Autonomy under contract: the case of traditional free-range poultry farmers

This article explores the autonomy developed by free-range poultry farmers in their daily work. In this type of livestock production, farmers are linked by a contract to a farmer organization, to which they sell their broilers in exchange for a payment resembling a salary. The farmers do have autonomy in their work, which is framed by a set of prescriptions and rules. As they experience the same constraints, farmers involved in the same production mode develop a collective identity. Relationships of confidence progressively develop between the farmers and their technical staff (veterinary practitioners and production technicians). These good relationships strengthen the collective identity while also enabling the collective work between the three professionals. Veterinary practitioners and production technicians consecutively share some of the constraints and transfer part of their decision-making to the farmers. The latter thereby acquire more autonomy, even in fields apparently out of their reach. We illustrate the latter idea with the example of antimicrobial use. We observe that while strictly supervised by veterinary practitioners, farmers nevertheless manage to get involved in the decision underlying the prescription of antimicrobials

Economic evaluation of health consequences of prenatal methylmercury exposure in France

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evidence of a dose–response relationship between prenatal exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) and neurodevelopmental consequences in terms of IQ reduction, makes it possible to evaluate the economic consequences of MeHg exposures.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To perform an economic evaluation of annual national benefits of reduction of the prenatal MeHg exposure in France.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used data on hair-Hg concentrations in French women of childbearing age (18–45 years) from a national sample of 126 women and from two studies conducted in coastal regions (n = 161and n = 503). A linear dose response function with a slope of 0.465 IQ point reduction per μg/g increase in hair-Hg concentration was used, along with a log transformation of the exposure scale, where a doubling of exposure was associated with a loss of 1.5 IQ points. The costs calculations utilized an updated estimate of €₂₀₀₈ 17,363 per IQ point decrement, with three hypothetical exposure cut-off points (hair-Hg of 0.58, 1.0, and 2.5 μg/g).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Because of higher exposure levels of women in coastal communities, the annual economic impacts based on these data were greater than those using the national data, i.e. € 1.62 billion (national), and € 3.02 billion and € 2.51 billion (regional), respectively, with the linear model, and € 5.46 billion (national), and € 9.13 billion and € 8.17 billion (regional), with the log model, for exposures above 0.58 μg/g.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results emphasize that efforts to reduce MeHg exposures would have high social benefits by preventing the serious and lifelong consequences of neurodevelopmental deficits in children.</p