rss_2.0Sciendo RSS Feed for Rural Sustainability Researchhttps://sciendo.com/journal/PLUAhttps://www.sciendo.comhttps://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/6472813f215d2f6c89dcab36/cover-image.jpghttps://sciendo.com/journal/PLUA140216https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0004<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its implications for both agricultural firms and capital lenders. This systematic literature review aims to elucidate emerging trends in addressing climate-related risks in agriculture and credit sectors. Drawing from a rigorous analysis of 39 articles sourced from Scopus and Web of Science databases, three key thematic dimensions have emerged: (i) agricultural lending and credit risk, (ii) green principles and sustainability, and (iii) the context of developing countries. From the impact of climate change on the recoverability of loans to the imperative of transitioning towards a greener and more sustainable economy, alongside the nuanced challenges faced by agriculture in developing countries, we analyzed prominent and recent literary approaches. The findings underscore the need to integrate climate change considerations into agricultural and credit policies. Policymakers and financial institutions should prioritize climate education for farmers and promote sustainable financial approaches. Anticipated climate risks will impact lenders’ capital reserves, necessitating portfolio adjustments. A deep understanding of climate change’s interplay with agriculture lending and credit risk is vital, urging proactive policy and practice. Addressing climate challenges in agriculture demands a multifaceted strategy encompassing tailored credit policies, improved access to credit, financial empowerment, and the mitigation of social inequalities. This review highlights the urgent need for proactive strategies to mitigate climate risks and ensure a resilient agricultural sector, emphasizing the crucial role of research and policy interventions in navigating the complex landscape of climate change impacts on agriculture.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00042024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0002<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Goat milk constitutes a well-priced source of minerals and proteins for a large rural population, particularly those living in the mountains and whose access to state-subsidized milk is very limited. This study aims at assessing the mineral composition and nitrogen distribution of goat milk produced by the Algerian Arabia breed and estimating how lactation stage affects these elements. Thirteen individual Arabia goat milks were collected and analyzed three times during the lactation period (early, mid, and late). Minerals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry and nitrogen fractions using the Kjeldahl method. The findings of the research showed that casein, whey, and milk protein content had respective mean values of 2.95, 0.74, and 3.54 g 100 ml⁻¹, respectively. The highest levels of minerals were found for calcium (537 μg ml⁻¹), and sodium (336 μg ml⁻¹). The average trace mineral concentration was between 1.78 μg ml⁻¹ (Fe) and 0.007 μg ml⁻¹ (Cs). Heavy metal concentrations were assessed to be 0.057 μg ml⁻¹ for Pb and 0.009 μg ml⁻¹ for Cd. An important effect of stage of lactation (p &lt; 0.05) was observed on only K, Fe, and Na mineral components, whereas nitrogen distribution was not affected. As the lactation period progressed, the variation of these components was not constant and fluctuated across lactation stages.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00022024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0010<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The aim of the present work is to propose methods and tools for classifying sweet pepper into groups according to their degree of maturity based on color and spectral characteristics extracted from color images on the surface of the vegetables. The investigated pepper is two varieties of sweet - red <italic>Banji</italic> and yellow <italic>Liri</italic>. Five groups were formed, depending on the degree of maturity, and 16 color and 11 spectral indices were calculated for each of the groups. By successively using the ReliefF and PLSR methods, a selection of informative features and subsequent reduction of the vector formed by them was carried out, thereby aiming to increase the predictive results and minimize the time for data processing. The obtained classification errors between the individual stages of ripening vary according to the type of pepper and depending on which of the two types of maturity the fruits are in - technical or biological. For red sweet pepper, the separation inaccuracy obtained using a discriminant classifier with a quadratic separation function is in the range of 8 - 19%, while for yellow it is from 5 to 23%. The results obtained in the present work for the classification of pepper into groups according to their degree of maturity would support decision-making in selective harvesting and overall more accurate and efficient management of the harvesting process from the point of view of precision agriculture. The work will continue with studies related to the prediction of various compounds indicating changes in the color of peppers, including chlorophylls, carotenes and xanthophylls. In this way, it is possible to increase the accuracy in determining the degree of ripeness, since in pepper the color does not always follow the same pattern of change from green to yellow to orange to red.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00102024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0006<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Due to the systematic utilisation of substantial amounts of phosphorus fertilisers on agricultural crops in crop rotation, the amount of available phosphate compounds increases in the soil. It ensures the maximum increase in crop yields. The study of the phosphate level in chernozem soils in various agrocenoses is really up-to-date. The gist of our research was to determine the specifics of providing mobile phosphorus in typical chernozem in field crop rotation, especially in sunflower, varying according to fertilisation systems in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. The assessment of mobile phosphorus content was conducted using the Chirikov method, which involves extracting mobile phosphorus compounds from the soil using a solution containing acetic acid (CH₃COOH) at a concentration of 0.5 mol dm⁻³, with a soil–to–solution ratio of 1:25. Phosphorus was determined with the spectrophotocolorimetric method, which is based on the colour intensity of the phosphorus-molybdenum complex.</p> <p>Our investigations showed that the typical low-humus chernozems have considerable reservoirs of potentially exploitable phosphorus for plant nourishment. We established that the mineral and organic-mineral fertilisation system leads to a greater use of mobile phosphorus with agricultural crops of crop rotation resulting in the formation of elevated phosphate content in the chernozem soil. By the end of the second rotation, the organic-mineral fertilisation system variant displayed the greatest concentration of mobile phosphorus within the 0–25 cm soil depth, marking a surge of 15.6 mg kg⁻¹ compared to the unfertilised variant. In the period of sunflower germination, the content of mobile phosphates increased in the soil layers at depths of 0–25 cm and 25–50 cm in the variant of the mineral fertilisation system on 17.6 and 22.2 mg kg⁻¹ of soil compared to the alternative without the fertiliser. In the sunflower’s ripening period, the mobile phosphorus concentration in the soil at 0–25 cm depth increased significantly in the variant of organic-mineral fertilisation system by 12.0 mg kg⁻¹ and mineral fertilisation by 14.7 mg kg⁻¹ of soil if compared with the variant lacking the fertiliser. In the variant of the mineral fertilisation system, the amount of mobile phosphorus increased in the 0–30 cm soil depth by 18.7 mg kg⁻¹ of soil in two crop rotations compared to the beginning of the first crop rotation.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00062024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0003<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The sprouts of various seeds have garnered considerable regard amid consumers due to its verdure, crispiness, and germination potential, offering a cost-effective and straightforward process. The moist and warm conditions are very conducive to germination, fostering the growth of microorganisms and thereby raising food safety concerns. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of ozone on <italic>Enterobacteriaceae</italic> counts by subjecting wheat (<italic>Triticum aestivum</italic>) grains, alfalfa (<italic>Medicago sativa</italic>), radish (<italic>Raphanus sativus</italic>) and broccoli (<italic>Brassica oleracea</italic>) seeds to ozone gas treatment. Additionally, the grain and seeds were rinsed with ozonated water during germination. Three different treatment methods were employed for seeds and grains. In the first method, samples were exposed to ozone gas at 20 ppm for 10 minutes, with subsequent rinsing every 12 hours during germination until the rinse water appeared visually clean, at a concentration of 2.0 mg L⁻¹ of ozone. The second method involved rinsing with ozonated water at a concentration of 2.0 mg L⁻¹ for durations of 20, 40, and 60 minutes. The third method - treated with ozone gas at 50 ppm and the exposure time of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h. Untreated samples were used as controls. Evaluation of the samples revealed that <italic>Enterobacteriaceae</italic> was virtually undetectable in dry seeds. However, after 72 hours of germination in both the control and ozone-treated sprouts and following 7 days of storage at 4±2 °C, <italic>Enterobacteriaceae</italic> were found at an average of 7 to 8.1 log CFU g⁻¹ in all samples, irrespective of the treatment method. Additionally, mould was observed only in wheat and radish sprouts during the assessment period. The study showed that there was no significant reduction in the number of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms, moulds and <italic>Enterobacteriaceae</italic> then treated with ozone gas.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00032024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0005<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>This research seeks to expand the in-depth knowledge on the ethical dilemmas veterinary doctors face while providing care for homeless animals, brought to clinics by volunteers. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with veterinary doctors in Latvia. The study reveals the complex emotions involved in the interactions between veterinarians and volunteers, as well as the factors affecting a veterinarian’s decision made about homeless animals. The results show a positive attitude towards the altruism of volunteers, but significant concerns around financial matters and the use of animals for fundraising. Debates about charging for stray care highlight potential disagreements between veterinarians and activists. Veterinarians prioritise education and advocacy, providing compassionate assistance to pet owners. Societal expectations strongly shape how they perceive their role, emphasising the reduction of animal suffering and the improvement of animal welfare.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00052024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0008<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Glycerol is a versatile substance used in food, beverages, cosmetics, and technical applications. It can be derived from fats and oils through 4 different reactions, including: transesterification, directed hydrogenation, hydrolysis, and saponification. Glycerol derived from fat hydrolysis yields superior quality and quantity when compared to saponification. The resulting glycerol water is purified and concentrated through evaporation to yield crude glycerol with a concentration of 86-88%. Two distinct methods are recognized for further improving quality of glycerol: distillation, and the purification of glycerol water through the ion exchange process followed by evaporation. The goal of this research was to improve the purification process of glycerol, for obtaining premium-quality glycerol without the need for distillation, through the utilization of cations. Several combinations of activated carbon and clay were tested, and it was determined that a combination of 70:30 yielded the optimal results, considering the amount of glycerol and ash content. Technological parameters such as reaction durations, pH, and process temperatures were investigated, and it was discovered that the appropriate combination was a process duration of more than 40 minutes, a pH value of 2, and a temperature of 70°C. Besides, it was also determined that the concentration and quality of glycerol derived from cottonseed oil can be enhanced through distillation or purification with cationite. Moreover, different concentrations of glycerol on the elaboration of gingerbread were tested, and the conclusion is that adding 5% of the resulting glycerol to the gingerbread recipe could ensure better preservation of its quality during its shelf life.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00082024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0001<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Energy production, supply and consumption are global issue with many economic, environmental and social implications. Mentioned issue is even more expressed in remote rural areas, in particular in developing countries, as are the countries of the Western Balkans (WB). Renewable energy sources (RES) could represent optimal energy alternative for sustainable performing of agricultural and other activities, as well as for improving the current state of living conditions in rural communities. The main goal of research is to mark the most suitable RES alternative (six alternatives) for wider implementation in rural space of WB. The applied methodology framework implies experts’ opinion (engagement of eight experts) and the use of multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM), (specifically fuzzy-rough LMWA and fuzzy-rough CRADIS methods) under the predefined criteria (nine criteria). Derived results show that the implementation of the solar energy plants could play an optimal solution, while as the relatively unsuitable alternative could be marked the use of energy potential of watercourses. Gained final result, i.e. ranking order of the considered alternatives is additionally verified by the appliance of other MCDM methods, while the sensitivity analysis was also performed.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00012024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0009<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Excessive intake of saturated fatty acids and physiologically imbalanced amino acids worsens the patient’s psychotic condition, creating the risk of developing psychosis and other comorbidities. Therefore, to ensure the optimal amount of amino acids and improve the psychotic state, pea protein isolate is an alternative to nutritional supplementation. The aim of the study was to analyse the amino acid profile of pea protein isolates and their solubility to evaluate their potential for the development of beverages for patients with psychiatric disorders. In the study, the amino acid profile analysis of organic and conventional pea protein isolates was performed using high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. To evaluate solubility, pea protein isolates were treated in an ultrasonic bath and at different pH concentrations. The results showed that organic pea protein isolate showed a higher composition of essential amino acids (41.27%) and semi-essential amino acids (8.37%) than conventional pea protein isolate. Organic pea protein isolate was able to provide a more appropriate amino acid composition to meet the amino acid needs of patients with psychiatric disorders. Organic and conventional pea protein isolates had higher solubility in the ultrasonic bath of 20 min and in the alkaline environment. The solubility between the two pea protein isolates was not significantly different, but the ultrasonic bath treatment and different pH concentrations were significant, which gave insight and further application in beverage production.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00092024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-0007<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Rice cultivation is the main economic livelihood for many families around the world. This activity represents several challenges for farmers and community members for rural sustainability, a cross-cutting element of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). In response, the Polytechnic University (ESPOL), fulfilling its mission of linking with society, implemented a community program where students and professors interact and collaborate with rice farmers in the rural community of Paipayales, located in the Santa Lucia canton, Guayas province. This article explores the impact of university-community projects through the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach in order to evaluate them as a tool for contributing towards rural sustainability in communities. As a result, it was determined that the main problems faced by most of the farmers of the “Dios con Nosotros” Association are the availability of water in the wells and the commercialization of paddy rice. Considering these problems, the wells were geolocated and a board was designed for proper water management; at the same time, water quality was studied and recommendations were presented according to the problems encountered. Two proposals were also presented to create a rice husker and a rice separator to increase their profit margin by selling rice directly to retailers and wholesalers. As relevant conclusions, the importance of implementing links and relationships between the university community and society was highlighted, guaranteeing the value of working in transdisciplinary teams and achieving a comprehensive intervention that would lead to significant improvements in the community.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2024-00072024-09-05T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0016<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Climatic conditions for soybean cultivation in Latvia are challenging because of their variability. In addition, the sum of sunlight hours and the ratio of temperature and precipitation required to produce a quality crop are unpredictable. There is a risk that even early soybean varieties will not ripen due to weather conditions in a region. Studies show that soybean plants, including the green part of the crop, are well suited for animal nutrition prepared as hay or silage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of different soybean varieties harvested before ripening and assess them as hay or silage raw material. Weight, protein, fat, ash, fibre, acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) of soybean varieties ‘Erica’, ‘Bolgar’ and ‘Viola’ green mass were determined at different stages of maturity. The results of the study showed a significant increase in protein (from 9.18% to 12.06%) and fat (from 1.18% to 4.40%) content of the dry matter variety ‘Bolgar’ from September to October. The protein content of the dry soya green mass was not affected by variety at the same developing stage but significantly changed among different stages of maturity. As the plant develops, the sucrose content in the green mass increases, the same as the total sugar content.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00162024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0017<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Pastry cream contains wheat flour, which is not suitable for celiac patients who require a gluten-free diet. Potatoes are known as a good source of starch, minerals and vitamins. They also contain protein, dietary fibre and various phytochemicals. Their addition to pastry cream can both serve as a texturising agent and enrich the nutritional value of the final product. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of potatoes as a replacement for wheat flour in pastry cream. For study purposes, the physicochemical attributes of eleven potato varieties were evaluated. Among other varieties, the boiled potato variety Gala exhibited higher fibre, fat, phosphorus and potassium content; however, significantly higher protein (12.48 ± 0.08 g 100 g⁻¹ DW) and iron (3.12 ± 0.02 g 100 g⁻¹ DW) content. Higher antiradical activity (18.72 ± 0.74 mM TE 100⁻¹ g DW) was detected in potatoes of the variety Blue Congo. After preliminary investigation, wheat flour was replaced with mashed potatoes, making up 30% of the cream weight, and its impact on the pastry cream was studied. It was established that potatoes had a significant effect on pastry cream colour and texture. American Rose, Imanta, Rigonda and Viviana were selected as the most suitable from the eleven varieties tested. The addition of potatoes in pastry cream doubled its fibre and potassium content, whereas, other changes in nutritional value of the creams were variety dependent.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00172024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0019<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The contemporary scientific and technical community claims that the new development paradigm will be based on the priority of the universal laws of nature, the principles of ecological economics and the widespread use of digital transformation. The analysis of the sustainable development strategy Latvia 2030 and the presented changes in the value of indicators showed that, it is quite difficult to put together a common unified picture of Latvia’s movement towards sustainable development. The main goal of the article is to present a new approach to the assessment of sustainable development and to monitoring system, using a system’s power changes analysis method. In the context of a Latvian sustainable development strategy, the authors presented the results of the formalisation of new approach to the sustainable development monitoring, using an invariant coordinate system in units of power (energy flow) in compare with calculated data in monetary terms. Calculations and the initial interpretation of the results of Latvia as well as of the five EU countries from the Baltic Sea region – Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania – were carried out for the period 1990.-2019. The presented indicators of sustainable development show that achieving the strategic goals of Latvia 2030 would be very difficult without any serious internal and external incentives. The results can provide a basis for creation of the development strategy both the country as a whole and each region separately.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00192024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0015<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>It is well known that wood tends to shrink and swell as the relative humidity of the air changes. There have been, and still are, attempts to make dimensionally stable wood panels such as Dendrolight^®. The physical-mechanical, operational, including acoustic, properties of this material have been significantly improved compared to traditional wood-based panels. However, the production of this material requires very specific processing equipment and a large energy investment. The developers of this material in Latvia invented and patented wood, Lightweight Stabilised Blockboard (LSB). In order for this material to be used in the production of various products, it is necessary to clarify its characteristic, technological, as well as operational properties. The study gathers information about the sound absorption properties of various natural and wood materials, characteristics, and the sound absorption of the studied material at different sound frequencies. The reviewed sources of information indicate that nowadays there are still problems in sound conduction and absorption and isolation issues are being addressed in building acoustics. The production of samples and the determination of sound absorption were carried out using a developed methodology developed in accordance with regulatory requirements. The data obtained in the practical study were compared with the relevant indicators of the Dendrolight^® and wood-based panels used for building structures and to determine their compliance with the requirements set forth in the standards ISO 10534-2 and ISO 11654. Research data show that LSB corresponds to E sound absorption class in some of the investigated frequencies.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00152024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0011<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Pesticides have been used for a long time in agriculture to prevent the growth of undesired organisms. However, depending on the type of production (i.e., conventional, organic, and regenerative), they might not be applied. Adequate types and uses of pesticides should not cause any damage to any non-target species or environments due to the exposure to it, especially if all farming operations have been done properly. Reversely, when pesticides are applied in inappropriate time, amount or technique, they may cause several impacts, among which is water contamination. Brazil stands out worldwide for its agricultural potential, but it is exposed to risks concerning the water supply security to its population. The current study is a comparison of the Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MPC) for pesticides in potable water supply in Brazil with the values set in the United States, Canada, European Union countries, Japan, and the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization. The regulations of each country were used, as well as the trading, consumption and agricultural production data. The Brazilian regulation is the one accounting for the largest number of pesticides. However, their MPC is 5,000 times more permissible than that from the European Union for the herbicide known as glyphosate, 300 times than that for 2,4-d and 20 times than that for atrazine. Finally, it was possible to observe the relevance of revising the regulation and public policies in place to minimize the indiscriminate use of pesticides in Brazil and adapt these compounds to the standards in a global level.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00112024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0020<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Poverty alleviation, employment creation, environmental conservation and income augmentation can be transformed based on agricultural diversification. Lotus farming is considered as a solution to improve income and livelihood for smallholder farmers. Many different products and values can be explored from lotus farming including lotus flower, lotus root, lotus seed, lotus fiber, as well as combining ecotourism. But many barriers are preventing the lotus products diversification of lotus growers. This study will provide a better understanding of lotus farming and explore the barriers to lotus products diversification and causes of these barriers. Phong Dien district, central Vietnam was selected as a case study. The qualitative research was applied through 54 semi-structured interviews including lotus growers, lotus buyers and officers of local government, as well as one focus-group discussion, observation method and secondary data from statistical data and reports were also conducted. The research findings indicated that there is a big gap between lotus products diversification of lotus growers and available lotus products on the market. Lotus growers only grow and sell raw products, of which, fresh unshelled lotus seed is the main product. Lack of knowledge, worries on loss, lack of market and market information, lack of labour and machines and traditional production habits are main determinants of the barriers. Characteristics of lotus seed, high production and monopoly of collectors are different features in barriers to lotus product diversification compared to other crop diversification.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00202024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0012<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The objective of this research was to study potential pests of Japanese quince (<italic>Chaenomeles japonica</italic>) plantations in Latvia. Studies were carried out in eight plantations during 2017–2019. Major pests that would regularly cause significant yield losses for this plant were not observed. Black-veined white (<italic>Aporia crataegi</italic>) was considered a local pest, mass outbreaks of which can occur in individual plantations and cause significant losses of plant foliage. Four species were considered minor pests: garden chafer (<italic>Phyllopertha horticola</italic>), yellow-banded weevil (<italic>Chlorophanus viridis</italic>), silver-green weevil (<italic>Phyllobius argentatus</italic>) and copse snail (<italic>Arianta arbustorum</italic>); they are also pests of plant foliage. The European red spider mite (<italic>Panonychus ulmi</italic>) was not considered as a pest of Japanese quince. A small population was observed in summers only in one plantation, which was located next to a heavily infested orchard. Overwintering eggs were not found on the plants in any year, and we concluded that the species was an accidental immigrant in this plantation. No aphid (Aphididae) colonies were observed on the quince plants. Monitoring and evaluation of potential harmfulness of four tortrix moths – large fruit-tree tortrix (<italic>Archips podana</italic>), rose tortrix (<italic>Archips rosana</italic>), codling moth (<italic>Cydia pomonella</italic>) and holly tortrix (<italic>Rhopobota naevana</italic>) – was done. It was concluded that rose tortrix is a minor fruit pest, but the other three species were not yet considered pests of Japanese quince. Significant pests of quince flowers and fruits were not detected in our study.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00122024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0018<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Globally, food systems are the most significant cause of environmental change; therefore, efforts to create more environmentally sustainable food systems are presented. One of the directions is strengthening the local actors and short food supply chains. Simultaneously, changes in farming systems are needed, and organic agriculture is one of the ways to make food systems more environmentally sustainable. Despite the abundance of research on the environmental consciousness of consumers in short food supply chains, the question is raised whether local food chain farmers are also committed to environmental sustainability. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the importance of environmental sustainability to organic short food supply chain actors. More specifically, the research depicts the views of organic farmers and consumers and their relation to the actual environmental sustainability of short food supply chains. During the research, a specific short food supply chain – a direct purchasing network – was explored. A qualitative approach was applied to reach the aim. Thus, in-depth interviews and observations were used as a research method. The research results demonstrated the views of farmers and consumers of the specific network regarding environmental sustainability aspects in the network. In the research, such environmental aspects as the circularity of resources, biodiversity, chemicals in the environment, seasonality and locality of diets, and the distance (food miles) were admitted as crucial ones by the specific short food supply chain actors. The differences in opinions of consumers and farmers emerged when thinking about the scale of their views.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00182024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0013<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>This research in progress paper investigates the multifaceted factors shaping the work-related attitudes of top managers in organizations with a focus on Germany. Through in-depth interviews with seasoned experts, it reveals crucial work attitudes, examines the impact of interpersonal and procedural factors, and evaluates information’s role in the principal-agent relationship at top management levels. The findings challenge conventional assumptions, providing different perspectives on leadership and highlighting the evolving nature of management practices in the digital age. The study also explores potential differences between top IT managers and other C-level roles, investigating their implications.</p> <p>The results of this research based on expert interviews are used in a broader context of research to triangulate literature analysis findings and quantitative surveys in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing top managers’ work attitudes. Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted to gain a comprehensive perspective on the influencing factors of work attitudes in top management functions. Six German experts participated, bringing diverse backgrounds and affiliations with professional associations. Despite varied perspectives, universal importance was identified in key work attitudes, challenging assumptions of significant differences between employer and employee representatives. A novel contrast between hierarchical and broader perspectives within owner and worker associations emerged, suggesting a need for a more comprehensive understanding of management approaches. Additionally, interpersonal factors in leadership, information flow, trust-building, were highlighted as contributions. Furthermore, distinctions and commonalities between IT management and other top managerial roles were identified. This study both confirms existing knowledge and introduces valuable insights to management science, potentially shaping future research and practices.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00132024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-0014<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>A series of initiatives have been adopted in the European Union to address greenhouse gas emissions and establish a society that is resilient to climate change. In response to these initiatives, the implementation of mobility budgets offers a more precise strategy for addressing carbon footprints associated with travel. Prioritizing localized carbon footprint control, mobility budgets are calculated and customized according to distinct regions, goals, and target demographics. When prioritizing the mobility budget as the central objective in municipal transport route planning, the focus should encompass principles of fairness and equity in travel. This entails considering factors such as accessibility, variety of mobility choices, inclusivity of transportation modes, and social justice. Therefore, this article aims to formulate an enhanced activity modelling methodology that would aid data-driven decision-making in municipal transport route planning, while upholding the principles of travel fairness and equity. Тhe results obtained from scrutinizing data related to public bus services and mobile networks are presented. The evaluation of Jelgava’s city transportation network to facilitate mobility budget reduction is undertaken, and this assessment is based on an analysis of data derived from a survey on public transport use coupled with an examination of the city’s mobility budget. The research presents the communication challenges that municipalities will face in planning and implementing changes that are needed to meet the greenhouse gas emission targets and outlines the possible use of visualization tools for modelling, explanation and communication of scenarios.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/plua-2023-00142024-01-22T00:00:00.000+00:00en-us-1