@article{VenusBealeVillalba2024, author = {Venus, Terese E. and Beale, Caroline and Villalba, Roberto}, title = {Innovation and networks in the bioeconomy : a case study from the German Coffee Value Chain}, series = {Circular Economy and Sustainability}, volume = {4}, journal = {Circular Economy and Sustainability}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing}, address = {Cham}, issn = {2730-597X}, doi = {10.1007/s43615-024-00357-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-2405070852079.655263471225}, pages = {1751 -- 1772}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The transition to a circular bioeconomy requires innovation across many sectors, but social dynamics within a sector's network may affect innovation potential. We investigate how network dynamics relate to the perceptions and adoption of bioeconomy innovation using a case study from the food processing sector. Our case study of the German coffee value chain represents a technologically advanced sector with a strong sustainability focus and potential for residue valorization, which is an important dimension of a sustainable circular bioeconomy. We identify three distinct views (pioneers, traditional and limited users) related to residue valorization, map linkages between actors using social network analysis, and highlight barriers to innovation. We collected data through an online survey and semi-structured interviews with key actors in the coffee roasting sector. Within the social network analysis, we find that public waste managers are closely linked to the most influential actors, state actors such as the customs and tax offices can quickly interact with others in the network and promote the spread of information (highest closeness centrality) and specific roasters play an important role as intermediaries for efficient communication (highest betweenness centrality). Finally, we identify four main barriers including the structure of the coffee network, inconsistencies in federal waste regulations, economies of scale, and visions of sustainability. To support a sustainable bioeconomy, we recommend that policy makers revise the primary regulatory frameworks for waste (e.g., German Recycling Act) to clarify how to classify food residues, their disposal structures and broaden their use streams.}, language = {en} } @article{Narh2024, author = {Narh, John}, title = {Progress, challenges and prospects of the modified Taungya system in Ghana}, series = {Agroforestry Systems}, volume = {98}, journal = {Agroforestry Systems}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer Netherlands}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0167-4366}, doi = {10.1007/s10457-023-00947-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-2405100928309.284032809350}, pages = {767 -- 782}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Forest landscape restoration through agroforestry has been implemented as a Nature-based Solution to deforestation in the Global South with varied outcomes. The Modified Taungya System (MTS) is one of such programmes introduced in Ghana to address socio-economically-induced degradation of forest reserves. For two decades since its establishment, there has not been any examination of  a synthesised findings on the MTS and their implication for the prospects of the programme. Using the PRISMA method to select empirical studies, this article examines the state of reforestation under the MTS by reflecting on the conditions of success and failures of the programme. In doing so, two interrelated arguments are advanced. First, the MTS seems to be successful when farmers are well-educated about the programme and their future benefits in the reserves that they enrich. Second, the MTS has largely failed to achieve its full potentials for forest recovery due to bribery, corruption and nepotism that have bedevilled land demarcation to, and delays in signing benefit sharing agreement with, farmers. There is a need for a thorough sensitisation on the MTS to enhance its transparency. Besides, the MTS needs to be remodified if it would be one of the strategies to contribute to the Bonn Challenge and for a durable climate mitigation.}, language = {en} }