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Abstract: Agri-environmental schemes (AES) are central policy instruments designed to promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices by financially supporting the adoption of sustainable land management. While a substantial body of research examines how AES influence environmental outcomes and overall farm performance, far less is known about their direct effects on farm-level variable input costs, particularly in terms of energy, fertilizer, and crop protection expenditures. Existing studies typically analyse eco-efficiency or broad economic-environmental indicators, leaving a critical empirical gap regarding whether and how AES reshape the cost structure of farms during and after adoption. This study addresses this gap by estimating the causal impact of AES participation on key variable input costs using Slovenian Farm Accountancy Data Network data and a Differences-in-Differences (DID) design with staggered adoption, supported by robustness and sensitivity analyses. The findings indicate that AES participation leads to significant reductions in pesticide and energy costs, while fertilizer expenditures tend to increase in the short term before stabilizing or declining over time. These patterns suggest that AES trigger structural adjustments in production—such as reduced tillage intensity and transitions to organic or biological inputs—that can initially raise some input costs but contribute to longer-term sustainability. The study therefore offers new empirical evidence on the cost implications of AES, improving understanding of how environmental policy instruments affect farm-level economic decisions. These insights are essential for designing AES that support both environmental objectives and the economic viability of farmers, particularly in regions where sustainability transitions may involve short-term trade-offs.
Keywords: agri-environmental schemes, resources in agriculture, energy, fertilizer, crop protection, variable input costs, Slovenian agriculture
Published in RUP: 23.03.2026; Views: 177; Downloads: 5
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Abstract: The Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC) strategy offers an alternative to conventional (long) food supply chains. It can be an effective strategy for small farmers to establish closer connections with consumers. This closer proximity to consumers allows for faster strategic decision-making and actions on consumer needs. SFSCs are also praised for their contribution to sustainable economic, social, and environmental development. The policies of the European Union also endorse the SFSC model. Small farms constitute a significant share of the total number of farms in the Czech Republic and play important social roles in rural areas. In 2020, the Czech Republic had a total of 28,910 farms, comprising 16,000 farms (55.3%) with an area of less than 20 hectares. The pandemic and subsequent postpandemic crisis affected the entire Czech economy and firms in all sectors. Farmers in SFSCs had to find ways to deal with such a disruptive event. The article aims to evaluate farmers' perceptions of the impact of the pandemic and post-pandemic crisis on the functioning of SFSCs and their impact on farming operations, as well as to discuss the adaptation strategies of small farms in SFSCs in the Czech Republic during the recent crisis period. The article answers two questions: 1) How did the pandemic and post-pandemic crisis affect the functioning of SFSCs and farming operations in the Czech Republic? and 2) What adaptation strategies did small farms in SFSCs in the Czech Republic use during the pandemic and post-pandemic crisis? The data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 73 small farmers involved in SFSCs in the Czech Republic during the years 2024 and 2025 and were analysed using statistical methods. Results indicate that, despite farmers’ perception of the impact of the crisis on their farming operations, their perception was rather negative. In the case of the functioning of SFSCs during the crisis period, their perception was slightly more positive than negative. The reason is that farmers in SFSC often implemented strategies to cope with the situation, e.g. by improving their online sales, e-shops, and social media presence. We argue that changes in marketing practices during the crisis period will enable farmers to improve their SFSC operations in the future.
Keywords: agriculture, pandemic and post-pandemic crisis, short food supply chain, Czech Republic
Published in RUP: 04.03.2026; Views: 151; Downloads: 3
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Abstract: The European Union aims to foster research excellence, among others, by increasing gender equality (GE) in the European research area. The mandatory introduction of gender equality plans (GEP) mobilised universities to assess, target, and monitor GE in different fields of science. A wide range of barriers have been explored in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), characterised by the low participation of women. However, significant obstacles to GE can emerge in relatively more gender‐balanced and, therefore, rarely studied fields, such as agriculture and life sciences (ALS). Experiences can differ in Central and Eastern European countries, characterised by rather traditional gender and family norms. This study explores different stakeholders’ perceptions of the main barriers of GE, with particular attention to ALS. We conducted nine focus groups (82 participants in total) with middle management, academic staff, and students from Czech, Hungarian, and Slovenian universities, aiming to contribute to the revision of their first GEP. Discussions were centred on recruitment, leadership positions, work–life balance, gender‐based violence, sexual harassment, organisational culture, integrating the gender dimension into research and teaching, and institutionalisation of GEPs. Findings revealed that women in ALS face partly similar gender‐based obstacles to their counterparts in less gender‐balanced fields—perceptions of education and career choices, work–life imbalance, and exclusion by recruitment and promotion practices—and also additional ALS‐related challenges of laboratory and fieldwork. Findings highlight the need for institutions to carefully address these areas in their state‐of‐the‐art assessments and develop sector‐specific, tailor‐made GEPs.
Keywords: academia and higher education, agriculture and life sciences, barriers, Central and Eastern Europe, gender equality, gender equality plans, inclusion of women, stakeholders
Published in RUP: 18.08.2025; Views: 593; Downloads: 8
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Abstract: Maize (Zea mays L.) relies heavily on nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, typically supplied through organic and inorganic fertilizers. However, excessive agrochemical use threatens soil fertility and environmental health. Sustainable alternatives, such as poultry manure (PM) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), offer promising solutions. This study examines the effects of a phytobiotic bacterial formulation (PHY), composed of Bacillus subtilis and Microbacterium sp., applied alone and in combination with PM, on maize’s rhizosphere bacteriobiome across key growth stages. Field trials included four treatments: a control, PHY-coated seeds, PM, and combined PHY_PM. The results show that early in development, the PM-treated rhizospheres increased the abundance of beneficial genera such as Sphingomonas, Microvirga, and Streptomyces, though levels declined in later stages. The PHY_PM-treated roots in the seedling phase showed a reduced abundance of taxa like Chryseobacterium, Pedobacter, Phyllobacterium, Sphingobacterium, and Stenotrophomonas, but this effect did not persist. In the PM-treated roots, Flavisolibacter was significantly enriched at harvesting. Overall, beneficial bacteria improved microbial evenness, and the PHY_PM treatment promoted bacterial diversity and maize growth. A genome analysis of the PHY strains revealed plant-beneficial traits, including nutrient mobilization, stress resilience, and biocontrol potential. This study highlights the complementarity of PM and PGPR, showing how their integration reshapes bacteriobiome and correlates with plant parameters in sustainable agriculture.
Keywords: maize, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), poultry manure, microbiome, biocontrol, sustainable agriculture
Published in RUP: 10.06.2025; Views: 1002; Downloads: 34
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Keywords: agriculture, prices, competitiveness, agri-food trade, competition, transition economy
Published in RUP: 15.10.2013; Views: 4606; Downloads: 89
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