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This FARE Share Special Issue is a dedication to the late Dr. Thorald Keith (T.K.) Warley (1930-2018). Known to most as Sandy, his contribution to the University of Guelph spanned decades, including the roles of professor and chair of the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE). Praise for Sandy could fill volumes; we’ve included just a sampling of remembrances and reflections from colleagues and friends, including past and present faculty and students. You’ll read about Sandy’s many contributions to their lives, to the University and his extraordinary commitment to the entire agricultural economist community.

Solar intermittency is a major problem, and there is a need and great interest in developing a means of storing solar energy for later use when solar radiation is not available. Thermal energy storage (TES) is a technology that is used to balance the mismatch in demand and supply for heating and/or cooling. Solar thermal energy storage is used in many applications: buildings, concentrating solar power plants and industrial processes. Solar thermal water heaters capable of heating water during the day and storing the heated water for evening use are common. TES improves system performance by smoothing supply and demand and temperature fluctuations. Thermal energy storage has become a fast-growing business. According to a research report, the global thermal energy storage market is expected to reach USD 12.50 billion by 2025. The chapter describes different types of thermal energy storage systems. Brief history, current state of research and the future of thermal storage are presented. Types of thermal storages, classifications, advantages and disadvantages are discussed; important thermal and physical properties are tabulated. Advances in enhancement of thermal properties of materials are briefly discussed. Challenges, opportunities, market outlook, government incentives and polices that support deployment of energy storage systems are outlined.

Genomics has emerged as a promising biotechnology for its ability to predict and aid in selection of more productive livestock. More recently, the ability to use genomics to select for increased feed efficiency in dairy cattle has been developed. As feed represents the highest variable cost for Canadian dairy producers the potential benefit from on-farm adoption could be substantial. Furthermore, as methane emissions are highly correlated with feed intake, adoption has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of Canadian dairy operations. Despite this, little is known about the economic implications and if there are potential barriers to adoption. Using a dynamic multi-year enterprise budgeting model we will estimate the benefits from adoption and identify potential barriers. Preliminary results indicate an increase in NPV of roughly $140,000 over twenty-five years from an 8.4% reduction in feed intake due to genomic technology adoption. La génomique est apparue comme une biotechnologie prometteuse pour sa capacité à prédire et à aider lors de la sélection d'un cheptel plus productif. Plus récemment, la capacité d'utiliser la génomique pour sélectionner un indice de consommation supérieur pour les bovins laitiers a été développée. Puisque l'alimentation représente le coût variable le plus élevé pour les producteurs laitiers canadiens, le bénéfice potentiel de l'adoption dans la ferme peut s'avérer considérable. En outre, puisque les émissions de méthane sont hautement corrélées avec la quantité d'aliments ingérés, cette adoption a le potentiel de réduire significativement l'empreinte environnementale des exploitations laitières canadiennes. Malgré cela, les implications économiques sont peu connues et il existe de potentiels obstacles à son adoption. En utilisant un modèle pluriannuel dynamique de prévisions budgétaires d'entreprise, nous avons estimé les avantages de l'adoption et identifié les obstacles potentiels. Les résultats préliminaires indiquent une augmentation de la VAN d'environ 140 000 $ sur vingt-cinq ans provenant d'une diminution de 8,4 % des apports alimentaires due à l'adoption de la technologie génomique.