Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas


Book Description

This book is based on the findings of a long-term (2000-2014) interdisciplinary research project of the University of Hohenheim in collaboration with several universities in Thailand and Vietnam. Titled Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Mountainous Areas in Southeast Asia, or the Uplands Program, the project aims to contribute through agricultural research to the conservation of natural resources and the improvement of living conditions of the rural population in the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia. Having three objectives the book first aims to give an interdisciplinary account of the drivers, consequences and challenges of ongoing changes in mountainous areas of Southeast Asia. Second, the book describes how innovation processes can contribute to addressing these challenges and third, how knowledge creation to support change in policies and institutions can assist in sustainably develop mountain areas and people’s livelihoods.




Food Safety and Informal Markets


Book Description

Animal products are vital components of the diets and livelihoods of people across sub-Saharan Africa. They are frequently traded in local, unregulated markets and this can pose significant health risks. This volume presents an accessible overview of these issues in the context of food safety, zoonoses and public health, while at the same time maintaining fair and equitable livelihoods for poorer people across the continent. The book includes a review of the key issues and 25 case studies of the meat, milk, egg and fish food sectors drawn from a wide range of countries in East, West and Southern Africa, as part of the "Safe Food, Fair Food" project. It describes a realistic analysis of food safety risk by developing a methodology of ‘participatory food safety risk assessment’, involving small-scale producers and consumers in the process of data collection in a data-poor environment often found in developing countries. This approach aims to ensure market access for poor producers, while adopting a realistic and pragmatic strategy for reducing the risk of food-borne diseases for consumers.




Sorghum


Book Description

Sorghum is among the top five cereals and one of the key crops in global food security efforts. Sorghum is a resilient crop under high-stress environments, ensuring productivity and access to food when other crops fail. Scientists see the potential of sorghum as a main staple food in a future challenged by climate change. The contributors provide a comprehensive review of sorghum knowledge. The discussion covers genetic improvements, development of new hybrids, biotechnology, and physiological modifications. Production topics include water and nutrient management, rotations, and pest control. Final end uses, sorghum as a bioenergy crop, markets, and the future of sorghum are presented. IN PRESS! This book is being published according to the “Just Published” model, with more chapters to be published online as they are completed.




Global Potato Research for a Changing World


Book Description

The present report provides an overview on newly available technology options for increasing crop yields and improving yield stability in potato production. Biotic and abiotic constraints to crop production are discussed in detail and technologies to address these constraints are presented. As a principal contribution, the report offers a comprehensive overview of technologies available for potato production. With special emphasis on improved varieties, it covers the different types of technologies and approaches, oriented towards yield improvement, yield stabilization as well as aspects of crop quality. Therefore, it not only represents an encompassing exposé of technologies for further use by CIP researchers, but also offers a starting point for prospective analyses of technology impacts




Agro-Ecological Intensification of Agricultural Systems in the African Highlands


Book Description

There is an urgent need to increase agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa in a sustainable and economically-viable manner. Transforming risk-averse smallholders into business-oriented producers that invest in producing surplus food for sale provides a formidable challenge, both from a technological and socio-political perspective. This book addresses the issue of agricultural intensification in the humid highland areas of Africa – regions with relatively good agricultural potential, but where the scarce land resources are increasingly under pressure from the growing population and from climate change. In addition to introductory and synthesis chapters, the book focuses on four themes: system components required for agricultural intensification; the integration of components at the system level; drivers for adoption of technologies towards intensification; and the dissemination of complex knowledge. It provides case studies of improved crop and soil management for staple crops such as cassava and bananas, as well as examples of how the livelihoods of rural people can be improved. The book provides a valuable resource for researchers, development actors, students and policy makers in agricultural systems and economics and in international development. It highlights and addresses key challenges and opportunities that exist for sustainable agricultural intensification in the humid highlands of sub-Saharan Africa.




Innovative risk management strategies in rural and agriculture finance


Book Description

The regional study collects and analyzes recent innovative risk transfer and sharing strategies used by private or public financial institutions and enterprises leading agricultural investments in Asia. It makes an illustration of the channels through which recent strategies overcome obstacles for the delivery of various financial services to agribusinesses, such as long-term loans, savings, insurance, hedging instruments, and leasing. An explanation of the context in which these strategies seem to work is be provided in addition to those constraints that currently limit further outreach to the agribusiness sector, specially to smaller agro-enterprises with growth potential where poorer rural households participate.




Bovine Tuberculosis


Book Description

This book is contemporary, topical and global in its approach, and provides an essential, comprehensive treatise on bovine tuberculosis and the bacterium that causes it, Mycobacterium bovis. Bovine tuberculosis remains a major cause of economic loss in cattle industries worldwide, exacerbated in some countries by the presence of a substantial wildlife reservoir. It is a major zoonosis, causing human infection through consumption of unpasteurised milk or by close contact with infected animals. Following a systematic approach, expert international authors cover epidemiology and the global situation; microbial virulence and pathogenesis; host responses to the pathogen; and diagnosis and control of the disease. Aimed at researchers and practising veterinarians, this book is essential for those needing comprehensive information on the pathogen and disease, and offers a summary of key information learned from human tuberculosis research. It will be useful to those studying the infection and for those responsible for controlling the disease.




Plant Pathogens


Book Description

Addressing the most critical issues in the management of emerging diseases throughout the world, experts in plant pathology from internationally renowned institutes share their research and examine key literature. They look at both traditional pathology and advanced biotechnological and molecular diagnosis, and integrated management practices. This book is divided into four parts, covering viral and fungal disease detection and management, nematode diseases and management, bio-control, and biotechnological approaches and impact of climate change. The authors look at the challenges of crop protection against diseases caused by plant pathogens for the most economically important crops. The establishment and management of plant diseases using conventional and eco-friendly methods are discussed with an emphasis on the use of beneficial microbes and modern biotechnological approaches.




Sustainable Intensification to Advance Food Security and Enhance Climate Resilience in Africa


Book Description

This 32-chapter volume represents the core of several oral and poster presentations made at the conference. In addition to Introduction and Conclusion sections, the book is thematically divided into 7 sections, namely, 1) Land Use and Farming Systems, 2) Effects of Climate Change on Crop Yield, 3) Soil Nutrient and Water Management for Carbon Sequestration, 4) Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands through Forestry and Agroforestry, 5) Management of Animal Production for Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 6) Smallholder Adaptation to Climate Change, and 7) Economic, Social and Policy Issues. It addresses these themes in the context of sustainable intensification (SI). It implies increasing agronomic production from the existing land while improving/restoring its quality and decreasing the C or environmental footprint. Simply put, SI means producing more from less.




Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables


Book Description

Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables: Technologies and Mechanisms for Safety Control covers conventional and emerging technologies in one single source to help industry professionals maintain and enhance nutritional and sensorial quality of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables from a quality and safety perspective. The book provides available literature on different approaches used in fresh-cut processing to ensure safety and quality. It discusses techniques with the aim of preserving quality and safety in sometimes unpredictable environments. Sanitizers, antioxidants, texturizers, natural additives, fortificants, probiotics, edible coatings, active and intelligent packaging are all presented. Both advantages and potential consequences are included to ensure microbial safety, shelf-life stability and preservation of organoleptic and nutritional quality. Industry researchers, professionals and students will all find this resource essential to understand the feasibility and operability of these techniques in modern-day processing to make informed choices. - Provides current information on microbial infection, quality preservation, and technology with in-depth discussions on safety mechanisms - Presents ways to avoid residue avoidance in packaging and preservation - Includes quality issues of microbial degradation and presents solutions for pre-harvest management