Anaerobic digestion of biowaste in Indian municipalities: Effects on energy, fertilizers, water and the local environment

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of biowaste seems promising to provide renewable energy (biogas) and organic fertilizers (digestate) and mitigate environmental pollution in India. Intersectoral analyses of biowaste management in municipalities are needed to reveal benefits and trade-offs of AD at the implementation-level. Therefore, we applied material flow analyses (MFAs) to quantify effects of potential AD treatment of biowaste on energy and fertilizer supply, water consumption and environmental pollution in two villages, two towns and two cities in Maharashtra. Results show that in villages AD of available manure and crop residues can cover over half of the energy consumption for cooking (EC) and reduce firewood dependency. In towns and cities, AD of municipal biowaste is more relevant for organic fertilizer supply and pollution control because digestate can provide up to several times the nutrient requirements for crop production, but can harm ecosystems when discharged to the environment. Hence, in addition to energy from municipal biowaste - which can supply 4-6% of EC - digestate valorisation seems vital but requires appropriate post-treatment, quality control and trust building with farmers. To minimize trade-offs, water-saving options should be considered because 2-20% of current groundwater abstraction in municipalities is required to treat all available biowaste with ’wet’ AD systems compared to <3% with ’dry’ AD systems. We conclude that biowaste management with AD requires contextualized solutions in the setting of energy, fertilizers and water at the implementation-level to conceive valorization strategies for all AD products, reduce environmental pollution and minimize trade-offs with water resources

Claiming Space and Struggling for Recognition Partispace Working Paper Two

Aiming at contributing to a better understanding of the current developments, paradoxes and ways to deal with youth political participation in Europe, the main research question of the PARTISPACE project is: How and where do 15- to 30 year-old young people participate differently across social milieus and youth cultural scenes and across eight European cities (framed by different national welfare, education and youth policies)? In relation to this research question, this report was intended to analyse case studies which explore participation practices in formal, non-formal and informal contexts and reconstruct practices, meanings, relationship and dynamics of different forms of youth participation in a comparative perspective and local constellations of youth participation. In so doing, the report has outlined a mosaic of the different practices, activities, styles and spaces wherein young people situate their participation in the eight countries involved in the PARTISPACE project

Co-producing a Research Agenda for Sustainable Palm Oil

The rise of palm oil as the world’s most consumed vegetable oil has coincided with exponential growth in palm oil research activity. Bibliometric analysis of research outputs reveals a distinct imbalance in the type of research being undertaken, notably a disproportionate focus on biofuel and engineering topics. Recognizing the expansion of oil palm agriculture across the tropics and the increasing awareness of environmental, social, and economic impacts, we seek to reorientate the existing research agenda toward one that addresses the most fundamental and urgent questions defined by the palm oil stakeholder community. Following consultation with 659 stakeholders from 38 countries, including palm oil growers, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and researchers, the highest priority research questions were identified within 13 themes. The resulting 279 questions, including 26 ranked as top priority, reveal a diversity of environmental and social research challenges facing the industry, ranging from the ecological and ecosystem impacts of production, to the livelihoods of plantation workers and smallholder communities. Analysis of the knowledge type produced from these questions underscores a clear need for fundamental science programmes, and studies that involve the consultation of non-academic stakeholders to develop “transformative” solutions to the oil palm sector. Stakeholders were most aligned in their choice of priority questions across the themes of policy and certification related themes, and differed the most in environmental feedback, technology and smallholder related themes. Our recommendations include improved regional academic leadership and coordination, greater engagement with private and public stakeholders in Africa, and Central and South America, and enhanced collaborative efforts with researchers in the major consuming countries of India and China.The online survey and focus groups were funded by the Geran Kursi Endowmen MPOB-UKM Malaysia, and the Royal Geographical Society UK. The residential workshop was supported from by British Council and Academy Science Malaysia via the UK Newton Ungku-Omar Fund. ZD, JB, and MS are supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NE/K016407/1; http://lombok.nerc-hmtf.info/)

Borna disease in naturally infected cattle

Based on the immunohistochemical demonstration of viral antigen and on the histological brain lesions, Borna disease was diagnosed in a cow and a bull which had suffered from a severe, subacute progressive disorder of the central nervous system. Virus-specific antigen was characteristically localized in neurons, predominantly in the perikaryon and dendrites. In a serum sample available from one of the animals a Borna disease virus antibody titre of 1 in 80 was demonstrated. This is the first report of the natural disease in cattle

Hypotrichose und Oligodontie, verbunden mit einer Xq-Deletion, bei einem Kalb der Schweizerischen Fleckviehrasse

Hypotrichosis and oligodontia associated with a chromosomal anomaly (Xq-deletion) are described in a 11-month old cattle (Simmenthal/Red Holstein cross-breed). This chromosomal anomaly was accompanied with hairlessness and grievous teeth abnormalities. The animal had a very thin haircoat, had only one incisor and between one to three molars per mandible or maxilla. This resulted in reduced food intake, reduced rumination, and retarded growth. Post-mortem examination revealed lesions in the kidneys (bilateral chronic interstitial nephritis), adrenals (hyperplasia), pancreas (focal fibrosis) and abomasum (obstipation and multiple ulcers). Some of these abnormalities are comparable with the human "anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia" (Christ-Siemens-Touraine syndrome) and supports the hypothesis that there are homologies in the X-chromosome of different mammals