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Nowadays, social sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are becoming more relevant, however, a series of inconsistencies emerge from existent literature. Due to its complexity and sensitiveness, social sustainability is difficult to implement and measure, while social issues receive less attention in CSR operational plans in comparison to environmental factors. This study contributes to an under‐researched topic in the literature by providing a framework for developing CSR practices in the food value chains from a social perspective. Findings recommend different ways to measure social issues and identify communication and transparency as central elements to demonstrate a company's effort. This process requires the commitment of all actors, not only companies, but also stakeholders and governmental bodies involved in FVCs to ensure social sustainability. The academia has also a major role on standardizing how to measure it. Finally, this paper offers a series of practical recommendations to ensure good social practices along the FVC.

Coping with asymmetric information plays a major role in successful small business lending. Our purpose is to determine if small business applicants report their income information correctly when requesting a loan. We use a randomised controlled trial bogus pipeline experiment, established during a typical cash-flow analysis of a bank for small businesses in the Philippines. The bogus pipeline approach is commonly applied in social science and aims to increase the rate of truth telling by informing participants that answers will be verified by a lie detector. The experimental data, which include 243 observations of credit clients that are mainly from the agricultural and food value chain, served to identify asymmetric information. Additionally, debtors’ repayment behaviour for approved loans was observed by the bank. Our results indicate that loan applicants of the treatment group report lower incomes, an effect which is most pronounced in lower income quantile. Our analyses also reveal higher loan delinquencies in the control group.

Problems of influencing insect populations by changing the food quality. In forest entomology, as opposed to plant and livestock breeding it is not possible at the present stage to make use of changes in food quality as a routine technique for influencing insect populations. Although noticeable reactions of insects to changes in food quality have been known for a long time research on this matter has not yet reached a stage far beyond a first tentative screening. A careful elaboration of these questions is suggested to master the forthcoming problems like the cultures of clones of spruce trees or fertilizing of forest trees.

As to food quality of spruce needles for forest damaging insects. 15. Comparative studies on the development and the rates of intake of protein-amino acids of Gilpinia hercyniae-larvae feeding on the same branches of spruce under controlled and field conditions 13-, 19-, 22-, and 23 day old populations of the 100th generation of larvae of Gilpinia hercyniae which were reared under controlled conditions were divided into two groups. Each group was kept simultaneously on the same exactly defined branches of spruce under controlled and field conditions. Technical details of the caging under field conditions and of the analysis of amino acids with a large number of samples are described. The characteristics of the larval development (table 2) and of the rates of intake of protein-amino acids (fig. 3) were determined. Nine partial experiments showed that a very similar weight was reached by the larvae independent of the larval age at the beginning of the experiment and of the external conditions. Furthermore it was found that within every experiment the profiles of the graphically evaluated rates of intake for the individual amino acids as a funtion of time are similar for the partial populations kept under field- and laboratory conditions, respectively. Since the intervals of the sampling dates were chosen schematically (every 2nd day) and not proportionally to the time span of development the characteristic points of the profiles are compressed in the diagram of the laboratory data as compared to those of the field. Since genetically homogenous larval populations were used the similarity of the maximal weight gained and of the rates of intake of the protein amino acids in the simultaneous laboratory- and field experiments are considered to be due to the needle qualities. These are genetically fixed for the respective single trees, and their expression as related to the external conditions chosen in the experiments can be described by the rates of intake for the individual amino acids as a function of observation time. Zusammenfassung 13, 19, 22 und 23 Tage alte Larvenpopulationen der 100. Generation einer Laborzucht von Gilpinia hercyniae wurden zu jeweils gleichen Anteilen an demselben genau definierten Nadelmaterial von Fichte unter Labor- und Freilandbedingungen gehalten. Technische Einzelheiten der Zwingerung unter Freilandbedingungen und der Aminosaurenanalyse bei umfangreichem Probe-material werden beschrieben. Die Kenndaten der Larvenentwicklung (Tab. 2) und die Aufnahmeraten der Proteinaminosauren (Abb. 3) sind bestimmt worden. Es wird gefunden, das unabhangig vom Larvenalter und den Ausenbedingungen in allen neun Teilversuchen ein sehr ahnliches maximales Gewicht erreicht wurde und innerhalb der einzelnen Versuche zwischen den Varianten Freiland und Labor die Profile der graphisch ausgewerteten Aufnahmeraten fur die einzelnen Aminosauren als Funktion der Zeit ahnlich sind. Da die Intervalle der Probennahme schematisch (alle 2 Tage) und nicht proportional zur Entwicklungszeit gelegt wurden, erscheinen die Kennpunkte der Profile bei Laborhaltung gegenuber denen unter Freilandhaltung zeitlich gerafft. Auf Grund des Einsatzes von genetisch einheitlichem Tiermaterial wird die Ahnlichkeit des erreichten maximalen Gewichts wie der Aufnahmeraten der Proteinaminosauren im kombinierten Labor- und Freilandversuch auf Nadeleigenschaften zuruckgefuhrt, die fur die jeweiligen Einzelbaume genetisch festgelegt sind und deren Auspragung durch die Umweltbedingungen fur die im Versuch gegebenen Verhaltnisse mittels der Aufnahmeraten fur die einzelnen Aminosauren als Funktion der Beobachtungszeit beschreibbar ist.

In a series of studies conducted by members of the International Study on Artemia, differences in nutritional quality were documented between geographical strains of the brine shrimp Artemia. Concomitant with, and possibly related to nutritional effectiveness are differences in biometric traits and biochemical composition. Since these initial experiments could only hint at causal relationships, a series of experiments were carried out to further our understanding of cause and effect. In one experiment we tried to ascertain whether the factors responsible for poor survival in larvae fed some brine shrimp strains are cumulative throughout larval development or whether there are critical periods when larvae are more sensitive. Our results indicate that the factors contributing to poor growth and survival are cumulative. In a second experiment, we contaminated Brazil Artemia with diel-drin, chlordane and combinations of the two and fed them to mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) larvae. The levels of contamination were chosen to approximate those suspected of contributing to the poor food value of some brine shrimp strains. In this experiment, however, diel-drin and chlordane contamination appeared to have no effect on growth and survival of R. harrisii larvae. In a third experiment, we fed Utah strain Artemia on Isochrysis galbana for 24 hours and then fed these brine shrimp to mud crab zoeae. Previous work had shown that this regime made Utah Artemia more suitable as a food source for a prawn. However, in our experiments, it did not improve survival of R. harrisii.

Summary. Mourning Chats (Enanthe lugens in the Helwan area in Lower Egypt winter along the lower spurs of the mountains. Each bird occupies a separate territory from which it excludes other Mourning Chats, and wherein it sings. “Winter” song is most energetic in the months of July to October; at this season the main singing hours are in the early morning and early evening. In the period November to February song is less frequent, and is most often heard in the late afternoon. In the hot weather of the autumn the birds select perches in shade during the mid-day hours. Evidence is advanced that there is a measure of interspecific territorial competition between Mourning Chats, Hooded Chats (Enanthe monacha and White-tailed Chats (Enanthe leucopyga. The possible relevance of this interspecific territorial practice to the hypothesis of the “food value” of territory is discussed.

Summary The livers of Carcharias taurus and Sphyrna diplana were studied in detail, particular attention being paid to the potential uses of the lipid. The food value of shark, technological characteristics and the uses to which shark resources could be put are presented. Seasonal variation in the composition of the shark liver oil was also observed. The detailed chemical composition of the extracted shark liver oil was compared with that of the commercial cod liver oil. The currently discarded liver residue left after oil extraction was found to be rich in protein and ash.

Properties of fruits of two wild species of two columnar cacti, cardon dato (Stenocereus griseus) and cardon lefaria (Cereus repandus) are reported. The fruits seem to have good potential as food and feed in Venezuelan arid zones. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd

In Ethiopia almost 10 million people are dependent on ensete (Ensete ventricosum (Welw) Cheesman), also known as «false banana». In the Gurage area in Central Ethiopia, agronomic and nutritional aspects of ensete were studied in 60 households in six villages. Ensete is propagated vegetatively and has a 6-year growing cycle during which it is transplanted three or four times. Men harvest the plants; women scrape the pseudo stem in order to separate the starchy pulp from the fibre, and pulverise the corm. The pulp is fermented and stored for up to 5-7 years in earthen pits. The yield of ensete food (ko'cho) was found to be 34 kg per plant or 9-5 tons ha -1 per year. Compared with other foods grown in Ethiopia, the energy yield of ensete (6.1 MJ m -2 per year) was higher than that of all cereals, Irish potato, sweet potato and banana, but lower than that of cassava. The protein yield of ensete was higher (11.4 g m -2 per year) than all of the crops mentioned above, except for banana and Irish potato. To make ensete bread, fermented pulp is squeezed to make it drier, chopped to shorten the fibres and a 2 cm layer is baked for 15 min. Unfermented freshly harvested corm is also eaten after boiling. All foods have a low protein content (4-22 g kg -1 ). Bu'lla, white desiccated juice collected from the pulp, is more energy rich (8.5 MJ kg -1 ) than ko'cho (6.5 MJ kg -1 ). A dietary survey, conducted in 39 households comprising 237 persons, showed that the average daily intake of 0.55 kg ensete provided 68% of total energy intake, 20% of protein, 28% of iron but no vitamin A. Energy intake from all food consumed was very low, being only 60% of requirements, while protein intake at 107% was ample. Since ensete can be stored for years, is readily available throughout the year and can withstand dry periods, its cultivation can significantly improve household food security in highland areas prone to drought and famine

Cotyledons of two Nigerian varieties of bambara groundnut were analysed for trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) and polyphenols after whole beans had, in each case, been cold-soaked, hot-soaked, cold-soaked/germinated and dehulled. Another portion of beans was fermented after they had been cold-soaked, dehulled and boiled for 10 min (pretreatment), simulating the ‘dawadawa’ process. Germination made dehulling of the beans very easy, as the hulls broke open during the process, but was not very effective in reducing the polyphenol levels (9%, average loss) and TIA (17%, average loss). The combined pretreatment/fermentation process reduced the polyphenol level and TIA by 24% and 40%, respectively (average losses). Hot-soaking considerably improved the dehulling properties of the beans over cold-soaking and was more effective in reducing the TIA level in the cotyledons (31%, average loss) than cold-soaking (12%, average loss). Polyphenol losses by the two conditioning methods were similar (9%, average). Generally, losses in polyphenols and TIA could be attributed to leaching and inactivation respectively during the processes involved. The results show that a combination of two or more simple processing methods could be used to improve the food value of bambara groundnut. © 1997 SCI.

Zusammenfassung Die Wirkung einer Zulage von Pektinstoffen auf die Verdaulichkeit der Rohnahr-stoffe und auf die Stickstoffbilanz wurde in drei Versuchen mit Schweinen gepruft. Eine Tiergruppe erhielt jeweils eine Grundration, wahrend die Tiere der anderen Gruppen eine Zulage von 10% Pektinstoffen oder zum Vergleich 10 % Starke bekamen. Die scheinbare Verdaulichkeit der Pektinstoffe betrug in den Versuchen 95—99 %. Durch die Pektinzulagen wurde mehr Rohprotein, Rohfett und Rohfaser mit dem Kot ausgeschieden, als in den Zulagen enthalten war. Daraus resultieren niedrigere Verdauungskoeffizienten dieser Rohnahrstoffe in den Pektingruppen als bei der Grundfuttergruppe. Die vermehrte Ausscheidung an Rohprotein und Rohfett im Kot wird darauf zuruckgefuhrt, das diese Stoffe von Mikroorganismen im Darm synthetisiert wurden. Fur die Protein- und Fettsynthese konnen den Bakterien die Pektinstoffe als Energiequelle dienen. Der fur die Proteinsynthese benotigte Stickstoff kann endogenen Ursprungs sein, da auch ohne Einflus auf den N-Ansatz eine verminderte Harn-N-Ausscheidung festgestellt worden ist. Die CO2-Gehalte im Flatus des Schweines waren bei Pektinzulagen um das Dreifache erhoht. Daraus kann auf eine intensivere mikrobielle Tatigkeit und einen vollstandigen Abbau der Pektinstoffe im Darmtrakt geschlossen werden.

In laboratory decomposition experiments dead eelgrass leaves lost a maximum of 35% of the original dry weight in 100 days at 20°C. Whole leaves lost 0.5% of their organic content per day whereas particles smaller than 1 mm lost 1% per day. Sterilization of leaves by dry heat or potassium cyanide showed that leaching accounted for 82% of the total loss of organic matter from predried material and 65% of the loss from undried material. Bacteria acting alone increased the nitrogen content of the detritus but only slowly degraded the leaf material. When protozoa were introduced, they grazed on the bacteria, maintained the bacterial population in an active metabolic state, and hastened the rate of decay. The C : N ratio of incubated detritus decreased from over 20 : 1 to as low as 11 : 1, indicating an increase in its potential food value. The overall slow rate of decomposition could enable the eelgrass detritus system to continue functioning during periodic short term fluctuations in eelgrass primary production by ensuring that a reservoir of slowly decomposing material is always present.

High quality mungbean sprouts are characterized by thick hypocotyls and short roots. In this study, three plant growth regulators (gibberellic acid, ethephon and abscisic acid) were applied to mungbean sprouts during growth in a microprocessor controlled chamber. Ethephon and gibberellic acid treatments produced sprouts having substantially more food value (dry matter, protein, ascorbic acid) per 100 g of mungbeans than the nontreated controls. Single application (10 or 20 ppm) or double application (20 ppm) ethephon treatment improved mungbean sprout quality through its root-shortening and hypocotylthickening effects. The chamber developed in this study eliminated labor and provided a simple, convenient and reproducible sprout growing process. It has potential in small factories or restaurants as well as in the laboratory.

If ecologists are to understand the relations of animals to environment, there must be more detailed knowledge of the chemistry of animals in relation to varying environmental factors. The present paper attempts to contribute to this general field by describing the variations in composition of two common fresh-water fishes, the yellow perch and the brook trout, at various ages, seasons, and tinder varying conditions of nutrition. Though many chemical analyses of parts of fishes have been made by those interested in their food value, no one has, to the knowledge of the writer, made analyses of entire fishes. Clark and Almy (i9i8) give a brief but excellent summary of the analytical work on fishes up to the time their paper was published. Most analyses have been concerned with the composition of the parts of fishes that are used as food for man; usually the muscular tissue of fresh, cold-storage, dried, smoked, or preserved fishes, and hence, though of interest to those concerned commercially or scientifically in dietetics, are of slight value to those who would study fishes from an ecological point of view. During the investigations described in this paper no fishes were analyzed that were not alive immediately before the analysis began. Each fish was killed by cutting through the body on the dorsal side behind the head so as to sever the spinal cord. The ventral body wall was then opened with scissors, the alimentary canal removed and all food stripped out of it. The entire fish, including the cleaned alimentary canal, was then cut up into pieces having a maxinmum size of about 2 cc. The pieces were placed together into a 4-inch watch glass, weighed, and kept in a Freas vacuum oven (at 6o0 C. and under a vacuum equal to 25 inches of mercury) until they were dry enough to show the same weight on two successive days. This required about three weeks. Each fish was then ground to powder in a mortar and again kept in the vacuum oven (about four days) until it maintained a constant weight. A representative sample, usually weighing about three grams, was then ashed in a platinum crucible in a Type FD-20i Haskins electric furnace at 5550 C. The remainder of the fish was sent to Dr. H. E. Schuette (i9i8), who determined the fats by ether extraction and the total nitrogen, using the Soxhlet and Kjeldahl-Cunning-Arnold methods. The brook trout analyzed were obtained from the Madison hatchery of