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The coffee sector's challenges, such as low and volatile prices, prompt adopting strategies focused on product differentiation, including high-quality specialty coffee. Nevertheless, documented evidence shows that small producers in Oaxaca, Mexico, are not equally benefiting from this market opportunity compared to other states in Mexico, such as Veracruz or Chiapas. This review article identifies and analyzes the factors in integrating small Oaxacan producers into the specialty market. A total of 138 scientific contributions were analyzed, emphasizing three thematic axes: (1) Trends and behavior of the coffee market. (2) Factors to enable the production of high-quality coffee, and (3) Current situation and challenges of small coffee producers in the specialized market. We found that coffee quality depends on the environment (mainly altitude, temperature, and geographical conditions) and agronomic, genetic, and socioeconomic factors. Moreover, agronomic and genetic factors should focus on choosing coffee varieties suited to the environmental conditions of the farm and adopting innovations in production, harvest, and post-harvest processes. The most significant socio-economic factors that hinder small coffee producers' participation in the specialized market include but are not limited to, lack of information, social connection, and financial resources. However, in the literature analyzed here, it was also possible to identify specific farmworker experiences that operate with a community approach and have inserted their small producers into high-quality market transactions. For this reason, this article suggests that the standardization model of quality from the collective approach within the community-based enterprise is a sustainable and inclusive alternative to achieve the goal: the insertion of small Oaxacan coffee producers into the more significant specialty market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to analyze the level of access to public credit of small corn producers in the lake regions of Chapala, Pátzcuaro, and Cuitzeo in the state of Michoacán, within the framework of the neoliberal financial policy adopted in the years 1981-2022 compared to the post-revolutionary period. This productive sector is mainly characterized by having low economic income, little land area, and lack of equipment and machinery, and not being subject to credit, therefore, the members of this sector share the condition of exclusion from financing for production. The methodology used consisted of collecting historical information regarding the operation of public rural financial institutions created in the post-revolutionary period and the neoliberal transition that they experienced in the eighties. Also in obtaining data through the application of 611 surveys to identify some elements that explain the current exclusion from public credit of small corn producers in the lake regions of Michoacán. The results reveal that this productive sector has a low level of access due to the changes in public credit policy promoted by federal governments since the 1990s. These caused radical institutional modifications in the way agricultural credit operates and contributed to the current limited availability of public credit aimed at small corn producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coffee sector’s challenges, such as low and volatile prices, prompt adopting strategies focused on product differentiation, including high-quality specialty coffee. Nevertheless, documented evidence shows that small producers in Oaxaca, Mexico, are not equally benefiting from this market opportunity compared to other states in Mexico, such as Veracruz or Chiapas. This review article identifies and analyzes the factors in integrating small Oaxacan producers into the specialty market. A total of 138 scientific contributions were analyzed, emphasizing three thematic axes: (1) Trends and behavior of the coffee market. (2) Factors to enable the production of high-quality coffee, and (3) Current situation and challenges of small coffee producers in the specialized market. We found that coffee quality depends on the environment (mainly altitude, temperature, and geographical conditions) and agronomic, genetic, and socio-economic factors. Moreover, agronomic and genetic factors should focus on choosing coffee varieties suited to the environmental conditions of the farm and adopting innovations in production, harvest, and post-harvest processes. The most significant socio-economic factors that hinder small coffee producers’ participation in the specialized market include but are not limited to, lack of information, social connection, and financial resources. However, in the literature analyzed here, it was also possible to identify specific farmworker experiences that operate with a community approach and have inserted their small producers into high-quality market transactions. For this reason, this article suggests that the standardization model of quality from the collective approach within the community-based enterprise is a sustainable and inclusive alternative to achieve the goal: the insertion of small Oaxacan coffee producers into the more significant specialty market.

Fruit logistics during harvesting involves a large-scale deployment of material and human resources. In olive groves and, for small producers, the operation can be carried out in different ways, however, none of these allow a production monitoring or traceability of the harvested fruit. This study presents a compatible methodology with the usual harvesting logistics employed for harvest monitoring. The procedure uses a mechanical system for loading and unloading big bags of fruit weighing approximately 200 kg with a loading arm that can be adapted to a conventional trailer. An electronic system connected to a cloud application is installed on the trailer for geo-referenced recording of the yield. Tests to determine the accuracy of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reported values of around 19 mm and 590 mm for the system with and without corrections, respectively, using the Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol (NTRIP). The error determination tests of the loading bolt weighing system showed high accuracy and linearity with a mean absolute error of 1.1 ± 0.99 kg. The complete system was tested in a traditional olive grove and an intensive olive grove. The harvest maps generated allowed the yield visualisation and to keep a traceability record of the harvested fruit batches. Application of the proposed methodology and systems presents a reduced operation time between loading and unloading of consecutive fruit batches (~ 2.5 min). The proposed system would be useful for small producers with limited resources who need to control production and fruit traceability on their farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the current market for cattle farming, it is necessary to implement reproductive technologies and biotechnologies on a property. In this sense, BIOTEC activities to bring these biotechnologies to small producers in APL Oeste, this work aims to show the main benefits and difficulties encountered in this implementation. These highlighted benefits and difficulties are based on the experience of the institution’s veterinarians and interns during activities on APL Oeste properties, in terms of what else is needed both to improve results after the implementation of biotechnologies, and productivity itself. The difficulties of a structural, nutritional and management nature are highlighted, and the main benefits are the genetic improvement and zootechnical control of animals, which shows that there is still a lot to improve so that these activities can reach more producers and improve their results in those that are already in the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the innovative alternatives to the traditional cooperative structure has been the new generation cooperatives or cooperative companies, known as producer companies (PCs) in India since the early 2000s. This paper examines the impact of PCs on the member farmer livelihoods, which is not well studied, with the help of member and non‐member farmer interview survey in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is found that though the PCs were inclusive of small farmers in their membership, the PC interface with members for farm inputs was not very strong and the output linkage was poor, reaching only a small proportion of member farmers. The Sufal Bangla public supermarket franchise by some PCs was found to make a large difference to the PC performance and its impact on member farmers. The small size of membership in most case study PCs hindered the equity size, leading to working capital and market interface constraints. Therefore, it is important to encourage members to contribute more equity and to reward their output linkage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently there has been a growing interest in local farmers' markets as the most significant areas of short food supply chains (SFSCs). The current study primarily focused on these market locations as the most important local food systems. In the course of our research, a questionnaire survey was conducted involving small producers operating in the county of Győr-Moson-Sopron and selling at local farmers' markets. Within the framework of this study in relation to the circle of producers, the method of farming, the viability of the economy, the role of direct sales, the forms of sales and their frequency, and the distance of delivery were regarded as major factors of the analysis. More than half of the respondents indicated the conventional way of farming, whereas the eco/bio cultivation method appears only to a limited extent. Contrary to our hypothesis, the proportion of those who gave the highest values to the question about the viability of the economy was outstanding. Respondents consider the role of direct sales to be particularly important. Examining the forms and frequency of sales it can be stated that the farmers' market is one of the main location for sales on a weekly and occasional (monthly) basis. Regarding the delivery distance almost half of the respondents deliver within a radius of 50 km but they consider longer distances acceptable. Overall, based on the opinions of the surveyed producers, the role of farmers' markets is prominent within the SFSC sales methods and this might also apply to future tendencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroecology is an agricultural, holistic, and innovative approach, which aims to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of agricultural systems. This approach is very rewarding for agriculture in developing countries, mainly in arid zones where water resources are in sharp decline. In this study, we examined farmers' knowledge by studying existing agricultural production systems and agricultural practices in Moulay Driss Zerhoun (S1) and the Middle Atlas (S2) in central Morocco, to assess the gap between them and the principles and recommendations of agroecology. Data were collected through a survey of 64 farmers, and through field trips and observations. Collected data were analyzed with Chi-square tests and canonical correspondence analysis. Most farms (63.3% in S1 and 52.9% in S2) have an area between 0 and 5 ha. Both areas frequently opt for agroforestry. Olive trees and annual crops (85%), olive trees and fodder crops (10%), and olive trees and market garden crops (5%) are the most recorded associations. Olive trees were used frequently in association with other fruit trees, such as almond trees (15%), carob trees (13%), and fig trees (5%). Of farmers practicing agroforestry, 70% use only organic fertilizers. Thus, 53% of the farmers interviewed at the level of the S2 zone cultivate vegetable crops, against 17% at the level of S1, and only 40% of the farmers of S1 use irrigation, while 60% depend on rainfall. On the other hand, 83.3% of farmers in S1 adopted a two-year rotation—cereals and legumes—against 30% in S2. Tillage or plowing is considered by farmers a necessary procedure before sowing, and, only in S2, 71% of farmers opt for annual tillage of their land for agroforestry. Based on multivariate analysis, the choice of crops was significantly influenced by region and type of organization. However, it was not influenced by topography or farmland size, and the land and area played an important role in the selection of crop types. Raising awareness and introducing agroecological practices in the two study areas based on local knowledge seems essential, with the aim of strengthening the resilience of agroecosystems, respecting the environment, and guaranteeing the sustainability of small farmers through the diversification of their productions. The obtained results from this work are the first in this field of study and constitute a basis for comparative investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contextualization: This research is focused on farmhand production systems in the hillside area of Palmira [Valle del Cauca], characterized by having small productive areas with perennial and short-cycle plants, and livestock systems with minor species. These systems are of great importance for the food security of the population, due to their diverse offer for the regional market. Knowledge gap: Farming systems are highly vulnerable to various external factors, such as market fluctuations and the weather variability that place them at risk. This research was based on the following question: how sustainable are the farming systems in the hillside area of the Municipality of Palmira Valle del Cauca? Purpose: Evaluate the agricultural sustainability of peasant systems in the Ayacucho district of Palmira [Valle del Cauca]. Methodology: Some attributes of thirteen prioritized peasant systems were quantified, using the Natural Resource Management Systems Assessment Framework, and incorporating Sustainability Indicators [MESMIS]. The data obtained from the survey and field visits were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate statistics of main components, using the statistical package R Studio version 3.0.1. Productivity, adaptability, stability, reliability, resilience, equity and self-management attributes were plotted using a radar-type diagram, with an evaluative range of 0-100%. The indicators per attribute were plotted as eigenvectors for the first two main components, establishing their degree of similarity through the accumulated variance. Results and conclusions: stability registered the highest value with 75.15%, indicating strengths in the land ownership and in the water supply in the area for agricultural production. The adaptability and self-management attributes registered the lowest values with 44.90% and 46.15%, respectively, indicating weaknesses such as high dependence on external inputs, technical ignorance about the integration of animal and plant components, as well as low level of associativity. The results obtained, using the MESMIS evaluation, allowed a holistic assessment of the peasant systems in the Arenillo village, and that made possible to identify critical aspects for developing improvements that lead to achieve the sustainability of these farming systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2017-2019, survey data was gathered on the challenges and needs facing small-scale agricultural producers in Texas. The needs assessment survey instrument was developed using stakeholder input from the first Small Producers Initiative stakeholder meeting at Texas State University in August 2015, and evidence from the literature. Fifteen challenges and 43 specific training needs were identified and included in the survey instrument. Results provide insight into the myriad challenges and needs of Texas small producers. The top five challenges were: 1) lack of access to capital (71%); 2) aversion to acquiring debt to finance a larger operation (68%); financing (66%); organic certification requirements (64%); costs of regulations and permits (64%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Organizações Rurais & Agroindustriais is the property of Organizacoes Rurais & Agroindustriais and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the past two years, three major corporate mergers have begun to reshape what was an already concentrated international market for agricultural chemicals, seeds, and fertilizers. If the mergers gain approval from their relevant regulatory agencies, these six multinational corporations would fold into three (Dow-DuPont, Bayer-Monsanto, and ChemChina-Syngenta), and have a profound impact on the future of global agriculture. The mergers would drastically reduce competition in the areas of crop protection, seeds, and petrochemicals; further consolidate the agrochemical market; reduce procompetitive research and development (R&D) collaborations; and, most urgently, pose a critical danger to ecosystem sustainability and exacerbate the global climate crisis.

Small producers in peri-urban areas have been identified as key actors in building more sustainable urban food systems, but they often have limited capacities to develop and consolidate their initiatives. This article describes the conditions of peri-urban farmers in Mexico City who work with agroecological schemes, analyzing the role of social and cultural capital in their ability to consolidate their economic-productive projects and establish links with consumers in the city. The research was developed from an anthropological perspective based on field visits and interviews conducted in 60 production units located in the peri-urban area of Mexico City. The article discusses the literature on peri-urban agriculture and the contextual particularities of the case study and then describes a typology constructed based on the analysis of the documented cases, considering the objectives of the initiatives and the different types of social and cultural capital on which their activities and marketing strategies are based are considered. The discussion argues that the social and cultural capital of the production units are key elements in determining the viability of the agroecological transition, reaffirming the importance of social articulation and other sociocultural aspects for the promotion of sustainable food projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research develops a case study of a model of a Fair of small producers in urban spaces, discussing the implications of inclusive innovation processes from a regional food heritage perspective. Through gathering primary information, interviews and discussions with the protagonists and stakeholders, this study reveals innovation processes that have facilitated inclusive development taking into account the participation of rural small producers. The configuration of inclusive innovation processes has been evidenced by the assets, actors and the food community that have been created in the frame of the Fair. This has generated a new value to this initiative and has laid the basis for the consolidation of the Fair as a model that can be replied. The analysis allows us to affirm that the Fair constitutes a space for inclusive innovation due to it has built new networks with heterogeneous actors, it has capitalized various types of traditional knowledge and it has generated opportunities for small producers. From a cultural perspective, the regional food heritage that has been promoted by small producers in the Fair, has contributed to generating new capacities and opportunities in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cooling of olives stored in containers with a capacity of 400 kg risk accumulation of respiration heat and subsequent fruit deterioration. Pre-cooling the fruit to 5 °C before cold storage was studied as a possible solution to overcome this obstacle. The fruit temperature within the containers was recorded daily for 14 days and oil was extracted at days 0, 4, 8, and 14. A second experiment evaluated a rapid pre-cooling procedure at -18 °C for 3 min. No significant alterations at the level of the examined parameters were recorded. The internal temperature of the control container declined and stabilized at around 12 °C. The temperature of the pre-cooled fruit increased to up to 8 °C. The examined parameters showed no significant alterations in either experiment and the rapid pre-cooling treatment did not lead to any visible 'chill injuries'. A pre-cooling treatment at 5 °C was successfully introduced at the farm of a small producer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agroalimentaria is the property of Alejandro Antonio Gutierrez Socorro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze the associativity in the value chain of a collective brand of mezcal in San Felipe, Guanajuato, México. Design/methodology: The methodology was based on a case study with a mixed approach. The 2019 Economic Censuses are analyzed, and semi-structured interviews were applied. Findings: The results reveal that from the association and governance in the value chain of the brand, its development has been achieved, leading it to a better position in the market. Practical implications: Among the implications is that associativity allows generating strategies and articulating efforts, through collaboration between the various actors in the chain. Originality/value: The originality lies in the study of associativity as a fundamental element for small companies to face the market and be competitive, based on the cooperation between internal and external actors that make up the value chain.

The cooling of olives stored in containers with a capacity of 400 kg risk accumulation of respiration heat and subsequent fruit deterioration. Pre-cooling the fruit to 5 °C before cold storage was studied as a possible solution to overcome this obstacle. The fruit temperature within the containers was recorded daily for 14 days and oil was extracted at days 0, 4, 8, and 14. A second experiment evaluated a rapid pre-cooling procedure at -18 °C for 3 min. No significant alterations at the level of the examined parameters were recorded. The internal temperature of the control container declined and stabilized at around 12 °C. The temperature of the pre-cooled fruit increased to up to 8 °C. The examined parameters showed no significant alterations in either experiment and the rapid pre-cooling treatment did not lead to any visible ‘chill injuries’. A pre-cooling treatment at 5 °C was successfully introduced at the farm of a small producer.

The current research develops a case study of a model of a Fair of small producers in urban spaces, discussing the implications of inclusive innovation processes from a regional food heritage perspective. Through gathering primary information, interviews and discussions with the protagonists and stakeholders, this study reveals innovation processes that have facilitated inclusive development taking into account the participation of rural small producers. The configuration of inclusive innovation processes has been evidenced by the assets, actors and the food community that have been created in the frame of the Fair. This has generated a new value to this initiative and has laid the basis for the consolidation of the Fair as a model that can be replied. The analysis allows us to affirm that the Fair constitutes a space for inclusive innovation due to it has built new networks with heterogeneous actors, it has capitalized various types of traditional knowledge and it has generated opportunities for small producers. From a cultural perspective, the regional food heritage that has been promoted by small producers in the Fair, has contributed to generating new capacities and opportunities in this population.

Copyright of Retos, Revista de Ciencias Administrativas y Económicas is the property of Universidad Politecnica Salesiana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In order to make harvesting table olives profitable, mechanical harvesting has become an absolute necessity. Many small Andalusian producers face structural and financial constraints in implementing the mechanisation of harvesting and, as a consequence, the fruit is still harvested manually. A manual inverted umbrella (MIU), initially designed for harvesting oil olives, was evaluated in order to determine the extent in which this device can optimise the harvesting without jeopardising the fruit quality. Simultaneously, the effects of a diluted lye treatment, applied to prevent the proliferation of brown spots caused by bruising during mechanical harvesting, was also studied. The quality of the harvested fruit was evaluated after complete fermentation. The results indicate that when no diluted lye treatment was applied, using the MIU resulted in a slightly inferior fruit quality. However, when the amount of heavily damaged fruit is taken as a standard, the MIU presented results comparable to those obtained by manual harvesting. The MIU does, therefore, offer small producers an efficient alternative, given that manual harvesting costs are up to three times higher than the costs incurred during MIU harvesting.

Agroecology is an agricultural, holistic, and innovative approach, which aims to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of agricultural systems. This approach is very rewarding for agriculture in developing countries, mainly in arid zones where water resources are in sharp decline. In this study, we examined farmers’ knowledge by studying existing agricultural production systems and agricultural practices in Moulay Driss Zerhoun (S1) and the Middle Atlas (S2) in central Morocco, to assess the gap between them and the principles and recommendations of agroecology. Data were collected through a survey of 64 farmers, and through field trips and observations. Collected data were analyzed with Chi-square tests and canonical correspondence analysis. Most farms (63.3% in S1 and 52.9% in S2) have an area between 0 and 5 ha. Both areas frequently opt for agroforestry. Olive trees and annual crops (85%), olive trees and fodder crops (10%), and olive trees and market garden crops (5%) are the most recorded associations. Olive trees were used frequently in association with other fruit trees, such as almond trees (15%), carob trees (13%), and fig trees (5%). Of farmers practicing agroforestry, 70% use only organic fertilizers. Thus, 53% of the farmers interviewed at the level of the S2 zone cultivate vegetable crops, against 17% at the level of S1, and only 40% of the farmers of S1 use irrigation, while 60% depend on rainfall. On the other hand, 83.3% of farmers in S1 adopted a two-year rotation—cereals and legumes—against 30% in S2. Tillage or plowing is considered by farmers a necessary procedure before sowing, and, only in S2, 71% of farmers opt for annual tillage of their land for agroforestry. Based on multivariate analysis, the choice of crops was significantly influenced by region and type of organization. However, it was not influenced by topography or farmland size, and the land and area played an important role in the selection of crop types. Raising awareness and introducing agroecological practices in the two study areas based on local knowledge seems essential, with the aim of strengthening the resilience of agroecosystems, respecting the environment, and guaranteeing the sustainability of small farmers through the diversification of their productions. The obtained results from this work are the first in this field of study and constitute a basis for comparative investigations.

The backup agreements are established between the supplier and the buyer to regulate the purchase of a good or service. The contract constitutes a backup inventory for the final purchase order and strengthens the commercial relationship between buyer and seller. The contract acts as a coordination mechanism in which parameters such as price, quantity, quality, and time are considered to improve the integration and coordination of the flows of resources, income, and information in the supply chain. On the other hand, in a decentralized supply chain, small producers represent the echelon with the lowest profit generated their economic activity, so this article studies small producer's income performance once implemented the backup contract, in a decentralized three-echelon small agricultural producers supply chain located in the Center of Valle Del Cauca. Systems dynamics is the strategy used for its analysis. Variables that affect small producers' income performance in the decentralized chain are identified and a causal diagram is elaborated. Also, two scenarios are studied using Forrester diagrams: Supply Chain without a backup contract and a second scenario with the Implementation of the backup contract. Finally, it is simulated in Vensim software, results are interpreted, and future supply chain performance is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to make harvesting table olives profitable, mechanical harvesting has become an absolute necessity. Many small Andalusian producers face structural and financial constraints in implementing the mechanisation of harvesting and, as a consequence, the fruit is still harvested manually. A manual inverted umbrella (MIU), initially designed for harvesting oil olives, was evaluated in order to determine the extent in which this device can optimise the harvesting without jeopardising the fruit quality. Simultaneously, the effects of a diluted lye treatment, applied to prevent the proliferation of brown spots caused by bruising during mechanical harvesting, was also studied. The quality of the harvested fruit was evaluated after complete fermentation. The results indicate that when no diluted lye treatment was applied, using the MIU resulted in a slightly inferior fruit quality. However, when the amount of heavily damaged fruit is taken as a standard, the MIU presented results comparable to those obtained by manual harvesting. The MIU does, therefore, offer small producers an efficient alternative, given that manual harvesting costs are up to three times higher than the costs incurred during MIU harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study whose purpose was to evaluate the performance of the extension workers in charge of providing technical assistance to amaranthus producers within the agricultural extension program at Mexico City (CDMX) to implement technologies in their productions units that improve their productivity to increased yield and/or reduced production costs. The entities responsible for the program were the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), before (SAGARPA) and the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development (SEMADER) of the Government of CDMX. In addition, it was supported by two institutions; one dedicated to the training of rural producers and one of research, the first in the methodological part that fell to INCA Rural and the second, in the National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research (INIFAP) that accompanied the extension workers in the part of research and innovation. Six technical advisers (extension agents) and a coordinator participated in the development of their activities in the town hall of Milpa Alta, Tlahuac and Xochimilco, where a population of 84 producers were directly assisted, which implemented 20 innovations in the primary links, transformation, commercialization, supply inputs and organization of producers. The technological innovations that were implemented for the amaranth crop had a small scope of application, because the number of extensionists assigned to the chain of such crop was very scarce.

The purpose of our study is to survey the marketing issues of small-scale food production and short supply chains (SSCs) from the consumers’ aspects, and to give insight into the effectiveness and potential of SSC marketing. The paper presents the result of a wide online consumer survey with the participation of more than 1000 consumers, mostly from the Northern Hungary region. According to our experiences, the most effective „marketing instrument” was the personal contact with producers, communication with relatives, and acquaintances. One-third part of our sample could be motivated by (this kind of) marketing and had more willingness to pay for small-producers’ goods.

Objetivo: identificar patrones de cambio agrícola en algunas regiones del estado de Oaxaca y aportar elementos para una nueva caracterización de los pequeños productores locales. Metodología: se realizó un estudio cuantitativo de tipo exploratorio a partir de bases de datos longitudinales, para analizar la incursión de la producción agrícola de Oaxaca en los mercados foráneos. Se emplearon análisis factoriales para generar índices de actividad agrícola y análisis de redes para observar las trayectorias de los agroproductos. Resultados: los datos muestran que el perfil agrícola de algunos municipios y de sus productores ha estado cambiando en las últimas dos décadas. Se trata de cambios marcados por el incremento de su actividad y por la consolidación de agroproductos específicos en mercados locales y foráneos. Limitaciones: se emplearon sólo datos secundarios. Valor: el gran volumen de datos analizado hace las evidencias robustas. Conclusiones: los resultados plantean la necesidad de actualizar la caracterización tradicional que se hace de la pequeña producción en términos de su falta de acceso a los mercados.

Copyright of RAN - Revista Academia & Negocios is the property of RAN - Revista Academia & Negocios, Universidad de Concepcion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Traidcraft Exchange and its sister business Traidcraft plc have been developing Fair Trade supply chains for over three decades. As core certified 'Fairtrade' products have become mainstream in UK markets since the late 1990s, Traidcraft Exchange has focused energies on bringing innovative supply chains and small-producer organisations into the wider Fair Trade system. The case study presented here is of rice sourced from smallholder farmers in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady region: the world's first Fairtrade product from Myanmar. The case study illustrates how Traidcraft Exchange's explicit focus on small producers and innovating new supply chains from 'left behind' communities can work in practice. It explains challenges faced at both the supplier and market end. It seeks to show how broader programmatic aims to strengthen small producer skills and organisational capacity to engage with trade on fairer terms can mitigate risks associated with export trade to the challenging UK market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock value chains globally are increasingly dualistic, with integrated market-leaders co-existing with comparatively disadvantaged small producers who, nevertheless, support rural livelihoods and food access, and can also contribute to more resilient supply chains. The South African broiler value chain provides a highly illustrative case study. The purpose of this study is to identify potential leverage points for policy intervention to support small and emerging producers in the South African broiler value chain, and to discuss the strengths and limitations of system dynamics approaches to promote inclusive food value chains. This study develops a causal loop diagram (CLD) based on semi-structured stakeholder interviews and policy documents. The main challenges, key variables and causal relationships between them are systematically identified. Variables are coded, generalised and graphically represented, and entry points for intervention and their links to existing policies are mapped. The challenges faced by smallholders in the context of our study can be characterised, using a CLD, as a set of interlinked and reinforcing dynamics which perpetuate existing disadvantages and reinforce duality in the value chain. Key policy entry points have been identified that could be targeted by a coordinated policy package, including: Direct support for infrastructure investment and input access through grants, subsidies or other policies; credit and liquidity provision for day-to-day expenses; creation of aggregation mechanisms for both inputs and outputs; regulations or initiatives that directly target the relationship of farmers with the commercial segment to improve access to day-old-chicks and, finally, training in business and technical skills. Although most of these interventions have been addressed at some point, implementation has been fragmented, failing to fully consider their complementary nature, thus undermining effectiveness. Existing approaches to consensus building and stakeholder participation in system dynamics research can present challenges when it comes to engaging with complex policy processes and issues of conflict of interest that are relevant in the context of smallholder promotion and equitable food systems, but there are promising avenues for addressing. Despite some methodological challenges, we find that there is considerable scope for system dynamics approaches to inform policy for smallholder promotion, even in contexts characterised by complex policy processes.

In this text, the author defends the role of an eco-solidary, vegan, organic and local cuisine in the organisation of different events, taking as example her participation in the organisation of the Fourth International Ecosocialist Encounters. The NGO Associação Caldeira Negra – which the author co-founded according to the principles of regional food sovereignty and which was responsible for feeding hundreds of people during this event – chooses to cook vegan, local and organic food as a tool to fight for a less polluting and more solidary world, as well as a fair, healthy agriculture for all beings (including humans); it also fights for a nutrition based on products from an agriculture that sustains those who produce avoiding animal suffering or excessive stress for the environment.

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ABSTRACT The commercial sector of starch extraction has fully automated plants with a minimum scale of 200 ton.day–1, which extracts starch from maize and cassava in Brazil. Although these starches are commodities, the market demands starches with special properties obtained without chemical modifications. A higher-priced starch can compensate for small-scale extraction, as in the case of arrowroot starch, which would correspond to an alternative income for the producer. As a small-scale equipment was not available in Brazil, it was necessary to adapt a hammer mill for arrowroot starch extraction, which should have a performance similar to that obtained from cassava roots using industrial grinders. The degree of disintegration and energy consumption were adopted as the efficiency indexes. The hammer mill was equipped with two perforated plates. The results showed that use of an adapted hammer mill provides an average diameter of 74.64 ± 0.09 μm for perforated plate 1 (TP1) and 76.62 ± 0.06 μm for TP2; these results were equivalent to those obtained with cassava in the respective perforations which, in turn, was comparable to the degree of grinding obtained with large industrial equipment. The specific energy consumption needs for arrowroot disintegration varied from 31.47 to 48.91 kJ.kg–1, which was considered close to that calculated for large-scale industrial cassava roots grinders, reported at 37.03 kJ.kg–1.

Objetivo: describir las políticas que han impulsado el cultivo de palma de aceite en Campeche, la situación actual y las perspectivas futuras. Metodología: se realizó una revisión documental y se aplicó una encuesta productiva a una muestra representativa de palmicultores del estado de Campeche (n=137). Resultados: la expansión de la palma de aceite se ha llevado a cabo bajo un modelo de plantaciones campesinas a pequeña escala con escasa tecnificación, reducida productividad y dependencia de los apoyos gubernamentales. Limitaciones del estudio: la caracterización del cultivo de palma de aceite se enfoca en las prácticas de los pequeños productores, quienes representan 95% de los palmicultores del estado. Valor: se contribuye a la discusión sobre la expansión de la palma de aceite en México, mediante el estudio de caso de Campeche, que no había sido documentado hasta ahora. Conclusiones: los pequeños productores se encuentran en riesgo de desaparecer ante el cambio de las políticas públicas y la llegada de empresas agroindustriales transnacionales con plantaciones a gran escala, cuyos impactos potenciales en lo ambiental y en lo social no han sido evaluados.

This article analyzes whether the Small Producers' Symbol (SPP in its Spanish initials), is a method that helps to determine whether this coordinating mechanism is a better option for peasant participation in terms of capacity building and empowerment for peasant organizations. We based our work on a review of the literature, an analysis of the objectives and premises of the initiative as outlined on the SPP website and printed materials, as well as on fieldwork with SPP-accredited organizations in the Altos region of Chiapas. Theoretical discussion is based on contributions from various disciplines that study the interstices of globalization as a social process from multiple perspectives: economic, philosophical, consumption and marketing, social movements, and confidence building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Desarrollo Gerencial is the property of Universidad Simon Bolivar (USB) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Enviromental Sciences & Natural Resources / Revista de Ciencias Ambientales & Recursos Naturale is the property of ECORFAN-Mexico S.C. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this text, the author defends the role of an eco-solidary, vegan, organic and local cuisine in the organisation of different events, taking as example her participation in the organisation of the Fourth International Ecosocialist Encounters. The NGO Associação Caldeira Negra - which the author co-founded according to the principles of regional food sovereignty and which was responsible for feeding hundreds of people during this event - chooses to cook vegan, local and organic food as a tool to fight for a less polluting and more solidary world, as well as a fair, healthy agriculture for all beings (including humans); it also fights for a nutrition based on products from an agriculture that sustains those who produce avoiding animal suffering or excessive stress for the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study whose purpose was to evaluate the performance of the extension workers in charge of providing technical assistance to amaranthus producers within the agricultural extension program at Mexico City (CDMX) to implement technologies in their productions units that improve their productivity to increased yield and/or reduced production costs. The entities responsible for the program were the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), before (SAGARPA) and the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development (SEMADER) of the Government of CDMX. In addition, it was supported by two institutions; one dedicated to the training of rural producers and one of research, the first in the methodological part that fell to INCA Rural and the second, in the National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research (INIFAP) that accompanied the extension workers in the part of research and innovation. Six technical advisers (extension agents) and a coordinator participated in the development of their activities in the town hall of Milpa Alta, Tlahuac and Xochimilco, where a population of 84 producers were directly assisted, which implemented 20 innovations in the primary links, transformation, commercialization, supply inputs and organization of producers. The technological innovations that were implemented for the amaranth crop had a small scope of application, because the number of extensionists assigned to the chain of such crop was very scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]