Animal products are one of the main constituents of the human diet. They are the main source of energy, proteins, microelements, and bioactive substances. The most popular negative health impacts linked with the consumption of animal products are obesity, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and cancer. Apart from human health, consuming animal products is also controversial lately, due to farm animals’ well-being and environmental protection issues. Thus, within the context of sustainability, the consumption trends of animal products were investigated through our on-line questionnaire surveys. The following animal products were involved in the survey: unprocessed meat (pork, beef, lamb, veal, mutton, chicken, duck, goose, turkey), processed meat (cold-cuts, sausages, pates), fish products, and eggs. Our research concluded that consumption among respondents with higher education was unsustainable for both unprocessed and processed meat, as eating habits in terms of type and quantity of consumed meat indicated respondents’ unawareness. The consumption of fish products was also revealed as unsustainable regarding the quantity of fish consumed in terms of its beneficial nutritional values. Egg consumption was revealed as the most sustainable among the investigated animal products. However, insignificant egg consumption among the respondents showed the actual need of social education in terms of the current knowledge regarding the beneficial aspects of eggs.
As nutritional statistical data in Poland have provided very general information on this topic, the purpose of this online questionnaire survey was to investigate the trend of fruit consumption through the prism of consumers’ awareness of the sustainability of fruit production (ecological cultivation and production—certified organic farming). Our research is based on a questionnaire prepared by the authors; it was supported by the desk research method. This study used descriptive analysis involving a summary of historical data and diagnostic analyses focusing on the causes of past events. Pivot tables created in Microsoft Excel, the chi-2 test, and content analysis were used in the analysis of the data. One of the main conclusions was that the aspect of sustainability was less significant than the convenience of purchasing fruits. The research also showed an imbalance in fruit consumption, which indicated the need to promote the positive aspects of fruit consumption, as well as the need to increase social education in terms of current knowledge about the beneficial aspects of a more balanced diet.
Purpose: The aim of the article is to present the organizational method of kaizen and Chinese concepts related to self-development – gongfu i xiushen, which are typical of Asian countries. Design/methodology/approach: The method of desk research was used in the study. Kazen, gongfu, and xiushen derive from the major premises and values of the organizational cultures in Japanese and Chinese companies. They are becoming more and more popular in Europe and the USA. They are essential in managing change as they can develop key values necessary for organizational improvement and support the implementation of organizational change strategies. Therefore, they increase companies’ innovation on the market. The article presents a brief description of the organizational culture and the essence of the concepts of kaizen, gongfu and xiushen. It also presents a comparison of these approaches in terms of the cultural conditions of the Japanese and Chinese economies. Findings: In the context of management science, in the literature, there is a lot of information on the Japanese concept of kaizen and very little of gongfu and xiushen. Although all of the concepts developed in Asia and are related to improvement, they differ from each other. Practical implications: The possibility of a future increase in the attention of non-Asian managers on Chinese methods of improvement is recognized. Originality/value: The new value is presenting the concepts of gongfu and xiushen within management science. As well as the comparison of concepts of kaizen, gongfu, and xiushen.
Purpose: The objective of this paper is to present Chinese investment flows and the nature of participation, to analyze the differences between host countries, and to identify the determinants of Chinese FDI in Poland and the Czech Republic. Design/methodology/approach: Comparison of the specifics of Chinese direct investments in Poland and the Czech Republic. Findings: The nature of Chinese investment in Europe is changing. After years of being dominated by mergers and acquisitions, Chinese investment in Europe is now more focused on greenfield projects. In 2021, greenfield investments reached €3.3 billion, the highest ever recorded, and accounted for nearly one- third of all Chinese FDI. More recently, the volume of Chinese FDI in Europe has reached the level of European FDI in China (now constrained by restrictions and risks). It matched the level of FDI by Chinese companies in the United States before declining over the past two years, generally due to Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine. Chinese economic presence in Europe can be divided into three areas based on size, destination, and type of acquisition: The core of Europe is formed by the three major target countries (Germany, UK, France), where more capital-intensive investments are made, followed by other Western European countries (EU-15). The new member states (NMS), which joined the EU in 2004, 2007 and 2013, as well as the Western Balkan countries in the process of accession, are associated with China in the 16+1 format (with the exception of Kosovo) and form another gateway to Europe. Due to fewer market opportunities, they receive less direct investment, but China is building infrastructure (ports, highways, railroads) - segments of the Silk Road that will bring Chinese products to mature EU markets (Richtet, 2019). It is unlikely that Chinese investment in Europe will recover in 2023. The Chinese government is expected to maintain strict capital controls, financial retrenchment, and Covid-19 restrictions. The war in Ukraine and the expansion of regulations to monitor and control Chinese investments in the EU and the UK will cause additional difficulties. Originality/value: The article could be an attempt to answer the question of combining macroeconomic and institutional factors to better understand the internationalization of firms (Dunning, Lundan, 2008). There is no doubt, that the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine made it necessary to deepen the study of the phenomenon of FDI, its inflows, determinants, and related challenges in a turbulent world. Keywords: foreign direct investments (FDI), People's Republic of China, Czech Republic, Poland, international relationships. Category of the paper: Research paper.
Vegetables constitute a major component of human food security. They are the main sources of essential nutrients including antioxidants, natural dyes, minerals, and vitamins. Eating habit issues related to the consumption of vegetables are gaining importance within the context of a healthy lifestyle, longevity, and physical fitness. Additionally, food quality is of primary importance, and so-called eco-food (defined as food as natural as possible, without fertilizers, pesticides, or preservatives) seems to be the most popular world-trend in healthy nutrition. Keeping these ideas in focus, research on vegetable consumption in Poland in the context of conventional or organic production was performed using online questionnaire surveys. The results revealed that the rate of vegetable consumption depended primarily on economic status, except for the potato, which was a staple cutting across all economic strata. Among the 108 analyzed respondents, 74% bought vegetables from certified organic farms. However, 59% bought organic vegetables “rarely” or “sometimes”, and only 15% “often”. Next, respondents chose to buy vegetables from fresh food markets (45%) and in local shops (41%). About 20% of the respondents acquired vegetables from their own farms. Among the reasons for choosing vegetables from certified organic farms, respondents mentioned in decreasing order: “desire for proper nutrition” (30%), “thinking that organic vegetables are healthier” (28%), and “organic vegetables are generally better” (7%).
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