Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Meat supply'

In this writing we will analyse the possibility to apply blockchain technology in food sector to improve food traceability and transparency, trying to go beyond the hype and to examine the economic and operational implications of such a choice. The high interest towards this technology in this particular field is due to the increasing demand of secure and transparent information about the food we purchase and the growing curiosity about its history and provenience. To assess whether this interest is real and to what extent people understand the potential of blockchain technology application and is concerned about the information it could provide, we will conduct a market research to understand how this forthcoming phenomena is perceived by people and how it will influence purchasing behaviour. On the other hand, the implementation of this technology is particular since it requires to involve multiple actors on the supply chain, exceeding the traditional barriers of information sharing between companies. The study will consider both customer and enterprise points of view to find a balance point between the expected outcomes and the efforts required, paying particular attention to operational issues that companies need to face starting this kind of project with focus on the application of this technology in the beef meat supply chain. Moreover, we will see the economic implications that could arise from the application of blockchain technology as a consequence of disintermediating, speeding up processes and contrasting transaction costs.

The study has defined the position with regard to existing and evolving United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) legislation, world trade agreements and institutions, global trade in chicken meat and market Quality Assurance (QA) standards in a series of peer-reviewed published papers and working papers. The development of global food supply chains can be a key driver in the harmonisation of international legislation, product and private assurance standards. Indeed compliance with legislation and retailer requirements has been a key market driver in the development of private assurance standards. The key objectives of the research were to examine current assurance schemes within the integrated poultry meat supply chain and the influence of regulation and external market drivers within the integrated poultry meat supply chain; develop and test a QA model for the poultry meat supply chain with a view to both baseline and higher level standards including the development of a business benchmarking system utilising a pre-requisite programme (PRP) and key performance indicators (KPI); and to assess the ability of the QA model to deliver regulatory and policy compliance whilst meeting varied business and market needs for an internationally traded product. This study has shown that a QA model is capable of providing a framework within which the poultry meat supply chain can operate. The legislative and performance requirements have been translated into quantifiable performance indicators which can be used to measure supply chain performance. This can assist differentiation of products at the point of consumption and give a quantifiable measure of the extrinsic value that has been added. This approach will therefore aid the communication of the benefits of differing methods of poultry meat production and afford the consumer the opportunity to make a more informed choice when purchasing meat products.

Rapid growth within the Australian alpaca industry has increased interest in alpaca meat as a viable alternative to traditional fibre production, driving research into alpaca meat eating quality. However, product quality and inconsistency are limiting market growth. Meat quality is impacted by many factors throughout the supply chain, including pre-slaughter handling, processing conditions, packaging and cooking. In order to improve quality, the impact of these factors on alpaca needs to be considered. In order to address these knowledge gaps and maximize quality and efficiency throughout the alpaca meat supply chain, the following research was conducted. Three separate studies were conducted across three consecutive years in order to investigate the thesis aims. The first study (Chp 2) sought to investigate the effects of season and post-transport resting on alpaca meat quality. A total of 160 castrated male huacaya alpacas (23 ± 1 month of age) were transported to slaughter over a 12-month period. Animals were transported in two groups of 20 per season to generate 8 replicate trials across the year. Immediately following transport, animals were allocated to one of two treatment groups at the abattoir (overnight pre-slaughter lairage or a seven-day pre-slaughter rest period with ad lib access to feed and water). Animals were processed under commercial conditions and chilled for 24 h prior to the removal of the m. Longissimus thoracis (LT) from the right-hand side of each carcase. Results indicated that alpaca meat quality varied across the year, with increased moisture loss through summer and spring and a trend toward improved summer tenderness. Resting alpacas for 7 days pre-slaughter had a negative effect on meat quality, with reduced muscle glycogen content and tenderness, and increased moisture loss. The second study (Chp 3 and 4) investigated the effects of combining tenderstretching (TS) with medium voltage electrical stimulation (ES) during processing on tenderness, oxidation and eating quality traits of alpaca. Thirty-six castrated male huacaya alpacas (23 ± 1 month of age) were processed over 2 days, two months apart. Carcases were split and treatments applied to sides at random, in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. Treatments included; (1) Achilles Hung + No ES; (2) Achilles Hung + ES; (3) TS + No ES; and (4) TS + ES. After 24 hours chilling, carcase sides were broken down and the Longissimus thoracic et lumborum (LTL), Adductor femoris (AF), Semimembranosus (SM), Semitendinosus (ST) and Psoas major (TL) muscles were extracted for meat quality and consumer sensory evaluation. Results indicated that combined processing treatments improved alpaca meat SF and eating quality across the carcase, while having no detrimental effects on colour stability and oxidation. However, alpaca LTL SF values remained high comparative to that of hind quarter muscles. The third study (Chp 5) aimed to build on the findings study one and two. The effect on alpaca meat quality from applying medium voltage ES in combination with TS to whole carcases was investigated, along with the effect of enzyme (actinidin) infusion on alpaca LTL quality. Thirty-six entire male huacaya alpacas (23 ± 1 month of age) were processed over two days, two weeks apart. Carcases were randomly allocated to one of two processing treatments; (1) Achilles hung + No ES, and (2) TS + ES, in order to investigate the effect of combined processing methods on whole alpaca carcases. After 24 h, carcases were broken down with both the left-and-right-hand-side LTL of each carcase allocated to one of three infusion treatments, including; (1) no infusion; (2) infusion with water, and; (3) infusion with enzyme. In addition, the SM from the right hind leg of each carcase was collected for meat quality evaluation. Results supported the use of combined TS with ES in commercial alpaca processing and indicated no advantages in infusing alpaca LTL with actinidin. The results indicate that maximising on-farm feed quality and availability leading to slaughter and avoiding lengthy lairage periods after 4 h transportation will maximise alpaca carcase tenderness. Residual variation in quality across multiple muscles arising from intrinsic factors such as nutrition and pre-slaughter stress can be minimised through the application of ES and TS in combination. Due to the limitations in achieving optimal alpaca LTL tenderness, it is suggested that a fresh market for the product be avoided until consumers become more familiar with the novel meat, focussing instead on value added, ready to eat product development and sales through restaurant trade. Future areas of research for alpaca must focus on genetic influences and specific biochemical processes occurring during the toughening and tenderisation phases of processing in order to further the understanding of alpaca meat tenderness.

This thesis investigates the changing meat supply and butchery practices at medieval castles in England. The analysis represents a departure from prevailing zooarchaeological butchery studies in that it considers the importance of analysing butchery patterns to gain a better understanding of social status, diet and changes in how animals were exploited over time and in various geographic locations in England. This research highlights the potential of butchery studies and reveals previously unestablished information about how butchery was carried out, how meat was supplied and the practical and social reasoning behind why animals were slaughtered and consumed in a certain way. A butchery methodology was implemented for identifying significant patterns detailing where butchery marks were occurring on bone. The methodology was tested on assemblages from three castle sites: Edlingham Castle, Portchester Castle and Beeston Castle. The methodology is further carried out in the form of assessments for comparison, on animal bone assemblages from medieval urban sites in Newcastle, Winchester and Chester. The methodology is successful in showing that analysing butchery practices of an animal bone assemblage, has the potential to reveal previously unestablished information about past butchery practices and consumption patterns. High status medieval castle assemblages predominately show a professional style of butchery, however this is not always the case. A key characteristic of this style is the longitudinal division of the spine of a carcass. This thesis hypothesises that a castle in close proximity to an urban area would display a professional style of butchery and therefore would likely have a significant amount of dressed carcasses brought to the castle from an urban centre. However, location is not the only variable to take in to consideration. This research shows that the level of status of a castle is also an essential factor to consider. Aspects of this research can be implemented as an extension of existing methods available to zooarchaeologists in order to gain a better understanding of butchery practices and social status. Issues highlighted by the case studies in question are explored and ideas for future research are suggested.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Livestock production forms a significant part of the agricultural activities in Namibia. This study is an analysis of the red meat (beef and mutton) supply chain in the country, south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence. The supply chain from production of animals on the farms through processing to placing of meat on the market is analyzed. The red meat supply chain is split into three sectors for the purpose of the study. The three sectors are the supply sector involved in the production of animals on the farms, the processing sector involved with the slaughtering and value addition on the livestock products and the demand sector that is involved in the placing on the market of the livestock and livestock products. Each of the sectors is then analyzed as an entity. The three tools that are used to analyze the sectors are: a) The market competitiveness done using the Porter’s 5 force analysis; b) The SWOT analysis for determination of intrinsic and extrinsic environments of the respective sectors and c) Trend review of the activity in each sector for the years 2000-2005. The aim of the analysis is to create a deeper insight into the forces and the impact these forces are having on the meat supply chain.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Veeboerdery vorm ‘n vername deel van landbou-aktiwiteite in Namibië. Hierdie navorsingsverslag is ’n analise van die rooivleis (bees en skaap) leweringsketting in die land suid van die veeartsafbakeningsheining. Die studie ondersoek die leweringsketting van produksie van vee op plase tot by die plaas van vleis op die markte. Die rooivleis leweringsketting is, vir die doeleindes van hierdie studie, in drie dele verdeel. Hierdie drie dele is die lewerings-sektor wat verantwoordelik is vir die produksie van vee op die plase, die prosesserings-sektor wat verantwoordelik is vir die slag en waardetoevoeging tot die vee-produkte, en die vraag-sektor wat verantwoordelik is vir die plasing van vee en vee-produkte op die mark. Elk van hierdie sektore word ontleed as ’n entiteit. Die drie instrumente wat gebruik word om die sektore te analiseeer is: a) Die markkompeterendheid word gedoen aand die hand van Porter se 5 kragte analise; b) Die “SWOT” analise vir die bepaling van die intrinsieke en ekstrinsieke omgewings van die onderskeie sektore, en c) Tendens oorsig van die aktiwiteite in elke sektor vir die jare 2000-2005. Die doel van die analises is om dieper insig te skep van die kragte en die impak wat hierdie kragte het op die vleis leweringsketting.

This work addresses the use of microwave techniques to determine quality parameters in cured meat. The first approach is online monitoring of weight loss in the meat curing process, which is a significant measurement for the meat industry because the weight loss is used as a method of tracking the curing process. Currently, weight loss is measured by using ordinary weighing scales, which is a time-consuming and impractical technique. Thus, a novel method is required to simplify the process by implementing an online monitoring technique. In this work, a set of microwave sensors were modelled using High Frequency Structure Simulation Software and then constructed and tested. Weight loss of the sample and change in the S11-parameter illustrated a strong linear relationship (R2 > 0.98). The prediction model then was developed using the Partial Least Squares method, which exhibited a good capability of microwave sensors to predict weight loss, with R2p (prediction) = 0.99 and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 0.41. The second approach is to determine water activity (aw) in cured meat, which is the parameter that describes available water for microorganisms and influences different chemical reactions in the product. For the cured meat industry, aw is the only moisture related measurement that is an accepted Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plan. This is important for safety reasons, but also for energy optimisation since curing requires controlled continuous temperature and humidity. Currently, aw is being measured by the meat industry using commercially available instruments, which have limitations, namely being destructive, expensive and time-consuming. Few attempts to develop non-destructive methods to predict aw have used X-ray systems (namely Computed Tomography), Near Infrared (NIR) and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI). Although the techniques provided promising results, they are expensive, impractical and not commercially available for the meat industry. The results from the microwave sensors demonstrated a linear relationship (R2 = 0.75, R2 = 0.86 and R2 = 0.91) between the S11 and aw at 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 7 GHz, respectively. The prediction model exhibited a good capability of the sensors to predict aw (R2p = 0.91 and RMSEP = 0.0173).

In recent years, trends in the population of large wild ungulates (wild boar, red deer, chamois, mouflon) have become worrisome for Italy and many European countries. Ironically, while two decades ago these animals were listed as endangered species, they turned out to be a social cost. In fact, their population is growing with damage to ecosystems, economic losses in forestry and agriculture, increased risk of zoonotic diseases and increased frequency of vehicle collisions. Due to this overpopulation, management and containment strategies have been developed, with a cost to public institutions and an increase in culling rates, and the availability of game meat. Furthermore, according to European trade and safety regulations (Reg. EC No. 178/2002, No. 853/2004 and No. 854/2004), hunters are considered primary food producers (such as farmers and breeders) and, under certain conditions, they can sell the game they harvest. On the consumers’ side, recent years have seen a notable increase in the popularity of hunted wild game meat among consumers. In fact, large wild ungulate meat has optimal nutritional attributes, can be considered an environmentally friendly and local food and represents a sustainable alternative to intensive livestock production of beef, pork or poultry. The growing demand and availability of these products has led to a growing number of emerging markets for hunted wild game meat in many developed countries, including Europe. However, expansion of these markets is often hampered by the lack of a structured food supply chain. This is especially the case in Italy where the hunting sector continues to have only a recreational and social connotation. Also from a scientific point of view, despite the growing potential of the hunting sector, only a few economic studies to date discuss the case of wild game meat, and there is no research examining the Italian context. All of these premises considered, the present thesis aims to contribute to the possible future development of the Italian local supply chain of wild game meat and is structured as a step-by-step feasibility analysis that takes into consideration all of the involved stakeholders with the final goal of creating this new market. Specifically, the thesis is organized into three different studies, each one developing different aspects of the analysis. The first study focuses on the primary producer of the game meat, namely, the hunter, trying to estimate the potential market availability and quality of meat of large wild ungulates produced by hunting activities in a local mountainous context. The second study aims to assess the real economic value of the local supply chain of the hunted wild game meat by performing an exploratory analysis aimed at the quantification of the value transmission along the chain. Finally, the third study addresses the need to broaden the knowledge of consumers’ attitudes towards hunted wild game meat by profiling Italian consumers and assessing whether their attitudes and perception towards hunted wild game meat, socio-demographic characteristics and objective knowledge affect their intentions to purchase hunted wild game meat products. The results of this research led to better understand some aspects of the current scenario of the Italian hunted wild game meat sector, with the final aim of understanding if and what types of strategies implement for the promotion of its future development.

Agroterrorism is the deliberate introduction of a plant or animal disease with thegoal of causing fear, economic instability, illness, or death. After the 2002 terroristattacks on the World Trade Center, the security of the food supply is of increasingconcern to the United States. A major incidence of agroterrorism or food tampering would have far reaching impacts on the economy and public health. The first objective of this project was to determine knowledge and concern of agroterrorism in meat processing facilities in Kentucky, and to determine knowledge and concern of food tampering and food defense in food service establishments in Warren County, Kentucky. The second objective was to determine security strategies that were being implemented by these facilities. Two separate surveys, one for meat processors and the other for food service establishments, were designed to meet these objectives. An observational study was conducted for meat processing facilities. It was found that these facilities were generally unconcerned with agroterrorism, although a reasonable amount of security implementations were in place at these facilities. A statistical comparison between restaurants and non-restaurant food service establishments, such as schools, hospitals, and hotels, was performed. Both types of food service establishments expressed little concern about a food tampering event. Non- restaurant food service establishments were slightly more concerned than restaurants about both food tampering and food defense.

Aim of this thesis was to explore the effects of suboptimal N supplies on animals of different species on production performances to achieve an effective reduction of N excretion avoiding, or limiting, the economic losses due to impairment of performance or reduced quality of products. As aside different methods of fatty acid analysis were evaluated to identify an accurate and repeatable methodology of extraction of fatty acids that prevents isomerisation of PUFA and conjugated linoleic acid. All the contributions of this thesis have been published or submitted to international peer reviewed journals. This thesis was also reviewed by foreign referees and all their suggestions were accepted and included in the present version of this thesis. The first two contributions were aimed to verify the effect of suboptimal dietary crude protein supply on growing cattle and lactating cows. In lactating cows the effect of a supplementation with rumen protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was also explored. The third contribute regards an experiment conducted to evaluate the effect of different fecal sample preparation procedures to determine the fatty acid profile of ruminants feces, including CLA. The fourth and the fifth contributions were aimed to evaluate the effects of reduced dietary crude protein and amino acid levels on growth performance of heavy pigs (4th contribute) and on growth performance and intramuscular lipid deposition on fast growing pigs (5th contribute). Overall, the results suggests that considerable reduction of dietary crude protein, compared to conventional standard, can be applied with small or null impairment of production response, but with a notable reduction of N excretion. Within the framework of the nitrate directive of the European Community, the strong reduction of N excretion achieved with the use of suboptimal protein supplies would result in the possibility of increasing the number of animals reared per unit of land available for manure disposal, and to reduce the feeding costs because of less use of expensive dietary protein sources. From the third contribute it resulted that fecal sample preparation method has an influence on fecal fatty acid profile, and in particular on the CLA component, stronger than that was previously evidenced in the literature that indicated the methylation as a critical step for an accurate analysis of fatty acids by gas chromatography. Analytical methods applicable on different biological substrates (feeds, feces, and animal products) are needed for a better knowledge of lipid digestion and metabolism of farm animals.
Scopo di questa tesi è stato quello di esplorare gli effetti conseguenti ad una somministrazione subottimale di proteina ad animali di diverse specie sulle performance produttive per poter ottenere una riduzione effettiva della escrezione di N ed evitare, o limitare, le perdite economiche dovute al peggioramento delle prestazioni o alla riduzione della qualità dei prodotti. Un capitolo a parte della tesi è stato di valutare diversi metodi di analisi degli acidi grassi per identificare una metodologia accurata e ripetibile di estrazione degli acidi grassi in grado di prevenire l’isomerizzazione degli acidi grassi polinsaturi in particolare dei coniugati dell’acido linoleico. Tutti i contributi presentati in questa tesi sono stati pubblicati o sottoposti riviste scientifiche internazionali. Questa tesi è stata valutata da due docenti stranieri e i loro suggerimenti sono stati accettati e inclusi nella versione finale di questa tesi. I primi due contributi sono stati finalizzati a verificare l'effetto di diete contenenti concentrazioni subottimali di proteina grezza, somministrate a bovini da carne e vacche in lattazione. Nelle vacche in lattazione è stato anche valutato l'effetto conseguente alla somministrazione di acido linoleico coniugato (CLA) rumino protetto. Il terzo contributo riguarda un esperimento condotto per valutare l' effetto di differenti procedure di preparazione dei campioni fecali per determinare il profilo degli acidi grassi, compresi i CLA, nelle feci dei ruminanti. Il quarto ed il quinto contributo sono finalizzati a valutare gli effetti della riduzione nella dieta dei livelli di proteina grezza e degli amminoacidi sulle performance di crescita dei suini pesanti (4° contributo) e sulle performance di crescita e di deposizione lipidica intramuscolare in suini selezionati per una crescita rapida e magra (5° contributo). Complessivamente, i risultati suggeriscono che una notevole riduzione del livello proteico della dieta, rispetto a standard tradizionali, può essere applicato compromettendo lievemente o per nulla la risposta produttiva, ma con una notevole riduzione di escrezione azotata. Nell'ambito della direttiva nitrati della Comunità Europea, la forte riduzione dell'escrezione di N ottenuto grazie all' impiego di diete ipoproteiche può comportare la possibilità di aumentare il numero di animali allevati per unità di superficie disponibile per lo smaltimento del letame, o di ridurre i costi di alimentazione a causa di un minor uso di costose fonti proteiche. I risultati del terzo contributo indicano che il metodo di preparazione del campione ha un'influenza sul profilo di acidi grassi delle feci, ed in particolare sulla componente dei CLA, maggiore rispetto a quella precedentemente evidenziata in letteratura che indicava la metilazione come tappa critica per un'analisi accurata degli acidi grassi mediante gascromatografia. L’individuazione di metodi di analisi applicabili a differenti substrati biologici (foraggi e alimenti, feci e prodotti di origine animale) è necessaria per migliorare le conoscenze sulla digestione dei lipidi ed il metabolismo degli animali da allevamento.

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A indústria de alimentos está a enfrentar desafios devido ao aumento da complexidade operacional, mudanças dinâmicas das necessidades dos clientes, novos regulamentos, a globalização dos mercados, reformas tecnológicas, menor tempo de vida de produtos, e diversificação das demandas dos consumidores. Devido a isso tem surgido um interesse renovado da literatura acerca da aplicação de ferramentas de planejamento avançado na gestão da cadeia de suprimentos de produtos alimentares frescos. Também ao fato das técnicas de planejamento existentes que abrangem as cadeias de suprimentos de produtos frescos são tarefas cuja complexidade é agravada pela natureza perecível destes produtos. Essas peculiaridades da indústria de alimentos requerem uma cadeia de fornecimento inteligente e ágil para gerenciar as necessidades dos clientes. Para tanto, estratégias de gestão da cadeia de suprimentos emergem na literatura oferecendo uma estrutura que identifica três tipos de estratégias: enxuta, ágil e leagile. Com isso, a proposta da pesquisa é o desenvolvimento de um modelo para tomada de decisão estratégica para gestão da cadeia de suprimentos de produtos perecíveis na indústria avícola, partindo de prioridades competitivas e uma seleção de fatores de expectativa dos clientes em relação aos produtos. A pesquisa apresenta fatores que podem influenciar na escolha estratégica, na forma de prioridades competitivas, qualidade, custos, flexibilidade e tempo. Estes fatores podem nortear as empresas na aplicação dos esforços para a adoção das estratégias enxuta, ágil ou leagile. Também apresenta os principais aspectos de qualidade demandada por varejistas e restaurantes em relação ao fabricante para satisfazer as expectativas do cliente final. Tais resultados são apresentados individualmente e podem ser consideradas na escolha estratégica quando o foco no atendimento for varejo, restaurantes ou ambos. Desta forma a decisão estratégica das empresas pode ser tomada com foco no atendimento das demandas de seus clientes.
The food industry is facing challenges due to an increased operational complexity, dynamic changes in customer needs, new regulations, the globalization of markets, technological reforms, shorter life of products, and diversification of consumer demands. Because of this, literature has been showing a renewed interest on the use of advanced planning tools in supply chain management of fresh food supplies. For the existing planning techniques covering fresh products supply chain have a very complex compounded by the perishable nature of these products. These peculiarities of the food industry require an intelligent and agile chain to manage customer needs. Therefore, supply chain management strategies emerge in literature providing a framework that identifies three types of strategies: lean, agile and leagile. Thus, the aim of this research is to develop a model for a strategic decision-making for the management of perishable products supply chain in the poultry industry, from competitive priorities and a selection of customers’ expectation factors for products. The research presents factors that can influence the strategic choice as competitive priorities, quality, cost, flexibility and time. These factors can guide companies in implementing efforts for the adoption of lean, agile or leagile strategies. In addition, this research presents the main aspects of retailers and restaurants demanded quality in relation to the manufacturer to meet the expectations of the end customer. Such results are presented individually and can be considered in the strategic choice when the focus is in attending retail, restaurants or both. Thus, the strategic decision of companies can be made with a focus on meeting the demands of their customers.

Purpose – This study aims to explore, and suggest solutions to, the gap between the supply of information from organic meat producers and the demand of information from consumers regarding traceable characteristics (attributes) of meat in a limited geographical area in order to maximize the utilization and value of collected data. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed methods research design is applied to collect both quantitative data from consumers and qualitative data from suppliers to produce empirical results of the supply and demand of information. A theoretical framework of organic food purchase intent is used for the quantitative study as well as the correlation between consumers’ perceived importance of attributes and their willingness-to-pay for meat. The results of the empirical studies are compared to each other in an effort to expose a possible gap using a gap analysis. Findings – Meat is shifting from a price based commodity to a product based on characteristics. This study reveals that there is now a gap between the information made available by organic meat producers and the demand of information from consumers that needs to be recognized in order to maximize the value of collected data. Information regarding environmental impact of raising and transporting the animals is not extensively collected. A substantial amount of data about attributes of perceived importance, such as safety and handling, animal welfare and medication or other treatments is collected but not extensively shared with consumers. Research limitations/implications – The small sample size in a unique area and the scope of the survey data does not provide a result that can be truly generalized. It is therefore suggested that future studies produce results from a larger sample that incorporates the perceived accessibility of important information for consumers. Practical implications – This contributes to the emerging literature of organic food production by comparing both the supply and the demand of information regarding attributes of meat. This information is valuable to organic meat producers and marketers as well as developers of agricultural systems and databases that should shift their focus to consumer oriented traceability systems. Originality/value – This study goes beyond the substantial body of literature regarding attributes of organic food and consumers preferences by comparing these factors to the available supply of information by meat producers and by suggesting solutions to bridge the gap between them. Keywords – Organic meat, Organic agriculture, e-Agriculture, Traceability, Traceability systems, Consumer oriented, Consumer behavior, Willingness-to-pay, Supply and demand, Information gap, Gap analysis, Business development, United States of America, Sense-making theory, Mixed methods Paper type – Research paper, Bachelor’s thesis

Comment étaient nourris les malades de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Paris à l'époque moderne ? Quel rôle jouait l'alimentation dans leurs soins ? Où et comment s'approvisionnait l'Hôtel-Dieu ? Quels étaient ses moyens ? Telles sont les principales questions auxquelles tente de répondre cette thèse, en s'appuyant sur les Délibérations du Bureau et, quand ils existent encore, sur les Comptes (recettes et dépenses) de l'Hôtel-Dieu. Essentiellement à base de pain, de viande et de vin, mais aussi de bouillons pour lesgriefs malades, les portions données aux malades sont copieuses. Car le malade à l'Hôtel-Dieu doit être bien traité et une bonne alimentation constitue le premier des soins. Les légumes et les fruits restent accessoires. Il est difficile d'en connaître la quantité consommée. En périodes de pénurie (guerre, calamité, famine) les portions de pain, viande ou vin sont ajustées sur les possibilités d'approvisionnement. L'Hôtel-Dieu déploie tous ses efforts pour assurer son approvisionnement, d'abord auprès de ses fermes et vignobles, puis de plus en plus sur le marché. Si une bonne alimentation est un gage de santé, les médecins de l'Hôtel-Dieu ont attendu la veille de la Révolution pour considérer que leurs prescriptions devaient porter non seulement sur les médecines mais aussi sur l'alimentation. Cette petite « révolution » n'est pas allée sans provoquer la réaction des religieuses accoutumées à contrôler l'alimentation des malades
How were the sick of the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris fed in modern times? What role did food play in their care? Where and how did the Hôtel-Dieu get supplies? What were its means? These are the principal questions that this thesis attempts to answer, using the deliberations of the Bureau and, when they still exist, the accounts (income and expenditure) of the Hôtel-Dieu. Mainly consisting of bread, meat and wine, but also broths for the seriously ill persons, the portions given to patients are copious, for the patient to the Hôtel-Dieu must be treated well and a good diet is the first treatment. The essentials do not include vegetables and fruits. It is difficult to know which amount of the latter was consumed. In times of scarcity (war, disaster, famine) the portions of bread, meat and wine are adjusted to the possibilities of supplying. The Hôtel-Dieu is making every effort to ensure its supplying, first relying on its farms and vineyards, then increasingly on the market. If a proper diet is the guarantee of a good health, the doctors at the Hôtel-Dieu waited until the eve of the French Revolution to consider that their prescriptions were to cover not only medicines but also diet. This little "revolution" did not occur without causing the reaction of nuns accustomed to controlling the patients’ diet

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This dissertation examines the relationships between public officials and marching in formation of monopolies and control the market supply of fresh meat, in Bethlehem, from the discourses of scarcity of this kind between the years 1897-1909. It also analyzes the publications of the press at the time on the issue of green meat and interventionist strategies of the government in providing this food. Assuming that the lack of meat was a political creation and fruit of the action of the marchers, selected years, would overcome such occurrences, thus the explanations linked in climate problems, diseases, in theft and transportation, among others, as was recurrent the official rhetoric, the journalists of the time and in the chronicles of foreign travelers, and respected by the authors of the scarce work on this theme in the Amazon region
Esta dissertação analisa as relações entre os administradores públicos e os marchantes, na formação de monopólios e no controle do mercado de abastecimento da carne verde, em Belém, a partir dos discursos de escassez desse gênero entre os anos de 1897-1909. Analisa ainda as publicações da imprensa da época sobre a questão das carnes verdes e as estratégias intervencionistas do governo no fornecimento desse alimento. Pressupondo que a falta de carne foi uma criação política e fruto da ação dos marchantes, nos anos selecionados, tais ocorrências superariam, desse modo, as explicações pautadas em problemas climáticos, em doenças, em roubos e no transporte, entre outros, como era recorrente nos discursos das autoridades, dos jornalistas da época e nas crônicas dos viajantes estrangeiros, e acatados pelos autores dos parcos trabalhos existentes sobre o tema, na região Amazônica

Nous développons le modèle domestique de l’élevage dans les pays sahéliens. La somme des travaux à caractère anthropologique permet d’émettre les hypothèses économiques. Avec les outils de contrôle optimal, nous proposons une théorie des choix de portefeuille et de l’épargne constitutives de la théorie du capital de l’éleveur sahélien. Avec les outils du contrôle stochastique, le modèle décrit le comportement de l’éleveur face aux risques sahéliens. Une analyse économétrique en pooling permet de tester les restrictions de la fonction d’offre de bétail pour la viande, obtenues par dynamique comparative. L’offre de viande dans les pays sahéliens dépend positivement de la hausse anticipée du prix des produits agricoles consommés par l’éleveur, et du prix relatif courant du bétail et des produits agricoles consommés, exprimé en monnaie constant. L’offre dépend négativement de la hausse anticipée du prix de vente du bétail et de certains risques sahéliens. L’offre de bétail pour la viande est donc en partie dictée par un motif de précaution. Enfin, nous analysons les politiques er projets de développement de l’élevage dans les pays sahéliens
The dissertation presents a household model of a Sahelian livestock keeper. It translates the abundant anthropological literature into economic hypotheses. Optimal control theory delivers a capital theory of a Sahelian livestock keeper, relating on optimal portfolio and saving choices. After the relaxation of the certainty equivalent hypothesis, stochastic analyses deliver a testable meat supply function, depending on prices and Sahelian risks. Meat supply depends, on the one side, positively on expected increase of agricultural prices and current relative price of meat and agricultural staples. It depends on the other side, negatively on expected increase of meat prices and certain Sahelian risks. The latter indicates precautionary motives in the livestock’s holdings of the Sahelian livestock keeper

Comment étaient nourris les malades de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Paris à l'époque moderne ? Quel rôle jouait l'alimentation dans leurs soins ? Où et comment s'approvisionnait l'Hôtel-Dieu ? Quels étaient ses moyens ? Telles sont les principales questions auxquelles tente de répondre cette thèse, en s'appuyant sur les Délibérations du Bureau et, quand ils existent encore, sur les Comptes (recettes et dépenses) de l'Hôtel-Dieu. Essentiellement à base de pain, de viande et de vin, mais aussi de bouillons pour lesgriefs malades, les portions données aux malades sont copieuses. Car le malade à l'Hôtel-Dieu doit être bien traité et une bonne alimentation constitue le premier des soins. Les légumes et les fruits restent accessoires. Il est difficile d'en connaître la quantité consommée. En périodes de pénurie (guerre, calamité, famine) les portions de pain, viande ou vin sont ajustées sur les possibilités d'approvisionnement. L'Hôtel-Dieu déploie tous ses efforts pour assurer son approvisionnement, d'abord auprès de ses fermes et vignobles, puis de plus en plus sur le marché. Si une bonne alimentation est un gage de santé, les médecins de l'Hôtel-Dieu ont attendu la veille de la Révolution pour considérer que leurs prescriptions devaient porter non seulement sur les médecines mais aussi sur l'alimentation. Cette petite « révolution » n'est pas allée sans provoquer la réaction des religieuses accoutumées à contrôler l'alimentation des malades
How were the sick of the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris fed in modern times? What role did food play in their care? Where and how did the Hôtel-Dieu get supplies? What were its means? These are the principal questions that this thesis attempts to answer, using the deliberations of the Bureau and, when they still exist, the accounts (income and expenditure) of the Hôtel-Dieu. Mainly consisting of bread, meat and wine, but also broths for the seriously ill persons, the portions given to patients are copious, for the patient to the Hôtel-Dieu must be treated well and a good diet is the first treatment. The essentials do not include vegetables and fruits. It is difficult to know which amount of the latter was consumed. In times of scarcity (war, disaster, famine) the portions of bread, meat and wine are adjusted to the possibilities of supplying. The Hôtel-Dieu is making every effort to ensure its supplying, first relying on its farms and vineyards, then increasingly on the market. If a proper diet is the guarantee of a good health, the doctors at the Hôtel-Dieu waited until the eve of the French Revolution to consider that their prescriptions were to cover not only medicines but also diet. This little "revolution" did not occur without causing the reaction of nuns accustomed to controlling the patients’ diet

Today's world is characterized by volatility and uncertainty. Cooperation is needed to survive in this harsh business climate. Cooperation in supply chains are practiced and well known but in today's tough and volatile environment it is simply not enough. Wastes and unnecessary processes have to be eliminated to secure a competitive advantage. Incorporating lean in supply chains get more and more attention and embrace in the modern literature and media. Lean implemented in supply chains is praised to create a proactive supply chain that successfully eliminate waste and create efficiency. In the thesis the negative aspects, the angle that is very seldom described in the literature, of incorporating lean in supply chain is researched. I will view lean from the management perspective and research the negative aspects, their cause and impact on the entire supply chain. Being aware of the criticism of lean from the employee and society perspective this research serves to find if lean from the management perspective is a flawless story. To achieve the aim of this thesis I conducted a survey research where 100 supply chain executives from different countries, different industries and of different designations within supply chain management were asked to share their lean experience. The summary of my research show that lean incorporated in supply chains is not only a sunshine story. I can conclude problems, even a mismatch, with the lean concept incorporated in supply chains- the time sensibility lean brings. In my research it became obvious that lean supply chains are very sensitive to delays and that the consequences of the delays will strike very hard - hence the lean supply chain can also be seen as more vulnerable and fragile compared to ordinary supply chains. There is no question about the fact that any company, any network of companies or a supply chain for that matter, are better off without delays. A delay will always be negative. In a lean environment, where time aspects such as Just-In-Time and a pull scenario are present, a delay will immediately ruin the entire execution and the consequences will naturally spread in the supply chain. In today's volatile and ever changing world I believe that leanness in supply chains are indeed needed but to an extent where the time factors are viewed realistically in order to avoid drastic consequences. My conclusion is that supply chains should be realistically lean, bearing the time factors of lean in mind, to avoid being mean. I encourage every supply chain to identify their lean level in order to avoid a mean result.

Driven by the severe competition within the construction industry, the necessity of improving and optimizing the performance of construction supply chain has been aroused. This thesis proposes three problems with regard to the construction supply chain optimization from three perspectives, namely, deterministic single objective optimization, stochastic optimization and multi-objective optimization respectively. Mathematical models for each problem are constructed accordingly and meta-heuristic algorithms are developed and applied for resolving these three problems.

L’alimentation se trouve à la croisée des domaines économiques et sociaux, culturels et religieux, matériels et environnementaux. Cette caractéristique se trouve renforcée dans le cas de la viande en raison de ses modalités de production et de consommation et de ses représentations. Sources de tensions et d’ambiguïtés, de désirs et de dégoûts, la chair animale subit de multiples processus menant de l’obtention de « la matière première » à la consommation de cet aliment qui apparaît comme une construction éminemment culturelle fabriquée grâce à des techniques matérielles. L’historiographie a traditionnellement caractérisé la viande comme étant un aliment rare, cher et consommé essentiellement, voire uniquement par les élites. Alors que cette vision a récemment été nuancée et fortement pondérée pour l’Occident chrétien médiéval, il s’avère essentiel de réinterroger l’image issue des sources textuelles à l’aune des données archéologiques dans l’Occident islamique médiéval. Les discours produits des sources arabes – telles que les traités culinaires, diététiques ou juridiques – concourent à valoriser l’aliment carné au moyen d’un large spectre argumentaire associant les dimensions matérielles, socio-économiques, socioculturelles et symboliques. Toutefois, la confrontation avec les données archéozoologiques mène à considérer les trois paramètres majeurs qu’étaient la quantité, la qualité et la fréquence de consommation de cette denrée particulière. Il convient de même d’appréhender l’ensemble de la population d’al-Andalus et du Maghreb médiéval et de percevoir dans quelle mesure la saisonnalité représentait un enjeu majeur dans l’approvisionnement et dans la consommation des viandes
Food is at a crossroads of various fields: economical, social, cultural, religious, material, and environmental. This characteristic is heightened in the case of meat because of its modalities of production, consumption, and representation. Being a source of tensions and ambiguities, of desire and disgust, animal flesh goes through multiple processes leading from the procurement the “raw material” to its consumption as an aliment, which appears as an eminently cultural construction made by material techniques. The historiography has traditionally characterized meat as an aliment being rare, expensive, and mainly, or even, only consumed by the elites. While this vision for the Medieval Christian West has been nuanced and pondered since, it is all the more fundamental to question the traditional image of a rare and expensive aliment for the Medieval Islamic West, by the confrontation of the textual and the archæological data available for this space. All the discourses provided by the Arabic sources—culinary, dietetic, and juridical ones—are unanimous in the valorisation of meat, by means of a large spectrum of arguments that associate the material, socio-economic, socio-cultural, and symbolic dimensions. However, confronting the textual and archæozoological data leads to consider three major parameters, which are the quantity, the quality, and the frequency of the consumption of this particular commodity. Moreover, it is crucial to apprehend, socio-economically and socio-culturally, all the strata of the population of al-Andalus and of the Medieval Maghreb, in order to perceive how far seasonality represented a major issue in the supply and the consumption of meat

An increase in the uncertainty of customer demand has led to that industries and firms are realizing the need of being responsive, and are therefore incorporating flexibility as a core strategy. ABB Robotics is also realizing the need of flexibility and therefore, strategies should be developed in order to be able to meet the volatile demand. This study aims to analyze the Supply Chain Flexibility of ABB Robotics and to give recommendations of how ABB Robotics should incorporate and use strategies and ways to work with the concept in order to be more responsive in their supply chain.   This is a qualitative study on ABB Robotics’ supply department, ABB Robotics suppliers and with benchmarking studies of three firms; Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks and Bombardier.   The authors have developed a model of Supply Chain Flexibility that fits ABB Robotics’ supply chain. The model includes the dimensions Volume Flexibility, Product Mix Flexibility, Delivery Flexibility, Sourcing Flexibility and Information System Flexibility. The conclusions are that the following four strategies increases Supply Chain Flexibility for ABB Robotics: using local supply/hubs and developing separate supply chains, using module suppliers, empowerment of suppliers and connectivity in the supply chain network. Supply Chain Flexibility has to be created and invested in, in order for firms to realize it. Implementing strategies for Supply Chain Flexibility is a way of working proactively to have the ability to be reactive.
En ökning i osäkerheten angående kunders efterfrågan har lett till att industrier och företag ser behovet av att vara reaktiv och införlivar därmed flexibilitet som en kärn-strategi. ABB Robotics ser även behovet av flexibilitet och därmed behöver företaget strategier för att ha möjligheten att möta den volatila efterfrågan. Denna studie syftar till att analysera flexibilitet i värdekedjan hos ABB Robotics samt att ge rekommendationer för hur ABB Robotics bör inkludera och använda strategier och sätt att arbeta med konceptet för att vara mer reaktiv i deras försörjningskedja.   Studien har genomförts med kvalitativa studier på ABB Robotics inköpsavdelning, ABB Robotics leverantörer och med en jämförande studie på tre företag; Volvo Personvagnar, Volvo Lastbilar och Bombardier.   Författarna har utvecklat en modell för flexibilitet i värdeflödeskedjan som passar på ABB Robotics värdeflödeskedja. Modellen inkluderar dimensionerna volymflexibilitet, produktmixflexibilitet, leveransflexibilitet, inköpsflexibilitet och informationssystemsflexibilitet. Slutsatsen är att de följande fyra strategierna ökar flexibiliteten i värdekedjan för ABB Robotics: använda lokal produktion/externa lager och utvecklande av separata värdekedjor, använda modulleverantörer, bemyndigande av leverantörer samt att koppla samman värdeflödesnätverket. Flexibilitet i värdekedjan måste skapas och investeras i för att möjliggöras. Implementationen av strategier inom flexibilitet är ett sätt att arbeta proaktivt för att kunna vara reaktiv.

Information technology (IT) has been used extensively by organisations in the supply chain (SC) to improve efficiency, control and competitive advantage. Research on this innovation has often neglected the drivers, facilitators and risks associated with the approaches adopted. In response, this research investigated and classified approaches to using IT in the SC and identified key drivers, facilitators and risks with each strategy. It forms a model to guide researchers and practitioners In the use of IT in the SC for organisational change. Leveraging investments in IT to improve SC efficiencies is complex and requires a well defined strategy that is supported by the drivers, facilitators, and risks (three variables) addressed in this study. In addition, organisations have different ambitions in relation to these investments with some aiming to make minor cost reductions whilst others aim to transform the organisa1ion through radical supply chain development. This ·research places special emphasis on the characteristics of IT and supply chain strategies that lead to organisational transformation. The main research question for this thesis is: How can firms most effectively leverage Information Technology Investments in the supply chain? A grounded theory approach has been used to build theory from journal articles published in 1997-2007 inclusive. A comprehensive meta-analysis of research articles, dealing with IT use In the SC and organisational change, from a broad range of academic business and scientific journals was undertaken to identify the drivers, facilitators and risks associated with leveraging IT Investments in the SC. The outcome of the meta-analysts is a model for IT use in the SC for organisational change. The results of the meta-analysis suggest that investment Inn in the SC cannot be successful unless the drivers of IT use are understood properly and the facilitating conditions are developed before using IT. A comprehensive list of drivers was reduced to ten key factors: 'improvement of Information quality', 'supply chain cost reduction', 'better decision making', 'reduction of cycle time and lead time', satisfaction of high quality service', 'real-time information accessibility', 'increased operational capability', 'sharing risks with others, 'market sharing and expansion', and 'better relationships with suppliers and individuals'. In a similar approach, ten critical facilitators were identified: 'firm's dynamic capability', 'enterprise application linkages through the chain', 'network of partnering firms or suppliers', 'willingness and trust of the partners and users', 'conductive culture of knowledge and information sharing', 'universally usable and accessible-systems and services', 'management guidance and trainings', 'expertise and experience', 'high levels of implementation planning', and 'community of users and suppliers for learning and sharing'. The key risks are also identified as these act as major constraints to the successful investment of IT in SC: 'poor ·understanding of firm's capability', 'inability to build trust between the SC partners and individuals', 'insufficient willingness of information sharing and support', 'lack of top management capability', 'incapability of managing sensitive data', and 'lack of control over the increased interdependencies'. Together these factors determine the overall level of success in relation to IT investment in the SC. Several SC strategies were identified and their characteristics defined as they form the basis of a model of IT use in the SC. These strategies include a low complexity cost reduction approach, a medium complexity collaborative approach, and a high complexity transformational approach. A key contribution of this thesis is the models and frameworks related to using IT in the SC. These provide significant directives for planning successful IT investment in the SC and related organisational transformation.

Reception of innocuous fresh meat is relevant to the production of safe food by food services. Thus, federal sanitary legislation has determined the evaluation and approval of raw material during reception. The objective of this study was to develop procedures for characterizing the quality of fresh meat during reception in food services. In the first phase, when revising safety criteria, it was verified that federal legislation and technical standards for food services were recently published and present a wide, general approach concerning raw material reception. It determined specifications of criteria for evaluation and selection of suppliers, verification of transport system, requirements for the reception area, and the inspection of raw materials through the analysis of packaging, labeling, and temperature. In the second phase, when investigating supply and procedures for meat purchase in 35 university restaurants of Federal Institutions of Higher Education on the five regions of Brazil, it was observed that bovine meat was more frequent purchased in the South and Midwest regions, and that in the North and Northeast poultry was more frequently used. Still, the supply of meat products exceeds that of pork and fish in this region. Purchase occurred mainly by bidding in restaurants administered under the system of selfmanagement, resulting in meat provision by different suppliers. A nutritionist worked as technical manager. The main safety criteria on supplier selection were the requirement of product registration in the Inspection Service and of company regulation by the Health Surveillance. Weaknesses were found relating to physical and functional structures, transport system of the raw material, and record and monitoring of temperature. Was demonstrated, in the second phase of research, that Southeast restaurants presented a higher adequacy percentage to hygienic and sanitary criteria in meat reception, followed by the South, Midwest, Northeast, and North. The third phase was a case study about sanitary quality of fresh bovine meat approved in reception by a university restaurant of a Southern Federal Institutions of Higher Education. A descriptive sensorial method was applied to evaluate the quality of fresh bovine meat at reception. Documental, microbiological, and physical-chemical analysis were made using samples of lean bovine meat. The samples were fresh, cooled, vacuum bagged and not matured, and provided by slaughterhouses registered in the Federal Inspection System. The sensory parameters selected by the team to characterize fresh bovine meat were the appearance (color, uniformity, brightness) and odor (characteristic of fresh meat, metallic, rancid and strange). The sensory criterion was defined by association between the scores given by evaluators and counts of aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms, pH values, temperature, and instrumental color of meat samples. Documentary analysis demonstrated adequacy to Best Practices procedures in meat reception. In addition to a positive experience to improve the supplier selection, the transport system, and the meat quality in public bidding purchase by including security criteria on bid notices. It became evident, through analysis, that the microbiological, physical-chemical, and sensory quality of the bovine meat purchased from qualified suppliers did not meet the security parameters established by legislative organs. Correlations between variables indicated that all physical-chemical tests, as well as sensory parameters of characteristic and strange odor, confirmed the counts of Aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms. Color of the meat was correlated with the mold and yeast count. Upon considerations drawn from the development of this research, in the fourth phase, it was possible to formulate procedure for safe acquisition of fresh meat by food services. Consists of documents related to evaluation and selection of meat products suppliers; transport system evaluation; self-evaluation for reception area in food services; food handlers and technical manager; raw material inspection procedures (fresh meat); raw material return; raw material inspection plan.
A recepção de carnes in natura inócuas é relevante para produção de alimentos seguros nos serviços de alimentação. Com isso, é determinada pela legislação sanitária federal, a avaliação e aprovação da matéria-prima na recepção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver procedimentos para caracterização da qualidade de carnes bovinas in natura na recepção de serviços de alimentação. Na primeira fase, ao revisar os critérios de segurança, verificou-se que a legislação federal e normas técnicas, para os serviços de alimentação foram publicadas recentemente e apresentam uma abordagem ampla e genérica sobre a recepção da matéria-prima. É determinada a especificação dos critérios para avaliação e seleção dos fornecedores, verificação do sistema de transporte, área de recepção e inspeção da matéria-prima, através da análise da embalagem, rotulagem e temperatura. Na segunda fase, ao investigar a oferta e os procedimentos na aquisição de carnes em 35 restaurantes universitários das Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior das cinco regiões do Brasil foi observado que a carne bovina era mais frequente nas regiões Sul e Centro-oeste e a carne de frango, nas regiões Norte e Nordeste. Ainda, a oferta de produtos cárneos, superava a de suíno e de peixe em todas as regiões. A aquisição das carnes ocorria, principalmente, por meio de licitação, nos restaurantes administrados sob o sistema de autogestão, o que implicava no abastecimento de carnes por diferentes fornecedores. O nutricionista era o responsável técnico e para seleção do fornecedor, os principais critérios de segurança utilizados eram a exigência do registro do produto no Serviço de Inspeção e a regulamentação da empresa fornecedora junto à Vigilância Sanitária. As fragilidades foram relativas à estrutura físico-funcional, sistema de transporte da matéria-prima e registros e monitoramentos da temperatura. Demonstrou-se, na segunda fase da pesquisa, que os restaurantes da região Sudeste apresentaram maior percentual de adequação aos critérios higiênico-sanitários na recepção das carnes, seguidos da região Sul, Centro-Oeste, Nordeste e Norte. Na terceira fase, realizou-se um estudo de caso sobre a qualidade sanitária da carne bovina in natura aprovada na recepção de restaurante universitário de uma Instituição Federal de Ensino Superior da região Sul. Para avaliar a qualidade das carnes bovinas in natura na recepção aplicou-se um método sensorial descritivo e realizaram-se análises documentais, microbiológicas, físico-químicas e sensoriais, de amostras compostas da carne bovina magra, in natura, resfriadas, embaladas a vácuo e não maturadas, fornecidas por frigoríficos registrados no Sistema de Inspeção Federal. Os parâmetros sensoriais definidos pela equipe, para caracterizar a carne bovina in natura foram a aparência (cor, uniformidade e brilho) e odor (característico da carne fresca, metálico, a ranço e estranho). O critério sensorial foi definido por meio de associações entre as notas atribuídas pelos avaliadores e as contagens dos micro-organismos Aeróbios Mesófilos e Psicrotróficos, valores de pH, temperatura e cor instrumental das amostras de carne. A análise documental demonstrou a adequação dos procedimentos de Boas Práticas na recepção das carnes. Além disso, a experiência positiva para aprimorar a seleção de fornecedores, sistema de transporte e qualidade das carnes, na aquisição por licitação pública, com a inclusão dos critérios de segurança nos editais. Evidenciou-se, por meio das análises, que a qualidade microbiologia, físico-química e sensorial da carne bovina adquirida de fornecedores qualificados não atenderam plenamente aos parâmetros de segurança estabelecidos pelos órgãos legisladores. As correlações das variáveis indicaram que todos os testes físico-químicos, bem como, os parâmetros sensoriais, odor característico e estranho, confirmaram as contagens dos micro-organismos Aeróbios Mesófilos e os Psicrotróficos. A cor da carne foi correlacionada com as contagens de Bolores e Leveduras. Mediante as considerações extraídas nesta pesquisa, na quarta fase, foram desenvolvidos procedimentos para aquisição de carnes in natura em serviço de alimentação. São compostos por documentos relativos à avaliação e seleção de fornecedores de carnes; avaliação do sistema de transporte; auto-avaliação da área de recepção do serviço de alimentação; avaliação dos manipuladores de alimentos e responsável técnico; Inspeção da matériaprima (carnes in natura); Devolução da matéria-prima; Plano de inspeção da matéria-prima.

Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Supply Chain Management Program, 2016.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 94-97).
The craft brewing industry in New York State has grown rapidly over the past five years helped in part by New York State legislation called the Farm Brewery Act of 2012. The act imposes agricultural stipulations for breweries desiring to file for a Farm Brewing license. The hop industry will have to grow in kind to meet the Farm Brewery Act requirements. The level of growth that needs to be achieved was determined through the use of system dynamics modeling. Production volumes were calculated based on survey results from brewers and farmers. Currently, the state's hop industry is producing a surplus of hops and will be able to supply short-term brewery growth over the horizon of the next three years. It was discovered, however, that the industry is vulnerable to demand shifts and prudent action should be taken to become resilient to changes in buyer regulations and preferences: increasing the economy of scale and building collaborative relationships through farm clustering will improve the longevity of New York's hop industry.
by Nathan D. Stempel.
M. Eng. in Logistics

Includes bibliographical references.
The provision of electricity has become a global necessity. In the developing world, residential electrification has become a tool for poverty alleviation. Unfortunately connecting residential customers to the grid, particularly in the low income communities, is more of a social task as the expected returns from the investment are unlikely to cover the costs to electrify and supply the communities. In such cases it is necessary to not over- or under-design a low voltage (LV) distribution network as this leads to unnecessary capital expenditure. The main source of uncertainty in designing LV residential distribution networks has been found to be the mode used to model the residential load. Residential electricity demand is a stochastic parameter dependant on the behaviour and occupancy patterns of household occupants. Traditionally the After Diversity Maximum Demand (ADMD), which is in essence and average value of load per household, was used to model load. However, using a singular value to describe the complex random nature of load is misleading. Probabilistic methods have been adopted to model residential load behaviour as these methods are better suited to representing the stochastic nature of the load. The Beta probability function was found to be the best representative function of residential load as its characteristics were reflective of the attributes of residential load. Studies on pre-existing LV networks in South Africa have found that these networks are operating outside of Quality of Suppy (QoS) regulation. The current QoS guideline of South Africa NRS 048-2 stipulates that 5% of measured supply voltage levels measured during a certain period are allowed to be outside the QoS compliance limits. This means that 95% QoS compliance of supply voltage levels is required for all LV networks. This QoS condition has not currently been worked into the design parameters. If a network is operating out of QoS guidelines a network upgrade is necessary. This research showed that the main source of the QoS violations of these networks was due to the risk levels used to calculate the expected voltage drops during the design stage of the networks. Typically, 10% risk is used for voltage drop calculations. This means that a best case of 90% compliance is expected which is outside the 95% compliance limit required by NRS 048- This study focused on two objectives. The first was to derive design parameters that are representative of residential load and can be used to design LV networks that comply with QoS specifications. The second was to define a means or develop a model for LV network designers to distinguish the parameters appropriate for a design, based on the customer class to be electrified. In this investigation new design parameters were derived that incorporate the 95% compliance limit of NRS 048-2 allowing LV networks built based on the new parameters, to operate within QoS limits. The parameters were derived using residential load data collected in South Africa since the early 1990's. An equation was also derived which allows countries with only ADMD data available to calculate QoS design parameters suitable for their situation.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
This thesis aims to recognize e present articulations, strategies and power relations that marked foreclosure contracts of supply of green meat and the work of slaughterers until the execution of the work of the model slaughterhouse in the Maguari between the years of 1885 and 1912.Concerning strategies of negotiations, practice of monopoly in the market of meat supply and networks of relationships between the traders and public power at the height of the rubber economy. . This work was based on varied documentary corpus to reflect on the urban supply, the scarcity and lack of meat and its meanings for the population. This research made reflections and discussed concerns and interests of the administrative authorities, the farmers and the dealers in the control of the food supply in Belém do Pará of Belle-époque. From the sources analyzed in this thesis it was possible to perceive the various projects, the political and commercial alliances existing in the capital of Pará in the context of the intense urban transformations of the late nineteenth (XIX) and early twentieth centuries (XX), through the work of the model slaughterhouse and the contracts of supply of meat
Esta tese tem como objetivo reconhecer e apresentar as articulações, as estratégias e as relações de poder que marcaram os contratos de arrematação do fornecimento de carne verde e da obra de matadouros até a execução da obra do matadouro modelo no Maguari entre os anos de 1885 e 1912. Tendo como preocupação as estratégias de negociações, a prática de monopólio no mercado de abastecimento de carne e as redes de relações entre os negociantes e o poder público no momento de auge da economia da borracha. Este trabalho apoiou-se em corpus documental variado para refletir sobre o abastecimento urbano, a escassez e carestia de carne e seus significados para a população. Esta pesquisa efetuou reflexões e discutiu as preocupações e os interesses das autoridades administrativas, dos fazendeiros e dos marchantes no controle do abastecimento de alimentos na Belém do Pará da Belle-époque. A partir das fontes analisadas nesta tese foi possível perceber os diversos projetos, as alianças políticas e comerciais existentes na capital paraense no contexto das intensas transformações urbanas do final do século XIX e princípio do XX, por meio da obra do matadouro modelo e dos contratos de abastecimento de carne

The key objective of this multi-disciplinary research was to seek for feasible solutions to avoid effluent from livestock trucks spilling onto roads. Stock effluent spillage mainly poses road safety hazards and environmental damage, and also causes offence to road users and tourists. This task required reviewing previous institutional actions, assessing the power of the existing legislation, and evaluating the interests and attitudes of the stakeholder groups involved in the overall livestock supply chain. It was also necessary to consider politics, administration, public policy and economics, gaining the willing cooperation and confidence of the stakeholder groups through application of 'Soft Systems Methodology' (SSM). A key component was the creation of a 13 minute video and its associated brochure as a primary tool for a stakeholder educational awareness programme. It was necessary to analyse the complex relationships between livestock preparation prior to transport; effluent produced in-transit; and end product quality factors. Detailed information pertaining to the nature of livestock shipments by truck in the South Island of New Zealand had to be collected and verified. All the above information were fed into the calculation of an ideal network of in-transit effluent discharge sites on State Highways in the South Island of New Zealand. Assuming the adoption of best practice throughout the supply chain, it was possible to recommend sustainable solutions. The problem is amenable to solution. Adoption of a strong Industry Code of Practice, coupled with the construction of a strategic network of dump sites will enable the industry to avoid the heavy-handed legal consequences of allowing the status quo to continue.

This thesis explores how Mexican fresh produce supply chains have responded to US bio-security regulations designed to prevent the intentional and accidental contamination of imported food. It explores the compliance processes, which are theorised using a framework drawn from the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Supply Chain Governance (SCG) literatures. The constructs developed herein regarding capabilities and supply chain ‘governance structures' complement previous Regulation Studies (RS) explaining compliance behaviour. The thesis analysed 12 case studies, and tested causal conditions of compliance using a multi-value Qualitative Comparative Analysis (mvQCA) method. The main results show: 1) the pathways to meet the regulatory requirements; 2) the limited diversity of capabilities associated with higher levels of compliance; and 3) the importance of tight supply chain coordination to source and exchange knowledge for compliance, regardless of how or who governs the supply chain. The thesis contributes to various academic debates. It removes the RVB assumptions that resources and capabilities are intrinsically valuable and complementary, and therefore contributes towards making the theory less tautological. It shows how SCG benefits when the effects of supply chain integration and coordination are examined independently. It differentiates between firms lacking willingness and firms lacking capabilities to comply, making it possible to define suitable regulatory strategies for each type of firm. The thesis makes a methodological contribution as it is one of the first studies applying the mvQCA in Science, Technology and Innovations Studies (STIs). The new methodology is used here to test the causal conditions of compliance, but can also be applied to innovative performance more generally. The thesis concludes by showing how US regulations were effective in achieving their regulatory aims without significant negative consequences, and suggesting that STI regulatory policies can be used to increase business engagement to prevent the intentional and accidental contamination of the food chain.

Supply chain optimization is one of the key components for the effective management of a company with a complex manufacturing process and distribution network. Companies with a global presence in particular are motivated to optimize their distribution plans in order to keep their operating costs low and competitive. Changing condition in the global market and volatile energy prices increase the need for an automatic decision and optimization tool. In recent years, many techniques and applications have been proposed to address the problem of supply chain optimization. However, such techniques are often too problemspecific or too knowledge-intensive to be implemented as in-expensive, and easy-to-use computer system. The effort required to implement an optimization system for a new instance of the problem appears to be quite significant. The development process necessitates the involvement of expert personnel and the level of automation is low. The aim of this project is to develop a set of strategies capable of increasing the level of automation when developing a new optimization system. An increased level of automation is achieved by focusing on three areas: multi-objective optimization, optimization algorithm usability, and optimization model design. A literature review highlighted the great level of interest for the problem of multiobjective optimization in the research community. However, the review emphasized a lack of standardization in the area and insufficient understanding of the relationship between multi-objective strategies and problems. Experts in the area of optimization and artificial intelligence are interested in improving the usability of the most recent optimization algorithms. They stated the concern that the large number of variants and parameters, which characterizes such algorithms, affect their potential applicability in real-world environments. Such characteristics are seen as the root cause for the low success of the most recent optimization algorithms in industrial applications. Crucial task for the development of an optimization system is the design of the optimization model. Such task is one of the most complex in the development process, however, it is still performed mostly manually. The importance and the complexity of the task strongly suggest the development of tools to aid the design of optimization models. In order to address such challenges, first the problem of multi-objective optimization is considered and the most widely adopted techniques to solve it are identified. Such techniques are analyzed and described in details to increase the level of standardization in the area. Empirical evidences are highlighted to suggest what type of relationship exists between strategies and problem instances. Regarding the optimization algorithm, a classification method is proposed to improve its usability and computational requirement by automatically tuning one of its key parameters, the termination condition. The algorithm understands the problem complexity and automatically assigns the best termination condition to minimize runtime. The runtime of the optimization system has been reduced by more than 60%. Arguably, the usability of the algorithm has been improved as well, as one of the key configuration tasks can now be completed automatically. Finally, a system is presented to aid the definition of the optimization model through regression analysis. The purpose of the method is to gather as much knowledge about the problem as possible so that the task of the optimization model definition requires a lower user involvement. The application of the proposed algorithm is estimated that could have saved almost 1000 man-weeks to complete the project. The developed strategies have been applied to the problem of Caterpillar’s global supply chain optimization. This thesis describes also the process of developing an optimization system for Caterpillar and highlights the challenges and research opportunities identified while undertaking this work. This thesis describes the optimization model designed for Caterpillar’s supply chain and the implementation details of the Ant Colony System, the algorithm selected to optimize the supply chain. The system is now used to design the distribution plans of more than 7,000 products. The system improved Caterpillar’s marginal profit on such products by a factor of 4.6% on average.

A just-in-time supply pickup and delivery system (JSS) manages the logistic operations between a manufacturing plant and its suppliers by controlling the sequence, timing, and frequency of container pickups and parts deliveries, thereby coordinating internal conveyance, external conveyance, and the operation of cross-docking facilities. The system is important to just-in-time production lines that maintain small inventories. This research studies the logistics, supply chain, and production control of JSS. First, a new meta-heuristics approach (taboo search) is developed to solve a general frequency routing (GFR) problem that has been formulated in this dissertation with five types of constraints: flow, space, load, time, and heijunka. Also, a formulation for cross-dock routing (CDR) has been created and solved. Second, seven issues concerning the structure of JSS systems that employ the previously studied common frequency routing (CFR) problem (Chuah and Yingling, in press) are explored to understand their impacts on operational costs of the system. Finally, a discreteevent simulation model is developed to study JSS by looking at different types of variations in demand and studying their impacts on the stability of inventory levels in the system. The results show that GFR routes at high frequencies do not have common frequencies in the solution. There are some common frequencies at medium frequencies and none at low frequency, where effectively the problem is simply a vehicle routing problem (VRP) with time windows. CDR is an extension of VRP-type problems that can be solved quickly with meta-heuristic approaches. GFR, CDR, and CFR are practical routing strategies for JSS with taboo search or other types of meta-heuristics as solvers. By comparing GFR and CFR solutions to the same problems, it is shown that the impacts of CFR restrictions on cost are minimal and in many cases so small as to make simplier CFR routes desirable. The studies of JSS structural features on the operating costs of JSS systems under the assumption of CFR routes yielded interesting results. First, when suppliers are clustered, the routes become more efficient at mid-level, but not high or low, frequencies. Second, the cost increases with the number of suppliers. Third, negotiating broad time windows with suppliers is important for cost control in JSS systems. Fourth, an increase or decrease in production volumes uniformly shifts the solutions cost versus frequency curve. Fifth, increased vehicle capacity is important in reducing costs at low and medium frequencies but far less important at high frequencies. Lastly, load distributions among the suppliers are not important determinants of transportation costs as long as the average loads remain the same. Finally, a one-supplier, one-part-source simulation model shows that the systems inventory level tends to be sticky to the reordering level. JSS is very stable, but it requires reliable transportation to perform well. The impact to changes in kanban levels (e.g., as might occur between route planning intervals when production rates are adjusted) is relatively long term with dynamic after-effects on inventory levels that take a long time to dissapate. A gradual change in kanban levels may be introduced, prior to the changeover, to counter this effect.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Page 68 is blank.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-66).
Department of Defense (DoD) had doubled its planned investments in new weapon systems from about $700 billion in 2001 to nearly $1.4 trillion in 2006. Despite the technical superiority of its weapon systems, DoD's weapon systems acquisition process had been plagued with cost increases, schedule delays, and performance shortfalls'. To address the maturity gaps, DoD mandated in 2008 that all prime contractors (including Raytheon) for new US government funded defense programs to evaluate/document technology and manufacturing readiness levels (T/MRL) of their supply base. There are 10 manufacturing & 9 technology readiness levels and specific levels need to be met for certain program milestones. DoD has released a set of questionnaires (Deskbooks), designed to evaluate the maturity levels of a supplier in areas such as engineering design, operation, manufacturing, and facility etc. The goal of this thesis is to develop an assessment method, using the Deskbooks as a reference, to address the core issues in the defense acquisition process. The thesis will also take a deep dive into Raytheon's supply chain management philosophy and analyze how Raytheon's strategic sourcing initiatives align with the new challenges in the defense industry.
by Cheng-Lung Chou.
S.M.
M.B.A.

This research project provides a scientifically robust approach for assessing the resilience of water supply systems, which are critical infrastructure, to impacts of climate change and population growth. An approach for the identification of trigger points that allows timely and appropriate management actions to be taken to avoid catastrophic system failure is an important outcome of this project. In the current absence of a formal method to evaluate the resilience of a water supply system, the approach developed in this study was based on the characterisation of resilience of a water supply system to a range of surrogate measures. Accordingly, a set of indicators are proposed to evaluate system behaviour and logistic regression analysis was used to assess system behaviour under predicted rainfall, storage and demand conditions.

In the manpower scheduling problem with multiple trips vehicle routing and time windows consideration, a group of staff workers has to be assigned to a number of jobs in such a way that the total number of staff required is minimised, and each job’s requirements for manpower, transportation time, and time windows must be respected. Furthermore, if several staff is requested to cooperate, they must work on the job at the same time. The problem originates from manpower scheduling for the in-flight food loading operations and could be modeled as Multiple Trips Vehicle Routing and Scheduling Problem with Time Windows and meal break considerations (MTVRSPTW-MB). In this thesis, we present a mathematical model of MTVRSPTW-MB and show that even for a reduced problem; it is intractable on this small sample size of data. Therefore, we developed an original two-stage scheduling heuristic algorithm to cope with this complicated combinatorial optimisation problem. This heuristic uses some simple laxity scheduling and priority rules to do the job assignment and scheduling in two stages. The heuristic is tested on real-life problem instances supplied by one of the in-flight caterers from Malaysia. On top of that, a pre-processing data algorithm was developed to spread the demand as evenly as possible. We obtained excellent solutions in reduction manpower in all the cases within three seconds. We also evaluated the heuristic further by comparing it with a popular heuristic insertion algorithm. The computational results report the effectiveness and robustness of our proposed heuristics. Our heuristic algorithm has also proved computational bounded.

The gig economy can be described as a temporary work-environment where an independent workforce uses platforms to find and draw income from work. In 2016, 20-30% of US and Europe’s population took part in some kind of independent work, and the amount of selfemployed in Sweden is growing. However, at what rate it grows differs depending on how these workers are defined. Within the gig economy, the fastest growing areas of work are in knowledge intensive- and creative environments such as consulting. Using gig consultants provides companies access to top talent within IT, which is required in many businesses and industries where digitalisation is disrupting their ways of working. One of these industries is manufacturing, where e.g. servitisation and Industry 4.0 makes the companies more digital and connected. The purpose of this thesis was to understand how manufacturing companies handle their external talent management and demand for consultant hires within IT, both now and in the future as the amount of gig consultants increases. This was done by conducting interviews with representatives from five Swedish manufacturing companies within automotive and machinery. The interviewees had different roles, but were or had been responsible for hiring consultants within IT. The empirics gained from the interviews were combined with theory, mainly on talent management and managing external talent. The main findings from the study were that in most cases, the companies do not choose between a consultant and a gig consultant, they rather look for the right competence. Gig consultants are however seen as more of experts and can specifically be hired when frontedge or niched competence is needed. On the other hand, consultants can be used when a complete solution has to be delivered as the capacity of a consultancy is higher. To ensure successful consultant hires, the IT departments work with preferred suppliers with whom they have framework agreements to access and hire talent. These suppliers include both consultancies and brokers, from where they get both regular consultants and gig consultants. In general, what defines a successful hire of a consultant is that he or she is sufficiently competent and able to quickly adapt to the company. Additionally, a successful hire is when the project or assignment is completed on time with good result. The main advantages with hiring gig consultants are that acquiring competence can be made easier and more flexible, they can also access more niched competencies. The main disadvantage is that it is unclear who takes responsibility if a gig consultant cannot deliver as they are not part of a firm who can send a replacement. However, some brokers seem to replace the gig consultant.
Gigekonomin kan beskrivas som en tillfällig arbetsmiljö där en självständig arbetsstyrka använder sig av plattformar för att hitta och tjäna pengar på sitt arbete. Under 2016 jobbade 20-30% av befolkningen i USA och Europa med någon form av självständigt arbete, och denna grupp växer i antal i Sverige. Däremot kan tillväxttakten se lite olika ut beroende på hur man definierar dessa självständiga arbetare. De snabbast växande områdena för självständigt arbete inom gigekonomin är i kunskapsintensiva och kreativa områden såsom konsultbranschen. Genom att använda sig av så kallade gigkonsulter kan företag få tillgång till topptalanger och kompetens inom IT, vilket det är ett stort behov av inom många industrier där digitaliseringen radikalt förändrar de arbetssätt som finns. En av dessa industrier är den tillverkande industrin, där bland annat servitisation och Industry 4.0 gör att företagen måste bli mer digitala och uppkopplade. Syftet med detta examensarbete var att undersöka hur tillverkande företag jobbar med extern talent management och sitt behov av extern kompetens inom IT, både nu och i framtiden eftersom antalet gigkonsulter ökar. Studien genomfördes genom intervjuer med representanter från fem svenska tillverkande företag med inriktning mot fordon och maskiner. De personer som intervjuades hade olika roller inom företagen, men jobbar med eller har erfarenhet av att hyra in konsulter inom IT. Den empiri som intervjuerna gav kombinerades med teori, huvudsakligen inom talent management och hur man jobbar med extern inhyrning av kompetens. De viktigaste upptäckterna från studien var att företagen i de flesta fall inte väljer mellan en konsult och en gigkonsult, de letar snarare efter rätt kompetens. Gigkonsulter ses dock som experter i större utsträckning och används speciellt när spetskompetens behövs. Däremot används konsulter i större utsträckning när en komplett lösning behöver levereras då ett konsultföretags kapacitet är högre eftersom de har anställda konsulter. För att lyckas med en extern inhyrning så använder företagen så kallade “preferred suppliers” som de har ramavtal med. Bland dessa finns både klassiska konsultföretag med anställda konsulter och så kallade konsultmäklare som de använder för att ta in gigkonsulter. Generellt definierar företagen en inhyrning som lyckad om personen är tillräckligt kompetent och snabbt kan anpassa sig till företaget och dess arbetssätt, och projektet eller uppdraget blir klart i tid med gott resultat. Den främsta fördelen företagen ser med gigkonsulter är att man lättare och mer flexibelt kan få tag på kompetens. Den främsta nackdelen är att det finns en osäkerhet i vem som tar ansvar om en gigkonsult inte kan leverera, eftersom de inte jobbar för en konsultfirma som kan skicka en ersättare. Vissa konsultmäklare verkar dock ordna en ersättare.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation presents aspects of the public policy process in South Africa with specific reference to water policy between 1994 and 1999. For the purposes of this research, the definition of water policy coincides with the government's definition as contained in the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), the Growth, Employment and Redistribution Programme (GEAR), white papers, bills and legislation. Water policy is a broad subject and is approached from a social sciences focus in this study, in that it uses the fulfilment of human needs as a point of departure. Water policy that applied before 1994 was based on water legislation of 1956, as well as some eighty different Acts that were fragmented between a number of institutions. The focus was on water rights, linked to property rights from which the majority of South Africans were excluded. In the implementation of policy attention was mainly paid to engineering achievements. The acknowledgement that water resources are limited in South Africa, as well as in the rest of the world, and the increasing demands on these sources, focused the attention anew on responsible water policy. Since South Africa's transition to an inclusive political democracy in 1994, a variety of far-reaching changes took place with regard to political decision-making and the public policy process. Not only did the policy-making process change, but policy goals, actors, structures and organisations also changed. It is clear that the policy agenda differs significantly from that of the period preceding 1994. In this study, the context within which policy renewal took place in South Africa since 1994, has been presented, and the policy process that new water legislation was subjected to, is described. The role of policy actors and communities - in line with the principles of the Constitution of 1996 that encourage public participation in the democracy - is considered. The implementation of the new water policy could unfortunately not be evaluated as it has only been promulgated a year ago. This study serves as an introduction to a research area which has received little attention thus far and that has potential for further research.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word aspekte van die openbare beleidproses in Suid-Afrika ondersoek met spesiale verwysing na waterbeleid tussen 1994 en 1999. Waterbeleid is vir die doeleindes van hierdie studie omskryf soos in die regering se HOP, GEAR, witskrifte, wetsontwerpe en wetgewing. Waterbeleid is 'n breë onderwerp wat in hierdie studie vanuit 'n sosiaal wetenskaplike hoek benader is, naamlik dat daar aan basiese menslike behoeftes voldoen moet word. Die waterbeleid wat voor 1994 gegeld het, was gebaseer op die Waterwet van 1956, asook wetgewing wat oor tagtig wette versprei was en deur 'n aantal instellings gefragmenteer is. Die klem het geval op waterregte, gekoppel aan eiendomsregte waarvan die grootste deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking uitgesluit was. Klem is ook gelê op ingenieursprestasies in die uitvoering van beleid. Die besef dat waterbronne wêreldwyd en in Suid-Afrika beperk is met toenemende aansprake wat daarop gemaak word, het opnuut die aandag op verantwoordelike waterbeleid gevestig. Sedert Suid-Afrika se oorgang na 'n inklusiewe politieke demokrasie in 1994 is verskeie verreikende veranderings ten opsigte van politieke besluitneming en die openbare beleidproses ingestel. Nie alleen het die beleidmakingsproses verander nie, maar beleidsdoelwitte, -akteurs, -strukture en -organisasies het ook verander. Kortom, die beleidagenda verskil van die periode voor 1994. In hierdie studie is die konteks van beleidvernuwing in Suid-Afrika na 1994 geskets, en die beleidproses waardeur nuwe waterwetgewing gegaan het, is beskryf. Die rol van beleidakteurs en -gemeenskappe - in lyn met die beginsels van die Grondwet van 1996 wat openbare deelneming aan die demokratiese bestel aanmoedig - is ondersoek. Die implementering van die nuwe waterbeleid kon egter nie geëvalueer word nie, aangesien dit skaars 'n jaar gelede gepromulgeer is. Hierdie studie dien as 'n inleiding tot 'n navorsingsveld wat steeds braak lê met moontlikhede vir verdere navorsing.

xiv, 103 p. : ill. (some col.)
Results from a recent mid-ocean ridge tomography study along the fast-spreading, northern East Pacific Rise (EPR) reveal that the axis of mantle upwelling beneath the ridge is skewed with respect to the spreading axis, giving rise to regions of both rise-centered and off-axis mantle melt accumulation. Here, we investigate the effects of off-axis melt accumulation on the architecture of overlying crust as well as off-axis melt delivery on crustal construction along the ridge axis. We first present evidence for off-axis magmatism 20 km from the spreading center in 300-ka-old crust overlying a region of off-axis melt supply. Seismic data reveal an intrusive complex ∼2 km beneath the seafloor that is limited in lateral extent (<5 km) and comprises a melt lens underlain by low-velocity, high-attenuation crust, which provides the necessary conditions to drive off-axis volcanic and hydrothermal activity. We next present results from thermodynamic modeling that show systematic, along-axis variations in the depth of crystallization and degree of differentiation of magma produce crustal density variations of ∼0.1 g/cm 3 . These density anomalies are on the order inferred from a recent study that shows increasing axial depth along the northern EPR correlates with an increase in crustal density and offset of mantle upwelling with respect to the ridge axis. Our results, along with geophysical and geochemical data from the 9°-10°N region of the EPR, suggest that along-axis deeps correspond with magmatic systems that have significant near-Moho (i.e., crust-mantle transition) crystallization, which we attribute to off-axis delivery of mantle melt. As this investigation is motivated by the EPR tomography results, we conclude with a numerical study that examines the travel time sensitivity of Pn , a sub-crustal head wave commonly used in local travel time tomography, to crustal and mantle heterogeneity. Our results indicate that Pn travel times and Fresnel zones are insensitive to normal sub-axial crustal thickness anomalies, mantle velocity gradients and crust-mantle velocity contrast variations and that mantle low-velocity zones must be at least 3 km thick to produce significant, near-constant Pn delay times. Our data support the validity and interpretation of the EPR tomography results. This dissertation includes both previously published and unpublished co-authored material.
Committee in charge: Dr. Douglas R. Toomey, Chairperson; Dr. Paul J. Wallace, Member; Dr. Eugene Humphreys, Member; Dr. James Isenberg, Outside Member

Negli ultimi tre decenni la domanda globale di cibo, in particolare di proteine animali (carne, latte, uova), è aumentata in base alla crescita della popolazione che dovrebbe arrivare a 9 miliardi di persone entro il 2050. Questi alimenti rappresentano infatti un'importante fonte di energia, proteine di alta qualità, micronutrienti e vitamine. Pertanto, questo miglioramento potrebbe contribuire all'aumento della durata della vita e della domanda di cibo. Ciò ha costretto il settore agricolo ad un'ulteriore intensificazione che ha interessato anche la coltivazione di colture per l'alimentazione animale. Le produzioni agricole e zootecniche hanno un impatto ambientale rilevante, e questo argomento è oggetto di critiche e di indagini scientifiche anche per definire più accuratamente il loro contributo e le relative potenziali strategie di mitigazione, considerando anche che la fase agricola è il principale contributore dell'impatto ambientale della catena di produzione alimentare. Si riconosce infatti che il settore agricolo contribuisce direttamente al 21% delle emissioni totali di gas serra di origine antropica a livello mondiale e consiste per lo più di metano seguito da protossido di azoto e anidride carbonica. Queste emissioni sono per lo più associate alla produzione zootecnica, in particolare all'allevamento di ruminanti che contribuisce con le emissioni dirette di metano dovute alla fermentazione dei ruminanti e alla fermentazione del letame; la restante parte è composta da emissioni indirette dovute alla deforestazione, all'uso di energia e alla produzione di mangimi. Lo scopo di questa tesi è stato la valutazione dell'impronta ambientale nel settore zootecnico a diversi livelli di scala tematica. La filiera italiana della carne, gli allevamenti lattiero-caseari, un caseificio per la produzione di Grana Padano DOP e i singoli animali sono stati studiati per quantificare l'impronta ambientale. Nel primo lavoro è stata valutata la filiera italiana della carne con un approccio di analisi dei flussi di massa e di valutazione del ciclo di vita. In primo luogo, la quantificazione della carne è stata effettuata dalla macellazione al consumo domestico, partendo dal peso della carcassa fino alla carne realmente consumata. A questo livello si è tenuto conto della carne di bovini, suini, ovini e caprini, equidi e conigli. Durante la catena sono state quantificate anche le perdite di carne e i rifiuti. In particolare, i sottoprodotti di origine animale (SOA) sono stati quantificati per singole specie e classificati in base al rischio a livello sanitario secondo il regolamento (CE) 1069/2009. Secondo la categoria (Cat 1, Cat 2 o Cat 3), supponendo che tutti i SOA fossero destinati al processo di rendering, l'uso e lo smaltimento dei prodotti dopo rendering è stato identificato. L'analisi dei flussi di massa ha confermato come l'Italia sia un importatore netto di carne bovina e suina, mentre è autosufficiente per quanto la carne avicola. L'analisi dei flussi di massa rivela che nel 2013 sono stati consumati in Italia 2,86 Mt di carne. Questo valore equivale a 131 g/giorno/pro-capite e a 47,91 kg/anno/pro-capite di carne consumata. In percentuale la quantità totale di carne consumata è rappresentata dal 46% da carne suina, dal 28% di carne avicola, dal 23% di carne bovina e dal 3% di altre carni (coniglio, equini, ovini e caprini). Questo approccio ha permesso di quantificare anche sottoprodotti di origine animale (SOA) prodotti durante la fase di macellazione e gli scarti alimentari a livello di vendita al dettaglio e fase di consumo. La fase di macellazione è risultata essere la principale fonte di rifiuti, producendo il 48% di rifiuti originati nella filiera della carne. I risultati hanno evidenziato come i SOA siano già quasi completamente riutilizzati, compatibilmente con il loro rischio a livello sanitario, dimostrando la circolarità del sistema e permettendo di quantificare anche i prodotti evitati grazie al loro riutilizzo e le relative emissioni di gas serra evitate. Per quanto riguarda gli altri rifiuti alimentari, i risultati della presente valutazione possono essere considerati solo una stima per la mancanza di specifici coefficienti nazionali. Dopo la fase di quantificazione, è stato applicato l'approccio del Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) per valutare l'impronta ambientale, considerando anche il prodotto evitato grazie al riutilizzo dei sottoprodotti del rendering. I risultati dell'LCA rivelano che il consumo giornaliero di carne pro-capite emette 4,0 kg di CO2eq, con un contributo della care bovina pari al 30%, della carne suina pari al 9.6% e della carne avicola pari all’8%. Le emissioni relative ai SOA sono risultate essere pari al 60% di quelle totali e il loro riutilizzo ha permesso una riduzione di queste del 10%. Il secondo ed il terzo lavoro sono stati invece relativi al potenziale di riscaldamento globale (GWP) di latte bovino e Grana Padano DOP. Complessivamente sono stati valutate ventisette aziende zootecniche con bovine da latte, con latte destinato al formaggio Grana Padano DOP, e un caseificio, situato nella provincia di Piacenza. I dati primari sono stati raccolti utilizzando un questionario appositamente redatto. Questo ha incluso per le aziende agricole la richiesta di dati relativi alla composizione della mandria, la gestione dell'alimentazione, la produzione di latte e performance riproduttive, piani colturali e l'utilizzo delle risorse energetiche e dei materiali di lettime, mentre per il caseificio sono stati richiesti dati relativi all'utilizzo delle risorse energetiche e gli input richiesti dal processo di caseificazione. Nel secondo lavoro sono state valutate 10 aziende lattiere per valutare l'impronta di carbonio del latte (CF) e individuare le principali fonti di emissioni. Lo studio ha utilizzato un approccio dalla culla alla tomba considerando come unità funzionale un 1 kg di latte corretto per contenuto di grasso e proteine (FPCM). Il valore medio di CF di 1 kg di FPCM è risultato essere pari a 1,33 kg di CO2eq/kg FPCM con però un ampio range di variazione, da 1,02 a 1,62 kg di CO2eq/kg FPCM. Le emissioni dovute alle fermentazioni enteriche e alle fermentazioni da reflui rappresentano il 52% del totale, mentre le emissioni relative agli alimenti acquistati il 36%. L'autoproduzione e il consumo energetico rappresentano invece rispettivamente il 6% e il 6%. Nel terzo lavoro invece è stata presa in considerazione la produzione di Grana Padano DOP. In questo caso è stato utilizzato un approccio dalla culla al cancello del caseificio considerando come unità funzionali 1 kg di FPCM e 1 kg di Grana Padano DOP stagionato 9 mesi. Il latte destinato alla produzione del formaggio ha mostrato un valore medio di CF pari a 1,38 kg CO2eq/kg FPCM, con un valore minimo di 1,02 e uno massimo di 1,94 kg CO2eq/kg FPCM. Il valore medio di CF di 1 kg di formaggio Grana Padano DOP è stato invece pari a 9,99 kg di CO2eq, con un contributo della fase agricola pari al 94%. I risultati di questi lavori si sono mostrati in accordo con studi simili riportati in bibliografia e hanno inoltre permesso di evidenziare come gli allevamenti da latte mostrassero un maggior livello di sostenibilità ambientale ma con possibilità di miglioramento principalmente attraverso il miglioramento della gestione delle mandrie (prestazioni produttive e riproduttive). Il quarto lavoro ha riguardato invece lo sviluppo di proxy in grado di prevedere le emissioni di metano da singole bovine da latte. Questo focus è un punto caldo di ricerca, soprattutto perché di fondamentale importanza per individuare strategie di mitigazione efficaci per la riduzione delle emissioni di metano dovute a fermentazioni ruminali, gas ad effetto serra riconosciuto avere il maggior contributo sul totale delle emissioni. Le emissioni di metano dipendono principalmente dal quantitativo di concentrato assunto e dalla composizione generale della dieta, ma tuttavia nelle aziende agricole commerciali risulta difficile quantificare con precisione l’ingestione di alimenti. Lo studio ha quindi mirato a verificare la possibilità di utilizzare la tecnologia del vicino infrarosso (NIRS) utilizzando lo spettro di campioni di feci (NIRSf) e/o in combinazione con altri parametri fenotipici disponibili a livello aziendale per prevedere la produzione di metano (MP, g/giorno) dalle singole vacche da latte in lattazione. Il NIRSf da solo ha permesso una stima abbastanza buona della produzione di metano e le stime sono state migliorate in misura simile quando sono stati considerati il peso vivo o la produzione di latte tal quale o la produzione di latte corretta per il contenuto energetico, mentre la combinazione del NIRSf con più di un altro parametro ha migliorato le stime solo in misura molto limitata. Il metano può essere previsto utilizzando modelli che considerano l’ingestione di sostanza sezza, il peso vivo o la produzione di latte ma il limite principale è rappresentato dalla disponibilità dei dati a livello aziendale. La tecnica del vicino infrarosso applicata ai campioni fecali, in particolare se combinata con altri parametri fenotipici, può rappresentare una valida alternativa per misurazioni su larga scala in allevamenti da latte commerciali, quando l’ingestione di sostanza secca di solito non è disponibile, per la selezione genetica di vacche da latte a bassa emissione.
In the last three decades global demand of food, in particular animal proteins (meat, milk, and eggs), has increased according to the population growth, that is expected to go up to 9 billion by the 2050. These, in fact, represent an important source of energy, high-quality protein, micronutrients and vitamins. Therefore, this improvement could contribute to the lifespan increase and food demand. The latter forced the agricultural sector to a further intensification that affected also the cultivation of crops for animal feeding. Agricultural and livestock productions have a relevant environmental impact, and this topic is object of criticism and scientific investigation also to more accurately define its contribution and potential mitigation strategies, considering also that agricultural stage is the main contributor to the environmental impact of the food production chain. It is recognized, in fact, that agricultural sector directly contribute to the 21% of total global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, mostly consisting of methane followed by nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. These emissions are mainly associated with the livestock production, in particular with ruminants breeding that contributes directly to methane emissions due to ruminal and manure fermentation; the remaining part is composed by indirect emissions from deforestation, energy use and animal feed production. The scope of this thesis was the evaluation of environmental footprint in the livestock sector at different subject scale level. Italian meat supply chain, dairy farms, Grana Padano PDO cheese factory and single animals was investigated in order to quantify environmental footprint. In the first work, the Italian meat supply chain has been evaluated whit a mass flow analysis (MFA) approach and life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. Firstly, the quantification of meat had been made from slaughter to household consumption, starting form carcass weight to real meat consumed. At these levels, meat form cattle, pig, sheep and goat, equidae, and rabbit was taken in account. During the chain also meat losses and waste were quantified. In particular animal by-products (ABPs) were quantified for single species and categorized into heath level risk according to the Regulation (EC) 1069/2009. According to the category (Cat 1, Cat 2 or Cat3), assuming that all ABPs were destinated to rendering process, use and disposal of rendered products was identified. The MFA confirmed how Italy is a net importer of cattle and pork meat while it is self-sustaining for poultry meat. Mass flow analysis revealed that in 2013, 2.86 Mt of meat were consumed in Italy. It is equivalent to 131 g/day/pro-capita and to 47.91 kg/year/pro-capita of meat consumed. In percentage the total amount of consumed meat is represented by 46% of pig, 28% of poultry and 23% of cattle and 3% of other meat (rabbit, equidae, and sheep and goat). This approach quantified the ABPs produced at slaughtering level and food wastes at retail and consumer levels. Slaughter phase was the main source of waste, producing 0.80 Mt of ABPs, 48% of the total amount of waste originated in the meat supply chain. Results highlighted how the ABPs are already almost completely reused, compatibly with their health level risk, demonstrating the circularity of the system through the quantification of the avoided products and relative GHGs emissions. Concerning other food wastes, the results of the present evaluation could be considered only an estimate due to the lack of specific national coefficients. After quantification LCA was applied in order to evaluate environmental footprint, considering also avoided product due to the re-use of rendered ABPs. LCA results reveal that daily meat consumption pro-capita emits 4.0 kg CO2eq represented by 30% of cattle meat, 9.6% of pig meat and 8% of poultry meat. Emissions allocated to ABPs are the 60% and their re-use decrease the emissions about 10%. Second and third works focused the milk and PDO Grana Padano global warming potential (GWP). Overall, twenty-seven dairy farms, producing milk destinated to Grana Padano PDO cheese and one cheese factory, situated in the Piacenza province were evaluated. Primary data were collected by using a specific survey. This included for the farms the request of data regarding herd composition, feeding management, milk production, herd management and performace, crops cultivation and resource use, whereas for the cheese factory, the survey included energy resource use and input requested by cheese making process. In the second work, 10 dairy farms were evaluated in order to assess the milk Carbon Footprint (CF) and the main source of emissions. The system boundary was a cradle-to-farm-gate and functional unit is 1 kg of FPCM (Fat and Protein corrected milk). The CF of 1 kg of FPCM resulted equal to 1.33 kg CO2eq/kg FPCM with a wide range of variation from 1.02 to 1.62 kg CO2eq/kg FPCM. Emissions due to enteric fermentation and manure fermentation represented the 52% of the total, while acquired feed the 36%. Self-production and energetic consumption represented 6% and 6% respectively. In the third, Grana Padano PDO production was considered. The milk destinated to cheese processing showed an average value of CF equal to 1.38 kg CO2eq/kg FPCM, with a minimum value of 1.02 and a maximum one of 1.94 kg CO2eq/kg FPCM. Instead, the CF average value of 1 kg of PDO Grana Padano cheese was equal to 9.99 kg CO2eq, showing an agricultural stage contribution of 94%. Results of these works were in accord with similar studies reported in literature and had pointed out how dairy farms showed a greater level of environmental sustainability but with possibilities for improvement, mainly through herd management enhancement (productive and reproductive performances). Fourth work was about the development of proxies able to predict the methane emissions from individual cows. This focus is a hot research point in order to improve the mitigation strategies to reduce methane emissions because of the main GHG contributor. Methane emission is mainly driven by feed intake and diet composition, but it is difficult to measure intake in commercial farms. The study aimed to verify the possibility of using NIRS of faeces (NIRSf) alone and in combination with other phenotypic parameters available at a farm level to predict methane production (MP, g/d) from individual lactating dairy cows. NIRSf alone allowed a fairly good estimation of methane yield and the estimations were improved to a similar degree when BW, MY or ECM were considered, whereas combining NIRSf with more than one other parameters improved the estimations with a very little extent only. Methane can be predicted using models that consider the DMI, BW or MY but the main limitation is represented by the data availability. Near Infrared technique applied to faecal samples, in particular when combined with other phenotypic parameters, can represent a valid alternative for large-scale measurements in commercial dairy farms for genetic selection of low emitters dairy cows, when DMI measurement is usually not available.

Orientador: Edevar Luvizotto Junior
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo
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Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta, sob diversos aspectos, as perdas de água que ocorrem nas redes de distribuição dos sistemas de abastecimento e os mecanismos de controle disponíveis. Dentre os objetivos se destaca a proposição do modelo matemático-computacional como uma nova ferramenta de localização de fugas. O modelo proposto foi desenvolvido através do acoplamento de um simulador hidráulico baseado no Time Marching Approach ¿ TMA com o algoritmo otimizador de Nelder-Mead. O trabalho visa ampliar os resultados obtidos nas investigações desenvolvidas em LUVIZOTTO (1998) e OCAMPOS (2003), aplicando o modelo em uma rede de distribuição de água real, utilizando os recursos disponibilizados pela companhia de água, propondo uma metodo de aplicação do modelo para tais condições
Abstract: This work presents, under diverse aspects, the water losses that occur in the distribution networks of the water supply systems and the available mechanisms of control. Amongst the objectives, it detaches the proposal of a computational model as a new tool for leak localization. The considered model was developed through the coupling of hydraulic simulator based in Time Marching Approach ¿ TMA method with the Nelder-Mead optimization algorithm. The work aims to extend the results obtained by LUVIZOTTO (1998) and OCAMPOS (2003), by applying the model to a real water distribution network, using the data provided by the water company and suggesting a methodology for application of the model for such conditions
Mestrado
Recursos Hidricos
Mestre em Engenharia Civil

As características de carcaças bovinas relacionam-se indiretamente com aspectos de qualidade da carne bovina, bem como permitem verificar limitações e progressos do sistema produtivo. Portanto, um retrato atual daquelas características em âmbito regional e suas variações anuais e plurianuais é ferramenta essencial na transferência de informação para o gerenciamento e sustentabilidade da cadeia de carne bovina. A análise do banco de dados de um grupo frigorífico com unidades industriais localizadas no Sudoeste de Mato Grosso do Sul, Meio-Oeste de São Paulo, Noroeste de Goiás e Triângulo Mineiro, importantes regiões para a pecuária nacional, durante 31 meses de operação industrial (janeiro de 2001 a agosto de 2003), permitiu descrever as características das carcaças bovinas nessas regiões geográficas, entre épocas do ano e entre os anos. Cada unidade foi abastecida principalmente por fornecedores do próprio estado e as regiões que mais negociaram estavam nas proximidades das unidades, exceto a unidade frigorífica de SP onde grande parte do abate teve origem no Leste de MS. As fêmeas totalizaram 13,16% dos abates e houve oferta crescente no período a partir do segundo semestre de 2002 com pequena redução no abate de machos, destes 75,96% eram castrados e 10,88% inteiros. A região teve impacto na oferta de características como classe sexual, maturidade e grau de acabamento para machos castrados, contudo houve um padrão predominante em todas as unidades em volume e freqüência de oferta, com carcaças de machos castrados de 6 a 8 dentes compondo 61,6% dos abates do grupo. A unidade de GO foi a que mais abateu machos inteiros, totalizando 36% dos abates. A unidade de MG se destacou na proporção de machos castrados até 4 dentes (novilhos) em relação aos machos castrados abatidos, com uma média de 25%. O abate de novilhos com grau de acabamento 3 (espessura de gordura entre 3 e 6 mm) representaram 7,9% dos abates, destacando-se MS e SP em volume de abate e proporção, com 2/3 dos novilhos atingindo este acabamento. A oferta de carcaças de novilhos e de novilhos com grau de acabamento 3 ocorreu em dois momentos do ano, de abril a junho e de agosto a novembro. No período estudado, a oferta de novilhos com grau de acabamento 3 não acompanhou a oferta de novilhos, variando com a região, sendo que a unidade de SP foi abastecida de forma mais regular. O peso médio de abate dos machos castrados foi de 264,4 kg (DP ± 15,2 kg), equivalente a 17,6@ e à medida que os animais avançaram na idade aumentou a freqüência de carcaças pesadas. Carcaças acima de 18@ corresponderam à 40,6% dos adultos e 22,9% dos novilhos. Para os novilhos com acabamento 3 a faixa de peso predominante foi de 16 –17@ em todas unidades, exceto em MG onde a classe de peso predominante esteve acima de 18@.
Beef carcass characteristics are indirectly related with meat quality and helps to identify limitations and progresses of the productive system. Wherefore establishing a picture of such characteristics and their annual and pluriannual variations represents an essential tool on information transference for the beef supply chain management and sustainability. This study was based on data from a beef industry composed by four unities located in important Brazilian regions for beef cattle production (Southeast of Mato Grosso do Sul State, Middle-West of São Paulo State, Northwest of Goiás State and at Triângulo Mineiro Region of Minas Gerais State), during 31 months (January, 2001 to August, 2003). Database analysis allowed to describe beef carcass characteristics within periods over a year and among years of industrial activity. Producers from regions close to the plants inside the same state were their main suppliers, except for the unity in the São Paulo State where a large number of animals came from East of Mato Grosso do Sul State. Castrated males represented 75.96% of total slaughter, intact males 10.88% and females 13.16%. The number of female slaughtered increased over the second semester of 2002 reducing thus the proportion of male slaughtered. There was an influence of the supplying region on sexual condition, maturity and finishing of castrated males with up to four permanent incisors (steers). However, the main carcass pattern in all unities, when considering number and frequency, was castrated males with at least six permanent incisors, representing 61.6% of total slaughter. The Goiás State’s plant slaughtered the highest number of intact males with 36% of its total slaughter. The Minas Gerais State’s plant registered the highest proportion of steers when considering castrated male slaughtered, averaging 25% of its total. Steers with finishing grade 3 (fat thickness 3 to 6 mm) represented 7.9% of all carcasses, distinguishing Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo States’ plants in which two-thirds of steers reached that finishing grade. The supply of steers finishing grade 3 had two peaks with increasing offer over the years, from April to July and from August to November. The number of these carcasses did not follow steers supply with a regional influence. São Paulo State plant was the only one regularly supplied with properly finished steers. The average carcass weight was 264.4 kg (SE ± 15.2 kg). Heavier carcasses were obtained only when animals slaughtered grew older with frequencies of carcass weight over 269.9 kg corresponding to 40.6% of the older castrated males and 22.9% of the steers. The most frequent carcass weight ranged from 240 to 254.9 kg for steers with finishing grade 3 in all plants, except for the one at Minas Gerais State where the predominant weight range was over 269.9 kg.

Thesis (MTh (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology. Church History and Church Polity))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
Different theologies have sprung up around the celebration of the Eucharist. Consequently at the very point where Christians should be most united there is often controversy, bitterness and division. This is true of the writer’s own social location within the Anglican Church. The central question of this thesis is therefore how an engagement with Christianity’s Jewish roots helps us to reframe Eucharistic theology. In this regard a historical theological approach is employed to track how Eucharistic theological emphases have changed over time in relation to Jewish meal traditions, Jesus’ meal parables and table fellowship. The implications to reconnecting with the essence of Jesus’ social location are somewhat radical and potentially discomforting. Yet there are several obstacles to connecting with roots of our faith. The first obstacle examined in this thesis is the problematic interpretative gap of history, between the strangeness of the past and the familiarity of the present. A second obstacle only briefly touched upon is the attitude of anti-intellectualism in some churches today and an ignorance of the histories of Christianity. However, given the thesis question, the primary focus is on the obstacle of Christian anti-Semitism and the de-Judaising of Christianity. To seek greater continuity with Judaism is, in some ways, to Christianize Christianity. ii