The inclusion of 100% of fixed costs in the bioeconomy, however, has
consequences for the measurement of the contribution of the bioeconomy. For
example, if excess machinery is purchased for an activity, the share would
incorrectly suggest that this purchase favoured the bioeconomic part of the productive activity. On the contrary, if only variable costs are taken into account for the
calculation of the index, the purchase or lease of land is excluded from the
bioeconomic part, which would not be very accurate either since the use of land is
necessary for the economic activity. The advice of experts could be used for the
resolution of this type of conflicts in the methodology.
In the specific case of Ecuador, the economic activities considered are included in
the SNA classification of the Central Bank of Ecuador. These economic activities
belong to the primary and secondary sectors. Table 3.1 lists all the sectors considered
as part of the bioeconomy in Ecuador. In addition, the right column includes the
bioeconomic contribution shares calculated for each productive subsector.
In the primary sector, the costs excluded from bioeconomic accounting are
mainly those derived from the use of fertilizers and pesticides of non-biological
origin and from the use of fossil fuels used for transportation and the execution of
other reported mechanical tasks. In the secondary sector, costs related to the purchase of raw materials and inputs of non-biological origin, non-biological packaging
materials, and fossil fuels used in transport are excluded. The item of expenditure on
electricity used during industrial processing was assumed to be non-bioeconomic in
its entirety because energy produced in Ecuador from biogas and biomass accounts
for less than 1% of total production.
Considering the primary subsectors, the bioeconomic contribution shares determined in this study are lower than in the case of Argentina (Trigo et al. 2015), where
the bioeconomic fraction of these sectors is 100%. Although in the secondary
productive sector, the BCBA study uses varied value indices, in general the shares
determined in this study are lower than those of the Argentine case.
Finally, it should be noted that the sources on which the calculation of contribution (to the bioeconomy) shares was based were mostly technical-economic studies;
we gave preference to those developed in Ecuador. Additionally, emphasis was
placed on using studies that contain real production data, that is, reported by
operating companies. However, it should be stressed that this calculation is not
without uncertainty. A sensitivity analysis is recommended to verify which rates
should receive additional attention and to reduce such uncertainty.
3.4
Available Models to Determine the Contribution
of the Bioeconomy in Ecuador
Considering the different alternatives to address the contribution in the economy, a
macro-economic perspective is proposed to quantify the contribution share of the
bioeconomy in Ecuador. François Quesnay is one of the first references for
evaluations of flows of goods and services in the productive apparatus of a society
in order to understand the interactions of its actors. In his model Tableau
44
D. Ortega-Pacheco et al.
consequences for the measurement of the contribution of the bioeconomy. For
example, if excess machinery is purchased for an activity, the share would
incorrectly suggest that this purchase favoured the bioeconomic part of the productive activity. On the contrary, if only variable costs are taken into account for the
calculation of the index, the purchase or lease of land is excluded from the
bioeconomic part, which would not be very accurate either since the use of land is
necessary for the economic activity. The advice of experts could be used for the
resolution of this type of conflicts in the methodology.
In the specific case of Ecuador, the economic activities considered are included in
the SNA classification of the Central Bank of Ecuador. These economic activities
belong to the primary and secondary sectors. Table 3.1 lists all the sectors considered
as part of the bioeconomy in Ecuador. In addition, the right column includes the
bioeconomic contribution shares calculated for each productive subsector.
In the primary sector, the costs excluded from bioeconomic accounting are
mainly those derived from the use of fertilizers and pesticides of non-biological
origin and from the use of fossil fuels used for transportation and the execution of
other reported mechanical tasks. In the secondary sector, costs related to the purchase of raw materials and inputs of non-biological origin, non-biological packaging
materials, and fossil fuels used in transport are excluded. The item of expenditure on
electricity used during industrial processing was assumed to be non-bioeconomic in
its entirety because energy produced in Ecuador from biogas and biomass accounts
for less than 1% of total production.
Considering the primary subsectors, the bioeconomic contribution shares determined in this study are lower than in the case of Argentina (Trigo et al. 2015), where
the bioeconomic fraction of these sectors is 100%. Although in the secondary
productive sector, the BCBA study uses varied value indices, in general the shares
determined in this study are lower than those of the Argentine case.
Finally, it should be noted that the sources on which the calculation of contribution (to the bioeconomy) shares was based were mostly technical-economic studies;
we gave preference to those developed in Ecuador. Additionally, emphasis was
placed on using studies that contain real production data, that is, reported by
operating companies. However, it should be stressed that this calculation is not
without uncertainty. A sensitivity analysis is recommended to verify which rates
should receive additional attention and to reduce such uncertainty.
3.4
Available Models to Determine the Contribution
of the Bioeconomy in Ecuador
Considering the different alternatives to address the contribution in the economy, a
macro-economic perspective is proposed to quantify the contribution share of the
bioeconomy in Ecuador. François Quesnay is one of the first references for
evaluations of flows of goods and services in the productive apparatus of a society
in order to understand the interactions of its actors. In his model Tableau
44
D. Ortega-Pacheco et al.