The wide-ranging field of cattle and buffalo leather production in Thailand has never before been collated into one story. Here it is joined with research outcomes that target means of the leather industry moving from a cottage industry to fulfilling its potential in global Thaksin University Press quality leather production. The book includes all Q u a l i t y C a t t l e H id e s i ncudsses the tricks of the trade as well as techniques for improvement of hide quality at all stages in the process. Described as ‘a unique contribution to a neglected industry’, this book will be read by both those who work in the Thai leather industries as well as those who utilize leather from Thailand. It will also be of interest n T h a pr s d leather specialists in others parts of the world. The story starts with the emergence of Thailand as one of the world’s major agricultural exporters for many products and indeed being the leader in some, yet often neglecting the country’s useful by-products. Treating hides as a by-product of the bovine industries has held Thailand’s leather industry back. This book explains means by which it can be advanced to national, commercial, economic and environmental benefit.

This study provides an overview of how the Bangladeshi leather value chain is organised and governed. It analyses how the leather processing and leather goods/footwear subsectors are integrated into the global market and to what extent informal arrangements including illicit practices are conducive to global market entry. Power relations are dissected along the value chain, in order to analyse how local producers adapt to upholding competitiveness. The results of the work show the need to devise upgrading strategies which pay heed to the reality of informal dynamics in a global value chain (GVC) to improve the local producers’ competitiveness. The GVC perspective was combined with considerations on upgrading, subcontracting, middlemen and informality to adequately analyse the complexity of the transactions in the chain. The data of this study are drawn from empirical field studies in Dhaka, Bangladesh and other sections of the international leather value chain during the time period of 2010 to 2014. A qualitative research approach was complemented with quantitative methods.

This book brings together experts from different areas to show how creativity drives design and innovation to allow the integration of a wider spectrum of topics related to engineering design, industrial design and ergonomics in design. It presents theories and best practices demonstrating how creativity generates technological invention, and how this, combined with entrepreneurship, leads to business innovation. It also discusses strategies to teach creativity and entrepreneurial competencies. Moreover, the book discusses the role of human factors in understanding, communicating with and engaging users, reporting on innovative approaches, new typographies, visual elements and technologies applied to mobile and computer interfaces developments. It also discusses innovative strategies for design education and sustainable design. Based on the AHFE 2020 Virtual Conference on Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and on the AHFE 2020 Virtual Conference on Human Factors in Communication of Design, held on July 16–20, 2020, this book offers a fresh perspective and novel insights for human factors researchers, designers, communicators and innovators.

The collection of essays in Microbes in Agriculture and Environmental Development explores the applications of microbes for the improvement of environmental quality and agricultural productivity through inoculants and enzymes. These are useful for the conservation and restoration of degraded natural and agricultural ecosystems, crop yield extension, soil health improvement, and other aspects of agriculture and the environment. It discusses the effective use of microbial technology, wastewater treatment, and recycling of agricultural and industrial wastes. It provides detailed accounts of recent trends in microbial application in plant growth promotion, soil fertility, microbial biomass and diversity, and environmental sustainability through bioremediation, biodegradation, and biosorption processes Features: Discusses microbes and their applications for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection in agro-environmental circumstances Presents innovative and eco-friendly approaches for the remediation of contaminated soil and wastewater Focuses on green technologies and sustainability Includes chapters on sustainable agriculture development through increasing soil fertility, physico-chemical properties and soil microbial biomass in nutrient-deprived soils Defines the role of microbial bio formulation-based consortia in the productivity improvement of agricultural crops It will be an invaluable addition to the bookshelves of researchers and graduate students in agriculture and environmental engineering, soil science; microbiology, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystems. Dr. Chhatarpal Singh is presently the President of Agro Environmental Development Society (AEDS), Majhra Ghat, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Dr. Tiwari is currently working in the field of methanotrophs ecology (methane oxidizing bacteria), which is sole entity responsible for the oxidation of potent greenhouse gas CH4. Dr. Jay Shankar Singh is presently working as a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Microbiology at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow, India. Dr. Ajar Nath Yadav is currently serving as an assistant professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Akal College of Agriculture, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, India.

There is a broad consensus amongst development specialist that in order to grow and develop, African countries need to industrialise; and at a greater rate than they are doing at present. In searching for the reasons for the disappointing industrial progress so far, observers have tended to take a broad look at the industrial sector as a whole. The work reported in this volume takes a different approach. It sets out from the premise that two industries - clothing and footwear - offer excellent starter opportunities for baseline industrial growth. Garments and footwear are low-tech industries in so far that use stable, well-diffused technology. They generate only low-level research and development needs, require only basic skills, and operate on low economies of scale, whilst having the capacity to absorb large numbers of semi-skilled workers and make extensive use of local resources. Additionally they offer considerable export potential. This collection of papers focuses on the changing role and potential of the clothing and footwear sectors in industrialisation in Africa. The examples elucidated are the clothing and footwear sectors in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. Taken together, these four countries provide a representative cross sector of African countries and present a range of different issues relating to the continent's clothing and footwear economy. More generally, the volume seeks to contribute to a greater appreciation of the impacts of globalisation on industrial development trajectories.