The role of institutions and networks in developing the bioeconomy : case studies from Ghana and Brazil

An increasing number of countries have begun putting focus on developing a bioeconomy strategy. The bioeconomy provides a new concept with the aim to design a sustainable economy, which is knowledge-based and based on the use of biological resources. This entails on the one hand higher production of biomass and on the other tighter networks of traditional, national and international institutions. Institutional networks are pivotal for the sustainable production and use of biological resources, as well for the development of innovative biological processes and principles to exploit the potential of biomass. This thesis explores three pivotal aspects needed to take advantage of the considerable untapped potential of the bioeconomy. The first case study aims to identify the determinants of the persisting low maize yields in northern Ghana, despite the introduction of a fertilizer subsidy program. The policy is largely regarded as an instrument to increase crop productivity and contribute to food security. The second empirical study explores the role of female-led market institutions in Ghana. Marketing is central to the development of the bioeconomy and as such, trader organizations have a key role to play the value chain. The third case study investigates, taking sugarcane as a case study example, how well Brazil, the worlds leader in sugarcane production, is positioned to realize the shift from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy (bioeconomy). The two case study countries Ghana and Brazil were chosen because of their comparable net primary productivity and pedo-climatic conditions, and because of their different stages in the realization of the bioeconomy. Two components are pivotal to the success of the bioeconomy: biomass and knowledge. Based on two case studies in Ghana, this thesis investigates first the efforts to increase maize productivity in the Guinea savanna and secondly explores the role of collective action groups as central actors to address the sustainability dimension of the bioeconomy. Brazil has successfully implemented pivotal aspects of the bioeconomy, especially in the sugarcane sector. For this reason it lends itself well to analyze the role of institutions and networks in the development of new processes and products. This study adopts a mixed methods approach to address three key aspects of the development of the bioeconomy: production, marketing, and the overall innovation system. Data collection and analysis included qualitative and quantitative methods from various disciplines. The findings are presented in three papers, which this cumulative thesis is composed of. The first paper adopts a multidisciplinary approach. A household survey, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions served to gather data on the socio-economic challenges of maize production in the Guinea savanna. Additionally, soil and fertilizer samples were analyzed to identify natural constraints and potential governance challenges. The results from this paper show that both socio-economic and biophysical parameters contribute to an improved understanding of site-specific challenges, resulting in low maize productivity in the Guinea savanna of Ghana. The second paper explores the role of female-led market associations across regions, ethnicities, and market typologies throughout Ghana. For this study a qualitative approach was chosen with participant observation and in-depth open-ended interviews conducted with traders, both in and out of leadership positions. The results could not empirically confirm the prevailing discourse on the monopolizing power of female-led market associations. The study rather finds that traders collective action provides vital safety-net measures for asset-poor women engaging in risky market activity. However, the public perception is challenging female trader agencies. The third paper analyzes the role of institutions and focuses on the innovation networks in the sugarcane sector in Brazil. The study combines the novel concept of biomass value-webs with the established National Innovation System concept. For data collection, in-depth interviews and Net-Maps as a participatory tool were applied. The results illustrate the importance of innovation networks for Brazil to become a front-runner in the future bioeconomy. In particular, it emphasizes the importance of integrating national and international private sector organizations, and the need for incentives to foster collaboration with knowledge institutions. Based on these findings, one can conclude that strengthening the efforts to tailor site-specific solutions that consider the inter-disciplinary nature of crop production, marketing and development of processes is crucial to the bioeconomy. Overall, more attention to innovation networks is required to master the challenges of the bioeconomy and take full advantage of its opportunities.Eine steigende Anzahl an Ländern hat damit begonnen, eine eigene Bioökonomiestrategie auszuarbeiten. Die Bioökonomie stellt ein neuartiges ökonomisches Konzept dar, das zum Ziel hat, ein nachhaltiges, wissensbasiertes Wirtschaftssystem zu schaffen, das auf der Nutzung biologischer Ressourcen basiert. Auf der einen Seite beinhaltet dieses Konzept eine höhere Produktion von Biomasse. Gleichzeitig ist es auf engere Kollaborationen zwischen nationalen und internationalen Institutionen angewiesen. Institutionelle Netzwerke sind wichtig für die nachhaltige Produktion und Nutzung biologischer Ressourcen sowie die Entwicklung innovativer biologischer Prozesse und Prinzipien. Diese Dissertation betrachtet drei Schlüsselaspekte, um das erhebliche noch ungenutzte Potential der Bioökonomie zu erschließen. Die erste Fallstudie hat zum Ziel, die Gründe für die andauernd niedrigen Maiserträge trotz der Einführung eines Düngersubventionsprogramms in Nordghana zu erforschen. Diese Politikmaßnahme wird weithin als Instrument betrachtet, Getreideproduktivität zu erhöhen und zur Ernährungssicherheit beizutragen. Die zweite empirische Studie untersucht die Rolle von traditionellen Marktfrauenverbänden in Ghana. Marketing ist ein zentraler Aspekt in der Entwicklung der Bioökonomie, weswegen Handelsorganisationen eine Schlüsselrolle innerhalb der Wertschöpfungskette spielen. Die dritte Fallstudie nimmt Zuckerrohr als Beispiel dafür, wie sich Brasilien als der Weltmarktführer in der Zuckerrohrproduktion positioniert, um den Wandel von einem fossilen zu einem biobasierten Wirtschaftssystem zu vollziehen. Die zwei Länder Ghana und Brasilien wurden als Fallbeispiele gewählt, weil sie eine vergleichbare Nettoprimärproduktivität und vergleichbare pedo-klimatische Bedingungen aufweisen, sich jedoch auf unterschiedlichen Stufen in der Realisierung der Bioökonomie befinden. Zwei Faktoren sind zentral für eine erfolgreiche Entwicklung der Bioökonomie: Biomasse und Wissen. Basierend auf zwei Fallstudien in Ghana untersucht diese Dissertation zuerst die Bemühungen, die Maisproduktivität in der Guinea-Savanne zu erhöhen, und zum zweiten die Rolle von gemeinschaftlich handelnden Gruppen als zentrale Akteure für die Nachhaltigkeit der Bioökonomie. Brasilien hat wichtige Aspekte einer Bioökonomie bereits erfolgreich implementiert, speziell im Zuckerrohrsektor. Deshalb bietet es sich an, in diesem Kontext die Rolle von Institutionen und Netzwerken in der Entwicklung neuer Prozesse und Produkte zu analysieren. Diese Studie setzt qualitative wie auch quantitative Methoden ein, um die drei wesentlichen Aspekte in der Entwicklung der Bioökonomie Produktion, Marketing und das gesamte Innovationssystem zu adressieren. Die Datenerhebung und -analyse beinhalten Methoden aus verschiedenen Disziplinen. Die Ergebnisse werden in drei Artikeln dargestellt, die gemeinsam diese kumulative Dissertation bilden. Der erste Artikel arbeitet mit einem interdisziplinären Ansatz. Eine Haushaltsumfrage, Tiefeninterviews und Fokusgruppendiskussionen wurden genutzt, um Daten zu den sozioökonomischen Herausforderungen in der Maisproduktion in der Guinea-Savanne zu erheben. Zusätzlich wurden Boden- und Düngerproben analysiert, um natürliche Einschränkungen und gegebenenfalls bestehende ordnungspolitische Herausforderungen zu identifizieren. Die Ergebnisse dieses Artikels zeigen, dass sowohl sozioökonomische wie auch biophysikalische Parameter eine Rolle spielen für ein verbessertes Verständnis standortsspezifischer Herausforderungen, die zu geringer Maisproduktivität in der Guinea-Savanne Ghanas, führen. Der zweite Artikel untersucht über Regionen, Ethnien und Marktformen hinweg die Rolle von Marktfrauenverbänden. Für diese Studie wurde ein qualitativer Ansatz gewählt, der teilnehmende Beobachtung und offene Tiefeninterviews mit Händlerinnen beinhaltet. Dieser Artikel konnte den vorherrschenden Diskurs zur Monopolmacht von Marktfrauenverbänden in Ghana nicht empirisch belegen. Die Studie zeigt vielmehr, dass das kollektive Handeln von Marktfrauen zur Schaffung von Sicherheitsnetzen für vermögensschwache Frauen, die an riskanten Marktaktivitäten teilhaben, beiträgt. Der öffentliche negative Diskurs stellt die Marktfrauenverbände jedoch vor Herausforderungen. Der dritte Artikel analysiert die Rolle von Institutionen und ist fokussiert auf Netzwerke im Zuckerrohrsektor in Brasilien. Diese Studie verbindet das innovative Konzept von Biomass Value-Webs mit dem des Nationalen Innovationssystems. Zur Datenerhebung wurden Tiefeninterviews sowie als partizipative Methode Net-Maps angewandt. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Bedeutung von Innovationsnetzwerken für Brasilien, wenn es ein Vorreiter der künftigen Bioökonomie werden möchte. Sie betonen besonders die Notwendigkeit, nationale und internationale Organisationen des Privatsektors zu integrieren und Anreize zur Zusammenarbeit mit Wissensinstitutionen zu schaffen. Basierend auf diesen Ergebnissen kommt diese Dissertation zu der Schlussfolgerung, dass standortspezifische Lösungen unter Beachtung der Multidisziplinarität von Nutzpflanzenproduktion, Marketing und der Entwicklung von Innovationsprozessen entscheidend sind für den Erfolg der Bioökonomie und gestärkt werden sollten. Schließlich sollte auch Innovationsnetzwerken mehr Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet werden, um den Herausforderungen der Bioökonomie zu begegnen und um das Potenzial der Bioökonomie bestmöglich auszuschöpfen

Soil, striga or subsidies? Determinants of maize productivity in northern Ghana

Paper removed April 25, 2019 at author's request

Understanding bioeconomy systems: Integrating economic, organisational and policy concepts

none1noThe bioeconomy is recognised as a major area of development of current economies. Though defined in different ways and focusing on different sectors depending on countries and areas of the world, a key qualifying feature of the bioeconomy is the sustainable use of biological resources building on a wide range of modern technologies. Biotechnology is the leading type of technology in this context, but attention is much wider. This paper develops a conceptual approach on the development of the bioeconomy based on the integration of three perspectives: investment in biological capital, organisational trends and configuration of policy.mixedViaggi D.Viaggi D

Accuracy of transrectal ultrasound after preoperative radiochemotherapy compared to computed tomography and magnetic resonance in locally advanced rectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to compare the restaging results obtained by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed after preoperative chemoradiation with pathologic staging of the operative specimen. METHODS: From January 2008 to December 2009, all the consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal cancer that underwent neoadjuvant therapy at our department were evaluated. The results of diagnostic examinations and the definitive pathological examination were considered and compared. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were included in the study (27 males, 73%), mean age was 65.5 years (range 45-82 years). In all the patients TRUS and CT and in 20 patients MRI were performed before and after the treatment. Concerning the depth of invasion after treatment TRUS agreed with histopathology in 25/37 patients (67.5%), CT agreed in 22/37 cases (59.5%), and MRI in 12/20 cases (60%). Considering only neoplasia with stage T3, TRUS agreed in 23/24 cases (96%), CT in 19 cases (79%), and MRI in 10/12 cases (83.5%). Considering the tumors that did not exceed the rectal wall (T0, T1, and T2), TRUS agreed with histology in 2/13 cases (15.5%), CT in 3/13 cases (23%), and MRI 2/8 cases (25%). Concerning the presence of positive lymph nodes TRUS agreed with histology in 28/37 cases (75.5%), while CT agreed in 21/37 cases (56.5%) and MRI in 11/20 cases (55%). The concordance between the techniques was found to be low. CONCLUSIONS: Transrectal ultrasonography resulted as the most accurate method to determine neoplastic wall infiltration and lymph node involvement even after radiochemotherapy. In most cases, considering the poor correlation between the diagnostic procedures and the disagreement of the results, a restaging performed only with TRUS could be proposed, limiting the use of the other imaging methods to selected cases

Laparoscopy Versus Robotic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: A Single-Center Initial Experience

Background Minimally invasive approach has gained interest in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study is to analyze the differences between laparoscopy and robotics for colorectal cancer in terms of oncologic and clinical outcomes in an initial experience of a single center. Materials and Methods Clinico-pathological data of 100 patients surgically treated for colorectal cancer from March 2008 to April 2014 with laparoscopy and robotics were analyzed. The procedures were right colonic, left colonic, and rectal resections. A comparison between the laparoscopic and robotic resections was made and an analysis of the first and the last procedures in the 2 groups was performed. Results Forty-two patients underwent robotic resection and 58 underwent laparoscopic resection. The postoperative mortality was 1%. The number of harvested lymph nodes was higher in robotics. The conversion rate was 7.1% for robotics and 3.4% for laparoscopy. The operative time was lower in laparoscopy for all the procedures. No differences were found between the first and the last procedures in the 2 groups. Conclusions This initial experience has shown that robotic surgery for the treatment of colorectal adenocarcinoma is a feasible and safe procedure in terms of oncologic and clinical outcomes, although an appropriate learning curve is necessary. Further investigation is needed to demonstrate real advantages of robotics over laparoscopy

Robotic single docking total colectomy for ulcerative colitis: First experience with a novel technique

INTRODUCTION: We describe a novel technique that could aid the surgeon to perform a total proctocolectomy with a single docking position of the da Vinci Si HD System. METHODS: Patients were positioned in 20° Trendelenburg lithotomy split legs position. A 12-mm trocar was for camera and 3 more trocars were placed: two robotics on left and right flanks and one laparoscopic in left iliac fossa. The robot was docked between the legs of the patients. RESULTS: Four proctocolectomies were performed. Mean operative time was 235 min (range 215-255); mean blood loss was 100 cc (range 50-200). Median post-operative stay was 6 days. Overall morbidity was 75%, whereas major complications occurred in 25%. Post-operative mortality was null. CONCLUSIONS: The robotic single docking approach to perform total proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis is a time-saving technique respect to the multiple docking approach

The role of DAMPs in burns and hemorrhagic shock immune response. Pathophysiology and clinical issues. Review

Severe or major burns induce a pathophysiological, immune, and inflammatory response that can persist for a long time and affect morbidity and mortality. Severe burns are followed by a “hypermetabolic response”, an inflammatory process that can be extensive and become uncontrolled, leading to a generalized catabolic state and delayed healing. Catabolism causes the upregulation of inflammatory cells and innate immune markers in various organs, which may lead to multiorgan failure and death. Burns activate immune cells and cytokine production regulated by damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Trauma has similar injury-related immune responses, whereby DAMPs are massively released in musculoskeletal injuries and elicit widespread systemic inflammation. Hemorrhagic shock is the main cause of death in trauma. It is hypovolemic, and the consequence of volume loss and the speed of blood loss manifest immediately after injury. In burns, the shock becomes evident within the first 24 h and is hypovolemic-distributive due to the severely compromised regulation of tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery caused by capillary leakage, whereby fluids shift from the intravascular to the interstitial space. In this review, we compare the pathophysiological responses to burns and trauma including their associated clinical patterns