Agroecological Landscape Modelling as a Deliberative Tool, Learning from Social Metabolism Assessment of Historical Transitions to Industrial Agriculture for Future Sustainable Food System

[eng] The fundamental objective of this thesis is setting up a model to optimize the functioning of agricultural activity at the landscape level. It is a thesis with a strong methodological component. However, to base how the functioning of agrarian systems would have to improve their efficiency in the use of natural resources, as well as their organic logic, I base myself on the study of agrarian systems in historical perspective. Thus, in the first three chapters of this doctoral thesis I analyze the socio-metabolic transition from organic to industrial agriculture using the methodology of social metabolism and the analysis of material and energy flows (chapter 2) as well as incorporating the analysis in terms of landscape ecology (chapter 3) and food systems analysis (chapter 4). I apply it for a case study located in the Catalan pre-littoral Mediterranean (the historical region of Vallés), in three different historical moments: i) around 1860, in a context of viticultural specialization and in full development of agrarian capitalism; ii) in 1956, just at the time of the departure of the autarchic period in Spain and in a transition prior to the Green Revolution; iii) in 1999, after the Green Revolution and in a situation of livestock specialization, derived from the integration of local agriculture in the global regime. Once the keys to the functioning of the agrarian systems prior to the green revolution have been identified, I have laid the foundations for the second part of the doctoral thesis. In it I propose first (chapter 5) the theoretical development of an optimization model that allows us to analyze what would have been (or could be in the future) the most optimal functioning of the various assets of agroecosystems that allow to meet certain objectives social. In chapter 6 I apply this model in the case of Sentmenat (El Vallès) for 1860, to see what would have been, in a context of non-existence of inequality, the best way to have organized the territory in order to meet different objectives: minimize the amount of surface needed per family, minimize the amount of work required, or deepen the specialization by maximizing the amount of vineyard that existed in the territory and could be maintained in a sustainable manner. Finally, chapter 7 is dedicated to applying the model again but at a prospective level of future agroecological scenarios. This allows us to characterize the limits of agroecological landscape strategies, basically due to the prevailing condition of closing the nutrient cycles. In spite of this, if a rational use of the nutrient stocks of the soil were made, it would be possible to reach sustainable population densities of up to more than 150 people / km2 with a depletion horizon of the phosphorus stock of about 1000 years. In addition, we verified how the current diet strongly limits the sustainable population density (around 70 people / km2) due to the high consumption of animal products. Thus, following a Mediterranean diet, which allows a balance between the wills of the consumer and the capacity of the territory, would achieve levels of satisfaction of much higher needs. Lastly, the strategy of maximizing production instead of meeting local needs could allow an increase of up to 30% in the final product (in terms of metabolizable energy). With this, we consider that this new proposed methodology opens a new tool that facilitates these social debates, taking into account the complexity of the functioning of the agrarian systems and without trying to simplify them to purely technical decisions.[spa] El objetivo fundamental de esta tesis es la generación de un modelo de optimización del funcionamiento de la actividad agraria a nivel de paisaje. Se trata de una tesis con un fuerte componente metodológico. Sin embargo, para fundamentar cómo tendría que ser el funcionamiento de los sistemas agrarios para que mejoraran su eficiencia en el uso de los recursos naturales, así como su lógica orgánica, me baso en el estudio de los sistemas agrarios en perspectiva histórica. Así, en los tres primeros capítulos de esta tesis doctoral analizo la transición socio-metabólica de las agriculturas orgánicas a las industriales haciendo uso de la metodología del metabolismo social y el análisis de flujos de materiales y energía (capítulo 2) así como incorporando el análisis en términos de ecología del paisaje (capítulo 3) y de sistema alimentario (capítulo 4). Lo aplico para un caso de estudio situado en el pre-litoral mediterráneo catalán (la comarca histórica del Vallés), en tres momentos históricos distintos: cerca de 1860, en 1956 y 1999. Una vez identificadas las claves del funcionamiento de los sistemas agrarios previos a la revolución verde, he sentado las bases para la segunda parte de la tesis doctoral. En ella propongo en primer lugar (capítulo 5), el desarrollo teórico de un modelo de optimización que permite analizar cuál hubiera sido (o podría ser en un futuro) el funcionamiento más óptimo de los distintos bienes fondo de los agroecosistemas que permitan satisfacer determinados objetivos sociales. En primer lugar lo aplico como análisis contrafactual de las posibles configuraciones del territorio bajo un contexto de desigualdad en las agriculturas orgánicas avanzadas, para 1860 (capítulo 6). Posteriormente se aplica a nivel prospectivo de futuros escenarios agroecológicos (capítulo 7). Esto nos permite caracterizar los límites de las estrategias a nivel agroecológico de paisaje, básicamente debidos al condicionante imperante del cierre de ciclos de nutrientes. Con ello, consideramos que esta nueva metodología propuesta abre una nueva herramienta que facilite estos debates sociales, teniendo en cuenta la complejidad del funcionamiento de los sistemas agrarios y sin pretender simplificarlos a decisiones puramente técnicas

Comparison between two reactors using Trametes versicolor for agricultural wastewater treatment under non-sterile condition in sequencing batch mode

Altres ajuts: Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICAgricultural wastewater is a major source of herbicides, which pose environmental and health concerns owing to their substantial use and poor elimination rate in conventional wastewater treatment plants. White-rot fungi are versatile in degrading xenobiotics; however, the key problem encountered with their application in actual scenarios is competition with indigenous microorganisms, mainly bacteria. To address this barrier, two different strategies were implemented in the present study. One strategy was to set up a trickle bed with Trametes versicolor immobilized on pine wood, and another strategy was to employ a T. versicolor-pelleted, fluidized-bed reactor to remove diuron and bentazon from actual wastewater under non-sterile conditions. The residence time in the trickle bed was estimated using three methodologies. With 10 batches of a 3-day cycle operation, although the trickle-bed reactor possessed a shorter contact time (8.5 h per cycle) and lower laccase activity compared with those of the fluidized-bed reactor, it demonstrated a higher removal yield and lower bacterial counts. In addition, the utilization of pine wood as a carrier obviously reduced the cost since no additional nutrients were required. Hence, after evaluating all advantages and limitations of both bioreactors, for the purpose of treating over the long term and scaling up, a trickle-bed reactor is the preferred choice

Ús de fongs per a la degradació de filtres solars

Els compostos que trobem en cremes solars o d'altres productes i que s'utilitzen per reduir l'efecte de les radiacions ultraviolades en el nostre cos s'alliberen cada vegada més al medi ambient, sense que els procediments habituals per eliminar compostos no desitjats, com les depuradores, estiguin encara preparats per eliminar-los. Aquesta investigació, duta a terme al Departament d'Enginyeria Química de la UAB en un projecte en col·laboració amb l'IDAEA-CSIC, ha utilitzat fongs ligninolítics per eliminar aquests productes. La investigació conclou que aquests fongs són prometedors per a l'eliminació d'aquests nous contaminats però que encara som lluny de la seva implementació definitiva.Los compuestos que podemos encontrar en cremas solares o de otros productos y que se utilizan para reducir el efecto de las radiaciones ultravioletas en nuestro cuerpo se liberan cada vez más al medio ambiente, sin que los procedimientos habituales para eliminar compuestos no deseados, como las depuradoras, estén aún preparados para eliminarlos. Esta investigación, llevada a cabo en el Departamento de Ingeniería Química de la UAB en un proyecto en colaboración con el IDAEA-CSIC, ha utilizado hongos ligninolíticos para eliminar estos productos. La investigación concluye que estos hongos son prometedores para la eliminación de estos nuevos contaminantes pero que todavía estamos lejos de su implementación definitiva.The compounds found in sunscreens and other products used to reduce the effect of ultraviolet radiations in our body are released into the environment, without the usual procedures to remove unwanted compounds such as treatment facilities, are prepared to remove them. This research, carried out at the Department of Chemical Engineering at UAB in collaboration with the IDAEA-CSIC, has used ligninolytic fungi to remove these products. This research concludes that these fungi are promising for the elimination of these new pollutants but we are still far from its implementation

Sulphur isotopes as tracers of the influence of a coal-fired power plant on a Scots pine forest in Catalonia (NE Spain)

Stable sulphur isotopes and major ionic composition were analysed in precipitation and throughfall samples from a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris, L.) forest near the Cercs coal-fired power plant (Catalonia, NE Spain). The purpose of the study was to determine the main sources of sulphur deposition on this pine forest. Sulphur isotope measurements from the SO2 power plant stack emissions were used to identify the isotopic signature of this source. Net throughfall fluxes of sulphur (26.1 kg S ha 1 yr−1) and nitrogen (16.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1) were higher 5-25 times higher for S and 5-15 times for N at this site than in other forests in Catalonia. Sulphur isotope analysis confirmed that the net throughfall fluxes of sulphur were mostly due to the dry deposition of the SO2 power plant emissions onto the pine canopies. Two potential atmospheric end-members were distinguished: regional background rainwater (δ34S=+7.2 ) and power plant emissions (δ34S=−2.8 ). By applying a two-component sulphur isotope mixing model, we found that during periods of low power plant activity (⩽10 emission h day−1), 62% of the throughfall sulphate could be attributed to the power plant emissions. At higher activity periods (⩾14 emission h day−1), this contribution rose to 73%. Although power plant contribution to bulk deposition was lower in both cases (34% and 45%), the possible influence of sulphate coming with long-range transport events from the polluted areas in the Mediterranean basin (δ34S≈0 ) was not discarded

Dialogues on nature, class and gender: Revisiting socio-ecological reproduction in past organic advanced agriculture (Sentmenat, Catalonia, 1850)

The concept of socio-ecological reproduction allows linking some fundamental approaches and methods of Ecological, Feminist and Sraffian Economics. By accounting reproductive flows we highlight the material and time efforts required to maintain ecological funds (i.e. soil fertility and livestock) and social funds (i.e. labour force) of farm systems, as well as the role of social appropriation of the surplus that went beyond them in preindustrial class structures. Through the methodology proposed to estimate time, energy, nutrients and cash balances at household level we can infer relevant insights in terms of social organisation of labour and social distribution of produce in past organic advanced agricultures. Results show that the productive capacity of farmland and labour were quite similar across farms, while the farmland hoarding exerted by a wealthier ruling class defined the unequal distribution of produce. The match between subsistence needs and wages shows that nearly the whole potential surplus per labour unit was extracted. Dependence on reproducible funds implied the reinvestment of large amounts of renewable flows that constrained the amount of surplus appropriable. Finally, we deem that technical change and increase of total produce along socio-ecological transitions might have been affected by the social class structure of preindustrial societies

La Recerca en bioenginyeria cardíaca i pulmonar a l'Institut de Cibernètica

En aquesta ponència presentem els treballs de recerca duts a terme els darrers anys a l'Institut de Cibernètica en el camp de la bioenginyeria. Cal destacar la simulació en computador híbrid del sistema càrdio-vascular, l'anàlisi i caracterització de pròtesis valvulars cardíaques i el processament automàtic de l'electrocardiograma del feix de His, dins l'àrea de la bioenginyeria cardíaca. La recerca en bioenginyeria pulmonar ha estat centrada en el disseny d'equips que col•laboren en 1'exploració funcional pulmonar.This paper presents the bioengineering research carried out at the Institut de Cibernètica the last years. We can remark the cardiovascular system simulation by hybrid computer, the prosthetic cardiac valves characterization, the His bundle electrogram on-line processing and different devices developed to explore the pulmonary function

Direct measurements of IPTG enable analysis of the induction behavior of E. coli in high cell density cultures

Background: The E. coli lac operon and its components have been studied for decades, and lac-derived systems are widely used for recombinant protein production. However, lac operon dynamics and induction behavior remain the paradigm of gene regulation. Recently, an HPLC-MS-based method to quantify IPTG in the medium and inside the biomass has been established, and this tool may be useful to uncover the lack of knowledge and allow optimization of biotechnological processes. Results: The results obtained from the study of IPTG distribution profiles in fed-batch, high cell density cultures allowed discrimination between two different depletion patterns of an inducer from the medium to the biomass in E. coli-expressing rhamnulose-1-phosphate aldolase (RhuA). Moreover, we could demonstrate that active transport mediates the uptake of this gratuitous inducer. Additionally, we could study the induction behaviors of this expression system by taking into account the biomass concentration at the induction time. Conclusions: In the bistable range, partial induction occurred, which led to intermediate levels of RhuA activity. There was a direct relationship between the initial inducer concentrations and the initial inducer transport rate together with the specific activity. A majority of the inducer remains in the medium to reach equilibrium with the intracellular level. The intracellular inducer accumulation was a further evidence of bistability of the lac operon

Can white-rot fungi be a real wastewater treatment alternative for organic micropollutants removal? A review

Micropollutants are a diverse group of compounds that are detected at trace concentrations and may have a negative effect on the environment and/or human health. Most of them are unregulated contaminants, although they have raised a concern in the scientific and global community and future regulation might be written in the near future. Several approaches have been tested to remove micropollutants from wastewater streams. In this manuscript, a focus is placed in reactor biological treatments that use white-rot fungi. A critical review of white-rot fungal-based technologies for micropollutant removal from wastewater has been conducted, several capabilities and limitations of such approaches have been identified and a range of solutions to overcome most of the limitations have been reviewed and/or proposed. Overall, this review argues that white-rot fungal reactors could be an efficient technology to remove micropollutants from specific wastewater streams