Knowing food - a privilege for the concerned consumer? A research programme on organic urban-rural relationships

Community supported agriculture (CSA) is increasingly practised in different countries all over the world and can be seen as a step towards a new style of urban-rural relationship. However, it is argued that CSA is an “utopian entertainment for a few middle class consumers and their fortunate few farmer friends” (Goodman and DuPuis 2002, p. 17). Often, such CSA projects rest on organic agriculture, a farming system which in turn provides food mainly to the middle class of well-educated concerned consumers (Morgan and Murdoch 2000). Thus, one could argue that organic CSA is a highly exclusive concept, and that, in consequence, building urban-rural relationships depends on a small part of society ignoring, for example, poorer, often less educated consumers. This paper outlines the planned research accompanying a pilot CSA project in a Swiss city targeted at less educated people without special concerns (or the budget needed) for healthy, organic or otherwise alternative food. It thereby critically reflects the predominance of middle class consumers in the urban-rural relationship. With the help of ethnographic methods, such as participatory observation and in-depth (narrative) interviews, the project will explore (learning) processes that lead to “knowing” food in CSA. Conceiving of the production-consumption relationship as a discourse sees consumer actions as political when they exercise “the capacity to act” in a way that affects future society (Goodman and DuPuis 2002). The project will study in how far the target group of less educated people participates in this political action. It furthermore explores if there are processes which could empower them to decide deliberately whether or not to take part in such political action, and to effectuate their “right to know” (Allen and Kovach 2000), thus democratizing the urban-rural link

Moving on – European organic farming movements between political action and self-reflection

Organic farming movements in Europe are widely recognised as a positive force by market actors and civil society, as well as relevant actors in policy networks. At the same time, the organic movement is in a process of self-reflection, reconsidering its value basis. Taking account of both a policy network and a social movement perspective, this article seeks to understand political action of the organic sector. Making use of a cross-country comparison of European organic farming policy networks, it conceptualises the consequences of such action with regard to political influence and the identity of the organic farming movement. While different strategies are employed to influence politics, a space needs to be opened up within the movements for continuous innovation and the re-construction of a collective identity

Translational control by the multi-KH domain protein Scp160

The control of mRNA translation mediated by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) is a key player in modulating gene expression. In S. cerevisiae, the multi-KH domain protein Scp160 associates with a large number of mRNAs and is present on membrane-bound and, to a lesser extent, cytosolic polysomes. Its binding site on the ribosome is close to the mRNA exit tunnel and in vicinity to Asc1, which constitutes a binding platform for signaling molecules. The present study focused on the closer characterization of the Scp160-ribosome interaction and on the suggested function of Scp160 in modulating the translation of specific target mRNAs. Using affinity purifications, the partial RNA-dependence of the Scp160-ribosome association was confirmed. In contrast to published results, ribosome association was found to be only slightly reduced but not abolished in the absence of Asc1 or the last two KH domains. Furthermore, the putative elongation regulator Stm1 was identified as a co-purifier of Scp160. In subcellular fractionation experiments, RNA-binding mutants of Scp160 were present in the ribosome-free cytosolic fraction and therefore partially deficient in ribosome association and/or mRNP formation. However, no physiological conditions were found that equally induce a shift of wildtype Scp160 towards the cytosolic fraction. Within the scope of a translational profiling approach, microarray analyses of RNA isolated from sucrose density gradient fractions were performed and led to the identification of a set of mRNAs that shift their position within the gradients upon Scp160 depletion, indicating changes in their translation rates. Consistent with the membrane localization of Scp160, transcripts encoding secreted proteins were significantly enriched. Using immunoprecipitation and subsequent quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), the interaction of Scp160 with a subgroup of the identified targets was confirmed and it was shown that their binding is dependent on the conserved GXXG motifs in the two C-terminal KH domains of Scp160. Furthermore, data were obtained indicating that Scp160 can act as a translational activator on some of its target mRNAs, probably on the level of translation elongation. Finally, first evidence was provided that the translational misregulation of specific target transcripts may be involved in the polyploidization that is a hallmark of Scp160-deprived cells. In summary, these data substantiate the assumption that Scp160 is involved in translational regulation of a specific, functionally related subset of mRNAs. This finding is in good accordance with the emerging view that RBPs co-regulate multiple transcripts in order to allow faster adaptation to environmental changes

More than wheat - the market potential of currently underutilised cereal crops

Diversity in arable production across Europe has been on the decline, with only a few varieties of common wheat, maize and barley accounting formore than85% of the cereals produced in the EU-28in 2015. The focus on only a few crops has shown to increase the risk of production loss due to pests and diseases.We conducted case studies of regional market initiatives in fourcountries to understand the success factors as well as challenges faced by initiatives aiming to increase cereal diversity and promote minor cereal crops. The four initiatives studied were involved with the production and trade of rye, oats, spelt, emmer and einkorn. The major success factors for these initiatives was the niche marketing approach used combined withthe skills and expertise of those involved as well as the knowledge and a network of external actors. These assets allowedthe initiatives to organise a niche market and buildup long lasting relationships all the actors, invest inareliable market planning and focus on consumer trends and needs. The major limitations for the development of the supply chains included the lack ofadapted processing technologyand infrastructure as well as restricted accessto seeds. The examples described here help to increase the diversity ofEuropeancereal production

How can we make sense of smart technologies for sustainable agriculture? - A discussion paper

This paper discusses the challenges of assessing the benefits and risks of new digital technologies, so-called ‘smart technologies’ for sustainable agri-food systems. It builds on the results of a literature review that was embedded in a wider study on future options for (sustainable) farming systems in Germany. Following the concepts of Actor-Network-Theory, we can conceive of smart technologies in agriculture as networks that can only be understood in their entirety when considering the relationships with all actors involved: technology developers, users (farmers, consumers and others), data analysts, legal regulators, policy makers, and potential others. Furthermore, interaction of the technology and its implementers with nature, such as plants, entire landscapes, and animals, need to be taken into consideration. As a consequence, we have to deal with a highly complex system when assessing the technology – at a time where many of the relevant questions have not been sufficiently researched yet. Building on the FAO’s SAFA guidelines, the paper outlines criteria against which smart technologies could be assessed for their potential to contribute to a sustainable development of agri-food systems. These include aspects of governance, ecology, economy and social issues. We draw some tentative conclusions on the required framework conditions for implementation of digital technology, in particular from the perspective of sustainable agriculture. These are aimed at fuelling further discussion about the potentials and risks of the technology

Organic farming policy networks in Europe: context, actors and variation

Despite most having developed under the umbrella of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), national-level organic farming policy networks in Europe vary. The aim of this paper is to explore the reasons for this variation. Quantitative network analyses were carried out in five 'old' and five 'new' EU member states and in Switzerland. To examine the patterns of influence on these eleven policy networks, the cases are compared in two stages. First, we examine the factors co-varying with the size and density of the networks and then we apply a most similar system - most different outcome research design. We identify the political environment as the main factor affecting size and density of organic farming policy networks in Europe. The distribution of power between organic farming organizations and agricultural ministries is influenced by state involvement and by the resources available to organic farming policy actors

Creating value(s) by integrating local and extra-local resources in cereal production in the Swiss Alps

This paper explores the long-term prospect of alternative, local food initiatives, taking a particular interest in the development of the embedded local values, understood as economic as well as cultural values. Analysing the case of a cooperative of mountain cereal farmers in Switzerland, we show that sustaining local values-based quality is a dynamic process of linking local and extra-local resources. Our results first show the importance of both proximity and place in constructing the ‘local’ by the cooperative. Second, product flow, knowledge and information exchange, quality control, and innovation are governed by both horizontal and vertical relationships between local and extra-local resources, and these multiple relationships build trust in the network and beyond. This, thirdly, enables the cooperative to continuously reproduce its values by weaving them into a cycle of quality creation. We conclude that we need to understand the characteristic values-based quality of the cooperative’s products as the result of a recurring cycle of local and extra-local knowledge creation and resource exchange

Studying learning and innovation networks – a conceptual and methodological framework

This paper outlines the main concepts and methodology that the SOLINSA project uses in its study of learning and innovation networks. This project aims to identify barriers to the development of Learning and Innovation Networks for sustainable agriculture (LINSA). In such networks, social learning processes take place, and knowledge about sustainable agriculture is co-produced by connecting between the different frames and social worlds of the stakeholders with the help of boundary objects. Studying such processes at the interface between different knowledge spheres of research, policy and practice requires a specific methodology. A transdisciplinary reflective learning methodology addresses the complex question of understanding learning and innovation. The paper highlights the challenges of this approach that involves stakeholders already in the phase of defining the research objectives and strategies. Results from a first round of application of the conceptual and methodological framework will be presented and discussed

The influence of policy networks on policy output. A comparison of organic farming policy in the Czech Republic and Poland

Although, at the time of accession to the EU, organic farming policies formally were equally developed in the Czech Republic and Poland, a closer investigation reveals some variation. This paper takes a policy network perspective to explore the policy differences between these two countries. Common network themes are used to link networks with policy output. It is argued that the capacity of the organic sector and its structural organization, its cohesion, and the relationship between organic interest groups and the government affect the political discourse, and, in consequence, how organic farming policy is elaborated

Market Concentration and the Labor Share in Germany. Bertelsmann Policy Brief #2018/03

Highly innovative firms are commanding a growing share of the market in several industries. This trend not only has an impact on competition and prices – but it also affects the share of overall income going to labor. This, in turn, can exacerbate income inequality