Thesis (M.M. (Public Policy))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2013. / This research set out to explore the feasibility of developing Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA) collaborative policy networks in South African metros. The study explored related challenges and barriers, and investigated the role of the state (national, provincial and local/metro) and other sectoral development stakeholders (private sector, research institutions, non-governmental-organisations, development partners, donors, and farmers) in the substantive UPA policy management process in South Africa. The research was conducted against the backdrop of institutional/procedural policy and collaborative policy networks’ theory was used as framework. The research goal was to contribute to and generate new information and knowledge to enhance UPA collaborative governance and procedural policy. This was done through the application of collaborative policy networks as a contemporary procedural policy arrangement framework. Collaborative policy networks in this research are patterned relationships between state and society. These networks link a variety of actors (in the public and private sector) in a set of relatively stable relationships, that are non-hierarchical and interdependent, that share similar policy interests and exchange resources. The purpose is to collaboratively pursue specific policy goals as outlined by Börzel (1997:1). This research applies institutional/procedural theory as formal and legal aspects of government structure and particularly focuses on the way governments are arranged, their legal powers, and their rules and procedures in policy management (Kraft and Furlong, 2004). South Africa’s metros have continuously demonstrated an appreciation of the developmental role of UPA through small and concrete initiatives, including the development and implementation of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) development policies. In line with Mougeot (1994:1), this research however notes that the focus on UPA development in South Africa overemphasises agricultural production as the major component of the UPA definition. According to Dr Jane Battersby-Lennard, Head of the Urban Food Security programme of the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town, the overemphasis on agricultural production can mainly be attributed to the peri-urban agriculture vi (UPA) terminology, which accentuates agriculture – even in metros where agricultural production is not feasible. As a result, this research recommends that the UPA terminology in South Africa be rephrased as ‘Urban Food-security Systems’ (UFS). In this context UFS is defined as a systems approach to develop sustainable and equitable urban food value chains while incorporating a strong focus on elements of urban land-use planning, access to production resources (land and water), food production, safe supply of production inputs, value adding and processing, market development and access. Such an approach also develops responsive institutional/procedural and substantive policy management instruments. The emerging trend noted through this research is that South African metros have not made much progress on the ground in terms of UPS substantive policy management. This also applies to UPA institutional policy in South Africa, which in its current form offers limited opportunities to UFS development in South African metros. This type of development still faces a number of barriers and challenges that relate to institutional ad substantive policy issues. Even with the metros’ demonstrated interest in advancing the sector, UPA policy management capacity and resources (human, social, physical, economic and environmental capital) remain limited. UPA suffers overall limited state attention and commitment and consequently restrictive legislation, bureaucratic red tape and limited institutional, technical and financial support. The research argues that UPA development initiatives could benefit from government’s commitment and prioritisation at all spheres (metro, provincial and national). The research gathers that UPA governance could be enhanced through institutional policy improvements that emphasise wider stakeholder participation through collaborative policy networks. The researcher argues that there is a strong need for state sanctioned interventions that initially focus on developing strategic institutional policy networks as a development foundation for comprehensive, accelerated, equitable and sustainable UFS interventions rather than just agricultural production. This calls for the engagement of multiple stakeholders from social, economic and environmental vii development sectors (including agriculture, food security, natural resources management, social development, political management, climate change, environment and health, etc.) as active UFS development partners in South Africa. This research emphasises collaborative policy networks as an appropriate form of UPA institutional/procedural policy arrangements to help ensure trust, transparency, participation, reciprocity and a good balance of vertical and horizontal power/governance structure (as also defined by Deleon and Varda, 2009:67-71). Here the researcher argues that institutional policy networks articulate very well with the desired objectives of achieving collaborative UPA governance, and that these objectives are key to efficient UPA substantive policy management for South Africa. As a justification for policy networks, the study found that UFS development as a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral public policy issue could benefit not only from the distributed intelligence presented as a benefit of policy networks, but also from the distributed human, social, physical, financial, and political capital/resources that can be accessed and utilised collaboratively to pursue overarching and specific substantive UFS policy goals at national, provincial and local levels. The study recommends the establishment of a national level UFS policy network that could be led by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in partnership with the metros and other strategic state and non-state actors. The research recommends that a national UFS Secretariat be established at part of DAFF, to deal with national UFS policy issues (substantive and institutional) and to provide strategic programming and technical support to metros. The research also notes that developing efficient UFSs would require engaging numerous specialised skills and capacity sources that thus calls for the establishment of smaller specific substantive policy networks within the national UFS policy network. This could be led and constituted by specialist institutions with the required capacity and skills. Potential smaller specific substantive policy networks could include: agricultural production, trade, food/nutrition security and research; trade and marketing and research; environmental management and research; and spatial development and land-use planning and research. The research recommends that such policy networks be institutionalised at national, provincial and local/metro levels and that viii these policy networks are referred to as the Urban Food-security Systems – Community of Practice (UFS-COP). The research also notes that although there is a strong appreciation of the characteristic benefits of policy networks for managing multi-dimensional policy issues such as UFS, it must be noted however, that policy networks are not a panacea and that they do exhibit a hind-side of major challenges (for collaborative governance) that must be continuously addressed in search of efficient collaborative policy governance structures that emphasis the active engagement of multi-sectorial and multi-level policy management stakeholders for collective action.

This thesis applies the food security concept to assess the significance of seagrass-associated invertebrate gleaning for providing food security in Kaole, Tanzania. It assesses the availability, accessibility, utilisation and stability over time of this food source. To explore this, a multi-strategy research design was used. Structured interviews were held with 30 gleaning women in Kaole, using a self-developed questionnaire designed to address the four components of the food security framework. Two focus group discussions were thereafter held to explore how local ecosystem services, in particular seagrass meadows, and their food provisioning services have developed over time. The findings show that a great majority of the women who engage in seagrass- associated gleaning in Kaole rate this activity as important or very important for providing food to the household. The seagrass-associated gleaning activities were perceived as important, despite the fact that most women also glean in the mangrove area and that almost all women have alternative incomes. However, seen from a strict food security perspective, it is questionable how significant this activity currently is for food security. The study found that availability has decreased and it is not a food source that is stable throughout the year. The findings also suggest that the mangrove-associated Terebralia palustris may be easier to utilise, considering that you can store it in a sack, without being kept cold. If mangrove related gleaning hence seems to play an increasingly important role in local food security, and is a fishery that is available in all seasons, this area is less accessible to potential gleaners with small children, elderly and people with physical disabilities. The study also found that the decline in seagrass-associated gleaning activities have coincided with a number of human stressors and deteriorating seagrass meadows. Despite its’ declining signinficance for food security, most women rate the seagrass-associated gleaning as important and want to protect this food source. Action should therefore be taken to sustainably preserve this provisioning resource. Bearing in mind the fine balance between ecological and food security needs, such measures need to be interdisciplinary. It also needs to involve different community members, as well as other stakeholders. More research would be needed to determine the nutritional content and potential toxic contents in the most fished invertebrate species.

In Brazil, with the continued expansion of agriculture for supplying demands from international markets, progressive increases in emissions of green house gases are expected. The purpose of the project was hypothesized with three major approaches, 1) Strategies to mitigate methane emission in small ruminant production systems; 2) Identify tropical plants and individual bioactive compound against methanogenic propertie and 3) In vivo evaluation of the nutrients metabolism of Santa Ines sheep fed with tropical plants. For this, we have performed three experiments. The first study (Expt. 1) was designed to determine the in vitro effects of three tropical tannin rich plants such as Leucaena leucocephala (LL), Mimosa caesalpineafolia (MC), Schinus molle (SM) and one non-tannin rich plant Medicavo sativa (MS) for their anti-methanogenic properties when used with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG). All plants had significantly (P<0.05) influenced the degraded organic matter (TDOM) and degraded neutral detergent fiber (DNDF), especially LL, which had most influence on these parameters compared to other tannin containing plants. LL had positive response on antimethanogenic effects; its nutrient degradability was higher than that of other tannin containing plants. The second study (Expt. 2) was set to evaluate the effect of different organic extracts from the whole plant methanolic extract (MHE) of LL on in vitro gas production and to characterize the chemical constituents by using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Major abundant compounds present at the relative percentages of MHE were found to be stigmasterol trimethyl ester (TMS), neophytadiene, palmitic acid TMS, ?-Linolenic acid TMS and 2, 3, 5, 6-Tetra-M-Anisylbenzene. The effects of additions of different extracts in terms of nutrient degradability (TDOM and DNDF) were increased by all extracts. This study explained that the hexane extract from whole plant MHE was effective against methanogenic activity. The objective of the third study (Expt. 3) was to study the effect of LL plant leaves on rumen fermentation, apparent nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and methane production in Santa Ines sheep. The animals were divided in three groups in which they were fed with (i) 88% Tifton 85-hay (Cynodon dactylon) and 12% soyabean meal (Control group, n=4); (ii) 28% Tifton 85-hay (Cynodon dactylon) and 72% LL plus 20 ml solution containing 10g/day/animal of PEG (With PEG group - WPEG, n=6); (iii) 28% Tifton 85-hay (Cynodon dactylon) and 72% LL plus 20 ml of distilled water (Without PEG group- WOPEG, n=6). Nutrient intake (dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent fiber, lignin and crude protein) were higher in WPEG and WOPEG compared to the control group, except neutral detergent fiber intake. Apparent digestibilities and nitrogen metabolism had non-significant effects between the treatments. However, CH4 emissions were significantly lower in WPEG and WOPEG than the control. Furthermore, expressions of microbial populations of methanogens in WPEG had lower tendency than that of WOPEG and control. The most salient findings of this study were that, using plant rich in tannin in diets of small ruminants, we can get more benefits in terms of replacing the source of protein in the diet (food safety) and reduced production of enteric CH4 (animal production) / No Brasil, com expansão da agricultura para suprir as exigências dos mercados internacionais, são esperados aumentos progressivos nas emissões de gases do efeito estufa. O objetivo do projeto foi hipotetisado com três abordagens principais, 1) estratégias para mitigar emissões de metano em sistemas de produção de pequenos ruminantes; 2) identificar plantas tropicais com compostos bioativos com propriedades anti metanogénicas e 3) avaliação in vivo do metabolismo de nutrientes em ovelhas Santa Inês alimentadas com planta taninífera. Para isso, foram efetuados três experimentos. O primeiro estudo (Expt 1) foi concebido para estudar os efeitos in vitro de plantas tropicais ricas em tanino como Leucaena leucocephala (LL), Mimosa caesalpineafolia (MC) e Schinus molle (SM) e uma planta não taninífera, Medicavo sativa (MS) quanto às propriedades anti-metanogénicas quando usadas com e sem polietileno glicol (PEG). Todas as plantas significativamente (P < 0.05) influenciaram na matéria orgânica degradada (MOD) e na fibra em detergente neutro degradada (FDND), especialmente a LL, que teve maior influência sobre estes parâmetros, em comparação com as outras plantas que contém tanino LL teve resposta positiva sobre os efeitos de antimethanogênicos e a degradabilidade dos nutrientes foi maior do que a das outras plantas que contém tanino. O segundo estudo (Expt 2) foi definido para avaliar o efeito de diferentes extratos orgânicos a partir do extrato metanólico da planta (EMP) de LL na produção de gás in vitro e caracterizar os constituintes químicos usando cromatografia gasosa acoplada com espectroscopia de massa (GC-MS). Os compostos mais abundantemente encontrados, em termos de percentagens relativas do EMP, foram o éster de trimetil estigmasterol, neofitadina, ácido palmítico, ácido ?-linolênico e 2, 3, 5, 6-Tetra-M-anizil -benzeno. Os efeitos de adições dos diferentes extratos orgânicos, em termos de degradabilidade de nutriente (MOD e NDFD) foram aumentados para todos os extratos. Este estudo explicou que o extrato de hexano a partir do EMP foi eficaz na atividade anti metanogênicas em modificar a degradação ruminal de nutrientes. O objetivo do terceiro estudo (Expt 3) foi estudar o efeito das folhas da planta LL na fermentação ruminal, digestibilidade aparente de nutrientes, balanço de nitrogênio e produção de metano em ovinos Santa Inês. Os animais foram divididos em três grupos em que eles foram alimentados com (i) 88% feno de Tifton-85 (Cynodon dactylon) e 12% de farelo de soja (Grupo controle, n = 4); (ii) 28% feno de Tifton-85 (Cynodon dactylon) e 72% LL mais 20 ml solução contendo 10g/dia/animal de PEG (grupo com PEG - CPEG, n = 6); (iii) 28% feno de Tifton-85 (Cynodon dactylon) e 72% LL mais 20 ml de água destilada (sem PEG-grupo-SPEG, n = 6). A ingestão de nutrientes (matéria seca, matéria orgânica, fibra em detergente ácido, lignina e proteína bruta) foram maiores no grupos CPEG e SPEG em relação ao grupo controle, exceto a ingestão de fibra em detergente neutro. As digestibilidades aparentes e o metabolismo do nitrogênio não apresentaram efeitos significativos entre os tratamentos. No entanto, as emissões de CH4 foram significativamente inferiores nos grupos CPEG e SPEG em comparação com o grupo controle. Além disso, as expressões de populações microbianas de metanogênicas no grupo CPEG apresentaram tendência menor do que nos grupos SPEG e controle. As conclusões mais salientes do presente estudo foram que, usando planta rica em tanino em dietas de pequenos ruminantes, poderemos ter mais benefícios em termos de substituição da fonte de proteína da dieta (segurança alimentar) e redução da produção de CH4 entérico

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar as transformações ocorridas a partir da introdução da agricultura mecanizada para produção de alimentos em uma comunidade indígena xavante. Buscou também compreender as relações existentes entre a sua cultura e os modos de obtenção de alimentos. A pesquisa desenvolveu-se na aldeia Wede´rã, localizada na Terra indígena Pimentel Barbosa/MT. Foi utilizado o método qualitativo, com entrevistas, observação participante, conversas e desenhos. Pôde-se verificar que com o fim da mobilidade espacial nesta população e a introdução da mecanização para produção de alimentos, iniciada pela FUNAI nas décadas de 70 e 80 e mais recentemente, com o projeto da Associação Cana Rica, o arroz passou a ser base da alimentação xavante, com substituição de produtos tradicionais. Atualmente a agricultura é uma atividade importante para a alimentação xavante, com novas espécies cultivadas e incremento da produção nos quintais, onde são cultivadas frutíferas nativas e exóticas, entre outras. A compra de alimentos industrializados e a merenda escolar também contribuem para a subsistência da comunidade. Com estas novas fontes de alimentos, alterações se fizeram presentes nos papéis de gênero: a coleta não é praticada com freqüência pelas mulheres jovens, deixando de exercer um papel considerado feminino; as mulheres também não são as únicas responsáveis pelo plantio do milho, que hoje é realizado também pelos homens, alterando a imagem que os mais velhos têm sobre elas. A caça ainda é praticada entre os homens, seja com uso de arco e flecha ou com armas de fogo. Também a caça faz parte da vida espiritual xavante e não há outras fontes de proteína disponível, como há para os alimentos vegetais, o que contribui para valorizar o papel masculino. Com o incremento de produtos da agricultura, o equilíbrio alimentar não é alcançado; observa-se alta taxa de anemia na aldeia estudada, atingindo 56,3% no ano de 2006. Como possível causa, observa-se que os cultivos ocorrem nas épocas chuvosas, não sendo possível aproveitar a sazonalidade de produtos, como ocorre na coleta. Entre os esforços para alteração do quadro existente, podem ser citados os projetos da Associação Aliança dos Povos do Roncador e da ONG Nossa Tribo para valorização dos alimentos tradicionais, incluindo o plantio de roça coletiva, tendo como principais produtos o milho e feijão xavantes e ainda a retomada, com mais freqüência, da coleta pelas mulheres. Com isto pode-se observar a necessidade de um rigor maior na aprovação de projetos destinados à população indígena, pois aqueles que não consideram os valores sócio-culturais nas práticas de subsistência, acabam por interferir nas relações entre indivíduos e destes com a natureza, além de provocar problemas de saúde. / The aim of this study was analyze the transformations occurred since mechanic agriculture was introduced on food production inside an indigenous community. It looks to understand the current linkage between its culture and the way they obtain food. This study was developed in the Wede´rã village at the indigenous lands of Pimentel Barbosa/MT. The study was based on the qualitative method, using interviews, participant observation, chats and paints. Rice is now the basic food of xavante\'s diet, supplanting traditional products, consequence of spatial mobility seeking and food production mechanization, stared by FUNAI in the 70´s and 80´s and recently from the project of Cana Rica Association. Nowadays, agriculture is an important activity to xavante\'s diet, owing new plant species and increasing the orchard production, where are among others, native and exotic fruit trees and vegetable crops. School lunch, provided by government and industrialized food purchase, contributes to the community survival. As a result of these new food sources, alterations in the genre roles came. Young women stopped practicing collection; a role considered feminine, and some activities are shared with men, as the corn crop cultivation, which today is carried out together, changing the image that elders had of women. Hunting is still practiced by men, using arch and arrows or firearms. Hunting belongs to spiritual xavante\'s life and there isn\'t another protein source, as there are for vegetables, so, this activity contributes to value men\'s role. Even though agriculture products increased, the dietary equilibrium is not reached, as shows the high anemia rate of 56.3% in 2006. This could be due to the presence of crops in rainy epochs that hinder taking advantage of the products seasonal times, as occurs in collection periods. Efforts to modify the existing truth are represented by a non-governmental organization (ONG, by its initials in Portuguese) Nossa Tribo, and Aliança dos Povos do Roncador Association, with a project looking to value traditional food, including the collective vegetable gardens and orchards, having as main products, xavante´s corn and beans as well as incentivating women collection practice. Based on the exposed arguments is evident the rigour need when approving projects aimed to indigenous populations, since, those that doesn\'t consider the socio-cultural values in survival practices interfere in the relationships between individuals and consequently, between them with the environment, causing health troubles.

As sociedades mundiais passam por mudanças substanciais que repercutem nas áreas da segurança alimentar e das políticas públicas sociais. Apesar de terem ocorrido significativas conquistas econômicas e sociais nos últimos anos, no Peru ainda existe dificuldade para oferecer segurança alimentar a toda sua população e isto se reflete na alta prevalência de subnutrição infantil concentrada principalmente nos espaços rurais, onde até o primeiro semestre de 2010, 30,9% das crianças são subnutridas. Esta situação representa uma ameaça para a sustentabilidade do desenvolvimento do Peru, devido aos efeitos irreversíveis da subnutrição na capacidade intelectual e física do indivíduo. Sendo a pobreza uma das principais causas da subnutrição, os programas de transferência condicionada de renda têm um grande potencial em favorecer a segurança alimentar dos beneficiados. Neste contexto o presente estudo tem como objetivo mostrar os reflexos na segurança alimentar dos beneficiados do programa de transferência condicionada de renda JUNTOS, na comunidade indígena de Pilpichaca, uma das comunidades mais pobres e com maior prevalência de crianças subnutridas do Peru. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo e quantitativo em uma amostra de 90 famílias. A escolha das famílias beneficiadas foi feita aleatoriamente em uma relação de todas as famílias beneficiadas com crianças menores de cinco anos. O levantamento dos dados foi feito através de questionário fechado apresentado as mães. Pretendia-se conhecer: a forma de acesso aos alimentos, à água e esgoto, acesso aos programas públicos de suplementação e complementação alimentar, uso da transferência de renda, mudança no consumo de alimentos, o estado nutricional nas crianças menores de cinco anos, a relação entre as variáveis: estado nutricional e o tempo de exposição ao programa JUNTOS; e a avaliação do Programa JUNTOS pelas mães beneficiadas. Os resultados mostram que aumentou o consumo de alimentos de alto valor nutritivo e o gasto com alimentos também é favorecido. Os resultados da regressão linear apontam que há uma relação proporcional entre o estado nutricional e o tempo de exposição ao programa JUNTOS, mas esta não é estatisticamente significativa. A transferência de renda representa 51.2% da renda familiar e as mães avaliaram o programa JUNTOS como uma boa política pública. / In Peru, although significant economic and social achievements have occurred in recent years, there is still a difficulty in providing food to entire population. This is reflected in a high prevalence of child malnutrition, mainly concentrated in rural areas, where, in the first half of 2010, even 30.9% of children is malnourished. This situation represents a threat to sustainable development of Peru, the irreversible effects of malnutrition on physical and intellectual capacity of the individual. With poverty being a major cause of malnutrition, the programs of conditional cash transfer have great potential to promote food security of beneficients. In this context, this study aims to show the effects of food security of the beneficients of the program of conditional cash transfer: JUNTOS, in the indigenous community of Pilpichaca, one of the poorest communities and with the highest percentage of malnourished children in Peru a descriptive and quantitative analysis on a sample of 50 families was made. The choice of beneficiary households was made randomly from a list of all beneficiary families with children under 5 years. The survey was made through different closed questionnaires presented to the mothers. The aim was to know: how to access food, water and sanitation, as well as public programs to food complement and supplementation, use of income transfer, change in food consumption, nutritional status among children under five years, the relationship between variables: nutritional status and exposure time to the program JUNTOS and program JUNTOS evaluation by mothers benefited. The results show that increased intake of foods of high nutritive value, spending on food is in plus, but can not show a significant relationship, between nutritional status and exposure time to the program JUNTOS. The transfer of income represents 51.2% of a total family income. The mothers generally rated JUNTOS as a good public policy.

O consumo de alimentos é influenciado, entre outros fatores, pelo processo de urbanização, as políticas agrícolas, a disponibilidade de alimentos, a distribuição de renda, o processamento inadequado, tradições culturais e a propaganda. Em decorrência de desequilíbrios nos elos existentes entre essas variáveis, podem ser observadas, freqüentemente, conseqüências negativas à saúde da população, tais como a desnutrição, obesidade e doenças crônicas. O presente trabalho foi realizado, tendo por base os dados da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF-1995/1996), relativos à amostra da população residente nas regiões metropolitanas de Curitiba e Porto Alegre, pertencentes à Região Sul do Brasil. Os objetivos foram analisar, no âmbito dos domicílios, a disponibilidade de energia e a participação dos macronutrientes no Valor Energético Total - VET; analisar a oferta de proteínas quanto à sua origem (animal ou vegetal); analisar a disponibilidade de fibras, colesterol, vitaminas e minerais nos domicílios da referida população; analisar a disponibilidade de alimentos quanto a sua origem (industrializados e in natura) e também a participação dos grupos alimentares no VET diário das famílias. Para os cálculos nutricionais foi utilizado o software Virtual Nutri (Phillippi, 1996). Adotou-se como parâmetro, as recomendações de energia, macro e micronutrientes, os valores preconizados pela National Academy of Sciences (2003). Os resultados mostram que a disponibilidade de energia e macronutrientes para estes grupos populacionais pode ser considerada adequada. Por outro lado, a participação da proteína de origem animal revelase elevada para a totalidade das famílias. Em relação ao colesterol os resultados apresentam-se abaixo dos valores preconizados. Ressalva-se que a presente pesquisa não avaliou o consumo de alimentos fora do domicílio. Considerando a disponibilidade de fibras para as famílias da amostra, infere-se que a mesma é insuficiente. Em relação aos micronutrientes, observa-se uma baixa disponibilidade, dos seguintes nutrientes: ácido fólico, niacina, vitamina B12, cálcio, ferro, zinco, magnésio e selênio. Em relação aos grupos alimentares, merece destaque a maior participação do grupo das leguminosas, especialmente o feijão, no VET (disponível nos domicílios) das famílias mais pobres. Por outro lado, observa-se aumento na disponibilidade do grupo das carnes e embutidos e do leite e derivados, conforme ocorre incremento da renda, o que ressalta a influência desta na aquisição de alimentos. Não é identificada diferença expressiva na participação de hortaliças no VET, quando se considera concomitante, as famílias dos diferentes estratos de renda e as duas regiões metropolitanas. Por outro lado, a participação das frutas mostra tendência crescente, conforme aumenta a renda. Há um predomínio de produtos industrializados no VET, quando se considera a totalidade das famílias integrantes da pesquisa. A renda e os hábitos culturais parecem exercer influência decisiva nos hábitos alimentares da população observada. Face ao exposto é fundamental que se busquem estratégias, que adotadas em curto espaço de tempo, contribuam de forma decisiva para a melhoria dos hábitos e o padrão de consumo alimentar da referida população. / The food consumption is influenced, among other factors, by the process of urbanization, agricultural policies, food availability, income distribution, adequate processing, feeding habits and marketing. In the course of this interaction, negative consequences may be observed in the state of health, such as malnutrition, obesity and chronic illnesses. The present study was accomplished using the Family Budgetary Survey (FBS-1995/1996) data base, related to the metropolitan areas of Curitiba and Porto Alegre -southern Brazil. The objectives were to analyze the families accessibility to energy and the participation of macronutrients in the Total Calorie Value-TCV available in the domicile; to differentiate the protein origin (animal or vegetal); to estimate the amounts of dietary fiber, cholesterol, vitamins, and minerals at the household’s disposal in the referred population; to determine the food accessibility according to the extent of transformation (manufactured or in natura) and also, the participation of each food group at the families’ disposal, according to the daily TCV. The software Virtual Nutri (Phillippi, 1996) was used to calculate nutrient availability. Energy, macro and micronutrient recommendations by the National Academy of Sciences (2001) were adopted as parameters. The results showed that the energy and macronutrients at the disposal of these population groups may be considered adequate. On the other hand, the study revealed elevated participation of animal protein for the totality of families. Cholesterol, however, appeared to be present at amounts lower than recommended, notwithstanding the fact that this research did not take into account the food consumed outside the domicile. Considering the dietary fiber at the disposal of these families, we can infer it was insufficient. In relation to micronutrients, we observed a low availability, especially for folic acid, niacin, vitamin B12, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and selenium. In relation to the food groups, the participation of legumes, especially beans, on the TCV of the household of the poorest families was outstanding. On the other hand, we observed an increase in the access to meat and poultry, and milk and milk products, concordant with the rising of income, which reinforces the influence of income on food acquisition. The participation of potherbs greens did not present any meaningful difference when the income stratum and metropolitan area were considered. The participation of fruits appeared with an increasing tendency, in relation to income. There was yet the predominance of manufactured food products on the TCV for the totality of families surveyed. It may be concluded that both income and cultural habits seem to exert decisive influence on the food habits of this population. Thus, it is fundamental to search for alternatives in order to improve the habits and consumption patterns of the referred population, independent of their socioeconomical or cultural backgrounds.

This research is based on fieldwork that was carried out in the post-conflict villages of Adunu and Kom in the Acholi region of northern Uganda. It argues that a woman’s maintained access to customary land within these villages is determined not only by her sex and by provisions within Acholi customary law, but also by her marital and parental status as framed by patriarchal ideologies and power relations. It shows that if women wish to retain and hold on to land that is socially (and sometimes, legally) meant to be ‘theirs’, they must be prepared constantly to bargain and negotiate with either their husband, their husband’s lineage or their own natal clan. They must also conform to gendered norms concerning female behaviour, especially those that pertain to their sexuality and reproductive abilities. It is by adopting such strategies and, often, by making concessions, that they will be able to, in most cases, maintain access to land, particularly if land is in abundance. The thesis also shows that women’s food security is contingent on the gendered relations that they have and maintain with male family members and also on factors that are external, be these climate change or their ability to farm effectively. By looking at the relevance of gender relations in land access and food security, through a gender awareness lens and a feminist ethnography, this thesis provides a nuanced understanding of how women maintain access to customary land and how they can achieve food security, albeit within a male dominated system.

Magister Legum - LLM / The aim of this study is to examine laws and policies relating to food safety in South Africa, specifically with regard to labelling requirements in the food industry. It is hoped that this research will serve as a pointer for policy and legislative reforms in a bid to identify weak areas as well as encourage accountability and strengthen government’s response to the realisation of the right to safe food as a human right imperative. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

This thesis is concerned with social policy during structural transformation, focusing on the case of Ethiopia. The thesis takes a realist, case-based approach to the study of social policy, which recognises that political actors construct the domain of 'social' policy within legitimising discourses in specific national-historical contexts. Social policy is a key aspect of state-society relations and an inherently political field of study. Consequently, the study integrates analysis of cleavages in domestic society along class and ethnic lines, the role of state organisations and international influences, and their impact on the social policy pronouncements by senior government officials and implementation of those policies on the ground. In the Ethiopian case, this approach highlights the centrality of land to social policy and state• society relations. In particular, state land ownership is a key part of the government's development strategy that aims to combine egalitarian agricultural growth with security for smallholders. Nevertheless, the failure to expand the use of productivity-enhancing agricultural inputs, which constitute key complements to the use of land for social objectives, has led to differentiation in social policy provision along class, gender, age and ethnic lines. Micro-level case studies link the land question to food security, including the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), and processes of agricultural commercialisation, notably the so-called 'global land grab'. A main argument of the thesis is that the Ethiopian government is attempting to manage social processes in order to minimise the social and political upheaval involved in structural transformation, and that social pol icy is a central means by which it does so. The development strategy requires social policies that enable the government to control the allocation of factors of production, necessitating restrictions on the rights of individuals and groups. As such, this strategy is intricately intertwined with political authority.

Introdução: O Brasil é um país de grande diversidade biológica, apresentando 15 a 20 por cento de todas as espécies do planeta. Visando mapear essa rica biodiversidade que é subutilizada, o Ministério do Meio Ambiente lançou ao longo de 2004 e 2005 a iniciativa \"Plantas para o Futuro\", cujo principal objetivo foi identificar as espécies nativas da flora brasileira de valor econômico atual e potencial. O projeto elencou 674 espécies nativas de diferentes regiões do Brasil com diferentes aplicações: alimentos, frutas, medicamentos, ornamentais e outros fins. As espécies frutíferas elencadas são, em sua maioria, subutilizadas e um dos motivos é a falta de dados nutricionais Objetivos: Este trabalho visou compilar dados de composição nutricional de espécies de frutas nativas elencadas pela iniciativa Plantas para o Futuro de modo a disponibilizar dados de macro e micronutrientes que possam ser inseridos em tabelas de composição de alimentos e, ao mesmo tempo, avaliar a qualidade dos dados nutricionais em publicações científicas que subsidiam a compilação dos dados de composição. Metodologias: Para a compilação dos dados foi utilizada a metodologia preconizada pela FAO/INFOODS (FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION/The International Network of Food Data Systems), com o emprego da ferramenta Compilation tool. Realizou-se levantamento bibliográfico em periódicos nacionais e internacionais e em bases de dados de teses e dissertações. Os critérios considerados essenciais para a compilação foram: nome cientifico conhecido do alimento, metodologia indicada e unidade de expressão conhecida. Avaliou-se a qualidade dos dados publicados e utilizados neste trabalho por meio de indicadores como: número de amostras, plano de amostragem, tratamento dado à amostra, método analítico e controle de qualidade analítica. Resultados: Obtiveram-se dados nutricionais de 26 espécies frutíferas das cinco regiões geopolíticas do país. As espécies frutíferas que se destacam por teor elevado de fibra alimentar são: jatobá (45,7 g/100 g), murici (9,72 g/100 g), pequi (9,7 g/100 g) e tucumã-açu (6,2 g/ 100 g). Em relação ao cálcio destacam as espécies frutíferas: mamãozinho (89,5 mg/ 100 g), tucumã-açu (87,4 mg/ 100 g) e já o magnésio, o mamãozinho (87,6 mg/ 100 g) e maracujá-do-cerrado (69 mg/ 100 g) são as compiladas com maiores teores. A vitamina C destacam camu-camu com pele (1888,2 mg/100 g), mangaba (332 mg/100 g) e caju-do-cerrado (294 mg/ 100 g). A análise das publicações levantadas revelou lacunas nas informações metodológicas necessárias para avaliar a qualidade dos dados nutricionais. Conclusão: Dados de composição nutricional de espécies frutíferas subutilizadas, quando existentes, referem-se principalmente aos macronutrientes. Há necessidade de alertar os pesquisadores da necessidade de, ao publicarem seus artigos, inserirem as informações necessárias para o trabalho de compilação. As espécies frutíferas analisadas neste trabalho devem ser consideradas para a alimentação do brasileiro quando comparadas com as frutas contemporâneas mais adquiridas no Brasil. A disponibilização desses dados nutricionais nas tabelas de alimentos contribuirá para o uso e conservação das espécies frutíferas nativas, ajudando no bem-estar humano e melhoria da nutrição. / Background: Brazil is a country with a vast biological diversity, containing 15-20 per cent of all species on the planet. In order to map this rich biodiversity that is underutilized, the Ministry of Environment released, throughout the year of 2004 and 2005, the initiative \"Plants for the Future\" whose main goal was to identify the native species of Brazilian flora that have current economic value and potential. The project listed 674 native species from different regions of Brazil with different applications: food, fruits, medicine, ornamental, and other purposes. The fruit species listed are, in the majority, underutilized and one reason for that is the lack of nutritional data. Objective: This study aims to compile nutritional composition data of native fruits species listed by the \"Plants for the Future\" in order to provide macro and micronutrients data that can be inserted in food composition tables and at the same time, evaluate the quality of nutritional data in scientific publications that support the compilation of compositional data. Methodology: For the compilation of the data it was used the methodology recommended by FAO/INFOODS (FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION/The International Network of Food Data Systems) with the use of the Compilation tool. The bibliographical research was conducted in national and international journals and theses and dissertations databases. The criteria considered essential for the compilation were known scientific name of the food, indicated methodology and known expression unit. The quality of the published data used in this study was assessed using indicators such as number of samples, sampling plan, treatment of the sample, analytical method and analytical quality control. Results: Nutritional data were obtained for 26 fruit species in the five geopolitical regions. The fruit species that stand out for high content of dietary fiber are: jatoba (45.7 g / 100 g), murici (9.72 g / 100 g), pequi (9.7 g / 100 g) and tucuma-açu (6.2 g / 100 g). Regarding to quantity of calcium, these fruit species contain higher concentrations: mamãozinho (89.5 mg / 100 g), tucumã-açu (87.4 mg / 100 g) and these other are rich in magnesium: mamãozinho (87.6 mg / 100 g) and maracujá-do-cerrado (69 mg / 100 g). The concentration of Vitamin C is seen highly in the camu-camu with skin (1888.2 mg / 100 g), mangaba (332 mg / 100 g) and in the caju-do-cerrado (294 mg / 100 g). The analysis of the collected publications revealed gaps in methodological information necessary to evaluate the quality of nutritional data. Conclusion: Nutritional composition data for underutilized fruit species, if any, relate primarily to macronutrients. There is a need to alert researchers on the importance of, in publishing their articles, remembering to enter the required information to the build work. The fruit species analyzed in this work should be considered for the Brazilian diet compared to other contemporary and more consumed fruits in Brazil. The availability of these nutritional data on food tables will contribute to the use and conservation of native fruit species, improving human wellbeing and nutrition.