This report describes the major achievements of CPWF over the year 2010. It also provides a number of stories and lessons learned from the basin development research programs.

Chances are examined for the identification and determination of pesticides of different types and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 46 items, in water and food by means of gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection. The detection limits make from 0.01 to 0.5 mg/L if the injected volume of samples is 1 μL; the analytical range is 0.02–10 mg/L. In the mode of selective ion registration and preliminary preconcentration by liquid and solid-phase extraction, the detection limits of analytes make from 2 to 100 ng/L in water and from 0.2 to 10 μg/kg for solid samples.

Phenological development is the single most important attribute of crop adaptation to shifting climates. Climate change may alter the rate of phenological development and the amount and distribution of rainfall during the growing season. These changes may in turn result in mismatch between water demand by crops and water availability from rainfall. This paper illustrates how an understanding of the impact of climate shifts on key crops will enable the Asia-Pacific farmers, community workers and policy agencies to better prepare and adapt to climate change. Strategies include changes to existing policy and practices, for example, timing of planting, managing rainwater resources, use of new varieties, disease management protocols, alternate crops and shift in geographic distribution of crops. An international project is described which combines a new analysis of realized changes in meteorological parameters, and use of estimates from published work on future climates to assess temporal shifts in crop phenology, likely shifts in the pattern of rain and water availability, mismatch between crop phenology and water availability, and the expected consequences of this mismatch for food security.

S Huda, V Sadras, S P Wani, X Mei, 'Food Security and Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region: Evaluating Mismatch between Crop Development and Water Availability', International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress Management, vol. 2(2), pp.137-144, Puspa, 2011 | Phenological development is the single most important attribute of crop adaptation to shifting climates. Climate change may alter the rate of phenological development and the amount and distribution of rainfall during the growing season. These changes may in turn result in mismatch between water demand by crops and water availability from rainfall. This paper illustrates how an understanding of the impact of climate shifts on key crops will enable the Asia-Pacific farmers, community workers and policy agencies to better prepare and adapt to climate change. Strategies include changes to existing policy and practices, for example, timing of planting, managing rainwater resources, use of new varieties, disease management protocols, alternate crops and shift in geographic distribution of crops. An international project is described which combines a new analysis of realized changes in meteorological parameters, and use of estimates from published work on future climates to assess temporal shifts in crop phenology, likely shifts in the pattern of rain and water availability, mismatch between crop phenology and water availability, and the expected consequences of this mismatch for food security

Phenological development is the single most important attribute of crop adaptation to shifting climates. Climate change may alter the rate of phenological development and the amount and distribution of rainfall during the growing season. These changes may in turn result in mismatch between water demand by crops and water availability from rainfall. This paper illustrates how an understanding of the impact of climate shifts on key crops will enable the Asia-Pacific farmers, community workers and policy agencies to better prepare and adapt to climate change. Strategies include changes to existing policy and practices, for example, timing of planting, managing rainwater resources, use of new varieties, disease management protocols, alternate crops and shift in geographic distribution of crops. An international project is described which combines a new analysis of realized changes in meteorological parameters, and use of estimates from published work on future climates to assess temporal shifts in crop phenology, likely shifts in the pattern of rain and water availability, mismatch between crop phenology and water availability, and the expected consequences of this mismatch for food security

Low-moisture biopolymer-based systems are commonly encountered in food. Obviously, understanding the physical basis of their quality [texture, or performance over time or as a function of their composition (water or other added solutes)] is of primary importance. A polymer science approach using physical chemistry concepts based on physical state, phase transitions and molecular mobility can be applied to investigate the performances of food in particular versus moisture. Based on the example of starch-based samples and their texture property changes versus composition, the role of water and sucrose is considered through different aspects. The relations existing between the observed changes and physical state are investigated. While the motions associated with the glass transition were observed at high temperature, secondary relaxations are observed below Tg (at T β): T β decreased with water content and increased with increasing sucrose content. These local motions are suggested to contribute to the observed texture modifications versus water. Moreover, the stability of the glassy state was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry through the study of enthalpy relaxation (physical ageing). The amplitude of enthalpy relaxation decreased with both increasing sucrose and water content. All in all, this study strengthened the hypotheses that sub-Tg mobility could contribute to texture instability versus moisture or sugar content.

Ingeniero Ambiental | Pregrado

Thermal processed tomato‐food products rich in Z‐lycopene isomers have demonstrated higher bioactivity compared to fresh products which contain mainly all‐E‐lycopene isomer. The objectives of this study were to optimise processing conditions for production of tomato products rich in Z‐lycopene isomers in water and oil systems. The results showed that the optimal conditions for water and oil systems were temperature 120 °C, heating time 2.14 h, and the percentage of Z‐lycopene isomers content was 51 ± 1% and 57 ± 2%, respectively. The ratio of tomato extract to oil/water had no influence on the Z‐lycopene formation. Therefore, from these results it can be concluded that the combination of high temperature and relatively short heat treatment time could improve formation of Z‐lycopene isomers or degradation of Z‐isomers is lower during tomato processing .These research results could be useful in assisting the industry to improve processing technology, nutritional value and health‐benefits of tomato‐based foods.

In this 'hard seat' interview on 5 May 2011, Shirley Tarawali (ILRI) interviewed Larry Harrington (CPWF) about research and science in the Challenge Program on Water and Food (and the CPWF future in the new CGIAR) - http://www.waterandfood.org. The interview was part of the Nile Basin Development Challenge (http://nilebdc.org) 'science and reflection' workshop in Addis Ababa in May 2011. | CPWF