Exporting "failure": why research from rich countries may not benefit the developing world

The '10/90 gap' was first highlighted by the Global Forum for Health Research. It refers to the finding that 90% of worldwide medical research expenditure is targeted at problems affecting only 10% of the world's population. Applying research results from the rich world to the problems of the poor may be a tempting, potentially easy and convenient solution for this gap. This paper had the objective of presenting arguments that such an approach runs the risk of exporting failure. Health interventions that are shown to be effective in the specific context of a Western industrialized setting will not necessarily work in the developing world.

Tannery and coal mining waste disposal on soil

Tannery residues and coal mine waste are heavily polluting sources in Brazil, mainly in the Southern States of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. In order to study the effects of residues of chrome leather tanning (sludge and leather shavings) and coal waste on soybean and maize crops, a field experiment is in progress since 1996, at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Experimental Station, county of Eldorado do Sul, Brazil. The residues were applied twice (growing seasons 1996/97 and 1999/00). The amounts of tannery residues were applied according to their neutralizing value, at rates of up to 86.8 t ha-1, supplying from 671 to 1.342 kg ha-1 Cr(III); coal waste was applied at a total rate of 164 t ha-1. Crop yield and dry matter production were evaluated, as well as the nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn) and Cr contents. Crop yields with tannery sludge application were similar to those obtained with N and lime supplied with mineral amendments. Plant Cr absorption did not increase significantly with the residue application. Tannery sludge can be used also to neutralize the high acidity developed in the soil by coal mine waste.

Atributos físicos do solo sob intensidades de pastejo e métodos de pastoreio com cordeiros em integração lavoura-pecuária

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar possíveis alterações na densidade e na porosidade total do solo, em razão do pisoteio de cordeiros, sob diferentes manejos, após as culturas de verão em plantio direto. O experimento foi realizado em Argissolo Vermelho distrófico argiloso, nas camadas 0-2,5, 2,5-5 e 5-10 cm, em pastagem de azevém anual manejada com ofertas de forragem de 2,5 ou 5,0 vezes o potencial de consumo dos animais, em lotação contínua e rotacionada. Como testemunha, utilizou-se uma área não pastejada. As intensidades de pastejo e os métodos de pastoreio não tiveram efeito sobre a densidade e a porosidade total do solo. É possível utilizar, durante o inverno, áreas com este tipo de textura do solo, com culturas de cobertura para pastejo de cordeiros, sem que as alterações nos atributos físicos do solo, pelo pisoteio animal, atinjam níveis prejudiciais para as culturas subsequentes.