Complexity and trust – experiences from local Danish Food Communities

Generally food consumers in Denmark do not trust the food production and distribution systems and the management of risk related to food consumption has become part of the daily life of many (Halkier & Holm, 2004). This paper explores how relations of trust are formed in two local Danish Food Communities (Fødevarefællesskaber) in Aarhus and Copenhagen. Food Communities are communities of consumers organized around the provision of local fresh vegetables directly from local producers. The Food Communities, together with local farmers, share the responsibilities, normally carried out by other market actors, such as logistics, sale and price formation. The vegetables are sold to the members of the community, at a relatively low price, if they take part in the duty work related to the food provisioning. The community functions despite no binding or long term agreements are made between the communities and the producers. The aim of this paper is to evaluate what role trust plays in order for the communities to function. Focus is given to 1) the mechanisms that create and maintain trust between the actors and 2) the challenges that the relations of trust are exposed to and 3) how the communities are dealing with these challenges

Field-control, phase-transitions, and life's emergence

Instances of critical-like characteristics in living systems at each organizational level as well as the spontaneous emergence of computation (Langton), indicate the relevance of self-organized criticality (SOC). But extrapolating complex bio-systems to life's origins, brings up a paradox: how could simple organics--lacking the 'soft matter' response properties of today's bio-molecules--have dissipated energy from primordial reactions in a controlled manner for their 'ordering'? Nevertheless, a causal link of life's macroscopic irreversible dynamics to the microscopic reversible laws of statistical mechanics is indicated via the 'functional-takeover' of a soft magnetic scaffold by organics (c.f. Cairns-Smith's 'crystal-scaffold'). A field-controlled structure offers a mechanism for bootstrapping--bottom-up assembly with top-down control: its super-paramagnetic components obey reversible dynamics, but its dissipation of H-field energy for aggregation breaks time-reversal symmetry. The responsive adjustments of the controlled (host) mineral system to environmental changes would bring about mutual coupling between random organic sets supported by it; here the generation of long-range correlations within organic (guest) networks could include SOC-like mechanisms. And, such cooperative adjustments enable the selection of the functional configuration by altering the inorganic network's capacity to assist a spontaneous process. A non-equilibrium dynamics could now drive the kinetically-oriented system towards a series of phase-transitions with appropriate organic replacements 'taking-over' its functions.Comment: 54 pages, pdf fil

Research collaboration between China and Denmark for development of systemic approaches to agro-ecological pest management without pesticides with focus on vegetable, fruit and berry crops. Proceedings and recommendations from two network workshops

This report is the result of a network project which was established to discuss the potential for collaboration on development of systemic approaches to pest management without pesticides between Chinese and Danish researchers. The focus is on systemic approaches rather than input substitution of synthetic chemicals with agents of natural origin, however, the latter is considered as an integrated tool for the development and design of systemic approaches. The discussions were, furthermore, limited to management of invertebrate pests as well as diseases, while other pests such as weeds have not been included in the discussions. The discussions took place at two workshops and were based on presentations of research from the two countries and field visits in China and Denmark. After the first workshop that took place in China, it was agreed that Chinese and Danish researchers in this particular field had mutual interests and priorities and that there was a potential for creating collaboration that could yield results beneficial for the agricultural/horticultural sectors in both countries. It was also agreed that in spite of the many differences between variation in climate and ecosystems, as well as in farming systems and their organization in China and Denmark, there were many similarities in the production of high-value crops in the two countries, such as vegetables, fruit and berries and, therefore, an obvious focus for joint research efforts. It was also agreed that joint research efforts could aim at specific crops as well as aiming at the development of specific research approaches. Based on the observations and the agreements of the first workshop, the second workshop, which took place in Denmark, focused more specifically on the development of a research framework with specified research questions/topics. Two groups were formed – one working with vegetables and one with fruit and berries working in parallel – both looking into what kind of research is needed for development of systemic approaches to pesticide-free pest management should include both well-known practices and new practices. Although the discussions in the two groups took separate routes and unfolded and described the research topics in each their way, there was a clear consistency between the outputs of the work of the two groups. Each had identified three main research themes that more or less followed the same line and has been merged into three specific recommendations on themes for collaboration, namely: 1) ‘Research to provide the biological foundation and understanding of mechanisms and interactions for development of non-chemical solutions and to improve efficiency of new and existing control methods for severe pest problems’. 2) Research in ‘How best to integrate multifunctional plants (and crops) and use diversification to create a more healthy and productive farming system which is resilient to pests?’ 3) Research in ‘How to design and integrate pest management in eco-functional cropping systems at field and farm/landscape level?

Systems development: quality and safety of organic livestock products

Overview of fourth SAFO Workshop: . Ninety-eight delegates from 19 countries attended the 4th SAFO Workshop. Previous Workshops had focused on the production system but the plenary papers at this meeting focused specifically on food quality and safety of organic livestock products. The Workshop programme contained five formal plenary sessions including poster presentations, working group discussions and a field visits to a range of organic livestock farms. The plenary sessions had a total of 21 presentations (which can be viewed on the SAFO website) and focused on the following aspects of quality and safety of organic livestock products: Plenary 1. Perspectives of different stakeholders Plenary 2. Research on quality aspects of organic livestock products Plenary 3. Impact of veterinary medicinal inputs on product quality and safety Plenary 4. Research on food safety aspects of organic livestock products Plenary 5. Future development of food safety and quality in organic livestock products . . CONTENTS -------- . Foreword (M. Hovi, M.Walkenhorst, S. Padel) . Acknowledgements . In Memoriam Jan Zastawny - The analysis of forage quality and grasslands utilization for livestock production on organic farms (J. Zastawny, H. Jankowska-Huflejt and B. Wrobel) . Part A: Quality concept and organic livestock products - Quality of organic livestock products (M. Walkenhorst) - Consumer expectations of quality of organic livestock products: how can premiums be justified? (J. Bachmann) - Producer expectations of quality of organic livestock products (R. Fuhrer) Posters: - Organic production and nutrimarketing strategy of ‘Hungaricums’ of animal orgin (V. Szente, G. Tarnavolgyi, Sz. Berke, O. Szigeti and Z. Szakaly) Working Group Reports: - Differences in quality and safety expectations between stakeholders re. organic livestock produce and suggestions on how this can be addressed - Report of the working group discussion on the draft IFOAM principles in relation to animals . Part B: Quality and safety of organic livestock products ORGANIC MILK - Studies comparing the composition of milk produced on organic and conventional dairy farms in th UK (K.A. Ellis, W.G. McLean, D.H. Grove-White, P.J.Cripps, C.V. Howard and M. Mihim) - The influence of the grazing season on polyunsaturated fatty acids content in cow milk fat from Bieszcady Reigion of Poland (K. Sloniewsji, T. Sakowski, A. Jozwik and E. Rembailkowska) - Minimal processing of dairying products (B. Rehberger, P. Eberhand and H.P. Bachmann) Posters: - Aflatoxins in milk (organic and biodymanic) marketed in Florence area (A. Martini, G. Lorenzini, J. Labrada Ching, F. Riccio, F. Cervelin, G. Betti, R.Giannelli and S. Pieri) - The comparison of intensive and extensive pasture feeding for dairy cows on a Bohemian farm (B. Cermak, V. Koukolova, F. Lad and B. Slipka) - Selecting dairy cows for organic farming (W.J. Nauta and H. Bovenhuis) ORGANIC PORK - Carcass yield and meat quality of organic pig production (A. Sundrum) - Salmomonella infection risk associated eith ooutdoor organic pork production (A.N. Jensen and D.B. Baggesen) Posters: - East Balken Swine in Bulgaria- an option for organic production (S.G. Ivanova-Peneva and A. Stoykov) ORGANIC POULTRY PRODUCTION - Enhanced biodiversity and the perceived risk to food safety: Campylobacter and poultry (J. O’Brien, L. Woodward and B.D. Pearce) - Organic egg production in Finland- animal health, welfare and food safety issues (A. Virtala, U. Holma, M. Hovi, M. Aniñen, T. Hyyrynen, L. Rossow, H. Kahiluoto and A. Valros) FOOD SAFETY CONTROL - Assessment of current procedures for animal food production chains and critical control points regarding their safety and quality: preliminary results from the Organic HACCP project (G.S. Wyss and K. Brandt) - Assessing the risk from mycotoxins for the organic food chain: results from Organic HACCP project and other research (G.S. Wyss) Working Group Report: - Food quality research of organic animal products: future research needs and implications for standards . Part C: Veterinary medicinal inputs: Impact on product quality and food safety - Fate of veterinary medicines in the environment (A.B.A. Boxall) - Are antibiotic-resistant bacteria present on organic livestock farms? (E. Pleydell) - Is the doubling of withdrawal time a sufficient measure? Evaluations of Oxytetracycline residue persistence in sheep milk (G. Calaresu, G. Leori, C. Testa, G. Marogna and L. Secchi) - Analysis of disease prevalence and medical treatments in organic dairy herds in the Netherlands (A. Kijstra and J. van derWerf) - Is Orbesel the answer to mastitis on organic farms? (C. Notz) Posters: - The use of an internal test sealant, Orbseal, as prevenative measure for the dry cow period (W. Schaeren and J. Maurer) - Health and welfare in organic animal rearig in Spain: what do the veterinarians who advise organic farms say? (R. Garcia Trujillo and J. Fernandez) - Ruminant health in organic agriculture- a research and development project in Austria (E. Stoger) - Exploring the potential of clinoptilolite for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in orgainic sheep production (D. Zygoyiannis) - WORMCOPS - Worm control in organic production systems for small ruminants in Europe: Towards the implementation of non-chemical sustainable approaches (EU-project: QLK5-CT-2001-1843) (S.M. Thamsborg et al) Working Group Report: - Restricted veterinary inputs in organic systems: how should their use be restricted? . Part D: Other posters - Opportunities for Hungarian organic goat milk producer (O. Szekely and T. Kupai) - Opportunities for the Hungarian organic sheep and deer farmer (T.Kupai and O. Szekely) - Native breeds in organic animal production in Hungary (L. Radics and P. Pusztai) - Limitations to organic livestock production: Turkey as a case study for developing countries (Y. Sayan and M.Polat) - Opening channels of communication between the Associated Candidate Countries and the EU in ecological farming (L. Radics and J. Nagy) . Part E: Report on SAFO messages - Key messages from the EU- funded concerted action network Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety in Organic Farming- results of a participant consulatation . Part F: Standard development work 4th Report from the SAFO Standard Development Group Preliminary recommendations for the development of organic livestock standards in relation to animal health and food safety-working group feedback . List of delegate

Discussion documents – SUSVAR Visions Workshop, Karrebæksminde, Denmark, April 2008

Seven discussion documents were made during the SUSVAR Visions workshop ‘Sustainable cereal production beyond 2020: Visions from the SUSVAR1 network’, Karrebæksminde, Denmark, 14-16 April 2008. At the workshop, one discussion documents was written for each of the topics mentioned below. In total 55 persons from 21 European countries participated in the process. The participants came from different disciplines: genetics, plant breeding, genetic resources, agronomy, plant pathology, soil science, biometry and system analysis, all specialised in the area of cereal production. The approach taken at the workshop was to focus on envisioning the future of sustainable agriculture, especially cereal production. This was done by scientific creative thinking on the basis of possibilities in breeding, management and seed production and not on the basis of traditional problem solving. We followed a strategy commonly used in industrial management based on the premise “imagining the future is shaping the future”. The method “appreciative inquiry” was applied supported by a professional facilitator. Experience shows that this way of working sparks engagement and creativity and that progress and results can be reached within a short time. Focus was on the following topics of relevance to cereal production: - Competition between food and bioenergy, - Soil fertility management, - Economical and legal conditions for variety improvement, - Participation of stakeholders, - Plant breeding strategies, - Food and feed processing improvements, - Sustainable land use. The initial process was to visualise the most desirable future scenario for the seven essential topics in food and agriculture systems. This process was unhindered by no requirement for a market-driven goal. Each topic was discussed in relation to a broader socio-ecological system with a focus on the means to reach the desired and more sustainable outcomes. The next step at the workshop was to produce the discussion documents. The final stage of the process is to connect the topics in a completed vision of cereal production within a future sustainable socio-ecological system. This is in progress by a group of key persons within the network, e.g. the working group leaders (in preparation for publication in a scientific journal)

Organic bioelectronic devices to control cell signalling

The nervous system consists of a network of specialized cells that coordinate the actions of the body by transmitting information to and from the brain. The communication between the nerve cells is dependent on the interplay of both electrical and chemical signals. As our understanding of nerve cell signalling increases there is a growing need to develop techniques capable of interfacing with the nervous system. One of the major challenges is to translate between the signal carriers of the nervous system (ions and neurotransmitters) and those of conventional electronics (electrons). Organic conjugated polymers represent a unique class of materials that can utilize both electrons and ions as charge carriers. Taking advantage of this combined feature, we have established a novel communication interface between electronic components and biological systems. The organic bioelectronic devices presented in this thesis are based on the organic electronic ion pump (OEIP) made of the conducting organic polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). When electronically addressed, electrochemical redox reactions in the polymer translate electronic signals into electrophoretic migration of ions. We show that the device can transport a range of substances involved in nerve cell signaling. These include positively charged ions, neurotransmitters and cholinergic substances. Since the devices are designed to be easily incorporated in conventional microscopy set-ups, we use Ca2+ imaging as readout to monitor cell responses. We demonstrate how electrophoretic delivery of ions and neurotransmitters with precise, spatiotemporal control can be used to modulate intracellular Ca2+ signaling in neuronal cells in the absence of convective disturbances. The electronic control of delivery enables strict control of dynamic parameters, such as amplitude and frequency of Ca2+ responses, and can be used to generate temporal patterns mimicking naturally occurring Ca2+ oscillations. To enable further control and fine-tuning of the ionic signals we developed the electrophoretic chemical transistor, an analogue of the traditional transistor used to amplify and/or switch electronic signals. We thereby take the first step towards integrated chemical circuits. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the OEIP in a new “machine-to-brain” interface. By encapsulating the OEIP we were able to use it in vivo to modulate brainstem responses in guinea pigs. This was the first successful realization of an organic bioelectronic device capable of modulating mammalian sensory function by precise delivery of neurotransmitters. Our findings highlight the potential of communication interfaces based on conjugated polymers in generating complex, high-resolution, signal patterns to control cell physiology. Such devices will have widespread applications across basic research as well as future applicability in medical devices in multiple therapeutic areas

Common rules for 'out of home' catering

Could common EU rules for organic catering be possible? Are they needed or even desired? There are several initiatives in Europe that work on the exchange of information between the different EU countries with regard to catering standards and certification, and these are setting the groundwork for a long-term harmonised regulation

Research on organic agriculture in the Netherlands : organisation, methodology and results

Chapters: 1. Organic agriculture in the Netherlands; 2. Dutch research on organic agriculture: approaches and characteristics; 3. Dutch knowledge infrastructure for organic agricultur'; 4. Sustainable systems; 5. Good soil: a good start; 6. Robust varieties and vigorous propagation material; 7. Prevention and control of weeds, pests and diseases; 8. Health and welfare of organic livestock; 9. Animal production and feeding; 10. Special branches: organic greenhouse production, bulbs, ornamentals and aquaculture; 11. Healthfulness and quality of products; 12. Economy, market and chain; 13. People and society. A publication of Wageningen UR and Louis Bolk Institut

Growing a local organic movement: The Mexican Network of Organic Markets

Over the past several years, in response to the rapid growth in global demand for organic goods, the amount of organic production in Mexico has increased dramatically. Indeed, while Mexican agriculture as a whole has suffered severe crises, the organic sector has boomed, and today more than 83 000 producers farm organically on over 300 000 hectares of land. Of these producers, 98 percent are small scale, farming an average of three hectares, and over 50 percent are indigenous people. Unfortunately, as is the case in many developing countries, the vast majority of organic production remains focused on export crops – particularly coffee, but also cocoa, coconut, and other fruit and vegetables – with 85 percent of organic goods being sent to foreign markets. From an environmental point of view, exportoriented production is extremely damaging because of the amounts of fossil fuels required for transportation. In addition, packaging for export consumes precious resources and creates mountains of waste. Moreover, an export-oriented focus constrains the degree to which domestic markets are developed, and it leaves Mexican producers highly vulnerable to international market fluctuations