Issue Characteristics Sample Clauses

Issue Characteristics. Issue characteristics describe the problems being faced, indicate the extent of the problems, and outline solutions. Credible studies and evidence are also important to substantiate these claims. The interviewees in this study main- tained that an edible insect sector could help resolve problems pertaining to a declining agro-food sector in the Netherlands, increasing European dependence on foreign soybeans, and nutrition: Downloaded by [Radboud University Nijmegen] at 00:34 11 October 2017 People are looking for new business models for the region. Insect breeding could be one of them. If the cost [to produce] decreases, then legislation will come. I’m almost certain of it. Look, there’s a geopolitical argument here. If Europe wants to be less dependent on soy imports – the amount coming from Brazil and South America is gigantic – then there’s a geopolitical argument there. So if you’re prepared to offer an animal protein alternative for the feed industry, you might be able to exploit the geopolitical issue. [Food Industry Expert] Let’s take soybean meal and fishmeal which are two other protein sour- ces. I think there are sufficient reasons to doubt whether soybean is the way to go. There are problems there. And I’m not saying that there aren’t problems with insects, but maybe we can work together to provide suffi- cient protein to last. If you look at fishmeal, then fish stocks are simply declining so we need to put in more effort to get out less fish so in the end you will need an alternative there as well. One of the tasks of national government, if they think this is an innovative path, is that we must research it. If you look at ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ who worked at the FAO and who now leads the WUR [Wageningen University], she has clearly stated that insects are a solution for our future, for our diet. [Local Government Representative] Scientific validation and indicators of food and health safety will be impera- tive to gaining attention for the sector at the policy level. The interviewees are aware of the need for testing and industry codes: You need to have your claims independently validated [by research]. You need that proof…That is also just part of developing a sector. [Industry Consultant] I think whenever you have a new food source … you always need indepen- dent, scientific advice … If it’s about public acceptance, then it’s scientific, but it seems to me there is also an inherently political side to it. [Local Government Representative] As soon as you ...