Aquaculture in floating cages in Lake Maninjau has recorded significant growth, even as the largest contributor to total annual aquacultural production in West Sumatra Province. In this study, we assessed the output of floating net cages in Lake Maninjau, Indonesia. We analyzed the characteristics of fish farming, fish fry, feed supply, and production, and the challenges and opportunities for increasing aquacultural production in the future. We used purposive sampling in this study with an interview questionnaire to obtain information from 80 fish-cultivating households in Lake Maninjau. We then used descriptive statistical methods of data analysis. The results showed that in 2018, there were 17596 floating net cages. The majority (n = 33, 41.25%) of fish farmers have 20 to 40 floating net cages per household, and 67.5% (n = 54) are used for tilapia cultivation. We recorded that 77.5% (n = 62) of fingerlings were sourced from private hatcheries. Six companies supply commercial feed pellets in an amount of 2000 tons per month for aquaculture activities. Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Ltd. provides 35% of the feed. The fish species cultivated were Nile tilapia, common carp, giant gourami, Clarias catfish, and pangasius catfish, with gross yields (kg/m3/cycle) of 12, 11.5, 10.4, 7.88, and 8.89, respectively. Fish farmers face challenging conditions: poor water quality, mass mortality of tilapia, high fish feed prices and low fish sale prices, and noncash payments. We recommend ensuring the development of floating net cages in Lake Maninjau for a more sustainable future. Therefore, it is necessary to operate as many as 6000 nets to meet guidelines for carrying capacity and cultivation based on the Regional Regulation of Agam Regency Number 5 of 2014 concerning the management of Maninjau Lake, which is accessible proportionally by eight villages. Giant gourami is prioritized for cultivation because it is resistant to poor water quality and high market prices.
Numerous sustainability initiatives have been discussed and widely adopted in various sectors worldwide. This research aims to identify which essential parameters affect sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practice through the case of the Taiwanese fresh-fruit sector. An industry has great importance to the households of indigenous people, significantly contributing to the sustainable development in rural areas of Taiwan. A total of twelve SSCM parameters have been verified, and then the authors conducted the TOPSIS approach process to determine the importance level of these SSCM parameters. The analysis results suggested that “Collaboration”, “Distribution and Logistics service”, “Customer” have supreme importance, respectively. On the contrary, at the bottom of the prioritized list is three variables consisting of “Warehouse/Storage”, “Organizational social responsibilities”, and “Processing and packaging”. This is the unique study to consider SSCM practice through the case of the Taiwanese fresh-fruit chain; hence, these key findings could be a valuable reference for the top managers to make decisions.
The economic concept of the circular bioeconomy addresses not only the sectors of the traditional bioeconomy but also, in particular, the sectors of bio-based chemicals and energies as well as waste management. This concept is basically based on closing material cycles, in particular, but not only, that of carbon. Managing these material cycles is costly, which is why economic sustainability and, in the current transition phase, competitiveness with fossil-based value chains remain a constant challenge. Because of the large material turnover of the mentioned industries, in the interest of environmental sustainability the circular bioeconomy has to respect the limits of natural resources. With the raw material shift from fossil to renewable resources, regional economic structures and jobs will change and, in addition, circularity requires a change in consumption behavior. Both are challenges that need to be addressed in the interest of social acceptance and sustainability. The article focuses on the economic, but addresses also the ecological and social aspects, discusses options for achieving a comprehensively sustainable circular bioeconomy, and identifies research needs necessary for the further development of the bioeconomy.
The definition of environmental indexes is one of the most widely used methods and methodologies for the study of exposure to polluting agents, and it is a highly helpful instrument for describing the quality of the environment in a simple and straightforward manner. In this study, index models were presented and described that can be used in evaluating the contamination, pollution and health risks of environmental micro (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) to ecosystems and humans. Index models such as plastic contamination factors (pCf) and pollution load index (pPLI), plastic- bioconcentration or accumulation factors (pBCf or pBAf), plastic-biota-sediment accumulation factor (pBSAf), biota accumulation load index (BALI), polymer risks indices (pRi), polymer ecological risks index (pERI) while plastic estimated daily intake (pEDI) and plastic carcinogenic risks (pCR) were described for oral, dermal and inhalation pathways. All index modeled were further described based on polymer types of MPs/NPs. The final value is represented by a quantity that measures a weighted combination of sub-indices and defined by an appropriate mathematical function. The central concept is to present an indicator that can describe, in a clear and concise manner, the level of MPs/NPs in the environment, thereby indicating where it would be necessary to intervene and where it would not in order to improve overall environmental conditions.
While millions of people around the world die from natural water infections per day because of insufficient wastewater collection systems to cover all communities, 80 percent of used water is still released to the river in Thailand nowadays. As a result, the wastewater management (WWM) behavior of people is critical to water conservation. WWM, on the other hand, was fraught with high expenses and inconvenient installation, and earlier research had paid little attention to it. Thus, this research aims to study the socio-economic, cognition, opinions, and perception of information factors for analysis further of the factors affecting the WWM of people in urban areas, Thailand. This study applied multiple regression analysis from questionnaires survey of nine communities in Krathum Baen municipality, Samut Sakhon Province which is a semi-industrial area, crowded settlement, and risen wastewater unexpectedly along the Tha Chin River. The findings reveal that people in study areas have a moderate level of cognition and opinion toward WWM behavior. Perception of information was the best variable to describe the people's WWM behaviors in urban areas. Addressing the empirical results could contribute to water conservation planning, people engagement, and appropriately promoting WWM behaviors related to urban people.
The ways in which the agricultural landscape has been used and managed by man has resulted in substantial changes over time in relation to the economic changes and social needs of local communities. In recent times, thanks to the multifunctional vision of agriculture, growing interest has focused on the recreational aspects of the landscape as a function of its usability. This interest derives both from its importance, highlighted by numerous studies on this aspect, and from its link with rural tourism. The latter phenomenon is growing rapidly and is capable of triggering important processes of development and local growth. In this context, the present study highlights some preliminary considerations on the relationships that, from the point of view of sustainable local development, exist between possible types of tourism and methods of landscape management. To this end, first explore some features of the agricultural landscape and their possible economic evaluations. The study shows that an agricultural landscape in which man is present with agricultural activity, and where the service sector offers adequate opportunities for receptivity, it is possible to create growth and development paths for the local economy. The empirical analysis carried out in the Madonie shows that the resilience of the agricultural landscape is strictly connected to the presence of man in the territory.