Suchergebnisse

Agriculture is a key sector for the economy of many countries and it can be potentially exposed to deliberate attacks which can have dramatic economic consequences in the food, feed, and fibre sectors. Intentional introduction of certain microbes may have serious rebounds even on human health when food results contaminated after harvesting of crops and processing of raw materials. Programmes aimed at attacks against agriculture and the agro-food sector through bioweapons were conducted in the past and still in recent years this kind of threads are documented. Prevention and preparedness are th

The paper analyzes the welfare impacts of alternative sequencing scenarios of agricultural market reforms in Malawi using a profit maximization approach. The simulation results show that, contrary to the sequencing path adopted in the 1980's, Malawi's Government should have liberalized the maize sector first, followed by the groundnut export sector, and once a supply response was generated, input subsidies could have been phased out, without generating a negative impact on producers' welfare and food security. ; Non-PR ; IFPRI1 ; MSSD

Aims: This study aims to determine the short term effects during off-season of pre-wetted straw and urea incorporation on lowland rice field soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions using climate change adaptation food security mitigation option tool (CCAFS-MOT) model. Study Design: The experiment was performed using a Randomized Complete Block Design. Place and Duration of Study: Nigeria, Niger State, Bida local Government from April to July 2015. Methodology: Integrated formulations of rice straw and urea at different rates respectively: 2, 3 and 4 t/ha and 25, 50 and 75 kg/ha were used with one check plot (C) (without straw and urea). The experiment was a Randomized Complete Block Design, and ten (10) integrated formulations (treatments) were used with four (04) replications. Each replication, was made of ten (10) plots giving a total number of forty (40) plots. The effect of treatments on the following variables; Soil Organic Carbon Density Gain per Year (SOCDG/year, kg/ha) and GHGs emissions (kg/ha) were determined in order to identify the best treatments. Data collected were analyzed using GenStat 16.2 and CCAFS-MOT 1.0 for SOC balance. Matlab 11.0 and Excel 2013 were also used for data processing and graphs. Significance and Duncan's Multiple Range Test were performed at 95%. Results: Results indicated significance difference of treatments on each parameter evaluated. SOCDG increase is function of the quantity of straw and urea incorporated (Fpr. <0.001). Moreover, the study revealed three best treatments (T2, T4 and T5). Their responses (TR, %) to Soil Organic Carbon Density Gain per Year (SOCDG/year, kg/ha) have increased up to 43%. Potential carbon sequestration estimated by the CCAFS-MOT was about 44.4% for the improved practices identified with 0% methane emission and scanty nitrous oxide emission up to 31.3%. These results give strong evidence concerning the use of pre-wetted technique as panacea to both mitigate climate change and enhance croplands productivity and resilience to these changes in Niger State, Nigeria. Conclusion: Pre-wetted straw and urea application can help to deplete greenhouse gas emission and enhance carbon on agricultural lands. However, additional trials are needed before validation of the method under different agro ecological conditions in west African zones.

Background: We present results of the 2016 Healthy Active Kids South Africa (HAKSA) Report Card on the current status of physical activity (PA) and nutrition in South African youth. The context in which we interpret the findings is that participa- tion in PA is a fundamental human right, along with the right to "attainment of the highest standard of health." Methods: The HAKSA 2016 Writing Group was comprised of 33 authorities in physical education, exercise science, nutrition, public health, and journalism. The search strategy was based on peer-reviewed manuscripts, dissertations, and 'gray' literature. The core PA indicators are Overall Physical Activity Level; Organized Sport Participation; Active and Outdoor Play; Active Transportation; Sedentary Behaviors; Family and Peer Influences; School; Community and the Built Environment; and National Government Policy, Strategies, and Investment. In addition, we reported on Physical Fitness and Motor Proficiency separately. We also reported on nutrition indicators including Overweight and Under-nutrition along with certain key behaviors such as Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and policies and programs including School Nutrition Programs and Tuck Shops. Data were extracted and grades assigned after consensus was reached. Grades were assigned to each indicator ranging from an A , succeeding with a large majority of children and youth (81% to 100%); B , succeeding with well over half of children and youth (61% to 80%); C , succeeding with about half of children and youth (41% to 60%); D , succeeding with less than half but some children and youth (21% to 40%); and F , succeeding with very few children and youth (0% to 20%); INC is inconclusive. Results: Overall PA levels received a C grade, as we are succeeding with more than 50% of children meeting recommendations. Organized Sports Participation also received a C , and Government Policies remain promising, receiving a B . Screen time and sedentary behavior were a major concern. Under- and over-weight were highlighted and, as overweight is on the rise, received a D grade. Conclusion: In particular, issues of food security, obesogenic environments, and access to activity-supportive environments should guide social mobilization downstream and policy upstream. There is an urgent need for practice-based evidence based on evaluation of existing, scaled up interventions

Soaring of food prices in 2007/08 has put again food security high in the global agenda. Several elements of explanation have been put forward to explain this crisis, including traditional ones such as imbalance supply/demand and stocks, energy effect, dollar effect\; and new factors such as biofuels, financial speculation and low interest rates, export bans. Various arguments linked to this food crisis have also questioned the global nature of food security issue : global insecurity (with the urban food riots), humanitarian (with the worsening situation of the bottom billion), cross-sectoral (with the relationships between agriculture and other related issues such as environment, health, trade rules and market impacts, etc.). Several initiatives have insisted on the need to address more seriously the problem at the global level. Indeed, lack of global coordination on food security has been recognized as a major problem. This lack of coordination could be understood both at the substantive level (i.e. between the different issue-areas which are part of the food security problem) and at the institutional level (i.e. between the different international organizations in charge of food security) leading to the fragmentation of global food security governance. This paper respectively analyses these two dimensions of fragmentation in order to assess the extent to which current global initiatives better address coordination needs for global food security.

More and more urban residents in China have suffered from food insecurity and failed to meet the national recommendation of daily fruit and vegetable consumption due to rapid urbanization in recent years. Introducing edible landscapes to urban greening systems represents an opportunity for improving urban food supply and security. However, residents&rsquo ; opinion on urban edible landscapes has rarely been discussed. In this study, questionnaire surveys were performed in eight sample communities in Wuhan, China, to collect the information on residents&rsquo ; attention and awareness of urban edible landscapes. Results indicated that nearly one-third of the respondents were unaware of edible landscapes before the interview. Most residents thought that an edible landscape could promote efficient land use (57.26%) and express special ornamental effects (54.64%), but quite a few didn&rsquo ; t believe that growing edible plants in urban public spaces could increase food output (37.10%) and improve food quality (40.12%). Overall, 45.65% and 32.73% of the growers performed their cultivation behavior in private and semiprivate spaces, respectively. Lack of public areas for agriculture use was regarded as the main barrier restricting the development of urban horticulture by 55.86% of growers and 59.51% of non-growers. The residents were also worried about their property manager&rsquo ; s opposition, possible conflicts, and complex relationships with their neighbors. Food policies and infrastructure support from local governments and official institutions were needed to ensure the successful implementation of edible landscapes in urban areas.

Households on public assistance often turn to informal food support, such as food pantries, home delivery food programs, and soup kitchens, to cushion their consumption needs. Despite its important role in addressing food insecurity among low-income households, research examining determinants of informal food support use remains scarce. Guided by Andersen's health service use model, this study aims to identify the predisposing, enabling, and need factors of informal food support use among low-income households. Results indicated that predisposing factors of informal food support use include education, age, and race. Enabling factors include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipiency, employment status, and household income. Food security status is a significant need factor of informal food support use. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

"The Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC) was established in 1994 in one of the premier universities of the world—The Australian National University (ANU). Apart from its research and doctoral training activities, ASARC also needed a public forum with a global reach to involve the best minds working on economic development in India as well as to honour its founder, Dr K.R. Narayanan, President of the Republic of India. The K.R. Narayanan Oration series was developed in response to these twin needs.

The first oration was held in 1994 and the latest (the 20th) was held in 2018. The first 10 orations were published by ANU Press in 2006. This new edition updates the volume to include all 20 orations delivered so far and provides an updated introduction. All these orations have been delivered by leading academics, scientists and policymakers deeply involved in the transformation of the Indian economy.

This collection of the Narayanan Orations is thus at once both an expert account of key aspects of the economic development process in India and a peek into India's potential in the future. As such, the publication of this volume marks a watershed in the intellectual debate on India's economic reforms program and should be welcomed by all those interested in the economic development of the country."