Cristino Gómez

To promote the development of livelihood strategies in order to overcome poverty while natural resources are preserved in rural communities, it is important to use a planning methodology considering existing as-sets. An experience in Zambrana Abajo showed how people became engaged with the natural capital to fa-ce and overcome poverty. (Resume d'auteur)

The aim of this paper is to develop a model of sustainable added value chain (SAVC). The model i) considers consumers expectations, ii) analyses the determinant producers´ factors to perform the SAVC and iii) ranks the agricultural subsectors according the SAVC. The value chain methodology was used to assess the sustainability of the agricultural value chain and develop the model. The model was tested in the Dominican Republic’s agricultural value chain. The results showed i) producers´ access to SAVC depends on the subsector, location and resources, ii) organic banana and avocado are the subsectors with the best potential SAVC while sweet potatoes and rice have the lowest potential and iii) producers are in an early stage to adopt the consumers´ expectations endangering SAVC. Using mixed methods to investigate the SAVC this paper provides an approach that reflects the complex and iterative nature of a real supply chains and can be used by researchers, policymakers and practitioners...

Mycoprotein is a fungal-based meat alternative sold in food retail in various countries around the world. The present study builds on a multi-national sample and uses partial least square structural equation modeling. The proposed conceptual model identified key factors that are driving and inhibiting consumer willingness to try, buy, and pay a price premium for mycoprotein. The results relate to the overall sample of 4088 respondents and to two subsample comparisons based on gender and meat consumption behavior. The results show that the biggest drivers of willingness to consume mycoprotein were healthiness, followed by nutritional benefits, safe to eat, and sustainability. Affordability and taste had mixed results. Willingness to consume mycoprotein was inhibited if nutritional importance was placed on meat and, to a lesser extent, if the taste, texture, and smell of meat were deemed important. Best practice recommendations address issues facing marketing managers in the food indu...

The aim of this paper is to develop a model of sustainable added value chain (SAVC). The model i) considers consumers expectations, ii) analyses the determinant producers ́ factors to perform the SAVC and iii) ranks the agricultural subsectors according the SAVC. The value chain methodology was used to assess the sustainability of the agricultural value chain and develop the model. The model was tested in the Dominican Republic’s agricultural value chain. The results showed i) producers ́ access to SAVC depends on the subsector, location and resources, ii) organic banana and avocado are the subsectors with the best potential SAVC while sweet potatoes and rice have the lowest potential and iii) producers are in an early stage to adopt the consumers ́ expectations endangering SAVC. Using mixed methods to investigate the SAVC this paper provides an approach that reflects the complex and iterative nature of a real supply chains and can be used by researchers, policymakers and practition...

Insects as an alternative protein source has gained traction for its advantageous environmental impact. Despite being part of many traditional food cultures, insects remain a novelty in Western cultures and a challenging concept for many. Even though plant-based protein alternatives are not facing the same barriers, product unfamiliarity and limited exposure hinder adoption, which could be detrimental to growth within the food sector. This study is aimed at evaluating plant- and insect-based proteins as alternative dietary proteins. A model indicating the drivers of consumer attitudes towards meat-alternative proteins and consumer willingness to try, buy, and pay a premium was tested. Further, 3091 responses were collected using surveys in nine countries: China, USA, France, UK, New Zealand, Netherlands, Brazil, Spain, and the Dominican Republic. Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyze the data. We found that consumer’s behavioral intentions towards both plant-based and in...

La estrategia de conservación de corredores biológicos de Costa Rica busca facilitar la conectividad ecológica entre las áreas protegidas. El reto de estas iniciativas consiste en promover un modelo de desarrollo territorial que permita la coexistencia y conservación de los recursos naturales con las estrategias de vida de la población humana. El Corredor Biológico Tenorio-Miravalles (CBTM) es una de las cinco iniciativas de este tipo más desarrolladas del país. Desde que se conformó su Consejo Local en el 2001, el CBTM ha implementado diversas acciones que incluyen educación ambiental, recuperación y conservación de fuentes de agua, promoción del turismo ecológico, sistemas productivos amigables con el ambiente y divulgación de sus acciones. Con un proceso ya en avance, es necesario contar con una herramienta de monitoreo y planeación holística que permita analizar logros, retos y lecciones aprendidas pero, sobre todo, que facilite la información para la toma de decisiones y contri...

La República Dominicana es uno de los países con más especies endémicas y nativas en El Caribe. Dos áreas protegidas de alta importancia por la diversidad de servicios ecosistémicos son la Reserva Científica Loma Quita Espuela y la Reserva Científica Loma Guaconejo. El presente estudio tuvo el objetivo de estimar la voluntad a pagar de los usuarios del agua de riego y para consumo humano proveniente de estas dos reservas para sugerir un mecanismo de cobro que permita a la población apoyar económicamente las acciones de conservación e investigación en las reservas. Se utilizó el método de valoración contingente, creando un mercado hipotético alrededor del recurso agua, tanto para el consumo humano como para riego. Los resultados muestran que las personas reconocen la importancia de las dos reservas científicas para la generación del agua que necesitan en sus actividades domésticas o agrícolas. En promedio cada familia está dispuesta a pagar RD$ 95.25 para apoyar las actividades de ca...

Agroforestry systems play an important role in the quality of life for millions of people. One of the most economically, socially, and environmentally important agroforestry systems is the association of Theobroma cacao L. with legume trees that form symbiosis with dinitrogen-fixing (N2) bacteria and recycle the nitrogen to the soil. Inga edulis Mart. is one of the most important shade tree species in Central America. Sharing of soil space by these species is poorly known; however, this information would be essential to understand the soil-plant relations and to improve the management of agroforestry systems. This study determined the distribution of fine roots of I. edulis and T. cacao in the soil to a depth of 50 cm during the least rainy (March) and the rainiest season (August) of the year. Two samplings were made, extracting and separating the fine roots from the different layers of the soil profile (0 - 2 cm, 2 - 6 cm, 6 -10 cm, and to 50 cm by 10-cm-layers). Length, biomass, and necromass of fine roots were measured to study their seasonality and to compare the rooting patterns of T. cacao and I. edulis. The season did not have a statistically significant effect on the length, biomass, nor necromass. The total fine roots length of T. cacao in 0 - 50 cm of soil was 26 762 km ha-1; 24 % of this length was found in the depth of 0 - 2 cm. The respective numbers were 22 026 km ha-1 and 23 % for I. edulis. The fine root biomass of T. cacao was 3 550 kg ha-1 and that of I. edulis 2 959 kg ha-1. There was no significant difference between the fine root production patterns of T. cacao and I. edulis; this indicates that both species share the same soil resources.