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“Basalt addition improves the performance of young grassland monocultures under more persistent weather featuring longer dry and wet spells”. Reynaert S, Vienne A, de Boeck HJ, D'Hose T, Janssens I, Nijs I, Portillo-Estrada M, Verbruggen E, Vicca S, Agricultural and forest meteorology 340, 109610 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.AGRFORMET.2023.109610
Abstract: Global warming is altering the intra-annual variability of precipitation patterns in the mid-latitudes, including a shift towards longer dry and wet spells compared to historic averages. Such fluctuations will likely alter soil water and nutrient dynamics of managed ecosystems which could negatively influence their functioning (e.g., productivity and fodder quality). Here, we investigated whether basalt addition could attenuate effects of increasingly persistent precipitation regimes (PR) on two agricultural grassland monocultures differing in drought resistance (low: Lolium perenne (LP) vs high: Festulolium (FL)) and digestibility (high: LP, low: FL), while improving soil C sequestration. In total, 32 experimental mesocosms were subjected to either a low (1-day wet/ dry alternation) or a highly (30-day wet/dry alternation) persistent PR over 120 days, keeping total precipitation equal. In half of these mesocosms, we mixed basalt with the top 20 cm soil layer at a rate of 50 t ha-1. Overall, 30-day PR increased average water availability resulting in improved aboveground biomass and shoot digestibility for both species, in spite of elevated physiological stress. These PR also increased shoot Si, K, N and C but reduced Ca accumulation. Basalt addition generally increased soil Al, Ni, Mg, Ca, P, K and Si availability without altering root biomass or total soil carbon. Moreover, differences in root N content and C:N ratio between species were reduced. Interestingly, basalt modified the PR effects on productivity. Within 30-day PR, basalt stimulated aboveground biomass (& PLUSMN;14%) and root Si and K contents without altering plant digestibility, palatability, crude protein content or Ni/Al content. These results indicate that basalt can stimulate grassland productivity and soil nutrient availability under more persistent PR without negatively affecting fodder quality. Hence, basalt application may improve the performance of young temperate grassland monocultures under climate change, though dry soil conditions may limit effects on soil C sequestration during summer.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Impact Factor: 6.2
DOI: 10.1016/J.AGRFORMET.2023.109610
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“Biochemical composition changes can be linked to the tolerance of four grassland species under more persistent precipitation regimes”. Zi L, Reynaert S, Nijs I, De Boeck H, Verbruggen E, Beemster GTS, Asard H, Abdelgawad H, Physiologia plantarum 175, e14083 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1111/PPL.14083
Abstract: Climate models suggest that the persistence of summer precipitation regimes (PRs) is on the rise, characterized by both longer dry and longer wet durations. These PR changes may alter plant biochemical composition and thereby their economic and ecological characteristics. However, impacts of PR persistence have primarily been studied at the community level, largely ignoring the biochemistry of individual species. Here, we analyzed biochemical components of four grassland species with varying sensitivity to PR persistence (Holcus lanatus, Phleum pratense, Lychnis flos-cuculi, Plantago lanceolata) along a range of increasingly persistent PRs (longer consecutive dry and wet periods) in a mesocosm experiment. The more persistent PRs decreased nonstructural sugars, whereas they increased lignin in all species, possibly reducing plant quality. The most sensitive species Lychnis seemed less capable of altering its biochemical composition in response to altered PRs, which may partly explain its higher sensitivity. The more tolerant species may have a more robust and dynamic biochemical network, which buffers the effects of changes in individual biochemical components on biomass. We conclude that the biochemical composition changes are important determinants for plant performance under increasingly persistent precipitation regimes.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Impact Factor: 6.4
DOI: 10.1111/PPL.14083
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“Consistent predictors of microbial community composition across spatial scales in grasslands reveal low context‐dependency”. Radujković, D, Vicca S, van Rooyen M, Wilfahrt P, Brown L, Jentsch A, Reinhart KO, Brown C, De Gruyter J, Jurasinski G, Askarizadeh D, Bartha S, Beck R, Blenkinsopp T, Cahill J, Campetella G, Canullo R, Chelli S, Enrico L, Fraser L, Hao X, Henry HAL, Hohn M, Jouri MH, Koch M, Lawrence Lodge R, Li FY, Lord JM, Milligan P, Minggagud H, Palmer T, Schröder B, Szabó, G, Zhang T, Zimmermann Z, Verbruggen E, Molecular ecology 32, 6924 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1111/MEC.17178
Abstract: Environmental circumstances shaping soil microbial communities have been studied extensively. However, due to disparate study designs, it has been difficult to resolve whether a globally consistent set of predictors exists, or context‐dependency prevails. Here, we used a network of 18 grassland sites (11 of those containing regional plant productivity gradients) to examine (i) if similar abiotic or biotic factors predict both large‐scale (across sites) and regional‐scale (within sites) patterns in bacterial and fungal community composition, and (ii) if microbial community composition differs consistently at two levels of regional plant productivity (low vs. high). Our results revealed that bacteria were associated with particular soil properties (such as base saturation) and both bacteria and fungi were associated with plant community composition across sites and within the majority of sites. Moreover, a discernible microbial community signal emerged, clearly distinguishing high and low‐productivity soils across different grasslands independent of their location in the world. Hence, regional productivity differences may be typified by characteristic soil microbial communities across the grassland biome. These results could encourage future research aiming to predict the general effects of global changes on soil microbial community composition in grasslands and to discriminate fertile from infertile systems using generally applicable microbial indicators.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Impact Factor: 4.9
DOI: 10.1111/MEC.17178
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“Critical reflections on Cinema Belgica : the database for New Cinema History in Belgium”. Ducatteeuw V, Biltereyst D, Meers P, Verbruggen C, Moreels D, Noordegraaf J, Chambers S, De Potter P, Cachet T, Franck N, Deroo F, Journal of open humanities data 9, 1 (2023). http://doi.org/10.5334/JOHD.91
Abstract: New Cinema History broadened film studies by emphasising the complexity of cinema as a multifaceted phenomenon that includes the socio-economic context in which films were made, circulated, shown and received. As part of the digital turn, the discipline adopted computational methods and created quantitative research data to research this socio-economic context at scale. However, not all datasets created in this context adhere to FAIR principles, decreasing their reusability. By reconciling 14 cinema-related datasets, Cinema Belgica facilitates research into the history of Belgian cinema. This research paper documents and critically reflects on the choices made when selecting, modelling and reconciling information for the Cinema Belgica database.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Mass communications; Art; History; Visual and Digital Cultures Research Center (ViDi)
DOI: 10.5334/JOHD.91
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“Decadal soil warming decreased vascular plant above and belowground production in a subarctic grassland by inducing nitrogen limitation”. Fang C, Verbrigghe N, Sigurdsson BDD, Ostonen I, Leblans NIW, Maranon-Jimenez S, Fuchslueger L, Sigurosson P, Meeran K, Portillo-Estrada M, Verbruggen E, Richter A, Sardans J, Penuelas J, Bahn M, Vicca S, Janssens IA, New phytologist 240, 565 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1111/NPH.19177
Abstract: Below and aboveground vegetation dynamics are crucial in understanding how climate warming may affect terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycling. In contrast to aboveground biomass, the response of belowground biomass to long-term warming has been poorly studied. Here, we characterized the impacts of decadal geothermal warming at two levels (on average +3.3 degrees C and +7.9 degrees C) on below and aboveground plant biomass stocks and production in a subarctic grassland. Soil warming did not change standing root biomass and even decreased fine root production and reduced aboveground biomass and production. Decadal soil warming also did not significantly alter the root-shoot ratio. The linear stepwise regression model suggested that following 10 yr of soil warming, temperature was no longer the direct driver of these responses, but losses of soil N were. Soil N losses, due to warming-induced decreases in organic matter and water retention capacity, were identified as key driver of the decreased above and belowground production. The reduction in fine root production was accompanied by thinner roots with increased specific root area. These results indicate that after a decade of soil warming, plant productivity in the studied subarctic grassland was affected by soil warming mainly by the reduction in soil N.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Impact Factor: 9.4
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.19177
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“Does contract length matter? The impact of various contract-farming regimes on land-improvement investment and the efficiency of contract farmers in Pakistan”. Mazhar R, Azadi H, Van Passel S, Varnik R, Pietrzykowski M, Skominas R, Wei Z, Xuehao B, Agriculture (Basel) 13, 1651 (2023). http://doi.org/10.3390/AGRICULTURE13091651
Abstract: Land-tenure security is integral to local communities' socioeconomic development. It has been a center of debate in academia and for legislators and advocates to implement reforms to enhance efficient and sustainable development in land management. Yet, knowledge gaps remain in how various contract-farming regimes contribute to land-improvement investment and technical efficiency. This study used a data set of 650 farm households collected through a two-stage stratified sampling to investigate the influence of three contract-farming regimes: long-term, medium-term, and short-term contracts, on the land-improvement investment, productivity, and technical efficiency of contract farmers in Punjab, Pakistan. The study used multivariate probit and ordinary least square regression models to examine the posit relationships. The findings highlight that farmers with long-term land contracts have higher per hectare yield, income and profit than those with medium-term and short-term contracts. The results confirm that farmers with medium- and long-term contracts tend to invest more in land-improvement measures, i.e., organic and green manure. Further, the study findings demonstrate that long-term land tenures are more effective when farmers make decisions regarding the on-farm infrastructure, like tube-well installation, tractor ownership, and holding farm logistics. Last, the study results confirm that long-term contracts are more robust regarding technical efficiency. Moreover, the findings support the Marshallian inefficiency hypothesis and extend the literature on contract farming, land-improvement investment, and land use policy, and offer coherent policy actions for stakeholders to improve farmers' productivity, technical efficiency, and income.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
DOI: 10.3390/AGRICULTURE13091651
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“Farmers' preferences and willingness to pay for improved irrigation water supply program : a discrete choice experiment”. Chekol Zewdie M, Moretti M, Tenessa DB, Van Passel S, Environment, development and sustainability , 1 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1007/S10668-023-03759-Z
Abstract: This study examines smallholder farmers' preferences and willingness to pay for an improved irrigation water supply program in northwest Ethiopia. We employed a discrete choice experiment with five attributes and three levels. Data were collected from randomly selected sample households of both irrigation users and non-users. A total of 379 respondents participated, and a mixed logit model was used to analyze the household-level survey data. The result indicates that to deviate from the business-as-usual scenario, smallholder farmers are willing to pay between 3,228 and 8,327 Ethiopian Birr per hectare of irrigated land. Furthermore, the results showed a strong public preference for access to produce cash crops, followed by irrigation water availability in the dry season, and adequate access to improved farm inputs. The results also provide useful information for policymakers and suggested possibilities for generating finance from farmers to cover the operation and maintenance costs of irrigation schemes. Also, this study result reveals that irrigation development and expansion must be integrated into a comprehensive support package that combines irrigation water with access to improved farm inputs and access to produce cash crops on farmers' farm plots.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Impact Factor: 4.9
DOI: 10.1007/S10668-023-03759-Z
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“Geospatial environmental techno-economic assessment of pretreatment technologies for bioethanol production”. Vasilakou K, Nimmegeers P, Billen P, Van Passel S, Renewable and sustainable energy reviews 187, 113743 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2023.113743
Abstract: Second-generation biofuels, starting from lignocellulosic biomass, are considered as a renewable alternative for fossil fuels with lower environmental impact and potentially higher supply and energy security. The economic and environmental performance of second-generation bioethanol production from corn stover in the European Union (EU) is studied, starting in Belgium as base case. A comparative environmental techno-economic assessment has been conducted, with process simulations in Aspen Plus and corn stover availability data in thirteen EU countries to calculate minimum ethanol selling prices (MESP) and Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe). In this analysis, the emphasis is on the comparison of different pretreatment technologies, namely (i) dilute acid, (ii) alkaline, (iii) steam explosion and (iv) liquid hot water. Dilute acid showed the best economic and environmental performance for the base case scenario. Within the EU, Hungary and Romania presented the lowest MESP for the steam explosion model at 0.39 and 0.43 EUR/L respectively. Poland showed the lowest GHGe, at 0.46 kg CO2eq/L for the alkaline model, mainly due to the avoided product allocation on electricity and its high carbon intensity in the electricity generation sector. The second lowest GHGe were obtained in France for the dilute acid model and are attributed to its low agricultural emissions intensity. This study identifies a location-dependence of the economic and environmental performance of pretreatment technologies, which can be extrapolated from the EU to other large regions around the world and should be taken into consideration by decision-makers.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Impact Factor: 15.9
DOI: 10.1016/J.RSER.2023.113743
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“Longer dry and wet spells alter the stochasticity of microbial community assembly in grassland soils”. Li L, Nijs I, De Boeck H, Vinduskova O, Reynaert S, Donnelly C, Zi L, Verbruggen E, Soil biology and biochemistry 178, 108969 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.SOILBIO.2023.108969
Abstract: Climate change is increasing the duration of alternating wet and dry spells. These fluctuations affect soil water availability and other soil properties which are crucial drivers of soil microbial communities. While soil microbial communities have a moderate capacity to recover once a drought ceases, the expected alternation of strongly opposing regimes can challenge their capacity to adapt. Here, we set up experimental grassland mesocosms where precipitation frequency was adjusted along a gradient while holding total precipitation constant. The gradient varied the duration of wet and dry spells from 1 to 60 days during a total of 120 days, where we hy-pothesized that especially intermediate durations would increase the importance of stochastic community as-sembly due to frequent alternation of opposing environmental regimes. We examined bacterial and fungal community composition, diversity, co-occurrence patterns and assembly mechanisms across these different precipitation treatments. Our results show that 1) intermediate regimes of wet and dry spells increased the stochasticity of microbial community assembly whereas microbial communities at low and high regimes were subjected to more deterministic assembly, and 2) more persistent precipitation regimes (>6 days duration) reduced the fungal diversity and network connectivity but had little effect on bacterial communities. Collec-tively, these findings indicate that longer alternating wet and dry events lead to a less predictable and connected soil microbial community. This study provides new insight into the likely mechanisms through which precipi-tation persistence alters soil microbial communities and their predictability.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; ADReM Data Lab (ADReM); Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Impact Factor: 9.7
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOILBIO.2023.108969
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“More persistent weather causes a pronounced soil microbial legacy but does not impact subsequent plant communities”. Li L, Lin Q, Nijs I, De Boeck H, Beemster GTS, Asard H, Verbruggen E, The science of the total environment 903, 166570 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2023.166570
Abstract: A soil history of exposure to extreme weather may impact future plant growth and microbial community assembly. Currently, little is known about whether and how previous precipitation regime (PR)-induced changes in soil microbial communities influence plant and soil microbial community responses to a subsequent PR. We exposed grassland mesocosms to either an ambient PR (1 day wet-dry alternation) or a persistent PR (30 days consecutive wet-dry alternation) for one year. This conditioned soil was then inoculated as a 10 % fraction into 90 % sterilized “native” soil, after which new plant communities were established and subjected to either the ambient or persistent PR for 60 days. We assessed whether past persistent weather-induced changes in soil microbial community composition affect soil microbial and plant community responses to subsequent weather persistence. The historical regimes caused enduring effects on fungal communities and only temporary effects on bacterial communities, but did not trigger soil microbial legacy effects on plant productivity when exposed to either current PR. This study provides experimental evidence for soil legacy of climate persistence on grassland ecosystems in response to subsequent climate persistence, helping to understand and predict the influences of future climate change on soil biota.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Impact Factor: 9.8
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2023.166570
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“Phosphorus scarcity contributes to nitrogen limitation in lowland tropical rainforests”. Vallicrosa H, Lugli LF, Fuchslueger L, Sardans J, Ramirez-Rojas I, Verbruggen E, Grau O, Brechet L, Peguero G, Van Langenhove L, Verryckt LT, Terrer C, Llusia J, Ogaya R, Marquez L, Roc-Fernandez P, Janssens I, Penuelas J, Ecology 104, e4049 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1002/ECY.4049
Abstract: There is increasing evidence to suggest that soil nutrient availability can limit the carbon sink capacity of forests, a particularly relevant issue considering today's changing climate. This question is especially important in the tropics, where most part of the Earth's plant biomass is stored. To assess whether tropical forest growth is limited by soil nutrients and to explore N and P limitations, we analyzed stem growth and foliar elemental composition of the five stem widest trees per plot at two sites in French Guiana after 3 years of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and N + P addition. We also compared the results between potential N-fixer and non-N-fixer species. We found a positive effect of N fertilization on stem growth and foliar N, as well as a positive effect of P fertilization on stem growth, foliar N, and foliar P. Potential N-fixing species had greater stem growth, greater foliar N, and greater foliar P concentrations than non-N-fixers. In terms of growth, there was a negative interaction between N-fixer status, N + P, and P fertilization, but no interaction with N fertilization. Because N-fixing plants do not show to be completely N saturated, we do not anticipate N providing from N-fixing plants would supply non-N-fixers. Although the soil-age hypothesis only anticipates P limitation in highly weathered systems, our results for stem growth and foliar elemental composition indicate the existence of considerable N and P co-limitation, which is alleviated in N-fixing plants. The evidence suggests that certain mechanisms invest in N to obtain the scarce P through soil phosphatases, which potentially contributes to the N limitation detected by this study.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Impact Factor: 4.8
DOI: 10.1002/ECY.4049
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“A Ricardian analysis of climate change impacts on Japan's agriculture : accounting for solar radiation”. Okamura I, Van Passel S, Fabri C, Senda T, Climate change economics 14, 2350022 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1142/S2010007823500227
Abstract: This study evaluates the effects of climate change on the net revenue of farmers in Japan. We adopted the Ricardian model, which implicitly accounts for farmers’ full adaptation. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, the Ricardian regression shows that changes in temperature significantly impact farmers’ net revenue. In contrast, changes in precipitation have limited effects on farmers’ net revenue. The results of future predictions showed that the effects of climate change are positive across the country, with varying degrees between north and south. These results are more optimistic than those in the existing literature, which frequently reveal negative climate change impacts in southern Japan. However, it should be noted that this model assumes full adaptation and does not consider the transition costs of farmers, and understanding the actual adaptive measures is an important remaining issue.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
DOI: 10.1142/S2010007823500227
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“To tax or to ban? A discrete choice experiment to elicit public preferences for phasing out glyphosate use in agriculture”. Bjørnåvold A, David M, Mermet-Bijon V, Beaumais O, Crastes dit Sourd R, Van Passel S, Martinet V, PLoS ONE 18, 1 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0283131
Abstract: In 2023, the European Union will vote on the reauthorization of glyphosate use, renewed in 2017 despite concern on impacts on the environment and public health. A ban is supported by several Member States but rejected by most farmers. What are citizens’ preferences to phase out glyphosate? To assess whether taxation could be an alternative to a ban, we conducted a discrete choice experiment in five European countries. Our results reveal that the general public is strongly willing to pay for a reduction in glyphosate use. However, while 75.5% of respondents stated to support a ban in the pre-experimental survey, experimental results reveal that in 73.35% of cases, earmarked taxation schemes are preferred when they lead to a strong reduction in glyphosate use for an increase in food price lower than that induced by a ban. When glyphosate reduction is balanced against its costs, a tax may be preferred.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Impact Factor: 3.7
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0283131
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“Undoing the development army : a paradigm shift from transfer of technology to agricultural innovation system in Ethiopian extension”. Gebremariam YA, Dessein J, Wondimagegnhu BA, Breusers M, Lenaerts L, Adgo E, Van Passel S, Minale AS, Nyssen J, Environment, development and sustainability , 1 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1007/S10668-023-04136-6
Abstract: Appropriate use of agricultural technologies and diversifying the farming activities is critical to addressing food security problems in Africa, including Ethiopia. The country is experimenting with the new Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) approach alongside the well-established Transfer of Technology (ToT) approach. This paper analyzes the gaps between policy discourses (as reflected in policy documents and strategic orientation documents) and extension practices (as reflected in the daily exchanges between farmers and the frontline staff of the Ethiopian extension system). It provides insights into the challenges faced and emphasizes the need for better coordination between policy formulation and implementation to enhance extension services. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers can benefit from the valuable perspectives the findings offer. The study contributes to understanding the relationship between policy discourses and extension practices, and its implications can inform policy design and implementation in similar contexts. A qualitative research approach was deployed to analyze policy discourse and practice. Data were collected in Fogera, a district in Northwest Ethiopia, between August 2018 and February 2019. The data for the paper were obtained from 23 Focus Group Discussions conducted with men and women. 13 Informant Interviews (KIIs) were also carried out with personnel at different levels of government agricultural services and departments. Transcripts of recordings of the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were analyzed using a deductive approach. The study focuses on rice crops in the Fogera district, which are crucial for food security and reducing poverty. Although the geographic area is limited, the results can be used to improve the extension system in other areas facing similar challenges. Specifically, the study suggests switching from the traditional transfer of technology approach to the agricultural innovation system approach. Furthermore, the study's techniques, such as qualitative interviews, may have limitations and not fully capture the intricacies of policy and extension practices. The findings demonstrate that, although the policy documents strongly adhere to agricultural innovation system principles, top-down transfer of technology approaches continues to dominate in practice. Moreover, we have found potential discrepancies between the training content delivered and the specific needs of smallholder farmers. Practically, prescriptive systems are still used because agricultural innovation system approaches are not well understood by the Extension Agents. To realize a genuine agricultural innovation system, Ethiopia's extension apparatus should move forward with building committed and robust relationships between farmers, extension agents, researchers, private sectors, and non-governmental organizations. To this end, more research, enhanced training, and improved institutions are needed on what genuine agricultural innovation system could look like at the grass-roots level. This also includes understanding the roles that different actors within Ethiopia's development army should assume how a multi-actor policy dialogue can be organized.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Impact Factor: 4.9
DOI: 10.1007/S10668-023-04136-6
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“The working future : an analysis of skills needed by circular startups”. Borms L, Van Opstal W, Brusselaers J, Van Passel S, Journal of cleaner production 409, 137261 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2023.137261
Abstract: Aside from potential environmental benefits, the implementation of circular economy principles in businesses can have merits for the labour market. The current unemployment in several regions of Europe and the qualitative mismatch between supply and demand could be countered by reskilling the labour force to adjust supply and demand to one another for increased reuse, repair, or recycling, among others. This study uses interviews to increase the focus of the research question and uses survey data to perform an ordered probit regression analysis to sketch the current and future landscape of startups’ skills in Flanders (Belgium), and to analyse the relationship between circular strategies and different types of skills. The results show that design to lower material use increases the need for transport and logistics skills, digitalisation increases the need for R&D and IT skills, and the recuperation of waste requires technical knowledge. Furthermore, gender, age, and experience of the entrepreneur influence the needed skills. The paper probed for policy recommendations for the uptake of circular strategies and recommendations for future research. The most asked policy measures by the respondents are innovation and collaboration support (subsidies), fiscal measures that support circular goods and services, and public procurement for circular goods and services. This research is of relevance for several stakeholders, such as startup ecosystems, sector organisations, policy makers in innovation policy and labour market policy, and educational institutions.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Impact Factor: 11.1
DOI: 10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2023.137261
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