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This book explores the conditions of production in agricultural biotechnology. Situating its discussion in theoretical debates on the role of science and technology in global capitalism, the book grounds abstract discussions in a case study of Africa.Adopting the premise that technology is socially mediated, the book explores the way in which biotechnology has developed in the United States from its early beginnings as a field of academic research in molecular biology in the 1950s into a worldwide commercial enterprise that is a major focus of American high technology and competitive advantage.The globalization and commercialization of biotechnology, which was made possible through the expansion of international intellectual property rights based on Western notions of private property, carry particular implications for Africa.Western narratives portray agricultural biotechnology as a panacea for African underdevelopment—a cure for disease, poverty and malnutrition.But the adoption of agricultural biotechnology in Africa will likely have differential impacts on producers, depending particularly on the capital-intensiveness of their production and the nature of specific biotech products.This book highlights models of agricultural research and production—Zimbabwe’s system of maize research and the African Model Law—that represent important alternatives to the capital-intensive farming and research practices of the West.Indeed, if Africa is to benefit from advances in agricultural technology, a fundamentally different model of agricultural research and technology transfer will be necessary--and Africa itself is the place where such an alternative is to be found. ... Read more

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This report examines the state of knowledge and the future promise of guayule Parthenium argentatum Gray, a little known shrub native to the desert of southwest Texas and northern Mexico that was a commercial source of natural rubber during the first half of this century.

This perennial shrub thrives in arid conditions and can survive heavy frosts. Guayule, after thorough drying, has been found to contain as much as 26% rubber. This rubber can be used to make vehicle tires or any other item currently made with natural rubber. It is a promising plant for use in reforestation of desert fringe lands and is easy to grow. Extraction of the rubber is not technically difficult; in fact, small-scale household extraction is possible. The plant can be cut down to the ground and will grow again from the roots.

The book covers: background and history, botanical information, rubber extraction, agricultural production, rubber quality, economics, research needs, selected readings and recommendations.

When guayule grows actively, it produces little or no rubber. If the plant is stressed, growth slows and the products from photosynthesis are diverted into rubber production. Thus when growth slows during cold weather or because of reduced moisture supply, the rubber content begins to increase. ... Read more

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Nutrients from farms in the Mississippi River Basin are the leading cause of the Gulf of Mexico s "Dead Zone," a 5,000 to 7,000 square mile region where declining oxygen levels are threatening the survival of marine life. From the Corn Belt to the Gulf explores how new agricultural policy can help alleviate this problem, and at the same time improve water quality overall, enhance biodiversity, improve the quality of life for the people who live and work in Corn Belt communities, and relieve downstream flooding.

The themes of the book are the far-reaching environmental impacts of Corn Belt agriculture, including associated economic and social effects at multiple spatial scalesand the potential for future agricultural policy to address those impacts through changes in agricultural landscapes and practices. We know that the environmentalfootprintof Corn Belt agriculture extends beyond farmland and adjacent lakes and streams to groundwater, rivers, cities downstream, into the Gulf of Mexico, and, ultimately, to global oceanic and atmospheric systems. And we acknowledge that agricultural policies, including commodity support payments, have economic impacts at the national and international levels. Pressing negotiations with America s trade partners, along with increasing societal attention to both the costs and environmental effects of current agricultural policy, are creating momentum for policy change.

From the Corn Belt to the Gulf presents innovative, integrated assessments of the agriculture and ecological systems in the Mississippi River Basin along with studies of local Iowa agricultural watersheds. Contributors from multiple academic and professional disciplines discuss how agricultural policies have contributed to current environmental conditions, and, in what the authors termalternative futuresfor agricultural landscapes, envision how new policy can help achieve more beneficial patterns. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Generally good
I anticipated a lightly used book but no mention was made of writing (ink pen) throughout book like other sellers had clearly listed.As soon as I flipped through it that was the first thing I saw.If I had known it was ink I may have paid more for something cleaner.Overall, they shipped it much faster than they were obligated to do so I am grateful for that.I would likely order from them again. ... Read more

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Operation Flood, India's major dairy development project, has attracted a great deal of international attention. Resources, Institutions, and Strategies analyze those factors responsible for the success of Operation Flood (OF). Focusing on the Anand Pattern (the chosen model for institutional intervention under Operation Flood), contributors examine this program from its origin and implementation to its impact on the environment and Indian economy.Scholars and students in the fields of economic development, political science, and Indian Studies will find much of value in this engaging volume. ... Read more

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Proceedings of a seminar organized by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and the Directorate-General for Science, Research and Development of the Commission of the European Communities, held in Brussels, Belgium, 25-57 June 1985. ... Read more

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Designed as a major reference point for current policy discussions on the food and environmental crisis in the US. ... Read more

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The idea that current methods of food production are not sustainable in the long-term is a controversial topic. This book provides information that will advance a form of livestock production that meets the long- and short-term goals of human food production, minimizing degradation of natural resources. Important concerns regarding food safety, particularly antibiotic and chemical residues in meat, milk and other livestock foods, have stimulated renewed interest in alternative methods of promoting livestock health.

Alternative Health Practices for Livestock is the first compilation of its kind for veterinarians, agriculture extension educators and livestock producers. It provides a well-referenced overview of some of the alternative livestock practices currently being examined.

Special Features:
* A much needed information source on alternative health for large animals
* Contributions from veterinarians, farmers, extension educators and university professors
* Discusses the necessity for more validated scientific assessments of alternative and herbal therapies in livestock production
* Includes chapters on ways to promote alternative methods of health care for livestock, including steps to obtain research funding. ... Read more

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Bioenergy has been critical to humanity since the cave dwellers first used wood to cook their food and stay warm at night. Ancient forms of bioenergy - firewood and cow dung patties - remain primary fuel sources for rural and poor people. New sources of bioenergy including black liquor , biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol and many more, have great promise and generate great controversy.This book gives an overview of bioenergy developments and examines the main issues and possible socioeconomic implications of these developments and their potential impacts on land use and the environment, especially with respect to forests. The paper presents an introduction to bioenergy, provides a background and overview of solid biomass and liquid biofuels, and examines opportunities and challenges at the regional and country level. It also examines potential impacts for specific types of bioenergy.The book does not pretend to be definitive, especially with respect to the controversial interplay of subjects like the impact of bioenergy on food prices, but it does try to suggest the tradeoffs that need to be examined in considering bioenergy policies, and it has five main findings: Solid biomass will continue to provide a principal source of energy and should not be overlooked. There will be major land use implications resulting from bioenergy developments. It is critical to consider tradeoffs, including those related to poverty, equity and the environment, when considering bioenergy policies. There is considerable potential for greater use of forestry and timber waste as a bioenergy feedstock. The climate change impacts of bioenergy development are uncertain, and highly location and feedstock specific. ... Read more

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If the many social, environmental and economic crises facing the planet are to be resolved, a good place to start is to rebuild local food economies. Food is something everyone, everywhere, needs every day, so even small changes in the way it is produced and marketed can offer immense benefits. This title shows how a shift towards the local would protect and rebuild agricultural diversity. It would give farmers a bigger share of the money spent on food, and provide consumers with healthier, fresher food at more affordable prices. It would reduce transport, greenhouse gas emissions and the need for toxic agricultural chemicals. It would lessen the need for storage, packaging, refrigeration and artificial additives, and it would help revitalize rural economies and communities in both the industrialized and the developing world. ... Read more

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Recent concerns about energy security in the US have drawn greater attention to agriculture's role as a producer and consumer of energy.Agriculturally-derived energy sources such as ethanol, biodiesel, biomass, and windpower presently supply between 0.3% and 0.5% of the energy consumed in the US. Organized into two parts, the first section of this book examines agriculture's role as a producer and consumer of energy, the integration of biomass energy into the US energy systems, a policy overview, and outlooks for energy production and consumption.The second section is a compendium of current research including the economic viability of ethanol and biodiesel; energy conservation and efficiency in agriculture; new methods and technologies; and environmental impacts and considerations. ... Read more

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The approach of a new millenium provides a suitable opportunity to reassess existing management systems and to seek out more appropriate systems for the future. The debate which is initiated by the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2002, is likely to prove wide-ranging. As a contribution to the debate this book focuses on the need for institutional change in order to accomodate new policy objectives, new stakeholders and new regulatory measures.

Alternative management systems are examined at different levels from the regionalisation of the CFP through coastal state participation in the management of local fisheries. Issues of 'integrated fisheries management' are explored through a number of approaches including ecosystem management, the Marine Stewardship Council and integrated coastal zone management. Several Contributions focus on alternative means of controlling fishing effort and their enforcement. ... Read more

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The Green Revolution – the apparently miraculous increase in cereal crop yields achieved in the 1960s – came under severe criticism in the 1970s because of its demands for optimal irrigation, intensive use of fertilisers and pesticides; its damaging impact on social structures; and its monoculture approach. The early 1980s saw a concerted approach to many of these criticisms under the auspices of Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). This book, first published in 1987, analyses the recent achievements of the CGIAR and examines the Green Revolution concept in South America, Asia and Africa, from an ‘ecodevelopment’ standpoint, with particular regard to the plight of the rural poor. The work is characterised by a concern for the ecological and social dimensions of agricultural development,which puts the emphasis on culturally compatible, labour absorbing and environmentally sustainable food production which will serve the long term needs of developing countries.

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Based on extensive fieldwork in three states of India and on anexhaustive survey of secondary sources on Indonesia, Employment,Earnings, and Poverty examines the structure of employment andearnings among the weaker sections in rural India and Indonesia,thetwo most populous countries of Asia.The changing level andnatureof development are discussed in terms of three scenarios:thegeneral economic backwardness, a situation where agriculture ishighly developed but non-agricultural avenues of employment arenot,and a situation where these two areas are highly developed.Thisstudy provides support to the trickle-down theory of developmentandoffers new insights into on-farm and off-farm employment. ... Read more

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This book reviews the conceptual and theoretical background of Saccharum botany, which underlies the growing of sugarcane as a total growth commodity. Management details are provided for energy cane planting, cultivation, harvest, and postharvest operations. Chapters on energy cane utilization stress new developments in lignocellulose conversion plus alternative options for fermentable solids usage. Chapters are also included for the management of alternative grasses to supplement energy cane, and the breeding of new hybrid canes with high biomass attributes at the intergeneric and interspecific levels. The text is thoroughly documented, and a bibliography of 640 references is included. Agricultural concepts and technologies are illustrated with numerous photographs and drawings, and extensive use is made of tabulated data. ... Read more

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This book contains up-to-date studies on the economics of sustainable energy in agriculture. The studies focus on energy efficiency improvement and the use of biomass. Specific attention is paid to the economic aspects of land use and the competition for land, both for food production and dedicated energy crops. The book will be of special interest to economists, agronomists, energy experts, and politicians that deal with energy issues in agriculture, both in developing and industrialised countries.

The book is relevant for those who are interested in the topic of global warming and carbon sequestration, and the transition towards carbon-free energy resources.

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The Farm as Natural Habitat is a vital new contribution to the debate about agriculture and its impacts on the land. Arising from the conviction that the agricultural landscape as a whole could be restored to a healthy diversity, the book challenges the notion that the dominant agricultural landscape - bereft of its original vegetation and wildlife and despoiled by chemical runoff - is inevitable if we are to feed ourselves. Contributors bring together insights and practices from the fields of conservation biology, sustainable agriculture, and environmental restoration to link agriculture and biodiversity, farming and nature, in celebrating a unique alternative to conventional agriculture.

Rejecting the idea that "ecological sacrifice zones" are a necessary part of feeding a hungry world, the book offers compelling examples of an alternative agriculture that can produce not only healthful food, but fully functioning ecosystems and abundant populations of native species. Contributors include Collin Bode, George Boody, Brian DeVore, Arthur (Tex) Hawkins, Buddy Huffaker, Rhonda Janke, Richard Jefferson, Nick Jordan, Cheryl Miller, Heather Robertson, Carol Shennan, Judith Soule, Beth Waterhouse, and others.

The Farm as Natural Habitat is both hopeful and visionary, grounded in real examples, and guided by a commitment to healthy land and thriving communities. It is the first book to offer a viable approach to addressing the challenges of protecting and restoring biodiversity on private agricultural land and is essential reading for anyone concerned with issues of land or biodiversity conservation, farming and agriculture, ecological restoration, or the health of rural communities and landscapes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Rejects the idea of "ecological sacrifice zones"
The Farm As Natural Habitat: Reconnecting Food Systems With Ecosystems edited by Dana L. Jackson (Associate Director of the Land Stewardship Project, White Bear Lake, Minnesota) and Laura L. Jackson (Associate Professor of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa) is a thoughtful, extensively researched and meticulously presented compendium of essays by a variety of learned and expert authors focusing on the interaction between agriculture and the environment. Emphatically rejecting the idea that "ecological sacrifice zones" are required to feed the hungry, The Farm As Natural Habitat reaches out to explore how agriculture and biodiversity can exist in harmony. A first-rate, eye-opening book for farmers around the world, The Farm As Natural Habitat is a strongly urged addition to academic reference collections (especially for agricultural colleges), governmental policy makers and department of natural resources/farm bureau administrative personnel, and the personal reading list for anyone engaged in agriculture ranging from the "family farm" to agribusiness. ... Read more