Visegrad Journal on Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development Feed

Legal Gaps in Russian Agricultural Sustainability Legislation: A Comparative Analysis Against EU and Chinese Regulatory Practice

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Background. Questions about the regulatory preconditions for greening national agricultural sectors have grown sharper across post-socialist economies, including the Visegrad region, where EU accession created pressure to align domestic legislation with Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) conditionality requirements. Russia, outside the EU framework, faces structurally similar challenges through its own commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and SDG targets 2, 12, 13, and 15 – yet without the external compliance lever of EU membership. Objective. To identify and systematise legal gaps, collisions, and structural imbalances in Russian agricultural and environmental legislation that impede sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex (AIC), and to formulate concrete amendment proposals drawing on EU and Chinese comparative experience. Methods. Systematic analysis of 25 regulatory acts (NLAs) using a three-method design: (1) formal-legal analysis (internal, vertical, and horizontal consistency review); (2) comparative legal analysis benchmarking Russian NLAs against China‘s rural revitalization legislative package (2021–2026) and EU CAP 2023–2027 conditionality; (3) content analysis with systematic coding using operationalised criteria for a ‘gap,‘ ‘collision,‘ and ‘imbalance.‘ NLAs were selected on three criteria: direct regulation of agricultural activity; sustainability-related provisions; normative relevance to SDGs 2, 12, 13, 15. Results. 73 legal constraints were identified across nine thematic blocks. Critical findings include: absence of environmental conditionality (‘green screening‘) in the state support system; lack of legal status for soil carbon sequestration; contradictions between land, environmental, and agricultural legislation; barriers to circular economy and cooperative models; no statutory priority for biological plant protection. China‘s experience – the Rural Revitalization Promotion Law (2021), the Agriculture Green Development Plan (2021–2025), and the Emission Reduction and Carbon Sequestration Plan (2022) – offers directly applicable precedents. Specific amendments are proposed for 10 federal laws, 4 presidential decrees, and 7 government resolutions. Conclusions. Without addressing identified legislative gaps, Russia‘s AIC cannot achieve its declared green transformation targets. The proposed ‘green screening‘ mechanism, legislative recognition of soil carbon, and differentiated subsidy rates by environmental performance are consistent with approaches proven effective in both V4 countries (through CAP eco-schemes) and China, offering a convergent reform pathway.

Comparative Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of an Automated Home Hydroponic System

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This study presents a comparative cost-effectiveness analysis of a custom-engineered automated home hydroponic device (the Display Unit) for fresh basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) production relative to retail purchasing, assessed from the end-consumer perspective. A framework incorporating unit production cost (UPC), return on investment (ROI), and payback period (PBP) was applied across a 61-day cultivation trial across five prototype units, under two device-price scenarios (prototype: 4,990.11 €; estimated market price: 3,911.40 €) and two retail segments (standard: 27.25 €·kg−1; premium: 57.39 €·kg−1), with and without food waste rate (FWR) correction. UPC under the market-price scenario reached 90.20 €·kg−1, exceeding the standard and premium references by 231% and 57%. ROI was negative across all analytical variants (−42.48% to −153.21%), with PBP undefined under the standard segment and exceeding the device lifetime under the premium segment. Threshold analysis confirmed that cost-competitiveness against the standard segment is unachievable through single-parameter optimisation. Heatmap sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the Display Unit already operates within the cost-competitive zone at the observed yield level under the premium segment with FWR correction and achieves full cost-competitiveness upon yield optimisation. FWR correction improved ROI by 14–37 percentage points, confirming the harvest-on-demand principle as a genuine cost advantage.

Circular Economy in a Multi-Speed Europe: Cluster Evidence from EU Member States

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The transition towards a circular economy is increasingly important for reducing resource dependency, waste generation and environmental pressures across the European Union. However, Member States differ substantially in their capacity to develop circular production and consumption systems. While some countries achieve high recycling rates, these improvements are not always accompanied by stronger resource productivity, lower material consumption or higher circular material use. The aim of this paper is to examine changes in circular economy performance across the EU-27 between 2014 and 2023. The analysis uses Eurostat data and nine indicators covering circular economy employment, investment and value added, material consumption, resource productivity, municipal waste generation, recycling performance and circular material use. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on Ward’s method and squared Euclidean distance was applied separately for both years. The results identify four distinct country profiles in 2014 and 2023, confirming persistent differences in circular economy development across the European Union. The findings show that circular economy progress remains uneven and that improved recycling performance alone does not guarantee a comprehensive transition towards circularity. Stronger investment, resource efficiency and material recirculation are needed to support more balanced circular economy development.

Sectorial Transition to Renewable Energy Sources: The Case of Slovakia

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This paper investigates the determinants of renewable energy use across nine manufacturing sectors in Slovakia during the period 2004–2024, with particular attention to the Russia-Ukraine war. Using sector-level panel data, the study examines how relative energy prices, sectoral economic activity, and a war-period shock are associated with the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption. The results reveal substantial and persistent heterogeneity in renewable energy use across manufacturing industries. The paper, pulp and printing sector and the wood and wood products sector exhibit considerably higher renewable energy shares than other manufacturing sectors, reflecting the importance of sector-specific production characteristics and biomass availability. By contrast, neither relative energy prices, sectoral value added, nor the war period are statistically significantly associated with renewable energy shares. These findings remain robust across alternative panel-data specifications. The results suggest that renewable energy use in Slovak manufacturing is shaped primarily by structural and technological characteristics of individual industries rather than by short-term economic incentives or recent geopolitical developments. The study highlights the importance of sector-specific approaches to industrial transition and demonstrates that aggregate analyses may conceal substantial differences in renewable energy adoption across manufacturing sectors.

Sustainable Agriculture Current Issues in Kistelek (Lau1) District of the Southern Great Plain Region of Hungary

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Kistelek district (LAU1) is located in the Southern Great Plain region and is disadvantaged in terms of social and economic indicators. Agriculture and a declining population are the defining features of the region’s economy. The target group of the questionnaire survey was small and medium-sized farmers operating in the district according to Standard Output (SO). The aim was to explore which natural factors influence their production activities, what strategic steps they take to mitigate these factors, and what their relationship is to organic farming, and whether they see a future for it in Hungary. The research was conducted between 2022 and 2023, during which 91 evaluable responses were received. The study confirms that climate change has a significant impact on the production results of farms, and that the farmers surveyed are not sufficiently prepared for this. The reasons for this include a lack of knowledge and training, as well as financial reasons, as their capital base is often weak, and therefore they show no real willingness to introduce adaptive and ecological practices.

Slovak Consumer Perception and Behaviour in the Choice of Healthy Non-Alcoholic Beverages: A Preliminary Study

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The main goal of this paper is to examine how consumers in Slovakia perceive healthy non-alcoholic beverages and how this perception influences their purchasing behavior. The research focuses on several factors that may affect consumer choices, including taste, ingredients, perceived health benefits, price, and willingness to pay for healthier products such as organic, sugar-free, vitamin-enriched, or plant-based beverages. A survey was conducted involving 155 Slovak respondents aged 20 to 40. The results show that taste and ingredients are the most important criteria for choosing healthy drinks, while price plays a secondary but still relevant role. Although consumers are increasingly interested in healthier beverages, their purchasing decisions are often influenced by affordability and preferred flavors. The study provides useful insights into how Slovak consumers make decisions in the growing market for health-oriented beverages and can help producers and marketers better align their products with consumer expectations.

The European Union Ecolabel as a Cross-Border Eco-Trustmark: Evidence from the Visegrad Countries

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Consumers in the Visegrad (V4) countries are increasingly confronted with the European Union (EU) Ecolabel as a cross-border eco-trustmark in the single market. This study analyses how they perceive and use it. The aim is to assess awareness of the logo, trust in its environmental message, self-reported purchases of EU Ecolabel products and the importance of environmental impact in purchase decisions, with a particular focus on Slovakia. The analysis uses microdata from Flash Eurobarometer 535 for EU-27 residents aged 15 and over and applies official survey weights to produce descriptive country, V4 and EU-27 estimates, complemented by cross-tabulations for Slovakia. Among EU-27 consumers who recognise the EU Ecolabel, around three quarters (75%) say they trust its environmental claim and around two in five (38%) report that they buy products with the EU Ecolabel at least sometimes. In Slovakia, awareness is strongly associated with higher trust and more frequent purchases. The findings indicate that low awareness, rather than lack of trust, is the main barrier to wider use of the EU Ecolabel in Central Europe.

Exploring Research Trends and Gaps in Community-Based Sustainable Tourism: A Bibliometric Analysis

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Community-based sustainable tourism (CBST) plays a vital role in aligning local empowerment with environmental conservation and economic development. There is a notable gap in literature specifically focusing on community-based sustainable tourism. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to explore the research trends, thematic structures, and knowledge gaps in CBST literature. Drawing on 392 relevant publications, the analysis maps the growth of scholarly output from 2000 to 2024, identifies the most influential journals, authors, and institutions, and visualizes keyword co-occurrence and thematic clusters. Findings reveal that while CBST and ecotourism are central themes, research remains concentrated in a few geographic regions particularly Southeast Asia and Southern Africa with limited representation from Latin America, Central Asia, and parts of Africa. The Journal of Sustainable Tourism emerges as the leading source by impact and volume, with authors such as Giampiccoli and Mtapuri shaping discourse around participatory and locally driven tourism models. Thematic mapping shows core topics like ecotourism and sustainable development as foundational yet underdeveloped, while CBST occupies a well-structured niche. The study highlights the need for deeper theoretical refinement, expanded geographic focus, and exploration of emerging themes such as digital tourism and regenerative tourism. It calls for greater international collaboration to enrich the diversity and depth of CBST scholarship and practice.

Beyond Markets and Borders: On the Community of Values Among Producers in the Bioeconomy

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The first quarter of the 21st century was full of dramatic events – starting with the financial crisis in 2008, through the COVID epidemic, ending with political instability and the outbreak of war in Ukraine. In addition, the effects of global warming have intensified. The accumulation of global events of a revolutionary nature is conducive to the transformation of social values. History proves that new values are the driving force of social and economic change. The 2030 Agenda adopted by the UN indicates the need to transform the approach to production and consumption (Goal 12). This involves the dissemination of low emission approaches to production. One of these is the circular bioeconomy. The aim of this article is to diagnose the attitudes of a niche group of producers: manufacturers of bio-based materials used in construction and interior finishing. They exploit by-products of agriculture and other biomass industries and use biomass processing microorganisms. The study was based on a survey questionnaire in which entrepreneurs declared their personal values and assessed the bio-based materials market and the situation of their own company. Two research hypotheses were formulated: H1: Entrepreneurs operating in the circular bioeconomy market are characterized by a community of the values, creating ‘values archipelago’. H2: The values of entrepreneurs in the circular bioeconomy market depend on the market situation in which they find themselves and economic condition of their entity. The responses obtained were analyzed using the level of variance and Spearman‘s correlation test. As a result of the conducted analysis, hypothesis H1 was verified, while H2 was rejected. This means that in relation to the studied sample, despite the strong diversity of the environment and the situation of enterprises, entrepreneurs are characterized by very similar environmental and social values. The declared values are unrelated to the size of the enterprise, its business profile and economic condition.

Adoption and Impact of Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices Among Vegetable Farmers in Maseru District, Lesotho

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This study evaluated the adoption and impact of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) mitigation practices among vegetable farmers in Maseru District, Lesotho. The research aimed to assess the extent of CSA practice implementation, identify barriers hindering their uptake, and examine their influence on farmers’ income. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, collecting quantitative data from 180 vegetable farmers selected through multistage and snowball sampling methods. A set of structured questionnaires were used to gather information on socioeconomic characteristics, CSA practices, and adoption barriers. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results revealed that small-scale irrigation (89.82%) and organic manure application (89.22%) were the most commonly adopted practices, while adoption of greenhouses (4.79%) and keyhole gardens (28.14%) remained low. Lack of knowledge and financial constraints were identified as major barriers to CSA adoption. Regression analysis indicated that small-scale irrigation had a significant positive effect on farmers’ monthly income (β = 1.40; p <0.05), while organic manure application had a significant negative impact (β = -1.02; p <0.05). The findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to address knowledge gaps, improve access to financial resources, and enhance technical capacity among vegetable farmers in the region.

Evaluation of the Social Benefits System in the View of Poverty in an Underprivileged Area of Hungary

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This study evaluates the social benefits system in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary, focusing on its effectiveness in addressing poverty. The research highlights the ongoing debate regarding the optimal extent and conditions of social benefits, particularly in areas with high poverty rates. Utilizing interviews with local municipal representatives, the study investigates how perceptions of the social benefits system are influenced by poverty rates and the rural-urban poverty gap. Findings reveal no significant differences in evaluations between rural and urban municipalities in most of the examined aspects, although higher poverty rates correlate with perceptions of welfare dependency and cost reduction. The research underscores the complexity of social support systems and their limited capacity to alleviate poverty, suggesting that while they provide necessary assistance, they often fail to address the root causes of impoverishment.

Differences in Dietary Patterns of Secondary School Students by Demographic and Lifestyle Characteristics

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Dietary patterns represent a set of many distinctive, jointly occurring characteristics that describe a diet that shows a relationship to health. They are subject to change and show a relationship with the socio-economic situation and lifestyle. The aim of the study was to assess the variation in dietary patterns of secondary school students from Wroclaw due to their demographic and lifestyle characteristics. A cross-sectional study using a survey questionnaire was conducted in June 2022 among 262 high school students from Wroclaw. The FFS scale, which was adapted from the KomPAN questionnaire, was used to assess the frequency of consumption of 32 food groups. Demographic characteristics were assessed using questions about gender, age, place of residence, type of school and school division number. Lifestyle characteristics asked about physical activity, time spent in front of media devices, time spent sleeping, frequency of bathing and brushing teeth, and smoking and alcohol consumption. Based on the frequency of food consumption, 3 dietary patterns were identified. The Chi2 test was used to assess the significance of differences between variables. The study group was characterized by “prudent,” “imprudent” and “junk” dietary patterns. Male gender and attendance at a technical school exacerbated the occurrence of “imprudent” and ”junk” dietary patterns. Female gender and lyceum attendance exacerbated the occurrence of ”prudent” dietary patterns. Other demographic characteristics did not impact differentiation of the identified dietary patterns. Too little or too much sleep, alcohol consumption and smoking exacerbated the incidence of “imprudent” and “junk” dietary patterns. Other lifestyle characteristics did not impact differentiation of the identified dietary patterns. Further research on assessing the relationship between dietary patterns and demographic characteristics and lifestyles of schoolchildren will increase knowledge about it and allow it to be included in the educational and intervention programs being developed.

Advanced Agrivoltaics in Italy: Innovation, Sustainability, and Regulation for the Future of Rural Energy

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This article offers a critical analysis of the evolving legal framework governing advanced agrivoltaic systems in Italy, with a focus on their structural integration into sustainable land use and rural energy policy. Distinct from conventional ground-mounted photovoltaics, these systems support the simultaneous performance of agricultural and energy-producing functions. The study examines recent regulatory interventions – most notably the Unified Renewable Energy Act and the NRRP incentive programme – while addressing persistent implementation challenges. Particular emphasis is placed on the legal qualification of agrivoltaics, procedural complexities, and the need for coherent governance strategies within a multifunctional territorial paradigm.

European Consumer Protection Regarding Recycling Products Made from End-of-Life Tires in the Context of the Circular Economy

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Recycling has become one of the most important topics to saving valuable resources for future generations. Not only the industry, but also governments through legislation, are focusing on producing reusable goods and reusing materials by recycling its components to give them a second, third or in any way a new life. This so-called circular economy is a key component of sustainable development. The aim of this paper is to analyze the conflict between consumer protection and ecological sustainability in order to outline elements of a strategy that will allow both: effective usage of consumer products and sustainable tire recycling.

Towards Sustainable Agriculture: A Comparative Analysis of Organic Crop Area in Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

This study analyzes the trends and growth trajectories of organic farming in the Visegrad Four (V4) countries – Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary – over the period from 2018 to 2022. Amidst increasing environmental and social challenges, organic farming has emerged as a sustainable agricultural alternative in response to climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The research examines the total agricultural areas of each country, highlighting the percentage of land dedicated to organic farming and its evolution over the specified period. Findings reveal that while Czechia maintains the largest organic farming area, Hungary demonstrates the most significant growth rate, suggesting a shift towards sustainable practices. Ultimately, this study provides valuable insights into the potential for expanding organic farming within the V4 region, emphasizing its role in achieving sustainable rural development and ecological balance.

Environmental Aspects of V4 Household Consumption

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

As the standard of living rises, total household consumption increases. However, in addition to satisfying needs, high consumption also has negative consequences, one of which is environmental pollution. The main objective of this paper is to investigate how household consumption in the V4 countries affects the environment, particularly in terms of waste production. Household consumption is understood through expenditures on food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, clothing and footwear, and household furniture and equipment. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis are employed for the analysis, using data from Eurostat covering the years 2004-2020. The results indicate that in all V4 countries, as expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages increases, household waste production also increases. Other monitored expenditures have varying impacts on waste production across different countries.

The Possibility of Cross-Border Cooperation of Regional Airports Through the Example of Osijek and Pécs-Pogány

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

On January 1st 2023, Croatia joined the Schengen area, which means that border controls on persons will no longer be carried out at the common Croatian-Hungarian border. This will facilitate traffic between the counties of Baranya and Osijek-Baranya, which will be further enhanced by the opening of the 20 km final section of the M6 motorway, scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. In this situation, new opportunities will open up for exploiting the mutual benefits of cooperation between these counties, such as the cross-border cooperation between the regional airports near Pécs and Osijek. The study will explore the specificity of both facilities and important conclusions could provide useful lessons to other regional airports facing similar issues.

Analysis of Sunflower and Oilseed Rape Competitiveness in the Conditions of Slovakia and Czech Republic

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The paper primarily deals with the development of agriculture in the Slovak Republic and Czech Republic, analyzes the agricultural sector in the period 2012–2022 and examines in more detail agriculture, its plant production, especially oilseeds. Attention is given to brief information on the development and situation of the sunflower and oilseed rape, where we focus on the analysis of the development of selected indicators during the observed period, such as production, area sown, yields. Within our research we deal with the concept of competitiveness, using the appropriate indicators. Based on the data, via analysis we quantified the value of Revealed Comparative Advantage index (RCA) and Competitiveness Growth Index (RCA 1). The development of society and the opening of borders between individual states caused the development of foreign trade. Membership in the European Union meant for Slovak and Czech foreign trade the relinquishment of sovereignty in this areas and the adoption of a common trade policy that establishes rules for foreign trade within member countries, but also towards third countries. At the same time, however, Slovak Republic and Czech Republic gained access to the single internal market, which is of significant importance for foreign trade of countries.

Bio-Objectification and Biobanks

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Bio-objectification is presented in this paper along with a discussion about the boundaries of life in the biomedicalization paradigm, including the biobanking processes that are crucial to the emergence of bio-objects. Regarding methods and materials, STS methodology is implemented and the actor networks that play a significant role to bio-objectification are investigated. The discussion follows through these lens on how bio-objects are co-produced through a multitude of sociotechnical factors, reflecting on how the emergence of bio-objects and the concept of life that stems from them are socially constructed. The standardization of biobanks, population construction through a co-production of technosocial factors, the momentariness of bio-objectification, and the concept of bio-identification are presented and critically reflected upon. The main purpose is to combine a philosophical perspective with an STS one regarding the issue of shifting the boundaries of life through the concept of bio-objectification.

Are Wineries in Slovakia Profitable?

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Profit is a measure of the success of enterprises, it is quantified from the difference between revenues and costs. It fulfils several functions, whether distributive, accumulative, motivational. Many factors influence its formation and development. Profit represents an internal source of financing for business activity. The main objective of the paper is to evaluate the formation and development of profit or loss and its forms in selected wineries in Slovakia. In Slovakia, the wine industry has a long tradition. The paper was focused on the evaluation of costs, revenues as two important factors affecting the formation of the profit or loss. Profit/loss was reflected in the quantification and analysis of profitability indicators, which are referred to as profitability, return indicators. Based on the results of calculations of individual indicators, it can be stated that the set of 120 wineries showed a profit, which positively affected the values of profitability indicators. Wineries showed a loss only from financial area