Two focus-group sessions were conducted to determine the market potential of a new horticultural product—wildflower sod. One session included homeowners with suburban lots and an interest in wildflowers. Another session included landscape professionals, property managers, and garden center operators. Participants viewed a slide presentation about the uses of wildflowers and wildflower sod, a videotape illustrating wildflower sod installation, and a demonstration plot planted with wildflower sod. The discussion was conducted by an unbiased facilitator. Participants cited the instant effect of wildflower sod as a major advantage. The price was viewed as acceptable for small areas, especially if sod was broken apart and spaced as plugs. Comments from the participants were used to develop an ideal product description and yielded merchandising recommendations.
A Workshop to extend the Involvement of Stakeholders in Decisions On restoration Management (WISDOM) was held at New College, Oxford from 15 to 17 September 2003. The aim was to promote awareness and interest in the wider application of stakeholder involvement in the formulation of strategies for the management of contaminated agricultural land and produce following a nuclear accident. The workshop, through 25 plenary papers and a set of two facilitated discussion sessions, provided valuable feedback on a wide range of issues including technical and social factors affecting countermeasure selection, acceptability of intervention levels, the challenges of rural waste disposal and crisis management. The workshop achieved its aim and the findings will be disseminated widely. Stakeholder groups are already active in the UK, Finland, Belgium, France and Greece; there was commitment from participants to establish further, similar groups in other member states within the European Union.
Abstract. Following a nuclear accident, stakeholder involvement is essential in the formulation of strategies for maintaining agricultural production and food safety. The importance of setting up national stakeholder groups as part of contingency planning has been illustrated by the success of the Agriculture and Food Countenneasures Working Group in the UK. In recognition of this, the European Commission is providing financial support to develop the FARMING network, initially involving stakeholder groups in the UK, Finland, France, Belgium and Greece. These national groups contain individuals involved in making policy decisions within government departments and agencies, the food and agriculture industries, as well as individuals with specialist expertise. The groups meet annually as part of pre-accident planning to debate and judge a range of management options. A web site provides the mechanism by which information and expertise is exchanged between national groups. This paper gives an overview of the approach being adopted, describes initial progress and outlines the expected benefits of such a network.
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