Pub Date : 2023-04-06DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000055
R. Jordan, A. Sorensen, Steven Gray
Climate change education is of great interest to many in higher education. What is missing, however, is a sense of how students view climate change especially with respect to specific impacts such as changes to food systems. We designed a survey, which focused on climate change, food systems, and GMOs. We administered this survey in a large introductory undergraduate environmental science class and compared responses to demographic information. We found that students were knowledgeable in some areas more than others; especially when considering climate change drivers and mitigating factors. We also found that students were largely concerned about climate change impacts and wanted to understand the socio-environmental solutions that might help to mitigate potential impact. These same students, however, seemed optimistic that solutions could be found and implemented. Finally, while little demographic trends emerged, students who were more knowledgeable in one area (e.g., GMOS) tended to be knowledgeable in other areas.
{"title":"What undergraduate students know and what they want to learn about in climate change education","authors":"R. Jordan, A. Sorensen, Steven Gray","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000055","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change education is of great interest to many in higher education. What is missing, however, is a sense of how students view climate change especially with respect to specific impacts such as changes to food systems. We designed a survey, which focused on climate change, food systems, and GMOs. We administered this survey in a large introductory undergraduate environmental science class and compared responses to demographic information. We found that students were knowledgeable in some areas more than others; especially when considering climate change drivers and mitigating factors. We also found that students were largely concerned about climate change impacts and wanted to understand the socio-environmental solutions that might help to mitigate potential impact. These same students, however, seemed optimistic that solutions could be found and implemented. Finally, while little demographic trends emerged, students who were more knowledgeable in one area (e.g., GMOS) tended to be knowledgeable in other areas.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126381536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-04-03DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000049
N. Gratiot, Jérémie Klein, Marc Challet, O. Dangles, S. Janicot, Miriam Candelas, G. Sarret, G. Panthou, B. Hingray, N. Champollion, J. Montillaud, P. Bellemain, O. Marc, Cédric-Stéphane Bationo, Loïs Monnier, Laure Laffont, M. Foujols, V. Riffault, L. Tinel, E. Mignot, N. Philippon, A. Dezetter, Alexandre Caron, G. Piton, A. Verney-Carron, Anne Delaballe, Nelly Bardet, Florence Nozay-Maurice, Anne-Sophie Loison, F. Delbart, S. Anquetin, F. Immel, C. Baehr, F. Malbet, C. Berni, Laurence Delattre, V. Echevin, Elodie Petitdidier, O. Aumont, F. Michau, Nicolas Bijon, J. Vidal, Sébastien Pinel, Océane Biabiany, C. Grevesse, Louise Mimeau, A. Biarnès, C. Récapet, Morgane Costes-Thiré, M. Poupaud, M. Barret, M. Bonnin, V. Mournetas, B. Tourancheau, Bert A. Goldman, M. Bonnet, Isabelle Michaud Soret
A growing portion of scientists realises the need to not only alert about climate change, but also change their professional practices. A range of tools have emerged to promote more sustainable activities, yet many scientists struggle to go beyond simple awareness-raising to create concrete transition actions. Here we propose a game-based transition support system MaTerre180’, which has been designed to build scenarios of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in the academic community. After providing a common scientific background about the context (global warming issue, its causes and consequences) and setting up a challenge (50% reduction of carbon budget by 2030), the participants belonging to the academic community and its governance bodies immerse themselves into fictional characters, to simulate the behaviour of real research groups. The game has been deployed during the year 2021, with six hundred participants from nine countries and 50 cities. Results explore clear pathways for GHG reductions between 25 and 60%, and a median reduction of 46%. The alternatives allowing the greatest reduction are video communication tools (36%), followed by mutualization of professional activities and voluntary cancellation or reduction, that represent 22 and 14% of reduction, respectively. The remaining 28% of reduction consists of transport alternative, relocation of professional activities, extended duration of some travels, etc. In addition, the analyses pointed out the importance of the guided negotiation phase to bring out some alternatives such as relocation, local partners and computing optimization. An added value of this transition support system is that the information it collects (anonymously) will be used to answer pressing research questions in climate change science and environmental psychology regarding the use of serious games for promoting changes in attitudes and behaviours towards sustainability, and including broader questions on how network structures influence “climate behaviour”, knowledge and the governance of the commons. Modestly, MaTerre180’ offers an innovative game-based transition support system to build scenarios of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in the academic community. It is not simply a question of moving tokens on a virtual gameboard and a playful adjustment of practices, but rather a question of brainstorming about possible and desirable ways of remodelling research and teaching communities and embracing a new paradigm. After tens of workshops, our results show clear pathways for reaching up to 50% GHG reductions and stress the importance of guided negotiations to bring out alternatives to carbonized activities. This first attempt reinforces our belief that scientific engagement is at the heart of the international development agenda and a key approach to tear down the institutional barriers that inhibit the transformation needed to achieve a more sustainable society.
{"title":"A transition support system to build decarbonization scenarios in the academic community","authors":"N. Gratiot, Jérémie Klein, Marc Challet, O. Dangles, S. Janicot, Miriam Candelas, G. Sarret, G. Panthou, B. Hingray, N. Champollion, J. Montillaud, P. Bellemain, O. Marc, Cédric-Stéphane Bationo, Loïs Monnier, Laure Laffont, M. Foujols, V. Riffault, L. Tinel, E. Mignot, N. Philippon, A. Dezetter, Alexandre Caron, G. Piton, A. Verney-Carron, Anne Delaballe, Nelly Bardet, Florence Nozay-Maurice, Anne-Sophie Loison, F. Delbart, S. Anquetin, F. Immel, C. Baehr, F. Malbet, C. Berni, Laurence Delattre, V. Echevin, Elodie Petitdidier, O. Aumont, F. Michau, Nicolas Bijon, J. Vidal, Sébastien Pinel, Océane Biabiany, C. Grevesse, Louise Mimeau, A. Biarnès, C. Récapet, Morgane Costes-Thiré, M. Poupaud, M. Barret, M. Bonnin, V. Mournetas, B. Tourancheau, Bert A. Goldman, M. Bonnet, Isabelle Michaud Soret","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000049","url":null,"abstract":"A growing portion of scientists realises the need to not only alert about climate change, but also change their professional practices. A range of tools have emerged to promote more sustainable activities, yet many scientists struggle to go beyond simple awareness-raising to create concrete transition actions. Here we propose a game-based transition support system MaTerre180’, which has been designed to build scenarios of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in the academic community. After providing a common scientific background about the context (global warming issue, its causes and consequences) and setting up a challenge (50% reduction of carbon budget by 2030), the participants belonging to the academic community and its governance bodies immerse themselves into fictional characters, to simulate the behaviour of real research groups. The game has been deployed during the year 2021, with six hundred participants from nine countries and 50 cities. Results explore clear pathways for GHG reductions between 25 and 60%, and a median reduction of 46%. The alternatives allowing the greatest reduction are video communication tools (36%), followed by mutualization of professional activities and voluntary cancellation or reduction, that represent 22 and 14% of reduction, respectively. The remaining 28% of reduction consists of transport alternative, relocation of professional activities, extended duration of some travels, etc. In addition, the analyses pointed out the importance of the guided negotiation phase to bring out some alternatives such as relocation, local partners and computing optimization. An added value of this transition support system is that the information it collects (anonymously) will be used to answer pressing research questions in climate change science and environmental psychology regarding the use of serious games for promoting changes in attitudes and behaviours towards sustainability, and including broader questions on how network structures influence “climate behaviour”, knowledge and the governance of the commons.\u0000Modestly, MaTerre180’ offers an innovative game-based transition support system to build scenarios of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in the academic community. It is not simply a question of moving tokens on a virtual gameboard and a playful adjustment of practices, but rather a question of brainstorming about possible and desirable ways of remodelling research and teaching communities and embracing a new paradigm. After tens of workshops, our results show clear pathways for reaching up to 50% GHG reductions and stress the importance of guided negotiations to bring out alternatives to carbonized activities. This first attempt reinforces our belief that scientific engagement is at the heart of the international development agenda and a key approach to tear down the institutional barriers that inhibit the transformation needed to achieve a more sustainable society.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123108458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-30DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000056
L. P. Koh
As PLOS Sustainability and Transformation turns one, we reflect on the importance of our mission at a crucial time for sustainability research, where openly available findings and the inclusion of diverse voices has never been more necessary to shape alternative futures. We have a busy second year ahead, as we continue to build a connected community and strive to put leading research in the hands of those able to enact real societal and environmental change. 2022 was an important year for sustainability for many reasons, perhaps most notably because, with the end of 2022, we approach the halfway point for the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline [1]. Now just seven years from 2030, the magnitude of environmental, cultural, political and economic transformations required to bring global communities closer to meeting these goals is brought into stark focus. Ongoing pressures from climate change, global conflicts and economic disruption threaten progress towards the SDGs. These challenges were also the focus of discussion during the 27 Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) and United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) last year. Our ability to reach these goals will be underpinned by the collaborations of researchers, practitioners and policymakers as the research landscape flexes to bring these communities together. The 2022 SDG report highlighted three urgent priorities as ‘a roadmap out of crisis’, all of which will require multifaceted efforts based on strong research to address; (1) ending ongoing conflicts to create a stable state for sustainable development, (2) implementing development pathways that combine clean energy transitions with resilient food systems and thriving economies, and (3) transformations of global economies for equitable recovery for all [2]. Amid these pressing challenges, PLOS Sustainability and Transformation outlined its mission to support decision making for a more sustainable future by publishing catalytic research from a diversity of researchers and policy experts across disciplines, sectors, and geographies [3]. Publishing original research from corresponding authors in 27 countries across our full scope, ranging from changing perceptions of sustainable choices in consumer behavior [4,5] to recommendations for more resilient agricultural practices [6–8], emerging threats to ecosystem services [9,10] and challenges in incorporating transformative innovation into policy practices [11]. We’re incredibly grateful to include so many brilliant minds in support of such a pressing mission. We’ve been excited to continue to build a diverse community of editors, authors and reviewers, and we’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to developing our first volume to share timely original research to drive critical transformation toward a more sustainable future. As facilitating Open Science within the environmental and social sciences remains c
{"title":"Supporting science-based decision-making for a sustainable future","authors":"L. P. Koh","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000056","url":null,"abstract":"As PLOS Sustainability and Transformation turns one, we reflect on the importance of our mission at a crucial time for sustainability research, where openly available findings and the inclusion of diverse voices has never been more necessary to shape alternative futures. We have a busy second year ahead, as we continue to build a connected community and strive to put leading research in the hands of those able to enact real societal and environmental change. 2022 was an important year for sustainability for many reasons, perhaps most notably because, with the end of 2022, we approach the halfway point for the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline [1]. Now just seven years from 2030, the magnitude of environmental, cultural, political and economic transformations required to bring global communities closer to meeting these goals is brought into stark focus. Ongoing pressures from climate change, global conflicts and economic disruption threaten progress towards the SDGs. These challenges were also the focus of discussion during the 27 Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) and United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) last year. Our ability to reach these goals will be underpinned by the collaborations of researchers, practitioners and policymakers as the research landscape flexes to bring these communities together. The 2022 SDG report highlighted three urgent priorities as ‘a roadmap out of crisis’, all of which will require multifaceted efforts based on strong research to address; (1) ending ongoing conflicts to create a stable state for sustainable development, (2) implementing development pathways that combine clean energy transitions with resilient food systems and thriving economies, and (3) transformations of global economies for equitable recovery for all [2]. Amid these pressing challenges, PLOS Sustainability and Transformation outlined its mission to support decision making for a more sustainable future by publishing catalytic research from a diversity of researchers and policy experts across disciplines, sectors, and geographies [3]. Publishing original research from corresponding authors in 27 countries across our full scope, ranging from changing perceptions of sustainable choices in consumer behavior [4,5] to recommendations for more resilient agricultural practices [6–8], emerging threats to ecosystem services [9,10] and challenges in incorporating transformative innovation into policy practices [11]. We’re incredibly grateful to include so many brilliant minds in support of such a pressing mission. We’ve been excited to continue to build a diverse community of editors, authors and reviewers, and we’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to developing our first volume to share timely original research to drive critical transformation toward a more sustainable future. As facilitating Open Science within the environmental and social sciences remains c","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"33 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125200010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-29DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000048
F. DeClerck, E. Barrios, T. Benton, N. Estrada-Carmona, L. Garibaldi, S. Jones, C. Navarrete-Frías, P. Leadley, Awaz Mohamed, D. Obura, R. Remans, P. Verburg, S. Vermeulen, E. Archer
{"title":"Biodiversity, agriculture and sustainable production: GBF Target 10","authors":"F. DeClerck, E. Barrios, T. Benton, N. Estrada-Carmona, L. Garibaldi, S. Jones, C. Navarrete-Frías, P. Leadley, Awaz Mohamed, D. Obura, R. Remans, P. Verburg, S. Vermeulen, E. Archer","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000048","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116861649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-17DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000053
Mihály Dombi, Aldebei Faisal Mohammad Fahid, P. Harazin, Andrea Karcagi-Kováts, Z. Cao
Equitable income distribution is desirable for moral, economic, and social reasons. Recent studies, however, indicate that improved income allocation will result in increased environmental impacts due to our socio-economic system’s current settings. Therefore, we explored the key aspects of a system that can more evenly reallocate natural and economic resources while reducing negative environmental impacts. We found that the capital is extremely important as a means of material flows and stocks. Thus, effective policy interventions should target mechanisms at this very market. Based on a comprehensive literature review and statistical analyses at various levels, we proposed a four-step policy framework that includes 1) reducing and targeted savings, 2) reshaping governments’ spatial decisions and 3) role in the housing market, and 4) changing the rates of depreciation in income tax legislation used globally.
{"title":"Four economic principles of just sustainability transition","authors":"Mihály Dombi, Aldebei Faisal Mohammad Fahid, P. Harazin, Andrea Karcagi-Kováts, Z. Cao","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000053","url":null,"abstract":"Equitable income distribution is desirable for moral, economic, and social reasons. Recent studies, however, indicate that improved income allocation will result in increased environmental impacts due to our socio-economic system’s current settings. Therefore, we explored the key aspects of a system that can more evenly reallocate natural and economic resources while reducing negative environmental impacts. We found that the capital is extremely important as a means of material flows and stocks. Thus, effective policy interventions should target mechanisms at this very market. Based on a comprehensive literature review and statistical analyses at various levels, we proposed a four-step policy framework that includes 1) reducing and targeted savings, 2) reshaping governments’ spatial decisions and 3) role in the housing market, and 4) changing the rates of depreciation in income tax legislation used globally.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"52 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131016710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-14DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000052
Haruna Sekabira, G. Tepa-Yotto, M. Tamò, R. Djouaka, M. Dalaa, O. Damba, Stephen Yeboah, F. Obeng, Richard Asare, T. Abdoulaye, Angella Nazziwa
An ecosystem is inhabited by organisms that rely on it for their livelihoods. For an ecosystem to sustain life, its life-supporting components must be alive to be able to preserve both the ecosystem’s life-supporting components like soil, vegetation, water, etc., and the living organisms inhabiting the ecosystem like humans, birds, domestic, and wild animals, termed as the One-Health concept. This is indispensable for the sustainability of life. Several factors determine the ability of the ecosystem to provide ecosystem services and support life, more so amidst climate change. Hence, climate-smart (CS) One-Health innovations are essential to maintain the integrity of the ecosystem to be able to support life. However, factors that could effectively determine the deployment of such CS One-Health innovations are not well identified. This paper, closes the knowledge gap through a systematic review of literature for a meta-analysis of the socio-economic determinants for the successful deployment of CS One-Health innovations. Using a scoping review methodology, search engines like Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and AgriEcon were explored extensively for literature on CS One-Health innovations. Search results were then screened and only articles that met the inclusion criteria were considered in this study. Subsequently, appropriate articles were identified for data extraction. Results revealed that political will, community participation, knowledge of CS One-Health practices, the willingness of parties to engage in multi-disciplinary collaborative activities, and level of investment (income/funds) were enablers for the deployment of CS One-Health innovations. On the other hand, behavior incompatibility with innovations, policy failure to restrict the use of toxic substances in agriculture, poor community knowledge of CS One-Health innovations, and language barriers between communities and innovators, hindered such deployment. Hence, multiple factors (fostering and hindering) must be addressed in a multi-disciplinary framework to ensure the successful deployment of CS One-Health innovations.
{"title":"Socio-economic determinants for the deployment of Climate-Smart One-Health innovations. A meta-analysis approach prioritizing Ghana and Benin","authors":"Haruna Sekabira, G. Tepa-Yotto, M. Tamò, R. Djouaka, M. Dalaa, O. Damba, Stephen Yeboah, F. Obeng, Richard Asare, T. Abdoulaye, Angella Nazziwa","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000052","url":null,"abstract":"An ecosystem is inhabited by organisms that rely on it for their livelihoods. For an ecosystem to sustain life, its life-supporting components must be alive to be able to preserve both the ecosystem’s life-supporting components like soil, vegetation, water, etc., and the living organisms inhabiting the ecosystem like humans, birds, domestic, and wild animals, termed as the One-Health concept. This is indispensable for the sustainability of life. Several factors determine the ability of the ecosystem to provide ecosystem services and support life, more so amidst climate change. Hence, climate-smart (CS) One-Health innovations are essential to maintain the integrity of the ecosystem to be able to support life. However, factors that could effectively determine the deployment of such CS One-Health innovations are not well identified. This paper, closes the knowledge gap through a systematic review of literature for a meta-analysis of the socio-economic determinants for the successful deployment of CS One-Health innovations. Using a scoping review methodology, search engines like Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and AgriEcon were explored extensively for literature on CS One-Health innovations. Search results were then screened and only articles that met the inclusion criteria were considered in this study. Subsequently, appropriate articles were identified for data extraction. Results revealed that political will, community participation, knowledge of CS One-Health practices, the willingness of parties to engage in multi-disciplinary collaborative activities, and level of investment (income/funds) were enablers for the deployment of CS One-Health innovations. On the other hand, behavior incompatibility with innovations, policy failure to restrict the use of toxic substances in agriculture, poor community knowledge of CS One-Health innovations, and language barriers between communities and innovators, hindered such deployment. Hence, multiple factors (fostering and hindering) must be addressed in a multi-disciplinary framework to ensure the successful deployment of CS One-Health innovations.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114044979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-02-23DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000046
W. Paas, M. Meuwissen, M. V. van Ittersum, P. Reidsma
In the context of resilience and sustainability of farming systems it is important to study the trade-offs and synergies between economic and environmental variables. In this study, we selected food production, economic and environmental performance indicators of farms in three potato producing regions in the Netherlands: Flevoland, Zeeland and Veenkoloniën. We studied the period 2006 to 2019 using farm accountancy data. We used threshold regressions to determine gradual development and year-to-year variation of those indicators. Subsequently we applied a sparse Partial Least Square (sPLS) regression to study the response of performance, gradual development and year-to-year variation under different conditions regarding weather, market and farm structure. sPLS-model performance was at best moderate. Best model performance was attained for Veenkoloniën, a region with relatively little inter-farm variability and relatively stable economic prices. Model results were very sensitive to the selection of response variables. We found that food production, economic and environmental performance levels and gradual developments were primarily determined by input intensity levels. How these performance levels were determined by input intensity, i.e. positively or negatively, differed per case study. Year-to-year variability was determined by average yearly weather conditions and weather extremes. Overall, we conclude that the method applied to the data we had available mostly provided insights that confirm existing knowledge at case study level. sPLS can be seen as a filter and projector of high-dimensional data that accentuates patterns in the data. In the context of resilience of farms, while using a relatively small dataset, the applicability of our methodology seems limited to a rather homogeneous farm population in a stable economic environment. Researchers intending to apply this method to (arable) farming systems should be well aware of the influence they can have on the results through their selection of response variables.
{"title":"Temporal and inter-farm variability of economic and environmental farm performance: A resilience perspective on potato producing regions in the Netherlands","authors":"W. Paas, M. Meuwissen, M. V. van Ittersum, P. Reidsma","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000046","url":null,"abstract":"In the context of resilience and sustainability of farming systems it is important to study the trade-offs and synergies between economic and environmental variables. In this study, we selected food production, economic and environmental performance indicators of farms in three potato producing regions in the Netherlands: Flevoland, Zeeland and Veenkoloniën. We studied the period 2006 to 2019 using farm accountancy data. We used threshold regressions to determine gradual development and year-to-year variation of those indicators. Subsequently we applied a sparse Partial Least Square (sPLS) regression to study the response of performance, gradual development and year-to-year variation under different conditions regarding weather, market and farm structure. sPLS-model performance was at best moderate. Best model performance was attained for Veenkoloniën, a region with relatively little inter-farm variability and relatively stable economic prices. Model results were very sensitive to the selection of response variables. We found that food production, economic and environmental performance levels and gradual developments were primarily determined by input intensity levels. How these performance levels were determined by input intensity, i.e. positively or negatively, differed per case study. Year-to-year variability was determined by average yearly weather conditions and weather extremes. Overall, we conclude that the method applied to the data we had available mostly provided insights that confirm existing knowledge at case study level. sPLS can be seen as a filter and projector of high-dimensional data that accentuates patterns in the data. In the context of resilience of farms, while using a relatively small dataset, the applicability of our methodology seems limited to a rather homogeneous farm population in a stable economic environment. Researchers intending to apply this method to (arable) farming systems should be well aware of the influence they can have on the results through their selection of response variables.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123931350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-02-01DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000042
Scott Spillias, R. Kelly, Richard S. Cottrell, K. O’Brien, R. Im, Ji Yoon Kim, Chuan Lei, Rainbow W. S. Leung, Misako Matsuba, Juliana Albano Reis, Yoichi Sato, K. Sempert, E. McDonald‐Madden
Seaweed farming is widely expected to transform the way we approach sustainable developments, particularly in the context of the ‘Blue Economy’. However, many claims of the social and ecological benefits from seaweed farming have limited or contextually weak empirical grounding. Here we systematically review relevant publications across four languages to form a comprehensive picture of observed—rather than theorised—social and environmental impacts of seaweed farming globally. We show that, while some impacts such as improved water quality and coastal livelihoods are consistently reported, other promulgated benefits vary across cultivation contexts or are empirically unsubstantiated. For some communities, increasing dependence on seaweed farming may improve or worsen the cultural fabric and their vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks. The empirical evidence for the impacts of seaweed farming is also restricted geographically, mainly to East Asia and South-East Asia, and taxonomically. Seaweed farming holds strong potential to contribute to sustainability objectives, but the social and ecological risks associated with scaling up global production remain only superficially understood. These risks require greater attention to ensure just, equitable, and sustainable seaweed industries can be realised.
{"title":"The empirical evidence for the social-ecological impacts of seaweed farming","authors":"Scott Spillias, R. Kelly, Richard S. Cottrell, K. O’Brien, R. Im, Ji Yoon Kim, Chuan Lei, Rainbow W. S. Leung, Misako Matsuba, Juliana Albano Reis, Yoichi Sato, K. Sempert, E. McDonald‐Madden","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000042","url":null,"abstract":"Seaweed farming is widely expected to transform the way we approach sustainable developments, particularly in the context of the ‘Blue Economy’. However, many claims of the social and ecological benefits from seaweed farming have limited or contextually weak empirical grounding. Here we systematically review relevant publications across four languages to form a comprehensive picture of observed—rather than theorised—social and environmental impacts of seaweed farming globally. We show that, while some impacts such as improved water quality and coastal livelihoods are consistently reported, other promulgated benefits vary across cultivation contexts or are empirically unsubstantiated. For some communities, increasing dependence on seaweed farming may improve or worsen the cultural fabric and their vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks. The empirical evidence for the impacts of seaweed farming is also restricted geographically, mainly to East Asia and South-East Asia, and taxonomically. Seaweed farming holds strong potential to contribute to sustainability objectives, but the social and ecological risks associated with scaling up global production remain only superficially understood. These risks require greater attention to ensure just, equitable, and sustainable seaweed industries can be realised.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"60 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125818719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-01-26DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000044
M. Tziva, A. Kalfagianni, S. Negro, M. Hekkert
Markets for plant-based protein products are experiencing unprecedented growth. However, the extent to which the wider diffusion of plant-based protein products is beneficial to human and planetary health is still a contested issue in public discourses. The study of media frames for plant-based protein products can serve as a basis for approaches of technology assessment, which aim to inform actors involved in innovation processes of important aspects of diffusion, including controversy and unexpected risks regarding societal reactions. In this paper, we conduct a frame analysis of three U.K. broadsheet newspapers (the Telegraph, the Guardian, and the Times) between 2010–2020 to explore how media frame plant-based protein products. The results show that overall media coverage for plant-based diets has adopted a positive stance. However, there is variation in how plant-based protein products and particularly meat and dairy substitutes are portrayed. The biggest stumbling block appears to be potentially adverse health implications associated with the consumption of meat and dairy substitutes. We therefore argue that the scope of strategic choices regarding product design should also focus on the development of products more analogous to whole plant-based foods. Moreover, we argue that the long-term resilience of the plant-based protein sector will require strategies that convincingly align with policy goals for food security and broader food system sustainability.
{"title":"Plant-based protein products in the news: Mind the gap between innovation and public discourses","authors":"M. Tziva, A. Kalfagianni, S. Negro, M. Hekkert","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000044","url":null,"abstract":"Markets for plant-based protein products are experiencing unprecedented growth. However, the extent to which the wider diffusion of plant-based protein products is beneficial to human and planetary health is still a contested issue in public discourses. The study of media frames for plant-based protein products can serve as a basis for approaches of technology assessment, which aim to inform actors involved in innovation processes of important aspects of diffusion, including controversy and unexpected risks regarding societal reactions. In this paper, we conduct a frame analysis of three U.K. broadsheet newspapers (the Telegraph, the Guardian, and the Times) between 2010–2020 to explore how media frame plant-based protein products. The results show that overall media coverage for plant-based diets has adopted a positive stance. However, there is variation in how plant-based protein products and particularly meat and dairy substitutes are portrayed. The biggest stumbling block appears to be potentially adverse health implications associated with the consumption of meat and dairy substitutes. We therefore argue that the scope of strategic choices regarding product design should also focus on the development of products more analogous to whole plant-based foods. Moreover, we argue that the long-term resilience of the plant-based protein sector will require strategies that convincingly align with policy goals for food security and broader food system sustainability.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"17 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134182433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-01-12DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000041
D. Obura, A. Agrawal, F. DeClerck, J. Donaldson, L. Dziba, M. Emery, K. Friedman, J. Fromentin, L. Garibaldi, J. Mulongoy, C. Navarrete-Frías, Paola Mosig Reidl, D. Roe, A. Timoshyna
1 Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East Africa, Mombasa, Kenya, 2 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America, 3 Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT of the CGIAR/EAT Forum, Montpellier, France, 4 Independent Biodiversity Consultant; South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa, 5 South African National Parks, Pretoria, South Africa, 6 Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 7 Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway, 8 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, Italy, 9 The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, Crawley, Australia, 10 MARBEC (Univ. Montpellier, Ifremer, IRD, CNRS), Sète, France, 11 Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecologı́a y Desarrollo Rural (UNRNCONICET), Rı́o Negro, Argentina, 12 Institute for Enhanced Livelihoods (IEL), Montreal, Canada, 13 TRAFFIC, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 14 IUCN SSC/CEESP Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 15 International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, United Kingdom
{"title":"Prioritizing sustainable use in the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework","authors":"D. Obura, A. Agrawal, F. DeClerck, J. Donaldson, L. Dziba, M. Emery, K. Friedman, J. Fromentin, L. Garibaldi, J. Mulongoy, C. Navarrete-Frías, Paola Mosig Reidl, D. Roe, A. Timoshyna","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000041","url":null,"abstract":"1 Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East Africa, Mombasa, Kenya, 2 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America, 3 Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT of the CGIAR/EAT Forum, Montpellier, France, 4 Independent Biodiversity Consultant; South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa, 5 South African National Parks, Pretoria, South Africa, 6 Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 7 Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway, 8 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, Italy, 9 The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, Crawley, Australia, 10 MARBEC (Univ. Montpellier, Ifremer, IRD, CNRS), Sète, France, 11 Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecologı́a y Desarrollo Rural (UNRNCONICET), Rı́o Negro, Argentina, 12 Institute for Enhanced Livelihoods (IEL), Montreal, Canada, 13 TRAFFIC, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 14 IUCN SSC/CEESP Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 15 International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, United Kingdom","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"51 5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122422380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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