Biofuels and Food Security: Micro-Evidence from Ethiopia

34 Pages Posted: 15 Jun 2013

See all articles by Martha Negash

Martha Negash

KU Leuven - LICOS Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance

Johan F. M. Swinnen

KU Leuven - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance (LICOS); European Commission, DG II

Date Written: September 17, 2012

Abstract

This paper provides microeconomic evidence on food security impacts of privately organized biofuel outgrower schemes in Ethiopia. We conducted a household and community level survey and evaluated the impact of castor bean farming. We use endogenous switching regressions to analyze the impact on food security. Food security (as measured by a “food gap”) and food caloric intake is significantly better in households producing castor beans. “Fuel” and “food” are complements rather than substitutes at the micro-level in castor production in Ethiopia.

Keywords: biofuel, castor, food security, Ethiopia

JEL Classification: Q42, Q16, O13, Q12

Suggested Citation

Negash, Martha and Swinnen, Johan F.M., Biofuels and Food Security: Micro-Evidence from Ethiopia (September 17, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2279334 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2279334

Martha Negash (Contact Author)

KU Leuven - LICOS Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance ( email )

Oude Markt 13
Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant 3000
Belgium

Johan F.M. Swinnen

KU Leuven - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance (LICOS) ( email )

Waaistraat 6
Leuven, B-3000
Belgium

European Commission, DG II ( email )

Wetstrath 200
Office 15172
1049 Brussels
Belgium
+32-2-2960442 (Phone)
Not available (Fax)

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