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Now showing items 901-910 of 950
Dissertation
Potentials and limits of sustainability communication - The cases of climate-friendly food and farmed fish
(2018-02-15)
The present thesis focuses on the potentials and limits of sustainability communication via media, labels and claims to foster the consumption of climate-friendly food and sustainably farmed fish. A mixed methods approach combining an online survey containing choice experiments with qualitative face-to-face interviews was applied to explore consumers’ perceptions of climate-friendly food as well as the limits and merits of a carbon footprint label for fostering climate-friendly consumption. The qualitative approach ...
Dissertation
Heat stress response for physiological traits in dairy and dual purpose cattle populations on phenotypic and genetic scales
(2016-02-23)
The main objective of this thesis was to determine the potential impact of heat stress (HS) on physiological traits of lactating cows and semen quality of bulls kept in a temperate climate. The thesis is comprised of three studies. An innovative statistical modeling aspect common to all three studies was the application of random regression methodology (RRM) to study the phenotypic and genetic trajectory of traits in dependency of a continuous temperature humidity index (THI).
In the first study, semen quality and ...
Aufsatz
Linking sustainable diets to the concept of food system sustainability
(Section Specialized Partnerships in Sustainable Food Systems and Food Sovereignty at the University of Kassel, Germany and Federation of German Scientists (VDW), 2018-10-09)
Based on insights from an ongoing research project on food sustainability, we argue that discussing sustainable diets in isolation from food systems poses risks. Among these risks are making healthy diets exclusive, or ignoring externalities like biodiversity loss, land concentration, and encroachment on commons. Case studies from Bolivia and Kenya show how marked shifts from traditional to more uniform diets rich in sugar, salt, and fatty acids come with a radical transformation of food systems. Systems formerly ...
Aufsatz
Seaweed farming as a sustainable livelihood option for northern coastal communities in Sri Lanka
(Section Specialized Partnerships in Sustainable Food Systems and Food Sovereignty at the University of Kassel, Germany and Federation of German Scientists (VDW), 2018-10-09)
Sri Lanka has recently contributed to the growing significance of seaweed farming in the globe. This study attempted to assess the financial feasibility, employment generation, perceived importance, social acceptability and major constraints associated with seaweed farming in the Northern part of Sri Lanka. The study sample included 160 seaweed farmers from the area. A questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to collect data and information. Descriptive analytical, investment ...
Dissertation
Herd management and livestock productivity in the Altai region of Western Mongolia
(2016-08-17)
This thesis analyses the influence of qualitative and quantitative herbage production on seasonal rangelands, and of herd and pasture use strategies on feed intake, body mass development and reproductive performance of sheep and goats in the Altai mountain region of Bulgan county (soum) in Khovd province (aimag). This westernmost county of Mongolia is characterized by a very poor road network and thus very difficult access to regional and national markets. The thesis explores in this localized context the current ...
Dissertation
Horizontal nutrient fluxes and production efficiencies in urban and peri-urban crop and livestock husbandry of Niamey, Niger
(2009-11-17)
Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) increasingly supplies food and non-food values to the rapidly growing West African cities. However, little is known about the resource use efficiencies in West African small-scale UPA crop and livestock production systems, and about the benefits that urban producers and retailers obtain from the cultivation and sale of UPA products. To contribute to filling this gap of knowledge, the studies comprising this doctoral thesis determined nutrient use efficiencies in representative ...
Dissertation
Effects of mild water restriction on digestion and nitrogen metabolism in a desert adapted goat breed
(2017-04-26)
Water is the main challenge facing animal husbandry in arid and semi-arid regions of the globe. These areas are characterized by a long dry season lasting between 6 and 8 months. At certain times during the long dry period, water can be so scarce that animals may face severe water shortages. Many studies have been conducted to highlight how ruminants cope during these times of severe water deprivation. Yet, livestock are much more often exposed to mild water shortages for several months in a year. Only a few studies ...
Aufsatz
Adoption of an improved bean seed variety and consumption of beans in rural Madagascar: Evidence from a randomised control trial
(Kassel University Press, 2017-10-20)
This paper studies access to, and adoption of improved seed, as well as the diffusion of improved seed information in a remote area of central Madagascar. The analysis is based on panel data gathered from 2012 to 2014 from 390 households in three villages. In 2013, a randomised control trial was applied. Half of the 390 households were randomly assigned to receive improved lima bean seed (Phaseolus lunatus), which were specifically bred for dry regions. Of the seed-receiving households, 50 % were randomly assigned ...
Aufsatz
Typological characterisation of farms in a smallholder food-cash crop production system in Zimbabwe – opportunities for livelihood sustainability
(Kassel University Press, 2018-09-11)
The diversity of smallholder farms in space, resource endowment, production and consumption decisions are often a hindrance to the design, targeting, implementation and scaling out of agricultural development projects. Understanding farm heterogeneity is crucial in targeting interventions that can potentially contribute to improved crop productivity, food security and livelihood sustainability. The study sought to define and understand farm typology in a resettlement smallholder food-cash crop production area in ...
Aufsatz
Applying phosphorus indices at a small agricultural watershed in Southern Brazil
(Kassel University Press, 2018-04-04)
Best management practices at watershed scale are essential to mitigate water pollution. The objectives of this study were: (1) to estimate the P-index in a small watershed with intensive agricultural use applying five P-index versions at three scales (watershed, sub-basin and agricultural field); (2) to assess the effect of the connectivity factors (distance between the agricultural field and the stream and width of riparian native vegetation) in estimating the risk of P loss. The five P-index versions resulted in a ...