Abstract

VALENCIA-SANDOVAL, Karina; BRAMBILA-PAZ, José de J.  and  MORA-FLORES, José S.. Nopal evaluation as functional food by means of real option. Agrociencia [online]. 2010, vol.44, n.8, pp.955-963. ISSN 2521-9766.

The nopal (Opuntia spp.) is a basic species of food staple in México, since around this product spins innumerable economic activities of the countryside and industry. In addition, the nopal can be considered as a functional food, this is, improves health of those who consume it. The aim of this study was to compare the gain with a traditional nopal crop with one crop where resources are invested to give it a higher aggregate value. The traditional evaluation obtaining the present net value, and an evaluation with real options that, compared with the traditional evaluation, includes the price volatility and the decision-making that people in charge of the project can take. In the second evaluation binomial trees and Black-Scholes formulas are used with an option to expand up to 6 ha. Evaluations were done to compare the benefit-cost ratio and the critical value in the Federal District, State of México, and states of Morelos, Guanajuato, Baja California, Aguascalientes, and around the country. The analysis of the results showed that there are greater benefits from investment in the production of nopal with a higher aggregate value, a situation that is clearly seen using the tools of real options.

Keywords : Opuntia spp.; traditional evaluation; expansion; investment; critical value; volatility.

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