The coronavirus pandemic has reinforced the need for sustainable, smart tourism and local travel, with rural destinations gaining in their popularity and leading to increased potential of smart rural tourism. However, these processes need adjustments to the current trends, incorporating new transformative business concepts and marketing approaches. In this paper we provide real life examples of new marketing approaches, together with new business models within the context of the use of new digital technologies. Via hermeneutic research approach, consisting of the secondary analysis of the addressed subject of smart rural tourism in adversity of the COVID-19 and 6 semi-structured interviews, the importance of technology is underscored in transforming rural tourism to smart rural tourist destinations. The respondents in the interview section were chosen based on their direct involvement in the presented examples and geographical location, i.e. France, Slovenia and Spain, where presented research examples were developed, concretely within European programmes, i.e. Interreg, Horizon and Rural Development Programme (RDP). Interviews were taking place between 2022 and 2023 in person, email or via Zoom. This two-phased study demonstrates that technology is important in transforming rural tourism to smart tourist destinations and that it ushers new approaches that seem particularly useful in applying to rural areas, creating a rural digital innovation ecosystem, which acts as s heuristic rural tourist model that fosters new types of tourism, i.e. smart rural tourism.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer eco-friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers, promoting sustainable agriculture by enhancing soil fertility, reducing pathogens, and aiding in stress resistance. In agriculture, they play a crucial role in plant growth promotion through the production of agroactive compounds and extracellular enzymes to promote plant health and protection against phytopathogens. In the rhizosphere, diverse microbial interactions, including those with bacteria and fungi, influence plant health by production of antimicrobial compounds. The antagonism displayed by rhizobacteria plays a crucial role in shaping microbial communities and has potential applications in developing a natural and environmentally friendly approach to pest control. The rhizospheric microbes showcase their ecological importance and potential for biotechnological applications in the context of plant-microbe interactions. The extracellular enzymes produced by rhizospheric microbes like amylases, chitinases, glucanases, cellulases, proteases, and ACC deaminase contribute to plant processes and stress response emphasizing their importance in sustainable agriculture. Moreover, this review highlights the new paradigm including artificial intelligence (AI) in sustainable horticulture and agriculture as a harmonious interaction between ecological networks for promoting soil health and microbial diversity that leads to a more robust and self-regulating agricultural system for protecting the environment in the future. Overall, this review emphasizes microbial interactions and the role of rhizospheric microbial extracellular enzymes which is crucial for developing eco-friendly approaches to enhance crop production and soil health.

The objective of the study was to analyze green marketing in the promotion of environmentally responsible and sustainable practices in the development of resilient infrastructure in Peru. The methodology used was qualitative and interpretative, the documentary design based on the systematic review of scientific literature. The PRISMA model was applied for the selection of units of analysis, resulting in 36 articles out of an initial total of 950. Content analysis was used to examine the documents, following a detailed procedure that included the use of Grounded Theory to categorize and analyze the data. The results highlighted the importance of integrating green marketing and sustainable practices into resilient infrastructure planning and development. Key strategies were identified that include promoting environmental responsibility, adopting sustainable technologies in construction, and implementing policies that foster urban resilience and sustainability. The findings highlight the adoption of a comprehensive approach that combines green marketing with resilient infrastructure planning and development to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development in Peru.

In today’s rapidly evolving organizational landscape, understanding the dynamics of employee incentives is crucial for fostering high performance. This research delves into the intricate interplay between moral and financial incentives and their repercussions on employee performance within the dynamic context of healthcare organizations. Drawing upon a comprehensive analysis of 226 respondents from three healthcare organizations in Klang Valley, Peninsular Malaysia, the study employs a quantitative approach to explore the relationships between independent variables (career growth, recognition, decision-making, salary, bonus, promotion) and the dependent variable of employee performance. The research unveils that moral incentives, including career growth, recognition, and decision-making, significantly impact employee performance. Professionals motivated by opportunities for growth, acknowledgment, and participation in decision-making demonstrate heightened engagement and commitment. In the financial realm, competitive salaries, performance-based bonuses, and transparent promotion pathways are identified as crucial factors influencing employee performance. The study advocates a holistic approach, emphasizing the synergistic integration of both moral and financial incentives. Healthcare organizations are encouraged to tailor their incentive structures to create a supportive and rewarding workplace, addressing the multifaceted needs and motivations of healthcare professionals. The implications extend beyond academia, offering practical guidance for organizations seeking to optimize workforce dynamics, foster job satisfaction, and ensure the sustainability of healthcare organizations.

An alternative for sustainable management in the cultivation of Capsicum annuum L. has focused on the use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This research selected PGPRPGPR and AMF based on their effect on Bell Pepper and Jalapeño bell pepper plants. Five bacterial strains isolated from different localities in the state of Mexico (P61 [Pseudomonas tolaasii], A46 [P. tolaasii], R44 [Bacillus pumilus], BSP1.1 [Paenibacillus sp.] and OLs-Sf5 [Pseudomonas sp.]) and 3 AMF treatments (H1 [consortium isolated from Chile rhizosphere in the state of Puebla], H2 [Rhizophagus intraradices] and H3 [consortium isolated from lemon rhizosphere from the state of Tabasco]). In addition, a fertilized treatment (Steiner solution 25%) and an absolute control were included. Jalapeño bell pepper “Caloro” and Bell Pepper “California Wonder” seedlings were inoculated with AMF at sowing and with CPB 15 days after emergence, and grown under controlled environment chamber conditions. In Jalapeño bell pepper, the best bacterial strain was P61 and the best AMF treatment was H1; in Bell Pepper the best strain was R44 and the best AMF were H3 and H1. These microorganisms increased the growth of jalapeño bell pepper and Bell Pepper seedlings compared to the unfertilized control. Likewise, P61 and R44 positively benefited the photosynthetic capacity of PSII.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase the uptake of soluble phosphates, while phosphorus solubilizing fungi (S) promote the solubilization of insoluble phosphate complexes, together benefiting plant nutrition. The use of these organisms in combination with minerals or rocks that provide nutrients is another alternative to maintain crop productivity. The objective of this work was to combine AMF and S with pyroclastic materials (ashes and pumicites) from the Puyehue volcano and phosphoric rocks (PR) from the Río Chico Group (Chubut) and to evaluate the performance of these mixtures as substrates for potted production of Lactuca sativa. To formulate the substrates, a mixture of Ter-rafertil® with ashes was used as a base. Penicillium thomii was the S and spores of the fungus Rhizophagus intraradices (AEGIS® Irriga) served as the source of AMF. Various combinations of microorganisms and the addition or not of RP were evaluated. The treatments were: (1) substrate; (2) substrate + AMF; (3) substrate + S; (4) substrate + AMF + S; (5) substrate: PR; (6) substrate: PR + AMF; (7) substrate: PR + S, and (8) substrate: PR + AMF + S. There were 3 replicates per treatment. The parameters evaluated were total and assimilable P content in the substrate, P in plant tissue and dry biomass. All of them were significantly higher in the plants grown in the substrate added with PR and inoculated with S and AMF. This work confirms that the S/AMF combination with volcanic ashes from Puyehue and PR from Grupo Río Chico formulated with a commercial substrate promote the growth of L. sativa. Thus, it is possible to increase the added value of geomaterials of national origin.