Contractualisation agricole comme modalites d’acces aux facteurs de commercialisation du riz autour des amenagements hydro agricoles dans la Vallee du Niger au Benin

L’émergence de la contractualisation agricole autour des aménagements hydro agricoles de la Vallée du Niger au Bénin devient de plus en plus une évidence. Pour mieux appréhender cette réalité sociale, la présente recherche s’est donnée comme objectif de comprendre les motivations réelles des riziculteurs à s’orienter progressivement vers l’agriculture contractuelle. Quatre-vingt (80) informateurs clés obtenus par boule de neige et par saturation dont 26 % de femmes de l’échantillon ont été impliqués dans l’étude. Les entretiens non structurés et individuels ont été privilégiés pour comprendre leurs motivations à s’orienter vers la contractualisation. Il est demandé aux riziculteurs de relater les stratégies qu’ils développent pour la commercialisation de leurs produits d’une part et d’expliquer les raisons qui motivent les stratégies énumérées d’autre part. Les entretiens sont enregistrés avec l’accord des interviewés. L’analyse des données a consisté à traduire et à transcrire les enregistrements à l’aide du logiciel Atlas.ti version 7 ; à mettre en évidence les verbatims et les motivations liés à la contractualisation agricole. L’étude a permis d’examiner la nature des facteurs de commercialisation qui sont garantis par des accords non formels et ceux qui sont assurés par les contrats formels. Il ressort que le besoin de garantir l’accès aux facteurs de production est la principale motivation à l’adoption de la contractualisation agricole comme alternative. La présente recherche a mis en évidence la fonction stratégique de l’agriculture contractuelle dans un contexte de difficile accès aux facteurs de production par les petits producteurs. English title: agricultural contracting as a strategy for accessing rice marketing factors around hydroagricultural systems in the Niger Valley in Benin The emergence of contract farming around hydro-agricultural developments in the Niger Valley in Benin is becoming increasingly evident. In order to better understand this social reality, the research aims to understand the real motivations of rice farmers to progressively move into contract farming. Eighty (80) informants obtained by saturation, including twenty-six women representing 26% of the purposive sample, were involved in the study. Unstructured and mostly individual interviews were favored to understand their motivations for moving into contract farming. Farmers were asked to describe the strategies they were developing for marketing their products, and to explain the motivations behind the strategies listed. The interviews were recorded with the permission of the interviewees. The data analysis consisted of the translation and transcription of the recordings using Atlas.ti version 7 software; the highlighting of the characteristics and motivations of the agricultural contractualization in marketing. The study examined the types of marketing factors that are guaranteed by non-formal agreements and those that are guaranteed by formal contracts. It also revealed the explanatory factors that motivate rice farmers in agricultural contracting around hydro-agricultural schemes in Benin. Keywords: marketing factors, agricultural contracting, hydro-agricultural schemes, Niger Valley, Benin

Place de la securisation dans les dispositifs juridique et institutionnel fonciers Beninois

La performance des instruments juridiques de gouvernance foncière demeure toujours problématique particulièrement dans les pays ouest-africains. Dans ce contexte, le présent article a analysé la place de la sécurisation foncière dans l’arsenal juridique béninois. L’analyse part du postulat que la définition de la sécurisation foncière doit prendre en compte simultanément quatre piliers dont : la propriété/transfert, l’usage ou l’utilisation, l’accessibilité et la conservation des terres. Ainsi, une analyse de contenu des différents instruments juridiques, institutions et acteurs de la gestion foncière au Bénin à travers leurs objectifs et missions a été effectuée. Il ressort que les réformes entreprises dans la gestion foncière ont faiblement pris en compte des aspects de conservation de la terre et de biodiversité. Le cadre juridique et institutionnel mis en oeuvre dans la gestion foncière ne garantit pas la conservation des terres et la biodiversité au Bénin. Cette recherche suggère la prise en compte du pilier conservation dans l’arsenal juridique qui régit le foncier pour une gouvernance responsable des régimes fonciers au Bénin. English title: the place of security in Benin’s legal and institutional arsenal on land tenure systems Abstract The performance of legal instruments for land governance remains problematic, particularly in West African countries. In this context, this article analyzes the place of land tenure security in the Benin legal arsenal. The analysis is based on the assumption that the definition of land tenure security must simultaneously take into account four main elements: ownership/transfer, use or utilization, accessibility and conservation of land. Thus, a content analysis of the different legal instruments (Livre Blanc, laws), institutions and land management agents in Benin was carried out through its objectives and missions. It emerged that the reforms undertaken in land management have shown gaps in terms of taking into account aspects of land conservation and biodiversity in the different laws developed, the missions and objectives of institutions and development projects oriented towards land management in Benin. Thus, the legal and institutional framework implemented in land management does not guarantee the conservation of land and biodiversity in Benin. This research suggests that the conservation aspect should be taken into account in the legal arsenal governing land tenure for responsible governance of land in Benin. Keywords: Land security, land conservation, legal reform, Benin

Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with life-threatening COVID-19

Background: We previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15–20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in ~ 80% of cases. Methods: We report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia. Among the 928 patients tested for autoantibodies against type I IFN, a quarter (234) were positive and were excluded. Results: No gene reached genome-wide significance. Under a recessive model, the most significant gene with at-risk variants was TLR7, with an OR of 27.68 (95%CI 1.5–528.7, P = 1.1 × 10−4) for biochemically loss-of-function (bLOF) variants. We replicated the enrichment in rare predicted LOF (pLOF) variants at 13 influenza susceptibility loci involved in TLR3-dependent type I IFN immunity (OR = 3.70[95%CI 1.3–8.2], P = 2.1 × 10−4). This enrichment was further strengthened by (1) adding the recently reported TYK2 and TLR7 COVID-19 loci, particularly under a recessive model (OR = 19.65[95%CI 2.1–2635.4], P = 3.4 × 10−3), and (2) considering as pLOF branchpoint variants with potentially strong impacts on splicing among the 15 loci (OR = 4.40[9%CI 2.3–8.4], P = 7.7 × 10−8). Finally, the patients with pLOF/bLOF variants at these 15 loci were significantly younger (mean age [SD] = 43.3 [20.3] years) than the other patients (56.0 [17.3] years; P = 1.68 × 10−5). Conclusions: Rare variants of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I IFN immunity genes can underlie life-threatening COVID-19, particularly with recessive inheritance, in patients under 60 years old

Protein feeding pattern, casein feeding, or milk-soluble protein feeding did not change the evolution of body composition during a short-term weight loss program

International audienceStudies have shown that timing of protein intake, leucine content, and speed of digestion significantly affect postprandial protein utilization. Our aim was to determine if one can spare lean body mass during energy restriction by varying the quality and the timing of protein intake. Obese volunteers followed a 6-wk restricted energy diet. Four groups were compared: casein pulse, casein spread, milk-soluble protein (MSP, = whey) pulse, and MSP spread (n = 10-11 per group). In casein groups, caseins were the only protein source; it was MSP in MSP groups. Proteins were distributed in four meals per day in the proportion 8:80:4:8% in the pulse groups; it was 25:25:25:25% in the spread groups. We measured weight, body composition, nitrogen balance, 3-methylhistidine excretion, perception of hunger, plasma parameters, adipose tissue metabolism, and whole body protein metabolism. Volunteers lost 7.5 ± 0.4 kg of weight, 5.1 ± 0.2 kg of fat, and 2.2 ± 0.2 kg of lean mass, with no difference between groups. In adipose tissue, cell size and mRNA expression of various genes were reduced with no difference between groups. Hunger perception was also never different between groups. In the last week, due to a higher inhibition of protein degradation and despite a lower stimulation of protein synthesis, postprandial balance between whole body protein synthesis and degradation was better with caseins than with MSP. It seems likely that the positive effect of caseins on protein balance occurred only at the end of the experiment

Energy restriction only slightly influences protein metabolism in obese rats, whatever the level of protein and its source in the diet

International audienceBACKGROUND: High protein (HP) diets during energy restriction have been studied extensively regarding their ability to reduce body fat and preserve lean body mass, but little is known about their effects on protein metabolism in lean tissues. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of energy restriction and protein intake on protein anabolism and catabolism in rats. METHODS: For 5 weeks, 56 male Wistar rats were fed an obesity induction (OI) diet. They were then subjected to a 40% energy restriction using the OI diet or a balanced HP diet for 3 weeks, whereas a control group was fed the OI diet ad libitum (n ¼ 8 per group). HP-restricted rats were divided into five groups differing only in terms of their protein source: total milk proteins, casein (C), whey (W), a mix of 50% C and W, and soy (n ¼ 8). The animals were then killed in the postprandial state and their body composition was determined. Protein synthesis rates were determined in the liver, gastrocnemius and kidney using a subcutaneous 13 C valine flooding dose. mRNA levels were measured for key enzymes involved in the three proteolysis pathways. RESULTS: Energy restriction, but not diet composition, impacted weight loss and adiposity, whereas lean tissue mass (except in the kidney) was not influenced by diet composition. Levels of neoglucogenic amino acids tended to fall under energy restriction (Po0.06) but this was reversed by a high level of protein. The postprandial protein synthesis rates in different organs were similar in all groups. By contrast, mRNA levels encoding proteolytic enzymes rose under energy restriction in the muscle and kidney, but this was counteracted by a HP level. CONCLUSIONS: In adult obese rats, energy restriction but not diet composition affected fat pads and had little impact on protein metabolism, despite marked effects on proteolysis in the kidney and muscle. INTRODUCTION Weight management strategies are designed to reduce body fat while causing no major reduction in lean tissue. The different strategies proposed 1,2 involve varying levels of energy restriction and modifications to the energy nutrient content of diets, such as limiting the consumption of fat or carbohydrate (CHO) and increasing the protein content. 3,4 Proteins have been the focus of particular study because of their satiating effect that might both reduce energy intake 5 and increase subject compliance with a diet. 6,7 In addition, a protein-rich diet may minimize the loss of lean body mass that is observed under a low-calorie diet. 8,9 The type of protein source may also exert an influence, as reported in rodent models. 10,11 The effects of energy restriction on anabolic and catabolic fluxes are poorly understood and the findings available, which differ regarding numerous parameters (model, duration, degree of restrictions), are not comparable. In humans, one study recently showed that muscle protein synthesis was decreased after moderate energy restriction. 12 Other data have been obtained in rats and revealed contrasting effects of energy restriction on muscle protein anabolism, depending the type of muscle (soleus

Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with life-threatening COVID-19

BackgroundWe previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15-20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in similar to 80% of cases.MethodsWe report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia. Among the 928 patients tested for autoantibodies against type I IFN, a quarter (234) were positive and were excluded.ResultsNo gene reached genome-wide significance. Under a recessive model, the most significant gene with at-risk variants was TLR7, with an OR of 27.68 (95%CI 1.5-528.7, P=1.1x10(-4)) for biochemically loss-of-function (bLOF) variants. We replicated the enrichment in rare predicted LOF (pLOF) variants at 13 influenza susceptibility loci involved in TLR3-dependent type I IFN immunity (OR=3.70[95%CI 1.3-8.2], P=2.1x10(-4)). This enrichment was further strengthened by (1) adding the recently reported TYK2 and TLR7 COVID-19 loci, particularly under a recessive model (OR=19.65[95%CI 2.1-2635.4], P=3.4x10(-3)), and (2) considering as pLOF branchpoint variants with potentially strong impacts on splicing among the 15 loci (OR=4.40[9%CI 2.3-8.4], P=7.7x10(-8)). Finally, the patients with pLOF/bLOF variants at these 15 loci were significantly younger (mean age [SD]=43.3 [20.3] years) than the other patients (56.0 [17.3] years; P=1.68x10(-5)).ConclusionsRare variants of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I IFN immunity genes can underlie life-threatening COVID-19, particularly with recessive inheritance, in patients under 60 years old