{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140896"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140896","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Essays on the Economics of Food and Agricultural Technology","abstract":"Technological adoption in food and agricultural systems has long been recognized as a major driver of productivity growth, structural transformation, and welfare improvement. This dissertation examines technology adoption and its welfare implications across nutrition and agricultural production. The first chapter evaluates a fortified rice intervention implemented through a randomized school feeding program in Cambodia. Using panel data with pre- and post-intervention measurements, the analysis estimates the impacts of fortified rice on children's nutritional outcomes, micronutrient biomarkers, and cognitive performance. The results show significant reductions in zinc deficiency and improvements in selected biomarkers, with effects varying by rice formulation and micronutrient composition. Significant heterogeneity is observed by child characteristics, including sex, age, and baseline nutritional status. Beyond the probability of having deficiency, the intervention also reduces the zinc deficiency gap and severity. The second chapter assesses the cost-effectiveness of three fortified rice formulations based on micronutrient composition, using Difference-in-Differences estimates from the first chapter as measures of effectiveness to construct Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios. While the type of fortified rice with higher contents of serum zinc is the most effective formulation for zinc-related outcomes, it lies in the \"uncertain\" region of the cost-effectiveness plane due to its higher incremental cost, highlighting the importance of explicit Willingness-to-Pay thresholds for adoption decisions. The final chapter analyzes the determinants and market impacts of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in U.S. vegetable production. Using a random forest model, the chapter identifies key drivers of adoption, including temperature, electricity prices, and financial capacity, and predicts state-level adoption rates. These predicted adoption rates are then incorporated into an equilibrium displacement model to simulate CEA expansion and electricity price shocks. The results indicate that CEA expansion modestly lowers prices, increases quantities, raises consumer surplus, and generates heterogeneous welfare effects across production systems. In addition, CEA adopters operating energy-intensive systems are more sensitive to changes in electricity prices.","abstract_html":"Technological adoption in food and agricultural systems has long been recognized as a major driver of productivity growth, structural transformation, and welfare improvement. This dissertation examines technology adoption and its welfare implications across nutrition and agricultural production. The first chapter evaluates a fortified rice intervention implemented through a randomized school feeding program in Cambodia. Using panel data with pre- and post-intervention measurements, the analysis estimates the impacts of fortified rice on children's nutritional outcomes, micronutrient biomarkers, and cognitive performance. The results show significant reductions in zinc deficiency and improvements in selected biomarkers, with effects varying by rice formulation and micronutrient composition. Significant heterogeneity is observed by child characteristics, including sex, age, and baseline nutritional status. Beyond the probability of having deficiency, the intervention also reduces the zinc deficiency gap and severity. The second chapter assesses the cost-effectiveness of three fortified rice formulations based on micronutrient composition, using Difference-in-Differences estimates from the first chapter as measures of effectiveness to construct Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios. While the type of fortified rice with higher contents of serum zinc is the most effective formulation for zinc-related outcomes, it lies in the "uncertain" region of the cost-effectiveness plane due to its higher incremental cost, highlighting the importance of explicit Willingness-to-Pay thresholds for adoption decisions. The final chapter analyzes the determinants and market impacts of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in U.S. vegetable production. Using a random forest model, the chapter identifies key drivers of adoption, including temperature, electricity prices, and financial capacity, and predicts state-level adoption rates. These predicted adoption rates are then incorporated into an equilibrium displacement model to simulate CEA expansion and electricity price shocks. The results indicate that CEA expansion modestly lowers prices, increases quantities, raises consumer surplus, and generates heterogeneous welfare effects across production systems. In addition, CEA adopters operating energy-intensive systems are more sensitive to changes in electricity prices.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Lee, Yoonjung"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"doctoral","degree_discipline":"Economics, Agriculture and Life Sciences","degree_department":"Economics","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Gupta, Anubhab","Bovay, John"],"committee_members":["Moeltner, Klaus","Davis, George C."],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-01-20","date_published":"2026-01-20","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:11Z","subjects":["food fortification","impact evaluation","cost-effectiveness analysis","Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) adoption","market welfare"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:45362"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:45362","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140896","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Gupta, Anubhab","Bovay, John"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Moeltner, Klaus","Davis, George C."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Economics"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Lee, Yoonjung"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-01-21T09:00:16Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-01-21T09:00:16Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026-01-20"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Economics, Agriculture and Life Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["food fortification","impact evaluation","cost-effectiveness analysis","Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) adoption","market welfare"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:45362"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140896"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Technological adoption in food and agricultural systems has long been recognized as a major driver of productivity growth, structural transformation, and welfare improvement. This dissertation examines technology adoption and its welfare implications across nutrition and agricultural production. The first chapter evaluates a fortified rice intervention implemented through a randomized school feeding program in Cambodia. Using panel data with pre- and post-intervention measurements, the analysis estimates the impacts of fortified rice on children's nutritional outcomes, micronutrient biomarkers, and cognitive performance. The results show significant reductions in zinc deficiency and improvements in selected biomarkers, with effects varying by rice formulation and micronutrient composition. Significant heterogeneity is observed by child characteristics, including sex, age, and baseline nutritional status. Beyond the probability of having deficiency, the intervention also reduces the zinc deficiency gap and severity. The second chapter assesses the cost-effectiveness of three fortified rice formulations based on micronutrient composition, using Difference-in-Differences estimates from the first chapter as measures of effectiveness to construct Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios. While the type of fortified rice with higher contents of serum zinc is the most effective formulation for zinc-related outcomes, it lies in the \"uncertain\" region of the cost-effectiveness plane due to its higher incremental cost, highlighting the importance of explicit Willingness-to-Pay thresholds for adoption decisions. The final chapter analyzes the determinants and market impacts of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in U.S. vegetable production. Using a random forest model, the chapter identifies key drivers of adoption, including temperature, electricity prices, and financial capacity, and predicts state-level adoption rates. These predicted adoption rates are then incorporated into an equilibrium displacement model to simulate CEA expansion and electricity price shocks. The results indicate that CEA expansion modestly lowers prices, increases quantities, raises consumer surplus, and generates heterogeneous welfare effects across production systems. In addition, CEA adopters operating energy-intensive systems are more sensitive to changes in electricity prices."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["Technology adoption in food and agricultural systems plays a major role in improving productivity, transforming food systems, and enhancing economic well-being. This dissertation examines how technology adoption in nutrition and agriculture affect nutritional outcomes and market outcomes. The first chapter evaluates a school feeding program in Cambodia that provided fortified rice to children. The results show that fortified rice improved nutritional outcomes, particularly by reducing zinc deficiency, and that the impacts varied by child characteristics, including sex, age, and baseline nutritional status. The program also reduced the zinc deficiency gap and severity among children who remained deficient. The second chapter examines whether these nutritional improvements were cost-effective. Among three fortified rice formulations, the option with higher zinc content delivered the strongest improvements but at a higher cost, making adoption decisions dependent on policymakers' willingness to pay for improved nutritional outcomes. The final chapter focuses on U.S. vegetable production and the adoption of controlled environment agriculture (CEA), such as hydroponics. The analysis shows that climate conditions, energy prices, and financial capacity strongly influence adoption. Expanding these systems can lower vegetable prices and benefit consumers, but the effects differ across farmers depending on whether they adopt CEA. In addition, producers adopting CEA systems are more affected by changes in electricity prices."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Essays on the Economics of Food and Agricultural Technology"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Gupta, Anubhab","Bovay, John"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Moeltner, Klaus","Davis, George C."],"dc:contributor.department":["Economics"],"dc:creator":["Lee, Yoonjung"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-01-21T09:00:16Z"],"dc:date.available":["2026-01-21T09:00:16Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026-01-20"],"dc:description.abstract":["Technological adoption in food and agricultural systems has long been recognized as a major driver of productivity growth, structural transformation, and welfare improvement. This dissertation examines technology adoption and its welfare implications across nutrition and agricultural production. The first chapter evaluates a fortified rice intervention implemented through a randomized school feeding program in Cambodia. Using panel data with pre- and post-intervention measurements, the analysis estimates the impacts of fortified rice on children's nutritional outcomes, micronutrient biomarkers, and cognitive performance. The results show significant reductions in zinc deficiency and improvements in selected biomarkers, with effects varying by rice formulation and micronutrient composition. Significant heterogeneity is observed by child characteristics, including sex, age, and baseline nutritional status. Beyond the probability of having deficiency, the intervention also reduces the zinc deficiency gap and severity. The second chapter assesses the cost-effectiveness of three fortified rice formulations based on micronutrient composition, using Difference-in-Differences estimates from the first chapter as measures of effectiveness to construct Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios. While the type of fortified rice with higher contents of serum zinc is the most effective formulation for zinc-related outcomes, it lies in the \"uncertain\" region of the cost-effectiveness plane due to its higher incremental cost, highlighting the importance of explicit Willingness-to-Pay thresholds for adoption decisions. The final chapter analyzes the determinants and market impacts of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in U.S. vegetable production. Using a random forest model, the chapter identifies key drivers of adoption, including temperature, electricity prices, and financial capacity, and predicts state-level adoption rates. These predicted adoption rates are then incorporated into an equilibrium displacement model to simulate CEA expansion and electricity price shocks. The results indicate that CEA expansion modestly lowers prices, increases quantities, raises consumer surplus, and generates heterogeneous welfare effects across production systems. In addition, CEA adopters operating energy-intensive systems are more sensitive to changes in electricity prices."],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["Technology adoption in food and agricultural systems plays a major role in improving productivity, transforming food systems, and enhancing economic well-being. This dissertation examines how technology adoption in nutrition and agriculture affect nutritional outcomes and market outcomes. The first chapter evaluates a school feeding program in Cambodia that provided fortified rice to children. The results show that fortified rice improved nutritional outcomes, particularly by reducing zinc deficiency, and that the impacts varied by child characteristics, including sex, age, and baseline nutritional status. The program also reduced the zinc deficiency gap and severity among children who remained deficient. The second chapter examines whether these nutritional improvements were cost-effective. Among three fortified rice formulations, the option with higher zinc content delivered the strongest improvements but at a higher cost, making adoption decisions dependent on policymakers' willingness to pay for improved nutritional outcomes. The final chapter focuses on U.S. vegetable production and the adoption of controlled environment agriculture (CEA), such as hydroponics. The analysis shows that climate conditions, energy prices, and financial capacity strongly influence adoption. Expanding these systems can lower vegetable prices and benefit consumers, but the effects differ across farmers depending on whether they adopt CEA. In addition, producers adopting CEA systems are more affected by changes in electricity prices."],"dc:description.degree":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:45362"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140896"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["food fortification","impact evaluation","cost-effectiveness analysis","Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) adoption","market welfare"],"dc:title":["Essays on the Economics of Food and Agricultural Technology"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Economics, Agriculture and Life Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:11Z"}