Food System Dynamics (E-Journals)
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Household Financial Resilience Measurement in Urban LMICs: A Scoping Review of Instruments (2018-2024)
Full text linkThe COVID-19 pandemic, and the preceding exogenous shocks have exposed the vulnerability of urban populations to financial shocks, especially concerning food security. The estimation of financial resilience reveals which households are most susceptible to economic shocks, and therefore require interventions. And yet, despite the growing recognition of financial resilience as a critical factor in household economic stability, existing literature often lacks a consensus on the most effective measurement approaches, particularly in developing country contexts. To address this, the study investigated the most appropriate and robust method for measuring financial resilience in the context of urban Households (HHs), in Lower – Middle - Income Countries (LMICs). This was accomplished by identifying and evaluating the instruments used to measure financial resilience in published studies, and assessing the validity, reliability, and appropriateness.The search for literature was conducted from several economic databases. A priori inclusion criteria determined the inclusion of peer-reviewed articles in English leading to the identification of 15 articles. The results reveal the absence of a standard instrument yet, and this may lead to inconsistent approaches. Furthermore, existing financial resilience tools, often rely on cross sectional data, thereby fail to capture its dynamic nature, potentially hindering accurate estimations Given that a majority of LMICs were hard hit by the pandemic, and they continue to suffer from diverse challenges that hinder socio-economic development, this is a notable concern. The study recommends to close this critical gap by developing and validating a standardized, multi-dimensional instrument for LMICs
A Regional Manure, Biogas and Compost Cycle in Northern Germany – Scaling a Soil Health Business Model as a Sustainability-Oriented Innovation
Full text linkRestoring soil health is a crucial challenge in agri-food systems due to the soils essential role in providing ecosystem services. This study, part of the Horizon Europe project SoilValues, explores the implementation and amplification of a soil health business model (SHBM) in Northern Germany. Such a value-based business model envisions a transition towards a more sustainable agricultural system. Using theoretical perspectives on sustainability-oriented innovation networks and amplification processes, the research identifies the barriers, enablers and incentives for SHBMs and co-creates pathways for its amplification through establishing an innovation network. Initial findings highlight shared ambitions among stakeholders, including climate-adapted production, soil carbon sequestration, humus formation and soil biodiversity conservation. Key incentives and enablers for reaching these ambitions include influencing policies, ensuring economic viability of soil preserving practices, education and establishing cooperatives and regionalized cycles. The research shall inform policies to support similar innovations across food systems and provide a blueprint for amplifying sustainability initiatives. Future work will address the further development of the innovation network and the co-creation of pathways to amplify the SHBM's impact
Supply Chain Wine - Evaluation of sustainability criteria in the context of wine quality of global and regional supply chains
Full text linkThe global wine market is highly competitive and has a structural overproduction. As a result, buyers (commercial and end customers) are becoming more demanding in terms of quality. As domestic demand is stagnating or declining in many producing countries, an increase in the volume traded globally has been visible for more than a decade. (OIV 2024) As one of the largest import markets in the world, the German wine market is also highly competitive and is causing structural changes. The overall size of the wine and sparkling wine market in Germany has remained more or less the same over the last two decades; the total volume of wine produced in Germany has also remained more or less the same. What has changed, however, is the share of German wines in the overall market, which has fallen from 48% in 2000 to 39% in 2018, meaning that the share of imports has increased. At the same time, exports of German wine have also fallen. As a result, the production structures of grape and wine production have changed. There have also been shifts on the consumption side in the shares of wines sold via the respective sales channels.Competition has therefore increased significantly in recent years, with the result that producers and importers are increasingly on the lookout for further opportunities to differentiate themselves. In this context, it is not surprising that “sustainability” is being considered more intensively as a means of differentiation.The aim is to discuss sustainability criteria in the context of wine quality along the various stages of the value chain and to derive differentiation strategies for the relevant companies. The sustainability criteria as well as their potentials and trade-offs for the very heterogeneous wine market are shown and they are compared and supplemented with the sustainability criteria of various standards and certification systems, such as Global Gap, organic and in particular Fair'n Green. The analysis of the criteria is carried out with the help of the essence analysis, so that an evaluation of the sustainability criteria is carried out. This is used to evaluate the “wine” supply chains. The results are then used as a basis for optimizing the “wine” value chain in terms of sustainability
Perception of Carbon Footprint and Local Origin Labelling on Drinking Milk
Full text linkThis study investigates preferences of Austrian consumers for carbon footprint labels. To simulate realistic market conditions, carbon footprint labels are tested in addition to the product attributes of local and organic production as well as labels referring to quality guidelines on a hypothetical market of drinking milk. The study evaluates preferences and willingness-to-pay including carbon reduction claims and local production claims. Via a discrete choice experiment, utility functions are approximated and willingness-to-pay estimations are used to quantify premiums associated with the investigated attributes. Results suggest consumers are willing to pay premiums for carbon labeling. However, these premiums are lower compared to local origin and quality claims. Local production claims are viewed as the most important out of the six investigated product attributes. Nevertheless, participants are willing to pay premiums for information on carbon emissions, in particular, if the carbon footprint label indicates a significant reduction of associated greenhouse gas emissions
Perceived impacts of onshore wind power parks on ecosystem services in the High North: an EDA and sentiment analysis
Full text linkDespite the increasing popularity of wind power farms this kind of energy production has been contested, citing cultural, economic, and sometimes even environmental reasons – especially when such power farms are built in areas of significant environmental value and status, as is the case of several areas in the High North. One way to explore this conflict is through understanding the effects of such projects on local ecosystem services (e/s) – i.e., the direct and indirect benefits that ecosystems provide to support and sustain human livelihoods. This article discusses the perceived consequences on e/s after the development of a wind power farm in a Northern Norwegian context (High North), at the area of Kvitfjell/Raudfjell on the island of Kvaløya. Following a mixed-methods approach, combining exploratory data analysis (EDA) with thematic and sentiment analysis, the article presents a recent survey among various actors and stakeholders in the examined area to explore how they perceived the effects of the newly constructed wind power farm on e/s. Our results illustrate that a significant portion of the respondents maintained a critical and even apprehensive attitude on the wind farm development, although some positive economic impacts to the local community were also acknowledged
Bolstering Sustainability Strategies In The Spanish Food Smes
Full text linkSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a prominent role in the food sector. Based on relevantliterature and empirical case data from 12 Spanish food SMEs, this paper intends to depict the specificitiesof these enterprises regarding sustainable business models through identifying the relevant successfactors and barriers for sustainability transition. Results highlight the complexity of the nexus businessmodel–sustainability, and its high context dependency. Profitability, cooperation and innovation emergeas particularly critical for successful sustainability transition in food SMEs. Meanwhile, limited financialresources, regulatory compliance, and external shocks come out as the major barriers. Evidence elicitedfrom real-world examples facilitates the uncovering of pathways for establishing robust sustainabilitystrategies based on the benefits from integrating sustainability and coping with limitations in businessoperations
System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks 2025
Full text linkProceedings of the 19thInternational European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation inFood Networks, organized by the International Center for Food Chain and Network Research, University of Bonn, GermanyFebruary 10-14, 2025, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, German
Beef Color Preferences Among Meat Shoppers: An International Comparison
Full text linkIn the course of developing a more sustainable food system, food waste, including retail meat waste, needs to be reduced to a minimum. Since meat discoloration often leads retailers to discount and then discard meat products due to consumer rejection, this study aimed to examine German consumer attitudes and preferences regarding beef color. We conducted a discrete choice experiment using digital photos of beef steaks with varying colors, prices, and discount levels to analyze consumer preference behavior and willingness to pay in Germany in the course of a pre-test. We then compared these results with the beef color preferences we found for US beef consumers
The Role of Governance and Agricultural Marketing Organisations (AMOs) Concerning Origin related labels (ORLs) in Germany: A Qualitative Analysis
Full text linkThis study investigates the governance structures and roles of agricultural marketing organizations in implementing Origin Related Labels (ORLs) within Germany's food craft sector. Using Kuckartz's qualitative content analysis approach, we analyzed 14 expert interviews with decision-makers from agricultural ministries (n=5) and marketing organizations (n=9) to examine their roles, coordination mechanisms, and potential for future development. The findings reveal three interconnected dimensions: First, ministries provide essential legal frameworks and financial support for quality and origin labels, though coordination challenges exist between federal and state levels. Second, marketing organizations serve as crucial intermediaries between producers and markets, supporting implementation through quality assurance measures, training programs, and market development. Third, our analysis identified structural coordination deficits at the national level since the dissolution of the CMA (Centrale Marketing-Gesellschaft der deutschen Agrarwirtschaft). The study suggests that establishing a nationwide competence center could enhance system effectiveness by improving stakeholder coordination and knowledge transfer while preserving regional autonomy. These insights advance both theoretical understanding of multi-level governance in agricultural marketing and provide practical recommendations for enhancing ORL implementation through improved institutional coordination
The meaning of food following the lifestyle identity: Case of dairy products, semi-prepared food and non-alcoholic beverages in Czechia and Ukraine
Full text linkThis study aims to examine the meaning related to food following the lifestyle identity, in the case of dairy products, Semi-prepared food, and Non-alcoholic Beverages in Czechia and Ukraine. The study used a structural equation model for the three types of commodities (dairy products, semi-prepared food, and non-alcoholic beverages). One hundred eighty-eight university students were involved in the study. The model examines the link between meaning and the social identity of the lifestyle. The study finds the meaning related to local food following the lifestyle identity in today's society. It confirmed the connection between meaning and food lifestyle identity in the three types of commodities in Czechia and Ukraine