Valuing quality seeds and species diversity in FLR: Simulation modelling for cost-benefit analysis

Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) aims at reestablishing the ecological functionality of degraded terrestrial ecosystems, as well as changing land-management practices to sustain local economic growth for the benefit of local livelihoods and for society in the long term. FLR projects embracing quality planting material, in terms of genetic diversity and site adaptation, provide better performances regarding growth and resilience. Consequently, they are expected to deliver a more efficient cost-benefit ratio. We propose a numerical model that simulates a one-hectare FLR project in order to explore the dynamics of the cost-benefit ratio over the period of 20 years. The model quantifies the impact of the use of quality planting material on the health of the plantation and its consequent economic value. A case study of a Prosopis pallida plantation in the dry forest of the north of Peru shows no relevant additional costs, but significant additional benefits of the use of quality planting material. This result holds both for an intensive commercial plantation and a conservation project that entails almost zero maintenance

Caracterización socioeconómica de las cadenas de valor de cacao con énfasis en la problemática de cadmio en Piura y Huánuco, Perú

Clima-LoCa es un proyecto regional liderado por la Alianza de Bioversity International y el Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), implementado en colaboración con socios en investigación de América Latina y Europa y financiado por la Comisión Europea. Este proyecto contribuye a cumplir los objetivos de la convocatoria de 2018 sobre “Innovaciones relacionadas con el clima mediante investigación agrícola” de la plataforma liderada por la CE, DeSIRA (Development-Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture), que se basa en el anhelo de mejorar la movilización de la investigación y la capacidad de innovación para contribuir al desarrollo sostenible del sector cacaotero. Este proyecto aborda desafíos importantes relacionados con la resiliencia, competitividad e inclusión del creciente sector cacaotero. Aquí, resiliencia se refiere a la capacidad de los pequeños productores y otros actores de la cadena de valor, de mitigar los impactos negativos de los nuevos reglamentos de inocuidad alimentaria de la UE sobre cadmio en cacao, y del cambio climático. https://climaloca.org/. Este documento se enmarca en el componente socioeconómico del proyecto Clima-LoCa y tiene como objetivos desarrollar la caracterización socioeconómica de la cadena de valor del cacao en dos de las regiones de intervención del proyecto, Piura y Huánuco, así como identificar los efectos de la regulación de niveles máximos de cadmio de la Unión Europea (UE 488/2014 en las regiones y especialmente a nivel de los productores

Impactos en la cadena de valor del cacao en Perú como consecuencia del Reglamento UE No. 488/2014

Este informe hace parte de los productos del componente socioeconómico del proyecto Clima-LoCa. El documento presenta los resultados agregados de una serie de análisis y estudios desarrollados por miembros de la Alianza Bioversity International y CIAT, SENASA, INIA, MIDAGRI y las cooperativas Agroindustrial Cacao Alto Huallaga (CAICAH) y NorAndino durante los años 2020 y 2021 relacionados a los efectos del reglamento UE No 488/2014 en la cadena de valor de cacao en el Perú y las medidas adelantadas para mitigarlos. Primero se presenta una contextualización de la cadena del cacao y chocolate en el Perú, así como de la problemática del cadmio, las iniciativas adelantadas a nivel nacional para hacer frente a esta situación y los resultados de una revisión de la literatura disponible relacionada a los impactos del reglamento en la cadena. El informe presenta un análisis que combina diversas metodologías y fuentes, apoyándose en la multiplicidad de enfoques, fuentes de información y perspectivas de las organizaciones participantes. *Clima-LoCa es un proyecto regional liderado por la Alianza de Bioversity International y el Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), implementado en colaboración con socios en investigación de América Latina y Europa y financiado por la Comisión Europea. Este proyecto contribuye a cumplir los objetivos de la convocatoria de 2018 sobre “Innovaciones relacionadas con el clima mediante investigación agrícola” de la plataforma liderada por la CE, DeSIRA (Development-Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture), que se basa en el anhelo de mejorar la movilización de la investigación y la capacidad de innovación para contribuir al desarrollo sostenible del sector cacaotero. Este proyecto aborda desafíos importantes relacionados con la resiliencia, competitividad e inclusión del creciente sector cacaotero. Aquí, resiliencia se refiere a la capacidad de los pequeños productores y otros actores de la cadena de valor, de mitigar los impactos negativos de los nuevos reglamentos de inocuidad alimentaria de la UE sobre cadmio en cacao, y del cambio climático. https://climaloca.org/

Can integrated social protection programmes affect social cohesion? Mixed-methods evidence from Malawi

The primary objective of social protection is to fight poverty and food insecurity. However, there are good theoretical arguments to support the idea that it can also contribute to more complex outcomes, such as social cohesion. This paper investigates the effects of the Tingathe Economic Empowerment Programme (TEEP) in Malawi on three key pillars of social cohesion, namely inclusive identity, trust and cooperation. The TEEP is a multi-component social protection scheme, which targets ultra-poor and labor-constrained households. It provides three randomly selected groups of beneficiaries with three different packages: a lump-sum transfer, a financial and business training connected to the creation of saving (VSL) groups, and a combination of both. A sequential mixed-methods approach was employed to assess the effects of the different project components. This consists of: i) a quantitative analysis based on an experimental design and primary data collected one year after project implementation; ii) a qualitative analysis, based on focus group discussions and individual interviews conducted three years after project implementation. [...

Sustainable Development in Rural Areas of Mexico through Beekeeping

A holistic approach that includes social cohesion, accessibility to means of production, policies and nutritional education is widely recognized as needed to fight food insecurity in the world. By investigating the surprising achievements of the Heifer International projects in the rural areas of Mexican states such as Veracruz and Chiapas, this article advances the theory of a multiplier effect given by beekeeping if inserted in a wider food and economic security project. Beekeeping is not only functional as integrator of family income in rural families, but it also provides a healthy sugar source, environmental sensitisation, women empowerment, social cohesion and lots of sub-products for healthcare and cosmetics. Such a huge impact on families has, in fact, to be added to the general positive impact of beekeeping on biodiversity and climate change. The introduction gives a review of the concept of food and economic security for rural families. The second part portraits the complexity and inequality of Mexico in both its economic and nutritional environment. In the last part the Heifer International project structure and goals are explained, followed by an analysis of the data collected as well as an illustration of the impact of this project over the economy, the society and the environment

L’immobilità sociale dell’élite del potere europeo : un’analisi comparativa

In the current complex socio-economic and political situation, it is important to understand the future of the European Union, which cannot be separated from an analysis of its elites. This paper investigates the socio-demographic, educational and professional features of European power elite members (henceforth international top leaders) in the political, cultural and economic fields. Quantitative research was carried out examining the profiles of 9,000 Europeans contained in The International Who’s Who 2021 (2020). A descriptive analysis of elite members and a categorical principal components analysis is provided. The study highlights that top European leaders are mainly male and quite old. In this regard, a sort of ‘longue durée’ of male dominance and gerontocracy can be observed, which suggests that for European elite members systematic generational and gender turnover seems to be very difficult. Second, educational pathways and professions are crucial variables. These factors are very important even though significant heterogeneity can be observed at the national level. Despite several national differences, nationality does not seem to weigh heavily in qualifying top leaders.Nell’attuale complessa situazione socio-economica e politica, la comprensione del futuro dell’Unione Europea non può essere separata dall’analisi delle sue élite. Questo articolo indaga le caratteristiche socio-demografiche, educative e professionali dei membri delle élite di potere europee (top leaders internazionali) in campo politico, culturale ed economico. È stata condotta una ricerca quantitativa esaminando i profili di 9.000 europei contenuti in The International Who’s Who 2021 (2020). Viene fornita un’analisi descrittiva dei membri dell’élite e un’analisi categorica delle componenti principali. Lo studio evidenzia che i leader europei sono prevalentemente uomini e piuttosto anziani. A questo proposito, si osserva una sorta di “longue durée” di dominanza maschile e gerontocrazia, il che suggerisce un ricambio sistematico generazionale e di genere molto difficile. In secondo luogo, i percorsi formativi e le professioni sono variabili cruciali con una significativa eterogeneità a livello nazionale. Nonostante le numerose differenze nazionali, la nazionalità non sembra avere un peso significativo nella qualificazione dei leader

The social immobility of the European power elite. A comparative analysis.

In the current complex socio-economic and political situation, it is important to understand the future of the European Union, which cannot be separated from an analysis of its elites. This paper investigates the socio-demographic, educational and professional features of European power elite members (henceforth international top leaders) in the political, cultural and economic fields. Quantitative research was carried out examining the profiles of 9,000 Europeans contained in The International Who's Who 2021 (2020). A descriptive analysis of elite members and a categorical principal components analysis is provided. The study highlights that top European leaders are mainly male and quite old. In this regard, a sort of ‘longue durée’ of male dominance and gerontocracy can be observed, which suggests that for European elite members systematic generational and gender turnover seems to be very difficult. Second, educational pathways and professions are crucial variables. These factors are very important even though significant heterogeneity can be observed at the national level. Despite several national differences, nationality does not seem to weigh heavily in qualifying top leaders

Identification of Regulatory Molecular "Hot Spots" for LH/PLOD Collagen Glycosyltransferase Activity

: Hydroxylysine glycosylations are post-translational modifications (PTMs) essential for the maturation and homeostasis of fibrillar and non-fibrillar collagen molecules. The multifunctional collagen lysyl hydroxylase 3 (LH3/PLOD3) and the collagen galactosyltransferase GLT25D1 are the human enzymes that have been identified as being responsible for the glycosylation of collagen lysines, although a precise description of the contribution of each enzyme to these essential PTMs has not yet been provided in the literature. LH3/PLOD3 is thought to be capable of performing two chemically distinct collagen glycosyltransferase reactions using the same catalytic site: an inverting beta-1,O-galactosylation of hydroxylysines (Gal-T) and a retaining alpha-1,2-glucosylation of galactosyl hydroxylysines (Glc-T). In this work, we have combined indirect luminescence-based assays with direct mass spectrometry-based assays and molecular structure studies to demonstrate that LH3/PLOD3 only has Glc-T activity and that GLT25D1 only has Gal-T activity. Structure-guided mutagenesis confirmed that the Glc-T activity is defined by key residues in the first-shell environment of the glycosyltransferase catalytic site as well as by long-range contributions from residues within the same glycosyltransferase (GT) domain. By solving the molecular structures and characterizing the interactions and solving the molecular structures of human LH3/PLOD3 in complex with different UDP-sugar analogs, we show how these studies could provide insights for LH3/PLOD3 glycosyltransferase inhibitor development. Collectively, our data provide new tools for the direct investigation of collagen hydroxylysine PTMs and a comprehensive overview of the complex network of shapes, charges, and interactions that enable LH3/PLOD3 glycosyltransferase activities, expanding the molecular framework and facilitating an improved understanding and manipulation of glycosyltransferase functions in biomedical applications

Pathogenic variants in PLOD3 result in a Stickler syndrome-like connective tissue disorder with vascular complications

Background Pathogenic PLOD3 variants cause a connective tissue disorder (CTD) that has been described rarely. We further characterise this CTD and propose a clinical diagnostic label to improve recognition and diagnosis of PLOD3-related disease. Methods Reported PLOD3 phenotypes were compared with known CTDs utilising data from three further individuals from a consanguineous family with a homozygous PLOD3 c.809C>T; p.(Pro270Leu) variant. PLOD3 mRNA expression in the developing embryo was analysed for tissue-specific localisation. Mouse microarray expression data were assessed for phylogenetic gene expression similarities across CTDs with overlapping clinical features. Results Key clinical features included ocular abnormalities with risk for retinal detachment, sensorineural hearing loss, reduced palmar creases, finger contractures, prominent knees, scoliosis, low bone mineral density, recognisable craniofacial dysmorphisms, developmental delay and risk for vascular dissection. Collated clinical features showed most overlap with Stickler syndrome with variable features of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and epidermolysis bullosa (EB). Human lysyl hydroxylase 3/PLOD3 expression was localised to the developing cochlea, eyes, skin, forelimbs, heart and cartilage, mirroring the clinical phenotype of this disorder. Conclusion These data are consistent with pathogenic variants in PLOD3 resulting in a clinically distinct Stickler-like syndrome with vascular complications and variable features of EDS and EB. Early identification of PLOD3 variants would improve monitoring for comorbidities and may avoid serious adverse ocular and vascular outcomes