Foods produced using biotechnology: how does the law protect consumers?

This paper addresses the following subjects: biotechnology and consumers, concern about risks, consumer acceptance, labelling of foods produced using biotechnology, the legal approach to consumer protection, and consumer protection policies relating to biotechnology products in the European Union, the United States, Turkey and global institutions such as the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). It is likely that biotechnology will gain ground much more rapidly in the twenty‐first century than in the past. Despite rapid, detailed and precise advances in gene technology, its applications have not been the received with a great deal of consumer enthusiasm. Consumers have approached genetically modified foods with considerable apprehension and opposition. Consumer concerns about bioengineered food products focus on the questions of human health, environmental and social risks and benefits. The most important stages in the process of marketing new foods produced using biotechnology are to demonstrate user need and consumer acceptance. Generally, the technical complexity of biotechnology makes it difficult for consumers to understand details of the product and the specific attributes of biotechnology applications. Scientific uncertainty, the nature of consumer concerns and general reluctance to accept biotechnology products, increase the importance of consumer protection. Legal protection is a very important factor in the solution of new social problems related to technological advances. More specifically, consumer and environmental law support consumer protection related to foods produced with biotechnology. The basic principles of consumer law can be re‐formulated as consumer rights. Environmental law is a new phenomenon, but precautionary principles and public participation in decision‐making for environmental law are relevant to consumer protection relating to bioengineered food products.     

污泥资源化利用标准发展趋势探讨

对比各种污泥处理处置方式,污泥资源化利用是有巨大发展前途的一种,是提高污泥资源化水平、促进循环经济和可持续发展、建立节约型社会的有效手段。通过对现行污泥利用标准的分析和与国外相关法规及标准的对比,结合我国污泥的产生、理化性质等特征,讨论了现行标准存在的不足,探讨了未来的发展趋势。     

大型企业增长过快对我国消费和就业的不利影响

资本有机构成的提高,造成了劳动所得所占份额的相对减少,从而使得消费性需求相对不足,阻碍了经济稳定增长。我国大型企业的资本有机构成,无论从绝对数量还是从增长率上看都要高于中小企业,这种现象在工业企业中表现的尤为突出,而在建筑业和第三产业中则不是特别明显。所以我国有必要大力促进中小企业的发展,促进第三产业的发展,以防止我国出现最终产品的使用结构失调和就业不足的现象,从而保证经济稳定高速的增长。     

长沙市有机农业发展路径研究

发展有机农业是建设“两型社会”,保障农产品优质安全供应的重大举措。该文以长沙市为样本,研究探讨“两型社会”建设背景下大、中城市郊区有机农业发展的路径。研究分析了长沙市有机农业发展呈现出“三多三少”的特点、具有4个有利条件和4个不利因素,明确了渐进式推动农业由传统农业向无公害农业、绿色农业、有机农业有序发展的思路,围绕实现5个方面的发展目标,提出重点发展水稻、蔬菜、水果、茶叶、畜产品、水产品等六大有机农业产业,突出建好先导区和长沙县北部两大有机农业综合示范区,阐述了六大产业和两大示范区的建设布局、建设方向和建设目标,提出发展有机农业,必须抓好产地环境普查、区划和环境综合整治,建设好生态防控、有机肥供应、标准化生产和产品质量追溯四大体系,强化质量监督,制定落实产业发展和产品优惠补贴政策。     

基于地统计学和空间自相关的土壤有机质空间异质性分析及分区土地整治视角

目的 土壤指标是耕地质量分等的依据,其空间异质性和空间自相关性对土地整治分区,以及土地平整工程中的表土剥离、移土培肥和土壤改良等关键技术的实施都具有重要作用。方法 文章以渝西丘陵区的典型基本农田建设区为研究区,综合运用地统计学与Kriging插值法研究0~20cm、20~40cm和40~60 cm土层土壤有机质（SOM）的空间异质性,结合全局和局部空间自相关分析法分析各土层SOM的空间自相关性,并基于LISA聚类图进行SOM分区,进而提出土地整治的应用建议。结果 （1）研究区3层SOM平均含量处于全国第二次土壤普查土壤养分分级标准的4级,为中等水平。（2）20~40 cm土层SOM的最优模型为球面模型,其余两层均为高斯模型,3层SOM均属于中等变异,受结构性和随机性因素的共同影响,在空间上呈不规则的斑状与块状分布。（3）3层SOM均表现为显著的正空间自相关性及空间集聚特征,高—高（HH）集聚区分布在平坝与丘间谷地,主要为水田,这与水田更有利于SOC的贮存和提高土壤的固碳能力有关,其次为旱地;低—低（LL）集聚区主要分布在南部丘陵区,土地利用类型表现多样化,故丘陵区需重视土壤改良。（4）以表层SOM空间自相关分布特征为主,中、下层为辅,将研究区划分为高SOM集聚区、表层高SOM集聚区、低SOM集聚区和SOM随机分布区4个分区,根据不同分区间SOM含量差异和空间集聚特征,提出了不同的土地整治建议。结论 研究结果体现了SOM含量在剖面和水平空间上高值与低值的集聚特征,更有利于针对性地采取土地整治措施,可作为土地整治分区的重要参考。     

某城市排污河水质状况分析评价

以城市排污河道为研究对象,测定了表层沉积物中的重金属总量、水质常规指标及DBP和DEHP,采用改进的主成分分析法和等标有机污染指数分析对排污河污染状况进行分析评价。运用改进的主成分分析法找出了主要污染源和主要污染物。结果表明:不同排污口的主要污染物不同,B化工厂CODCr及pH值为主要污染物;C泵站污染严重的为CODCr,pH值和TP;D排污口主要污染物为CODCr,NH3-N,Cr和pH值;E化工厂的主要污染物为CODCr,NH3-N和Cd。D排污口是第一主成分的主要污染源点,B化工厂无论是DBP等标污染指数还是DEHP等标污染指数均明显高于其他排污口,是A排污河PAEs污染的主要污染源。     

The demand for organic foods in the South of Italy: A discrete choice model

This paper analyses organic food consumer’s demand that can help advising on implementing organic food policies at European level or, for a particular European country. In particular, it investigates the main factors explaining organic food demand in the South of Italy. Following the Lancaster consumer’s demand theory we assume that consumer’s utility depends on product characteristics instead of the product itself. Thus, consumers will choose the product (organic versus conventional) that possesses the combination of attributes that maximises its utility. Consumer’s choice for organic foods is analysed within the random utility discrete choice model and a bivariate probit model has been specified. The data were collected through a questionnaire conducted in the Italian region of Campania (Naples) in 2003. Findings indicate that economic factors are still factors limiting the growth of organic demand in Europe. Moreover, the consumers’ perceived benefits of organic food (environmental and health) are factors promoting organic food demand. In addition, greater information on organic food products is crucial to expand its demand in the South of Italy because this information will increase the consumer’s organic knowledge. Then, higher organic knowledge will increase the probability to buy organic foods and, to a larger extent, the level of consumption among existing consumers.     

"利剑斩污"行动下石家庄市挥发性有机物的污染特性变化研究

为研究石家庄市在"利剑斩污"行动管控期和非管控期挥发性有机物(VOCs)的污染特性变化,在2个时间段内对石家庄市3个国控点进行采样分析。通过苏玛罐(SUMMA罐)进行样品采集,利用气相色谱/质谱联用(GC/MS)仪对石家庄市区3个国控点的VOCs进行定性定量检测分析。结果表明,监测期间主要的特征污染物是二氯甲烷、二氯丙烷、苯和甲苯。与非管控期间相比,管控期间各污染物的质量浓度均有所降低,总VOCs平均质量浓度降低45.107μg/m~3,二氯甲烷质量浓度降低8.796μg/m~3,二氯丙烷质量浓度降低3.750μg/m~3,苯质量浓度降低18.285μg/m~3,甲苯质量浓度降低16.895μg/m~3。大气环境调控策略的实施,有效降低了VOCs浓度,减少了空气污染程度,空气质量改善效果显著。"利剑斩污"行动期间采取的相关举措,对于制定常态化下VOCs的防治对策具有一定的参考价值。     

Are consumers at the base of the pyramid willing to pay for nutritious foods?

Base of the Pyramid (BoP) consumers living in the urban informal settlements of developing countries spend over 60% of their income on food, yet malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency remain widespread among these populations, pointing to the inadequacy of the foods they consume in terms of quality and quantity. In this paper we examine BoP consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for nutritious multi-composite porridge flour (improved flour) in the informal settlements of East Africa. The analysis is based on experimental data collected from 600 households in the informal settlements of Kampala, Uganda and Nairobi, Kenya (300 in each country) in 2016. We use Tobit regression models to analyse determinants of WTP for the improved porridge flour. Results show that both Kenyan and Ugandan BoP consumers are willing to pay a premium for the improved porridge flour. In addition, providing nutrition information about the flour, characteristics of household head, economic status of the household, and presence of young children between six and 59 months in the household, influence WTP for the safe and nutritious porridge flour. The paper concludes by providing recommendations for enhancing nutrition among poor consumers in the informal settlements of developing countries.     

Nutrition,agriculture and the global food system in low and middle income countries

The entire food value chain and diet of low and middle income countries (LMICs) are rapidly shifting. Many of the issues addressed by the nutrition community ignore some of the major underlying shifts in purchases of consumer packaged foods and beverages. At the same time, the drivers of the food system at the farm level might be changing. There is a need for the agriculture and nutrition communities to understand these changes and focus on some of their implications for health. This rapid growth of the retail sector will change the diets of the food insecure as much as that of the food secure across rural and urban LMIC’s. This short commentary contents that current research, programs and policies are ignoring these rapid dynamic shifts.