Browsing by Author "Mata, F."
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- Analysis of the policies and constraints limiting the aquaponics industry in PortugalPublication . Mata, F.; Dos Santos, Maria José Palma LampreiaAquaponics is an innovative and potentially sustainable method of producing vegetables and fish, enabling local, inland fish production, and vegetable production without the need for artificial fertilization. With the aim to analyze the potential development of commercial aquaponics in Portugal, a group of Portuguese stakeholders and experts were interviewed to capture their understanding of the challenges faced by the emerging Portuguese aquaponics sector. The paper evaluates and discusses the main issues experienced by stakeholders, proposing solutions to overcome barriers and restrictions. Legal and administrative barriers were identified, and it is recognized that aquaponics requires its own legal and administrative framework. Bureaucracy is duplicated in licensing processes, authorizations for sale, and permits. Exotic fish species, such as tilapia (Tilapia spp.) face legal barriers to their use in aquaculture. The freshwater aquaculture species to consider for integration into aquaponics systems are largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), and eel (Anguilla anguilla). To address barriers to the organic certification of aquaponics products, producers need to collaborate and establish their own certification schemes.
- Analysis of the public policies and constraints limiting the aquaponics industryPublication . Dos-Santos, Maria José Palma Lampreia; Mata, F.Aquaponics is an innovative sustainable method for the simultaneous production of vegetables and fish, enabling localized inland fish farming and vegetable cultivation without the need for artificial fertilizers. To assess the potential development of commercial aquaponics in Europe, a group of European stakeholders and experts were interviewed to analyze their perspectives on the challenges faced by this emerging sector. This paper evaluates and discusses the primary issues encountered by stakeholders, proposing to the public decision makers strategies to address these barriers and constraints. Legal and administrative obstacles in public policies were identified, highlighting the need for a special legal and regulatory framework for aquaponics. Currently, from the European and international public policies bureaucratic inefficiencies, such as duplicated licensing procedures, sales authorizations, and permitting processes, hinder sector growth. Additionally, the use of exotic fish species, such as tilapia (Tilapia spp.), is restricted under existing aquaculture regulations. Alternative freshwater species suitable for integration into aquaponics systems include largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), and eel (Anguilla anguilla). To overcome the legal and public policies barriers to the organic certification of aquaponics products, it is recommended that producers collaborate to develop tailored certification schemes specific to the sector. Indeed, strong investment in advertising and marketing targeting European consumers is needed to foster more favorable attitudes and intentions toward promoting this industry.
- Aquaponics as a sustainable and healthy food production system for PortugalPublication . Mata, F.; Dos Santos, Maria José Palma LampreiaThe aquaponics biological cycle Aquaponics has enormous potential in the regulation and recycling of valuable nutrients, otherwise lost to the environment with pollution potential. Aquaponics integrates freshwater aquaculture and hydroponics in a mini ecosystem. It uses the water of a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) in soilless plant farming. The process includes a biofilter where nitrifying bacteria oxidize ammonia, resulting from fish excreta or uneaten feed, into nitrates and nitrites. While fish are extremely sensitive to ammonia, they are more tolerant to nitrates and nitrites. Nevertheless, these need also to be removed from the fish environment before accumulation to toxic levels. This is where hydroponics may come in as a useful manner of disposing nitrogen off the RAS. Nitrogen is the main macronutrient for plant growth, therefore an indispensable element in fertilization. The advantages of combining a RAS with hydroponics becomes therefore evident as a win-win solution for the problematic nitrates of the RAS and the expensive nitrogen fertilizers of plant production.
- Attitudes of european citizens towards climate change: a gender analysisPublication . Dos Santos, Maria José Palma Lampreia; Mata, F.The present paper analyses attitudes and perceptions regarding climate change (CC) among European citizens, emphasizing their pivotal role in fostering public engagement and endorsement towards the advancement of mitigatory measures and sustainable lifestyles in accordance with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This study delves into the degree of concern among European citizens regarding CC and their inclination towards assuming personal accountability in its alleviation, scrutinizing these facets through the lens of gender attitudes. Utilizing data from the European Social Survey and information on attitudes and perceptions pertaining to CC, the analysis incorporates various variables encompassing socio-economic status, demographics, individual perceptions of societal dynamics, and governmental policies. Employing econometric methodologies, the results confirm that individuals exhibiting trust in scientific authority manifest heightened concerns towards CC. Moreover, those expressing contentment with national governance display augmented levels of concern regarding CC. Gender differentials are also discernible, with females exhibiting greater apprehension towards CC compared to males. Furthermore, advanced age and higher educational attainment correlate with heightened levels of CC concern. Additional findings indicate that females tend to exhibit greater proclivity towards assuming self-responsibility, while individuals harbouring trust in scientific authority evince heightened levels of personal accountability, particularly when content with economic stability and the efficacy of the country's healthcare system. Additionally, older individuals displaying trust in scientific expertise tend to exhibit greater proclivity towards assuming personal responsibility. The findings underscore the imperative of comprehending the gendered ramifications of climate change and advocating for collective endeavours to combat this pervasive global challenge.
- Attitudes towards consumption: the development of an operational scalePublication . Baptista, Nuno; Dos Santos, Maria José Palma Lampreia; Mata, F.; Jesus Silva, Natacha; Matos, NelsonThe western economic development, which allowed the consumer to have access to goods and services in an easy and accessible way, brought the attention of the academia and practitioners for the current mass consumption society and consumption’s role in generating happiness among consumers. However, contradictory to the contemporary way of life, some consumers have established a different current, in which anti-consumption is seen as a way to also achieve well-being, while contributing to the sustainability of the planet. The discontented consumer and the consequent upraising of the activist consumer means that the negative consumers’ attitudes towards consumption and the corporate world need to be addressed. The concept of consumerism comprises the activities of governments, business, and independent organizations to protect and promote consumers’ rights. This rather different approaches from the consumers to the market offer requires better understanding, due to the impacts on marketing practitioner’s policies and actions. (…)
- Attitudes, perceptions, and trends of honey consumption in PortugalPublication . Mata, F.; Dos Santos, Maria José Palma LampreiaThe research aim was to evaluate the Portuguese honey consumers’ profile, their attitudes, perceptions, and trends towards the product, production, and consumption, to allow the development of marketing strategies. With this purpose, a questionnaire was developed in accordance with the Ajzen's Planned Behaviour Theory and was then completed by 784 interviewees to retrieve quantitative and qualitative data. These included demographic, consumption pattern, and behavioural pattern variables collected in a Likert scale. Spearman correlations were performed between ordinal and continuous variables, and chi-squared tests of independency applied to contingency tables between nominal variables. A positive correlation was found between age and frequency of purchasing. Men consume honey more frequently than women. Portuguese honey has a good reputation, and it is preferred in relation to imported honey. The Portuguese consumer is not completely aware of the different floral characteristics of honey, other hive products, and positive externalities associated with beekeeping. By filling the marketing gap identified, production and consumption of honey could be increased in Portugal. Marketing campaigns promoting the health benefits of honey and other hive products, as well as the externalities of beekeeping may be advantageous.
- Attitudinal and behavioural differences towards farm animal welfare among consumers in the BRIC countries and the USAPublication . Mata, F.; Dos Santos, Maria José Palma Lampreia; Cocksedge, JackThis study explores cross-cultural differences in consumers’ attitudes toward farm animal welfare (FAW) in BRIC countries. Questionnaires administered in each country contained the following questions: (i) “It is important to me that animals used for food are well cared for”, (ii) “The typical nationality thinks it is important that animals used for food are well cared for”, (iii) “Low meat prices are more important than the well-being of animals used for food”, and (iv) “The typical nationality thinks that low meat prices are more important than the well-being of animals used for food”. Answers were given on a Likert scale (from total disagreement to total agreement). Data fit multinomial logistic models using “Country” and “Gender” as factors and “Age” as a covariate. The results showed that women had stronger pro-animal attitudes. Statements on the perception of FAW importance had an agreement tendency that increased with age, while the opposite was true for meat prices. Brazil showed the highest levels of individual pro-FAW attitudes, and the same trend in relation to meat prices. Russia showed a slightly lower pro-FAW attitude, but the perception of the compatriots’ attitudes towards FAW showed the opposite. Russians in general disagree with low meat prices in exchange for the detriment of FAW. Indians were the least supportive of FAW and, together with the Chinese, were the least supportive of an increase in meat prices to improve FAW. The Chinese showed prominent levels of neutrality towards FAW. These results may contribute to the definition of food and trade policies and help to adjust the supply chain to consumers’ socio-cultural and economic differences.
- Consumption of honey in Portugal: consumers’ attitudes, perceptions and trendsPublication . Mata, F.; Dos Santos, Maria José Palma LampreiaConsumers’ attitudes about reveal important information about the production and supply chain of food and the commercialisation process (Unnevehr et al., 2010). To fully understand a consumption market, it is important to study the symbolic representations of consumption habits (Bekker et al., 2017). The consumer perceives consumption accordingly to social norms and values, and consumption habits cannot be analyzed as individual phenomena. Choices are under the influence of norms, values, taboos, permissions, prohibitions, and beliefs (Andorfer & Liebe, 2013). The consumers’ attitudes have been considered important determinants of their behaviour. The Ajzen’s Planned Behaviour Theory (APBT) (Ajzen, 1991) is based in the presumption that people behave in a sensible way, consider the information available, and consider the implications of their actions. The theory postulates that a person’s interest to perform or not a certain behaviour is a direct function of individually and socially related variables. The individual component is based in the individual attitude or mood to react favourably or unfavourably to an object, individual, institution, or event (Kim and Hunter, 1993). The social component includes the subjective norms determined by the perception of the social pressures acting on the individual, to perform or not a certain behaviour (Ajzen 1991
- Crowdfunding as entrepreneurial funding for investigative journalism in PortugalPublication . Jesus-SIlva, N.; Dos Santos, Maria José Palma Lampreia; Baptista, Nuno; Mata, F.The 2007 financial and economic subprime crisis arising from the collapse of the Lehman Brothers Bank in the USA had severe impacts on all the economic sectors. Journalism in Portugal was highly affected, and the most remarkable impacts led to editorial budget cuts. These cuts led to a drastic decrease in human resources in newsrooms, leading to a consequent breach of investigative journalism. These aspects resulted in a surge in unemployment for many experienced journalists, a decrease in the quality of information, and the consequent impoverishment and reduction of research journalism, with losses for the entire Portuguese society. Considering this context there is the need to explore alternative sources of funding for research journalism. Crowdfunding has been portrayed as an alternative to traditional models of financing research journalism, capable of generating a new dynamic, to provide for a more skilled and informed society. The main goal of this paper is to analyze crowdfunding as a tool to fund Portuguese investigative journalism. The methods include a narrative literature review on the causes, impacts, and consequences of the decrease in Portuguese investigative journalism and a case study methodology focused on the Portuguese platform of journalism crowdfunding ‘I Fund News’. In addition, qualitative research was applied to analyze the curricula of Portuguese journalism degrees with minors in entrepreneurship, business, and economics. The results show that the number of ECTS courses in entrepreneurship, business, and economics in journalism and communication degrees is very low in the Portuguese higher education sector. A relationship between entrepreneurship, business, economics, and the capacity for journalists to readapt and find the necessary funding sources is established. These results may be of interest to Portuguese police makers and higher education stakeholders, to promote the development of study programs with increased entrepreneurship, business, and economics courses. More literate journalists in the referred subjects may enhance their entrepreneurial potential and, consequently, their freelance potential to develop investigative journalism projects.
- Crowdfunding as entrepreneurial funding for investigative journalism in PortugalPublication . Jesus-SIlva, N.; Dos Santos, Maria José Palma Lampreia; Baptista, Nuno; Mata, F.The 2007 financial and economic subprime crisis arising from the collapse of the Lehman Brothers Bank in the USA had severe impacts on all the economic sectors. Journalism in Portugal was highly affected, and the most remarkable impacts led to editorial budget cuts. These cuts led to a drastic decrease in human resources in newsrooms, leading to a consequent breach of investigative journalism. These aspects resulted in a surge in unemployment for many experienced journalists, a decrease in the quality of information, and the consequent impoverishment and reduction of research journalism, with losses for the entire Portuguese society. Considering this context there is the need to explore alternative sources of funding for research journalism. Crowdfunding has been portrayed as an alternative to traditional models of financing research journalism, capable of generating a new dynamic, to provide for a more skilled and informed society. The main goal of this paper is to analyze crowdfunding as a tool to fund Portuguese investigative journalism. The methods include a narrative literature review on the causes, impacts, and consequences of the decrease in Portuguese investigative journalism and a case study methodology focused on the Portuguese platform of journalism crowdfunding ‘I Fund News’. In addition, qualitative research was applied to analyze the curricula of Portuguese journalism degrees with minors in entrepreneurship, business, and economics. The results show that the number of ECTS courses in entrepreneurship, business, and economics in journalism and communication degrees is very low in the Portuguese higher education sector. A relationship between entrepreneurship, business, economics, and the capacity for journalists to readapt and find the necessary funding sources is established. These results may be of interest to Portuguese police makers and higher education stakeholders, to promote the development of study programs with increased entrepreneurship, business, and economics courses. More literate journalists in the referred subjects may enhance their entrepreneurial potential and, consequently, their freelance potential to develop investigative journalism projects.
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