Danka Moravčíková

Land-use change, climate change, and biodiversity loss require integrated analytical frameworks to address multi-scalar human–nature interactions. While the classical telecoupling framework effectively captures long-distance flows, it often overlooks the dense institutional and regional dynamics specific to the European context. This paper addresses this gap by synthesizing telecoupling research and operationalizing an integrated coupling framework rooted in metacoupling theory. Methodologically, a systematic literature review of 138 publications was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to evaluate contemporary indicators. The review revealed a strong predominance of quantitative methods in non-review articles and declared need to shift towards more complex, integrative models, while highlighting a critical scarcity of European-centered studies. Preliminary empirical application of the framework within the Horizon Europe Europe-LAND project—focusing on the LTSER Trnava region in Slovakia—indicates, based on interim findings, certain socioecological disparities and imbalances in decision-making influence. Specifically, highly land-dependent local actors appear to have limited leverage in legislative processes, which is further complicated by communication gaps between research institutions and primary land users. To achieve sustainable land management, European and national policies must transition from purely material flow analysis to causal institutional frameworks that counterbalance developer pressures and actively empower local agricultural practices.

This study analyses long-term land cover changes in the Trnava District, Slovakia, with particular emphasis on urban expansion and agricultural land loss. CORINE Land Cover datasets from 1990, 2006 and 2018 were analysed in the TerrSet Land Change Modeler environment, and future land cover development up to 2064 was simulated using a CA–Markov modelling framework. The model incorporated four spatial explanatory variables: distance from built-up areas, distance from the road network, distance from wate courses, and elevation. Between 1990 and 2018, Non-irrigated arable land recorded the largest absolute net loss, decreasing by 962 ha (−1.9%). Urban and industrial categories expanded during the same period: Industrial or commercial units increased by 456 ha (+75.2%), Discontinuous urban fabric by 378 ha (+7.7%), and Continuous urban fabric by 70 ha (+175.0%). Broad-leaved forest increased by 796 ha (+6.9%), whereas Transitional woodland-shrub decreased by 487 ha (−76.7%), demonstrating that gross gains and losses within individual categories did not necessarily correspond to their net area changes. The scenario-based projection to 2064 indicates a continued reduction in arable land and further expansion of discontinuous urban fabric and industrial or commercial areas, particularly around existing settlements and transport corridors. The results demonstrate the simultaneous effects of urbanisation, agricultural land conversion and changes in semi-natural and forest categories. The study highlights the importance of distinguishing gross land cover turnover from net area change and provides spatially explicit information to support agricultural land protection, spatial planning and sustainable landscape management in rapidly urbanising regions.

This study analyses long-term land cover change dynamics in the Trnava District (Slovakia), with particular emphasis on suburbanisation-driven agricultural land loss. Land cover changes were evaluated using CORINE Land Cover (CLC) datasets from 1990, 2006 and 2018 and subsequently modelled in the TerrSet Land Change Modeler (LCM) environment. Future landscape development until 2064 was simulated using a Markov Chain approach incorporating selected spatial driving factors, including elevation, transport infrastructure, watercourses and the spatial distribution of built-up areas. The results reveal a substantial decline in agricultural land, primarily driven by the expansion of continuous and discontinuous urban fabric, reflecting increasing urbanisation pressure in the peri-urban zone of Trnava and along major transport corridors. Simultaneously, increases in transitional woodland-shrub and forested areas indicate ongoing landscape transformation through both urban expansion and spontaneous succession processes. The predictive model suggests a continued expansion of urbanised areas at the expense of arable land, pointing to a progressive reduction of the agricultural land base within the region. The identified trends correspond with broader land take processes observed across Central Europe and highlight increasing risks related to soil sealing, landscape fragmentation, land degradation and the loss of ecosystem services. The study provides valuable insights for spatial planning and landscape management and supports the development of sustainable land-use strategies aimed at mitigating suburbanisation impacts and protecting agricultural land resources in peri-urban landscapes.

Sustainable land use is increasingly recognised as a core condition for climate resilience, soil protection, and long-term agricultural productivity. The main objective of the study is to analyse and evaluate the significance of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy in supporting the introduction of innovations in agricultural enterprises that contribute to sustainable land use. The research employs a mixed-methods design, combining an exploratory logistic regression model with qualitative analysis grounded in Grounded Theory. Primary data were collected through a nationwide questionnaire survey of Slovak agricultural enterprises. The results show that funding from the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy is the main driver of innovation, leading to the delivery of new solutions in sustainable land use. Successful innovation implementation was also explained by the enterprise's technological maturity, collaborative networks, and a general orientation toward ecological agriculture. Qualitative findings further reveal that Slovak farmers face persistent financial, administrative, and knowledge-related barriers to the implementation of eco-innovation.

Increasing recognition and importance is being given to regions for their role in supporting Europe’s transformation towards a sustainable and circular bioeconomy system. Regions are often feedstock producers and can provide the proximity of regional actors along the value chain. If supported and mobilized, actors can coordinate strategic paths for regional bioeconomy development and keep value added in the region. Regional bioeconomy strategies are an important instrument to reach such a process, which implies great efforts of coordination among relevant stakeholders. In this research, we developed a guideline to establish flexible dynamic bioeconomy platforms—Regional Bioeconomy Hubs (RBHs)—that bring together bioeconomy-related stakeholders from policy, academia, industry, and society in a structured procedure (quadruple-helix context) and to establish regional bioeconomy strategies. The guideline was applied to five Central and Eastern European regions and validated in the framework of the POWER4BIO project. As a result, all regions successfully applied the guideline, established their RBH, and developed a regional bioeconomy strategy or recommendations for the development of such a strategy.

The authors propose a holistic look at the problem of population ageing and global and regional effort to improve the quality of seniors’ life and their families through the integration of... Teaser Ageing Europe, social policy on older people, deinstitutionalization the social services, social farming Preview The authors provide current scientific results on the following keywords: Ageing Europe, social policy for older people, deinstitutionalisation of social services, social agriculture. Preview The authors propose a holistic look at the problem of population ageing and global and regional effort to improve the quality of seniors’ life and their families through the integration of ...

In this study, we investigated the dependence of self-employment intention (SEINT) level in agricultural students from Croatia, Poland, Slovakia and Serbia on selected personal traits and country macroeconomic indicators. The results show that the SEINT level depends on student's perceived desirability of self-employment and perceived self-efficacy. Previous experience with entrepreneurship also affects SEINT. In terms of macroeconomic indicators, higher GDP per capita has been shown to have a positive effect on SEINT, while unfavorable conditions of starting a business have a negative impact. Students from Novi Sad (Serbia) showed higher average SEINT level compared to students from Croatia (Zagreb) and Slovakia (Nitra).

Sustainability and innovation are key elements of the economic growth and productivity in the contemporary era. The willingness, ability, and capacity to innovate is a strategic tool for the Slovak agro-food companies that want to maintain and/or to improve their market. The aim of this paper is to discuss the selected aspects and determinants of innovative performance of the Slovak agro-food companies and point out key areas and types in innovations, problems influencing their implementation, and assessing their success. The issue of innovation and the “new” role of the agro-food sector have become crucial in the context of transition of the Slovak economy toward more sustainable approaches. Therefore they have become important topics of both scientific research and policy agendas. Using a case study method, a questionnaire survey among 99 agro-food companies in Slovakia was carried out to obtain empirical data about the way how they manage, implement and evaluate the innovations. The study outlined the selected aspects and key determinants which affect the motivation of agro-food companies to innovate as well as selected factors influencing the processes of implementation and management of innovation. The research findings also point out that substantial changes will be required in regulation and support of innovations in the agro-food sector in Slovakia. The study could contribute to help the agro-food companies' managers to improve the innovation activities and competitiveness of their companies, and it would be also helpful for public administration in the development of policies and instruments supporting innovations in the agro-food sector.

The current economy transcends the boundaries of sustainability, threatens the quality of life on Earth and, ultimately, of the man himself, which requires its restructuring to a sustainable one. The unsustainability of the development of society, which causes the development of the economy in a global environment, is revealed by theoretical research based on qualitative analysis of texts and documents. Subsequently, the need to change the paradigmatic basis of economic theory is explained and a new model of economy – sustainable economy – is outlined. Using logical methods and comparison of basic axioms, postulates and based on the prediction of further development, the study emphasizes that moving towards a more sustainable future presupposes the replacement of neoclassical paradigm by a new paradigm – the paradigm of sustainable development. Restructuring the economy into a sustainable one will be based on this paradigm, as confirmed by some of the outlined new economic theories and initiatives.