Significant support for sustainable agriculture practices exists within the land-grant university system nationwide. Despite this fact, many colleges, including the University of Florida, have not evaluated the individual paradigms held by their faculty. An existing Alternative-Conventional Agriculture Paradigm Scale was modified, improved and converted into an electronic instrument that was administered to a random sample of University of Florida Extension Faculty. It is suggested that data collected through this study serves the following purposes: assist the University of Florida’s decision-makers in better understanding the positions held by their Extension agents; allow improvement of educational programming for Extension agents, agricultural professionals, and communities throughout the state; and provide input for improvement of University-wide policy-making and goal-setting. The study consisted of three phases: a) redevelopment and pilot-test of a new ACAP instrument; b) description of University of Florida Extension faculty’s paradigmatic preferences; and c) determination of any existing relationships between personal characteristics and an individual’s paradigm. A pilot study of the new instrument was conducted with participants belonging to known paradigmatic groups who were not part of the final sample. The survey was found to be reliable with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.94 in a pilot test of 26 individuals. The survey was found to discriminate effectively between the two known paradigmatic groups (t=4.091, p= .001), making it a useful tool in quantitatively assessing agricultural preferences. Following the pilot study, survey research was conducted with a random sample of 188 Extension agents. The majority of faculty aligned with agricultural paradigmatic groups labeled Moderates and Sustainables. Very few of this population aligned with a Conventional paradigm. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a preliminary seven-factor solution. Two individual component factors were found to vary based on Extension discipline and gender, which included Size and Scale of Production and Use of Natural Resources, respectively.

The phenomenon of organic agriculture in the Mid North of South Australia is explored in seven case studies of local organic producers. The research issue asks how these organic producers organise to survive in a marketplace where they remain marginal players. The research is framed around Sonnino and Marsden's (2006) two-dimensional model of alternative agriculture, which structures the case study analysis at two levels: a horizontal dimension concerning farmer agency and grassroots innovations, and a vertical dimension focusing on farmer interaction with regulatory and governance frameworks in organic agriculture. To enrich understanding of farmer practices at the grassroots level, two additions are made to the horizontal dimension: the role that beliefs play in determining agency and innovation in motivating farmers to 'go organic' and 'stay organic' and how alternative beliefs, particularly about nature and localism, influence the construction by organic farmers of 'new platforms of action' (Sonnino and Marsden 2006), essential for survival in the marketplace. / PhD Doctorate

Soil analysis is one of main resources for obtaining agriculture with quality and gains, being even the first way in planning this activity, to determine the necessity and quantity of fertilizer that each land needs, according recommendation of fertilization and setting. Therefore, this research is the main objective to evaluate the difference between soil analysis in conventional agriculture and soil analysis in precision agriculture. The research was developed in Restinga Seca, RS, at two distinct properties, was developed the system of conventional agriculture and, the precision agriculture. In conventional agriculture, soil analysis was put into action by this way: from an area of 20 hectares were collected from 15 dots, with a spade, mere samples that are put in a bucket, where formed a composed sample, to be send to laboratory. In precision agriculture the soil analysis was collected by geo-referencing method using GPS, establishing exact dots through the Coordinates X and Y , and in this way forming the sample grate. It was collected one sample each two hectares, more nine samples in V around each geo-referent dot, for send to laboratory. Soil levies were done by a four-cycle. The advantages of precision agriculture with regard to conventional agriculture are economic reduction of fertilizer, productivity increasing, land sustentation, because the correct manure use and economy of agricultural agro-toxins. The disadvantage is the high cost of the equipments to develop the precision agriculture. After all, the benefits and the increasing of the new method use corroborate evidence to prove its superiority in relation to conventional agriculture. / A análise de solo é um dos principais recursos para a obtenção de uma agricultura de qualidade e rendimento, sendo o primeiro passo no planejamento dessa atividade, a determinação da necessidade e a quantidade de fertilizantes de que cada gleba vai precisar, em consonância com os programas de recomendação de adubação e calagem. Em vista disso, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo principal avaliar a diferença entre análise de solo na agricultura convencional e análise de solo na agricultura de precisão. O trabalho realizou-se na cidade de Restinga Seca, RS, em duas propriedades distintas, cada qual com um tipo de sistema de agricultura: convencional e agricultura de precisão. Na agricultura convencional, a análise de solo foi executada em uma área de 20 hectares onde foram coletadas 15 pontos de amostras e enviadas ao laboratório. Na agricultura de precisão a análise de solo foi coletada uma amostra a cada dois hectares, mais nove subamostras em "V", ao redor de cada ponto georreferenciado, formando, assim uma amostra composta e enviada ao laboratório. As coletas de solo foram feitas com um quadriciclo. As vantagens da agricultura de precisão em relação à agricultura convencional são: redução econômica de insumos; aumento da produtividade; sustentabilidade da terra, pelo uso correto de fertilizantes, e economia em agrotóxicos. A desvantagem ainda é o alto custo em equipamentos para desenvolver a agricultura de precisão. Ao final, comprovam-se de forma eficiente os benefícios e o aumento crescente deste tipo de cultura que chamamos agricultura de precisão, em relação à agricultura convencional.

nÃo hà / Diante da expansÃo dos cultivos agroecolÃgicos e da permanÃncia de Ãreas de aplicaÃÃo da agricultura convencional no semiÃrido, fez-se necessÃrio um estudo cientÃfico para a detecÃÃo, atravÃs de uma anÃlise comparativa, das principais diferenÃas entre as modalidades, observando o espaÃo local em suas caracterÃsticas peculiares e impactos. Objetivamos analisar as prÃticas agrÃcolas em propriedades de uso convencional e agroecolÃgica em duas Ãreas de um mesmo municÃpio - Nova Olinda/CE, com as mesmas caracterÃsticas geofÃsicas e que hà mais de dez anos faziam uso de prÃticas especÃficas de cultivo. Tratou-se de um estudo exploratÃrio-descritivo com uma abordagem quanti-qualitativa, utilizando-se para a coleta de dados: formulÃrio, observaÃÃo direta sistemÃtica, entrevista, coleta e anÃlise de solo. Em relaÃÃo Ãs tÃcnicas de cultivo, o modelo agroflorestal destacou-se por utilizar o policultivo e o consÃrcio com outras plantas, onde se incluem em torno de 29 espÃcies nativas, a incorporaÃÃo de resÃduos orgÃnicos, o roÃo seletivo e o plantio direto. Outras tÃcnicas que foram igualmente importantes nesse sistema e amplamente utilizadas por este agricultor foram: coleta e extraÃÃo (frutos, raÃzes, folhas, favos, etc.), as quais envolvem a fruticultura, apicultura e cultivo de hortaliÃas. Neste modelo de cultivo dispensou-se o uso de agrotÃxico, pois a intenÃÃo era alcanÃar o controle natural por meio da cadeia biolÃgica, utilizando espÃcies vegetais. Como benefÃcios dessas tÃcnicas identificaram-se a manutenÃÃo do microclima adequado à biologia do solo; o controle de ervas daninhas e da erosÃo; maior permeabilidade Ãs chuvas; proteÃÃo do solo contra investidas direta do sol, da chuva e do vento; estabilizaÃÃo de ravinas e voÃorocas; e promoÃÃo da biodiversidade. Jà no modelo convencional, encontramos como o tipo de cultivo adotado o consÃrcio e a monocultura, onde as prÃticas de preparaÃÃo da terra incluem o roÃo e o destocamento, a queimada, a utilizaÃÃo de arados mecÃnicos e a capinaÃÃo. Como consequÃncias foram identificadas uma diminuiÃÃo abrupta da biodiversidade, reduÃÃo na capacidade de restituiÃÃo vegetal e desnudaÃÃo do solo com consequente aumento do Ãndice de erosÃo e empobrecimento da camada fÃrtil. Os Ãndices mineralÃgicos de fertilidade do solo sÃo maiores no Sistema Agroflorestal (SAF), e, que dada as tÃcnicas empreendidas pelo agricultor, tÃm uma tendÃncia a elevarem-se ao contrÃrio das empreendidas na Ãrea do Sistema Convencional (SC), que em geral empobrecem o solo, podendo assim levÃ-lo a Ãndices ainda mais crÃticos. Em relaÃÃo à produtividade, o Sistema Agroflorestal tambÃm destacou-se graÃas Ãs suas diferentes produÃÃes, que asseguram um maior nÃmero de fontes de renda, com uma consequente lucratividade. Compreendemos assim, que, em termos de produtividade e rentabilidade, o SAF apresentou-se mais vantajoso para o agricultor por diversos motivos, dentre os quais destacaram-se: mais fontes de rendas, maior produÃÃo por tarefa e mais seguranÃa em termos de produÃÃo tanto a nÃvel ambiental como econÃmico. Identificamos que o Sistema Agroflorestal apontou excelentes resultados e que superou a nÃvel de conservaÃÃo dos solos e dos ecossistemas, bem como de produtividade e rentabilidade, o Sistema Convencional adotado. Com isso, indicamos o modelo agroflorestal como rentÃvel e favorÃvel à adoÃÃo para os agricultores do semiÃrido nordestino. / In the face of the expansion of agroecological cultivation and the hitherto use of areas of application of conventional agriculture in the semi-arid region, it showed to be necessary a deeper and more scientific study for the detection, through a comparative analysis, of the main differences between these two types of cultivation, observing the local space in its peculiar characteristics and impact. This study aimed to analyze the agricultural practices in properties of conventional and agroecological use in two areas of the same municipality â Nova Olinda/CE, with the same geophysical characteristics and that they have been using the specific practice of cultivation for more than ten years. This was an exploratory and descriptive study with a quanti-qualitative approach, using for data collection: formulary, systematic direct observation, interview, collection and analysis of soil. In relation to the techniques of cultivation, the agroforest model was put in evidence for using polyculture, partnership with other plants in which was included around 29 native species, incorporation of organic remains, selective cut and direct planting. Other techniques which were equally important in that system and widely used by this cultivator were: collection and extraction (fruits, roots, leaves, honeycombs, etc.), which involve horticulture (fruits and vegetables) and apiculture. In this model of cultivation, agrochemicals were not used, since the intention was to reach the natural control through the biological chain using vegetable species. As the benefits of those techniques, it was identified the maintenance of the microclimate which was adequate for the biology of the soil; control of weeds and erosion; greater permeability to water; protection of the soil against direct sunlight, rain and wind; stabilization of eroded areas; and promotion of biodiversity. In the conventional model, mono and partnership are the adopted types of cultivation; the practices of soil preparation include the cut and removal of remaining stems, fire, use of mechanical rakes and weeding. As consequences, it was identified an abrupt diminishing of the biodiversity, reduction in the capacity for vegetal restitution and soil bareness with the consequent increase in the erosion index and diminishing of the fertile layer. The mineralogical indexes of soil fertility are higher in the Agroforest System (AFS), and, due to the techniques used by the cultivator, they have a tendency to increase; on the contrary, in the Conventional System (CS), the techniques used generally diminish the soil fertility, thereby taking the soil to more critical indexes. In relation to productivity, the Agroforest System was put in focus due to its different productions, which provide a higher number of sources of income with consequent profitability. It was grasped then that in terms of productivity and profitability, the Agroforest System was more advantageous to the cultivator due to various reasons, among them it was highlighted: more sources of income, greater production per hectare and more security and terms of production, not only at the environmental level but also at the economic one. It was identified that the Agroforest System showed excellent results and it outperformed at the level of soil and ecosystem conservation, as well as in productivity and profitability, the adopted Conventional System. Therefore, the Agroforest model is considered profitable and favorable to the adoption by the cultivators from the semi-arid region of the Brazilian North-East

Resume Agriculture has intensified greatly in the last century and heavy machinery and chemical substances are being used, which causes negative impact on environment. On the other hand, organic farming tries to use natural resources with utmost care and rejects synthetic substances. The main goal of the thesis is to find and describe the most important differences of the legal regulation of conventional and organic farming. International regulation, regulation of European Union and Czech regulation are the main focus of the thesis. The first chapter tries to characterize conventional agriculture and describe its functions, briefly goes through its development and current status. Chapter deals with causes, subject and purpose of legal regulation and analyzes sources of law in the international law, European law with main focus on Common Agricultural Policy and Czech law. The second chapter is concieved similarly as the first one, but from the view of organic farming. It characterizes organic farming, describes its development and legal regulation on the international, European and Czech level. The third chapter takes a closer look on chosen institutes and sections of Czech legislation and tries to show the most important differences of conventional and organic farming. Chapter deals with agribusiness and...

The thesis focuses on the possibilities of further development of conventionally employed family farm. Form of a business plan is described and analyzed baseline farms, its specific features, options, and its position within the industry. The output is an evaluation of the proposed options, possible future development by financial remuneration and other entitlements to individual alternatives. Work is processed in order to verify whether the proposed project from the economic point of view actually realize.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: When the South African wine industry re-entered the global wine markets in the early 1990’s, it faced a number of profound challenges. The most significant of these has been to gain a foothold in the international markets where both New and Old World wine producers fiercely compete for the consumer’s purse. In the effort to bolster its competitiveness and in response to a growing global trend towards ‘environmentally-friendly’ food production the industry launched the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) scheme in 1998.This voluntary regulatory system provides guidelines for best agricultural practices and a producer must pass either the audit or the annual self-evaluation questionnaire in order to comply. A new Integrity & Sustainability seal has been introduced which advertises this compliance on each bottle of wine. This home-grown regulatory scheme is the first and only of its kind in the world and is now accepted by markets globally. The Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) is a collaboration between the wine industry and conservationists which aims to protect endangered species of the Cape Floral Kingdom, promote sustainable practices and rehabilitate indigenous flora and fauna on wine farms. Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is a marketing organisation which promotes the interests of South African wines in international markets. WOSA’s marketing slogan, ‘Variety is in Our Nature’ seeks to create a ‘common language’ which promotes the environmental aspects of South African wine production and a platform from which producers can establish their own marketing strategies. On the surface it would appear that the industry stands united behind this innovative initiative. But is this really the case? This thesis explores the views and attitudes of key industry informants as well as the responses of 14 different cellars from across the Western Cape. Each respondent was questioned on his/her notion of ‘environmentallyfriendly’, the cellar’s environmental practices, as well as their views IPW, BWI and WOSA’s efforts of promoting the South African wine industry’s new environmental identity. This study has found that the ‘greening’ of the South African wine industry enjoys broad support and compliance at both industry and cellar level. However, the results also show that there is serious criticism against the three-pronged ‘project’ which, if not addressed, could damage the integrity and credibility of industry’s new ‘image’ and undo its innovative edge. At the theoretical level, the study challenges aspects of both Global Value Chain Theory and Conventionalisation Theory. Regarding the former, the ‘home-grown’ way in which the industry has created its own ‘environmentally-friendly’ regulating scheme challenges the role lead firms take in international value chains. Regarding the latter, because IPW works within conventional agricultural practices and is far more cost effective than international ‘environmentally-friendly’ regulations, both large and small farmers can implement IPW regulations with the same effectiveness. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toe die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf in die vroeë 1990s her-toegetree het tot die globale wynmark, het dit ‘n aantal ernstige uitdagings in die gesig gestaar. Die belangrikste hiervan was om’n vastrapplek te bekom in die internasionale markte, waar Nuwe, sowel as Ou Wêreld wynprodusente fel met mekaar kompeteer vir die verbruiker se beursie. In ‘n poging om die bedryf se mededingendheid te verbeter en in respons tot ‘n groeiende tendens na ‘omgewingsvriendelike’ voedselproduksie, het die bedryf in 1998 die sogenoemde Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) skema van stapel gestuur. Hierdie vrywillige regulasie-sisteem verskaf riglyne vir optimale landboukundige praktyke en die produsent moet òf die oudit slaag, òf aan die vereistes van ‘n jaarlikse self-evaluering voldoen. ’n Nuwe Integrity & Sustainability seël is in gebruik geneem wat die nakoming van die IPW reëls op elke bottel wyn adverteer. Hierdie tuis-ontwikkelde reguleringskema is die eerste en enigste van sy soort in die wêreld. Die Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) is ’n samewerkingsooreenkoms tussen die wynbedryf en omgewingsbewaarders wat ten doel het om die bedreigde spesies van die Kaapse Blommeryk te beskerm, volhoubare praktyke te bevorder en inheemse flora en fauna op wynplase te rehabiliteer. Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is ’n bemarkingsorganisasie wat die belange van Suid-Afrikaanse wyne op die internasionale markte bevorder. WOSA se bemarkingsleuse, ‘Variety is in our Nature’, het ten doel om ’n ‘gemeenskaplike taal’ te skep wat die omgewingsaspekte van die Suid-Afrikaanse wynproduksie bevorder en ‘n platvorm daarstel waarop produsente hulle eie bemarkingstrategieë kan lanseer. Op die oog af wil dit voorkom asof die bedryf verenig staan agter hierdie vernuwende inisiatief. Maar is dit werklik so? Hierdie tesis ondersoek die perspektiewe en houdings van sleutel mense in die bedryf, asook die response van 14 verskillende kelders van dwarsoor die Wes-Kaap. Elke respondent is gepols oor sy/haar opvatting oor wat ‘omgewingsvriendelik’ behels, die kelder se omgewingsvriendelike praktyke, hulle siening van IPW en BWI, sowel as WOSA se poging om die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf se nuwe omgewingsidentiteit te bevorder. Die studie het bevind dat die ‘vergroening’ van die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf breë steun geniet en die geïnstitusionaliseerde regulasies grootliks nagekom word. Die resultate wys egter ook dat daar ernstige kritiek is teen die bedryf se driedubbele ‘projek’ – soveel so dat as hierdie kritiek nie aangespreek word nie, dit die integriteit en geloofbarigheid van die bedryf se nuwe ‘beeld’ kan beskadig, en daarmee saam sy innoverende voorsprong ongedaan kan maak. Op ‘n teoretiese vlak bevraagteken die studie aspekte van beide Globale Waardeketting Teorie en Konvensionaliseringsteorie. Wat eg. betref bevraagteken die ‘tuisgemaakte’ manier waarop die bedryf sy eie ‘omgewingsvriendelike’ reguleringssisteem geskep het, die rol wat ‘leiersfirmas’ in internasionale waardekettings speel. M.b.t laasgenoemde: omdat IPW funksioneer binne die raamwerk van konvensionele landboupraktyke en baie meer koste-effektief is as internasionale ‘omgewingsvriendelike’ regulasies, kan klein sowel as groot produsente IPW regulasies met ewe veel effektiwiteit implementeer.

The topic of this thesis is the quality of poultry meat in relation to the production method. In the literature review, poultry meat is described, then its consumption in the Czech Republic and its chemical composition. Selected methods of sensory analysis are also described. Types of tested meats are characterized in the practical part. This thesis is also focused on the experimental evaluation of the chemical composition of chicken breast muscle from the Loužná farm using the NIR method and comparing the composition changes depending on the age of the chickens. It is followed by selected sensory methods aimed at recognizing differences in chicken meat from three different productions. In addition, there was published a questionnaire to determine citizen's preferences for products (chicken meat) from different production methods.

The aim of this diploma thesis was to find out the causes of low returns on chosen cereals (oat, wheat, rye, and spelled) in ecological agriculture based on evaluating information on growing procedures obtained via the method of questionnaires. Gradually, 21 ecologically farming companies controlled by the Abcert AB a Biokont CZ, s.r.o. organizations were chosen. Based on the analysis of growing procedures, the most frequent mistakes made by farmers were identified. Companies with lower returns apply mainly an inappropriate structure of crops grown, a high representation of cereals, and they do not respect crop rotation principles. Especially in favourble conditions, some farms are run without livestock production. Leguminosae representation is low in most companies, intercrops are used very seldom. In case of straw plow, the C:N ratio is not maintained using manure. Mineral manure is not used at all, liming very seldom. Vegetation is usually not fertilized during vegetation period. Cereal weed regulation is carried out, but not sufficiently. Using farm seed is quite frequent, which increases the growth of weed. Comparing returns on cereal among better and worse companies, it is obvious that respecting given principles may increase return on seed in 1.0 to 1.9 t/ha.

The thesis focuses on partial assessment of the life cycle of the strawberry plant (Fragaria), the breeding of which has a long tradition in the Czech Republic. The breeding technologies in conventional and ecological farming systems are compared, in relation to the greenhouse gases emission. The data from agriculture and transportation were accumulated by way of questionnaire survey and expert literature.The objective of this thesis was to assess the impact of individual agrotechnical factors on the pollution of the environment with greenhouse gases emissions in conventional and ecological farming systems, and also to test the hypothesis on whether it is better, from the environmental point of view, to consume locally produced or imported strawberries.The environmental impact was calculated with the SIMAPro software. This tool uses the Ecoinvent databases and enables to create a model of life cycle of the product in question according to the ČSN EN ISO 14040 and ČSN EN ISO 14044 standards. Theinputs and outputs were related to the unit of one hectare and the resulting value was converted as per 1 kg of strawberries. The input included technological operations, amount of fertilisers, and plant protection products; the output of the analysis was the emission load per1 kg of strawberries expressed in the CO2 equivalent.