Towards Understanding the Politics of Flex Crops and Commodities: Implications for Research and Policy Advocacy

This discussion paper offers a preliminary exploration of the concept and phenomenon of “flex crops and commodities”, building on an earlier and initial analysis and abbreviated idea put forward by some of the authors of this paper. We discuss the dual concepts of the “multiple-ness” and “flexible-ness” of crops and commodities as two distinct but intertwined dimensions of some key crops and commodities. These key crops and commodities are shaped by the changing global context that is itself (re)moulded in large part by the convergence of multiple crises and the various responses to those crises. Building on these dual concepts, we will identify and explain the minimum requirements for crop and commodity flexing. We will also try to typologize the various types of crop and commodity flexing, namely, “real flexing”, “anticipated/speculated flexing”, and “imagined flexing”—to allow for a deeper examination of these interrelated processes. The boundaries between these categories (multiple/flexible, real, anticipated and imagined) are not always clearly demarcated, requiring us to examine the issue of flex crops and commodities in a more interlinked manner. We will focus our initial exploration on the political dynamics of such interactions and intersections, looking into the factors that encourage or discourage, facilitate or hinder maximization of the “multiple-ness” and/or “flexible-ness” of particular crops and commodities. Finally, and as a way of closing, we will outline the implications of these dynamics for how we think of engaged research, public actions and policy advocacy, including a brief discussion of what we call “flex policy narratives” by governments and corporations.

Plantationocene and Contemporary Agrarian Struggles

Wolford’s (2021) article on the Plantationocene compels us to reexamine the state of agrarian struggles today in relation to struggles within and against capitalism. Although contemporary agrarian movements are relatively vibrant overall, their movement organizations and alliances tend to be sectoral and localized, and plantation workers remain weakly organized. This commentary argues that agrarian struggles can become more relevant if they are better embedded within broader anticapitalist struggles; conversely, broad anticapitalist struggles are better grounded if they are linked to contemporary agrarian struggles. The Plantationocene scholarship validates this point; moreover, scholarship on the Plantationocene can beenriched by engagement with studies on agrarian struggles

Three-dimensionally preserved graptolites from the Silurian of the Central Iberian Zone (Spain and Portugal)

[ES] Los graptolitos silúricos de la Zona Centroibérica suelen conservarse aplastados en pizarras negras, pero en algunos yacimientos los rabdosomas pueden retener parte de su relieve original o conservarse incluso en tres dimensiones. La mayoría de las veces existe una piritización temprana de los rabdosomas por la acción de bacterias sulforreductoras en ambiente anóxico, a la que se suma la génesis de nódulos. La alteración posterior de la pirita deja los graptolitos en forma de moldes, que pueden ser estudiados mediante vaciados en látex. Otros fenómenos de piritización multifásica en sedimentos gruesos conducen a la formación de nódulos de pirita que incluyen en su interior graptolitos huecos y en tres dimensiones, con el peridermo replicado delicadamente en óxidos de hierro. En otras ocasiones, los graptolitos preservados en nódulos generados en sedimentos pelágicos incluyen el recrecimiento de fosfatos sobre el peridermo de los graptolitos, que llegan a conservarse huecos y con estructuras de rellenos geopetales. Finalmente, se presenta el único caso de calizas con graptolitos conocido en el Silúrico centroibérico.[EN] Silurian graptolites form the Central-Iberian Zone are often preserved as flattened moulds in black shales, but in some cases rhabdosomes can maintain a part of its original relief, and even can appear three-dimensionally preserved. The majority of these cases can be related to an early pyritisation of the periderm favoured by bacterial activity under anoxic conditions, which also led to the genesis of nodules on the same beds. Further oxidation and dissapearance of iron minerals limited the preservation of graptolites to external moulds, that can be studied through latex casts. A different way of preservation of 3-D graptolites occurs in coarse sandstone that enhanced multiphase pyritisation fenomena, where ferruginous nodules enclosing rhabdosomes reveal that the framboidal pyrite that mineralized the periderm during very early diagenesis was remarkably resilient not only to subsequent deformation, but also to the differential weathering of the massive overpyrite that constitute the nodules. The pyritised graptolite periderm was finally replicated by iron-oxides with a minor proportion of phyllosilicates. The occurrence of “hollow” graptolites is also known from silico-phosphatic nodules, where the organic periderm was finely replicated by phosphatic overgrowths that coated the inner and outer surfaces of the rhabdosome. Occasional pseudostalactites of phosphatic minerals and colloidal silica partially occupied the empty spaces. Graptolite internal moulds occurring in limestone are very rare and are restricted to a single locality within the studied region.Peer reviewe

Tendencias políticas en disputa para la gobernanza global del acaparamiento de tierras

La expansión de los ‘cultivos y materias primas flexibles’ en el marco de una transición paulatina en el régimen alimentario global, junto a la emergencia de los países BRICS y MICS (de Renta Media) y el revalorizado papel de los estados nación, conforman un contexto crítico para el acaparamiento de tierras. Estas transformaciones globales que determinan, y son a su vez determinadas por, el actual acaparamiento global de tierras, han resultado en varias interpretaciones en disputa alrededor de su significado, complejizando aún más el ya de por si complejo terreno de la gobernanza. Estamos siendo testigos de una disputa política tripartita sobre el control del carácter, ritmo, parámetros y trayectoria discursiva, así como de los instrumentos sobre, y la práctica de, la gobernanza global del acaparamiento de tierras, como en el caso de las Directrices Voluntarias del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial de la ONU. Esta contienda gira alrededor de las siguientes tres tendencias: ‘regular para facilitar’, ‘regular para mitigar impactos negativos y maximizar oportunidades’, y ‘regular para detener y revertir’ el acaparamiento de tierras. Las trayectorias futuras del acaparamiento de tierras serán determinadas en buena medida por el balance entre fuerzas sociales y estatales en cada una y entre las tres tendencias políticas. Este artículo plantea un análisis preliminar a partir del mapeo de áreas de indagación sub-exploradas y ofrece más una serie de modos de cuestionamiento inicial, que argumentos firmes basados en material empírico sólido y completo

New metabolically stable fatty acid amide ligands of cannabinoid receptors: synthesis and receptor affinity studies

We investigated the structure-activity relationships for the interactions of fatty acid amide analogs of the endocannabinoid anandamide with human recombinant cannabinoid receptors. Thirty-five novel fatty acid amides were synthesized using five different types of acyl chains and 11 different aromatic amine 'heads.' Although none of the new compounds was a more potent ligand than anandamide, we identified three amine groups capable of improving the metabolic stability of arachidonoylamides and their CBI/CB2 selectivity ratio to over 20-fold, and several aromatic amines capable of improving the affinity of short chain or monosaturated fatty acids for cannabinoid CBI receptors. For the first time a tertiary amide of arachidonic acid was found to possess moderate affinity (K, = 300 nM) for cannabinoid CBI, but not CB2, receptors

Acaparamiento de tierras y acumulación capitalista: aspectos clave en América Latina

__Abstract__ We introduce this special issue by explaining seven characteristics of land grabbing in Latin America. These features are not unique to the region. By highlighting them – arguing, for instance, that a key aspect in Latin America is intra-regional land grabbing driven by (trans)Latina companies – we hope to inspire new cross-regional comparisons to understand the dynamics of “global” land grabbing. Our focus on Latin America challenges some problematic generalisations in the literature, for instance, that land grabs occur mainly in fragile states. We interrogate the relationship between land grabbing and the “foreignisation” narrative, and the need to revisit the broader question of land concentration. Thus we build upon the literature locating land grabs and the land question within the political economy of global capitalism

El Acaparamiento de Tierras en América Latina y el Caribe Visto Desde una Perspectiva Internacional más Amplia

Introducción y mensajes claves Este documento se basa en la investigación empírica que fue encomendada por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO) sobre las condiciones y tendencias del ―acaparamiento de tierras‖ en 17 países de América Latina y el Caribe (véase el Anexo para una lista completa de los estudios, así como el documento síntesis correspondiente; FAO, 2011). Los 17 estudios se concluyeron a mediados de 2011. El marco analítico común de los estudios es amplio, pero a la vez focalizado. Por un lado es amplio porque analiza los procesos generales de las tierras rurales y la concentración de capital en el contexto de la globalización neoliberal. Por el otro, es focalizado porque analiza el fenómeno del ―acaparamiento de tierras‖ basándose estrictamente en tres dimensiones específicas, a saber: i) el gran alcance de las adquisiciones de tierra a gran escala; ii) la participación de los gobiernos extranjeros en estos tratos sobre tierras; y iii) el impacto negativo de dichas inversiones recientes en tierras sobre la seguridad alimentaria del país receptor. Es en gran medida debido a este tipo de marco analítico que la mayoría de los estudios pudieron desentrañar y recopilar gran cantidad de material empírico relacionado con la dinámica de las tierras en la región; sin embargo, dado que el enfoque de su análisis y conclusiones se basó en la definición y la dimensión angostas del acaparamiento de tierras, la conclusión obtenida fue que el ―acaparamiento de tierras‖ se da únicamente en dos países de la región: Argentina y Brasil. ..

Schiff bases: Interesting scaffolds with promising antitumoral properties

Schiff bases, named after Hugo Schiff, are highly reactive organic compounds broadly used as pigments and dyes, catalysts, intermediates in organic synthesis, and polymer stabilizers. Lots of Schiff bases are described in the literature for various biological activities, including antimalarial, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral. Schiff bases are also known for their ability to form complexes with several metals. Very often, complexes of Schiff bases with metals and Schiff bases alone have demonstrated interesting antitumor activity. Given the innumerable vastness of data regarding antitumor activity of all these compounds, we focused our attention on mono-and bis-Schiff bases alone as antitumor agents. We will highlight the most significant examples of compounds belonging to this class reported in the literature

THE NUTRITIONAL ROLE OF VITAMIN D DURING THE SARS COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The supplementary intake of vitamin D is one of the most debated topics in the medical field, a source of controversy and convictions that are also strongly antithetical. Both the judgment of clinicians and public opinion consider this vitamin necessary for the maintenance of bone health, but also for the prevention and treatment of a number of diseases, including diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases, neoplasms, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, stroke, depression and more association between low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. In fact, Vitamin D is responsible for regulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism and maintaining a healthy mineralized skeleton. It is also known as an immunomodulatory hormone. Experimental studies have shown that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the active form of vitamin D, exerts immunologic activities on multiple components of the innate and adaptive immune system as well as endothelial membrane stability. Association between low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Vitamin D plays a fundamental role in nutrition, especially for the new evidence related to the SARS pandemic Covid-19 and for this reason it is important to maintain optimal levels of the vitamin, controlled through food