Introduction: Food well-being of the population is one of the priorities of the Togolese government, which relies on the agricultural investment and food security Programme to increase national food production. In addition, the country relies on food imports to make up the shortfall. At the same time undernourishment and malnutrition remain high among the country’s population. This research analyzes food supply and its implications for household consumption in Grand Lomé, Togo. [Methods] The methodology used documents, a survey of 963 heads of household randomly sampled households and semi-structured interviews with 10 households and with Togolese food safety agency (ANSAT). Quantitative data were processed and analyzed using Excel spreadsheets R and R-Studio, while content analysis was applied to the verbal applied to the verbal statements collected. Results: Firstly, the results show that domestic agricultural production contributed an average of 91% of food supply between 2014–2017. The deficit is made up by food imports, which rose from 13.5% in 2014 to 15.4% in 2017. This translated into an acceptable food energy consumption of 2337 Kcal/head/day in 2017. Secondly, 81% of respondents recognize a strong food presence at consumer markets, except that the chi-square test applied to the data at the 5% threshold shows (p-value < 2.2 × 10−16), indicates that this satisfaction is a function of place of residence. Despite this, persistent shortages affect more staple crops, livestock and dairy products, leading households to deprive themselves and buy food at affordable prices. Finally, we observe non-diversified diets marked by regular consumption of “cereals/legumes”, vegetables and beverages to the detriment of “tubers/roots”, “meat/fish”, “fruit” and “dairy products”. Conclusion: This research shows that food supply, although adequate, is not sufficient to ensure balanced, nutritious and culturally appropriate food consumption by urban households. Recommendations: To meet these challenges, the central government, in collaboration with urban communes and consumer advocates, must mobilize resources to create urban agricultural farms, strengthen food protection systems, distribute staple products directly to households and limit the importation of food that is hazardous to health.
The endogenous, human, and social factors influencing the economic development of the municipalities of San Juan Cotzocón and San Pedro y San Pablo Ayutla in the Istmo de Tehuantepec region of the state of Oaxaca are analyzed. The hypothesis posits that the dimensions of endogenous development, social capital, and human capital directly impact the economic development of the respective municipalities. The study involved administering 262 questionnaires to the residents of these municipalities during the month of May 2023. The collected data were examined using exploratory factor analysis to determine the underlying structure and structural equation modeling to estimate the effects and relationships between variables. Results indicate that endogenous development, social capital, and human capital are factors in the economic development of the studied communities, with endogenous development being the most influential factor due to its statistical significance. Notably, the existence of tourist and cultural attractions in the municipalities emerges as a catalyst for local economic development in response to the establishment and operation of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor.
This study aims to investigate the alignment of emerging skills and competencies with Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs in the accounting and auditing professions. The research focuses on enhancing the intellectual capital within these sectors, as dictated by the demands of the modern knowledge economy. Employing the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) framework of emerging skills for professional services, a comprehensive content analysis is conducted. This involves reviewing 1009 learning outcomes across 248 CPD courses offered by the global professional accounting body. The analysis reveals that while the existing courses cover all WEF-identified skills, there is an unaddressed requirement for a specialized focus on specific competencies. The study also notes gaps in clearly articulated learning outcomes, highlighting the need for more explicit statements to facilitate effective skills development and knowledge transfer. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on intellectual capital management strategies, providing actionable recommendations for professional organizations. It fills a critical gap in understanding how CPD offerings can be optimized to better prepare accounting and auditing professionals for the evolving knowledge economy.
Artificial intelligence has transformed teachers’ teaching models. This article explores the application of artificial intelligence in basic education in Macao middle schools. This study adopts case analysis in qualitative research, using a total of eight cases from the innovative technology education platform of the Macau education and Youth Development Bureau. These data illustrate how Macao’s artificial intelligence technology promotes teaching innovation in basic education. These eight cases are closely related to the application of artificial intelligence in basic education in Macao. The survey results show that Macao’s education policy has a positive effect on teaching innovation in artificial intelligence education. In teaching practice, the school also cooperates with the government’s policy. The application of AI technology in teaching, students’ learning styles, changes in teachers’ roles, and new needs for teacher training are all influential.
The economic viability of a photovoltaic (PV) installation depends on regulations regarding administrative, technical and economic conditions associated with self-consumption and the sale of surplus production. Royal Decree (RD) 244/2019 is the Spanish legislation of reference for this case study, in which we analyse and compare PV installation offers by key suppliers. The proposals are not optimal in RD 244/2019 terms and appear not to fully contemplate power generation losses and seem to shift a representative percentage of consumption to the production period. In our case study of a residential dwelling, the best option corresponds to a 5 kWp installation with surplus sale to the market, with a payback period of 18 years and CO2 emission reductions of 1026 kg/year. Demand-side management offers a potential improvement of 6%–21.8%. Based on the increase in electricity prices since 2020, the best option offers savings of up to €1507.74 and amortization in 4.24 years. Considering costs and savings, sale to the market could be considered as the only feasible regulatory mechanism for managing surpluses, accompanied by measures to facilitate administrative procedures and guarantees for end users.
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