Abstract This paper explains that, in their haste to introduce market reforms and efficiencies into their antiquated agricultural systems, many emergingnations have sacrificed their environment and citizens' health in exchange for some well-intentioned but misguided short-term gains in productivity. The author points out that past agriculturalpractices were based on tradition and spiritual concepts; however, many emergingnations have succeeded in overcoming these constraints through innovative policies and initiatives. The paper stresses that modern western agriculturalpractices rely heavily on heavy and expensive equipment as well as industrial pesticides and fertilizers to wrench continued high yields from the soil are not readily transferable to many emergingnations.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Existing AgriculturalPractices in China Today
Innovative and Sustainable AgriculturalPractices Current and Future Trends
What Can Be Done?
Conclusion
From the Paper "Within rural sociology, sustainable agriculture is frequently considered to be a mutually exclusive "competing paradigm" that challenges conventional agriculture on environmental, economic and ideological grounds. As a result, much of the research on identifying sustainable agricultural practices has been focused on understanding the characteristics which differentiate conventional and alternative farmers, as well as the conditions that serve to constrain or facilitate the development of alternative practices and ways of thinking among farmers and agriculture more generally. For example, researchers have examined a variety of farmer and farm attributes such as age, education, orientation to risk, perception of environmental problems, farm size, and profitability; the impact of agricultural markets and prices and state policies, programs and services have also been examined extensively."
Abstract The paper provides statistics on agricultural production within Italy and reveals that the general trend of the Italian agricultural sector is that of stagnation, towards a decline. The paper looks at Italy's land quality and agriculturalpractices and discusses Italy's implementation of policies aimed to revive and strengthen the sector.
Outline:
Abstract
Agricultural Production
Land Quality
AgriculturalPractices Policies
Conclusions
From the Paper "Agriculture is one of the oldest activities undergone by the humans in order to sustain life. And it was the primary source of food and income for the majority of individuals across the globe. However, with the industrial and technological revolutions, more and more people begun to work within factories or corporations and less interest was given to agricultural activities. But even so, the technological developments were also adapted and integrated within the processes of growing animals and working the land, agriculture remaining the primary source of foods in the modern society."
Abstract This paper offers a brief review of Eric Schlosser's book "Fast Food Nation". The writer highlights the major issues in the book in 10 points. 1)Fast food is taken for granted in the U.S. 2)Americans spend billions of dollars on fast food. 3)French fries are the most common form. 4)Fries are the most fattening product. 5)The flavor industry is just as much to blame. 6)Fast food creates jobs. 7)Other health problems. 8)Worker safety. 9)Tainted food. 10)Impact on agriculture.
From the Paper "So much has already been said about Fast Food and its negative impact on Americans that you might fail to understand why Eric Schlosser would choose to write a whole book in the subject. Don"t we already know enough" After reading the book, however the answers surprisingly turns out to be an emphatic No. Indeed we know very little about the real fast food industry and the way it carries out is operations. True it adds to obesity problem in the country but do we really know the truth about those French fries that have been criticized widely for their fat content."
Abstract This paper examines the economic and ecological advantages and disadvantages of relying on a. a small number of genetic variations of major crops and livestock, b. genetically modified foods, and c. perennial food crops in agriculturalpractices today. Reasons for support and/or opposition of each are outlined particularly in the developed versus developing countries."
From the Paper "Over this century it will become even more difficult to meet the basic requirements that the people of the world need to survive. A balanced diet, clean water and shelter are the basic requirements that a great part of the world's population is struggling to meet. The exponential growth of the world's population, the fragile environment, the overuse of land for grazing and crop production and pollution and just some the causes that have brought about a crisis resulting in the fact that in "1996 an estimate 840 million of the world's people did not get enough food to thrive" (Raven et al., 1998). "
Abstract This paper firstly gives brief details on how best practiceemerged and especially on the environmental changes that led to best practice.
Secondly, it discusses bench marking as a key component to best practice and the common characteristics of best practice, with a focus on human resource management and manufacturing organisations.
It describes recent ideas in management and how these link to best practice. Finally, it considers the continuation of the trend and shows how best practice has led us to a new focus on human resource management.
From the paper:
"Best practice management is a current idea that is having a great impact on organisations all over the world. The idea at the heart of best practice is a very simple one "how do the leading organisations manage their operations"? Beyond this basic concept, definitions of best practice vary. These definitions of best practice generally take the form of a list of requirements or elements required for success. Within these lists we see some common overall themes. One of the themes evident is the focus on human resource management.
Best practice focuses largely on making things better. For a company to achieve this they need to not just look at where things are currently, but also where the future lies. To see where best practice is heading, we will also focus on where best practice has evolved from."
This research paper consists of an exploratory analysis of the current trends in the field of human resources in order to define what exactly these emerging trends are in this particular area.
Abstract This paper defines the field of human resources (HR) as the gatekeeper of an organization, the deciding force that enables gainful employment should they deem an individual qualified to participate in an organization's family. The writer of this paper also analyzes how these new trends will impact the structure of human resource management in the future. This paper discusses the importance of HR in today's workforce, which is more globalized in nature. The writer contends and explains why more complex interactions require HR representatives to recruit well-educated and diverse employees capable of operating in a rapidly changing environment. This paper asks and answers the following questions: What are the current emerging trends that are impacting the function and role of HRM practices? How are these trends defining organizations? What strategies are being adopted by organizations to address the needs of a rapidly changing and dynamic workforce?
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Background to the Problem
Significance of Study
Preliminary Literature Review
Methods
Data Collection
Results
References
From the Paper "Whereas in times of old HR departments were concerned with payroll and health insurance, today human resources departments typically consist of several different areas including: labor relations, benefits, payroll, workers compensation and recruitment. Part of this is due to an increasing need for more flexible benefits for employees. More and more there is word of positive changes in organizations as a result of emerging trends and changes in HRM practices. There are several emerging trends in human resources deserve further investigation including flexible work scheduling, health and wellness programs, on site daycare's and even improved retirement benefits."
Tags: business, applied, practice, study, analysis, global
Abstract This paper reviews the peer-reviewed and scholarly literature, as well as organizational and governmental online resources to determine how physics can be used to help developing nations become self-sufficient in food and water production. It particularly focuses on treadle irrigation pumps and how they have been accepted by developing nations.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Review
Summary
From the Paper "The treadle pump costs much less to operate, having no fuel and only limited repair and maintenance costs. For example, a cost analysis by Hyman (1995), cited in Perry & Dotson) compared treadle pumps and motorized pumps used in Senegal; this analysis showed that a cubic meter of water used in the irrigation of 0.5 hectares had an equivalent cost of $0.08 when supplied by the treadle pump which was just less than half the $0.17 cost for the same amount of water delivered by a motorized pump (Perry & Dotson, 2005).
The treadle pump also possesses a number of features which set it apart from other non-motorized irrigation pumps."
Abstract This paper looks at ways in which this nation's emergency rooms are made inefficient for both the patients who they are meant to serve and the professionals that staff them, due to delays. This paper first reviews the literature and then evaluates the causes of lengthy emergency department wait times. This paper concludes with recommendations and ideas for possible solutions to this problem.
From the Paper "This paper will analyze the wait time as seen in this nation's hospital emergency rooms. The four scholarly sources to be used are as follows. In "Making room for more," from the journal Modern Healthcare, Mary Chris Jaklevic studies the problems of a swamped Chicago emergency department and the remedies that were implemented. In "Avoiding the health care squeeze," Susan J. Wells looks at ways in which certain health care groups have streamlined their struggling emergency departments. In "Emergency department operations: The basis for developing a simulation tool," Marmor and Sinreich detail how technology has been used to best avoid inefficiency in emergency rooms. Finally, in "Urban health care in transition: Challenges facing Los Angeles County," from the journal Health Care Financing Review, Long and Zuckerman detail Los Angeles' plans to revamp traditional emergency medicine by depending instead on community-based care."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the industrial revolution and its effects on agriculture. The paper reviews the pre-industrial history of agriculture as well as the sweeping changes within the agricultural sector during the eventful period when the manufacturing sector was being transformed by a wave of technological innovation. The paper concludes by noting how inextricably linked are agricultural change and technological change.
Abstract This paper discusses the provincial government's Agricultural Land Commission and the policies it enforces on land use in British Columbia. It looks at how the scarcity of agricultural land and the importance of food self-sufficiency, combined with competing demands for farmland for non-farm uses, convinced the government that preserving farmland for agricultural purposes was a matter of provincial interest and importance.
From the Paper "Due to increased competition and the increasing demands of the contemporary consumer, the need for establishing sustainable industries that enhance quality of life is crucial when creating a thriving local business environment. However, in recent years business development has taken a back seat to environmental protectionism in part due to the lack of suitable land for agricultural and farm use. "
Abstract Perhaps no other industry is as dependent upon variables over which it has no control as the agricultural industry is. This paper produces a cross sectional comparison and contrast of three regions in British Columbia: Cariboo region, Peace River, and Kootenay. The paper highlights how climatic factors and soil composition factors impact upon the respective agricultural sectors of the aforementioned areas. In addition to illuminating how areas that are fairly close to one another geographically can still produce astonishing climatic and geological diversity the paper also reveals how primary industries like agriculture take on new shapes in different regions because of the physical feature of the land.
Abstract The paper explores, extensively, the theoretical basis and practice of national economic planning and how development fluctuates with a changing economy. The paper continues to explain that no longer can industrial development be couched in terms of location marketing, business attraction and location incentives alone. The new economy demands improvements to basic business climate, selective and disciplined use of incentives, and creative use of support strategies for economic planning. The paper uses the U.S. economy as its model for application of these reforms.
Theoretical Basis and Practice National Economic Development in Retrospect
Toward the New National Economy
Create a Competitive Climate
Apply Incentives Selectively
Outcome-based Calibration
Rate of Return
Performance Baselines
Smart Modernization Strategies
Industrial Extension
Information Access
Limitations of National Economic Planning
Conclusion
From the Paper "THE THEORETICAL BASIS AND PRACTICE of national economic planning and development fluctuates with a changing economy. No longer can industrial development be couched in terms of location marketing, business attraction and location incentives alone. The new economy demands improvements to basic business climate, selective and disciplined use of incentives, and creative use of support strategies for economic planning. In our discussion we are going to apply the U.S. economy as our model."
Abstract This paper relates the history of importing and exporting in the United States and introduces how the move from the 'gold standard' to the 'floating dollar' has affected importing and exporting for the US. It examines the devaluation of the dollar against the euro and examines how the US will need to learn new ways to deal with emergingnations, such as India and China. Finally, the paper looks at how globalization has changed the manner in which the US conducts business both at home and abroad.
Table of Contents:
Objectives
Background of the Study
US Steadily Growing Trade Deficit
Devaluation of he Dollar
Factors for Consideration in US Trade Relations with China
Globalization and the Changes in Conduction of Business both at Home and Abroad for the United States
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "The hope for promises of the NAFTA free trade agreement have not culminated in many positive situations and China has not followed the trade rules as closely as would have been desired initially however, new groundwork has been laid for coping with the complexities of the import and export trade with China which has been acknowledged as beneficial for both China and the United States. It will be of primary importance that China is held to the trade regulations in a transparent manner. Greater accountability and enforcement are the call-words for the future trade relations with China and other developing, emerging and rapidly growing countries involved in import and export trade with the United States. The United States has announced intentions to promote export trade with China and other developing countries and their markets."
Abstract An essay outlining how the views and perception of a nation can be both represented and influenced by the art of that nation. In the late 19th century, although two-thirds of the Australian population lived in an urban setting, a bushman identity emerged, both within Australia and in global perceptions of Australians, that was fuelled by such artistic work as McCubbin's paintings. Through an examination of McCubbin's, "A Bush Burial", this essay explores the values of Australia and Australians and their view of themselves as a nation.
From the Paper "In the late nineteenth century an appreciation of the Australia bush emerged along with a fascination for its populace. Fuelled by contemporary art and literature, a common "bushman" image surfaced as a popular Australian view of the nation. Although two thirds of the Australian population lived in urban settlements, paintings such as McCubbin's "A Bush Burial" romanticised the rural lifestyle and assisted in the development of a bushman identity whose valiant qualities urban dwellers liked to imagine they too possessed. However, historians have difficulty in assessing and agreeing on the reality of this image as, when writing upon a view of the nation, each historian is affected by the concerns embedded within their own time period which, in turn, influences their interpretation."
Abstract This paper deals with the issue of free trade in agricultural products versus protectionism that is one of the fiercest international economic debates. It discusses the arguments of the proponents of free trade who believe in opening the global market with as few restrictions on trade as possible and those of the proponents of protectionism who believe in concentrating on the welfare of the domestic farming community. The stage at which the talks over subsidies take place is the World Trade Organization ("WTO").
Paper Outline:
Introduction
The Economics of Agriculture Some Numbers
A Comparative Advantage of the Poor
The Reasons for Protectionism
The WTO and the Prisoner's Dilemma
From the Paper "However, why do the rich countries like those of the European Union as well as the US today still subsidize their farmers to the tune of billions of dollars a year? Beginning in the 1930s most industrialized countries developed agricultural price-support policies to reduce the volatility of prices for farm products and to increase, or at least stabilize, farm income. Subsequently, in food-exporting countries, such as the United States and France, agricultural subsidies have been designed primarily to increase farm income, either by raising the long-term level of prices above free-market levels or by providing direct payments to farmers."
