Increased amounts of food waste have become a major problem in developed countries. This project is about which IT technology can be useful for reducing food waste.  There are several different ways food waste can occur. It can be found in households, grocery stores and restaurants. Food waste can be classified within different kinds of waste, unavoidable waste and possibly avoidable waste. There has been previous research about reducing food waste using IT technology and they all take different kinds of approaches. Some are using mobile cameras to track the fridge inventory, others use a QR reader to find out when the item goes out, and much more. This project focuses on investigating different applications with research background and the pros and cons of those. Our data collection consists of respondents who answered questionnaires to give us a better picture of what the respondent thinks about food waste and various food waste applications. / Matavfall kan klassificeras inom olika typer av avfall, det finns oundvikligt avfall och avfall som kan undvikas vilket kallas för matsvinn. Ökade mängder matsvinn har blivit ett stort problem i utvecklade länder. Detta projekt handlar om vilken IT-teknik som kan vara användbar för att minska på matsvinn. Det finns flera olika sätt för matsvinn att uppstå. Det finns i hushåll, livsmedelsbutiker och restauranger. Det har förekommit forskning om att minska matsvinnet med hjälp av IT-teknik och de har alla olika metoder. Vissa använder mobilkameror för att spåra kylutrymmet, andra använder en QR läsare för att ta reda på varans bäst-före datum och mycket mer. Detta projekt fokuserar på att undersöka olika applikationer med forskningsbakgrund men också fördelar och nackdelar med de här applikationer. Vår datainsamling består av respondenter som svarat på enkätundersökning för att ge oss en bättre bild av vad respondenten tycker om matsvinn och olika matsvinns applikationer.

The success of a food waste collection programme depends on the participation of citizens in the correct separation and collection of food waste. Municipalities have an important role in increasing the management of resources in the food chain and from the 1st of January 2021 it is mandatory for the municipalities in Sweden to provide a system for collecting food waste from households. In Kiruna, Sweden’s most northern municipality, the expansion of food waste collection is underway. To find out what attitude and behaviour citizens have around food waste collection; a survey was sent out to 300 households in the central part of Kiruna. This report investigates the role of information, attitudes, and incentives, on household’s participation in the food waste collection programme. A statistical analysis was made to find out if there was any difference in how well the food waste is sorted depending on whether the households have their own container or common container for food waste. The results show that the majority always sorts their food waste and that the respondents generally have a positive attitude. The respondents feel that the information has been enough for them to have the knowledge to sort properly. Environmental reasons, knowledge, storage space,” because you should” and information were the most important incentives for respondents to sort their food waste. Several comments revealed an uncertainty about the environmental benefits of the collected food waste. There is potential to improve information and increase knowledge to reduce uncertainty and increase motivations and positive attitudes.

Climate variability threatens agricultural productivity and household food security, amongst small-scale farmers of South Africa. Managing climate variability is challenging due to the variation of climate parameters and the difficulty in making decisions under such conditions. Integrated seasonal forecast information and crop models have been used as a tool that enhances decision making in some countries. Utilization of such an approach in South Africa can enhance decision making in climate variability management. The study therefore sought to formulate a decision-making approach to enhance climate variability management in small-scale farming systems of South Africa through integrating seasonal forecast information and crop models. Current practices, challenges and opportunities for climate variability management by different small-scale farmer types were identified using focus group discussions and local agricultural extension officers. The Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) model-based forecasts were integrated with the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) v4.7, a mechanistic crop model based on the Global Climate Model (GCM) approach. The GCM approach was the most appropriate technique for integrating seasonal forecast information and the crop model due to the compatibility in the forecast and crop model format. The decision-making process was formulated through assessing the simulation yield patterns under a range of farm management practices and seasonal forecasts for different cropping seasons, crops and farmer types for Limpopo and Eastern Cape, South Africa for 2017/18 season. The study assessed 48 different potential combinations of farm management practices: organic amendments, varieties, fertilizers and irrigation. Benefits of the decision formulation process and specific seasonal forecast-based recommendations were then assessed in the context of the performance of the practices under historical measured data for the conditions; 2011-2017, using percentile ranking. Assessing the yield response patterns under different farm management practices and seasonal forecasts (2017/2018), the study realized a range of decision scenarios. These are (1) low decision capacity and low climate sensitivity where there is low value for decision due to the homogeneous performance of the different management practices given climate forecasts. (2) high decision capacity and low climate sensitivity, where there is higher potential value for decision making as the different practices have uniform performance across climate forecasts. (3) High decision capacity and high climate sensitivity, where the good response to change in practices under changing climate forecasts. Confidence in the decision formulation process v was re-enforced as some of the decision scenarios were also realized under different conditions in the period; 2011-17. The scenario (2): High decision capacity and low climate sensitivity was predominant in locations with low forecast skill. In contrast the scenario (3): High decision capacity and high climate sensitivity was predominant in locations with high forecast skill. The decision formulation process allows for assessment of farm management practices in the seasonal forecast decision space. Although the case study realized some scenarios ahead of others, the process is robust and repeatable under any conditions. Although the process does not always offer recommendation with improved value for decision making, the value of recommendations is greater under decision scenarios with greater decision capacity. Such benefits are crop and location dependent. Improved seasonal forecasting skill increases reliability of the decision-making process, decision scenarios and associated recommendations. Such assertions need to be tested on the field scale to assess their practical feasibility.

Biogas is an environmentally friendly energy source with great importance for sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of setting up a biogas plant at the student housing area planned at Albano in Stockholm. The possibility of attaining self-sustainability in Albano is also investigated. After compiling the processes for converting household waste into biogas through a literature study, a quantitative feasibility study of setting up a biogas plant is carried out. The usable amount of household waste is determined through an empirical study. Investment costs of comparable biogas production facilities are obtained from companies working in the biogas field. The producible biogas amount and rates of conversion from biogas to heat/electricity are derived from existing data in similar studies. The energy demand is calculated based on existing data from housing companies and authorities. Four possible scenarios are created to study all the possible outcomes of establishing a biogas plant. The maximum producible biogas is determined to be 12.199 m3/year. The total energy demand in Albano is determined to be 2.931MWh/year, of which 2,4 TWh/year is heat and 531 MWh/year is electricity. This amount is not sufficient to meet the specific requirements. Recommendations for Albano were made accordingly. / Biogas betraktas som ett en miljövänlig energikälla med stor betydelse för det kommande arbetet mot en mer hållbar utveckling. Denna rapport avser behandla möjligheten till ett upprättande av en biogasanläggning vid ett planerat studentboende vid Albano, Stockholm. Vidare kommer även möjligheterna till ett mer självständigt hållbart arbete i området behandlas. Som en del i rapporten kommer en analys av omvandlingen från hushållsavfall till biogas utföras i form av en kvantitativ studie med fokus på en förstudie för upprättande av biogasanläggning. Mängden hushållsavfall fås genom en empirisk studie av författaren. Den andel energi som beräknas kunna produceras fås genom befintlig data från utförda studier på Albano. Utifrån detta fastställs energibehovet utifrån givna rekommendationer och uppskattningar utförda av företag och myndigheter. Fyra möjliga utfall är definierade i syfte att kartlägga de möjliga utfallen för biogasanläggningen. Den maximala andel producerad biogas uppgår till 12.199 m3/år. Den totala energibehov i Albano bestämdes till 2.931 MWh/år, varav värmebehovet är 2,4 TWh/år och elbehovet är 531 MWh/år. Den maximala andel producerad biogas kan användas för att tillverka 48,8 MWh/år värme och 24,4 MWh/år elektricitet. Denna mängd är inte tillräcklig för att tillgodose de bestämda kraven. Utifrån detta har olika förslag utformats.

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how fixed broadband will be used in Swedish households in a 3-6-year perspective. Internet is becoming more and more integrated in peoples everyday lives. Internet is utilized for communication, entertainment and businesses to mention a few, and the areas of use are continuously expanding. How this expansion might affect the household usage patterns and what these possible changes will require from a fixed broadband connection are continuous questions in need of investigation to ensure that ISPs are able to provide services in line with market demand. By studying Internet adoption and consumption behavioral trends combined with development of fixed broadband up until present day, the thesis will serve as a basis for what the future might hold. These findings were then complemented with insights from market active experts together with adjacent research on future broadband connectivity, and compiled into a possible projection for fixed Swedish household broadband. The findings show that, with increasing societal integration, Internet is commonly viewed more and more as a commodity; a societal necessity rather than an, as previously viewed, additional service. Furthermore, the increasing speed trend remains but might wane within 10 years as development further than so, with consistent rate, will heavily exceed any imaginable future bandwidth utilization. Consequently, the idea of a normalized broadband, sufficient for the vast majority of household consumers is discussed as possibility from a 3-6 year perspective. / Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka, i ett 3-6 års perspektiv, hur fast bredband kommer att användas i svenska hushåll. Internet är allt mer integrerat i vårt dagliga liv. Internet används för kommunikation, underhållning och företagande för att nämna några exempel, och användningsområdena är ständigt växande. Hur denna expansion kan påverka hushållens användningsmönster och vad dessa eventuella förändringar kommer att kräva från en fast bredbandsanslutning är kontinuerliga frågor i behov av utredning för att se till att Internetleverantörer kan tillhandahålla tjänster i linje med marknadens efterfrågan. Genom att studera Internetvanor och konsumtionstrender i kombination med utvecklingen av fast bredband fram till idag, skapades en grund för vad framtiden skulle kunna medföra. Dessa slutsatser kompletteras sedan med insikt från marknadsaktiva experter samt med närliggande forskning om framtida bredbandsanvändning, och sammanställdes till en trolig prognos för fast bredband i svenska hushåll. Resultaten visar att med ökande samhällsintegration, ses Internet allt mer som en grundläggande samhällstjänst snarare än en, som det hittills betraktats, privat tilläggstjänst som man väljer eller avstår ifrån av olika anledningar. Utvecklingen mot ännu snabbare bredband fortsätter, men bör avta inom 10 år då utveckling längre än så i samma takt kommer grovt överskrida all tänkbar framtida bandbreddsutnyttjande. Följaktligen diskuteras möjligheten av ett normaliserat bredband, omfattande nog för majoriteten av alla hushållsanvändare inom ett 3-6 års perspektiv.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Poverty in Nigeria has always been examined as a static phenomenon, although empirical studies established that, rather than being static, the poverty levels of individuals can change over time and people can enter and leave a transitory state of poverty. Many individuals live in poverty for a long period of time, the length of which is the defining characteristic of a state of chronic poverty. There has been little or no effort by researchers to distinguish households that are chronically poor from those that are transitorily poor. It is against this background that this study sought to investigate the extent of chronic and transitory poverty among households in Nigeria: specifically, what factors influence chronic and transitory poverty in Nigeria. / 2023

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Most poverty studies ignore the dimension of time and are merely concerned if an individual meets certain money-metric or non-income welfare (e.g., access to services and asset ownership) criteria. They fail to recognise the limited time (24hours per day) available to complete tasks and the added difficulties they have even though there is an abundance of money-metric and asset-related non-money-metric poverty studies. (Kim et al. 2014:1). For example, individuals/households deemed poor by standard measures cannot afford market alternatives to assist them with non-market work (like childcare). Therefore, they find themselves spending all their time in market and non-market work without taking time for rest and improving themselves. Recognising non-market work and the allocation of time allows for a greater understanding into the role of women and Africans whose non-market work are unrecognised by standard economic measures such as GDP (Ferrant 2014:1). There are also only a few in-depth studies on time poverty, but they fail to utilise the most current data. Therefore, this study seeks to provide insights into how household production impacts on South African welfare. It explores the income, time poor and the extent of time allocation differences for various personal characteristics. It estimates the likelihood of time poverty based on an individual’s time schedule and the factors which most likely results in time poverty.

The formation of human capital is the main issue in this dissertation. More specifically, this dissertation discusses two alternative types of transferring human capital, in contrast to the transfer of human capital from parents to their children's education. These two types of transfer are sibling effect and neighborhood effect on children's education. Chapter 1 discusses the sibling effect on children's education, "Household Models and Formations of Human Capital with Sibling Effect in Iran." The neighborhood effect on children's education will be discussed in Chapter 2, "Intergenerational Transfer of Human Capital from Parents to Children: Does Neighborhood Matter?" Chapter 3 measures and describes the rate of return on human capital in Taiwan, "Rate of Return on Education by Using Sibling Data from Taiwan." My empirical results show the following findings. First, the presence of older sisters increases younger sisters' and brothers' education. After controlling the resource contribution factor, the empirical result suggests that a role model effect exists between daughters -- the education of older sisters benefits younger sisters in Iran. Second, assuming that the unobserved parent's preference on children's education is not correlated to the unobserved parent's preference on neighborhood, our results suggest that choosing a "good" neighborhood is important for children's education in Iran. Third, the results suggest that in 1990 data from Taiwan, upward bias in the rate of return on schooling due to the omission of family background factors is significant. / Ph. D.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / The purpose of this study is to investigate determinants of land tenure, agricultural activities involvement, and the use of agricultural products and stock keeping among small-scale farmers across all nine provinces of South Africa. Little is known regarding tenure status that households typically use to access land across nine provinces of South Africa. The characteristics of household heads in small-scale farming still under-researched; and socio-demographic characteristics for household subsistence still scanty in the literature. GHS between 2015 and 2018 from StatsSA was employed.

About seventy-seven percent of Zambia’s citizens who are engaged in primary activity in the agriculture sector are poor (Economies, 2017). One of the ways in which the poverty levels can be reduced is by lessening constraints of access to finance in agriculture sector. The implications of the low access to credit in the agriculture sector is reduced productivity, high food insecurity and perpetual poverty particularly in Zambia’s rural areas. Most of the studies conducted focused on identifying factors which limit participation in agriculture finance from the bank’s perspective and not farmers. Therefore, this study sought to fill the gap and assess variables directly related to smallholder farmers access to finance. It further examines the dynamism of access to finance depending on location, gender and transport infrastructure. The data employed in the study was obtained from a survey conducted in 2013 by IAPRI and UNZA with a sample size of 1,231 households in six districts of Zambia. Agricultural credit for small holder farmers (SHFs) in rural areas is mostly provided in the form of cash or in kind through supply of inputs to these SHFs. This data was modeled based on the logistic regression. The results showed that 14.1% of the SHFs had access to finance. Among these farmers only 13% were female. In addition, secondary education, access to finance information, farm size, access to collateral and distance between the location of the farmer and the financial services, were significant factors in determining access to credit. A recommendation proposed to policy makers based on results presented include sensitization on various finance facilities available to rural farmers so that they are aware and can make necessary efforts to access the finance. Rural education is directly related to access to finance, therefore government should promote education for its citizens. Lack of collateral has been identified as a factor that gravely hinders access levels by most. Government should implement standardized policies that ensure availability of credit to farmers with little or no collateral. In conclusion, improved credit permeation in agriculture sector promotes sustainable and inclusive growth in Zambia and will eventually eradicate absolute poverty.