Designing Future Perspectives for Dairy Farming in Flanders

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-186
Author(s):  
Johan Coetzer ◽  
Ben Munster ◽  
Nicklas Andres Quirós Van Outrive ◽  
Disnelly Daniela Torres Ojeda ◽  
Yuri Vanbiervliet ◽  
...  

Abstract This paper provides insight into perspectives for the desirable future of the Flemish dairy industry in twenty years. Globally, the dairy farming sector is facing numerous challenges, from encountering environmental barriers to economic uncertainty, growing consumer awareness and increased availability of technology, bringing both opportunities and threats to the sector.The dairy industry in Flanders is potentially reaching a threshold where changes in production methods are essential to overcome the aforementioned challenges. With such complex challenges it is essential to include different perspectives. Therefore, we created a transdisciplinary team where all members have different backgrounds, supported by coaches and specialists.The assumptions on the dairy industry were investigated through literature, stakeholders’ interviews, and farm visits. From these insights a system map was <target target-type="page-num" id="p-152"/>developed with the intention to develop futures through observing megatrends, trends, and novelties. We imagined the most optimal future around social and planetarian boundaries for some diverse personas, which helped to understand the complexity of future patterns and highlighted topics that needed more in-depth research. Five main topics of the current situation and the desirable futures were discussed: (i) Environmental impact of the dairy sector; (ii) Big and Small farms; (iii) Health and how ‘the planetary diet’ can be healthier while saving the planet; (iv) Consumer Behavior; and (v) Government Policy. As a result, the future personas are described as motivating why certain perspectives are desirable; perspective from a farmer with a small farm and one with a larger farm. These perspectives could inspire the co-creation of a sustainable future, involving consumers, farmers, as well as industries and policy makers.

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chik Collins ◽  
Ian Levitt

This article reports findings of research into the far-reaching plan to ‘modernise’ the Scottish economy, which emerged from the mid-late 1950s and was formally adopted by government in the early 1960s. It shows the growing awareness amongst policy-makers from the mid-1960s as to the profoundly deleterious effects the implementation of the plan was having on Glasgow. By 1971 these effects were understood to be substantial with likely severe consequences for the future. Nonetheless, there was no proportionate adjustment to the regional policy which was creating these understood ‘unwanted’ outcomes, even when such was proposed by the Secretary of State for Scotland. After presenting these findings, the paper offers some consideration as to their relevance to the task of accounting for Glasgow's ‘excess mortality’. It is suggested that regional policy can be seen to have contributed to the accumulation of ‘vulnerabilities’, particularly in Glasgow but also more widely in Scotland, during the 1960s and 1970s, and that the impact of the post-1979 UK government policy agenda on these vulnerabilities is likely to have been salient in the increase in ‘excess mortality’ evident in subsequent years.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 795
Author(s):  
Lukas Gorecki ◽  
Martin Andrs ◽  
Jan Korabecny

Selective killing of cancer cells while sparing healthy ones is the principle of the perfect cancer treatment and the primary aim of many oncologists, molecular biologists, and medicinal chemists. To achieve this goal, it is crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms that distinguish cancer cells from healthy ones. Accordingly, several clinical candidates that use particular mutations in cell-cycle progressions have been developed to kill cancer cells. As the majority of cancer cells have defects in G1 control, targeting the subsequent intra‑S or G2/M checkpoints has also been extensively pursued. This review focuses on clinical candidates that target the kinases involved in intra‑S and G2/M checkpoints, namely, ATR, CHK1, and WEE1 inhibitors. It provides insight into their current status and future perspectives for anticancer treatment. Overall, even though CHK1 inhibitors are still far from clinical establishment, promising accomplishments with ATR and WEE1 inhibitors in phase II trials present a positive outlook for patient survival.


Author(s):  
Kinga Topolska ◽  
Adam Florkiewicz ◽  
Agnieszka Filipiak-Florkiewicz

This review provides insight into consumer attitudes toward functional food (FF), with the purpose of better understanding the needs and behavior regarding this kind of product. A total of 47 articles were selected for this paper. The available studies from last 20 years differ according to the focus (awareness, attitudes, motivations, willingness, acceptance by consumers) and methodologies used. Several factors, including socio-demographic, cognitive and attitudinal ones, seem to be serve as the basis for the acceptance of functional products. The research papers showed that nutritional knowledge is the most important of these. Older people are more interested in functional products than younger consumers, because of their stronger belief in the health benefits of FF. Moreover, women are more open to compromise between taste and health properties. Claims concerning the disease preventative properties of FF are the most attractive for consumers. This review focuses also on future perspectives for the functional food market. Adequate knowledge and evidence-based communication seem to be the most promising ways to increase consumers’ interest in these kinds of products.


Author(s):  
Edvige Gambino ◽  
Kuppam Chandrasekhar ◽  
Rosa Anna Nastro

AbstractMarine pollution is becoming more and more serious, especially in coastal areas. Because of the sequestration and consequent accumulation of pollutants in sediments (mainly organic compounds and heavy metals), marine environment restoration cannot exempt from effective remediation of sediments themselves. It has been well proven that, after entering into the seawater, these pollutants are biotransformed into their metabolites, which may be more toxic than their parent molecules. Based on their bioavailability and toxic nature, these compounds may accumulate into the living cells of marine organisms. Pollutants bioaccumulation and biomagnification along the marine food chain lead to seafood contamination and human health hazards. Nowadays, different technologies are available for sediment remediation, such as physicochemical, biological, and bioelectrochemical processes. This paper gives an overview of the most recent techniques for marine sediment remediation while presenting sediment-based microbial fuel cells (SMFCs). We discuss the issues, the progress, and future perspectives of SMFC application to the removal of hydrocarbons and metals in the marine environment with concurrent energy production. We give an insight into the possible mechanisms leading to sediment remediation, SMFC energy balance, and future exploitation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Emma Davidson ◽  
Briege Nugent ◽  
Sarah Johnsen

This article reflects on the contribution of qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) to understandings of homeless peoples’ experiences of support service interventions in an era of austerity in the UK. It brings into ‘analytic conversation’ data from qualitative longitudinal evaluations of homeless support projects operated by voluntary sector organisations in Scotland. With fieldwork spanning 2014-2019, the analysis expands the analytical potential of pooling small-scale studies through an interrogation of individuals’ ‘journeys’ through homelessness services and their rough path to ‘home’. By reflecting on our substantive findings, the article explores the added value and challenges of a longitudinal approach. It concludes that while QLR can deliver deep insight into lives lived by vulnerable populations and potentially reduce the distance between policy makers and those affected, its benefits must be balanced against pragmatism and the ethical responsibilities associated with the method.


The study explores the adversities faced by wompreneurs (Women Entrepreneurs) of Odisha and talks about their work-life balance issues. The paper presents the viewpoint (motivation) of wompreneurs as to why they think of starting an enterprise of their own. Focus is also laid onthe supportive factors of wompreneurs and factors that disrupt maintaining their work-life balance.The present exploratory paper is the outcome of a pilot study that has been performed using thematic investigation & analysis to find out solutions for the above-mentioned issues. For this paper, Qualitative research is used, which is conducted by assimilating data from personal interviews and thematically analyzing it. Suggestions for better work-life balance are given at the end. The area of work-life balance is devoid of studies in India, where wompreneurs are expected to have a better work-life balance as they are their own “boss”, the paper tries to explore the authenticity of such assumptions. The model has been devised with the above research objectives to provide insight into motivating factors and work-life balance issues of wompreneurs, which can help the Government, policy-makers, research fraternity and other training counselling institutions to emphasize such emerging issues that would lead to empowered women as well as an empowered Nation. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Wompreneurs, Case study, Work-life balance, Role conflict


2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 382-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSHUA BERNING ◽  
ADAM N. RABINOWITZ

AbstractWe examine the relationship of product characteristics of ready-to-eat breakfast cereal and targeted television advertising to specific consumer segments. We compile a unique data set that includes brand-packaging characteristics, including on-box games, nutrition information, and cobranding. We find that the relationship of television advertising and a cereal's brand-packaging characteristics varies by target audience. Our results provide insight into understanding how manufacturers strategically utilize branding, packaging, and television advertising. This can help industry and policy makers develop food product advertising policy. This analysis extends to other product markets where extensive product differentiation and promotion are present as well.


Author(s):  
Manmeet Kaur ◽  
Anupam Anand

The study was conducted to outline competencies relevant to the need of farmers and industries present in an agriculture graduate for carrying out their assigned duties. As inferred by mean score of the desired status, the managerial competency was identified to be the most needed one among the agricultural graduates as perceived by the students followed by entrepreneurial, extension skills, technical, market/understanding government policy, communication/ICT and personal competency. The findings of the study will aid higher education planners in India to develop curriculum to prepare and train future agricultural graduates to educate, inform and entertain farmers in an efficient way and fulfil the requirements of the job as required by the industries in an agriculture graduates. Specifically, the research sought to determine students and farmers perceptions of essential competencies needed by agri-graduates enrolled in the agriculture curriculum. The study provides for an initial attempt to gain insight into how higher agricultural education institutions can revitalize their curricula to better prepare their students for the market place and to keep pace with the changing nature of the environment around them.


2013 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 107-112
Author(s):  
Philip Kenrick

AbstractUK government policy is firmly directed, through the agencies which control university and research funding, towards a situation in which much academic output will be made accessible to all on the Internet without payment. This has far-reaching consequences for all academic publishers, including the Society, by no means all of which have yet been taken into account by the policy-makers. Members of the Society need to understand the issues and to consider how best to adapt to changing circumstances and to defend its position where necessary.


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