EU Research Research Articles

Data Protection Legislation in the Area of Health Research in EU

There are strict regulations and restrictions in the European legislation about personal data and medical information, collected from the patients. Some of the legal requirements have recently been implemented and still confuse medical and research circles and insufficient information of doctors about what is allowed and what is not. On the other hand, physicians and researches need to use data for the development of the medical science, in interaction with other physicians and medical institutions, for statistics, prevention, and public health, for clinical trials, est. The aim of the current survey is to highlight some areas of the Data Protection Legislation that are particularly relevant to the area of health research.

Mapping European research networks providing health data: results from the InfAct Joint Action on health\xa0information

BackgroundResearch networks offer multidisciplinary expertise and promote information exchange between researchers across Europe. They are essential for the European Union’s (EU) health information system as providers of health information and data. The aim of this mapping exercise was to identify and analyze EU research networks in terms of health data collection methods, quality assessment, availability and accessibility procedures.MethodsA web-based search was performed to identify EU research networks that are not part of international organizations (e.g., WHO-Europe, OECD) and are involved in collection of data for health monitoring or health system performance assessment. General characteristics of the research networks (e.g., data sources, representativeness), quality assessment procedures, availability and accessibility of health data were collected through an ad hoc extraction form.ResultsFifty-seven research networks, representative at national, international or regional level, were identified. In these networks, data are mainly collected through administrative sources, health surveys and cohort studies. Over 70% of networks provide information on quality assessment of their data collection procedures. Most networks share macrodata through articles and reports, while microdata are available from ten networks. A request for data access is required by 14 networks, of which three apply a financial charge. Few networks share data with other research networks (8/49) or specify the metadata-reporting standards used for data description (9/49).ConclusionsImproving health information and availability of high quality data is a priority in Europe. Research networks could play a major role in tackling health data and information inequalities by enhancing quality, availability, and accessibility of health data and data sharing across European networks.

Health data collection methods and procedures across EU member states: findings from the InfAct Joint Action on health information

BackgroundHealth-related data are collected from a variety of sources for different purposes, including secondary use for population health monitoring (HM) and health system performance assessment (HSPA). Most of these data sources are not included in databases of international organizations (e.g., WHO, OECD, Eurostat), limiting their use for research activities and policy making. This study aims at identifying and describing collection methods, quality assessment procedures, availability and accessibility of health data across EU Member States (MS) for HM and HSPA.MethodsA structured questionnaire was developed and administered through an online platform to partners of the InfAct consortium form EU MS to investigate data collections applied in HM and HSPA projects, as well as their methods and procedures. A descriptive analysis of the questionnaire results was performed.ResultsInformation on 91 projects from 18 EU MS was collected. In these projects, data were mainly collected through administrative sources, population health interview or health examination surveys and from electronic medical records. Tools and methods used for data collection were mostly mandatory reports, self-administered questionnaires, or record linkage of various data sources. One-third of the projects shared data with EU research networks and less than one-third performed quality assessment of their data collection procedures using international standardized criteria. Macrodata were accessible via open access and reusable in 22 projects. Microdata were accessible upon specific request and reusable in 15 projects based on data usage licenses. Metadata was available for the majority of the projects, but followed reporting standards only in 29 projects. Overall, compliance to FAIR Data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) was not optimal across the EU projects.ConclusionsData collection and exchange procedures differ across EU MS and research data are not always available, accessible, comparable or reusable for further research and evidence-based policy making. There is a need for an EU-level health information infrastructure and governance to promote and facilitate sharing and dissemination of standardized and comparable health data, following FAIR Data principles, across the EU.

THE EXPRESS REGISTRATION OF THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY ANOMALIES OF SOLIDS

Investigation of the thermophysical characteristics of materials at low temperatures (T ≤ ,  is the Debye temperature) makes it possible to obtain information on the interaction of quasiparticles and is in demand in the applied plan. For the indicated temperatures, a method of express registration (ER) of anomalies in the thermal conductivity of solids (k), which is a variation of the classical method of uniaxial stationary heat flux (USHF), but which, unlike the prototype, does not require taking into account heat losses (HL). A feature of the ER method is the measurement of the temperature dependence of the difference δΤ = T1−T2 between the ends of the sample under conditions of simultaneous monotonicity of the change in Т of the sample and all HL. In this case, the measured scaled thermal conductivity Ҝ(Q/Ψ)/δΤ (Ψ is a monotonic scale factor in T) correlates with the real kQ/δΤ. For the interval 300…77 K, one of the variants of the ER method was tested, in which a step-by-step movement of the sample in a column of gaseous nitrogen above the surface of liquid N2 in a Dewar vessel was used. In the case of a monotonic change in the distance from the sample to the liquid, the formed configuration of isotherms ensures the monotonicity of the change in T of the sample and, at the same time, the monotonicity of the HL along the channels of thermal conductivity and radiation. The possibilities of the ER method are illustrated by examples of determining the temperatures and signs of anomalies in the thermal conductivity coefficients of high-temperature superconductors (HTSC) in the pseudogap state (PGS) and a high-entropy alloy Аl0.5CoCuCrNiFе, which is promising for use in the cryogenic temperature range. The method made it possible for the first time to discover the staging of the temperature evolution of the thermal conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7-x and Bi1.6(Pb0.4)Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+х in the PGS and to determine the temperatures and signs of the anomalies. The data obtained convincingly confirmed the results of probing the PGS of HTSCs by the method of polarized neutron scattering carried out with the participation of a number of EU research institutes. Also, for the first time, an extended thermal conductivity anomaly of a high-entropy Аl0.5CoCuCrNiFе alloy in the range of ~ 220…170 K was discovered, which is probably a consequence of changes in the configuration of the Fermi surface.

ПАРАДИГМА «НОВОГО ІННОВАЦІЙНОГО СВІТОГЛЯДУ» ЄС

The essential conceptual component of the innovation power of the EU economy in the last decade is the paradigm of the "new innovative worldview", which is based on the conceptual apparatus of "open innovation", called "Open Innovation 2.0». The research aims to study the modern paradigm of the "new innovative worldview" of the European Union. The research methodology involved extensive analysis, synthesis, comparison, and generalisation tools. The article examines the global paradigm of the "new innovative worldview" of the European Union. It defines the main features that characterise the "Open Innovation 2.0" of the EU. The paper proves that knowledge and innovation remain priority areas for developing the innovation power of the European Union. The emergence and development of "open innovation" are associated with a synergistic worldview of the evolution of economic systems and the deep media informatisation and digitalisation processes, which stimulate the computer revolution and virtualism. It demonstrates that the characteristic feature of economic development of EU member states is openness to change, the desire to improve the quality of life, the level of competitiveness of products, services and all types of resources provided by innovation as one of the most critical drivers of social development. It analyses the innovation power of the European Union member states according to the European Innovative Scoreboard. The article presents the rating of EU member states on innovation force. It founds that Sweden is still the leader in innovation in the EU. It considers the European Union's innovation strategies "Europe 2020" and the new six-year Horizon Europe – the EU research and innovation framework programme 2021–2027. It is concluded that in current conditions, the global paradigm of the "innovation worldview" of the European Union is that by pursuing an active policy of dissemination of innovation and new knowledge, EU member states contribute to the fact that regional policy, previously redistributive, all acquires more features of structural approach. The synergetic effect is achieved by combining member states' own national innovation strategies and participating in supranational, pan-European innovation programs.

Novel Foods and Neophobia: Evidence from Greece, Cyprus, and Uganda

The exploitation of agri-food industrial by-products to produce novel foods is a promising strategy in the framework of policies promoting the bioeconomy and circular economy. Within this context, this study aims to examine the effect of food neophobia and food technology neophobia in the acceptance of a novel food by consumers (through an EU research project: Sybawhey). As a case study, a functional yogurt-like product was developed by synergistic processing of halloumi cheese whey, enriched with banana by-products. The present study contributes to the literature by examining consumers’ perceptions for such a novel food, identifying the profile of potential final users and classifying them according to their “neophobic tendency”. A comparative approach among groups from Greece, Cyprus and Uganda was adopted to explore whether respondents have a different attitude towards this novel yogurt. Results suggest that there is a potential for increasing consumption of novel foods derived by agri-food industrial by-products, but more information about the importance of using by-products are required to enhance consumers’ acceptance of this novel food. Such results may be useful to policy makers, aiming to promote strategies towards the effective reuse of food outputs leading to the manufacture of sustainable novel foods.

The EU needs a demand-driven innovation policy for climate services

Climate services have climbed high on the agenda of EU research policy, yet few contributions have reflected on the actual usability of climate services from the perspectives of the intended users, let alone the implications for future EU research and innovation policy. This commentary reflects on four key lessons learnt from engagement in climate services research projects and discusses implications for future EU research policy: i) all end-users have pre-established decision-making processes and tools for their purposes, hence all new information needs to be adapted ii) one size fits none – and tailoring takes time iii) building trust between different actors, processes and confidence in new information is key in the tailoring process – and resource-demanding iv) purveyors and intermediaries can facilitate tailoring processes but need to finance their activities until end-users demonstrate willingness to pay and/or the climate service is readily implemented. The main argument is that more attention needs to be paid to the demand-side of climate services to help viable climate services make it through the innovation “valley of death” – that is, the twilight zone between technical invention and (commercially) successful innovation. EU Research and Innovation (R&I) funding streams and policies for establishing truly transdisciplinary learning loops driven by (actual) user needs can function as vehicles through the valley of death.

Clinical development innovation in rare diseases: lessons learned and best practices from the DevelopAKUre consortium

New opportunities have arisen for development of therapies for rare diseases with the increased focus and progress in the field. However, standardised framework integrating individual initiatives has not been formed. We present lessons learned and best practice from a collaborative success case in developing a treatment for a rare genetic disease. Our unique consortium model incorporated several of the identified developments under one project, DevelopAKUre, truly bringing together academia, industry and patient organisations in clinical drug development. We found that the equal partnership between all parties in our consortium was a key success factor creating a momentum based on a strong organisational culture where all partners had high engagement and taking ownership of the entire programme. With an agreed mutual objective, this provided synergies through connecting the strengths of the individual parties. Another key success factor was the central role of the patient organisation within the management team, and their unique study participants’ advocacy role securing the understanding and meeting the needs of the clinical study participants in real-time. This resulted in an accelerated enrolment into the clinical studies with a high retention rate allowing for delivery of the programme with significantly improved timelines. Our project was partly funded through an external EU research grant, enabling our model with equal partnership. Further attention within the community should be given to establishing a functional framework where sustainable funding and risk sharing between private and public organisations allow for our model to be replicated.

Jellyfishing in Europe: Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Future Directions towards a Sustainable Practice

Jellyfish are often described as a nuisance species, but as our understanding shifts to more ecosystem-based conceptions, they are also recognized as both important components of marine ecosystems and a resource for humans. Here, we describe global jellyfish fisheries and review production, fishing methods, and applications based on the existing literature. We then focus on future development of a European jellyfish fishery based on current and recent EU research initiatives. Jellyfish have been a staple food in East Asia for eons and now show a potential for non-food applications as well. The main fishing methods are mostly traditional, with set-nets, driftnets, hand-nets, and scoop-nets utilizing small crafts or beach-seines. All require a lot of manual labor, thus providing vital, albeit seasonal, occupation to weaker populations. Larger commercial vessels such as purse seines and trawlers are newly introduced métiers which may enable a larger catch per unit effort and total catch, but pose questions of selectivity, bycatch, vessel stability, and transshipment. Social concerns arising from the seasonality of jellyfish fisheries must be met in SE Asia, Latin America, and in any location where new fisheries are established. In the EU, we recognize at least 15 species showing potential for commercial harvesting, but as of 2021, a commercial fishery has yet to be developed; as in finfish fisheries, we advise caution and recognition of the role of jellyfish in marine ecosystems in doing so. Sustainable harvesting techniques and practices must be developed and implemented for a viable practice to emerge, and social and ecological needs must also be incorporated into the management plan. Once established, the catch, effort, and stock status must be monitored, regulated, and properly reported to FAO by countries seeking a viable jellyfish fishery. In the near future, novel applications for jellyfish will offer added value and new markets for this traditional resource.

Ethics appraisal procedure in 79,670 Marie Skłodowska-Curie proposals from the entire European HORIZON 2020 research and innovation program (2014-2020): A retrospective analysis.

Horizon 2020 was the most significant EU Research and Innovation programme ever implemented and included the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). Proposals submitted to the MSCA actions awere subject to the Ethics Appraisal Procedure. In this work we explored the ethics appraisal procedure in MSCA H2020. Using a retrospective analysis of pooled anonymized data, we explored the ethics appraisal procedure on proposals submitted to Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) during the entire Horizon 2020 program period (N = 79,670). Our results showed that one of the most frequently identified ethics categories was Data protection. We also detected slight differences between applicants' and the ethics reviewers' awareness of ethical issues. Trajectory analysis of all ethics screened proposals appearing on main lists showed that a minimal portion of all screened submissions required additional ethics checks in the project implementation phase. Personal data protection is one of the most represented ethics categories indicated among MSCA actions which exhaust ethics assessment efforts and may lead to "overkills" in ethics requirements. Excluding the majority of personal data protection assessment from the ethics assessment, except for parts which are directly related to ethics like "Informed consent procedures", might be necessary in the future. A gap in understanding of ethics issues between applicants and reviewers' points to the necessity to further educate researchers on research ethics issues.

The participatory turn in Swedish ageing research: Productive interactions as learning and societal impact

ABSTRACT Collaboration between academia and actors outside academia (AOAs) has been proclaimed as a way for society to confront challenges in different fields. This ‘participatory imperative’ is anchored in EU research policy. The paper explores the participatory imperative in contemporary Swedish aging research. Three kinds of motives for participatory research as a way to societal impact emerged in the social voices of researchers granted money and AOAs with experience of participating in research. Participatory research was a suitable research method for certain types of research objectives, an answer to AOAs’ outspoken needs for new knowledge and a result from the interviewee’s double identity as a clinician and a researcher. Moreover, four types of activities were talked of. Participatory research was described as dissemination of results, as commissioned work, as joint action and as education. The paper closes by promoting a synergistic approach where collaboration is enacted within already existing infrastructures of research and education. Scholars are encouraged to integrate collaboration with AOAs in their daily work as teachers and researchers. By doing so, new constellations of actors will emerge; constellations that are equipped to tackle real-world issues in new ways.

Data analytics for predicting quality of life changes in head and neck cancer survivors: a scoping review.

Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide. The incidence of this cancer is increasing, but at the same time, the cancer-related mortality rate has decreased over time, leaving more head and neck cancer survivors. More emphasis is needed on quality-of-life research in the head and neck cancer field to improve their daily lives and reduce the disease and treatment response burden. To achieve this, we conducted a scoping review to find and learn which predictors and data analysis techniques have been used in previous studies. This work is undertaken in the context of the BD4QoL EU Research project.

The European Union in Search of a New Global Strategy: Critical Analytics

With the use of the analytical works of the prominent Belgian researcher Sven Biscop, the article examines the main topics of discussion regarding changes in the global strategy of the European Union. EU foreign policy has been associated with the concept of “normative power”, which is seen as a kind of European “soft power”. Due to the influence of the global governance crisis, the COVID pandemic, the shift of USA geopolitical interests from Europe to Asia, China's great-power policy, Russia's geopolitical ambitions and other challenges, EU researchers and politicians are raising questions aimed at changing the strategic culture in order to ensure the primacy of EU vital interests. S. Biscop believes that while developing a new global strategy, it is necessary to turn to the traditions of geopolitics to be ready to protect interests and democratic values with the use of “hard power” both internally and externally. Strategic autonomy is a promising task for the further building of the EU. Under the instruction of the European Commission, the work has begun on the creation of a new political and strategic document “Strategic Compass”, its goals include defining the EU targets in the field of security, defense, and identification of threats. The discussion of a new global strategy outlines a trajectory for the transformation of the European Union into a global “Third Pole”. Sven Biscop's recommendations show that shaping a new global strategy will require a revision of the concept of "normative power" and turning closer to geopolitical realism.

Health Information Portal - One-stop-shop for health information

Abstract Background A vast amount of health information in the form of data sources, experts, research networks, and tools related to collection, use and knowledge transfer of health information exists in EU Member States (MSs) but this information is scattered around and often difficult to find. Researchers and policy makers don't have a centralized place where information could be easily obtained. This hampers effective use of existing information and materials for research and evidence informed policy making. Methods There is a need for a centralized place where different components of health information can be easily found. Information should be described in structured, standardized format to allow comparisons and searchability. Results InfAct and PHIRI have established the Health Information Portal (HIP, healthinformationportal.eu), a one-stop-shop for health information. This portal brings together health information from different EU MSs and research networks and projects as well as from international organizations. HIP has catalogues on health information data sources, research networks, national nodes, health information initiatives and projects, health information related publications and guidelines including legal and ethical guidelines, and available capacity building activities. These catalogues are searchable and support open and fair access to the health information. Conclusions The Health Information Portal will facilitate secondary use of existing health information data for research and evidence informed policy making. Through HIP, researchers can find experts from different domains of health information as well as existing tools for data collection, analysis and knowledge transfer. It also facilitates health information capacity building within the EU. Aim is to support a more effective, also more cost-effective, health research environment which can enhance population health and healthcare in the EU, and through that productivity and European economy.

The future of the drug phenomenon and drug monitoring in Europe until 2030

Abstract We are living in an era of fast and fundamental changes with an uneven impact on geographies and generations. The pace of the social transformations and technology innovations is accelerating and outpacing policies and responses in place. Also, the European drug situation and drug markets are becoming more complex and dynamic, with important implications for the EU drug monitoring system and research. Therefore the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) conducted the first ‘futures exercise' to inform the agency's strategic reflection on how to improve the response of the EU monitoring system in the context of rapid changes in the information environment and new information needs. The EMCDDA piloted the usefulness of the foresight approach for transforming the agency and its monitoring activities into a more sensitive and agile system, which could, in turn, help increase Europe's preparedness for future challenges in health and security areas. The ‘futures exercise' applied the horizon-scanning method to study events, issues, and trends affecting the drug area and went far beyond the drugs or the addiction field and the European region. It analysed global drivers of change that may have in the future implications for the drugs situation, drug monitoring and related responses. The methods applied ranged from literature review, thematic analysis, workshops and expert panels. It had a robust participatory component to enable stakeholders representing different disciplines and countries to contribute to and benefit from the process. Out of 14 Megatrends, five were selected as most significant for the drugs field, and the future EMCDDA work: technological change, climate change and environmental degradation, diversified inequalities, shifts in health challenges and population. Moreover, four categories of emerging changes in the drugs field were identified: shifts in drug policy, the discourse of addictions, drug markets and drug services. Key messages Foresight is a valuable tool for analysis going beyond specific areas of expertise and recognising that a single-issue focus is often insufficient in dealing with emerging threats and opportunities. A participatory approach contributes to building a shared vision of the major drivers of change impacting the drugs field, information needs and future developments in the EU drug monitoring system.

The Role of Nature-Based Solutions for Improving Environmental Quality, Health and Well-Being

Nature-based solutions (NbS) have been positioned and implemented in urban areas as solutions for enhancing urban resilience in the face of a wide range of urban challenges. However, there is a lack of recommendations of optimal NbS and appropriate typologies fitting to different contexts and urban design. The analytical frameworks for NbS implementation and impact evaluation, that integrate NbS into local policy frameworks, socio-economic transition pathways, and spatial planning, remain fragmented. In this article, the NbS concept and its related terminologies are first discussed. Second, the types of NbS implemented in Europe are reviewed and their benefits over time are explored, prior to categorizing them and highlighting the key methods, criteria, and indicators to identify and assess the NbS’s impacts, co-benefits, and trade-offs. The latter involved a review of the websites of 52 projects and some relevant publications funded by EU Research and Innovation programs and other relevant publications. The results show that there is a shared understanding that the NbS concept encompasses benefits of restoration and rehabilitation of ecosystems, carbon neutrality, improved environmental quality, health and well-being, and evidence for such benefits. This study also shows that most NbS-related projects and activities in Europe use hybrid approaches, with NbS typically developed, tested, or implemented to target specific types of environmental–social–economic challenges. The results of this study indicate that NbS as a holistic concept would be beneficial in the context of climate action and sustainable solutions to enhance ecosystem resilience and adaptive capacity within cities. As such, this article provides a snapshot of the role of NbS in urban sustainability development, a guide to the state-of-the-art, and key messages and recommendations of this rapidly emerging and evolving field.

Nutrition Bulletin recognised with Impact Factor™

<i>Nutrition Bulletin</i> recognised with Impact Factor™

The Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory (USRL): A New Facility for UAV-Based Atmospheric Observations

The Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory (USRL) of the Cyprus Institute is a new mobile exploratory platform of the EU Research Infrastructure Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research InfraStructure (ACTRIS). USRL offers exclusive Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-sensor solutions that can be deployed anywhere in Europe and beyond, e.g., during intensive field campaigns through a transnational access scheme in compliance with the drone regulation set by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the research, innovation, and training. UAV sensor systems play a growing role in the portfolio of Earth observation systems. They can provide cost-effective, spatial in-situ atmospheric observations which are complementary to stationary observation networks. They also have strong potential for calibrating and validating remote-sensing sensors and retrieval algorithms, mapping close-to-the-ground emission point sources and dispersion plumes, and evaluating the performance of atmospheric models. They can provide unique information relevant to the short- and long-range transport of gas and aerosol pollutants, radiative forcing, cloud properties, emission factors and a variety of atmospheric parameters. Since its establishment in 2015, USRL is participating in major international research projects dedicated to (1) the better understanding of aerosol-cloud interactions, (2) the profiling of aerosol optical properties in different atmospheric environments, (3) the vertical distribution of air pollutants in and above the planetary boundary layer, (4) the validation of Aeolus satellite dust products by utilizing novel UAV-balloon-sensor systems, and (5) the chemical characterization of ship and stack emissions. A comprehensive overview of the new UAV-sensor systems developed by USRL and their field deployments is presented here. This paper aims to illustrate the strong scientific potential of UAV-borne measurements in the atmospheric sciences and the need for their integration in Earth observation networks.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Exposure and Vulnerabilities in Multi-Hazard Urban Environments: A Key Tool for Risk-Informed Planning Strategies

Although the increase in the frequency and intensity of disasters assigns a key role to disaster risk management in current debate on sustainable development, the efforts of national and local authorities to develop risk-informed planning strategies and increase disaster preparedness are still limited. In multi-hazard urban environments, the main criticality to support risk-informed planning strategies is the persisting lack of effective knowledge bases focused on the vulnerability of exposed assets to different hazards. Hence, this contribution, according to the first priority of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction—understanding disaster risk—and by tidying up methods and indicators developed in both EU research projects and scientific studies devoted to multi-risk and vulnerability assessment, aims at better using available knowledge to guide risk-informed spatial planning. In detail, an indicator-based method to carry out a comprehensive exposure and vulnerability analysis has been outlined and tested on a case study area, the multi-hazard urban area of Campi Flegrei, located in the western part of the metropolitan city of Naples in the South of Italy. The proposed method may contribute to the building up of an effective risk knowledge base, enabling planners to easily access information on exposure and vulnerabilities to different hazards, and to differently combine them into output maps capable of supporting risk- informed planning strategies.

The Effect of Land Management Practices on Soil Quality Indicators in Crete

The effects of four main practices tillage versus no-tillage, and intensive grazing versus extensive grazing, applied in characteristic agricultural and grazing lands of Crete Island were evaluated in situ using nine soil quality indicators. The following nine representative indicators of soil quality were evaluated using the rapid visual assessment methodology adopted at European level in the context of the EU research project iSQAPER: susceptibility to water and wind erosion, surface ponding (under cropping), formation of tillage pan, soil color, soil porosity, soil structure, susceptibility to slaking, infiltration rate, and biodiversity status. These indicators were measured in 48 agricultural field-plots to adequately represent the four above-mentioned practices and the different types of geomorphological patterns existing in the area. Additionally, 38 agricultural fields were sampled in the topsoil to assess cultivation practices (tillage, no-tillage) on soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable potassium, available phosphorous, and soil aggregate stability. Based on the indicators rating methodology, the appropriate statistical tests were applied and the soils under different managements were characterized in terms of their potential quality and their general agricultural value. The obtained data showed that in agricultural areas, significant differences were detected between tillage and no-tillage management practices for the indicators of soil structure and consistency and infiltration rate. In grazing land, significant differences were found for the soil quality indicators of susceptibility to erosion and infiltration rate for the corresponding practices of intensive and extensive grazing. Organic carbon content, exchangeable potassium content and aggregate stability were greatly affected in tillage versus no-tillage management practices.