Abstract Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability requires us to utilize resources in a reasonable way, protect the environment, and promote social and economic development without compromising the survival and development of future generations. And sustainability is not only relevant to environmental issues but also to humans’ economic and social issues. Specifically, sustainability encompasses a wide range of issues and has a tight relationship with humans. This issue, which includes ten original research pieces and one review article, takes readers on an intriguing journey across environmental, social, and economic issues about sustainable development. The research topic in this issue is novel and practical, providing readers with the most recent sustainable development trends in a variety of fields.

Abstract Sustainability refers to the ability to endure and persist into the future. It was initially introduced by the World Commission on Environment and Development through their 1987 report entitled “Our Common Future”. When defining sustainable nutrition, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) places importance on respecting and safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as ensuring adequate, reliable, and nutritious food. The global population is presently experiencing rapid growth, which poses a risk of depleting nutritional resources over time. One of the primary objectives of sustainable nutrition is to preserve existing resources for future generations. Achieving this requires careful utilization of global resources. In recent years, there has been a particular focus on researching and altering dietary choices and patterns within communities. The emphasis has been on the applicability of nutrition models that exhibit low ecological, carbon, and water footprints as sustainable nutrition models. Examples of such plant-based sustainable nutrition models include the Mediterranean diet, the Double Pyramid model, the New Nordic diet, vegan and vegetarian diets, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, and the planetary health diet. Additionally, it is crucial to discover alternative food sources that resemble animal protein sources, are accessible to all, and gain widespread acceptance. Currently, the most extensively studied alternative food sources include insects, algae, and cultured meat.

Abstract CF is an emerging financing source that aims to take advantage of information technology to raise money for new business projects. There are different models of CF that can be used in both the for-profit and social sectors. This article aims to study the use of crowdfunding in the Portuguese social sector. For this purpose, the objectives of the study are threefold: (i) to analyze the extent to which social organizations in Portugal have used CF; (ii) to analyze whether or not the use of CF is conditioned by the profile of these organizations; (iii) to assess whether the use of CF as a financial tool influences the capacity of the social organization to acquire other types of resources. The study uses a quantitative approach based on an online survey of 313 social organizations in Portugal. The results show that CF is not widely used by social organizations, although some characteristics seem to be associated with its use, namely age, geographical scope, size, and presence on social media. In addition, a positive relationship is found between the use of CF and the ability of social organizations to acquire resources and information.

Abstract The research paper investigates the impact of international migration of highly skilled workers on business sustainability and models the relationships between them on this basis. The relationship between the migration of highly skilled workers and business sustainability was investigated using the example of 27 countries of the European Union in 2022, based on the use of the correlation analysis method by calculating the Pearson pairwise correlation coefficient. The results of the correlation analysis demonstrate that “brain drain” has a negative impact on the values of business sustainability indicators. Companies of all sizes, industries, and geographies are improving their sustainability management practices while being tolerant of workers from other countries. A significant positive impact of the arrival of highly skilled individuals from abroad for employment on the “business environment” indicator in the Global Innovation Index of the destination country has been proven. In order to detail the relationship between the migration of highly skilled workers and business sustainability, an economic and mathematical model of the form y 4 = 26.114 − 2.039 x 1 + 0.080 x 3 − 0.090 x 5 + 0.113 x 6 was developed, which proves that the creation of conditions for attracting and retaining highly qualified migrants is of primary importance for the formation of a sustainable business culture in the country.

Abstract Floods are becoming a major global concern as these disasters become more severe and frequent. This is no exception to Malaysia, as the trend of flood occurrences is increasing year by year. This study aimed to understand the public perception of the flood risks in Klang Valley, focusing on Kuala Lumpur and Selangor metropolitan areas. A total of 100 respondents participated in this survey via online questionnaire distribution. There are four variables tested in this survey, where factors on environmental concern and anticipating risk have moderate influence on the perception and awareness of flood risk. Both environmental concern ( ß = 0.378, p < 0.000) and anticipating risk ( ß = 0.349, p < 0.000) were the only correlations that were statistically significant. It was found that emotional impact ( ß = 0.058, p < 0.511) and effort to contribute ( ß = 0.148, p < 0.077) did not significantly predict awareness of flood risks. Further studies are needed to truly grasp the public’s perception of flood risk in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Abstract The present study aimed to understand the perception and knowledge of university students toward water pollution. In the present study, demographic profile, knowledge of water pollution, university students’ perceptions of water pollution, and attitudes towards water pollution prevention were included in the survey questions. This survey on water pollution was conducted among a diverse group of Malaysian university students using Google Forms. The results showed that almost 50% of the respondents had basic knowledge of water pollution and agreed that industrial activities were the main factor causing water pollution in Malaysia, followed by the accumulation of organic chemical waste and heavy metals. It was also revealed that the water pollution campaign was a key factor in spreading awareness among Malaysians and increasing knowledge about water pollution problems. The results further confirmed that water pollution needs to be aware of, which showed that respondents were well aware of the water pollution issue in Malaysia and felt obligated to spread awareness and take action towards water pollution regardless of their surrounding community.

Abstract Teacher training, particularly in-service training, is among the factors that can influence the success or failure of the teaching and learning process. Among the necessary skills that teachers must have and transmit to their students are life skills, i.e., a set of social, cognitive, and personal skills that can be learned, developed, and made transversal in every area of one’s life and in every learning context. Through ‘Learning through Play’, it is possible to develop social and cognitive skills, mature emotionally, and gain the self-confidence needed to engage in new experiences and face everyday challenges. From this perspective, gamification can be a useful means and added value for teachers to train, engage, and motivate students.

Abstract The aim of the research is to compare estimates of the economic complexity of the regions obtained on the basis of different data. An approach to assessing the economic complexity of Russian regions by types of economic activity (TEA) is proposed. The approach is based on the standard method of assessing economic complexity. The question of choosing the RCA threshold value is considered. 0-1 matrices are constructed for sectors and TEA at different thresholds. Their structures correctly reflect the idea embedded in the economic complexity index. As a result of the correlation analysis, it is shown that at threshold 1, the index of economic complexity by sector and the index of economic complexity by TEA have greater resistance to changes in the threshold than at other threshold values. A comparative analysis of economic complexity indices constructed for 79 regions by 82 sectors and 24 TEA on the data of 2019 was carried out. Their significant statistical relationship with a number of indicators of socio-economic development characterizing the quality of life has been established. The results of this research can be used to help with building situational models of the economic development of regions as well as to coordinate decisions made by regions when choosing priority areas of their development related to increasing diversification.

Abstract This study aimed to examine the effects of the independent variables, i.e., performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and habit, on the dependent variable, SIRADI’s use of behavior through behavioral intention as a mediating variable. The population was 350 Department of Economics Education students, and the Slovin formula calculated 187 respondents. Data are collected by distributing questionnaires and analyzed using SEM (Structural Equation Model) with the Smart-PLS 3.3 application. The results showed that the study model used was valid and reliable. Based on the hypothesis test, it was found that of the 13 hypotheses, eight were accepted and five were rejected. Social influence has the most significant effect on behavioral intention at 40.4%. Habit has the most significant effect on SIRADI’s use behavior, at 32.7%. Then, behavioral intention as a mediating decreases the effect of habit on SIRADI’s user behavior by 13.4%. This study concludes that there is a partial effect of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and habits on SIRADI’s use behavior. This study suggests that the higher education institution needs to review the development of services at SIRADI to fulfill the expectations of its users.

Abstract COVID‐19 fundamentally changed the way that people travel by road in Poland and throughout the world. The lack of mobility during the period, especially during the beginning of the epidemic, had a significant impact on the number of traffic accidents. The goals of this study are to forecast the number of accidents on the basis of weather in Poland and to assess how the COVID‐19 epidemic has affected that number. For this objective, annual statistics on weather-related traffic accidents were acquired and evaluated. Based on previous information from police records, the number of traffic accidents was also forecast for pandemic and non-pandemic variants in order to assess the impact of the pandemic. The number of traffic accidents in Poland was predicted using specific time series models and exponential models in relation to the weather. There has been a decrease in the number of traffic accidents during the pandemic. Traffic accidents were on average 22% fewer in 2020 than they were in 2019, and by 2021, the difference was over 24%. When it snows or hails, this is extremely clear. This time period mostly saw the outbreak of the pandemic. The majority of traffic accidents occur when the weather is good. When the weather is bad, drivers are more cautious on the road. Prediction of traffic accidents is important for future planning and measures. The problem of estimating the number of traffic accidents, however, is not one that academics are particularly fond of.

Abstract This paper evaluates the economic aspect of utilizing biogas from pineapple waste as a source of energy in a pineapple processing plant, in the in the case of Del Monte Kenya Limited (DMKL). Del Monte Kenya Limited, a known exporter of canned pineapple, lies on approximately 10,000 acres of pineapple plantations. The company’s processing capacity of 100,000 tons of pineapple annually produces approximately 23,000 tons of pineapple waste per year. Currently, these wastes are sold to local farmers as animal feed at $20 per ton. A study was conducted at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) that revealed that a ton of pineapple waste has the potential to generate 7.41 m 3 /day of biogas. A cost-comparative analysis was conducted between employing an anaerobic digester to treat pineapple wastes to generate biogas for usage within the plant and selling the waste to locals for feeding the livestock. The results revealed that it is more economical to use waste to generate biogas as an alternative source of energy in the processing lines. The net present value ( NPV ) of $1,939,019, an internal rate of return ( IRR ) of 16%, and a payback period of 4 years were estimated. The positive value of NPV shows that the project is viable.

Abstract For Africa, smallholder livestock farming is crucial for rural livelihood and food security. Understanding the connections between food security, gender inequality, and climate change can help us find solutions to Africa’s persistent food crisis. Women’s participation in small-scale animal agriculture helps ensure the food security of households; however, climate change has a detrimental effect on animal productivity, so prioritizing climate-smart animal husbandry techniques is critical. The shift in animal agriculture toward sustainability must be fueled by gender-sensitive strategies. Production and food security will improve through a transdisciplinary strategy that recognizes the connections among small-scale animal agriculture, climate change, and gender issues. Policies that are adapted to local conditions and encourage equitable growth in small-scale animal agriculture will be necessary to address the challenges this sector faces and improve food security. The majority of developing nations have institutional and technical obstacles that could prohibit the small-scale farming sector from participating in new food security efforts aimed at enhancing rural livelihoods. Therefore, it is highly doubtful that any strategy created to improve food security while downplaying the importance of smallholder agriculture will be long-term viable. The discussion makes clear the importance of small-scale animal agriculture and offers potential solutions that could be adopted to transform the small-scale animal agriculture sector to increase its value and enhance food security across the continent.