Eating Outside the Box: FoodShare’s Good Food Box and the Challenge of Scale

The concept of scale is useful in analyzing both the strengths and limitations of community food security programs that attempt to link issues of ecological sustainability with social justice. One scalar issue that is particularly important but under-theorized is the scale of social reproduction, which is often neglected in production-focused studies of globalization. FoodShare Toronto's good food box (GFB) program, engages people in the politics of their everyday lives, empowering them to make connections between consumption patterns and broader political-economic, cultural, and political-ecological issues. Community food security (CFS) projects such as the GFB are currently limited in their scope and reach and have been criticized for their inability to deliver food to a larger segment of marginalized, hungry people. A central dilemma for CFS projects is how to engage the majority of urban consumers who still eat “inside the box” of the industrial food system. We argue that the concept of scale helps clarify how CFS projects must “scale out” to other localities, as well as “scale up” to address structural concerns like state capacity, industrial agriculture, and unequal distribution of wealth. This requires the state and the third sector to recognize the importance of multi-scaled food politics as well as a long-term pedagogical project promoting ecological sustainability, social responsibility, and the pleasures of eating locally. Josée Johnston is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto. She is interested in the radical potential of food politics in the context of neo-liberal globalism. Lauren Baker is a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University in Toronto, Canada. Her research interests include food politics, alternative food networks, and place-based social movements. Lauren worked with FoodShare Toronto as a program coordinator for five years and continues to be active in the community food security movement.     

Progress and Application of Plastein Reaction in Food Proteins

Plastein reaction is considered a reversal of the usual protein hydrolysis by proteinase, which was applied to prepare a higher-molecular, protein-like substance. It can improve biological value and functional properties of food proteins, meliorate flavor of protein hydrolysates and, especially, provide a way to synthesize new sources of proteins. Although the mechanism(s) of the plastein reaction is not clarified, it will have great values in food industry with the development of technologies in enzymology and microbiology.     

Relevance of Dried Meat Product （Kundi）, an Intermediate Moisture Meat,for Food Security

The main goal of food security is for individual to be able to obtain adequate and quality food needed at all times, and to utilise the food to meet the body needs. Kundi is a relish Intermediate Moisture Meat （dried meat） product, produced in the Northern part of Nigeria. 2-3 years old male Camelus dromedarius and White Fulani animals were used for this study, 2 kg of semimembranous muscles from each animal were used, and trimmed of all external fat, connective tissues and bones. Meat samples were cut in sizeable pieces of weight ranges 70-90 grams of 6-8 cm and kept in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Fresh meat cuts were boiled for 20 minutes at 100 ~C, seasoned and oven dried for 3 hours at 170 ~C. This study assessed the proximate composition of fresh and dried meat （Kundi） products and their sensory evaluation in a completely randomized design. The results showed that fresh camel meat had 74.55% and 21.96% significantly （P 〈 0.05） higher in moisture and protein content than 72.69% and 18.96% of fresh beef, while fresh beef had higher （P 〈 0.05） ether extract （6.34%） than fresh camel meat （2.39%）. Laboratory Prepared Beef Kundi （LPBK） had the highest （P 〈 0.05） value in moisture content 35.09% followed by Laboratory Prepared Camel ＇Kundi＇ （LPCK） with 33.21% while Commercial Kundi （CK） had the least. Protein obtained was inversely proportionally to moisture content. Ether extract for LPCK and LPBK were statistically similar （P 〉 0.05） and both were lower （P 〈 0.05） than value obtained for CK. The results obtained for sensory evaluation showed that the panelist rated seasoned Kundi to have the highest significant （P 〈 0.05） valve for tenderness, flavour, colour, juiciness, texture and acceptability with values 6.50, 5.30, 6.50, 6.53, 6.30 and 7.00 respectively. Study showed that dry meat products （Kundi） is of high nutritional qualities, and could be of a great relevance; to food security.     

A Complete Set of Technologies for Green Food Pork Production

Key technologies for green food pork production were described in this article,as aspects of business standardization ;production ectuipments and facilities,product quality control ;and pork production site establishment.     

Impact of Africa Regional Food Security Program on Nigerian Farmers： The Case of National Special Program for Food Security

This paper examined the impact of National Special Program for Food Security （NSPFS） on the beneficiaries through a qualitative measurement of the food security status of the beneficiaries. A food insecurity index was estimated to measure the well-being of the beneficiaries as affected by the impact of the program. Beneficiaries were classified into four categories： food secure （41%）, food insecure without hunger （46%）, food insecure with moderate hunger （11%）, and food insecure with severe hunger （2%）. Perceptions of beneficiaries were measured. In conclusion, the program has had a positive impact and enhanced food security among the Nigerian beneficiaries. It is not without its short comings which include delayed and untimely disbursement of funds and lack of output markets, irrigation facilities, production inputs and adequate training on technology know-how. The default rate and number of debtors remain high among beneficiaries. Efforts should be made to correct the short comings to improve the effectiveness of the program and justify the huge financial resources that have been committed.     

The puzzle of the missing meat:Food away from home and China’s meat statistics

From 1985, an increasing gap has emerged between the ofifcial statistical measures of meat production and meat con-sumption in China, which has raised concerns from many researchers using such data. In...     

Preparation of the UPOV Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness,Uniformity and Stability-Tea Plant [Camellia sinensis （L.） O. Kuntze]

Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability （DUS） testing is the technical base of Plant Variety Protection （PVP） and the scientific basis for the approval of Plant Breeder＇s Rights （PBR）. DUS Test Guidelines are not only the technical manuals for the DUS testing authorities to conduct the testing, but also the technical standards for the competent authorities to examine the DUS of new varieties of plants. Tea plant, originated from Yunnan Province, China, is a very important woody cash species in the world. The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants （UPOV） DUS Test Guidelines for tea plant is the first Test Guidelines prepared by China for the UPOV. In this article, the subject, selection, and determination of characteristics, states of expression of characteristics and the selection of example varieties, assessment of the UPOV DUS Test Guidelines for tea plant were elucidated in detail. Finally, the proposal of PVP for tea plant in China was also proposed. The preparation of UPOV DUS Test Guidelines for tea plant will have important significance both for promoting the development of PVP and increasing the status of international PVP fields for China.     

Comparison of PCR, DIA and Pathogenicity Assay for Detection of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, the Causal Agent of Citrus Bacterial Canker Disease

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach based on newly designed primers, JYF5/JYR5, was applied for specific detection of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.citri(Xac). The efficiency and reliability of PCR method were compared with dot immunobinding assay (DIA) and classical pathogenicity test techniques for detecting suspensions of pure cells of Xac and soaking sap of citrus tissues. Detection sensitivity of PCR was about 4.5 cells or 1.56 pg target DNA per reaction which was higher than that of DIA (ca.450 cells per dot).These three techniques (PCR assay, DIA and Pathogenecity test) could always detect Xac from symptomatic citrus samples. Different performances were obtained from citrus materials without symptoms, and the positive detection frequency was PCR, DIA and pathogenicity test.     

Impact of Climate Change on Rice Water Demand and Food Security： Case of Thailand and Vietnam

Water plays an important role in food production especially rice. Rice productivity depends greatly on sufficient water to meet evaporative demand and soil moisture. It is certain thalL rice, the most important crop of Thailand and Vietnam, is vulnerable to climate change. This paper proposes an analysis on the impact of climate on rice water requirement and food security in Thailand and Vietnam. Water demand, yield and production of rice were computed under the changed surface air temperature for three time slices, namely 2020s, 2050s and 2080s. Food security was analyzed from rice supply （calculated milled-rice product, rice stock, and imports） and demand （domestic uses from population growth, exports to world market, domestic seed and other uses）. The result showed that, under the higher surface air temperature scenario, water requirement office in Thailand and Vietnam could increase by 1.8 times in the end of the 21 st century. Production of rice dropped by declined yield. Thailand and Vietnam which is the world largest rice exporter in last decades will face the rice shortage in 2080s and 2030s respectively.     

Production and Characterization of Polyclonal Antibody for the N- Methylcarbamate Insecticide Metolcarb

The hapten, 3-{[1-(3-(methyl)phenyloxy)-carbonyl]amino}propanoic acid (HOM), mimicking the analyte metolcarb, was synthesized and verified by mass spectrometry (MS) and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (1H-NMR). Then,HOM was conjugated with the carrier proteins bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ovalbumin (OVA) with stoichiometric amounts of N-hydroxysuccinimide/dicyclohexylcarbodimide (NHS/DCC) using the activated ester method. Polyclonal antibodies were raised against the conjugate of HOM-BSA in rabbits. Antiserum titres were determined by noncompetitive indirect ELISA procedures and the titer of pAb01 reached 1.28 × 106. The cross-reactivities of the structurally related Nmethylcarbamate insecticides were 0.0% except for dimethacarb. These results indicate that the antibody pAb01 with strong affinity and high specificity can be used to develop a sensitive and rapid detection protocol for metolcarb residue.     

Land Suitability Assessment and Landuse Planning： A Prerequisite for Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation

Though Ghana＇s crop yield growth rate was at 17%, 5% of every 1.2 million Ghanaians have insufficient and limited access to nutritious food. Climate change and climate variability have enormously affected the state of agricultural productivity and hence could result in food insecurity. As many ongoing projects use Boolean suitability analysis, land use planning, management recommendations sores, it still remains inadequate to support rural resource poor farmers. This then, is affecting livelihood and agricultural productivity. In this paper, a geostatistical quantitative method to support a geographic information system （GIS） based on multi-criteria decision support system （GMCDSS） for an enhanced land suitability assessment （LSA） and landuse planning （LP） was devised. Project findings indicated that, recommended farm inputs could be estimated and applied accordingly at farm plot levels Soil amendment indicators （e.g., 1.0 t/ha lime ＋ 1.0 t/ha gypsum was estimated for liming） was quantified and currently, farmers can save money in soil fertility management. It has shown that, instead of applying 5.0 t/ha poultry manure （PM） or five bags of N-P-K fertilizer （rate of 15： 15： 15 N-P2O5-K2O/ha） ＋ two bags of sulphate of ammonia （SA）, a farmer may apply 2.0 t/ha PM ＋ two bags 15：15：15 N-P2O5-K2O/ha ＋ one bag of SA. GMCDSS assessment has proved to be fundamental in： （1） urban planning; （2） ensuring food security; （3） poverty reduction and interventions to the effects of climate change and climate variability.     

Effects of N, P and K Fertilizers on the Yield of Cauliflower

以花椰菜“厦雪100天”品种为试材,采用通用旋转组合设计,通过田间试验,对氮、磷、钾肥用量与花椰菜产量间的关系进行研究,建立了花椰菜产量函数模型;结果表明:氮、磷、钾肥均能显著地影响花椰菜产量,其作用大小依次为氮肥>钾肥>磷肥;在此项试验条件下,施肥量为N:319.58-371.48kg/hm2,P2O5:202.20-261.45kg/hm2,K2O:288.15-339.15kg/hm2时,花椰菜产量可达57000kg/hm2以上。     

Grassland Degradation,Construction and the Econmic-technological Strategies of Sustainable Development of Grassland-agriculture

NaturalgrasslandintheWestofNortheasternChinaislocatedin41°0'-43°5'Nlatitudeand117°0'-127°5'Elongitude.ItlaystheLiaoRiverVal鄄ley,theSonghuaRiverValleyandNenRiverValley.About130yearsago,thisgrasslandhadrichnaturalgrasslandresources,includingmeadowandswampmeadow,andwasnumerically26.67millionsinhectareofnaturalgrasslands.Inthelightofourinfer鄄ence[1-3].Therewereabout1000speciesofseedplantsinthisgrasslandinthatperiodandtheybelongmain鄄lytoPoaceae,Astraceae,Cyperaceae,andFabaceae[4].1Me…     

Development of the Artificial Antigens for the OrganophosphorusInsecticide Chlorpyrifos

This study reported that the hapten of the organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos, O,O-diethyl-O- [3,5-dichloro-6- (2-carboxyethyl) thio-2-pyridyl] phosphorothioate (named AR) wassynthesized by using technical grade chlorpyrifos reacted with 3-marcapropanoic acid in hotalkaline solution. The hapten was conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) with the modifiedactive ester method to form artificial immune antigen. The ratio of AR:BSA was 39:1. Theartificial coating antigen for chlorpyrifos was synthesized by conjugating AR to ovalbumin(OVA) with the mixed-anhydride method, and the ratio was 13:1. The anti-chlorpyrifos polyclonalantibodies were obtained by using the artificial immune antigen (AR-BSA) to immune in therabbits.     

Safe at any scale? Food scares,food regulation,and scaled alternatives

The 2006 outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, traced to bagged spinach from California, illustrates a number of contradictions. The solutions sought by many politicians and popular food analysts have been to create a centralized federal agency and a uniform set of production standards modeled after those of the animal industry. Such an approach would disproportionately harm smaller-scale producers, whose operations were not responsible for the epidemic, as well as reduce the agroecological diversity that is essential for maintaining healthy human beings and ecosystems. Why should responses that only reinforce the problem be proffered? We use the framework of accumulation and legitimation to suggest corporate and government motives for concealing underlying problems and reinforcing powerful ideologies of individualism, scientism, and centralizing authority. Food safety (or the illusion of safety) is being positioned to secure capital rather than public welfare. We propose implementing the principle of subsidiarity as a more democratic and decentralized alternative. Because full implementation of this principle will be resisted by powerful interests, some promising intermediate steps include peer production or mass collaboration as currently applied to disease prevention and surveillance, as well as studying nascent movements resisting current food safety regulations.