| 1. |
- Caron, Patrick, et al.
(author)
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Food systems for sustainable development : proposals for a profound four-part transformation
- 2018
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In: Agronomy for Sustainable Development. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1774-0746 .- 1773-0155. ; 38:4
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Evidence shows the importance of food systems for sustainable development: they are at the nexus that links food security, nutrition, and human health, the viability of ecosystems, climate change, and social justice. However, agricultural policies tend to focus on food supply, and sometimes, on mechanisms to address negative externalities. We propose an alternative. Our starting point is that agriculture and food systems' policies should be aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This calls for deep changes in comparison with the paradigms that prevailed when steering the agricultural change in the XXth century. We identify the comprehensive food systems transformation that is needed. It has four parts: first, food systems should enable all people to benefit from nutritious and healthy food. Second, they should reflect sustainable agricultural production and food value chains. Third, they should mitigate climate change and build resilience. Fourth, they should encourage a renaissance of rural territories. The implementation of the transformation relies on (i) suitable metrics to aid decision-making, (ii) synergy of policies through convergence of local and global priorities, and (iii) enhancement of development approaches that focus on territories. We build on the work of the Milano Group, an informal group of experts convened by the UN Secretary General in Milan in 2015. Backed by a literature review, what emerges is a strategic narrative linking climate, agriculture and food, and calling for a deep transformation of food systems at scale. This is critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. The narrative highlights the needed consistency between global actions for sustainable development and numerous local-level innovations. It emphasizes the challenge of designing differentiated paths for food systems transformation responding to local and national expectations. Scientific and operational challenges are associated with the alignment and arbitration of local action within the context of global priorities.
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| 2. |
- N'Guessan, Benoit, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of quantitative and qualitative aspects of mitochondrial function in human skeletal and cardiac muscles
- 2004
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In: Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. - Dordrecht, Netherlands : Kluwer Academic Publishers. - 0300-8177 .- 1573-4919. ; 256-257:1-2, s. 267-80
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Techniques and protocols of assessment of mitochondrial properties are of physiological and physiopathological important significance. A precise knowledge of the advantages and limitations of the different protocols used to investigate the mitochondrial function, is therefore necessary. This report presents examples of how the skinned (or permeabilized) fibers technique could be applied for the polarographic determination of the actual quantitative and qualitative aspects of mitochondrial function in human muscle samples. We described and compared the main available respiration protocols in order to sort out which protocol seems more appropriate for the characterization of mitochondrial properties according to the questions under consideration: quantitative determination of oxidative capacities of a given muscle, characterization of the pattern of control of mitochondrial respiration, or assessment of a mitochondrial defect at the level of the respiratory chain complexes. We showed that while protocol A, using only two levels of the phosphate acceptor adenosine diphosphate (ADP) concentration and the adjunction of creatine, could be used for the determination of quantitative changes in very small amount of muscle samples, the ADP sensitivity of mitochondrial respiration was underestimated by this protocol in muscles with high oxidative capacities. The actual apparent Km for ADP and the role of functional activation of miCK in ATP production and energy transfer in oxidative muscles, are well-assessed by protocol B (in the absence of creatine) together with protocol C (in the presence of creatine) that use increasing concentrations of ADP ranging from 2.5-2000 microM. Protocol D is well-adapted to investigate the potential changes at different levels of the respiratory chain, by the use of specific substrates and inhibitors. As can be seen from the present data and the current review of previous reports in the literature, a standardization of the respiration protocols is needed for useful comparisons between studies.
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