scholarly journals UNCOVERING PRODUCTION FLOWS FROM SMALL FARMS: RESULTS FROM POLAND AND PORTUGAL CASE STUDIES

2019 ◽  
Vol XXI (3) ◽  
pp. 49-61
Author(s):  
Marta Czekaj ◽  
Paola Hernández ◽  
Ana Fonseca ◽  
Maria Rivera ◽  
Katarzyna Żmija ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Small Farmers ◽  
Small Farms ◽  
Regional Food ◽  
Product Maps ◽  
The Impact

This study is an attempt to assess the impact of small farms (SF) on the regional food product circulation of specific key products in selected, fragmented, agrarian regions in Poland and Portugal. The empirical study is based on the analysis of food product maps which were developed based on data from a survey conducted among owners of small farms and small food businesses at focus group meetings and workshops organized in 2017 and 2018 in the Nowotarski and Nowosądecki subregions in Poland and in the Alentejo Central and Oeste subregions in Portugal. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using uniform methodology. In each of the subregions, focus groups helped to confront the assumptions resulting from surveys and corroborate the flows and fluxes described in the developed food product maps. Data collected during focus groups were enriched by data gathered during regional workshops that focused on food system governance. It was concluded that food product maps indicate interesting relationship flows of small farmers’ products along the food system, highlighting the role of fluxes connecting small farmers with other actors regarding specific key products. Several similarities and disparities between regional KP production flows in the Portuguese and Polish subregions, based on the type of key product, the various distribution channels and farming capacities present in each subregion were observed.

scholarly journals Going virtual: adapting in-person interactive focus groups to the online environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Jonathan Menary ◽  
Stacia Stetkiewicz ◽  
Abhishek Nair ◽  
Petra Jorasch ◽  
Amrit K. Nanda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Food System ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
Short Notice ◽  
Key Steps ◽  
Video Calling ◽  
The Impact

Restrictions on social interaction and travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected how researchers approach fieldwork and data collection. Whilst online focus groups have received attention since the 2000s as a method for qualitative data collection, relatively little of the relevant literature appears to have made use of now ubiquitous video calling software and synchronous, interactive discussion tools. Our own experiences in organising fieldwork aimed at understanding the impact of different ‘future-proofing’ strategies for the European agri-food system during this period resulted in several methodological changes being made at short notice. We present an approach to converting in-person focus group to a virtual methodology and provide a checklist for researchers planning their own online focus groups. Our findings suggest data are comparable to in-person focus groups and factors influencing data quality during online focus groups can be safeguarded. There are several key steps, both before and during the focus groups, which can be taken to ensure the smooth running of such events. We share our reflections on this approach and provide a resource for other researchers moving to online-only data collection.

scholarly journals Going virtual: adapting in-person interactive focus groups to the online environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Jonathan Menary ◽  
Stacia Stetkiewicz ◽  
Abhishek Nair ◽  
Petra Jorasch ◽  
Amrit K. Nanda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Food System ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
Short Notice ◽  
Key Steps ◽  
Video Calling ◽  
The Impact

Restrictions on social interaction and travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected how researchers approach fieldwork and data collection. Whilst online focus groups have received attention since the 2000s as a method for qualitative data collection, relatively little of the relevant literature appears to have made use of now ubiquitous video calling software and synchronous, interactive discussion tools. Our own experiences in organising fieldwork aimed at understanding the impact of different ‘future-proofing’ strategies for the European agri-food system during this period resulted in several methodological changes being made at short notice. We present an approach to converting in-person focus group to a virtual methodology and provide a checklist for researchers planning their own online focus groups. Our findings suggest data are comparable to in-person focus groups and factors influencing data quality during online focus groups can be safeguarded. There are several key steps, both before and during the focus groups, which can be taken to ensure the smooth running of such events. We share our reflections on this approach and provide a resource for other researchers moving to online-only data collection.

The Role of Research and Innovation in the Transformation of Agri-Food Systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-63
Author(s):  
Mariana Sandu ◽  
Stefan Mantea
Keyword(s):  
Technological Progress ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Determinant Factor ◽  
Rapid Transformation

Abstract Agri-food systems include branching ramifications, which connect in the upstream the input suppliers with farmers, and downstream farmers, processors, retailers and consumers. In the last decades, at the level of the regions, food systems have undergone rapid transformation as a result of technological progress. The paper analyzes the changes made to the structure, behavior and performance of the agri-food system and the impact on farmers and consumers. Also, the role of agricultural research as a determinant factor of transformation of agri-food system is analyzed. The research objective is to develop technologies that cover the entire food chain (from farm to fork) and meet the specific requirements of consumers (from fork to farm) through scientific solutions in line with the principles of sustainable agriculture and ensuring the safety and food safety of the population.

THE IMPACT OF T HE STATE ON CREATING CONDITIONS TO ENSURE FOOD SECURIT Y IN THE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL DIMENSION

2018 ◽  
Vol XX (5) ◽  
pp. 242-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Żmija ◽  
Katarzyna Żmija ◽  
Marta Czekaj
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food System ◽  
Regional Food ◽  
Its Regions ◽  
Regional Food System ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
Access To Food ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Physical Availability ◽  
Multidimensional Concept

The aim of the study was to identify the key directions of state influence which guarantee food security of the country and its regions, i.e. ensure physical availability of food, physical and economic access to food, its security and stability of the food system. The empirical study was based on the results of the workshops, which were organized in 2017 in the Rzeszów subregion, and whose participants were broadly understood stakeholders of the regional food system. The research results indicate that food security is a multidimensional concept referring to economic, political, demographic, social, cultural and technical issues. It requires to take various types of actions at the same time, carried out at various levels of state authorities, implemented in different areas.

scholarly journals Factors Shaping Agri-food Product Trade in Poland

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1221-1228
Author(s):  
Piotr Bórawski ◽  
Mariola Grzybowska-Brzezińska ◽  
James William Dunn ◽  
Spiro E. Stefanou
Keyword(s):  
Trade Balance ◽  
Price Index ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Total Import ◽  
Macroeconomic Factors ◽  
Macroeconomic Variables ◽  
Internal And External Factors ◽  
The Impact

The objective of the paper is to recognize the role of internal and external factors in the trade balance. The analysis of the trade balance is useful to help formulate goals and premises of economy policy to properly allocate production means to eliminate the negative effects of trade liberalization. The authors have studied data about trade of agricultural commodities in the years 2000–2010. To measure the impact of macroeconomic variables used a regression model. The macroeconomic factors included: X1 (inflation), X2 (investment in agriculture and hunting), X3 (GDP) and X4 (exchange rate) and X5 (FAO food price index). We wanted to recognize the impact of macroeconomic factors on: Y1 (total export), Y2 (total import), Y3 (trade balance).

scholarly journals Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Experiences in Youth With Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Depression: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana Ewais ◽  
Jakob Begun ◽  
Maura Kenny ◽  
Alan Headey ◽  
Steve Kisely
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Bowel Disease ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel

BACKGROUND Mindfulness-based programs are increasingly used as a part of integrated treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the majority of research has been quantitative with limited qualitative exploration of patients’ experiences of mindfulness programs and no studies among adolescents and young adults with IBD. Furthermore, there has been a paucity of research exploring the role of common psychotherapy and group factors within mindfulness programs. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the experiences of adolescents and young adults with IBD and depression who completed a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group program, as well as the role of therapeutic alliance, group affiliation, and other common psychotherapy and group factors. METHODS This mixed methods qualitative study, nested within a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of MBCT for adolescents and young adults with IBD, will obtain qualitative data from focus groups and open-ended survey questions. The study aims to conduct three to four focus groups with 6-8 participants in each group. It will employ data and investigator triangulation as well as thematic analysis of the qualitative data. RESULTS The study was approved by the Mater Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee and recruitment commenced in May 2019; study completion is anticipated by early 2020. CONCLUSIONS The study will contribute to the assessment of acceptability and feasibility of the MBCT program for adolescents and young adults with IBD. It will also elucidate the role of previously unexplored common psychotherapy and group factors within mindfulness training and help inform the design of a future large-scale RCT of MBCT in this cohort. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12617000876392; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373115 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR PRR1-10.2196/14432

scholarly journals Assessing the role of small farms in regional food systems in Europe: Evidence from a comparative study

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 100417 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Rivera ◽  
Alejandro Guarín ◽  
Teresa Pinto-Correia ◽  
Henrik Almaas ◽  
Laura Arnalte Mur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Small Farms ◽  
Regional Food ◽  
Regional Food Systems

scholarly journals Triage: line or nets? Early intervention and the youth justice system

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 147-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Soppitt ◽  
Adele Irving
Keyword(s):  
Restorative Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Youth Justice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a discussion of the value of early diversion schemes, underpinned by the principles of restorative justice (RJ), for First Time Entrants (FTEs) into the criminal justice system (CJS). Design/methodology/approach – The paper focuses specifically on the findings of a 12-month study into the introduction of “Triage” by one Youth Offending Team (YOT) in the northeast of England. Findings – Re-offending data suggested that Triage is more effective in reducing re-offending than conventional justice practices, due to the restorative nature of the scheme. However, the qualitative data raised a number of issues, particularly relating to problems of “net-widening” and the impact of recording processes on young people's desistance, as well as the role of victim engagement in the process. These issues could undermine the long-term effectiveness of Triage and its successful application within other youth justice contexts. Originality/value – The paper aims to contribute further understanding regarding the impacts of RJ practices on reducing re-offending compared to traditional processes, and in particular, consider the role of implementation issues in the production of outcomes and impacts.

scholarly journals Participatory mapping of regional food assets using volunteered geographic information systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Fast
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Volunteered Geographic Information ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Participatory Mapping ◽  
Regional Food ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Systems Framework ◽  
The Impact

Local food systems are increasingly being studied in response to the threats imposed on global agri-industrial food systems. Central to local food is the community who is imaging and implementing diverse and hyper-local food assets, which are making a significant, but largely unknown, contribution to food security, resiliency, and sustainability. It is important to align these assets with broader regional food policies, programs, and regulations. However, there are few mechanisms to engage stakeholders or share local information. One possible mechanism to learn about local food assets is volunteered geographic information (VGI); a phenomenon that blends crowdsourcing, citizen science, and online mapping. It is currently being studied for its ability to engage and gather information from diverse and under-represented groups. This policy-relevant research investigates how VGI can support greater engagement and knowledge sharing across diverse food stakeholders. To achieve this objective, the VGI system framework is established to study the processes that support the creation of VGI. Next, the new era of food mapping, dubbed Food Mapping 2.0, is investigated to understand the impact evolving mapping techniques have on the engagement of food stakeholders. Lastly, the VGI systems framework, which is embedded in participatory geographic information system and participatory action research methods, is applied to support participatory mapping of regional food assets in Durham Region. His research gathered contributions on over 200 food assets in Durham Region – an upper-tier municipality just east of Toronto consisting of eight lower-tier municipalities – effectively capturing the distributed intelligence of government, not-for-profit, and community stakeholders. The crowdsourced data include locations, descriptions, and media related to farms, markets, community gardens, foodscapes, and other innovative food assets. The community identified urban food assets as a central strength of the regional food system. Overall, this project enabled the creation of an open food assets dataset, further supporting the development of an online Food Assets map and a Crowdsourcing Urban Food Assets report, which are collective used to inform future food policy, regulation, and program development. Overall, this research revealed a uniquely local and community-driven perspective about food system assets within Durham, while serving as a prototype of the VGI systems framework.

scholarly journals Development of Agriculture Model to Measure Survival Income for Different Categories of Agriculture Land-Holding Farmers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masood Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Rural Population ◽  
Market Price ◽  
Small Farmers ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Minimum Support ◽  
Agriculture Land ◽  
Support Price ◽  
The Impact

The rural population percentage decreased from 82.7% to 68.9% in 2011, even though there is an increase in the total rural population, which stands at 833.7 million, and the rural population were now more than three times compared to the population seven decades ago. Another observation is the decrease in cultivators percentage from 71.9% to 45.1 %, while agriculture labour increase from 28.1% to 54.9% during the same period. Despite the increase in irrigated land and net area sown, the average holdings' size under the farmers is continuously decreasing, and it requires a study to look into the reasons. The research probes the role of Minimum Support Price (MSP) in supporting farmers and measuring market price above MSP needed to help marginal and small farmers remain above the poverty level. It explains how different market rates above MSP have a different impact on different categories of agriculture landholding. The study works on developing a common model that relates the impact of MSP on different farmers categories. The model can be generalized to all crops and regions and useful in designing policies that focus on uplifting the income of agricultural farmers.

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