Food distribution's socio-economic relationships and public policy: Mexico City's municipal public markets

Traditional food supply systems, like municipal public markets (MPM), are in crisis. Nevertheless, MPMs continue to demonstrate importance in the lives of the cities. In this article we discuss the case of Mexico City and the importance of the public markets for its neighbourhoods. We present the results of two research projects, completed in Mexico City at two different historical times and interpreted longitudinally. The results demonstrate the importance of socio-economic relationships for MPM's survival and potential. The article concludes with public policy recommendations to permit conservation, given the MPM's importance for the city's social cohesion.     

Farmer-to-farmer extension: opportunities for enhancing performance of volunteer farmer trainers in Kenya

Farmer-to-farmer extension (FFE) is playing a complementary role to formal extension services in facilitating the spread of agricultural technologies and improving farmers’ capacities. The effectiveness and sustainability of such programmes depend on volunteer farmer trainers (VFTs) having technical skills and overcoming process-related challenges that hinder them from achieving the desired outcomes. This article uses quantitative and qualitative data collected from seven sites to explore the challenges experienced by VFTs as they share their knowledge on livestock feed innovations in a dairy development project in Kenya. Sustainable opportunities for enhancing VFTs’ performance are discussed.     

Rural development from the ground up: agro-food initiatives in Tasmania

Concerns about the decline of rural agricultural communities have recently refocused on new economic opportunities available in regional food production. This article analyses three on-the-ground case studies of rural development projects in Tasmania, Australia that aimed to develop new regional food opportunities. It analyses these projects to identify how local food producers can create viable economic alternatives in rural settings. The projects illustrate that the existence of regional food assets alone is not enough to guarantee economic development success: rural producers need connections into relevant knowledge networks if they are to identify and respond to new agro-food market opportunities.     

Collective action in small-scale mushroom production in Swaziland: does organisational form matter?

While substantial literature is available on the determinants of small-scale farmers’ participation in collective action, and the welfare impacts of producing and/or marketing collectively, studies on the likely implications of organisational form on producers’ collective behaviour remain scant. This article attempts to address this knowledge gap by using an example of different forms of small-scale mushroom-producing groups in Swaziland. Given the importance of collective action in sub-Saharan Africa, the overall results of this article provide valuable insights into alternative means of coordinating commercial small-scale agricultural activities, which can improve producers’ ultimate benefits while reducing the likelihood of internal free-riding.     

Erstwhile villages in urban India

In the process of urbanisation villages are becoming parts of cities or towns, and are becoming almost irreversibly transformed as a result. Erstwhile villages, now parts of cities and towns, are on the margins of an urbanising India. They are lagging behind other parts of the cities in terms of receiving basic urban services and infrastructures. Urban development processes should look at the specific issues and concerns of these villages independently from the need and scope of planning for the city at large. This would make the transition from rural to urban status fair and inclusive for erstwhile villagers.     

Farmers,peanuts, and aflatoxins in Uganda: A gendered approach

This article describes a collaborative research for development project that used participatory methods to engage smallholder farmers in Uganda in post-harvest aflatoxin management. It is based primarily on qualitative research with peanut growers tracing ‘the path of the peanut’ through their hand-drawn maps and journal writing. By focusing on everyday life and including recipes and drawings, this research encouraged women's participation and emphasised women's roles. A unique partnership among universities, women's organisations, and farmers created an environment of mutual learning and produced a book documenting food preparation and other post-harvest practices as part of a study and capacity-building effort on peanuts and aflatoxins.     

技术转移要求、投资鼓励与国际投资环境的关联关系——结合WTO贸易与投资关系工作组的研究报告和晚近国际投资立法进行分析

根据WTO贸易与投资关系工作组近年来对技术转移要求和投资鼓励问题的专题研究 ,结合晚近国际投资立法的相关规定 ,不难发现未来相关国际投资立法的可能发展趋势 :适当的有关技术移转方面的引导措施可以存续 ,强制性技术转移要求应逐步取消 ;投资鼓励措施只能作为吸引和引导外资的辅助性工具 ,制约投资鼓励措施的国际多边规则会逐步出现并日趋严格     

贵州民族文化多样性及其再生性保护与开发

贵州民族文化呈现多样性,但传承面临危机,数字化技术对民族文化进行再生性保护与开发,是传承和创新民族文化的最好手段。     

技术侦察中应用数字图像技术问题探讨

数字图像技术与传统图像技术比较有许多长处,应用于秘密照相取证、秘密录像取证及电子监控取证等技术侦察工作中有助于提高查控犯罪效率。应用中应保证正确性、有效性,提高规范化水平。     

论跨国自然资源及环境破坏的国家责任和国际赔偿责任确定

近年来 ,跨国界环境污染和自然资源破坏事件逐增 ,形成对全球和相邻相向国家及地区的严重危害。不同类型的跨国界自然资源环境 ,需要由国际法的基本原则和国家责任及国际赔偿责任确定 ,也需要与国际环境保护中各类国际公约、宣言和全球可持续发展战略的原则相一致。本文论述了由跨国自然资源及环境破坏构成的过失责任、资源环境保护的国家责任和国际法原则的确定 ;跨国自然资源环境构成国家责任的归咎是与国际赔偿责任及国际公约的规定一致的 ;跨国自然资源环境构成国家责任确定标准 ;解决跨国自然资源环境破坏的国家责任若干建议