Farm buildings and agri-food transitions in Southern France:Mapping dynamics using a stakeholder-based diagnosis

This study's goal is to present a dynamic portrait of the farm-buildings environment in Occitania,in Southern France,in order to better identify the transitions underway in agri-food chains.To this end,we undertook a ter-ritorial diagnosis based on actor statements,using 28 semi-structured interviews across Occitania.This diagnosis was enriched by graphic modelling,which enabled the spatialization of the dynamics described.We show that the process of standardisation of farm buildings prevails in the majority of the territories studied.This phenomenon has intensified in recent years with the development of vast photovoltaic-roofed sheds,accentuating the farm-land conversion and soil sealing.At the same time,in areas with strong environmental,landscape and heritage contexts,a'new adventure in farm buildings'(2022 survey)is taking shape.It is primarily driven by local short food chains,which rely on self-construction,repurposing and refurbishment,the sharing of tools and equipment,and which favour the use and reuse of local resources.This study shows that farm-buildings dynamics crystallise many challenges confronting the reterritorialisation of agriculture and food production.

Meat Quality Parameters and the Effects of Stress: A Review

The objective of this review was to address the stress effects on meat quality considering the main attributes that involve meat quality.Animal protein production has been increasing with global demand for meat with meat quality a major concern,especially for more demanding consumers who are looking for quality products to meet their needs.The quality of the meat is the result of what happened to the animal throughout the production chain,that is,good rearing conditions result in a better meat quality.Different types of stress can be harmful to animals due to inadequate or improper animal handling on farms,inadequate transport conditions,poorly maintained trucks and roads,and conditions that agitate animals can lead to bruising,thermal stress.The stress in animals occurs when they are in adverse conditions and can significantly compromise meat quality loss.As an example,stress can significantly affect meat quality parameters as drip loss(DL),meat color,change ultimate pH and cause meat anomalies.Among the main parameters of evaluation used for meat quality are color,characterized by luminosity(L^*,a^*,b^*),lipid and protein oxidation,pH,water holding capacity(WHC)and softness.Producing and processing high-quality meat is a challenge since it is necessary to apply methods that promote comfort in a complete sense,in a way that minimizes inducing significant stress.Based on the results presented it is remarkable that stress alters the meat quality,compromising the main attributes that involve it,like color,pH,WHC,Warner-Bratzler shear force(WBSF),lipid oxidation,among others andis necessary to avoid or reduce stress caused during the production of the animals to ensure a high-quality meat,resulting in greater profitability for the producer.

Inner Mongolia builds up world's class wind power generation farm

The first phase project of Huitengxile Wind Power Generation Farm in Inner Mongolia, with nine 600 kW wind power generators installed, was formally put into commercial operation on November 28,