Food System Dynamics (E-Journals)
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No full textPresentations during the 17th International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks 202
Sourcing and Vetting Ideas for Sustainability in the Retail Supply Chain: The Contribution of Artificial Intelligence Coupled with Mind Genomics
Full text linkThis study analyzes the sustainability of the retail supply chain. The paper shows the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Mind Genomics to understand how ordinary people think about food sustainability. The combination reveals how people think about the topic, from the point of view of what information regarding sustainability in retail is attractive to the ordinary person, what information is believable, and finally, the nature of different ways of thinking about sustainabili ty in retail, namely mindsets. The paper closes with the PVI (personal viewpoint identifier) evaluation
The Influence of Infant Food Packaging Design on Perceptions of Kenyan Consumers: Conjoint Analysis Combined with Eye Tracking
Full text linkLocally produced, healthy and affordable foods for children based on traditional recipes have the potential to improve the high rates of child malnutrition in Africa's drylands. Professional, informative packaging is needed for women's groups producing such foods to access the formal market. To identify suitable packaging designs, a conjoint experiment was combined with eye tracking. 16 packaging designs were created (D-efficient design), randomly displayed and rated for attractiveness by 98 participants. Overall, the results suggest that packaging designs for children's foods that include food safety symbols and detailed nutritional information could help Kenyan consumers build trust in the product being offered. Consumers gain information from images showing the product's ingredients and a logo composed of the colours of the Kenyan flag. The image of a cute cartoon animal helps consumers identify the product as a children's food
Assessing efficiency differences in a common Agriculture Decision Support System - A comparative analysis between Greek and Italian durum wheat farms -
Full text linkThis study assesses inputs use efficiency of durum wheat farmers, subscribed under a common Agricultural Decision Support System (ADSS), especially designed by Barilla and HORTA for this cultivation. Data Envelopment Analysis was the main analysis used to highlight differences in the implementation stage of ADSS’s suggestions, between 4 agricultural firms (2 Italian and 2 Greek) (N= 563 farmers). By incorporating economic (variable costs) and environmental factors (Carbon, Water and Environmental footprints), performance differences between farms both on regional and national level arose. Lastly, closer monitoring for clarifying the reasoning of the obtained differences in the implementation stage is proposed
Novel policy: an economic retrospective on the glyphosate ban in the Sri Lanka tea industry
Full text linkThere was a flawed policy banning Glyphosate in Sri Lanka in 2015 that was later withdrawn, but only after significant economic losses were experienced, especially in the tea industry. The focus of this study is to highlight the impact of the policy on the tea growing sector and determine the economic cost on the tea industry throughout the value chain. It is also aimed to remind policymakers that science and economics, theory and evidence, still matter in implementing public policies. The method used in the study involved gross margin budget analysis of tea grower groups, thematic analysis of qualitative data collected through interviews and welfare analysis of the impacts of the ban on the industry using an Equilibrium Displacement Model (EDM) of the tea industry in Sri Lanka. Direct impacts were experienced by the farm sector engaging in tea cultivation. An unintended consequence of this policy in the tea industry was rejection of tea exports from Sri Lanka to Japanese markets. The estimated annual loss in the tea industry by banning Glyphosate was estimated to be LKR 20 billion (more than $US100 million), though the true cost likely was much more than this. Hence, policies introduced to minimize adverse impacts from market failures warrant full attention being given to the scientific, economic, social and political realities of the case at hand, and the likely consequences for the affected parties and their responses
A Model of Farm Price Levelling when Variability comes from Export Demand, Illustrated with Coffee Marketing Margin Data in Papua New Guinea, 1999-2010
Full text linkIn this paper a new model of short-term price levelling behaviour is introduced, for the case of variability arising from demand-side factors rather than supply-side factors. The key components are the direction of the information flow in the market, and the ability of value chain participants to adjust their demand for and supply of market services. The model is illustrated using data from the Papua New Guinea coffee industry. Almost all PNG coffee is exported to a wide range of countries. The industry has a competitive marketing structure with many active producers and buyers of various sizes. There is keen competition for the limited supply of coffee, but inefficiency in the pricing mechanism has long been a concern to many producers in the industry, in particular the smallholder coffee producers. They argue that increases in world coffee prices have not been fully passed on to growers, with exporters and processors able to hold their buying prices stable in the face of rising world market prices. In this study marketing margin analysis is used to investigate and test hypotheses related to price levelling, and in addition, the influence of marketing costs and throughput, on the aggregate industry margin, and the exporting margin and processing margin components. Average monthly price data over the period January 1999 to December 2010 are used. Using simple regression models, at the whole chain level short-run price levelling is confirmed and both aggregate costs and total volume of exports are significant determinants of the size of the margin. Short-run price levelling is also confirmed at both the exporting and processing stages, but in the preferred models, while throughput is an important determinant of exporter and processing margins, costs have a significant but negative effect on margins. Partial adjustment processes are important in determining margins at all stages
Sustainability of Soybean Farms Participating in the Agro Plus Program in Minas Gerais State, Brazil: An Application of Cluster and Principal Component Analyzes
Full text linkBrazil is the world's largest producer and exporter of soy. The 2022/23 harvest reached 154 million tons and the soy complex (soybean and processed products) was responsible for 19 % of Brazilian agribusiness total exports, contributing with US$ 60 billion to the trade balance. The sustainability of agricultural production is a key issue for the European and Chinese markets. The Agro Plus program, former Soja Plus, was set up in the early 2010s by the Brazilian Vegetable Oil Industries and Farmers Associations (ABIOVE) with the objective of improving the sustainability of soy production. The Agro Plus has been implemented in 5.300 farms nationwide using a checklist which comprises around 230 indicators divided into Social and Environmental and Rural Construction major themes. In Minas Gerais State, the program is coordinate by the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) and the Farmers´ Association. The objective of this study was to identify critical indicators and groups of farms, allowing the discussion and proposition of individual and collective actions. The Cluster and the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) methods were used. Based on the updated version of the checklist applied in 123 farms during the 2021/22 season, three groups of farms (A, B and C) were identified comprising of 18, 77 and 22 farms respectively. PCA analysis was carried out for each major theme. The first three PCs explain 67% of the variance of Socio Environmental themes and 70% of Rural Building themes. Identified critical indicators and the analysis of farms´ groups allowed the proposition of focused capacity building and distribution of information material to specific group of farms. The UFV team shared the results with the Coordination of the Program and actions for the next Agro Plus assessment campaign will be discussed in a National Seminar to be held in early 2023. It would be highly opportune to include data from other states and to discuss the results considering the requirements of specific market, such as the Chinese one
Value Chain activities of Small and Medium Food Manufacturers in Wales, United Kingdom: The KITE Project
Full text linkThe Knowledge Innovation Technology Exchange (KITE) Feasibility Project (2008-2015) was implemented in Wales, to improve food science/technology knowledge and sustainable innovation in food manufacturing small to medium enterprises (SMEs). From this model, the study aimed to identify the salient features of such a paradigm to contribute to ‘value-added gains’ for competitive advantage. Cumulatively, >90 KITE interventions in 43 Welsh SME partners, were evaluated according to mappable value chain ‘primary activities’ and ‘support activities’. Findings from case study purposive samples conducted in 13 out of 43 KITE partner SMEs, identified added value activity across manufacturing and processing activities that positively impacted the food sector
Farmers are caught in Tri-Dilemma - Objectives and Challenges for Biodiversity in German Nature-Protected Areas
Full text linkThis paper aims to assess farmers’ challenges in enhancing biodiversity. The so-called “trilemma” (WBGU 2021) of land use stems from the multiple demands made on land for the benefit of mitigating climate change, securing food, and maintaining biodiversity. Agriculture is accused of maladministration, causing soil contamination, animal cruelty, bee mortality, and climate change. However, farmers play a key role in overcoming upcoming sustainability challenges. While their supportive role is urgently needed, farmers find themselves caught between a “rock” and a ”hard place”. Consumers call for sustainable production and affordable food products without pesticide residues, demanding enough for all. Farmers are restricted by the wants and needs of consumers who are influenced by interest groups and exposed to interdependent direct and indirect influencing factors. They need to balance the scrutiny of the critical public as well as the regulatory control. In this paper, we collected and surveyed the data of farmers within or close to the 21 selected nature protected areas of the DINA (Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas) Project, using a mixed methods approach with a semi-structured questionnaire considering issues’ interdependencies and the complexity of today´s problems. The conflicts and obstacles faced by farmers were assessed. The results reflect the farmers’ willingness and the importance of receiving appreciation for implementing biodiversity measures. These results, complemented by a following quantitative study, are the basis for recommendations for policymakers and farmers in all German nature protected areas
Anchor Institutions and Food Resilience: A Multiple Streams Approach
Full text linkAnchor institutions (AIs) play an essential role in food system resilience. We utilize Kingdon’s multiple streams approach (MSA) to analyze AIs’ food system resilience activities in Vermont. Drawing on a series of focus groups to understand activities to foster food system resilience. Local food supply chains can be a source of resilience; barriers such as labor and infrastructure shortages can be overcome through greater use of local food processing and distribution. The MSA lens suggests that Covid-19 can serve as a focusing event, incentivizing investment and leveraging the national mood for greater consumption and support for local food