“HydroSOStainable” Concept: How Does Information Influence Consumer Expectations towards Roasted Almonds?

Water scarcity is one of the top five key global risks over the last years, and agriculture is the major and least efficient user of fresh water. In this scenario, the “hydroSOStainable” concept has been developed and registered to protect fruits and vegetables cultivated with a volume of water below the crop evapotranspiration. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate how the information influence the consumer liking and preference of the roasting almonds labelled as “hydroSOStainable” and “conventional”, although belonged to the same sample. Thus, we explored 300 consumers (Seville, Spain (high levels of water stress) versus Donostia, Spain and Wroclaw, Poland (regions with no water stress)) preference and acceptance of roasted almonds using satisfaction degree, CATA and willingness to pay questions. The present study demonstrated that both location and sociodemographic aspects influenced consumers perception and liking. Consumers living in areas with water restrictions were more susceptible to be influenced by the hydroSOStainable/conventional concept, while consumers from regions without water restrictions would need more information to choose a sustainable product. Both man and women, centennials and millennials scored higher the supposed hydroSOStainable almonds, while generation X was not really influenced by the information effect. Finally, 77% of consumers, regardless of location, were willing to pay a higher price for the almonds labelled “hydroSOStainable”. Consequently, these results provide valuable information for the government and food industry about consumer choice regarding sustainable products, depending on the location, knowledge, and sociodemographic aspects.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZES RESPONSES OF MORINGA OLEIFERA YIELD TO LOCALIZED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, WATER RESTRICTION AND FERTILIZERS

This investigation of both of irrigation system, water restriction and soil conditioners on Morengaoleifera, (surface drip irrigation, D, buried drip, BD and mini-sprinkler, MS), as well for irrigating a magic crop like Morenga (Morengaoleifera) plants. Also, this work includes different irrigation water restriction which represent two three treatments (100, 80 and 60% of calculated applied water, W1, W2 and W3 respectivly), more over threes soil conditioners (Compost, C, Farm manure, FM, Mud, M). The experiment was carried out inShalatien where it lies in the east-west of the Red sea in Egypt. Surface evaporation in this area has a paramount importance because of its aridity hot climate under the circumstances of saline irrigation water usage. The objective of the present work is to study the influences of irrigation system, water restrictions and soil conditioners onmorphological and chemical characterizes of Moringa, for that,the following measurements are taken Trunk Diameter, Pods Tree Quantity, Seeds Yields (g) per tree, Weight per 1000 seeds (g), oil yields per tree (g), oil Yields per/ Acer (kg), chlorophyll A- B, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, Total carbohydrates, vitamin C,Nitrogen, Calcium, Fe and zinc content of Moringaoleifera plants in addition to Water use efficiency, cost analysis, energy analysis in two studied seasons, (2017-2018/2018-2019). Results show that the most positive influence of irrigation is buried irrigation, drip irrigation and mini-sprinkler respectively, due to the saved water from losses by evaporation under drought conditions. And the most positive influence of water restrictions treatments is 100, 80 and 60% respectively, but the in many measurements the differences between both of 100 and 80% of applied water is not significant, so its more economical to approve 80% of applied water under buried drip irrigation, which means about 20% of applied water can be save.

Analyzing the Effect of Mandatory Water Restrictions on Water Usage

As water rights and water usage become an ever more important part of municipalities’ and states’ way of life, it becomes important to understand what policies can be effective for encouraging conservation of water. One method that has been employed at various times and throughout numerous communities is to limit outdoor watering days. We use a dataset with over 3 million property-month observations during the 2007–2015 period in Norman, Oklahoma, to identify whether the periodic implementation of mandatory water restrictions reduces water usage. Our data allow us to exploit variance in the timing of these water restriction programs. Our findings indicate that this policy reduces water consumption by 0.7 % of total water consumption. Additionally, we use home assessment prices to identify heterogeneity in this response, finding that high priced homes are more responsive to water use restrictions.

The Price Elasticity of Demand of Australian Urban Residential Consumers and Water Restrictions

The aim of this article is to provide derived estimates of the price elasticity of demand for water for residential urban consumers in Australia over the years 2005/06 to 2016/17. The results of the study indicate that higher water and sewerage prices, bundled together, are associated with lower demand for water. The relationship, therefore, between the prices of water and sewerage and demand for water is a negative one.  This relationship, however, is a relatively inelastic one, that is a large change in price is required before there is much of a change in demand for water.  With the supply of water in most Australian urban centers are controlled by monopoly suppliers this means that there is some scope for water restrictions to negate this market power.

Baseline adjustment methodology in a shared water savings contract during severe water restrictions – a case study in the Western Cape, South Africa

A novel method for baseline adjustment in a shared water savings contract under serious drought conditions was presented in a companion paper. The newly developed baseline adjustment method was subsequently applied to a case study, as discussed in this manuscript. The case study involved application of the method to 24 relatively complex sites, spread over the Western Cape Province in South Africa. The sites included, for example, military bases, naval dockyards, an airforce base, prison facilities, large multi-storey blocks of flats and administrative office buildings. Baseline adjustment became essential mid-contract during the serious water restrictions in Cape Town at the time. The restrictions were linked to the ‘Day Zero’ scenario in 2018 when water supply would potentially run out, and resulted in water savings at baseline sites that were ascribed to external factors. The study incorporated a comprehensive review of the approved baseline reports with site visits to 12 of the properties. The baseline adjustment method provided a robust means to obtain adjustments for sites with relatively limited data. The minimum data requirement was a record of monthly water consumption per site. The adjustments varied between 0% and 64% of the original baseline value for the different sites in the study sample. The relatively higher adjustments were linked to sites where outdoor irrigation and pool water use was prevalent during the baseline-setting period, but was banned during the drought. Zero adjustments were found for sites with exceptionally high leakage flows that had subsequently been repaired; leaks dwarfed actual use in these cases. The results for all 24 sites were accepted by the contracting parties as being reasonable and fair.

Influența restricțiilor hidrice asupra fungului Fusarium Solani Var. Coeruleum

The article presents data on the influence of water restrictions on the fungi Fusarium solani var. coeruleum. The considerable decrease of the share of the strain factor from 68.88% to 16.97% for F. solani, denotes the high survival capacity of the fungus in conditions of osmotic restrictions produced by the osmotic substance PEG, thus confirming the data from the literature. The spread of the mycelium in the form of plaque or film, the intensity of pigmentation, the presence of aerial mycelium show changes in the adaptation of the fungus to osmotic conditions, which have significantly affected the growth of F. solani.

How different Cape Town residential suburbs helped avert Day Zero

Between 2015 and 2018, the Western Cape region of South Africa experienced three consecutive years of below average rainfall. The local authority of Cape Town imposed water restrictions to avert ‘Day Zero’, an event that was expected to occur if the storage capacity of the main dams supplying the city fell to below 13.5%. This study analyses how different residential areas in Cape Town responded to water restrictions and tariffs that were imposed from January 2016 to October 2018 during the midst of the water crisis. It further explores the potential implications for tariff adjustments that were designed to sustain water conservation measures beyond the drought, while also being sensitive to the ability of poorer households to access sufficient water at an appropriate per capita cost. Different socio-economic groups displayed a different response to the restrictions. A delay or lag-time was observed in lower-income suburbs during the initial phases of water restrictions, while middle- and higher-income suburbs responded immediately. Once the water crisis eased by mid-2018 and restrictions were reduced, more affluent suburbs began relaxing their water conservation efforts. Nevertheless, lower-, middle-, and higher-income suburbs significantly reduced their water demand by 32, 59, and 58%, respectively, over the study period. It can therefore be concluded that water restrictions and accompanying tariffs altered water use of all users regardless of socio-economic status.