Joint adoption of sustainable practices in cocoa production systems

The objective of this document is to identify the determinants of the joint adoption of sustainable practices in the cocoa production systems To achieve the stated objective, this document uses information from 922 household surveys conducted in both departments and presents different types of analysis such as descriptive statistics multivariate and generalized ordered probit models

Integrating climate mitigation and environmental peacebuilding objectives through sustainable land use systems: Theory of change and indicators

Land is an essential natural resource for climate mitigation and peace. It is commonly connected with sources of GHG emissions and with drivers of (violent) conflict. Therefore, climate mitigation and peacebuilding strategies are co-designing sustainable land-use systems (SLUS) with affected communities to integrate land-based climate mitigation and peacebuilding objectives. SLUS is practiced within agricultural production systems that meet sustainability principles (environmental, social, and economic). Nevertheless, there needs to be more program evaluation frameworks, especially measurable indicators, that integrate these two objectives (achieving peace and climate mitigation). This study aims to develop a methodology and criteria to evaluate the precise mechanisms of SLUS influencing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and drivers of conflict. A mix-method approach was used in two case study regions, Cesar and Caquetá, Colombia, where SLUS strategies where implemented. First, we conducted three workshops, two in-person and one virtual (n = 103). Secondly, we held semi-structured interviews (n = 115) to make an analysis of the conflict. Our research focused on the drivers of land-based emissions and conflict drivers targeted by the SLUS implementation. Lastly, through a household survey (n = 929), we illustrated the impacts of SLUS in peacebuilding at the farm level. Results show that SLUS, such as cocoa agroforestry, can contribute to climate change mitigation and deliver co-benefits in four core factors: (i) socio-economic inclusion by creating jobs and diversifying livelihoods, (ii) dialogue and conflict transformation by allowing negotiations around the participatory design of farms, including conservation agreements, (iii) natural resource governance, and (iv) cooperation by creating knowledge exchange and a community of practice

Toward a deforestation-free cocoa supply chain in Colombia

This policy brief sheds light on the incentives that can promote deforestation-free cocoa production in Colombia. It proposes steps that decision-makers can take to support Colombia’s vision of a zero-deforestation cocoa supply chain

Farmscape composition and livelihood sustainability in deforested landscapes of Colombian Amazonia

In this article, we operationalized a sustainability framing based on the Sustainable Rural Livelihood Resources Framework (SLF), which consists of five capitals—human, physical, social, financial, and natural. We proposed a sustainability index (SI) for two landscapes dominated by two agricultural systems: cattle ranching and small-scale family agriculture. Farm variables within each capital were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. Key variables were identified and index values were calculated for each capital. These were combined through a set of simultaneous equations to estimate farm-specific capitals and SI from the observed farm variables. Principal component and cluster analyses were used to group the farms according to their index scores and to further compare their characteristics. Furthermore, with the purpose of comparing the index scoring with an independent metric, a landscape indicator, which comes from a continuous forest, was calculated. From the results, the capitals that contributed to a higher SI score the most were financial and physical. As cattle ranching was associated with higher economic returns and infrastructure investments, this livelihood was identified as the most sustainable. Yet, cattle ranching has been a deforestation driver in the region. These results are attributed to the current conceptual framework design, which gives greater weight to material and economic variables; therefore, it generates a weak sustainability measure. Although the framework allowed us to identify land-use alternatives that could improve SI scores (i.e., silvopastoral systems), corrections to the proposed framework and methodological approach will need to include additional environmental benefits currently unaccounted for. Farmers that use their farms for conservation purposes should be recognized and compensated. An improved environmentally focused SI operational framework could help to endorse and promote sustainable livelihoods and to generate a strong sustainability measure

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

La escalada, programa de entrenamiento para el desarrollo de la fuerza en nivel básico 4

Tesis (Educación Física)Resulta evidente que la fuerza es una capacidad que debe desarrollarse en el ser humano, ya que indiscutiblemente es una necesidad física funcional y por lo tanto primordial en la vida cotidiana de cualquier individuo. Y con justa razón es relevante dar énfasis en ella desde edades muy tempranas. Sin embargo existen pensamientos divergentes que discuten su trabajo en el subsector de educación física en la preadolescencia. Es por este motivo que queremos demostrar la importancia que tiene la escalada deportiva en el desarrollo de la fuerza en niños de 11 -12 años, es decir, en el nivel básico 4 (6° año básico). Evidentemente este deporte no convencional tiene incidencias en las diferentes capacidades condicionales y coordinativas del niño, sin embargo solamente pretendemos enfocarnos en la capacidad condicional fuerza, específicamente en el tren superior, sin desconocer la influencia del desarrollo en el tren inferior. Además se debe considerar la Reforma Educacional Chilena, en donde encontramos contenidos relacionados con esta capacidad, por lo tanto estamos cumpliendo con los objetivos que se plantea el Ministerio de Educación. Por último se deben mencionar las principales características del comportamiento del niño, relacionados con el desarrollo evolutivo tanto en sus aspectos cognitivo, afectivo-social y motor, para así comprender al individuo en todo sus aspectos. El seminario que a continuación se expone, busca investigar los cambios que se producen en la fuerza del tren superior, a través de la práctica de la escalada deportiva en un tiempo determinado. Lo que nos condujo al siguiente planteamiento de problema: ¿Influye la escalada deportiva en el desarrollo de la fuerza del tren superior en niños de NB4

The quest for CGIAR innovations to reduce food system carbon footprints on a global scale

The Low-Emission Food Systems Initiative Mitigate+ aims to contribute to low-emission food systems development and reduce net annual greenhouse gas emissions from food systems. It forms part of CGIAR`s new research portfolio and includes IFPRI participation, delivering science and innovation to transform food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. We, at work package 4 of Mitigate+, are on a mission to identify and scale CGIAR innovations with potential transformative effects—focusing now on the single largest global challenge: climate change. Now the question is: Which CGIAR innovations can be further scaled to achieve our goal while also continuing to contribute toward their initial aims of helping to reduce hunger and ensuring that people in the Global South have access to affordable and nutritious food? Scaling up innovations globally and achieving widespread adoption will require participation from key food system stakeholders

Shift and share session presentation on food system drivers of deforestation: A novel approach (December 16, 2022)

Presentation of work done in collaboration with FAO about food system drivers of deforestation. In this work, we take the more traditional land systems approach to the study of underlying drivers of deforestation and integrate it into a food systems approach that incorporates drivers of food systems. We applied this new framework to a global-scale analysis to investigate how food system dynamics are driving deforestation