Farmers’ markets are often thought to be the hallmark of the local food movement. However, there appears to be relatively little research which considers farmers’ experiences there. Drawing on 12 open-ended interviews with 16 farmers on Vancouver Island, BC, I explore how farmers’ markets support small-scale farmers, although they are losing farmer focus. I explore three key themes in this research: mainstream economic assessments of farmers’ markets, how consumer culture affects small-scale farmers, and whether organic certification works for small-scale farmers. The intent of my research is not only to consider farmers’ experiences at farmers’ markets, but to show how to improve their current organization on Vancouver Island and elsewhere. As such, this refocuses farmers’ markets back to local food, small-scale ecological farming, and food sovereignty. / Graduate

Studies have shown that traditional food packaging for the fast food industry leach toxic chemicals into the food products. Some of these toxins are known endocrine disruptors, which results in reproductive issues as well as hormone imbalances. Alternatives to traditional food packaging have been addressed with special attention to bioactive, biopolymers, and biodegradable packaging in addition to active and intelligent packaging. The hypothesis states that customers will have high demand for more environmentally sustainable fast food packaging, while the alternative hypothesis states that demand will not be high enough to financially support the costly introduction of more environmental packaging products. The data attained suggest that the hypothesis will not be rejected. However, there are not conclusive results in terms of the alternative hypothesis, as further studies that address economical concerns must be completed. In terms of consumer demand, 94.92% preferred environmentally sustainable packaging over traditional packaging materials.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第24299号 / 農博第2528号 / 新制||農||1095(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R4||N5422(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科生物資源経済学専攻 / (主査)教授 秋津 元輝, 教授 辻村 英之, 教授 久野 秀二 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

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Modern agriculture has made great strides in terms of efficiency, yields, and profits, but has come to be characterised by a large environmental impact and resource use, global transports, poor working conditions, and a lack of contact between producers and consumers. In response to these concerns, many different initiatives commonly referred to as Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) have been established to solve some or all of these issues. One such AFN is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) where customers of the CSA farm rather become members and pay upfront for a whole season of produce, sharing risks amongst all members and the farmer. The CSA concept, or andelsjordbruk as it is commonly known in Swedish, is still fairly unestablished in Sweden despite a few farms having been in operation since the start of the 2000s. This study aims to research some of the details regarding active CSAs in the country, as well as their potential to affect the whole national food system. The study was conducted through an online survey that garnered 17 respondents, as well as an accompanying literature review of previous works dealing with CSAs and AFNs internationally, with a focus on Sweden. In addition to this, the results of the survey were analysed with the help of Multi-Level Perspective and social innovations perspective as previously applied to AFNs.  Results of the study solidify many of the conclusions drawn by previous works while showcasing the diversity of Swedish CSAs. Some key conclusions from the respondents of this survey include that only a few farms were started more than five years ago and the model has only risen in popularity over time. The farms are run by a few people with varying degrees of external help from members of the CSA or others, and they often have other sources of income outside of the CSA side of the business. The respondents view the CSA model favourably compared to other forms of sales, mainly due to the social connection with consumers, but struggle to make it financially sustainable and thus most want to continue growing and gaining more members. The farmers are driven by several aspects of sustainability, personal fulfilment, and a drive to educate and inspire others as well as changing the food system for the better. The effects of the covid-19 pandemic were mainly felt in events and personal meetings on the farms, striking some of the key parts of the CSA model.  From both the multi-level perspective and social innovations perspective, the CSA model has a potential to affect the Swedish food system as a whole due to its replicability and high focus on inspiration and education, spreading ideas and knowledge and building social capital outside of the rules of the corporate food regime. The uncertainties regarding long-term financial viability speak against it, but these uncertainties are lessened by the farms who have been operating in the CSA model for many years and managed to thrive. / Den moderna jordbruksindustrin har gjort stora framsteg när det gäller effektivitet, skördestorlek och vinster, men har kommit att präglas av en stor miljöpåverkan och resursanvändning, globala transporter, dåliga arbetsförhållanden och brist på kontakt mellan producenter och konsumenter. Som svar på detta har många olika initiativ som vanligtvis på engelska kallas Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) etablerats för att bemöta några eller alla dessa problem. Ett sådant AFN är Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) där kunderna på CSA-gården snarare blir medlemmar och betalar i förskott för en hel säsong med råvaror vilket distribuerar risken bland alla medlemmar och lantbrukaren själv. CSA-konceptet, eller andelsjordbruk som det kallas i Sverige, är fortfarande ganska oetablerat i landet trots att några gårdar har varit i drift sedan början av 2000- talet. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka några detaljer kring aktiva CSA i landet, liksom deras potential att påverka det nationella livsmedelssystemet i stort. Studien genomfördes genom en webbaserad enkätundersökning med 17 respondenter, samt en medföljande litteraturstudie över tidigare arbeten som behandlar CSA och AFN internationellt men med fokus på Sverige. Utöver detta analyserades resultaten av undersökningen med hjälp av så kallat multi-level perspective och social innovations perspective såsom de tidigare tillämpats på AFN.  Resultaten av studien bekräftar många av slutsatserna från tidigare verk samtidigt som de visar mångfalden av svenska CSA-jordbruk. Några viktiga slutsatser från respondenterna i denna undersökning inkluderar att endast ett fåtal gårdar startades för mer än fem år sedan och att modellen har ökat i popularitet över tid, gårdarna drivs av några få personer med varierande mängd jordbrukshjälp från både medlemmar och icke- medlemmar, och de har ofta andra inkomstkällor utanför CSA-delen av verksamheten. Respondenterna har en positiv inställning till CSA-modellen jämfört med andra former av försäljning, främst på grund av den sociala kontakten med konsumenterna, men kämpar för att göra den ekonomiskt hållbar och de flesta vill därför fortsätta växa och få fler medlemmar. Lantbrukarna i denna studie drivs av flera aspekter av hållbarhet, personlig tillfredsställelse och en drivkraft för att utbilda och inspirera andra samt att förändra matsystemet till det bättre. Effekterna av covid-19-pandemin märktes främst vid evenemang och personliga möten på gårdarna, vilket slog hårt mot några av de viktigaste delarna av CSA-modellen.  Ur både multi-level perspective och social innovations perspective har CSA-modellen en potential att påverka det svenska livsmedelssystemet på grund av dess replikerbarhet och höga fokus på inspiration och utbildning, spridning av idéer och kunskap samt byggande av socialt kapital utanför reglerna för dagens livsmedelsregim. Osäkerheterna om långsiktig ekonomisk lönsamhet talar emot modellen, men dessa osäkerheter minskar tack vare de gårdar som har arbetat med CSA i många år och lyckats frodas.

Unsustainable food production and consumption patterns are threatening our living environment and our lives on earth. There is a need for profound transition in our ways to produce and consume food. Food, its production and consumption is a hot topic currently – as can be seen in media and in several projects run by various institutions. Circular economy and sustainable resource management address different actors as well. The City of Lahti joined the FISU-network and is taking steps towards sustainable resource management. This thesis contributes to the ongoing work of the City of Lahti in developing its food sustainability strategic work through its participation in the FISU-network. The study aims to investigate the state of the regional food supply chain of Lahti, Finland, and its path on sustainability transition. Further on, it examines how alternative food networks may impact different aspects of sustainable local development and what kind of a role actors of regional food supply chain play in promoting food sustainability. This study applied a case study approach and used qualitative research methods in the forms of workshop and semi-structured interviews. The results were examined applying the theoretical framework which included Activity theory, Co-Creation and Economy of Common Good. There are various policies and strategies on global, national and regional level aiming to sustain the food system, food production and consumption, as well as promoting the use of local food. Few of them were used to reveal the present state of the regional food supply chain together with the results gained at the workshop and interviews to find the desired way. Alternative food networks may shorten the food supply chain and allow everyone a chance to contribute to local food sustainability. They may have social meaning by bringing the food supply chain actors together and offering more value than purchasing goods. Consumers can act as co-creators having possibility to influence what is produced, where and how. Alternative food networks may not necessarily be ecological, but they may have wider implications for the regional and local communities on economic, social and cultural levels by offering jobs, interaction, as well as giving a face and a story to the food.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Geography / Bimal Kanti Paul / Farm-to-school (FTS) programs are promoted as direct-marketing opportunities for farmers. As such, they are regarded by advocates and state and federal agencies as a pathway to rural economic development. The implementation of FTS food procurement poses significant challenges, however. Farmers make decisions regarding whether or not to market products to schools after learning about the program and considering an array of signals from multiscalar policies and governance structures. Research to date has left a gap in understanding farmers’ agency as it relates to governance structures and policy signals. This research on farmers’ engagement with the Oklahoma FTS Program contributes evidence to bridge this gap by examining the experiences not only of producers who participated in a FTS program but also of those who ceased participation or who chose not to participate. Employing a phronetic approach to social science, this explanatory, sequential, mixed-methods case study obtained quantitative and textual data from a mail survey, as well as data from two stints of qualitative fieldwork, in fall 2011 and fall 2012, which involved semistructured interviews and participant observation. Archival research completed the study methods used to gain a deeper understanding of farmers’ perspectives, practices, values, and experiences that informed their decisions to participate or not in a top-down-administered FTS program. Data collection was driven by the concept of farmers’ engagement. As such, eight categories of farmers’ engagement with the Oklahoma Farm to School Program emerged. This research answers these value-rational questions (Flyvbjerg, 2001): (1) Which farmers gain, and which farmers lose, by which mechanisms of power? (2) Is this desirable? (3) What should be done? Results provide evidence of geographically uneven development of a FTS program and incompatibilities between small- to midscale farming and the structure and governance of federal child-nutrition programs.

FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / In order to evaluate the effects of replacing corn for broken rice (QA) and the inclusion of parboiled rice bran (FIAP) in rations for meat quails, two experiments were conducted in the period 7 to 49 days age. In each trial, 288 quails with seven days of age were distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and six replications of eight birds for experimental unit. In the first experiment, was tested the levels of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of replacement corn by broken rice and it was observed that the replacement of corn for broken rice did not significantly influence the performance and carcass characteristics of quails at different stages of creation, neither economic viability. In the second experiment, the treatments were a control diet without the inclusion of FIAP, and the other containing 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of FIAP. There was a linear decrease in the apparent digestibility of dry matter (CDMS) and crude energy (CDEB) and a linear increase of apparent metabolizable energy (EMA) and apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (EMAn) with the inclusion of FIAP in rations, above 5%. Therefore, there was a linear decrease in feed intake and weight gain, without influence in feed conversion, carcass characteristics and parameters of bone quality. Although there was some reduction parameters when FIAP increased above 5%, the performance of birds fed with different levels of FIAP was similar in relation to the control group. Furthermore, the use until 25% of FIAP provided better economic viability. It can be argued that the broken rice can replace corn in the feeding of meat quails at levels up to 100%, while the FIAP can be included in rations in proportions of up to 25% without affecting carcass characteristics. / Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da substituiÃÃo do milho por quirera de arroz (QA) e da inclusÃo do farelo integral de arroz parboilizado (FIAP) nas raÃÃes de codornas do tipo corte, foram realizados dois experimentos no perÃodo de 7 a 49 dias de idade. Em cada experimento, 288 codornas com sete dias de idade foram distribuÃdas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos e seis repetiÃÃes de oito aves por unidade experimental. No primeiro experimento, foram testados os nÃveis de 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 e 100% de substituiÃÃo do milho pela quirera de arroz e observou-se que nÃo houve influencia significativa sobre o desempenho e as caracterÃsticas de carcaÃa das aves, nas diferentes fases de criaÃÃo, nem tÃo pouco sobre a viabilidade econÃmica. No segundo experimento, os tratamentos consistiram de uma raÃÃo controle, sem a inclusÃo de FIAP, e as demais contendo 5, 10, 15, 20 e 25% de FIAP. Houve decrÃscimo linear nos coeficientes de digestibilidade da matÃria seca (CDMS) e energia bruta (CDEB), bem como aumento linear da energia metabolizÃvel aparente (EMA) e energia metabolizÃvel aparente corrigida para nitrogÃnio (EMAn) com a inclusÃo do FIAP nas raÃÃes, acima de 5%. Observou-se ainda reduÃÃo linear no consumo de raÃÃo e ganho de peso, sem, contudo influenciar na conversÃo alimentar, caracterÃsticas de carcaÃa e parÃmetros de qualidade Ãssea. Embora tenha ocorrido reduÃÃo de alguns parÃmetros, quando se aumentou o FIAP acima de 5%, nÃo houve prejuÃzo significativo nos resultados de desempenho das aves alimentadas com os diferentes nÃveis do FIAP em relaÃÃo Ãs do grupo controle. O uso de atà 25% de FIAP proporcionou a melhor viabilidade econÃmica. Pode-se afirmar que a quirera de arroz pode substituir o milho na alimentaÃÃo de codornas de corte em nÃveis de atà 100%, enquanto, o FIAP pode ser incluÃdo nas raÃÃes em proporÃÃes de atà 25%, sem afetar as caracterÃsticas de carcaÃa.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de verificar o desempenho bioeconÃmico e adaptabilidade fisiolÃgica de ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes fontes protÃicas alternativas na raÃÃo concentrada em substituiÃÃo ao farelo de soja. Utilizaram-se trÃs diferentes fontes protÃicas alternativas na raÃÃo concentrada em substituiÃÃo ao farelo de soja: feno do folÃolo da leucena (FFL), urÃia (ambas substituindo 100% do farelo de soja) e torta de algodÃo (substituindo em 51,8%, com base na matÃria seca). Foi avaliado o peso final (kg), o ganho de peso total (GPT), ganho mÃdio diÃrio (GMD) e o nÃmero de dias para os borregos ganharem 12 kg (D12). Para uma avaliaÃÃo detalhada do desenvolvimento corporal dos ovinos, semanalmente foram feitas mediÃÃes morfomÃtricas nos animais, nas diferentes partes do corpo, como perÃmetro torÃcico (PT), altura da cernelha (AC), altura da garupa (AG), comprimento corpÃreo (CC), comprimento da garupa (CG) e escore de condiÃÃo corporal (ECC). A avaliaÃÃo comportamental foi realizada de modo instantÃneo a intervalos de 10 minutos (ingestÃo de raÃÃo, ruminaÃÃo, outras atividades, Ãcio acordado ou dormindo, durante as 24 horas). AlÃm disso, no intervalo entre duas observaÃÃes, foi acompanhada a freqÃÃncia de defecaÃÃo, micÃÃo e ingestÃo de Ãgua. Para a anÃlise das variÃveis bioclimatolÃgicas, durante o perÃodo experimental foram coletadas a cada hora, no intervalo de 7h Ãs 19h, temperatura e umidade relativa do ar, utilizando-se data logger. O consumo de matÃria natural do lote (CMN) foi calculado como sendo a diferenÃa entre o alimento fornecido e as sobras coletadas no dia seguinte para cada baia, o consumo de matÃria seca (CMS) foi obtido multiplicando o CMN pela respectiva matÃria seca da raÃÃo fornecida. A temperatura da superfÃcie do pelame dos borregos foi coletada em dois dias da semana, no perÃodo da manhà (07:30) e tarde (14:00), com auxÃlio de um termÃmetro de infravermelho. As anÃlises econÃmicas dos diferentes sistemas foram realizadas com base em simulaÃÃes utilizando um nÃmero de duzentos borregos por lote. Ao analisar a variÃvel peso final (kg), pode-se verificar que os borregos alimentados com a raÃÃo que utilizava a torta de algodÃo em substituiÃÃo parcial ao farelo de soja (51,8% da matÃria seca) foram os que obtiveram maiores peso final, ganhos de peso total e ganhos mÃdios diÃrios (g/d), aliado a um menor nÃmero de dias para um ganho de 12 kg (D12). No tocante as medidas morfomÃtricas, os borregos alimentados com a dieta que utilizava a torta de algodÃo obtiveram as melhores medidas tanto no perÃmetro torÃcico quanto no escore de condiÃÃo corporal. No que diz respeito ao comportamento animal, ao analisar as variÃveis contÃnuas em % total do dia, pode-se observar nas variÃveis ingerindo raÃÃo e Ãcio dormindo, que nÃo existiu diferenÃa (P>0,05) entre as diferentes fontes protÃicas alternativas analisadas, entretanto nas demais variÃveis houve diferenÃa (P<0,05) entre as diferentes fontes protÃicas. No que diz respeito Ãs atividades pontuais, pode-se verificar diferenÃa (P<0,05) entre as diferentes fontes protÃicas analisadas, nas atividades urinando e defecando, sendo as maiores frequÃncias observadas nos borregos alimentados com o farelo de soja e feno do folÃolo da leucena para as respectivas atividades. O CMN e CMS foram diretamente influenciados pela temperatura e umidade relativa da manhÃ, umidade relativa da tarde e do dia. O consumo de Ãgua foi influenciado pelas temperaturas da manhÃ, do perÃodo crÃtico, do perÃodo da tarde e da temperatura diÃria, bem como pelas umidades relativas do perÃodo crÃtico, do perÃodo da tarde e da umidade relativa diÃria. No tocante as temperaturas da superfÃcie do pelame, as mesmas foram influenciadas diretamente por todas as variÃveis climÃticas analisadas. A temperatura retal foi influenciada somente pelas temperaturas e umidades relativas do ar no perÃodo de mediÃÃo. A temperatura da bolsa escrotal nÃo foi influenciada pelas variÃveis climÃticas. O maior valor de manutenÃÃo da atividade foi observado no sistema onde os borregos foram alimentados com dieta contendo torta de algodÃo. No que diz respeito aos indicadores econÃmicos, o lucro da atividade em R$/kg PV foi maior no confinamento que utilizou a torta de algodÃo como fonte protÃica na raÃÃo concentrada (R$ 0,76/kg PV), seguido pelos que utilizaram farelo de soja (R$ 0,64/kg PV), urÃia (R$ 0,33/kg PV) e feno do folÃolo da leucena (R$ 0,21/kg PV). De acordo com as diferentes anÃlises econÃmicas e de investimentos realizadas, pode-se concluir que a torta de algodÃo substituindo o farelo de soja em 51,8% à a alternativa alimentar mais atrativa, pois permite uma maior oscilaÃÃo do preÃo de venda do quilograma do peso vivo do borrego em relaÃÃo Ãs demais fontes protÃicas analisadas, o que permite ao produtor se adequar a uma maior elasticidade do preÃo de venda deste produto no mercado sem causar prejuÃzos ao produtor / To verify the bioeconomic performance and physiological adaptability of sheep fed diets containing alternative protein sources in the concentrate as a replacement for soybean meal, this study was conducted. Were used three different alternative protein sources in concentrate in replacement of soybean meal: Leucaena leucocephala leaflet hay (HLL), urea (replacing both 100% of soybean meal) and cottonseed cake, replacing in 51.8% (on a dry matter basis). Was evaluated the finale weight (kg), the total weight gain, average daily gain and the number of days for the lamb gain 12 kg. For a detailed assessment of body development of sheep, weekly morphometric measurements were made in animals, in different parts of the body, as thoracic perimeter, back height, height of the croup, body length, length of the croup and body condition score. The behavioral assessment was conducted instantaneously at intervals of ten minutes (feed intake, rumination, other activities, leisure awake or sleeping, during 24 hours). Besides this, in the interval between two observations, was accompanied the frequency of defecation, urination and water intake. For the analysis of variables bioclimatology, during the experimental period were collected each hour, in the range of 7 a.m until 7 p.m, ambient temperature and relative humidity, using data logger. The natural matter intake of the lot (NMI) was calculated as the difference between the provided and collected the remains the next day for each bay, the dry matter intake (DMI) was obtained multiplying the NMI by their dry matter of feed. The surface temperature of the coat of lambs was collected in two days of the week, in the morning (07:30 a.m) and afternoon (02:00 p.m), with the aid of an infrared thermometer. The economic analyses of the different systems were conducted based on simulations using a number of two hundred animals per batch. When analyzing the finale weight (kg), can verify that the lambs that were fed with the ration which used cottonseed cake in partial replacement to soybean meal (51.8% of dry matter) were who obtained a higher finale weight, total weight gain and average daily gain, combined with a smaller number of days to gain total of 12 kg. Regarding the morphometric measurements, the lambs fed with the diet which used cottonseed cake obtained the best measures both the thoracic perimeter as body condition score. With regard to animal behavior, when looking at continuous variables in % of total days, can observe the variables ingesting food and leisure sleeping, that there was no difference (P>0.05) between different alternative protein sources analyzed, however there was a difference (P<0.05) in other variables between different protein sources. Regarding to punctual activities, can be verified difference (P<0.05) between different protein sources analyzed, in the activities urinating and defecating, and the higher frequency observed in lambs fed with soybean meal and hay of the leaflet of Leucaena for their respective activities. The NMI and DMI were directly influenced by temperature and relative humidity in the morning, and relative humidity in the afternoon and the day. Water consumption was influenced by temperatures in the morning, the critical period, in the afternoon and the daily temperature, as well as the relative humidity of critical period, of the afternoon and the daily relative humidity. Regarding the coat surface temperature, they were influenced directly for all climatic variables analyzed. Rectal temperature was influenced only by temperature and relative humidity in the measurement period. The temperature of the scrotum was not influenced by climatic variables. Regarding to economic indicators, the profit activity in R$/kg PV was higher in the confinement that used cottonseed meal showed as protein source in the concentrate (R$ 0.76/kg PV), followed by those who used soybean meal (R$ 0.64/kg PV), urea (R$ 0.33/kg PV) and hay of leaves of leucaena (R$ 0.21/kg PV). According to the different economic analysis and of investments conducted, can conclude that the cottonseed meal replacing soybean meal in 51.8% was the production system which was more attractive, it allows a greater swing of the selling price of kilograms of live weight of lamb compared to other protein sources studied, which allows the producer to suit a greater elasticity of sales price this product in the market without causing damages to producer.