help analysts and policy makers make more informed resource allocation and policy choices that involve recreation assets.
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4. Decision Criteria for Benefit-Cost Analysis

Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) is probably the most widely used economic tool in the world. Its results feed into several decision criteria that are commonly used to guide decisions about which projects or policies to implement: Net Present Value (NPV), Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Textbooks and government guidelines vary greatly in what they say about which decision criteria to use in which situations. They can’t all be right. Which criteria should analysts be using in which circumstances? Join this symposium to learn more.
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5. Role of market mechanisms in sustainable management of water

Water markets have been widely adopted and implemented in Australia. They have generated substantial environmental, social and economic benefit, but their performance could be improved even further. Join this symposium to learn about advanced distributed ledger technology (DLT)-enabled water trading markets, groundwater markets, urban water markets and market failure issues; and hear from an expert panel about the current trend and future direction of water markets in Australia and abroad.
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6. CGE modelling applications

CGE modelling is a practical tool for policy analysis. Applications have broadened over the years and now include modelling of climate change, drought, bushfires, cyclones, floods, hypothetical plant and animal disease outbreaks, resource booms, regional labour market scenarios and trade sanctions. This symposium will cover four different CGE applications from some of Australia’s leading CGE practitioners.
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7. Accessing the technology revolution and its impact on Asian agricultural productivity: opportunities and challenges

Technology progress in agriculture continues to be the most important factor to resolve global food security. This symposium will assess the potential impact on agricultural productivity growth of the new wave of technology progress (i.e. mechanisation, ICT and biotech) and present evidence that recent technology breakthroughs will not necessarily continue the success of the Green Revolution. Join this symposium to better understand the mechanism of agricultural productivity growth and further promote rural development in the new era.
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8. Natural capital benefits of agroforestry

CSIRO’s Perennial Prosperity Project aims to improve the adoption of trees on farms and the attitudes of farmers and farm influencers towards agroforestry systems by demonstrating and quantifying the costs and benefits of trees integrated into agricultural enterprises. Join this symposium to learn about the Project, which will show that the right trees in the right places will add substantial value to a farm enterprise, both in terms of cash flow and capital.
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9. What Makes Farmers Do What They Do: Behavioural Insights on Technology Adoption Decisions by Smallholder Farmers in South Asia

Many of the poorest regions in the world are heavily dependent on agriculture but face low or stagnant productivity. It is imperative to increase agricultural productivity and profitability in these areas to improve food security and reduce poverty. This can be achieved through widespread adoption of new technologies, but adoption tends to be low among smallholders. Behavioural economics is being increasingly sought to understand the drivers of adoption. Join this symposium to hear about recent empirical research on behavioural insights on technology adoption by smallholder farmers in South Asia.
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10. Understanding the drivers of successful and inclusive rural regional transformation

This symposium will present recent findings from an ACIAR-funded project investigating rural transformation in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Pakistan. The process of rural transformation is far less studied than it deserves and the origins of the differences in experiences by country and by region are not clear. Join this symposium to learn about the underlying determinants of the stages, speeds and outcomes of rural transformation, and the impacts of institutions, policies and investments on these three elements and the success of rural transformation in the four countries.
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11. What’s needed for higher and more stable incomes for farmers in the East Gangetic Plain: Observations from an ACIAR project

Efforts to raise the welfare of the poor across South Asia, where agriculture remains the primary source of employment and income for a large portion of the population, cannot escape the reality that higher and more stable incomes for farm households is a key ingredient. Improved management of the agricultural sector to achieve higher productivity and resource sustainability is required to also deliver on food security and political stability ambitions. This symposium will present the findings of an ACIAR-funded project into intensification of agricultural production in the Eastern Gangetic Plains, which highlight that the food-energy-water nexus and the empowerment of women are critically important.
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