Jury

Several governments are considering a food carbon tax to tackle climate change. However, this could invertedly increase animal suffering. If consumers substitute carbon-intensive beef with meat from smaller animals (like chicken), producers will slaughter more animals to produce the same amount of meat. This is called the Small Animal Replacement Problem. This thesis develops a market model of substitution between animal products after a carbon tax and calibrates it with data for the United States. While it predicts a slight decrease in slaughtered animals, a slaughter or meat tax is a better option when society even slightly values animal welfare.

With 2.4 billion people suffering from food insecurity globally, this research offers an innovative solution to conventional farming methods through aquaponics. Aquaponics combines aquaculture (raising fish) with hydroponics (soilless plant cultivation) in a closed-loop system, eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers while simultaneously facilitating resource maximization. This study assessed the economic viability of aquaponics as a model for sustainable agriculture using Python-based analysis of 1,140 vegetable combinations at the NGO Casita Copán in Honduras. By integrating economic modeling with sustainable agriculture, the study highlights aquaponics as a transformative tool for resilient food systems, supporting the SDGs through resource-efficient, community-driven practices.

Jury on behalf of academia

Jury on behalf of practice