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The matrix of drivers: 2023 update
No full textEnhancing primary sector production and productivity while maintaining and improving our land and water quality for future generations is a key outcome of the National Science Challenge for Our Land and Water. It is therefore important to identify the hierarchy of international and national issues in order to provide an evidence base to guide investment and inform the Challenge Research Strategy. To this end, it was proposed that a small project be conducted, and regularly updated.
This project aims to deliver an overview of international and domestic drivers, as well as issues that are of particular relevance to the New Zealand primary sector and land use. This overview is based on a literature search of the most important issues, followed by a survey of key stakeholders as to their opinion of the most important issues affecting New Zealand land use and land use practice from overseas and domestically. In addition, a review of the level of interest and concern of international consumers on various issues is produced relevant to the primary sector.
This is the fifth report in this series and provides an updated understanding of the international and national drivers and issues of land use change/practice, and their importance to the primary sector. These drivers will help prioritise where investments in primary sector research based on their relationship to economic growth, social, cultural and environmental interactions. Updates of this research will allow us to understand how drivers and issues change, which will help to assess the impact the Challenge has had as well as future research investment needs. This work also provides a contribution to the Challenge Strategy
Player injury
No full textRugby union is a gladiatorial-type sport where high-impact collisions, vigorous scrummaging, mauling, jumping, running, evading, and sprinting are all required and can result in player injury. The New Zealand Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) is a government department responsible for among other things, recording the number and cost of sport accidents (injuries) in New Zealand (https://www.acc.co.nz). While the number of newly registered rugby injuries in New Zealand have decreased lately (63875 in 2019, 45082 in 2020, 52277 in 2021), rugby remains the sport with the highest injury numbers overall, particularly for men. High injury numbers are also found in rugby players in other countries
The dynamics of socially responsible investment funds’ performance persistence : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University
No full textSocially Responsible Investment (SRI) is an investment strategy that considers social, ethical and environmental elements in investment. SRIs have grown into a widely followed investment practice offering a variety of products to investors. This fund industry is more focused on embracing sustainability practices in its operations. Performance persistence is a good indication for investors, analysts, portfolio managers and institutions. However, there is a paucity of research on the persistence of SRI funds.
This study analyses the performance persistence of SRI funds in the United States (US) from 2001 to 2021, including the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. First, we examine the performance persistence of SRI funds before, during and after the 2008 global financial crisis. Second, we investigate the performance persistence of SRI funds before and during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Third, we focus on the relationships between fund-specific factors and the performance persistence of SRI funds. Finally, we explore the impact of macroeconomic indicators on the performance persistence of SRI funds.
We use Carhart (1997) and Fama French (2015) models to measure the performance of SRI funds. We then follow Hendricks, Patel and Zeckhauser (1993) and Carhart (1997) recursive methods to analyse the performance persistence of SRI funds. We use multinomial logit regression to identify the relationships between fund-specific factors (fund size, age, flow and asset class), macroeconomic variables (interest rate, inflation, money supply and economic activity) and the performance persistence of SRI funds.
Our results reveal a positive, significant performance persistence in SRI funds before and during the 2008 global financial crisis. However, the results show no evidence of performance persistence before the COVID-19 period crisis; only the nonparametric tests reveal positive performance persistence of SRI funds during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Fund characteristics and macroeconomic variables significantly affect the performance persistence of SRI funds. We divide the study period following the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Our results show most fund characteristics and macroeconomic variables are significant after the 2008 global financial crisis and before the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
This is the first empirical study to evaluate these aspects of the performance persistence of SRI funds. Identifying SRI fund performance persistence in different market conditions is important for investors to make better investment decisions, manage risk and build a diversified portfolio. Fund analysts can identify potential problems early and adjust their recommendations. They can enhance their reputation as trusted advisors by providing informed recommendations
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
Ecological functions of fungal sesquiterpenes in the food preference and fitness of soil Collembola
No full textVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by fungi play a key role in locating and selecting hosts for fungivorous arthropods. However, the ecological functions of many common VOC classes, such as sesquiterpenes, remain unknown. Mutants of Trichoderma virens, defective in the emission of most sesquiterpenes owing to the deletion of the terpene cyclase vir4, were used to evaluate the role of this compound class in the food preference and fitness of the soil Collembola Folsomia candida. Choice experiments with and without direct contact with fungal mycelium revealed that Collembola were preferentially attracted to Δvir4 mutants impaired in sesquiterpene synthesis compared to wild-type T. virens. Grazing by F. candida on the sesquiterpene deficient T. virens strain had no effect on Collembola survival, reproduction and growth compared to wild-type T. virens. The results suggest that sesquiterpenes play an important role in fungal defence as repellents, but not as deterrents or toxins, against fungivorous Collembola. Our research contributes to the understanding of ecological interactions between fungi and fungivorous arthropods, providing insights into the specific ecological functions of sesquiterpenes. The study has implications for chemical ecology and the dynamics of multitrophic interactions in soil ecosystems
Science–policy research collaborations need philosophers
No full text'Wicked problems’ are tricky to solve because of their many interconnected components and a lack of any single optimal solution. At the science-policy interface, all problems can look wicked: research exposes the complexity relevant to designing, executing, and implementing policy fit for ambitious human needs. Expertise in philosophical research can help navigate that complexity
Climate worry reduces farmer well-being
No full textClimate anxiety and worry about a changing climate have the potential to reduce individual well-being. We test for this possibility using a national survey sample of farmers, foresters, and growers in Aotearoa New Zealand. This group is of particular interest because changing climate has the potential to radically change their commercial operations. We find that survey respondents who express climate worry report substantially lower subjective well-being. Our estimates are robust to the inclusion of a wide range of controls. Our findings point to the importance of mitigating and adapting to climate change for well-being
Leave the milk for the calf and spread the word: Exploring factors determining US consumers’ willingness to try plant-based milk alternatives and their word-of-mouth sharing about plant-based milk alternatives
No full textPlant-based milk alternatives are important beverages in US consumer markets. Sustainability, consumer awareness, lifestyle changes, and other value-based reasons are why these beverages are increasing in popularity. The present study is focused on plant-based milk alternatives. It builds on an online consumer survey that explores the factors explaining US consumers’ willingness to try plant-based milk alternatives and their word-of-mouth sharing about these beverages. Animal welfare concerns, environmental concerns, health consciousness, and dairy preferences are the factors under investigation. Results show that animal welfare, dairy preference, environmental concerns, and plant-based milk enthusiasm are significant predictors for willingness to try plant-based milk alternatives. Dairy preferences, environmental concerns, and plant-based milk enthusiasm predict the word-of-mouth factors. Overall, plant-based milk enthusiasm is the strongest driver for both consumer behaviours. Best practice recommendations address marketers in the US food and beverage industry and provide suggestions on how to target different consumer groups based on nutritional preferences and needs and on value-based product characteristics
Putting the “multi” in multicultural: Challenges in representing diversity through community festivals and events
No full textLocal governments frequently host or support multicultural festivals and events, viewing them as a community development tool that facilitates the encountering of diversity in a safe environment, and demonstrates a welcoming and inclusive community. However, there are challenges in ascribing such community-building goals to these events. In this chapter, we focus on the Govanhill International Festival and Carnival held in Glasgow, Scotland. This multicultural community festival was established in 2016 in Glasgow’s most ethnically diverse neighbourhood . The rationale behind the festival’s inception was to generate awareness, understanding and tolerance of difference, and be an anti-racist community event that celebrates the contribution immigrants have made to the diversity, culture, community and the rich history of the area of Govanhill. Our aim with this chapter is to better illuminate the tensions inherent in organising a multicultural community festival that is charged with representing a diversity of languages and nationalities while standing slightly outside of the institutional structures of local government (sometimes deliberately to maintain its credibility). We shed light on the complexities and nuances of power relations and stakeholder influence, and on the politics of organising such events
“There’s only so many loaves and dog walks you can do”: Challenges for accompanying partners engaged in international relocation
No full textWhile the global mobility of employees is escalating, spouse and family continue to impact on the success of these international appointments. The recent rise of dual career couples (DCC) has intensified the challenges of international relocation. This paper examines the career strategies of accompanying partners who relocated to Aotearoa New Zealand for their partners’ job. This small-scale qualitative research involved in-depth interviews with 21 accompanying male and female partners of professionals and managers who relocated in the last eight years. While most of those interviewed modified their own career goals on relocation, a small number could continue in their previous jobs and work remotely. Only two participants found employment in the company that initiated their partners’ relocation. Others were unable to find a job, or only find work that was unpaid, poorly paid, not fulfilling, or only part-time. Women experienced challenges that were gender-specific. Those who were not fluent in English struggled most and their professional qualifications were often not recognised. This paper highlights the implications for DCCs of increasing international mobility, and the different ways in which accompanying partners and couples organize their interlinked working lives during transition to life in a new country. Challenges in accessing relevant employment and social connections can contribute to the isolation of accompanying partners and disrupt their career identities. The rich and detailed narratives of transition highlight issues and agendas for researchers in this field and HRM practitioners beyond the specific context of Aotearoa New Zealand