Factors influencing smartphone usage of rural farmers: Empirical analysis of five selected provinces in China

The increasing usage of smartphones by practitioners in various fields of expertise is attracting global attention. However, scanty evidence exists on smartphone usage among rural farmers in developing countries. Using data collected from 1286 rural farming households in five provinces in China, this study investigates the factors influencing rural farmers’ decisions to use smartphones. The findings from a Probit model reveal that education, health condition, asset ownership, income levels, peers’ smartphone usage, internet access, cooperative membership, access to credit, and off-farm work participation are the main factors driving smartphone usage of rural farmers. The age of the farmer rather affects smartphone usage negatively and significantly. Further heterogeneous analysis shows that the influences of factors on smartphone usage vary across the survey provinces

A preliminary study of kea (Nestor notabilis) habitat use and diet in plantation forests of Nelson, New Zealand

Kea (Nestor notabilis) are nationally endangered, large endemic parrots in the South Island of New Zealand. In recent years, anecdotal evidence and sightings from forestry workers have confirmed that kea use exotic plantation forests in the Nelson/Tasman region. We documented kea habitat use and movements in Nelson plantation and neighbouring native forests. GPS-VHF units were used to track kea movements through the plantation-native forest matrix. All birds tracked in this study spent a notable proportion of their time in plantation forests, which included feeding, roosting and nesting. Feeding observations and faecal analysis were used to determine kea diet in plantation forests. In the summer, Pinus radiata seeds were commonly observed being eaten by kea, as was cambium tissue stripped off newly harvested Pseudotsuga menziesii logs. Of the items identified through faecal analysis, the most common group was invertebrates. This research was a preliminary study of kea activity in plantation forests and suggests the value of extending research to cover at least a full calendar year to record seasonal patterns in kea diet, habitat use and movements in and out of this habitat type

Credit access and sustainable farm investments: A dual perspective on chemical and environmentally friendly inputs

This study investigates whether farmers with and without credit access and those with and without adequate credit access behave differently in farm investments. We distinguish between chemical input investments (i.e. chemical fertilizers and pesticides) and environmentally friendly ones (i.e. green pest management and organic fertilizers). We utilize the inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment estimator and multivalued treatment effects model to mitigate the selection bias and estimate first-hand data collected from 946 citrus farmers in China. The results show that access to credit significantly increases farmers’ expenditures on chemical pesticides and green pest management by 12.1% and 47.7%, respectively. However, farmers with and without access to adequate credit appear to differ in farm investments. Specifically, farmers accessing adequate credit spend 19.2% more on chemical pesticides and 42.1% more on green pest management than their counterparts without credit access, and they also spend 47.9% more on chemical pesticides than those accessing inadequate credit. Farmers receiving inadequate credit spend 62.6% more on green pest management but 19.4% less on chemical pesticides than those without credit access. Access to credit, regardless of adequate or inadequate credit, does not significantly affect chemical and organic fertilizer investments

Assessment of cluster analysis of elastic light scatter profiles for the identification of foodborne bacteria

Elastic Light Scatter (ELS) profiling is a novel approach for simultaneous detection and identification of bacteria cultured on solid agar media. The profiles comprise a range of different scatter features that can be used jointly or individually as a basis for comparison. We examined the utility of cluster analysis of ELS profiles for classification and identification of bacteria of relevance to foods. A total of 1562 colonies from 48 strains, representing 17 different species distributed among four genera, were examined. Each of three scatter-derived features (Zernike moments, pseudo-Zernike moments, proprietary Patsekin elements) were used individually and in combination for the cluster analysis. Of these, a combination of Patsekin elements and pseudo-Zernike moments yielded clusters that best reflected the known taxonomic relationships among the strains examined. Evidence of Genus- level markers of colony architecture was seen and there was a general agreement of clustering at the species level. Nonetheless, some individual colonies did not cluster with the majority of others from the same taxon, which could reflect an aberrant ELS phenotype, or known challenges in depicting strain relationships using cluster analytical methods. However, when compared with UMAP data processing, relationships between individual colonies were more easily discerned by inspecting the dendrogram. Cluster analysis of ELS profiles is a useful adjunctive tool for the classification and identification of bacteria and results may also be helpful in informing the development and improvement of other data analytical tools for ELS profile analysis

Insights into the use of GRESB as an ESG benchmarking tool

Purpose - Sustainability practices and reporting have consistently evolved over the years with trends towards more holistic approaches with respect to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). In the real estate sector over the last decade, GRESB (formerly known as Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) has become the leading global ESG benchmarking tool for real asset investments. However, it has attracted limited research, and this underpins this works’ motivation for the exploration of the perspectives of real estate stakeholders relating to the uptake and use of GRESB. Design/methodology/approach - The approach used in this study is qualitative in nature, adopting a phenomenological research design to capture the essence of the lived experiences of purposely sampled participants. This is done through an interpretative phenomenological analysis of semi-structured interviews. Findings - Legislation, regulation and risk management are the main motivations for engaging with ESG-related issues. The main benefit of GRESB is benchmarking, while the main weaknesses lie in the data collection and the undeveloped social component. Within data, the major challenges are observed for the transparency of performance data and overreliance on policies instead of performance. GRESB would benefit from the inclusion of (1) more detailed sustainability benchmarks relating to social and governance components, and (2) social value metrics in their overall assessment. Practical implications - Policymakers need to develop or support globally recognised reporting standards to increase the quality, accuracy and comparability of ESG information. Originality/value - This is the first study on ESG reporting using a phenomenological research design

The food fight - overcoming the challenges of food fraud

This article discusses food fraud in New Zealand’s food and fibre sector. It outlines common types of food fraud, means of detection, challenges, suggestions to deal with it, matters of legality and regulatory oversight, and information on how to report it

Financial market resilience in the GCC: Evidence from COVID-19 and the Russia–Ukraine conflict

Global financial markets have experienced significant volatility during crises, particularly COVID-19 and the Russia–Ukraine conflict, prompting questions about how regional markets respond to such shocks. Previous research highlights the influence of crises on stock market volatility, focusing on individual events or global markets, but less is known about the comparative dynamics within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets. Our study investigated volatility and asymmetric behavior within GCC stock markets during both crises. Furthermore, the econometric model E-GARCH(1,1) was applied to the daily frequency data of financial stock market returns from 11 March 2020 to 31 July 2023. This study examined volatility fluctuation patterns and provides a comparative assessment of GCC stock markets’ behavior during crises. Our findings reveal varying degrees of market volatility across the region during the COVID-19 crisis, with Qatar and the UAE exhibiting the highest levels of volatility persistence. In contrast, the Russia–Ukraine conflict has had a distinct effect on GCC markets, with Oman exhibiting the highest volatility persistence and Kuwait having the lowest volatility persistence. This study provides significant insights for policymakers and investors in managing risk and enhancing market resilience during economic and geopolitical uncertaint

A study of the cultural values of wild goldfish (Carassius auratus) in Te Arawa Lakes

The primary purpose of this study is to collect historical and contemporary evidence pertaining to the cultural values and meanings of morihana in Te Arawa Lakes. Documenting and collecting stories of six whānau for whom morihana have significant cultural meaning will help iwi entities, kaitiaki, and community members to better understand and appreciate the range of connections that whānau have had with these fish. A second purpose of the study is to bring together existing information about morihana from scientific, regulatory, and historical sources, to assist anyone in Aotearoa who wishes to better understand and manage these fish. To support this aim, we also conducted interviews with three management agency staff about morihana ecology, impacts, and values. Our aim is to provide a rigorous review of scientific knowledge on morihana woven together with stories and experiences of real-world study, interaction with and management of the fish

Beyond retreat: Land–seascape legacies of change and continuation

Planned retreat is an increasingly common climate adaptation approach. Whilst effective at reducing exposure to unacceptable risks, it is subject to significant resistance. In response, research has focussed on risk, governance and justice, but there has been less attention on spatial perspectives, including how spaces are reconfigured and the resultant land–seascape legacies. We identify 161 cases of planned retreat and develop a typology to analyse land use change in origin sites worldwide. In many cases, we find land transfer from private to public ownership, and restoration of land and environmental relations, to a complete failure to consider spatial legacies. The research stresses the importance of moving beyond planned retreat as risk management to consider longer-term spatial relations. Consequently, we argue, the definition and practice of ‘planned retreat’ must include early planning for the values, uses and reconfigurations of origin sites, extending the bounds of reimagination beyond ‘retreat’ and beyond the site

Soil phosphorus stocks could prolong global reserves and improve water quality

Combining existing databases, we estimated global phosphorus stocks in croplands and grasslands that are not readily available to plants as 32–41% of the 2020 estimated geologic phosphorus reserves, representing 146–186 years of the 2020 mass of phosphorus fertilizer applied annually. Especially if accessed by more efficient crops, this stock could reduce the need for additional fertilizer, improve water quality and contribute to all-round phosphorus sustainability