Eco-innovative food in Brazil: perceptions from producers and consumers

The main focus of this paper is to analyse the production and consumption for eco-innovative food in Brazil. The research can be divided in two parts: the first, focusing in the supply-side, aims to identify food companies’ motivation to adopt eco-innovation, and the second, in the demand-side, to investigate consumer values and attitudes towards eco-innovation. In order to analyse the supply-side, an exploratory phase has been conducted with 13 in-depth interviews with firms and organizations that work with eco-innovative food, green certifications and green food associations. The analysis of the demand-side was carried out through an exploratory phase, with 42 interviews in green and organic fairs and street markets along with a Survey with 401 consumers in traditional Organic Street Markets in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The quantitative data from this stage was analysed with SPSS (univariate statistics). Results indicate that the companies’ mission and strategy are important drivers for the adoption of eco-innovations in the food sector. Technology is an essential input for the supply side, and can act as an important driver to increase the supply of sustainable food, to reduce losses, and to improve environmental sustainability. The eco-innovative market has a great potential to grow and become more competitive, although some barriers still need to be transposed: clearer regulations, logistics, high quality manpower and production of more convenient products for consumers. Results from the analysis of consumers indicate the presence of egalitarian values, and positive attitudes towards environment and technological progress, as well as a positive attitude and intention to buy eco-innovative food. Additional findings points out towards a certain belief on behalf of Brazilian consumers that technology can be a determinant of relevant aspects of eco-innovative foods. This research is of particular academic value, by adding empirical evidence about the relationships that rule how values and general attitudes influence attitudes towards eco-innovative food in the Brazilian food consumption context. Managerial implications are related to the need for companies to remain competitive and profitable, and innovation and environmental sustainability can be used as an alternative to mitigate environmental risks derived from the company’s activities

Componentes não-integrantes da carcaça de bovinos de três grupos genéticos terminados em confinamento ou pastejo rotacionado com suplementação.

Foram avaliados os componentes não-integrantes da carcaça de bovinos castrados (novilhos) Brahman, Brangus e Hereford terminados em confinamento ou pastejo com suplementação (capim-mombaça). Os animais foram abatidos com espessura de gordura subcutânea superior a 4mm. A dieta do confinamento foi formulada com 60% de volumoso e 40% de concentrado, com 13% PB e 62% NDT. O capim mombaça apresentou 7% de PB e 56%NDT e o suplemento apresentou 24% PB e 76% NDT. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com arranjo fatorial 3x2 (três grupos genéticos e dois sistemas de terminação) e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey ajustado. Foram observadas diferenças significativas para o peso de abate (PA) e peso do corpo vazio (PCV) favorável aos animais mantidos em pastejo com suplementação (444,03 vs 416,50kg para PA e 409,68 vs 375,24kg para PCV), entretanto não houve diferença significativa entre os sistemas de terminação para o rendimento de corpo vazio (RCV). O menor percentual de órgãos vitais foi apresentado pela raça Brahman independente do sistema de terminação utilizado (2,19%). A mesma tendência foi observada para o trato digestivo com um percentual de participação de 3,77% PCV do Brahman vs 4,87% e 4,48% PCV do Hereford e Brangus, respectivamente. Os novilhos Brahman apresentaram menores pesos de coração, pulmão e baço que os Hereford e Brangus. Os animais terminados em pastejo apresentaram maiores pesos de abomaso, pulmão e rins que os terminados em confinamento, 0,47 vs 0,35% PCV; 0,77 vs 0,71% PCV e 0,77 vs 0,71% PCV, respectivamente

The correlation between serology and isolation of Salmonella in pigs at slaughter in southern Brazil

In southern Brazil the isolation of Salmonella from pigs and pork has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to compare results of seroprevalence and Salmonella isolation from intestinal contents of slaughtered pigs, and to identify the probable contamination source for these herds. Blood and intestinal contents from pigs of 58 herds (15 pigs/herd) were sampled. Three fecal samples originating from pigs of the same herd were pooled, resulting in five pools/herd. Fecal pools were submitted to an isolation protocol as previously described

NÍVEIS PLASMÁTICOS E ÓSSEOS DE CÁLCIO E FÓSFORO EM VACAS DE CORTE SUPLEMENTADAS E NÃO SUPLEMENTADAS COM MINERAIS

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os níveis plasmáticos e ósseos de cálcio (Ca) e fósforo (P) em vacas de corte, em lactação, mantidas em campo nativo, sem e com suplementação mineral, no intuito de contribuir para o estabelecimento de valores de referência regionais. Duas fazendas vizinhas com rebanhos de cria, com formação racial com base européia, foram utilizadas. Sete vacas adultas, representativas de cada rebanho, foram escolhidas ao acaso em cada rebanho. Sangue e biópsia de costela foram coletados. Os níveis plasmáticos de Ca no grupo suplementado (S) e não (NS) encontraram-se próximos ao limite fisiológico mínimo. Os níveis de P inorgânico (Pi) nos animais S também se situaram no limite fisiológico mínimo, contudo nos NS foi abaixo deste. Os valores ósseos de densidade, cinza, conteúdo de Ca e P e relação Ca:P em ambos os grupos S e NS estiveram dentro do intervalo fisiológico. Muito embora não fosse objeto do trabalho, não foram detectadas diferenças significativas entre os rebanhos S e NS nas variáveis estudadas. Os resultados indicam que, nas condições do experimento, não há sinais de deficiência de cálcio e fósforo nos animais não suplementados e que a suplementação não é eficaz em elevar significativamente os níveis plasmáticos e ósseos destes minerais nos animais suplementados. Bone and plasma levels of calcium and phosphorus in supplemented and nonsupplemented beef cows Abstract The objective of the present study was to evaluate bone and plasma levels of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in supplemented (S) and non-supplemented (NS) grazing beef cows, in order to produce local reference ranges. Two neighboring farms were selected. In each farm, 7 representative adult lactating cows were randomly chosen. Blood samples were collected and rib biopsies performed. Plasma levels of Ca and P did not differ between herds. However, levels of P in NS animals are slightly below reference values. Bone values for density, ash, Ca and P content and Ca:P relation are within reference range. No significant differences between S and NS herds were detected. The results indicate that there are no signs of deficiency in the NS herd and that mineral supplementation is not efficient in increasing Ca and P levels were in S animals

Competitiveness levels in cattle herd farms.

The aim of this experiment was to identify improvement demands for farms with different levels of competitiveness in the west of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. A total of 63 owners of large farms were interviewed (farms with an area greater than 900ha) by applying a semi-structured questionnaire, guided by four drivers: technology (TEC), management (MAN), market relations (MR) and the institutional environment (IE).It was used the Statistical Analysis System 9.2 software to perform the cluster analysis and identify farmers' characteristics. Three random clusters with different levels of competitiveness were observed: low competitiveness level (LCL), middle competitiveness level (MCL) and high competitiveness level (HCL). The 29 variables (sub factors) were evaluated in the cluster analysis according to level of impact on competitiveness, being classified into variables of high, medium or low impact. Stratification was carried out, ranking demands for improvements from aspects attributed by experts in relation to sub factors. The farmers with low competitiveness level (LTL) had an unfavorable status for MAN, while the farmers belonging to clusters MCL and HCL have, respectively, favorable and neutral status for the same driver. The management characteristics determined the level of competitiveness of the farms surveye

New highlights on stroma–epithelial interactions in breast cancer

Although the stroma in which carcinomas arise has been previously regarded as a bystander to the clonal expansion and acquisition of malignant characteristics of tumor cells, it is now generally acknowledged that stromal changes are required for the establishment of cancer. In the present article, we discuss three recent publications that highlight the complex role the stroma has during the development of cancer and the potential for targeting the stroma by therapeutic approaches

The state of peer-to-peer network simulators

Networking research often relies on simulation in order to test and evaluate new ideas. An important requirement of this process is that results must be reproducible so that other researchers can replicate, validate and extend existing work. We look at the landscape of simulators for research in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks by conducting a survey of a combined total of over 280 papers from before and after 2007 (the year of the last survey in this area), and comment on the large quantity of research using bespoke, closed-source simulators. We propose a set of criteria that P2P simulators should meet, and poll the P2P research community for their agreement. We aim to drive the community towards performing their experiments on simulators that allow for others to validate their results