Where has all the cream gone: How sustainable is the English dairy supply chain?

The sustainability of the dairy supply chain is a widely debated topic in the industry. The purpose of this paper is to explore farmer behaviour in response to diminishing returns and investigates the possible long-term implications of low returns, identified by farming families. The paper argues that, sustained declines in margins, coupled with other structural changes in the industry, will eventually lead to an exodus of small family farms. A qualitative methodology ensures in-depth data were collected over a five year period. The results indicate that farmers and their families are concerned over the reduced margins for their produce, with many smaller farms forced to subsidies the business with alternative sources of income. Farmers also raise concerns over the sustainability of the dairy supply chain and how future English milk supplies will meet the demand.supply chain, sustainability, family farming, behaviour., Farm Management, D400, J300, L110, M100, Q120,

Why do dairy farmers continue to farm? Can Bourdieu's theory aid our understanding and suggest how farmers could regain some control in their industry?

The research asked the pivotal question - Why do dairy farmers continue to farm? There is currently a lack of recognition for the social, cultural and symbolic merits of family businesses, and the non-economic contributions made to society. In critically reviewing the economic paradigm, which assumes man acts rationally in a world of perfect information, economic theory ignores the role of alternative forms of capital in acquiring power to conduct business successfully. Using Bourdieu's concepts of field, habitus and capital offered sociological insights into small family farm businesses. Bourdieu's generic forms of capital allowed for the appraisal of not only economic capital; but social, cultural and symbolic capital. A qualitative, mixed methods approach was chosen, through a series of ten ethnographic case studies conducted in Staffordshire. Bourdieu's work and qualitative methods allowed the farm to be investigated as a collective social unit. Each case study consisted of participant observation, interviews with the farmer, and where possible spouses and children. The work demonstrates that whilst policy tries to shape how agriculture is conducted, it is not necessarily creating an environment in which farmers can empower themselves, and their business operations; as powerful groups seek to retain their position in the field (dairy industry). Sufficient levels of social, cultural and symbolic capital are vital for family farm business success; defined in economic (wealth) and non-economic (personal development, job satisfaction and lifestyle) parameters. For the farming world, the work extends Bourdieu's theory proposing the need to introduce natural capital. Nature's role in farming is critical and farmers need to utilise and support natural systems. Despite farmers losing control in their field, many have behaved in enterprising ways in order to continue the family farm business. However, farmers need to increase their levels of all forms of capital in order to increase their power and position in society. Consequently, farmers must also protect their levels of capital in order to slow down further decreases in their power in the field

An Experience Sampling Study of Expressing Affect, Daily Affective Well-Being, Relationship Quality and Perceived Performance

Few studies have directly examined the processes through which workers use job resources, such as job control and social support, to regulate affect. We focused on affective expression, which is a specific form of affect regulation. We investigated the extent to which workers used both job control and social support to express affect. Thirty-nine call centre workers provided data up to four times a day over five consecutive working days (number of observations = 272). Executing job control to allow workers to express affect was related to using social support to express affect. Workers' understanding of their personal goals mediated relationships between using social support to express affect and four outcomes (negative affect, positive affect, perceived performance, and quality of workplace relationships). Perceived empathy mediated relationships between using social support to express affect and three outcomes (negative affect, positive affect, and quality of workplace relationships). The findings indicated that (1) one job resource can be used to facilitate using another job resource for affect regulation and (2) different job resources may play different roles in conferring benefits from affective expression

Using capital theory to explore problem solving and innovation in small firms

Purpose: This study investigated how small firms work at a micro-level, applying Bourdieu’s Capital Theory to give insight into the way individuals use the social and cultural capital at their disposal, to innovate and solve problems. Design/Methodology/Approach: We applied qualitative methods to explore problem solving and innovation activities at the micro-level in small firms, using interviews and thematic analysis. Findings: Our findings reveal that, compared to firms with lower levels of social and cultural capital, firms which possess higher levels of social and cultural capital have a higher success rate in problem solving and are more likely to engage in innovative activity. Social and cultural capitals complement and reinforce one another in small firms, for example an enhanced ability to utilise networks (social capital) allows small firms to access a greater diversity of knowledge (cultural capital). Originality/Value: Little is known about how different forms of capital are utilised in the day-to-day operations and problem solving of small firms: the application of Bourdieu’s Capital Theory offered an original frame in which to explore these activities

Tales from the countryside: Unpacking “passing the environmental buck” as hypocritical practice in the food supply chain

© 2020 Using a critical power lens and the concept of organisational hypocrisy, we explore how actors across the supply chain have been able to pass risk and responsibility for environmental impacts down the supply chain, in addition to associated economic costs. We use vignettes to relay farmers’ experiences and voices, which remain seldom heard in both practice and research. We argue that the main effect of the hypocritical practice of ‘passing the environmental buck’ is a removal of the farmers’ agency, paradoxically coupled with an increase in their responsibilities. We see this approach by large corporations as a mechanism that helps to mask their increasing dependence on this group to achieve their environmental goals

Immigrant Students and the EFL Curriculum in Compulsory Secondary Education in the Canary Islands

Máster Univ. en Formación del Profes. en E.S.O., Bachillerato, F.P. y E.Ii

“I never thought I could do that…”: Findings from an Alexander Technique pilot group for older people with a fear of falling.

© 2017 Elsevier GmbH Introduction Fear of falling is a major problem facing the health care system. No clear evidence exists as to the most effective management approach although a need for both psychological and physical intervention is recognised. The Alexander Technique (AT) is primarily an educational holistic self-management approach which improves balance and has psychological benefits. This small scale mixed methods exploratory pilot study investigated changes following, and acceptability of, an AT group intervention for older people with a fear of falling. Methods Twelve volunteers aged ≥ 65 years with a fear of falling took part in a nine-week, 12 session AT group intervention. They completed a range of standardised measures at 4 time points (baseline, immediately pre and post intervention, and one month post intervention). A sub-group participated in a focus group discussion following the group intervention. Quantitative data were analysed using non-parametric statistics, with thematic analysis employed for qualitative data. Results The fear of falling primary outcome measure and other quantitative results were inconclusive, however focus group qualitative data suggested some profound changes with improvements in movement, mood and confidence. A combination of awareness and acceptance led participants to feel empowered to make adjustments to their activity. Participants found learning the AT enjoyable and were able to use it to advantage in everyday activities. Conclusions The intervention had a positive impact on falls-related and physical skills, and psychological well-being. This supports its potential as a useful intervention for older people with a fear of falling, larger scale studies are merited

Who’s Milking It? Scripted Stories of Food Labour

This article explores representations of food labour at different stages in the supply chain through a labour process theory perspective. Employing multi-modal critical discourse analysis it analyses visual data collected from three television programmes focused on dairy production and consumption. The research sheds light on the power relations inherent to food production and the devaluing of manual food labour in supply chains, which are shaped by the current capitalist socio-political environment. The findings expose ways in which media can reinforce dominant understandings of food supply chains, while making aspects of food labour invisible