scholarly journals Stakeholder perceptions about sustainability governance in the German biogas sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Horschig ◽  
Kay Schaubach ◽  
Catharina Sutor ◽  
Daniela Thrän
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
National Level ◽  
Energy Crop ◽  
International Level ◽  
Stakeholder Relationships ◽  
Expectation Gap ◽  
Sustainability Governance ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background Since the steady growth of the German biogas sector, its sustainability is subject to constant scrutiny, especially economic and environmental sustainability. Public concerns about sustainability of biogas started with the issue of energy crop cultivation in the 2010s. To steer sustainability in the biogas sector, a broad variety of regulations and acts were enacted, mainly via top-down legislation making. But in order to govern sustainability in every step of the value chain, involvement of numerous stakeholders in the biogas sector is necessary. This paper will address the question: What are the perceptions of the relevant stakeholders in the biogas sector regarding various sustainability issues and what are their expectations? Methods Following an instrumental approach, three steps were initially undertaken for the systematic analysis of the stakeholder landscape, namely (1) stakeholder identification, (2) stakeholder categorization, and (3) investigation of stakeholder relationships. In addition, a theoretical mapping was performed to identify those actors, who most likely impact the implementation of biogas value chains, or are strongly affected by this implementation. These were then subject to surveys via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to gather information on their sustainability governance perception. Results Results indicate that key players are farmers and biogas associations due to anchoring in agricultural sector, along with environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and policy makers. Furthermore, the surveyed stakeholders agree on regulating sustainability at national level, while tending toward neutral or even disagreeing for the regulation of sustainability at local and international level. They also agree that certification and standards can be an effective tool for compliant sustainability governance. Conclusions This study revealed a clear expectation gap regarding the transfer of the current energy legislation in a bio-economy and how sustainability shall be steered then (mandatory/voluntary and local (national) level/international level). The surveyed stakeholders expect transparent and clear rules from the government to steer sustainability that they currently do not perceive with regard to the expectation gap. In order to integrate the different stakeholders in the bio-economy development instead of confronting them with opaque legislation making, it is important to clearly communicate not only the opportunities but also the requirements that come along with the implementation of a bio-economy.

中国农民合作社的功能与多样性变迁环境中发展现状探讨

Rural China ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cees Leeuwis ◽  
Rico Lie
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Farmer Cooperatives ◽  
Development Organizations ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Government

Abstract The agricultural sector and the rural sector in China have experienced fundamental changes from the 1980s onward, and farmer cooperatives have emerged in response to these changes. Beginning in 1990, a series of different policies have been implemented by the Chinese government to promote farmer cooperatives (FCs). This article aims to explore the functioning of FCs on the basis of the type and scope of the services they provide and their connections with the rural communities. The findings show that activities carried out by FCs help to extend farmers’ engagement in value-chain participation and management. FCs, as organizational innovations, also provide opportunities to bring knowledge providers and farmers together. Some FCs are starting to coordinate activities for farmers, rural communities and local government to make better use of collective resources. Four types of FCs are identified in the research: commodity-based FCs, community-based FCs, specialized technology providers and credit service providers. The emergence of these four types of FCs is embedded in broader institutional developments. The government mainly promotes commodity-based FCs and specialized technology-providing FCs. Companies focus on commodity-based FCs, and research institutes and development organizations are involved in community-based FCs. These findings imply that an integrated and broader view of policies is needed to promote the development of FCs in the long run. (This article is in English.) 摘要 20世纪80年代以来中国的农村和农业经历了深刻的变革。从20世纪90年代开始，政府出台了一系列的政策推动农民合作社的发展，合作社数量逐步增加。本文意在展示合作社提供服务的类型和范围，以及他们与农村社区之间的联系，并以此为基础探讨合作社的功能发挥。本文研究显示合作社开展的活动有利于农户参与到农产品价值链不同环节以及价值链管理中。合作社作为一项组织创新，也为建立农户与技术提供者之间的联系搭建了桥梁。一些合作社协调农户、农村社区和政府部门之间的关系，实现了集体资源的充分利用。本研究将合作社分为四类：产品型合作社、 社区型合作社、专业技术服务合作社和资金互助合作社。这四类合作社的产生根植于外部制度环境。政府主要倡导产品型合作社和专业技术服务合作社的发展。公司致力于产品型合作社的发展，而研究机构和发展组织更多参与到社区型合作社的发展中。这些研究发现意味着政府需要制定更具包容性的政策，加强政策间的一致性，以从长远角度促进合作社的发展。

scholarly journals The Paradigm of Village Development in South Sulawesi in Utilizing Village Funds in the Agricultural Sector

2021 ◽  
Vol 921 (1) ◽  
pp. 012003
Author(s):  
N Zaman ◽  
D Rukmana ◽  
I M Fahmid ◽  
M H Jamil
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
National Level ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
South Sulawesi ◽  
Ecological Development ◽  
Village Communities ◽  
The Government ◽  
Development Paradigm ◽  
The Village

Abstract Social, economic and ecological development in rural areas is currently the main concern of the Indonesian Government at the national level. This study aims to determine the extent to which village funds are used by the government and village communities for the development of the agricultural sector and the application of the development paradigm in the agricultural sector. The population in this study were all villages in South Sulawesi that received Village Fund assistance from 2015 to 2019. Sampling was based on village classifications according to the Developing Village Index (IDM). Based on the results of the analysis method, it shows that the Village Fund can only be used to fund two of the four activity sectors that can be financed from the Village Fund in the agricultural sector, namely the development sector and the rural empowerment sector. Public. Whereas the application of the development paradigm in each village is based on the village classification using the Village Fund in the agricultural sector, namely: 1) The village is very backward adopting the Post-Structuralist paradigm. 2) under developed villages adopt the Post-Structuralist paradigm. 3) Building the village by adopting the Liberal paradigm. 4) developed villages adopt a liberal a paradigm. 5) independent villages adopt a liberal paradigm.

scholarly journals Digitalization of Agri-Cooperatives in the Smart Agriculture Context. Proposal of a Digital Diagnosis Tool

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Manuel Ciruela-Lorenzo ◽  
Ana Rosa Del-Aguila-Obra ◽  
Antonio Padilla-Meléndez ◽  
Juan José Plaza-Angulo
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Legal Form ◽  
Digital Innovation ◽  
Diagnosis Tool ◽  
Smart Agriculture

The use of digital technologies has been recognized as one of the great challenges for businesses of the 21st century. This digitalization is characterized by the intensive use of information technologies in the different stages of the value chain of a sector. In this context, smart agriculture is transforming the agricultural sector in terms of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. In some countries, cooperatives, as the most common legal form of the incumbent companies, in this rather traditional low-intensive technology sector, are going to develop a relevant role in the process of adoption of these technologies. In this context, this paper provides, first, a review of the evolution of the main digital technologies, such as Internet of Things, robots, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Blockchain, among others. Second, a description of the digital innovation process in agri-cooperatives in order to help them in the decision-making process, and third, a digital diagnosis tool for measuring cooperatives’ digital innovation. This tool is initially applied to two cases of agri-cooperatives in Spain. All of this contributes to a better understanding of digitalization of agri-cooperatives in the context of smart agriculture.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting the Growth of the Agricultural Sector in Langkat Regency

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 264-274
Author(s):  
Azulaidin
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Capital Accumulation ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
National Level ◽  
Physical Capital ◽  
The State ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The Government

Regional economic development has an important role in the success of development at the national level. The state of the national economy is structured by the state of the regional economy. Seeing the condition of Indonesia which has a large area and a relatively large number of provinces, the availability of infrastructure and physical capital has an important role in increasing economic growth. Production infrastructure can be provided by both the government and the private sector. The government as the main development agent has a big responsibility in providing infrastructure and adequate capital for both public and private interests. In addition, the availability of labor as a human resource in addition to nature, capital and technology also has an important role for the economy. The agricultural business in Langkat Regency in 2018 contributed to the formation of a total GRDP of 35.06 percent, a decrease from 2016 which was 35.61 percent. Meanwhile, the growth rate has slowed down from 5.33 percent in 2017 to 4.76 percent in 2018. Factors that affect growth in Langkat Regency are land area, capital accumulation, population and labor growth, technological advances, exports and agricultural budgets that affect the growth rate of the agricultural sector.

PERDAGANGAN INTERNASIONAL DAN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT DI INDONESIA

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suci Safitriani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
National Level ◽  
International Level ◽  
Significant Relation ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
The Government ◽  
Separate Regression

Invesment (FDI) di Indonesia dengan menggunakan analisis regresi secara terpisah. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan terdapat hubungan satu arah antara ekspor dan FDI dan terdapat hubungan dua arah antara impor dan FDI di Indonesia. Temuan ini mengindikasikan bahwa FDI memberikan dampak jangka panjang yang positif terhadap ekspor, sementara dalam jangka pendek, FDI berdampak negatif terhadap ekspor. Namun dalam hal impor, ditemukan bahwa FDI memiliki dampak positif terhadap impor meskipun secara statistik tidak signifikan. Oleh karena itu pemerintah perlu mengambil langkah untuk meningkatkan FDI di Indonesia, tidak hanya pada sektor domestik tetapi juga pada sektor yang berorientasi ekspor. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of the flow of the international trade and foreign direct investment in Indonesia using a separate Regression analysis. The study found that there is a significant relation between export and FDI and between import and FDI. However, the effect of FDI on the export in the long run is positive while in the short run it was found negative and insignificant. Therefore, the Government needs to formulate policies to promote FDI at both national level as well as at the international level.

scholarly journals The Position of Afghan Refugees under Various Agreements and Constitution of Pakistan: An Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol IV (I) ◽  
pp. 462-472
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zubair ◽  
Suhail Shahzad ◽  
Muhammad Aqeel Khan
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
International Level ◽  
Refugee Status ◽  
Afghan Refugees ◽  
Territorial Jurisdiction ◽  
High Commissioner ◽  
Legal Position ◽  
The Government ◽  
Status Recognition

This article explores the legal position of Afghan refugees in Pakistan (as it has no refugee related legislation at national level nor a signatory to refugee related instruments at international level) in the light of . various agreements which it has concluded with the UNHCR and the Afghan government along with the various protections available under the 1973 Constitution. A total of eight agreements which started with the first one in 1988 have been concluded among the Government of Pakistan (GOP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of Afghanistan (GOA) under which various rights have been extended to them apart from their refugee status recognition. The Constitution of Pakistan also affords them certain fundamental rights irrespective of their status as they are currently living in Pakistan’s territorial jurisdiction, which enables them to claim those rights. Their life and liberty is as protected as any other citizen of Pakistan.

Good Governance on Multiple Levels

2019 ◽  
pp. 25-54
Author(s):  
Henk Addink
Keyword(s):  
Good Governance ◽  
National Level ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Administrative Law ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
International Level ◽  
The Government ◽  
Governmental Institutions ◽  
Role Of The Government ◽  
National Governments

There are different levels on which the concept and the principles of good governance have been developed: national, regional, and international. On the national level there are the developments of prevention maladministration but also from the regional and the international level there are injections—by harmonization and cooperation between the national governments—for these concepts and principles of good governance on the national level. Where on the national level the original concept of the rule of law was developed to protect the citizens, the concept of democracy made it necessary to provide more influence from the citizens. That was also because of the important realization of social and political rights and the more important active role of the government. In addition to the classical principles, more attention was also given to effectiveness and accountability of governmental institutions. Because of the fragmentation of administrative law there was also more attention given to the development of general administrative law acts on a national level. There were several initiatives of codes for good governance and good administration. There was the development of the regionalization of administrative law. And, especially on an international level, the international institutions were more and more focused on good governance.

scholarly journals Assessing the Resilience and Sustainability of a Hazelnut Farming System in Central Italy with a Participatory Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 343
Author(s):  
Elena Nera ◽  
Wim Paas ◽  
Pytrik Reidsma ◽  
Giulio Paolini ◽  
Federico Antonioli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
System Level ◽  
Present System ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Stakeholder Workshop

European agriculture is facing increasing economic, environmental, institutional, and social challenges, from changes in demographic trends to the effects of climate change. In this context of high instability, the agricultural sector in Europe needs to improve its resilience and sustainability. Local assessments and strategies at the farming system level are needed, and this paper focuses on a hazelnut farming system in central Italy. For the assessment, a participatory approach was used, based on a stakeholder workshop. The results depicted a system with a strong economic and productive role, but which seems to overlook natural resources. This would suggest a relatively low environmental sustainability of the system, although the actual environmental impact of hazelnut farming is controversial. In terms of resilience, we assessed it by looking at the perceived level of three capacities: robustness, adaptability, and transformability. The results portrayed a highly robust system, but with relatively lower adaptability and transformability. Taking the farming system as the focal level was important to consider the role of different actors. While mechanisation has played a central role in enhancing past and present system resilience, future improvements can be achieved through collective strategies and system diversification, and by strengthening the local hazelnut value chain.

scholarly journals How Capital Endowment and Ecological Cognition Affect Environment-Friendly Technology Adoption: A Case of Apple Farmers of Shandong Province, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7571
Author(s):  
Hongyu Wang ◽  
Xiaolei Wang ◽  
Apurbo Sarkar ◽  
Fuhong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Shandong Province ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
Compensation Policy ◽  
Ecological Compensation ◽  
Capital Endowment ◽  
The Government

Ever-increasing global environmental issues, land degradation, and groundwater contamination may significantly impact the agricultural sector of any country. The situation worsens while the global agricultural sectors are going through the unsustainable intensification of agricultural production powered by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This trend leads the sector to exercise environmentally friendly technology (EFT). Capital endowment and ecological cognition may significantly impact fostering farmers’ adoption of environmentally friendly technology. The government also tends to change the existing policies to cope with ever-increasing challenges like pollution control, maintaining ecological balance, and supporting agricultural sectors substantially by employing ecological compensation policy. The study’s main objective is to explore the impacts of farmer’s ecological compensation, capital endowment, and ecological cognition for the adoption of EFT. The empirical setup of the study quantifies with survey data of 471 apple farmers from nine counties of Shandong province. The study used Heckman’s two-stage model to craft the findings. The results showed that 52.02% of fruit farmers adopted two environmentally friendly technologies, and 23.99% of fruit farmers adopted three forms of environmentally friendly technologies. At the same time, we have traced that the capital endowment, planting scale, family income, and technical specialization of fruit farmers significantly impact adopting EFT. The study also revealed that understanding ecological compensation policy has a significant positive effect on adopting environmentally friendly technology. Seemingly, ecological compensation policy has a specific regulatory effect on fruit farmers’ capital endowment and ecological cognition. Therefore, it is necessary to extend the demonstration facilities, training, and frequently arrange awareness-building campaigns regarding rural non-point source pollution hazards and improve the cognition level of farmers. The agriculture extension department should strengthen the agricultural value chain facilities to make farmers fully realize the importance of EFT. Government should promote and extend the supports for availing new and innovative EFT at a reasonable price. Moreover, cooperative, financial, and credit organizations need to lead for the smooth transition of EFT. The agricultural cooperatives and formal risk-taking networks should act responsibly for shaping the behavioral factors of farmers.

scholarly journals Impact of covid-19 public health containment measures (lockdown) on agricultural activities and livestock sub-sector: A case of Southwest, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 240-252
Author(s):  
J. T. Ojediran ◽  
T. K. Ojediran ◽  
G. E. Fanifosi ◽  
R. G. Adeola ◽  
O. A. Ajao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Southwest Nigeria ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown surpasses the health sector. A multi- disciplinary team of experts in agriculture including crop, livestock, economics and extension drew out a questionnaire on areas of impact, mitigation and constraints imposed by COVID-19 and accompanied lockdown. The survey was administered online to farmers in South-west, Nigeria. A total of 1,080 respondents from Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States (319, 225, 119, 213, 202 and 78, respectively) responded. Obtained data for this study were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency count, percentage, mean and standard deviation). The study revealed that COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown had a devastating impact on Agriculture/livestock activities and the value chain. Most of the respondents were married, active males (x=44 years) and livestock farmers. The respondents perceived that producer/farmers and marketers (64-66%) were profoundly affected while agro-processors and input/agrochemical merchants (53%) were moderately affected. Majority of the respondents agreed that the pandemic and lockdown changed agriculture with the threat to life and livelihoods (94.44%), with looming food/feed crises (92.96), increased cost of food/feed production (90.65%), economic loss (x WMS = 4.32), reduced quality food availability (x=4.18), increased income insecurity (x=4.18) and social vices (x=4.50) as a result of logistical (transportation/ movement) restrictions and border closures. Our study, therefore, suggests that there is a need for collaborative effort from the government and the stakeholders to strengthen the agricultural sector through finance to increase production and enhanced value chain. This will go a long way in achieving self- sufficiency in food and industrial raw materials post-COVID-19 period.     L'impact de la pandémie et du confinement du COVID-19 dépasse le secteur de la santé. Une équipe multidisciplinaire d'experts en agriculture, y compris les cultures, le bétail, l'économie et la vulgarisation, a élaboré un questionnaire avec les domaines d'impact,   Impact of COVID-19 public health containment measures (lockdown)   d'atténuation et les contraintes imposées par COVID-19 et le confinement accompagné. L'enquête a été administrée en ligne aux agriculteurs du sud-ouest du Nigéria. Au total, 1 080 répondants des États d'Oyo, d'Osun, d'Ekiti, d'Ogun, d'Ondo et de Lagos (319, 225, 119, 213, 202 et 78, respectivement) ont répondu. Les données obtenues pour cette étude ont été analysées à l'aide de statistiques descriptives (nombre de fréquences, pourcentage, moyenne et écart-type). L'étude a révélé que la pandémie et le confinement du COVID-19 avaient un impact dévastateur sur les activités agricoles / de bétail et la chaîne de valeur. La plupart des répondants étaient mariés, des hommes actifs (= 44 ans) et des éleveurs. Les répondants ont perçu que les producteurs / agriculteurs et les commerçants (64-66%) étaient profondément affectés tandis que les agro-transformateurs et les commerçants d'intrants / agrochimiques (53%) étaient modérément affectés. La majorité des répondants ont convenu que la pandémie et le confinement ont changé l'agriculture avec une menace pour la vie et les moyens de subsistance (94.44%), avec des crises imminentes pour les denrées alimentaires et les aliments pour animaux (92.96), une augmentation du coût de la production de denrées alimentaires / aliments pour animaux (90.65%), des pertes économiques (x=4.32), une disponibilité alimentaire de qualité réduite (x= 4.18), une insécurité accrue des revenus (x= 4.18) et des vices sociaux (x= 4.50) en raison des restrictions logistiques (transport / mouvement) et des fermetures de frontières. Notre étude suggère donc qu'il est nécessaire de déployer des efforts de collaboration de la part du gouvernement et des parties prenantes pour renforcer le secteur agricole par le biais du financement afin d'augmenter la production et d'améliorer la chaîne de valeur. Cela contribuera grandement à atteindre l'autosuffisance en matières premières alimentaires et industrielles après la période COVID-19.

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