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- Regenerative Agriculture: Insights and Challenges in Farmer AdoptionPublication . Moisés, Cristiano; Arrobas, Margarida; Tsitos, Dimitrios; Pinho, Diogo; Rezende, Raiza Figueiredo; Rodrigues, Manuel ÂngeloRegenerative agriculture has emerged as a new organic farming movement, initially difficult to distinguish from similar approaches. Its core concerns, such as ecosystem degradation caused by intensive farming, align with those of many other organic systems. However, regenerative agriculture prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, and social equity, setting itself apart through its scalability and flexibility. Unlike other ecological farming methods, often limited to smaller scales, regenerative agriculture aims to be implemented on large farms, typically major contributors to pollution due to reliance on external inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. Notably, regenerative certification standards are more flexible, allowing the use of industrially synthesized inputs under specific conditions, provided that regenerative principles are upheld. This review systematically examines seven core regenerative practices: no-tillage farming, crop rotation, cover cropping, green manures, intercropping, perennial cover systems, and integrated crop-livestock systems. It outlines the practical advantages and ecological benefits of each, while identifying key adoption challenges, including costs, farm size, and institutional barriers. The paper argues that addressing these issues, particularly concerning scale and socio-economic constraints, is essential for broader adoption. By synthesizing recent evidence, this review clarifies the distinctiveness of regenerative agriculture and highlights pathways for its scalable implementation.
- O impacto do conhecimento ecológico e das atitudes ambientais na compra de alimentos em PortugalPublication . Moisés, Cristiano; Ribeiro, Maria Isabel; Fernandes, AntónioA produção de alimentos é uma atividade essencial. O sistema alimentar da União Europeia (UE) visa garantir o acesso a alimentos frescos e seguros. No entanto, tem-se verificado que o setor agroalimentar tem um impacto negativo sobre o ambiente. Por isso, esta investigação pretende contribuir para o debate sobre o impacto do interesse pelo conhecimento ecológico, do conhecimento sobre questões ecológicas e do planeamento de compras consciente, das atitudes e comportamentos sustentáveis. Neste contexto, este estudo pretende dar a conhecer a orientação dos consumidores, isto é, pretende-se saber até que ponto as questões ambientais são tidas em consideração nas decisões de compra de alimentos. Para isso, será desenvolvido um estudo quantitativo, do tipo cross-section ou transversal, baseado na aplicação de um questionário, adaptado da literatura, a consumidores portugueses. Os estudos quantitativos permitem medir opiniões, comportamentos, hábitos e atitudes tendo como base uma amostra. A amostra deste estudo é constituída por 696 consumidores de nacionalidade portuguesa com idades compreendidas entre 18 e os 74 anos. A média de idades registada foi de 28,97 anos (DP = 12,81), a mediana de 22 anos, sendo a moda de 18 anos. A maioria dos inquiridos (57,6%) reside nos distritos do Porto (26,1%), Bragança (18,4%) e Braga (13,1%). Os resultados evidenciaram uma associação positiva entre o conhecimento ecológico, o interesse em questões ambientais e os comportamentos de compra ecológicos, o planeamento consciente de compras e as atitudes e comportamentos sustentáveis. Adicionalmente, a idade dos consumidores desempenha um papel importante na adoção desses comportamentos, uma vez que os indivíduos mais velhos revelaram uma maior predisposição para valorizar aspetos ambientais e sociais nas suas decisões de compra. Estas descobertas constituem uma valiosa contribuição para a compreensão dos fatores que influenciam os comportamentos de consumo sustentável, proporcionando informações relevantes para a elaboração de políticas e estratégias eficazes neste domínio. O estudo contextualiza os resultados no contexto específico de Portugal, contribuindo para a ampliação do conhecimento sobre o consumo sustentável neste país.
- Impacto das questões ecológicas na compra de alimentos: a perspetiva dos estudantes africanosPublication . Ribeiro, Maria Isabel; Moisés, Cristiano; Fernandes, AntónioA sustentabilidade é um dos maiores desafios que as sociedades enfrentam na atualidade. Questões relacionadas com a sustentabilidade alimentar dos consumidores, como por exemplo, comportamento sustentável de compra de alimentos, entre outros, são colocadas na agenda pública, comprovando a sua relevância e interesse (Hansen, 2022). Mudar os padrões de consumo para um nível mais sustentável parece ser um objetivo crítico a alcançar para um futuro sustentável (Bradshaw & Brook, 2014). Na literatura é referida a discrepância entre a atitude positiva em relação à ideia de sustentabilidade e o comportamento do consumidor (Kuźniar et al, 2021). Isto é, nem sempre a atitude se traduz em comportamentos ecológicos ou consumo sustentável. No entanto, o conhecimento pode ser uma poderosa técnica de mudança de comportamento quando adaptado a todo o processo de compra, incluindo o planeamento, a execução e a reflexão sobre a compra de alimentos (Ran et al., 2022). Neste contexto, a presente investigação teve como objetivo verificar se o interesse e o conhecimento sobre questões ecológicas, bem como o planeamento consciente das compras tinham impacto sobre os hábitos de compra de alimentos mais sustentáveis. Foi desenvolvido um estudo quantitativo, baseado na aplicação da escala de Kuźniar, Surmacz e Wierzbiński (2021). Esta escala é constituída por 17 afirmações que têm como opção de resposta uma escala tipo Likert que varia de 1 (discordo completamente) a 7 (concordo completamente). Posteriormente, estas afirmações foram distribuídas por 4 dimensões, nomeadamente, (1) interesse no conhecimento ecológico, (2) conhecimento de questões ecológicas, (3) hábitos de compra ecológicos e (4) planeamento consciente das compras. Foi recolhida uma amostra não probabilística selecionada por conveniência, no período de setembro de 2022 a 15 janeiro de 2023. A amostra deste estudo era constituída por 204 estudantes, do ensino superior, de origem africana, de seis nacionalidades diferentes, nomeadamente, Cabo-verdiana (61,3%), Guineense (27,5%), Angolana (5,9%), Santomense (4,4%), Argelina (0,5%) e Moçambicana (0,5%). Os estudantes tinham idade compreendida entre 18 e 42 anos. A média de idades registada foi de 22,3 anos (DP = 3,799). A maioria dos inquiridos estudava e vivia em Portugal (71,6%) e residia nos distritos de Bragança (43,1%) e Lisboa (10,3%). Os inquiridos eram, na sua maioria, do género feminino (53,9%) e faziam parte de um agregado familiar com pelo menos 3 elementos (50,0%). O rendimento do agregado familiar era inferior a 750 euros/mês (72,5%), tendo os inquiridos referido ter algumas (50,5%) ou graves carência financeiras (13,7%). Os resultados evidenciaram que, em termos médios, os “Hábitos de compra sustentáveis” foi a dimensão que registou o valor mais baixo (x ̅ = 3,95; DP = 1,806) seguido, do “Interesse pelo conhecimento ecológico” (x ̅ = 4,27; DP = 1,903), do “Conhecimento das questões ecológicas" (x ̅ = 4,28; DP = 1,884) e do “Planeamento consciente da compra de alimentos” (x ̅ = 4,47; DP = 1,967). Estes valores são indicadores de comportamentos, moderadamente, pró-ecológicos. Verificar a origem dos alimentos que compra, preferir produtos cultivados regionalmente ou localmente e levar sempre sacos próprios reutilizáveis quando faz compras são fatores que ajudam a melhorar a sustentabilidade dos hábitos de compra. A estimação de um modelo de regressão multivariada permitiu verificar que as variáveis explicativas, designadamente, o interesse pelo conhecimento ecológico (X1), o nível de conhecimento sobre questões ecológicas (X2) e o planeamento consciente da compra de alimentos (X3) tiveram um impacto, estatisticamente, significativo e positivo nos hábitos de compra de alimentos mais sustentáveis (Y). Tendo em conta o R2 ajustado, verificou-se que 79,1% das variações dos hábitos de compra eram explicados pelo interesse ecológico, conhecimento de questões ecológicas e planeamento consciente da compra de alimentos. Os contributos destas variáveis para explicar os hábitos de compra de alimentos mais sustentáveis foram, de acordo com os coeficientes padronizados, por ordem decrescente de importância, o planeamento consciente da compra de alimentos (0,535), seguido do interesse pelas questões ecológicas (0,245) e do nível de conhecimento de questões ecológicas (0,166). Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos num estudo desenvolvido por Moisés et al. (2023) que envolveu 696 consumidores portugueses com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 74 anos. Os resultados da presente investigação são, também, corroborados pelos resultados do estudo desenvolvido por Kuźniar, Surmacz e Wierzbiński (2021), realizado na Polónia, tendo por base uma amostra de 265 consumidores. A presente investigação explorou as relações entre os hábitos de compra de alimentos mais sustentáveis, o planeamento consciente da compra de alimentos, e o interesse e conhecimento ecológico de estudantes do ensino superior de origem africana. Os resultados obtidos fornecem informações que são fundamentais para direcionar esforços, desenhar e implementar estratégias voltadas para a promoção de comportamentos mais sustentáveis e conscientes em relação ao meio ambiente aquando da compra de alimentos.
- From X to Z: examining generational differences in sustainable food consumption in PortugalPublication . Moisés, Cristiano; Tomazini, Cecília Eduarda Gnoatto; Fernandes, António; Ribeiro, Maria IsabelThe main objective of this research was to analyze the attitudes and sustainable purchasing behaviors of food products among Portuguese consumers from different generations. The study sought to identify statistically significant differences regarding ecological awareness, understanding of ecological issues, adoption of ecologically conscious purchasing habits and conscious planning of these purchases. Consequently, the research aimed to reveal sustainable attitudes and behaviors during the food purchasing process considering the generational factor. In order to achieve these objectives, a quantitative and cross-sectional study was developed based on a questionnaire adapted from Kuźniar, Surmacz and Wierzbiński (2021). Between September 2022 and the first half of January 2023, the questionnaire was applied to a non-probabilistic sample of 686 Portuguese consumers. Statistical tools such as the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to discern statistically significant differences between two and three independent groups, respectively. The results confirm that generation is a differentiating factor of sustainable attitudes and behaviors. Obviously, the discernible existence of statistically significant differences between Generations Z, Y and X with regard to ecological awareness, ecologically oriented purchasing patterns, and the manifestation of sustainable attitudes and behaviors during food purchases serves as a robust validation of this assertion. Furthermore, it was observed that Generations X and Y exhibited congruent attitudes and behaviors, demarcating them from Generation Z. With regard to depth of understanding around ecological issues and conscious purchase planning, similar attitudes were consistently observed across the three generational spectra under analysis.
- Generations X, Y and Z and sustainable attitudes and behaviors related to food purchasing: a quantitative and cross-sectional studyPublication . Moisés, Cristiano; Tomazini, Cecília Eduarda Gnoatto; Fernandes, António; Ribeiro, Maria IsabelThis research aimed to analyze attitudes and sustainable purchasing behaviors when purchasing food among Portuguese consumers of Generations Z, Y and X. Specifically, to identify statistically significant differences on the interest in ecological knowledge, level of knowledge of ecological issues, ecological purchasing habits and conscious purchasing planning and, consequently, sustainable attitudes and behaviors when purchasing food considering the generation factor. To achieve these objectives, a quantitative and cross-sectional approach was used. In this context, a questionnaire adapted from Kuźniar, Surmacz and Wierzbiński (2021) was used to collect the data. The data collection instrument was applied between September 2022 and the first fortnight of January 2023. Thus, primary data was collected based on a non-probabilistic sample for convenience that included 686 Portuguese consumers from Generations Z (n = 487), Y (n = 82) and X (n = 117). Later, the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to identify statistically significant differences between two and three independent groups, respectively. The results confirm that generation is a differentiating factor in sustainable attitudes and behaviors. In fact, the existence of statistically significant differences between Generations Z, Y and X regarding the interest in ecological knowledge, ecological purchasing habits and sustainable attitudes and behaviors when purchasing food, are proof of this. Furthermore, it was found that Generations X and Y had identical attitudes and behaviors, differentiating them from Generation Z. Regarding the level of knowledge of ecological issues and conscious purchasing planning, attitudes were similar in the three generations analyzed.
- The impact of interest and ecological knowledge on environmental attitudes and behaviors of Portuguese consumersPublication . Moisés, Cristiano; Fernandes, António; Ribeiro, Maria IsabelGreen consumers play a critical role in sustaining environmentally development into the future, helping to preserve the health of the planet and society. Therefore, this research aimed to assess Portuguese consumers' orientation towards environmental issues and how these issues influence their food purchasing decisions. For this, a cross-sectional and quantitative study was carried out based on an online questionnaire applied to a sample of 696 Portuguese consumers aged between 18 and 74 years old. Subsequently, data was analyzed using the IBM SPSS software version 28. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics to characterize the sample, the Cronbach’s Alpha to analyze the internal consistency of the answers and the Spearman’s test to study the correlation between variables. Finally, a multivariate analysis was conducted in order to estimate three multivariate regression models. Most respondents (57.6%) lived in the North of Portugal, namely, Porto (26.1%), Bragança (18.4%) and Braga (13.1%) districts; had completed secondary education or equivalent (51.3%); have a household income between 705 and 2115 euros (62.2%); and lived in households with 3 (27.7%) or 4 people (29.6%). The Cronbach’s Alpha values were satisfactory for all dimensions, indicating good consistency of the answers. All correlations found were statistically significant at the 1% significance level and positive. The results suggest that interest in ecological knowledge, knowledge of ecological issues and age are important factors that influence ecological purchasing habits, conscious purchasing planning and sustainable behavior. These results are useful to guide public policies that promote sustainability through more effective strategies.
- The impact of environmental knowledge on conscious food buying attitudes by Portuguese citizens with higher educationPublication . Moisés, Cristiano; Fernandes, António; Ribeiro, Maria IsabelThe challenge of sustainable development and consumption is to satisfy current desires without impoverishing future generations and the planet in the long term. Therefore, new standards of sustainable practices are increasingly being promoted [1]. Environmental knowledge refers to an individual's perception and understanding of environmental issues, including understanding the causes and consequences of environmental problems and knowing the solutions needed to resolve them [2]. In this context, the more people know about environmental issues, their causes, and possible solutions, the more they will be willing to buy sustainable food [3]. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge about ecological issues in Portuguese citizens with higher education and to analyze the impact of the interest and level of knowledge of environmental issues on the attitude of conscious purchase of food. To achieve these objectives, a quantitative and cross-sectional study was carried out based on a non-probabilistic sample of 295 individuals, selected for convenience. To collect the data, a questionnaire adapted [4] was placed online and shared in the social media between September 2022 and the first half of January 2023. The questionnaire was structured in 2 sections. The first section included questions that allowed the socioeconomic characterization of the respondent, namely, nationality, district of residence, gender, age, marital status, net monthly income of the household, household size and financial comfort. The second section consisted of 17 statements about sustainable food purchasing attitudes and behaviors, for which the respondent used a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (completely disagree) to 7 (completely agree). Respondents were aged between 18 and 69 years old, recording an average of 32.29 years old (SD = 12.661). The majority lived in the North of Portugal, namely in Porto (24.9%), Bragança (23.5%) and Braga (10.9%) districts. In addition, the majority was female (72.7%), single (64.5%), lived in a household with up to 3 people (64.2%), with a monthly income of up to 1440 euros (54.3%). Despite the household income being relatively low, 63.1% of respondents consider living with some financial comfort. The results showed that respondents recorded a good level of knowledge of environmental issues (Mean = 5.21; SD = 1.436). Moreover, the value of Adjusted R2 shows that the interest and the level of environmental knowledge explain, in 64.2%, the conscious attitudes and behaviors with regard to the purchase of food. These results suggest that the participants of this study, that is, people with higher education adopt planning and organization practices in their food purchases, as well as adhere to and implement sustainable measures. Despite the encouraging results of the present study, in the future, Portuguese higher education institutions should adopt educational and awareness strategies aimed at improving students' knowledge of environmental issues, allowing the adoption of more sustainable behaviors.
- Impact factors in the eco-friendly food choices of portuguese consumersPublication . Moisés, Cristiano; Fernandes, António; Ribeiro, Maria IsabelEcologically conscious consumers play a pivotal role in sustaining environmental development for the future, contributing to the preservation of the planet's and society's well-being. Therefore, this research aimed to assess Portuguese consumers' orientation towards environmental issues and how these concerns influence their food purchasing decisions. Consequently, a cross-sectional and quantitative study was conducted based on an online questionnaire applied to a sample of 696 Portuguese consumers aged between 18 and 74 years old. Subsequently, the data was analyzed using the version 28.0 of the IBM SPSS software. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics to characterize the sample, Cronbach's Alpha to analyze the internal consistency of the responses, and Spearman's test to study the correlation between variables. Finally, a multivariate analysis was conducted to estimate three linear regression models. The majority of the respondents (57.6%) lived in the North of Portugal, specifically in Porto (26.1%), Bragança (18.4%), and Braga (13.1%) districts; had completed secondary education or equivalent (51.3%); have a household income between 705 and 2115 euros (62.2%); and live in households with 3 (27.7%) or 4 people (29.6%). The values of Cronbach's Alpha were satisfactory for all dimensions, indicating good consistency of the responses. All correlations found were statistically significant at the 1% significance level and positive. The results suggest that interest in ecological knowledge, knowledge of environmental issues, and age are important factors influencing ecological purchasing habits, conscious purchasing planning, and sustainable behavior. These findings are valuable in guiding public policies that promote sustainability through more effective strategies.