Quality, market mechanisms and regulation in the food chain

Title
Quality, market mechanisms and regulation in the food chain
Paper authors
Stéphan Marette
Journal
Bio-based and Applied Economics, [S.l.]
journal-issue
v. 5, n. 3, p. 217-235, apr. 2017. ISSN 2280-6172.
Date
Dec 19 2016
Description This paper focuses on questions related to the regulation of quality in the food chain. The paper first recalls the new challenges related to quality in the food chain, with an emphasis on the issue of sustainability. This first part underlines that the numerous dimensions related to sustainability make the regulation necessary but difficult. Then the paper introduces a partial equilibrium model calibrated with empirical data, for helping evaluate which regulatory instrument should be socially preferred ex ante on a case-by-case basis. An application to the milk market focuses on linseed for feeding dairy cows, which reduces methane emissions and increases the omega-3 content of milk. Simulations compare the impact of the exclusive use of one label signaling omega-3, versus the impact of a minimum-quality standard imposing linseed in the diet of all dairy cows. Both instruments would have a positive impact on consumers' surpluses and some producers’ profits. This application shows that details about the influence of regulatory tools on surpluses may be given on a case-by-case basis. Download as SUSFANS paper: http://susfans.eu/system/files/public_files/Publications/working_paper/Marette-Quality_Market_Mechanisms_and_Regulation_in_the_Food_Chain.pdf
Category
Journal articles
URL
Corresponding Author(s)
Stéphan Marette
Authors at SUSFANS
Work package
JEL Code
D82, C91
Keywords
Market regulation, quality, sustainability, experiment, welfare estimation