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- MULTIMODAL CREATIVITY AT THE SERVICE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN PORTUGAL: THE JASM PROJECTPublication . Costa Lopes, Ana Maria; Costa, Cristina Amaro da; Coutinho, Emília; Oliveira, Isabel; Pereira, José; Gillain, Romain; MOTA ROBOREDO AMANTE, FÁTIMA SUSANA; Fidalgo, Susana; Rocha Relvas, Susana; Delplancq, Véronique; JPBReviewThe JASM project used the Korsakow6 platform to produceStorytellingin foreign languages (FL), by students of the Media Studies degree course (Higher Education-HE) of the Escola Superior de Educação de Viseu(ESEV, Portugal).Objective: Look into the impact of non-linear digital narratives upon FL learning in HE, assessing the role of multimodal tools in fostering linguistic, cultural, and technological skills.Theoretical Framework: The study was grounded in active methodologies with a focus on integrating intercultural skills. Using new technologies is a catalyst forenhancing student motivation and autonomy.Method: The project, developed within the context of French and English, involved 25 voluntarily participating students attending the first year. Following language level tests, each group gathered information about the nationality and culture of migrants living in Viseu. Students conducted interviews and documented migrants’ life stories, traditions, using digital narratives. Final outputs included short films, social media posts, exhibitions, and an e-book. Results and Discussion: Students enhanced cognitive, emotional and aesthetic skills within collaborative environments, integrating experiences from multilingual and multicultural contexts with creative and multimodal abilities and increased autonomy and initiative. Challenges were identified, highlighting the need for ongoing teacher training.Research Implications: This project showed how digital and active pedagogies can foster the development of FL and intercultural competencies in HE students.Originality/Value: This study provides for an innovative approach relying on multimodal technologies for teaching FL in HE. The transformative potential of digital narratives as an impactful pedagogical tool is highlighted.
- Preliminary Study and Pre-Validation in Portugal of New Farmers’ Mindfulness and Life Satisfaction Scale (FMLSS)Publication . Morais, Artur; de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, Raquel; Costa, Cristina Amaro da; Magalhães, CátiaBackground/Objective: Besides the common risks associated with agriculture, recently, there has been growing concern about the impact of agriculture on farmers’ mental health, due to high stress levels, depression, anxiety, and increasing rates of suicide, especially complex considering that many of these farmers are older people. The potential of the practice of mindfulness to minimize mental health problems and improve people’s sense of well-being has been studied in recent decades, although there is a dearth of literature related to farmer populations. This study aimed to correlate the presence of mindfulness traits with general life quality and well-being and assess the levels of mindfulness and life satisfaction among family farmers, as well as to evaluate which characteristics might be associated with them. Method: The sample was composed of 30 farmers from the region of Viseu—Portugal, who were randomly selected for a survey consisting of an adaptation of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), with some new items specific to the context of agriculture. A proposed Farmers’ Mindfulness and Life Satisfaction Scale (FMLSS) was validated through factor analysis and internal reliability analysis. Result: The results showed a relatively high average score for the 10 items of the mindfulness scale (4.23 ± 0.56) and the global sum of scores for the 5 items of the life satisfaction scale (26.67 ± 4.76). Factor analysis revealed six factors, globally explaining 77% of the variance, with values of alpha varying from 0.640 to 0.874. The FMLSS was validated with 19 items of the 20 initially considered (α = 0.672). Cluster analysis revealed two typologies of participants, “Pleased” and “Accommodated” family farmers. These two clusters had global values for the FMLSS of 5.19 ± 0.51 and 4.37 ± 0.59, with the higher value obtained for the “Pleased” family farmers, who were mostly of male gender and worked more hours per week and whose agricultural activities had higher significance for their family income. Conclusions: Overall, we observed a relatively high level of mindfulness and satisfaction with life among family farmers. This suggests the importance of future research on mental health among family farmers.
- Analysis of Governance models for sustainable and healthy food systemsPublication . Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Amaral, Ana Luísa; Costa, Filipa; Guiné, Raquel; Costa, Cristina Amaro daSustainable food systems are systems that safeguard economic, social and environmental sustainability by fomenting social progress, promoting efficient management of natural resources, providing nutritious food and ensuring fair compensation for all actors in the food chain. In recent years, several initiatives worldwide have been created to ensure and promote the sustainability of the current food systems. These initiatives aim to enable people to have access to quality, nutritious and sustainable foods, combat social and economic inequalities and promote synergies between consumers and producers. To promote these initiatives is crucial in order to contribute to improved food consumption and production patterns towards more nutritive and sustainable foods. The objective of this research was to identify and characterize sustainable food initiatives in order to understand their structure, model of governance, motivations, typology of actors involved and future prospects. This investigation was based on an interview guide that was applied to the managers or those responsible for the sustainable initiatives related with the food system. Seven initiatives were included, and the semi- structured interviews were carried out online during the summer of 2024. The recorded interviews were transcribed, and the content analysed. The results obtained by the interviews showed that the principal motivators are related to food and sustainability, in all three, economic, environmental and social, dimensions. It was further identified that the most important cause of success was the availability and commitment of the people involved in the initiative. The seven initiatives analysed were implemented to meet local needs, both of producers and consumers, while promoting sustainability. Furthermore, they aimed at encouraging economic circularity, transference and sharing of knowledge, valorisation of local and rural resources, and management of food waste. These aspects contribute to more efficient and eco-friendly local food supply chains, providing the consumers with fresher and heathier food products. The existence of local or nationwide initiatives related with the sustainability of food system contribute to a more efficient use of natural resources in order to obtain healthy, sustainable and fair food products, that the modern consumers tend to value in search for a more friendly co-existence between the necessity to produce food and the recognized need to preserve the natural ecosystems.
- Bee Brood as a Food for Human Consumption: An Integrative Review of Phytochemical and Nutritional CompositionPublication . Guiné, Raquel; Florença, Sofia G.; Barroca, Maria João; Costa, Cristina Amaro daThe utilisation of edible insects for human nutrition is a long-standing practice in many parts of the globe, and is being gradually introduced into countries without an entomophagic tradition as well. These unconventional sources of protein of animal origin have arisen as a sustainable alternative to other animal protein sources, such as meat. This review intends to present the compilation of data in the scientific literature on the chemical composition and nutritional value of the bee brood of A. mellifera species and subspecies as edible foods. For this, a comprehensive search of the scientific literature was carried out using the databases ScienceDirect, Scopus, Pub-Med, BOn, and SciELO. Appropriate keywords were used for the search to reach the research works that addressed the topics of the review. The results showed that bee brood has considerable quantities of protein, fat and carbohydrates. The most abundant amino acids are leucine and lysine (these two being essential amino acids) and aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and proline (these three being non-essential amino acids). As for the fatty acids, bee broods contain approximately equal fractions of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, while the polyunsaturated fatty acids are negligible. The dietary minerals present in higher quantities are potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, and the most abundant vitamins are vitamin C and niacin; choline is also present, although it is not a true vitamin. Although bee brood from A. mellifera has potential for human consumption as a nutrient-rich food, there are still many aspects that need to be further studied in the future, such as safety and hazards linked to possible regular consumption.
- Edible Insects – Exotic Food or Gastronomic Innovation? Study Involving 14 CountriesPublication . de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, Raquel; Elena Bartkiene; Monica Tarcea; Cristina Chuck-Hernández; Ilija Djekic; Marijana Matek Sarić; Nada M. Boustani; Malgorzata Korzeniowska; Dace Klava; Maria Papageorgiou; José Maria Fresno Baro; Maša Cernelic Bizjak; Emel Damarli; Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Costa, Cristina Amaro da; Correia, Paula; Ferreira, Manuela; Cardoso, Ana Paula; Margarida Campos, Sofia; Anjos, Ofélia; Ferreira, VanessaThis study explores the perceptions about edible insects and their usage in modern gastronomy. Data were collected through questionnaire survey in 14 countries, and 7222 responses were obtained. ANOVA and factor analysis were used, respectively to evaluate differences between groups and to analyze the scale items. The results showed that participants showed higher agreement toward insects being considered exotic foods and being associated with taboos and neophobia. Some sociodemographic factors (country, age class, education level and income) were proven to significantly influence with the perceptions. while sex and living environment did not. Factor analysis extracted three factors, one associated with the uses of insects in gastronomy, another associated with insects as foods and a third about insects not being proper for human consumption. In conclusion, the work revealed differences between countries in the perceptions about edible insects, and that these perceptions were also significantly influenced according to other sociodemographic variables.
- The integration of immigrant women farmers in Portugal: Reconnecting with nature through agriculturePublication . Delplancq, Véronique; Costa, Cristina Amaro da; Araújo, Pedro; Costa Lopes, Ana Maria; Fidalgo, Susana; Figueiredo, Diogo; Pereira, José Manuel de Almeida; European Journal of Sustainable Development ResearchMigrants play a vital role in revitalizing rural regions, contributing to demographic renewal, economic diversification, and cultural enrichment. Their involvement is particularly significant in sectors such as agriculture, where labour shortages and aging populations pose ongoing challenges. By bringing new skills, perspectives, and initiatives, migrants help sustain local economies and foster innovation. This study explores the experiences of five foreign women who have relocated to the Centre of Portugal, establishing new lives centred on agriculture and aims to understand the motivations behind migration, lifestyles, and the dynamics of integration. Through in-depth interviews and photographic and video documentation, the study highlights the women’s pursuit of a more sustainable, nature-connected existence, emphasizes the significance of the welcoming process and underlines the role of agriculture as a pathway to improved quality of life and social integration. It was clear that the integration process requires social inclusion, access to services, cultural exchange, and community engagement. Keywords: foreign women farmers, region of Viseu, integration, sustainability, eco-friendly
- Biopreparados agroecológicos como solução biológicaPublication . Simões, Joana; de Vasconcelos Teixeira Aguiar da Costa, Daniela; Costa, Cristina Amaro daNa sociedade atual, a sustentabilidade ambiental e social é uma preocupação crescente, em particular na produção de alimentos que se traduz na crescente procura por produtos seguros para os ecossistemas e para o consumidor final. A utilização de biopreparados, com base na (re)utilização de recursos naturais existentes na exploração, é uma parte integrante de sistemas produção agroecológicos. Estudaram se sete biopreparados agroecológicos no projeto RESTORE - biopReparados Em SisTemas prOdução agRoEcológicos [projeto UIDB/00681/2020] – vinagre de figo-da-índia, vinagre de beldroega, sumo fermentado de laranja, extrato de alho, infusão de urtiga, decocção de cavalinha e biopreparado de alho e malagueta. O trabalho consistiu em: aplicação de inquérito aos agricultores sobre biopreparados utilizados; seleção e produção, análise físico-química e microbiológica e avaliação de efeitos in vivo de biopreparados. Foram realizados 17 inquéritos a produtores, na região Centro. Os biopreparados foram selecionados a partir da informação dos agricultores. Em laboratório, procedeu-se à quantificação de compostos fenólicos totais, análise da capacidade antioxidante e a da inibição de atividade microbiana, em bactérias e fungos, em três momentos temporais diferentes e com base no tipo de conservação estabelecida: logo após a preparação do biopreparado; três e seis meses após a conservação em fresco e seis meses após conservação por congelação. Os ensaios de campo foram realizados em viveiros de alface, em estufa, desde a sementeira até à transplantação. O sumo fermentado de laranja e os vinagres apresentam os melhores resultados em composição fenólica e capacidade antioxidante. Em termos de inibição de atividade microbiológica, o biopreparado de alho e malagueta é o que demonstra uma inibição mais consistente. A decocção de cavalinha demonstra apresentar melhores resultados enquanto bioestimulante no cultivo de alface. É essencial dar continuidade a estudos de avaliação dos efeitos dos biopreparados para melhorar o conhecimento sobre os mesmos e os seus efeitos, bem como para fundamentar uma tomada de decisão mais adequada.
- Bio-Regions as An Innovative Model of Sustainable Rural Development: An Integrative Literature ReviewPublication . Lagoa, Rui; Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Tibério, Manuel; Gonçalves, Ramiro; Costa, Cristina Amaro daThe Bio-Regions, whose origin dates back to Italy, constitute an innovative model of rural development anchored in endogenous dynamics, valuing territorial specificities, local social capital and participatory governance mechanisms. Its integrated approach seeks to articulate organic farming, environmental sustainability, community cohesion and proximity circuits. This study aims to contribute to the scientific and political debate around Bio-Regions, exploring their transformative potential in the context of territorial public policies. Through an integrative literature review, we sought to understand not only the conceptual and practical evolution of the Bio-Regions, but also the implications of their consolidation in different territorial contexts. The analysis focused on indexed scientific publications and non conventional specialized literature, collected through professional and academic networks. The selection of contributions was guided by thematic criteria, favoring studies that addressed institutional factors, the mobiliza tion of local actors and the role of public policies in the operationalization of this development model. The results highlight the decisive role of the institutional dimension in the consolidation of Bio-Regions, underlining the importance of integrated and participatory political strategies. At the same time, significant gaps in sci entific production are identified, particularly with regard to the systematic assessment of the economic, social and environmental impacts associated with the implementation of the Bio-Regions.
- Recognizing diversity to enable an agroecological transition: understanding the potential of family farmers in PortugalPublication . Costa-Pereira, Inês; Aguiar, Ana A. R. M.; Delgado, Fernanda; Costa, Cristina Amaro daThe agroecological transition of family farms in Portugal poses a significant challenge within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European Green Deal. Despite their multifunctional contributions to rural territories, family farms—particularly smallholders—remain structurally disadvantaged by policy frameworks that continue to favor large-scale, high-input agricultural models. This study demonstrates that aligning family farming with agroecological principles yields tangible benefits and requires support through differentiated, typology-sensitive public policies. Using a tailored methodology, data were collected from 40 farms initially classified as conventional or agroecological. Ward’s hierarchical clustering, supported by complementary significance tests, identified three distinct farmer typologies: conventional, proto-agroecological, and agroecological. These typologies reflect meaningful differences in ecological integration, systemic thinking, and social engagement. The findings highlight the need for targeted policy frameworks that recognize farm diversity and promote multiple pathways toward agroecology. This typology-based approach provides an empirically grounded foundation for designing more inclusive and context-responsive institutional support for family farmers in Portugal
- Citizen Science and the Food System—A Focus Group Pilot StudyPublication . Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Amaral, Ana Luísa; Costa, Filipa; Costa, Cristina Amaro da