bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating Vegetation Growing Periods in Africa using Meteorological Satellites
Authors: Henricksen B. L. , Durkin J. W.
Published: July 2017

With its high dependence on agriculture, Africa is notoriously sensitive to the consequences of unusually low or erratic rainfall. An overall view of the changing meterological situation is an important element in taking timely remedial action but the contributions of conventional field observation stations is quite inadequate. Latterly, however, the situation has been transformed with the advent of meteorological satellites capable of continuous systematic monitoring of the dynamics of vegetation growth over large areas.
Integrated Control of Potato Cyst Nematode
Authors: Trudgill D. L. , Phillips M. S. , Alphey T. J. W.
Published: July 2017

The potato is one of the world's most important crops, as a source of both food and starch, and control of the various diseases to which it is susceptible is correspondingly important. Of these, infection with potato cyst nematode (eelworm) is one of the most serious and, because of its long persistence in the soil, one of the most difficult to combat. This article describes modern techniques of integrated control, resorting to long crop rotations, development of resistant varieties, and use of a range of nematicides.
Combating the cattle plague in Africa
Authors: Halpin Brendan
Published: July 2017

Rinderpest had a devastating effect on cattle in Africa for nearly a century, but vaccination – especially a concerted campaign launched in 1962 – effectively brought it under control. Since then, however, a relaxing of controls has led to a resurgence of the plague, and a new Pan African Rinderpest Campaign was launched in 1981. It is designed not only to control present outbreaks but, this time, to ensure sufficient resources for long-term prevention.
Changing Prospects and Perspectives in Dairy Research
Authors: Mepham T. B.
Published: July 2017

Since man emerged from the hunter-gatherer stage of civilisation dairying has been one of the world's great industries. With an annual production of around 500 million tonnes, it remains so but with growing understanding of the principles of nutrition the dietary role of milk is changing. This article reviews the present status of dairy science and suggests ways in which it might develop.
Fuelwood: a Review of its Global Use
Authors: Fraser Alastair I.
Published: July 2017

Wood provides the main source of domestic energy for more than half the population of the world, and currently supplies more energy than is derived from the world's nuclear power industry. Increased pressure on land for agriculture and rising fuelwood demand in many tropical developing countries, have combined to cause widespread deforestation, which is leading to a serious energy crisis for many rural poor and the distinct possibility of irreversible environmental damage.
Baculoviruses: Their Status Compared to Bacillus thuringiensis as Microbial Insecticides
Authors: Cunningham John C.
Published: July 2017

With the present need to address environmental problems, there is much interest in biological control of insect pests rather than the use of chemical insecticides. This article critically reviews the use of baculoviruses worldwide in agriculture and forestry, directing attention not only to intrinsic activity but to other relevant factors such as shelf-life in storage, fluctuation in demand, and cost of production and applications. It draws particular attention to the relevance of baculoviruses to pest control in developing countries where labour is cheap.
Present and Potential Role of South American Camelids in the High Andes
Authors: Sumar Julio
Published: July 2017

Camels are commonly identified with the Old World but they are also to be found in South America. There four species – alpacas, llamas, vicuñas, and guanacos – have adapted themselves to the severe climate of the high Andes. They play an important role in the economies of Peru and Bolivia, and to a lesser extent in those of Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador.
Farm Diversification and the Restructuring of Agriculture
Authors: Ilbery Brian W.
Published: July 2017

The intensive farming that has been a feature of western agriculture since the Second World War has led to increased productivity but also to overproduction and a consequent fall in prices. Government-imposed constraints to regulate production have had only limited success and farm incomes, in real terms, have fallen. To retrieve the situation, increasing numbers of farmers have diversified their interests into activities periperhal to the main stream of agriculture.
Earthworms in Pastoral Agriculture
Authors: Rushton S. P.
Published: July 2017

It is well known that earthworms of various species, with widely differing feeding and burrowing habits, can have a considerable effect on the structure and composition of the upper levels of the soil. It is, however, often difficult to relate these effects to soil fertility in particular situations and to manipulate worm populations to produce beneficial results.
The Control of Animal Trypanosomiasis in Africa: Current Methods and Future Trends
Authors: Holmes P. H. , Torr S. J.
Published: July 2017

Current methods of trypanosomiasis control in Africa largely depend on eradication of the insect vector and the use of trypanocidal drugs. Both methods can be highly successful but suffer from various constraints. Recent studies have demonstrated how both methods may gain wider and more effective usage in the future.
Acacia tortilis and Prosopis cineraria: Leguminous Trees for Arid Areas
Authors: Gates P. J. , Brown K.
Published: July 2017

The rapid extension of the world's arid areas – some five million hectares annually – has greatly stimulated interest in the development of agricultural systems sustainable in areas of extremely low rainfall. The possibilities naturally depend very much on local circumstances, but investigation of Prosopis and Acacia species under the severe conditions of the Wahiba Sands of Oman indicates that they have considerable potential under extremely arid conditions.
Seed Treatments: Developments and Prospects
Authors: Powell A. A. , Matthews S.
Published: July 2017

Although the treatment of seeds to prevent disease is a practice of great antiquity, recent years have seen the advent of increasingly more sophisticated techniques. These can confer various advantages, including the production of seeds of uniform shape and size to facilitate sowing; protection against pests and diseases; control of dormancy; and enhancement of growth. Seed rather than foliar application of agrochemicals also has environmental advantages.
Some Factors Affecting the Mineral Profiles of Tropical Grasses
Authors: Youssef F. G.
Published: July 2017

While grass may suffice to meet the nutritional needs of grazing ruminants in terms of carbohydrate and protein, they may not necessarily provide the minimal levels of minerals necessary to maintain health. Since, with the exception of salt, it is unusual to provide supplementary minerals it is necessary to ensure that the grazed grass is so managed that mineral levels are adequate. This article reviews the various factors that influence the mineral profiles of tropical grasses in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa.
Microbial Decomposition of Herbicides in the Soil
Authors: Torstensson Lennart
Published: July 2017

The fate of herbicides applied to the soil is a matter of great practical importance. If they disappear rapidly, for example, they may prove ineffective: if they persist unduly there may be environmental problems. Many factors contributed to the disappearance of herbicides: this article reviews the important role of soil micro-organisms.
From Pickled Tea to Factory Processed Leaf: New Developments in the Highlands of North Thailand
Authors: Hoare Peter
Published: July 2017

Tea has been grown in the highlands of North Thailand for some two hundred years and has long been the most important tree crop, apart from forest products. However, there has in recent years been a change in the production pattern of the traditional ‘miang’, or pickled tea, increasingly giving way to green leaf production for black or semi-fermented tea.
Advances in Cow Dung Ecology: International Aspects of the Australian Bush Fly Research Programme
Authors: Muirhead-Thomson R. C.
Published: July 2017

Intensive research carried out over the last 20 years on the biology and control of the Australian bush fly, Musca vetustisima, a widespread and irritating pest of man in that region, has provided a wealth of information about the community relationships of fauna in the cow dung pats which provide the breeding habitat of the fly. The extension of this project to South Africa and to Southern Spain in the search for exotic dung beetles or allied controlling agents to deal with both the bush fly and the blood-sucking buffalo fly, Haematobia, has given this programme a wider significance.
Recent Developments in Machine Milking
Authors: Butler Clare
Published: July 2017

Although the basic design of milking machines has remained unchanged for fifty years or more, there have been enormous advances in our understanding of the way in which the machine operates and the effect that it has on the cow. This has led to considerable improvements in performances, although how much is due to the machine and how much to breeding is uncertain. In addition to this, new technology has enabled greater sophistication in monitoring and controlling the milking process.
The Potential of Leaf Vegetables in Nigeria
Authors: Lucas E. O.
Published: July 2017

Although Nigeria has no organized system of horticulture comparable to that of the developed world, a range of vegetables are grown casually as backyard crops. Many of these are both palatable and of good nutritional value, and have considerable potential as a supplement to a diet consisting mainly of starchy carbohydrates. To realise this potential, however, improved cultivars are necessary, as well as better crop management and the introduction of methods of preserving wet-season surpluses for use in the dry months.
Soil and Land Evaluation
Authors: Nortcliff Stephen
Published: July 2017

Changes in the use of land – whether for private economic reasons or in response to government policy – demand the establishment of criteria for evaluating both its intrinsic agricultural potential and its suitability for particular uses. This article reviews the attempts that have been made to achieve objective, qualified evaluations, with special reference to the FAO's Framework for Land Evaluation.
Irradiation of Food
Authors: Bender Arnold E.
Published: July 2017

The preservation of food by irradiation was hailed in the 1960s as a valuable addition to existing processes such as freezing and canning, but has since become a matter of controversy. While it is permitted in some countries it is forbidden in others. This article reviews the advantages and limitations of irradition, and weighs the evidence alleging hazards.
The Ecology and Management of Field Margin Floras in England
Authors: Marshall E. J. P.
Published: July 2017

Both agricultural and environmental interests in the role of the field boundary have increased in Britain. Recent studies on boundary ecology, plant dispersal, and the effects of agricultural operations on boundary floras are discussed and their implications for management reviewed.
Cultivation of the Olive: A Typical Tree of the Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Lombardo Nicola
Published: July 2017

Despite the high quality of its oil and the popularity of its fruit, the olive is losing ground to the oil seeds such as rape and sunflower. This article critically analyses the reason for this decline which can be attributed to, among other reasons, failure to modernize crop management and fruit processing; to introduce mechanization; and to accept improved cultivars. It argues that if its full potential is realized the crop can still be competitive.
Crop Spraying Developments
Authors: Legg B. J. , Miller P. C. H.
Published: July 2017

Recent dramatic increases in crop yields are due to many factors but one of the most important is the wide use of crop protection chemicals. For maximum efficiency, it is essential to develop spraying equipment that uses the minimum quantity of chemical to produce a given effect. At the same time it is necessary to comply with the increasingly strict legal requirements designed to protect both the environment and agricultural workers.
The Resurgence of the Tea Industry in China: ‘Beware the Tail of the Sleeping Dragon’
Authors: Forster Dan M. Etherington And Keith
Published: July 2017

Over the past 20 years, China's tea production has recorded a consistent and impressive growth, and China now has the second largest tea industry in the world. Although it follows India in total production, it completely dominates the ‘ green tea’ market. While China exports only 20 per cent of its green tea, it exports 90 per cent of its black tea production – production which has been expanding at more than 7 per cent per annum over the last 15 years. It becomes critical then, whether China continues to push black tea exports in the face of declining world prices or whether it seeks to develop further the exports of its own unique green teas.
Pearl Millet: Current Status and Future Potential
Authors: Kumar K. Anand
Published: July 2017

Pearl millet has long been an important grain crop in Africa and India, annual production being around 10 million tonnes. Although the yield is relatively low this is offset by its ability to survive under unfavourable conditions of soil and climate. The crop's potential is now being actively investigated, especially as growing population requires increased cultivation of marginal land.
Non-conventional Feeds: Potential Value for Animals in the Asian Region
Authors: Devendra C.
Published: July 2017

Throughout the Asian region, and especially in South Asia, lack of adequate feed is a constraint on the productivity of farm animals. This article considers how far traditional feeds can be effectively supplemented by non-conventional ones such as crop residues and agro-industrial by-products.
Agricultural Research Priorities
Authors: Harvey David R.
Published: July 2017

The scientific community worldwide is slowly accepting the fact that the overall cost of R&D is now so enormous that economic factors cannot be ignored and that recipients of grants must accept a measure of accountability and assessment of their performance. This article reviews in general terms, but with special reference to agricultural research what criteria should be taken into account in taking decisions about funding.
Salmonellosis in Animals and Its Control
Authors: Wray C.
Published: July 2017

Organisms of the genus Salmonella have for nearly a century been recognized as a serious health hazard. At the farm level they can cause very substantial losses among farm animals and poultry: the symptoms range from debility to dysentery, reduced milk yield, and abortion. Such infection can be transmitted to man, leading to serious outbreaks of food poisoning. In Britain, the incidence of the infection has been closely monitored for many years. This article reviews the control measures that have already been introduced and others that need to be considered for the future.
The Structural Characteristics and Effects of the Dyke-pond System in China
Authors: Gongfu Zhong
Published: July 2017

Aquaculture, the controlled rearing of fish for the table, has long been practised, latterly on an increased scale, as a complement to agriculture. The Chinese dyke–pond system – which has attracted worldwide attention during the last decade – is unique, however, in integrating agriculture and aquaculture within a single self-contained system. It is particularly appropriate to the present climate of opinion, requiring minimal input of energy and materials and being environmentally acceptable.
The Winged Bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobus: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Valíček Pavel
Published: July 2017

Beans have long been an important source of human and animal nutrition, especially as a source of protein. Recently much attention has been diverted to the possible large-scale cultivation of the winged bean, especially in developing countries. It has many alternative properties, not least of which is that almost the entire plant can be utilized. This article reviews the present status of the crop and the research and development needed for it to achieve its full potential.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Scrapie: Potential Human Hazards
Authors: Blakemore W. F.
Published: July 2017

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a recently recognized disease of cattle, resulted from the incorporation of scrapie-infected sheep tissue into cattle food. BSE and scrapie are members of a group of transmissible diseases caused by an unconventional infectious agent, some of which affect man. As these diseases can cross species barriers this new bovine disease may represent a potential disease hazard to man.
Cotton Insect Pest Control
Authors: Matthews G. A.
Published: July 2017

Despite competition from other natural and man-made fibres cotton remains the world's most important textile, of great economic importance in many of the countries in which it is grown. It is prone to a number of pests which reduce yield and the control of these presents many problems. While integrated pest management can solve many of these, some use of insecticides cannot be avoided.
Ratooning in Sugarcane
Authors: Hunsigi Gururaj
Published: July 2017

Like a number of crops commonly grown as annuals sugarcane can also be grown as a perennial, the new crop developing on the root system of the old. As this article indicates this system of ratooning can be economically viable but only with careful management: it is not to be regarded as a cheaply produced catch crop.
Climatic Change and its Implications for Agriculture
Authors: Parry M. L. , Porter J. H. , Carter T. R.
Published: July 2017

There is increasing evidence that rising emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other radiatively active gases will lead to an increase in the average surface temperature of the Earth. In addition to changes in global temperature there will be changes in precipitation. The rate and magnitude of these climatic changes is such that they could have a significant impact on agricultural potential in many parts of the world. The nature and extent of such changes will vary regionally and are dependent upon the level of climatic change in each region, the agricultural and management practices used at present, and the ability of agricultural systems to adapt to change.
The Greenhouse Effect—Meteorological Mechanisms and Models
Authors: Hume C. J. , Cattle H.
Published: July 2017

Recent years have seen increasing attention given to the ways that mankind is influencing the atmosphere. Of considerable interest is the ‘greenhouse effect’ and its potential for significantly changing the climate. This article outlines the meteorology involved and the approaches used to estimate those changes.
Housing and Respiratory Disease in Farm Animals
Authors: Webster John
Published: July 2017

Many respiratory diseases of housed farm livestock are difficult or impossible to eradicate or control by vaccination. In these circumstances, producers are advised to ‘improve’ their housing, although this advice may have little, if any, scientific foundation. This article reports work in progress on a strategic study of the Interactions between pathogens, host and environment in animal houses and outlines the principles that determine what can and cannot be done to control respiratory disease through improvements to housing.
Cereal Straw in Ruminant Diets
Authors: Campling R. C. , Ng'ambi J. W. W. , Al-Saghier O. A. S.
Published: July 2017

The potential of cereal straw as a feed for ruminants has increased markedly as our understanding of the nature of straw has grown. The modification of straw by chemical treatment and the use of supplementary feeds have led to further applications.
Feeding Cows for the Production of Butter with Good Spreadability at Refrigeration Temperatures
Authors: Banks W. , Christie W. W.
Published: July 2017

Domestic refrigerators operated at +2°-4°C render butter almost unspreadable. Soft margarines overcome this problem and have further appeal in their low content of saturated fats.

Understanding the digestive physiology of ruminants, the chemistry of milk fat formation and the nature of the rheological properties of fats has suggested a number of approaches, including dietary modification, for inducing highly unsaturated fats in milk.

The disadvantage of many of these is their cost, though new markets for conventional products, modified to contemporary consumer requirements, may accommodate this.
Food Safety Aspects of the Use of Hormones and Hormone-like Agents in Animal Production
Authors: Hoffmann B.
Published: July 2017

There are now several hormone and hormone—like agents with marked ability to improve the rate of growth, carcass quality, milk yield and efficiency of feed use of farm animals. There is, however, widespread concern that the food products derived from treated animals impose health and safety risks on the consumer despite a wealth of scientific evidence to the contrary. It seems likely that legislation which currently restricts or bans the use of some of these compounds owes much to political considerations and the need to demonstrate resoluteness in environmental and public health matters.
The Epidemiology of Foodborne Disease in England and Wales in the 1980s
Authors: Galbraith N. S.
Published: July 2017

An epidemic of salmonellosis due to Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 (PT4), a rise in Campylobacter enteritis, the detection of foodborne transmission in some cases of listeriosis and a large outbreak of botulism in north-west England and Wales were much publicized events in foodborne infectious disease in Britain in 1989. However, other changes took place in the 1980s which attracted less public attention; outbreaks of viral foodborne disease became more common, haemorrhagic colitis was first recorded, yersiniosis and infections caused by Aeromonas spp. increased, cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis came into prominence, and the major foodborne diseases of the past remained rare and usually imported. This article describes the surveillance of foodborne disease and reviews briefly these recent changes with particular reference to England and Wales, under four main headings: increasing foodborne infections, emerging foodborne infections, foodborne intoxications and ‘old’ foodborne diseases, updating a previous review (Galbraith et al., 1987).
Impact of Genetically Modified Crops in Agriculture
Authors: Dunwell J. M. , Paul E. M.
Published: July 2017

During the 1980s the research achievement with probably the greatest potential significance for plant breeding was the ability to insert DNA into plant cells and to recover an intact plant which carried a new characteristic encoded by that DNA. This process of ‘transformation’ had previously only been possible in bacteria and fungi. Using this novel technology, plants have now been produced that carry genes conferring insect and virus resistance, increased tolerance to herbicides and the deposition of novel storage proteins within their seeds. This small selection of characters will soon be supplemented by more complex multigene traits which will significantly improve the performance of crops. In the longer term this ability specifically to modify particular traits will provide new options for plant breeders and should improve both the range and quality of plant products available to industrial and domestic consumers.
Chinese Agriculture in the 1980s and 90s
Authors: Tao Shen
Published: July 2017

This is the first of a series of occasional articles on the changing face of Chinese agriculture. It records some of the major characteristics of agricultural production in recent years and identifies the needs, opportunities and approaches being considered to secure future progress.
The Prospects for Agroforestry: An EC Perspective
Authors: Carruthers P.
Published: July 2017

Agroforestry is an approach to land-use and the management of plants and animals that ‘fits’ in certain circumstances, that addresses particular needs or fulfils particular aspirations. Underlying trends favouring integrated approaches which take account of people and the environment, overproduction and surpluses, public concerns over animal welfare and the environment, a growing demand for countryside-based recreation, and future wood supply and demand, seem to provide the circumstances favourable for agroforestry in the EC. Its future prospects depend both on understanding its nature and characteristics, and adopting the criteria and objectives it fulfils.
Agroforestry, Environment and Sustainability
Authors: Young A.
Published: July 2017

Sustainable land use requires a combination of production with conservation. Agroforestry can contribute to this through control of erosion, maintenance or improvement of soil fertility, and checking forest clearance and degradation of rangelands. A key role is played by multipurpose trees.
Improving the Quality of the Potato Crop
Authors: Mcrae Douglas C.
Published: July 2017

The potato is firmly established in many parts of the world as a major staple food. Yet despite many years of research it still provides major challenges for the engineer. It is vulnerable to damage at harvest and has to be separated from much soil, stone and clod. In the post-harvest handling chain the cumulative damage takes a further toll. Its irregular shape makes it difficult to size-grade, and inspection for greening, surface damage and defects, and particularly for disease in the case of seed crops, presents further problems. Advances in technology applied to planters and post-harvest handling, and the combination of electronics and powerful computing systems, point to a future when the farmer can substantially increase saleable yield and the consumer can enjoy a much more consistent product.
International Swine Production—Capabilities and Possibilities
Authors: Blair Robert
Published: July 2017

On a world basis the pig is our most important meat animal. It is a very efficient converter of feed to body energy and ranks only behind poultry and dairy cattle in efficiency of conversion of feed to edible protein. Analysis of the overall increase of 88% in pigmeat output since 1970 shows that much of the change has occurred in developing countries: many of the developed countries are at self-sufficiency. Available data suggest that the world supply of feed grains is sufficient to sustain the projected level of swine production, especially since cereal substitutes and non-conventional feedstuffs are being used in several countries. Protein sources available for swine feeding have' also been extended by the use of alternatives such as peas and lupinseed. Fibrous plant materials are being used in some countries as a feed source, with success. The potential for increased world production of pigmeat is good, especially in Eastern Europe.
Biodiversity: How Important a Resource?
Authors: Perfect John
Published: July 2017

Biodiversity is by no means a new concept; it has been exploited by man in all its manifestations from the time of the earliest agro-pastoralist societies. Indeed, the capability to Impose selective change on the biotic environment has arguably been the single most significant factor contributing to human dominance of terrestrial ecosystems, Our present concern is to identify how biodiversity can be used as a model for managing the environment, and hence for conservation, and in the context of practical agricultural production.
Biodiversity and Tropical Agriculture: a Biogeographic View
Authors: Holloway Jeremy
Published: July 2017

Biodiversity and agriculture are uneasy bedfellows. Conversion of natural habitats to agriculture threatens the survival of the myriad species with which we share the planet. Yet that very diversity is the fountainhead of the living resources that sustain mankind physically and, beyond bread alone, culturally. Much of its potential is untapped, for it is poorly understood. There are trends of exploitation of living resources today that may squander that potential. This essay is a plea for further exploration of the dimensions and pattern of natural diversity, and of our influence, intentional and unintentional, when we seek to modify that pattern to our own ends. From an understanding of biodiversity and our relationship with it may emerge a new philosophy of good husbandry for our natural resources, and an optimistic outlook for both agriculture and biodiversity.
Cashmere Production — the Viable Alternative
Authors: Russel A. J. F.
Published: July 2017

There have been greater changes in UK agriculture in the last ten years than in any other decade since farming began in this country. Many novel forms of crop and animal production have been advocated as the solution to surpluses of traditional products and to meet the demands of the increasingly powerful ‘green’ lobby. The list is long and includes many types of enterprise which, for a multiplicity of reasons, will not succeed, and a few which will stand the tests of climate and time. These will find a niche in the market place and will gradually be absorbed into the farming scene. Cashmere production js one of the more promising of the novel forms of animal enterprise currently being tested under commercial conditions.
A Socio-Economic Perspective on Animal Welfare
Authors: McInerney John
Published: July 2017

Animal welfare concerns have gained greater prominence over recent decades as livestock production techniques have become more intensive. Welfare issues are now considered among the principal problems that agriculture must confront in the future. The central theme of this paper is that, notwithstanding the objective assessments of the animal scientist, animal welfare is primarily a subjective matter of human perceptions; further, because people's preferences determine action, in practice it will be treated as a subset of human welfare. The inherent conflict between animal and human interest is captured in the relationship between welfare and livestock productivity, highlighting the fact that higher welfare standards in modern farming would inevitably raise the price of food. In the light of this, the paper considers both the legal imposition of welfare codes and an approach which allows food consumers to determine the ‘socially appropriate’ standards via conventional market processes. In the last analysis neither animal science nor economics can do more than cast light on what is fundamentally a socio-political issue.
Communication between Scientists and Consumers
Authors: Harlander Susan K.
Published: July 2017

After years of speculation and promise, agricultural biotechnology is beginning to move from the research laboratory to the barn, the field and the processing plant. The orderly transition from research and development to application and commercialization will depend greatly upon acceptance by the consuming public. For this reason, educating the lay public about biotechnology is critically important, and scientists involved in biotechnological research in industry, government and academic institutions could play vital roles in fostering public understanding and rational discussion of biotechnological issues. It is time to recognize that the role of the scientist in sociey is changing.
Biotechnology — a Strategic Opportunity for Agriculture
Authors: Baker Kenneth M.
Published: July 2017

Biotechnology as applied to agriculture is both a strategic opportunity and an economic threat. Its first products are beginning to appear, and those agricultural communities who embrace this new technology will derive the immediate economic benefits of new jobs and structural renewal. Questions of ethics and of fears of the social impact of new technologies are rampant in the same agricultural community. A better understanding of the benefits agriculture has historically derived from technology, as well as the operation of regulatory structures to control and ensure human safety and environmental acceptability, will ensure agriculture reaps its just benefits. Keys to ensuring this are better policy-making and greater political understanding of the benefits. Agriculture must urgently embrace the technology and its strategic opportunities — not to do so means putting jobs and provision for change at risk.
Regulation of the Use of Protein Hormones in Food Animals: Determination of Human Food Safety
Authors: Juskevich Judith C.
Published: July 2017

The advent of recombinant DNA techniques provided a means of obtaining protein hormones in sufficient quantities to allow their potential use in food animals. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is developing alternative testing requirements for determining the human food safety of protein products and has used these guidelines to assess the safety of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) in lactating dairy cattle. Much controversy has surrounded this decision and, although the studies were scientifically well-founded, the human safety of rBST has been called into question. This paper briefly discusses the proposed testing requirements for protein products and describes how they were applied to rBST.
Britain's Declining Heather Moorlands
Authors: Armstrong Helen
Published: July 2017

Heather moorland is a valuable resource in the hills of Britain. It is of high conservation value, can be an important source of winter fodder for hill sheep and is essential for the maintenance of grouse populations. There is evidence, however, that over the last 40 years the amount of heather moorland has been declining not just because of the expansion of plantation forestry and the increase in improved land but also because of changes in land management practices. These changes have been brought about by the changing economic climate and can only be reversed by the use of public money targeted with this problem in mind. Any such schemes will have to include incentives to land managers to set acceptable stocking rates and to manage stock in a way that does not damage heather. As an aid to determining such management systems on a farm-specific basis, a computer model has been built at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute. The model is currently being improved and has the potential to be used as an integral part of any incentive scheme.
Fermented and Intermediate-Moisture Meat Products
Authors: Leistner Lothar
Published: July 2017

There is increasing interest in fermented and intermediate moisture products based on meat. Femented meats include raw sausages and hams, which are preserved from spoilage and pathogenic bacteria by microbiological activity. The stability and safety of intermediate moisture meats is mainly due to a low water activity, which is traditionally adjusted by drying and the addition of sugar or salt. However, other factors contribute to shelf life and wholesomeness and must be controlled empirically. Traditional products prevail in Europe, Asia, Africa and America and there are few novelties, but further research holds promise of rewards.
The Production of Pink Veal from Dairy Calves in Australia
Authors: Moran John , Hopkins Alan , Warner Robyn
Published: July 2017

Every year more than a million baby calves are slaughtered in Australia and sold as ‘bobby veal’ to retail stores and the catering trade. This product is of poor quality and yields of saleable meat are very low. A new system of veal production has been developed in Victoria which is cost-efficient and overcomes many of the animal welfare criticisms levelled at traditional white veal systems practised overseas. As well as satisfying domestic requirements, it has potential to be a new export commodity.
China's Animal Husbandry: the Past Ten Years
Authors: Tao Shen
Published: July 2017

This is the third in a series of occasional articles looking at developments in Chinese agriculture. China has about 5 million km2 of grassland suitable for rearing livestock, with some 45.5 million people living in these areas. In the past ten years, great achievements have been made in animal husbandry, due to the implementation of economic reform policies in these areas. However, development has been slowed by inadequate inputs and for other reasons.
What is the nature of the world food problem?
Authors: Anderson Jock R.
Published: July 2017

From Malthus, to the alarmists of the Club of Rome era, to contemporary extremists such as Lester Brown and Dennis Avery, the world has seldom suffered a shortage of commentators on the challenge of feeding humanity. This introductory perspective takes a dispassionate (some may say optimistic) view of the present and prospective situations.

The world food problem is misnamed - rather, it is a ‘people problem’, in two senses. First, there are, not to put too fine a point on it, eventually going to be rather too many people to be fed. Whether or not they can be fed adequately depends, however, on another aspect of ‘people power’, namely, human capital in the form of people who can contribute to new knowledge and more productive means of producing additional food, which can alleviate and overcome this problem. It is thus a balance between people generally, as demanders of, and more specifically as knowledgeable contributors to supply.
How Man Fails to Use the Gifts of Nature and Science
Authors: Marsh John S.
Published: July 2017

At present, the world has the resources and the knowledge to feed its population both now, and for the foreseeable future, and yet, hunger is still a major issue in many parts of the world today. By analysing the socio-economic factors involved, this paper demonstrates how farmers, scientists, businessmen and politicians around the world must Work together, making good use of available knowledge and natural resources, if they are to ensure an adequate and secure food supply for the population of the world today and in the future.
Land-based limitations and threats to world food production
Authors: El-Swaify S. A.
Published: July 2017

The decreasing availability of new productive lands for agricultural use combines with many threats of degradation to lands now In productive use to pose serious challenges to scientists, planners and policy makers who aim to meet the ever expanding demand for food, fodder, fuel, and fibre around the globe. Constraints to productive land use may be physical or biological, natural or man-made. All prevent the realization of high and sustainable production goals, pdrticularly in the developing and less developed countries. Climate, topographic and water supply constraints are, in general, less manageable than are soil-based constraints; these can be alleviated by an abundance of available technologies. The current emphasis towards agricultural sustainability is very timely for countering the threats of degradation to the availability and productivity of land resources as well as the quality of the environment.
Priorities and Options for Livestock Production in Developing Countries
Authors: Smith Anthony J.
Published: July 2017

A logical approach to agriculture is to integrate crop production with livestock, or at least to use systems of agriculture which do not require the consumption of large quantities of fossil fuel. To investigate which systems are most appropriate it is necessary to look at various regions of the world, and particularly at different climatic zones. Systems which are applicable in one area are not necessarily applicable elsewhere. This paper considers three of these situations; dry land (rainfall 500 mm or less), savannah (500 to 1000 mm) and high density/high rainfall (over 1000 mm) or irrigated cropping areas, and deals with the special cases of scavenging poultry and draught animals.
Termites as Agricultural Pests in Amazônia, Brazil
Authors: Mill Alan E.
Published: July 2017

This paper presents a preliminary, qualitative assessment of termite damage in agriculture within the Amazonian region. The vast majority of farms are small holdings, of between 10 and 100 hectares, so no quantitative assessment of losses throughout the region has been attempted. A visual assessment suggests that individual crop losses due to termite attack may be as high as 65%. Current chemical control techniques are reviewed.
Productivity of Tropical Cattle. A Re-appraisal
Authors: Maule John
Published: July 2017

At a time when crossbreeding between indigenous tropical cattle and temperate (Bos taurus) breeds has increased considerably, particularly to increase milk production, one should, perhaps, look again at the role of the best indigenous breeds, both for milk and beef production in their own right and as improvers of less good breeds. There are also a number of breeds whose performance has not been adequately recorded and may therefore have been under-valued in the past. Some of these are described. The article highlights some of the successes in breed improvement and reviews the problems associated with breed evaluation.
Russian Wheat Aphid: a Growing Problem for Small-Grain Farmers
Authors: Robinson Jonathan
Published: July 2017

The Russian wheat aphid (RWA), Diuraphis noxia. has only recently become a serious pest of wheat and barley. Its effects are being felt in many parts of the world. Originally recorded in 1900 in the southern Soviet Union, it has spread to Africa and America and is now considered a threat to the Australian wheat industry. In terms of crop loss and management, RWA has cost the small-grain farmers of the western USA over $300 million since its appearance in 1986. RWA feeds deep within the leaf whorl inside tightly rolled leaves, and is consequently difficult to control with insecticides. During feeding, the aphid injects a toxin into the plant which appears to destroy the chloroplast membrane. Predators and parasitoids find it difficult to locate the aphid. Host-plant resistance represents a practical management option.
Genetic, Physiological, Agronomic and Biotechnological Contributions Towards Sugar Beet Productivity
Authors: Thomas Tudor H.
Published: July 2017

There is little doubt that there are challenging times ahead for the beet sugar industry and for the research and development that underpins it. At present, production is efficient, the market is guaranteed and there is a continued upward trend in productivity. However, the pressure on the industry, in common with agriculture and food organizations in general, is to develop systems that require less inputs and give higher returns. The pressure on sugar-beet research is to provide improved cropping systems and new varieties inherently capable of producing higher yields, improved quality and durable resistance to pests and diseases. The industry must be flexible in order to remain competitive, particularly in the face of reduced protectionism from the sweeteners market. This paper identifies the research and development which has contributed towards its success, and addresses the question of future research objectives and how these can be approached.
The Biotech Concept and Food Processing Wastes
Authors: Greenshields R. N.
Published: July 2017

The idea of recycling wastes, particularly food wastes, is not new. It has been a consideration of manufacturing and processing systems from early times, as exemplified by the vinegar industry in recovering a value from sour wine (Greenshields, 1978). However, the concepts and motives that drive the ideas for the utilization of waste are remarkably various and often confused, with the result that few schemes succeed, or else they are short-lived and frequently end up as a ‘waste’ of investment. Such examples abound in food processing, despite considerable scientific knowledge and expertise which should have provided viable solutions.

Largely the problem has been the inability to make a total assessment of a manufacturing process at the outset, not only from a scientific and technological point of view but also considering the economic, political and market forces involved, and particularly the requirements of Society.

There is now an opportunity to change with the emergence of biotechnology and its concepts. Biotechnology is not a single discipline, but an enabling technology which encompasses many disciplines; it embraces all aspects of life and is particularly applicable to the manufacturing industries. Its concepts teach a total assessment embracing the laws governing natural processes and obeying their linked and cyclic patterns.

This article considers the concepts of food processing and resource recovery with respect to its wastes before the advent of biotechnology (the Old Concepts) and the new approach now available (the New Concepts).
Upgrading of Waste Cereal Straws
Authors: Kelley Joan
Published: July 2017

The UK Government has banned the burning of waste straw after the 1992 harvest. This adds weight to the increasing financial and environmental pressures on farmers to find useful alternatives for disposing of wastes. But is straw still a ‘waste’ product or will this new pressure shift the balance to make alternative upgrading processes financially viable. This is a world-wide problem, but the development of methods of waste disposal based on turning straw and other lignocellulosic materials into easily digestible animal fodder are potentially applicable also in the developing world.
Vegetable Production in Traditional Farming Systems in Nigeria
Authors: Olasantan F. O.
Published: July 2017

Most increases in vegetable production come from areas under traditional agriculture, and small-scale farmers seldom adopt any intercropping technology that excludes vegetables in Nigeria, yet less attention has been paid to these crops in mixed cropping studies, compared with field crops. Vegetables are of good nutritional value, and have considerable potential as income-generating crops and as a supplement to diets consisting mainly of carbohydrates. To realize this potential, however, adequate information about the present system of production is essential, as well as improved cultivars and better crop management.
Green Revolution in Food Crops: An Indian Experience
Authors: Gahukar R. T.
Published: July 2017

India is an agricultural country with about 80% of its people dependent on agricultural activites for their livelihood. Indian agriculture accounts for 40% of Gross National Product and about 35% of total exports. The green revolution in agriculture began in the 1960s, and spectacular achievements in foodgrain production (cereals, pulses and oilseeds) resulted from the cultivation of introduced high yielding crop cultivars supplemented with fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation. The green revolution helped the country to feed the people, to stop importing foodgrains and to increase the employment potential. But increasing human population and slow industrial growth resulted in economic imbalance. The green revolution was confined to certain crops (rice, wheat) at the expense of others. The high input technology created problems of continuous monoculture cropping, depletion of the water table, deterioration of soils, introduction and multiplication of insect pests, plant diseases and weeds, intensive use of energy, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, increase in soil salinity and alkalinity, environmental pollution and ecological imbalance. The socio-economic inequalities have been enlarged in rural areas and the land/labour ratio has declined. Local crop cultivation practices have been abandoned even by small farmers. Management in agriculture escaped the attention of policy makers and scientists, and the role of rural women was ignored. Inter- and intra-regional disparities in agricultural development have created serious social and political repercussions. The farm policy has not yet been finalized. Possible solutions to overcome present difficulties and benefit marginal and small farmers and economically backward areas are discussed.