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Item Open Access Pesticide safety behavior among vegetable farmers in Bangladesh: Evaluating the role of market aggregation services(Elsevier Ltd., 2025-01-15) Begum, Ismat; Alam, Mohammad; Shankar, Bhavani; Cooper, Gregory; Rich, Karl; Mastura, Tamanna; Parikh, Panam; Ratna, Nazmun; Kadiyala, SuneethaPesticide use in Bangladesh is disproportionately high in vegetable farming compared to other crops like cereals, pulses, and cash crops. This study delves into the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pesticide use among vegetable farmers, focusing on the impact of a digital aggregation service implemented by Digital Green. Based on interviews with 120 vegetable farmers in the LOOP aggregation scheme and 120 non-LOOP vegetable farmers this study indicates that the farmers using the aggregation service have a moderately higher level of food safety knowledge. LOOP farmers scored higher in pesticide safety knowledge (67.83 %) compared to non-LOOP farmers (55 %). Regarding pesticide safety attitudes, LOOP farmers scored 17.39 %, while non-LOOP farmers 4.17 %, reflecting a generally poor attitude toward pesticide application. Regarding practices, 65.55 % of LOOP farmers adhered to scientifically sound methods, compared to 43.10 % of non-LOOP farmers. Although participation in the LOOP program significantly influenced farmers’ pesticide-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices, this study still identifies the need for targeted interventions and training to improve food safety practices among both groups.Item Open Access Food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices among vegetable handlers in Bangladesh(Elsevier Inc., 2025-01-02) Begum, Ismat; Alam, Muhammad; Shankar, Bhavani; Mastura, Tamanna; Cooper, Gregory; Rich, Karl; Parikh, Panam; Ratna, Nazmun; Kadiyala, SuneethaThis study delves into the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of vegetable handlers in Jashore Sadar, Bangladesh, specifically focusing on the crucial significance of food safety across the entire farm‐to‐fork process. Integrating quantitative and qualitative data provides a multifaceted depiction of this pivotal component within the food supply chain. Ten focus group discussions were conducted, and in total, 50 vegetable handlers were interviewed separately. In the survey, there were 17 questions on food safety knowledge, 16 on food safety attitudes, and 17 on food safety‐related practices followed by vegetable handlers. We found that while approximately 60% of handlers had good knowledge about food safety, only about one‐quarter of the interviewed vegetable handlers had good attitudes and practices toward food safety. The attitudes and practices of individuals involved in handling vegetables demonstrate a complex range of variations shaped by factors such as educational background, prior experience, and availability of food safety training. Concerns regarding the rising expenses linked to adherence to food safety regulations and a perceived lack of accountability among those involved were also noted. The interviewed wholesaler group reported that approximately BDT 100–150 (USD 0.91–1.37¹)/maund¹ was incurred in maintaining proper safety practices, while the interviewed retailer group said costs would increase by BDT 20–40 (USD 0.18–0.36)/maund if they followed proper handling practices. It is important to note that vegetable handlers recognize the favorable economic consequences of implementing appropriate food safety measures. This study highlights the significance of implementing focused educational and policy interventions to address knowledge disparities and encourage the adoption of food safety procedures among individuals involved in handling vegetables.Item Open Access Knowledge, mātauranga and science: Reflective learning from the interface(Taylor & Francis Group, 2024) Saunders, Caroline; Dalziel, Paul; Reid, J; McCallum, AThis essay offers reflective learning on how researchers in the Western science tradition connect to bodies of knowledge created and held outside that tradition. It begins with endogenous growth theory, which explains the unique role of knowledge as an input into economic production. The essay describes how Western science addresses the problem of validating and accessing knowledge, by hosting an expanding corpus of peer-reviewed publications. This academic knowledge does not contain all current knowledge. The essay therefore draws on the authors’ experience in four large research programmes to consider business knowledge and mātauranga Māori. It reflects on agency, tikanga [right behaviour], global conversations about Indigenous knowledge, and decolonising research. The essay finishes with models of knowledge engagement in the interface between western Science and mātauranga Māori that support the mana and integrity of diverse knowledge streams.Item Open Access Here comes the sun: Social acceptability of solar photovoltaics in New Zealand(Taylor & Francis Group, 2024) McIntyre, Tiffany; Olvermann, Madita; Rombach, Meike; Renwick, Alan; de Koning, WimAotearoa is in a globally unique position regarding its high level of renewable electricity generation. However, increased demand has led to greater pressure to diversify green energies and increase infrastructure capacity. To date, photovoltaics has received relatively low uptake, particularly in the residential market. Consumer behaviour has been changing with individuals becoming increasingly climate conscious, making purchase decisions that consider the triple bottom line. This study seeks to understand consumer attitudes and social acceptability of photovoltaics. It also investigates what incentives might encourage greater uptake of photovoltaics in Aotearoa. To explore this, we surveyed 517 individuals from across New Zealand. The results show that information practices have a direct impact on social acceptability, while also being mediated by perceived risks and perceived benefits. However, there was no significant support for the role of emotions in influencing social acceptability. An explorative analysis of possible purchase incentives revealed free installation to be the most attractive consumer purchase incentive, whilst annual rebates are considered the least attractive. This highlights the opportunity for policymakers and corporate actors to engage in information campaigns and incentive programmes to inform consumers and remove barriers to photovoltaic technology adoption.Item Open Access Fuel choices for cooking and heating and gender empowerment: Implications for promoting gender equality and sustainable rural development(Elsevier B.V., 2025-01) Zheng, H; Ma, Wanglin; Rahut, DBThis study evaluates the impact of fuel choices for cooking and heating on gender empowerment using rural household survey data from China. We investigate rural households' fuel-stacking behaviors by classifying fuels into non-clean, clean, and mixed categories and distinguish an incomplete energy transition (i.e. switching from non-clean fuels to mixed fuels) from a complete energy transition (i.e. switching from non-clean to clean fuels). The decision-making power of men and women measures gender empowerment. We use the multinomial endogenous switching regression model to address the endogeneity issue associated with rural households' fuel choices. The results show that incomplete and complete energy transitions for heating significantly increase men's decision-making power, while the same transitions for cooking have no significant impact. Incomplete and complete energy transitions for cooking significantly empower rural women, while a complete energy transition for heating also significantly empowers women. These findings suggest that promoting a complete energy transition supports broader rural development by empowering women to participate more actively in household decision-making. We also find that a complete energy transition for cooking and heating reduces the decision-making power gap between men and women more than an incomplete one, highlighting that a complete energy transition contributes more to gender equality. Therefore, fostering complete energy transitions is essential for closing gender disparities and establishing a foundation for sustainable rural development through enhanced female empowerment.Item Open Access A meta-network analysis of methodological specifications for system dynamics modelling application in agricultural food systems(Elsevier Ltd., 2024-12) Aboah, J; Wilson, Mark; Bicknell, Kathryn; Setsoafia, EDThis paper aims to review existing applications of system dynamics modelling in agricultural food systems and draw insights from the various modelling procedures in order to highlight best-practice guidelines on methodological specifications for SD modelling. A meta-network analysis was used to identify existing studies that have applied SD modelling in agriculture. Using an algorithm that automatically clusters closely connected research articles based on Boolean search strings that look at the title, keywords, abstract, and digital object identifier (DOI) of the journal articles, 354 journal articles were selected for in-depth content analysis. Based on the synthesised trends, two criteria for determining the type of modelling process and model type to apply for the model conceptualisation step are: (i) the immediate end goal of the modelling process, and (ii) data availability. Participatory modelling is appropriate when there is limited data and model outputs will inform the implementation of interventions by stakeholders. For action research focusing on well-researched food systems with substantial data available, the semi-participatory modelling process can be adopted, and quantitative SD models can be solitarily used. A key contribution of this paper is the proposed procedure for emergent participatory scenario development within the system dynamics modelling process.Publication Embargo Improving the performance of fresh value chains for economic development, nutrition and food security: A system dynamics approach : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 2024) Seba, Samuel TigistuImproving the performance of fresh value chains (FVCs) for economic development and food and nutrition security is vital in the face of emerging local and global challenges. In addition to securing an affordable food supply, well-performing AVCs improve the incomes of actors along the chain. The extant literature indicates that a severe lack of investments throughout FVCs in emerging economies, resulting in high post-harvest losses, erodes actors' margins and leads to a persistent shortfall in the availability of affordable fruit. This research adopts the System Dynamics (SD) modelling approach as it can measure quantifiable ex-ante impacts in the FVCs and offers a system-wide view that accommodates the complexity, dynamic, and multi-objective nature of the problem. Its moderate demand for data, proficiency, and experience in programming languages, and the relatively less obscure nature of models and results to ordinary decision-makers make SD modelling suitable. This research presents findings of modelling the avocadoes value chain (AVC) from the three major producing areas in the developing country. The primary aim was to identify, analyse, and explain the causes of the poor performance of the AVC and simulate the impacts of selected interventions. The theoretical and empirical literature on AVCs in emerging economies suggests a severe lack of investments by all stakeholders, resulting in high reported post-harvest losses (25% - 40%) that reduce incomes and affordability, causing a persistent shortfall in fruit availability. Various theories indicate factors influencing investment decisions, including profitability, availability of skills and input, availability and cost of finance, and uncertainties created by actors' opportunistic behaviours. An extensive literature review, observations of the AVC activities, in-depth semi- structured interviews, and Group Model Building (GMB) workshops were used to collect data, collaboratively build qualitative and quantitative SD models, and validate the outputs. To build the model, secondary data from several sources was combined with primary data from the interviewees and GMB workshop participants. Quantitative SD modelling identified several feedback loops in play, determining the performance of the AVC. Currently, dominant loops arise from interactions of market realities and efforts of actors to protect and increase their margins. When faced with faced with decreasing margins due to high post-harvest losses, retailers pass parts of these costs to consumers and producers by increasing consumer prices and reducing producer prices. Two dominant loops revealed how producers and consumers push back by decreasing quantity demanded and quantity supplied, swaying prices in their favour. Given the resulting decrease in quantity of demand, bumper fruit supplies reduce producer prices, decrease revenue and margins, and discourage investment in subsequent seasons to cut back on production. Essentially, these loops represent a vicious cycle in which a severe lack of investments leads to remarkably high post-harvest loss and reduced margins that decrease affordability and producer prices, impacting quantity demanded and discouraging investment which ultimately decreases availability. In this vicious cycle, the high post-harvest loss also reduces income to agribusinesses, leading to low economic development and discouraging investment. Comprising all these feedback loops, simulation of the quantitative SD model for the past and future twenty years also revealed persistent low levels of income to actors, affordability and availability, given the high post-harvest loss as a result of the prevailing level of incentives and drivers of the lack of investments. The salient cost of high post-harvest loss, mostly realised at the retailer stage, continues to erode their margins, particularly in distant urban centres, even after continually pushing consumer prices up, reducing affordability. The resulting decrease in quantity demand pushes producer prices down, forcing them to continue cultivating a small number of avocado trees under a low-input production system, limiting the growth in the availability of avocadoes in the whole chain. A coherent set of interventions spearheaded by modernising and organising retail was identified collaboratively. Modernised and organised retailers can assume chain leadership and deploy bestowed customer value and market information to incentivise and sanction other transformed actors to invest, access, and fulfil supply contracts, enforcing implemented quality and fruit handling standards and facilitating the flourishment of agribusiness credit services and efficient payment systems. Scenario analysis suggests that the current trajectory would lead to a worsening of performance even in a plausible best case, while interventions bring about robust positive ex-ante impacts on actors’ incomes, affordability, and availability from improved levels of investments. The research identified several institutional changes needed to effectively implement these interventions, including legislating mandatory fruit quality and safety standards, independent quality-assuring services, and forming hybrid producer organisations and organised retail. The research results contribute a strategic planning input and a platform for dialogue in efforts to build effective AVCs. Results also extend the literature in improving and measuring the performance of AVCs.Item Open Access The renewable energy hidden in our wastewater ponds – here’s how it could work(2024-10-09) Jeremiah, FaithNew Zealand is confronting a perfect storm. Its energy grid faces three pressing challenges at once: an unreliable electricity supply, strict emissions reduction targets and ongoing environmental issues related to wastewater ponds. As the country prepares to meet growing energy demands, the variability of wind, solar and hydroelectric power has made year-round electricity generation hard to ensure. Compounding the issue are New Zealand’s emissions targets and avoidable emissions from wastewater treatment plants. We need immediate, practical solutions. One lies hidden within our wastewater systems.Item Open Access Understanding smallholder preferences for joint ventures in Ghana's rice sector: Improving market access through inclusive business models(Elsevier B.V., 2024-03) Creppy, P; Bicknell, Kathryn; Renwick, AlanEfforts to connect farmers with markets in an inclusive manner have gained prominence within organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Inclusive Business Models (IBMs) have emerged as a promising avenue for achieving this objective. Currently, the adoption of IBM structures remains limited, particularly in developing countries, resulting in a paucity of information on motivating factors behind farmer engagement. This study employs a discrete choice experiment to discern these preferences, focusing on a joint venture model within the rice sector in Ghana. Data from face-to-face surveys with smallholder rice farmers analysed with a latent class model revealed heterogeneity in preferences towards IBM attributes, with a majority (55 per cent) choosing alternatives that were consistent with a joint venture business model. These related to level of investment and decision making, quality standards, price, payment schedules and control. The study also identified demographic and experiential characteristics of farmers willing to engage with IBMs. Such farmers tended to be more educated, younger, possess greater experience in rice farming, manage smaller farms, have experience with contracts, invest in processing equipment, and infrequently adopt new production practices. These findings underscore the potential to enhance the quality of domestically produced rice through IBMs and advocate for government intervention to overcome barriers, especially in the context of investment. Additionally, the results suggest that targeting younger farmers with prior contract-selling experience could encourage participation in IBMs.Item Open Access From waste to power: How floating solar panels on wastewater ponds could help solve NZ’s electricity security crisis(2024-09-24) Jeremiah, FaithWastewater ponds may seem an unlikely place to look for solutions to New Zealand’s electricity security crisis. But their underutilised surfaces could help tackle two problems at once – high power prices and algal growth. Floating solar panels on wastewater ponds offer a multifaceted answer. They generate renewable energy, improve water quality in the treatment ponds and reduce costs. Leading this approach is the 2020 installation of New Zealand’s first floating solar array at the Rosedale wastewater treatment plant in Auckland. This project demonstrates how New Zealand could double the country’s power supply without requiring additional land. It serves as a test for future deployments on other reservoirs and dams. The project comprises 2,700 solar panels and 4,000 floating pontoons. It covers one hectare of the treatment pond, making excellent use of a marginal land asset in a dense urban environment.Item Open Access Determinants of food and nutrition security of tribal communities in the hill and mountain regions: Empirical evidence from Northeast IndiaJamir, C; Ratna, Nazmun; Jagannath, P; Longkumer, MWhile there is a rich body of gender, natural hazards, and displacement literature globally, such studies on communities in the hill and mountain regions are limited. The literature on the food and nutrition security of tribal and/or indigenous communities in the Mountain and Hill regions remains opaque to date. More so for the tribal communities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, which is considered the most densely populated mountain region. These communities cut off from the mainstream population primarily due to complex topography and limited mobility, have evolved their traditional food production techniques. Urbanisation, however, has shifted these communities towards a market-driven food system leading to dietary changes. In this paper, we focus on the difference in the food consumption patterns between rural and urban areas in Nagaland, Northeast India. Using data from 404 households of the Ao-Naga tribe in Mokukchong district, we find that the rural households have higher Food Diversity Score (FDS) than urban households with much higher consumption of traditional foods like organ food and insects. Preliminary analysis also indicates two findings on the primacy of female education for food and nutrition security. One, although meat consumption is higher for urban households, there is a positive correlation between the education of female household heads and meat consumption in rural areas. Two, there is a weak but statistically significant linkage between the education of female household heads and the number of meals consumed per day.Item Open Access Green-labelled rice versus conventional rice: Perception and emotion of Chinese consumers based on review mining(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023-01) Xu, Heng; Xiao, Mengyun; Zeng, Jun; Hao, HuihuiThe COVID-19 pandemic increased public health awareness, changing consumers’ sensitivity and beliefs about food health. Food anxiety and health scares turn consumers toward safe and healthy foods to strengthen their immunity, which makes green food more popular. However, it remains unclear how to understand the gap between consumer intention to purchase green food and their actual purchasing behaviour. Taking rice as an object of study, comparing differences in consumer perceptions and emotions towards green-labelled rice and conventional rice is beneficial for understanding the components and psychological characteristics of consumer perceptions of green food. Therefore, we used topic modelling and sentiment analysis to explore consumers’ focus of attention, attitudinal preferences, and sentiment tendencies based on the review (n = 77,429) from JD.com. The findings revealed that (1) consumers’ concerns about green-labelled rice are increasing rapidly, and most have a positive attitude; (2) consumers of green-labelled rice are more concerned about origin, aroma, and taste than conventional rice; (3) consumers of conventional rice are more concerned about the cost-performance ratio, while consumers of green-labelled rice are also price-sensitive; (4) green label mistrust and packaging breakage during logistics are the leading causes of negative emotions among consumers of green-labelled rice. This study provides a comparative analysis of consumer perceptions and emotions between the two types of rice, thus revealing the main influencing factors of the intention-behaviour gap and providing valuable consumer insights for the promotion of green consumption and the sustainable development of the green food industry.Item Open Access Building destination loyalty: The role of virtual reality and past visiting experience. A lesson from Australian tourism destinations during COVID-19(Taylor's Press, 2024-02-01) Kusdibyo, Lusianus; Brien, Anthony; Suhartanto, DwiDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, to reduce the risk of infection, destination visits with the help of virtual reality (VR) gained immense popularity. In this respect, this study assesses the association between VR experience, past visiting experience, and destination loyalty. Data was gathered using an online self administered questionnaire from 396 tourists who visited Australian tourism destinations using VR. Partial least square was utilised to test the destination loyalty model, with results revealing that tourist experience with VR attraction quality, VR system quality, and VR satisfaction are essential determinants of destination loyalty. Further, tourists’ past visiting experience influences tourist experience with VR attraction and indirectly strengthens tourist satisfaction with VR experience and their loyalty toward a tourism destination. This research expands our knowledge of destination loyalty formation through VR and past visiting experiences to help destination managers create and enhance loyalty among their visitors.Item Open Access Attitudes and behaviour intention in consuming plant-based food: Evidence from young tourists in Indonesia(University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Opatija, 2024-06) Koh, Christina; Suhartanto, Dwi; Brien, Anthony; Andrianto, Tomy; Saputra, Eryd; Abnur, AsmanPurpose – This research aims to observe the attitudes and behavioural intentions of young tourists in relation to their experiences of consuming PBF, including value consumption, concern for the environment and perceived cost as influencing factors. Methodology/Design/Approach – Considering that it is almost impossible to determine the sample frame for young tourists in Indonesia, this research used a non-probability sample to collect the sample. The study focused on young tourists aged 18 to 35 years old who have experience of consuming PBF while travelling. A self-administered online questionnaire was provided to tourists visiting a destination from July to September 2022, resulting in 267 usable responses. Findings – Tourists’ attitude towards PBF leads to their intention to buy again during or after their visit and to offer profitable e-WOM. In addition, perceived cost moderates the relationship between attitude and e-WOM; however, it does not provide evidence for the moderating role between attitude and repurchase intention. Originality of the research – This study highlights the value of consumption, concern for the environment and perceived costs as factors influencing tourists’ attitudes and behavioural intentions towards public transport.Item Open Access How the internet is revolutionizing sustainable agriculture in Asia(ADBI, 2024-08-09) Zheng, H; Ma, Wanglin; Rahut, DInternet access and use vary greatly across regions and countries. In 2023, the internet penetration rate, defined as the ratio of the number of internet users to the total population, was 65.9% in Asia and the Pacific but as high as 90.5% in European countries. Within Asia, internet penetration rates are relatively high in countries such as the Republic of Korea (97%), Japan (93.3%), and Singapore (92%). In contrast, countries like the Republic of China (PRC) (69.8%), India (59.5%), and Pakistan (50.9%) have comparatively lower internet penetration rates (Statista 2023). Globally, the internet penetration rate in rural areas has increased from 42.6% in 2020 to 50.4% in 2023, yet it still lags behind that of urban areas (ITU 2024). Despite the relatively lower internet penetration rate in rural areas, the rapid expansion of internet use has significantly transformed and advanced the sustainability of agricultural production. Internet use fosters a more sustainable future for agriculture through two principal pathways: farm management and farm performance.Item Open Access Promoting sustainable agrifood production under climate change: Adaptation, returns, and food security implications(Taylor & Francis, 2024-07-28) Zheng, Hongyun; Ma, Wanglin; Zhou, XiaoshiClimate change is challenging sustainable agrifood production and food security, and encouraging farmers’ climate change adaptation can help promote sustainable agrifood production and ensure food security. This study investigates farmers’ climate change adaptation and its impact on agrifood production. We employ the propensity score matching (PSM) model to address the selection bias issue of climate change adaptation and estimate the survey data collected from 415 rice-producing households in rural China. We also estimate the inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) model for robustness check. The empirical results show that farmers’ decisions on climate change adaptation are influenced by household heads’ age, education level, life satisfaction, temperature perception, and transportation conditions. The treatment effect estimations of the PSM model reveal that climate change adaptation significantly increases land productivity by 41.24–44.29% and labor productivity by 55.06–63.72% in rice production. The IPWRA model estimation largely confirms the robustness of the PSM model estimation. We also find that climate change adaptation significantly increases the net returns of rice production. These findings have significant global implications. By understanding the factors influencing farmers’ decisions to adapt to climate change, policymakers worldwide can design targeted interventions to encourage similar practices in other regions. Promoting farmers’ climate change adaptation to increase farm productivity is crucial for ensuring global food security in the face of ongoing climate challenges.Item Open Access Can outsourcing pest and disease control help reduce pesticide expenditure? Evidence from rice farmers(Wiley, 2024-08-02) Wang, Pengcheng; Ma, Wanglin; Diao, MenglingOutsourcing pest and disease control (PDC) has grown rapidly worldwide, especially in developing countries. Although numerous studies have investigated various advantages of outsourcing PDC, little is known about its impact on pesticide expenditure. This study addresses the gap by estimating the impact of outsourcing PDC on pesticide expenditure using data collected from 448 rice farmers in China. We employ an endogenous treatment regression (ETR) model and an instrumental variable quantile regression (IVQR) model to investigate the homogenous and heterogeneous impacts of outsourcing PDC, respectively. The results estimated by the ETR model show that outsourcing PDC decreases total pesticide expenditure. The reduction in herbicide expenditure due to outsourcing PDC is greater than the reduction in insecticide expenditure. The results estimated by the IVQR model reveal that the pesticide expenditure reduction effect of outsourcing PDC is larger among farmers with higher pesticide expenditure. Our findings generally suggest that it is necessary to take outsourcing PDC into consideration when designing policies to promote pesticide expenditure reduction and protect the ecological environment and human health.Item Open Access Stock markets cycles and macroeconomic dynamics(Springer Nature, 2024-07-11) Vatsa, Puneet; Basnet, Hem; Mixon Jr., Franklin G; Upadhyaya, KamalThere is a consensus that stock markets are procyclical. However, answers to some important questions remain unclear. Do stock markets lead or lag business cycles? More interestingly, what is the duration with which they lead or lag them? This study uses different time-series filters and time-difference analysis to answer these questions by examining the dynamic interactions between three major stock indices and key macroeconomic indicators in the United States. The findings show that stock markets have been strongly procyclical, lagging industrial production by one to three months in recent decades. There have been noteworthy changes in the relationship between inflation and stock market cycles. The correlations changed from negative in the 1980s and 1990s to positive in the 2000s and 2010s. The results also reveal close associations between the stock indices, offering new insights into the interplay between financial markets and economic cycles.Item Open Access Invasive weed disrupts facilitation of nutrient uptake in grass-clover assemblage(Springer, 2024-03) Zhang, Wei; Muir, R; Dickinson, Nicholas• Nutrient constraints in low-fertility soil were modified by different species combinations. • Grass-clover assemblages benefited both species in terms of nutrient procurement. • Interplay of competition and facilitation is demonstrated. • An invasive weed removed essential nutrients from the grazing cycle. To investigate the interplay of competition and facilitation between plants in low-fertility pasture grasslands of New Zealand, we compared nutrient uptake and acquisition of key nutrients of three species from different functional groups. Combinations of Pilosella officinarum (mouse-eared hawk-weed, an invasive weed), Trifolium repens (white clover, a nitrogen fixer) and Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot, a pasture grass) were planted into a soil with low-to-deficient concentrations of key nutrients. Highest yields were achieved by the grass growing alone but, when the clover and grass had grown together, there were complementary benefits in terms of procurement of a wide range of nutrients from soil despite lower root biomass. The invasive weed negated these benefits, and soil nutrients were exploited less efficiently when Pilosella had grown alone or in a mixture with the other species. Competition from the weed removed the benefits of grass-legume coexistence. These findings are interpreted to suggest that requirements for legumes to be the main source of nitrogen in pasture grasslands may be compromised unless competitive weeds are controlled to avoid disrupted procurement of key nutrients. It is likely these constraints to nutrient procurement would similarly impact conservation grasslands.Item Open Access Through the AI thinking space: An autoethnographic tale of unexpected insight(University of Piraeus, International Strategic Management Association, 2024) Jeremiah, FaithPurpose: Throughout history, storytelling has been a cornerstone of human experience. Our ancestors told tales around their fires that became the bedrock of entire cultures. Beyond mere entertainment, these stories were crucial in imparting essential cultural values, wisdom, and a sense of collective identity. They served as a medium for passing down knowledge and strengthening communal bonds, blending reality with imagination to expand the realms of possibility. This age-old tradition is not just about recounting events; it is a way of making sense of the world, interpreting the past, and envisioning what the future might hold. In the same spirit, I present to you my narrative, not just as a recounting of events, but as a journey of sensemaking. It’s a story captured in real-time, reflecting my experiences with collective real and artificial insights as I navigate extensive engagement with ChatGTP4. Design/Methodology/Approach: In a quiet corner of an academic's mind, a dialogue began – not with a colleague, nor a book, but with an AI named ChatGPT4. This narrative unfolds over several months, during which each textual exchange could catalyze a surge in creative thought and higher-order thinking. Findings: As a reflective interface, ChatGPT4 reveals oblivious habitual patterns, that were obstructing the next level of creative and advanced thinking. This autoethnographic narrative, a blend of technology and introspection, weaves a story that transcends conventional research, portraying AI as an analytical tool allied with the unintended quest for cognitive insight. Practical Implications: The scholar, initially the conductor of queries and task setting, unwittingly becomes a student of their own mental landscape, resulting from inquisitions into their extensive textual communication. Originality/Value: This approach is crucial as it extends traditional ethnographic focus from solely human societies to the complex dynamics of digital communities, including AI entities.