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de Paiva Martins Esteves Correia, Helena Maria
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- Designing training in organic farming on a multinational basisPublication . Guiné, Raquel; Costa, Daniela; Correia, Paula; Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Esteves Correia, Helena; Castro, Moises; Guerra, Luis T; Seeds, Catherine; Coll, Collette; Radics, Laszlo; Arslan, Meahmet; Soylu, Soner; Tothova, Monika; Toth, Peter; Basile, SalvatorePurpose – The purpose of this paper is to obtain information to characterize potential trainees seeking training programs about organic farming in the form of mobile learning. This information is expected to allow for establishing a set of guidelines to design mobile training opportunities that could match the potential clients ’ wishes. Design/methodology/approach – For this survey an on-line questionnaire was used, translated into the languages of the participating countries (Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Hungary, UK, Italy and Turkey), and in the end 133 consented valid questionnaires were obtained. The data analysis was made with SPSS and included basic descriptive statistics, crosstabs and χ 2 tests, considering a level of significance of 5 per cent. Findings – The results obtained in the present study indicate that designing training programs in organic farming for a wide target population should attend to the differences between countries, which showed to significantly influence the preferences of the possible clients for this type of training.Practical implications – This study provided valuable information for use in the preparation of training programs for adults who want to expand their knowledge on organic farming, in order to prepare courses more in accordance with their preferences. Originality/value – The fact that the study was undertaken in several countries, including North, Central and South Europe, is a positive indicator that globally accepted courses could be implemented successfully. To the knowledge no such work was undertaken up to the present, thus confirming the originality of the study presented.
- Family and organic farming. New apprenticeship through m-learningPublication . Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Correia, Paula; Esteves Correia, Helena; Guiné, Raquel; Gouveia, João paulo; Rodrigues, Pedro; Teixeira, Daniela; Tourino, Luis; Castro, Moises; Basile, SalvatoreRecently, family farming has become a central element in the public debate over its fundamental role in rural areas. Family farms ensure agricultural and forestry production, as well as fishing and grazing, managed by a family that mostly depends on unpaid family labour, both women and men. From the 570 million farms in the world, over 500 million are family farms. There are numerous examples in which, through organic farming, family farming can be lead to new heights of success and innovation, with direct increase in the farm income. The benefits that may accrue from the adoption of organic farming on family farms in Mediterranean countries such as Portugal, Italy and Spain are analysed, together with its impact and major constraints, as well as the contribution that new forms of teaching and learning can give to its spread and success, including through m-learning, as it is the case of the project ECONewFARMERS - Building a future for new farmers in ecological farming through vocational training.
- Bridges between family farming and organic farming: a study case of the Iberian PeninsulaPublication . Guiné, Raquel; Gaião, Davide; Costa, Daniela; Correia, Paula; Guerra, Luis T.; Esteves Correia, Helena; Costa, Cristina Amaro DaThe aim of this work was to identify procedures adopted by family farms in the centre and north of Portu- gal and Galicia (Spain), and to verify whether they resem- ble those used in organic farming. A checklist was pre- pared in Portuguese and Spanish and applied personally to managers of family farms. The participation was volun- tary and 125 valid responses were collected. The results show that farmers included in the study owned small family farms where labour is mainly per- formed by the family, and tended to adopt, in general, good agricultural practices, many of which are common to organic farming, such as crop rotation, avoidance of GMO or avoidance of phytoregulators. However, they failed to adopt some important practices, including the use of seeds inoculated with mycorrhizae, composting, biological and biotechnical control or avoidance of chemical control for plant protection. It was further concluded that gender and age of the farmers did not significantly influence the type of agricultural practices, contrarily to the level of educa- tion and region, which were significantly associated with many of the cultural interventions investigated.
- Agricultura familiar e proteção das culturas: abordagens tradicionais e proximidade com práticas de agricultura biológicaPublication . Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Guiné, Raquel; Esteves Correia, Helena; Costa, Daniela; Costa, Telmo; Parente, Cristina; Pais, Celso; Gomes, Mafalda; Aguiar, AnaDesde há quase um século, a proteção das culturas em explorações agrícolas familiares, tem vindo a juntar às práticas tradicionais, meios de proteção curativos para combater pragas, doenças e infestantes, em particular recorrendo ao uso de pesticidas. Estes agricultores assumem grande relevância territorial, económica e social em Portugal e a sociedade procura os seus produtos, em mercados e feiras locais, por entender que estão associados a práticas agrícolas com menores impactos na saúde e no ambiente e se aproximam do modo de produção biológico. Assim, procura-se identificar as práticas agrícolas da agricultura familiar, na componente de proteção das culturas, que podem ter impactos negativos no ambiente e na saúde humana e que se distanciam da agricultura biológica. A partir de um questionário (cheklist), aplicado a 125 agricultores familiares com explorações situadas em Portugal (Viseu, Braga e Barcelos) e Espanha (Pontevedra e Padron), identificaram-se as práticas agrícolas relacionadas com a proteção das culturas. Identificaram-se algumas práticas comuns com a agricultura biológica: diversidade cultural, consociações, rotação de culturas, seleção de variedades resistentes. Outras, como o pousio, intervenções em verde ou luta biotécnica, são utilizadas apenas por alguns agricultores familiares. Por outro lado, a luta química é utilizada pela maioria dos agricultores familiares.
- Building Bio-Districts or Eco-Regions: Participative Processes Supported by Focal GroupsPublication . Dias, Raquel S.; Costa, Daniela; Esteves Correia, Helena; Costa, Cristina Amaro DaOver the years, rural areas have faced a number of problems and difficulties, such as an increase in the average age of the population, desertification, loss of employment and the abandon‐ ment of rural and agricultural activities, which have led to the emergence of new initiatives aimed at revitalizing these territories from a social, economic and environmental perspective, such as the successful Bio‐districts or Eco‐regions (e.g., Bio‐district of Cilento). Understanding and establishing a proper framework for each territory based on agroecology and participatory methodologies is still a challenge. In this sense, based on the analysis of two European examples—Cilento, Italy and São Pedro do Sul, Portugal—we described each of the building processes and defined a set of drivers that might constitute guiding principles to serve as a basis for the creation of Bio‐districts or Eco‐ regions. The drivers’ matrix identified was discussed in three focus groups carried out in Portugal in 2020. Such drivers included a technical and environmental component (the quality of the envi‐ ronment and landscape, the food system and the implementation of organic farming and agroeco‐ logical practices), a social and economic component (valorization of the farmers, products and ter‐ ritories and a set of different stakeholders—farmers, consumers, schools, tourism entities and res‐ taurants, local authorities) and a political component (the governance model). Most participants agreed that the recognition of a Bio‐district or Eco‐region should be informal, bottom‐up, with farm‐ ers as the main pillar, with a fair and representative participation, namely family farmers.
- Manual de Boas Práticas Gestão do Solo e da Água em Espécies Produtoras de Frutos SecosPublication . Rodrigues, M. A.; Arrobas, M.; Santos, A. L.; Marrão, R.; Santos, D.; Machado, O.; Pato, R. L.; Amaro, R.; Cunha, M. J.; Gomes, A. A.; Menino, R.; Castro, I. V.; Gaião, Davide; Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Costa, Daniela; Correia, Paula; Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Esteves Correia, Helena
- Professional training in organic food production: a cross-country experiencePublication . Guiné, Raquel; Costa, Daniela; Correia, Paula; Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Esteves Correia, Helena; Castro, Moises; Guerra, Luis; Seeds, Catherine; Coll, Collette; Radics, Laszlo; Arslan, Meahmet; Soylu, Soner; Tothova, Monika; Toth, Peter; Basile, SalvatorePurpose: The aim of this work was to characterize the agricultural activities and past experience in professional training in the context of mobile learning in different countries (Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Hungary, United Kingdom, Italy and Turkey). Design: For the survey, a questionnaire was prepared in English and Portuguese and then translated into the languages of the participating countries. It was delivered electronically for answering on-line by adults only. The participation was voluntary and in the end 133 consented valid questionnaires were obtained. For the treatment of the data was used SPSS and basic descriptive statistics tools were applied, together with tests, namely crosstabs and chi square tests, considering a level of significance of 5%. Findings: The results showed that the majority of the participants presently have some agricultural activity and one third is thinking about starting one the future. Most of the participants want to produce food in organic mode, with significant differences among the countries at study. Most of the participants were enrolled in training activities in agriculture, especially those with higher education. This participation showed significant differences between countries and also according to the dimension of the farms owned by the participants. A significant association was found between being a teacher in forming activities related to agriculture and being a farmer. When compared to distance learning, the training activities in classroom were the most frequented, with significant differences among the countries. Practical implications: This study allowed characterizing the learning activities in the field of organic agriculture and establish direction lines for planning of future training programs, in different countries, with maybe different social, educational and cultural realities Originality/value: Because the study included the participation of people from several countries all around Europe, the results obtained enrich the scientific area of training in Organic Farming, in view of distance learning versus classroom learning on a more global basis.
- Impact of family farming practices in the environmentPublication . Costa, Telmo; Pinheiro, Guadalupe Ribeiro; Silva, Luisa; Barata, José; Aguiar, A. R. M.; Esteves Correia, Helena; Guiné, Raquel; Parente, Cristina; Costa, Cristina Amaro DaTraditionally, family farming has contributed to the preservation of biodiversity and the environment while also contributing to decrease poverty and social inequalities, especially in developing countries (FAO, 2014). Nonetheless, there has been a growing adoption of intensive agricultural practices like the widespread use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticide crop spraying by family farmers. Therefore, in this study we wanted to establish the technical itinerary of family farming, in the North and Center of Portugal, and to assess their potential impact on the environment and understand which practices should be promoted or abandoned to make family farming more sustainable and to reduce its negative impacts. To that end, we interviewed family farmers using a checklist questionnaire that included questions related to the socio-demographic characteristics of the farmer and his family, farm description, technical itinerary and perceptions towards sustainable farming practices and pesticide use risks to the environment and health. Based on the results, we were able to determine that several practices related with soil management, like liming, absence of soil/water/leaf analysis and the non-use of composting may result in inefficient use of soil nutrients and lead to inappropriate use of fertilizers. On a positive side, many farmers use crop rotation, green and animal manure, the latter originating mostly from their own farm and thereby reducing the need of non-organic fertilizer inputs. Regarding pest management, almost all farmers use pesticides on a regular basis, whilst only a minority use biological or biotechnological pest control methods, even though about two thirds of all farmers recognize pesticides to be harmful. In a significant number of cases, farmers use pesticides without respecting the legal limits and safety intervals, originating health risks to the farmers and consumers and, at the same time, contributing to endanger the biodiversity of their farms.
- Characterization of Beekeepers and Their Activities in Seven European CountriesPublication . Guiné, Raquel P. F.; Mesquita, S.; Oliveira, Jorge; Coelho, C.; Costa, Daniela; Correia, Paula; Esteves Correia, Helena; Dahle, B.; Oddie, M.; Raimets, R.; Karise, R.; Tourino, L.; Basile, S.; Buonomo, E.; Stefanic, I.; Costa, Cristina Amaro DaBeekeeping is an ancient activity that is gaining interest among practitioners and society in general. It is as an activity with positive impacts in the environmental, social and economic spheres, with the potential to reconnect these dimensions and contribute to sustainable development. Thus, it is important to determine the profiles of beekeepers across the world, and to understand the main social, economic or ecological drivers that shape their activities. Hofstede cross-cultural dimensions were used to better explain differences between countries. A survey was undertaken of beekeepers in different countries (Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, and Spain) in the native language of each nation. A total of 313 questionnaires, using an online platform or in paper form, was delivered face-to-face during training or dissemination events in 2019. Norway and Finland were the countries with the highest percentage of respondents with a university degree (>80%), while Spain (42%) and Croatia (48%) presented the lowest percentages. Most participants were experienced beekeepers (59% had more than five years of experience) with more than 50 colonies. With the exception of Italy, beekeeping appears to be a hobby or an additional professional activity. The main beekeeping products for these beekeepers were honey, wax, colonies and propolis, with an average honey production per season of 24.5 kg/hive. Crossing socio-demographic characteristics and Hofstede cross-cultural dimensions showed a relation among countries with higher Power Distance Index (PDI; this value expresses how society accepts and expects a certain inequality of power) and lower annual income and educational level (Croatia, Portugal, and Spain). A strong correlation appeared between Masculinity Femininity Index (MFI; this value refers to gender effects in society, with feminine societies meaning that the dominant values are caring for others and quality of life, as opposed to masculine societies, which are driven by competition, achievement and success) and age, income and education, with Norway presenting the most feminine society, with more educated and older beekeepers. The Uncertainty Aversion Index (UAI; this value explains how members of a society feel when dealing with unknown situations) was strongly associated with education. The results showed that increasing beekeepers’ income will contribute to balancing the distribution of power among members of society, and that this might be achieved by training, especially in Croatia, Portugal, Spain, and Italy.
- E-book Agricultura biológicaPublication . Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Esteves Correia, Helena; Correia, Paula; Costa, Daniela; Gaião, David; Guiné, Raquel; Coelho, Catarina; Costa, José Manuel; Monteiro, António; Oliveira, Jorge; Pinto, António; Rodrigues, Pedro; Castro Serrano, J. Moisés; Touriño Guerra, Luis; Seeds, Catherine; Coll, Collet; Macdonald, John; Radics, Lászlo; Soylu, Soner; Arslan, Mehmet; Tóthová, Monika; Tóth, Peter; Basile, SalvatoreA agricultura biológica está-se a tornar cada vez mais importante como um caminho preferencial para a produção de produtos agrícolas, face à crescente procura do mercado mundial. A relevância da agricultura biológica é ainda maior, devido à necessidade e procura de produtos agrícolas de origem biológica, que são isentos de produtos químicos, saudáveis e amigos do ambiente. Atualmente, a agricultura biológica resulta em produtos de valor acrescentado, mas estes sistemas de produção exigem abordagens especializadas. Verifica-se uma lacuna de conhecimento especializado para enfrentar os desafios e exigências da agricultura biológica. Além disso, um número crescente de pessoas com níveis elevados de educação está a mudar a sua atividade para a agricultura sem qualquer tipo de formação nesta área técnica, principalmente em países com dificuldades económicas, como Portugal. Há, portanto, necessidade de desenvolver a capacidade de pessoas com algum tipo de qualificação prévio, a fim de melhorar suas competências agrícolas e facilitar a sua capacidade de desempenho e inovação, para que possam contribuir para a Estratégia Europeia (CE) de Desenvolvimento Rural. Este e-book foi concebido para melhorar as competências desses agricultores. O seu objectivo geral é dotar os novos agricultores com conhecimentos e capacidades necessários para o desenvolvimento da cadeia de valor dos produtos da agricultura biológica. Os objectivos específicos são: i) Fornecer conhecimento básico em vários aspectos da agricultura biológica e áreas afins, tais como a gestão de recursos naturais (solo, água, plantas, ambiente) e desenvolvimento rural (conservação, agricultura biológica e familiar, multifuncionalidade). ii) Facilitar a troca efetiva de conhecimento e experiências em agricultura biológica, desenvolvimento rural e ambiente. iii) Oferecer suporte técnico e conhecimento em agricultura biológica num contexto de mobilidade e em ambiente de trabalho. Este e-livro, produzido em sete idiomas diferentes (Português, Inglês, Espanhol, Italiano, Eslovaco, Turco e Húngaro) também contribui para preservar línguas e culturas Europeias e, assim, melhorar a comunicação entre os diferentes intervenientes e grupos-alvo. O e-book inclui os princípios e técnicas da agricultura biológica, com base no triângulo planta-solo-ambiente e nas relações entre a produção animal e o ambiente. A preparação de alimentos e rotulagem, marketing e conversão à agricultura biológica são também abordados. Os princípios e as técnicas apresentadas são explicados com base em regras e diretrizes (normas), baseados numa abordagem logística que garante o equilíbrio e integridade do sistema. O e-book apresenta também os regulamentos e normas nacionais e Europeias que são obrigatórias para os agricultores biológicos.