T he aim of this chapter is to address the policy, regulatory, and ethical issues surrounding agricultural biotechnology. The chapter provides background on the shaping of policy and on regulatory frameworks within the European Union and the United States, among others, as well as outlining the global framework in which all countries have to operate. In addition it summarizes the United Nations...

The West Nile virus (WNv) continues to be a public health concern in North America. Dry weather appears to increase human WNv infection risks, but it is uncertain whether dry weather conditions exert similar effects on the corresponding equine WNv infection. This study assessed the effects of precipitation of the previous year and land cover diversity on the equine WNv risk of Mississippi, USA,...

Smallholder agricultural systems, strongly dependent on water resources and investments in shared infrastructure, make a significant contribution to food security in developing countries. These communities are being increasingly integrated into the global economy and are exposed to new global climate-related risks that may affect their willingness to cooperate in community-level collective acti...

This article examines potential climate change impacts on agricultural production at two locations in south-eastern Bavaria. The predicted changes of climatic variables lead to a higher yield variability and therefore increased production risk. Consequently, there is a need for adaptation strategies, especially an improved risk management, which will help farmers to cope with higher yield risks.

BACKGROUND Agricultural injuries are an important health concern for pediatric populations and particularly for children of pre school age. This study was conducted to estimate rates and determine patterns of fatal agricultural injury among young children exposed to agricultural hazards and to identify strategies to prevent such injuries. METHODS A national case series was assembled retrospec...

BACKGROUND Cancer and chronic disease are leading causes of death in the US with an estimated cost of $46 billion. METHODS We analyzed 11 million cause-specific deaths of US workers age 18-64 years in 30 states during 1985-1999, 2003-2004, and 2007 by occupation, industry, race, gender, and Hispanic origin. RESULTS The highest significantly elevated proportionate leukemia mortality was obse...

Agriculture is one of the most important aspects of human civilization. The usages of information and communication technologies (ICT) have significantly contributed in the area in last two decades. Internet of things (IOT) is a technology, where real life physical objects (e.g. sensor nodes) can work collaboratively to create an information based and technology driven system to maximize the be...

Modern methods of quantitative risk analysis, specifically value-at-risk and expected shortfall approach, provide comprehensive and coherent risk evaluation throughout entire distribution of outcomes and can take agricultural business from the realm of uncertainty to specific, quantified risks. Monte Carlo simulation with autocorrelation of standard deviation shows the best results in risk mode...

In order to guarantee high-quality agricultural products and food safety, efforts must be made to manage and maintain healthy agricultural environments under the myriad of risks that they face. Three central system components of sustainable agricultural management schemes are real-time monitoring, decision-making, and remote access. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems are a ...

Antimicrobial resistance has reached crisis stage in human medicine. The rapid acceleration of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the past 2 decades has overtaken new drug development, and patients and clinicians are faced with the prospect of untreatable infections. Although much of the problem stems from overuse and misuse of antimicrobial agents in human medicine, large-scale use of antimicrobi...