How does agricultural biodiversity contribute to food security?

The contribution of agricultural biodiversity to agricultural production and food security is widely accepted. In the economic research this contribution has been evaluated from the production and from the consumption side. On the production side, agricultural diversity provides services that support the productivity of the system. These services include pest control, soil fertility, or in general system resilience to extreme climate events. On the consumption side, agricultural biodiversity enhances the diet diversity thereby enabling small farmers to consume a variety of foods. To our knowledge, however, the long term economics contribution of agricultural biodiversity to agricultural production and food security has not been evaluated in depth. On the production side some economic research has been done on quantifying the effect of crop diversity on output, output variability and probability of crop failure (Birol et al. 2006; Birol et al. 2009; Di Falco and Chavas, 2006, Di Falco, et al., 2006, Edmeades et al. 2006; Kwikiriza et al 2010; Smale, et al., 1998, Smale et al., 2003, Smale 2006; Van Dusen and Taylor 2006). These studies using different methodological approaches have shown some lights on the interaction of biodiversity and its contribution to food security. To evaluate a system requires a system approach The results however also shed light on the conditions need for agricultural biodiversity to contribute to food security and poverty alleviation. Most of these studies use a narrow definition of agricultural biodiversity referring mainly to crop diversity and in several cases to intra-specific diversity. The main reason behind is simplicity. To evaluate a system requires a system approach and there are on one hand limited tools and methods that can be used to evaluate the system. On the other hand modeling an agroecosystem over time and at the same time translating ecological processes into economic terms it is a rather complicated exercise. The global consequences of climate instability and economic crisis however are making more and more evident the need to invest in long term approaches and data collection. High correlation between dietary diversity and nutrition adequacy On the consumption a growing body of research shows that there is a high correlation between dietary diversity and nutrition adequacy (Mouille and Ruel, 2003, Ekesa et. al 2008, Johns and Eyzaguirre 2007; Frison 2006). Not only number of species available is important, the greater the intra-species plant genetic diversity, the greater the variety of nutrients available to the population, hence better health outcomes (Kennedy et al. 2010). This relationship has been found especially significant in developing countries. Emphasizing dietary diversity in the context of poverty alleviation stems from the concerns of nutritional deficiency among the poor in developing countries and the importance of increasing food group variety to ensure adequate nutrient intakes. The pathway of poverty impact will not be complete unless we consider the effect of crop species diversity on dietary diversity and nutrition, because persistent malnutrition of the population could potentially contribute to persistent poverty. As in the case of production, this research effort requires long term investment and the implementation of sound methodological approaches. There is therefore an evident need for more understanding of the role of agricultural diversity towards ecosystem productivity (food production as an ecosystem service) and thus to poverty alleviation. Taking an objective view at agricultural diversity and its effects on yield, yield stability and dietary diversity can help identifying where, what and how agricultural biodiversity can contribute to poverty alleviation

Marketing underutilized crops: the case of the African garden egg (Solanum ethiopicum) in Ghana

The overall objective of this study is to analyze constraints affecting the African garden egg market chain in Ghana. Furthermore, to identify the factors that help determine the success of market chain development of garden egg in Ghana; and to analyze the effect of market development on biodiversity

Cost Effectiveness of Germplasm Collections in the CG System. Section 9

Cost information is useful to monitor the performance of the genebanks. Thus, managers, users, and donors of the genebanks can have an idea of the relative costs of managing plant genetic resources. This information can be used to make users but especially donors aware of the actual costs of conserving and distributing accessions and in this way facilitate fund raising. Managers however do have an idea of genebank operational costs. What is then the added value of using a periodic system to collect costs information for the genebank manager? In this section we present some specific cases where the information collected in the genebanks visited can help in the decision process. It is true that the current amount of information does not allow us to make conclusions across centers, but it does allow for some analysis within the centers....

Lactancia materna y hospital amigo del niño: una necesidad en la provincia de Corrientes

La Lactancia Materna (LM) es la mejor forma de alimentar y criar a un niño, no obstante su práctica se ha reducido paulatinamente. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) junto a UNICEF ha propuesto la “Iniciativa Hospital Amigo” (IHAN), con objetivos tendientes a restablecer y mejorar dicha práctica. Objetivos: Determinar las características socio-demográficas de las madres que asisten a un hospital de referencia de la Provincia de Corrientes; Identificar la influencia del nivel de instrucción materno con la posibilidad de mantener la LM exclusiva; y Evaluar la necesidad de la IHAN en nuestra Provincia. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal, a través de encuestas a 146 madres de la Maternidad del Hospital “Dr. José R. Vidal” en el período de Agosto a Diciembre del 2010. Resultados: El 79,5% estaba entre los 15 y 30 años; 53,4% se encontraban separadas o en concubinato, el 52,7% tenía un nivel de instrucción moderado; 97,9% consideraba importante amamantar, el 78,1% daría pecho exclusivo; 45,2% daría LM hasta el año; el 81,5% no trabaja fuera del hogar; 40,4% recibió información del equipo de salud; el 89% asistiría a un centro de apoyo de lactancia. Discusión: El IHAN, es una necesidad en nuestra región; lo que posibilitaría que el deseo expresado por las madres de amamantar más allá de los 6 meses y de contar con apoyo asistencial, sea posible.Introduction: Breastfeeding (BF) is the best way to feed and raise a child, however the practice has declined gradually. The World Health Organization (WHO) together with UNICEF has proposed the "Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative" (BFHI), with objectives aimed at restoring and improving the practice. Objectives: To determine the sociodemographic characteristics of mothers attending a referral hospital in the province of Corrientes, Identify the influence of mother's education level with the ability to maintain exclusive BF, and Evaluate the need for the BFHI in our province. Materials and Methods: Descriptive study of cross-section through surveys of 146 mothers in the Maternity Hospital "Dr. José R. Vidal" in the period from August to December 2010. Results: 79.5% were between 15 and 30 years, 53.4% were separated or cohabiting, 52.7% had a moderate level of education, 97.9% considered it important to breastfeed, 78.1% would exclusively breastfed, 45.2% would give for a year BF, 81.5% do not work outside the home, 40.4% received information from the health team, 89% would attend a breastfeeding support center. Discussion: The BFHI is a necessity in our region, that would allow the desire of mothers to breastfeed beyond 6 months and to have care support.Fil: Niello, Esteban N.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Palma Pérez, Ricardo D.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Pasetto, Raúl I.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Horna, Maria Eugenia. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Hidalgo, Susana. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; Argentin

Market Access, Intensification and Productivity of Common Bean in Ethopia: A microeconomic analysis

This work analyses on-farm adjustments in land allocation and intensification in a commercial crop following the increases in market demand in a developing economy. Drawing from the survey conducted among common bean producers in Ethiopia in 2008, a two stage econometric method was used to investigate the contribution of market access and other micro-level factors in facilitating crop intensification and productivity. Ethiopia is the leading commercial producer and exporter of common bean in Africa but also one of the countries in Africa with high levels of soil nutrient depletion. Understanding factors that influence input use and productivity is critical for food security and agricultural sustainability in the country. Based on farm survey data, it was shown that most farmers had expanded their area under common bean but the use of fertilizer and improved varieties was still low. Increase in the intensity of fertilizer and seed use produces an increase in yield and so is market access. Market access has intensification as well as specialization effects on common bean yield. Access to credit, extension and household wealth are other factors that facilitate common bean intensification while risk increasing factors constrain it

Feasibility study for a safety back-up cryopreservation facility. Independent expert report: July 2017

This study was commissioned by Bioversity International, the International Potato Center (CIP) and the Global Crop Diversity Trust with financial support from Australia, Germany and Switzerland to investigate the feasibility of establishing a safety back-up facility for cryopreserved collections of crops that are vegetatively propagated or have recalcitrant seeds. The independent Expert Group investigated the state of crop cryopreservation in 26 institutes and collated information on field and in vitro collections around the world. The Study highlights the advantages of cryopreservation for conservation of clonal/recalcitrant seed crop collections and recommends that a major global effort is done to facilitate its wide-scale implementation and to overcome major practical constraints. In addition, a safety back-up is required to accommodate 5,000-10,000 accessions arising from on-going cryopreservation activities

Assessment of present and future water security under anthropogenic and climate changes using WEAP model in the Vilcanota-Urubamba catchment, Cusco, Perú

Water is an essential resource for social and economic development. The availability of this resource is constantly threatened by the rapid increase in its demand. This research assesses current (2010–2016), short- (2017–2040), middle- (2041–2070), and long-term (2071–2099) levels of water security considering socio-economic and climate change scenarios using the Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) in Vilcanota-Urubamba (VUB) catchment. The streamflow data of the Pisac hydrometric station were used to calibrate (1987–2006) and validate (2007–2016) the WEAP Model applied to the VUB region. The Nash Sutcliffe efficiency values were 0.60 and 0.84 for calibration and validation, respectively. Different scenarios were generated for socio-economic factors (population growth and increased irrigation efficiency) and the impact of climate change to evaluate their effect on the current water supply system. The results reveal that water availability is much higher than the current demand in the VUB for the period (2010–2016). For short-, middle- and long term, two scenarios were considered, “Scenario 1” (RCP 4.5) and “Scenario 2” (RCP 8.5). Climate change scenarios show that water availability will increase. However, this increase will not cover the future demands in all the sub-basins because water availability is not evenly distributed in all of the VUB. In both scenarios, an unmet demand was detected from 2050. For the period 2071–2099, an unmet demand of 477 hm3/year for “Scenario 1” and 446 hm3/year for “Scenario 2” were estimated. Because population and agricultural demands are the highest, the effects of reducing the growth rate and improving the irrigation structure were simulated. Therefore, two more scenarios were generated “Scenario 3” (RCP 4.5 with management) and “Scenario 4” (RCP 8.5 with management). This socio-economic management proved to be effective in reducing the unmet demand up to 50% in all sub-basins for the period 2071–2099

Conservation and Management of Genetic Resources of Sorghum, Pearl millet, Chickpea, Pigeonpea, Groundnut and other Small millets in the ICRISAT Genebank

ICRISAT operates as a system of genebanks with a main genebank located in Patancheru, (India) and other 3 genebanks located in Niamey (Niger), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bulawayo (Zimbabwe). Each of these genebanks perform all the regular operations and conserve and distribute accessions to users according to their location. In its active collection the ICRISAT genebank at Patancheru holds more than 119,000 accessions of sorghum, groundnut, chickpea, pigeonpea, pearl millet and six other small millets (finger millet, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, little millet and proso millet). In total the genebank conserves accession of 11 different crops that represent 70 – 80% of the available diversity (Upadhyaya et al. 2008). Additionally, accessions of groundnut and pearl millet are also stored at Niamey, accession of sorghum and pearl millet at Bulawayo, and accessions of sorghum, pigeon pea and chickpea at the Nairobi genebank (Koo et al. 2004). In this evaluation we have evaluated only the Patancheru genebank and the main genetic materials conserved in its facilities. 11 The only previous cost evaluation of the ICRISAT genebank corresponds to the work of Koo et al. (2004) that also concentrated on the accessions kept at Patancher

Indoor Social Networks in a South African Township: Potential Contribution of Location to Tuberculosis Transmission

CITATION: Wood, R. et al. 2012. Indoor social networks in a South African township : potential contribution of location to tuberculosis transmission. PLoS ONE, 7(6): e39246, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039246.The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosoneBackground We hypothesized that in South Africa, with a generalized tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, TB infection is predominantly acquired indoors and transmission potential is determined by the number and duration of social contacts made in locations that are conducive to TB transmission. We therefore quantified time spent and contacts met in indoor locations and public transport by residents of a South African township with a very high TB burden. Methods A diary-based community social mixing survey was performed in 2010. Randomly selected participants (n = 571) prospectively recorded numbers of contacts and time spent in specified locations over 24-hour periods. To better characterize age-related social networks, participants were stratified into ten 5-year age strata and locations were classified into 11 types. Results Five location types (own-household, other-households, transport, crèche/school, and work) contributed 97.2% of total indoor time and 80.4% of total indoor contacts. Median time spent indoors was 19.1 hours/day (IQR:14.3–22.7), which was consistent across age strata. Median daily contacts increased from 16 (IQR:9–40) in 0–4 year-olds to 40 (IQR:18–60) in 15–19 year-olds and declined to 18 (IQR:10–41) in ≥45 year-olds. Mean daily own-household contacts was 8.8 (95%CI:8.2–9.4), which decreased with increasing age. Mean crèche/school contacts increased from 6.2/day (95%CI:2.7–9.7) in 0–4 year-olds to 28.1/day (95%CI:8.1–48.1) in 15–19 year-olds. Mean transport contacts increased from 4.9/day (95%CI:1.6–8.2) in 0–4 year-olds to 25.5/day (95%CI:12.1–38.9) in 25–29 year-olds. Conclusions A limited number of location types contributed the majority of indoor social contacts in this community. Increasing numbers of social contacts occurred throughout childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, predominantly in school and public transport. This rapid increase in non-home socialization parallels the increasing TB infection rates during childhood and young adulthood reported in this community. Further studies of the environmental conditions in schools and public transport, as potentially important locations for ongoing TB infection, are indicated.http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039246Publisher's versio