Approaching minimal flavour violation from an SU(5) × S4 × U(1) SUSY GUT

We show how approximate Minimal Flavour Violation (MFV) can emerge from an SU(5) Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theory (SUSY GUT) supplemented by an S 4 × U(1) family symmetry, which provides a good description of all quark and lepton (including neutrino) masses, mixings and CP violation. Assuming a SUSY breaking mechanism which respects the family symmetry, we calculate in full explicit detail the low energy mass insertion parameters in the super-CKM basis, including the effects of canonical normalisation and renormalisation group running. We find that the very simple family symmetry S 4 ×U(1) is sufficient to approximately reproduce the effects of low energy MFV

Comparison of phenological, aerobiological and melissopalynological patterns of Olea europaea

International audienceIn the last few years, many studies have used airborne pollen to record the flowering season of plants. However, the airborne pollen found in traps does not always originate from or reflect the flowering period of the taxa from the studied surroundings. This study compared aerobiological, melissopalynological and flowering phenological data obtained from olive trees. The results of the study suggest that pollen loads collected by honeybees can be used as an alternative method to airborne pollen to record the flowering phenological phases and to provide accurate results

Dual interest rates and the transmission of monetary policy

The recent experience in the euro area with dual interest rates, that is, central bank funding at rates below the level at which central bank reserves are remunerated, showed that such a tool can constitute a new form of monetary accommodation. On top of supporting bank credit, central bank funding with dual interest rates enables an easing of bank lending conditions without the increased risk appetite that a standard rate cut might bring about, especially if considered after a prolonged period of low or negative interest rates

Development of a national and sub-national crop calendars data set compatible with remote sensing derived land surface phenology

Crop calendars are a fundamental component of agricultural production monitoring systems since they help analysts to focus on the seasons when different crop types are actually growing in the field. The Earth Observation based early warning system ASAP (Anomaly hot Spots of Agricultural Production) uses land surface phenology (LSP) metrics as proxy for crop calendars and applies parameters, such as the start and end of the season (SOS and EOS respectively) to define the period of active agricultural vegetation growth at pixel level. However, such information is not crop specific and it remains therefore relevant to use crop calendars from independent sources providing crop specific key phenological timings, such as sowing, growing and harvesting. Several institutions, including FAO and USDA make available crop calendars at the national level, which are widely used for agricultural monitoring. The LSP derived SOS and EOS metrics can be associated with sowing and harvesting from such crop calendars. This report describes a method for the attribution of each growing season derived from LSP to a crop type listed in existing crop calendars. Based on a set of rules, we compare the growing seasons derived from LSP with the timings of the crop calendars, and select those crops where a match between LSP and crop calendar information is found. Agricultural statistics, including harvested area and production, are used in order to verify the correct identification and relevance of crop types by country. The method also allows to downscale the existing national level crop calendars to the sub-national level. It therefore makes available sub-national level crop calendars, which are highly valuable for crop monitoring at that scale. The resulting crop calendars are available in the ASAP download section: https://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/asap/download.phpJRC.D.5-Food Securit

Impacts of COVID-19 and desert locusts on smallholder farmers food systems and value chains in Kenya

This report covers the second survey about the impact of multiple stressors including floods, COVID-19 and desert locusts on agri-food value-chains in Kenya’s main agricultural areas since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The second survey period corresponds to the 2020 short rains season and the results are compared to those of the 2020 long rains season.JRC.D.5 - Food Securit

Impacts of Covid-19 and desert locusts on smallholder farmers food systems and value chains in Kenya

The study analyses impacts of multiple stressors including floods, COVID-19 and desert locusts on agri-food value-chains in Kenya’s main agricultural areas during the 2020 long rains season. While 76% of farmers reported negative impacts of Covid-19 on their primary income source, only 16% reported losses due to desert locusts.JRC.D.5 - Food Securit

Impacts of COVID-19 and other stressors on smallholder farmers' food systems and value chains in Kenya

This report covers the third and last phase of a survey about the impact of multiple stressors on agri-food value chains in Kenya’s main agricultural areas since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The third phase survey period (March to June 2021) corresponds to the long rain season and the results are compared with the findings of the same season in 2020.JRC.D.5 - Food Securit