#Market Share of Different Fertilizers

[crop-protection-market]

Exploring the Fertilizer Industry Growth, Trends, and Outlook

Introduction

The fertilizer industry is a cornerstone of global agriculture, providing essential nutrients to crops and contributing significantly to food security worldwide. In recent years, the industry has witnessed dynamic growth driven by increasing agricultural activity, rising population, and the need for sustainable farming practices. This article offers a comprehensive analysis of the fertilizer industry, delving into its growth prospects, market trends, key players, and future outlook.

Fertilizer Industry Research Reports

Fertilizer Market research reports play a crucial role in providing insights into the fertilizer industry. These reports offer detailed analyses of market trends, demand-supply dynamics, competitive landscape, and emerging opportunities. Recent studies indicate a positive outlook for the global fertilizer market, with substantial growth expected in the coming years.

Fertilizer Industry Outlook

The fertilizer industry outlook is optimistic, buoyed by several key factors driving market expansion. These include increasing agricultural investments, technological advancements in fertilizer production, and government initiatives to promote sustainable farming practices. Market analysts project robust growth in the global fertilizer market, with significant opportunities for industry players to capitalize on emerging trends.

Fertilizer Industry Analysis

An in-depth analysis of the fertilizer industry reveals several noteworthy trends and developments shaping its trajectory:

Global Market Size

The global fertilizer market was valued at approximately USD 202 billion in 2023, with steady growth expected in the foreseeable future. Market size is projected to reach USD 285.01 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 3.30% from 2023 to 2032.

Market Growth

The fertilizer industry has witnessed steady growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand for crop nutrients and the adoption of advanced agricultural practices. Market analysts forecast sustained growth, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where population growth and expanding agricultural activity are driving fertilizer demand.

Market Segments

Nitrogen fertilizers dominate the global market, accounting for approximately 56% of fertilizer nutrient consumption in 2021.

Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers also play significant roles, catering to specific crop nutrient requirements.

Production and Leading Producers

Global fertilizer production reached 193 million metric tons in 2021, with China, India, Russia, the United States, and Brazil emerging as top producers.

These countries leverage their abundant natural resources and manufacturing capabilities to meet domestic and international fertilizer demand.

Fertilizer Market Trends

Several key trends are reshaping the fertilizer market landscape:

Shift towards Dry Fertilizers

Dry fertilizers, including granular and powdered formulations, dominate the market due to their ease of handling, storage, and transportation.

Liquid fertilizers are gaining traction in certain regions, particularly for foliar applications and precision agriculture practices.

Sustainable Agriculture Practices

There is a growing emphasis on sustainable farming practices, driving demand for organic and eco-friendly fertilizers.

Bio-based fertilizers, such as organic compost and biofertilizers, are increasingly preferred by environmentally conscious farmers.

Technological Advancements

Advancements in fertilizer manufacturing technologies, including controlled-release formulations and micronutrient-enriched products, are enhancing crop nutrient uptake and efficiency.

Digital farming solutions, such as precision application systems and soil sensors, are revolutionizing fertilizer application methods and optimizing crop yields.

Fertilizer Suppliers and Market Share

The Fertilizer Market is characterized by a diverse range of suppliers, including multinational corporations, regional manufacturers, and distributors. Key players in the industry include:

Nutrien Ltd.

Yara International ASA

The Mosaic Company

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

K+S Aktiengesellschaft

OCI Nitrogen

EuroChem Group AG

ICL Group

Coromandel International Limited

Haifa Group

Conclusion: Driving Agricultural Productivity

The fertilizer industry is poised for sustained growth and innovation, driven by increasing global demand for food and agricultural products. By leveraging technological advancements, embracing sustainable farming practices, and fostering strategic partnerships, fertilizer companies can contribute to enhanced agricultural productivity, improved crop yields, and environmental sustainability. As the industry continues to evolve, collaboration across the value chain and investment in research and development will be key to addressing emerging challenges and capitalizing on new opportunities in the dynamic fertilizer market landscape.

[maaarine]

Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism (Yanis Varoufakis, 2023)

"What we need, then, is a new story that explains not what we wish would happen but what is actually happening, and that is the story of how rent – the defining economic trait of feudalism – staged its remarkable comeback.

Under feudalism, rent was easy enough to grasp.

Courtesy of some accident of birth, or royal decree, the feudal lord obtained the deeds to a plot of land which empowered him to extract part of the harvest produced by the peasants who had been born and raised on that land.

Under capitalism, grasping the meaning of rent, and distinguishing it from profit, is much harder – a difficulty I witnessed first-hand when as a university teacher I would struggle to help my students spot the difference between the two.

Arithmetically, there is no difference: both rent and profit amount to money left over once costs are paid for.

The difference is subtler, qualitative, almost abstract: profit is vulnerable to market competition, rent is not.

The reason is their different origins.

Rent flows from privileged access to things in fixed supply, like fertile soil or land containing fossil fuels; you cannot produce more of these resources, however much money you might invest in them.

Profit, in contrast, flows into the pockets of entrepreneurial people who have invested in things that would not have otherwise existed – things like Edison’s light bulb or Jobs’s iPhone.

It is this fact – that these commodities were invented and created and so can be invented and created again but better by someone else – that renders profit vulnerable to competition. (…)

Capitalism prevailed when profit overwhelmed rent, a historic triumph coinciding with the transformation of productive work and property rights into commodities to be sold via labour and share markets respectively.

It was not just an economic victory.

Whereas rent reeked of vulgar exploitation, profit claimed moral superiority as a just reward to brave entrepreneurs risking everything to navigate the treacherous currents of stormy markets. (…)

Why didn’t Nokia, Sony or Blackberry build their own store?

Because it was too late: with so many people signed up to Apple, the thousands of third-party developers were not going to spend their time and effort developing apps for other platforms.

To be competitive, Apple’s unwaged third-party developers, mainly partnerships or small capitalist firms, had no choice but to operate via the Apple Store.

The price? A 30 per cent ground rent, paid to Apple on all their revenues.

Thus a vassal capitalist class grew from the fertile soil of the first cloud fief: the Apple Store."

[thehopefuljournalist]

weird question, but do you know if regenerative agriculture is growing, and by what rate? it's important to me but looking for articles on my own can trigger a panic attack :[ no worries if not !

Hey! Thank you so much for asking. Honestly, agriculture and sustainable agriculture specifically are very close to my heart as well, so I was glad for the excuse to do some research :) 

Also, thank you for your patience, I know you sent this Ask a bit ago. It’s good that you’re listening to yourself and not going around searching for things that might cause you harm, so thanks again for reaching out!

So, what is regenerative agriculture? 

Regenerative agriculture is a way of farming that focuses on soil health. When soil is healthy, it produces more food and nutrition, stores more carbon and increases biodiversity – the variety of species. Healthy soil supports other water, land and air environments and ecosystems through natural processes including water drainage and pollination – the fertilization of plants.

Regenerative agriculture is a defining term for sustainability in our food system - while there is no one true definition of regenerative agriculture, the concept has been around for centuries, taking root in Indigenous growing practices. Regenerative approaches can bolster soil health and watershed health. They can also add to climate mitigation and potentially tie into regulatory or commercial incentives for a more sustainable diet. 

Regenerative farming methods include minimizing the ploughing of land. This keeps CO2 in the soil, improves its water absorbency and leaves vital fungal communities in the earth undisturbed.

Rotating crops to vary the types of crop planted improves biodiversity, while using animal manure and compost helps to return nutrients to the soil. 

Continuously grazing animals on the same piece of land can also degrade soil, explains the Regenerative agriculture in Europe report from the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council. So regenerative agriculture methods include moving grazing animals to different pastures.

How can it help?

Regenerative farming can improve crop yields – the volume of crops produced – by improving the health of soil and its ability to retain water, as well as reducing soil erosion. If regenerative farming was implemented in Africa, crop yields could rise 13% by 2040 and up to 40% in the future, according to a Regenerative Farming in Africa report by conservation organization the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the UN.

Regenerative farming can also reduce emissions from agriculture and turn the croplands and pastures, which cover up to 40% of Earth’s ice-free land area, into carbon sinks. These are environments that naturally absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, according to climate solutions organization Project Drawdown.

5 ways to scale regenerative agriculture:

1. Agree on common metrics for environmental outcomes. Today, there are many disparate efforts to define and measure environmental outcomes. We must move to a set of metrics adopted by the whole food industry, making it easier for farmers to adjust their practices and for positive changes to be rewarded. 2. Build farmers’ income from environmental outcomes such as carbon reduction and removal. We need a well-functioning market with a credible system of payments for environmental outcomes, trusted by buyers and sellers, that creates a new, durable, income stream for farmers. 3. Create mechanisms to share the cost of transition with farmers. Today, all the risk and cost sits with the farmers. 4. Ensure government policy enables and rewards farmers for transition. Too many government policies are in fact supporting the status quo of farming. The food sector must come together and work jointly with regulators to address this. 5. Develop new sourcing models to spread the cost of transition. We must move from sourcing models that take crops from anywhere to models that involve collaboration between off-takers from different sectors to take crops from areas converting to regenerative farming.

The rise of regenerative agriculture

In 2019, General Mills, the manufacturer of Cheerios, Yoplait and Annie’s Mac and Cheese (among other products), announced it would begin sourcing a portion of its corn, wheat, dairy and sugar from farmers who were engaged in regenerative agriculture practices and committed to advancing the practice of regenerative agriculture on one million acres of land by 2030. In early 2020, Whole Foods announced regenerative agriculture would be the No. 1 food trend and, in spite of the pandemic and the rapid growth of online shopping overshadowing the trend, business interest in the field still spiked by 138%. 

More recently, PepsiCo announced it was adopting regenerative agriculture practices among 7 million acres of its farmland. Cargill declared it intends to do the same on 10 million acres by 2030, and Walmart has committed to advancing the practice on 50 million acres. Other companies pursuing regenerative agriculture include Danone, Unilever, Hormel, Target and Land O’ Lakes.

According to Nielsen, 75% of millennials are altering their buying habits with the environment in mind. This sentiment, of course, does not always materialize into tangible actions on behalf of every consumer. However, it is clear from the actions of PepsiCo, General Mills, Walmart, Unilever and others that they believe consumers’ expectations of what is environmentally friendly are shifting and that they will soon be looking to purchase regeneratively-produced foods because of the many benefits they produce.

The next step in the transition to regenerative agriculture is certification. The goal is to create labeling that will allow the consumer to connect to the full suite of their values. Some companies are partnering with nonprofit conveners and certifiers. The Savory Institute is one such partner, convening producers and brands around regenerative agriculture and more holistic land management practices.

In 2020, the Savory Institute granted its first “Ecological OutCome Verification (EOV) seal to Epic’s latest high protein bars by certifying that its featured beef was raised with regenerative agriculture practices. 

The program was developed to let the land speak for itself by showing improvement through both leading and lagging functions such as plant diversity and water holding capacity. There are now thousands of products that have been Land to Market verified, with over 80 brand partnerships with companies such as Epic Provisions, Eileen Fisher and Applegate.  Daily Harvest is giving growers in that space three-year contracts as well as markets and price premiums for the transitional crop. It's focusing on that transitional organic process as a stepping stone toward a regenerative organic food system.

Daily Harvest’s Almond Project creates an alliance with the Savory Institute and a group of stakeholders - including Simple Mills and Cappello’s - to bring regenerative practices to almonds in the Central Valley of California.

These companies are working with Treehouse California Almonds, their shared almond supplier, to lead soil health research on 160 acres of farmland. Over five years, the Project will focus on measuring outcomes around the ecosystem and soil health of regenerative practices – comparing those side by side with neighboring conventional baselines.

“We need industry partnership; we need pre-competitive collaboration,” says Rebecca Gildiner, Director of Sustainability at Daily Harvest, of the Almond Project. “Sustainability cannot be competitive. We are all sharing suppliers, we are all sharing supply – rising tides truly lift all boats. The industry has to understand our responsibility in investing, where historically investments have disproportionately focused on yields with a sole focus of feeding the world. We know this has been critical in the past but it has overlooked other forms of capital, other than financial. We need to look towards experimenting in holistic systems that have other outcomes than yield and profit - instead of saying organic can’t feed the world, we have to invest in figuring out how organic can feed the world because it’s critical.”

////

In short!!!

Many articles are stating regenerative agriculture as a defining, and rising “buzz word” in the industry. It seems that consumers are becoming more and more aware and are demanding more sustainable approaches to agriculture. 

We, of course, have a way to go, but it seems from the data that I’ve gathered, that regenerative agriculture is, in fact, on the rise. Demand is rising, and many are working on ways to globalize those methods.

Source Source Source Source

[coochiequeens]

Ladies, always keep stickers on you

China’s Surrogacy Debate Extends to Women’s Toilets 

From universities to hospital toilets, women are finding themselves surrounded by small ads recruiting surrogacy candidates as well as customers. They, and some companies, are hitting back.

By Yang Caini

May 15, 20233-min read #gender#surrogacy

Women in China are covering up surrogacy ads in toilets with stickers and lipstick as they try to discourage other women from becoming surrogates or take up their services.  

In late April, a video of an anonymous woman covering up a surrogacy ad with stickers in a women’s bathroom in a hospital in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region went viral online.

Her actions were widely praised, with netizens sharing similar experiences about covering up surrogacy ads they encounter: “I erased these sorts of ads in the toilet of a movie theater.” “I’ve seen ads like this in dorms and school bathrooms.” “They can be found in all three toilets in a Changsha shopping mall.” 

These ads look to recruit surrogates as well as customers. They are usually made up of very few words, with a price and a contact number provided. Many also guarantee a son, the favored sex in China.  

Five university students from five different cities told Sixth Tone that they’ve seen the ads “countless times” in toilets. Zhao Yifei, a master’s degree student at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, said that these ads can be found in almost every toilet on campus. She sometimes feels conflicted when scratching them out with her keys. 

“On the one hand, I think (surrogacy) can help those families who cannot conceive because of physical reasons. On the other hand … the most likely result is that the rich use surrogacy in large numbers and exploit the poor,” said Zhao. 

Commercial surrogacy is banned in China, together with all sales of gametes, fertilized eggs, and embryos. The prohibition has led to the emergence of black markets and cross-bordersurrogacy services that target infertile and same-sex couples.

Surrogate mothers in China can receive up to 280,000 yuan ($40,282) for their services, while customers reportedly pay up to 1.1 million yuan for a surrogate baby with a chosen sex.

The question of whether to legalize surrogacy in China is a heated debate. In 2017, state-run media People’s Daily published an article that discussed legalizing surrogacy to ease the country’s falling birth rate and help infertile senior couples. Opponents, however, decry the practice for exploiting vulnerable women.

Li, who insisted on only using her surname, has kept a marker pen and anti-surrogacy stickers in her handbag since 2019, when she first erased a surrogacy ad in a shopping mall toilet with her lipstick in her hometown of Zhengzhou, the capital city of the central province of Henan.

“I’m embarrassed to say it, but I was thinking about whether the lipstick can still be used afterwards. But this was only for a few seconds — after all, this matter is much more important than lipstick,” Li, 26, told Sixth Tone.

Afterwards, Li purchased anti-surrogacy stickers in case she ran into the ads again. Some of these stickers mention that they are 30 centimeters long, the same length as a needle used for retrieving a woman’s egg. She hopes this scares women thinking about surrogacy by showing what it will mean in practice. 

Some women’s products manufacturers, including sellers of pads and skincare products, are supporting these anti-surrogacy efforts by gifting customers free anti-surrogacy stickers with their purchases.

SISCOM, an online vendor with over 40,000 followers on e-commerce platform Taobao selling feminist merchandise, began giving customers free anti-surrogacy stickers in 2021. “Surrogacy exploits women. It’s banned in China. You will be punished for it,” the stickers read, with a reporting hotline included. 

Qiqi, co-owner of SISCOM, told Sixth Tone that she has seen many of these ads herself. 

“Sometimes I can’t help but feel that the people who make these ads are so smart … The toilet compartments are so private that you can hardly catch them and ban them,” she said. 

Women’s public toilets have been in the news before. In 2020, advocates launched a campaign to install pad-sharing boxes in women’s toilets, which swept across the country. 

Editor: Vincent Chow. 

[alectoperdita]

Honestly, your lure series has a death grip on my brain and if you are willing to share about the abo au of that fic, I'm very willing to listen. The alpha/alpha aspect is so coooool, I wish more ppl play around with it!

You and me, anon. Lure cannibalizes my brain nearly 24/7.

The A/B/O version is very similar to "vanilla" Lure. They meet in the same way, and Jou starts "working" for Kaiba. They definitely butt heads a little more because of that alpha/alpha angle. It may take longer for Kaiba to coerce Jou into bottoming for him because of alpha pride, but Kaiba is even more determined to mold Jou in this AU.

Warning for discussion of non-con/rape subjects

Knotting Jou is his first big project, and that's not easy since Jou is also an alpha so his body isn't naturally accommodating to taking girth that size (doesn't have the omega hormones/resulting elasticity that allows most omegas to take an alpha knot). It requires extensive stretching beforehand, and Kaiba can't knot Jou too often. It's a very emotionally fraught experience for Jou, and the first time it happens, it's probably best labeled as non-con. Jou tells Kaiba to stop and push him away, but that's not physically possible once the knot locks into him.

The next major point of divergence is that two week-long sexathon after they graduate in Nothing comes free is where Kaiba chains Jou in an isolated room and starts the active process of bitching him. That involves Kaiba fucking and knotting him as often as possible, trying to put as much alpha semen into Jou, and keep him plugged with it. In addition to that, he has some hormone injections bought off the black market. Pair all of that with some heavy psychological conditioning.

At first, Jou just thinks Kaiba's lost his mind or is being his usual terrible self. Cuz hey, he does not object to a few days of intense sex marathon, and Kaiba's dirty talk has always been degrading and kinda creepy. Except Kaiba isn't unchaining him ever. His stomach sinks when it finally becomes sinks in that this is different from Kaiba's usual brand of crazy. Kaiba is actually trying to bitch him, but they're multiple days into the process, and Kaiba's started the injections. (Enabler and I decided for this AU, this is not a clear-cut or sure process, bitching is one of those rumors that not everyone believes is possible, but it probably works narratively the same if it was more a sure thing.)

Days later, when Jou starts to produce slick from his hole and show signs of a heat, even Kaiba is caught a little by surprise. But make no mistake, he is both very smug and pleased with the result. He's successfully made his own personal omega.

There are a lot of ways to play with the bitching trope, including giving the bitched male omega intersex genitalia and shrinking/changing their dick and knot. For this, I tend to favor less extreme physiological changes. Jou keeps his knot, which Kaiba likes anyway. While he produces slick and begins to have regular heats, he's not fertile and can't get pregnant. (Again, that's a plus in Kaiba's book because for all his breeding kink, he doesn't want children.) Basically, this is about Kaiba's need and desire to control, now extended to being able to control how Jou's body operates and presents to him. He likes Jou's alpha characteristics too, and in this setting, his homosexuality includes his attraction to other alphas while being an alpha (generally no interest in omegas otherwise), and now he's transformed Jou into something unique that is entirely just for him.

Ironically, it's a two-way street. Their weird trauma-bonded, codependent relationship now has a major hormonal/pheromonal component further reinforcing their bond (even before you bring the question of the mating bite/bond into the picture). They're attached and soon pair-bonded, but won't admit it.

[gabessquishytum]

oh i just had a dream/hob/calliope omegaverse idea and i need to share. so. dream and calliope are trying to have a baby (and this is maybe not a good thing! because they don't quite fit together, they're too intense with each other in the wrong ways, but on some level they're both hoping a baby will give them a place to direct their attention where it won't chafe the other, because they love each other and want their marriage to work, they really do). maybe female alphas have low to no fertility when it comes to carrying a child, maybe it's something else, but whatever the reason, they can't seem to get pregnant.

hob, meanwhile, is an unmated (or widowed) omega, close to finishing his phd but increasingly concerned about whether he'll manage before he burns through his savings entirely. he meets death out at a pub one evening, somehow the conversation turns to children, she happens to mention her brother and his wife are struggling to conceive. hob jokingly (but also not joking at all) says that he could be a surrogate, it's not like he's planning on using his womb anytime soon. maybe that would fix some of his money troubles.

he was decently drunk by that point, and he doesn't actually remember giving death his phone number... but he wakes up the next morning to a text asking if he'd be willing to meet her brother and his wife for lunch some time. no pressure, but they'd like to meet him -- if they get along and he'd be interested in actually being their surrogate, they'd take good care of him through the pregnancy and for a while after.

so obviously, they meet, they hit it off. they go on dates in between sorting out the surrogacy arrangement and moving hob into their house. they fuck him pregnant, of course -- both of them fuck him every night so either one of them could be the sire -- but they dote on him during the days as well. calliope helps him organize his thoughts for his phd thesis. dream distracts him when he's spiralling into frustration by pulling him into a debate on whatever comes to mind.

by the time hob's good and bred, dream and calliope are already getting along worlds better, because they have their sweet little omega to pour their devotion into. they absolutely adore him. and they're so, so excited to raise their pup with him.

-🐈‍⬛

Oh this!!! Is amazing!!!! It's already just perfect but I will add a few thoughts of my own <33

- Maybe Hob has already had Robyn (but he tragically passed away with Eleanor in an accident) so he knows for sure that he can safely carry a pup. He's the perfect surrogate, basically. And although nothing will ever replace Robyn, he wants to give the gift of a happy family to Dream and Calliope. He can tell that there's tension, but they're good people and Hob wants to help them. He firmly tells himself that he won't fall in love with them, he'll just be a friend and a fun uncle for the baby.

- As soon as he moves in with them Hob knows he's fucked (he's literally fucked, 3 times per day at least, but he expected that). He loves Dream and Calliope, together and as individuals. They're stubborn and silly and they get in the most ridiculous fights, but basically they're warm and gentle and in love with each other. Hob yearns. A lot. And enjoys living in their very expensive house and eating food from the posh farmer's market.

- Hob is pregnant, yay! And Dream and Calliope are so good to him. They literally dote on him 24/7, he's sleeping in their bed because he needs to feel them close by and they don't complain at all. He gets amazing massages from Dream, Calliope sings to him and brushes his hair. They still fuck him, which he wasn't expecting but God he needs it because the horniness is hitting different. He has to keep reminding himself that all of this is for the baby, not really for him. He won't get to keep any of this love and devotion.

- Calliope works out eventually why Hob is a little sad sometimes and she has to sit him down and explain that she and Dream consider him as their omega now??? If he'll accept them??? They just never mentioned it because alphas are dumb about communicating sometimes. After the baby comes they want to claim Hob for real and marry him. And Hob ends up crying in Dream’s arms while Calliope covers him in kisses.

- Fastforward a bit, and Hob is obsessed with his alphas (even though they can be SO stupid) and his newborn pup, and he has his PhD now!! Maybe they fuck pup number 2 into him after his graduation ceremony. Whatever happens, Dream and Calliope are a proper team, and Hob is always going to be there to set them on the right path. They're stuck with him now <3

[accountsend]

Mastering Social Selling: Unveiling the Magic of Social Media for B2B Sales Triumph

The realm of B2B sales is undergoing a seismic shift, propelled by the integration of social media. Social selling, a strategic approach that transcends traditional methods, empowers businesses to cultivate authentic relationships, nurture trust, and fuel sales growth. Yet, the mastery of social selling is not attained through mere online presence; it requires a strategic blueprint that resonates deeply with potential B2B customers, forging connections on a personal level. This comprehensive guide unfurls seven pivotal strategies, each holding the key to unlocking the immense potential of social selling. Join us as we embark on a journey through the art of leveraging social media to catalyze B2B sales and foster enduring business expansion.

Download the infographic here!

Understanding Your Audience: The Keystone of Success

Embarking on the path of mastering social selling begins with a profound understanding of your audience. This goes beyond surface-level demographics; it's about delving into their aspirations, behaviors, and their preferred digital playgrounds. The reservoir of insights strewn across social media platforms arms you with the tools to craft intricate buyer personas. These personas serve as navigational stars, steering your social selling strategy towards authentic resonance with your intended audience.

Choosing the Right Platforms: Crafting a Strategic Presence

In the intricate dance of B2B sales, each social media platform offers a distinct melody. Making the right choice can be the difference between success and obscurity. Consider the allure of LinkedIn, a fertile ground for verified B2B leads owing to its professional ambiance. Alternatively, platforms like Instagram and TikTok cater to a younger, digitally-immersed audience. Choosing the right platform is tantamount to orchestrating engagement that resonates deeply and drives meaningful outcomes.

Crafting Valuable Content: The Soul of Social Selling

At the core of social selling lies content – the conduit that links you with your audience. The consistent delivery of valuable, relevant content is the heartbeat of your strategy. This content spectrum could span from dissecting industry trends to crafting insightful blog posts and sharing personal anecdotes. The ultimate goal is to position yourself as a beacon of trusted insights, priming your audience for a receptive embrace of your sales proposition.

Authentic Engagement: Beyond Likes and Shares

Social media isn't a billboard; it's a bustling marketplace of interactions. Authentic engagement trumps passive content dissemination. Engaging with comments, sparking meaningful discussions, inviting feedback, and acknowledging shares and likes cultivate an environment of reciprocity. This engagement metamorphoses your audience from passive observers to active participants, forming a connected community built on trust and loyalty.

Leveraging Social Listening: Insights as Catalysts

Enter the realm of social listening – a strategic art that extends beyond surface observation. Actively monitoring platforms for brand mentions, industry keywords, and competitor movements grants you unparalleled market intelligence. These insights become the rudder that guides your social selling ship, enabling you to anticipate customer needs, identify trends, and outpace competitors. In the realm of social selling, insight is indeed the power.

Nurturing Relationships: The Heartbeat of Social Selling

At its essence, social selling is relationship-building, not just transaction-peddling. Cultivating authentic connections with potential customers is an investment that reaps loyalty and sales growth. This may involve sharing personalized advice, valuable resources, or simply offering words of encouragement. Over time, these connections flourish into robust customer loyalty, a bedrock for enduring success.

Measuring Success: Insights from Analytics

In the digital age, measurement is the compass for growth. Social media platforms offer a trove of analytics, serving as the lighthouse guiding your way. By interpreting engagement rates, follower growth, and conversion metrics, you unearth insights that illuminate your path. This analytical approach empowers you to fine-tune your strategy, ensuring that every move is calibrated for success.

In conclusion, mastering social selling is a strategic journey guided by insight. Armed with an intimate understanding of your audience, judicious platform selection, valuable content creation, authentic engagement practices, adept social listening skills, relationship cultivation, and analytical acumen, businesses can harness the dynamic power of social media to drive B2B sales. Within this ensemble of strategies, the [Business Owners Database, Verified B2B Emails, B2B Contact Database, CEO Email Addresses, Sales Leads Database, B2B Email List, B2B Leads Database, Verified Business Leads, and B2B Leads List] become your allies, propelling connections, nurturing enduring relationships, and catalyzing growth. The era of redefining B2B sales beckons – are you prepared to seize it?

[market-insider]

How the Plant-based Milk Market is Growing Worldwide: A Sustainable Alternatives

The global plant-based milk market size is estimated to reach USD 32.35 billion in 2030 and expand at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growth of the plant-based milk market is primarily driven by shifting consumer preferences towards healthier dietary choices and increasing awareness of lactose intolerance and dairy allergies. Consumers are increasingly opting for plant-based alternatives such as almond, soy, oat, coconut, and others, which offer nutritional benefits including vitamins, minerals, and proteins, without compromising on taste.

The growing adoption of vegan and flexitarian lifestyles worldwide has significantly expanded the consumer base for plant-based milk products. These dietary choices are driven by ethical considerations, environmental sustainability concerns, and perceived health benefits associated with reduced consumption of animal products is further expected to drive the market for plant-based milk during the forecast period.

The availability and convenience of plant-based milks have significantly improved, contributing to market growth. Major retailers and supermarkets now stock a wide range of plant-based milks, making them easily accessible to consumers. Online grocery platforms have also expanded their plant-based milk offerings, allowing consumers to conveniently purchase their preferred products from the comfort of their homes. This factor is further expected to drive the market for plant-based milk during the forecast period.

The plant-based milk market has seen significant expansion beyond North America and Europe, reaching new markets in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In Asia, where lactose intolerance is prevalent, plant-based milks are gaining popularity as a suitable alternative to dairy. In Latin America, the growing middle class and increasing awareness of health and environmental issues are driving demand for plant-based milks.

Manufacturers in the plant-based milk market are investing in research and development to innovate and expand their product portfolios. This includes the introduction of new plant sources such as almond, soy, oat, coconut, and others, as well as fortified variants enriched with vitamins, minerals, and protein. Innovations in flavor profiles and packaging formats cater to diverse consumer preferences and convenience.

For More Details or Sample Copy please visit link @: Plant-based Milk Market Report

Plant-based Milk Market Report Highlights

Asia Pacific is expected to grow with the fastest CAGR of 8.2% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2030. The rise of vegetarianism and veganism, driven by concerns about animal cruelty, supports the demand for plant-based milks.

Based on product, the oat milk is expected to grow with the fastest CAGR of 9.4% over the forecast period. Oat milk is rich in dietary fiber, particularly beta-glucan, which has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels. Additionally, oat milk often contains higher levels of protein compared to other plant-based milks, making it a nutritious option for consumers.

Based on nature, organic plant-based milk is expected to growth with the fastest CAGR of 11.5% from 2024 to 2030. Organic plant-based milks are free from synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which appeals to health-conscious consumers.

Based on distribution channel, sales of plant-based milk proudcts through hypermarkets & supermarkets accounted for the largest share in the plant-based milk market in 2023. These retail outlets offer a wide variety of plant-based milk products, including different brands, types, and flavors. The extensive product range allows consumers to compare and choose according to their preferences, driving sales through this channel.

Gain deeper insights on the market and receive your free copy with TOC now @: Plant-based Milk Market Report

We have segmented the global plant-based milk market based on product, nature, flavor, distribution channel, and region.

[dailyanarchistposts]

1

This is an encouragement for local, anti-authoritarian secessionist activity aimed at acquiring land bases. This push for different ways of living would be characterized by new ecological insights and awareness, an inspiration from primal ways, and a desire for autonomy, both individual and collective.

Secessionist action is not aimed at establishing new, smaller nation-states, but toward the creation of stateless zones. The actions aim for a decisive break from a world that damages and stunts us. Secessionists secede not only from nation states but ideology as well. This type of rupture is based in a desire for new relationships, between each other, within ourselves and with the world that surrounds us.

This is about notions of regeneration and renewal, a call to look to the time after the death and darkness of civilization as one when life will return and growth will begin anew. It is an appeal for a persistent, global May Day, to ideas and actions inspired by the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, the time when the sun is set free to bring the pleasurable warmth of summer back to earth once again.

Numerous ancient cultures were suffused with anarchic qualities. Sexuality and fertility were viewed as joyous expressions of wild nature, of creation. Ecstatic community dances rejoicing in the many cherished wonders of life were common. Let our rebellions aim for planetary rejuvenation, let them signal a time to celebrate abundance and fecundity, let them be yearnings for new life and blissful days in the pleasing heat of our new season.

Humans are at a juncture. We can continue to be conned, obedient citizens who venerate the market and respect the institutions of capitalist civilization or we can try to put into practice new ways of living, ways that implicitly acknowledge the rich potential that comes with freely-chosen communalism, that honor earth wisdom and continued renewal. The techno-utopian argument remains wholly unconvincing. Who wouldn’t rather have clean rivers flowing with abundance, intact mountains and healthy forests, teeming with wildlife and purifying our air, than polluted rivers supporting only a few contaminated fish, mountains cleaved in half for coal and minerals and forests reduced to monoculture or scraped into clearcuts?

These attempts would be highlighted by the widespread sharing of skills, resources, and burdens now carried by individuals and families locked into their private lives. They would also involve the creation of common lands, gardens and gathering spaces, collective child rearing and collective responsibility for shelters. Subsistence activities would be explored and practiced. Secessionists would consciously aim at permanently freeing their territory, their habitat, from political power.

In the beginning, openness for intimacy with others, with strangers will be essential, because we have all become strangers to each other. Ultimately, these local movements aim for true kinship, authentic community, genuine inter-relationships that allow each individual to be all that she can be yet part of a whole. These expressions of collective will would involve measures of offense and defense, for there are those who cannot accept community autonomy, who fear individual freedom or who have an interest in maintaining control from the top.

[xtruss]

Latin America’s New Hard Right: Bukele, Milei, Kast And Bolsonaro! Crime, Abortion and Socialism, Not Immigration, Are The Issues That Rile Them

— April 1st 2024| Santiago, Chile 🇨🇱

A montage of right-wing Latin American leaders on a red and blue background with Donald Trump throwing maga hats at them. Illustration: Klawe Rzeczy

“Mr president!” Javier Milei could barely contain himself when he met Donald Trump at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington in February. The pair embraced and exchanged slogans, with Mr Trump intoning “Make Argentina Great Again” several times and Argentina’s new President yipping “Viva la Libertad, Carajo” (“Long Live Freedom, Dammit”) in response.

Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s Popular Autocratic President, had already addressed the conference. “They say globalism comes to die at CPAC,” he told enraptured Republicans. “I’m here to tell you that in El Salvador, it’s already dead.” Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s Hard-Right Former President, was a star guest in 2023. He, like Mr Trump, claimed without evidence that his bid for a second term was thwarted by fraud. His supporters also attempted an insurrection.

These scenes suggest a seamless international alliance between Mr Trump and the leaders of Latin America’s hard right. Its members also include José Antonio Kast of Chile, who has spoken at cpac in the past too. This new right basks in Mr Trump’s influence. It has turned away from a more consensual form of conservative politics in favour of an aggressive pursuit of culture war.

Its ascent began with the surprise victory of Mr Bolsonaro in Brazil in 2018, followed by that of Mr Bukele in 2019. In Chile Mr Kast, the founder of a new hard-right Republican Party, got 44% of the vote in a presidential run-off in 2021 and his party won an election for a constitutional council in 2023. Mr Milei won his own surprise victory in November. Would-be leaders of the radical right jostle in the Politics of Peru and Colombia.

Unlike its older European and North American equivalents, the Latin American hard right does not have roots in the fertile soil of public anxiety about uncontrolled immigration (although this has become an issue recently because of the arrival of millions of Venezuelans fleeing their country’s rotten dictatorship).

The new group shares three hallmarks. The first is fierce opposition to abortion, and gay and women’s rights. “What unites them is an affirmation of traditional social hierarchies,” as Lindsay Mayka and Amy Erica Smith, two academics, put it. The second hallmark is a tough line on crime and citizens’ security. And the third is uncompromising opposition to social democracy, let alone communism, which leads some to want a smaller state.

There were common factors in their ascents, too. They were helped by a sense of crisis—about corruption and economic stagnation in Brazil and Argentina, gang violence in El Salvador and the sometimes violent “social explosion” in Chile.

Cousins In Arms

But each leader has adopted a different mix of these ideological elements. The hard right in Latin America are “cousins, not brothers”, says Cristóbal Rovira of the Catholic University of Chile. “They are similar but not identical.”

Mr Bolsonaro’s constituencies were evangelicals, to whom he appealed with his defence of the traditional family, and the authoritarian right in the form of the army, the police and farmers worried about land invasions and rural crime. But he was lukewarm about the free market and fiscal rigour. Mr Bukele made security the cornerstone of his first presidential term, overcoming criminal gangs by locking up more than 74,000 of El Salvador’s 6.4 Million Citizens. His economic policy is less clear and, despite his claim at CPAC, is not self-evidently “anti-globalist”.

Mr Milei was elected for his pledge to pull Argentina out of prolonged stagflation and to cut down what he brands as a corrupt political “caste”. A self-described “anarcho-capitalist”, he is a fan of the Austrian school of free-market economics. Unlike Mr Trump, he is neither an economic nationalist nor protectionist on trade. He has only recently adopted his peers’ stance on moral issues. His government supports a bill to overturn Argentina’s abortion law, and says it will eliminate gender-conscious language from public administration. Mr Bukele followed suit.

Mr Kast attempted to put conservative morality in the constitutional draft his party championed, which was one reason why it was rejected in a plebiscite. He wants tough policies on security and against immigration. “We should close the borders and build a trench,” he says. He wants to “shrink the state and lower the tax burden”. Whereas Mr Bolsonaro is a climate-change sceptic and anti-vaxxer, Mr Kast is not.

Democracy For Thee, Not For Me

Right-wing populists also have differing attitudes to democracy. With his attempt to subvert the election result, for which he is under police investigation, Mr Bolsonaro showed that he was not a democrat. Mr Bukele is contemptuous of checks and balances. His success at slashing the murder rate made him hugely popular, allowing him to brush aside constitutional term limits and win a second term in February.

Mr Milei’s “disdain for democratic institutions is clear”, says Carlos Malamud, An Argentine Historian, citing Mr Milei’s break with convention by giving his inauguration speech to a crowd of supporters, rather than to Congress. But, Mr Malamud adds, Mr Milei may yet learn that he needs to include the parliament in government.

“I’m a democrat,” insists Mr Kast, and his opponents agree. “On security and shrinking the state, we share views with Bolsonaro,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean that we are the same as Milei or Bolsonaro or Bukele.” As Mr Kast notes, policy choices are shaped in each country by very different circumstances.

So are the prospects of the various leaders. Mr Bukele is by far the most successful, with would-be imitators across the region and no obvious obstacles to his remaining in power indefinitely. In contrast, Mr Bolsonaro’s active political career may well be over. The electoral court has barred him as a candidate until 2030 (when he will be 75) for disparaging the voting system at a meeting with foreign ambassadors. He may be jailed for his apparent attempt to organise a military coup against his electoral defeat; he denies this and claims he is a victim of political persecution.

Mr Milei’s future is up for grabs. Succeed in taming inflation, and he could emerge strengthened from a midterm election in 2025. But if he refuses to compromise with Congress and provincial governors, he may be in trouble before then. In Chile, Mr Kast seemed to overplay his hand with the constitutional draft. The election in 2025 could see the centre-right take power. One influential figure of that persuasion argues that Mr Kast is unable to represent the diversity of modern Chile.

Ultimately, the group is bound by an international network built around common political discourse and cultural references. Mr Kast chairs the Political Network for Values, an outfit previously led by an ally of Viktor Orban, Hungary’s Populist Leader. Vox, Spain’s hard-right party, organises the Foro de Madrid, a network of like-minded politicians mainly from what it calls the “Iberosphere” in Latin America.

These gatherings offer a chance to share experiences and sometimes a bit more. Mr Bukele has advisers from Venezuela’s exiled opposition. Mr Trump’s activists have shown up at Latin American elections. Recently, Mr Bolsonaro took refuge in the Hungarian embassy in Brasília for two nights when he feared arrest.

But there are no signs of central direction or co-ordination. The right in Latin America has long claimed that the Foro de São Paulo, a get-together of Latin American left-wingers, is a highly organised conspiracy. All the evidence is that it is a loose friendship network. That seems to be true of its right-wing peer, too. ■

— This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline "The Anti-communist International"

[crop-protection-market]

Exploring the Vibrant World of the Fertilizer Market: Growth and Outlook

Exploring Fertilizer Market Research Reports

The Fertilizer Industry is a cornerstone of global agriculture, playing a pivotal role in ensuring food security and sustainable crop production. With an ever-increasing demand for agricultural products to feed a growing population, understanding the intricacies of the fertilizer market is essential. Let's delve deeper into this vital sector with comprehensive data and insightful analysis.

Assessing Fertilizer Market Outlook

The outlook for the fertilizer market is shaped by a multitude of factors, including technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, and shifting consumer preferences. Industry experts offer valuable insights into future market trends and developments, aiding stakeholders in making informed decisions:

Technological Innovations: Advancements in fertilizer manufacturing processes, such as controlled-release formulations and precision agriculture techniques, are driving market growth by enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

Environmental Considerations: Increasing awareness of environmental sustainability and concerns about nutrient runoff and soil degradation are driving demand for eco-friendly fertilizers and organic alternatives.

Market Disruptions: External factors such as geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and climate change can significantly impact fertilizer markets, leading to supply chain disruptions and price volatility.

Understanding Fertilizer Market Size and Growth

The fertilizer market is vast and continues to expand to meet the needs of farmers worldwide. Statistical data provides valuable insights into the market's size and growth trajectory. The Fertilizer Market was valued at approximately USD 170 billion in 2021 and is projected to exceed USD 230 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 5% during the forecast period. Market dynamics vary across regions, influenced by factors such as agricultural practices, government policies, and climatic conditions. While emerging economies show promising growth potential, mature markets exhibit steady but moderate expansion.

Click here – To Know more about Crop Protection market

Challenges in Fertilizer Marketing

Fertilizer marketing faces numerous challenges, requiring industry players to navigate complex market dynamics and regulatory landscapes:

Price Volatility: Fluctuations in raw material prices, currency exchange rates, and energy costs can affect fertilizer production costs and profit margins, necessitating risk management strategies.

Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to stringent environmental regulations and quality standards poses compliance challenges, particularly for multinational companies operating in diverse regulatory environments.

Market Competition: Intense competition among fertilizer manufacturers and suppliers compels companies to differentiate their products through branding, product innovation, and value-added services.

Analyzing Market Share of Different Fertilizers

The fertilizer market comprises various types of fertilizers, each with its unique properties and market dynamics:

Nitrogen Fertilizers: Nitrogen-based fertilizers, such as urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate, account for the largest market share due to their essential role in promoting plant growth and protein synthesis.

Phosphorus Fertilizers: Phosphorus-based fertilizers, including diammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple superphosphate (TSP), are vital for enhancing root development, flowering, and fruiting in crops.

Potassium Fertilizers: Potassium-based fertilizers, such as potassium chloride (MOP) and potassium sulfate (SOP), contribute to plant stress tolerance, water regulation, and fruit quality improvement.

Exploring Fertilizer Market Trends

Fertilizer market trends reflect evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and sustainability initiatives:

Shift Towards Sustainable Agriculture: Growing environmental concerns and regulatory pressures are driving the adoption of sustainable fertilizer practices, such as precision farming, organic fertilizers, and soil health management.

Digitalization and Precision Agriculture: Integration of digital technologies, such as drones, sensors, and data analytics, is revolutionizing fertilizer application techniques, enabling farmers to optimize nutrient use efficiency and minimize environmental impact.

Rise of Specialty Fertilizers: Increasing demand for high-value crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and cash crops, is fueling the adoption of specialty fertilizers tailored to specific crop needs and soil conditions.

Fertilizer Additives Market: Enhancing Fertilizer Performance

Fertilizer Additives play a crucial role in improving fertilizer efficacy, nutrient uptake, and crop yields. Key trends in the fertilizer additives market include:

Adoption of Micronutrient Additives: Micronutrient additives, such as zinc, boron, and manganese, are gaining traction for addressing soil deficiencies and enhancing plant nutrition.

Bio-stimulants and Soil Conditioners: Bio-stimulants and soil conditioners, derived from natural sources such as seaweed extracts and humic substances, are increasingly used to promote plant growth, stress tolerance, and soil health.

Innovations in Coating Technologies: Coating technologies, such as polymer coatings and encapsulation, are being employed to improve fertilizer release kinetics, reduce nutrient losses, and prolong nutrient availability in the soil.

Conclusion: Navigating Opportunities in the Fertilizer Market

The fertilizer market presents a dynamic landscape with numerous opportunities and challenges for industry stakeholders. By leveraging market insights, embracing technological innovations, and adopting sustainable practices, companies can navigate market uncertainties, capitalize on emerging trends, and contribute to global food security and agricultural sustainability. Continued investment in research and development, strategic partnerships, and market diversification will be essential for long-term success in the evolving fertilizer market.

[dehaat-india]

Agriculture Marketplace for Farmers

In the vast and ever-evolving landscape of agriculture, farmers find themselves at the heart of a dynamic marketplace that is continually shaping the future of food production. With technological advancements and changing consumer preferences, the agricultural marketplace has become more intricate, offering farmers a plethora of opportunities and challenges. This article explores the friendly terrain of the agriculture marketplace, highlighting how farmers can cultivate success in this modern era.

The Digital Dawn:

One of the most transformative developments in recent years is the advent of digital platforms designed to connect farmers with markets, suppliers, and technology. These user-friendly platforms empower farmers by providing them with real-time information on crop prices, weather forecasts, and innovative farming practices. From online marketplaces to mobile apps, technology has become an indispensable tool for farmers looking to optimize their operations and make informed decisions.

Seeding Innovation:

The agriculture marketplace is a fertile ground for innovation, with a variety of cutting-edge technologies designed to enhance productivity and sustainability. Precision farming, for example, allows farmers to tailor their approach to each individual crop, optimizing resources and minimizing environmental impact. Drones and satellite imagery enable farmers to monitor their fields with unprecedented precision, ensuring that crops receive the care they need. Embracing these innovations can not only boost yields but also contribute to a more sustainable and efficient agricultural ecosystem.

Market Access for All:

The modern agriculture marketplace is characterized by inclusivity, providing a platform for farmers of all sizes, from smallholders to large-scale operations. Online marketplaces and cooperatives facilitate direct connections between farmers and buyers, eliminating unnecessary intermediaries and ensuring fair prices for agricultural produce. This democratization of market access empowers smaller farmers to compete on a level playing field, fostering a more equitable and resilient agricultural industry.

Sustainable Practices:

As global awareness of environmental issues grows, consumers are increasingly seeking out sustainably produced food. Farmers are responding by adopting eco-friendly practices that not only benefit the planet but also enhance the marketability of their products. The agriculture marketplace is becoming a hub for sustainable initiatives, promoting practices such as organic farming, regenerative agriculture, and agroforestry. This shift towards sustainability not only meets consumer demand but also ensures the long-term viability of farming for future generations.

Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:

In the friendly corridors of the agriculture marketplace, collaboration and knowledge sharing are key pillars of success. Farmers are joining forces in online communities, sharing experiences, insights, and best practices. This collaborative spirit extends beyond borders, creating a global network where farmers from different regions can learn from each other and collectively address challenges. By fostering a culture of collaboration, the agriculture marketplace becomes a supportive ecosystem that nurtures growth and resilience.

Conclusion:

The agriculture marketplace is undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by technology, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability. For farmers, this presents a landscape rich with opportunities to thrive and cultivate success. By embracing digital tools, adopting sustainable practices, and engaging in collaborative efforts, farmers can navigate this friendly terrain with confidence, ensuring a bountiful harvest for generations to come.

[thekavseklabs]

Each of my muses here would peel an orange for you, but each would go at it differently.

C, by default, would do it in an act of obedience. But after, it would be an act of devotion. Focused either way, efficiency giving way to care. Knives traded for their claws so they can pick away anything you may not wish to have.

3 would be cautious, in a protective sort of way. This orange is for your eating, so they would change their gloves, wash the orange, press their claws or knife so carefully into the peel and pull it away without damaging what's inside. They would inspect it after, pull its sections apart for you, remove any seeds with surgical precision, and lay it all out for you in three bowls for flesh, peel, and seeds, in case you wanted to make candied peels after, or to plant those seeds. Should you want, they would find fertile soil to make more oranges for you, even if it means they get their hands and knees dirty. That's what the shower is for.

Vaishant takes the orange with unquestioning happiness. Of course he can peel it for you, of course he doesn't mind. His blunt nails take a moment to get into it, but if he struggles, he will laugh and wave off any offer to help, and he will get it done, with the orange inside in pristine shape even if he accidentally gets juice in his eye. He makes a joke about it as he hands it over, and asks if that's good enough, lets you know he can fetch something to go with. After that, he gets an orange for himself, wanting to share the experience.

Spades and Imnakit go at it with experience and warmth. They have hands that have fed children or the ill, weary travellers or friends. It's a quick matter, but loving, and they savor any juice left on their fingers, even if the peel has turned it bitter. They hold that orange out for you and ask—do you need anything else? I could peel you another. I could make candy from the peel. Would you like to make it with me? You can have all you like, and come morning, I'll go to the market and buy you some more.

Vynathr goes at it with restraint. When he was young, he picked fruits for others, and always had to hide away enough for himself to get by. He had torn into them with need and worried that they would be taken from him. Then he became what he is and everything has been feverish hunger, he eats and he eats and he eats. But you are hungry, and he cares for that. Hands used to ripping into his meals turn gentle as he pulls the peel apart and makes sure that the orange is good enough for you, that it is not too or young or dry, that it smells fresh and sweet. Careful claws offer your peeled orange even as his stomach rumbles, and he asks if he can eat the peel, tells you that it's okay if not. He is happy for your leftovers, he is happy with nothing at all, he is happy having done something for you, happy that you trusted him to do it. Tomorrow, he will offer you a peeled orange.

[layingeggs]

I've been playing games lately that the developers describe as character action or as inspired by Devil May Cry.

I don't know where "character action" came from. I found a forum post that claimed that Hideaki Kamiya, director of the original DMC, was the one to coin the term to describe emerging game design thought from DMC.

I also know that there's a number of people who consider character action to be an incoherent or insubstantial genre.

My position on the matter is simple. I believe that games are a form of art. And since games are art, character action must be a genre. Simplicity itself, right?

To elaborate on this further, if genre is a marketing term then character action cannot be considered a legitimate genre. If genre is a means of identifying products and maximising availability for consumption, then increased granularity in genre can only serve to dilute marketing and risk alienating target demographics.

Marketing demands a certain minimum broad strokes in discussing and talking about games. Marketing demands that every game ever made be marketable to as many people as possible to increase potential sales and profits. Marketing does not allow for niche. Niche reduces demographics and reduces sales and reduces profits.

On the other hand, if you understand games as art, you likely understand art as conversation, and genre as language. A given work of art is making a statement, an audience is participating in conversation, culture and art are inextricably linked in this way. Genre is a shared language for a given work of art to lead that conversation. You know what statement is being made because you recognise the creative traditions that this work is clearly following.

By which point, it becomes pretty undeniable then that character action is a genre. Devil May Cry has started a creative tradition that other games are now following. DMC has particular game mechanics that we do not see in the broader action genre. And other games in borrowing those specific mechanics are making a statement. The mere choices by developers on what mechanics specifically to include or exclude is in itself a conversation in art. With enough developers all doing this around one game, it becomes a genre rather than simply emulating a specific work.

Then you have the issue of disagreement within the genre. Different people having different ideas of which games are or are not character action and different people having different ideas of which mechanics are foundational or not foundational to character action.

Again, we look at marketing and art. We cannot help but come to the same conclusions as we did before.

Clearly, if games are products and content then disagreement over what is or isn't character action is a terrible indictment for character action's claim to genre status. If it cannot properly advertise product then it is not genre. If it cannot properly flag up to a target demographic what content is available then it cannot be genre.

But if games are art, then once again pretty undeniably character action must be a genre! If you say that Ninja Gaiden is a character action and I say bugger is it, that's a disagreement. And disagreement is fertile soil for healthy conversation. If different people with different ideas about what DMC was really about each make their own response games showing the different interpretations, then not only do you have the exchange of ideas but also new ideas emerging specifically from that exchange. Definitionally a fertile conversation. Genre.

Here's my disagreement, and love for Vernal Edge.

I always thought that a defining mechanic in DMC was the Taunts. I think I could talk about Taunts for the rest of my life. They're wonderful aren't they? Non-combat moves used in a combat situation. A mechanic that pushes you to embody the devil may care protagonist. A mechanic that by its nature takes you away from attacking enemies and takes you away from winning the core combat gameplay.

But it naturally complements the combat. And I'm not talking about the non-offensive mechanical benefits of Taunting, such as gaining Devil Trigger and gaining Style, crucial resources in Devil May Cry.

No, the simple beautiful push and pull of it. When you Taunt, you are taking time away from combat. Enemies are not. Enemies can punish you during your Taunt. You can't hit them when you're Taunting, so they are not defending, so they are free to attack.

So, in order to Taunt safely, you have to learn enemy attack patterns and recognise when is the opportunity to take time away to Taunt.

But the opportunity to Taunt is also the opportunity to attack. Taking a step away from the combat inherently teaches you about the combat. Gives you insight that you wouldn't get by simply button mashing. It's a clear invitation to the more timid player who is afraid to try parrying or afraid to try dodging, well here you go, here's a secret third thing that you can try doing instead, and it looks really cool when you pull it off and it makes you feel like the character.

This is just one single quality of the Taunt. I could go on talking about this all day.

So it is to my surprise then that so few other people seem to see it the same way.

You have Bayonetta, also directed by the aforementioned Hideaki Kamiya and often described as a character action, where you have a dedicated vogue button. Press it and Bayo will start voguing on the spot. Bayo also has other non-combat moves used in combat. For example, at the end of certain attacks, Bayo will pose and smile and wink at the camera, and some unseen photographer will take her picture. It is your choice as the player to pause and allow this animation to play out so that Bayo can do her little modeling, but doing so leaves you potentially open to enemy attack, and alternatively you can interrupt the animation and try to dive straight back into the fight. Non-combat move used in combat situation.

Few other games have those non-combat moves for combat though. I recently played Magenta Horizon and Stratospear. Both excellent indie games and both claiming from the developers to be DMC inspired. No taunt moves. No moves at all that are not attacking or defending moves.

Again, in this regard, I think taunting is crucial. It is a mighty pillar of what makes DMC work. I cannot imagine trying to recreate the style of DMC without it.

Vernal Edge brings its blessings.

We have a Taunt and an Air Taunt. (Ah!)

Vernal Edge is described by the developer as being DMC inspired but it is also a metroidvania. Does the Air Taunt have platforming utility then? No! Actually it immediately applies downward momentum if you were otherwise floating with other moves.

You see it? You see it? It's the conversation! The conversation has come back to us! :D

DMCV has Air Taunts. But nearly all of the DMCV Air Taunts have utility. DMCV has multiple playable characters, with Nero having a platforming Air Taunt. We see an animation of Nero riding his sword as if his sword were a skateboard or surfboard. When he does this, he gains a little height. This can literally be used to access certain areas you can't otherwise access until unlocking later game abilities.

But that doesn't matter so much in DMC since DMC is not a metroidvania, it is not open world. It is divided into levels and each level only has a beginning and a middle and an end. All that some extra platforming techs can do in that game is get you to collectible health upgrades or easter eggs a little bit quicker than you might otherwise get them. But the only way to access late game areas is to beat the levels in linear order.

Vernal Edge is a metroidvania. A genre famous for allowing players to explore the game world and even face bosses or reach the end of the game itself entirely out of order.

The Air Taunt then must be something that gives aesthetic value in exchange for that downward momentum. Or, the whole game has to be built around the assumption that a clever player will figure out if an Air Taunt can give them an early extra jump.

Already you see the navigating and the translating of the same ideas under different games. You see the conversation!

Taunt and Air Taunt don't seem to gain you any in game resource, unlike DMC. In VE, they seem only to be for aesthetic purpose, and to allow the player to embody the cocky fight happy protagonist Vernal. Vernal often trash talks her enemies in cutscene, it seems appropriate that you the player should be able to participate in that yourself in the combat.

Again, this is another conversation.

DMC has its Devil Trigger Gauge and its Style Meter. Vernal Edge has its Pulse Meter and some kind of super meter I haven't learned the name of yet because I'm only a few hours in.

In DMC, since Taunting gives DT and Style, then that means that the optimal way to play the game is to ensure that you find ways to Taunt during combat. Whereas in VE, attacking gives Pulse and Taunting takes precious time away from attacking.

This means that the Taunt in VE is truly an act of boasting and claiming superiority to the enemy. If you and the enemy were equals then you wouldn't have time to Taunt. Taunting is what you do when you know you've already won.

Here we can see then the Vernal Edge as criticism of Devil May Cry. And this conversation centered around the question, the question of: If we can taunt in a single player game, then should the game materially reward the player for doing that so as to give incentive for doing it in the first place, or should it be its own reward and its own incentive?

Can the path to optimal play be considered an invitation to the player to engage with this mechanic? Or is this mechanic's exclusion from optimal play itself an invitation to any curious player looking off the beaten path?

Which do you think is best? And do you think perhaps it varies game by game? If you made your own game with these mechanics, which kind of Taunt would you put in your game, the optimal one or the sub-optimal one? What kind of game would it be? What other elements could you put in your game that would change the nature of Taunting?

And, of course, if you did make such a game, then you would be participating in genre!

[mariacallous]

The cost of the biological clock for women in the marriage market

Both men and women value the income of a potential marriage partner. But most men also have a preference for a younger spouse. This means that in the marriage market, women face a trade-off between age and earnings, since earnings typically rise with age. In a new paper drawing on data from real online daters, Corinne Low finds that for every year a woman ages, she needs to earn $7,000 more annually to remain equally attractive on the marriage market. These preferences of men seem largely to be driven by questions over fertility: Low shows that men who already have children, or have limited knowledge of the age-fertility relationship (specifically, believing wrongly that female fertility doesn’t decline until 45), do not have the same preferences for younger women. Low’s paper highlights the increasing complexity of marriage markets, and the sharper trade-offs that are faced by women because of sex differences in the relationship between age and fertility.

Higher minimum wages result in better care in nursing homes

Higher minimum wages have been shown to be good for consumers, for example by improving the quality of produced goods – where quality improvements are relatively easy to measure. But what about in a service sector environment? Krista Ruffini examines the impact of higher wages on quality of service in nursing homes. She shows that an increase in the minimum wage nudges up earnings by 1% to 2% and reduces staff turnover. The minimum wage increases seemed to improve outcomes for clients too, with fewer health inspections, a drop in the number of moderate-to-severe pressure ulcers, and lowered mortality. Of note, however, was a slight fall in the share of Medicaid patients (equivalent to 0.3 fewer in a 100 bed facility following a 10% minimum wage increase), almost certainly to offset higher labor costs with more clients paying out of pocket.

Joint taxation and Social Security benefits for spouses significantly lower female employment

Are taxes and benefits for married couples reducing the incentives for women to be in the labor force? Margherita Borella and co-authors use data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and the Health and Retirement Study, with a focus on the 1941-1945 and 1951-1955 birth cohorts, to answer this question. They highlight two major factors influencing labor decisions for married women. First, second-earner spouses, historically women, face a higher marginal tax rate when filing taxes jointly. Second, they are eligible for Social Security spousal and survivor benefits based on the past contributions of their spouse. Taken together, these create significant disincentives to employment. Their model finds, for example, that eliminating both Social Security spousal and survivor benefits as well as joint income taxation for the 1945 cohort would raise labor force participation by 20 percentage points for married women over 25, and by five percentage points for single women. They find similar results for those born a decade later, and with even larger general welfare gains because of higher levels of human capital for women in this cohort.

Top chart: Time spent on child care by socioeconomic status

In a paper for the Journal of Economic Perspectives, Sarah Flood and co-authors look at time spent on caring for children by education and socioeconomic status. Parents with higher levels of education spend fewer overall hours on child care but spend a little more time on “direct” child care activities such as playing and reading.

Choice opinion: Are standardized tests racist, or are they anti-racist

“These days universities often claim to have goals of inclusion. They talk about the value of educating not just children of the elite, but a diverse cross-section of the population. Instead of searching for and admitting students who have already had tremendous advantages and specifically excluding nearly everyone else, these schools could try to recruit and educate the kinds of students who have not had remarkable educational opportunities in the past,” writes Neil Lewis Jr. in The Atlantic.

Self-promotion: More students are enrolling in college, but gaps in academic preparation still persist.

Young adults today are more likely to enroll in college than in previous generations, but there are still significant gaps by race, gender, and socioeconomic background. Sarah Reber and Ember Smith use the High School Longitudinal Survey to look at these disparities in two-year and four-year college enrollment and examine how factors such as GPA and test scores affect student enrollment. They find that students with higher GPAs and better test scores are more likely to enroll, and that enrollment gaps by race and gender are quite small once among students with similar test scores and levels of academic preparation.

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Lughnasadh: The First Harvest

Lughnasadh is a pagan holiday that falls on the first of August to celebrate the beginning of the harvest season. It’s also known as Lughnasa, and Alban Heruin.

This holiday celebrates the abundance of the growing season as we look forward to the rest of the harvest. It's time to give thanks for the first fruits of the harvest, enjoy the fruits of one's labor and to celebrate the abundance of the earth. It is also a time to reflect on the past year and to look forward to the future. Be grateful for the blessings in one's life and appreciate the beauty of the world around us.

The origins of this day are Celtic. According to the lore, the Celtic God Lugh prevailed over the evil Balor, and saved crops from scorching. Lugh is a god of light, healing, and knowledge, and his victory over Balor is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better future. The crops that were saved from scorching represent the abundance and prosperity that comes with the light of the sun. We give thanks for the light of the sun and celebrate the victory of light over darkness.

Lughnasadh has been interchanged with the Christian holiday Lammas, or Loaf-mass. This holiday also celebrates the abundance of the growing season. It was customary for bread to be baked and blessed at the church. Today, it has been taken up with many neopagan religions, along with Christianity. While today the importance of the first harvest may not be as prevalent today, the idea of spiritual harvest is encouraged. This is a time of growth and renewed energy.

Lughnasadh and Lammas are often interchanged, but it’s important to know that the roots of the holidays are different. In time, they have come together to celebrate the first harvest, celebrate spiritual and personal growth, and enjoy the abundance of the Earth. Celebrate what feels right to you!

If you have set intentions this year and have been working with it through the seasons, now is the time to reflect on how you have grown and what these intentions are bringing you. 

Reflect on how your seeds from Imbolc have become ripe and vibrant. Think about all the hard work you put into them, from planting them to watering them and caring for them. Think about how they have grown and changed over time. Be proud of yourself for what you have accomplished. They are a reminder of your own strength and potential. Give thanks for Earth’s bounty and the beauty that surrounds us.

There are many ways to celebrate Lughnasadh. Some people attend festivals, while others hold feasts or go on picnics. Some people also make offerings to Lugh, such as bread or ale.

Here are some ideas for celebrating Lughnasadh:

Go on a walk to observe the changes in nature, check on your garden and gather herbs for spellwork. Go to the Farmer's Market, go apple picking or berry picking.

Spend time in the kitchen or around food, especially those that are associated with the harvest season, can be a great way to connect with nature and the cycle of life. Mess around with new recipes! Bake bread or toast bread you buy with herbs. Eat some late summer fruits.

Have a bonfire, picnic or dinner. Invite friends and family.  Share a brew with a loved one.

Decorate your home or alter. Tidy up your house and refresh your altar. Here are some symbols to add to your decor and alter: - wheat, corn, grains, or sunflowers - the colors green, orange and yellow. - animal symbols such as crows, pigs, calves, roosters and salmon. - more herbs, plants and flowers to use are oak trees, apple, basil, marigold, rose, rosemary

Update your witchy journals. Reflect on your talents and goals. Make a gratitude list.

Make Sun Water, used for protection, healing, clairvoyance, happiness, fertility, and creativity. Fill up a jar with water and put it on a windowsill or outside. The perfect time to place it is early morning. Add crystals, herbs and flowers if you want.

Fire and Sun spells are great around this time. Prosperity spells are wonderful too.

Lughnasadh is a time to celebrate the beauty of the natural world and the bounty of the harvest. It is a time to give thanks for all that we have and to look forward to the future. Find ways to celebrate that resonate with you. These are just suggestions that might inspire you!