EMATER / RS - ASCAR: Case study on the social assistant in ATER policy

A assistência técnica e extensão rural (ATER) esta pautada na construção coletiva do conhecimento e na valorização do saber para a redução das desigualdades, preocupando-se com as condições e qualidade de vida da população rural e o pleno exercício da cidadania. No Rio Grande do Sul a Associação Rio-Grandense de Empreendimentos de Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural (EMATER/RS – ASCAR) é responsável pelo desenvolvimento de ações de ATER. Para tanto, conta com uma equipe multidisciplinar, da qual faz parte o assistente social. Com base no exposto, objetivou-se compreender a dinâmica de trabalho dos assistentes sociais lotados na EMATER/RS e como a instituição está organizada no tocante ao trabalho com a questão social e suas expressões. Desta maneira, delimitou-se o campo de pesquisa aos profissionais assistentes sociais lotados na EMATER/RS, sendo os dados coletados a partir de um estudo qualitativo, através de entrevista estruturada – composta por perguntas abertas – e pesquisa bibliográfica. Os resultados demonstraram que o número de assistentes sociais vinculadas à EMATER/RS é de apenas duas profissionais, sendo este número insuficiente para atender as demandas de todo o estado. Todavia, esses resultados também apontaram que o assistente social tem sido cada vez mais reconhecido pelo público atendido e demais agentes de ATER.Technical assistance and rural extension (ATER) is based on the collective construction of knowledge and the valorisation of knowledge for the reduction of inequalities, being concerned with the conditions and quality of life of the rural population and the full exercise of citizenship. In Rio Grande do Sul, the Rio-Grandense Association of Enterprises for Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (EMATER / RS - ASCAR) is responsible for the development of ATER actions. For such, it counts on a multidisciplinary team, of which the social worker is part. Based on the above, the objective was to understand the work dynamics of the social workers crowded in EMATER / RS and how the institution is organized in relation to work with the social question and its expressions. In this way, the field of research was delimited to the social assistants crowded at EMATER / RS, and the data were collected from a qualitative study, through a structured interview - composed of open questions - and bibliographic research. number of social workers linked to EMATER / RS is only two professionals, and this number is insufficient to meet the demands of the entire state. However, these results also pointed out that the social worker has been increasingly recognized by the attending public and other ATER agents.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

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Ireland is currently experiencing both the positive and negative effects of global trade in agricultural products. With increasing global competition, there is little doubt that Irish agricultural product must increasingly compete on the basis of quality, rather than price

Osmosis with active solutes

Despite much current interest in active matter, little is known about osmosis in active systems. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate how active solutes perturb osmotic steady states. We find that solute activity increases the osmotic pressure, and can also expel solvent from the solution - i.e. cause reverse osmosis. The latter effect cannot be described by an effective temperature, but can be reproduced by mapping the active solution onto a passive one with the same degree of local structuring as the passive solvent component. Our results provide a basic framework for understanding active osmosis, and suggest that activity-induced structuring of the passive component may play a key role in the physics of active-passive mixtures.Comment: 6 page

A case for increased private sector involvement in Ireland's national animal health services

Non-regulatory animal health issues, such as Johne's disease, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and mastitis will become increasing important, with ongoing globalisation of markets in animals and animal products. In response, Ireland may need to broaden the scope of its national animal health services. However, there have been concerns about the respective roles and responsibilities (both financial and otherwise) of government and industry in any such moves. This paper argues the case for increased private sector involvement in Ireland's national animal health services, based both on theoretical considerations and country case studies (the Netherlands and Australia). The Dutch and Australian case studies present examples of successful partnerships between government and industry, including systems and processes to address non-regulatory animal health issues. In each case, the roles and responsibilities of government are clear, as are the principles underpinning government involvement. Furthermore, the roles and responsibilities (financial and otherwise) of the Dutch and Australian industry are determined through enabling legislation, providing both legitimacy and accountability. There are constraints on the use of EU and national government funds to support non-regulatory animal health services in EU member states (such as Ireland and the Netherlands)