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Development of a Flexitarian food product
Get PDFMany studies show that plant-based diets are good for both human health and the environment and
recommend lowering meat intake considering mounting environmental and animal welfare issues.
This facet prompted protein transitions around the world, which in turn aided in the emergence of
various diets. Flexitarian is one such diet that encourages people to consume more plant-based
meals while also allowing them to eat meat on occasion, unlike other strict vegetarian diets. This
project aims to develop a flexitarian food product that will complement flexitarian diet followers
as well as consumers looking to minimize their meat intake while offering a tasty flexitarian food
product with high nutritional value and minimal environmental impact, by using plant-based
ingredients and by-products from the meat industry
Mung beans were used as a plant-based ingredient, whereas cattle blood and pork intestine sausage
casing were used as animal-derived components in the Flexi hot dog. Two test products were
created, and panel members were invited to taste the sausages and perform sensory evaluations
using a 9-point hedonic scale. Recipe 2 containing relatively more blood received a higher rating
from panel members and thus became the winning version of the sausage, and however, both
sausages overall impression received at the upper half of the scale, thus both products delighted
the panel members in terms of sensory elements. In order to validate possible consumer demand,
participants were requested to reply to open-ended survey questions to examine the possible target
consumers for flexitarian diet and flexi hot dog. Many participants indicated that they would like
to follow flexitarian diet and buy flexitarian sausage at least once a month. When examining the
nutritional value of the Flexi sausage (based on the Livsmedelsverket food nutritional database for
ingredients) compared to vegan sausages, the Flexi hot dog had higher energy, carbohydrate, fibre
and iron content, and lower fat content. The Flexi hot dog has a relatively low environmental
effect of roughly 1.3 kg CO2eq/kg, which is similar to vegan sausages, but lower than regular meat
sausages.
According to the findings of this study, the flexitarian hot dog pleased consumers’ taste palates,
while also offering them nutritious flexitarian food with a low environmental impact; moreover,
consumers are predicted to purchase this product at least once a month. Future developments of
flexitarian food products are recommended to not deviate from the notion of flexitarian and
emphasize the use of legumes and animal by-products, for a resource efficient food system
Agricultural official development assistance: an assessment of empirical aid determinants
Get PDFThis thesis uses an event approach to understand some under-researched aspects of bilateral development assistance (ODA) in the agricultural sector. The empirical findings on ODA analysis largely agree on some historical explanatory determinants, both political and economic, driving bilateral ODA. Despite being statistically and economically significant, they have never been used to describe agricultural bilateral ODA. Given that, the purpose of our thesis work is to generate new evidence on the possible shocks in donor countries from the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in bilateral agricultural ODA. We investigated whether exogenous phenomena and shocks such as governance and financial crisis, can globally impact donor allocation decisions. By using a sample of 140 recipient countries worldwide and 29 DAC donors from 2002 to 2018, we found out that ODA for agriculture responds better to ODA’s main empirical determinants, being more substantial than the ones specific to the agricultural sector. These exogenous phenomena mirror the increasing trends in ODA transfers. Methodologically, we constructed and analysed a panel dataset using a Tobit censored model. Data unavailability however constrained the analysis, emphasising the need for future research
Biochar and hemp as peat substitutes in organic growing media
Get PDFThis study aimed at evaluating the suitability of biochar and hemp as partial or
complete replacement of peat in horticultural growing media, with specific
emphasis on the effects on nutrient availability and plant nutrient uptake. The
study was motivated by the environmental concerns surrounding the use of
peat, along with a desire to explore possible uses for biochar and a crop
residue from hemp cultivation. In total, 13 growing media treatments were
evaluated, comprising of six peat/biochar-treatments, six hemp/biochar
treatments (biochar rates 0 – 31.25 % v/v) and one control treatment (a
commercial peat-based growing media).
A greenhouse pot experiment was set up to assess the effect on plant
growth of lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. Prior to cultivation, important
physicochemical properties of the media were determined; dry bulk density,
water-holding capacity, total porosity, air-filled porosity, pH and electrical
conductivity. In order to study the impact on nutrient availability and plant
nutrient uptake, growing media samples were analyzed for readily available
plant nutrients, both before and after lettuce cultivation. Additionally, the
harvested lettuce was analyzed for its nutrient content. Overall, the
physicochemical measurements showed more suitable properties in the
control treatment and the peat-based growing media, compared to the hempbased growing media. However, all treatments except the control had a
slightly to highly alkaline pH, which was unfavorable for plant growth.
Regarding lettuce plant performance, both the peat-based growing media and
the hemp-based growing media performed much below a satisfactory level.
Severely impaired plant growth could be observed in all treatments except the
control but particularly in the hemp-based treatments. The negative plant
response was associated with an overall N deficiency and/or reduced N
availability in the growing media with increasing biochar rates. This was most
likely caused by N volatilization, due to the alkaline pH of the growing media
Hyggesfritt skogsbruk i boreal skog – tidsstudie och kostnader för föryngringsåtgärder vid luckhuggning i ett tallbestånd i Vätteskogen, Skinnskatteberg
Get PDFI Sverige är trakthyggesbruket den dominerande metoden inom skogsbruket, men intresset för hyggesfria alternativ ökar ständigt. Luckhuggning är en hyggesfri avverkningsmetod speciellt lämpad för pionjärträdslag som tall. Luckor föryngras i huvudsak via naturlig föryngring, men det finns ibland behov av att använda sig av förädlat skogsodlingsmaterial för att skynda på föryngringsprocessen och tillväxten. Ett alternativ för skogsägaren är då att använda sig av manuella föryngringsmetoder, men det saknas dokumentation om prestationer och kostnader för metoderna inom luckor, något som gör att det finns ett behov av tidsstudier på området.
Syftet med studien var att systematisera bland de metoder som finns i litteraturen angående föryngring i luckor och även lista potentiella metoder för föryngring av luckor. Ett ytterligare syfte var att anlägga ett fältförsök med manuella föryngringsmetoder för att få fram tidsunderlag och beräkna kostnader.
Försöket anlades på Sveaskogs markinnehav i Vätteskogen, Skinnskatteberg. Försöksområdet bestod av två luckor på 0,3 respektive 0,1 hektar och innefattade totalt nio försöksytor. De olika metoderna som användes i olika kombinationer var: naturlig föryngring, sådd med sårör, plantering med planteringsrör, högläggning med SFI-hacka samt fläckmarkberedning med röjsågsfräs. För respektive moment togs tiden med ett stoppur, och dessa tidsåtgångar användes sedan för att beräkna en anläggningskostnad i förhållande till antalet markberedningspunkter/ha och storleken på luckan.
Studien visade att det finns ett flertal beprövade eller potentiella föryngringsmetoder inom luckhuggning. Studien visade även att högläggning med SFI-hacka och plantering var minst tidseffektiv och att naturlig föryngring utan markberedning var mest tidseffektiv.
Kostnadsmässigt visade resultatet på att högläggning med SFI-hacka i stenrik terräng och plantering kostade mest vid anläggning, vilket var 14,3 kr per planterad planta. Naturlig föryngring utan markberedning blev billigast eftersom metoden kostade noll kr vid anläggning. Annars var sådd utan markberedning billigast med en summa på 2,3 kr per såddfläck.
Slutsatsen av den här studien är att naturlig föryngring utan markberedning är billigast, men om förädlat skogsodlingsmaterial föredras är sådd utan markberedning billigast. Manuell markberedning kostar mycket och är endast ett konkurrenskraftigt alternativ med maskinell markberedning upp till en total luckareal på drygt 0,3 hektar. Manuell markberedning kan dock vara mer effektiv när luckorna ligger långt ifrån bilväg, eller när terrängen är otjänlig för arbete med maskin. Kostnaden för aktiva föryngringsåtgärder inom luckhuggning styrs framför allt av storleken på luckan/luckorna, men även av avståndet från väg och avståndet mellan luckorna.In Swedish forestry, clearcutting is the dominant silvicultural system, but interest in Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) is constantly increasing. Gap-cutting is a CCF system especially suitable for pioneer tree species such as pine (Pinus sylvestris). Gap-cuts are mainly reforested through natural regeneration, but there is sometimes a need to use genetically enhanced seed material to speed up the regeneration process and seedling growth. An alternative for forest owners is thus to use manual regeneration methods, but there is a lack of documentation on the performance and costs of the manual methods in gap cuts, which means that there is a need for a study on this topic.
The objective of this study was to systematize among the methods available in the literature regarding regeneration in gaps but also to list potential methods for regeneration of gaps. An additional objective was to set up a field trial with manual regeneration methods to elucidate their time consumptions and costs when used to actively reforest gaps.
The experiment was set up on Sveaskog's land holdings in Vätteskogen, Skinnskatteberg. The experimental area consisted of two gaps of 0.3 and 0.1 hectares respectively and comprised 9 parcels in total. The different regeneration methods that were used in different combinations were: natural regeneration; manual direct seeding (sowing); tree planting with Pottiputki; mounding with a SFI-hoe; and patch scarification with a brushsaw. For each task, the time consumption was measured using a stopwatch. This time consumption was then used to calculate the regeneration cost in relation to the number of site preparation patches per ha and the size of the gap.
The literature study showed that there are many proven or potential regeneration methods that can be used to actively regenerate gaps. The field study showed that mounding with a SFI-hoe & planting was the most time-consuming method, and that natural regeneration without soil preparation was the most time-efficient method.
In terms of costs, the study showed that mounding with a SFI-hoe on stony terrain followed by tree planting costs the most to establish (14.3 SEK per seedling). Natural regeneration without soil preparation was the cheapest method since it costs zero to establish. After natural regeneration, direct seeding (sowing) without soil preparation was the cheapest to establish (2.3 SEK per seed patch).
Conclusions from this study is that natural regeneration without soil preparation is the cheapest method at establishment. However, if genetically enhanced seed material is preferred, sowing without soil preparation is the cheapest method to establish. Manual soil preparation with a brushsaw is expensive, and is only cost-competitive with mechanical site preparation up to 0.3 hectares. But manual site preparation can be more efficient when the gaps lie far away from the road or when the terrain is unsuitable for machines. The cost of artificial regeneration of gap cuts is primarily influenced by the size of the gap, but also by its distance from the road and the distance between the gaps
Grönare vägslänter
Get PDFDenna studie inom landskapsarkitektur undersöker och identifierar hinder mot vegetationsklädda vägslänter i praktiken. Vegetationsklädda slänter är något som efterfrågas för att gynna mål om hållbarhet men som det finns en problematik att i praktiken genomföra. I denna intervjustudie med yrkesverksamma inom plan- och byggprocessen syftar jag att skildra ett vidare spektrum av perspektiv för att fånga upp en större variation av hinder. Intervjuerna analyserades genom en tematisk analys.
Resultaten åskådliggör hinder av både formell och indirekt karaktär. Dessa hinder presenteras genom sex teman; Målsättningskonflikter, Brist på resurser, Regelverk, Okunskap, Fördom och Brist på samverkan. Genom att synliggöra dessa hinder är förhoppningen att de kan uppmärksammas, utredas och åtgärdas, med de långsiktiga målen att gynna biologisk mångfald och öka upplevelsevärden. Arbetet avslutas med att skildra sambandet mellan dessa hinder, och den potential som lärdomarna av studien skulle kunna resultera i.
Studien är ett kunskapsbidrag för att den synliggör den ram inom vilken landskapsarkitekter har att förhålla sig till. Den ram som begränsar yrkesverksamma inom landskapsarkitektur och hur de begränsningarna kan påverka möjligheterna för landskapsarkitekter att uppfylla visioner och mål om hållbarhet i praktiken.This thesis in landscape architecture examines and identifies obstacles for creating vegetation-covered road slopes. Vegetation covered slopes could be a mean to make the proximity of the road more sustainable, but there are problems with implementing this in practice. In this interview study with professionals within the planning and construction process of roads I aim to depict a wide range of perspectives to capture the large variety of obstacles that exist within this area. The interviews were analyzed through a thematic analysis.
The findings shows that the obstacles are both of formal and of indirect character. These obstacles are presented by being divided into six categories: Conflicting objectives, Lack of resources, Regulations, Lack of knowledge, Prejudice and Lack of collaboration. By illuminating these obstacles, the aspiration is that they can be noticed, investigated, and addressed, with the long-term goals of promoting biological diversity and increasing experience values. The thesis concludes by highlighting the connection between the obstacles, and the potential of what these findings may imply for the planning and construction process of roads.
The study aims to visualize the framework in which landscape architects has to relate to when designing roads and its proximity. It also shows how this framework limits professionals in landscape architecture, and how this can have an impact on visions and goals of sustainability
From community ownership to community fellowship
Get PDFUnderstanding inequalities regarding land and asset ownership is essential to comprehending rural areas. An unbalance situation regarding the ownership of assets, especially in rural areas where people are even more dependent on land management and the resources they can get from it, makes rural society more fragile. This thesis investigates the role of asset redistribution in the development of rural communities in the Global North, where the potential of community ownership to mitigate asset ownership inequalities and improve the lives of local people has been understudied, especially compared to some cases in the Global South. This study investigates how and in what ways land redistribution can contribute to building communities and improving the well-being of rural people. The fieldwork conducted in a rural community in the south of Scotland over five weeks follows a qualitative approach mixing eighteen in-depth interviews, three participant observation sessions and four transect walks made with community group members. The data collected have been analysed through the Community Capacity Framework, using the literature on the community ownership model and the concept of commoning. The case study demonstrates how the community follows a spiralling up trajectory led by positive retroaction thanks to the initiatives conducted by different community groups leading to the building of commons. In other words, the study shows that asset redistribution leading to community ownership benefits the local community by strengthening social ties. These significant social connections among local people allow the emergence of new collective projects reinforcing the economic attractiveness of the town and its surroundings and improving the well-being of the local people. The present paper contributes to the existing knowledge by demonstrating that the building of material commons can contribute to the creation/reinforcement of social bonds among local people. These newly-shaped social ties contribute to the formation and reinforcing the community spirit, making local people likely more able to answer present and future crises collectively
Urban natur
Get PDFUppsatsen undersöker hur design av grönområden skulle kunna se ut om de gjordes med målen att skapa
värden för biologisk mångfald och tillgängliggöra naturupplevelser för människor i staden, med ett
designförslag av en befintlig park i Malmö som fallstudie. I växande städer är förtätning en strategi för
att minska städers utbredning och konsumtion av omgivande landområden vilket innebär en allvarlig
påverkan på biologisk mångfald. Förtätningen av städer sker ofta på bekostnad av urbana grönområden
och urban natur. Samtidigt finns en tradition i utformningen av urbana parker och grönområden som
innebär låga värden för biologisk mångfald och naturupplevelser. Genom en litteraturstudie,
observationsstudie och designförslag av Ögårdsparken i Malmö, samt observationsstudie av parker i
Berlin och läsning av skötselbeskrivningar för Berlins grönområden diskuterar uppsatsen på vilka sätt
urbana grönområden skulle kunna designas och förvaltas med målet biologisk mångfald och att skapa
naturupplevelser, och varför det är viktigt i en urbaniserad värld.The thesis explores the possibility of creating design of urban green areas and parks with the aim to
achieve biodiversity and access to nature experiences in the city, with a design proposal for an existing
park in Malmö as showcase. In growing cities densification is a strategy to limit cities expansion and
consumption of surrounding land , with serious loss of biodiversity as a consequence. The
densification of cities often results in loss of urban green areas and urban nature. At the same time there
is an existing tradition in design of urban green areas and parks, that means lack of values for
biodiversity and nature experience. Through a literature review, observational study and design proposal
Ögårdsparken in Malmö , and an observational study of parks in Berlin and a reading of the official
management- documents of Berlins green areas, the thesis discuss in what ways urban green spaces
could be designed and managed with the goal to create values for biodiversity and access off
experiences of nature, and why this is important in an urbanized world
Using the theory of planned behavior to understand factors influencing the purchase of sustainable housing
Get PDFThis thesis attempts to understand the factors influencing homebuyers to purchase sustainable homes using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in Sweden. The aim is to identify whether environmental factors determine home buying choices and how consumers perceive these factors. Previous research has studied the factors from a quantitative study. Therefore, this thesis will explore homebuyers’ behavior from a qualitative point of view. The findings indicate that positive attitude towards sustainable housing and subjective norms have a minimum effect in the decision-making process, however perceived behavior control has a high influence in the process of choosing a dwelling
Är skogen fruktan värd?
Get PDFSyftet med denna vetenskapliga uppsats är att belysa hur skog och natur har skildrats som skrämmande i litteraturen för att avgöra hur trygghetsskapande faktorer kan användas för att motverka upplevd rädsla på gestaltade platser. En kvalitativ litteraturstudie genomfördes där jag har studerat tre litterära barn- och ungdomsverk utifrån de rekommenderade metoderna i boken Att göra systematiska litteraturstudier (Forsberg & Wengström, 2008). Resultatet visade att en typiskt “läskig skog” ofta beskrivs som mörk, tät, fylld med farliga väsen och lätt att gå vilse i samt att vindens sus påverkar trygghetsfaktorn på olika sätt. Diskussionen visade att de flesta av de typiska drag jag identifierade går att motverka med hjälp av vanliga trygghetsskapande faktorer men att sambandet mellan ljud respektive tystnad i naturen och upplevd trygghet bör undersökas vidare.The purpose of this scientific article is to shed light on how forest and nature have been portrayed as frightening throughout literature to determine how security-creating factors can be used to counteract perceived fear in designed places. A qualitative literature study was conducted where I studied three literary works for children and young people based on the recommended methods in the book Att göra systematiska litteraturstudier (Forsberg & Wengström, 2008). The results showed that a typical “scary forest” is often described as dark, dense, filled with dangerous creatures and easy to get lost in, and that the whistling of the wind affects the safety factor in various ways. The discussion showed that most of the typical features I identified can be counteracted with the help of common security-creating factors, but that the connection between sound and silence in nature and perceived security should be investigated further
En studie på två avvänjningsmetoder: Nedtrappning och abrupt avvänjning
Get PDFKalven genomgår tre kritiska perioder under sina första tre levnadsmånader. Födseln, första två veckorna i livet och två veckor före- samt efter avvänjning. I denna rapport riktas fokuset på den sista kritiska perioden. Avvänjningen. En period som är omdebatterad både utomlands och i Sverige. En litteraturstudie om vilka aspekter i kalvens liv som kan påverka tillväxten efter avvänjning genomfördes. Ett avvänjningsförsök genomfördes också med fokus på två olika avvänjningsmetoder. Nedtrappning under fyra dagar och abrupt avvänjning där mjölken ersatts med ljummet vatten. Målet var att se om någon av de två metoderna var överlägsen den andra när det kom till kalvens tillväxt efter avvänjning, om någon metod främjade intag av fast föda mer än den andra.
Resultatet i litteraturstudien var att kalvens tillväxt efter avvänjning huvudsakligen grundar sig i hur väl våmmen utvecklas under mjölkperioden. Våmutveckling är essentiell för att kalven ska klara av att försörja sig på fast föda när mjölk inte längre är ett alternativ. Dock är det viktigt att inte glömma helheten i kalvens uppfödning. Andra aspekter som sjukdom, mjölkgiva och stress påverkar hur väl våmutvecklingen och tillväxten kan ske under mjölktiden.
Försöket innefattade 8 Holsteinkvigor uppdelade i två grupper. Grupp 1 mottog Behandling 1 (abrupt avvänjning och ljummet vatten). Grupp 2 mottog Behandling 2 (nedtrappning). Avvänjningsförsöket genomfördes under 7 dagar. På fjärde dagen efter påbörjad avvänjning flyttades kalvarna från ensambox till gruppbox. Kalvarna vägdes tre gånger under hela försöket. Resultatet av försöket mättes genom att jämföra den dagliga viktuppgången innan avvänjning med den efter avvänjning. Detta redovisades i att gruppens viktuppgång efter avvänjning mättes i procent av den dagliga viktuppgången de haft före avvänjning. Behandling 1 gav utfallet att kalvarna bibehöll 66% av den dagliga viktuppgången de haft före avvänjning. Behandling 2 gav ett resultat på 38%.
Resultatet av försöket var att ingen signifikant skillnad gick att se mellan behandlingarna. En trend till att Behandling 1 skulle vara mer fördelaktig för gruppen som helhet syns. Även en trend att de äldre kalvarna skulle kunna gynnas mer av en abrupt avvänjning och att de yngre skulle kunna gynnas mer av en nedtrappning. Dock är det något som behöver forskas mer om.The calf goes through three critical periods during its first three months of life. Birth, first two weeks of life and two weeks before and after weaning. In this report, the focus is on the last critical period. The weaning. A period that is debated both abroad and in Sweden. A literature study on which aspects of the calf's life can affect growth after weaning was carried out. A weaning trial was also carried out with a focus on two different weaning methods. Gradual weaning for four days and abrupt weaning where the milk is replaced with lukewarm water. The aim was to see if one of the two methods was superior to the other when it came to calf growth after weaning, if one method promoted solid food intake more than the other.
The result of the literature study was that the calf's growth after weaning is mainly based on how well the rumen develops during the milkfeeding period. Rumen development is essential for the calf to be able to support itself on solid food when milk is no longer an option. However, it is important not to forget the totality of the calf's rearing. Other aspects such as illness, milk intake and stress affect how well rumen development and growth can take place during the milkfeeding period.
The trial included 8 Holstein heifers divided into two groups. Group 1 received Treatment 1 (abrupt weaning and lukewarm water). Group 2 received Treatment 2 (gradual weaning). The weaning experiment was carried out for 7 days. On the fourth day after the start of weaning, the calves were moved from a single box to a group box. The calves were weighed three times throughout the experiment. The outcome of the trial was measured by comparing the daily weight gain of the group before weaning with that after weaning. This was reported in that the group's weight gain after weaning was measured as a percentage of the daily weight gain they had before weaning. Treatment 1 resulted in calves maintaining 66% of pre-weaning daily weight gain after weaning. Treatment 2 gave a result of 38%.
The result of the experiment was that no significant difference could be seen between the treatments. A trend towards Treatment 1 being more beneficial for the group as a whole is seen. Also a trend that the older calves could benefit more from an abrupt weaning and that the younger ones could benefit more from a gradual weaning. However, it is something that needs more research