The long-term influence of entrepreneurial grants of LEADER measure in the area of NGO Järva Arengu Partnerid

Magistritöö Maamajanduse- ja finantsjuhtimise õppekavalLEADER-meetme pikaajalise mõju uurimine on vajalik, et hinnata kuivõrd on JAP tegevuspiirkonnas 2008-2013 ettevõtlusmeetmete investeeringutoetused mõjutanud meetme eesmärkide täitmist. Euroopa Komisjon soovitab kasutada piirkonnale sobilikke mõju uurimise kombineeritud meetodeid. Käesoleva pilootuuringu eesmärk on LEADER meetme toetuste pikaajalise mõju välja selgitamine MTÜ Järva Arengu Partnerid piirkonna 2008-2013 ettevõtlusprojektitoetuste baasil. Tegemist on juhtumiuuringuga. Töös on kasutatud kombineeritud metoodikat. Kvantitatiivse meetodina kasutatakse diferentshinnangut võrdlusgrupita, kus võrreldakse sama grupi minevikuväärtuseid ja mille mõõdikuteks on müügitulu kasv, uued tooted/teenused, loodud ja säilitatud töökohad. Sotsiaalset mõju uuritakse kvalitatiivselt läbi LEADER-lähenemise seitsme elemendi rakendumise piirkonna ja ettevõtete arendamisse. Pikaajaline sotsiaalmajanduslik mõju on avaldunud 25 rahastatud ettevõtte müügitulu kasvus, uutes väljaarendatud toodetes/teenustes ja piirkonda loodud uutes töökohtades. 15 taotlejat ei ole meetme eesmärke täitnud, neil puudus ühel või mitmel aastal müügitulu, ei arendatud välja ühtki uut toodet ega teenust või puudusid töötajad. LEADER-lähenemise seitsmest elemendist on kõige enam rakendunud koostöö ja võrgustikutöö elemendid, kuid teisi elemente ei teatud ning elementide mõju ei ole laiemale üldsusele tuntud. Uuringus piloteeritud metoodikatsaab kasutada LEADER-meetme pikaajalise sotsiaalmajandusliku mõju hindamisel ka teistes LEADER tegevusgruppides, kuna hindamiskriteeriumid ja mõõdikud vastavad MAK LEADER-meetme tulemusmõõdikutele.The evaluation of long-term influence of the LEADER-measure is necessary to determine the extent to which the investment support of entrepreneurship measure in the JAP area over the 2008-2013 period has met its objectives. The European Commission recommends the use of the combined methods to evaluate the influence in the region. The purpose of this work is to identify the long-term impact of LEADER-measure using a pilot study about the NGO Järva Arengu Partnerid entrepreneurial projects in the area over the 2008- 2013 period. In this case study, the combined methodology has been adapted for piloting using a differential ratio of comparison with the growth of sales revenue, new products/services, jobs created and maintained comparing these with the same group's past values. From a social point of view, the implementation of the seven elements of the LEADER approach was explored by examining the development of the region and enterprises. A long-term socio-economic impact on the JAP area in terms of sales revenue, new developed products/services and new jobs in the region was identified in respect of 25 applicants. However, 15 applicants did not fulfill the objectives of the measure meaning no new product or service was launched or no jobs were created. The most implemented LEADER measure out of the seven LEADER elements turned out to be cooperation and networking, but the study revealed that other elements and their impact were not well known to a wider public. In the future, it is possible to use the evaluation method tested to assess the long-term socio-economic impact of the LEADER measure in other action groups, as the evaluation criteria meets the MAK LEADER performance measure

Impact of different food label formats on healthiness evaluation and food choice of consumers: a randomized-controlled study

Abstract Background Front of pack food labels or signpost labels are currently widely discussed as means to help consumers to make informed food choices. It is hoped that more informed food choices will result in an overall healthier diet. There is only limited evidence, as to which format of a food label is best understood by consumers, helps them best to differentiate between more or less healthy food and whether these changes in perceived healthiness result in changes of food choice. Methods In a randomised experimental study in Hamburg/Germany 420 adult subjects were exposed to one of five experimental conditions: (1) a simple "healthy choice" tick, (2) a multiple traffic light label, (3) a monochrome Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) label, (4) a coloured GDA label and (5) a "no label" condition. In the first task they had to identify the healthier food items in 28 pair-wise comparisons of foods from different food groups. In the second task they were asked to select food portions from a range of foods to compose a one-day's consumption. Differences between means were analysed using ANOVAs. Results Task I: Experimental conditions differed significantly in the number of correct decisions (p Conclusion Different food label formats differ in the understanding of consumers. The current study shows, that German adults profit most from the multiple traffic light labels. Perceived healthiness of foods is influenced by this label format most often. Nevertheless, such changes in perceived healthiness are unlikely to influence food choice and consumption. Attempts to establish the informed consumer with the hope that informed choices will be healthier choices are unlikely to change consumer behaviour and will not result in the desired contribution to the prevention of obesity and diet related diseases.</p

Portion Size: What We Know and What We Need to Know

There is increasing evidence that the portion sizes of many foods have increased and in a laboratory at least this increases the amount eaten. The conclusions are, however, limited by the complexity of the phenomenon. There is a need to consider meals freely chosen over a prolonged period when a range of foods of different energy densities are available. A range of factors will influence the size of the portion size chosen: amongst others packaging, labeling, advertising, and the unit size rather than portion size of the food item. The way portion size interacts with the multitude of factors that determine food intake needs to be established. In particular, the role of portion size on energy intake should be examined as many confounding variables exist and we must be clear that it is portion size that is the major problem. If the approach is to make a practical contribution, then methods of changing portion sizes will need to be developed. This may prove to be a problem in a free market, as it is to be expected that customers will resist the introduction of smaller portion sizes, given that value for money is an important motivator