Toward a food secure future: Ensuring food security for sustainable human development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Food security remains a top development priority and global concern. It is enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Sustainable Development Goal two. Food security is also a core component of the human development and capability paradigm, since food access and entitlements are critical for reinforcing essential human capabilities. In introducing this special issue, this paper argues that agriculture is central to improving food security and reducing poverty in Africa. It suggests that realizing the potential of agriculture in Africa requires rapid increases in land productivity and increases in agricultural yields. A science-based approach that integrates gender and sustainability is critical to meet this goal, through the design and implementation of policies that improve the availability farm inputs and farm technology. The paper concludes by introducing the papers in this special issue.     

Agricultural labour productivity,food prices and sustainable development impacts and indicators

In the last few years high and unstable food and agricultural commodity prices and concerns about population growth, increasing per capita food demands and environmental constraints have pushed agriculture and food production up national and international political, policy and research agendas. Drawing on both theory and empirical evidence, this paper argues that fundamental impacts of links between agricultural productivity sustainability and real food price changes are often overlooked in current policy analysis. This is exacerbated by a lack of relevant and accessible indicators for monitoring agricultural productivity sustainability and real food prices. Two relatively simple and widely applicable sets of indicators are proposed for use in policy development and monitoring. Historical series of these indices are estimated for selected countries, regions and the world. Their strengths, weaknesses and potential value are then discussed in the context of the need for better sustainable agricultural development and food security indicators in any post 2015 successors to the current MDGs.     

关于矿产资源的综合利用与可持续发展

矿产资源的合理利用和可持续发展,都是以提高对资源的节约利用和减轻对环境的影响为前提的。无论是什么时期,必须坚持＂在开发中保护,在保护中开发＂的方针,以及＂开发与节约并举＂的原则。     

平衡发展、清洁发展:中国可持续发展之路——记“中国经济平衡与清洁发展计划”项目启动会

由英国凯恩克劳斯(craincross)基金会赞助的"中国经济平衡与清洁发展"研讨会不久前在北京中国国际问题研究所举行.这次研讨会是由英国牛津能源研究所(OIES)牵头的"中国经济平衡与清洁发展计划"项目的启动会,也是中英专家相关研究成果的交流会.     

污水回用:可持续发展的必经之路

２００２年１１月２６日至２７日，中国石化第八届水处理技术研讨会在巴陵分公司召开。会议期间，记者采访了中国石油化工科学研究院水处理中心主任、教授级高工李本高。李本高向记者介绍说，近年来，中国石化大力开展节水减排、降本增效工作，成立了以张家仁副总裁为组长的节水减排工作领导小组。２００１年，炼化企业节水减排有关技术攻关项目首次被列入集团公司“十条龙”重大技术攻关项目。实施的节水减排措施已取得初步成效，开发出许多具有中国特色的节水减排技术、循环水处理技术，使企业加工吨油水耗和排污得以大幅降低，生产装置逐…     

Energy systems analysis for food policy

Recent work on energy systems analysis of food production systems has demonstrated the importance of energy to the food production sector of the economy. We show how energy requirements for food production are closely related to the intensity of production, and that there is a quantifiable trade-off between land and energy use. This trade-off is quite different for vegetable and industrial food as opposed to animals and fish. Thus the energy consequences to food production from changes in diet, shrinking land resources or increasing population may be readily computed.     

Urbanization and sustainable development for inclusiveness using ICTs

The arrival of information and communication technology (ICT) as well as the deployments of free and open-source software (FOSS) have brought hope to developing countries that the use of enabling technologies potentially mitigates the impact of global environmental and socio-economic crises, and it drive radical changes in a user's skills or culture. In 2019, with widespread territorial disparities, approximately 53.6% people were connected to the Internet worldwide. The majority of the offline user lives in the least developed countries, and only 19% of them use the internet, compared to 87% in developed nations. Sustainable development depends on successful management of open and inclusive urban development, especially in low-income and middle-income countries, where the fastest urbanization is expected to occur by the year 2050. The application of ICT enhances the independence, dignity, and equal opportunities of all people, thereby promoting their integration into society. An inclusive approach-based citizen participation is extremely important for building an inclusive society. Furthermore, this study highlights the current issues and challenges in developing countries, as well as the role of ICT in promoting socio-economic development, where it can serve as a catalyst for the implementation of the concept of sustainable urbanization. Considering the emerging socio-technological aspect, a framework for a sustainable socio-technical ecosystem is presented here to achieve economic independence and empowerment.     

国有煤矿如何实施可持续发展战略

党的十六大提出要“大力实施科教兴国战略和可持续发展战略”,尤其是党的十六届五中全会提出了“安全发展、清洁发展、节约发展、可持续发展”的全新观点。作为国有煤矿,在改革发展的新形势下,实施可持续发展战略,不但具有重要的现实意义,而且具有深远的历史意义。一、实施“节     

以煤炭的可持续发展和有效利用来支撑我国经济社会的可持续发展

从我国能源生产和消费现状与未来发展看，必须坚持“节能优先，效率为本”，必须坚持“煤为基础，多元发展”，必须坚持“立足国内，开拓国外”，必须坚持“统筹城乡，合理布局”，必须坚持“技术进步，体制创新”，同时还必须坚持“保护环境、保障安全”。     

改革促进企业持续发展

章简要地阐述了国有大型企业集团－上海城建集团数年来坚持改革，加强管理，促进企业发展的主要做法及取和得的成效。     

中国本土玩具企业可持续发展的挑战与机遇

10月9—10日,第二届中国玩具产业可持续发展国际峰会在上海世纪皇冠假日酒店成功举行,广东省玩具协会常务副会长李卓明在会上作了题为“中国本土玩具企业可持续发展的挑战与机遇”的精彩发言,以宏观的角度,从目前玩具行业呈现的发展现状及趋势、相比国外同行的优势出发,阐述了我国玩具产业的可持续发展之路。     

A consumer-oriented model for analysing the suitability of food classification systems

The main function of food classification systems is to regulate the market and inform it (consumers above all) about the different types of products and their characteristics. However, the reality is that many of these systems give rise to confusion and prevent consumers from obtaining a clear idea of them, making the purchasing process more difficult. The objective of this study was to propose a method that can be used as a basis or reference framework for analysing the suitability of any food classification system, based on maximising consumer comprehension and learning, before introducing it into the market. The model proposed establishes the procedure and the necessary indicators for identifying the advantages and drawbacks of each of the different systems, making it possible to compare their suitability. The model was tested empirically by comparing the current classification of orange juices and Iberian ham with two different proposals, in an experiment conducted with an online consumer panel, and using MANCOVA to analyse the differences between the six indicators related to consumer learning results. It was concluded that the model is suitable for assessing the suitability of the classification systems, as it shows technical viability, ease of introduction in practically any situation and the ability to facilitate and guide the process of drawing up consumer-oriented food classification systems.     

无渗漏灌溉网工程与农业可持续发展

新疆地处欧亚大陆腹地 ,属于典型的干旱地区 ,人工绿洲主要分布在盆地荒漠边缘的冲积平原上 ,面积很小 ,约占新疆总面积的 4 % ,但集中了新疆人口的 95 %、社会财富的 90 %。由于长期受渗漏灌溉系统、大水漫灌和传统种植方式等因素的影响 ,绿洲土壤次生盐渍化、土壤肥力退化和沙化 ,人称“三化”现象日益严重 ,造成绿洲农业持续发展缓慢和经济效益下滑 ,生态环境日趋恶化的现状。而绿洲无渗漏灌溉网工程是绿洲农业步入高速良性持续发展的基础 ,并以此实现绿洲特色农业可持续发展战略。1　传统灌溉方式的后果传统明渠灌溉系统渗漏严重 ,是人…     

Design principles for the development of measurement systems for research and development processes

Based on a comprehensive literature review and the activities of numerous case study companies, it is argued in this paper that performance measurement in R&D is a fundamental aspect to quality in R&D and to overall business performance. However, it is apparent from the case companies that many companies still struggle with the issue of R&D performance measurement. Excuses for not measuring are easily found, but there are also empirical examples and literature available with suggestions how it can be done. In this article this literature is reviewed and placed within the context of general performance control and contingency theory. Furthermore, the main measurement system design parameters are discussed and some basic system requirements are described as well as several design principles that can be useful for those who accept the challenge of establishing a meaningful measurement system.     

On food security and the economic valuation of food

The paper presents an economic evaluation of food and the cost of food insecurity. Building on behavioral regularities of consumer behavior, the analysis estimates the benefit of food at the individual level and at the world level. It finds an inverted-U relationship between food benefit and income. At the individual level, the “food benefit/income” ratio starts at 0 under extreme poverty, increases with income to reach a maximum of 4.4 when income per capita is around $13,000, and then declines slowly as income rises. The paper shows very large aggregate net benefit of food. The analysis also evaluates the cost of food insecurity. It shows that aversion to food insecurity is pervasive, the coefficient of relative risk aversion to food insecurity being around 2.7. The analysis evaluates empirically the cost of food insecurity. We report the cost of food insecurity under alternative scenarios, documenting that it can be large in situations of exposure to significant downside risk.     

Reducing food waste and food insecurity in the UK: The architecture of surplus food distribution supply chain in addressing the sustainable development goals (Goal 2 and Goal 12.3) at a city level

The paradox that tonnes of food is wasted while people go hungry has raised concern from national and international authorities. In developed countries, reducing these problems has focused on surplus food distribution as a ‘win-win’ solution contributing to sustainable development goals. While the existing literature acknowledges the role of third-sector organisations, research on the supply chain of surplus food distribution and the coordination among actors is limited. This research explores actors and organisations in the value chain of surplus food distribution at the city level. Based on semi-structured interviews and participant observation, our findings highlight the need for a coordinated effort between actors as an essential arrangement to capture the value of surplus food. Despite the close cooperation, hierarchical power relationships exist between organisations in the supply chain. We unpack challenges in the surplus food supply chain, such as lack of a legislative framework for food donations and organisational sustainability issues that have forced third-sector organisations to work independently to reduce the uncertainties of food quality and quantity. We shed light on the practical implications by highlighting how multiple stakeholders could improve the efficiency of surplus food distribution.     

大力促进资源型城市可持续发展——访国务院振兴东北等老工业基地办公室副主任宋晓梧

当前,我国资源型城市面临的形势严峻。据统计,全国资源型城市共118个,占全国城市总数的18%。随着我国2/3的矿山进入中老年期,1/4的资源型城市面临资源枯竭,资源型城市在经济、社会和生态环境等方面的矛盾开始集中显现,有的还十分尖锐。解决资源型城市尤其是资源枯竭型城市面临的诸多难题,促进其可持续发展,是老工业基地调整改造的重点和难点,是落实科学发展观、构建社会主义和谐社会的必然要求。目前,如何搞好我国资源型城市的可持续发展问题,是当前摆在国家和社会面前的突出问题。就此,本刊记者特别采访了国务院振兴东北等老工业基地办公室副主任宋晓梧。     

ICT for sustainable development: Global comparative evidence of globalisation thresholds

The objectives of this paper are to investigate the effect of ICT on sustainable development and the mechanisms through which the effect is modulated. The focus is on a sample of 140 countries around the globe for the period 2000–2019. The methodology involves the: (i) Fixed Effects estimator to control for individual heterogeneity, (ii) Driscoll and Kraay estimator to control for cross-section dependence between panels, (iii) the Mean Group estimator to take into account the averages between panel groups, (iv) the system GMM to correct for unobserved heterogeneity and simultaneity bias and (v) the instrumental variable Fixed Effects Tobit to take in to account the limited range in our dependent variable. The results show that ICT has a positive and significant effect on sustainable development. Whereas overall net effects are positive, the findings are contingent on the choice of the ICT measurement, the geographical location of the economy and the income group category. The study recommends policy makers to take into account ICT and the advantages it offers in the elaboration of measures for the sustainable development agenda.     

网络与纺织领域可持续发展关系的探讨

一、信息网络社会 经济发展的关系 人类社会发展总趋势是由技术经济的低级状态向高级状态转变的。从人类技术发展历史看,以往的各种技术已经把人类社会的物质文明提高到了一个新的高度。但是,以往的技术发明和创造主要是针对开发和利用自然界的物质、能源资源的,而自然界的物质、能源资源是有限的,许多是不可再生的。而以计算机为代表的信息网络技术的发明创造和利用,则主要针对人的知识获取、智力