Regulaciones, políticas y conflictos por agroquímicos en Salta, Argentina

La consolidación del agronegocio en Argentina, desde finales del siglo XX, puede analizarse en sus múltiples y diversas consecuencias: impactos ambientales por la deforestación de bosques nativos; conflictividad social por la expulsión y destrucción de los modos de producción y reproducción de la vida campesina e indígena; efectos en la salud por la exposición a plaguicidas, entre los principales. A partir de fuentes de datos secundarias y de entrevistas en profundidad, el artículo busca aportar al entendimiento de las consecuencias ambientales y sanitarias ligadas al uso de agroquímicos en Salta, provincia del norte argentino que en años recientes incorporó amplias superficies a la producción agroindustrial. Se realiza una caracterización y análisis crítico de las normativas y políticas públicas en la materia, así como de las situaciones de conflicto. Los principales hallazgos muestran que en Salta existen leyes específicas que regulan el uso de agroquímicos y cierta institucionalidad destinada a su implementación y control. No obstante, el estudio releva una multiplicidad de situaciones que dan cuenta de la emergencia y trayectoria de conflictos que, con diverso grado de visibilidad e intensidad, problematizan los efectos en la salud humana y en los ecosistemas en las escalas locales. Abstract The consolidation of agribusiness in Argentina since the end of the 20th century can be analyzed in its multiple and diverse consequences: environmental impacts due to the deforestation of native forests; social conflict over the forcing out and destruction of rural and indigenous production and reproduction methods; health effects since exposure to pesticides, among the main ones. Based on secondary information sources and in-depth interviews, the article aims to contribute to the understanding of the environmental and sanitary impacts linked to fumigation with agrochemicals in Salta, a province of northern Argentina which in recent years has incorporated large areas into agricultural production and presents ecological and social characteristics that differ from the Pampas region. This research focuses on a critical characterization and analysis of the regulatory frameworks and public policies on that matter, as well as in a survey related to conflicts. The main findings show that in Salta different legal frameworks regulate the use of agrochemicals, while state agencies are meant to implement and monitor such regulations. However, the study compiles numerous situations that illustrate the emergence and path of certain conflicts that, with varying levels of visibility and intensity, problematize the effects on human health and ecosystems at the local levels.

Gas prices expose Europe’s energy vulnerability

Significance The cost of gas-fired generation sets the electricity price in much of Europe today. Falling indigenous production has left Europe reliant on gas imports and exposed it to global liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices set by fast-recovering China. This has left retail-only electricity suppliers vulnerable and increases the risk that falling disposable incomes will undermine post-pandemic recovery. Impacts EU carbon allowance prices will stay strong. Higher energy prices will stoke inflation amid a fragile recovery, posing a dilemma for central banks. Rising gas prices have had ancillary but potentially alarming impacts as some fertiliser and CO2 producers have shut in production.

Study on Consumer Preference for Traceable Pork With Animal Welfare Attribute

We determined consumer preferences for traceable pork attributes in 328 consumers in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China, based on a traceable pork attribute system composed of traceability, animal welfare, place of origin, and price attributes. Preference was studied using a Choice Experiment and Bayesian inference analysis. Results showed that the marginal utility of health welfare was lower than that of high-level traceability information and similar to that of place of origin but was higher than that of middle-level traceability information. A complementary relationship existed between dietary animal welfare and high-level traceability information and between health welfare and non-indigenous production. A substitution relationship existed between health welfare and indigenous production and between environmental animal welfare and non-indigenous production. The marginal utilities of health welfare and dietary welfare were higher than those of all price levels, and consumers accept a higher price as a result of increased production costs due to the inclusion of animal welfare information. Due to the harsh realities of COVID-19, China has recently approved the animal welfare attribute to be integrated into traceability market systems of new animal-derived food. The government should encourage manufacturers to produce diverse traceable animal-derived food not only to protect animal welfare and promote the construction of an ecological civilization, but also to develop new animal-derived food markets to satisfy different levels of consumer demand.

Characterization of Sheep Farming in Agroecosystems of Indigenous Communities in Campeche, Mexico

Objective: To characterize sheep farming in agroecosystems of indigenous producerswho received financing from the National Commission for the Development ofIndigenous Peoples (Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas,CDI) in Campeche, Mexico.Design/Methodology/Approach: A questionnaire was designed with socioeconomicand technical characteristics and was applied to n=199 producers grouped into 27 sheepfarming units, distributed among seven municipalities of Campeche.Results: Sheep farming in the evaluated communities is characterized by extensivegrazing, a low technology level, lack of infrastructure, and high participation of women ofproductive age that are available to learn and implement innovations and technologies.The production system is traditional and focused on repopulating flocks, which are ameans of savings and auto-consumption, without productive and reproductive records.Producers are willing to implement strategies that contribute to improving their farmingunits.Study Limitations/Implications: Support policies, as well as capacity-building plans,should distinguish between indigenous and traditional sheep farming.Findings/Conclusions: The sheep farming units have inadequate infrastructure for flockmanagement, they demonstrate limited knowledge for their adequate management,there are no control records, and they are classified as a traditional farming system.Key words: Sheep, breeds, indigenous production units.

UTILIZATION OF WATER YAM (Dioscorea alata) AS A SOURCE OF ETHANOL

Ethanol (C2H5OH) is a primary alcohol which can be produced by fermentation, using any of the sources of carbohydrates such as sugarcane, cassava, grains and yam tubers among others. Production of ethanol fermented from renewable sources for fuel and fuel additives are known as bioethanol. Since the need of bioethanol is increasing, the production of bioethanol must be increased using cheaper and eco friendly raw materials. This study was conducted, using cheaper and eco friendly raw materials; water yam (Dioscorea alata) as alternative sources for ethanol production. The starch that was produced from water yam was hydrolysed into fermentable sugar, using acid hydrolysis. The fermentable sugar was converted into ethanol by fermentation process at pH 4.5 using fermenting brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces calsbergensis). Starch, glucose and ethanol which were obtained were analysed for physicochemical properties. Findings revealed that the starch sample obtained gave a blue-black colouration on addition of few drops of iodine solution. This confirmed that the carbohydrate content was mainly starch. On calculation of viability, findings further showed that water yam is a good raw material for production of ethanol, therefore indigenous production of ethanol obtained from water yam is economically viable and recommended. This will save the country from lot of money spends annually on the importation of ethanol and it can also provide job opportunity for many wandering and unemployed Nigerians.

Usage of indigenous production and preservation practices by maize farmers in Ugbokolo, Benue State, Nigeria

This study assessed the usage of indigenous knowledge in the production and preservation of maize by farmers in Ugbokolo, Benue State, Nigeria. Maize farmers formed the population of the study, of which a sample of 148 respondents were selected. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that 61.3% of the respondents were male, the mean age was 51.02 years, 47.3% possessed primary education, the mean household size was 7 persons, mean farm size was 2.79 Ha, and the mean output was 7.241 bags (100kg bags). The most used indigenous production practices were early planting of maize (87.9%) and intercropping of maize (83.1%), while the most used preservation practices were sun-drying of maize cobs (79.9%) and storage of maize in sacks (69.6%). The major reasons for using indigenous knowledge were accessibility (71.3%), sustainability (66.7%) and affordability (64.0%). The major constraints to use of indigenous production and preservation practices in maize was lack of documentation of IK in maize (x ̅ = 1.93). Based on these findings, it was recommended that improved storage be introduced to the farmers, while IK is documented for the use of future generations.

Assessment of maize farmers’ awareness and effectiveness of indigenous production and preservation practices in Ugbokolo, Benue State, Nigeria

This study assessed maize farmers’ awareness and effectiveness of indigenous production and preservation in Ugbokolo, Benue State, Nigeria. A sample of 148 maize farmers were selected. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Research findings revealed that most farmers were aware of intercropping (92.7%) and proper drying before storage (95.3%). The most effective indigenous production practice was early planting ( = 2.64), while the most effective preservation practice was proper drying before storage ( = 2.64). The main source of indigenous knowledge was from parents (89.3%). Based on these findings, it was recommended that other production and preservation practices be introduced to the farmers to broaden their knowledge, and technology for drying of maize be provided to the farmers

Evaluation of supply chain performance: A methodology based on exchange information

Cloud producing (CP) is seen as a modern way of localising development, different from previous multinational and indigenous production manifestations. This analysis produces three major contributions. First the study brings together two literary bodies, namely CP configuration and the provision of infrastructure to examine the sense of CP. Secondly, these theoretical lenses are applied in research to describe the distinctive character of CP in seven dimensions of study. Third, new CP design rules are defined by drawing on both literature and the CP case evidence compared to the more developed models for localized development. The literature on developed localized production models and CP were used to analyze the modernizing of the supply network (MSN) and the infrastructural projections. The CP model was then identified and further investigated in a multiple case study. For the collection of five instances, a maximum variation sampling technique was used.

The transformative power of European technology in resource exploitation: reflections on the oil presses and railways of colonial Nigeria

Technological innovations, which in the nineteenth century were principally developed by European nations, were a crucial factor in transforming economies – not only those of the countries in which they originated, but also those of their colonies. This case study of Nigeria explores the way the British controlled the colony and subjugated the local people as a result of their superior technology. Upon taking over the territory, to aid the country's economic development, they began to construct railway lines to link major resource zones of the north and south. This facilitated the more efficient shipment of natural resources from these zones to the coastal ports for onward shipment to Britain. Indigenous production and the rendering of palm oil were transformed by the introduction of oil presses. The article examines the transformative impact of technology in resource exploitation, focusing specifically on railways and oil presses and their impact on Nigerian society.

Distributed manufacturing: a new form of localised production?

PurposeThe emergence of distributed manufacturing (DM) is examined as a new form of localised production, distinct from previous manifestations of multi-domestic and indigenous production.Design/methodology/approachSupply network (SN) configuration and infrastructural provisioning perspectives were used to examine the literature on established localised production models as well as DM. A multiple case study was then undertaken to describe and explore the DM model further. A maximum variation sampling procedure was used to select five exemplar cases.FindingsThree main contributions emerge from this study. First, the research uniquely brings together two bodies of literature, namely SN configuration and infrastructure provisioning to explore the DM context. Second, the research applies these theoretical lenses to establish the distinctive nature of DM across seven dimensions of analysis. Third, emerging DM design rules are identified and compared with the more established models of localised production, drawing on both literature and DM case evidence.Practical implicationsThis study provides a rich SN configuration and infrastructural provisioning view on DM leading to a set of design rules for DM adoption, thus supporting practitioners in their efforts to develop viable DM implementation plans.Originality/valueThe authors contribute to the intra- and inter-organisational requirements for the emerging DM context by providing new perspectives through the combined lenses of SN configuration and infrastructural provisioning approaches.