The household survey was carried out in the Nile River Basin in Ethiopia. The household sampling frame in Ethiopia was developed to ensure representation for the Nile River Basin at the woreda (district) level regarding level of rainfall patterns in terms of both annual total and variation; the four classes of traditionally defined agro-ecological zones (AEZs) found in the basin; vulnerability of food production systems (through the proxy of frequency of food aid in the past ten years); and irrigation prevalence. All data used for the sample frame is from the Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy (Benson et al., 2006).; Each woreda was classified based on : agroecological zone (Kolla, Weynadega, Dega, and Bereha), the percent of cultivated land under irrigation (no data, 0-2%, 2-4%, 4-8%, and 8% or greater), average annual rainfall (0-854mm, 854-1133mm, 1133-1413mm, 1413-1692mm, 1692mm or greater), rainfall variability (coefficient of variation for annual rainfall), and vulnerability (number of years of food aid received in the past 10 years). ;Twenty woredas were selected such that across each of the above dimensions the proportion falling into each class for the sample matched as closely as possible the proportions for the entire Ethiopian Nile basin. Peasant associations (administrative units lower than districts) were also purposely selected to include households that irrigate their farms. One peasant association was selected from every woreda for a total of 20 peasant associations. Random sampling was used in selecting 50 households from each peasant administration within the 20 woredas. Thus, the final dataset contains 1,000 observations from 20 woredas in 5 regional states in Ethiopia (Tigray, Amhara, Oromiya, Benishangul Gumuz, and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP)). | IFPRI1 | EPTD | The survey was conducted by the Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI), in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Funding for the survey was provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany). The project forms part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)’s Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF).; Dataset Citation: Food and Water Security under Global Change: Developing Adaptive Capacity with a Focus on Rural Africa— Ethiopia Nile Basin Climate Change Adaptation dataset. 2010. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) (datasets).; Data file format(s): STATA, EXCEL; Principal contact: Yan Sun; Principal researcher: Claudia Ringler

Entender la relaciones que determinan el equilibrio higroscópico en un alimento deshidratado y la velocidad a la que ésta sucede, es crucial para pronosticar la actividad de agua que se manifestará en un ambiente inestable. Con la finalidad de determinar el efecto de las fluctuaciones de temperatura ambiente sobre la actividad de agua de un alimento deshidratado, se estudió los cambios de la humedad de equilibrio que se presentan al exponer al ambiente hojuelas de papa deshidratada. Para interpretar y reproducir estos procesos de cambio, se analizó la interacción alimento-aire en condiciones controladas en el rango de 3 a 30ºC. Los pronósticos y cálculos estadísticos se realizaron en el Programa Microsoft Excel 2007. La bondad de ajuste de los pronósticos se midió mediante el porcentaje de error medio relativo y el coeficiente de determinación (r2). El análisis y determinación de las humedades de equilibrio del alimento se determinó en base a isotermas de adsorción a 3 y 30ºC. La velocidad de adsorción de humedad del alimento se analizó midiendo los cambios de masa en el tiempo que se producen al colocar 5g de alimento en un ambiente a 17ºC y 53% de humedad relativa. El pronóstico de la evolución de la actividad de agua del alimento expuesto a un ambiente de temperatura variable se consiguió interrelacionando los modelos matemáticos de BET, Clausius-Clapeyron modificado, y el modelo que describe la ganancia o pérdida de humedad del alimento en función del tiempo. Se observó que el mayor cambio en la humedad de las hojuelas de papa deshidratada, se presenta durante la primera hora de exposición a un ambiente a 7ºC y 99% de humedad relativa. Los pronósticos indican que en estas condiciones la actividad de agua puede incrementarse desde 0,38 hasta 0,6. | Tesis

External publication used this dataset: Oyekale, Abayomi Samuel; and Vutela-Tekana, Sibongile Sylvia. 2012. A factor component analysis of the sources of income inequality in the Limpopo River Basin of South Africa. Life Science Journal 9(3): 720-725. http://www.lifesciencesite.com/lsj/life0903/101_8983life0903_720_725.pdf | This household survey was conducted as part of a project aimed to provide policymakers and stakeholders in South Africa with tools to better understand, analyze, and form policy decisions to adapt to global change. The survey was conducted in the Limpopo River Basin in South Africa during 2005. A total of 794 households from 19 districts, in 5 Water Management Areas (WMAs), across 4 provinces of South Africa were sampled. The South Africa sample was designed to capture the diverse agricultural patterns in the basin area: farming strata, type of cultivation (dry land and irrigation), major and minor crops and livestock, and all the sub-catchment areas in each of the 5 WMAs. Topics covered include household roaster including background information, farm and non-farm activities, assets, basic services, disease, shocks; land ownership and land holdings; farm machinery, farm buildings, wells and pumps, and wage rates; crop production including production cost and income for seasonal crops and for perennial crops; crop water use; livestock production; access to extension, markets and credit; expenditures on food and income; and climate change and adaptation options. | IFPRI1 | EPTD | The survey was conducted by the Center for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA), University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Funding for the survey was provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany). The project forms part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)’s Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF).; Dataset Citation: Food and Water Security under Global Change: Developing Adaptive Capacity with a Focus on Rural Africa. South Africa Limpopo Basin Climate Change Adaptation dataset. 2010. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) (datasets).; Data file format(s): STATA, EXCEL; Principal contact: Yan Sun; Principal researcher: Claudia Ringler

Este trabajo presenta la viabilidad de los sistemas de refrigeración solar por absorción usando soluciones de monometilamina - agua (MMA-A) para aplicaciones en conservación de alimentos en las regiones rurales de Colombia, sin acceso a la red de energía eléctrica. Para suplir los re- guerímientos de energía térmica se propone un sistema de calentamiento de agua con energía solar usando colectores de placa y un sistema de respaldo convencional. En este trabajo se determinó el coeficiente de operación (COP) del sistema de refrigeración solar por absorción de una sola etapa en función de la temperatura en los diferentes componentes del ciclo. Los resultados indican gue el sistema podría mejorarse mediante un mejor diseño en el intercambiador de calor de solución, el evaporador y el rectificador Los resultados teóricos demuestran gue el uso de la solución de MM/4-/4 puede ser usada en sistemas de refrigeración por absorción operados con energía térmica de baja calidad, tales como la energía solar

Este trabajo presenta la viabilidad de los sistemas de refrigeración solar por absorción usando soluciones de monometilamina - agua (MMA-A) para aplicaciones en conservación de alimentos en las regiones rurales de Colombia, sin acceso a la red de energía eléctrica. Para suplirlos requerimientos de energía térmica se propone un sistema de calentamiento de agua con energía solar usando colectores de placa y un sistema de respaldo convencional. En este trabajo se determinó el coeficiente de operación (COP) del sistema de refrigeración solar por absorción de una sola etapa en función de la temperatura en los diferentes componentes del ciclo. Los resultados indican que el sistema podría mejorarse mediante un mejor diseño en el intercambiador de calor de solución, el evaporador y el rectificador. Los resultados teóricos demuestran que el uso de la solución de MMA-A puede ser usada en sistemas de refrigeración por absorción operados con energía térmica de baja calidad, tales como la energía solar. | This work reports the applicability of monomethylamine-water solutions in a solar absorption refrigerator for food conservation purposes in the rural regions of Colombia , where no electricity is available. A solar heating system using fíat píate solar collectors with a conventional auxiliary heating system is proposed. We have determined the COP of the solar single-stage absorption refrigerator as a function of the temperature in the different components of the cycle. The results indícate the system might be improved by better design on the solution heat exchanger, the evaporator and the rectifier. The theoretical results prove that the use of MMA-W solution can be driven bylow-grade thermal energy such as solar energy. | Este trabalho apresenta a viabilidade e aplicabilidade dos sistemas de refrigeração solar por absorção usando como parelha a monometilamina - agua (MMA-W) para fins de conservação de alimentos ñas regiões rurais da Colômbia, onde não há energía disponível. Propõese um sistema de calefação solar mediante coletores solares de placa plana com um sistema convencional de aquecimento auxiliar para suprir as necessidades energéticas do refrigerador por absorção. Determinou-se o coeficiente de desempenho (COP) do sistema de refrigeração solar por absorção só de uma etapa em funçã da temperatura nos diferentes componentes do ciclo. Os resultados indicam que o sistema poderia se melhorar mediante um desenho melhorno intercambiador de calor de solução, o evaporador e o retificador os resultados teóricos demonstram que o uso da solução de MMA-W pode ser usada em sistemas de refrigeração como parelha absortiva operado pela energía térmica de baixa qualidade, como a energía solar.

The high number of people moving around by ferries and cruise ships in conjunction with great amounts of food and potable water transported (occasionally overloaded) and consumed by passengers constitute a possible risk for communicable diseases. Another issue of equally great importance is the food handlers who come from diverse origin and have a different mentality, habits, and background. In this paper an attempt is made to present comparatively EU and US legislation that could be potentially applicable to passenger ships food premises and potable water supplies. Moreover, food and water related hazards, not currently covered by EU legislation, were assessed together with US legislation and other guidelines for cruise ships.

A method for separation–preconcentration of Cu(II) and Pb(III) ions by membrane filtration has been presented. The analyte ions were collected on acetate membrane filter as their 1-2-pyridylazo 2-naphthol (PAN) complexes. The analytes were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The analytical parameters including pH, eluent type, sample volume, amount of PAN, etc. were examined in order to gain quantitative recoveries of analyte ions. The effects of foreign ions on the recoveries of analyte ions were also investigated. The detection limits by three sigma were found to be 1.2 and 3.5 μg L−1 for Cu(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The preconcentration factor was 60 for Cu(II) and 20 for Pb(II). The validation of the presented procedure was checked by the analysis of certified reference materials. The optimized method was successfully applied to food, water and geological samples with good results.

The report aims to provide critical input to the Mekong River Commission's (MRC) regional Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative (CCAI) which was launched shortly after the formulation of this project. The CCAI is a collaborative regional initiative designed to address the shared climate change adaptation challenges of LMB countries in response to the potential effects of climate change on the socio-economic characteristics and natural resources of the LMB region. MRC has identified need for a more informed understanding of the potential impacts from climate change. To contribute to this aim, the purpose of this report is: 1. To present the framework of climate change analysis and its application to the Basin Development Plan (BDP) Scenarios; 2. To present the results from the application of the Decision Support Framework (DSF) models of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in order to analyse the impacts of climate change and selected BDP Scenarios on flow regimes; 3. To present climate change impacts on floods and fisheries in the LMB; 4. To present the impact of climate change on the productivity of major crops grown in the basin and their consequences on the overall food security of the basin considering future population growth. 5. To present the results of applying simple adaptation strategies related to agriculture and food security; and 6. To determine further studies necessary to identify suitable adaptation strategies for dealing with such impacts.

Report submitted to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the project, "Comparative assessment of water usage and impacts arising from biofuel projects in SOUTHEAST ASIAn Countries?, commissioned by the Letter of Agreement No LOA/RAP/2009/38. Thailand and Malaysia are two SOUTHEAST ASIAn countries with rapidly growing biofuel demand. Increasing use of biofuel envisages reducing dependence of petroleum products for transport and mitigating environmental impacts by reducing carbon emissions. It also expects to contribute to rural development and poverty reduction. However, the impacts of expanding production of feedstock for biofuel on water supply are not well understood. This paper assesses the water footprints and impacts of sugarcane molasses and cassava based bioethanol in Thailand, and palm oil based biodiesel in Malaysia. The water footprint of a commodity or service is the water depleted in its life cycle of its production or consumption. The total water footprints of sugarcane molasses and cassava bioethanol production in Thailand are estimated to be 1,646 and 2,304 m3/tonne, respectively, and of palm oil biodiesel in Malaysia is 3,730 m3/tonne. However, the contributions from irrigation are only a small fraction --9.0, 0.7 and 0.3%-- of the total water footprints of molasses and cassava bioethanol, and palm oil biodiesel respectively. In terms of irrigation water use,cassava is a better feedstock for bioethanol production than sugarcane molasses. In Thailand, the total annual irrigation water footprints in bioethanol production --54 million m3 (mcm) for molasses and 15 mcm for cassava-- is only 0.02% of the total renewable water resources. In Malaysia, total annual irrigation water footprint of palm oil biodiesel production is only 0.001% of the total renewable water resources. A significant spatial variation of irrigation water footprints of molasses based ethanol exists across provinces in Thailand, indicating potential for reducing water footprints. The total irrigation water footprints in biofuel production in the future in both countries will also be negligible in comparison to total water availability. However, the impact of wastewater generated in the production processes can have significant impacts on quality of local water resources. A part of the waste water, called 'spent wash', is applied as fertilizer, and over use of it can affect soil and neighboring water resources. The proposed plans on biofuel production in the future can generate more 'spent wash' than that can be used in crop fields as fertilizer. Spent wash has found to have high PH value, temperature, biological and chemical oxygen contents etc. The usual practice of storing spent wash in a pond for a long period near a plant can have detrimental impact on soil, streams' and groundwater quality. In sum, this study concludes that from the perspective of quantity of irrigation water use, the increasing biofuel production does not pose a major problem in Thailand or in Malaysia, and cassava is a better feedstock than sugarcane molasses for bioethanol production. However, the quality of water resources with increasing effluents generated by the biofuel plants could be a major environmental bottleneck to guard against.

En este trabajo se estudia la energía usada y los gases de efecto invernadero emitidos en el calentamiento de agua destinado a la alimentación en los hogares. El objetivo es comparar los usos finales de electricidad y de gas natural. Se obtuvieron los rendimientos para calentamiento de agua en cocinas convencionales a gas natural, cocinas eléctricas de plato, y calentadores de agua eléctricos de inmersión. Los rendimientos de calentamiento de agua en el hogar fueron entre 29% y 62% para uso de gas natural, y entre 72% y 96% para el uso de electricidad. Para la electricidad se estudió el balance energético de la red troncal de Argentina que combina el uso de recursos fósiles, hidroeléctrico y nuclear. Cuando se consideran las eficiencias de la generación eléctrica, este recurso resulta menos conveniente que el gas para cocción en ollas, pero no así para el calentamiento de agua en tiempos cortos. | The aim of this work is to study the energy used and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with water heating in households. The objective is to compare end-use efficiencies for gas and electricity used in cooking. Experiments to obtain water heating efficiencies by using a custom natural gas appliance, a hot plate electrical device, and other electrical heaters have been performed. End-use efficiencies for water heating with gas were in the range of 29% to 62%, while for electricity were 72% to 96%. To assess the actual impact of electricity the generation stage in Argentina was studied, which combines fossil, as well as hydro and nuclear resources. When the efficiencies for generating electricity were considered, the use of natural gas turn to be more convenient than electricity for cooking, but the opposite was found when quick water heating in kettles is required. | Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES)