The ways in which the rapid urbanization of the Global South is transforming food systems and food supply chains, and the food security of urban populations is an often neglected topic. This international group of authors addresses this profound transformation from a variety of different perspectives and disciplinary lenses, providing an important corrective to the dominant view that food insecurity is a rural problem requiring increases in agricultural production.

Taking into account toxicity levels at normal consumption levels, intake per kg bodyweight and other acknowledged considerations, each chapter in this book will be based on one or more proven examples. It is intended to provide specific examples and potential improvements to the safety of the world's food supply, while also increasing the amount of food available to those in undernourished countries. This book is designed to to provide science-based tools for improving legislation and regulation. - Reduce amount of food destroyed due to difference in regulations between nations - Positively impact the time-to-market of new food products by recognizing benefit of "one rule that applies to all" - Use the comparison of regulations and resulting consequences to make appropriate, fully-informed decisions - Employ proven science to obtain global consensus for regulations - Understand how to harmonize test protocols and analytical methods for accurate measurement and evaluation - Take advantage of using a risk/benefit based approach rather than risk/avoidance to maximize regulatory decisions

This explorative, primary data-based study provides findings on the first nearly two decades of the emerging supermarket industry in Bangladesh, in particular its capital city Dhaka. The objective is thereby twofold: On the one hand, the study traces the so-far development of supermarkets in Dhaka, and Bangladesh, and depicts current hindering factors to the local supermarket industry’s further development, as well as supermarket managers’ measures to tackle these challenges. On the other hand, the study explores the (potential) implications of emerging supermarkets for other food retailers on-site. To this end, the study’s focus lies on so-called wet markets (Bengali: kacha bazars) as an exemplary “traditional” food retail format. Here, the study strives for the determination of supermarkets’ competitive pressure on kacha bazars in Dhaka, and kacha bazar vendors’ corresponding (proactive) coping strategies. The study is based on theoretical and conceptional reflections on markets and market structures, the fundamentals of retail management and modern food retail, and research findings on supermarkets’ structural impact on food retail markets in other country contexts.

Around the world, food has probably never been as safe as it is today. However, periodic crises have aroused consumer anxiety and contributed to a general lack of confidence in the agro-industrial system. The diverse nature of these crises increases governments’ and industry difficulties in predicting and tackling them. This book addresses the relations between risk and food theoretically and empirically through case studies from Japan and China. Part I of the book examines the interaction between theoretical aspects and decision-making. The book theorizes the links between food and risk and analyses the decision-making process in light of risks and governance. The relationship between food risks, governance systems and economic decisions is assessed to explore ideas such as the "pact of nutrition" and the theory of weak signals. Part II examines case studies from China and Japan in the aftermaths of recent crises such as the milk powder scandal in China and food safety following the Fukushima nuclear accident and tsunami in Japan. This book will be an important resource for scholars, academics and policy-makers in the fields of sociology, economics, food studies, Chinese studies and Japanese studies and theories of risks and safety.

Agricultural mechanization in Africa south of the Sahara — especially for small farms and businesses — requires a new paradigm to meet the needs of the continent’s evolving farming systems. Can Asia, with its recent success in adopting mechanization, offer a model for Africa? An Evolving Paradigm of Agricultural Mechanization Development analyzes the experiences of eight Asian and five African countries. The authors explore crucial government roles in boosting and supporting mechanization, from import policies to promotion policies to public good policies. Potential approaches presented to facilitating mechanization in Africa include prioritizing market-led hiring services, eliminating distortions, and developing appropriate technologies for the African context. The role of agricultural mechanization within overall agricultural and rural transformation strategies in Africa is also discussed. The book’s recommendations and insights should be useful to national policymakers and the development community, who can adapt this knowledge to local contexts and use it as a foundation for further research.

Research and legislation in food microbiology continue to evolve, and outbreaks of foodborne disease place further pressure on the industry to provide microbiologically safe products. This second volume in the series Advances in Microbial Food Safety summarises major recent advances in this field, and complements volume 1 to provide an essential overview of developments in food microbiology. Part one opens the book with an interview with a food safety expert. Part two provides updates on single pathogens, and part three looks at pathogen detection, identification and surveillance. Part four covers pathogen control and food preservation. Finally, part five focuses on pathogen control management. - Extends the breadth and coverage of the first volume in the series - Includes updates on specific pathogens and safety for specific foods - Reviews both detection and management of foodborne pathogens