Situated at the intersection of economic, rural and food sociology, this work focuses on small-scale agri-food producers selling their products through alternative food channels in Milan, Italy, and Manchester, United Kingdom. It investigates the role of farmers-producers in alternative urban networks of food provisioning, highlighting their practices, attitudes, representations, and logics of action, and how these are shaped by their collaboration with such networks.
By comparing the cases of Milan and Manchester, this work provides an interpretation of the reality of small-scale farmers in these two regions, highlighting the innovative practices they realize to seek viability for their farms within the alternative food economy, along with the corresponding ‘de-commodification’ modalities with which their activities are re-integrated within an innovative system of social relations.
The analysis therefore aspires to contribute to the debate on food sovereignty, sustainability of local food systems, and rural development, which are issues of increasing scientific interest as well as critical areas of local-regional and national policy.

Последните няколко десетилетия, човечеството премина през различни етапи на икономическо и социално развитие, които доведоха до нарастване на доходите и благосъстоянието на населението. Това позволи на хората да подобрят начина си на живот и следователно тяхното потребление. Индустриализацията на производството и бързия технологичен прогрес, както и нарастващата глобализация и свободна търговия, доведоха до промяна в моделите на потребление. През изминалите 50 години, населението на света нарасна над 3 пъти и към 2018 г. то вече наброява над 7,5 млрд. души. Това предполага използването на все повече ресурси за задоволяване на личните им нужди. Очаква се наложилия се темп на прираст на световното население да се запази и за в бъдеще, което се с свързва с неустойчиво потребление и което налага по-добро управление както на цялата система от ресурси, така и на производствените методи, моделите на търсене и веригите за доставки. Настоящата глава има следната структура: 1. Потребление на продукти и видове модели на потребление на храна – в параграфа е изяснена същността и особеностите на потреблението и в частност на храна/аграрни продукти. Описани са моделите на потребление на храна в опит за обединяване на икономическите, социалните и културни перспективи в анализа на консумация на храни. 2. Фактори на потребление- изведени са основните фактори, оказващи влияние върху търсенето и потреблението на аграрни продукти 3. Локално потребление – тук е изяснена същността на хранителната система, видовете – конвенционални и алтернативни. Направен е опит да се изведе същността на местните, кооперативните и на органичните хранителни вериги. В своята същност за нуждите на изследването терминът „органична местна храна“ се свързва с производство, разпределение и консумация на продукти, произвеждани по методите на биологичното земеделие, в ограничена географска област, която може да бъде местност, регион или дори държава. 4. Методология за изследване на потреблението - изследването на потреблението е важно, тъй като по неговото равнище се правят изводи за продоволствената осигуреност на страната и развитието на нейната икономика, а така също и за здравния статус на населението. Изследването на потреблението на хранителни продукти е многоаспектно и се осъществява в различни измерения (количествени, качествени и други). В параграфа са систематизирани основните насоки за анализ на пазара на аграрни продукти и местна био-храна, количествена оценка на консумацията чрез използването на хранителните баланси и качествена оценка на консумацията чрез отчитане на нагласите и предпочитанията на потребителите за храни с определени характеристики. 5. Потребителски нагласи и фактори, оказващи влияние върху решението за покупка на локално произведени био храни - в параграфа са откроени основните микро и макро фактори, оказващи влияние върху решението за покупка на локално произведени био-храни. 6. Мерки за насърчаване на потреблението на биопродукти от местното население - къси вериги на доставка на храна - в параграфа е систематизирана научната литература за същността и видовете къси вериги на доставка на храна, както и необходимостта от тяхното развитие и ползите от тяхното прилагане. Накрая са разгледани различни институционални мерки за стимулирането и изграждането на къси вериги на доставки на храни.

The sun could be blocked by an asteroid impact, supervolcanic eruption, or nuclear winter caused by burning of cities during nuclear war. The primary problem in these scenarios is loss of food production. Previous work has shown that alternate foods not dependent on sunlight, such as bacteria grown on natural gas, calories extracted from killed leaves, and cellulose turned into sugar enzymatically, could feed everyone in these catastrophes and preparation for these foods would save lives highly cost-effectively. This study estimates the price of alternate foods during a catastrophe scenario with global trade and information sharing, but no migration, loans, aid or conflict. Without alternate foods, for a five year winter, only ~10% of the population would survive. The price of dry food would rise to ~$100/kg, and the expenditure on this food would be ~$100 trillion over five years. If alternate food were $8/kg, the surviving global population increases to ~70%, saving >4 billion lives. The probability of a loss of civilization and its impact on many future generations would be much lower in this scenario and the total expenditure on food would be halved. Preparation for alternate foods would be a good investment even for wealthy people who would survive without alternate foods. A non-governmental mechanism of coordinating the investments of these rich people may be possible. Identifying companies whose interests align with alternate food preparations may save lives at a negative cost.

In recent decades the Earth has entered a period of challenges. Uncontrolled modernity and technological development has brought about numerous issues. Anthropogenic climate change, war, poverty, famine, pollution of food, air and water, ecosystem degradation, and economic inequalities are significantly affected by the pursuit of profits under the neo-liberal system of capitalism regardless of the consequences. These recent global issues pose short and long-term limitations to human development and challenge the welfare of life on Earth. This research emphasises current conventional agricultural systems, which should be designed to feed a global human population, are actually destroying the Earth’s systems, obliterating the natural environment and significantly impacting human health. Alternative agricultural systems have emerged in response to these global issues and are gradually developing globally. This research focuses on the concept of permablitz that is inspired by permaculture. The methods used to conduct this research consisted of a triangulation technique of semi-structured interviews, case studies and systematic quantitative literature reviews to analyse how permablitzes impact on local communities. Results suggest that permablitzes positively influence local communities at the environmental, social and economic level. Despite several barriers facing their operation, permablitz collectives offer opportunities and provide support to communities to become more connected, independent, sustainable and resilient.

Foregrounding an innovative and radical perspective on food planning, this book makes the case for an agroecological urbanism in which food is a key component in the reinvention of new and just social arrangements and ecological practices. Building on state-of-the-art and participatory research on farming, urbanism, food policy and advocacy in the feld of food system transformation, this book changes the way food planning has been conceptualised to date and invites the reader to fully embrace the transformative potential of an agroecological perspective. Bringing in dialogue from both the rural and urban, the producer and consumer, this book challenges conventional approaches that see them as separate spheres, whose problems can only be solved by a reconnection. Instead, it argues for moving away from a 'food-in-the-city' approach towards an 'urbanism' perspective, in which the economic and spatial processes that currently drive urbanisation will be unpacked and dissected, and new strategies for changing those processes into more equal and just ones are put forward. Drawing on the nascent feld of urban political agroecology, this text brings together: i) theoretical re-conceptualisations of urbanism in relation to food planning and the emergence of new agrarian questions, ii) critical analysis of experimental methodologies and performing arts for public dialogue, refexivity and food sovereignty research, iii) experiences of resourceful land management, including urban land use and land tenure change, and iv) theoretical and practical exploration of post-capitalist economics that bring consumers and producers together to make the case for an agroecological urbanism. Aimed at advanced students and academics in agroecology, sustainable food planning, urban geography, urban planning and critical food studies, this book will also be of interest to professionals and activists working with food systems in both the Global North and the Global South.

Employing qualitative empirical data collected in Italy and England for a doctoral research on small-scale primary food producers in the alternative food economy, this chapter provides an interpretation of the peculiar nature of the entrepreneurialism that characterizes those small-scale farmers who entrust their economic reproduction (at least partially) to short, direct supply chains and alternative food networks (AFNs). The chapter summarizes the strategies implemented by farmers to ‘go alternative' as well as the subsequent transformation of growing and business practices that such a process entails, for then comparing the researcher's empirical results with four studies on farmers' entrepreneurialism. Issues of care, trust, change-orientedness, risk-taking, lifestyle, and autonomy are discussed, and farmers' entrepreneurial spirit is found to be cautious, due to the interplay of a traditional farming business orientation, a more pronounced relational disposition, and the characteristics and requirements of the alternative economy in which farmers are embedded.

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"The role of the peasant in society has been fundamental throughout China's history, posing difficult, much-debated questions for Chinese modernity. Today, as China becomes an economic superpower, the issue continues to loom large. Can the peasantry be integrated into a new Chinese capitalism, or will it form an excluded and marginalized class? Alexander F. Day's highly original appraisal explores the role of the peasantry throughout Chinese history and its importance within the development of post-socialist-era politics. Examining the various ways in which the peasant is historicized, Day shows how different perceptions of the rural lie at the heart of the divergence of contemporary political stances and of new forms of social and political activism in China. Indispensable reading for all those wishing to understand Chinese history and politics, The Peasant in Post-Socialist China is a new point of departure in the debate as to the nature of tomorrow's China.

    The first comprehensive, historically informed look at reform-era Chinese debates on the role of the peasant
    Radical appraisal of the development of reform-era Chinese intellectual politics
    Demonstrates the centrality of the peasant to the contemporary Chinese perspective on Chinese history"

    ‘Rural China, the source of the Chinese Revolution, has suffered marginalization, exploitation, and plunder under developmentalist reform policies since the 1990s, when the PRC leadership decisively embarked on a path of incorporation in global capitalism. In this well-researched and engaged study, Alexander F. Day critically analyzes the ideological debates occasioned by the ‘agrarian question’, and traces efforts by activists of various political stripes to resolve it. The ‘underside’ of the phenomenal so-called ‘China model’ is recognized widely, including by the regime itself, but is framed more often than not as a problem of sustained development. What makes this study unique and invaluable is bringing to light efforts to remedy it that also aspire to lend some credence to the regime’s ritual claims to socialism.’ Arif Dirlik, Liang Qichao Memorial Distinguished Visiting Professor, Tsinghua University, Beijing.

    ‘Across the past century, Chinese thinkers and political activists have returned again and again to the figure of the peasant. Some have seen a figure of dependency and backwardness, awaiting liberation from ‘the idiocy of rural life’. Others envision a figure of possibility: if rural energies can be mobilized for balanced development, then the Chinese economy will prosper, social justice will be achieved, and – most promising of all to some thinkers – China may yet open an alternative pathway to modernity more equitable than the one mapped by contemporary globalization and its theorists. Alexander F. Day brings a fine historical sensibility and a lucid political analysis to this study of an important, heated, and unresolved debate.’ Gail Hershatter, University of California, Santa Cruz

    ‘In coverage and content, as well as in theoretical import, this book is the only one we have to date in English on the topic of the intellectual discussions on peasants in China’s reform period. It will not only spawn a cottage industry in peasant studies in the US academy, it will undoubtedly become the point of reference for all other discussions of the ‘Chinese development path’ and global economics. Given China’s centrality to the health and wealth of the world economy, Day’s work is well positioned to have a major impact far beyond the China field.’ Rebecca E. Karl, New York University

    ‘In this invaluable book, Day reminds us that despite China’s unparalleled record of economic development over the past few decades, the figure of the peasant remains at the very centre of Chinese politics. The modernisation of rural communities and integration of the agricultural labour force into global markets has not only transformed Chinese society, but also challenged our understanding of the processes of economic and political development. Day’s incisive summary of recent and contemporary intellectual debates about the role of the peasant in China’s past, present, and future offers an invaluable corrective to those who assume that it is Chinese cities and their residents who have driven China into the future. Instead, Day’s compelling analysis demonstrates that the persistence of the ‘peasant problem’ and its possible solutions may suggest alternative paths to a modernity not defined solely by the criterion of market efficiency.’ Patricia M. Thornton, University of Oxford

Where is our “Balady” food?
“Food Sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food
produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to
define their own food and agriculture systems”. (Via Campesina)
Considering this definition of Food Sovereignty, what is the reality of indigenous
Egyptian food and agricultural practices and knowledge in 2016? The study will try
answer this main question by firstly framing how state policies and market
mechanisms have over the past 30 years affected the economic environment in
which smallholder farmers and producers operate. It will explore how this change in
environment has affected the socio-cultural milieu where food practices are produced
and passed on from generation to generation. The paper will look at the specific
effects of these policies on areas such as biodiversity, food production, and
consumption habits in both rural and urban communities across Egypt.
The second half of the study will introduce an inclusive food-based business based in
Sakkara, Egypt as a case study attempting to revive traditional Egyptian food culture
in a modern economy. The social business, named “Baladini”, seeks to equip women
to lead their own artisanal food businesses based on the production and sale of
traditional foods by promoting opportunities for learning, partnerships, and access to
resources. Placing rural communities and their knowledge as the stewards of
traditional food production and the motor of business operations, the program works
safeguard, innovate, and spread indigenous socio-cultural food knowledge and
practices. The paper will outline challenges and lessons learned from this attempt,
including the health and income generation impact on the communities involved. It
will also advocate for the creation of a virtuous network of farmers, producers, and
consumers together advocating for the establishment of new enabling economic and
legal structures for smallholder communities.

Alternative food networks are organisations of consumers and food producers that oversee and promote the functioning of short food supply chains, with the aim of fostering a direct and local exchange between producers and consumers. New short‐chain economic infrastructures provide food producers – especially small‐scale farmers – with a whole new set of commercial opportunities, directed towards the construction of an alternative food economy. But how does value circulate within these innovative economic platforms? And what values are debated, negotiated and exchanged through these circuits? Employing the analytical lenses of de‐commodification and embeddedness, this article discusses the modalities and outcomes of the processes of value‐creation and value‐appropriation that spring out of the direct exchange occurring between consumers and food producers in the alternative food economy. Based on empirical data collected through extensive qualitative field research in Italy and England, the article exposes the dynamics and limits of the on‐going processes of de‐commodification, proposing an analysis centred on the concept of ‘partial’ de‐commodification. This conceptual tool is used to assess the differences that emerged between the Italian and English fields, and to provide conclusive remarks about the potential of place‐ and culture‐specific configurations of practices to advance a transformation of the food system.

The exploration of alternative foodscapes is a clear attempt at re-localizing food in contrast with agro-industrial globalization and its environmental, economic and social unsustainability. Art has dramatically contributed with speculations on what has been called "survival food". This paper analyzes three case studies: The Next Menu, a gastronomical art project designed to imagine a future supper and explore new or overlooked sources of nutrition to respond to climate change constraints; the De-Extinction Dinner by the Center for the Genomic Gastronomy, an experiment in cross-pollination of amateur science with multimedia art; Dana Sherwood's work involving decadent cakes to feed non-human animals with the purpose to understand interspecies relations.

--> see refereed article here: https://www.academia.edu/34875333/Habitus_in_alternative_food_practice_Exploring_the_role_of_cultural_capital_in_two_contrasting_case_studies_in_Glasgow_refereed_article_10_2017_

This study dedicates itself to the exploration of the role of Bourdieu’s notion of cultural capital on the formation of habitus within alternative food initiatives (AFIs) among two contrasting case studies in the urban post-industrial landscape of Glasgow. It will demonstrate its role in the reproduction of inequality on a micro-level. Moreover it aims to point out, compare and contrast two distinct sets of habitus in those groups engaging in alternative food practice. One part of the AFIs observed are situated in an area in proximity to the University of Glasgow in the West End of the city. The other community groups are located in an area which is heritage to a dismantled shipbuilding industry in Govan, in the south west of Glasgow. In both areas alternative food practices have developed over the past few years. Via ethnographic observation and in-depth interviews with a selection of individuals engaged in those AFIs in the two areas, this study will juxtapose the cultural habitus of each community. This research is interested to answer the question, if and to what extent do the subjectivities and practices in the two field sites differ from each other, having in turn in mind their starkly contrasting socio-economic contexts. The results indicate that the habitus at work in the West End is concerned rather with promoting healthy and sustainable life-styles, while the habitus in the Govan area is guided more towards the satisfaction of basic needs of existence. The findings suggest also that access to resources could be primarily dependent upon conforming to and adopting a bureaucratic mind-set.

Parasite are an integral part of virtually all food webs and species communities. Here we have considered a tri-trophic food chain model with disease circulating in the intermediate predator and there is an alternative food source of the intermediate predator. We have analyzed the local stability of the model system around the biologically feasible equilibria. We also introduce the ecological as well as the disease basic reproduction numbers and analyzed the community structure of the model systems by the help of these numbers. We have worked out theconditions of persistence of the model system. Our numerical results reveals that in low infection level the system shows chaotic dynamics but in high infection level chaotic dynamics becomes stable focus. So our finding contradicts predictions from previous models suggesting a destabilizing effect of parasites. We have also observed the role of alternative food on chaotic dynamics. When the alternative food increases the chaotic dynamics remain same but when the alternative food decreases chaos disappears and the infected intermediate predator is washed out from the system. KEYWORDS Disease in intermediate predator, chaos, period-doubling, limit cycle, stable focus and alternative food.

--> see refereed article here: https://www.academia.edu/34875333/Habitus_in_alternative_food_practice_Exploring_the_role_of_cultural_capital_in_two_contrasting_case_studies_in_Glasgow_refereed_article_10_2017_

This study dedicates itself to the exploration of the role of Bourdieu’s notion of cultural capital on the formation of habitus within alternative food initiatives (AFIs) among two contrasting case studies in the urban post-industrial landscape of Glasgow. It will demonstrate its role in the reproduction of inequality on a micro-level. Moreover it aims to point out, compare and contrast two distinct sets of habitus in those groups engaging in alternative food practice. One part of the AFIs observed are situated in an area in proximity to the University of Glasgow in the West End of the city. The other community groups are located in an area which is heritage to a dismantled shipbuilding industry in Govan, in the south west of Glasgow. In both areas alternative food practices have developed over the past few years. Via ethnographic observation and in-depth interviews with a selection of individuals engaged in those AFIs in the two areas, this study will juxtapose the cultural habitus of each community. This research is interested to answer the question, if and to what extent do the subjectivities and practices in the two field sites differ from each other, having in turn in mind their starkly contrasting socio-economic contexts. The results indicate that the habitus at work in the West End is concerned rather with promoting healthy and sustainable life-styles, while the habitus in the Govan area is guided more towards the satisfaction of basic needs of existence. The findings suggest also that access to resources could be primarily dependent upon conforming to and adopting a bureaucratic mind-set.

Local food supply chains seem now to be considered as a serious alternative to global ones in terms of sustainability. A lot of initiatives are developed and they often are associated with economical, social and environmental benefits. The main objective of this paper is to discuss the reality of these advantages. 2 work will, at first, be based on Parker's article [2005] that defines short food supply chains as systems that reduce both the distance and the number of intermediates. After a brief presentation of short chains and of the advantages related to them, we will discuss their environmental assessment and impact, showing the role of transport and production mode in that dimension. An analysis of long food chains will then enable us to show how strategic logistics has become in that sector and the means necessary to the implementation of efficient logistic schemes. After a first look at logistics in short chains, we will propose a detailed study of the logistic schemes observed in fruit and vegetable basket systems in the Paris Region. This will lead us to build a typology of organizations to study their potential role in the improvement of short chains performance and more specifically their ability to improve coordination between the actors of those chains.

Afin d'expérimenter avec de nouvelles techniques agricoles, nous nous sommes intéressésà l'impact qu'une rotation sur 1 axe pourrait avoir sur la plante. L'auxine, l'hormone destinéeà régler le développement de la plante (forme, orientation), donnerait alors une forme courbée en spiral . Il est possible que au lieu d'utiliser de l'énergie pour rendre sa tige plus solide qu'elle l'utilise pour accélérer sa croissance.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to estimate the price and life-saving potential of alternate foods. The sun could be blocked by asteroid impact, supervolcanic eruption or nuclear winter caused by burning of cities during a nuclear war. The primary problem in these scenarios is loss of food production. Previous work has shown that alternate foods not dependent on sunlight, such as bacteria grown on natural gas and cellulose turned into sugar enzymatically, could feed everyone in these catastrophes, and preparation for these foods would save lives in a manner that is highly cost-effective. Design/methodology/approach This study estimates the price of alternate foods during a catastrophe in line with global trade and information sharing, but factors such as migration, loans, aid or conflict are not taken into consideration. Findings Without alternate foods, for a five-year winter, only approximately 10 per cent of the population would survive. The price of dry food would rise to a...

Collective food buying groups, such as community supported agriculture or self-organised citizen groups for delivery of food baskets, have emerged throughout the world as an important niche innovation for promoting more sustainable agri-food systems. These initiatives seek to bring about societal change. They do so, however, not through protest or interest-based lobbying, but by organising a protected space for learning and experimentation with lifestyle changes for sustainable food consumption and production practices. In particular, they aim to promote social learning on a broad set of sustainability values, beyond a focus on "fresh and healthy food" only, which characterizes many of the individual consumer oriented local food chain initiatives. This paper analyses the governance features of such local food buying groups by comparing 104 groups in five cities in Belgium. We find that the social networking activities of these groups, as compared to the social enterprise activities, have led to establish specific governance mechanisms. Whereas the main focus of the social enterprise activities is the organisation of the food provisioning logistics, the focus of the social network activities is the sharing of resources with other sustainable food initiatives, dissemination of information and broader discussion on sustainability issues.

How can we meet the growing demand from consumers who want lower cost, quality and tasty food and want to know where it comes from and how it is produced? One solution is to cut out intermediaries and shorten the social and geographical distance between consumers and food producers. This raises the important challenge of working out ways of organizing geographically dispersed smallholders and family farms into food systems, which can provide quality food at scale and in a systematic and sustained way. The need is to organise collaborative arrangements with farmers in order to access markets, mobilise resources and gain political influence in ways which engage them as partners for consumers and other stakeholders in co-creating food systems. Partnership brokering is key to this co-creating process, which is always unfinished. In this article, the author uses the example of the Malopolska region in Poland to illustrate how partnership brokering can play a central role in shortening the food supply chain by organising farmers and small food producers into a collaborating and self-organising partnership aimed at increasing access to locally-produced food.

Considering the urgent need to make food systems more sustainable, alternative food systems (AFSs) are seen as starting points for sustainability transitions in the wider agro-food arena. AFSs include a wide array of food systems that are different from and more sustainable than the ‘conventional’ or ‘industrial’ ones. However, the literature often employs the term ‘AFS’ without further differentiation – we propose that by developing intuitive categories to describe AFSs, we can create more powerful narratives to support AFSs with transformative potential.
This review proposes a novel categorization of AFSs derived from an overview of their history and movements that shaped them. We propose to categorise AFS along four systemic attributes: space, time, integration and rules. It should be highlighted that these attributes are not mutually exclusive. The space attribute refers to the fact that AFSs tend to be more small-scaled, localized and horizontally integrated – examples include community-supported agriculture, farmers’ markets, farm food outlets, box schemes, farm to school programs, or local public procurement initiatives. A second attribute is time; emerging AFSs have put an emphasis on giving food enough time to grow, to be prepared with care and to be enjoyed in a social experience (e.g. the Slow Food Movement). A third attribute is integration; a broad family of AFSs (e.g. organic and biodynamic agriculture) were inspired by the science of agroecology – thus attempting to increase the integration of agroecosystem elements. A fourth defining attribute of AFSs is the attempt to change the rules and institutions that govern the interaction of value chain actors. Some initiatives (e.g. Fairtrade) have focused on the adaptation of trade linkages towards social justice and empowerment. Others, such as the food sovereignty movement promoted by La Via Campesina and local food cooperatives, are more radical and transformative.
We believe that referring to space, time, integration and rules, offers a unique opportunity to create simple, compelling narratives for promoting transition in food systems. Such narratives are needed to guide strategic support for initiatives with genuine transformative potential and/or ambition. We propose to explicitly test the proposed narratives in a multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary setting.

Este trabajo analiza las tiendas especializadas de productos ecológicos de Andalucía Occidental y quíenes son sus proveedores. En función de este análisis podemos ver que existen tres grupos de tiendas con un discurso y una estrategia de aprovisionamiento muy distinto entre si.

Carolan’s central argument is that “Global Food (…), through the embodiments it creates, helps foster particular knowledges, tastes, and feelings about food [which] give support to conventional food production and consumption” (p. 7). Carolan’s approach is critical: if the eating/growing bodies are as much a part of Global Food as are oil subsidies and potash mines, a “better” food system would have to engage seriously with the issues embodiment poses.

In the last few decades, the emergence of mid-scale, intermediated marketing channels that fall between commodity and direct markets has attracted growing interest from scholars for their potential to preserve small and mid-sized farms while scaling up alternative agrifood sourcing. When such mid-scale supply chains are formed among multiple business partners with shared ethics or values related to the qualities of the food and the business relationships along the supply chain, they may be termed “values-based supply chains (VBSCs).” Most of the research on VBSCs to date has relied primarily on a case study approach that investigates the performance of VBSCs from the perspective of VBSC founders or leaders. In contrast, this research seeks out the perspectives of farmers who participate in VBSCs. A nationwide farmer survey conducted in 2017 offers original insights on farmer motivations for participating in VBSCs and how they are being used by farmers relative to other marketing cha...

This essay aims to clarify why alternative food systems supported by a different Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) approach can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). To this end, alternative food systems are analyzed in the light of the SDG framework and their potential contributions illustrated through three examples from Quebec. The latter shows how STI could consolidate alternative food systems to generate the system-level changes required by the SDGs.

Parasite are an integral part of virtually all food webs and species communities. Here we have considered a tri-trophic food chain model with disease circulating in the intermediate predator and there is an alternative food source of the intermediate predator. We have analyzed the local stability of the model system around the biologically feasible equilibria. We also introduce the ecological as well as the disease basic reproduction numbers and analyzed the community structure of the model systems by the help of these numbers. We have worked out theconditions of persistence of the model system. Our numerical results reveals that in low infection level the system shows chaotic dynamics but in high infection level chaotic dynamics becomes stable focus. So our finding contradicts predictions from previous models suggesting a destabilizing effect of parasites. We have also observed the role of alternative food on chaotic dynamics. When the alternative food increases the chaotic dynamics remain same but when the alternative food decreases chaos disappears and the infected intermediate predator is washed out from the system.