title: Adoption of in-paddock feeding of methane inhibitors in pasture-based dairy: An application of the ADOPT model and a farm-level cost-effectiveness analysis

authors: Marmont, Ben

subjects: Methane

abstract: Methane emissions represent over 40% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Of these emissions, almost all are biogenic, meaning they come from living organisms such as ruminants. Given that methane has 27-30 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, reducing methane emissions is an important part of addressing climate change. Many countries are beginning to legislate a reduction of methane emissions in a global effort to reduce the impact of climate change. In New Zealand, where livestock plays a large part in the economy, unique challenges have arisen around reducing biogenic methane emissions. One approach to mitigate methane in the dairy industry is the delivery of methane-inhibiting compounds, which, when added to the diet of ruminants, can reduce their methane emissions significantly. However, these compounds generally require frequent and precise delivery, a characteristic that is difficult to fulfil in New Zealand’s pasture-based sector. 
This thesis explores the potential adoption of a novel approach using emergent technology, in-paddock smart-feeders, and how they could deliver methane inhibitor compounds in a New Zealand dairy farming context. The research is conducted in two phases. Firstly, the likely adoption outcomes are assessed, which depends on how in-paddock smart-feeders fit into the range of New Zealand farm systems. In order to evaluate adoption outcomes, the Adoption Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) model is utilised in conjunction with a dairy expert consultation and farmer focus groups. After establishing a base case of adoption outcomes, the results are tested with a sensitivity analysis to determine those ADOPT variables impeding increased modelled adoption outcomes. Then, a scenario analysis is conducted to explore different technology performance levels. This chapter finds that the technology is unlikely to become widely adopted unless it is shown to be economically viable. The critical adoption factors are then shown to be trialability, ease and convenience and environmental performance.
The third chapter explores the economic properties of in-paddock smart-feeders by developing a farm-level cost-effectiveness model. This model takes average farm data, introduces the expected costs of the approach and then apportions the associated costs of the quantity of mitigated methane to estimate the breakeven methane price at which the approach becomes viable. The main output of this model is the breakeven methane price, that is, the methane price, where it becomes viable to adopt IPSFs. Similarly to the first chapter, these results hinge on technology performance which is currently relatively uncertain as there is not existing technology to base performance. Therefore the results are explored at length using sensitivity and then scenario analysis. The scenario analysis shows that the breakeven price is most favourable in Northland out of the regions assessed, and the technology was viable only in a best-case scenario. 
Ultimately for this novel approach to become economically viable and, therefore, widely adopted by the dairy farmers of New Zealand, the manufacturers of both in-paddock smart-feeders and methane inhibitors will need to make improvements to their products. If these improvements eventuate, a clear path to reducing methane emissions in pasture-based dairy may result.

text: Adoption of in-paddock feeding of methane inhibitors in pasture-based dairy: An application of the ADOPT model and a farm-level cost-effectiveness analysis Methane emissions represent over 40% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Of these emissions, almost all are biogenic, meaning they come from living organisms such as ruminants. Given that methane has 27-30 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, reducing methane emissions is an important part of addressing climate change. Many countries are beginning to legislate a reduction of methane emissions in a global effort to reduce the impact of climate change. In New Zealand, where livestock plays a large part in the economy, unique challenges have arisen around reducing biogenic methane emissions. One approach to mitigate methane in the dairy industry is the delivery of methane-inhibiting compounds, which, when added to the diet of ruminants, can reduce their methane emissions significantly. However, these compounds generally require frequent and precise delivery, a characteristic that is difficult to fulfil in New Zealand’s pasture-based sector. 
This thesis explores the potential adoption of a novel approach using emergent technology, in-paddock smart-feeders, and how they could deliver methane inhibitor compounds in a New Zealand dairy farming context. The research is conducted in two phases. Firstly, the likely adoption outcomes are assessed, which depends on how in-paddock smart-feeders fit into the range of New Zealand farm systems. In order to evaluate adoption outcomes, the Adoption Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) model is utilised in conjunction with a dairy expert consultation and farmer focus groups. After establishing a base case of adoption outcomes, the results are tested with a sensitivity analysis to determine those ADOPT variables impeding increased modelled adoption outcomes. Then, a scenario analysis is conducted to explore different technology performance levels. This chapter finds that the technology is unlikely to become widely adopted unless it is shown to be economically viable. The critical adoption factors are then shown to be trialability, ease and convenience and environmental performance.
The third chapter explores the economic properties of in-paddock smart-feeders by developing a farm-level cost-effectiveness model. This model takes average farm data, introduces the expected costs of the approach and then apportions the associated costs of the quantity of mitigated methane to estimate the breakeven methane price at which the approach becomes viable. The main output of this model is the breakeven methane price, that is, the methane price, where it becomes viable to adopt IPSFs. Similarly to the first chapter, these results hinge on technology performance which is currently relatively uncertain as there is not existing technology to base performance. Therefore the results are explored at length using sensitivity and then scenario analysis. The scenario analysis shows that the breakeven price is most favourable in Northland out of the regions assessed, and the technology was viable only in a best-case scenario. 
Ultimately for this novel approach to become economically viable and, therefore, widely adopted by the dairy farmers of New Zealand, the manufacturers of both in-paddock smart-feeders and methane inhibitors will need to make improvements to their products. If these improvements eventuate, a clear path to reducing methane emissions in pasture-based dairy may result.

year: 2022

title: Good lattice rules with a composite number of points based on the product weighted star discrepancy

authors: Joe, Stephen

subjects: mathematics

abstract: Rank-1 lattice rules based on a weighted star discrepancy with weights of a product form have been previously constructed under the assumption that the number of points is prime. Here, we extend these results to the non-prime case. We show that if the weights are summable, there exist lattice rules whose weighted star discrepancy is O(n−1+δ), for any δ > 0, with the implied constant independent of the dimension and the number of lattice points, but dependent on δ and the weights. Then we show that the generating vector of such a rule can be constructed using a component-by-component (CBC) technique. The cost of the CBC construction is analysed in the final part of the paper.

text: Good lattice rules with a composite number of points based on the product weighted star discrepancy Rank-1 lattice rules based on a weighted star discrepancy with weights of a product form have been previously constructed under the assumption that the number of points is prime. Here, we extend these results to the non-prime case. We show that if the weights are summable, there exist lattice rules whose weighted star discrepancy is O(n−1+δ), for any δ > 0, with the implied constant independent of the dimension and the number of lattice points, but dependent on δ and the weights. Then we show that the generating vector of such a rule can be constructed using a component-by-component (CBC) technique. The cost of the CBC construction is analysed in the final part of the paper.

year: 2008

title: Researching the Process of Auahi Kore for Marae

authors: Masters-Awatere, Bridgette

abstract: • The current report is piece of a qualitative research exploring issues relating the development of Marae Auahi Kore. Such aspects as; factors that aid or impede the process, resources available or required by marae, and people's perceptions of the Auahi Kore brand were explored.

• Interviews were conducted with people from a variety of backgrounds. Research participants included: Marae Trustees, Public Health Workers, Runanga Staff as well as Kaumatua and Kuia. These people were identified as key informants for the current project. A total of 25 people were interviewed during March and April using an open interview schedule.

• Exploration into the Smokefree policies of marae was not pursued within the current project as this was not the focus nor the intent of the research. Project constraints such as time and budget meant there was a limit to what could be undertaken for the current piece of research.

text: Researching the Process of Auahi Kore for Marae • The current report is piece of a qualitative research exploring issues relating the development of Marae Auahi Kore. Such aspects as; factors that aid or impede the process, resources available or required by marae, and people's perceptions of the Auahi Kore brand were explored.

• Interviews were conducted with people from a variety of backgrounds. Research participants included: Marae Trustees, Public Health Workers, Runanga Staff as well as Kaumatua and Kuia. These people were identified as key informants for the current project. A total of 25 people were interviewed during March and April using an open interview schedule.

• Exploration into the Smokefree policies of marae was not pursued within the current project as this was not the focus nor the intent of the research. Project constraints such as time and budget meant there was a limit to what could be undertaken for the current piece of research.

year: 2000