scholarly journals Three-Decades of Research Integration—Transforming to Collaborative Aquatic Food Systems Research Partnerships in the Pacific

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Maree Schwarz ◽  
Hampus Eriksson ◽  
Christain Ramofafia ◽  
Rosalie Masu ◽  
Delvene Boso ◽  
...  

High-quality research to provide sustainable development solutions in aquatic food systems requires a deliberate theory for its application at scale. One frequently defined pathway in theories of change for scaling research innovation is through partnerships. Yet, despite the widespread application of partnership modalities in food-systems research, only a small proportion of published research provides original and high-quality solutions for small-scale producers. Metrics of academic success can incentivize publication regardless of end-user impact. Analogously, partnerships among national and international institutions can also lack impact because of inequity and persistent power imbalances. We describe a long-term research for development partnership between a CGIAR center (WorldFish) and a national government agency (Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources; MFMR). We review the literature produced by, or about, the activities carried out in the name of the partnership over a 35-year period to build a time-line and to identify elements of research power, priorities and capacity by decade. The form and function of the collaboration through time form the basis of our analysis of the journey toward an increasingly equitable partnership: a theorized goal toward greater development outcome at scale in Solomon Islands. The partnership has been strongly influenced by changes in both institutions. The MFMR has undergone a significant increase in operational capacity since the partnership was first conceived in 1986. WorldFish has also undergone change and has navigated tensions between being locally impactful and globally relevant through periods of different research foci. With an increasingly competent and capable ministry, dimensions of power and practice have had to be re-visited to embed CGIAR research on aquatic food systems within national development trajectories. By focusing on a practice seeking more meaningful and respectful partnerships, WorldFish—as an international research partner—continues to evolve to be fit for purpose as a credible and effective research partner. We discuss this journey in the context of system-level change for aquatic food system sustainability and innovation.

Nature Food ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (9) ◽  
pp. 733-741
Author(s):  
Rebecca E. Short ◽  
Stefan Gelcich ◽  
David C. Little ◽  
Fiorenza Micheli ◽  
Edward H. Allison ◽  
...  

Nature Food ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca E. Short ◽  
Stefan Gelcich ◽  
David C. Little ◽  
Fiorenza Micheli ◽  
Edward H. Allison ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3705
Author(s):  
Anna K. Farmery ◽  
Jessica M. Scott ◽  
Tom D. Brewer ◽  
Hampus Eriksson ◽  
Dirk J. Steenbergen ◽  
...  

National rates of aquatic food consumption in Pacific Island Countries and Territories are among the highest in the world, yet the region is suffering from extensive levels of diet-related ill health. The aim of this paper is to examine the variation in consumption patterns and in nutrient composition of aquatic foods in the Pacific, to help improve understanding of their contribution to food and nutrition security. For this examination we analysed nutrient composition data and trade data from two novel region-specific databases, as well as consumption data from national and village level surveys for two Melanesian case studies, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Results demonstrated that consumption depends on availability and the amount and type of aquatic food consumed, and its contribution to nutrition security varies within different geographic and socio-demographic contexts. More data is needed on locally relevant species and consumption patterns, to better inform dietary guidelines and improve public health both now and into the future. Advice on aquatic food consumption must consider the nutrient composition and quantity of products consumed, as well as accessibility through local food systems, to ensure they contribute to diverse and healthy diets.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim P. Bryceson ◽  
Anne Ross

Agrifood chains are complex systems; they encompass biological, economic, social, health and political variables at different scales (e.g., on-farm, local, regional, national and global). Consequently, what enables a food system to achieve ‘sustainability’ is also complex. This is particularly the case in small-scale societies in developing nations which are socially constituted. In this paper we posit that a habitus of informality underpins food systems’ sustainability in these societies. We argue that conventional applications of approaches like the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) and Circles of Sustainability (CoS) frameworks fail to assist understanding of sustainability in informal socio-economic systems because they either place too much emphasis on economic growth (TBL) or underplay the strength of socio–cultural obligations and responsibilities (CoS). This is seen in international aid programs that encourage economic growth in the agrifood sector, which is challenging for villages in such societies. We review data from two Pacific Island countries—Tonga and Solomon Islands—to demonstrate the need for a more holistic way to think about sustainability in informal agrifood systems in small-scale developing nations. We demonstrate the value of employing a Hybrid Value Chain Framework for collecting information necessary to understanding how sustainability is constituted in the food systems of small-scale societies.


Author(s):  
P. Eko Prasetyo

This study has taken position for developing of small-scale industry (SSI) is necessary strategy or market conduct policy and market performance. For that objective, the realization steps needed are: (a) re-examining about national development objective; (b) conducting political system restructurization that enable all people has equal right to participate in the economic sectors; (c) allocating and distributing economic resources and production facilities in equitable manner especially for rural people; and also (d) making more deep market penetration for goods and services of SSI through issuing inceptives and positive discrimination policies for SSI in supplying their production input, production process and marketing. Promotion intensification and nourishing cooperation with another kind of enterprise will be a beneficial.


Marine Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 126 ◽  
pp. 104422
Author(s):  
Atiqur Rahman Sunny ◽  
Sharif Ahmed Sazzad ◽  
Shamsul Haque Prodhan ◽  
Md. Ashrafuzzaman ◽  
Gopal Chandra Datta ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Alexandria Brewer ◽  
Jose F. Alfaro ◽  
Tadeu Fabricio Malheiros

Abstract Aquaponics technology has recently been offered as a good option for sustainable food systems among small-scale farmers, particularly those seeking an organic production or dealing with land quality constraints, such as urban farmers. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence for the capacity of small farmers to adopt the technology. The unique requirements of aquaponics may create technical, economic and even cultural constraints and opportunities. This paper uses empirical evidence gathered with small-scale farmers in São Carlos, State of São Paulo, Brazil, to present the capacity of adoption for the technology, including possible limiting factors and incentives for farmers. The study conducted interviews with owners of ‘agriculturas familiares’ (Portuguese for small family owned farms) within 30 km of São Carlos. The interviews revealed that there is widespread interest in the potential profitability of aquaponics systems, significant interest in environmentally friendly practices, familiarity with organic production and hydroponics and a large base of agricultural knowledge in the community that can drive adoption. However, lack of initial financing, limited human power and concerns about product placement were significant barriers to adoption. For settlement farmers (those working on land formerly abandoned) poor soil quality and water scarcity are key issues that could be alleviated by the technology. The city of Sao Carlos present program for purchasing specific types of products from these farms could be used as a model for increasing aquaponics adoption and relieving success concerns.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keely Jordan ◽  
Todd P. Lewis ◽  
Bayard Roberts

Abstract Background There is a growing concern that the quality of health systems in humanitarian crises and the care they provide has received little attention. To help better understand current practice and research on health system quality, this paper aimed to examine the evidence on the quality of health systems in humanitarian settings. Methods This systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. The context of interest was populations affected by humanitarian crisis in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). We included studies where the intervention of interest, health services for populations affected by crisis, was provided by the formal health system. Our outcome of interest was the quality of the health system. We included primary research studies, from a combination of information sources, published in English between January 2000 and January 2019 using quantitative and qualitative methods. We used the High Quality Health Systems Framework to analyze the included studies by quality domain and sub-domain. Results We identified 2285 articles through our search, of which 163 were eligible for full-text review, and 55 articles were eligible for inclusion in our systematic review. Poor diagnosis, inadequate patient referrals, and inappropriate treatment of illness were commonly cited barriers to quality care. There was a strong focus placed on the foundations of a health system with emphasis on the workforce and tools, but a limited focus on the health impacts of health systems. The review also suggests some barriers to high quality health systems that are specific to humanitarian settings such as language barriers for refugees in their host country, discontinued care for migrant populations with chronic conditions, and fears around provider safety. Conclusion The review highlights a large gap in the measurement of quality both at the point of care and at the health system level. There is a need for further work particularly on health system measurement strategies, accountability mechanisms, and patient-centered approaches in humanitarian settings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
K.I. Sunday ◽  
F.B. Ada

The possibilities of pathogens transmitting zoonotic diseases to fish or aquatic environments are dependent on seasons, patients’ contact with fish or fish related environment, nutritional habits and the immune system level of the exposed individual. Consumption of aquatic food is on the increase, and thus explains the answers to the increase in zoonotic contraction cases found in man. Zoonotic infections can be classified into infections caused by: a) direct interaction with infected animals b) consumption of raw or undercooked aquatic products. Pathogens may be natives of the said aquatic environment or may occur as a result of environmental pollution such as the use of fertilizer, human waste or any of the anthropogenic substances. Zoonotic infections can be passed to man through fish via any of the following hosts: Helminths, Bacteria, Protozoa and Arthropods.Nevertheless, once the chemistry and control of zoonoses is understood, putting up measure to adequately address them when necessary will not be challenging. More so, educating the public on the need for prevention, proper cooking of aquatic products, and also a constant reminder of potential dangers are necessary to reinforce proper sea food handling practices. Keywords: Zoonoses, Fish, Effect and Control


Author(s):  
Zhou J ◽  
◽  
Dong Y ◽  
Ma Y ◽  
Zhang T ◽  
...  

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) have been prepared by oxidationhydrothermal reaction, using ball-milling graphite as the starting materials. The prepared GQDs are endowed with excellent luminescence properties, with the optimum emission of 320nm. Blue photoluminescent emitted from the GQDs under ultraviolet light. The GQDs are ~3nm in width and 0.5~2 nm in thickness, revealed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectrum evidences the existence of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, meaning GQDs can be dispersed in water easily and used in cellar imaging, and blue area inside L929 cells were clearly observed under the fluorescence microscope. Both low price of raw material and simple prepared method contribute to the high quality GQDs widespread application in future.


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