7 research outputs found
Social-ecological resilience in organic and non-organic cocoa farming systems in the Yungas of Bolivia
No full textCocoa based small scale agriculture is the basic livelihood of most farming families in the region of Alto Beni in the Bolivian Andes. Cocoa cultivation is affected by climate change impacts, soil degradation, pests and plant diseases, and insecure cocoa prices. From a sustainable development point of view, cocoa farms need thus to become more resilient. Resilience refers to the ability within a farming system to reduce the sensitivity to stress factors while maintaining productivity, the capacity for self-organisation, to learn, and to adapt to change. Resilience can be subdivided in the three features buffer capacity, self-organisation, and adaptive capacity. This study addresses differences in resilience of organic and non-organic cocoa farms, and the most important features that influence social-ecological resilience in cocoa farming systems.
Indicators for resilience were defined in a transdisciplinary process with local experts and cocoa farmers in a workshop and focus groups. Indicators for buffer capacity were tree diversity, crop diversity, and the diversity of income sources of the farming family. Indicators for self-organisation were the interaction with farmers’ organisations, their subsistence level, cocoa yields, and the annual family income. Adaptive capacity was assessed by inquiring the number of courses on cocoa cultivation family members had participated in, and the number of information sources they had. We interviewed 52 certified and non-certified households and conducted an in-depth participant observation with 15 households from the sample.
It resulted that organic farms in the research area were more diversified (tree species in cocoa plots: 4.4 vs. 1.9, crop diversity: 8.4 vs. 6.7 crop varieties on cocoa farms), and had higher cocoa yields (506 kg ha−1 yr−1 vs. 335.8 kg ha−1 yr−1, both without external inputs). Annual family income was significantly higher on organic farms with 7530.2 vs. 6044.4 USD. Organic farmers had participated in more courses on cocoa cultivation which may be the main reason for the better performance of their farms. We conclude that resilience building was enhanced by local organisations that organise organic certification and go further than basic organic certification principles by providing extension services, tree seedlings, capacity building, and certain social insurances
Building Farm Resilience in a Changing Climate: Challenges, Potentials, and Ways Forward for Smallholder Cocoa Production in Bolivia
No full textMigration from the Bolivian Altiplano to the Amazonian lowlands poses a number of challenges related to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Alto Beni, located in the Bolivian Yungas at the interface between two altitudinal zones, is a critical area in this respect. Unsustainable land use practices are leading to soil erosion, shallow landslides, as well as forest and biodiversity loss. Settlers from the Altiplano see themselves confronted with an ecosystem that does not support the agricultural systems they were once used to. Soil degradation and government incentives have promoted migration further into the rainforest, creating pressure on local indigenous groups and biodiversity. The best-suited land use system for the fragile soils and ecosystems in Alto Beni is diversified agroforestry, which is often combined with a cash crop such as cocoa or coffee. Many farmers practising such a system have organic certification and achieve a premium price for their cash crops. However, cocoa farmers in Alto Beni face many challenges. Prolonged droughts, heavy rains, floods, increased heat, and plant diseases are mentioned most by cocoa farmers. In this study we compile results from a research project on the resilience of organic and nonorganic cocoa farms to external risk factors and discuss them in the context of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and migration. Cocoa farmers who belong to a cooperative and had organic certification achieved higher resilience indicators than others, because they tended to cultivate cocoa in diversified agroforestry systems. Cooperatives fostered agroforestry through capacity-building, knowledge exchange, extension services, and awareness-raising. They also provided social insurances and enhanced mutual support among their members. Challenges within established cooperatives such as lack of technical support to farmers and knowledge exchange within and between organizations can hamper resilience building. Finally, the inclusion of new farmers into cocoa cooperatives seems critical to reducing outmigration and the reproduction of non-sustainable practices in other fragile areas. Multiple challenges remain to be addressed, however, including the enhancement of solidarity economy networks and their extension sectors other than export crops
Computational study on the action of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids against Echinococcus granulosus EgFABP1
No full textThe zoonotic infection caused by tapeworms Echinococcus is a neglected tropical disease in poor regions with limited access to suitable sanitary conditions. Hydatid cysts produced by Echinococcus granulosus use fatty-acid-binding proteins (FABP) to obtain the fatty acids and cholesterol necessary for their survival from the host. In this work, we analyzed the behaviour of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids against EgFABP1. To achieve this goal, we used quantum mechanical analysis by density functional theory, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy estimations by MM/GBSA. This study has allowed to elucidate, among a variety of fatty acids, the promising action of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid against EgFABP1. Hence, these results suggest that the action of polyunsaturated fatty acids could play an interesting role in detecting early Echinococcus granulosu
In silico analysis of the action of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids against Echinococcus granulosus fatty-acid-binding protein 1 [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
No full textBackground The zoonotic infection caused by tapeworms Echinococcus is a neglected tropical disease in poor regions with limited access to suitable sanitary conditions. Hydatid cysts produced by Echinococcus granulosus use fatty-acid-binding proteins (FABP) to obtain the fatty acids and cholesterol necessary for their survival from the host. In this work, we analyzed the behaviour of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids against EgFABP1. Methods We used computational biology and chemistry techniques and binding free energy estimations by molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA). Results This research has enabled us to clarify the EgFABP1 isoforms identified in the database, suggesting their potential involvement in diverse cellular activities of Echinococcus granulosus. Conversely, examining the global and local chemical reactivity of 14 fatty acids revealed that liposolubility is contingent upon the degree of unsaturation in the FAs. Additionally, FAs exhibited acceptable levels of oral absorption and bioavailability. The binding of EgFABP1 with FAs analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation showed us that these are highly stable, where the best affinity was with docosahexaenoic acid. Conclusions Our results suggest that the action of fatty acids could play an interesting role in detecting early Echinococcus granulosus
Crecimiento personal y buenas prácticas comunitarias
No full textEl enfoque en la promoción de factores de protección de la salud mental se ha consolidado como un pilar fundamental dentro de la psicología y la salud comunitaria, dado que contribuye a la prevención y a la mejora integral del bienestar de los individuos y las comunidades. Este enfoque no solo se limita a abordar los factores de riesgo y las patologías, sino que pone un énfasis crucial en aquellos elementos que favorecen la resiliencia, el desarrollo positivo y la convivencia armoniosa.
La actitud y conducta despatologizante son esenciales en este contexto, ya que permiten cambiar la percepción sobre la salud mental, pasando de un modelo centrado en la enfermedad a uno que favorece el reconocimiento de la salud como un proceso dinámico, interconectado con el entorno y los recursos de la comunidad. Esta transformación de la mirada permite que las personas, las familias y las comunidades se sientan empoderadas para enfrentar los retos cotidianos, reduciendo el estigma asociado a los trastornos psicológicos y promoviendo la inclusión.
El crecimiento postraumático resalta la capacidad humana para experimentar transformación positiva tras eventos adversos. En lugar de ser una consecuencia inevitable del trauma, este fenómeno invita a repensar el sufrimiento como un punto de partida para el aprendizaje, la introspección y la reconstrucción de la identidad personal. Desde esta perspectiva, la salud mental se ve como un proceso de crecimiento continuo y adaptabilidad, no como una condición estática.
Adicionalmente, el fomento de hábitos saludables y buenas prácticas de interacción social y comunitaria refuerzan la importancia de las relaciones interpersonales y el cuidado físico y emocional. La construcción de una red de apoyo comunitario, basada en principios de empatía, solidaridad y colaboración, es un elemento clave en la creación de entornos propicios para el bienestar. Estos hábitos y prácticas no solo ayudan a prevenir trastornos mentales, sino que también fortalecen la cohesión social y contribuyen a un sentido de pertenencia y propósito común.
Este enfoque integrador es fundamental para la psicología y la salud comunitaria, pues no solo ofrece una respuesta a las necesidades de las personas afectadas por trastornos mentales, sino que también pone en marcha una estrategia preventiva que involucra a toda la comunidad. Al promover factores protectores y cultivar conductas saludables, se favorece un entorno en el que cada individuo puede alcanzar su máximo potencial, tanto a nivel personal como colectivo.
En este sentido, este trabajo contribuye significativamente al desarrollo de una salud mental colectiva más robusta y al fortalecimiento de las comunidades, mostrando que la salud mental no es un reto aislado, sino una responsabilidad compartida que requiere la colaboración activa de todos los miembros de la sociedad.
Geovanny Genaro Reivan Orti
Crecimiento personal y buenas prácticas comunitarias
No full textEl enfoque en la promoción de factores de protección de la salud mental se ha consolidado como un pilar fundamental dentro de la psicología y la salud comunitaria, dado que contribuye a la prevención y a la mejora integral del bienestar de los individuos y las comunidades. Este enfoque no solo se limita a abordar los factores de riesgo y las patologías, sino que pone un énfasis crucial en aquellos elementos que favorecen la resiliencia, el desarrollo positivo y la convivencia armoniosa.
La actitud y conducta despatologizante son esenciales en este contexto, ya que permiten cambiar la percepción sobre la salud mental, pasando de un modelo centrado en la enfermedad a uno que favorece el reconocimiento de la salud como un proceso dinámico, interconectado con el entorno y los recursos de la comunidad. Esta transformación de la mirada permite que las personas, las familias y las comunidades se sientan empoderadas para enfrentar los retos cotidianos, reduciendo el estigma asociado a los trastornos psicológicos y promoviendo la inclusión.
El crecimiento postraumático resalta la capacidad humana para experimentar transformación positiva tras eventos adversos. En lugar de ser una consecuencia inevitable del trauma, este fenómeno invita a repensar el sufrimiento como un punto de partida para el aprendizaje, la introspección y la reconstrucción de la identidad personal. Desde esta perspectiva, la salud mental se ve como un proceso de crecimiento continuo y adaptabilidad, no como una condición estática.
Adicionalmente, el fomento de hábitos saludables y buenas prácticas de interacción social y comunitaria refuerzan la importancia de las relaciones interpersonales y el cuidado físico y emocional. La construcción de una red de apoyo comunitario, basada en principios de empatía, solidaridad y colaboración, es un elemento clave en la creación de entornos propicios para el bienestar. Estos hábitos y prácticas no solo ayudan a prevenir trastornos mentales, sino que también fortalecen la cohesión social y contribuyen a un sentido de pertenencia y propósito común.
Este enfoque integrador es fundamental para la psicología y la salud comunitaria, pues no solo ofrece una respuesta a las necesidades de las personas afectadas por trastornos mentales, sino que también pone en marcha una estrategia preventiva que involucra a toda la comunidad. Al promover factores protectores y cultivar conductas saludables, se favorece un entorno en el que cada individuo puede alcanzar su máximo potencial, tanto a nivel personal como colectivo.
En este sentido, este trabajo contribuye significativamente al desarrollo de una salud mental colectiva más robusta y al fortalecimiento de las comunidades, mostrando que la salud mental no es un reto aislado, sino una responsabilidad compartida que requiere la colaboración activa de todos los miembros de la sociedad.
Geovanny Genaro Reivan Orti
