Bruno Borsari

The sustainability asymptogram: A new philosophical framework for policy, outreach and education in sustainability

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a mathematical model that can be used as an educational tool to reflect the philosophical aspects of sustainability.Design/methodology/approach – This is a descriptive paper.Findings – Everyone carries a sustainability deficit. Therefore, opportunities to reduce this deficit abound. Education is an excellent vehicle to achieve sustainability.Practical implications – Helping individuals with extremely high sustainability deficit to make minimum improvements is more beneficial than a further reduction of the “deficit” by those who have it already low. Further action is certainly encouraged, especially to quantify the sustainability index.Originality/value – The paper fulfils the need of providing an original model upon which educators may lean to, in order to enhance learning in sustainability.

Natural Growth Inhibitors and Phytohormones in Plants and Environment

Preface. Acknowledgement. Introduction. 1. System of growth and development regulation in the plant. 2. Natural growth inhibitors and phytohormones under the control of the plants genome. 3 Natural inhibitors and phytohormones during leaves growth and development. 4. Natural growth inhibitors and phytohormones in the process of cells and organs elongation. 5.Phenolic inhibitors and abscisic acid during dormancy. 6. Catabolism of natural growth inhibitors in the plant and abscised leaves. 7. Natural growth inhibitors as allelopathogens and botanical herbicides. 8. Natural growth inhibitors and stress conditions. 9. Natural growth inhibitors and phytohormones in the intact plants and isolated cells, organs and tissues. 10. Natural growth inhibitors and biotests. Conclusion. References. Glossary. Index.

A new subgenus (Chambardicola) and species of Unionicola (Acari: Hydrachnida: Unionicolidae) from freshwater mussels from the central African Republic

Abstract The genus Unionicola Haldeman in the family Unionicolidae is distributed worldwide, with more than half of the known species recorded as parasites of freshwater mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia). A new subgenus, Chambardicola n. subgen., is described from freshwater mussels, Chambardia wissmanni (Martens 1883), collected in the Ubangi (Oubangui) River, Central African Republic (Congo basin), Africa. The new species is Unionicola (Chambardicola) banguiensis n. sp., a unique mite with distinctive coxal plate anatomy and male genital field. This new mite extends our understanding of the morphology and biogeography of the genus in Africa. It further extends our knowledge of host selection and host-specificity among African Unionicola.

An analysis of some paradoxes in alternative agriculture and a vision of sustainability for future food systems

The paper offers an analysis of some of the prevailing practices in sustainable agriculture and points out some of the paradoxes that need to be addressed and resolved in order to enhance acceptability of sustainable agriculture by the general public. Education and research in sustainable agriculture are suggested as possible tools via which solutions to the paradoxes may be found. Preserving the homeostasis of agroecosystems constitutes the ultimate goal of a sustainable agriculture.

Undergraduate Agriculture Curricula in Sustainability: An Evaluation Across Borders

ABSTRACT This paper focused on the evaluation of undergraduate study programs in agriculture for a selected group of universities from Louisiana and Texas in the US, and France and Italy. Eight samples of graduating students (n = 20) from each institution participated in a quantitative survey. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with sixteen respondents (one faculty member and one administrator of each university). A document analysis review provided more qualitative data on the foundations of agricultural curricula at these institutions and other schools around the world. Such a variety of data collection methodologies allowed for a triangulation of the results, which enhanced the validity of the study. Every university recognized the emergence of a sustainable agriculture model, despite the curricular diversity across national borders and the different levels of sensitivity toward the issue. Although more work is needed to incorporate sustainable agriculture principles in the agricultural curriculum, various recommendations are suggested. This work contributes to the promotion of an emerging sustainable agriculture philosophy.

Agroecology to the rescue of food security and germplasm conservation in a global market economy.

The chronic crisis affecting modern agriculture is indicating that the present paradigm of food production may not be viable in the long term to insure food security on a global scale, despite the brilliant outcomes achieved through the last several decades. Dwindling fossil fuel resources are exacerbating an ongoing crisis that has been lingering since the early 1970s. A recent enthusiasm to revamp agriculture in the mid-west region of the USA is focusing on ethanol production from corn (Zea mays) to suffice for the need of biofuels but this trend has significantly affected foods cost. A presentation of the latest review in agroecological research is offered in this work in order to persuade stakeholders in agriculture about the viability of agroecology to serve as a vehicle for achieving food security and sustainability.

Critical Evaluation of Genetic Manipulation for Improved Productivity: Is This a Sustainable Agenda?

Despite brilliant successes that have been achieved with the applications of genetic improvement in food production to sustain large monocultures and to compete in a global market economy, the chronic crises affecting agriculture have not been resolved. An expansion of mechanized, modern agriculture with intensive chemical use has contributed to the reduction in the farming population worldwide, thus destabilizing local economies and food security. Nevertheless, the emerging bioeconomy is supporting the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops as the most advanced approach to improve the quality of life for all while successfully resolving the foreseeable, global challenges of providing adequate food, fiber, and renewable energy for a growing human population. The global area planted with GM crops has more than doubled worldwide in the last decade, especially in developing countries, and resulted in a reduction of cultivated germplasm due to the diffusion of a limited number of genetically improved varieties whose products are mainly directed toward the global market. Research foci for GM crops are purposefully oriented to make crops withstand harsh environmental conditions as the effects of global climate change rapidly alter the attributes of agricultural landscapes. Also, crops are genetically modified to yield more food, fiber, and renewable energy and to withstand the effects of pests and disease. These are additional, desirable goals of the GM research agenda, yet they can be meaningless if they are not delivered to local farmers with all the advice and integration which are the basis for achieving sustainable agriculture.

Sustainable Management of Water Quality in Southeastern Minnesota, USA: History, Citizen Attitudes, and Future Implications

The water resources of southeastern Minnesota, USA, have been exploited by humans for the past two centuries. The region’s sedimentary (karst) geology holds vast underground aquifers with high-quality drinking water. Springs and seeps percolate from these aquifers in valleys to produce hundreds of kilometers of coldwater trout streams. Citizens in the region place high values on these surface and groundwater resources, protecting them from potential harm by becoming informed about threats and organizing in protest over resource contamination and perceived overuse. Agriculture, ethanol production, silica sand mining and processing, and urban development have all threatened the area’s water resources and prompted citizen action. Recent regional studies have examined long-term trends in water quality, surveyed citizen attitudes and values, and made recommendations for monitoring and protecting both surface and groundwaters in southeastern Minnesota. A culture of water stewardship will continue to grow in this region, serving as a good model to follow wherever sustainable water management practices are being developed.

Achieving Sustainability in the City of Winona, Minnesota (USA): A Case Study

The City of Winona is a small urban center (27,500 people) in southeastern Minnesota. Located along the Mississippi River, the city is nestled below steep bluffs that limit further urban development. Winona’s riverine location has been shaping its economy for the past 150 years, enriching a culture and history that persists to the present day. In addition, the area’s fragile karst geology has focused attention on the management and protection of soil and water resources since early-settlement days. Consequently, sustainable development has become a solid cultural construct within the community for several decades. Citizens have been striving to achieve a sustainable life style and economy through on-going conservation efforts, continuing to make Winona a distinctive tourist destination in the Upper Midwest region of the US. Our work focused on several sustainability objectives (or indicators) to be achieved, specifically urban agriculture, composting, parks and green areas conservation, urban landscaping to attract pollinators species, water quality, sustainable tourism, and recycling. The city participates in the County’s recycling program, which is one of the state’s top programs for citizens’ participation and volume of recyclable materials per capita. This chapter will illustrate both the challenges and opportunities for pursuing sustainable development in Winona based on the seven indicators listed above.

Issues of Food Safety and Quality: Are “Organic” Foods Better?

The promotion of diets capable of insuring a balanced nutrient intake to enhance harmonious growth and health has become a priority in developed and in developing countries (Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases, Geneva, 2003). However, this may occur at the cost of increased levels of contaminants and agriculture no longer being sustainable. Since the 1970s U.S. agricultural systems have been geared towards a maximal “production” focus, yet, in more recent times, food “quality” has also become an important issue. Quality has translated into an increased public awareness of and demand for foods grown under organic conditions. Plants absorb minerals and trace elements from their environment, along with potentially harmful xenobiotics, and synthesize vitamins and other nutrients (fat, protein, fatty acids, amino acids, sugars, and fiber). Animals eat plants thus absorbing nutrients into their own tissues, as well as accumulating xenobiotics from pesticides and other toxins, when these are present in the environment.