Suchergebnisse

South Africa is classified as a water-scarce country, and depends on agriculture for food production. The irrigation sector is the largest consumer of water in the country, accounting for about 62% of water utilisation, but also losing 30?40%. Given the threat of drought and climate change, efficient irrigation systems have become a necessity, especially in the smallholder farming sector where most losses occur. Smallholder irrigation schemes (SIS) were developed to improve rural livelihoods through sustainable food production for food security and poverty alleviation, but these development objectives remain largely unfulfilled. The objectives of this review were to assess challenges facing SIS and explore opportunities for revitalising the schemes. The focus was on government policy and strategies to support smallholder farmers. A review of government policy showed that although the needs and interests of smallholder farmers are high on the national agenda, there is insufficient financial support to the sector, suggesting that smallholder agriculture is not really seen as a potential driver of the economy. The core focus of the government on repairing irrigation infrastructure while neglecting the soft components relating to capacity building has partly been blamed for the failure of SIS in South Africa. Capacity building is one of the missing links in smallholder irrigation development and many failures have been attributed to lack of adequately trained farmers and extension staff, particularly in irrigation water management. Land tenure insecurity has been singled out as a major institutional challenge leading to poor performance of irrigation schemes. The diversity of schemes means that different kinds of interventions are needed to respond to varying farmers? needs, resources and agricultural contexts. These findings point to the need to balance the soft and hard components of the irrigation schemes for sustainability. It is therefore evident that the government needs to review its priorities in revitalisation of SIS. Land tenure policies allowing increased access to arable land need to be developed urgently, together with the promotion of alternative cropping systems that are suitable for the smallholder farming sector.

In this study, it was aimed to characterize the feeding and diet composition of the most common pelagic chaetognath Flaccisagitta enflata . Zooplankton samples were collected using a WP-2 zooplankton net (200 ?m) at three stations in the İskenderun Bay in October 2016, December 2016 and March 2017. F. enflata was the most abundant chaetognath in all samples and its proportion varied from 42 to 94%. Younger stages (I and II) dominated the population of F. enflata. In total, 1663 specimens were examined, but only 185 contained prey in their guts. The total food-containing ratio and the number of prey items for this chaetognath species were 11% and 0.1, respectively. These values varied for different maturity stages. Most food items were unidentified due to digestion. Copepods were the main food resource (36.8%) for the species. Cannibalism was also observed. This study is the first to describe F. enflata feeding behaviour in the coastal area of İskenderun Bay. The preliminary results show that the feeding ratios were within the ranges reported for other regions in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. ; Mevcut çalışmada, en yaygın pelajik ketognat olan Flaccisagitta enflata 'nın beslenmesi ve besin kompozisyonu karakterize edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Zooplankton örnekleri, İskenderun Körfezi'nde Ekim ve Aralık 2016, Mart, 2017 periyotlarında 3 istasyonda WP-2 zooplankton kepçesi (200 ?m) ile toplanmıştır. Ketognatlar içinde, F. enflata, tüm periyotlarda baskın tür olarak gözlenmiş olup, oranı –94 arasında değişim göstermiştir. Erken olgunluk aşamaları (I ve II) F. enflata populasyonunda baskın olarak gözlenmiştir. Toplam 1663 birey incelenmiş olup, bunlardan sadece 185 bireyin bağırsağında besine rastlanmıştır. Bu tür için toplam besin içerme oranı (FCR) ve ketognat başına düşen besin miktarı (NPC) sırasıyla ve 0.1 olarak bulunmuştur. Bu değerler olgunluk aşamalarına göre farklılık göstermiştir. Çoğu besin sindirilmiş olduğundan dolayı tanımlanamamıştır. Tanımlanan besin canlılar arasında kopepodlar ana besin kaynağını oluşturmuştur (.8). Bununla birlikte kannibalizm'de gözlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada ilk kez İskenderun Körfezi'nin kıyısal alanında F. enflata 'nın beslenmesi ile ilgili bilgiler elde edilmiş ve ilk gözlemler beslenme oranlarının Doğu Akdeniz'in diğer alanlarından elde edilen sonuçlar ile benzer olduğunu göstermiştir.

O Festival de Rock Bananada movimenta Goiânia no mês de maio e promove a ampla circulação de pessoas, instaura práticas de sociabilidade e do comer. As transformações desde o início da realização do evento na cidade na década de 90, a ampliação de público e das atividades além da cena musical e da realização de shows musicais de rock, para as práticas do comer como mecanismos de sociabilidade pelo consumo e de distinção são tratados neste trabalho. O evento musical e cultural relaciona-se com a dinâmica econômica no âmbito da alimentação, não somente no espaço onde foi sediado o festival, mas em vários ambientes de lazer e entretenimento da cidade. A programação de alimentação, relacionada às práticas do comer, reuniu em 2017 vinte e sete estabelecimentos em um circuito gastronômico. Este artigo busca, portanto, analisar este processo de negociação, fluxo e circulação e o entrelaçamento entre cultura, poder, a dinâmica econômica, alimentação e o local na era da globalização.Palavras-chave: Cidade. Consumo. Rock. Juventude. Alimentação.Youth, consumption, eating and eating practices in the sphere of rockThe Bananada Rock Festival moves Goiânia in the month of May and promotes the wide circulation of people, establishes practices of sociability and eating. The transformations since the beginning of the event in the city in the 90's, the expansion of public and activities beyond the music scene and the performance of rock music shows, to the practices of eating as mechanisms of sociability by consumption and distinction are treated in this work. The musical and cultural event is related to the economic dynamics in the field of food, not only in the space where the festival was hosted, but in various leisure and entertainment environments of the city. The food program, related to the practices of eating, in 2017 brought together twenty-seven establishments on a gastronomic circuit. This article therefore seeks to analyze this process of negotiation, flow and circulation and the interweaving between culture, power, economic dynamics, food and the place in the era of globalization.Keywords: City. Consumption. Rock. Youth. Feeding.

SummaryThis study assessed whether agricultural and household incomes were the same across different agro-ecological environments in Bangladesh. An in-depth analysis of the effect of unfavourable ecologies on maternal and child malnutrition was carried out. Data were from a longitudinal data set comprising a nationally representative data sample collected in 2014 and the Food Security Nutrition Surveillance Project (FSNSP) conducted in 2011 and 2012. Anthropometric indices were used to assess the nutritional status of mothers and under-five children. The key variables of interest were food seasonality and geographical location. Data were analysed using the General Linear Model and multinomial and binary logistic regression analysis. Panel data analysis showed that household income was not equal across agro-ecological zones, indicating that the fragility of the environment affects a household's ability to access food, and thus the nutritional status of mothers and children. Coastal areas of Bangladesh were found to be less dependent on agriculture, particularly cultivation, which had diminished during last few decades.Per capitaincome has been increasing in coastal areas of Bangladesh, led by remittance (money sent home by migrant workers) growing at 8% per year against 6% in other areas. Regression analysis showed that a household in a coastal zone earned 19% less than one in more favourable zones. Although the income from farm practices was found to be lower in unfavourable areas, the deficiency was compensated by increased non-farm incomes. The results from the FSNSP data showed that overall the rates of stunting and wasting among under-five children were 37% and 11.7%, respectively, and nearly 28% of mothers suffered from undernutrition. A highly significant regional heterogeneity in undernutrition was found, with alarmingly high levels in the Haor Basin and coastal belt areas. There were significantly higher rates of underweight and wasting in the monsoon season compared with the two harvest seasons among children under the age of five. The findings stress the importance of bringing geographical location and seasonality thinking into debates on hunger and nutrition in Bangladesh.

Survival and virulence of foodborne pathogens can be influenced by environmental factors such as the intrinsic properties of food as well as the extrinsic properties that contribute to food shelf life (e.g., temperature and gas atmosphere). The direct contribution of food matrix characteristics on the survival of L. monocytogenes during fresh-cut fruit shelf life is not very well understood. In addition, the gastrointestinal tract is the primary route of listeriosis infection and penetration of the intestinal epithelial cell barrier is the first step in the infection process. Hence, the pathogenic potential of L. monocytogenes, measured as the capability for the organism to survive a simulated gastrointestinal tract and the proportion of cells able to subsequently adhere to and invade differentiated Caco-2 cells, subjected to fresh-cut pear and melon shelf life, was investigated. Samples were inoculated, stored at 10 °C for 7 days and evaluated after inoculation and again after 2 and 7 days of storage. A decrease in L. monocytogenes' capacity to survive a simulated gastrointestinal tract was observed with increasing storage time, regardless of the fruit matrix evaluated. Furthermore, L. monocytogenes placed on fresh-cut pear and melon was subjected to an attachment and invasion assay after crossing the simulated gastrointestinal tract. After inoculation, pathogen on fresh-cut pear showed 5-fold more capacity to adhere to Caco-2 cells than pathogen on fresh-cut melon. After 2 days of storage, L. monocytogenes grown on fresh-cut melon showed similar adhesive capacity (1.11%) than cells grown on pear (1.83%), but cells grown on melon had the higher invasive capacity (0.0093%). We can conclude that minimally processed melon could represent a more important hazard than pear under the studied shelf life. ; The authors are grateful to the University of Lleida, Grupo Alimentario Citrus and Banco Santander for the Pilar Colás Medà PhD grant (UdL-Impuls Program), to the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, research project AGL-2012-38671) and to the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) for its financial support. We also want to thank Anna Cassanyé for her support in the IRB laboratory.

Here we present a case study toward producing quantitative scientific advice on the application of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in the Black Sea. We provide estimates of fishing mortality rates at levels which will lead to rebuilding and maintaining stocks above biomass levels that could produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY) under the IPCC RCP4.5 future climate scenario together with the business as usual (BAU) river discharge scenario. In this study, we have implemented a coupled, basin-scale circulation-biogeochemical model and used its output to feed a food web model to test near-future changes that may be observed in the Black Sea ecosystem under the influence of contemporary fisheries exploitation conditions. In order to test model response to changes in climate and related drivers, the future climate scenario (2015–2020) simulation was compared to the present day (2000–2014) simulation. Likewise, to test the sensitivity of the higher trophic level food web model to changes in fishing pressure, a future estimate of fishing pressure was projected based on its respective contemporary value and applied to each fish stock. Using these models, fishing mortality rates that could produce the maximum sustainable yield (FMSY) in future years 2015–2020 and ensure the long-term recovery of the predatory fish stocks of the Black Sea are predicted. Future projections suggest that all fish stock will decrease in all the regions of the Black Sea except for sprat. Anchovy is expected to show the highest decrease in biomass. Analyses on FMSY estimates show that a significant reduction in fisheries exploitation is required for the sustainable management of the Black Sea ecosystems and the related services. This study, for the first time, presents future stock size, FMSY, and MSY estimates for the Black Sea for 11 fish species. FMSY values are generally lower than estimates of the scientific, technical, and economic committee for fisheries (STECF), mainly because of the explicit food web interactions that the modeling system allows to be considered.

Urban livestock keeping in developing cities have an important role in food security and livelihoods but can also pose a significant threat to the environment and health of urban dwellers. The aim of this study was to identify the different livestock systems in Nairobi, their supply chains, and their management and food safety risks. Seven focus group discussions with livestock production officers in charge of each major Nairobi sub-county were conducted. Data were collected on the type of systems existing for each livestock species and their supply chains, disease management, food safety risks, and general husbandry and gender factors. Supply chain flow diagrams and thematic analysis of the data was done. Results of the study show a large variability of livestock keeping in Nairobi. The majority were small scale with: <5 dairy cows, 1–6 dairy goats, <10 small ruminants, <20 pigs, 200–500 broilers, 300–500 layers, <10 indigenous chickens, or <20 rabbits. Beef keeping was mainly described as a "by the way" system or done by traders to fatten animals for 3 month. Supply chain analysis indicated that most dairy farmers sold milk directly to consumers due to "lack of trust" of these in traders. Broiler and pig farmers sold mainly to traders but are dependent on few large dominating companies for their replacement or distribution of products. Selling directly to retailers or consumers (including own consumption), with backyard slaughtering, were important chains for small-scale pig, sheep and goat, and indigenous chicken keepers. Important disease risk practices identified were associated with consumption of dead and sick animals, with underground network of brokers operating for ruminant products. Qualified trained health managers were used mainly by dairy farmers, and large commercial poultry and pig farmers, while use of unqualified health managers or no treatment were common in small-scale farming. Control of urban livestock keepers was reported difficult due to their "feeling of being outlaws," "lack of trust" in government, "inaccessibility" in informal settlements, "lack of government funding," or "understaffing." Findings are useful for designing policies to help to control urban livestock production and minimize its associated health and environment risks.

This special issue explores the challenges associated with increasing the productivity and profitability of small-scale communal irrigation systems in a world with growing demand for food and scarce water supplies. Case studies from Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe in south-eastern Africa are used to detail the challenges, opportunities and possible solutions. At six irrigation schemes, two in each country, the project provided simple tools to farmers to enable them to measure soil water and fertility to develop their own, more efficient agronomic practices (Stirzaker, Mbakwe, & Mziray, 2017). The project also facilitated Agricultural Innovation Platforms for discussion among stakeholders, to identify barriers and opportunities, and to develop solutions for more profitable farming (van Rooyen, Ramshaw, Moyo, Stirzaker, & Bjornlund, 2017). The articles in this special issue focus on initial research findings from the project Increasing Irrigation Water Productivity in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe through On-Farm Monitoring, Adaptive Management and Agricultural Innovation Platforms. The project was primarily supported by AUD 3.2 million in 2013–17 from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (Project FSC/2013/006) to identify means of improving the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of smallholder irrigation communities. The project is a partnership of eight African and Australian research and governmental organizations led by the Australian National University and including the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Australia), University of South Australia, National Institute for Irrigation (Mozambique), Ardhi University (Tanzania), International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Zimbabwe), University of Pretoria and the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Policy Analysis Network. Particularly in Africa, great reliance has been placed on irrigation to meet food security. Significant investments were made in irrigation infrastructure in the 1970s and 1980s. However, these schemes have had limited success and largely resulted in decaying infrastructure, financial failures, low productivity and low utilization of land (Mutiro & Lautze, 2015; Stirzaker & Pittock, 2014). Most attempts to overcome these issues have focused on hard solutions, that is infrastructural refurbishment or rejuvenation (Inocencio et al., 2007).

The International Food Policy Research Institute is leading a three-year research program to assess the state of agricultural extension and advisory services provision in Malawi in order to inform the national extension policy review and reformation of government and donor processes and programming. This research program includes a series of studies undertaken in response to a request by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development to look closely at the state of extension services provision with the intent to further strengthen the contribution of these services to food security, economic growth, and the achievement of sustainable development goals. In this paper, we assess the flow of technical advice along the knowledge chain from scientists to farmers to identify the challenges in information provision. The advancement of social network literature has fostered the lead or contact farmer modality or farmer-to-farmer approach of information transmission. However, there is limited evidence regarding the information efficiency of this modality, and the reasons of the potential information loss. In this article, we assess information efficiency along the knowledge transmission chain from researchers to agricultural extension agents (EAs) to lead farmers (LFs) to other farmers. By asking the same set of questions about a fairly well known technology, pit planting, we construct a measure of knowledge at each node of the knowledge transmission chain. Descriptive evidence shows that the majority of information loss happens at the EA-to-LF link, and that the loss is potentially caused by limited attention of both EAs and LFs to all important details of the technology. With more evidence about the importance of knowledge for technology adoption, we suggest that EAs emphasize all crucial dimensions of an agricultural technique during demonstrations and visits in order to reduce information loss. ; Non-PR ; IFPRI1; CRP2; A Ensuring Sustainable food production; D Transforming Agriculture; PIM 2.2 Tracking investments in agricultural research; Pluralistic Extension System in Malawi ; DSGD; PIM ; CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM)

<div><p><em>Changing eating habits and lifestyle of consumers across the globe have fuelled the demand for healthy food products, which has significantly highlighted the use of natural flavors, most of which come from spices. Being the largest producer and exporter of spices, India has immense growth potential. Technological advancement and research &amp; development are supporting the Indian spice exporters to offer high grade products to consumers globally.</em></p><p><em>Spices form an important part of virtually all recipes in all cultures, not only for their flavor and seasoning of foods but also for their numerous medicinal values. India produces a wide variety of spices including cardamoms, chilies, black pepper, mustard, coriander. Indian cuisine is also known for its rich taste which it derives from numerous spices. The demand of Indian spices is high in the global market due to their rich aroma, texture, and taste. India has the largest domestic market for spices in the world. The major importers of Indian spices are the US, China, Vietnam, the UAE and Malaysia. The primary spices imported from India are pepper, chili, turmeric, coriander, cumin, and fennel.</em></p><p><em>Growth of the spices market in India has been triggered by the establishment of quality evaluation laboratories that ensure the quality of the final product and make them world renowned. These labs stay in direct touch with the importers association of importing countries. Other factors contributing to the growth of the spices market is the infrastructural facilities provided by the Spices Board of India, and the shifting consumer interest from artificial to natural flavors. However, the market still faces a number of challenges in the form of food safety issues, and insufficiency of legal provisions, among others.</em></p></div>

Este trabalho investiga como os efeitos/resultados de uma política pública podem sofrer os elementos de capital social em redes formadas. Neste sentido, faz uma análise comparativa do Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos da Agricultura Familiar (PAA) constituído em diferentes municípios do estado de Goiás, Itapuranga e Silvânia. A contribuição central da pesquisa é identificar e compreender a formação e a tipologia das redes sociais que envolvem os atores do programa em cada localidade, como heranças do enlace histórico, social e político, e qual sua ligação com os resultados do PAA. Na articulação e no diálogo entre a coesão social das redes formadas e a efetividade de um programa governamental reside o avanço deste estudo, que pretende, também, perceber os efeitos do programa para os agricultores familiares, a partir de indicadores que fundamentassem a ideia de efetividade da ação governamental, que por sua vez estão ligados às características produtivas, ambientais e econômicas desses beneficiários. Traz, por fim, a discussão das redes sociais e sua significância a esses efeitos.Palavras-chave: Capital social, Coesão social, Redes, Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos da Agricultura Familiar.CAPITAL AND NETWORKS: an analysis of the effects of Agriculture Food Acquisition Family Program in different cities in the State of Goiás Abstract: This research presents an investigation on how the effects / results of a public policy may be influenced by social capital elements formed by networks. In this sense, there was a comparative analysis of Family Farming Food Acquisition Program (PAA) set up in different cities in the state of Goiás, Itapuranga and Silvânia. The central contribution of the research is to identify and understand the formation and the types of social networks involving the program's actors in each location, as legacies of historical, social and political link, and what is its connection with the results of PAA. The articulation and dialogue between the social cohesion of networks formed and the effectiveness of a government program which in turn are linked to the productive characteristics, environmental and economic of these beneficiaries. Brings finally the discussion of social networks and their significance to these effects. Key words: Social capital, Social cohesion, Network, Agriculture Food Acquisition Family Program.

Brazil currently ranks as one of the world leaders in food production and exportation. This scenario encourages the development of animal and plant health programs to ensure the production of safe food, helping the country to become an international provider of food for excellence. However, some health problems in dairy production, such as mastitis, have garnered increasing concern. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of bovine mastitis in select properties located in the western Santa Catarina region, to assess the susceptibility profile to antimicrobial agents used for treatment and to check for the presence of genes (icaA and icaD) associated with biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus. In 148 milk samples collected, 72.97% had bacterial growth (n = 108). Among the isolated microorganisms, 21.62% (n = 32) were classified as Staphylococcus aureus, 18.91% (n = 28) as Staphylococcus sp. coagulase negative, 7.43% (n = 11) as Corynebacterium sp., 6.76% (n = 10) as Staphylococcus sp. coagulase positive, 5.41% (n = 8) as Nocardia sp. and 12.83% (n = 19) classified in different bacterial genera. Among the isolates submitted for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, it was observed that 8.95% (n = 6/67) had resistance to amoxicillin, 8.04% (n = 7/87) to ampicillin, 5.88% (n = 5/85) to cephalothin, 3.40% (n = 3/88) to ceftiofur and enrofloxacin, 20.45% (n = 18/88) to streptomycin, 17.04% (n = 15/88) to gentamicin and lincomycin, 31.81% (n = 28/88) to neomycin, 14.94% (n = 13/87) to penicillin and 25% (n = 22/88) to tetracycline. Staphylococcus sp. coagulase negative isolates showed higher multidrug resistance when compared to those of S. aureus and Staphylococcus sp. coagulase positive. Thirty-one strains of S. aureus isolates were genotypically tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), yielding a positive result for the icaA gene in 83.87% of the samples, 80.64% positive for icaD and 74.19% of these showed both genes. The results reinforce the importance of controlling this disease by adopting strict hygiene protocols and disinfection of equipment used for milking and the prescription of appropriate therapies to clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis, as well as evaluating not only the susceptibility profile of isolates but also the biofilm formation capacity.

ANALISIS SENYAWA BENZOAT PADA SAUS SAMBAL DI RUMAH MAKAN AYAM GORENG CEPAT SAJI DI MANADO Ika Purwaningsih1), Sri Sudewi1), Jemmy Abidjulu1) 1)Program Studi Farmasi FMIPA UNSRAT Manado, 95115 ABSTRACT Benzoate is a preservative of food allowed by the Government of Indonesia, but should not exceed the concentration limits its in use. The aims of this research is to analyze and to determine the benzoate compounds content in chili sauce from fried chicken fast food restaurants in Manado. The identification of benzoate compounds was done using FeCl3 which was characterized with the form of red brown sediment. Analysis of benzoate content using UV-Vis spectrophotometry method with wavelength of 274 nm. The results showed that four samples of chili sauce A, B, C and D were using preservative sodium benzoate in amount of 0,411, 0,454, 0,336 and 0,344 g/kg respectively. The amount of benzoate preservative in samples of chili sauce does not exceed the threshold set out by The Head of National Drug and Food Control Agency of the Republic of Indonesia in 2013 No.36 which is 1 g/kg. Keywords: Benzoate, chili sauce, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Manado. ABSTRAK Benzoat adalah pengawet makanan yang diizinkan oleh Pemerintah Indonesia, namun tidak boleh melebihi konsentrasi batas penggunaannya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keberadaan senyawa benzoat dan menentukan kadar senyawa benzoat dalam saus sambal di rumah makan ayam goreng cepat saji di Manado. Identifikasi senyawa benzoat dilakukan dengan menggunakan FeCl3 yang ditandai dengan terbentuknya endapan berwarna merah kecoklatan dan penentuan kadar senyawa benzoat dilakukan dengan metode spektrofotometri UV-Vis pada panjang gelombang 274 nm. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa keempat sampel saus sambal A, B, C dan D menggunakan pengawet benzoat secara berurutan sebesar 0,411, 0,454, 0,336, dan 0,344 g/kg. Penggunaan pengawet benzoat pada sampel saus sambal tidak melebihi ambang batas yang telah ditetapkan dalam Peraturan Kepala Badan Pengawas Obat Dan Makanan Republik Indonesia Nomor 36 Tahun 2013 yaitu 1 g/kg. Kata kunci : Benzoat, saus sambal, spektrofotometri UV-Vis, Manado.

Special issue Current trends in protistology – results from the VII ECOP - ISOP Joint Meeting 2015.-- 25 pages, 6 figures, 1 table ; Functional ecology is a subdiscipline that aims to enable a mechanistic understanding of patterns and processes from the organismic to the ecosystem level. This paper addresses some main aspects of the process-oriented current knowledge on phagotrophic, i.e. heterotrophic and mixotrophic, protists in aquatic food webs. This is not an exhaustive review; rather, we focus on conceptual issues, in particular on the numerical and functional response of these organisms. We discuss the evolution of concepts and define parameters to evaluate predator–prey dynamics ranging from Lotka–Volterra to the Independent Response Model. Since protists have extremely versatile feeding modes, we explore if there are systematic differences related to their taxonomic affiliation and life strategies. We differentiate between intrinsic factors (nutritional history, acclimatisation) and extrinsic factors (temperature, food, turbulence) affecting feeding, growth, and survival of protist populations. We briefly consider intraspecific variability of some key parameters and constraints inherent in laboratory microcosm experiments. We then upscale the significance of phagotrophic protists in food webs to the ocean level. Finally, we discuss limitations of the mechanistic understanding of protist functional ecology resulting from principal unpredictability of nonlinear dynamics. We conclude by defining open questions and identifying perspectives for future research on functional ecology of aquatic phagotrophic protists ; HA was supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (DFG; AR 288/16) and from the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF: 03G0237B; 02WRM1364D). Project FERMI (CGL2014-59227-R) was awarded to AC from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. RA was supported by the the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 658882). PJH was supported by the Danish Council for independent Reseach, project DDF-4181-00484. TW was financially supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF, projects P20118-B17 and P20360-B17). DJSM received no support for his efforts on this study, other than his salary provided by the University of Liverpool ; Peer Reviewed

BACKGROUND: Children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) have an increased risk of mortality, infections and impaired physical and cognitive development compared to well-nourished children. In parts of Ethiopia not considered chronically food insecure there are no supplementary feeding programmes (SFPs) for treating MAM. The short-term outcomes of children who have MAM in such areas are not currently described, and there remains an urgent need for evidence-based policy recommendations. METHODS: We defined MAM as mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of ≥11.0 cm and <12.5 cm with no bilateral pitting oedema to include Ethiopian government and World Health Organisation cut-offs. We prospectively surveyed 884 children aged 6-59 months living with MAM in a rural area of Ethiopia not eligible for a supplementary feeding programme. Weekly home visits were made for seven months (28 weeks), covering the end of peak malnutrition through to the post-harvest period (the most food secure window), collecting anthropometric, socio-demographic and food security data. RESULTS: By the end of the study follow up, 32.5% (287/884) remained with MAM, 9.3% (82/884) experienced at least one episode of SAM (MUAC <11 cm and/or bilateral pitting oedema), and 0.9% (8/884) died. Only 54.2% of the children recovered with no episode of SAM by the end of the study. Of those who developed SAM half still had MAM at the end of the follow up period. The median (interquartile range) time to recovery was 9 (4-15) weeks. Children with the lowest MUAC at enrolment had a significantly higher risk of remaining with MAM and a lower chance of recovering. CONCLUSIONS: Children with MAM during the post-harvest season in an area not eligible for SFP experience an extremely high incidence of SAM and a low recovery rate. Not having a targeted nutrition-specific intervention to address MAM in this context places children with MAM at excessive risk of adverse outcomes. Further preventive and curative approaches should urgently be considered.