University of Minnesota, Duluth
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Cost forecast for the sugarcane and ethanol sector in the Central-South region of Brazil: 2016/17 harvest.
No full textThis publication presents the agro-industrial production cost projections for the sugarcane and energy sector for the 2016/17 harvest in the Center-South region of Brazil. Characterized by improved raw material quality (in kg of Total Reducing Sugar [TRS] per ton of sugarcane) and a decrease in agricultural productivity (in tons of sugarcane per hectare), the sector is expected to show an increase in profitability, mainly in relation to the final product, sugar, which should see improved international market prices
Compatibility between the demands of the industrial market and the performance of business administration students.
No full textThis study aimed to analyze divergences and convergences between the learning of graduating students from the Business Administration course at a private college located in Capivari, São Paulo, and the demands of the city's industrial market. The research was developed in two stages. The first stage was a quantitative field study using a structured questionnaire with 27 closed and three open-ended questions, answered by 13 industries, in order to understand the demands placed on administrators. Subsequently, a semi-structured questionnaire with 35 closed and one open-ended question was developed and answered by 24 final-year Business Administration students to diagnose their performance in relation to the content taught in class and the content presented to the companies. In the second stage, through an interview with the director of the college studied, the institution's positioning regarding the course and the market was diagnosed. The results revealed a significant divergence between the two areas; however, topics such as marketing mix strategies and the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool stood out positively in both industry requirements and student performance. Similarly, the Material Requirements Planning (MRP) tool and industrial location methods stood out negatively, a trend repeated in both perspectives
Economic viability of a Trichogramma pretiosum biofactory for use against agricultural pests of the order Lepidoptera.
No full textBrazil has become one of the main international suppliers of agricultural products. These products account for half of exports and 21% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), demonstrating the sector's importance to the economy. Paradoxically, there is an increase in the use of chemical products in agricultural production, which constitutes a barrier to exports and even a reduction in domestic consumption. Production under good agricultural practices is a global demand, since ecological barriers and/or chemical residues are still obstacles to the expansion of exports. An alternative to mitigate the problem with chemical residues is the biological control of pests using *Trichogramma pretiosum* due to its efficiency in controlling pests of the order Lepidoptera and because it is easy to breed on a commercial scale in biofactories. However, there are few references in the literature on the cost-benefit ratio of this undertaking, since the methodologies used in insect breeding are not disclosed by companies in the sector. The objective of this work was to evaluate the economic viability of the construction and implementation of a biofactory for the production of *Trichogramma* for biological control. The study indicated that the project is viable, with good profitability and a good return on investment
Performance indicators in an animal diagnostic laboratory
No full textThe use of quality indicators has been encouraged in laboratories to improve the qualification and quantification of errors in different laboratory processes, as well as to help implement corrective and preventive measures and indicate the effectiveness of the actions taken. This work aims to evaluate performance indicators during the years 2015 and 2016 in an animal diagnostic laboratory located in Belém, Pará state. Therefore, four laboratory performance indicators were used: number of laboratory outreach actions to the public; temporal performance; percentage of accredited tests; and percentage of execution of the training plan. All tests offered by the laboratory are accredited under ABNT NBR ISO/IEC 17025:2005. It was found that there were no laboratory outreach actions in 2015; however, in 2016, seven outreach actions took place in different states of Brazil. The number of samples with test reports delivered to clients within the stipulated timeframe decreased by 1.5% between 2015 (92.7%) and 2016 (91.2%). The percentage of staff trained was zero in 2015 (0%) and very low in 2016 (16.7%). It is concluded that the laboratory under study presents good indicators of temporal performance and accreditation, but should focus on continuous improvement of future actions to publicize the institution and on staff training in order to fully meet the strategic planning of the organization
Brazilian competitiveness in the foreign trade of beef.
No full textThe aim of this study was to verify the competitiveness of Brazilian beef in the international arena and to identify the factors that affected it between 1994 and 2015. To this end, the study was divided into four specific objectives: to study the Brazilian beef production chain and its performance in the international market, identifying the main barriers to international trade of this product; to calculate competitiveness indicators, namely the Export Coefficient, market share, and Revealed Comparative Advantage Index. The results show that Brazil has overcome some weaknesses and is in a favorable position regarding the international trade of beef
The importance of the marketing mix in educational businesses.
No full textThe importance of the marketing mix in educational businesses
Fiscal determinants of the green transformation of the agricultural sector: modelling the impact of tax policy in the context of the European Green Deal
No full textPurpose. The purpose of the article is to determine the role of fiscal instruments in ensuring the ecological transformation of the agricultural sector of Ukraine, considering European integration guidelines and sustainable development objectives. Methodology / approach. The study uses the authors’ analytical approach to assessing the fiscal impact on the “green” transition, which is based on institutional, comparative and content analysis of regulatory legal acts, EU strategic documents, statistical data and scientific sources. Within the framework of the model, fiscal instruments are classified according to their stimulating potential and a qualitative assessment of effectiveness in the context of agricultural greening is applied. Results. The results of the study showed the limited impact of the current tax policy of Ukraine on the greening of agriculture, primarily due to the lack of targeted instruments, weak differentiation and insufficient implementation of the “polluter pays” principle. At the same time, the potential for adapting European approaches to the conditions of the Ukrainian economy has been identified, by transforming environmental taxation, expanding tax benefits and targeted subsidies for environmental measures. Originality / scientific novelty. A conceptual model of the fiscal impact on the green transition in the agricultural sector under a transitional economy is summarised, covering taxes, incentives, and fiscal transfers as tools to promote environmentalisation. An approach is proposed for qualitatively assessing the effectiveness of tax mechanisms, considering the extent of their influence on changing the environmental behaviour of agricultural producers. For the first time, the domestic tax system is examined through the lens of its alignment with the environmental goals of the European Green Deal, identifying functional gaps in national tax regulation. The article also contributes to the development of an interdisciplinary methodology for researching fiscal policy by combining institutional, economic-environmental, and strategic approaches within a single research toolkit. Practical value / implications. The obtained results can be used by government authorities and legislative bodies, in particular by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, relevant committees of the Verkhovna Rada, industry associations, and research and analytical centres for shaping fiscal policy in the agricultural sector, developing tax incentive instruments for environmentalisation, and adapting national legislation to the requirements of the European Green Deal
Material of Primary Importance on the Economic Aspects of Agriculture
No full textPresentations: Foreign Publications of Primary Importance in the Field of Agricultural Economics --- Publications of the Federal Farm Board --- Society and Association Publications of Primary Importance in the Field of Agricultural Economics --- State Departments of Agriculture Publications --- Agricultural Experiment Station Publications --- Some Knots and What Nots in Agricultural Extension Publications --- Publications of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics and Other Agencies of the U. S. Department of Agriculture --- U. S Dept. of Commerce and Other Government Agencies, Exclusive of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture
Evaluation of a Low-Cost Extrusion-Cooker for Use in Less Developed Countries
No full textReport Introduction: Short-time, high-temperature cooking of grain products with extrusion processing equipment has become a well-established technology in the US. A wide variety of food, feed, and industrial grain products are currently manufactured using extrusion-cookers. The equipment available for this ranges from highly specialized units designed for production of specific commodities to extremely versatile units capable of producing a broad spectrum of extrusion-cooked products. A description of extrusion-cooking including the principles and potential product applications is given in Appendix A. The purpose of this report is to evaluate a recently developed extrusion-cooker, the Brady Crop Cooker, and suggest how it might be used in food processing applications in less developed countries
Integrating the European Green Deal into local governance: administrative capacities and institutional challenges for territorial communities
No full textPurpose. The study aims to assess the administrative capacity and institutional features of integrating the principles of the European Green Deal into Ukraine’s local governance system (case study of territorial communities of the Western macro-region). Methodology / approach. The research methodology combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to assess the administrative capacities and institutional challenges of territorial communities in the Western macro-region of Ukraine in implementing the principles of the European Green Deal. An expert survey of representatives of local governments in 107 communities across seven oblasts (25.2% of their total number) was conducted in July–September 2025, covering 28 out of 30 areas and ensuring a high level of territorial coverage. The sample included urban, rural-type settlement, and village communities of various types and population sizes to take into account the specific characteristics of urbanised, mountainous, agricultural and industrial areas. Some of the results obtained are compared with data from European studies. This comparison contributed to understanding the extent to which the identified trends are consistent with European practices. The questionnaire was drafted without using the term green transition directly, which minimised respondent bias and ensured the objectivity of the assessments. Results. The results show that local governments in the Western macro-region have a low level of awareness of the European Green Deal: partial understanding prevails, while the proportion of those who are fully aware is significantly lower. Compared to EU municipalities, the level of awareness of Ukrainian communities is weaker: in Europe, the majority have at least basic awareness, while a much lower proportion of the population is completely unfamiliar with green approaches. Urban communities (especially oblast centres) are leaders in this area, while village and rural-type settlement communities show lower levels of engagement and awareness. Institutional barriers are systemic in nature: many councils do not have separate environmental or energy management departments, or these functions are performed on a part-time basis. This is reflected in planning: only a few communities have local energy plans (despite the requirement to adopt them by October 2025), while sustainable development action plans and waste management documents are present unevenly. Real green projects mostly focus on energy-efficient modernisation and renewable energy sources, with urban communities systematically more active than village ones. Meanwhile, specific measures are implemented more often than comprehensive policies are developed. Originality / scientific novelty. The novelty lies in conducting a comprehensive empirical assessment of the management capabilities of territorial communities in the context of integrating the European Green Deal, making it one of the first large-scale indicator surveys of its kind in Ukraine. A survey of over a hundred communities in the Western macro-region made it possible not only to identify the specifics of institutional barriers and environmental management practices, but also to compare Ukrainian trends with corresponding indicators for municipalities in EU countries. The results obtained provide an analytical basis for improving the green transition policy and developing a multi-level governance system in Ukraine that takes into account European approaches and standards. Practical value / implications. The practical significance of the results lies in their potential use by local governments, regional authorities, and national institutions in preparing development strategies, local energy plans, and environmental programmes. The empirical data obtained allows us to identify administrative gaps, staffing needs, and institutional barriers that hinder the implementation of the European Green Deal principles at the local level. In practice, the results can be used to develop targeted measures to improve the administrative capacity of communities, develop training programmes for local government specialists, and adapt European green transition tools to Ukrainian conditions