Putting the farmer’s face on food: governance and the producer–consumer relationship in local food systems

Local food systems (LFSs) have grown in popularity around the world in recent years. Their framing often emphasizes the re-connection of producers and consumers against the “faceless” and “placeless” industrial agriculture. However, previous research suggests that such romanticized narratives may not keep up with reality. This relates to the transformative potential of LFSs and to whether they actually generate alternative modes of social organization that challenge problematic aspects of the food system. We place our focus on the practices and narratives that construct the producer/consumer relationship and show how these systems are governed. Our fieldwork was carried out in two LFSs in two distinct settings: community supported agriculture groups in NYC and responsible consumption communities in Catalonia, Spain. Three main types of practices and narratives are identified: sharing, negotiation and utilization practices, and narratives. Our findings reveal great heterogeneity between the two LFSs and show how intermediates participate in the producer/consumer relationship.     

Promoting Lifelong Learning and Satisfying Farmers' Social and Psychological Needs Through Farmer Field Schools: Views From Rural Greece

Farmer field schools (FFS) represent an alternative lifelong learning approach aimed at enhancing farmers' competences and skills through nonformal education. In this study we examined if farmers' participation in FFS is motivated by their social-psychological needs and whether these needs can be fulfilled through participation in FFS. Findings revealed that the possibility to participate in FFS is higher for farmers who experience lower levels of closeness and connectedness with their community peers and for those who score low on belongingness satisfaction. Furthermore, our analysis confirmed that FFS attendance increases felt community acceptance and facilitates the satisfaction of the belongingness need.     

Effect of geraniol,a plant-based alcohol monoterpene oil,against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne javanica</Emphasis>

In continuing previous work on the role of AAA+ proteins of the apple proliferation agent ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ in phytoplasma virulence and suppression of virulence, 147 full-length deduced protein sequences of AAA+ ATPase AP460 of single- and multiple-strain accessions were examined. This approach revealed that in this protein two regions can be distinguished. Region 1, located in the N-terminal part, is characterized by 14 highly conserved substitutions associated with the suppression of virulence. However, these substitutions were not present in all attenuated strains. In the more diverse region 2, located in the C-terminal part, highly conserved substitutions associated with two groups of virulence were identified. In addition to the virulence-related residues, three other groups of conserved substitutions are present in strains with attenuated virulence with or without the presence of suppression-associated substitutions in region 1. In one of these groups, substitutions next to key residues of the ATPase motifs sensor 1 and 2 and arginine finger do occur that seem to affect ATPase function. This group of substitution was present in all attenuated strains. From these findings it can be concluded that two different mechanisms of suppression exist of which the supposed effect on ATPase function seems to be more important than the suppression-associated substitutions in region 1. The presence of virulent, avirulent and suppressive strains in a tree leads in the commonly occurring multiple infections to interactions in which the resulting virulence is determined by the numerical relation of virulent and attenuated strains.     

Influence of prefermentative treatments to the major volatile compounds of Assyrtiko wines

A study of the volatile fraction of Assyrtiko wines, using gas chromatography coupled with olfactometry, was realized. Twenty-seven volatile compounds were identified as potent odorants, most of them originating from the fermentation process. Quantification of the major volatile compounds was realized developing a rapid analytical method based on fractionation of a 50 mL wine aliquot using C 18-reversed phase adsorbent. After elution of the volatile compounds with pentane-diethyl ether and concentration under nitrogen, the final wine extract was injected in a gas chromatography-flame ionization detection system. The method allows satisfactory determination of more than 15 volatile compounds of wine. The linearity of the method gave a typical r (2) between 0.990 and 0.999, while reproducibility ranged from 5.1 to 12.2% (as relative standard deviation) with 9.5% as the average. The method was applied to wines produced by Assyrtiko grapes (AOC Santorini), for two consecutive years, to compare the effect of skin contact prior to fermentation and the must clarification process. Direct press and skin contact wines were differentiated analytically; however, highly significant differences were not. Inversely, the differences found between direct press/clarified and nonclarified wines were significant. Wines produced by direct press and clarified must presented significantly higher levels of ethylic esters and fusel alcohol acetates but lower fusel alcohol levels, leading probably to more fruity wines. This difference, between clarified and nonclarified grape musts, was not significant in the case of the wines produced by skin contact of Assyrtiko berries. These findings were validated by preference sensory analysis tests.     

Industrial glycerol as a supplementary carbon source in the production of beta-carotene by Blakeslea trispora

The dynamics of industrial types of glycerol as a supplementary carbon source to glucose for beta-carotene production by Blakeslea trispora was investigated in batch cultures. The growth kinetics, cellular lipid accumulation-degradation, substrate assimilation, and beta-carotene production were clearly dependent on the level of addition of pure glycerol. The highest beta-carotene production (15.0 mg/g of dry biomass) was obtained at an initial glycerol concentration of 60.0 g/L. Substitution of pure glycerol by the nonpurified soap byproduct did not inhibit cell growth. Conversely, partial purification of the biodiesel byproduct by removing methanol and fatty acids was unavoidable for cell growth. Both types of industrial glycerol stimulated beta-carotene synthesis more than 10 (soap byproduct) and 8 times (biodiesel byproduct) compared to control medium. The maximum beta-carotene contents were 10 and 8 mg/g of dry biomass, respectively, and its relative content in the carotenoid fraction was 86-88%.     

Clinicopathologic evaluation of hepatic lipidosis in periparturient dairy cattle

BACKGROUND: Fatty change of the liver (FCL) is very common in dairy cattle periparturiently. Many laboratory methods have been implicated in order to assist the diagnosis. HYPOTHESIS: To investigate whether FCL in dairy cattle could be evaluated by assessment of ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT) by means of an assay modified for bovine serum, other enzyme activity, serum bile acids (SBA) concentration, or other biochemical constituents. ANIMALS: A total of 187 dairy cattle were included: 106 were suspected to have liver dysfunction and were examined after referral by veterinarians; 70 were clinically healthy with mild FCL; and 11 were clinically healthy without FCL. METHODS: Blood and liver biopsy samples were obtained after clinical examination. Histologic examination by light microscopy and classification of samples according to the severity of FCL was done, and total lipid and triglyceride concentration was measured. In serum, OCT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) activity as well as SBA, glucose, ketones, total bilirubin (tBIL), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration were measured. RESULTS: OCT and AST activity and tBIL concentration correlate well with the degree of FCL. SBA concentration does not contribute well to FCL diagnosis. The majority of FCL cases appeared within the first 21 days-in-milk (DIM). The majority of moderate-to-severe and severe FCL cases arose in the first 7 DIM. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Except for OCT, AST, and tBIL, none of the biochemical tests used, including SBA, had sufficient discriminatory power to differentiate reliably between mild and severe FCL because of poor sensitivity. A weak correlation between clinical signs and the extent of FCL was evident.     

Diclofop‐resistant Lolium rigidum from northern Greece with cross‐resistance to ACCase inhibitors and multiple resistance to chlorsulfuron

Repeated use of ACCase‐ and ALS‐inhibiting herbicides in northern Greece has resulted in the evolution of a population of Lolium rigidum resistant to diclofop and chlorsulfuron. The biotype from Athos was highly resistant to diclofop and also exhibited differential cross‐resistance to clodinafop, fluazifop, tralkoxydim and sethoxydim. Assay of ACCase activity confirmed that the resistant biotype was tenfold more resistant to diclofop than the susceptible biotype, suggesting that the resistance mechanism could involve an altered target site. The diclofop‐resistant biotype has also exhibited multiple resistance to chlorsulfuron and the mechanism for this is unknown. Seed‐bioassay was found to be a rapid, cheap and reliable method to identify populations of L rigidum resistant to ACCase inhibitors and chlorsulfuron. Moreover, root elongation in the seed bioassay was more sensitive to ACCase inhibitors and chlorsulfuron than shoot elongation. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mineral nutrition of jojoba explants in vitro under sodium chloride salinity

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider) explants were cultured in vitro on a basal medium supplemented with sodium chloride up to 169 mM during the proliferation stage. At the second and third month of salinity stress, the mineral nutrition (macro- and micro-elements) of the explants was assessed. Explants accumulated significant amounts of sodium and chloride (jojoba is an ‘includer’) while potassium, manganese, phosphorus and nitrate concentration was reduced. The concentration of the other elements did not exhibit significant changes. Each level of salinity stress affected the nutrient status of the explants distinctively. Jojoba explants tolerate salinity up to a level of sodium chloride concentration (113 mM), without showing any stress symptoms. Above this level, the salinity stress impact was observed as succulence and chlorosis of leaves and shoots.     

EFFECT OF NITROGEN APPLICATION ON GROWTH PARAMETERS,YIELD AND LEAF NITRATE CONTENT OF GREENHOUSE LETTUCE CULTIVATED DURING THREE SEASONS

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., cv. ‘Parris Island’) was grown hydroponically in autumn, winter and spring under five levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization. Plant biomass was highest in spring and lowest in autumn at N rates of 200 and 260 mg L^?1, respectively. Increasing N application correlated positively with rates of photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal carbon dioxide (CO₂) conductance and leaf chlorophyll concentration. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal CO₂ conductance, and chlorophyll a/b ratio were higher in spring than in autumn or winter. Nitrate concentrations within the leaves increased with increasing N application in all seasons. It is concluded that lettuce growth and yield is higher in spring than in winter or autumn due to enhanced photosynthesis thanks to increasingly favorable photoperiod. Regardless of season, high N rates promote yield but increase leaf nitrate concentrations. Therefore, for the production of healthy produce the recommended N rate should be based not just on yield but also on the nitrate content.