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Demand for organic products continues to grow by about 20 percent per year, and certified organic farmers continue to receive premium prices for most organic fresh produce. Currently, most conventional supermarket and wholesale buyers... more
Demand for organic products continues to grow by about 20 percent per year, and certified organic farmers continue to receive premium prices for most organic fresh produce. Currently, most conventional supermarket and wholesale buyers purchase produce from large-scale domestic or international grower-shippers. We investigate the potential of increasing the preponderance of Great Lakes Organics (GLO) as produce defined by "organic" and provenance, as well as by other attributes (e.g., sustainable, agro-ecological farming methods; small- to medium-scale family farm; socially just; and other values) which may be embedded in the product. The limited participation of GLO in conventional retail market channels prompts two main research questions: (i) can GLO enter retail and wholesale market outlets? and (ii) what policy and firm strategies would address market barriers and improve the GLO's competitive advantages in the Upper Great Lakes?
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This paper presents an empirically grounded investigation of the values and practices of farmers markets (FM) in Vienna, Austria and their linkages to wider alternative food practices of ecological, social and economic sustainability. If... more
This paper presents an empirically grounded investigation of the values and practices of farmers markets (FM) in Vienna, Austria and their linkages to wider alternative food practices of ecological, social and economic sustainability. If the FMs are to play a vibrant role in the Viennese alternative food system, enhancing urban–rural connections and urban resilience, they must re–align their values to this system. A values-based conceptual framework is used to examine the structures and functions of six Viennese FMs and the alignment of values and practices among FM managers, farmers/vendors and consumers. Data from qualitative interviews, participant observation and dot surveys were collected at each FM. Value alignment is discovered as necessary to support and perpetuate alternative values. Governance is found to be significant for aligning values related to FM sustainability. Current structures and functions of Viennese FMs cannot be easily aligned with participant values and pra...
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Over the past decade, contemporary farmers’ markets (FMs) in the US have grown exponentially in popularity and numbers. Viennese FMs, on the other hand, can be seen as an historical form of traditional food-access, yet have been... more
Over the past decade, contemporary farmers’ markets (FMs) in the US have grown exponentially in popularity and numbers. Viennese FMs, on the other hand, can be seen as an historical form of traditional food-access, yet have been decreasing in size and losing actual farmers’ as vendors. Could the US boom be an eventual passing trend, or could the values involved in the operational architectures of these FMs lean toward a new approach that may persevere? This paper explores a topic few have researched, the role of values in farmers’ markets as an establishment, and does so using case studies in two different regions, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Vienna, Austria. The values described by farmers market managers, goals, mission statements and individual vendors of these two regions have been preliminarily examined to understand their role within farmers markets and how they may affect the markets and what they may have to offer for the future of FMs. Initial results show that FMs in Minnea...
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The aim of this paper is to present and discuss the diversity and versatility of food or foodrelated activities connections with territorial development, building our reflexion from empirical situations drawn from the context of a North... more
The aim of this paper is to present and discuss the diversity and versatility of food or foodrelated activities connections with territorial development, building our reflexion from empirical situations drawn from the context of a North American state: Michigan. The first part of the paper outlines the diversity of “food and place” configurations which may be observed in different areas within Michigan State. This boils down to a tentative typology of food and place linkages. The final section deals with the potential of widening comparative studies focused on the territorial roles of agriculture and food and their externalities towards culture and social identity.
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Previously hosted as part of Mann Library's Locale collection
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Research Interests: Psychology and Perception
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Research Interests: Economics and Agriculture
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... More frequently, compliance is required in order to effectively participate in a given market, while in a few instances compliance is entirely voluntary and may be seen by participants as a means to build market share (Caswell,... more
... More frequently, compliance is required in order to effectively participate in a given market, while in a few instances compliance is entirely voluntary and may be seen by participants as a means to build market share (Caswell, Bredahl and Hooker 1998). ...
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It is widely accepted that the success of rural nongovernmental organizations depends heavily on leadership and the organizational abilities of individual leaders. Drawing on the recent history of the cotton farmers' movement in... more
It is widely accepted that the success of rural nongovernmental organizations depends heavily on leadership and the organizational abilities of individual leaders. Drawing on the recent history of the cotton farmers' movement in Mali, this article identifies critical issues related to the development and sustainability of rural leadership. Special attention is given to how both heroic and post-heroic approaches to leadership might be joined in order to help nongovernmental organizations contribute to both political democratization and economic development.
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ABSTRACT Because of a lack of funds and of experienced scientific personnel, many of the African national agricultural research systems (NARS) tend to be poorly equipped to handle the complexities of a holistic systems research programme.... more
ABSTRACT Because of a lack of funds and of experienced scientific personnel, many of the African national agricultural research systems (NARS) tend to be poorly equipped to handle the complexities of a holistic systems research programme. Therefore, strengthening these NARS should start by reinforcing their thematic and commodity research programme, which necessarily involves the introduction of a systems perspective along with some on-farm activities. This approach would not require extensive institutional reorganization and would be far less costly than the creation of independent systems research units. Based on a detailed study of the Rwanda NARS in relation to agricultural development, it was concluded that both donors and NARS leaders should be more concerned about the integration of projects into the national institutional framework, starting from the design phase. Also the sustainability and continuity of the research activities in terms of operating cost and local manpower following project termination should be emphasised. As a result the overall national research programme would not become biased towards short-term production objectives such as for annual food crops; but would also address more complex and vital long-term issues, like land degradation and the sustainability of local and improved technologies, which would require integration between disciplinary activities of technical, biological and social scientists. To achieve these aims it is necessary that the scientists share a similar systems perspective which can be reinforced through participative methods that effectively link the research with the knowledge and needs of farmers and extension personnel.
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Rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) occupies 13.5
Objective:To explore CK 20mRNA expression and its clinical significance in peripheral blood of patients with colorectal carcinoma.Methods: The expression of CK 20mRNA was detected by RT PCR in 34 cases.Results: According to Dukes... more
Objective:To explore CK 20mRNA expression and its clinical significance in peripheral blood of patients with colorectal carcinoma.Methods: The expression of CK 20mRNA was detected by RT PCR in 34 cases.Results: According to Dukes stage,the positive rates of CK 20mRNA in peripheral blood were 20%(A),37.5%(B),53.3%(C), 83. 3%( D) , respectively.Conclusion:The expression of CK 20mRNA in peripheral blood is related with Dukes stage and is an indicator of blood micrometastasis of colorectal carcinoma.
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Huron, Sanilac, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan, USA, currently cultivate eighty-seven percent of the land largely in soybeans, sugar beets, corn and winter wheat. Both glyphosate and pyraclostrobin are regularly applied in the... more
Huron, Sanilac, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan, USA, currently cultivate eighty-seven percent of the land largely in soybeans, sugar beets, corn and winter wheat. Both glyphosate and pyraclostrobin are regularly applied in the region to manage pests. A public discussion emerged in the region regarding the long-term effects on soil quality and the future viability of agriculture.This research seeks to identify and discuss the inter-related socio-ecological dimensions of the long-term use of glyphosate and pyraclostrobin on soybean and sugar beet production in Michigan’s Thumb region using a multidisciplinary approach. Indepth interviews with farmers will identify the social and cultural pressures of farm management in the region, and commonly referenced soil quality indicators. Potential synergies and/or long-term effects of glyphosate and pyraclostrobin on soil quality will be examined using a data-driven meta-analysis of previously conducted soil quality and pesticide resear...
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Kibet A. Ngetich, Bernhard Freyer and Jim Bingen Egerton University, Kenya, k_ngetich@yahoo.com Univ. of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, Bernhard.Freyer@boku.ac.at Michigan State University, USA,... more
Kibet A. Ngetich, Bernhard Freyer and Jim Bingen Egerton University, Kenya, k_ngetich@yahoo.com Univ. of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, Bernhard.Freyer@boku.ac.at Michigan State University, USA, Bingen@msu.edu Abstract: This paper seeks to analyse and deepen our understanding of the application of transdisciplinarity to agricultural research in sub‐Saharan Africa. First, we discuss transdisciplinarity based on a set of thesis, with a focus on the general and specific research issues in developing countries. Then we analyse how these thesis were addressed in our research project “Organic Agriculture with Trees”, in the MAU catchment in Kenya from 2005‐2009. Finally, we explore if the concept of transdisciplinarity is able to bridge the different perspectives and which consequences this might have for the research process and the results of stakeholder‐oriented research projects.
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综合实践活动，足以学生的兴趣和直接经验为基础，以与学生学习生活和社会生活密切相关的各类现实性、综合性、实践性问题为内容，以研究性学习为主导学习方式，以培养学生的创新精神、实践能力及体现对知识的综合运用为主要目的的一类新型课程。它包括研究性学习，社区服务和社会实践，劳动与技术教育，信息技术教育等四个领域。自新课程改革以来，劳动与技术教学为学生提供了充分展示自我的广阔空间，让学生充分体会到了自主学习的乐趣，各方面能力都有了大幅提升。
Agricultural production systems, for example, conservation agriculture, climate smart agriculture, organic agriculture, sustainable landuse management, and others, summarized under the term “sustainable intensification,” have been... more
Agricultural production systems, for example, conservation agriculture, climate smart agriculture, organic agriculture, sustainable landuse management, and others, summarized under the term “sustainable intensification,” have been introduced in African countries to increase productivity and to adapt/mitigate CC (CCAM). But the productivity of smallholder farming systems in Africa remains low. High erosion, contaminated water, threatened human health, reduced soil water, and natural resources functionality, that is, ecosystems services, and decreased biodiversity dominate. Low support in the farm environment is also responsible for this situation.It is hypothesized, based on the huge body of literature on CCAM, that the implementation of already existing arable and plant cultivation methods like crop diversity, alley crops, forage legume-based crop rotations, mulching, organic matter recycling, and reduced tillage intensity will increase CCAM performance and also farm productivity an...
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... The implicit question through-out is whether that encounter has been a story of grace bestowed on the Old World by the New, or whether this is a more fundamen-tal human tale of struggle for both sustenance and meaning. Page 20. Page... more
... The implicit question through-out is whether that encounter has been a story of grace bestowed on the Old World by the New, or whether this is a more fundamen-tal human tale of struggle for both sustenance and meaning. Page 20. Page 21. ...
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Pathways of change: crop-livestock integration in Africa by Ian Scoones & William Wolmer - Crop-livestock integration in Mali: multiple pathways of change by Karen Brock, N'golo Coulibaly, Joshua Ramisch & William Wolmer -... more
Pathways of change: crop-livestock integration in Africa by Ian Scoones & William Wolmer - Crop-livestock integration in Mali: multiple pathways of change by Karen Brock, N'golo Coulibaly, Joshua Ramisch & William Wolmer - Complexity, change & continuity in southern Ethiopia: the case of crop-livestock integration by Grace Carswell - Crops, livestock & livelihoods in Zimbabwe by William Wolmer, Bevlyn Sithole & Billy Mukamuri - Crop-livestock policy in Africa: what is to be done? by Joshua Ramisch, James Keeley, Ian Scoones & William Wolmer
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This paper summarizes the findings from FSRP/DSA surveys designed to identify some of the key institutional issues surrounding the role of farmer associations in the delivery of, and access to agricultural services. Specifically, the... more
This paper summarizes the findings from FSRP/DSA surveys designed to identify some of the key institutional issues surrounding the role of farmer associations in the delivery of, and access to agricultural services. Specifically, the surveys focus on the capacity of four actors–MINAGRI Regional and District Agents, NGOs, District Governments (the Mayors) and farmer associations and intergroupements to provide farmers with agricultural services that might help in the transition from semi-subsistence to commercial agriculture. As this synthesis paper indicates, some of these services have been provided on an irregular basis for many years through a variety of government, NGO, donor agency and private business efforts. Moreover, this paper highlights the strengths and weaknesses of these four key actors; it also identifies areas for improvement, and recommends ways for enhancing the efficiency and equity of services available to farmers through farmer associations.
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This paper summarizes the findings from FSRP/DSA surveys designed to identify some of the key institutional issues surrounding the role of farmer associations in the delivery of, and access to agricultural services. Specifically, the... more
This paper summarizes the findings from FSRP/DSA surveys designed to identify some of the key institutional issues surrounding the role of farmer associations in the delivery of, and access to agricultural services. Specifically, the surveys focus on the capacity of four actors–MINAGRI Regional and District Agents, NGOs, District Governments (the Mayors) and farmer associations and intergroupements to provide farmers with agricultural services that might help in the transition from semi-subsistence to commercial agriculture. As this synthesis paper indicates, some of these services have been provided on an irregular basis for many years through a variety of government, NGO, donor agency and private business efforts. Moreover, this paper highlights the strengths and weaknesses of these four key actors; it also identifies areas for improvement, and recommends ways for enhancing the efficiency and equity of services available to farmers through farmer associations.
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This paper summarizes the findings from FSRP/DSA surveys designed to identify some of the key institutional issues surrounding the role of farmer associations in the delivery of, and access to agricultural services. Specifically, the... more
This paper summarizes the findings from FSRP/DSA surveys designed to identify some of the key institutional issues surrounding the role of farmer associations in the delivery of, and access to agricultural services. Specifically, the surveys focus on the capacity of four actors–MINAGRI Regional and District Agents, NGOs, District Governments (the Mayors) and farmer associations and intergroupements to provide farmers with agricultural services that might help in the transition from semi-subsistence to commercial agriculture. As this synthesis paper indicates, some of these services have been provided on an irregular basis for many years through a variety of government, NGO, donor agency and private business efforts. Moreover, this paper highlights the strengths and weaknesses of these four key actors; it also identifies areas for improvement, and recommends ways for enhancing the efficiency and equity of services available to farmers through farmer associations.
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This introduction to a special issue forwards “the reinvention of food” as an analytical framework within which to make sense, together, of current projects valorizing “traditional” methods of food production as well as efforts to... more
This introduction to a special issue forwards “the reinvention of food” as an analytical framework within which to make sense, together, of current projects valorizing “traditional” methods of food production as well as efforts to reimagine more sustainable or transparent food provisioning schemes.
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Summary This paper outlines some of the key features of a Midwest organic model that could provide the foundation for a regionalized organic strategy in the US. Based on the results of several recent and on-going studies of organic fruit... more
Summary This paper outlines some of the key features of a Midwest organic model that could provide the foundation for a regionalized organic strategy in the US. Based on the results of several recent and on-going studies of organic fruit and vegetable production ...
... Philippe Jouve, Mulumba Kamuanga, Etienne Landais, Philippe Lhoste, Pierre Milleville, Mark Newman, Guy Pocthier (deceased), Josh Posner, Lamine Sonko, and Jean ... Much of the early work drew heavily on the work and experience of... more
... Philippe Jouve, Mulumba Kamuanga, Etienne Landais, Philippe Lhoste, Pierre Milleville, Mark Newman, Guy Pocthier (deceased), Josh Posner, Lamine Sonko, and Jean ... Much of the early work drew heavily on the work and experience of Michael Collinson and David Norman. ...
If ours is a "postmodern" world, then it is one in which safety and quality are managed by ubiquitous assessment tools, evaluation reports, controls, and continuous oversight. Our food is subject to seemingly countless... more
If ours is a "postmodern" world, then it is one in which safety and quality are managed by ubiquitous assessment tools, evaluation reports, controls, and continuous oversight. Our food is subject to seemingly countless protections and controls, all presumably designed to secure high safety and quality. Yet, recent and recurrent food scandals, including those in the organic food chain, should remind us of endemic failures or "normal accidents" which occur despite attempts to control for just such events. In this paper, we suggest that focusing on the ethical, systemic and governance issues may be more productive and braodly empowering than only increasing the range and variety of control mechanisms. We suggest that reflexive processes could offer important alternatives to currently dominant control mechanisms. These processes are grounded on: ethics with respect to the IFOAM principles that offer an overall framework; system dynamics that focuses on the nature and...
The purpose of this report is twofold. First, the report provides the first overview of NGO agricultural activities in Rwanda. As such, the report offers new information to inform both governmental and NGO policy and program discussions.... more
The purpose of this report is twofold. First, the report provides the first overview of NGO agricultural activities in Rwanda. As such, the report offers new information to inform both governmental and NGO policy and program discussions. Second, the tables presented in this report and appendices help to illustrate the power of the database (Microsoft Access) to respond to a variety of queries or searches generated by different decision-making interests.
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This paper reports the results of an exploratory investigation of the coping strategies of a small group of local food consumer “activists” –those committed to, and those who promote “eating locally” in Michigan. Following a brief review... more
This paper reports the results of an exploratory investigation of the coping strategies of a small group of local food consumer “activists” –those committed to, and those who promote “eating locally” in Michigan. Following a brief review of discussions surrounding different definitions of local food and the concept of coping strategy, this paper presents the methods for collecting preliminary information about local food coping strategies in Michigan and then discusses the coping strategies of these activists. The consumers we interviewed mostly adopt problem-centered strategies: they change their food-consumption habits including shopping, purchasing, cooking, storing and obviously, eating. None of these changes are easy to implement, and most require re-allocations of time as well as trade-offs to overcome time and cost barriers. In return, most of these consumers feel empowered.
This case explores strategic challenges facing the director of a non-profit incubator kitchen as he works to improve the facility’s long-term viability. Incubator kitchens are business incubators that serve food business start-ups by... more
This case explores strategic challenges facing the director of a non-profit incubator kitchen as he works to improve the facility’s long-term viability. Incubator kitchens are business incubators that serve food business start-ups by providing licensed kitchens. The case follows the director from the incubator’s formation through establishment and expansion, exploring tensions in this transition. Case objectives are for students to 1) debate definitions of success and value in entrepreneurial businesses, 2) evaluate the incubator’s history and performance, 3) address its challenges, and 4) develop a sustainable business strategy for a business incubator. Intended audiences are advanced undergraduate and graduate courses and extension specialists.