Suchergebnisse

Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil, and its smallholder oil palm plantations involve more than 2.3 million farmers. The rapid expansion of the oil palm area, and resulting negative environmental and social impacts, has increased the demand for sustainability certification for palm oil products. This study investigates whether different types of smallholders face different barriers in complying with certification standards. The study uses survey data from 829 smallholders in Riau, Sumatra. First, an assessment is made of the gap between current management practices and practices required by Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil standards for different types of smallholders. Second, the article explores explanations for the gap between current and required practices. Finally, an investigation is made of the different starting points of different types of smallholders. Results indicate that the diversity between smallholders affects their prospects for certification. To date, this diversity in smallholders has not been taken into account in the application of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil standards. This can help to explain the limited success of smallholder certifications in Indonesia.

The EU has placed high priority on the expansion of the bioeconomy with the aim to reduce the use of non-renewable resources, to mitigate climate change, and to develop prospering local economies. However, only few Member States have defined quantitative economic or environmental targets for the bioeconomy in their policy strategies as measurement of the bioeconomy is not straightforward. This study uses an input-output analysis to quantify economic as well as environmental indicators for measuring the bioeconomy in the Visegrad countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary). The current and the potential size of the bioeconomy are derived based on scenarios of minimum, medium and maximum association of partially bio-based goods with the bioeconomy. Our results suggest that currently the bioeconomy contributes 13% to the value of economic output, 10% to value added, 15% to total employment, and 20% to emissions of greenhouse gases in the Visegrad region (with a variation of 8 percentage points among individual countries). There is still potential for a transition towards a bioeconomy, especially in the production of textiles and wearing apparel, chemical products, pharmaceutical products, plastics, furniture, and energy where fossil-based inputs could be substituted by bio-based resources. ; The EU has placed high priority on the expansion of the bioeconomy with the aim to reduce the use of non-renewable resources, to mitigate climate change, and to develop prospering local economies. However, only few Member States have defined quantitative economic or environmental targets for the bioeconomy in their policy strategies as measurement of the bioeconomy is not straightforward. This study uses an input-output analysis to quantify economic as well as environmental indicators for measuring the bioeconomy in the Visegrad countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary). The current and the potential size of the bioeconomy are derived based on scenarios of minimum, medium and maximum association of partially bio-based goods with the bioeconomy. Our results suggest that currently the bioeconomy contributes 13% to the value of economic output, 10% to value added, 15% to total employment, and 20% to emissions of greenhouse gases in the Visegrad region (with a variation of 8 percentage points among individual countries). There is still potential for a transition towards a bioeconomy, especially in the production of textiles and wearing apparel, chemical products, pharmaceutical products, plastics, furniture, and energy where fossil-based inputs could be substituted by bio-based resources.

1. The EU Food Sector -- 2. EU Food Law: A Very Short Introduction -- 3. EU Food Quality Policy: Geographical Indications -- 4. Public and Private Food Standards -- 5. Health and Nutrition: Policy, Consumer and Industry Perspectives -- 6. Future Developments in the EU Food Sector -- 7. A Public Good Perspective on the Rural Environment: Theory and History -- 8. Market Mechanisms and the Provision of Environmental and Social Services -- 9. Nature Conservation and Agriculture: Two EU Policy Domains That Finally Meet? -- 10. Public Policies for Social Innovation in Rural Areas -- 11. Rural Resilience as a New Development Concept -- 12. EU Rural Development Policies: Present and Future -- 13. Present and Future EU GMO Policy -- 14. EU Biofuel Policies for Road and Rail Transportation Sector -- 15. Bio-Based Economy Strategy -- 16. Opportunities and the Policy Challenges to the Circular Agri-Food System -- 17. Future Developments in EU Bio-Based Economy