bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Need for Cultivation of Medicinal Plants in Southern Africa
Authors: Jäger Anna K. , van Staden Johannes
Published: September 2010

Traditional medicine is an important part of healthcare in southern Africa. Most drugs are prepared from plants, all of which are collected from the wild. This has led to a large number of medicinal plants coming under severe threat and sustainable harvest is no longer a viable option. Therefore, a new strategy for developing these medicinal plants as commercial crops is needed. This could be both as an alternative crop for larger, commercial farms and for the small-scale farmer. Cultivation data need to be linked with pharmacological assessments of the crop during the development of protocols.
Comparative Practices of EU and ASEAN Firms in Technology-Based Interactions with Universities
Authors: Yap Chee Meng , Chou Siaw Kiang , Thybussek Ingo , Gocht Werner , Pozzolo Vincenzo
Published: September 2010

A survey of 28 firms in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and 18 firms in the European Union (EU) concerning university–industry collaboration provides some interesting observations. Enterprises in the two regions employ different structures for managing technology. EU firms use a greater number of and more diverse types of technology sources than ASEAN firms. This difference extends to the university services used. The motives for collaboration with universities also vary across the two regions. The only similarity among firms in both regions is their dissatisfaction with their working relationships with universities.
Contemporary Development of Research Cooperation in University — Industry Relations in Japan
Authors: Baba Masateru , Kamibeppu Takao
Published: September 2010

This paper reveals how cooperation between universities and industry in Japan has developed and what issues have been faced in the development of this relationship. Both sides agree that a positive and constructive relationship between universities and industry is vital because any nation that does not have the support of institutions of higher learning cannot sustain itself, and, similarly, healthy higher education institutions cannot sustain themselves without solid economic foundations. University–industry cooperation has only recently begun in Japan, and it includes joint research, commissioned research, exchange of researchers, acceptance of research funding, among other things. The two major resources for research are people (intellectual resources) and money (funding). The efficiency of research results depends on how effective a balance is achieved between the distribution of these two resources. The exchange of intellectual resources effects the transfer of research results from universities to industry. Various devices for promoting cooperation also have an impact on university finances. As a result of these mechanisms, issues such as intellectual property rights and the diversification of university finances at national universities in particular will have to be addressed.
Assessing the Economic Impacts of University R&D and Identifying Roles for Technology Transfer Officers
Authors: Link Albert N.
Published: September 2010

The increasing role that universities are playing in supporting national technological infrastructure and the increasing attention that governments are paying towards fiscal responsibility combine to underscore the importance for universities of demonstrating to their stakeholders the impacts of their R&D activities. This paper sets forth guidelines for assessing the economic impacts of university R&D and identifies what may become the roles and responsibilities of technology transfer officers in the assessment process.
Skills Gaps and Overflows?
Authors: Manninen Jyri , Hobrough John
Published: September 2010

This paper describes the kinds of skills that employers, especially from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expect from a graduate and the skills that university graduates think they have when they are looking for a job. The paper is based on a comparative analysis of (a) SMEs and graduates and (b) different countries within the European Union. The analysis refers to a conceptual model proposed by Reijo Väärälä and traces the differences within selected countries (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, and the UK) against a ‘European norm’. The analysis provides a comparison of possible differences between skills and expectations in selected European states and describes some interesting differences between countries. It suggests that there is a spectrum of skills which reflect different working patterns within the target countries, ranging from the modern use of ‘soft skills’ in the UK and Denmark to the more vocationally orientated skills in Finland, with Germany and Ireland somewhere between these alternatives.
The Assessment of Entrepreneurship Education
Authors: Falkäng Joakim , Alberti Fernando
Published: September 2010

The past twenty years have witnessed an enormous growth in the number of entrepreneurship courses at different educational levels. Nevertheless, there is still little uniformity in content and approach among courses and the research on entrepreneurship education remains sparse. So far, it has addressed topics such as course contents, pedagogical techniques, audience characteristics, teaching objectives, intended results, and so on. There is a need for much more research on methodologies for measuring entrepreneurship education effectiveness. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to reflect upon the development of a general conceptual framework for assessing entrepreneurship education.
Enhancing Learning by Working
Authors: McKee William A.
Published: September 2010

It has been noted that nominally ‘full-time’ degree programmes are being undertaken by students who are also choosing to take concurrent employment, often with such a quantity of hours that their job should also be described as full-time. This tendency is generally regarded as a ‘problem’, which implies damage to students' academic efforts. This paper looks at the reasons behind the trend and discusses a range of mechanisms that can not only alleviate problems caused, but may in fact produce a positive outcome for students, staff, and prospective employers.
Where Do the Leads for Licences Come From?
Authors: Jansen Christina , Dillon Harrison F.
Published: September 2010

Knowing where licence and option leads come from can optimize the productivity in university technology transfer offices. This article presents the sources of over 1,100 leads for licences and options from six different institutions: the University of Florida; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; the Oregon Health Sciences University; Tulane University; and the University of Utah. Data from each of the six offices confirm the authors' suspicions that the majority of the leads come from inventors. The methodology used to gather the data is also described.
Disparities in Perceptions of Generic Skills: Academics and Employers
Authors: Leveson Lynne
Published: September 2010

A recent report in the ‘Monitor’ section of Industry and Higher Education, which referred to the disagreement between industry and academic leaders on key issues in education as a ‘cultural gulf’, prompted reflection on the widespread perception of the inadequacy of educational systems to develop in their graduates skills appropriate for the workforce. It is argued in this paper, from the perspective of an academic teaching accounting and communications, that these perceptions are based, in part, on the language commonly used to describe competency-based education. Language issues plus the distinct cultural differences between education and work, contribute to a disparity between educational objectives on the one hand and employer expectations on the other.
University—Industry Cooperation: A Framework of Benefits and Obstacles
Authors: Valentín Eva María Mora
Published: September 2010

Although university–industry collaboration has existed for a long time, activity has increased significantly over the past decade. Now, both higher education and industry are experiencing cultural change, and cooperation between the sectors is considered a social responsibility. If there is no longer a need to argue the importance of university–industry links, it is nevertheless necessary to examine in depth how they may be strengthened and improved, and how the various obstacles to further cooperation may be overcome. This article, first, assesses the benefits that arise from university–industry interaction. It then analyses the obstacles to university–firm cooperation and examines ways to overcome them.
Continuing Education and the Role of Universities
Authors: Parellada Martí , Sanromà Esteve
Published: September 2010

In most countries universities, without doubt, are the institutions with the greatest training and research capacity. Thus it seems illogical that universities do not play a central role in the provision of continuing education – all the more so when this kind of education is increasingly important in society. This article sets out the main results of surveys carried out in Spain and Belgium, and analyses the reasons why companies in Europe still make only limited use of universities to meet their training needs. It also analyses the reasons why universities have not fully incorporated continuing education into their operations, as one of their main societal goals.
Nurturing and Sustaining Entrepreneurship
Authors: Mitra Jay
Published: September 2010

This article is the second of two dedicated to the nature and scope of university–industry interaction in Australia. The first article, published in the October 1999 issue of Industry and Higher Education, was concerned with overall strategies, policies and instruments facilitating innovation and technology-based entrepreneurship, especially through the development of science and technology parks (STPs). STPs continue to remain the focus of this article as it is based on the findings of the same study mission to Australia that informed the first article. However, specific attention is given here to the features of particular university or science park based entrepreneurial activities, especially as they serve to promote innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises located on the STPs. While the descriptive scope of the article is general in nature, the objective is to examine individual schemes and projects that have been developed to foster better university–industry interaction, and SME growth and development, especially entrepreneurial good practice.
Evaluating Online Work-Based Education for Managers in SMEs
Authors: Oberski Iddo , Palomar Armando , Noya Carla , Ruggiero Ettore , Herrera Francisco , Korhonen Kirsi , Osborne Mike , Davies Pat
Published: September 2010

ELISC (European Learning in Smaller Companies) is a Leonardo da Vinci pilot project funded by the European Commission with the aim of evaluating the extent to which online delivery of course material is effective in supporting the work-based learning process of managers in small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in Finland, Italy, Spain and Scotland. The authors'conclusions from this small pilot study are that online course delivery to SME staff may be effective only if the educational provider and the SME establish an intensive collaborative working relationship, in which learners in the SME receive strong support both from within their company and from the educational provider.
The Impact of Research on Manufacturing SMEs
Authors: Nelder Geoff , Childe Stephen , Willcock John
Published: September 2010

This paper addresses the work of the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) research community as presented at a series of three UK conferences on Stimulating Manufacturing Excellence in SMEs. An important difficulty that emerges is the problem of the translation of research outputs and business advice into formats that are attractive to SMEs. This is briefly illustrated through the differing perceptions of the business scenario as seen by the SME owner/manager and an external change-agent, condensed into five parameters. The role of policy makers and change-agents and their need for high-quality research are examined, leading to a discussion of the contributions to be expected from, and therefore the implications for, the research community. From this, recommendations are developed for the future direction of SME research.
Enabling Continuous Improvement of New Product Development Processes
Authors: Caffyn Sarah , Grantham Andrew
Published: September 2010

This paper reports on the first phase of ongoing research into ‘enablers' of continuous improvement (CI) within new product development (NPD) processes. In order to increase the relevance of work carried out during the second phase of the project, which involves implementing enablers in two firms, a wider group of practitioners was consulted to discover which aspects of CI within NPD were of most interest to their organizations and to identify their weaknesses in this area. Data from seven companies show that major deficiencies in all the firms are the absence of a strategic approach to the development of CI, and the failure to capture, share and deploy learning that is taking place. These shortcomings are particularly significant for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can ill afford to keep ‘reinventing the wheel’ or to risk wasting resources by failing to create a CI system that is sustainable in the long term.
A Decision Support System for the Initiation of Technological Innovation in Small Manufacturing Enterprises
Authors: Azadivar Farhad , Xue Yan , Ordoobadi Sharon
Published: September 2010

Most large enterprises have departments that are themselves solely responsible for research and development targeted at technological innovations in new products and processes. Smaller manufacturers, however, often do not have a formal process established. Management of technological innovation in these companies is either non-existent or is undertaken by a single authority, often the owner. To assist in this process, through interviews, focus group discussions and site visits with small manufacturing firms, a large set of cases on technological innovation activities that were or were not successful was collected and organized in a knowledge base. It was realized that factors involved in even attempting an innovation were so complicated that success depended mostly on the intuition and experience of the decision maker. The tool described in this paper is a Similarity Based Reasoning (SBR) methodology that attempts to transfer this intuition from those who have it to those who do not.
The Manufacturing Learning Center
Authors: Azadivar Farhad , Tucker Jeff
Published: September 2010

This paper describes the contributions of Kansas State University's Manufacturing Learning Center (MLC) to small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. The Center is modelled after the teaching hospital concept. It consists of a full-service manufacturing plant staffed by experienced engineers and engineering interns. The interns, mostly undergraduate students from engineering disciplines but also from the business school, spend part of their last two years in the college working on MLC projects. Small and medium-sized enterprises bring their product and process development projects to the Center, where interdisciplinary teams of interns, engineering staff and some faculty members develop them from concept to actual design, prototyping and production. These are then implemented in clients'companies. Through this programme, while companies are assisted with their technical projects, students graduate with an experience level well above their peers and this helps them to be productive immediately.
Artificial Insemination Breeds Sterile Technology
Authors: Brace Gordon , James-Moore Michael , Broughton Trevor , Raja Vinesh
Published: September 2010

This paper contends that ‘technology transfer’ cannot be achieved by straightforward sale and purchase transactions. While any given technology may be describable in abstract terms, its effective use depends upon understanding and motivation in individuals. Achieving this harmony between theory and practice is a subtle process, most easily realized by prolonged interaction between donors and recipients, during which the two parties often change roles. The UK's government-sponsored TCS (formerly known as the ‘Teaching Company Scheme’) is an effective means of bringing about this intercourse, as is the ‘Intermediate Institute’ approach of the Warwick Manufacturing Group's academic–industry partnership.
Clusters and Co-Laboratories
Authors: Cullen Joe
Published: September 2010

This paper looks at how small companies develop their knowledge asset base through ‘organizational learning’, and particularly through the development of cooperative linkages via ‘knowledge clusters’. Against this background, the author discusses the processes involved in organizational learning within industrial clusters. In the light of this discussion, he then offers a brief appraisal of the prospects for promoting collaborative learning through the use of ‘Information Society Technologies’. The paper draws on the results of two major pan-European projects – DELOS and COMPETE – both funded under the European Commission's ‘Targeted Socio-Economic Research Programme’. On the basis of the results of these projects, the author provides a typology of knowledge clusters and speculates on how information and communication technologies can promote collaborative learning in industrial clusters.
Impact of the Environment on Holiday Destination Choices of Prospective UK Tourists: Implications for Tropical North Queensland
Authors: Huybers Twan , Bennett Jeff
Published: September 2010

In this article, the findings of a choice modelling study of prospective tourists from the UK are reported. The study is focused on the relative importance of the natural environment on the choices made by prospective UK tourists regarding their overseas holiday destination. The study data are used to analyse the impacts on destination choices of changes in a range of features that describe the holiday locations included in the study. The willingness to pay for changes in the condition of the natural environment – and other destination features – is estimated. The study findings are relevant to the development of the competitive strategy of the nature-based holiday destination of Tropical North Queensland.
Use of Intervention Models to Assess the Effects of the EU Presidency on Revenues from International Tourism
Authors: Smeral E. , Wüger M.
Published: September 2010

A key factor in evaluating the economic benefits generated by an EU presidency is the revenue obtained from international tourism. The analytical problem can be solved by the application of heuristic approaches, which relate revenues from international tourist travel during the six-month presidency to an adequately chosen average or trend; or by using intervention models which are able to deal with the complex problem. The present study concentrates mainly on the second approach, using Austria as a case in point. The estimates found that the EU presidency had raised foreign currency revenues in Austria by about 3½% in the second half of 1998.
Impact of Food-Borne Illness on Food Safety Concerns of International Air Travellers
Authors: MacLaurin Tanya L. , MacLaurin Donald J. , Loi Loi Soh
Published: September 2010

This study examines international air travellers' attitudes and perceptions of the importance of food safety, sources of information on food safety, and the value of a global grading system for food service establishments. A survey questionnaire was used to gather data from travellers at Changi International Airport, Singapore. Results indicated an increase in the reported incidence of food-borne illness occurring with increased frequency of travel. Friends who had travelled to the destination were considered the best source of food safety information. Travel plans were altered out of concern about food safety and the food safety reputation of the destination. Eighty per cent of respondents stated that they would benefit from a standardized food safety grading system for the world's eating establishments.
Marketing through Frequent Flyer Programmes: The Example of China Airlines
Authors: Liu Abby , Wall Geoffrey , Westlake John
Published: September 2010

Many recent studies document that, although frequent flyer programmes (FFPs) appear to be an excellent example of relationship marketing designed to build customer loyalty, frequent flyer miles rarely act as a primary reason for choosing one carrier over another. A case study of China Airlines (CAL) was undertaken to understand how FFPs have become an integral part of airline marketing and to examine the reasons why airlines have been using FFPs despite research results that indicate their ineffectiveness. The findings of this study indicate that FFPs are shown to be a significant and effective marketing technique in the airline industry with positive implications for the financial performance of both the carriers involved and their partners. The study also reveals the different dimensions and the complex nature of FFPs, including issues related to market mix, market share and regulations.
The Bus Touring Problem: Cluster — First, Route — Second Heuristic
Authors: Deitch Ray , Ladany Shaul P.
Published: September 2010

The Bus Touring Problem (BTP) objective is to maximize the total attractiveness of the tour by selecting a subset of sites to be visited and scenic routes to be travelled – both having associated non-negative attractiveness values – given the geographical frame considerations, constraints on touring time, cost and/or total distance. Real-life large-scale BTPs can be modelled, but practically they are not solvable, being NP-complete. Thus effective heuristic methods have been developed, aimed at generating a fast near-optimal BTP solution. Unfortunately, there are specific cases in which these existing heuristics may either consume a considerable amount of time or produce poor results when solving large-sized touring problems. This paper presents a radically new approach to cope practically with real-life large-scale Bus Touring Problems: a new heuristic based on clustering first, then routing. The results of a real-life touring problem are presented.
The Impacts of Tourism on a Rural Retail Sector: A New Zealand Case Study
Authors: Dudding Vicky , Ryan Chris
Published: September 2010

This paper details a study undertaken in the Coromandel region of New Zealand. The purpose of the research was twofold: first, to determine what effect tourism has on the turnover of the retailers in the Coromandel, and second, to identify how tourism affects employment by retailers in the region. More specifically the objectives of this investigation were: (a) to ascertain the views of local retailers on the effect tourism has on their businesses; (b) to calculate what proportion of every tourist dollar spent in the Coromandel region is spent in the retail sector; (c) to calculate what proportion of total turnover of the retailers in the Coromandel is attributed to tourism spending; and (d) to determine how tourism affects employment patterns in the retail sector. Where possible, these effects were assessed by both sub-region and different retail type. The authors describe the various methods available for analysing data to achieve the study objectives and explain the reasons for their choices. They then outline the methodology of the surveys and present key results. Finally, they discuss in detail what the case study indicates about the relationship between tourism and the retail sector of a tourism destination.
Assessing the Effects of Information Asymmetry in Tourism Destinations
Authors: Crase Lin , Jackson Julie
Published: September 2010

A component of efficient market prices is symmetry of information between market participants. More specifically, information asymmetry has the potential to bestow market power on the holder of superior information and permit the charging of monopoly prices. This paper develops a method for assessing the impact of information asymmetry on pricing behaviour in markets in which there is a seasonal influx of tourists. It also presents the results of a study which applies the method in an Australian tourism destination and tests the extent to which the proportion of uninformed tourists can create price dispersions in this location. In addition to testing the hypothesis of two equilibrium prices, the data were also used to investigate collusive pricing behaviour. Limitations of the method are identified to inform future studies in other locations.
A Work Measurement Application for Hotel Housekeeping Management
Authors: Mehrez Abraham , Israeli Aviad A. , Hadad Yosef
Published: September 2010

Motion and time studies are an important component in Taylor's Scientific Management Approach. Time studies are extensively used in production industries, and they have also been used recently in service industries. Nevertheless, only a few applications of motion and time studies exist in the hospitality industry. This paper focuses on the challenges involved in applying motion and time studies to a hotel-room cleaning department. The second part of the paper employs stochastic process analysis for determining the steady-state probabilities of room status and, using the time standards from the first part, approximates labour requirements for effective room cleaning. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the applicability of time studies for hotels and with suggestions for future research.
Second Thoughts on the Entrepreneurial Myth
Authors: Omid  , Nodoushani Patricia A.
Published: September 2010

Conventional wisdom often reduces entrepreneurship to the art of small business by formulating an ideological spirit rather than a scientific foundation for the field. Debunking the entrepreneurial myth, the focus must be on the political ideology behind the entrepreneurial explosion of the 1980s. Acting as the ideology of business avant-gardism, the entrepreneurial myth has become the context within which conventional wisdom about entrepreneurship has been influenced.
The Production of Prestige
Authors: Anderson Alistair R. , Jack Sarah L.
Published: September 2010

The social context plays a role in entrepreneurial activity: it shapes perceptions, evaluations and the recognition of opportunity. But one aspect of context is relationships, where it has been found that the search for status provides a stimulus that not only promotes businesses, but affects how they are run. An ethnographic approach was used to examine the activities of 60 rural entrepreneurs in the UK, and six cases are presented to demonstrate the operation of the production of prestige. Conspicuous production provides a heuristic explanatory variable of process and outcome, and enriches our understanding of the entrepreneurial process.
The Entrepreneur and the Bureaucrat … or Vice Versa
Authors: Sands Mike
Published: September 2010

In Notes from the Front, practising entrepreneurs offer personal perspectives on significant issues in light of their own business experience. This issue's author, Mike Sands, is founder and Managing Director of the Durham Associates Group of companies based in the UK. He is 49 and has an MBA from Durham University Business School. Before forming Durham Associates 10 years ago, he was involved in an electronics start-up company that was successfully sold after four years. His current company generates about half of its income from design work, particularly from what is known as ‘new media’, and half from the delivery of postgraduate university management programmes in the UK and overseas. The company has grown from 2 people to 38 and currently has a turnover approaching £3 million.
Entrepreneurship and Organization
Authors: Minkes A. L. , Foxall G. R.
Published: September 2010

This paper is concerned with entrepreneurship in the large and complex corporation: it argues that this should be seen as a management process in the formulation of strategic decisions and in the creation of organizational structure through which decisions are made effective. The entrepreneurial function is seen as being diffused throughout the large organization, so that there is an entrepreneurial aspect to the task of managers: this has significant implications for the practical development of managers and organizational design. In this position paper, the authors bring together ideas from several years' work in which they have explored, theoretically and empirically, the nature of entrepreneurship in large businesses.
Does Entrepreneurship Require Creative Thinking?
Authors: Green Andy
Published: September 2010

In Notes from the Front, practising entrepreneurs offer personal perspectives on significant issues in the light of their own business experience. This issue's author, Andy Green runs his own public relations (PR) and marketing consultancy based in Wakefield, Yorkshire, UK. A former chairman of the Yorkshire Group of the Institute of Public Relations, Andy has been involved in PR since he left Swansea University in 1981. His career has spanned local government, utilities and the private sector, prior to establishing his own business seven years ago. In recent years he has diversified into consultancy in creativity. He has won numerous professional awards for this new line of work and now runs courses for the Institute of Public Relations and for many leading consultancies and organizations. He is the author of ‘Creativity in Public Relations', a book in the ‘PR in Practice Series’, published by Kogan Page in association with the Institute of Public Relations (IPR). In this article he reflects on his development of creativity as a concept and as a product, and also on the relationship between entrepreneurship and creative thinking.
Entrepreneurship and the Public Sector
Authors: Llewellyn Nick , Lawton Alan , Edwards Charles , Jones Geoff
Published: September 2010

This paper reports key findings from a series of structured public sector practitioner panel seminars, convened at the Open University Business School (OUBS) as part of a three-year study assessing the meaning and significance of entrepreneurship for the practice of public management. The seminars were structured around issues emerging from a detailed literature review. Reflecting the structure of the seminars, findings are presented around four themes: (a) the meaning of entrepreneurship as applied to public services; (b) the impact of entrepreneurial behaviour on traditional public service values; (c) contingencies that relate to entrepreneurial public management; and (d) outcomes of entrepreneurship. In the initial section of the paper traditional theories of the entrepreneur are contrasted with the way in which entrepreneurship has recently been linked to social, rather than individual goals. Methodology is then discussed, exploring the way in which field notes were generated and analysed. Key outcomes are then presented. The research reveals a balance between entrepreneurial behaviour and bureaucratic accountability, and a concern that public services, rather than individual goals are achieved. Entrepreneurial behaviour is found to exist across the public services, but it is recognized that there may be a core of activities that do not lend themselves to entrepreneurial behaviour. In the discussion section a number of implications emerging from the research are presented.
The Sustainable Development of Local Agri-Food SMEs and the Improvement of the Welsh Farming Environment
Authors: Sparkes Adrian , Thomas Brychan
Published: September 2010

Welsh farmers, their surrounding communities and the downstream agri-food producers are suffering their worst fall in incomes since the 1930s and their future prospects appear discouraging. Environmental changes have forced a major re-evaluation of agri-food assistance measures devised by policy makers, local and regional government, and the National Assembly of Wales, to be implemented through their agencies. This paper reports on possible innovative and sustainable solutions to current Welsh agri-food problems, which will be economically, environmentally and socially complementary. The paper will consider mechanisms to provide solutions to the sustainable development of local agri-food small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) including community and education projects (through valley-wide agri-food regeneration strategies), technology transfer education policy linking colleges to agri-food SMEs, and support to help agri-food SMEs develop Websites. Such solutions may also involve the promotion of good practice among farmers and agri-food producers, diversification in terms of processing alternative farm produce, and the use of the Internet to market Welsh speciality foods. The paper concludes by arguing for the adoption of appropriate benchmarking standards applicable to those areas requiring assistance to provide economic, environmental and socially relevant solutions.
Genomics and Post-Genomics Research in the European Research Area
Authors: Zabeau Marc
Published: September 2010

The European Research Area (ERA) provides a unique framework for organizing and structuring agricultural genomics and post-genomics research in Europe. The principal features of this novel trend in biological research are high technological sophistication and multidisciplinarity. The successful development of this research activity requires a high degree of focus as regards the research effort and international cooperation and coordination, which can only be achieved by combining national competencies through the development of high-throughput facilities and laboratories, bioinformatics infrastructure and a network of centres of excellence throughout Europe.
Agricultural Research in the USA: A Model for the European Commission?
Authors: Knipling Edward B.
Published: September 2010

The concept of a common ‘Area’ for agricultural and food research among European nations is a topic that is both challenging and timely. The European Commission should be applauded for addressing the many complex issues associated with this concept as it strives to develop science and technology programmes, policies and investment strategies for the twenty-first century. The USA faces, in varying degrees, the same social, economic and technological forces that confront Europe. Political and funding changes, the role of farmers, and the direction and rising costs of agricultural research are common to both. Like the USA, Europe has a large number of research institutions spread across a large geographic area, many of which may be addressing similar research objectives. With these similarities in mind, the experiences, organizational structures and programme coordination mechanisms used by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) might serve as a model for the European Commission's future strategies. As a minimum, the Commission could benefit from adopting three essential elements of ARS's success: a common programme framework, a centralized facilitating or coordinating body, and a planning partnership between both scientists and stakeholders.
The Sustainable Agriculture Farming System Project in California's Sacramento Valley
Authors: Poudel Durga D. , Ferris Howard , Klonsky Karen , Horwath William R. , Scow Kate M. , van Bruggen Ariena H.C. , Lanini W. Thomas , Mitchell Jeffrey P. , Temple Steven R.
Published: September 2010

The Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems project (SAFS) was established in 1988 to study the transition from conventional to low-input and organic crop production practices. The project includes four-year crop rotations under conventional (conv-4), low-input, and organic management and a conventionally managed, two-year rotation (conv-2). Positive effects on soil quality resulting from low-input and organic management include increased soil organic matter, a reduction in soil-borne diseases, increased pools of P and K, higher microbial biomass and activity, an increase in mobile humic acids and increased water infiltration rates and soil water-holding capacity. Pesticide use in the low-input cropping system is about 25% of that used in the conventional systems. The most profitable farming system continues to be the conv-2 system due to the greater frequency of tomato in that rotation. Among the four-year rotations, the organic system, in which the produce commands premium prices, is the most profitable, although least profitable if premium prices are not applied. Information generated from SAFS research has been disseminated via videotape, workshops, annual field days, field tours, educational materials, peer-reviewed articles and an Internet homepage. Future challenges for the SAFS project include development of reduced-tillage and cover crop management strategies to optimize N availability following cash crops, weed management in organic and low-input systems, improvement of water-use efficiency in alternative systems and sequestration of C in the soil.
Establishing Breeding Programmes for New Crops: Lessons from the Eastern Black Walnut Programme
Authors: Tourjee Kenneth R. , Gradziel Thomas M.
Published: September 2010

Plant breeding strategy is described as it applies to nut production in the eastern black walnut ( Juglans nigra L.) — a minor crop without a well defined cropping system. The strategy relates knowledge of plant biology to a socioeconomic context with the goal of developing cultivars that produce a greater profit than existing ones. It consists of evaluation, selection and mating schemes, each of which are tailored to the requirements of the crop. Several issues concerning such new crop production are discussed that should be resolved prior to the development of a dedicated breeding programme.
Attitude towards and Uptake of Veterinary Services by Small-Scale Cattle Farmers in Eastern Province, Zambia
Authors: Chilonda Pius , Van Huylenbroeck Guido
Published: September 2010

This paper analyses the uptake of veterinary services by small-scale farmers in Eastern province, Zambia, following the change in livestock disease control policy (farmers now have to pay for the veterinary services they receive). The study is based on a questionnaire survey of 209 small-scale farmers and shows that they are using more therapeutic services than prophylactic services. Attitude analysis shows a general similarity in attitudes. However, willingness to pay for veterinary services is a critical issue for small-scale farmers. Empiricallogit analysis shows that the small-scale farmers in the study area who make use of veterinary services are experienced in cattle keeping, earn money from the draft power use of oxen, are educated and knowledgeable about cattle husbandry practices, and share a positive attitude towards veterinary services and privatization. The paper concludes that, if the direct benefits small-scale farmers derive from cattle rearing can be improved (eg through better marketing opportunities for cattle and their products), and the extension system strengthened, the uptake of veterinary services may be expected to increase.
Food Traceability from Field to Plate
Authors: Opara Linus U. , Mazaud François
Published: September 2010

Several factors have led to intensified public scrutiny of the human food supply chain. Consumer concerns for food safety, animal welfare, and the environmental and ecological impact of food production and agro-processing have become increasingly important. These concerns have been exacerbated by several factors, including the trend towards further globalization of the food supply chain, the incidence of new and emerging safety hazards such as the human form of BSE (mad cow disease), and illnesses and deaths resulting from contamination of fresh and processed food. As a consequence of these growing concerns, consumers and other stakeholders in agroindustry now demand transparency in the way food is grown and handled throughout the supply chain, resulting in the emergence of ‘traceability’ as an important policy issue in food quality and safety. This paper provides a global overview of ‘traceability’ as a quality index in food trade, and discusses some of the drivers in both developed and developing countries. Policy changes are necessary specifically to incorporate traceability into existing food safety regulations and trade agreements. This will require further investments in information technology for data capture, storage and retrieval. Small-scale farmers in many developing regions moving towards market orientation face considerable technical and financial challenges in implementing appropriate food traceability systems in order to meet marketing compliance requirements.
The Emerging Role of Traceability and Information in Demand-Oriented Livestock Production
Authors: Verbeke Wim
Published: September 2010

Consumer concerns about food safety in general and meat safety in particular have led to an increased demand for information and transparency in food chains, and acted as the major driver for the development of traceability systems. This paper focuses on the current and future role of traceability in demand-oriented meat and livestock production. Consumer demand for information is taken as the starting point. Information about and practice relating to traceability are reported and illustrated from historical and current experience in Belgium. It was found that organizational and operational aspects of traceability were clearly dealt with. However, questions remain with respect to the management of information flows and the proactive, rather than defensive use of traceability realizations. Key points for future success in livestock production chains pertain to market orientation, substantiation of claimed benefit and effective management of information flows.
Towards Transdisciplinarity in Technology and Resource Management Research: A Project in Ethiopia
Authors: Jabbar Mohammad A. , Saleem M.A. Mohamed , Li-Pun Hugo
Published: September 2010

The paper first discusses the need for moving from disciplinary to transdisciplinary research in addressing problems of human development and environmental management. Then the experience of a research project in highland Ethiopia is described. This started with disciplinary research and component technologies to address problems of poverty, malnutrition, low agricultural productivity and resource degradation, and gradually moved towards integrated resource management and a transdisciplinary approach. Although a systems approach was adopted to diagnose problems, discipline-based component technology research was initially a dominant characteristic of the project. Individual technologies were designed and tested on-farm with farmer participation — often separately, and their impacts were assessed mostly in bioeconomic terms, eg for yield and income. Gradually the need for simultaneously assessing the economic, social and environmental effects of several technology interventions at plot, household and watershed/community levels was recognized. The research methods have been modified accordingly to adopt an integrated and holistic approach incorporating biophysical, economic and social dimensions of the ecosystem. An agroecosystem health approach to ecosystem analysis is currently being used as an integrative analytical framework. This evolution has also meant a gradual shift from a disciplinary to a multidisciplinary, and finally to a transdisciplinary approach to research.
Priorities and Objectives of Smallholder Rubber Growers and the Contribution of Intercropping to Livelihood Strategies: A Case Study from Sri Lanka
Authors: Rodrigo V.H.L. , Thenakoon S. , Stirling C.M.
Published: September 2010

A case study is used to illustrate the agronomic and socioeconomic complexity of smallholder cropping systems in Sri Lanka and how rubber, and in particular the intercropping of immature rubber, has contributed to improving rural livelihoods through raising household income and capital assets. Smallholder cropping systems are extremely diverse and what appeared initially as random planting was seen to be anything but, with planting arrangements based on a thorough knowledge of local soil and microclimate conditions, as well as on the specific needs of the household. The potential benefits of intercropping immature rubber are discussed and the authors show how the more liberal attitude towards intercropping within the rubber extension service has impacted positively on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. A cash flow was constructed for the household, indicating that over two-thirds of annual household income was derived from on-farm activities, with 70% of this from intercropping on immature rubber land. The benefits of rubber intercropping to income generation, land tenure and upkeep of immature rubber lands are discussed within the context not only of the smallholder, but also in terms of the estate sector.
Work in the Knowledge-Driven Economy
Authors: Bayliss Valerie
Published: September 2010

The UK's development as a knowledge-driven economy has become a ‘given’. There are, however, differences of view about what such an economy comprises, and there is some risk that human factors will be neglected as government and business both revel in the excitement of technological change and struggle to keep pace with it. For a gifted science graduate or a born entrepreneur, the opportunities may be limitless. For the one in five people considered functionally illiterate, opportunities are closing down rapidly. But the knowledge economy will not succeed without people, and as the workforce ages employers will be faced with new challenges. It has been clear for some time that the new economy will have an enormous impact on work – indeed this has already started to happen – and that the impact will not be uniform. This paper examines some of the implications of these changes for individuals, business and government, from shifts in the pattern of work and attitudes to work, to the impact on the vast national infrastructures that support working life.
Towards Regional and Economic Development
Authors: Thomassen Thore , Beckus Peter , Serapinaite Ieva
Published: September 2010

Networking is an effective strategy for both economic and regional development, as the results of project management at the trans-regional level demonstrate. Cooperation between the Western Norway Training Partnership (WNTP) and Erfurt Technology Centre (TZE) shows that international teamwork is productive and that project administration is relatively low-cost. Both partners have carried out various projects within the European Commission's COMETT, Leonardo Da Vinci and Fifth Framework Research programmes. Seven years of cooperation between WNTP and TZE have resulted not only in increased awareness about both regions in political, academic and business circles, but also in the establishment of the Trade House, to increase exports, as well as the completion of a Bilateral Agreement of Regional Cooperation for further development of activities and contacts. Inter-regional and inter-sectoral links with local authorities, financial funds, research institutes, innovation centres and non-governmental organizations have been established to explore further possibilities for cooperation in training, research, business and culture. In this paper, the partners share experiences, analyse implications and discuss strategies that bring mutual benefits.
An Australian Technology Transfer Scheme
Authors: Burvill Colin R. , Leary Martin J.
Published: September 2010

The UK-based based TCS (formerly the Teaching Company Scheme) has proven to be highly successful in fostering innovation and collaboration between research organizations and the wider industrial community. Of necessity, the scheme's administrative mechanisms are highly prescriptive. This paper compares and contrasts TCS with an Australian technology transfer scheme that has a specific focus on the manufacturing sector. The Australian programme has produced successful outcomes with few administrative controls.