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

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.

This paper provides an overview of the regional hydro geological framework, the current state of knowledge of aquifer systems, their development potential and climate change impacts on groundwater, research gaps, and policy implications for meeting the MDGs of accessing clean water and livelihood goals in Africa.

Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) were exposed to nitrofen (NIP) by different routes (via water or food) to compare bioaccumulation parameters and tissue distribution. The bioconcentration factor of NIP was 5,100, and the lipid-corrected biomagnification factor was 0.137. Growth-corrected elimination half lives were 2.1–3.0 days via aqueous exposure and 2.7–2.9 days via dietary exposure. From either uptake route, the tissue distribution of NIP was highest in the head, followed by muscle, viscera, dermis, digestive tract and hepatopancreas, which was highly correlated with the tissue lipid content. We conclude that the uptake route has no influence on tissue distribution of NIP and that the accumulation potential in tissues depends on the lipid content.

This data set presents a food web for the Flensburg Fjord, a brackish shallow water inlet on the Baltic Sea, between Germany and Denmark. The system has a benthic and shallow water pelagic component. This food web has two noteworthy attributes: (1) inclusion of metazoan parasites and other infectious agents and (2) inclusion of ontogenetic stages of parasites with complex life cycles. Data on the free‐living assemblages and parasitism were gathered during original field sampling and supplemented with information from additional published sources and local expert knowledge. Taxonomic resolution is generally high, although some functional or taxonomic groups (e.g., phytoplankton, macroalgae, and several groups of birds) are lumped into single nodes. Each ontogenetic stage of parasites with complex life cycles is treated separately and coded accordingly. For each node, we have included additional information such as taxonomy, life history, residency, and seasonality. Further, for each link, we define a specific interaction type. The web contains 180 nodes, 123 species/assemblages, and 1577 realized links. Of the 123 species/assemblages, 6 are basal, 70 are free‐living, and 45 are infectious. We present the data and metadata in the system‐neutral format standardized by R. F. Hechinger and colleagues, and thus we recognize variables that are not represented in our data set but may be added by further study.

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

Variation in water availability is a major source of risk for agricultural productivity and food security in South Asia. Three hundred and thirty expert informants were surveyed during 2008-09 to determine the relative importance of drought and water-related constraints compared with other constraints limiting the production of four major food crops (wheat, rice, sorghum, chickpea) in five broad-based South Asian farming systems. Respondents considered drought an important constraint to crop yield in those farming systems that are predominantly rainfed, but associated it with low yield losses (well below 10% of all reported losses) for crops in farming systems with well-developed irrigation. In these systems, other water-related constraints (including difficult access to sufficient irrigation water, the high cost of irrigation, poor water management, waterlogging and flooding of low-lying fields) were more important. While confirming the importance of drought and water constraints for major food crops and farming systems in South Asia, this study also indicated they may contribute to no more than 20–30% of current yield gaps. Other types of constraint, particularly soil infertility and the poor management of fertilizer and weeds for the cereals, and pests and diseases for chickpea, contributed most yield losses in the systems. Respondents proposed a wide range of interventions to address these constraints. Continued investments in crop-based genetic solutions to alleviate drought may be justified for food crops grown in those South Asian farming systems that are predominantly rainfed. However, to provide the substantial production, sustainability and food security benefits that the region will need in coming decades, the study proposed that these be complemented by other water interventions, and by improvements to soil fertility for the cereals and plant protection with chickpea.

Variation in water availability is a major source of risk for agricultural productivity and food security in South Asia. Three hundred and thirty expert informants were surveyed during 2008-09 to determine the relative importance of drought and water-related constraints compared with other constraints limiting the production of four major food crops (wheat, rice, sorghum, chickpea) in five broad-based South Asian farming systems. Respondents considered drought an important constraint to crop yield in those farming systems that are predominantly rainfed, but associated it with low yield losses (well below 10% of all reported losses) for crops in farming systems with well-developed irrigation. In these systems, other water-related constraints (including difficult access to sufficient irrigation water, the high cost of irrigation, poor water management, waterlogging and flooding of low-lying fields) were more important. While confirming the importance of drought and water constraints for major food crops and farming systems in South Asia, this study also indicated they may contribute to no more than 20?30% of current yield gaps. Other types of constraint, particularly soil infertility and the poor management of fertilizer and weeds for the cereals, and pests and diseases for chickpea, contributed most yield losses in the systems. Respondents proposed a wide range of interventions to address these constraints. Continued investments in crop-based genetic solutions to alleviate drought may be justified for food crops grown in those South Asian farming systems that are predominantly rainfed. However, to provide the substantial production, sustainability and food security benefits that the region will need in coming decades, the study proposed that these be complemented by other water interventions, and by improvements to soil fertility for the cereals and plant protection with chickpea.