The Compliance Process of Food Quality Standards on Primary Producer Level: A Case Study of the EUREPGAP Standard in the Moroccan Tomato Sector

Fruit and vegetable sectors are principally seen as sectors where small producers are able to participate due to their low demand on land and their high labor requirements. However, the concern exists that small producers participation in the international fruit and vegetable trade could be diminishing as a result of the increasing prevalence of food quality standards in the sector. Standards define the terms of chain membership, imply rules and conditions for participation, and hence lead to processes of (re)distribution within the chain (Gibbon and Ponte, 2005). For some producers, standards may open up new opportunities as they permit market access to particular market segments. At the same time, the process of (re)distributing market shares is accompanied by marginalization and exclusion, as standards may impose prohibitively high barriers for certain producers in terms of the short-term and long-term efforts needed for production under certification. This is particularly relevant since certification with private standards has become a major requirement for participation in fruit and vegetable markets worldwide. One of the most important private standards for fruit and vegetables is the EUREPGAP standard, which has now become quasi-mandatory for several export destinations (USAID, 2005). This paper aims to analyze two particular questions with regard to the distributional effects of standards: 1) which producers comply, and which do not; and 2) why do some producers comply while others do not? With respect to the first question, various surveys have mentioned the particular difficulties facing small producers within this new trading environment (e.g. Humphrey et al. 2004; Kleinwechter and Grethe 2006; Maertens and Swinnen 2006; World Bank 2005). However, most of these surveys have hypothesized that small producers are disadvantaged within the new trading environment on theoretical grounds without actually providing empirical evidence for this assertion.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

The Compliance Decision with Food Quality Standards on Primary Producer Level; A Case Study of the EUREPGAP Standard in the Moroccan Tomato Sector

Within a trading system which is increasingly determined by food quality standards the concern exists that small producers possibilities for participation on international trade diminish. However, most concerns base on theoretical considerations and little empirical evidence exists. This paper empirically analyzes the compliance decision of Moroccan tomato producers with the EUREPGAP standard based on results of 63 interviews. By comparing the decision process of certified and non certified producers the most important drivers for certification are identified. Theoretically the analysis bases on the decision model of Rogers (2003) which was developed to analyze the decision process to adopt technical innovations. Results of the survey open up interesting opportunities for interpretation. 1) No results are found that small producers were particularly disadvantaged in the compliance process. 2) Less-organized or less integrated farmers tend to be disfavored since especially forward integration in form of being a member in a cooperative changes the cost of compliance. 3) Forward integration tens to be of particular importance not only because of decreasing cost of compliance but as well because of a direct access to information on the buyers requirements. The survey explores that using the term small as a synonym for less organized, less educated and technically less advanced production tends to be false when looking at small producers in the export value chain. These producers are small in relative terms and often larger in size as well as in capital and human capital than small producers producing for the domestic market.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Standards, a catalyst for the winners - a barrier for the losers? An empirical analysis of the impact of higher SPS measures on the trade performance of developing countries

Within the debate about developing countries export competitiveness the increasing importance of food safety and quality standards especially in OECD countries appeals to be one of the major sources of concern. The paper analyses the trade performance of 73 developing countries within the context of stricter SPS measures. The analysis concentrates on the meat and fruit / vegetable sectors as especially high value product sectors are determined by standards. The periods under consideration are 1993- 1995, as a period before the implementation of the SPS Agreement and 2002- 2004, as a period after the implementation. A cluster analysis groups the countries according to the variables "ratio" and "difference" of the export value to OECD countries including the possibility to explore trade performance regarding to the absolute level of change and relative dynamics. Subsequently, interconnections with EU and US border rejections as well as with STDF (Standards and Trade Development Facility) investment are explored. For the results three major findings should be underlined: e) The group of developing countries shows as well in total as in relative terms a very heterogeneous picture of their export development and there is no linear relation between total export value and direction of development. ee) Ten groups were identified in the cluster analysis, like e.g. small winners, large winners, small losers, large losers. eee) Most large exporters increased their market share, but very successful groups were also found among small exporters, especially in the fruit / vegetable market. eeee) Both, border rejections as well as STDF investments did not reflect a particular structure related to market share development of individual countries.Food Safety, SPS, Developing Countries, Cluster Analysis, Competitiveness., International Relations/Trade,

Quality Standards for Food Products - A Particular Burden for Small Producers in Developing Countries?

This paper develops an analytical framework which structures the problem of whether, how and to what extent small producers in developing countries are disadvantaged by the increasing prevalence of food quality standards. Based on a literature review, the empirical evidence is structured and research gaps are identified. The paper finds that small and medium producers rarely comply without support from downstream actors. In case of well-educated and relatively wealthy farmers, forward integration is also found. No empirical support exists for the intuitively appealing hypothesis of a lower cost of compliance per unit of output for large producers. Zusammenfassung In diesem Papier wird ein Analyserahmen entwickelt, um die Möglichkeit und das Ausmaß der Benachteiligung von Kleinlandwirten in Entwicklungsländern durch die zunehmende Verbreitung von Qualitätsstandards für Produkte der Agrar- und Ernährungsindustrie zu strukturieren. In einer Literaturübersicht werden die Ergebnisse empirischer Studien ausgewertet und Forschungslücken identifiziert. Es wird gezeigt, dass Kleinlandwirte aufwändige Prozessstandards selten ohne die Unterstützung von Unternehmen auf nachgelagerten Stufen der Wertschöpfungskette implementieren. Die einleuchtende und weit verbreitete Hypothese, dass die Cost of Compliance per Produkteinheit für große Produzenten niedriger als für kleine Produzenten seien, wurde bisher empirisch nicht bestätigt.Quality Standards, International Trade, EUREPGAP, Certification, Small Farmers, Developing Countries, Cost of Compliance, Agribusiness, International Relations/Trade,

Median and Ulnar Nerve Injuries in Children and Adolescents- Long-term outcome and Cerebral reorganisation

A peripheral nerve injury may lead to serious disability and influence the individual´s quality of life. It is considered that children can regain better sensory and motor function after a peripheral nerve injury, but the exact mechanism behind such superior recovery is not known. The aim of the thesis was to study the long-term clinical outcome after a peripheral nerve injury in patients injured in childhood and adolescence and to relate the clinical outcome to changes in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In addition, the consequences of the nerve injury for the patient´s life were explored. A short-term pilot study with four patients showed remaining clinical and electrophysiological abnormalities and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) showed that the cerebral activation pattern after tactile stimulation of the injured hand was different compared to the pattern of the healthy hand. In a larger study, the long-term functional outcome after nerve repair in those injured in childhood was compared to the outcome of those injured in adolescence. Patients below the age of 21 years, operated on at our hospital for a complete median or ulnar nerve injury at the level of the forearm 1970-1989, were followed up at a median of 31 years. Outcome was significantly better in those injured in childhood, i.e. below the age of 12 years, with almost full sensory and motor recovery. No significant differences in recovery were seen between patients with median and ulnar nerve injuries, or even when both nerves were injured. The median DASH scores (i.e. questionnaire; Disability Arm Shoulder and Hand) were within normal limits and cold sensitivity was not a problem in either age group. Those injured in adolescence (i.e. above the age of 12 years) had a significantly higher impact on their profession, education, and leisure activities. Electrophysiological evaluation (amplitude, conduction velocity and distal motor latency) showed pathology in all parameters and in all patients, irrespective of age at injury. This suggests that the mechanisms behind the superior clinical outcome in children are not located in the peripheral nervous system. With fMRI it was shown that patients injured in childhood had a cortical activation pattern similar to that of healthy controls and it was observed that cerebral changes in both hemispheres may explain differences in clinical outcome following a nerve injury in childhood or adolescence. Finally, fifteen patients injured in adolescence, who were interviewed to explore the experiences after a nerve injury and its consequences for daily life, described emotional reactions to trauma. Even symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder were mentioned and the patients described different adaptation strategies used. Educational and professional life had changed completely for some. The present thesis shows that age is an important factor that influences outcome after a peripheral nerve injury. The reason for the age-related difference in outcome is alterations in the central nervous system. In addition, a nerve injury had a severe impact on the individuals´ life. By further exploring the mechanisms of plasticity and by modifying the rehabilitation, we might eventually improve the outcome after a peripheral nerve injury

Positive Lyapunov Exponent in the Hopf Normal Form with Additive Noise

We prove the positivity of Lyapunov exponents for the normal form of a Hopf bifurcation, perturbed by additive white noise, under sufficiently strong shear strength. This completes a series of related results for simplified situations which we can exploit by studying suitable limits of the shear and noise parameters. The crucial technical ingredient for making this approach rigorous is a result on the continuity of Lyapunov exponents via Furstenberg Khasminskii formulas.Comment: 35 page

Experimental investigation of a turbine sealing cavity exposed to free stream pressure fluctuation

The current investigation examines the impact of a new pulsed unsteady combustion to the turbine sealing cavity, which prevents hot gas ingestion into the inner machine. Sealing flow is ensured by relatively cold secondary air blowing radially through the rotor-stator-wheel space. The interaction between the sealing flow and the main gas flow however causes aerodynamic losses. These losses as well as the secondary compressor air should be kept at a minimum in order to increase the efficiency of the whole machine. The Hot-Acoustic-Testrig (HAT) allows an investigation of the subject under realistic flow conditions. Therefore a specific measurement section has been designed, which features a plenum to provide secondary air to the main flow. To simulate an pressure increasing combustion, a setup with 6 fast shifting valves was realized. The unsteady flow was measured by pressure tabs with a high time resolution. In the next step a characteristic linear cascade was designed to replace the turbine stator and generate a typical stator wake. Measurements of the total pressure loss over the cascade vanes have been conducted by means of a five-hole probe and by Particle Image Velocimetry. A considerable pressure loss inside the vane wake was observed at a Mach number Ma = 0.35. The nvestigation is a subproject of the Collaborative Research Center 1029 Substantial efficiency increase in gas turbines through direct use of coupled unsteady combustion and flow dynamics and gives an outlook to further steps.DFG, 200291049, SFB 1029: TurbIn - Signifikante Wirkungsgradsteigerung durch gezielte, interagierende Verbrennungs- und Strömungsinstationaritäten in Gasturbine

Subjective outcome related to donor site morbidity after sural nerve graft harvesting: a survey in 41 patients

Background: The sural nerve is the most commonly used nerve for grafting severe nerve defects. Our aim was to evaluate subjective outcome in the lower leg after harvesting the sural nerve for grafting nerve defects. Methods: Forty-six patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire to describe symptoms from leg or foot, where the sural nerve has been harvested to reconstruct an injured major nerve trunk. The questionnaire, previously used in patients going through a nerve biopsy, consists of questions about loss of sensation, pain, cold intolerance, allodynia and present problems from the foot. The survey also contained questions (visual analogue scales; VAS) about disability from the reconstructed nerve trunk. Results: Forty-one out of 46 patients replied [35 males/6 females; age at reconstruction 23.0 years (10-72); median (min-max), reconstruction done 12 (1.2-39) years ago]. In most patients [37/41 cases (90%)], the sural nerve graft was used to reconstruct an injured nerve trunk in the upper extremity, mainly the median nerve [19/41 (46%)]. In 38/41 patients, loss of sensation, to a variable extent, in the skin area innervated by the sural nerve was noted. These problems persisted at follow up, but 19/41 noted that this area of sensory deficit had decreased over time. Few patients had pain and less than 1/3 had cold intolerance. Allodynia was present in half of the patients, but the majority of them considered that they had no or only slight problems from their foot. None of the patients in the study required painkillers. Eighty eight per cent would accept an additional sural nerve graft procedure if another nerve reconstruction procedure is necessary in the future. Conclusions: Harvesting of the sural nerve for reconstruction nerve injuries results in mild residual symptoms similar to those seen after a nerve biopsy; although nerve biopsy patients are less prone to undergo an additional biopsy