Scaling Up and Out: Achieving Widespread Impact through Agricultural Research
Author: Douglas Pachico
Publisher: CIAT
Published: 2004
Total Pages: 291
ISBN-13: 9586940640
DOWNLOAD EBOOKPosts
Value Chains, Social Inclusion and Economic Development
Author: A.H.J. (Bert) Helmsing
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2012-05-23
Total Pages: 305
ISBN-13: 1136724710
DOWNLOAD EBOOKLead firms, development organisations, donors and governments view value chains and voluntary standards as vital instruments for achieving millennium development goals through trade and market-related interventions. The precise foundations for these development strategies, which suggest positive development outcomes from integration of poor actors into value chains, are as yet underdeveloped. The interdisciplinary work in this volume shows how trade is managed and asks theory-driven questions about how value chains relate to locally-rooted development processes. Policy makers and development practitioners are increasingly using value chain analysis to frame pro-poor development interventions. This book offers multiple conceptualizations of development outcomes of inclusion of small producers, firms and workers in value chains. Processes of inclusion at different scales are unpacked in order to identify the terms of participation of small producers, firms and workers. As value chains are embedded, the book further argues that inclusion can be conceptualized as the degree of alignment between value chain logics and the institutions and capacities in the local business system. The combination of inclusive governance and endogenous development informs a grounded debate on roles of development-oriented partnerships. Chapters in this volume draw on multiple strands of economics, sociology, political science, geography and management studies; and for empirical grounding engage in comparative analysis of cases from Latin America, SubSaharan Africa and East and South East Asia. These are combined with processes taking place at a global level, such as the proliferation of standards and the growth of roundtables and multi-stakeholder partnerships. The contributions explore contrasts – between contexts, between industries or commodities/products, and between conceptual frameworks; and the context dependency of development impact necessitates cross-case investigations. This collection will be of interest to scholars in development studies, economics, business studies, as well as to development policy makers.
Participatory Research and Gender Analysis
Author: Nina Lilja
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2013-09-13
Total Pages: 231
ISBN-13: 1317986857
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAgricultural development research aims to generate new knowledge or to retrieve and apply existing forms of knowledge in ways that can be used to improve the welfare of people who are living in poverty or are otherwise excluded, for instance by gender-based discrimination. Its effective application therefore requires ongoing dialogue with and the strong engagement of men and women from poor marginal farming communities. This book discusses opportunities afforded by effective knowledge pathways linking researchers and farmers, underpinned by participatory research and gender analysis. It sets out practices and debates in gender-sensitive participatory research and technology development, concentrating on the empirical issues of implementation, impact assessment, and institutionalisation of approaches for the wider development and research community. It includes six full-length chapters and eight brief practical notes and is enhanced by an annotated resources list of relevant publications, organisations, and websites adding to the portfolio of approaches and tools discussed by the contributors. Most of the 33 contributing authors work in the specialised agencies that form part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). This book was published as a special issue of Development in Practice.
Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals
Author: Ademola A. Adenle
Publisher:
Published: 2020
Total Pages: 593
ISBN-13: 0190949503
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAfter the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to "end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all," researchers and policy makers highlighted the importance of targeted investment in science, technology, and innovation (STI) to make tangible progress. Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals showcases the roles that STI solutions can play in meeting on-the-ground socio-economic and environmental challenges among domestic and international organizations concerned with the SDGs in three overlapping areas: agriculture, health, and environment/energy. Authors and researchers from 31 countries tackle both big-picture questions, such as scaling up the adoption and diffusion of new sustainable technologies, and specific, localized case studies, focusing on developing and middle-income countries and specific STI solutions and policies. Issues addressed include renewable energy, automated vehicles, vaccines, digital health, agricultural biotechnology, and precision agriculture. In bringing together diverse voices from both policy and academic spheres, this volume provides practical and relevant insights and advice to support policy makers and managers seeking to enhance the roles of STI in sustainable development.
Farm-Level Modelling
Author: Shailesh Shrestha
Publisher: CABI
Published: 2016-09-28
Total Pages: 240
ISBN-13: 1780644280
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAgriculture is the product of a complex mixture of behavioural, biophysical and market drivers. Understanding how these factors interact to produce crops and livestock for food has been the focus of economic investigation for many years. The advent of optimisation algorithms and the exponential growth in computing technology has allowed significant growth in mathematical modelling of the dynamics of agricultural systems. The complexity of approaches has grown in parallel with the availability of data at increasingly finer resolutions. Farm-level models have been widely used in agricultural economic studies to understand how farmers and land owners respond to market and policy levers. This book provides an in-depth description of different methodologies and techniques currently used in farm-level modelling. While giving an overview of the theoretical grounding behind the models, an applied approach is also used. Case studies range from the application of modelling to policy reforms and the subsequent impacts on rural communities and food supply. This book also provides descriptions of the use of farm-level models in much wider fields such as aggregation and linking with sectoral models. Its purpose is to show the reader the methods that have been employed to inform decision-makers about how to improve the economic, social and environmental goals required to achieve the aims of multidimensional policy.
Social and Technological Innovation in Africa
Author: Solomon Nwaka
Publisher: Springer Nature
Published: 2021-07-16
Total Pages: 207
ISBN-13: 9811601550
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis book examines the landscape of sustained investment in research and innovation in Africa, which are critical for development. This cutting-edge analysis is based on empirical evidence and the author’s experience in managing health and related innovations on the continent and globally. It concludes, for the first time, that African innovation is largely driven by the principles of Social, rather than Technological innovation. The significance of this finding and the need to optimize, scale and sustain this dominant innovation is addressed in various chapters that analyze the status, challenges and opportunities. Particularly, the financing, collaboration and coordination patterns for these activities on the continent show a fragmented ecosystem that is largely dependent on external donors and aid. The importance of supportive policies, leadership and venture mechanisms that incentivizes public and private entities to innovate is further exemplified by the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. The book proposes mechanism to address identified challenges.
Water - Energy - Food Nexus Narratives and Resource Securities
Author: Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi
Publisher: Elsevier
Published: 2022-05-17
Total Pages: 352
ISBN-13: 0323918379
DOWNLOAD EBOOKWater–Energy–Food Nexus Narratives and Resource Securities: A Global South Perspective provides a knowledge synthesis on the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus, focusing primarily on the global south. By presenting concepts, analytical tools, and case studies, the book serves as a practical resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in sustainability and functional roles across all three sectors. It addresses key issues related to data availability, tools, indices, metrics, and application across multiple scales, beginning with a summary of existing knowledge. Finally, it examines the WEF nexus, presents global insights, and discusses future considerations and implications. This book presents an overview of existing knowledge on the WEF nexus and examines how such research aligns with emerging global WEF nexus perspectives, making it ideal for professionals, government entities, private industry, and the general public. - Offers a conceptual framework on how to better understand the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus and its utility in natural resource management and sustainable development - Presents advanced analytical tools for the quantification of linkages, trade-offs, and synergies among WEF sectors - Utilizes global case studies to illustrate complexities across disciplines, geographies, and scales
Agroecology, Ecosystems and Sustainability in the Tropics
Author: G. Poyyamoli
Publisher: Studera Press
Published: 2017-06-26
Total Pages: 424
ISBN-13: 9385883186
DOWNLOAD EBOOKTropical ecosystems are some of the most biologically and ecologically diverse in the world. Traditional, local agroecosystems in the tropics reflect this diversity, and provide excellent examples of how nature can be used as the model for designing and managing sustainable agroecosystems. This book brings together such examples. Using an agroecological approach, the collection of chapters demonstrates how agroecology must simultaneously be a science, a practice, and a movement for social change towards a paradigm of sustainability that engages all parts of the food system, from the field to the table. Chapter contributors were selected from multiple countries and backgrounds, providing a valuable diversity of approaches and knowledge systems, and the interaction of these systems gives this book the important transdisciplinarity that has become a key component of agroecology. Working across disciplines and knowledge systems is necessary in order to link the multiple components of food systems that promote effective change. As food systems return to the diversity, complexity, and resilience they once had, it is collections of experiences as presented in this book that provide examples of the path we must be on. Steve Gliessman, Professor Emeritus of Agroecology, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA.
The Global Food System
Author: William D. Schanbacher
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Published: 2014-07-23
Total Pages: 279
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis detailed analysis of the global food system looks at the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed in an effort to create a more equitable and healthful system worldwide. With large-scale famine afflicting regions around the globe and overconsumption and unhealthy eating habits destroying others, many are beginning to wonder if access to food is less of a class-based social problem and more of an ethical issue affecting the lives—and livelihoods—of people all over the world. This thoughtful text provides a thorough examination of the factors contributing to this global concern, exploring the complexities of international food supply and demand as well as the efforts to bring about a more just global food system. Through this groundbreaking volume, author and educator Will Schanbacher sheds light on flaws in the current structure and suggests ways to achieve a more balanced approach. He considers the economics, politics, and activism behind and involved in the production, distribution, and consumption of the global food system. In an effort to illuminate many problems associated with hunger, inequality, and injustice in the food system, the book also offers many potential strategies and solutions for making a more healthy, sustainable, and equitable world. Chapters contain both theoretical models and concrete practices for food security and offer strategies for creating an equitable system.
The Sociology of Food and Agriculture
Author: Michael Carolan
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2021-09-26
Total Pages: 277
ISBN-13: 100044239X
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThoroughly revised and updated, the third edition of The Sociology of Food and Agriculture provides a cutting-edge, comprehensive introduction to the study of food and society. The book begins by examining the food economy, with chapters focusing on foodscapes, the financialization of food, and a new chapter dedicated to food and nutrition (in)security. In Part II, the book addresses community and culture. While some books only look at the interrelationships between food and culture, this section problematizes the food system from the standpoint of marginalized bodies. It contains chapters focusing on agricultural and food labor and the peasantries, topics which are often overlooked, and gender, ethnicity, and poverty. Part III examines food and the environment, with chapters addressing important topics such as agro-ecosystems, food justice, sustainable food, and agriculture and food sovereignty. The final part focuses on food futures and includes a brand-new chapter on sustainable diets and ethical consumption. The book concludes by showcasing how we can rethink food production and consumption in a way that can help heal social, political, and cultural divisions. All chapters draw on international case studies and include learning objectives, suggested discussion questions, and recommendations for further reading to aid student learning. The Sociology of Food and Agriculture is perfect for students of food studies, including food justice, food and nutrition security, sustainable diets, food sovereignty, environmental sociology, agriculture, and cultural studies.
