An Empirical Study of Regulatory Capture in Kenya's Maize Seed Sector.

In sub-Saharan Africa, public sector breeding programs depend on local seed companies to deliver new maize varieties to farmers. Such varieties are needed to adapt cropping systems to climate change. While dozens of small and medium seed companies have emerged in the last two decades, the maize seed market in Kenya remains dominated by the parastatal seed company Kenya Seed Company, with multinational seed companies making major inroads. We assess whether parastatal and multinational seed companies have captured Kenya's seed laws to the detriment of local small and medium seed companies ('regulatory capture'), negatively effecting competition and the capacity of local companies to introduce new varieties in the hybrid maize seed market. We conducted in-depth interviews based on legal clauses with maize seed companies active in Kenya, as well as interviews with regulators and stakeholders. Results show that local companies do not feel disadvantaged compared to their multinational counterparts or the parastatal. However, all of them are wary of the entry of new actors. Moreover, through excessive procedures, the Kenyan government keeps a sovereign grasp over the seed sector. Despite frustrations with some of these excessive procedures, seed companies felt comfortable in the protective environment of the Kenyan seed market and were generally happy with the technical aspects of Kenya's seed laws, which are based on international norms. We suggest some improvements to make Kenyan seed laws more conducive to varietal turnover, in line with seed companies' suggestions and taking into account the political sensitivities of the Kenyan government.

Can I speak to the manager? The gender dynamics of decision-making in Kenyan maize plots.

Gender and social inclusion efforts in agricultural development are focused on making uptake of agricultural technologies more equitable. Yet research looking at how gender relations influence technology uptake often assumes that men and women within a household make farm management decisions as individuals. Relatively little is understood about the dynamics of agricultural decision-making within dual-adult households where individuals' management choices are likely influenced by others in the household. This study used vignettes to examine decision-making related to maize plot management in 698 dual-adult households in rural Kenya. The results indicated a high degree of joint management of maize plots (55%), although some management decisions-notably those related to purchased inputs-were slightly more likely to be controlled by men, while other decisions-including those related to hiring of labor and maize end uses-were more likely to be made by women. The prevalence of joint decision-making underscores the importance of ensuring that both men's and women's priorities and needs are reflected in design and marketing of interventions to support maize production, including those related to seed systems, farmer capacity building, and input delivery.

Influence of poverty concerns on demand for healthier processed foods: A field experiment in Mexico City.

Living in poverty can present cognitive biases that exacerbate constraints to achieving healthier diets. Better diets could imply food choice upgrades within certain food categories, such as electing processed foods with an improved nutritional profile. This study evaluated the influence of monetary and health concerns on the willingness to pay (WTP) for healthier processed foods in a low-income section of Mexico City. We employed priming techniques from the scarcity literature, which are applied for the first time to healthier food purchasing behaviours in low-income settings. Our predictions are based on a dual system framework, with choices resulting from the interaction of deliberative and affective aspects. The WTP was elicited through a BDM mechanism with 423 participants. Results showed that induced poverty concerns reduced the valuations of one of the study's healthier food varieties by 0.17 standard deviations. The latter effect did not differ by income level. The WTP for a healthier bread product but one with relatively high sugar and fat content was reduced by induced poverty concerns only among certain consumers without bread purchasing restrictions (78% of the sample). Potential mechanisms were assessed through regression analysis and structural equation modelling. The relationship between poverty concerns and WTP was mediated by increased levels of stress. While we could not rule out impact on cognitive load, it was not deemed a mediator in this study. Our findings signal that improvements in economic and psychological well-being among low-income consumers may aid to increase their demand for healthier processed foods.

Access to Healthy Wheat and Maize Processed Foods in Mexico City: Comparisons across Socioeconomic Areas and Store Types.

The contributions of processed foods to the overweight and obesity problem in Latin America are well known. Engagement with the private and public sectors on possible solutions requires deeper insights into where and how these products are sold and the related implications for diet quality. This article characterizes the diversity of wheat and maize processed foods (WMPFs) available to consumers in Mexico City. Data were gathered across nine product categories at different points of sale (supermarkets, small grocery stores, convenience stores) in high and low socioeconomic (SE) areas. We assessed WMPFs based on Nutri-Score profile, price, and health and nutrition claims. Roughly 17.4% of the WMPFs were considered healthy, of which 62.2% were pastas and breads. Availability of healthy WMPFs was scarce in most stores, particularly in convenience stores Compared to supermarkets in the low SE area, those in the high SE area exhibited greater variety in access to healthy WMPFs across all product categories. In the low SE area, healthy WMPFs were priced 16-69% lower than unhealthy WMPFs across product categories. The extensive variety of unhealthy WMPFs, the limited stock of healthy WMPFs in most retail outlets, and the confusing health and nutrition claims on packaging make it difficult for urban consumers to find and choose healthy WMPFs.

Demand-side challenges to increase sales of new maize hybrids in Kenya.

In Eastern and Southern Africa, as the public sector has retreated from maize seed production and the private sector has emerged to fill the resulting void, a key issue for researchers, governments and private donors has been the capacity of privately owned, typically small scale, seed businesses to effectively produce and distribute hybrid seed. Roughly two decades on, research and development programming continues to focus on supply side issues in supporting the maize seed industry to bring new varieties to farmers. Motivated by thinking on agri-food value chains, this article explores the potential for achieving a stronger demand orientation in programming to support the maize seed industry, a requirement for varietal turnover. In 2019 data were collected in Kenya from i) 80 agro-dealers on their relations with seed businesses and their marketing of maize seed, ii) 466 farmers on their seed choice and engagement with agro-dealers and iii) 8 seed companies on their distribution and sales strategies. Results confirmed the overarching supply-push orientation of the industry, characterized by limited innovation and risk taking, weak collaboration between actors, low margins for retailers, and limited investments in seed marketing. Farmers showed weak appetite for acquiring new seed products, preferring instead to purchase seeds that they knew from experience. Better strategies for building seed value chains will require deeper insights on stakeholders needs and strategies, to include the capacity of seed businesses and retailers to innovate in business management and marketing.

Perfil nutricional y estrategias de publicidad en el empaque de alimentos procesados de trigo y maíz en la Ciudad de México / Nutrient profile and marketing strategies of processed wheat and maize products in Mexico City

Resumen: Objetivo: Evaluar la asociación entre el perfil nutricional y las estrategias de publicidad de alimentos procesados de trigo y maíz (APTM) ofertados en puntos de venta de la Ciudad de México. Material y métodos: Se recolectó información del contenido nutricional y tipos de publicidad para doce categorías de APTM en 58 puntos de venta localizados en zonas de niveles socioeconómicos (NSE) bajo y alto. Resultados: El 8.5 y 10.7% de APTM en NSE bajo y alto fueron saludables, respectivamente. ≤12% de los APTM fueron saludables, excepto harinas (~30%) y pastas (~95%). Entre ambos NSE, de 28.3% a 31.9% de APTM usaron personajes, de 46.5% a 50.1% promociones y de 38.2% a 41.3% claims. Se encontraron asociaciones significativas (p<0.001) en el uso de publicidad de APTM no saludables en ambas zonas de NSE. Conclusiones: La mayoría de los APTM en venta fueron no saludables, y se ofertaron más en el NSE bajo. En ambos NSE la mayoría de APTM no saludables usa estrategias publicitarias para estimular su consumo.

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the nutrient profile and marketing techniques (MT) of processed wheat and maize foods (PWMF) sold in food retail outlets of Mexico City. Materials and methods: We collected information on nutrient content and MT for PWMF across twelve food categories from 58 retail outlets in high and low income areas of Mexico City. Results: Roughly 8.5% and 10.7% of PWMF, in low and high income areas were healthy, respectively. The ≤12% of PWMF were healthy, except for flours (~33%) and pastas (≥95%). Across both income areas, 28.3%-31.9% of WMPF employed characters, 46.5%-50.1% promotions and 38.2%-41.3% claims. A significant association (p<0.001) was found between the use of MT and unhealthy PWMF in both areas. Conclusion: The majority of PWMF available in the food retail sector were considered unhealthy, which were being more offered in low income areas. Across income areas, the majority of unhealthy WMPF employed MT to encourage consumption.

The geography of agricultural input markets in rural Tanzania.

The expansion of agro-dealers into remote areas can be seen as conducive to more smallholders adopting new technologies and inputs, to include improved seed and fertilizer. However, lower travel costs may be offset by agro-dealer decisions on stocking and pricing, reflecting both travel time from wholesale markets as well as the level of competition in localized areas. This paper investigates the geographical distribution of agro-dealers and related patterns of local market competition on the availability and prices of maize seed and fertilizer. We use a unique census of agro-dealers in eight districts of Tanzania (n = 299) which maps distribution points for agricultural inputs in these areas. Results suggested that despite a high number of agro-dealers, almost 30% of farmers lived more than an hour travel time from at least one agro-dealer. Instead of wide geographical coverage, agro-dealers tended to be found in clusters, with strong variation in cluster sizes between different districts. Overall, more remote agro-dealers faced less competition, resulting in fewer stocked product choices and charging higher prices to customers, even after controlling for travel time from district headquarters. Remote farmers are disadvantaged in their uptake of new technologies and critical production inputs due to lack of competition among agro-dealers. Our results suggest that highly aggregated and/or simplified measures of market access fail to reflect important heterogeneity in the market access conditions faced by farmers; a better understanding of distribution networks and competition is needed.

Gender inclusivity through maize breeding in Africa: A review of the issues and options for future engagement.

With the prioritization of social inclusion in agricultural development, donors and research centers have shown growing interest in gender-intentional varietal development and delivery. Breeding maize varieties that respond to gender-based differences in trait preferences now represents a central objective of maize R&D in the CGIAR and elsewhere. Drawing on literature on gender and maize seed adoption, variety preferences, and seed system constraints, we take stock of knowns and unknowns related to gender-responsive and gender-intentional maize breeding. While recent research on farmers' variety preferences across crops has yielded insights into gender-based differences, we find that evidence of gender-differentiated preferences for maize varieties remains inconclusive. Ultimately, we identify several research priorities to support gender-intentional maize breeding, including a more nuanced understanding of gender relations in maize production and maize seed decision-making, new and more gender-responsive approaches to measuring farmer preferences and seed demand more broadly, and research to address operational challenges in gender-intentional breeding. We close by identifying some institutional constraints to achieving impact through gender-intentional maize breeding.

Viewpoint: Agri-nutrition research: Revisiting the contribution of maize and wheat to human nutrition and health.

Research linking agriculture and nutrition has evolved since the mid-20th century. The current focus is on child-stunting, dietary diversity and 'nutrient-rich' foods in recognition of the growing burdens of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. This article concerns the global dietary and health contribution of major cereals, specifically maize and wheat, which are often considered not to be 'nutrient-rich' foods. Nevertheless, these cereals are major sources of dietary energy, of essential proteins and micronutrients, and diverse non-nutrient bioactive food components. Research on bioactives, and dietary fibre in particular, is somewhat 'siloed', with little attention paid by the agri-nutrition research community to the role of cereal bioactives in healthy diets, and the adverse health effects often arising through processing and manufacturing of cereals-based food products. We argue that the research agenda should embrace the whole nutritional contribution of the multiple dietary components of cereals towards addressing the triple burden of undernutrition, micronutrient malnutrition, overweight/obesity and non-communicable diseases. Agri-nutrition and development communities need to adopt a multidisciplinary and food systems research approach from farm to metabolism. Agriculture researchers should collaborate with other food systems stakeholders on nutrition-related challenges in cereal production, processing and manufacturing, and food waste and losses. Cereal and food scientists should also collaborate with social scientists to better understand the impacts on diets of the political economy of the food industry, and the diverse factors which influence local and global dietary transitions, consumer behavioural choices, dietary change, and the assessment and acceptance of novel and nutritious cereal-based products.

Exploring the marketing environment for maize seed in Kenya: how competition and consumer preferences shape seed sector development.

During the past decade, sizable investments have been made to strengthen maize (Zea mays L.) seed production in Eastern and Southern Africa by private seed companies. However, efforts have generally overlooked downstream issues, such as how seed companies market their products and position their business in a competitive market. This paper assesses competition and customer preferences in Kenya at the retail level for varieties from the parastatal, private domestic and international companies. Data were collected from agro-dealer surveys (n = 80) and farmer intercept interviews (n = 377). Compared to the market leader, the parastatal Kenya Seed Company, private domestic and international companies provide greater value to farmers by selling varieties that are, on average, 10 years younger. However, these companies offer few late-maturing varieties, thus giving the parastatal a near monopoly in that market segment. Kenya Seed Company also excels at being present at all sales locations with their varieties. If private domestic companies focus more on smallholders with lower budgets (including travel budget), they should consider the most cost-effective ways to extend their networks to remote areas as well as compete with the lower prices of Kenya Seed Company. Modern breeding programs should explicitly consider these marketing challenges when designing strategies for seed production and engagement with seed companies.

Sticking with the old seed: Input value chains and the challenges to deliver genetic gains to smallholder maize farmers.

The Kenyan maize seed sector exhibits high hybrid adoption rates, a growing number of seed companies, and an extensive agro-dealer network. Nonetheless, maize yields remain low and uptake of new, stress-tolerant varieties has been disappointing. This article investigates interactions in maize seed value chains in Kenya, and decisions made by agro-dealers, farmers, and seed companies, to gain a better understanding of how to encourage the uptake of new, stress-tolerant varieties. Data were collected during the 2019 seed-purchasing season from Kenyan seed companies (n = 8), agro-dealers (n = 80), and farmers immediately following their seed purchase (n = 466). Most agro-dealers had a wide offer of seed products available, but seed companies' engagement with them was limited and marketing efforts were directly focused on farmers. Only a fraction of farmers used the agro-dealer environment to guide their decision-making. However, when agro-dealers engaged with farmers, they influenced varietal selection in 80% of the cases. Agro-dealers were one of the key information outlets about maize seed varieties. Seed company engagement with agro-dealers and in-store promotions (push marketing) should be further explored to improve returns on investments in seed systems.

Perfil nutricional y estrategias de publicidad en el empaque de alimentos procesados de trigo y maíz en la Ciudad de México.

Objetivo. Evaluar la asociación entre el perfil nutricional y las estrategias de publicidad de alimentos procesados de trigo y maíz (APTM) ofertados en puntos de venta de la Ciudad de México. Material y métodos. Se recolectó información del contenido nutricional y tipos de publicidad para doce categorías de APTM en 58 puntos de venta localizados en zonas de niveles socioeconómicos (NSE) bajo y alto. Resultados. El 8.5 y 10.7% de APTM en NSE bajo y alto fueron saludables, respectivamente. ≤12% de los APTM fueron saludables, excepto harinas (~30%) y pastas (~95%). Entre ambos NSE, de 28.3% a 31.9% de APTM usaron personajes, de 46.5% a 50.1% promociones y de 38.2% a 41.3% claims. Se encontraron asociaciones significativas (p<0.001) en el uso de publicidad de APTM no saludables en ambas zonas de NSE. Conclusiones. La mayoría de los APTM en venta fueron no saludables, y se ofertaron más en el NSE bajo. En ambos NSE la mayoría de APTM no saludables usa estrategias publicitarias para estimular su consumo.

Fruits and vegetables are incorporated into home cuisine in different ways that are relevant to promoting increased consumption.

Fruits and vegetables are essential for healthy life. We examined the fruits and vegetables consumption by 240 caregivers and their children aged 1-17 years in peri-urban Lima, and the ways that they were incorporated into local cuisine. A randomized cross-sectional household survey collected information on the weight of all foods eaten the previous day (24 h) including fruits and vegetables, their preparation and serving sizes. Fruit and vegetable consumption was low and very variable: fruit intake was mean 185.2 ± 171.5 g day-1 , median 138 g day-1 for caregivers and 203.6 ± 190.6 g day-1 and 159 g day-1 for children, vegetable intake was mean 116.9 ± 94.0 g day-1 median 92 g day-1 for caregivers, mean 89.3 ± 84.7 g day-1 median 60 g day-1 for children. Only 23.8% of children and 26.2% of caregivers met the recommended ≥400 g of fruit or vegetable/day. Vegetables were mainly eaten either as ingredients of the main course recipe, eaten by about 80% of caregivers and children, or as salads eaten by 47% of caregivers and 42% of children. Fruits were most commonly eaten as whole fresh fruits eaten by 68% of caregivers and 75% of children. In multivariate analysis of the extent to which different presentations contributed to daily fruit and vegetable consumption, main courses contributed most to determining vegetable intake for caregivers, and for children, main course and salads had similar contributions. For fruit intake, the amount eaten as whole fruit determined total fruit and total fruit plus vegetable intake for both caregivers and children. Local cuisine should be considered in interventions to promote fruit and vegetable consumption. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Operating theatre time, where does it all go? A prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of surgeons and anaesthetists in predicting the time it will take them to complete an operation or procedure and therefore explain some of the difficulties encountered in operating theatre scheduling. DESIGN: Single centre, prospective observational study. SETTING: Plastic, orthopaedic, and general surgical operating theatres at a level 1 trauma centre serving a population of about 370,000. PARTICIPANTS: 92 operating theatre staff including surgical consultants, surgical registrars, anaesthetic consultants, and anaesthetic registrars. INTERVENTION: Participants were asked how long they thought their procedure would take. These data were compared with actual time data recorded at the end of the case. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Absolute difference between predicted and actual time. RESULTS: General surgeons underestimated the time required for the procedure by 31 minutes (95% confidence interval 7.6 to 54.4), meaning that procedures took, on average, 28.7% longer than predicted. Plastic surgeons underestimated by 5 minutes (-12.4 to 22.4), with procedures taking an average of 4.5% longer than predicted. Orthopaedic surgeons overestimated by 1 minute (-16.4 to 14.0), with procedures taking an average of 1.1% less time than predicted. Anaesthetists underestimated by 35 minutes (21.7 to 48.7), meaning that, on average, procedures took 167.5% longer than they predicted. The four specialty mean time overestimations or underestimations are significantly different from each other (P=0.01). The observed time differences between anaesthetists and both orthopaedic and plastic surgeons are significantly different (P<0.05), but the time difference between anaesthetists and general surgeons is not significantly different. CONCLUSION: The inability of clinicians to predict the necessary time for a procedure is a significant cause of delay in the operating theatre. This study suggests that anaesthetists are the most inaccurate and highlights the potential differences between specialties in what is considered part of the "anaesthesia time."

Weight change 1 year following total knee or hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Pain secondary to osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip or knee is often used as a reason to not lose weight prior to total knee or hip arthroplasty (TKA, THA). This study followed the weight change of patients who subjectively increased their activity levels 1 year following TKA or THA. METHODS: We reviewed the records and prospectively followed the weight of 84 patients 1 year following surgery. The pre and postoperative weight were compared, including separate 10 kg categories (e.g. 60.1-70.0 kg). RESULTS: All patients had improved mobility as evaluated by either the clinical notes or a patient-based questionnaire. At 1 year, there was no significant change in weight; only an insignificant small increase in weight was seen. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that lower preoperative activity levels are not the cause for the inability to lose weight or that the gain in mobility achieved by joint replacement, of its own, does not result in weight loss.