Dromedary camel value chains present significant opportunities for attracting investors and reinvesting in rangeland restoration. Despite declining productivity and limited development of dromedary milk products, the sector remains crucial for its resilience in arid ecosystems and socioeconomic importance in the southern regions of Tunisia. The authors take a reflective approach to explore the potential of dromedary value chains in Tunisia. The study highlights the dual benefits of investing in these value chains, to drive economic development and environmental conservation, by employing a combination of desk review, key informant interviews (n = 11), and SWOT analysis. The sector assessment reveals statistical complexities and fluctuations in milk and meat production. Key informant interviews gathered insights from breeders, processors, traders, policymakers, and experts on challenges, opportunities, and feasibility of investment and rangeland restoration initiatives. The SWOT analysis identified internal strengths and weaknesses in the dromedary sector and external opportunities and threats. Recommendations include modernizing dromedary camel farming (settled, semi-intensive systems) and herding practices (nomadic and extensive pastoralism), transitioning to sustainable breeding and fattening, improving biosecurity and veterinary services, and enhancing feed management and genetic improvement. Strengthening value chains involves investing in processing infrastructure, marketing, product diversification, and structured milk collection networks. Integrated rangeland management includes cultivating fodder crops and protecting vegetation cover. Governance improvements through dromedary breeder associations, stakeholder engagement, and effective regulation are also crucial. Findings may inform policymakers, development agencies, financial institutions, and private investors about the dromedary sector’s potential in Tunisia, guide targeted interventions for growth and sustainability, and provide pathways to rangeland restoration. By addressing challenges and leveraging unique capabilities, dromedary value chains can drive economic development, environmental conservation, and social resilience in the region.

Rangelands generate a multitude of products and services. Some pass into value chains delivering branded luxury products. Luxury value chains are stakeholders in rangeland restoration. The juxtaposition of their perceived excess and exclusivity with the harshness of subsistence production in adverse environments is widely recognised. Luxury also conveys uniqueness, quality and provenance. Ongoing efforts at “fast fashion” and “affordable luxury”, have demonstrable impacts on rangelands. In the STELARR (Sustainable Investments for Large-scale Rangeland Restoration) project we argue that product differentiation using rangelands’ provenance is established across products as diverse as meat, cosmetics and clothing. We identify models for luxury brands’ investment in rangelands directly and investigate the entry points available for that investment. Context for these models’ operation includes rapidly developing functionality of standards and certification relating actions in the rangelands to sustainability indicators and onwards to support claims at the retail level. Technology that enables information capture, transmission and visualisation offers opportunities for product differentiation and a product story that supports a luxury price. Global trade’s move to products’ verified sustainability credentials offers a convergence of value chain actor’s interests and capabilities. Owners of luxury brands then have the opportunity both to advance and support their own claims by appropriate investment in rangelands; and to exclude competition all along the value chain from brands not achieving the markups associated with luxury sales. Seven investment models are identified, with entry points for deal structures to engage luxury value chains. Across the Americas, Central Asia, and Africa we identify on-going initiatives that enable the investment models, including the Rangeland Stewardship Council, and industry- and national-level actions, on the interface between sustainability and value chains. We call for a broader embrace of value chain development which aligns the high retail margins of luxury brands with the incentive to invest in rangelands.

External shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in disruptions in the agri-food system. While there are multiple studies that have examined the effects of pandemic at the farm level, there is a dearth of studies that focus on food management at the household level, particularly the generation of food waste with the bulk of this coming from the households. This study investigates the configurations that can minimize food waste in homes during an external shock such as the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Using configurational analysis through the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) of 153 households, seven different configurations were found to potentially result in minimized household food waste. The findings highlight several socio-demographic traits, attitudes, and behavioral patterns of households in reducing food waste during extreme shocks. Among the different conditions considered in the configurational analysis, the higher number of employed household members is seen to be an important part of almost all configurations towards reduction of food waste. Home gardening is shown to have mixed results in households with more employed members. Non-practice of home gardening is not always detrimental to household food waste reduction. Based on these results, the initiatives that would yield the most impact are in the provision of livelihood and employment to more household members. Overall, the results point to important implications for transitions toward sustainability and the circular economy.

Introduction University sports facilities play a key role in supporting the wellbeing of staff, students, and the broader community. This is especially relevant in regional Australian communities where sports participation is a key cultural experience. Community members from migrant and refugee backgrounds are less likely to be involved in regular sport and physical activity or receive their associated health benefits. This study evaluated a two-year program in regional Australia that used university sports facilities and programs to build community partnerships that aimed to assist a cohort of Ezidi people with refugee backgrounds to become more physically active. Methods The Diffusion of Innovation (Rogers, 2003) theory for health promotion and a qualitative approach were used to obtain the perspectives of community stakeholders, including university sports staff and Ezidi participants. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were the main source of data collection involving twenty people (14 Ezidi people, 6 community stakeholders). These were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. The research questions that guided the study were: RQ1-How does physical activity drive social inclusion for newly arrived Ezidi people in a regional city? RQ2-What characterises best practice for supporting migrants and refugees transition to a regional Australian community for holistic health benefits? Results: Analysis of semistructured interviews and focus groups identified five key themes: 1) Opportunity for cross-cultural understanding; 2) Opportunities to be social; 3) A sense of belonging; 4) Health benefits (Physical, mental and emotional) following the experience of trauma; 5) Challenging gender stereotypes. The findings demonstrated that the university-based sports program benefitted the holistic wellbeing of Ezidi community members, promoted intercultural understanding, and even challenged gender stereotypes. Mental and social health especially were positively impacted following the experience of trauma, with young Ezidi people, in particular, having opportunity to engage with ‘Australian’ university students and community members of similar age. The findings indicate that early intervention of intersectoral sporting programs for newly arrived migrants and refugees in regional Australia can be a powerful mechanism for physical activity promotion and enhancing settlement outcomes. Young people, from older adolescence to early adulthood, appeared to experience the most positive outcomes. Discussion The program has exemplified the power of university-community networks to benefit holistic community wellbeing and physical activity promotion. This study has potential to support future bestpractice transition models for other diaspora groups globally. This study demonstrated the power of interagency collaborations, and the benefits of low-cost group activities. Reference Rogers, E. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations. Simon and Schuster.