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Aquaculture and its effect on the wild fish resource in a Swedish lake : An evaluation of changes in fat content, protein content and trophic niche
Get PDFFish is nutritious and important as a food source for many people. It contains high levels of protein, important omega-3 fatty acids as well as micronutrients. For a sustainable fish consumption, aquaculture is needed but it can affect nearby ecosystems in many ways. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aquaculture on wild Arctic charr, burbot, perch and whitefish, in a lake with a newly established fish farm in northern Sweden. Fish were caught in three different locations (aquaculture, downstream, upstream) at three different occasions (year 2009, 2010, 2012). Fish caught in 2009 were sampled the first year after establishment of the aquaculture, with low impact from the farm and hence assumed to be “before” establishment, while 2012 and 2012 were assumed to be “after”. Analyses of fat- and protein content were performed in all four species of the wild fish from the different capture locations and capture years. Additionally, stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were analysed in perch and whitefish from different capture years and capture locations. Fat content increased over time in burbot and whitefish whereas it both decreased and increased in perch, depending on capture location. Protein content did not change significantly over time in any of the species. Charr was not statistically evaluated due to low sample size. The stable isotope analysis indicated some changes after establishment of the aquaculture. Both perch and whitefish had an increase in range of δ15N. Perch did also have an increase in range of δ13C for the same time period while whitefish had a lower range of δ13C. The changes in fat content in wild fish and the changes in trophic niche that were found, indicate leakage of nutrients from the fish farm. In some areas this might have a positive effect on the production of wild fish whereas in other areas this could be a problem. Additionally, there is a need for further studies of the effect on wild fish in order for farmed fish to be a part of a sustainable food supply.Fisk är ett viktigt livsmedel för många människor då det är så näringsrik. Det innehåller mycket protein, viktiga omega-3-fettsyror samt vitaminer och mineraler. För att fiskkonsumtionen ska kunna vara hållbar är fiskodling viktigt och därmed något som ständigt utvecklas. Samtidigt kan fiskodlingar påverka närliggande ekosystem på många olika sätt. Den här studien hade som mål att undersöka vilken effekt en nyetablerad fiskodling hade på vild fisk i en sjö i norra Sverige. De vilda arter som inkluderades i denna studie var abborre, lake, röding och sik. Fisk fångades in för provtagning vid tre olika tillfällen (år 2009, 2010, 2012) och vid tre olika fångstlokaler (uppströms, nedströms, utanför odlingen). Fisk från 2009 fångades under det första året efter etableringen av fiskodlingen, med lite påverkan från odlingen och antogs därmed vara ”före” etableringen, medan fångster från 2010 och 2012 antogs vara ”efter”. Analys gjordes på mängden fett och protein för de fyra arterna utifrån år och fångstlokaler. Utöver fett och protein analyserades även stabila isotoper av kol och kväve i abborre och sik. Mängden fett ökade över tid i lake och sik samtidigt som den både ökade och minskade i abborre beroende på var den var fångad. Proteinmängden förändrades inte signifikant över tid i någon av fiskarterna. Statistiska värden för röding utvärderades inte på grund av bristfällig mängd prover. Analysen av stabila isotoper indikerade vissa förändringar efter etableringen av fiskodlingen. Både abborre och sik hade ökade värden av δ15N. Abborre hade också en ökning i δ13C för samma tidsperiod, medan sik hade en minskning i δ13C. Förändringarna i mängden fett i den vilda fisken tillsammans med förändringar i trofisk nisch indikerade att näring läcker ut från fiskodlingen. I vissa områden kan näringsläckage ha en positiv effekt på vild fisk medan det på andra ställen kan innebära problem. Med det sagt behövs mer studier göras för att se vilka effekterna är på vild fisk och på så sätt kunna betrakta odlad fisk som en del av en hållbar livsmedelsförsörjning
Communication of Sustainable Brands within Food and Beverages : A Qualitative Study of KRAV’s CSR Communication
Get PDFWe are today living in a complex food system. A system interlinked by series of stakeholders who are affected by each other’s decisions. When you purchase a pack of coffee in the grocery store, your action impacts several other actors. Besides giving yourself the pleasure to consume the product, you also contribute to salaries from the farm to the store. This mean that you also contribute to employees’ healthcare throughout the supply chain. The purchase further has an impact on the environment. Our current food system is today contributing significantly to climate change and environmental degradation. At the same time, our population is increasing which mean that more people need to be fed. A sustainable development of the food system is crucial to reduce our environmental impact and still feed a growing population. Many companies are today addressing this issue by incorporating values regarding social and environmental issues. Stakeholders like consumers, employees and investors are further showing an interest in companies engaging in social and environmental issues. Thus, companies are not only addressing social and environmental dilemmas to act responsible, but also as a tool to gain business returns from its stakeholders. This research used a deductive approached to test Shuili’s et al. (2010) framework for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) communication. The framework explain how companies could maximize the business returns on their CSR communication. These business returns emerge from value gain by the companies’ stakeholders. Since stakeholder may have different interests Freeman’s et al (2018) Stakeholder Theory is used to better understand how companies can approach the relation between the company and its stakeholders. The theory is used to assess and explain the factors impacting the effectiveness of KRAV’s CSR communication. The findings from both theory and practice suggest that companies should communicate around an issue that is routed in the brand values. The study further suggest that stakeholders understand that companies have both intrinsic and extrinsic motives which should be reflected in the communication to appear authentic. Authentic communication is suggested as a key factor to resonate with the stakeholders. The study further highlights the reputation of the brand as a key factor impacting the effectiveness of the CSR communication. The results show that the reputation is built over a long period of time and can be torn down over night. Thus, companies need to work proactively with brand building activities to increase credibility of the brand. The findings finally suggest that company´s should identify the opinion leaders of their brand to improve the target audience perception of the brand. This can additional be done by leveraging employees, consumers or the supply chain as brand ambassadors
Aktivitetsmönster och boskapspredation hos lejon (Panthera leo) i förhållande till olika miljöfaktorer
Get PDFThe lion is one of few large predators that have suffered terrible population losses over the past two decades. As a result of this lions are now considered vulnerable on the IUCN Redlist, and on their way towards becoming endangered. The estimated number of individuals is approximately 32 000 today, and the majority are found in Africa. The main cause of the population decline is the growth of the human population. Through an increase of the human population the land use by humans’ have subsequently expanded, which has resulted in large habitat loss for lions. Habitat loss in correlation with large territories has caused the frequency of human-wildlife conflicts to rise. With the majority of the community being livestock herders, the most prevalent human-wildlife conflict between humans and lions is livestock predation. Livestock predation often results in economic loss for the herder. Hunting has therefore become a way for them to enact their revenge on the lions that killed the livestock. Because of this it is of the utmost importance to find what affects lions from day to day and how that influences livestock predation. The aim of this study was for this reason to examine the activity pattern of lions and how this can be affected by different moon phases, cloud cover and precipitation. The effects of moon phase, cloud cover and precipitation on livestock predation was also analyzed in this study. The study was executed using motion activated camera traps in Ol Pejeta Conservancy and reports about deaths of cattle caused by lions in the conservancy. The results showed that the only significant effect that moon phase had, was in relation to livestock predation where predation during the day was the only variable influences. However, both cloud cover and precipitation were found to cause a difference in activity in lions, with increased activity during less cloud cover or less precipitation. In relation to the predation on cattle there was no evidence to support that precipitation had an effect. Nevertheless, high cloud cover portion was found to result in higher livestock predation during the night. In conclusion it was found that all the environmental factors affected the activity of lions or livestock predation in some way. Although, an increase in activity did not always indicate a subsequent rise in predation. By using these findings, we can find ways of preventing and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts
Regenerative leadership
Get PDFIn the face of numerous environmental and social crises, leadership that connects people to themselves, each other, and nature is urgently needed. An emerging leadership strand that seems capable of doing so is regenerative leadership. Based on the interconnectedness of humans and nature, this field strives to increase the health and well-being of people and socio-ecological systems. Through an inductive multiple-case study with semi-structured interviews, this master's thesis explores how regenerative leadership is enabled or constrained in businesses. The results reveal that multiple interlinked organizational and personal aspects inform the possibilities for leadership that better connects people and nature. Seemingly, leaders hold convictions and enact approaches crucial for regenerative leadership. Still, corporate structure and culture are decisive and either support or hinder the endeavors of leaders. Moreover, people's urge to address global issues simultaneously enables and constrains regenerative leadership; despite having good intentions, they neglect to be sustainable with themselves. Thus, although connecting to nature and preserving it for its own sake seems complicated, this thesis contributes new knowledge of leaders' conviction that humans and nature are interconnected, providing a ground for regenerative leadership to take root
Blandalléer i urban miljö
Get PDFAllén är ett uppskattat landskapselement med högt kulturhistoriskt värde som har rötter tillbaka till antiken. Historiskt har allén indikerat på makt och rikedom både i staden och på landsbygden. Staden som ståndort är tuff och våra stadsträd står idag inför stora utmaningar när de ska hantera klimatförändringar och hot av sjukdomar och skadedjur. Många svenska städer brister i sin artdiversitet vilket gör hotbilden stor för trädlandskapet. Blandallén är en mer resistent alléform än enartsallén vid sjukdom- och skadedjursanfall.
Precis som enskilda stadsträd kan alléer erbjuda önskvärda funktioner som eftersträvas i hårdgjord miljö. Till exempel kan träd verka temperaturutjämnande och minska den urbana värmeö-effekten. Träd är effektiva luftrenare och kan hjälpa till med dagvattenfördröjning och upptagning. En enartsallé kan bidra med en arts funktioner. Blandallén möjliggör fler funktionskombinationer än en enartsallé då olika trädarters kvaliteter kan kombineras. Den gör det också möjligt att plantera utefter olika mikroklimat längs en gata och ger på så sätt bättre förutsättningar för att trädet ska överleva.
Blandalléer kan ge olika visuella upplevelser beroende på vilka arter som kombineras. På Industrigatan, Jaktgatan/Lövängsgatan och Västergatan återfinns tre blandalléer varav alla har olika visuella uttryck som lämpar sig i sin omgivning. Allt talar för att utformningen av en allé måste vara platsspecifik och att blandallén kan vara en lämplig alléform i staden så länge den inte ersätter en enartsallé med stort kulturhistoriskt värde. Dessutom ställs högre krav på gestaltarens val av arter i kompositionen, både ur visuellt perspektiv men också ett möjliggörande för rätt funktioner på en plats. Därför varierar svaret på om en blandallé är en lämplig alléform i staden från plats till plats.Avenues are an appraised landscape element with high cultural-historical value that has roots dating back to antiquity. Historically, avenues have been used to indicate power and wealth both in urban and rural areas. Urban conditions are demanding and our city trees face significant challenges dealing with climate change and threats of diseases and pests. A broad species diversity among trees is lacking in Swedish cities, which generates a big threat for the urban tree landscape. Diversified tree avenues are more resistant as an avenue form than the single speice avenue to guard against the possibility of new diseases and pest attacks.
Just like individual city trees, an avenue can offer functions that are desirable in an urban environment. For example, trees can reduce the urban heat island effect by temperature equalizing and purifying air. In addition to that they help with both stormwater delay and uptake. A singlespecie avenue can contribute with functions of one single specie. Diversified avenues enable more combinations of functions than a single-specie avenue as the qualities of different tree species can be combined. Diversified avenues also make it possible to plant different tree species to suit varying microclimates along a street and thereby provide better living conditions for the trees.
Diversified avenues can provide different visual experiences depending on which species that are used. Industrigatan, Jaktgatan/Lövängsgatan and Västergatan are three diversified avenues, all of which have different visual expressions suitable in their surroundings. The diversified avenue is a suitable avenue form in urban areas as long as it does not replace a one spiece avenue with culturalhistorical value. It must be site-specific to fit in in its surroundings. In addition, designing a diversified avenue requires higher competence by the designer to succeed in enabling the right functions at the right place and creating visually attractive compositions. Therefore the answer to whether a diversified avenue is a suitable avenue form in the city varies from place to place
Stadsodling som verktyg för psykisk hälsa
Get PDFI och med den ökande urbaniseringen i världen är det allt fler människor som flyttar in till städer. Urbanisering leder till en förtätning av städer som ofta sker på bekostnad av urbana grönmiljöer och däribland stadsodlingar. I sin tur resulterar detta i sämre förutsättningar för god folkhälsa och därmed högre risk för både fysiska och psykiska sjukdomar. År 2020 uppgav hela 41% av Sveriges befolkning att de besväras av oro eller ångest. I detta arbete undersöks därmed ifall stadsodling kan fungera som ett verktyg för att öka psykisk hälsa i urbana miljöer. Genom en fallstudie på en stadsodling etablerad av studentorganisationen Ultuna Permakultur kunde studenternas upplevelser och känslor kring deltagandet i stadsodlingen undersökas. Resultatet analyserades utifrån teorierna Attention Restoration Theory och KASAM som användes som underlag för bedömningen av stadsodlingens hälsofrämjande potential. Resultatet visade att stadsodling har en positiv inverkan på människors hälsa och välbefinnande. De främsta positiva effekterna av stadsodling som identifierades var ökade känslor av meningsfullhet, bättre förutsättningar för återhämtning, ökad fysisk aktivitet, bättre matvanor samt tillgång till ett tryggt socialt sammanhang. Slutsatsen är därmed att stadsodling fungerar bra som verktyg för att uppnå psykisk hälsa.With the increasing urbanisation in the world, more and more people are moving into cities. Urbanisation results in densification of cities and often at the expense of urban green spaces, including urban agriculture. In turn, this leads to poorer conditions for good public health and thus a higher risk of both physical and mental illnesses. In 2020, as much as 41% of the Swedish population reported that they are troubled by anxiety or excessive worrying. This essay is thus intended to explore whether urban agriculture can serve as a tool to increase mental health in urban environments. Through a case study of an urban agriculture garden established by the student organisation Ultuna Permakultur, the students' experiences and feelings about their participation in the urban garden could be investigated. The results were analysed based on the two theories Attention Restoration Theory and KASAM, which were used as a guide for the assessment of the health-promoting potential of urban agriculture. The results showed that urban agriculture has a positive impact on people's health and well-being. The main identified positive effects of urban agriculture were increased feelings of meaningfulness, better opportunities for recovery, increased physical activity, improved eating habits and access to a secure social context. The conclusion of the study is therefore that urban agriculture is a useful tool for achieving mental health
Exploring the role of business intermediaries to advance circular bioeconomy
Get PDFNitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are key biological nutrients for global crop production and are directly linked to global food security. Despite the enormous agricultural expansion in the past century, excessive use of these elements is causing biochemical imbalances that lead to overstepping the ‘planetary boundaries’ beyond what the earth can hold. Recycling plant-essential nutrients from wastewater for agricultural purposes is therefore becoming essential to enable the nutrient cycle not only for reducing the impact on the ecosystem but also for enhancing the food security. This study investigates the role of business intermediaries in advancing circular bioeconomy. The empirical context is the implementation of nutrient recycling from wastewater for agricultural applications in Sweden. Since there are many firms specialized, a multi-case study approach was conducted on four business initiatives and three public sectors. Data was collected on the operational context of these firms. The results obtained from the comparative analysis show: (i) there is a diversity in wastewater-as-resource business models where there are mobilizing technology to produce fertilizer and ensuring wastewater-derived fertilizer for agricultural application. (ii) In the context of a circular bioeconomy, business intermediaries work in-between wastewater utilities and agricultural applications. (iii) Three dimensions of expectations were identified: technological availability, resource efficiency, and safe and secure value chain. This study concludes that business intermediaries play three roles in advancing a circular bioeconomy: First, developing technology that enables the recycling of nutrients in wastewater that can be applied in agriculture. Second, business intermediaries develop business models that make nutrient recycling commercially viable and legit. Third, business intermediaries also work to inform actors in the user contexts (wastewater and food sector) about nutrient recycling. Business intermediaries such as those specialized in recycling nutrients from wastewater are important since circular bioeconomy is about converting waste flows into valuable resources. The entrepreneurial process of networking and partnering activities enables market exploration for their technology/product, which is likely to entail enhancement in waste to resource/asset in the system. Their intermediating role of repositioning material flows in waste-as-resource as well as influencing knowledge flows about recycling nutrients are important business processes to advance circular bioeconomy
Biologisk ogräsreglering med mikroorganismer
Get PDFOgräs utgör ett stort problem i odlingar världen över, något som måste hanteras. Med start under 1940-talet har kemiska ogräsmedel blivit allt mer grundläggande i hanteringen av ogräs. Samtidigt har antalet resistenta ogräsarter ökat och bristen på nya kemiska verkningsmekanismer är stor. Kemiska ogräsmedel kommer inte vara den enskilda lösningen framåt utan fler olika metoder måste kombineras, både förebyggande och direkta.
Syftet med uppsatsen var att undersöka vilka biologiska ogräsmedel innehållande mikroorganismer som finns registrerade och klargöra hur de verkar för att sedan diskutera utmaningar och möjligheter kopplade till preparaten, samt diskutera förutsättningarna för biologiska ogräsmedel globalt och i Sverige. Genom en litteraturstudie listades alla historisk registrerade biologiska ogräsmedel. Mellan åren 1966 och 2018 har 19 preparat registrerats. Idag finns endast åtta preparat registrerade, samt tillgängliga på marknaden för användning i respektive land preparatet blivit registrerat. I Sverige finns inget preparat registrerat, men två av de åtta registrerade preparaten skulle teoretisk fungera, men kräver vidare undersökningar för att fastställa eventuella risker vid en introducering av mikroorganismerna. Det gäller preparaten Chontrol Paste och BioPhoma. Chontrol Paste används för att förhindra sidoskottsutveckling bland lövträd och BioPhoma används i gräsmattor för bekämpning av örtogräs.
Biologiska ogräsmedel har en stor marknadspotential och invasiva arter, ökad andel ekologisk odling i Europa, incitament från allmänheten på kemikaliefria jordbruksprodukter och en ökad resistensutveckling bland kemiska ogräsmedel är några faktorer som driver på utvecklingen av nya preparat. Det som talar för biologiska ogräsmedel är en snabb nedbrytning utan kvarlämnande restprodukter och en hög specificitet. Utmaningarna är kraven på miljön såsom temperatur och hög fuktighet, kort lagringstid, kommersialiseringsprocessen, eventuella krav på speciell sprututrustning samt preparatens specificitet som kan leda till en ensidig användning. Fortsatt forskning skulle behövas inom området av formuleringar vilket innebär att flera aktiva substanser blandas och/ eller att tillsatsmedel tillsätts i preparatet. Formuleringar har potentialen att bredda preparatens användningsområde till flera ogräsarter, minska känsligheten för miljöbetingelserna och förlänga de begränsade lagringstiderna. Biologiska ogräsmedel kommer förmodligen inte ersätta dagens kemiska ogräsmedel men kan fungera som ett komplement i de fallen det är försvarbart. Jag ser det ändå som att biologiska ogräsmedel har en begränsad potential framåt.Weeds are a major problem in crops worldwide, which need to be addressed. Starting in the 1940s, chemical herbicides have become increasingly essential in weed management. At the same time, the number of resistant weed species has increased and the lack of new mechanisms of action is critical. Chemical herbicides will not be the individual solution in the future, different methods must be combined, both preventive and direct.
The purpose of the work was to investigate which biological herbicides containing microorganisms are registered and clarify how they work and then discuss challenges and opportunities associated with the preparations. Finally, a future use of biological herbicides globally and in Sweden is discussed. Through a literature study, all historically registered biological herbicides were listed. Between 1966 and 2018 19 preparations were registered. Today, only eight preparations are registered and available on the market for use in respective country of registration. In Sweden, no preparation is registered, but two of the eight registered preparations would theoretically work, but require further investigations to determine any risks during an introduction of the microorganisms. This applies to the preparations Chontrol Paste and BioPhoma. Chontrol Paste is used for sprouting inhibition among hardwoods and BioPhoma is used in lawns to control broadleaved weeds.
Biological herbicides have great market potential and invasive species, an increased share of organic farming in Europe, encouragements from the public on chemical-free agricultural products and an increased development of resistance among chemical herbicides are some factors that can stimulate the development of new biological herbicides. What speaks for biological herbicides is a rapid decomposition without leaving residual products and a narrow host range. The challenges are the requirements for the environment such as temperature and high humidity, short storage time, the commercialization process, any requirements for special spraying equipment and the narrow host range that can lead to one-sided use. Further research would be needed in the field of formulations. Formulation is a mix of several active substances and / or additives in one preparation. Formulations have the potential to broaden the use of biological herbicides to several weed species, reduce the sensitivity to the environmental conditions and extend the limited storage times. Biological herbicides will probably not replace today's chemical herbicides but can serve as a complement in those cases where it is conceivably. Going forward I still see a future where biological herbicides have a limited potential
Risk preferences of agricultural students and their willingness to become a farmer
Get PDFThis study investigates the link between risk preferences of agricultural students and their willingness to become a farmer. I measure willingness to become a farmer and risk preferences in an online survey and incentivized experiment conducted with 577 students at Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia. Discriminating between alternative theories of decision-making under risk, I find that students’ risk preferences behave in accordance with Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT), whereas there is no connection between risk preferences and students’ willingness to become a farmer. Framing the risky gamble tasks in either an agricultural or a general entrepreneurship context does not help in improving the predictive power of the tasks. Based on a large sample with high statistical power, these results contribute to the debates on risk preferences in agriculture as well as methodological studies on the external validity of behavioral field experiments. I also discuss the impact of socio-economic background variables as they relate to generation renewal and the so-called “young farmer problem” in agriculture
Valuing Forest Amenities : assessing the effect of non-market amenities on real estate prices
Get PDFQuantitative information on residents' valuations attached to forests is needed for assessing land use, city planning, and the development of policies for forest preservation. This paper aims to value implicitly non-market forest amenities by estimating real estate housing prices and specific amounts of environmental amenities associated with recreational houses, specifically forest types. The empirical study is based on data from the sales of recreational houses in the county of Hässleholm in Sweden from 2018 to 2021.
Two different models were used in this research, focusing on both global and local estimates. Proximity to pine forests, arable land, and bodies of water displayed significant effects on prices for recreational houses. The results suggest that individuals value natural amenities differently. Pine trees are seen as a disamenity that brings down the price of houses while proximity to both water and arable land affects prices positively.
The model focusing on global estimates explains more efficiently the changes in prices in the housing market. It is recommended to consider more information about the real estate market structure and non-marker amenities to fully exploit the explanatory potential of local estimates