Food Safety: Inferences for the Scientific Community
Abstract: This paper examines the process of determining food safety and its implications for the scientific community. Of the two main categories of food safety, microorganisms and chemicals, the paper focuses on the latter. The importance of chemical use in agriculture is discussed along with public perceptions of such practices. The rapid introduction of new chemicals has out-paced the scientific community's ability to test for toxicity and interpret its results. Testing and interpreta tion is confounded by the natural presence of chemicals in food. Limitations of animal experiments are discussed along with problems of calculating and communicating risk, the latter being subject to public fear and outrage. The scientific community's e fforts to inform the public have been frustrated by food safety groups that aim to influence public perceptions of risk. The paper argues that the scientific community has an obligation to educate the public and policy-makers of the importance of good sc ience in food safety.
Key Words and Phrases: Food safety, Food chemicals, Risk assessment, Food science, Science education
Abstract: Participants in the Louisiana sugar cane industry have provided little information related to the efficiency of sugar processing operations. Using panel data from the population of Louisiana sugar processors, alternative model spec ifications are estimated using stochastic frontier methods to measure the technical efficiency of individual sugar factories. Results suggest the Louisiana sugar processing industry is characterized by a constant returns to scale Cobb-Douglas processing function with high technical efficiency.
Key Words and Phrases: Technical efficiency, Stochastic frontier, Resource allocation, Sugar cane processing
Abstract: Results from a stratified, random, cross-sectional mail survey of 272 North Dakota agribusinesses found limited evidence of external credit rationing. Only 8 percent of the firms would be willing to pay a premium for additional fin ancing. Consequently, credit rationing that did exist was internal. The study also provided information on the financial characteristics of agribusiness firms operating in the input, output and service sectors.
Key Words and Phrases: Capital, Credit rationing, Financing
Abstract: This study examines the effect of various factors on the decision to consume home-delivered foods. The results of the study suggest that the decision to order food for home delivery is determined by gender, price consciousness, num ber of adults and children in the household, employment status, education level, ownership of microwave oven and, to some extent race, age and income. Specifically, the results suggest that less price-conscious, employed, higher-educated, white males wit hin the 25 to 34 age group, in a household with a microwave oven, with smaller number of adults, but with children are more likely to purchase home-delivered food than others.
Key Words and Phrases: Consumption, Home-delivered food, Logit analysis
Abstract: This case study examines the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in two food processing firms. The two firms, which are separate divisions of a large food processor, used different implementation strategies, management leadership and employee empowerment. These strategies are compared on a st rengths-and-weaknesses basis. The analysis shows that the context in which TQM is implemented is an important factor when planning such a dramatic strategic change and that the i mplementation of TQM or any other managerial innovation requires building teamwork and devotion of significant resources by all stakeholders in a company.
Key Words and Phrases: Total Quality Management, TQM implementation, Food processing, Teamwork, Statistical process control, Management leadership, Employee empowerment
Abstract: Environmental concerns about pesticide usage in traditional production systems are prompting vegetable producers to consider alternative systems. Research results from a multi-year study on egg- plant in southern Georgia compare two al ternative production technologies to the conventional rye cover crop technology. Alternative technologies utilize beneficial insect principles as substitutes for conventional pesticide controls. Using field data, eggplant production budgets are deve loped to generate net return estimates under each system. Yield and profitability results strongly favor the traditional rye cover system. Cost reductions achieved by using alternative technologies are not sufficient to offset the reduced yields and ret urns generated from these technologies. Cash input requirements for alternative systems suggest potential for limited resource producers.
Key Words and Phrases: Alternative systems, Budgets, Eggplant,
Expected value, Limited resource, Stochastic dominance