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2. Converging free and open source software tools for knowledge sharing in smallholder agricultural communities in Sri Lanka
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Jayathailake, Chandana (author), Jayasinghe-Mudalige, Udith (author), Perera, Rohana (author), Gow, Gordon (author), and Waidyanatha, Nuwan (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2017
- Published:
- Italy: Italian Agency for Development Cooperation
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 12 Document Number: D10351
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development
- Journal Title Details:
- 111(2) : 351-359
- Notes:
- 9 pages., Via online journal., In a world where the notion of ‘sharing of knowledge’ has been gained much prominence in the recent past, the importance of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to promote sustainable agriculture, especially when combined with mobile and open source software technologies is discussed critically. On this rationale, this study was carried out to explore the applicability of the concept of converging ‘Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)’ to promote sustainable knowledge sharing amongst the agricultural communities in Sri Lanka. A multi-stage community consultative process with a set of designated officials (“Sponsors”) and a series of semi-structured questionnaire survey with a cross section of smallholder agriculture farmers (n=246), were carried out in the Batticaloa, Kurunegala and Puttalam districts to gather the baseline data. This was followed by a number of field experiments (“Campaigns”) with the farmers (n=340) from same geographical areas. The two FOSS, namely: (1) “FrontlineSMS” for ‘Text Messaging’ and (2) “FreedomFone” for ‘Interactive Voice Responses’, were applied to evaluate the effectiveness of knowledge sharing within the farming communities. It was found that FOSS intervention increases the ‘Text messaging’ and ‘Voice Call’ usage in day-to-day agricultural communication by 26 and 8 percent, respectively. The demographic factors like age and income level of the farmers has positively influence on the knowledge sharing process. And also the ‘Mobile Telephony’ was the most extensive mode of communication within the communities. The outcome of analysis, as a whole, implies that, with a fitting mechanism in place, this approach can be promoted as a “drive for positive changes” in agriculture-based rural communities in developing countries like Sri Lanka, and those in South and East Asia with similar socio-economic and cultural perspectives.
3. How do human values influence the beef preferences of consumer segments regarding animal welfare and environmentally friendly production?
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Sonoda, Yuta (author), Oishi, Kazato (author), Chomei, Yosuke (author), and Hirooka, Hiroyuki (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2018-12
- Published:
- USA: Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 4 Document Number: D10179
- Journal Title:
- Meat Science
- Journal Title Details:
- 146: 75-86
- Notes:
- 12 pages., via online journal, Animal welfare and environmental impacts have been emphasized in the sustainable production of livestock. Labels are useful tools for clearly providing such attribute information to consumers. The aim of this study was to evaluate how human values influence consumer segments for beef with information on animal welfare and environmentally friendly production. Using a choice experiment, we examined whether animal welfare and environmentally friendly labels, country of origin and price impact consumer choice. As results, five heterogeneous consumer classes were identified using a latent class model: label conscious, domestic beef preferring, price conscious, animal welfare preferring and not interested in production method. Almost 90% of consumers were interested in and willing to pay for beef with animal welfare or environmentally friendly label. The classes with significant preferences for such labeled beef were affected by “openness to change”, “self-enhancement” and “security”. Improving consumer attitudes and strengthening consumer perception towards labeled beef by marketers and policy makers will be required.
4. Information needs and information-seeking behaviors of urban food producers: implications for urban extension programs
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Kumudu P. P. Kopiyawattage (author), Laura A. Warner (author), and T. Grady Roberts (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2018
- Published:
- USA: The American Association for Agricultural Education
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 149 Document Number: D10111
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education
- Journal Title Details:
- 59(3) : 229-242
- Notes:
- Via Online Journal, Extension is challenged with meeting the needs of a variety of stakeholders. As the country becomes more urban, Extension may need to adapt programming to reach new clients. Having an understanding about what, when, and how urban food producers gather information is important to address their needs. Information that is relevant, up-to-date, and meets clients’ needs, enables their ability to adopt new ideas and innovative technologies, providing more opportunities for success. A mixed-method research design explored the information needs and information-seeking behavior of urban food producers in Columbus, Ohio. Urban food producers in this study most needed information to increase food production. Respondents preferred to receive information from the Internet and other electronic media over conventional information sources. This group of urban producers trusted information from university and Extension sources, but expressed mixed opinions about their personal experiences with OSU Extension.
5. Mexican consumers' perceptions and attitudes towards farm animal welfare and willingness to pay for welfare friendly meat products
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Miranda-de la Lama, G.C. (author), Estévez-Moreno, L.X. (author), Sepúlveda, W.S. (author), Estrada-Chavero, M.C. (author), Rayas-Amor, A.A. (author), Villarroel, M. (author), and María, G.A. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2017-03
- Published:
- USA: Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 4 Document Number: D10180
- Journal Title:
- Meat Science
- Journal Title Details:
- 125 : 106–113
- Notes:
- 8 pages., Via online journal., Increasing concerns about farm animal welfare have led to an increase in the availability of welfare-friendly-products (WFP), but little is known about how much more consumers are willing-to-pay (WTP) for WFP or about their buying trends in Latin America. In this study, a survey was given to 843 meat consumers in the city of Toluca, Mexico. The results show that consumers were interested in farm animal welfare issues and their ethical, sociological and economic implications, as in Europe. The people surveyed also conveyed a high level of empathy with animal feelings and emotions, however they clearly demanded more information and regulations related to farm animal welfare. The majority of respondents expressed that they were WTP more for properly certified WFP, but mostly based on the benefits in terms of product quality and human health. If the demand for WFP begins to increase in Mexico, the supply chain should consider a certification system to guarantee product origin based on current conditions.
6. Need for a wind of change? use of offshore wind messages by stakeholders and the media in Germany and their effects on public acceptance
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Schmidt, Adriane (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2015-12
- Published:
- Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 32 Document Number: D10636
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
- Journal Title Details:
- 60(8): 1391–1411
- Notes:
- 22 pages., via online journal., This study investigates German news media coverage and PR material of offshore wind stakeholders from industry, politics, science and civil society thoroughly to provide insights about offshore wind benefits and risks communicated frequently and rarely to the public. By comparative analyses, differences between stakeholder and media messages are revealed: while stakeholders strongly focused on the supportive argument relevance of offshore wind for the energy turnaround, the media often discussed the negative impacts higher costs and delays in grid connection. Furthermore, the influence of offshore wind arguments on acceptance is measured within a survey representative of the German population. With these results, it can be assessed how far influential arguments were presented and which messages have been used frequently despite their low impact. Disruptions to viewscapes, limitation of commercial fishing areas, and hazards to shipping proved to be effective a
7. Values of place: measuring attitudes of community leaders toward scenes from rural landscapes
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Mangun, Jean C. (author), Carver, Andrew D. (author), and Ylli, Valbona (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2009-07-01
- Published:
- USA: Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 152 Document Number: D10142
- Journal Title:
- Social and Natural Resources
- Journal Title Details:
- 22(7): 665-673
- Notes:
- 9 pages., Via online journal., This article reports on an exploratory study designed to measure community leaders’ attitudes toward scenes from working rural landscapes as elicited by photographs paired with a semantic differential scale. Using this approach it is determined that age, occupation, knowledge about farm structure, and community size are important factors shaping the diverse attitudes held by community leaders in rural southern Illinois. Findings suggest that the position and magnitude of attitude differences between relevant social groups be examined prior to launching new rural development initiatives.
8. Viewpoint: effective stakeholder communication in agriculture: together we stand, divided we fall!
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Aaarts, H. F. M. (author), Humphreys, J. (author), and Le Gall, A. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2014-05-01
- Published:
- Interational: Cambridge University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 151 Document Number: D10127
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Science
- Journal Title Details:
- 152(S1) : 65-70
- Notes:
- 6 pages., (Special Issue from the 17th International Nitrogen Workshop), Via online Journal, Substantial improvements of agricultural systems are necessary to meet the future requirements of humanity. However, current agricultural knowledge and information systems are generally not well suited to meet the necessary improvements in productivity and sustainability. For more effective application of research output, research producers and research consumers should not be considered as separate individuals in the knowledge chain but as collaborating partners creating synergy. The current paper investigates the relationships between scientists and stakeholders and identifies approaches to increase the effectiveness of their communication. On-farm research has proven to be an effective means of improving exploitation of research output at farm level because it connects all relevant partners in the process. Furthermore, pilot farms can act as an effective platform for communication and dissemination. Regional networks of pilot farms should be established and connected across regions