ORGANIC IN THE LOCAL VS GLOBAL ANTINOMY

Increasing attention is paid by European citizens to food chain characteristics, power relations and impacts. Distance travelled by food, its genuinity and capacity to convey cultural and landscape identity, fairness in the value chain and information robustness on quality specifications tend to assume a growing relevance in both public perception and business organisation. A triennial multidisciplinary and multicriteria study, funded under the EU 7th Framework Research Programme, aims to assess the performance of local and global food chains against economic, environmental, social, health and ethical dimensions. This paper examines how organic foods and method of production fits into the local/global discourse, as the subject emerges from an Italian literature review

Access to agricultural land in peri-urban spaces: social mobilisation and institutional frameworks in Rome and Valencia

[EN] Urban and peri-urban agriculture have gained worldwide momentum within the framework of the renewed food and nutrition security agenda. This has a special significance for Mediterranean cities, due to their traditional strong links with their agricultural surroundings. However, the renewed dynamism of peri-urban agriculture is constrained by the limited access to farmland of new farmers or already installed farmers. This paper explores how socio-political movements that aim to renew local food systems and introduce new models of urban-peri-urban governance are revitalising the debate on access to peri-urban farmland. A comparative analysis was conducted in two Mediterranean metropolitan areas (Rome in Italy and Valencia in Spain), in which different policy frameworks shape the conditions of access to farmland. Despite the institutional differences between these two cases, the results show that, for the organisations involved in these movements, facilitating access to farmland is now a crucial challenge in achieving their multiple objectives. The paper also addresses the supportive role (and the constraints) of the local authorities in facilitating access to farmland for those producers willing to adopt alternative business models that can give rise to the transition towards more democratic and sustainable local food systems.This research is part of the project "Assessment of the impact of global drivers of change on Europe's food security" (TRANSMANGO), granted by the EU under 7th Framework Programme; theme KBBE.2013.2.5-01; Grant agreement no: 613532.Cerrada-Serra, P.; Colombo, L.; Ortiz-Miranda, D.; Grando, S. (2018). Access to agricultural land in peri-urban spaces: social mobilisation and institutional frameworks in Rome and Valencia. Food Security. 10(6):1325-1336. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-018-0854-8S13251336106Allen, A. (2003). Environmental planning and management of the periurban interface: Perspectives on an emerging field. Environment and Urbanization, 15(1), 135–148.Badami, M. G., & Ramankutty, N. (2015). Urban agriculture and food security: A critique based on an assessment of urban land constraints. Global Food Security, 4, 8–15.Blay-Palmer, A., Santini, G., Dubbeling, M., Renting, H., Taguchi, M., & Giordano, T. (2018). Validating the City region food system approach: Enacting inclusive, Transformational City region food systems. Sustainability, 10(5), 1680.Borras, S.M, Jr., Seufert, P, Backes, S, Fyfe, D, Herre, R, Michele, L, & Mills, E. (2016). Land Grabbing and Human Rights: the Involvement of European Corporate and Financial Entities in Land Grabbing outside the European Union. European Union, Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies. https://doi.org/10.2861/338205CRAT (2011). Vertenza per la salvaguardia dell'Agro Romano - Terre pubbliche ai giovani agricoltori. http://www.aiab.it/images/stories/UfficioStampa/vertenzagroromano.pdf . Accessed July 2017.Duke, J., & Aull-Hyde, R. (2002). Identifying public preferences for land preservation using the analytic hierarchy process. Ecological Economics, 42, 131–145.Eigenbrod, C., & Gruda, N. (2015). Urban vegetable for food security in cities. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 35(2), 483–498.European Environmental Agency (1995). Europe's environment - the Dobris assessment. Copenhagen.FAO (2014). Growing greener cities in Latin America and the Caribbean. A FAO report on urban and peri-urban agriculture in the region. Rome.Forster, T. & Getz-Escudero A (2014). City regions as landscapes for people, food and nature. EcoAgriculture Partners, on behalf of the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative. Washington, DC.Franco, J., Monsalve, S., & Borras, S. (2015). Democratic land control and human rights. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 15, 66–71.Galli, M., Lardon, S., Marraccini, E., & Bonari, E. (Eds.). (2010). Agricultural management in peri-urban areas. Italy: FeliciEditore. Ghezzano.Gallico, L. &Groppo, P. (2015). VGGT as a Tool for Improving Access to Land and the Responsible Management of Natural Resources: Based on the Experience of Lazio Region and Rome Municipality. FAO - Land and Water Division (NRL), Rome.Gómez Ferri, J. (2004). Los movimientos ciudadanos de defensa y activación del patrimonio en Valencia: los casos del barrio del Cabanyal y la ILP per l’Horta. In Coordinadora de defensa del Rincón-Ecologistas en Acción. Experiencias sociales innovadoras y participativas. El Rincón + 10. (pp. 157–205).Knowd, I., Mason, D., & Docking, A. (2006). Urban agriculture: The new frontier. Paper presented at the Planning for Food Seminar, 21 June 2006. Vancouver, Canada.Lovell, S. T. (2010). Multifunctional urban agriculture for sustainable land use planning in the United States. Sustainability, 2, 2499–2522.Munton, R. (2009). Rural land ownership in the United Kingdom: Changing patterns and future possibilities for land use. Land Use Policy, 26, S54–S61.Opitz, I., Berges, R., Piorr, A., & Krikser, T. (2016). Contributing to food security in urban areas: Differences between urban agriculture and peri-urban agriculture in the global north. Agriculture and Human Values, 33(2), 341–358.Paül, V., & McKenzie, F. H. (2013). Peri-urban farmland conservation and development of alternative food networks: Insights from a case-study area in metropolitan Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Land Use Policy, 30(1), 94–105.Péron, J. Y., & Geoffriau, E. (2007). Characteristics and sustainable development of peri-urban vegetable production in Europe. ActaHorticulturae, (762), 159–170.Piorr, A., Ravetz, J., & Tosics, I. (Eds.). (2011). Peri-urbanisation in Europe: Towards European policies to sustain urban–rural futures. Copenhagen: University of Copenhagen, Forest and Landscape.RUAF (2017). European case studies on governance of territorial food systems - project GouTer. https://www.ruaf.org/sites/default/files/European%20case%20studies%20on%20governance%20of%20territorial%20food%20systems%20Gouter-RUAF%20final.pdfSchmid, O., Moschitz, H., Dubbeling, M., Fritschi, R., Jahrl, I. &Wiskerke, H. (2015). Governance for urban food systems – Recommendations from SUPURBFOOD project. http://archive.harper-adams.ac.uk/events/ifsa-conference/papers/5/5.6%20Schmid.pdf . Accessed July 2017.Sonnino, R. (2009). Feeding the city: Towards a new research and planning agenda. International Planning Studies, 14(4), 425–435.Soriano, V. (2015). La huerta de Valencia un paisaje menguante. Amazon.Soulard, C. T., Valette, E., Perrin, C., Abrantes, P. C., Anthopoulou, T., Benjaballah, O., et al. (2017). Peri-urban agro-ecosystems in the Mediterranean: Diversity, dynamics, and drivers. Regional Environmental Change, 1–12.Vervoort, J.,Helfgott, A. & Lord, S. (2016) TRANSMANGO Deliverable 3.2: Scenarios Methodology Framework and Training Guide.Wästfelt, A., & Zhang, Q. (2016). Reclaiming localisation for revitalising agriculture: A case study of peri-urban agricultural change in Gothenburg, Sweden. Journal of Rural Studies, 47, 172–185.Wekerle, G. R., & Classens, M. (2015). Food production in the city: (re) negotiating land, food and property. Local Environment, 20(10), 1175–1193.Zasada, I. (2011). Multifunctional peri-urban agriculture—A review of societal demands and the provision of goods and services by farming. Land Use Policy, 28(4), 639–648

Genetic resources of Olea europaea L. in the Garda Trentino olive groves revealed by ancient trees genotyping and parentage analysis of drupe embryos

5openInternationalItalian coauthor/editorThe area of the Garda Lake within the Trentino province (north of Italy) is the northernmost part of Europe where the Mediterranean species Olea europaea L. is traditionally cultivated. ‘Casaliva’ is claimed as the main variety traditionally grown in the Garda Trentino area (GT) from which a world renowned niche extra virgin olive oil is produced. Since a dominant presence of ‘Casaliva’ would link the fruit set success and yield to a self-pollination compatibility system, a deep genetic survey of the olive tree population in the GT has been performed with the aim of establishing the actual varietal composition and of understanding from which pollen donor the ‘Casaliva’ olives originate. Forty-four dierent genetic profiles were observed among the 205 leaf samples collected from 106 ancient trees through the analysis of 20 nuclear microsatellite markers. The varietal composition in modern orchards was also explored and the vast majority of the additional 151 trees analyzed showed the same genotype as the ancient accessions of ‘Casaliva’. The results support the long historical link of ‘Casaliva’ with the GT and, besides a high varietal homogeneity, they also revealed the presence of olive genetic resources essential to fruit production. In fact, the parentage analysis of 550 embryos from drupes of ‘Casaliva’ evidenced that a cross-fertilization system is favored and a list of candidate cultivars most suitable as local pollinizers of ‘Casaliva’ was identified.openMoreno-Sanz, P.; Lombardo, L.; Lorenzi, S.; Michelotti, F.; Grando, M.S.Moreno-Sanz, P.; Lombardo, L.; Lorenzi, S.; Michelotti, F.; Grando, M.S

Linking monoterpenes and abiotic stress resistance in grapevines

Rising temperatures and ozone levels are among the most striking stressful phenomena of global climate changes, and they threaten plants that are unable to react rapidly and efficiently. Generic responses of plants to stresses include the production of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excessive ROS accumulation can lead to extensive oxidation of important components such as nucleic acids, proteins and lipids which can further exacerbate ROS accumulation leading to programmed cell death. Although most studies on plant antioxidants have focused on non-volatile compounds, volatiles belonging to the isoprenoid family have been implicated in the protection against abiotic stresses, in particular thermal and oxidative stress whose frequency and extent is being exacerbated by ongoing global change and anthropogenic pollution. Historically, research has focused on isoprene, demonstrating that isoprene-emitting plants are more tolerant to ozone exposure and heat stress, reducing ROS accumulation. Yet, evidence is being compiled that shows other volatile isoprenoids may be involved in plant responses against abiotic stresses. Grapevines are not isoprene emitters but some varieties produce other volatile isoprenoids such as monoterpenes. We investigated photosynthesis and emission of volatile organic compounds upon heat stress in two Vitis vinifera cv. ‘Chardonnay’ clones differing only for a mutation in the DXS gene (2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway), regulating volatile isoprenoid biosynthesis. We showed that the mutation led to a strong increase in monoterpene emission upon heat stress. At the same time, maximum photochemical quantum yield (Fv/Fm ratio) of PSII was affected by the stress in the non-emitting clone while the monoterpene emitter showed a significant resilience, thus indicating a possible antioxidant role of monoterpenes in grapevine. Future mechanistic studies should focus on unveiling the actual mechanism responsible for such findings

Overview on electrical issues faced during the SPIDER experimental campaigns

SPIDER is the full-scale prototype of the ion source of the ITER Heating Neutral Beam Injector, where negative ions of Hydrogen or Deuterium are produced by a RF generated plasma and accelerated with a set of grids up to ~100 keV. The Power Supply System is composed of high voltage dc power supplies capable of handling frequent grid breakdowns, high current dc generators for the magnetic filter field and RF generators for the plasma generation. During the first 3 years of SPIDER operation different electrical issues were discovered, understood and addressed thanks to deep analyses of the experimental results supported by modelling activities. The paper gives an overview on the observed phenomena and relevant analyses to understand them, on the effectiveness of the short-term modifications provided to SPIDER to face the encountered issues and on the design principle of long-term solutions to be introduced during the currently ongoing long shutdown.Comment: 8 pages, 12 figures. Presented at SOFT 202

Meeting Report of the Pathogenesis of Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Meeting in Munich, September 2016

Autoimmune blistering diseases are a heterogeneous group of about a dozen complex disorders that are characterized by intraepidermal (pemphigus) and subepidermal blistering (pemphigoid diseases and dermatitis herpetiformis). The Pathogenesis of Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Meeting, organized by the Departments of Dermatology in Lubeck and Marburg and the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Munich, was held in September 2016 in Munich. The meeting brought together basic scientists and clinicians from all continents dedicating their work to autoimmune blistering diseases. Considerable advances have been made in describing incidences and prevalences of these diseases and linking comorbidities with autoantibody reactivities and clinical variants, for example, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor-associated noninflammatory bullous pemphigoid. Although new entities are still being described, diagnosis of most autoimmune blistering diseases can now be achieved using standardized and widely available serological test systems. Various experimental mouse models of pemphigus and pemphigoid disease are increasingly being used to understand mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance and to evaluate more specific treatment approaches for these disorders, such as molecules that target autoreactive T and B cells and anti-inflammatory mediators, that is, dimethyl fumarate, phosphodiesterase 4, and leukotriene B4 inhibitors in pemphigoid disorders, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells in pemphigus. Very recent experimental data about the immunopathology and the determinants of autoantibody formation and keratinocyte susceptibility in pemphigus were discussed. With regard to cellular mechanisms leading to the loss of cell-cell adhesion, new ideas were shared in the field of signal transduction. Major steps were taken to put the various partly contradictory and controversial findings about the effects of pemphigus autoantibodies and other inflammatory mediators into perspective and broaden our view of the complex pathophysiology of this disease. Finally, two investigator-initiated multicenter trials highlighted doxycycline and dapsone as valuable medications in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid.Non peer reviewe

Definitions and outcome measures for mucous membrane pemphigoid: Recommendations of an international panel of experts

Mucous membrane pemphigoid encompasses a group of autoimmune bullous diseases with a similar phenotype characterized by subepithelial blisters, erosions, and scarring of mucous membranes, skin, or both. Although knowledge about autoimmune bullous disease is increasing, there is often a lack of clear definitions of disease, outcome measures, and therapeutic end points. With clearer definitions and outcome measures, it is possible to directly compare the results and data from various studies using meta-analyses. This consensus statement provides accurate and reproducible definitions for disease extent, activity, outcome measures, end points, and therapeutic response for mucous membrane pemphigoid and proposes a disease extent score, the Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid Disease Area Index

Feasibility study of a local active correction system of magnetic field errors in RFX-mod

In magnetic confinement fusion devices, close-fitting structures surrounding the plasma are needed to slow down the growth rate of MHD unstable modes to time scales accessible to real time feedback control systems. However, error fields are generated as the response of the passive structures to the dynamic equilibrium field configuration, due to the presence of the cuts needed to allow the penetration of electric and magnetic fields. Considerable improvements have been achieved in RFX-mod after starting operation of the active MHD control system, allowing the successful simultaneous feedback control of a wide spectrum of MHD instabilities. In this paper, a feasibility study of a new local active correction system of magnetic field errors is presented, together with a comparison of three different configurations of the passive structure cuts

Feasibility study of a local active correction system of magnetic field errors in RFX-mod

In magnetic confinement fusion devices, close-fitting structures surrounding the plasma are needed to slow down the growth rate of MHD unstable modes to time scales accessible to real time feedback control systems. However, error fields are generated as the response of the passive structures to the dynamic equilibrium field configuration, due to the presence of the cuts needed to allow the penetration of electric and magnetic fields. Considerable improvements have been achieved in RFX-mod after starting operation of the active MHD control system, allowing the successful simultaneous feedback control of a wide spectrum of MHD instabilities. In this paper, a feasibility study of a new local active correction system of magnetic field errors is presented, together with a comparison of three different configurations of the passive structure cuts

Sustainability assessment of food supply chains: an application to local and global bread in Italy

Over the 2000s’, consumers’ food purchases have been increasingly informed by supply chain-related issues, with growing concerns about the sustainability of chains differing for their geographical scope. As a result, short food supply chains and local food systems have risen to policymakers and food chain stakeholders’ attention as more sustainable alternatives to mainstream food networks. However, associating food chain’s geographical scope and sustainability performance may not be straightforward. This paper aims at shedding lights on the connection between geographical scope and sustainability by comparing and discussing 19 attributes owing to different sustainability dimensions. The analysis anchors on the wheat-to-bread chain, due to its global relevance. Bread is a worldwide staple food and wheat is (generally) a commodity traded globally. However, wheat processing often occurs locally and baking is influenced by local heritage and consumption patterns, particularly in the EU and in Italy, where gastronomy is culturally embedded. The paper identifies critical aspects and provides a qualitative assessment of the performances of local vs global wheat-to-bread chains. The assessment is carried out on Italian case studies