In Brazil, as well as globally, land use has been increasingly addressed for environmental impacts and economic improvements. Integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs) are a potential strategy to optimize use of land, increase total production and reduce economic risk through diversification. We compared production and economic outcomes of a soybean-only system with ICLS differing in sward management. The study area was managed since 2001 using no-till in southern Brazil. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] was rotated with a mixture of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) either for: (i) grazing (ICLS) or (ii) cover crops as cropping system only (CS) with no livestock grazing. Four sward height management methods (10, 20, 30 or 40 cm) were evaluated under put-and-take stocking. Across years, soybean yield (2516±103 kg ha−1) was not affected by treatment, but was affected by year (P<0.001), due to rainfall during crop development. Cattle average daily gain, gain per hectare (GPH) and gross margin were affected by treatments (P<0.001). Average daily gain was lower when pasture was managed at 10 cm than between 20 and 40 cm. With increasing sward height, a gradual reduction in cattle GPH was observed (P<0.05). Overall gross margin was lower in CS than in ICLS. Economic return with ICLS was greatest when sward height management was between 10 and 20 cm. Our study indicates that ICLS could be considered an alternative management strategy that improves economic performance and promotes balanced production in the long term.

The systemic, ecological, family-centered approach (FCA) has been shown to be the most effective approach to follow worldwide. In Spain, however, the expert-centered approach remains in force and determines the actions of professionals. The objective of this study is to present the training needs perceived by professionals in six early intervention (EI) centers in Spain in which a research process was introduced, namely, the FCA. Two focus groups were held. The needs stated by professionals were for more knowledge about the philosophy of the approach: supervision, learning in reference centers, and exchange sessions with families as the most appropriate training methods; the observation of role models; collaboration between professionals and the trainer as effective instructional designs; and organizational aspects such as training within the work day. A discussion of the results is carried out in the context of current literature and the practical implications are explored.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the innovation performance of food companies from Brazil with regards to four innovation capabilities. Design/methodology/approach A research study was carried out on a sample of 120 Brazilian food companies. A conceptual framework of innovation capability was adopted to estimate the relationship between development capability, operations capability, management capability, transaction capability and the innovation performance of food companies. The empirical test was made with partial least squares analysis. Findings Results revealed that development capability and transaction capability have a substantive impact on the innovative performance of firms, while the findings indicated neither operations capability nor management capability was significantly related to the innovation performance of firms. Practical implications If innovations are considered one of the major sources of profitability for the firm, the findings of this study indicate ways to improve food companies in this issue. According to the results, efforts directed to technology development capability and transaction capability can significantly impact for the innovation performance. Originality/value Considering the overall manufacturing industry from Brazil, the food industry represents the biggest in economic and social impact for the nation. This quantitative empirical study fills an important gap in research by discussing innovation in an industry with a strategic role in the development of the country and to attend the global demand by food.

Intercooperação entre cooperativas: barreiras e desafios a serem superadosIntercooperation among cooperatives: barriers and challenges to overcome Resumo O Cooperativismo é uma forma de união entre indivíduos que tem como finalidade principal a ajuda mutua através do trabalho em conjunto e que possui em sua essência princípios que norteiam seus valores. Um destes princípios é a intercooperação, que é basicamente a cooperação entre cooperativas. Porém devido a fatores diversos, este princípio possui resistência no setor. Portanto o presente estudo tem como finalidade identificar as barreiras e os desafios que impendem maior intercooperação entre as cooperativas. A metodologia aplicada envolve pesquisa exploratória bibliográfica de análise qualitativa com levantamento de casos de intercooperação entre cooperativas e de fatores de resistência a este princípio cooperativista. Com o estudo se vislumbrou a intercooperação como alternativa para o desenvolvimento das cooperativas, contudo entre os principais desafios a serem superados estão às diferenças culturais de cada cooperativa, o medo de perda de autonomia ou de deixar de existir, o individualismo e oportunismo, a falta de formalização de alguns arranjos, a vaidade, a falta de confiança e o excesso de competitividade entre as próprias cooperativas. Palavras chave: Princípio da intercooperação, redes, obstáculos. AbstractThe Cooperative is a form of union between individuals whose main purpose is the mutual support by working together and that has core principles that guide their values. One of these principles is the intercooperation, which is basically the cooperation among cooperatives. However due to several factors, this principle has resistance in the sector. Therefore this study aims to identify the barriers and challenges that prevent greater inter-cooperation among cooperatives. The methodology involves bibliographic exploratory research with qualitative analysis by means of survey of cases of intercooperation among cooperatives and about the resistance factors with cooperation principle. The results indicate the cooperation as an alternative to the development of cooperatives, however among the main challenges to be overcome are the cultural differences of each cooperative, fear of loss of autonomy or cease to exist, individualism and opportunism, the lack of formalize some arrangements, vanity, the lack of confidence and strong competition between the cooperatives themselves.

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