Development of Sustainable Partnership Organizational Mechanism (POM): Case of Local Action Groups (LAG)

The study of the partnership organization mechanism (POM) aims to answer the question of how an organization manages the mechanical operation of the partnership and how the partnership system shapes itself in order to achieve a fairer balance across all junctions of the POM, through shafts connected into a single mechanism. The study has led to a deeper understanding of the empirical operation of the POM and has led to the identification of 20 POM configuration principles, the harmonization of which, in accordance with the principle of coherence, enables sustainability to be achieved and managed. The study is exploratory and therefore empirical facts supporting theoretical insights were sought. The information database of the study consists of 5‐year observation data of Lithuanian local action groups, exploratory survey data and in‐depth interviews for verification of the phenomenon. The empirical study allowed us to verify the theoretical operation of the POM and helped us to determine the content and purpose of the relationships between different groups of stakeholders in the region. A total of 10 POM empirical models have been detected, which confirmed the fundamental thesis of the study that sustainability can be managed by ensuring the harmonious operation of the system and by controlling the level of system coherence

Zasady strategicznego zarządzania rozwojem infrastruktury społecznej wiejskiej

The strategic management of Rural Social Infrastructure based on eight sectors: education, training, counseling; telecommunications; utilities and household services; transport; culture, sport and recreation; trade and catering services; health and social care and personal and property protection. The main research objective, namely, to stress out the necessity of rural social infrastructure strategic management has been reached. The main research methods were used: analysis and generalization of scientific literature, logical and systematical reasoning, graphic presentation of comparison, abstracts and other methods. The main elements of the RSI strategic management – vision, mission and main strategic priorities were defined using the case of Lithuania.Zarządzanie strategiczne wiejską infrastrukturą społeczną uwzględnia osiem sektorów: edukacja, szkolenia, doradztwo; telekomunikacja; media i usługi domowe; transport; kultura, sport i rekreacja; usługi handlu i gastronomii; opieka zdrowotna i społeczna oraz ochrona osobista i własność. Osiągnięto główny cel badawczy, jakim jest podkreślenie konieczności zarządzania strategicznego infrastrukturą wiejską. Główne metody badawcze to analiza literatury naukowej, uogólnianie, logiczne i systematyczne wnioskowanie, porównanie. Uwzględniając studium przypadku Litwy, zdefiniowano główne elementy zarządzania strategicznego RSI – wizję, misję oraz główne priorytety strategiczne

The identification of regional products for development of tourism : case of the Telsiai County

The paper deals with identification of regional products for tourism development in Telsiai County. The research rnethodic for identification of regional products was prepared. The survey of regional products in Telsiai County was carried out in period of April-May. 2005. According to the regional products research the tentative "basket" for Telsiai County was prepared. The food products (brown rye j bread, "Kastinis". curd cheese. honey, "Palendricos" and Jadvyga's herbal grasses) and no-food products (symbolical wooden and flax wares) were suggested to include in the basket of regional products of Telsiai County which could be sell at the public place, rural tourism homesteads and tourism information centers

Correlation between Antimicrobial Activity Values and Total Phenolic Content/Antioxidant Activity in <i>Rubus idaeus</i> L.

Plant by-products, which are discarded into the environment, are rich in valuable compounds. The aim of this research was to determine the antibacterial activity of Rubus idaeus L. morphological parts and its correlation with total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The authors also aimed to evaluate the plant’s potential as added-value products. New aspects were revealed for further use and for making novel and natural products. The study’s results indicated that raspberry leaves, inflorescences, and fruits could effectively combat three Gram-positive bacteria. According to the findings, among the various plant parts, root and seed extracts had the lowest antibacterial activity. Data revealed moderate, weak, or very weak correlation between the antimicrobial activity and phenolic content parameters. These findings underscore the viability of substituting synthetic antimicrobials with natural alternatives. The present study is significant for preparing novel products as antibacterials by appropriate and optimized processing using all raspberry morphological parts, and the research results show promising prospects for future purposeful utilisation of nature-based products. Raspberry plant parts can find applications in emerging fields that generate economic and environmental value

Between aspirations and reality:Making farming, food systems and rural areas more resilient, sustainable and equitable

This paper explores the connections between farm modernisation, rural development and the resilience of agricultural and rural systems. The paper starts by ascertaining why agricultural and food systems need to change systemically. Evidence from case studies in fourteen countries is used to explore the possibilities for, and drivers and limitations of systemic change in four thematic areas: the resilience of farms and rural areas; prosperity and well-being; knowledge and innovation, and; the governance of agriculture and rural areas. In each area, we identify a major mismatch between visions and strategies on the one hand, and market developments, policy measures and outcomes on the other. The first theme is of growing concern as there has been an observable decrease in the social-ecological resilience of farms and of rural communities in recent decades. The second theme emerges as important as the concentration of production in some regions or some farms is directly linked to the marginalisation of others. The third theme illustrates that local farmer-driven innovations can teach us much, especially since farmers focus on efficiently using the resources available to them, including their location-specific experiential knowledge. Through the final theme we show that informal networks can balance different interests and approaches, which is essential for integrated rural development strategies and projects. Our findings in these four thematic areas have implications for the strategic frameworks and policy of the EU (and beyond) and future research agendas. We explicitly draw these out. The 14 case studies show that practitioners, grassroots initiatives and pilot programmes are already generating a wealth of experiences and knowledge that could be fruitfully used to inform higher-level policy development. The paper concludes that systemic change requires more critical reflection of conventional wisdom and approaches, and openness to ideas and practices that are outside the mainstream

Between aspirations and reality: Making farming, food systems and rural areas more resilient, sustainable and equitable

This paper explores the connections between farm modernisation, rural development and the resilience of agricultural and rural systems. The paper starts by ascertaining why agricultural and food systems need to change systemically. Evidence from case studies in fourteen countries is used to explore the possibilities for, and drivers and limitations of systemic change in four thematic areas: the resilience of farms and rural areas; prosperity and well-being; knowledge and innovation, and; the governance of agriculture and rural areas. In each area, we identify a major mismatch between visions and strategies on the one hand, and market developments, policy measures and outcomes on the other. The first theme is of growing concern as there has been an observable decrease in the social-ecological resilience of farms and of rural communities in recent decades. The second theme emerges as important as the concentration of production in some regions or some farms is directly linked to the marginalisation of others. The third theme illustrates that local farmer-driven innovations can teach us much, especially since farmers focus on efficiently using the resources available to them, including their location-specific experiential knowledge. Through the final theme we show that informal networks can balance different interests and approaches, which is essential for integrated rural development strategies and projects. Our findings in these four thematic areas have implications for the strategic frameworks and policy of the EU (and beyond) and future research agendas. We explicitly draw these out. The 14 case studies show that practitioners, grassroots initiatives and pilot programmes are already generating a wealth of experiences and knowledge that could be fruitfully used to inform higher-level policy development. The paper concludes that systemic change requires more critical reflection of conventional wisdom and approaches, and openness to ideas and practices that are outside the mainstream.Energy & Industr