An integrated agro-ecosystem and livelihood systems approach for the poor and vulnerable in dry areas

More than 400 million people in the developing world depend on dryland agriculture for their livelihoods. Dryland agriculture involves a complex combination of productive components: staple crops, vegetables, livestock, trees and fish interacting principally with rangeland, cultivated areas and watercourses. Managing risk and enhancing productivity through diversification and sustainable intensification is critical to securing and improving rural livelihoods. The main biophysical constraints are natural resource limitations and degradation, particularly water scarcity and encroaching desertification. Social and economic limitations, such as poor access to markets and inputs, weak governance and lack of information about alternative production technologies also limit the options available to farmers. Past efforts to address these constraints by focusing on individual components have either not been successful or are now facing a declining rate of impact, indicating the need for new integrated approaches to research for development of dryland systems. This article outlines the characteristics of such an approach, integrating agro-ecosystem and livelihoods approaches and presents a range of empirical examples of its application in dryland contexts. The authors draw attention to new insights about the design of research required to accelerate impact by integrating across disciplines and scales.     

Physicochemical,Phytochemical and Mycological Characteristics of Italia Muscat Raisins Obtained Using Different Pre-treatments and Drying Techniques

Raisins represent an economically important grapevine by-product. However, their quality is largely dependent on drying techniques and processing conditions. In this context, two drying processes were monitored: hot air drying in a convective oven and greenhouse drying. Grape berries were previously subjected to two chemical pre-treatments (olive oil and K₂CO₃ emulsion dipping (I) and NaOH solution bleaching (II)). Pre-treated grapes processed using both methods were compared with sun-dried samples. The results show that oven drying was more efficient and rapid (5 days) as compared with greenhouse drying (13 days). The end moisture content of grapes varied from 16.12% to 22.25% on a wet basis in dried samples, respectively. Significant differences in the pH value (3.85–4), acidity (1172.5–2730 mg TA/100 g DW) and total sugars (31.5–49.7%) were also observed, between raisin samples subjected to both treatments and drying methods, whereas protein levels (1–1.25%) were not affected. The analysis of minerals indicates that greenhouse-dried raisins had high amounts of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na). The highest polyphenol (417.70 mg GAE/100 g DW), flavonoid (115.87 mg CE/100 g DW) and tannin (368.13 mg CE/100 g DW) contents were recorded in sun-dried samples, respectively. The distribution of fungal flora shows a noteworthy variability among raisin samples, with a marked abundance of ochratoxinogenic species such as Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus carbonarius (15.56% and 10.41%, respectively). Italia Muscat raisins processed using oven drying could be an economically interesting alternative to manage the excessive grapes production and consequently solve related marketing issues.     

Micro-fabricated thermal flow-rate sensors: the substrate material impact on the device performance and power consumption

Microsystem Technologies - We report on micro-machined flow-rate sensors as part of autonomous multi-parameter sensing devices for water network monitoring. Three different prototypes of the...