Thursday, August 07, 2025

EU organic label: Better when it says “organic” 4

Study of the University of Bonn shows a clear signal builds more trust and increases purchase intention

University of Bonn

Above: the “Green Leaf,” — image:
the EU's original organic label. Below: two modifications made by the research team to clarify the message. The study shows that this significantly increases the clarity of the label's message.
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Credit: Source: EU/STRENGTH2FOOD/Gregor Hübl/University of Bonn

To positively influence purchase decisions, sustainability labels must convey a clear signal rather than remain abstract. Using the EU’s “Green Leaf” organic logo as an example, researchers from the universities of Bonn, Newcastle (UK) and Corvinus (Hungary) demonstrate that simple design tweaks reduce consumers’ uncertainty, bolster their trust in the products, and thus increase their willingness to buy. The two‑study-paper appears in the journal "Agribusiness" and is already available online.

Labels for sustainable foods—such as organic, fair‑trade or animal‑welfare certifications—are meant to assure consumers that products meet specific social and environmental standards. “Many labels fail to do so because they either don’t attract attention, aren’t clear enough, or even cause confusion,” says Prof. Dr. Monika Hartmann, head of the Department of Agricultural and Food Market Research at the University of Bonn.

One case in point is the EU’s organic logo, known as the “Green Leaf.” Introduced in 2010 to create a unified European market for certified organic products, it is mandatory unlike national organic labels. Yet a 2024 survey found that only 56 percent of EU citizens recognize the EU organic label—and just 45 percent know it signifies compliance with EU organic standards.

Study in seven countries: Do design changes clarify the message?

Together researchers from the Universities of Bonn, Newcastle and Corvinus tested whether minor design changes could strengthen the label’s message and effect. They added “BIO” or “ECO” (depending on language) inside the green, star‑bordered leaf, and in a second variant also appended “EU‑certified.” Three groups—with a total of 9,500 respondents across seven EU countries—saw either the original logo or one of the modified versions. Participants rated each logo for clarity, trustworthiness, and usefulness in making an informed choice.

The result: in every country, both modified labels were judged clearer, more understandable, more trustworthy, and more helpful than the original logo. “Interestingly, adding ‘EU‑certified’ had no extra effect,” says Hartmann. “Apparently, the original logo mainly lacks the unmistakable signal that it denotes organic.”

Study in Germany: What drives these perceptions?

In a second study of about 500 German participants, the researchers investigated the mechanisms behind the enhanced appeal of the modified labels. They asked additional questions about clarity, uncertainty, trust, and behavioral intentions. “We showed that signal clarity rose dramatically,” explains Hartmann, who is also a member of the University of Bonn’s Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) “Sustainable Futures.” “Almost 90 percent of respondents clearly identified the logo augmented with ‘BIO’ or ‘ECO’ as an organic mark—versus under 70 percent for the original EU logo.” The new label also significantly reduced uncertainty and increased trust. There was no direct significant effect of label modification on purchase intention; however, the results reveal a significant indirect effect, mediated by reduced uncertainty and increased trust.

A low‑effort, high‑impact intervention

From these findings, the researchers conclude that labels for sustainably produced goods must be clearly recognizable to aid consumer decision‑making. If they are not, modifying a label to enhance its clarity offers a comparatively simple and cost‑effective way to encourage sustainable purchasing.

Participating Institutions and Funding

The study involved the University of Bonn, Newcastle University in England, and Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. It was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.

Publication: Monika Hartmann, Ching-Hua Yeh, Matthew Gorton, Barbara Tocco, Áron Török: “Enhancing Sustainability Label Effectiveness Through Logo Design Modification: An Analysis of the EU Green Leaf Logo”. Agribusiness, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.70013

Journal

Agribusiness

DOI

10.1002/agr.70013

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Enhancing Sustainability Label Effectiveness Through Logo Design Modification: An Analysis of the EU Green Leaf Logo

Poll: Americans largely don't support federal changes to child health programs

Americans’ Water Safety Concerns are Lead and Heavy Metals—Not Fluoride

Emory University

Over the last six months, there have been several policy changes affecting children’s nutrition benefits, vaccine mandates, and more. A new survey from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health reveals how American adults view these recent federal actions and proposals.

The Emory-Rollins National Child Policy Poll is a nationally representative survey conducted by the Emory Center for Child Health Policy. The research team asked more than 1,000 U.S. adults about their opinions on several issues that influence child health: infant safety and monitoring programs, vaccine requirements, water safety, and nutrition guidelines for federal food-purchasing assistance programs.

“In the past six months, the federal government has made several big changes that affect kids’ health—like updates to newborn screening and changes to the group that advises the CDC on vaccines,” says lead author Stephen Patrick, MD, chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Rollins School of Public Health. “Our national poll found that most Americans, no matter their politics, don’t support these changes, and that cuts to critical public health programs that serve the nation’s children are unpopular across the political spectrum.”

Americans Agree: Child-Focused Programs Need Federal Support

Federal spending cuts and organizational restructuring recently ended several infant safety and monitoring programs, including the “Safe to Sleep” campaign, the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (ACHDNC), and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). These programs help prevent newborn sleep-related deaths, provide guidance on newborn screening for health conditions, and provide recommendations to improve outcomes for mothers and infants.

The survey found that Americans across party lines did not support cutting these child-focused programs. Funding cuts for the “Safe to Sleep” campaign were especially unpopular, with fewer than one in five people surveyed (15.9%) supporting its elimination. More than half think federal support for ACHDNC (55.9%) and PRAMS (65.1%) is necessary. The responsibility of continuing programs like PRAMS now falls on states. This could further increase state-level disparities.

Americans Show Decreased Trust in Vaccine Policy

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently dismissed members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a committee of experts responsible for making recommendations for vaccine use that includes the pediatric vaccination schedule and appointed new members. Nearly half of people surveyed (48.5%) said this action decreases their trust in federal vaccine policy. There was a notable discrepancy in Trump and Harris voters, with fewer Trump voters (16.6%) than Harris voters (85.0%) saying their trust has declined.

Additionally, more than one in three U.S. adults surveyed (36.5%) say their trust in federal vaccine policy has decreased based on new COVID-19 vaccine requirements, which includes no longer recommending them for children.

“Secretary Kennedy wants to rebuild Americans’ trust in vaccines, but we see that the actions taken so far around vaccine policy have failed to increase Americans’ trust. In fact, the changes around ACIP have decreased trust among nearly half of Americans,” says study author Sarah Loch, associate director of the Emory Center for Child Health Policy.

Americans’ Water Safety Concerns are Lead and Heavy Metals—Not Fluoride

While Americans are split on whether to add fluoride to drinking water, they don’t see it as a major threat to safe drinking water for children. Additionally, fewer than one in four people surveyed (22.1%) support the federal decision to remove the option for prescribed fluoride tablets and drops in areas where fluoridated water is unavailable. Two in three people (60.9%) identify lead and heavy metal contamination as the biggest risk to drinking water, with germs like bacteria, viruses, and parasites being the second biggest risk.

Federal efforts related to fluoride would be better directed at addressing lead and heavy metals to align with what Americans prioritize.

Americans Broadly Support SNAP Nutrition Standards

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is a food assistance program that helps low-income households buy groceries. The USDA has started offering food restriction waivers to states allowing them to restrict the purchase of non-nutritious food items using SNAP benefits. More than half of U.S. adults surveyed (58.7%) agree with banning junk food purchases using SNAP benefits.

Method of Research

Survey

New cooling system patent promises significant boost in solar panel efficiency

University of Sharjah

Experiment setup — image:
The experimental setup for the new invention is designed to enhance the power-generating capacity of solar panels.
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Credit: Prof. Chaouki Ghenai

Scientists at the University of Sharjah have secured a U.S. patent (US12341471B2) for an innovative cooling system designed to enhance the performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

The researchers claim that their invention can significantly reduce energy losses caused by high operating temperatures—an issue that plagues solar power systems, particularly in hot climates.

The patented system focuses on thermal management in solar PV modules. It is specifically engineered to utilize the hot waste air expelled by centralized air conditioning systems to cool the rear surfaces of solar panels.

The dual-purpose approach not only addresses excess heat but also repurposes waste energy that would otherwise be lost.

“This novel cooling technology will help reduce the operating temperature of solar panels, boost the power output, and improve solar PV module efficiency,” said Chaouki Ghenai, Professor of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering at Sharjah University, and the lead inventor.

“This invention not only recovers lost power output in hot and arid settings, but also extends the life of assets, and makes it possible to implement new hybrid systems, which collectively reduce the levelized cost of energy and improve overall solar plant efficiency.”

Solar panels generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect, where light striking the surface of semiconductor-based solar cells is converted into electrical energy.

However, not all absorbed sunlight is converted—much of it becomes heat, raising the panel’s temperature and reducing its efficiency.

In their patent application, the inventors highlight that irradiance and temperature are critical environmental factors affecting solar panel performance.

They write, “The solar cell absorbs sunlight, and a partial amount of light is converted to electrical energy, while the remaining portion generates heat and increases the temperature.”

According to the researchers, current solar energy systems face two major challenges: (1) Thermal degradation, where rising temperatures reduce energy output, and (2) soiling, the accumulation of dust and debris, especially in arid and high-temperature regions.

They also cite optical and ohmic losses as additional factors that hinder solar cell efficiency.

Prof. Ghenai attributes a range of advantages to the invention, especially in hot and arid regions. “In hot, desert regions with abundant solar resources but high ambient temperatures, solar PV cooling is necessary to maximize electrical energy generation, asset health and longevity, and reduce soiling and maintenance.

“In hot and dry climates, solar PV panels can be cooled using the exhaust air from the building's Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. This reduces the temperature of the solar cells, recovers up to 10% more solar power production, and extends the life of the panels.”

However, the researchers emphasize in their application that thermal effects are the most significant, stating, “Among all system losses, the thermal effect is the most contributing factor in the deterioration of the performance of the solar system. As the temperature rises from standard testing conditions (STC), the output of SPV panels degrades accordingly.”

In some regions, solar panels operate at temperatures as high as 70°C, which can result in up to a 20% loss in energy output, they note.

The inventors maintain that even a 1°C increase in operating temperature typically causes a 0.45% drop in relative efficiency, a metric known as the temperature coefficient of power. Moreover, every 10°C rise is expected to double the degradation rate of the solar system.

To combat this, the team developed their present cooling device that directs waste air from air conditioning systems toward the back of solar panels.

Prof. Ghenai said the invention has real-world applications to enhance current solar energy systems. “ An attractive smart-building retrofit is created when owners are able to capture incremental solar revenue, reduce total building energy consumption, and lengthen asset lifetimes.

“This is accomplished by completing the thermal loop, which involves converting waste building exhaust into a free cooling source for photovoltaics (PV). This will help to boost solar yield and reduce building cooling loads.”

The patent has already attracted considerable interest from industry, according to Prof. Ghenai. He noted that several companies in HVAC, building energy management, and solar PV sectors have expressed interest in integrating waste air from HVAC systems to cool solar PV modules.

He emphasized that the invention could significantly boost solar power output to meet building electrical loads, reduce the burden on chillers, and extend the lifespan of solar modules.

The system includes an exhaust fan connected to the outlet of a central air conditioning module.

It has a supporting structure positioned at a predefined distance in front of the fan to hold one or more solar panels, as well as panels tilted at specific angles and azimuths to maximize exposure of their rear surfaces to the cooling airflow.

The fan is calibrated to deliver air at a predefined temperature, optimizing the cooling effect and improving overall system efficiency.

The inventors conclude, “An effective solar panel cooling methodology and maintenance policy are essential to improve power system efficiency and reliability.”

Prof. Ghenai and his team are currently advancing innovative research in clean energy technologies. Their work includes harvesting waste air from HVAC systems to power wind turbines for renewable electricity generation, developing hybrid solar PV/wind turbine systems, creating novel methods for dust removal and solar PV cleaning in arid regions, and designing solutions to enhance green hydrogen production

Schematic of experimental setup and Experimental prototype: (A) Standard exhaust, (B) Exhaust without fins, (C) Solar PV Panel with back cooling from exhaust air, (D) Reference Solar PV Panel without cooling.

Credit
Prof. Chaouki Ghenai

The system includes an exhaust fan connected to the outlet of a central air conditioning module.

The system has a supporting structure positioned at a predefined distance in front of the fan to hold one or more solar panels.

The fan is calibrated to deliver air at a predefined temperature

Credit
https://patents.google.com/patent/US12341471B2/en

New research compares effectiveness of common Atlantic sea scallop farming methods

Research from the University of Maine supports the industry growth of Atlantic scallop farming by comparing start-up costs and productivity for the two most common methods.

University of Maine

Much of the scallop farming techniques used in the U.S. derive from practices in Japan, where scallops have long been a part of the country’s seafood industry. Researchers from the University of Maine are working to test and adapt those practices to help grow the industry in the Gulf of Maine, where oyster farming is currently the most well known form of aquaculture in Maine’s blue economy.

Building off a four-year study published in the spring, which compared the effectiveness of two different Atlantic sea scallop farming techniques, UMaine researchers further analyzed the economic advantages and disadvantages of the same two methods of scallop aquaculture. Lead researcher Damian Brady, professor of marine sciences at UMaine, and co-author Chris Noren, a postdoctoral researcher, used their results to develop a user-friendly application that helps interested parties compare the different costs and possibilities associated with building their own scallop farms.

“Now new farmers can make educated decisions on what option is going to be most viable for them, taking into account their location, timeframe, budget and all the other pieces that go into scallop farming,” Brady said. “Ultimately, our goal is to help Maine grow this industry to its fullest potential and preserve Maine’s working waterfronts — an integral part of the state’s culture and history.”

Published in the journal Aquaculture, the study looked at two of the most common options for scallop farming: lantern net and ear-hanging. Previously, lantern net methods were thought to be more cost-effective, but this study shows the ways in which the ear-hanging method can be more cost-efficient over a longer period of time.

Researchers concluded that ear-hanging production was more advantageous if the scallops’ life cycles exceeded three years, and lantern-hanging is slightly more profitable when scallops are harvested under three years. They also found that the most optimal time for harvesting, regardless of farming method, was when scallops reached an age of 3.75-4 years.

The Two Farming Methods

Lantern net aquaculture uses tiered, circular nets that attach to a long line and hang vertically in the water column — an easier and less expensive system to set up compared to the ear-hanging method. Scallops sit in each tier of the lantern net, which can cause overcrowding and issues with food resource accessibility. However, research showed that overtime, the overcrowding can make lantern net farming productive over a four-year cycle.

Developed from Japanese methods, ear-hanging involves drilling holes into the “ear,” or the hinge, of the scallop shells, which are then pinned and hung on vertical lines in the water column. This method allows for individual scallops to have more space and access to resources. While it is more expensive to set up, labor costs significantly drop and overall expenses level out over a four-year period.

To combat start-up price, Japanese scallop farmers have used a number of different technologies and techniques that could be applicable in Maine. This includes specialized equipment, such as automated drilling and pinning machines, or a multi-partner ownership, in which one partner does the drilling and preparation, while the other does the farming and de-pinning. Cooperative partnerships allow each group to invest and specialize in a fraction of the machinery and equipment.

Comparing Farming Methods

The study looked at two different scallop metrics over a four-year period: the height of the entire scallop shell in millimeters and the weight of the adductor muscle in grams. Both metrics have applications for the current U.S. market and its potential to expand.

Generally in the U.S., the adductor muscle is the only part of the scallop that is sold or used. The bigger or heavier it is, the higher the price. The U.S. market for whole scallops, which include other parts of the bivalve along with the adductor muscle, is limited, but methods that increase the size of either part of the scallop have the potential to improve market value.

Although ear-hanging requires more front-end labor and the equipment is more expensive than the lantern net method, the rate of production is significantly faster over a longer time period. It is also more space efficient, which requires a smaller lease and is less expensive.

Additionally, the researchers stressed the importance of a working waterfront for doing tasks that do not require being on the water. This allows for less weather-dependent work days and for small farms to grow with less limitations.

Ear-hanging is not only economically more effective in total labor costs and leases; it also results in ear-hanging scallops growing larger adductor muscles on average, according to the study. Researchers concluded that the long-term benefits of growth size, lease cost and total labor costs make the higher start-up costs of ear-hanging worthwhile for farmers entering the market for longer than three years.