scholarly journals An approach for comparing agricultural development to societal visions

2022 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Helfenstein ◽  
Vasco Diogo ◽  
Matthias Bürgi ◽  
Peter H. Verburg ◽  
Beatrice Schüpbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Think Tank ◽  
The Past ◽  
Normative Dimension ◽  
Agroecological Movement ◽  
New Policies ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

AbstractThere is broad agreement that agriculture has to become more sustainable in order to provide enough affordable, healthy food at minimal environmental and social costs. But what is “more sustainable”? More often than not, different stakeholders have opposing opinions on what a more sustainable future should look like. This normative dimension is rarely explicitly addressed in sustainability assessments. In this study, we present an approach to assess the sustainability of agricultural development that explicitly accounts for the normative dimension by comparing observed development with various societal visions. We illustrate the approach by analyzing farm- and landscape-scale development as well as sustainability outcomes in a Swiss case study landscape. Observed changes were juxtaposed with desired changes by Avenir Suisse, a liberal think tank representing free-market interests; the Swiss Farmers Association, representing a conservative force; and Landwirtschaft mit Zukunft, an exponent of the Swiss agroecological movement. Overall, the observed developments aligned most closely with desired developments of the liberal think-tank (72%). Farmer interviews revealed that in the case study area farms increased in size (+ 57%) and became more specialized and more productive (+ 223%) over the past 20 years. In addition, interpretation of aerial photographs indicated that farming became more rationalized at the landscape level, with increasing field sizes (+ 34%) and removal of solitary field trees (− 18%). The case study example highlights the varying degrees to which current developments in agriculture align with societal visions. By using societal visions as benchmarks to track the progress of agricultural development, while explicitly addressing their narratives and respective systems of values and norms, this approach offers opportunities to inform also the wider public on the extent to which current developments are consistent with different visions. This could help identify mismatches between desired and actual development and pave the way for designing new policies.

Societal vision vs. farmers’ reality: an approach to evaluate if agricultural intensification is sustainable

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Helfenstein ◽  
Matthias Bürgi ◽  
Vasco Diogo ◽  
Franziska Mohr ◽  
Beatrice Schüpbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Land Use Intensity ◽  
Think Tank ◽  
Agroecological Movement ◽  
New Policies

<p>There is broad agreement that agriculture has to become more sustainable in order to provide enough healthy food at minimal economic, environmental and social costs. But what is “more sustainable”? More often than not, different stakeholders have opposing opinions on what a more sustainable future should look like. In this study, we present an approach to assess the sustainability of agricultural development based on societal visions. We illustrate the approach by linking observed changes in agricultural land use intensity in a Swiss case study area with desired change according to three contrasting visions. The three visions, from a liberal think-tank, the Swiss Farmer Association, and the agroecological movement, cover a wide spectrum of sociopolitical interest groups in Swiss agriculture. The observed developments aligned most closely with desired developments of the liberal think-tank. Farmer interviews revealed that farms increased in size (+ 57%), became more specialized, and more productive (+ 223%) over the past 20 years. In addition, interpretation of aerial photographs indicated that farming became more rationalized at the landscape level, with increasing field sizes (+ 34%) and removal of solitary field trees (-18%). The case study example highlights the potential of societal visions to assess changes in land use intensity and outcomes in various sustainability dimensions. The main advantages are that the approach accommodates multiple stakeholder goals, while explicitly addressing their narratives and respective systems of values and norms, thus being more informative to the wider public. For these reasons, we argue that future assessments of sustainability should focus on contrasting observed developments with desired change by various stakeholder groups. This could help identify mismatches between desired and actual development and pave the way for designing appropriate new policies.</p>

Quick Steps, Incremental Reform—Shenzhen Social Organization Registration Management System Reform

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-274
Author(s):  
Yushan Xu ◽  
Siying Luo
Keyword(s):  
Social Organization ◽  
Management System ◽  
System Reform ◽  
Trade Associations ◽  
Social Organizations ◽  
The Past ◽  
New Policies

This case study describes the process of Shenzhen’s social organizations registration and management system reform in the past ten years. Shenzhen has taken three modest reform measures, including the disconnection of trade associations from administrative departments, direct registration of trade associations and expanded range of direct registration, which has lowered the threshold for the registration of social organizations and kindled the vigor of social organizations. In line with the reform and devolution of city-level departments of civil affairs, different districts have made efforts to experiment and innovate with new policies, issuing reform plans regarding the filing of community social organizations, the incubation of social organizations, etc.

Disaster prevention education through learning about past heavy rainfall and debris flow damage

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Banshoya Shogo
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Heavy Rainfall ◽  
Heavy Rain ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Disaster Prevention ◽  
School Students ◽  
Prevention Education ◽  
The Past

<p>This study is an introduction to disaster prevention education for high school students, which aims to raise disaster prevention awareness by learning about disasters that occurred in the past. We live in Hiroshima, Japan. There are many fan-shaped regions in this area, and when heavy rain falls due to the rainy season or typhoons, it is easy for debris flow disasters to occur. The most recent damage was caused by a heavy rain in July 2018. On July 7, 2018, 250 to 300 mm of rain fell in one day. As a result, debris flow damage occurred, greatly affecting the students’ life. Debris flow damage is said to occur repeatedly in the same place. Therefore, I think that learning from the past damage will help students learn about future disaster prevention. </p><p>My students have studied the following 1 and 2 since April 2019. And we worked with graduate student and a professor at Hiroshima University.</p><p>1: Case study of debris flow damage caused by a typhoon (Makurazaki-typhoon) that occurred in 1945.</p><p>A huge typhoon occurred in September 1945, causing heavy rainfall and a debris flow disaster. Then our area was very confused. (Because, just after the war, only one month had passed since the atomic bomb was dropped). Therefore, details of the debris flow damage caused by the typhoon are not known.</p><p>So, we analyzed the aerial photographs taken after the disaster and clarified the extent of the damage. We examined the Kirikushi district in Etajima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan as a case area.</p><p> </p><p>2: Case study of debris flow damage through fieldwork.</p><p>We went to the area we studied in 1. We talked with people who were once affected by debris flow damage in 1945.<span>  </span>As a result, we were able to clarify the situation immediately after the occurrence of debris flow.<span>  </span>And we also asked about the debris flow damage in 2018 and compared the two damages.</p>

From hard to soft: theory and Neolithic studies in Scotland

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 7-19
Author(s):  
Kenneth Brophy
Keyword(s):  
The Past

The Scottish Theoretical Archaeology Group (STAG) conference organisers expressed some doubts about how far theory has changed, and impacted, archaeological establishment and academia in Scotland. In this paper, I will argue that Scotland is certainly not isolated in a theoretical sense, although in the past, Scottish archaeology could be accused of being theoretically conservative, or at least dependent on ideas and models developed elsewhere. A case-study looking at Neolithic studies will be used to illustrate that despite some recent critical historiographies of the study of the period in Scotland, archaeologists in Scotland and those working with Scottish material have been theoretically innovative and in step with wider paradigm changes. The study of the Neolithic in Scotland, it could be argued, has been shaped by theory more than the study of any other period; we are not isolated, but rather part of wider networks of discourse.

THE URBAN MIGRANT FUTURE DESIRE: A STUDY OF REVERSE MIGRATION IN MALAYSIA

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Nur Huzeima Mohd Hussain ◽  
Hugh Byrd ◽  
Nur Azfahani Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Industrial Society ◽  
Peak Oil ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Reverse Migration ◽  
The Past ◽  
Urban Migrants ◽  
Urban Migrant ◽  
Oil Crisis

Globalisation combined with resources of oil and gas has led to an industrial society in Malaysia.  For the past 30 years, rapid urban growth has shifted from 73% rural to 73% urban population. However, the peak oil crisis and economic issues are threatening the growth of urbanisation and influencing the trends of population mobility. This paper documents the beginnings of a reverse migration (urban-to-rural) in Malaysia.  The method adopted case study that involves questionnaires with the urban migrants to establish the desires, definite intentions and reasons for future migration. Based on this data, it predicts a trend and rate of reverse migration in Malaysia. 

Conservation and Preservation of Nature Reserves, Monuments andSpecial Architectural or Historic Interest in Nigeria: Towards Promotion of Sustainable Cultural Tourism

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-218
Author(s):  
Francis Chuma Osefoh
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Tourism ◽  
Nature Reserves ◽  
Communication Link ◽  
Built Environments ◽  
Tourist Attraction ◽  
The Past ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Historical Heritage ◽  
Developed Nations

Some of the renowned world tourism countries have special peculiarities in character in terms of their nature reserves and built environments; that made them stand out for their attractions and visits. These qualities range from conservation and preservation of nature reserves, built environments- epoch architectural supports over the years; historical heritage; political; religious; socio-economic; cultural; and  high technology that enhance culture. The virtues of multi- ethnic groups and multi- cultural nature gave Nigeria a rich cultural heritage, and she is blessed with natural wonders, unique wildlife, and a very favorable climate. More often than not less attention and importance are placed over the nature reserves and built environments to the detriment of tourism in lieu of other sectors. Summarily the country lacks the culture of conservation and preservation of her abundant resources to promote cultural tourism. Case study strategy was applied in the research tours with reports of personal experiences, documentaries and analyses of sites visited in Europe and Nigeria were highlighted with references to their attributes in terms of structures and features that made up the sites as relate to culture and attraction.The task in keeping rural, city landscapes and nature reserves alive stands out as the secret of communication link from the past to present and the future; which tourism developed nations reap as benefits for tourist attraction.

The Local Government of Kulon Progo Regency Innovation in Subduing Capitalism through Community Empowerment

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
Muhammad Eko Atmojo ◽  
Helen Dian Fridayani
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Case Study Approach ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The Past ◽  
The People ◽  
District Government ◽  
The Government

Kulon Progo Regency is one of the districts that has many innovations, one of which is community empowerment in collaboration with a modern shop abbreviated as the shop name owned by the people (tomira). This research was motivated by the achievements of the Kulon Progo district government in carrying out development and innovation in the development of the Kulon Progo region by fully involving the Kulon Progo district community through community empowerment. This initiative was taken by the government of Kulon Progo Regency to improve community empowerment and protect the people of Kulon Progo Regency from various economic threats. Considering that in the past few years many modern shops have mushroomed in each district/city, so this is what makes Kulon Progo Regency move quickly to empower the community by collaborating between MSMEs or cooperative with modern shops. This study uses a qualitative method which case study approach. With the empowerment that has been done, the original products of Kulon Progo Regency or local products can be traded in modern stores so that local products in Kulon Progo Regency can compete with national products in these modern stores. The existence of such cooperation will indirectly improve the image of Kulon Progo Regency and lift the original products of Kulon Progo Regency. The lifting of the original products of Kulon Progo Regency will have a positive impact on the community, where indirectly the economy of the community will increase so that there will be prosperity for the community. Kabupaten Kulon Progo adalah salah satu kabupaten yang memiliki banyak inovasi, salah satunya adalah pemberdayaan masyarakat bekerja sama dengan toko modern disingkat nama toko yang dimiliki oleh masyarakat (tomira). Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh pencapaian pemerintah kabupaten Kulon Progo dalam melakukan pengembangan dan inovasi dalam pengembangan wilayah Kulon Progo dengan melibatkan sepenuhnya masyarakat kabupaten Kulon Progo melalui pemberdayaan masyarakat. Inisiatif ini diambil oleh pemerintah Kabupaten Kulon Progo untuk meningkatkan pemberdayaan masyarakat dan melindungi masyarakat Kabupaten Kulon Progo dari berbagai ancaman ekonomi. Menimbang bahwa dalam beberapa tahun terakhir banyak toko-toko modern telah menjamur di setiap kabupaten/kota, jadi inilah yang membuat Kabupaten Kulon Progo bergerak cepat untuk memberdayakan masyarakat dengan berkolaborasi antara UMKM atau bekerjasama dengan toko-toko modern. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus, dengan metode yang digunakan adalah dokumentasi. Dengan pemberdayaan yang telah dilakukan, produk asli Kabupaten Kulon Progo atau produk lokal dapat diperdagangkan di toko modern sehingga produk lokal di Kabupaten Kulon Progo dapat bersaing dengan produk nasional di toko modern ini. Adanya kerjasama tersebut secara tidak langsung akan meningkatkan citra Kabupaten Kulon Progo dan mengangkat produk asli Kabupaten Kulon Progo. Pencabutan produk asli Kabupaten Kulon Progo akan berdampak positif bagi masyarakat, di mana secara tidak langsung perekonomian masyarakat akan meningkat sehingga akan ada kesejahteraan bagi masyarakat.

A LOOK INTO THE EARTH: EVALUATING THE USE OF MAGNETIC SURVEY IN AFRICAN ARCHAEOLOGY

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Magnavita ◽  
Norbert Schleifer
Keyword(s):  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Magnetic Survey ◽  
The Past ◽  
Common Technique ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Prehistoric Settlements ◽  
Present Case Study

In the last decades, geophysical methods such as magnetic survey have become a common technique for prospecting archaeological sites. At sub-Saharan archaeological sites, however, magnetic survey and correlated techniques never came into broad use and there are no signs for an immediate change of this situation. This paper examines the magnetic survey undertaken on the Nigerian site of Zilum, a settlement of the Gajiganna Culture (ca 1800-400 BC) located in the Chad Basin and dated to ca 600-400 BC. By means of the present case study, we demonstrate the significance of this particular type of investigation in yielding complementary data for understanding the character of prehistoric settlements. In conclusion, we point out that geophysical methods should play a more important role in modern archaeological field research, as they furnish a class of documentation not achievable by traditional survey and excavation methods, thus creating new perspectives for interpreting the past of African societies.

Case study 2

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewan Ferlie ◽  
Sue Dopson ◽  
Chris Bennett ◽  
Michael D. Fischer ◽  
Jean Ledger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Think Tanks ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Think Tank ◽  
Significant Potential ◽  
Key Stakeholders

This chapter analyses the role of think tanks in generating a distinctive mode of policy knowledge, pragmatically orientated to inform and shape issues of importance to civil society. Drawing on political science literature, we argue that think tanks exploit niche areas of expertise and influence to actively mobilize policy analyses and recommendations across diverse stakeholders. Through our exploratory mapping of think tanks, geographically concentrated within London, we characterize their influence as significantly boosting knowledge intensity across the regional ecosystem. In particular, we study the empirical case of one London-based think tank which powerfully mobilized policy knowledge through its formal and informal networks to build influential expert consensus amongst key stakeholders. We conclude that such organizations act as key knowledge producers and mobilizers, with significant potential to influence policy discourses and implementation.

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