Award winner: Mag.a Karin Heinschink PhD
The submitted dissertation is entitled: “Development and application of the Milk Processor Optimisation Model for analysing economic implications of supply seasonality and quota removal on Ireland’s milk processing sector”.
The work, reviewed by Dr. Floor Brouwer (LEI Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Wageningen UR), used an optimization model (Milk Processor Optimization Model) to investigate the possible economic impacts of different milk supply profiles and raw milk volumes on an average Irish milk processing plant. In the scenario analyses, a flatter milk supply profile consistently proved to be more profitable for the milk processor compared to seasonal delivery. However, there is a possibility that a change in the milk supply profile could result in additional costs in milk production. Therefore, it was concluded that a reduction in the degree of seasonality is beneficial for the milk sector if the resulting financial added value in processing exceeds any additional costs in production.
Award winner: DIin Birgit Gassler
The submitted master’s thesis is titled: „How Green Is Your ‚Grüner‘? Using discrete choice to measure consumer preferences and the potential for eco-labels among young adult wine consumers in Austria“
This study analyzes the wine-buying behavior of young adults, who are already internationally considered a promising new target group for the wine industry with a strong affinity for organic labels. In Austria, however, little is known about the wine-buying behavior of young adults and their preferences for organic labels.
This study takes this as a starting point and, using discrete choice experiments, quantifies how price, origin, residual sugar content, bottle shape, discounts, awards, and production methods affect the likelihood of purchasing a bottle of Grüner Veltliner. Particular attention was paid to the willingness of young adults to pay for organic, sustainably, and CO2neutrally produced wine. The econometric results were further used in a decision support system programmed in Excel to estimate potential market shares and price elasticities for organically certified wines. The reviewer, Dr. Martin Banse, head of the Institute for Market Analysis and Agricultural Trade Policy at the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute in Braunschweig, praised the author’s comprehensive commitment, which went beyond the normal scope of a master’s thesis.
