EMERGING ROLES FOR FOOD LABELS: INFORM, PROTECT, PERSUADE

Every day, food producers and processors provide products consumed by 250 million people in this country. Each of those consumers is affected by the content of their foods. With advances in food production, processing, and distribution technology, the role of food labels has become increasingly important. Current research and views related to food labeling issues were discussed at a conference held in Washington, D.C. on March 20-21, 2003. This article gives an overview of food-labeling issues and summarizes the research findings presented at the conference. Issues discussed in this paper include the impact of food labels on consumer purchase decisions, the role of the private versus the public sector in providing credibility to marketing claims, the costs and benefits of voluntary and mandatory labels, and the implications of country-of-origin labeling.Agribusiness,

Under the radar? 'Soft' residential densification in England, 2001-2011

Urban compaction policies have been widely adopted in developed countries in pursuit of more sustainable cities. Compactness is achieved through a process of ‘densification’, of developing and using land and buildings more intensively. However, empirical evidence on the processes and outcomes of urban densification is lacking. The paper addresses this lacuna. It considers densification in England, a country that has long experience of applying policies of urban containment and consolidation; and one where new data sources allow the analysis of recent land use change at a level of detail not hitherto possible. In England between 2001 and 2011 the bulk of additional dwellings were accommodated within urban areas, increasing their density. Yet there were wide inter- and intra-regional variations in the pattern of densification: for example, in the contributions of large scale, formal development and of small scale, informal, gradual change – of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ densification – to the process. The significant differences in local experiences of densification that result raise major issues for policy

To green or not to green: Establishing the economic value of green infrastructure investments in The Wicker, Sheffield.

Establishing the value of urban green infrastructure resources draws on a complex evaluation of social, economic and ecological influences. As a result planners have found it difficult to develop robust economic arguments to promote investments in urban greening. The Valuing Attractive Landscapes in the Urban Economy (VALUE) project facilitated a trans-national programme of investigations to establish economic values for a range of green infrastructure investments. This paper presents the results of a large-scale willingness to pay (WTP) survey (N: 510) for investments on Blonk Street, The Wicker, Sheffield. Using 3D visualisations of three alternative urban greening scenarios the research addressed the influence of green infrastructure on aesthetic quality, functionality and amenity. The evidence suggests that participants were WTP up £10.56 or 2% more in monthly rent or additional mortgage payments to live in locations that have a high quality green infrastructure environment. The survey also examined the relationships between a range of socio-economic factors and WTP for green infrastructure (GI). WTP more rent was associated particularly with those in younger age groups and those with lower educational attainment. The paper concludes that investment in urban GI that is visibly greener, that facilitates access to GI and other amenities and that is perceived to promote multiple functions and benefits on a single site (i.e. multi-functionality) generate higher WTP values. The findings of the study support the wider literature evaluating the economic value of GI which argues that investment in urban greenspace can have a significant impact on local housing and commercial markets where it produces more attractive and functional landscapes

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of lipid classes in fish oils by thin-layer chromatography with an Iatroscan flame Ionization detector (TLC-FID) and liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detector (LC-ELSD)

Combined effects of hydrogen and air flow rates on the peak response of selected neutral lipid classes (triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, monoacylglycerol, free fatty acids, and ethyl esters) were studied to optimize and calibrate the Iatroscan Mk-6s Chromarod system for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of lipid classes by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with flame ionization detection in fish oil during the transesterification process. Air flow rate of 2 L/min, hydrogen flow rate of 150-160 mL/min, and scan rate of 30 s/rod were found to be the optimum conditions. All samples were also analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with evaporative light scattering detection. Quantitative results obtained by TLC with the flame ionization detection method were comparable to those obtained from HPLC with evaporative light scattering detection. <br /

History, current status, and collaborative researchprojects for Bemisia tabaci

Bemisia tabaci was described over 100 years ago and has since become one of the most important pests worldwide in subtropical and tropical agriculture as well as in greenhouse production systems. It adapts easily to new host plants and geographical regions and has now been reported from all global continents except Antarctica. In the last decade, international transport of plant material and people have contributed to geographical spread. B. tabaci has been recorded from more than 600 plant species and there may be many additional hosts not yet formally documented. Biotypes have been identified in different areas of the world suggesting that B. tabaci may be a species-complex undergoing evolutionary change. These biotypes may exhibit differences in viruses transmitted and transmission efficiency, rates of development, endosymbionts, host utilization, and physiological host damage. Excessive B. tabaci induced losses worldwide occur in field, vegetable and ornamental crop production. Losses occur from plant diseases caused by B. tabaci transmitted viruses, direct feeding damage, plant physiological disorders, and honeydew contamination and associated fungal growth. The number of B. tabaci-transmitted plant viruses has increased, and total yield losses of important food and industrial crops has occurred. Effective control at present is dependent on insecticides. However, this has been achieved with more selective chemistries, use of action thresholds, and resistance management. Host plant resistance and various cultural methods are also components of developing integrated management systems. National and international collaborative projects have made significant progress towards improved characterization of the whitefly problem, increased research, development of management methods, transfer of technology to the agricultural communities, and information exchange. These projects, as well as intensive education, research and extension activities form the basis for biologically and ecologically based approaches to management

The 'glocalisation' of Istanbul's retail property market

Purpose The continuation of globalisation and liberalisation processes has prompted the restructuring of many national and local property markets. The research examines the evolution of Istanbul's retail property market to identify how global and local agents engage with one another to produce a unique “glocalized” outcome. Design/methodology/approach The morphogenetic approach is adapted and applied to analyse the dynamics of market change. The focus is on the character and behaviour of national and international market actors and how they interact with the wider political economy. The research uses a combination of elite interviews, document analysis and corporate case studies to obtain empirical evidence. Findings The liberalisation of the Turkish economy heralded the entry of the first international companies into Istanbul's retail property market in the 1990s. International involvement expanded rapidly after 2004, accelerating the process of market re-structuring. However, while the number of global buy-outs increased, the expansion of local property companies–and the establishment of some international/national corporate partnerships–was even more marked. This resulted in a “glocalised” market with a strong and distinctive local culture. Originality/value Istanbul has been a major centre of trade for millenia. This is the first substantive analysis of the recent restructuring of the city's retail property market. Previous research on market maturity and market evolution has paid limited attention to the dynamics of change. The paper describes the use of a process-based theoretical framework (morphogenesis) that was explicitly designed to analyse structural shifts in socio-economic conditions through an examination of the characteristics and behaviours of the actors involved

Catastro de poblaciones de insectos en siembras de Capsicum chinense L. en Georgetown, San Vicente, usando trampas CC modificadas.

The insect populations in hot pepper, Capsicum chinense L. (Solanaceae), were surveyed in Georgetown, St. Vincent, during the 2004 wet and 2005 dry seasons. Modified white, blue, and yellow CC traps were used to capture insects in the plantings. Overall, 69 insect families were captured, 41 of which were captured during both the wet and dry seasons. During the wet season, the greatest numbers of individuals captured were from the Cecidomyiidae, Chironomidae, Chloropidae, Chrysomelidae, Cicadellidae, and Drosophilidae families. During the dry season, the greatest numbers of individuals captured were from Chrysomelidae and Cicadellidae families. The addition of dichlorvos as a killing agent and propylene glycol as an insect preservative to the CC traps increased the number and diversity of insects caught. Additionally, propylene glycol helped to preserve the specimens for taxonomic and genetic determinations. CC traps with yellow bases attracted more insect families than traps with white or blue bases. However, CC traps with blue bases caught more Lonchaeidae during both the wet and dry seasons, and more Tachinidae during the dry season. CC traps with white or yellow trap bases were equally attractive to insects in the families Aleyrodidae, Drosophilidae, Lauxaniidae, and Otitidae.Las poblaciones de insectos en el ají picante, Capsicum chinense L., se monitorearon en Georgetown, San Vicente, durante la época de lluvia de 2004 y la de sequía de 2005. Se usaron las trampas CC modificadas, blancas, azules y amarillas, para capturar insectos en las siembras. Se capturaron 69 familias de insectos; 41 de éstas se capturaron durante ambas épocas, la de lluvia y la de sequía. Durante la época de lluvia, el mayor número de individuos capturados pertenecía a las familias Cecidomyiidae, Chironomidae, Chloropidae, Chrysomelidae, Cicadellidae y Drosophilidae. Durante la época de sequía, el mayor número de individuos capturados pertenecía a las familias Cicadellidae y Chrysomelidae. El número y la diversidad de los insectos capturados aumentaron al añadir dichlorvos como un agente exterminador y glicol de propileno como agente preservativo a las trampas CC. Además, el glicol de propileno ayudó a preservar los especímenes para las determinaciones taxonómicas y genéticas. Las trampas CC con bases amarillas atrajeron más familias de insectos que las trampas con bases blancas o azules. Sin embargo, las trampas CC con bases azules capturaron más Lonchaeidae durante ambas épocas, de lluvia y sequía, y más Tachinidae durante la época de sequía. Las trampas CC con bases blancas o amarillas resultaron igualmente atractivas a los insectos en las familias Aleyrodidae, Drosophilidae, Lauxaniidae y Otitidae

Organic and Conventional Vegetable Production in Oklahoma

This study compares he profitability and risk related to conventional and organic vegetable production systems A linear programming model was used to find the optimal mix of vegetables in both production systems. And a target MOTAD (minimization of total absolute deviation) model was used to perform risk analysis in both organic and conventional production systemsCrop Production/Industries, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

The perception and management of risk in UK office property development

Risk is an ever-present aspect of business, and risk taking is necessary for profit and economic progress. Speculative property development is popularly perceived as a 'risky business' yet, like other entrepreneurs, developers have opportunities to manage the risks they face; techniques include phasing and joint ventures. The associated areas of investment portfolio risk, development risk analysis and construction risk management have all been addressed by research. This article presents new knowledge about how developers perceive risks and the means they subsequently adopt to manage them. The developers of office projects across the UK were sent questionnaires by post. Respondents were asked about their perceptions of risks at the first appraisal stage and currently and about the risk management techniques that they had adopted. In-depth interviews with a selection of respondents were then used to discuss and augment the findings. Developers were most concerned about market-based risks at both stages. Concern about production-orientated risks was lower and fell significantly between the two stages. A fixed price contract was the most common risk management technique. Risk management techniques were used more often outside London and the South East. Developer type affects both the perception and management of risk. While developers do manage risk, decisions are made on the basis of professional and business experience. These findings should help development companies manage risk in a more objective and analytical way

The taxing problems of land value capture, planning obligations and viability tests: some reasonable models?

Given their increasing importance in the formation and implementation of planning policies in the UK, this paper focuses on the use of development viability tests to determine how land value uplifts actuated by planning consent could be distributed between developers, landowners and the community. Following a discussion of way in which planning obligations act as a quasi-betterment tax that can both capture and create land values, alternative approaches to operationalising Benchmark Land Value (BLV) are evaluated. The effects of different approaches to BLV on potential land value capture are simulated for a number of hypothetical development sites in order to identify and compare implied betterment tax rates and to estimate viable affordable housing proportions. It is concluded that large geographical variations in property prices produce large variations in the potential for land value capture. Different approaches to BLV have a range of strengths and weaknesses. In addition, given that viability models are susceptible to significant levels of error and potential bias, using such models to make and implement planning policies renders such processes vulnerable to opportunistic behaviour and prone to miscalculation