Sustainable strategies for SMEs from traditional, regional industries: The case of Messinian Region, Greece

Purpose – Research questions : Products embedded in a region (such as Products of Destinated Origin / PDOs) face significant obstacles to access remote markets, even to domestic ones, since there are a number of inherent difficulties in promoting and managing, in general, such products from the point of production to the market place. This paper addresses to central research questions: • how the sustainability issue relates to regional, traditional industries • what are the prerequisites for sustainability and the corresponding barriers posed to regional food chains • how sustainability relates to the performance of SMEs, operating in a traditional, regional industry • what are the advantages of marketing sustainable products • what region-based strategies could SMEs develop to transform the challenge of sustainability to opportunities ? Design/methodology/approach : Development of a conceptual constructive action framework with reference to regional conditions. Focus on SMEs that produce and/or trade products in the region of Messinia, Greece . Messinian region is well-known for traditional products such as olive oil, olives, raisins, figs, etc. A survey study includes a questionnaire that aims at measuring sustainability, market access, and supply chain performance. Direct contact has been carried out with a number of managing directors of SMEs via semi- structured interviews. Using case study protocol there will be a combination of case analysis and cross-case analysis. Expected Findings : Results will provide insights on how SMEs strategies can achieve sustainability requirements. Originality / Value : Improving know-how by unique focus on the sustainability of regional, traditional products and its effects upon supply chain performance and market access. This study has practical implications for regional-based SMEs in the design of strategies to produce sustainable competitive advantage. Moreover, sustainability has significant direct social, economic and environmental implications

Farm SMEs sustainability assessment based on Bellagio Principles. The case of Messinian Region, Greece

Purpose: Sufficient support of the sustainability of farm products embedded in a region (such as Products of Designated Origin / PDOs) to overcome significant obstacles to access domestic and remote markets. Main research question is how to overcome such inherent difficulties and transform them into challenges and opportunities to the new market environment. Design/methodology /approach: Combination of simplicity with the complicated issue of sustainability for awareness of small farmers SMEs and their collective representatives. Improve the understanding of the Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), to facilitate sustainability through use of the ‘Bellagio Principles’ for assessing sustainability of local farm products and facilitating further enhancement. Use of certain PDOs farm products of the Messinian region of Greece, such as local Sfela Feta cheese, olive oil, olives and raisins, to assess sustainability and improvement. Formation of a conceptual constructive action R&D framework of broader use in building-up and performing implementation of holistic supply chain strategy. Expected Findings: Providing better understanding of the SSCM. Insights on how SMEs co-operatives can collectively apply holistic strategies concerning local farm PDOs to fulfil competitiveness and sustainability requirements, under variant product and market conditions. Originality / Value : Improving the know-how, focusing on the sustainability of regional, traditional products and its effects upon supply chain performance and market access. Practical implications for regional-based farm SMEs in the design of holistic value creation strategies to produce sustainable competitive advantage. Interactive cause and effect dynamic implications of sustainable development on social, economic and physical environment

Association of iron depletion with menstruation and dietary intake indices in pubertal girls: The healthy growth study

The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations of iron depletion (ID) with menstrual blood losses, lifestyle, and dietary habits, in pubertal girls. The study sample comprised 1222 girls aged 9-13 years old. Biochemical, anthropometrical, dietary, clinical, and physical activity data were collected. Out of 274 adolescent girls with menses, 33.5% were found to be iron depleted (defined as serum ferritin \u3c 12 g/L) compared to 15.9% out of 948 girls without menses. Iron-depleted girls without menses were found to have lower consumption of poultry (P = 0.017) and higher consumption of fruits (P = 0.044) and fast food (P = 0.041) compared to their peers having normal iron status. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that girls with menses were 2.57 (95% CI: 1.37, 4.81) times more likely of being iron depleted compared to girls with no menses. Iron depletion was found to be associated with high calcium intake, high consumption of fast foods, and low consumption of poultry and fruits. Menses was the only factor that was found to significantly increase the likelihood of ID in these girls. More future research is probably needed in order to better understand the role of diet and menses in iron depletion. © 2013 George Moschonis et al

A community-based Agro-Food Hub model for sustainable farming

This conceptual paper focuses on the Agro-Food Hub paradigm as the main enabler for the sustainable development of agro-food Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the context of the currently established agro-food systems. This paper is based on a shared knowledge-driven research that presents different approaches/types of Agro-Food Hubs, providing useful insights into the strategic, operational and institutional approaches of the topic. After the illustration of the main approaches for the Agro-Food Hubs met in the literature, a holistic Agro-Food Hubs model was proposed (the Agro-Food Sustainability Knowledge Hub model), incorporating the main principles and functional guidelines within the framework of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Supply Chain Management. This study is in line with the demographic, economic and social prospects for the 2050 and the European Economic and Social Committee decision for An EU Industrial Policy for the Food and Drinks Sector adopted on 4 May 2015. In particular, since the majority of research in the past focused on large organizations, this paper is expected to enlighten the problems emerged from current applied practices together with the opportunities for potential synergies among agricultural SMEs, through the utilization of alternative sustainable channels of distribution and value creation, such as the Agro- Food Hubs

Sustainable cities through alternative urban farming: the case of floriculture

Floriculture is an intensive type of agriculture with an income per unit area much higher than any other branch of agriculture. Urban floriculture can be a more sustainable and socially acceptable alternative to urban food production as the latter is exposed to high levels of urban generated contaminants. Urban floriculture may also decrease the carbon footprint associated with transportation of fresh cut flowers and provide better quality seasonal product. In this article, we investigate the concept of urban floriculture as an innovative approach for mitigating the negative impacts of global floriculture supply chains

A Community-Based Agro-Food Hub Model for Sustainable Farming

This conceptual paper focuses on the Agro-Food Hub paradigm as the main enabler for the sustainable development of agro-food Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the context of the currently established agro-food systems. This paper is based on a shared knowledge-driven research that presents different approaches/types of Agro-Food Hubs, providing useful insights into the strategic, operational and institutional approaches of the topic. After the illustration of the main approaches for the Agro-Food Hubs met in the literature, a holistic Agro-Food Hubs model was proposed (the Agro-Food Sustainability Knowledge Hub model), incorporating the main principles and functional guidelines within the framework of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Supply Chain Management. This study is in line with the demographic, economic and social prospects for the 2050 and the European Economic and Social Committee decision for “An EU Industrial Policy for the Food and Drinks Sector„ adopted on 4 May 2015. In particular, since the majority of research in the past focused on large organizations, this paper is expected to enlighten the problems emerged from current applied practices together with the opportunities for potential synergies among agricultural SMEs, through the utilization of alternative sustainable channels of distribution and value creation, such as the Agro-Food Hubs

A Review of the Vehicle Routing Problem and the Current Routing Services in Smart Cities

In this survey, the issues of urban routing are analyzed, and critical considerations for smart and cost-effective delivery services are highlighted. Smart cities require intelligent services and solutions to address their routing issues. This article gives a brief description of current services that either apply classical methods or services that employ machine learning approaches. Furthermore, a comparison of the most promising research options in regard to VRP is provided. Finally, an initial design of a holistic scheme that would optimally combine several tools and approaches to serve the needs of different users with regard to the VRP is presented