The Political Ecology of Food Insecurity in Smallholder Coffee Cooperatives in Northern Nicaragua

Food insecurity in smallholder coffee growing communities is recognized as a problem "deserving of a response that reflects its reach" (Caswell 2012, 1). Subject to structural factors including unstable coffee prices, extreme weather shocks, food price swings, smallholder coffee farming households must also access sufficient food and healthy diets amidst an historical trajectory that has incentivized homogenization of available land to coffee cultivation, and restriction of food production, leaving them even more vulnerable to seasonal hunger and chronic malnutrition. Although the relationship between coffee and food insecurity is recognized, its multiscalar dynamics have not been well understood. In this study I investigate and outline the "chain of explanation" (Robbins 2012, 88) of why food insecurity is so persistent in smallholder coffee growing communities. I explore the manifestations of seasonal and chronic hunger, as well as food resilience, which play out in eight first-level cooperatives that are participants in the Youth Leadership and Food Sovereignty Project executed by the cooperative organization the UCA San Ramón, in the department of Matagalpa in northern Nicaragua. Using a combined framework of political ecology, agroecology, and food security and sovereignty, I focus especially on the relationships that contribute to the phenomenon of hunger and insecurity in the eight cooperatives, identifying factors besides overdependence on coffee production on income that contribute to the phenomenon as it manifests in each of the eight cooperatives. My major findings agree with the established understanding that economic dependence on one cash crop (be it coffee or basic grains) leaves farming households unable to provide for themselves during the entire year. I find that more balanced dependence on two or more cash crops is related to longer periods of household provisioning. I also find that finance cycles that farmers must use to purchase seed and food exacerbate the situation. Other factors include the loss of knowledge of seed selection and saving as well as storage infrastructure, loss of healthy food consumption cultures, lack of access to markets for excess production, lack of access to transport and communication infrastructure, and lack of access to water for irrigation and consumption. However, structural factors including a persistent Green Revolution culture, international commodities markets, and contradictory interventions by the state and the coffee industry itself, lead to the conclusion that any set of strategies aiming to relieve seasonal hunger must move beyond price and beyond farm-level interventions to include the participation of actors at all scales

Addressing Alex From A Dynamic Team Approach

Research poster describing investigation of the question: How is collaboration essential or vital to patient-centered care?https://dune.une.edu/cecespring2020/1004/thumbnail.jp

Src, PKCα, and PKCδ are required for αvβ3 integrin-mediated metastatic melanoma invasion

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Integrins, cell-surface receptors that mediate adhesive interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), play an important role in cancer progression. Expression of the vitronectin receptor αvβ3 integrin correlates with increased invasive and metastatic capacity of malignant melanomas, yet it remains unclear how expression of this integrin triggers melanoma invasion and metastasis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two melanoma cell lines C8161.9 and M14 both express high levels of αvβ3 integrin and adhere to vitronectin. However, only the highly metastatic C8161.9 cells are capable of invading vitronectin-enriched Matrigel in an αvβ3-depenent manner. Elevated levels of PKCα and PKCδ, and activated Src were detected specifically in the highly metastatic melanoma cells, but not in the low metastatic M14 cells. Inhibition of Src or PKC activity suppressed αvβ3-dependent invasion. Furthermore, over expression of Src or PKCα and PKCδ was sufficient to confer αvβ3-dependent invasiveness to M14 cells. Stress fiber formation and focal adhesion formation were almost completely absent in C8161.9 cells compared to M14 cells. Inhibition of Src signaling was sufficient to restore normal actin architecture, and resulted in decreased p190RhoGAP phosphorylation and enhanced RhoA activity. Src had no effect on Rac activity. Loss of PKCα expression, but not PKCδ, by siRNA inhibited Rac and PAK activity as well as invasiveness. Loss of PKCα restored focal adhesion formation and partially restored stress fiber formation, while loss of PKCδ primarily restored stress fibers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The misregulated expression of PKCα and PKCδ and elevated Src activity in metastatic melanoma cells is required for efficient αvβ3-mediated invasion. PKCα and Src enhance αvβ3-mediated invasion in part by increasing the GTPase activity of Rac relative to RhoA. PKCα influences focal adhesion formation, while PKCδ controls stress fibers.</p

Agroecología e Investigación-Acción Participativa (IAP): Principios y Lecciones de Centroamérica

The last decade has seen an increasing advancement and interest in the integration of agroecology and participatory action research (PAR). This article aims to: (1) analyze the key characteristics and principles of two case studies that integrated IAP and agroecology in Central America; and (2) learn from the lessons offered by these case studies, as well as others from the literature, on how to better integrate PAR and agroecology. Key principles identified for effective PAR agroecological processes include a shared interest in research by partners, a belief in collective power/action, a commitment to participation, practicing humility and establishing trust and accountability. Important lessons to consider for future work include: (1) research processes that did not start as PAR, can evolve into it; (2) farmer/stakeholder participation in setting the research agenda, from the outset, results in higher engagement and enhanced outcomes; (3) having the right partners for the desired outcomes is key; (4) intentional and explicit reflection is an essential component of IAP processes; and (5) cross-generational collaborations are crucial to long-term benefits. Key challenges that confront IAP processes include the need for time and resources over longer periods; the complexity of multi-actor process facilitation; and institutional barriers within the academy and development organizations, which prevent shifting investment towards integrated IAP agroecological processes.En la última década se ha visto un avance y un interés cada vez mayores sobre la integración de la agroecología y la investigación acción participativa (IAP). Este artículo tiene los siguientes objetivos: (1) analizar las características y principios clave de la IAP, usando dos estudios de casos que integraron IAP y agroecología en América Central; y (2) aprender de las lecciones ofrecidas por estos estudios de caso y otros de la literatura, sobre cómo integrar mejor IAP y agroecología. Los principios clave identificados para los procesos agroecológicos efectivos de IAP incluyen un interés compartido en la investigación por parte de los socios, una creencia en el poder / acción colectiva, un compromiso con la participación, la práctica de la humildad y el establecimiento de la confianza y la responsabilidad. Las lecciones importantes a considerar para el trabajo futuro incluyen: (1) procesos de investigación que no comenzaron con un enfoque de IAP, pueden evolucionar para incoporarlo; (2) la participación de los agricultores / partes interesadas en el establecimiento de la agenda de investigación, desde el comienzo, resulta en una mayor participación y mejores resultados; (3) tener los socios adecuados para los resultados deseados es clave; (4) la reflexión intencional y explícita es un componente esencial de los procesos de IAP; y (5) las colaboraciones intergeneracionales son cruciales para los beneficios a largo plazo. Los desafíos clave que enfrentan los procesos de IAP incluyen la necesidad de tiempo y recursos durante períodos más largos; la complejidad de la facilitación de procesos con múltiples actores; y las barreras institucionales dentro de la academia y las organizaciones de desarrollo, que aún no adoptan e inverierten adecuadamente en procesos agroecológicos integrales de IAP

Experiencias sobre la seguridad alimentaria en Yucatán, México

Se presenta una investigación-acción-participativa, en la Zona Maya de México. Se aborda el problema del desconocimiento sobre la seguridad alimentaria (SA). Objetivo: realizar un diagnóstico sobre la SA, y plantear alternativas de solución. Se encontró que la producción de milpa y huerto familiar, tiene: insuficiente infraestructura; problemas en los cultivos; falta de agua, caminos, transporte, asistencia técnica, recursos económicos y mercados alternativos; y problemas de consumo seguro de alimentos. Se encontró una biodiversidad agrícola de 50 especies; producción de bovinos y aves; poco excedente para venta. Los huertos familiares complementan su dieta; el estado proporciona apoyos insuficientes, y se ayudan con remesas que envían sus familiares desde Estados Unidos. La dieta del "buen comer" es variable en las comunidades. Se analiza la información con los ejes alimentarios: disponibilidad, accesibilidad, consumo y utilización de alimentos; y se proponen las alternativas.Participatory Action Research in the Mexican Mayan Zone is presented. The problem of lack of food security (SA) is tackled. Objective: to make a diagnosis of the SA, and suggest alternative solutions. It was found that the production of cornfield and homegarden, is: poor in infrastructure, with problems in their crops; and they have lack of water, roads, transportation, technical assistance, financial resources and alternative markets; and they also have problems of safe consumption of food. Agricultural biodiversity of 50 species were found; and production of cattle and poultry; they have little surplus for sale. Homegardens supplement their diet; the government provides insufficient support, and they complement their economy with the remittances of their relatives sent from the United States. The diet of "good eating" is variable in communities. The information is analyzed with food axes of availability, accessibility, consumption and utilization of food. Alternatives are proposed.Eje A6: Desarrollo Rural, Movimientos Sociales, Estado y AgroecologíaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Experiencias sobre la seguridad alimentaria en Yucatán, México

Se presenta una investigación-acción-participativa, en la Zona Maya de México. Se aborda el problema del desconocimiento sobre la seguridad alimentaria (SA). Objetivo: realizar un diagnóstico sobre la SA, y plantear alternativas de solución. Se encontró que la producción de milpa y huerto familiar, tiene: insuficiente infraestructura; problemas en los cultivos; falta de agua, caminos, transporte, asistencia técnica, recursos económicos y mercados alternativos; y problemas de consumo seguro de alimentos. Se encontró una biodiversidad agrícola de 50 especies; producción de bovinos y aves; poco excedente para venta. Los huertos familiares complementan su dieta; el estado proporciona apoyos insuficientes, y se ayudan con remesas que envían sus familiares desde Estados Unidos. La dieta del "buen comer" es variable en las comunidades. Se analiza la información con los ejes alimentarios: disponibilidad, accesibilidad, consumo y utilización de alimentos; y se proponen las alternativas.Participatory Action Research in the Mexican Mayan Zone is presented. The problem of lack of food security (SA) is tackled. Objective: to make a diagnosis of the SA, and suggest alternative solutions. It was found that the production of cornfield and homegarden, is: poor in infrastructure, with problems in their crops; and they have lack of water, roads, transportation, technical assistance, financial resources and alternative markets; and they also have problems of safe consumption of food. Agricultural biodiversity of 50 species were found; and production of cattle and poultry; they have little surplus for sale. Homegardens supplement their diet; the government provides insufficient support, and they complement their economy with the remittances of their relatives sent from the United States. The diet of "good eating" is variable in communities. The information is analyzed with food axes of availability, accessibility, consumption and utilization of food. Alternatives are proposed.Eje A6: Desarrollo Rural, Movimientos Sociales, Estado y AgroecologíaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Adherence to Cancer Prevention Guidelines in 18 African Countries

Background Cancer rates in Africa are projected to double by 2030 due to aging and increased exposure to cancer risk factors, including modifiable risk factors. We assessed adherence to 5 modifiable cancer risk factors across 18 African countries. Methods Data on adults 18 years and older were obtained from the 2002–2004 World Health Survey. Adherence to current World Cancer Research Fund guidelines on smoking, alcohol, body weight, physical activity, and nutrition was assessed. Adherence scores ranged from 0 (no guideline met) to 5 (all guidelines met). Determinants of adherence were assessed using multivariable linear regression adjusted for individual and country level characteristics. Results Across all countries, adherence to the guidelines among adults was high for smoking (72%–99%) and alcohol (85%–100%), but low for body weight (1.8%–78%), physical activity (3.4%–84%) and nutrition (1.4%–61%). Overall adherence score ranged from 2.32 in Mali to 3.72 in Comoros. In multivariable models, residing in low versus high SES households was associated with reduced adherence by 0.24 and 0.21 points for men and women respectively after adjusting for age, gender, education, and marital status (p<0.001). Every % increase in GDP spent on health was associated with increased adherence by 0.03 in men and 0.09 in women (p<0.001). Conclusions The wide variation in adherence to cancer prevention guidelines observed across countries and between population sub-groups suggests the need for targeted public health efforts to improve behaviors related to body weight, physical activity and nutrition

Predicted contribution of folic acid fortification of corn masa flour to the usual folic acid intake for the US population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2004

Background: Folic acid can prevent up to 70% of neural tube defects (NTDs) if taken before pregnancy. Compared with other race-ethnicities, Hispanic women have higher rates of NTDs, lower rates of folic acid supplement use, and lower total folic acid intakes. Objective: The objective was to assess potential effects of fortifying corn masa flour with folic acid on Mexican American women and other segments of the US population. Design: A model was developed by using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2004 to estimate the folic acid content in foods containing corn masa flour if fortified at a level of 140 ug folic acid/100 g corn masa flour. Results: Had corn masa flour fortification occurred, we estimated that Mexican American women aged 15-44 y could have increased their total usual daily folic acid intake by 19.9% and non-Hispanic white women by 4.2%. Among the US population, estimated relative percentage increases in total usual daily folic acid intake with corn masa flour fortification were greatest among Mexican Americans (16.8%) and lowest among children aged 1-3 y (2%) and adults aged \u3e51 y (0-0.5%). Conclusion: Analyses suggest that corn masa flour fortification would have effectively targeted Mexican Americans, specifically, Mexican American women, without substantially increasing folic acid intake among other segments of the population. Such increases could reduce the disparity in total folic acid intake between Mexican American and non-Hispanic white women of childbearing age and implies that an additional NTD preventive benefit would be observed for Mexican American women

Early Evolution of Conserved Regulatory Sequences Associated with Development in Vertebrates

Comparisons between diverse vertebrate genomes have uncovered thousands of highly conserved non-coding sequences, an increasing number of which have been shown to function as enhancers during early development. Despite their extreme conservation over 500 million years from humans to cartilaginous fish, these elements appear to be largely absent in invertebrates, and, to date, there has been little understanding of their mode of action or the evolutionary processes that have modelled them. We have now exploited emerging genomic sequence data for the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, to explore the depth of conservation of this type of element in the earliest diverging extant vertebrate lineage, the jawless fish (agnathans). We searched for conserved non-coding elements (CNEs) at 13 human gene loci and identified lamprey elements associated with all but two of these gene regions. Although markedly shorter and less well conserved than within jawed vertebrates, identified lamprey CNEs are able to drive specific patterns of expression in zebrafish embryos, which are almost identical to those driven by the equivalent human elements. These CNEs are therefore a unique and defining characteristic of all vertebrates. Furthermore, alignment of lamprey and other vertebrate CNEs should permit the identification of persistent sequence signatures that are responsible for common patterns of expression and contribute to the elucidation of the regulatory language in CNEs. Identifying the core regulatory code for development, common to all vertebrates, provides a foundation upon which regulatory networks can be constructed and might also illuminate how large conserved regulatory sequence blocks evolve and become fixed in genomic DNA

Twin and family studies reveal strong environmental and weaker genetic cues explaining heritability of eosinophilic esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic antigen-driven allergic inflammatory disease, likely involving the interplay of genetic and environmental factors, yet their respective contributions to heritability are unknown