International Monetary Fund
IMF’s print and digital publications present the research, policy advice, and data on economic and financial sector issues at the global, regional, and country levels.
View Rights PortalIMF’s print and digital publications present the research, policy advice, and data on economic and financial sector issues at the global, regional, and country levels.
View Rights PortalWith 86 years publishing books covering a broad range of subject areas, Fondo de Cultura Económica is one of the leading publishing houses in Latin America. Over the course of the last twenty-nine years, the ten series of books for children and young adults published by our Children’s book division have included titles of the highest literary and visual quality, aimed at a critical and demanding readership. Our most innovative books have received important awards such as the New Horizons Award, and some of our titles have been listed in the White Ravens Catalogue and in the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) 50 Books/50 Covers. Several of our books for children and young adults have been translated into Chinese, Dutch, English, French, Galician, Czech, Slovenian, German, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Swedish, Romanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Japanese, Arabic, Greek and Turkish.
View Rights PortalThis book provides an insight into the background, lessons learned, and the methodology of facilitating the application of best-bet/best-fit agricultural technologies to smallholder farms in East and Southern Africa (ESA). All technologies highlighted within this book, except those on livestock feeding, were trialed and demonstrated in farmers' fields over an eight-year period [2012 - 2020] as part of the Feed the Future/USAID funded research-for-development Africa RISING ESA Project and supported by the CGIAR. The livestock feed technologies were compiled from Eastern Africa literature and included to offer a full set of technologies relevant for farmers in mixed farming systems. Topics covered include the introduction of resilient and nutrient-dense crops, better arrangement of crops in the field to amplify intercrop benefits, and the management of soils to improve soil fertility and minimize physical soil and nutrient loss. The publication also features technologies for postharvest loss reduction, livestock feeding, food processing, and in the later chapters, important expositions on how multiple technologies can be creatively integrated in a farming system and how key products of research can be taken to scale. In the first chapter and throughout the handbook, the importance of taking gender dynamics into account to ensure technologies produce equitable outcomes is emphasized. This book: provides evidence-based descriptions of sustainable agricultural intensification technologies that have been validated iteratively with smallholder farmers. a convenient, easy-to-read, and science-based 'how-to' guide for successful deployment of improved agricultural technologies that will ensure readers from development/scaling agencies save time and resources for research trials and instead focus on technology deployment. gives evidence of how building research and development partnerships can be a critical element for successful delivery and scaling up of agricultural technologies. The book is aimed primarily at development practitioners who seek new competences in taking new technologies to scale. However, the breadth of topics covered makes this book an essential resource for agricultural scientists as well as university and college students aspiring to apply systems thinking in future agricultural research and development work.
With a focus on the creation and distribution of packaged holidays, this text covers the fundamentals of business and the relationship between tour operators and destinations. With particular reference to the sustainability of both parties, it reviews the impacts and influences of tour operations and practices on destinations within the overriding context of tour operator responsibility. It addresses the entirety of this key component of the tourism sector, and reflects the shift in recent years from traditional 'sun, sea and sand' holiday to more bespoke packages. Taking into account tour operators as a growing factor among the major emergent economies of the world, this book is: - The first textbook to provide such in-depth content of tour operators and operations. - Written by authors with industry, research and teaching experience. - A wealth of information regarding popular eco, nature and adventure trips, as well as myriad niche and special interest products. Full of international and highly topical case studies, exercises and discussion questions, Tour Operators and Operations: Development, Management and Responsibility is a fundamental text for students of tourism.
We all die at the end offers a survey of contemporary end-of-the-world fiction, spanning literature, children's fiction, video games, theatre and film. It draws on eco-critical philosophy and narrative theory to show ways in which the climate crisis is reorienting storytelling in the face of foreseeable human extinction. In the process, it argues that such stories have a role to play in helping us come to terms with the severity and scale of the crisis that we face.
How much CO₂ is emitted by one serving of spaghetti bolognese? About 1.5 kilograms! This example shows what the meat industry and food logistics mean for the eco-balance of our food. But is it enough to switch to meat-free and dairy-free alternatives or local specialities? Dr. Malte Rubach takes a closer look and reviews our food regime and its impact on our climate. We live in a society influenced by technology and the rising consumption of resources. Rubach argues for a sensible attitude to food and shows what we can still eat with a clear conscience.
This book examines the effects that land-use changes (notably agricultural intensification, logging, soil erosion, urbanisation and mining) have on soil characteristics and processes in tropical and savannah environments. It covers a range of geographical regions and environments as impacts of land use change are often site specific. The effects of land use change on various aspects of the soil ecosystem from both a chemical and biological perspective will be examined.
Mollusc species currently constitute a major threat to sustainable agriculture. This threat is associated with cultivation of new crops, intensification of agricultural production systems and the spread through human trade and travel of species adapted to these modified environments. In some crops their significance is only now becoming apparent with the decline in the importance of other pest groups which can be effectively controlled. The book focuses on: toxicology of chemicals; deployment of molluscicides in baits; specific crop situations worldwide; current pest status of mollusc species and progress towards development of solutions.
‘Pro poor’ economic growth is widely recognised as an important means for reducing poverty in developing countries. With the majority of the world’s poor living in rural areas, agricultural intensification, with higher land and labour productivity from increased integration in input and output markets, is one way to expand income and livelihood opportunities for rural people. This book uses a new institutional economics perspective to review the effects of market liberalisation on service provision to smallholder farmers. In many parts of the world, particularly in Sub-saharan Africa, the private sector has failed to fill the gaps left by the collapse of state supported input and credit supply systems. Using case studies from Ghana, Tanzania and Pakistan, the book investigates the difficulties facing the private sector in supplying inputs and credit and the conditions required for sustainable private sector investment to the benefit of rural people. The analysis has important lessons for donor and government policy makers and for companies wishing to make commercial investments. It is invaluable for researchers, academics and development agencies concerned with rural and agricultural economics and development.
How to explain to a child that garbage pollutes the world's oceans? How to tell a child that plastic products should be abandoned for a long time? How to instill in a daughter or son love and a sense of responsibility for the planet Earth and bring up a conscious, happy, sincere generation of change? You have the answers to these questions in your hands. It is easy and interesting to save the world with "Eco-Alphabet". So let's not delay: let's make the planet beautiful!
The 'overtourism' phenomenon is defined as the excessive growth of visitors leading to overcrowding and the consequencial suffering of residents, due to temporary and often seasonal tourism peaks, that lead to permanent changes in lifestyles, amenities and well-being. Enormous tensions in overtourism affected destinations have driven the intensification of policy making and scholarly attention toward seeking antidotes to an issue that is considered paradoxical and problematic. Moving beyond the 'top 10 things you can do about overtourism', this book examines the evolution of the phenomenon and explores the genesis of overtourism as well as the system dynamics underpinning it. With a rigorous scientific approach the book uses systems-thinking and contemporary paradigms around sustainable development, resilience planning and degrowth; while considering global economic, socio-political, environmental
Based on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of tolerance of commonly encountered abiotic stresses in nature, this book covers the effect of increasing temperature, flood, drought, salinity, ozone and heavy metals such as arsenic and cadmium on plants. It discusses how these abiotic stresses can be managed in a cost-effective and eco-friendly way by utilising the alleviating mechanisms of microbes. Written in three sections, it considers each stress and their alleviation methods in detail, providing a rounded and vital resource on the subject for researchers and students of crop stress, management and biology.
Tillage agriculture has led to widespread soil and ecosystem degradation globally. This is especially so in Africa where traditional and modern tillage-based agricultural practices have become unsustainable due to severe disturbance and exploitation of natural resources, with negative impacts on the environment and rural livelihoods. In addition, agriculture in Africa today faces major challenges including increased costs of production and energy, the effects of climate change, and the lack of an effective paradigm for sustainable intensification, especially for small- and medium-size holdings. Africa is facing a serious challenge to food security and as a continent has not advanced towards eradicating hunger. In addition, the population is still growing much faster than on most other continents. This pressure has led to the emergence of no-till conservation agriculture as a serious alternative sustainable agriculture paradigm. In Africa, in recent years, conservation agriculture techniques and methods have spread to many countries, as greater development, education and research effort are directed towards its extension and uptake. This book is aimed at agricultural researchers and scientists, educationalists, and agricultural service providers, institutional leaders and policy makers working in the fields of sustainable agriculture and international development, and also at agroecologists, conservation scientists, and those working on ecosystem services. This book: · Focuses on research and development initiatives in Africa aimed at building resilient farming systems based on conservation agriculture principles and practices. · Summarises the status of conservation agriculture in Africa today and prospects for its future development in Africa as a basis for sustainable agriculture intensification. · Describes case studies showing the performance of conservation agriculture in Africa. ; Tillage agriculture has led to widespread soil and ecosystem degradation. This book reviews research and development initiatives in Africa aimed at building resilient farming systems. It summarises the status of conservation agriculture today, discusses prospects for future development and provides case studies showing its performance in Africa. ; 1: Conservation Agriculture in Africa: An Overview2: Weather-Proofing Agriculture with Conservation Agriculture3: Conservation Agriculture: Growing more with less – the future of sustainable intensification4: Empowering Smallholder Farmers with Profitable and Sustainable Farming using Conservation Agriculture – the Case of East Africa5: Implementing the Principles of Conservation Agriculture in Malawi: Crop Yields and Factors Affecting Adoption6: Innovation Systems and farmer perceptions regarding Conservation Agriculture in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique7: Conservation Agriculture in North Africa: Experiences, Achievements and Challenges8: How Can We Cover Millions of Hectares with Conservation Agriculture in Africa?9: Climate-Smart push-pull - A conservation agriculture technology for food security and environmental sustainability in Africa10: How to Make Conservation Agriculture Ever Green11: Mechanization of smallholder Conservation Agriculture in Africa: contributing resilience to precarious systems12: Conservation Agriculture in South Africa: Lessons from Case Studies13: Extending Conservation Agriculture benefits through Innovation Platforms14: Summing Up
‘Banana Systems in the Humid Highlands of Sub-Saharan Africa: Enhancing Resilience and Productivity’ addresses issues related to agricultural intensification in the (sub)humid highland areas of Africa, based on research carried out in the Great Lakes Region by the Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based Livelihoods in Central Africa.
Indem Eco den Bedeutungswandel des »Zeichen«-Begriffs darstellt, seine Wendepunkte in der Abfolge und in der Wechselbeziehung der Theorien und »Disziplinen« (der Philosophie, der Mathematik, der Ästhetik, der Linguistik etc.) erkundet, beschreibt er einen Hauptstrang der Denk- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte.
Overzealous and indiscriminate use of many synthetic pesticides during recent decades in the control of plant pests has resulted in a number of environmental and toxicological problems. Reducing the release of synthetic chemicals into the environment requires that alternative sources of chemicals are developed that can be used safely in the management of plant pests. Botanical antimicrobials derived from plants are currently recognised as biodegradable, systemic, eco-friendly and non-toxic to mammals and are thus considered safe. Their modes of action against pests are diverse. Natural compounds are well suited to organic food production in industrialised countries and can play greater roles in the protection of food crops in developing countries Some plant based antimicrobials (e.g. neem products, pyrethoids and essential oils) are already used to manage pest populations on a large scale. Plant scientists and agriculturists now devote significant attention to discovery and further development and formulation of novel plant products with antimicrobial activity.This book is the first to bring together relevant aspects of the basic and applied sciences of natural pesticides and discussed modern trends in the use of natural products in pest management.
This book has been developed from a workshop on Technological change in agriculture and tropical deforestation organised by the Center for International Forestry Research and held in Costa Rica in March, 1999. It explores how intensification of agriculture affects tropical deforestation using case studies from different geographical regions, using different agricultural products and technologies and in differing demographic situations and market conditions. Guidance is also given on future agricultural research and extension efforts.
This landmark new text charts the latest developments in economic research relevant to farm animal welfare. A range of global experts and key opinion leaders outline the challenges of achieving sustainable intensification whilst improving both climate change and animal welfare, and make policy-relevant recommendations for the future. Theoretical yet practical, the book examines: - Origins, cross-disciplinary interactions and the future of farm animal welfare; - Consumer demand and changing preferences as animal welfare rises up the social agenda; - The impact on animal welfare of political organisations such as the EU and WTO. An important resource for policy makers and animal welfare scientists and clinicians, this book provides a thought-provoking yet evidence-based review for all those interested in quantifying farm animal welfare.
“The Limits to Growth” was published by the Club of Rome in 1972 when the term “eco” was more defamatory than a real trend. That never worried Franz Alt and Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, a long-standing co-chairman of the Club of Rome. The two committed and renowned environmental experts have campaigned for decades for a change of heart in how we treat our planet. Their book delivers a stark diagnosis about the state of the Earth – though without giving up hope. They search from various angles for a way out of the global crisis: what is the blueprint for a democracy that addresses humanity’s needs and for a sustainable economy? Are we ready to learn from nature and to make not just human beings, but all living creatures our priority? Alt and von Weizsäcker offer courage, and their numerous examples set out a vision for the future that respects the planet’s eco-systems.
Less-favoured areas with limited agricultural potential or difficult access conditions, support 40 percent of the world's rural population suffering from chronic poverty. While agricultural innovations and rural development programs have begun to be implemented within developing countries, they do not address the specific obstacles faced by this large population. Instead, a targeted approach is needed to identify different resource management strategies for particular types of households and communities as well as creating balanced investments aimed at sustainable intensification of rural livelihoods. Such efforts have been the focus of the research program on Regional Food Security Policies for Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Economies (RESPONSE). Through the study of less-favoured areas in Africa, Latin America, and South and East Asia, development pathways allowing for the careful adjustment of resource use strategies at the field, farm-household and village level are explored.
»Tape Mark I« (1961) von Nanni Balestrini gilt als erstes Gedicht, das je auf einem Computer geschrieben wurde. Der Autor verfolgte jedoch einen radikaleren Plan: Er wollte am Rechner einen Liebesroman verfassen, in seine Bestandteile zerlegen und diese willkürlich kombinieren. 1966 erschien sein Tristano bei Feltrinelli – als »normales« Buch mit 10 Kapiteln zu jeweils 30 Abschnitten in einer festgelegten Reihenfolge. Vier Jahrzehnte später erlauben es die Fortschritte der digitalen Drucktechnik, das Buch so zu veröffentlichen, wie der Autor es ursprünglich geplante hatte: Per Computer werden aus den 30 Abschnitten der 10 Kapitel jeweils 20 ausgewählt und in eine neue, zufällige Reihenfolge gebracht. Somit ist jedes der 2.000 Exemplare dieser deutschen Originalausgabe ein Unikat. Alle Bände sind auf dem Umschlag fortlaufend nummeriert. Die ersten 5.999 Tristano-Romane sind in italienischer Sprache bei Derive Approdi (Rom) erschienen. Die deutsche Ausgabe beginnt mit der Nummer 6.000 und endet mit der Nummer 7.999. Im Anschluß sind englische und französische Ausgaben geplant. Mit einem Vorwort von Umberto Eco und einem Nachwort von Peter O. Chotjewitz.