Administrative Publication No. (AP-048) 26 pp

May 2010

Economics of Markets for Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, Fiscal 2010: Competitive Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program: Description and Application Process

The Economic Research Service (ERS) of USDA is accepting proposals for fiscal year 2010 for economic research in three broad areas related to U.S. agricultural participation in proposed greenhouse gas markets. The research should focus on the economics of agricultural activities and practices, including agricultural land use, that increase carbon sequestration or reduce greenhouse gas emissions, together referred to as "greenhouse gas reductions." Proposals must focus on U.S. agriculture. Of particular interest is research on (1) estimates of supply curves of greenhouse gas reductions from U.S. agriculture, (2) the integrity of agricultural greenhouse gas reductions procured through markets, including provisions designed to enhance this integrity; and (3) the role of non-neoclassical behavior in the provision of agricultural greenhouse gas reductions through markets. ERS will accept proposals under this program for funding levels of up to $150,000 for a period not to exceed 3 years. Total funding available for this research is approximately $500,000. The deadline for proposal submission is June 14, 2010.

Keywords: Agricultural economics, carbon markets, greenhouse gas markets, carbon offsets, agricultural markets for ecosystem services, behavioral economics

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