Technical Measures for Meat and Other Products in Pacific Basin Countries

International Relations/Trade,

Interactive efficacies of Elephantorrhiza elephantina and Pentanisia prunelloides extracts and isolated compounds against gastrointestinal bacteria

Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels (Fabaceae) and Pentanisia prunelloides (Klotzsch ex Eckl. & Zeyh.) Walp. (Rubiaceae) are two medicinal plants used extensively in southern Africa to treat various ailments. Often, decoctions and infusions from these two plants are used in combination specifically for stomach ailments. The antimicrobial activities of the methanol and aqueous extracts of the rhizomes of the two plants, as well as the two active ingredients from the plants [(−)-epicatechin and palmitic acid] have been determined apart and in combination against Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11778). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the aqueous (0.50–16.00 mg/mL) and methanol (0.20–16.00 mg/mL) extracts independently demonstrated varied efficacies depending on the pathogen of study. When the two plants were combined in 1:1 ratios, synergistic to additive interactions (ΣFIC values 0.19–1.00) were noted. Efficacy for the two major compounds ranged between 0.13–0.63 mg/mL and mainly synergistic interactions were noted against E. faecalis and E. coli. The predominantly synergistic interactions noted between E. elephantina and P. prunelloides and major compounds, when tested in various ratios against these pathogens, provide some validation as to the traditional use of these two plants to treat bacterial gastrointestinal infections

Risk and the Farm Firm: A Corporate Finance View

Recent applications of risk analysis in corporate finance to farm firm decision making are reviewed in this paper. The inclusion of risk parameters modifies some of the traditional agricultural economics views on investment, financing and the portfolio choice problem. A clearer view emerges of farm investment behaviour. Further topics for research are identified. In the author's view, the corporate finance analysis provides a more coherent set of paradigms that explain actual farm investment and financing decision making m a more satisfactory way than previously available

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, SUSTAINABILITY AND PROPERTY RIGHTS IN NEW ZEALAND

Sustainable land management objectives in New Zealand have recently been redefined in the Resource Management Act 1991. The new legislative framework can be viewed in part as an adjustment in existing property rights to meet resource use externalities. An understanding of the structure and characteristics of property rights in land clarifies a number of issues in the area of economic efficiency and administrative practicality, and focusses on areas where appropriate solutions to externalities may be difficult to achieve

Current Changes in New Zealand Agriculture: A Review

In the period under review the New Zealand agricultural sector has continued to be sensitive to changes in macroeconomic policies in the economy as a whole. This has not altered with the change of Government in October 1990. The combined forces of low commodity prices, increased costs, and government policy changes brought about a period of readjustment through 1985-86 and 1986-87 which now appears to be completed. Recovery was assisted by favourable terms of trade through 1988-89 and 1989-90. Output from the agricultural sector appears to have stabilised rather than decreased; the downturn in the terms of trade in the 1990-91 season has brought about a further reduction in investment and incomes

Modelling Government Processes and Policies in Agriculture: A Review

In this paper, political preference functions and bargaining models based on game theory are examined for their relevance to government processes and policies in agriculture. While bargaining models show some refinements over preference models in explaining how interest group demands are met in a modern society, the results appear to still fall short of a well-documented understanding of the political economy and institutions involved in policy decisions. In practical terms, economic modelling is too time-consuming and elaborate to inform everyday decisions of government but an understanding of the principles involved and previous results of this kind of analysis can inform the work of both policy advisors and decision makers