Reviewing the situation of quinoa production in southern Bolivia, Jacobsen (2011, J. Agron. Crop Sci. 197: 390) argues that the booming export market has a negative effect on the environment and on the home consumption of quinoa, thereby leading to an environmental disaster in the region. In view of the scarcity of scientific knowledge on the rapid social and environmental dynamics in the region, we consider that Jacobsen’s review misrepresents the situation of quinoa production in southern Bolivia. Specifically, we argue that (i) the data presented by Jacobsen (2011, J. Agron. Crop Sci. 197: 390) do not support any drop in quinoa crop yield supposed to reflect soil degradation and (ii) his demonstration regarding home consumption of quinoa is ill‐founded from both a nutritional and a cultural point of view. We suggest that the diffusion of the arguments exposed by Jacobsen (2011, J. Agron. Crop Sci. 197: 390), because of their flaws, might have strong negative impacts on those concerned with sustainable food production and fair‐trade with developing countries. We conclude that, rather than reinforced agro‐technical controls on local farmers, the rising competition in the international quinoa market requires a shift towards an ethical economy and ethical research cooperation with quinoa producers.
[fre] Désormais, la production agricole dans un espace conçu comme ambivalent -entre privé et public- rend les odeurs inacceptables. Ce rejet est d'autant plus fort que les populations semblent découvrir une agriculture «industrialisée» et ses nuisances. Alors, l'absence des textes, comme ressources de régulation, accroît les rancœurs et développe les conflits. Avec une approche restreinte aux odeurs des effluents d'élevages et en faisant référence à des terrains situés en Dordo- gne, nous développons l'hypothèse que les carences de prise en compte légale de la question des odeurs en suscitent une gestion informelle, qui trouve aujourd'hui ses limites dans le cadre d'un espace rural en recomposition. [eng] HUSBANDRIES SMELLS . TEXTS, CONFLICTS AND LOCAL NEGOTIATIONS . From now, the space within agriculture is producing, is considered as ambivalent, between private and public. Thus, bad smells are unacceptabled. This reject is so hard as near as populations seem to discover industrial agriculture and its effects. Then, the lack of texts, as regulation means, increase resentments and conflicts. With an approch limited to husbandries waste smells and referins to fieldwork located in Dordogne, we développe the hypothesis that legal inefficiency taking care of smell problem lead to a non formal management, with find today its limits in a recombined rural space.
Is the agri-environment a future production ?
Has French farm policy taken a turn in environmental matters ? The growing importance of arrangements for implementing regulations and directives coming from Brussels has, over the past decade or so, permanently linked environmental questions and production practices. However, planned financial incentives amount to but a small part of aid for agriculture. For this reason, the modifications ensuing from these measures primarily serve to shed light on the institutional adjustments characteristic of agricultural policy, which range from broadening objectives to redefining various actors' concepts and practices.
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