19366 research outputs found
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Vineyard management systems influence on Mycorrhizal fungi
No full textArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) offer significant potential for sustainable agriculture ecosystems, including vineyards. We showed that AMF had a positive influence on vine growth, nutrient uptake, and tolerance to environmental and biological stresses. Understanding how management practices affect AMF diversity and composition is crucial for harnessing their benefits. We surveyed twelve vineyards in the Marlborough region to compare AMF communities in conventional and organic systems. Using grapevine roots from different rootstocks, AMF spores were isolated via trap culture and identified through next-generation sequencing. The AMF belonged to Glomeraceae, followed by Claroideoglomeraceae and Diversisporaceae. Our findings showed differences in the AMF diversity between organic and conventional vineyards, with significant interactions between rootstock and management practice. This indicated that some rootstocks might be more suited to organic systems due to the AMF communities they support under this management practice. This could provide an increased benefit under organic systems supporting higher biodiversity
Packaging, perception, and acceptability: A comprehensive exploration of extrinsic attributes and consumer behaviours in novel food product systems
No full textIn today's global markets, the constant arrival of new products represents a challenge for the food industry to offer distinct choices to consumers, primarily due to the parallel sensory attributes and pricing structures of the available food options. Innovators must employ methodologies beyond traditional sensory analysis to ensure the product's success. Researchers must, therefore, explore the entire product experience to understand its influence on consumer behaviours. Food choices are multifaceted, influenced by various factors, including individual physiological and psychological characteristics and intrinsic and extrinsic product attributes. As a result, consumers' decisions are shaped by the multisensory information derived from products they encounter in supermarkets. This review aims to comprehensively examine the factors influencing consumer food choices, from initial product encounters to consumption. The review explores the impact of repetitive tasting on the consumer's attitudes and intentions towards novel products. Additionally, the review investigates which extrinsic attributes capture consumer attention in supermarket settings. It also delves into the effects of extrinsic product attributes on both explicit and implicit emotions and expectations raised about the sensory properties of the product and, ultimately, their purchasing behaviours
A transdisciplinary approach for assessing connections between soil, food, and people in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textWith increasing urbanisation, there is a growing disconnect between soil, food, and people, centred around those relying on Western food production models. This ‘wicked’ problem is challenging sustainable soil use and food insecurity. Knowledge of soils through scientific studies alone are unable to address this problem, and we need to extend the boundaries of soil science for real progress to be made. We present a conceptual framework for understanding the reciprocal connections between soil, food, and people in local food production systems in Aotearoa New Zealand, applying principles and practices from a transdisciplinary research methodology. The resultant Food‐Landscape Networks framework consists of seven factors that support understanding the inherent connections between soil, food, and people. The factors are: soil health, land suitability, climate, productivity, food quality, well‐being, and engagement. These factors have been identified from weaving together mātauraka (the Kāi Tahu mita [dialect] is used in this text, where the ‘ng’ diagraph is replaced with ‘k’, e.g., mātauranga = mātauraka) Māori (Māori knowledge, culture, worldview, and values) and soil science using the He Awa Whiria, Braided Rivers, epistemological framework. Mātauraka Māori guides the traditionally reductionist discipline of soil science into a more holistic space, in an Aotearoa New Zealand context
Uncovering the multifaceted properties of 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone for control of plant pathogens
No full textSome volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by microorganisms have the ability to inhibit the growth and development of plant pathogens, induce the activation of plant defenses, and promote plant growth. Among them, 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6-PP), a ketone produced by Trichoderma fungi, has emerged as a focal point of interest. 6-PP has been isolated and characterized from thirteen Trichoderma species and is the main VOC produced, often accounting for >50% of the total VOCs emitted. This review examines abiotic and biotic interactions regulating the production of 6-PP by Trichoderma, and the known effects of 6-PP on plant pathogens through direct and indirect mechanisms including induced systemic resistance. While there are many reports of 6-PP activity against plant pathogens, the vast majority have been from laboratory studies involving only 6-PP and the pathogen, rather than glasshouse or field studies including a host plant in the system. Biopesticides based on 6-PP may well provide an eco-friendly, sustainable management tool for future agricultural production. However, before this can happen, challenges including demonstrating disease control efficacy in the field, developing efficient delivery systems, and determining cost-effective application rates must be overcome before 6-PP’s potential for pathogen control can be turned into reality
Uncertainty, risk aversion and corporate performance: Evidence from the Asia-Pacific region
No full textWe investigate the impacts of global, regional, and pandemic uncertainties on firm performance in the Asia-Pacific region. Using the fixed effects panel-data analysis for 5979 non-financial listed firms in five developed Asia-Pacific countries (Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Australia) from 2007 to 2021, the results show that world, regional and pandemic uncertainties negatively affect firm performance in the region at different levels. Further, the study discloses that the pandemic uncertainties affected firm performance more strongly than world uncertainties and regional uncertainties. The results also demonstrate the moderating effect of risk aversion on the uncertainty–firm performance relationship. In particular, low leverage and high current ratio help reduce the adverse impacts of uncertainty on corporate performance in the Asia-Pacific region
Discomfort and proactiveness of New Zealand OFD consumers during the coronavirus pandemic
No full textIn 2020, during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, New Zealand’s online food delivery (OFD) services saw a marked increase in popularity. New Zealand had received worldwide praise for their approach to fight Covid-19, and online businesses were important contributors, allowing the food service industry to remain viable in the face of severe restrictions. OFD research has found that the determinants of customer loyalty, such as consumer satisfaction, trust, and value are well established and largely depend on food quality, e-service quality, and OFD-service providers not being associated with Covid-19 transmission. The present study aims to fill a research gap and investigate new predictors such as OFD discomfort and proactive Covid-19 strategies, in addition to confirming well-established ones such as sociodemographic factors, perceived infection risk, perceived value, satisfaction, and trust. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis reveals that age is the only significant sociodemographic factor influencing pro-active Covid-19 strategies. While trust and perceived value are positively affected by consumers committed to proactively counteract Covid-19; satisfaction and ultimately loyalty, are positively affected by trust only. Best practice recommendations for marketing managers and OFD service providers are presented
Should I really pay a premium for this? Consumer perspectives on cultured muscle, plant-based and fungal-based protein as meat alternatives
No full textConsumer willingness to accept alternative meat products has been widely explored. However, few studies have explored the key factors driving and inhibiting willingness to try, buy and pay a price premium for plant-based proteins, fungal-based proteins and cultured muscle tissue. Therefore, the present study is dedicated to this research gap and proposes a model that combines driving and inhibiting factors such as food neophobia, food technology neophobia, the environmental and specific benefits of alternative meat products as well as intrinsic attributes of meat such as taste, texture and smell. Partial least squares structural equation modeling shows that the largest drivers of consumer willingness to consume meat substitute are their perceived suitability (specific benefits) and environmental impact. Conversely, the biggest inhibitors to consumption were the nutritional importance of meat, the importance of meat taste, texture, and smell, and food neophobia and food technology neophobia. How the drivers and inhibitors varied between plant-based, fungal-based, and cultured muscle tissue are discussed and implications for industry leaders and future research are discussed
Promoting banana farmers’ adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices: The role of agricultural cooperatives
No full textTo mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on farm productivity and food security, climate-smart agricultural practices (CAPs) have become increasingly crucial in smallholder farming systems. However, the adoption rate of CAPs remains quite low. This study explores whether agricultural cooperatives can serve as an assistor in promoting farmers’ adoption of CAPs. Unlike previous studies that account for one or two practices, we consider CAP adoption intensity by capturing the number of CAPs adopted. We employ an endogenous treatment Poisson regression model to address the selection bias issue and estimate data collected from banana-producing farmers in China. The results show that cooperative membership significantly increases the adoption of CAPs. Specifically, the incidence rate ratio estimates reveal that cooperative membership incites banana farmers to adopt 1.205 times more CAPs, and the treatment effect estimation further verifies the positive impact. Among the ten CAPs considered, cooperative membership particularly increases farmers’ adoption of banana diversification, crop residual turnover, and soil testing. Our findings highlight the importance of encouraging farmers to join agricultural cooperatives in promoting adopting climate-smart agricultural practices
Cognizing tourist loyalty during covid-19 pandemic through virtual reality lens
No full textThis study examines tourist loyalty toward tourism destinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, involving experience and satisfaction with virtual reality (VR) as determinants. The data, collected using an online survey, are from 300 tourists who have experience visiting a tourism destination via VR. Exploratory factor analysis on the dimensionality of experience with VR tourism attraction identifies three dimensions: enjoyment, learning, and immersion-social interaction. Among the identified dimensions, enjoyment has the biggest impact on experience with the VR tourism attraction. Next, the partial least square analysis reveals that experience with the VR tourism attraction determines tourists’ VR satisfaction, intention to re-visit, and intention to endorse, while their experience with the VR system only drives their intention to revisit. Finally, tourists’ past visiting experience to the destination does not moderate the association between VR experience, VR satisfaction, and loyalty
Climate change adaptation through an integrative lens in Aotearoa New Zealand
Get PDFClimate change is being felt across all human and natural systems in Aotearoa New Zealand and is projected to worsen this decade as impacts compound and cascade through natural system and sectoral dependencies. The effectiveness of adaptation is constrained by how fast greenhouse gas emissions are reduced globally, the pace of change, the frequency and progression of impacts, and the capacity of our natural, societal and political systems to respond. We explore how these systems and sectors interact with existing and projected climate change stressors by categorising climate change impacts (Trends and Events) and consequential thresholds (Thresholds), and by grouping systems and sectors by types (Typologies). This approach has identified commonalities and differences between the typologies which are illustrated with examples. Critical constraints and opportunities for adaptation have been identified to guide sector adaptation decision-making and for ongoing adaptation progress and effectiveness monitoring. Constraints are found across all sectors, and opportunities exist to address them through modelling and projections, monitoring frameworks, decision tools and measures, governance coordination and integration of the Māori worldview of the relationship between humans and nature. However, limits to adaptation exist and will increase over time unless all sectors and all nations urgently reduce their emissions