Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Eco-agriculture'

L’agricultura urbana (UA en anglès) està en constant creixement a causa dels múltiples beneficis que ofereix a més de reduir l’impacte ambiental relacionat a el transport d’aliments des de fora cap a dins de les ciutats. Seguint la iniciativa d’economia circular (CE en anglès), actualment hi ha estudis per millorar l’acompliment ambiental i l’eficiència en l’ús dels recursos de la UA mitjançant l’aprofitament de fluxos d’aigua, nutrients i gasos, com en el cas dels hivernacles als terrats (RTG en anglès). No obstant això, el flux de les deixalles sòlides agro-urbans (AUSW en anglès), que representen un nou tipus de deixalles dins de les ciutats, encara no ha estat estudiats de el tot per al seu aprofitament. Tampoc han estat clarament tipificats dins dels residus gestionats a nivell municipal, el que a futur podria representar un nou problema per al sistema de gestió de residus dins de les ciutats. L’objectiu general de la present dissertació és identificar quin tipus de AUSW té el potencial de ser aprofitat in situ per continuar amb els beneficis que ofereix la UA i generar conceptes d’aplicació per al residu mitjançant una metodologia interdisciplinària basada en l’eco-disseny per a la generació d’un eco-material amb valor afegit (upcycling) mitjançant tècniques de “Hagalo vostè mateix (DIYen anglès)”. L’anterior usant com a estudi de cas cultius de tomàquet de RTG amb sistema de fertirrigació sense terra. A més, d’aquesta manera es pretén visibilitzar una nova tipologia de residus aportant dades que serveixin de guia per plantejar directrius i normatives de gestió a nivell local. Els resultats de la investigació mostren que, les deixalles sòlids orgànics (OSW en anglès) o biomassa, és la fracció més crítica respecte a l’volum i temporalitat de la seva generació particularment les tiges de tomaquera. A més, d’acord amb l’escenari futur de creixement de la UA, l’augment previst de l’volum de OSW dins de les ciutats podria ser d’un 20% per a l’any 2030. Es van realitzar dos cultius experimentals d’enciam utilitzant tiges de tomaquera com a substrat en RTG per identificar la viabilitat d’aquesta forma d’aprofitament in situ per tancar el cicle de la UA. Seguint amb la metodologia utilitzada, es va realitzar la caracterització física, química i mecànica de les tiges de tomaquera. Es van identificar materials amb característiques similars, per tal d’identificar possibles àrees d’aplicació per a l’aprofitament de les tiges utilitzant el mètode d’Ashby. Es va determinar que les tiges de les tomaqueres són similars a la família de materials tipus fusta i d’aquesta manera es van identificar possibles tècniques de processament i àrees d’aplicació. Posteriorment es va realitzar una sessió creativa de generació d’idees amb especialistes en les àrees d’UA, disseny de producte, eco-materials, i materials alternatius per a la construcció. Es van generar 3 conceptes resultants d’aplicacions viables per a l’aprofitament de les tiges. Aquests conceptes van ser avaluats qualitativament pels participants i finalment es va realitzar una avaluació semiquantitativa dels conceptes resultants. D’aquesta manera es va determinar que la metodologia proposada des de l’enfocament de CE és útil per identificar aplicacions viables per al upcycling dels AUSW de forma local mitjançant tècniques de DIY. Això degut en gran part a la “naturalesa creativa” de l’eco-disseny, el que permet adaptar la metodologia a diferents contextos, de manera que es pugui solucionar problemes globals partint de l’escala local. A més, el present estudi aporta dades de caracterització de les tiges de tomàquet, que també són aplicables per a l’aprofitament dels residus generats per l’agricultura convencional considerant el gran volum que genera.
La agricultura urbana (UA en inglés) está en constante crecimiento debido a los múltiples beneficios que ofrece además de reducir el impacto ambiental relacionado al transporte de alimentos desde fuera hacia adentro de las ciudades. Siguiendo la iniciativa de economía circular (CE en inglés), actualmente hay estudios para mejorar el desempeño ambiental y la eficiencia en el uso de los recursos de la UA mediante el aprovechamiento de flujos de agua, nutrientes y gases, como en el caso de los invernaderos en las azoteas (RTG en inglés). Sin embargo, el flujo de los desechos sólidos agro-urbanos (AUSW en inglés), que representan un nuevo tipo de desechos dentro de las ciudades, aún no ha sido estudiados del todo para su aprovechamiento. Tampoco han sido claramente tipificados dentro de los residuos gestionados a nivel municipal, lo que a futuro podría representar un nuevo problema para el sistema de gestión de residuos dentro de las ciudades. El objetivo general de la presente disertación es identificar qué tipo de AUSW tiene el potencial de ser aprovechado in situ para continuar con los beneficios que brinda la UA y generar conceptos de aplicación para el residuo mediante una metodología interdisciplinar basada en el eco-diseño para la generación de un eco-material con valor agregado (upcycling) mediante técnicas de “Hagalo usted mismo (DIYen inglés)”. Lo anterior usando como estudio de caso cultivos de tomate de RTG con sistema de fertiirrigación sin suelo. Además, de esta forma se pretende visibilizar una nueva tipología de residuos aportando datos que sirvan de guía para plantear directrices y normativas de gestión a nivel local. Los resultados de la investigación muestran que, los desechos sólidos orgánicos (OSW en inglés) o biomasa, es la fracción más crítica respecto al volumen y temporalidad de su generación particularmente los tallos de tomatera. Además, de acuerdo con el escenario futuro de crecimiento de la UA, el aumento previsto del volumen de OSW dentro de las ciudades podría ser del 20% para el año 2030. Se realizaron dos cultivos experimentales de lechuga utilizando tallos de tomatera como sustrato en RTG para identificar la viabilidad de esta forma de aprovechamiento in situ para cerrar el ciclo de la UA. Siguiendo con la metodología utilizada, se realizó la caracterización física, química y mecánica de los tallos de tomatera. Se identificaron materiales con características similares, con el fin de identificar posibles áreas de aplicación para el aprovechamiento de los tallos utilizando el método de Ashby. Se determinó que los tallos de las tomateras son similares a la familia de materiales tipo madera y de esta forma se identificaron posibles técnicas de procesamiento y áreas de aplicación. Posteriormente se realizó una sesión creativa de generación de ideas con especialistas en las áreas de UA, diseño de producto, eco-materiales, y materiales alternativos para la construcción. Se generaron 3 conceptos resultantes de aplicaciones viables para el aprovechamiento de los tallos. Estos conceptos fueron evaluados cualitativamente por los participantes y finalmente se realizó una evaluación semicuantitativa de los conceptos resultantes. De esta manera se determinó que la metodología propuesta desde el enfoque de CE es útil para identificar aplicaciones viables para el upcycling de los AUSW de forma local mediante técnicas de DIY. Esto debido en gran parte a la “naturaleza creativa” del eco-diseño, lo que permite adaptar la metodología a diferentes contextos, de forma que se pueda solucionar problemas globales partiendo de la escala local. Además, el presente estudio aporta datos de caracterización de los tallos de tomate, que también son aplicables para el aprovechamiento de los residuos generados por la agricultura convencional considerando el gran volumen que genera.
Urban agriculture (UA) is constantly growing due to the multiple benefits it offers in addition to reducing the environmental impact related to the transport of food from outside to inside cities. Following the circular economy (CE) initiative, there are currently studies to improve environmental performance and efficiency in the use of AU resources by taking advantage of flows of water, nutrients and gases, as in the case of rooftop greenhouses (RTGs). However, the flow of agro-urban solid waste (AUSW), which represents a new type of waste within cities, has not yet been fully studied for its use. Nor have they been clearly classified within the waste managed at the municipal level, which in the future could represent a new problem for the waste management system within cities. The general objective of this dissertation is to identify what type of AUSW has the potential to be used in situ to continue with the benefits provided by the UA and generate application concepts for waste through an interdisciplinary methodology based on eco-design for the generation of an eco-material with added value (upcycling) through techniques of “Do it yourself (DIY)”. The foregoing using RTG tomato crops with soilless fertigation system as a case study. In addition, in this way it is intended to make visible a new typology of waste by providing data that serve as a guide to propose guidelines and management regulations at the local level. The results of the research show that organic solid waste (OSW) or biomass, is the most critical fraction regarding the volume and timing of its generation, particularly tomato stems. Furthermore, according to the future growth scenario of the AU, the projected increase in OSW volume within cities could be 20% by 2030. Two experimental lettuce crops were carried out using tomato stems as substrate in RTG to identify the viability of this form of use in situ to close the UA cycle. Following the methodology used, the physical, chemical and mechanical characterization of the tomato stems was carried out. Materials with similar characteristics were identified, in order to identify possible areas of application for the use of the stems using the Ashby method. It was determined that the stems of the tomato plants are similar to the family of wood-type materials and in this way possible processing techniques and areas of application were identified. Later, a creative session was held with specialists in the areas of UA, product design, eco-materials, and alternative materials for construction. 3 concepts were generated resulting from viable applications for the use of the stems. These concepts were qualitatively evaluated by the participants and finally a semi-quantitative evaluation of the resulting concepts was carried out. In this way, it was determined that the methodology proposed from the CE approach is useful to identify viable applications for the upcycling of AUSW locally using DIY techniques. This is due in large part to the “creative nature” of eco-design, which allows adapting the methodology to different contexts, so that global problems can be solved starting from the local scale. In addition, this study provides data on the characterization of tomato stems, which are also applicable for the use of waste generated by conventional agriculture considering the large volume it generates.

Thesis advisor: Wen Fan
Urban and community agriculture projects have long been touted as harboring the cure for a range of social maladies, even as recent findings show that many such projects mainly benefit White, already economically secure people. Drawing on interviews from participants and staff members of a community farm, I examine how this farm fits into the overall narrative surrounding community agriculture, as well as the diverse motivations participants have for joining the farm and the impacts stemming from their involvement. Results show proximity and interest to be the most frequent motivations for initial involvement, while participants noted changes in eating habits and self-perceptions from their participation. Additionally, consistent with previous literature, I identify themes regarding participants' alignment with eco-habitus and issues of accessibility for certain populations. These findings open the door for further research on the interplay between motivation and impacts, and how that is influenced by farm operations
Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2021
Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: Departmental Honors
Discipline: Sociology

How do indigenous people perceive and practice eco-agriculture, especially when it was introduced as a development project? This thesis aims to delve into this question by focusing on a policy-induced agrarian transition for Pumi community in Sino-Myanmar borderlands. Using ethnographic methods, I intend to offer an intimate account of a provincial programme to facilitate eco-agriculture in this ethnic region. With the conceptual framework presented, the current research starts with the introduction of Pumi agricultural history and indigenous farming knowledge, with a focus on Pumi biocultural heritage. Then, I will examine how the process of ‘indigenisation of modernity’ (Sahlins 2000) has occurred against the backdrop of Pumi eco-agriculture programme. The insights will be distilled from three different aspects, which are agricultural land use, technical practices, and governance issues. For each aspect, I will scrutinise to what degree the government is following an industrial model to design the eco-agriculture agenda which corresponds to the ‘conventionalisation hypothesis’ of organic production (Buck 1997) and is thus in alignment with their long-term strategic goals to ‘modernise’ this borderland region through agricultural transformations, whereas the local Pumi farmers are actively coping with the government’s external interventions, meanwhile searching for the ‘alternative pathway’ towards agricultural modernisation. In the final chapter, I will interpret the motives of the both actors in the programme. For the government, the post-development theory will be employed to provide a critique of the ‘development discourse’ embedded in the agenda. For local farmers, the concept of ‘environmentality’ (Agrawal 2005) will be focused to interpret the Pumi farmers’ motives to indigenise, which ultimately questioning the transforming powers of modernity and globalisation on Pumi agrarian society. Basically, this thesis aims to trace the socio-political processes which drive the ‘agrarian transition’ in a Southeast Asian frontier, and further demonstrate how the resource abundance in the borderlands can underpin intense processes of commodification and dispossession (Nevins and Peluso 2008; Ishikawa 2010; see also Milne and Mahanty, 2015), the implications of which crystallised in an ethnographic context. To a larger extent, this research aims to shed lights on the interactions between social structure and individual agency ― although the Pumi farmers are struggling to survive with the adaptation to modern inputs, they are still marginalised by the structured inequality of the market economy, which limited the farmers’ opportunities to improve their own livelihoods. Furthermore, this research also has significant policy implications as it addresses the issues such as agricultural policy and ethnic relations in the borderland regions. By reflecting upon the overlapping implications of highland livelihoods, agencies, and the transforming powers of social change, the current study aims to build a locally rooted understanding of Pumi eco-agriculture programme, and provide lessons for sustainable planning and future policy-making for rural development in developing countries such as China.

Esta disertación, propone estrategias para sistemas urbanos sustentables introduciendo aspectos de eco-innovación en edificios con especial énfasis en reducir la energía y las emisiones de Gases de Efecto Invernadero (GEI). El estudio se desarrolla en dos contextos economicos, social y climáticamente diferentes. Por una parte la mejora ambiental y energética de la vivienda social en México a través de estrategias de eco rehabilitación en el interior y exterior de la misma: eco-tecnologías (equipos eficientes), sombreado y aislamiento (sombra sobre el techo, volados en muros, louvers en ventanas y techo verde) y producción de alimentos (tomates). Se calcularon os requerimientos de energía para enfriamiento de la vivienda social así como la demanda de energía acumulada y emisiones de CO2 asociadas con los materiales usados en las estrategias de sombreamiento. En la producción de alimentos el sistema fue expandido para determinar los impactos respecto a la logística de alimentos (distribución, empaque y pérdidas de producto). Por otra parte, la implementación de invernaderos de producción intensiva de alimentos en las cubiertas de edificios de Ciudades Mediterráneas de Europa, estudiando la barreras y oportunidades ambientales, sociales, económicas y tecnológicas de su implantación. El método de trabajó consistió en grupos multidisciplinarios de discusión a través de seminarios con expertos en diferentes áreas. El potencial de sinergia entre el edificio y el invernadero en términos de flujos de calor fue identificado focalizando únicamente en los requerimientos de energía para calefacción en invierno en un edificio de servicios en Barcelona, España. Para desarrollar esta investigación fue necesario integrar herramientas multidisciplinares y programas de: simulación energética (DesignBuilder, Ecotect), análisis de flujos (CFD), análisis de ciclo de vida (SimaPro) y herramientas sociales como seminarios y grupos focales. Según los resultados, para la vivienda social, las eco-tecnologías pueden proveer una reducción annual del 31% del consumo de energía (35.7 kWh/m2/año). Con la estrategia de sombreado del techo se obtuvo un ahorro de 126 kWh/m2/año. La producción de tomates en las áreas de la vivienda social de Mérida (México) puede aportar ahorros de 662 gCO2eq por kg de tomates producidos. En orden descendiente, los principales contribuyentes de estos ahorros son: requerimientos de transporte (57.7%), pérdida de producto (37.2%) y empaque (5.1%). Respecto al sistema invernadero-edificio, el grupo de expertos coincidió en definir la interconexión entre ambos como una de las oportunidades del sistema al hacer sinergia con los flujos de agua, energía y CO2, así como la reducción del transporte de los alimentos. La metodología aplicada a este estudio resultó positiva debido a la participación interdisciplinaria de expertos lo cual facilitó una visión global de la implementación del proyecto. De acuerdo al análisis energético, un total de 87 kWh/día de calor fue removido del invernadero con la finalidad de disminuir su temperatura. Este dato indica una estimación del potencial del calor que puede ser transferido al edificio en un día típico de invierno. Basado en los resultados generados en esta investigación, futuras líneas de investigación pueden ser desarrolladas con la finalidad de determinar otros beneficios energéticos y ambientales del sistema. Las estrategias presentadas en esta disertación tienen el objetivo de facilitar el desarrollo sustentable en sistemas urbanos através de la investigaciones para mejorar la vivienda social en países en vías de desarrollo e implementar la agricultura urbana en ciudades compactas.
This dissertation proposes strategies for sustainable urban systems, introducing eco-innovation in buildings and paying particular attention to energy and GHG emissions. The study was developed in two diferent social, economical and climatic contexts. Firstly, environmental and energy improvement of social housing in a warm-humid climate in Merida (Mexico) is investigated, through eco-rehabilitation strategies such as ecotechnologies (efficient equipment), shading and insulation (Above roof shade, overhangs on walls, louvers in windows and green roof) and food production (tomato). Energy requirements for cooling in social housing, cumulative energetic demand and CO2 emissions associated with the materials used in shading and insulative strategies were calculated. In food production, the expanded system is considered, in order to determine impacts related to food logistics (distribution, packaging, retail). Secondly, Rooftop Eco-Greenhouse (RTEG) is presented as an eco-innovative system that incorporates agriculture into the rooftops of buildings in Mediterranean European cities. A list of environmental, economical, technological and social barriers, as well as opportunities for the implementation of the RTEG system, were obtained. The work method consisted of discussion seminars involving an interdisciplinary group of experts from different areas. In addition, the potential for synergies between buildings and RTEG systems in terms of heat flows was identified, focusing only on heating requirements in winter, in an office building in Barcelona (Spain). To develop this research, multidisciplinary tools and software programs such as energy simulation (DesignBuilder, Ecotect), flow analysis (CFD), life cycle analysis (SimaPro) were used. Social tools, such as seminars and focus groups, were also utilised. According to the results for social housing, eco-technologies could potentially provide reduce annual energy consumption by 31% (35.7kWh/m2/year). The ‘Above roof shade’ strategy can provide a saving of 126kWh/m2/year. Production of tomatoes in social housing areas in Merida (Mexico) could provide a savings of 662 gCO2eq per kg of tomatoes produced. In descending order, the main contributors to these savings are transport requirements (57.7%), retail phase (37.2%) and re-usable packaging (5.1%). In respect to RTEG, we would highlight the interconnection of the building and the greenhouse as an opportunity for RTEG, making use of water, energy and CO2 flows between both, as well as reducing food transportation requirements. The participation of experts helped to produce a global vision for the implementation of the project. According to energy analysis, a total of 87 kWh/day of heat was removed from the greenhouse, in order to reduce its temperature. This data indicates the potential amount of heat that could be transferred to the building in a study day. Based on the results generated by this research, further lines of research can be investigated, in order to determine other energy and environmental benefits of the RTEG system. All strategies presented in this dissertation aim to facilitate the sustainable development of urban systems, through researching eco-innovation in the field of improvement of social housing in Developing Countries and urban agriculture in compact cities.

BVP dalis, tenkanti žemės ūkiui, miškininkystei ir žuvininkystei, pastarąjį dešimtmetį nuolat mažėjo. Žemės išteklių ir gamtinės aplinkos kokybė sukuria palankias sąlygas didinti žemės ūkio našumą (kuris tebelieka nedidelis) ir plėtoti netradicinę žemės ūkio veiklą – ekologinę žemdirbystę, taip pat alternatyvių rūšių veiklą, tokią kaip kaimo turizmas. Žemės ūkio sektoriaus potencialą riboja mažas vidutinis ūkio dydis (vertinant pagal žemės plotą, gyvulių skaičių ar kita), todėl sektorių būtina skubiai stambinti. Teigiama tai, kad kaimo vietovėse palyginti gerai išplėtotas konsultacijų tinklas. Parengtos profesinio mokymo programos žemės ūkio veiklos efektyvumui didinti ir ekonominės kaimo veiklos rūšims įvairinti. Kaimo bendruomenės sparčiai vystosi ir keičiasi. Verslininkų iniciatyvos ir kūrybingumas kaimo vietovėse struktūrinių pokyčių procesą gali paspartinti. Lietuvos maisto pramonė yra pajėgi surasti nišų Europos bendrojoje rinkoje (pirmiausia mėsos ir pieno sektoriuose). Tačiau šį procesą nulems tai, kiek perdirbimo įmonių sugebės įvykdyti ES veterinarijos ir sanitarijos reikalavimus. Nemažai pieno perdirbimo įmonių jau yra įdiegusios ES standartus, o dauguma mėsos perdirbimo įmonių – dar ne. Dauguma Lietuvos miškų (71 %) priklauso valstybei. Privačiame sektoriuje (29 %) vyrauja smulkūs savininkai, ir tai trukdo intensyviai plėtoti miškininkystės sektorių. Žuvininkystės sektoriui būdingas pajėgumų perviršis. Lietuvos žvejybos laivynas per didelis, ypač atsižvelgiant į... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]
The share of GDP accounted for by agriculture, forestry and fisheries has been steadily declining over the past decade. The high quality of land resources and the natural environment creates favourable conditions for increasing agricultural productivity (which is still low) and pursuing non-traditional agricultural activities such as eco-farming and alternative business activities such as rural tourism. The agricultural sector’s potential is limited by the small average farm size (measured according to land area or the number of animals or the farm, etc). There is therefore an urgent need for sectoral consolidation More positively, the consulting network in rural areas is relatively well-developed. Vocational training programmes have been developed to improve the efficiency of agricultural activities and to help diversify the rural economy into alternative economic activities. Rural communities are generally evolving and changing rapidly. Entrepreneurial initiative and creativity in rural areas at local level has the potential to accelerate the process of structural change. The Lithuanian food industry has been successful in establishing market niches in the EU Common Market (particularly in the meat and dairy sectors). However, consolidating on these strengths will depend in large part on the number of processing companies able to meet EU veterinary and sanitary requirements. While a number of large dairy companies already meet EU standards, most companies in the meat... [to full text]

Tyrimo tikslas- ištirti ekologiškų maisto produktų vartojimą bei požiūrį į juos tarp Vilniaus miesto suaugusių gyventojų. Metodai. Tyrimo imtis- 514 Vilniaus miesto suaugusių gyventojų. Tyrimui naudotas anoniminės anketinės apklausos metodas. Anketos klausimai buvo apie pačius respondentus, jų požiūrį į ekologiškus maisto produktus, vartojimo ir nevartojimo priežastis, produktų prieinamumą, informacijos gavimą. Duomenų analizė atlikta naudojant statistinę SPSS 14.0 programą. Statistiškai reikšmingam skirtumui tarp grupių įvertinti naudojamas Mano – Vitnio rangų sumų kriterijus (U). Kokybinių požymių statistiniam ryšiui nustatyti naudojamas chi kvadratas (χ2) ir apskaičiuotas šio kriterijaus laisvės laipsnių skaičius (df). Duomenų skirtumas laikomas statistiškai reikšmingu, kai p < 0,05. Rezultatai. Ekologiškus maisto produktus vartoja 82,1 % respondentų, iš jų 88,2 % moterų ir 71,2 % vyrų. Moterys vartoja statistiškai reikšmingai dažniau (p= 0,000). Tarp amžiaus grupių ir vartojimo irgi nustatytas statistiškai reikšmingas ryšys (p= 0,009), 18-34 metų amžiaus respondentai vartoja dažniau. Statistiškai reikšmingai dažniau vartoja >1501 Lt ir <500 Lt gaunantys respondentai (p=0,012), taip pat turintys aukštąjį ir profesinį išsilavinimą (p=0,029). 97,5 % atsakiusiųjų pirktų ekologiškus maisto produktus, jei tik leistų galimybės. Priežastys, lemiančios ekologiškų maisto produktų vartojimą, yra šių produktų saugumas 27,3 %, sveikumas 90,0 %, skanumas 38,9 %. Nevartojimo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]
The aim of the research- to investigate organic food consumption and approach to it among adults in Vilnius city. Methods. Research volume- 514 adults of Vilnius city. The method of anonymous questionnaire survey was applied for the research. Questionnaire contained questions of the respondents, they approach to organic food, reasons of consumption or not, accessibility of products, obtaining information. Data analysis was performed by using the program SPSS 14.0. Mann-Whitney rank sum criterion (U) was applied for analysis of statistically significant difference between the groups. The value chi square (χ2) was applied for evaluation of statistic relation of qualitative features. The data difference is statistically significant when p < 0,05. Results. Organic food are used by 82,1 % respondents, 88,2 % of them was women and 71,2 %- men. Women use statistically significantly more frequently (p= 0,000). There is statistically significant relation between age groups and consumption (p= 0,009), 18-34 years old of respondents use more frequently. Statistically significantly more frequently (p=0,012) use respondents, which earn >1501 Lt and <500 Lt money, also respondents, which have higher and vocational education (p=0,029). The reasons why people use organic food are: food safety (27,3 %), health (90,0 %), good taste (38,9 %). The non- used reasons are: too expensive (53,3 %), not good taste (5,4 %), short consumption time (21,7 %), don‘t knows which food is organic (28,3... [to full text]

Esta tese visa a construção de uma biografia histórica do engenheiro agrônomo e ambientalista José Lutzenberger (1926-2002). O objetivo é compreender de que maneira a trajetória de Lutzenberger se articula com a construção de uma ética ecológica, em meio às lutas que ele protagonizou ao longo de trinta e um anos de militância ambiental. O fio condutor da narrativa é a ética ecológica, pois foi o elemento central em seu trabalho, que orientava sua própria visão de como o mundo deveria ser se a humanidade adotasse uma postura que priorizasse a ecologia. Utilizou-se, entre outros acervos, principalmente documentação do Arquivo Privado de José Lutzenberger (APJL): correspondência, recortes de jornais e revistas, iconografia, obras de Lutzenberger e de terceiros, documentos pessoais e oficiais, textos de depoimentos, conferências e de entrevistas, charges, textos técnicos. Também fizemos uso de fontes orais. A tese está estruturada em oito capítulos, de acordo com as lutas e posições ocupadas por Lutzenberger, ao longo de sua trajetória, enfocando as principais campanhas ambientalistas em que se envolveu, o cargo de Secretário de Meio Ambiente no governo Collor, sua atuação como empresário de “tecnologias suaves”, seu trabalho com educação ambiental e agricultura ecológica. O trabalho também analisa as redes de relações tecidas pelo personagem e a abordagem teórica em que se embasou para criar sua ética ecológica, de caráter ecocêntrico. Foi possível avançar no entendimento do arcabouço intelectual de Lutzenberger, bem como na dinâmica de sua militância, oferecendo uma sistematização dos princípios do que chamamos a Ética Lutzenbergeriana, ou Ética do convívio ecossustentável.
This dissertation aims at constructing a historical biography of José Lutzenberger, agronomist and environmental engineer (1926-2002). This biography aids in observing how his trajectory is articulated with the construction of an ecological ethics amidst his protagonism in 31 years of environmental militancy. Ecological ethics conduces this narrative as this was the central element in his work, guiding his own view of how the world should be if Humanity adopted a posture that prioritized Ecology. The main documental source was his private archive (Arquivo Privado de José Lutzenberger - APJL). Other sources used were correspondence, news clippings, iconography, works by Lutzenberger and others, personal and official documents, textual testimonials, conferences and interviews, editorial cartoons, and technical texts. Oral sources have also been used. The 8-chapter structure of this dissertation delineates the positions occupied by Lutzenberger and his trajectory of fight, with focus on the main environmentalist campaigns with which he was involved, as well as his position as Secretary of the Environment during the Collor administration, his business in "soft technology", his work with ecological agriculture and environmental education. This study also presents analysis of the networks created around him, as well as the theoretical bases he used to create the ecological ethics with its eco-centric character. Advances in the understanding of Lutzenberger's intellectual outlines and of the dynamics of his militancy in this work offer a systematization of principles named the Lutzenbergerian Ethics, or the Ethics of Eco-sustainable Life.

Along with the organic food market development, two directions within the industry has appeared, the traditional organic farming and the biodynamic organic farming. The thesis aimed to derive at which organic certification of organic food in the Swedish food market is most appropriate to the organic movement, based on customer perceptions of Swedish University students. The thesis looked at KRAV, a certifier of traditional organic farming, and Demeter, a certifier of biodynamic organic farming. A quantitative method was used to gain a deeper understanding of the consumer perceptions of organic certification standards and the comparison of KRAV and Demeter, and which certification consumers preferred. A survey was distributed in order to find out the consumer perceptions. The findings of the thesis were split into two parts, each answering one research question. The first part showed that people adhered to the standards of Demeter, with average means skewed towards their side of the scale. The second part identified five hypotheses to be tested against each other, and found customer confusion to be the main impacting factor of consumer perceptions of organic food standards.

This dissertation expands upon the definition of eco-visualization artwork. EV was originally defined in 2006 by Tiffany Holmes as a way to display the real time consumption statistics of key environmental resources for the goal of promoting ecological literacy. I assert that the final forms of EV artworks are not necessarily dependent on technology, and can differ in terms of media used, in that they can be sculptural, video-based, or static two-dimensional forms that communicate interpreted environmental information. There are two main categories of EV: one that is predominantly screen-based and another that employs a variety of modes of representation to visualize environmental information. EVs are political acts, situated in a charged climate of rising awareness, operating within the context of environmentalism and sustainability. I discuss a variety of EV works within the frame of ecopsychology, including EcoArtTech’s Eclipse and Keith Deverell’s Building Run; Andrea Polli’s Cloud Car and Particle Falls; Nathalie Miebach’s series, The Sandy Rides; and Natalie Jeremijenko’s Mussel Choir. The range of EV works provided models for my creative project, Sculpting Corn Production, and a foundation from which I developed a creative methodology. Working to defeat my experience of solastalgia, Sculpting Corn Production is a series of discrete paper sculptures focusing on American industrial corn farming. This EV also functions as a way for me to understand our devastated monoculture landscapes and the politics, economics, and related areas of ecology of our food production.

Purpose of this study is to holistically analyze existing linkages between Aruba's tourism industry, restaurants and local farmers, by examining strategies that constrain the development of linkages between these stakeholders. Previous research indicated that tourism development is often accompanied with increased demand for imported food, which results in foreign exchange leakages, inflation and competition with local production. This phenomenon is very common in the Caribbean, where Aruba, with its heavy reliance on imported goods and services, is no exception to this occurrence. To comprehend potential problems associated with linking both sectors, these in-depth case study addresses three fundamental questions: a) what is the structure of supply and demand of food for the tourism industry of Aruba?, and b) what factors constrain the development of linkages between international tourism and Aruba's local agriculture? Using an exploratory and stochastic methodological approach, data will be obtained from structured surveys from three different stakeholders in the food supply chain of Aruba. Anticipated findings illustrate that the existing linkage between the tourism industry and agriculture in Aruba is still weak, yet the food consumption and preferences by tourists can contribute in enhancing an eco-gastronomic tourism supply chain.
Ph.D.
Doctorate
Dean's Office, Education
Education and Human Performance
Education; Hospitality Education

Une agriculture éco-spirituelle peut-elle développer l’Afrique en cette ère de crise écologique ? Telle est la question à laquelle cette thèse répond à travers l’étude d’un projet de développement dont l’objectif est d’être pour le Bénin, un «vivier» de développement socio-économique, à partir de l’homme dont le profil est celui d’un «entrepreneur de type nouveau», «moralement équipé» et doté d’un important capital humain. Ce type d’homme est à «monter» de toutes les pièces du «savoir-être», du «savoir-faire» et du «savoir tout court» par une formation pratico-pratique, suivant le double principe pédagogique : «Apprends en faisant» et «Utilise ce que tu as pour avoir ce que tu veux». Apprendre à faire quoi ? Faire de l’agriculture un levier du décollage économique. Une agriculture écologique et entrepreneuriale, dont la méthode de production et de gestion, met en synergie la culture, l'élevage et la pisciculture d'une part, la production, la transformation et la commercialisation d’autre part et enfin, le social, l’économique et l’écologique, le tout dans une perspective plutôt théocentrique que cosmocentrique ou anthropocentrique
Can eco-spiritual agriculture develop Africa in this era of ecological crisis ? This present thesis tries to answer the above question through the study of Songhaï development Project whose objective is to be for Benin Republic a breeding ground for socio-economic development from the man which profile is “a new type of entrepreneur”, “morally equipped” endowed with an important human resources. This type of man is to be fully assembled with the “behavioural skills”, the “know-how”, and simply the “knowledge” by an in-depth practical training based on the double pedagogical principle : “Learn by doing” and “Use what you have to get what you need”. Learning to do what ? Transforming agriculture into the gear lever of economic progress. An ecological and entrepreneurial agriculture of which the productive and management methods take into account culture, breeding and fish farming in one hand, and production, transformation and marketing on the other, and finally its spiritual, social and economical dimensions

Des particules ultrafines y compris nanométriques, enrichies en métaux (PM) sont émises dans l'atmosphère en zones industrielles et urbaines, puis sont transférées vers les écosystèmes terrestres et aquatiques, avec des conséquences sur la qualité des plantes et la santé humaine. Dans un contexte socio-scientifique mondial où la réglementation sur l’impact (éco)toxicologique des substances et les pressions de l'espace public se renforcent, des études d'impacts environnement-santé sur tout le cycle de vie des PM sont indispensables. La thèse visait tout d'abord l’étude du devenir et de l’impact des métaux des PM: leur cinétique de transfert, les mécanismes de phytodisponibilité, phytotoxicité, et les risques pour la santé humaine lors de l’ingestion de végétaux pollués. Ensuite, à travers le cas de potagers urbains en Chine, une étude socio-scientifique a été réalisée afin de proposer des moyens de gestion durable des risques environnement-santé. Les légumes peuvent accumuler des quantités importantes de métaux par absorption foliaire lorsque des PM pénètrent par les stomates. Des PM de PbO et des nano-CuO induisent une forte phytotoxicité (réduction de la biomasse et des échanges gazeux, nécroses). La phytotoxicité n’est pas simplement régie par la concentration totale en métaux car des bio-transformations se produisent et modifient les formes chimiques des métaux. L’analyse par résonance paramagnétique électronique (EPR) a mis en évidence un changement de spéciation du cuivre dans les tissus des feuilles. Par ailleurs, une influence significative de la nature du métal, de l’espèce végétale et du type d’exposition (foliaire/racinaire) sur la bioaccessibilité gastro-intestinale des éléments a été démontrée. A proximité d’un incinérateur de déchets ou d’une autoroute, l’absorption foliaire des PM induit des concentrations élevée en métaux dans les plantes, en plus du transfert sol-plante. Une bioaccessibilité humaine relativement élevée (60-79%) a été mesurée, suggérant un risque potentiel pour la santé en cas de consommation régulière. Les jardins potagers étudiés présentent un risque sanitaire faible (cas de l’incinérateur) ou modéré (cas de l’autoroute) à l'égard de la consommation humaine des légumes étudiés. Mais, une exposition à différents polluants organiques en plus des métaux est souvent possible. Cette thèse souligne l'importance de prendre en compte l'influence de l'atmosphère en plus de la qualité du sol pour estimer la qualité des plantes consommées cultivées en zones anthropisées (fermes et jardins urbains), pour la gestion durable des agricultures urbaines
Ultrafine particles including nanosized enriched with metal(loid)s (PM) are emitted into the atmosphere of industrial or urban areas, these PM can transfer into soil and water ecosystems and have consequences on plant quality and human health. In a global socio-scientific context that regulation on (eco)toxicity of chemicals and public space pressures are recently increased, studies of environmental and health impacts throughout the life cycle of PM are of crucial sanitary concern. The PhD aims first to study metal(loid)s present in the PM: their transfer kinetic and mechanism of phytoavailability, phytotoxicity, and human health risks-ingestion bioaccessibility. Then, through the case of vegetable gardens near an incinerator and a highway in China, a socio-scientific study was performed in order to give suggestions for sustainable environmental and health risk management for these sites. Vegetables can significantly accumulate metal(loid)s by foliar uptake when PM directly enter into leaves through stomata apertures. Ultrafine PbO and nano-CuO particles caused serious phytotoxicity (reduced biomass and gaseous exchange, and necrosis) after interaction with leaf surface. Phytotoxicity of metal(loid)s is not simply governed by their total concentration, but also depended on the potential bio-transformation. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis clearly evidenced copper speciation change in leaf tissues. Moreover, a significant influence of the nature of metal, plant species and the exposure pathways (foliar/root) on gastro-bioaccessibility of metal(loid)s had been demonstrated. For a social-scientific study near waste incinerator and roadside, we found that atmosphere PM fallouts can induce significant metal foliar uptake in addition to soil-plant transfer. The relatively high human bioaccessibility of metal (60-79%) was measured, suggesting a potential health risk in the case of regular consumption of polluted vegetables. Vegetable gardens present a low (waste incinerator) or moderate (highway) health risk with respect to human consumption quantity of the investigated vegetables, but exposure to different organic pollutants in addition to metals is often possible. Our studies highlight the importance of taking atmosphere and soil quality into account for estimating the quality of consumed plants grown in anthropic areas (farms and kitchen gardens), and for sustainable management of urban agricultures

The aim of this diploma thesis is to prepare a business plan of an organic farm in Czech Republic. Family business produces high quality agriculture products, as lamb meat, organic milk and other organic milk products. In addition a family company will operate accommodation and restaurant in the four star boarding house. Theoretical part is focused on the term entrepreneurship and justification of necessity for making business plan. Other chapters are devoted to sustainable development, eco-agro tourism and its interconnection to organic agriculture. The chapter about organic agriculture presents its principles and briefly deals with the history and legislation. Practical part includes business plan, which is based on the results of situation analysis. Business proposal of the organic farm is divided into general description of family business, marketing part and financial part.

Anthropogenically introduced nitrogen has compromised environmental quality, but is an essential element for crop production, particularly corn production. Increasing nitrogen use efficiency by adopting eco-innovations such as nitrogen soil testing, plant tissue testing and nitrogen transformation inhibitors can ameliorate this problem. Data from the 2010 USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey of corn producers was used to examine the factors affecting adoption of these practices. Twenty-one percent of the 1840 corn farmers had adopted nitrogen soil testing, three percent had adopted plant tissue testing and ten percent had adopted nitrogen inhibitors. A multivariate probit regression found significant results for each category of explanatory variable that was examined. Older farmers were less likely to adopt nitrogen soil testing and nitrogen inhibitors. Farmers who did not obtain external nitrogen recommendations were less likely to adopt all three practices than farmers who received recommendations from a crop consultant. Those who received recommendations from fertilizer dealers were less likely to adopt nitrogen soil testing. Those who indicated that high prices influenced their decision to plant corn on that field were more likely to adopt plant tissue testing but less likely to adopt the other two practices. All regions were more likely to adopt nitrogen soil testing than the Midwest. Those who adopted conservation tillage were more likely to adopt nitrogen inhibitors and those who received conservation payments were more likely to adopt nitrogen soil testing and plant tissue testing. Adoption was also associated with the adoption of several other technologies.

Résumé Une demande croissante sans cesse de produits alimentaires à base d’animaux influence la productivité des systèmes mondiaux de production alimentaire, et des mesures indispensables pour freiner la dégradation de l’environnement promettent des effets similaires. Si les scénarios de demande future peuvent être satisfaits de manière durable, cela dépend notamment de la possibilité de réduire de manière significative l'impact de l'aquaculture et de l'élevage sur l'environnement. Des recherches récentes suggèrent que l'utilisation d'aliments à base d'insectes (IBF) pourrait apporter une contribution significative à cet égard, et des arguments valables sont avancés pour soutenir cette hypothèse. Les larves de mouches, comme celles des mouches domestiques (Musca domestica) ou des mouches soldat noir (Hermetia illucens), sont en mesure de puiser des nutriments dans un large éventail de ressources organiques, y compris celles impropres à la consommation humaine. Cela crée la possibilité de convertir (et de réduire considérablement) les déchets organiques de faible valeur, tels que le fumier ou le sang animal, en protéines de haute qualité et en énergie alimentaire, qui se sont avérés appropriés pour nourrir différents poissons d'aquaculture et du bétail monogastrique.Bien que le concept IBF promet d’importants avantages et ait démontré sa faisabilité technique, il n’existe encore aucun système établi permettant de tester les avantages supposés en termes de durabilité. Dans cette thèse, nous avons essayé de surmonter cette lacune par la modélisation de tels systèmes. Notre objectif central était d'identifier les aspects influençant le potentiel d'application des IBF dans différents contextes géographiques et de définir des voies d'optimisation pour une mise en œuvre durable. En nous basant sur des données expérimentales recueillies lors d'essais d'élevage menés en Europe (Espagne et Slovaquie) et en Afrique de l'Ouest (Ghana et Mali), nous avons formulé la conception d'un ensemble de versions de systèmes améliorés élevant M. domestica et H. illucens sur différents substrats organiques de faible valeur. Les modèles de production génériques ont servi comme base d’une analyse du cycle de vie ex ante, dans laquelle nous avons exploré les performances des systèmes à l’aide d’analyse du cycle de vie environnementale (ACV) et de l’analyse des coûts du cycle de vie (ACCV).Les ACVs et ACCVs ont montré que les performances environnementales et économiques des IBF sont largement fonction de l’efficacité de conversion des systèmes, de l’organisation du processus de production (c’est-à-dire de l’apport de main-d’œuvre et d’équipements technologiques) et du contexte géographique. La combinaison de ces facteurs a fourni des avantages pour les configurations simplistes utilisées dans la production de M. domestica en Afrique occidentale tropicale dans des conditions de ponte naturelle (c'est-à-dire d'inoculation de substrat par le biais de mouches présentes à l'état naturel). L'inoculation artificielle (c'est-à-dire l'inoculation du substrat par le biais de larves nourries provenant d'une colonie d'adultes en captivité), utilisée dans la production de H. illucens en Afrique de l'Ouest et de M. domestica dans le sud de l'Espagne, a favorisé une efficacité de conversion élevée, mais a augmenté les impacts environnementaux et les coûts, parce que le système complexe et l'organisation de processus à forte intensité de main-d'œuvre ont considérablement accru les intrants de main-d'œuvre et d'infrastructures de production.Une comparaison avec des aliments conventionnels riches en protéines a mis en évidence des inconvénients environnementaux et économiques pour les modèles de production actuels des IBF, notamment en ce qui concerne les aliments végétaux (par exemple, le tourteau de soja). Les disparités entre les alimentations IBF et conventionnelles reflètent l’utilisation des capacités sub-optimaux des systèmes (effet d’économie d’échelle insuffisant), ainsi que la perte d’énergie et de biomasse le long de la chaîne trophique (producteurs autotrophes vs consommateurs hétérotrophes). Les résultats soulèvent des doutes légitimes sur les avantages en termes de durabilité d’une mise en œuvre d'insectes dans les chaînes de valeur agricoles actuelles. Le succès commercial dépend en grande partie du niveau de salaire spécifique au contexte, des prix des substrats d'élevage et de la manière dont les marchés évaluent les multiples fonctions que les insectes sont capables de fournir. S'agissant de la performance environnementale, nos résultats nous amènent à conclure que la production d'IBF ne présente aucun avantage par rapport aux aliments conventionnels.L’évaluation de systèmes de production encore hypothétiques impliquait une bonne quantité d’hypothèses et d’approximations. Étant donné ces multiples sources d'incertitude et compte tenu du fait que seul un nombre limité de conceptions de systèmes possibles sont prises en compte, les déclarations sur le potentiel d'application d'IBF n'ont aucune validité universelle et doivent être interprétées avec prudence. Cependant, nos résultats contribuent à une meilleure compréhension des facteurs influant sur le potentiel d’application des systèmes de production d’insectes et constituent un point de référence précieux pour les discussions scientifiques et les activités de recherche et développement futures visant à mettre en place des modes de production alimentaire durables.Bien que nos recherches n’apportent aucun soutien aux avantages environnementaux ou économiques supposés de l’utilisation d’insectes dans l’alimentation animale, il est possible que leur utilisation comme aliment destiné à la consommation humaine directe (c’est-à-dire comme substitut possible aux produits à base de poisson et de viande) constitue une solution durable aux problèmes actuels et futurs. Nous recommandons donc aux recherches futures de se concentrer sur les techniques permettant d'exploiter les insectes comme nourriture.
Doctorat en Sciences
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info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The term sustainable agriculture may be formulated, but not yet practically integrated in agriculture. This thesis investigates the organic farmers´ ideas and experiences of what they consider sustainable or not sustainable in agriculture. Using unstructured phone interviews and "walk-alongs" with KRAV-farmers in Kristianstad, I have sought to understand their ideas and experiences, inspired by the phenomenological approach. The thesis communicates the experiences of organic farmers of sustainable agriculture based on an explicit role as stewards of the same. How come they express themselves and act the way they do? Why are these issues important and how do they relate to each other? The result, using the three dimensions of economical, ecological and social sustainability, is presented. How farmers experience profitability, eco-awareness and influence in their stewardship are important. The overlapping areas for sustainability describe the need of fair terms in socioeconomic terms. Agroecologically, the stewards need to experience the work to be practically feasible, both financially and ecologically. Socioecologically, their stewardship becomes more acceptable within an eco-aware market, which adds to their individual creation of meaning. Even though there are ideas and experiences of what sustainable agriculture includes, this does not necessarily mean that this is what the farmers find in their work. In the eyes of these farmers, their experiences need to be more just, feasible and acceptable for sustainability. How farmers continue to handle complex choices in agriculture for economic, ecological and social sustainability is interesting; not only for the farmers themselves, but also in a societal perspective for long-term domestic food security. What they see as sustainable depends on the choices of other stakeholders and how the farmers themselves formulate goals and purpose with regard to their own farming. They argue that one thing leads to another, which the thesis gives plenty of practical examples of. The thesis should be seen as a normative contribution to the public debate about what is sustainable, listening to the voices of organic farmers.

Après 50 ans d’avancée des fronts pionniers, l’Amazonie orientale brésilienne aborde une phase de transition agraire. Face à la fermeture de la frontière limitant l’accès au foncier et à la fertilité forestière, les éleveurs bovins ont initié un mouvement d’intensification de l’usage des sols. Malgré les enjeux environnementaux que soulèvent de tels changements, cette dynamique d’intensification est encore mal comprise, notamment dans sa dimension spatiale et dans sa capacité à favoriser des paysages éco-efficients, c’est-à-dire des paysages au sein desquels les pratiques et leur localisation optimiseraient l’utilisation des ressources naturelles. Pour adresser ces questions, cette thèse propose de décrire et modéliser les interactions entre le système de décision des exploitants, les paysages et leurs ressources dans une diversité de fermes d’élevage.Dans un premier temps, un travail de terrain a été conduit dans deux territoires au sud et sud-est de l’Etat du Pará, Paragominas et Redenção. A partir d’enquêtes et d’une analyse des trajectoires d’exploitation et des paysages, nous avons caractérisé six types de stratégies d’intensification, qualifié leurs effets sur un certain nombre de ressources naturelles et étudié les perceptions des éleveurs sur ces ressources. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons développé un modèle multi-agents afin de simuler sur 20 ans les effets des stratégies d’intensification sur les paysages et leurs ressources et évaluer la faisabilité d’adoption de ces stratégies dans différentes situations agraires. Le modèle a été utilisé pour explorer deux scénarios d’intensification : l’un semi-intensif basé uniquement sur une conduite améliorée des pâturages, et l’autre intensif basé sur l’intégration agriculture-élevage et l’irrigation.Les résultats montrent que le processus d’intensification conduit à une reconfiguration des usages des sols dans les paysages. Après une phase de colonisation où l’occupation des sols était essentiellement guidée par l’appropriation du foncier, les éleveurs ont tendance à intensifier les parcelles aux conditions biophysiques les plus favorables à la production fourragère et les plus proches et accessibles. Ces stratégies visent à mieux valoriser diverses ressources naturelles (topographie, fertilité et drainage des sols, eau de surface ou souterraine pour l’irrigation) et à optimiser les déplacements. Les éleveurs choisissent toutefois différentes pratiques et agencements spatiaux en fonction de la situation agraire de l’exploitation et du degré d’hétérogénéité de l’environnement biophysique. Par ailleurs, les sorties des simulations soulignent que le processus d’intensification permet de réduire les besoins en surface fourragère pour un même niveau de production animale. Les éleveurs sont ainsi capables d’augmenter la taille de leur troupeau tout en régénérant des forêts sur les zones sensibles et marginales. Cependant, faute de main d’œuvre disponible, le processus d’intensification reste limité dans l’espace. En termes d’évolution des paysages, les éleveurs positionnent différemment les usages des sols en fonction du type d’unités géomorphologiques, ce qui se traduit par une dynamique spatio-temporelle des ressources naturelles contrastée.Concilier élevage et forêt dans des paysages éco-efficients constitue un défi important pour la région amazonienne. A cet effet, cette thèse montre l’importance de raisonner les espaces voués à l’intensification et à la conservation en tenant compte des projets des exploitations et des effets de leurs pratiques et de leur agencement sur les ressources naturelles. Elle identifie plusieurs leviers et blocages pour accompagner cette transition. Enfin, elle suggère de futures perspectives de recherche portant sur la compréhension des décisions, la modélisation et l’élargissement de l’échelle d’analyse afin d’apprécier l’influence de facteurs externes sur les stratégies et intégrer un plus grand nombre d’interactions écologiques et sociales
After 50 years of agricultural expansion in Eastern Brazilian Amazon, environmental policy to reduce deforestation and a set of socio-economic drivers are putting constraints on extensive cattle ranching systems. In response, land use intensification has been gaining momentum as a way to improve livestock production in limited land areas and conserve forest. The process of land-use intensification is poorly understood in this region, particularly in its spatial dimension and in its contribution towards building eco-efficient landscapes, i.e. landscapes where practices and their spatial distribution optimize the use of natural resources. In this regard, the purpose of this research is to document and model the interactions between cattle ranchers’ decisions, landscapes and natural resources in a diversity of cattle farms.Firstly, we conducted a field research in two livestock-oriented regions of Pará state, Paragominas and Redenção. Drawing on interviews, landscape and farm trajectories analysis, we characterized six patterns of intensification, studied what perceptions cattle ranchers have on certain types of natural resources and described the effects of land-use management on such resources. Secondly, we developed an Agent-Based Model to simulate over 20 years the effects of intensive farming strategies on landscape and their natural resources, and assess the feasibility of adopting such management in various agrarian situations. We used the model to compare two scenarios of intensification: one semi-intensive solely based on improved pasture managenement and one intensive based on crop-livestock integration and irrigation.The results show that the process of intensification has led to a spatial rearrangement of land uses. Cattle ranchers prefer to intensify fields with the best biophysical conditions for forage production, as well as those closest to and most accessible from the farmstead. The intensification strategies aim at enhancing the use of multiple natural resources (topography, soil fertility, soil drainage, access to surface and groundwater for irrigation) and optimizing land-use configuration at farm scale. By contrast, during the colonization period, land-use organization was much less correlated to the spatial distribution of natural resources (except for soil fertility from forest ash and surface water), the main goal of farmers being land appropriation. Nevertheless, choice of farming practices and their spatial location differ among farms and according to the degree of heterogeneity of biophysical conditions. Moreover, simulation results show that the process of intensification can reduce the area necessary for animal production. Thus, cattle ranchers can increase herd size while sparing land for forest regeneration. However, low labor availability limits the spatial extent of land-use intensification at farm scale. In terms of landscape dynamics, cattle ranchers locate land-uses according to geomorphological units differently, which leads to various spatio-temporal dynamics of natural resources.Reconciling cattle ranching production and forest conservation in eco-efficient landscape remains an important challenge for Brazilian Amazon. The findings illustrate the importance of assessing the landscape areas most suitable for agricultural intensification and for conservation drawing on knowledge about cattle ranchers projects and the effects of their practices and spatial location on natural resources. Several opportunities and challenges are identified to tackle such challenge. New research perspectives related to decisions understanding, modeling and extension of the scale of analysis are proposed in order to take into account the influence of external factors on decisions and include more ecological and social interactions

碩士
中國科技大學
企業管理系
106
To response to the changes of economic environments and living patterns, high living qualities have been tracing by the public, especially in the health consumptions and environmental protections. As for the dietary aspect, safe and qualified agricultural products are valued under the atmospheres of the concentrations of organic ones., making the markets of organic agricultural product burgeon. Unfortunately, the involvements of organic agricultural product by huge enterprises make small independent farmers hard to benefit from organic agricultural products; the reality is that small independent farmers would lose their competitiveness by the high costs of transportation and marketing, the lack of economies of scale, and the devotion of ecological protections. The study thus is to discuss the challenges that small independent farmers would confront to in the production of organic agriculture and to scrutinize the key success factors of managing organic agricultural business. By using professional interviews, economies competition, available asset, and conscience accountability are challenges for small independent farmers to deal with organic productions whereas capital participation, geoeconomism and knowledge accessibility are key success factors to manage business.

The meaning of a place results from accumulated interactions between an individual's life history and a setting. Place experiences often include some feeling of ownership. Ownership in this case is a psychological phenomenon that does not require legal title to a piece of land or a building, but rather, a sense that the person has some uncommon, special relationship with that particular setting. Although much of what characterizes a place may be very personal. Groups and even entire communities can develop place attachments. The objective of the study is the design of agri-tourism facilities within the realm of local community development. These facilities need to meet a variety of criteria to fulfil the expectations of the three main stakeholders, being agriculture, tourism and local community. A design that is context, and energy conscious, with a sympathy to existing ecological systems and self-sustainability, will determine the success of this project. The design, including before mentioned criteria, of an agri-tourism complex , incorporates local skills training which form part of the activities on the farm Madi A Thava, Makhado district in the Limpopo province. These facilities must meet the needs of the different clientele for each of the three entities. Each facility has its own identity arising from its specific function. The agri-tourism complex will have a dominant agricultural character, as this facility houses the main activity to ensure self-sustainability of the farm as a whole.
Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Architecture
unrestricted

The students of PLAN 587B Introductory Urban Design Studio, under the instruction of Dr. Maged Senbel, worked in collaboration with developer Wayne Allen to create 3 sustainable designs for the redevelopment of an amalgamated site in the Big Bend area of Burnaby BC adjacent to Willard Park. Concurrently, through a research-based directed study project Jeca Glor-Bell conducted research on green design principles and technologies to aid the design students in achieving a high level of sustainability in design. This book brings together the research on green design principles and application of green technologies with the final designs. The purpose of this effort is to offer a resource for the developer, other urban planning students as well as interested practitioners seeking to apply green design principles and technologies to future sites. The book begins by explaining the green principles and features which have informed and influenced these designs and then presents the three completed site designs. The first site design, Fenwick Village, was created by Jennifer Fix, Bronwyn Jarvis and Chani Joseph. The second design, Willard’s Eco-Village, was created by Brian Gregg, Lang Lang and Sawngjai Manityakul, and finally the Sprout: The City is the Country Design which was created by Kaitlin Kazmierowski, Jeff Deby and Andrew Merrill. Each of these designs sought to combine three elements: the client’s vision, ecological development principles, and green design features. Finally the book includes several appendices with greater detail on the application of green energy technologies, including calculations for the capacity of different green technologies.

碩士
國立屏東科技大學
農企業管理系
93
This research is in view of the development leisure agriculture, developing leisure agricultural area eco-resources, constructing the leisure agriculture facility, planning provides the tourist to have the experience agriculture happy and to enjoy the beauty of the nature, take Hsumechi brook ecology area as the case study example, using ecotechnology construct the construction way to melt into the experience activity pattern, whether can widely the populace accept with the approval, by explanation conference and design the questionnaire, makes the agreement degree to the correlation department personnel the investigation. Questionnaire recycles 248, effectively questionnaire 223. The analysis showed that, the populace has approval with the construction way and the planning idea of this research. By the leisure agricultural development goal and the direction which this research established, should also make the agricultural leisure towards the production, the life, the ecology and the realization the high quality ecology leisure agricultural area tallies "take the ecology as the foundation, safely for the guidance, continues forever for the goal". This research conclusion and suggestion narration as follows: 1.Research Conclusion (1) The leisure agricultural area eco-resources entire suitableness appropriate application ecology labor law constructs the construction way to melt into plan pattern of the experience activities. (2) The leisure agricultural area delimits the plan, should coordinate the government policy the execution, mechanism and so on transmission and populace participation which the academic circles educates, creates the harmonious ecological environment together. (3) The leisure agricultural area plan future will develop the goal and the direction, will be supposed towards the production, the life, the ecology "three will live a body" the agricultural leisure activity to make great strides forward and the realization tallies "take the ecology as the foundation, safely for the guidance, will continue forever for the goal" the high quality ecology leisure garden area. 2.Research Suggestion (1) The government should positively counsel maintenance management organization the leisure agricultural area composition system integrity. (2) Coordinated local authority correlation goal enterprise department responsible for the work, coordination "leisure agriculture auxiliary policing method" execution. (3) The developer of leisure agricultural area should be an acting heartfelt maintenance nature, the respect ecology role. (4) The leisure agricultural area operator, cannot only pursue gains the revenue and the profit, but should act the role of "the purveyor of experience economical".

碩士
中國文化大學
都市計劃與開發管理學系
107
Nowadays, people's tourism pattern is gradually oriented towards deep green tourism. The new type of leisure agriculture is born. At the same time, the development of leisure agriculture must be combined with the local culture and the common consciousness of the residents, so as to enhance the residents' willingness to participate in leisure agriculture. In recent years, there has been more and more attention in the domestic agriculture. Although agriculture has gradually opened up with the market, the traditional agriculture is facing the dilemma of operation, which leads to the social phenomenon such as the serious outflow of rural population and the decrease of agricultural income. The competition and the crisis facing more and more. On the other hand, the rapid growth of the economy, to promote national income, more and more people began to pay attention to tourism and leisure, although the tourism needs of people continue to grow, but for human health and outdoor recreation and leisure space is not relative growth, Of the leisure places for the expectations of the people, in the face of economic liberalization, the impact of internationalization, the traditional agricultural thinking of agricultural transformation for the leisure service for the business content in order to break through the dilemma and sustainable management. In this study, the questionnaire survey was conducted, and the visitors were selected as the mother of Baishi Sen live leisure farm and distributed according to the random sampling method. The results of questionnaire survey, reliability analysis, narrative statistics, explore the local dependency of residents, sightseeing impact perception, the development of leisure agriculture attitudes and the willingness to participate in leisure agriculture. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted to conduct in-depth interviews with relevant groups and individuals who promoted the White Scene Lake Leisure Agriculture Area and the heads of the White Rock Leisure Farm. Finally, according to the findings and findings, for the local government, the community to create a unit, willing to engage in leisure agriculture related industries and future researchers to make reference and recommendations.

碩士
明道大學
課程與教學研究所
100
Abstract The purposes of this research aimed to study the concepts for organic agriculture, attitude and behavior of eco-campus of elementary school children in Taiwan. In order to understand the difference between schools participated in Eco-Campus Program or not, questionnaires were developed to survey the school children’s performances on Knowledge of Organic Agriculture, Attitude and Behavior of Eco-Campus. The sample consisted of two types of elementary schools. The sample students for filling questionnaire were randomly selected one class of sixth graders from 10 schools, 5 Eco-Campuses and 5 Non- Eco-Campuses. The major findings of this study are concluded as the following: 1. The average score of organic agriculture knowledge was 74.83; the average score of attitude of organic Eco-Campus was 84.8, and the average score of behavior of organic Eco-Campus was 74.4. 2. It showed no statistically significant differences between Eco-Campuses and Non- Eco-Campus on the scores of attitude of organic Eco-Campus, behavior of organic Eco-Campus, yet there existed significant differences on the scores of organic agriculture knowledge. 3. It showed no statistically significant differences between different student’s genders on the scores of organic agriculture knowledge, attitude of organic Eco-Campus and behavior of organic Eco-Campus. 4. It showed no statistically significant differences between different school scales on the scores of organic agriculture knowledge and behavior of organic Eco-Campus, yet there were significant differences on attitude of organic Eco-Campus. 5. It showed no statistically significant differences between urban and rural areas on the scores of organic agriculture knowledge, attitude of organic Eco-Campus and behavior of organic Eco-Campus. 6. There were positive relationships between the scores of organic agriculture knowledge, attitude of organic Eco-Campus and behavior of organic Eco-Campus. 7. Scores of attitude of organic Eco-Campus significantly predicted the scores of behavior of organic Eco-Campus, yet there wasn’t significant prediction between the scores of organic agriculture knowledge and behavior of organic Eco-Campus. Though the Organic Eco-Campuses and general schools children have not reached the significant differences in scores of organic attitude and behavior, but the organic agriculture's cognitive behavior of the Eco-Campuses children are superior to the general schools. The Eco-Campuses children were practiced and had reached higher level in the organic knowledge by practices in organic garden inside the campus. And the working experiences in the organic farm offered the Eco-Campus children more excellent behavior levels than that of general schools. After the program stopped for many years, the Eco-Campuses probably did not paid attention to the education of the Eco-Campus behavior and attitude. Thus caused the Organic Eco-Campuses and general schools children have no significant differences in scores of organic attitude and behavior. This research suggests the bureau of education should keep the following tracing and conducting for participant schools continuously, in order to hold ecological and environmental education in a sustainable way.

碩士
南開科技大學
休閒事業管理研究所
107
The main purposes of this study are: First, To discuss the current situation and development of the promotion of food education in the Taomi community. Second, to understand the development of the relationship between food education, community cultural and creative industries in the Taomi community. Third, to explore the relevant research of community cultural and creative industries and resource perspectives. Fourth, to discuss the implementation model of the combination of food, agricultural education, community cultural and creative industries. In this study, take 5 farms and restaurants as example in Taomi. Through case studies and on-site interviews, the data and interview feedback were analyzed. The results of the analysis showed that: From the ecological environment combined with tourism resources to promote local development. Second, education in food and agriculture can be applied to the experience of community environmental education courses, land ethics and tourist education. Third, Community development resources in the region are characterized by the development of local products as well as cultural and creative industries. Fourth, all businesses show positive attitude toward the sustainability of the community. The interview show that the interviewees business has opened for 8 years at most, and there were 2 establishments in the last 3 years. Besides, the development time was relatively short, and the farm experience was the mainstay. Room for improvement. Most of the businesses have provided a wide range of farm DIY experiences that provide a wide range of viewing services and extensions based on their own industrial resources. They provide 4 seasons DIY. The farm can offer different experiences throughout the year to attract more tourists. The conclusions of this study are: the case farm promotes ecological education, with particular emphasis on land ethics, and promote soil health and clean water related courses, and the willingness to cooperate with the school is high, the practical recommendations are as follows: First, the community can establish the platform for farmers and community to solve the problem of communication with small farmers. Second, the community can strengthen and guide the combination of green farmer training in "food and agriculture education", "non-toxic agriculture" and "friendly environment" curriculum, and raise the emphasis on land ethics to strengthen tourist education. Third, the Taomi community develops local hand-crafted gifts.

Topography, vegetation, nutrient dynamics, soil features and hydroclimatic forcing are inherently coupled, with feedbacks occurring over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. Vegetation growth may be limited by soil moisture, nutrient or solar radiation availability, and in turn influences both soil moisture and nutrient balances at a point. These dynamics are further complicated in a complex terrain, through a series of spatial interactions. A number of experiments has characterized the feedbacks between soil moisture and vegetation dynamics, but a theoretical framework linking short-term leaf-level to interannual plot-scale dynamics has not been fully developed yet. Such theory is needed for optimal management of water resources in natural ecosystems and for agricultural, municipal and industrial uses. Also, it complements the current knowledge on ecosystem response to the predicted climate change.

In this dissertation, the response of vegetation dynamics to unpredictable environmental fluctuations at multiple space-time scales is explored in a modeling framework from sub-daily to interannual time scales. At the hourly time scale, a simultaneous analysis of photosynthesis, transpiration and soil moisture dynamics is carried out to explore the impact of water stress on different photosynthesis processes at the leaf level, and the overall plant activity. Daily soil moisture and vegetation dynamics are then scaled up to the growing season using a stochastic model accounting for daily to interannual hydroclimatic variability. Such stochastic framework is employed to explore the impact of rainfall patterns and different irrigation schemes on crop productivity, along with their implications in terms of sustainability and profitability. To scale up from point to landscape, a probabilistic representation of local landscape features (i.e., slope and aspect) is developed, and applied to assess the effects of topography on solar radiation. Finally, a minimalistic ecosystem model, including soil moisture, vegetation and nutrient dynamics at the year time scale, is outlined; when coupled to the proposed probabilistic topographic description, the latter model can serve to assess the relevance of spatial interactions and to single out the main biophysical controls responsible for ecohydrological variability at the landscape scale.

Dissertation

The topic of this study done in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe was to explore the viability of designing and developing an e-agricultural information service at the Library of Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).The aim of the study was to determine the feasibility of designing and developing a web based information database for answering farmers’ queries. It also aimed to identify ways in which agricultural information can be transferred to farmers using ICTs available to the farming community and CUT. The findings indicated that an effective and efficient e-agriculture information service can be established at CUT using cell phones as the main communication medium. The research design was a survey and a questionnaire was used for data collection. SPSS was used for data analysis form which interpretations and recommendations were made.
Information Science
M. Information Science

This diploma work focuses on the analysis of the current situation of an agricultural company and the subsequent evaluation of its suitability to be transformed onto an eco-friendly method of production taking into consideration the local conditions, its business structure, its current specialization, the human factor and the economic aspects.

The study focussed on the research question namely: “How will the introduction of new ecological taxes impact the South African agricultural sector?” To answer the question, eight international eco-taxes were selected and further investigated. The nature and history of each eco-tax was examined. The effects or expected effects (where implementation have not yet taken place) of the eco-taxes on the agricultural sectors of the foreign countries, were then considered. The study continued by considering the possible impact on South African agriculture, should these taxes be implemented in South Africa. This was accomplished by extrapolating the foreign effects previously investigated. Mindful of findings, recommendations were then made of what eco-taxes could be implemented which will not impede South African agriculture. It was concluded that the British Climate Change Levy and Climate Change Agreement scheme, Australian Carbon Farming Initiative and Swedish meat consumption tax could be considered for implementation.
Financial Accounting
M. Phil (Accounting Science)

This dissertation is conducted in Gedeo, with the aim of revealing the dynamics of IK of agroforestry system of Gedeo. The dynamics were seen from the perspective of the intergenerational variation in IK acquisition and transmission. The study investigated drivers of IK changes and continuities and the implications to sustainability. The study employed an interdisciplinary approach whereby geographical concepts and approaches were supplemented by anthropological and developmental psychology approaches and concepts. Thus, an exploratory mixed research approach was used. The dynamics were seen by employing cross-sectional approach. Thus, synchronic data were collected from several sources, by employing ranges of qualitative and quantitative tools. The respondents were drawn from the local people and agricultural experts. Accordingly, 72key informants were chosen through purposive and snowball sampling. To determine the spatio-temporal variation of IK, 290 informants aged between 12 and 65 were chosen using multistage stratified sampling. For the household survey, 252 participants were selected using multistage stratified and systematic random sampling. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis and case summary while for quantitative data mean, standard deviation, ANOVA, chi-square, and t-test were employed. The analysis results have shown that the agroforestry system exhibits both indigenous and modern practices. The indigenous practices, which sustained for longer time through generational transfer, appear to be engulfed by modern practice. The study identified knowledge and skill gap between young people and adults. The gap is more significant in normative dimension of IK. This can be attributed to declining rate of IK transmission and acquisition among successive generations, which in turn is attributed to weak contact between young people and adults, and changes in the lifestyle of the young people. Besides, biodiversity loss, demographic pressure, modernization, introduction of market economy, and top-down development approach are among the drivers of the gradual loss of IK. The gradual loss of IK was to have an impact on sustainability of the system. This calls for concerted efforts to maintain the sustainability of IK through revitalization of IK transmission and acquisition. Finally, joint effort is required to document IK, include in school curriculum, and integrate with the modern practices.
Geography
Ph. D. (Geography)

The soil-borne fungi Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum De Bary are ubiquitous plant pathogens with a wide host range. They are among the most widespread and destructive diseases of many crops, including sunflowers. Although in many cases, the use of chemicals appears to be the most economical and efficient means of controlling plant pathogens, their environmental concerns and the development of tolerance in pathogen populations have led to drastic reduction in their usage and increased the need to find alternative means of disease control. The potential benefits of applying Trichoderma harzianum Rifai and silicon (Si) nutrition to plants have been extensively reviewed. In this study, the ability of T. harzianum (Eco-T®), soluble silicon, and their combination was evaluated on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), for their potential to suppress pathogenic strains of R. solani and S. sclerotiorum. The ability of this crop to take up and accumulate Si in different plant parts was also investigated. In vitro assessment of fungal responses to Si in PDA showed that both R. solani and S. sclerotiorum were inhibited in the presence of Si. More inhibition was observed as the Si concentration increased with a relative increase in pH. Maximum growth inhibition was observed at 3000 mg ;-1 – 6000 mg ;-1 of PDA. No difference in inhibition between the two pathogens was observed, thus confirming the fungitoxic/suppressive ability of high Si concentrations to fungal growth. In addition, in vivo trials showed that the Si concentration of 200 mg ;-1 applied weekly significantly increased the dry weight of plants inoculated with R. solani and S. sclerotiorum and was therefore considered the optimum concentration. Assessments on in vitro antifungal activities of Eco-T® on R. solani and S. sclerotiorum, showed that Eco-T® significantly inhibited mycelial growth, in both dual culture methods and volatile and non-volatile compounds produced by Eco-T®. In addition, the combination of Eco-T® and Si was most effective in suppressing damping-off and increasing plant dry weight of sunflower seedlings in the greenhouse. The combination of Si and Eco-T® significantly increased percentage germination, number of leaves and head dry weight of the sunflower cultivars tested. Silicon alone increased growth but was unable to control R. solani and S. sclerotiorum effectively. Rhizotron studies showed that S. sclerotiorum infected the host through the roots and the stem, whereas R. solani only infected the host through the roots. A study on Si uptake and distribution showed that sunflower accumulates Si in various plant tissues. Analysis of plant tissues revealed that more Si was accumulated in leaves > stems > roots, with the Si levels in leaves being significantly higher than in stems and roots. In conclusion, Si alone could be used to increase growth but was unable to control R. solani and S. sclerotiorum. However, Si together with Eco-T® provides an environmentally friendly alternative for the control of R. solani and S. sclerotiorum, and enhanced plant growth and yield.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

In the genus Fusarium are many important plant pathogens. The diversity of hosts the genus attacks, the number of pathogenic taxa and the range of habitats in which they cause disease are the greatest in plant pathology. One important species complex within the genus Fusarium is Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. This species complex consists more than 80 pathogenic forma specialis and is particularly difficult to control. The fungi can survive in soil for decades as specialized spores, known as chlamydospores. Interestingly, however, this species complex also contains beneficial non-pathogenic forms that can be exploited to manage Fusarium wilt diseases. In this study, the ability of non-pathogenic F. oxysporum strains, Trichoderma harzianum Rifai Eco-T®, soluble silicon, and their combination was evaluated on two important crops, banana (Musa sp. L.) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), for their potential to suppress pathogenic strains of F. oxysporum. The ability of these crops to take up and accumulate silicon in their organs, and its effect on low temperature stress was also investigated. Several endophytic fungi, mainly Fusarium spp. and bacteria, were isolated from healthy mature banana plants. After preliminary and secondary in vivo screening tests against F. oxysporum f.sp. phaseoli on beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cv. Outeniqua, two non-pathogenic F. oxysporum strains were selected for further testing. These two non-pathogenic F. oxysporum strains were found to colonize banana (Musa sp.) cv. Cavendish Williams and bean plants, and to suppress Fusarium wilt of these crops. In order to improve the efficacy of these biocontrol fungi, soluble silicon was introduced. The relationship between plant mineral nutrition and plant diseases have been reported by several authors. Plants take up silicon equivalent to some macronutrients, although it is not widely recognized as an essential element. In this study, we established that roots, the target plant organ for soilborne plant pathogens, accumulated the greatest quantity of silicon of any plant organs when fertilized with high concentrations of silicon. On the other hand, the corm and stem accumulated the least silicon. Such observations contradict the concept of passive uptake of silicon via the transpiration stream in these plants as the only uptake mechanism. The prophylactic properties of silicon have been documented for many crops against a variety of diseases. In vitro bioassay tests of silicon against these wilt pathogens showed that silicon can be toxic to Fusarium wilt fungi at high concentrations (>7840 mg .-1), resulting in complete inhibition of hyphal growth, spore germination and sporulation. However, low concentrations of silicon (<490 mg .-1) encouraged hyphal growth. Silicon fertilization of banana and beans significantly reduced disease severity of these crops by reducing the impact of the Fusarium wilt pathogens on these crops. However, it could not prevent infection of plants from the wilt pathogens on its own. Synergistic responses were obtained from combined applications of silicon and non-pathogenic F. oxysporum strains against Fusarium wilt of banana. Combinations of silicon with the non-pathogenic F. oxysporum strains significantly suppressed disease severity of Fusarium wilt of banana, caused by F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense (E.F. Smith) Snyder & Hansen, better than applications of either control measure on their own. Banana production in the subtropical regions frequently suffer from chilling injury, and from extreme variations between night and day temperatures. Such stress predisposes banana plants to Fusarium wilt disease. Silicon, on the other hand, is emerging as important mineral in the physiology of many plants, ameliorating a variety of biotic and abiotic stress factors. We established that silicon fertilization of banana plants significantly reduced chilling injury of banana plants. Membrane permeability, lipid peroxidation (MDA level) and proline levels were higher in silicon-untreated plants than the treated ones, all of which demonstrated the stress alleviating effect of silicon. Low temperatures damage the cell membrane of susceptible plants and cause desiccation or dehydration of these cells. Levels of sucrose and raffinose, recognized as cryoprotectants, were significantly higher in silicon-amended banana plants than unamended plants.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.