An economic analysis of commercialization of innovation in small Saskatchewan agribusinesses

Small firms make up a large proportion of businesses in Saskatchewan and likely have more potential for innovation given their diversity and flexibility. As agribusiness refers to all firms involved in food production, including input suppliers, producers, processors, distributors and retailers, small agribusinesses play a significant role in the economy and assist in diversifying agriculture. Of these, small producers and processors, however, are at a disadvantage in the current, highly consolidated and concentrated retail market environment. Largely restricted to a cottage industry-sized market they suffer from not generating sufficient profits from their commercialization of new products. Due to capital constraints, limited access to financing, and poor understanding of manufacturing, business management, and marketing, they also face many challenges and barriers to entering commercial retail markets where supermarket chains predominate. Given this perspective, commercialization in small Saskatchewan agribusinesses is analyzed using a case study approach. Relying on supply chain theory and transaction cost economics, a theoretical framework to model successful commercialization by small firms is developed and tested in case studies undertaken among Saskatchewan food processors. In particular, economic models of commercialization and a checklist for commercialization are developed. The models assume that small agribusinesses can access commercial markets through achieving economies of scale and, hence, succeed in commercializing their new products. The checklist for commercialization includes three main challenges of commercialization, namely increasing production scale, accessing commercial markets, and defining optimal production scale and corresponding barriers. A case study analysis has given some validity to the applicability of the economic models of commercialization and the checklist for commercialization

Content and distribution of some chemical elements in the poplar leaves (Populus laurifolia) in Ulaanbaatar

In the last more than two decades, technogenic environmental pollution of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) has become a critical issue due to the rapid growth of the city’s population and environmental objects such as soil, plant and water in Ulaanbaatar territory have been heavily contaminated through air. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the toxic and biophilic elements in the leaves of laurel poplar (Populus laurifolia) in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) and to study the behaviour and interdependence of its distribution, (2) and to assess the ecological state of laurel poplar (Populus laurifolia). In the leaves of laurel poplar (Populus laurifolia) on the territory of Ulaanbaatar, the distribution of most of the studied toxic and biophilic elements is even, but only Mg, Ca, and Mn are not evenly distributed. The biogeochemical feature of laurel poplar (Populus laurifolia) on the territory of Ulaanbaatar was studied by comparing it with the value of the world clarke and with the average content of elements in plant ash according to Alekseenko and with the background value. Our study revealed the accumulation of Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb and the scattering of Fe, Mn, Co, Cu in the leaves of laurel poplar (Populus laurifolia) in Ulaanbaatar In Populus laurifolia leaves in Ulaanbaatar area the median value of Fe/Mn ratio is 4.2-2.7 times, and the median value of Pb/Mn ratio is 6.7 times higher the normal and Cu/Zn ratio is at an equilibrium. The highest Fe/Mn ratios are found along the main highway (10.45) and in the city centre (11.09)

Coumarins of Angelica deccurens

It was shown that the plant Angelica deccurens (Ldb.) B. Fedtsch might be serve as a source of valuable coumarins. Five linear furocoumarins – umbelliferon, isoimperatorin, imperatorin, psoralen and oxypeucedanin have been isolated from the roots of Angelica deccurens (Ldb.) B. Fedtsch growing in Mongolia. Molecular structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The coumarin psoralen has been isolated for the first time from this plant. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjc.v14i0.193 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 14 (40), 2013, p25-2

Identification of Herder-Wild Equid Conflicts in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in SW Mongolia

In protected areas of Mongolian overgrazing, competition with wild ungulates and poaching are important management concerns. The Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (SPA) in SW Mongolia is a re-introduction site for the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), a stronghold of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus), and remains an important grazing area for seminomadic herders. We show the power of simple inventory and monitoring methods to assess herder-wildlife conflicts, by combining data of: (1) human and livestock demographic data, (2) migration patterns, of semi-nomadic herders, (3) monthly surveys of wild- and domestic ungulates, and (4) observations of re-introduced, free-ranging Przewalski’s horses. A total of 111 semi-nomadic families with 57,657 head of livestock use the park, mainly in winter. Grazing impact of small stock affects 33% of the park area and is virtually absent in the core area. However, due to the unequal distribution of open water, livestock is present at almost all water points. Seasonal wild horse and wild ass distribution seems to be positively linked to water availability and negatively to herder presence. We documented several cases of wild ungulate poaching, but the magnitude of the problem remains unknown. There are still many knowledge gaps and local people need to be more actively involvement in park management. As this is a rather new approach in Mongolia, we suggest park management to move towards adaptive co-management, accompanied by simple, but sound monitoring and evaluation schemes

Temporal variation of the pseudo total content of heavy metals in Ulaanbaatar soil

This work shows some of the results of investigation into pseudo total content of heavy metals in the surface soil of Ulaanbaatar.The main objectives of this study are to (i) evaluate temporal variability of pseudo-total content of Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co and Mn in surface soil of Ulaanbaatar collected from 2003 to 2018, (ii) identify the main discriminates - metals during the years 2003-2018 years and, (iii) investigate the interdependence of main discriminates on the soil reaction (pH) and soil organic matter.Due to urbanization and negative human activities, surface soil in Ulaanbaatar losing their natural features, which are changing, while the spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals in urban surface soil is becoming irregular. In Ulaanbaatar surface soil, the mean concentration of Cu, Zn and Pb much mois very high and the mean concentration of Co is lower than background soil. In some land use zones, it was found that the mean concentraion of Zn and Cr was considerably higher than the permissible level. The pollution condition of Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni and Cd was the same in 2010-2018 and the pollution conditions of Pb, Cu and Co are different. The main discriminants are Pb, Cu and Co. In Ulaanbaatar soil, a strikingly close correlationhip was established for Cu, Pb with the soil organic matter, and for Cd, Zn, Cr with the pH, respectively

Identification of Herder-Wild Equid Conflicts in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in SW Mongolia

In protected areas of Mongolian overgrazing, competition with wild ungulates and poaching are important management concerns. The Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (SPA) in SW Mongolia is a re-introduction site for the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), a stronghold of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus), and remains an important grazing area for seminomadic herders. We show the power of simple inventory and monitoring methods to assess herder-wildlife conflicts, by combining data of: (1) human and livestock demographic data, (2) migration patterns, of semi-nomadic herders, (3) monthly surveys of wild- and domestic ungulates, and (4) observations of re-introduced, free-ranging Przewalski’s horses. A total of 111 semi-nomadic families with 57,657 head of livestock use the park, mainly in winter. Grazing impact of small stock affects 33% of the park area and is virtually absent in the core area. However, due to the unequal distribution of open water, livestock is present at almost all water points. Seasonal wild horse and wild ass distribution seems to be positively linked to water availability and negatively to herder presence. We documented several cases of wild ungulate poaching, but the magnitude of the problem remains unknown. There are still many knowledge gaps and local people need to be more actively involvement in park management. As this is a rather new approach in Mongolia, we suggest park management to move towards adaptive co-management, accompanied by simple, but sound monitoring and evaluation schemes

Capture and Anaesthesia of the Mongolian Wild Ass (\u3ci\u3eE. hemionus\u3c/i\u3e)

Science-based conservation efforts in general and wide-ranging equid conservation specifically, often require capture and subsequent handling of the subject animal. Safe and animal-welfare appropriate wild equid capture and anesthesia is a complex operation necessitating a multitude of skills that require appropriate veterinary training. In order to develop management plans for the Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus), which range over vast areas the use of radiotelemetry, is an essential tool. Radio-telemetry allows the researchers to better understand the habitat requirements and to delineate the areas of potential wildlife-human conflicts. To date we have successfully captured 16 wild ass in the Gobi regions of Mongolia. The agent of choice for wild ass capture and anesthesia is the potent opiate ethorphine in combination with specific opiate antagonists that allow for the complete reversal of the anesthetic effects. The recommended dosage for healthy, adult wild ass procedures anesthesia is a combination of 4.4 mg ethorphine, 10 mg buthorphanol and 10 mg detomidine. Anesthesia was reversed with the opioid antagonist-agonist diprenorphine or a combination of 200 mg naltrexone and the alpha2-antagonist 20 mg atipamezole. All wild asses were standing and alert approximately two minutes following administration of the antagonists

Comparison of hematological and histological analysis of "Clinomon" and "Litovit-M" in mice

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjc.v13i0.157 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry Vol.13 2012: 31-3

Water Use by Khulan in the Dzungarian Gobi in SW Mongolia

Water is the lifeline for the world’s drylands and the key for the distribution of water-dependent equids like khulan. We developed a simple algorithm using khulan tracks from GPS telemetry to identify waterpoints. This approach allowed us to obtain the first landscape-scale information on the use of waterpoints by khulan in Great Gobi B SPA. We discuss the merits and limitations of the algorithm and the implication for landscape level conservation