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International audience

The objective of this entry is to provide noneconomists with an analytical tool with which to understand various aspects of contemporary agriculture and food and fiber systems. The first part of the entry will provide an overview of the concept of agribusiness from its conception to current times. It will then present the main challenges facing the agribusiness system in the arena of recent global competition by illustrating key critical aspects, which are related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Particular reference will be made to SDG2 which focuses explicitly on food by seeking to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.” Agribusiness can contribute to solving these challenges by constructing a secure and sustainable food and agriculture system. Implementing sustainable practices and working in partnership with governments and other stakeholders throughout the agricultural value chain will be key to achieving the targets pertaining to SDG2.

The concept of Anthropocene is now commonly used by scholars to denote a new geological and biophysical era and environmental humanities have rapidly developed in a field of investigation on the new human condition. The study of human preferences, what motivates us as human beings, what influences our actions, the way we can control our actions and the ethics of responsibility, are the main drivers of global change in the twenty-first century. This article is built on the assumption that research on circular economy, in contrast with a linear “take-make-dispose” economic model, can benefit enormously from the study of human motivations and actions that each of us can implement for global change. In particular, the message of humanity contained in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, helps us to understand the ethical foundations of circular economy: why and how human beings and their social formations, such as enterprises and institutions, not facing imminent dangers, can strongly choose to change direction and to act for the common good.

International audience

International audience; The aim of this study is to build a high-resolution mapping model for Réunion, a mountainous island with highly complex terrain. The dataset used here, which consists of solar irradiation, is not available from the regular weather station network over the island. This network is relatively dense and includes quality-monitoring stations, thus providing enough information to tackle the problem of climate data interpolation over the complex terrain. A model for mapping the monthly means of such variables is presented. It combines Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression with kriging interpolation of residuals. For all the variables, the same set of nine predictors, including altitude, geographical and topographical features, was selected for PLS regression. The regression model gives statistically good estimates of monthly solar irradiation. Accuracy improves significantly using solar radiation mapping built with regression+kriging than for mapping built with regression only.

International audience; By and large, corporations of the 21st century have come to realise that their obligations to societies in terms of corporate social responsibility are fourfold: economic, ethical, altruistic and strategic. Meeting these four responsibilities is crucial to their survival in their various markets and industries; it also requires them to rewrite their previously less socially responsible business models in order to do so. All indications continue to suggest that it is those organisations that are perceived to be socially responsible by stakeholders in modern markets that survive and prosper. Corporations have equally realised that by being innovative in all things – including their CSR activities and initiatives – they will add value to the so-called bottom line, to the positive contributions they make to society and to how they are perceived by their key stakeholders.However, many criticisms have been made of CSR in its current form, often related to the lack of value that it generates within the enterprise and the fact that it offers only a partial and short-term response to the full challenges of sustainable development. The time has come to shift the CSR focus away from risk management towards a more progressive and entrepreneurial approach that seeks to create value and identify sustainable opportunities for strategic innovation.This book aims to explore, inspire and support creative, innovative and strategic CSR. ‘Innovation’ in this book means new products, services and technologies and, in addition, new organisational and institutional systems, structures and new business models that empower the organisation to advance strategically in an ever more competitive business world.Both research and practice show that CSR has mainly been approached in terms of value protection and risk management, where the main objective has been to protect companies’ existing assets or avoid scandals. Therefore, in many cases where CSR remains at the forefront of business activity, it does not lead to fundamental changes and is not yet integrated as a strategic component where it could create value, generate new ideas and open new opportunities.How do corporate entities shift their attention from risk management to value creation? This is the key question that this book attempts to answer, both theoretically and empirically as well as through real case studies and experiences.With contributions from a crème de la crème of scholars from 12 countries, Innovative CSR gathers together a cornucopia of innovative practices that will be essential reading for academics and practitioners alike.

International audience

The aim of this paper, on the one hand, is to present a case study on Distance Learning and on the use of Information Technologies for education in the field of agriculture and rural development. The case study has been prepared on the basis of the results of the Working Group 2 (Environment and Sustainable Development) of UniAdrion, which has developed the Course of Specialization on International Cooperation and Sustainable Development of Agricultural, Environmental and Rural Systems, a specialization course based both on frontal and virtual (e-learning) modules. On the other hand, the paper desires to contribute to the broadening of the perspective on developments in the use of Information Technologies. Among the results of the Project particular attention will be given to Transboundary Natural Parks as tools to promote peace, cooperation and development in the Balkans.