Towards sustainable agroforestry management: Harnessing the nutritional soil value through cocoa mix waste.

Climate change and environmental degradation have contributed in compromising the soil nutrient integrity of cocoa farmlands, yet sustainable nutrient recycling innovation in cocoa waste management has received less research attention. Utilizing experimentation methodology in an agroforestry system composed of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) and a Nitrogen-fixing Gliricidia sepium (Jacq. Kunth ex Walp.), the study examines how the soil nutritional level of farmland can be enhanced. The study confirms the proposition that the rate of decomposition and nutrients release from an innovative mixed waste sample (60% cocoa waste and 40% gliricidia waste in this case) is significantly higher in comparison with the traditional cocoa waste only sample. The results further established that innovative mixed waste sample had a faster decomposition rate (no biomass left at 216 days after laying) as compared to traditional cocoa waste which fully decomposed at 277 days after laying. A difference of 51 days after laying justifies the waste mixture decomposition as a sustainable nutrient recycling innovation within cocoa agroforestry waste management context. These results have implications for agroforestry waste management, soil nutrient recycling and cocoa industry performance.

Understanding satisfaction essentials of E-learning in higher education: A multi-generational cohort perspective.

Despite the increasingly critical role of e-learning in higher education, there is limited understanding of the satisfaction essentials of multi-generational students' cohorts undertaking online courses. In this study, we examine the perceived value of educational experiences of multi-generational students' cohorts studying via an online learning management system (Moodle). The study analysed survey responses from multi-generational students (N = 611) on a core subject in an undergraduate business school programme. The results show that Generations X, Y and Z students produce different students' satisfaction levels in distinct components of the online programme; namely, course design, course delivery, course delivery environment and preference of the mode of delivery. Generations cohorts account for remarkable effects in the total satisfaction of students on the online learning programme. The results suggest that contextualising online teaching based on multi-generational students' cohort composition could be one strategy to enhance student learning experience and satisfaction.

Stakeholder Collaboration in Climate-Smart Agricultural Production Innovations: Insights from the Cocoa Industry in Ghana.

Although collaboration is vital in addressing global environmental sustainability challenges, research understanding on stakeholder engagement in climate-smart production innovation adoption and implementation, remains limited. In this paper, we advance knowledge about stakeholder collaboration by examining the roles played by stakeholders in scaling-up ecological sustainability innovations. Using the illustrative context and case of green cocoa industry in Ghana, the analysis identified three distinctive phases of stakeholder engagement in ecological sustainability innovations implemented from 1960 to 2017. We highlight defining periods of ecological challenges encompassing the production recovery sustainability initiative phase solely driven by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD)-a governmental body responsible for production, processing and marketing of cocoa, coffee and sheanut. During the period, major initiatives were driven by non-governmental organisations in collaboration with COCOBOD to implement the climate-smart agriculture scheme in the cocoa sector. The findings have implications for cocoa production research and stakeholder collaboration in environmental innovations adoption.

Understanding the role of environmental quality attributes in food-related rural enterprise competitiveness.

This paper examines the role of environmental quality attributes in food-related rural enterprise competitiveness in Denmark, using qualitative interviews. The results of the analysis demonstrate that in the quest to minimize small-market and location limitations, food-related rural enterprises are increasingly offering products with labels such as 'quality', 'green', or 'ethical' and 'sustainability' to justify high premiums for their products. Thus, environmental quality attributes are becoming prevalent and important business strategy for rural food-related enterprises in the selected communities. The results also establish that undertaking sustainable activities has been influenced by institutional policies that reward environmental conservation with subsidies and other resources. These findings contribute to our understanding of the growing relevance of environmental quality attributes in food-related rural enterprise performance.

The relationship between unhealthy food sales, socio-economic deprivation and childhood weight status: results of a cross-sectional study in England.

BACKGROUND: Recent increases in obesity prevalence have led to research into the neighbourhood food environment. Research suggests that proximity and density of food outlets around the home is associated with childhood obesity prevalence, however, the evidence is inconclusive, and associations between food outlet locations and diet are less clear. The purpose of this study is to assess area level associations between sales of unhealthy foods in supermarkets and weight status of children. METHODS: This study examined the association between weight status in children (4-5 year olds and 10-11 year olds) measured in the National Child Measurement Programme over three time points (2008/9, 2009/10, 2010/11) and annual sales of unhealthy foods (2012/3), as identified from a large supermarket chain. Geographical analysis was conducted to link store-based food sales for 537 stores with 6517 UK Census Areas. Unadjusted associations were examined with error-bar plots and linear regression was used to examine the relationship between the prevalence of overweight and obesity and sales of unhealthy food, while controlling for covariates known to predict weight status in children. RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was identified between the sales of unhealthy foods and the prevalence of overweight and obese children in both age groups (p < 0.01). Of the covariates, area deprivation was positively associated with weight status (p < 0.001). Non-white population (%) was negatively associated (p < 0.001) with overweight and obesity among Reception children, but positively associated with the other weight statuses (p < 0.001). A higher proportion of children in the same age group were associated with statistically significantly lower overweight and obesity prevalence in Reception (p <0.01) but not Year 6 children. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides novel findings linking supermarket food sales with the weight status of children. Food sales in geographically referenced supermarkets are a valuable source of data for research into the factors that influence the weight of the surrounding population. Future research could identify factors that might modify food shopping in supermarkets and use of purchasing data could be an effective way to measure the impact of healthy eating campaigns on the weight status of children over time.