scholarly journals Functional Biodiversity in Organic Systems: The Way Forward?

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Barberi
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Agricultural Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Functional Biodiversity ◽  
Input Substitution ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Open Questions

<p>Trends in EU agricultural policies recognize an increasingly important role to biodiversity conservation and use in agroecosystems, including organic ones. However, along with their economic success, organic systems are facing a risk of ‘conventionalization’, i.e. the prevalence of input substitution over agroecologically-based crop management. Understanding what is functional agrobiodiversity and when it can be successfully applied in organics may help strengthen the recognition of organic farming as the reference management system for agricultural sustainability. Here functional agrobiodiversity is defined as a subset of total biodiversity identified at the gene, species or habitat level able to deliver a given agroecosystem service, which extent increases with diversity in the functional group. Different functional agrobiodiversity categories are identified, compared to biofunctionality, and used to illustrate the mechanisms through which they can support agroecosystem services and consequently sustainability. Three case studies taken from the author’s own research are used as examples to illustrate functional agrobiodiversity’s potential in organic systems as well as open questions. Results show that (i) functional agrobiodiversity has potential to support agroecosystem services but it is not possible to generalize the effects; (ii) a given functional biodiversity element may create conflicts between different target agroecosystem services. In those cases, prioritization of services is required.</p>

scholarly journals Merging Professional and Collaborative Lexicography: The Case of Czech Neology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Škrabal ◽  
Martin Kavka
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
User Generated Content ◽  
Objective Data ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Initial Dataset

Abstract This paper aims to relate two linguistic phenomena: neology (along with sources for its study) and collaborative lexicography. A pair of case studies is presented concerning two thematically defined groups of recent Czech neologisms: those abusing the Czech ex-president V. Havel’s name and those reflecting the Covid-19 pandemic. An initial dataset was provided by the user-generated content web dictionary of non-standard Czech Čeština 2.0 and the Neomat neology database, fostered by professional linguists. The objective data from a monitor corpus of Czech is used in contrast with the initial dataset and thereby leads to some open questions, especially with regards to the extent to which amateur and professional, two branches of lexicography, can inspire and enrich each other.

A rotation design to reduce weed density in organic farming

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy L. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Weed Population ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Herbicide Use

AbstractWeeds are a major obstacle to successful crop production in organic farming. Producers may be able to reduce inputs for weed management by designing rotations to disrupt population dynamics of weeds. Population-based management in conventional farming has reduced herbicide use by 50% because weed density declines in cropland across time. In this paper, we suggest a 9-year rotation comprised of perennial forages and annual crops that will disrupt weed population growth and reduce weed density in organic systems. Lower weed density will also improve effectiveness of weed control tactics used for an individual crop. The rotation includes 3-year intervals of no-till, which will improve both weed population management and soil health. Even though this rotation has not been field tested, it provides an example of designing rotations to disrupt population dynamics of weeds. Also, producers may gain additional benefits of higher crop yield and increased nitrogen supply with this rotation design.

Gestaltungsfreiheit im ungarischen GmbH-Recht

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leszek Dziuba
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Legal History ◽  
Regulatory Authority ◽  
Limited Liability ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Company Law ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Legal Doctrine ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Internal Relationships

Contractual freedom in company law determines the extent to which shareholders can regulate the internal relationships in their company in accordance with their own needs. The Hungarian approach to company law of 2013 promises innovative and practical formulations of the articles of association, especially for limited liability companies. However, the fundamental content and concrete scope of self-regulatory authority raises a multitude of open questions. With the help of legal history, legal doctrine and individual case studies, the author of this book attempts to create legal clarity and to provide practice with legally secure reference points. The work is aimed at both academics and practitioners.

Construction of Agri-Environmental Data Using Computational Methods

2011 ◽  
pp. 727-748
Author(s):  
Susumu Uchida ◽  
Kiyotada Hayashi ◽  
Masaei Sato ◽  
Shingo Hokazono
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Computational Methods ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Agricultural Sustainability ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Japanese Case ◽  
Database Construction

Increased public focus on agri-environmental issues and recent policies on agricultural sustainability have necessitated the construction of a life cycle inventory (LCI) database for agricultural production systems. However, the current progress of LCI database construction is far from being complete in both developed and developing countries. In this chapter, an integrated view for a data-construction methodology for agri-environmental assessment is proposed. The applications of computational methods to the construction processes are also proposed, with a special focus on Japanese case studies. After discussing the methods for construction, the implications of LCI construction are presented, which includes the following issues: how to make a transition to sustainability, and how to achieve informed and science-based policy decisions by increasing the applicability of life cycle assessment and the level of preparedness. The Japanese case studies should support assessment and decisions in developed and developing countries.

Conclusion

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Brownstein
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Open Questions

This concluding chapter reviews the central contention of this book, which is that understanding the two faces of spontaneity—its virtues and vices—requires understanding the implicit mind. While alternative interpretations of each of the case studies discussed are available, the shared features of these cases illuminate a pervasive feature of our lives: actions the psychology of which is neither reflexive nor reasoned; actions that reflect upon us as agents but not upon what we know or who we take ourselves to be; and actions the ethical cultivation of which demand not just planning and deliberating but also, centrally, pre-committing to plans, attending to our contexts, and, as Bruce Gemmel—the coach of arguably the best swimmer of all time, Katie Ledecky— said, just doing the damn work. Finally, open questions for future research are discussed.

Assessment of the environmental sustainability of organic farming: Definitions, indicators and the major challenges

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 981-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Halberg
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Agricultural Sustainability ◽  
Functional Integrity ◽  
Intensive Farming ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Improved Performance

Halberg, N. 2012. Assessment of the environmental sustainability of organic farming: Definitions, indicators and the major challenges. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 981–996. The debate over agricultural sustainability continues due to the challenges of reducing externalities of intensive farming methods and preserving vital natural capital, but many definitions of sustainability are too wide to allow for a prioritized assessment. This paper uses a more narrow definition of agricultural sustainability focusing on the functional integrity of a system to highlight specific aspects of vital importance for the long-term resilience and reproducibility of agricultural systems. Key areas of resource sufficiency are also identified. Based on a review of scientific literature the relative sustainability of organic agriculture is assessed with a focus on environmental impact and resource use in Europe and North America. While there are many examples of organic agriculture with improved performance in terms of soil fertility and preservation of biodiversity, in other aspects – such as resource use per kilogram product – the difference to conventional farming is less important. The paper presents a framework for selection of indicators based on the principles of organic agriculture which may be used to monitor and improve the performance of organic agriculture with respect to functional integrity and resource sufficiency. The differences between comparable organic farms may be used for improving farm practices through a benchmarking process.

Organic Farming in Spain—Two Case Studies

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xosé A. Armesto-lópez
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Organic Farming

scholarly journals Smallholder Organic Farming: An Entrepreneurial Strategy in Harmony with Nature

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Dina Cartagena Magnaye
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Organic Farm ◽  
Entrepreneurial Strategy ◽  
The Relationship

The paper examines the relationship between smallholder organic farming and entrepreneurship taking into account the environmental conservation approach of organic farming and the economic enhancement features of entrepreneurship. Further, it intends to determine through qualitative analysis using case studies how smallholder organic farming can be planned and the competencies needed by an organic farmer when venturing into an organic farm enterprise.

scholarly journals Smallholder Organic Farming: An Entrepreneurial Strategy in Harmony with Nature

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Dina Cartagena Magnaye
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Organic Farm ◽  
Entrepreneurial Strategy ◽  
The Relationship

The paper examines the relationship between smallholder organic farming and entrepreneurship taking into account the environmental conservation approach of organic farming and the economic enhancement features of entrepreneurship. Further, it intends to determine through qualitative analysis using case studies how smallholder organic farming can be planned and the competencies needed by an organic farmer when venturing into an organic farm enterprise.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document