Agriculture

24 pages, 684 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

How to Prevent Bread Losses in the Baking and Confectionery Industry?—Measurement, Causes, Management and Prevention

by Elżbieta Goryńska-Goldmann, Michał Gazdecki, Krystyna Rejman, Joanna Kobus-Cisowska, Sylwia Łaba and Robert Łaba

Agriculture 2021, 11(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010019 - 30 Dec 2020

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 13819

Abstract

Food losses and waste are associated with inefficient use of agricultural land, water and other resources and agricultural raw materials. Reducing the scale of food wastage is one of the most urgent challenges for food system operators, starting from agriculture to food consumption [...] Read more.

Food losses and waste are associated with inefficient use of agricultural land, water and other resources and agricultural raw materials. Reducing the scale of food wastage is one of the most urgent challenges for food system operators, starting from agriculture to food consumption in the households. This is all the more urgent as food insecurity has deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are few studies on how to reduce food losses in food processing sectors, as most researchers focus on the demand side of the market, especially within household consumption. To fill the knowledge gaps related to the inefficient production system in the baking and confectionery industry (BCI), research was conducted to estimate the scale of losses in BCI in Poland, determine their causes and assess the risk of their occurrence, identify retrieve points (RP) and ways of reducing and preventing losses. Two research methods were used. Quantitative data were collected using an Internet survey method on a sample of 48 bakeries. The qualitative data was provided by 5 individual in-depth interviews with experts from the surveyed industry. The results showed that the total scale of losses in Polish BCI reached 2.39% (in 2017) and 2.63% (in 2018) of the weight of manufactured products. The loss analysis was presented within respective sections of production: raw materials magazine (RMM), production section (PS), final product magazine (FPM), final product transport (FPT). The highest loss level was reported for PS—1.56% (2017), 1.85% (2018). Additionally, 12 loss risks and nine main cause categories were identified. Potential 6 retrieve points (RP) during the baking processes were indicated: making and handling intermediate products and dough; portioning and forming of dough, baking, customised packing, shipping (storage), transport by own fleet. The type of risk, the cause of losses, their consequences, and manners of preventing losses were specified for each RP. Being the first study of this kind in Poland, its results are key to build a road map for further researches focused on reduction of food losses, more sustainable management of resources in BCI. It might contribute to corporate social responsibility and value co-creation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Challenges of Agriculture and Rural Areas in the Context of Sustainable Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1912 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Irrigation, Peat-Alternative Substrate and Plant Habitus on the Morphological and Production Characteristics of Sicilian Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Biotypes Grown in Pot

by Salvatore La Bella, Giuseppe Virga, Nicolò Iacuzzi, Mario Licata, Leo Sabatino, Beppe Benedetto Consentino, Claudio Leto and Teresa Tuttolomondo

Agriculture 2021, 11(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010013 - 28 Dec 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4617

Abstract

Irrigation and growing substrate are considered as essential cultivation practices in order to obtain good productive and qualitative performance of potted rosemary plants. In pot growing, the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the substrate must be stable over time in order to [...] Read more.

Irrigation and growing substrate are considered as essential cultivation practices in order to obtain good productive and qualitative performance of potted rosemary plants. In pot growing, the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the substrate must be stable over time in order to allow regular plant growth. However, the effects of cultivation techniques on the characteristics of potted rosemary are little known. Peat is traditionally used as the organic growing medium; however, despite numerous advantages, its use has determined a degradation of peatlands in the northern hemisphere and an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of irrigation and peat-alternative substrates on the morphological, aesthetic and production characteristics of potted Sicilian rosemary biotypes with different habitus types. Two years, two different irrigation levels, three peat-alternative substrates and three types of rosemary plant habitus were tested in a split-split-split-plot design for a four-factor experiment. The results highlight that irrigation and substrate determined significant differences for all tested parameters. Rosemary plants demonstrated the best performances when irrigation was more frequent; vice versa, the greatest percent content in essential oil was obtained when irrigation events were less frequent. The chemical–physical characteristics of peat-alternative substrates changed with decreases in the peat content and increases in the compost content. The erect habitus biotype showed the best adaptation capacity to the various treatments. Our results suggest that irrigation and peat-alternative substrates significantly affect the growth of rosemary plants and should, therefore, be taken into consideration in order to improve the cultivation of this species in pots for ornamental purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Agricultural Research When Considering Criteria of Multifunctionality and Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2040 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Grain Quality of Maize Cultivars as a Function of Planting Dates, Irrigation and Nitrogen Stress: A Case Study from Semiarid Conditions of Iran

by Maryam Rahimi Jahangirlou, Gholam Abbas Akbari, Iraj Alahdadi, Saeid Soufizadeh and David Parsons

Agriculture 2021, 11(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010011 - 27 Dec 2020

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4707

Abstract

Maize grain is an important source of human and animal feed, and its quality can be affected by management practices and climatic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration and composition of starch, protein and oil in grain of maize cultivars in [...] Read more.

Maize grain is an important source of human and animal feed, and its quality can be affected by management practices and climatic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration and composition of starch, protein and oil in grain of maize cultivars in response to different planting dates (20 June and 21 July), irrigation (12-day and 6-day intervals) and nitrogen rates (0 and 184 kg N ha⁻¹). The first two principal components (PCs) accounted for 84.5% of the total variation. High N fertilization increased protein (by 6.0 and 10.9 g kg⁻¹) and total nonessential amino acids (by 3.4 and 2.4 g kg⁻¹) during 2018 and 2019, respectively. With the high irrigation rate, the high N rate increased oil, total unsaturated fatty acids, and starch and amylopectin, whereas with the low irrigation rate, there was no effect of the N rate. With earlier planting, total saturated fatty acids were higher. The findings highlight the complicated relationship between the different factors and how they affect quality characteristics of maize grain. There was a large impact of year, which to a great extent cannot be controlled, even in this environment where water supply was controlled and rainfall did not affect the results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Traits of Agriculture/Food Quality Interface)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

11 pages, 1669 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Could Supercritical Extracts from the Aerial Parts of Helianthus salicifolius A. Dietr. and Helianthus tuberosus L. Be Regarded as Potential Raw Materials for Biocidal Purposes?

by Anna Malm, Agnieszka Grzegorczyk, Anna Biernasiuk, Tomasz Baj, Edward Rój, Katarzyna Tyśkiewicz, Agnieszka Dębczak, Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski, Michał Krzyżaniak and Ewelina Olba-Zięty

Agriculture 2021, 11(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010010 - 26 Dec 2020

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4177

Abstract

Extracts from the June collection of aerial parts of Helianthus salicifolius A. Dietr and Helianthus tuberosus L. were obtained using carbon dioxide supercritical fluid extraction with water as co-solvent. The antimicrobial effect in vitro of these extracts was then determined against reference species [...] Read more.

Extracts from the June collection of aerial parts of Helianthus salicifolius A. Dietr and Helianthus tuberosus L. were obtained using carbon dioxide supercritical fluid extraction with water as co-solvent. The antimicrobial effect in vitro of these extracts was then determined against reference species of bacteria, as well as against fungi (represented by Candida spp.). Both extracts were found to possess antimicrobial activity, with MIC = 0.62–5 mg mL⁻¹ for bacteria and MIC = 5–10 mg mL⁻¹ for yeasts, and both extracts demonstrated suitable bactericidal and fungicidal effect. The highest activity was observed against S. aureus ATCC 29213 (MIC = 0.62 mg mL⁻¹ for H. salicifolius extract; MIC = 2.5 mg mL⁻¹ for H. tuberosus extract) as confirmed by time–kill assay. Higher antioxidant activity was found for H. tuberosus extract (EC₅₀ = 0.332 mg mL⁻¹) as compared to that of H. salicifolius (EC₅₀ = 0.609 mg mL⁻¹). The total polyphenol content (TPC) expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE) was 13.75 ± 0.50 mg GAE g⁻¹ of H. salicifolius extract and 33.06 ± 0.80 mg GAE g⁻¹ of H. tuberosus extract. There was a relationship between the antioxidant potential of both extracts and TPC, but not between antistaphylococcal activity and TPC. The ATIR–FTIR spectra of both extracts showed similar main vibrations of the functional groups typical for phytoconstituents possessing bioactivity. The obtained data suggest potential application of these extracts as natural antioxidants and preparations with biocidal activity. Additionally, both extracts may be regarded as potential natural conservants in cosmetics, as well as natural preservatives in food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations and Perspectives of Industrial and Bioenergy Crops for Bioeconomy Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1410 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Application of Machine Learning for Cultivar Discrimination of Sweet Cherry Endocarp

by Ewa Ropelewska

Agriculture 2021, 11(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010006 - 24 Dec 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3987

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the texture and geometric parameters of endocarp (pit) for distinguishing different cultivars of sweet cherries using image analysis. The textures from images converted to color channels and the geometric parameters of the [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the texture and geometric parameters of endocarp (pit) for distinguishing different cultivars of sweet cherries using image analysis. The textures from images converted to color channels and the geometric parameters of the endocarp (pits) of sweet cherry ‘Kordia’, ‘Lapins’, and ‘Büttner’s Red’ were calculated. For the set combining the selected textures from all color channels, the accuracy reached 100% when comparing ‘Kordia’ vs. ‘Lapins’ and ‘Kordia’ vs. ‘Büttner’s Red’ for all classifiers. The pits of ‘Kordia’ and ‘Lapins’, as well as ‘Kordia’ and ‘Büttner’s Red’ were also 100% correctly discriminated for discriminative models built separately for RGB, Lab and XYZ color spaces, G, L and Y color channels and for models combining selected textural and geometric features. For discrimination ‘Lapins’ and ‘Büttner’s Red’ pits, slightly lower accuracies were determined—up to 93% for models built based on textures selected from all color channels, 91% for the RGB color space, 92% for the Lab and XYZ color spaces, 84% for the G and L color channels, 83% for the Y channel, 94% for geometric features, and 96% for combined textural and geometric features. Full article

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 1110 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Mortierella Species as the Plant Growth-Promoting Fungi Present in the Agricultural Soils

by Ewa Ozimek and Agnieszka Hanaka

Agriculture 2021, 11(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010007 - 24 Dec 2020

Cited by 290 | Viewed by 19982

Abstract

In the most recent scientific reports based on the DNA or RNA-analyses a widespread presence of the filamentous fungi, Mortierella in various environments has been shown. Some strains of this genus belong to the plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) and are found in the [...] Read more.

In the most recent scientific reports based on the DNA or RNA-analyses a widespread presence of the filamentous fungi, Mortierella in various environments has been shown. Some strains of this genus belong to the plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) and are found in the bulk soil, rhizosphere and plants tissues. These microorganisms are also often found in the extremely hostile environments, responsible for improving access to the bioavailable forms of P and Fe in the soils, the synthesis of phytohormones and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, and last but not least the protection of agricultural plants from pathogens. Furthermore, earlier reports classified Mortierella spp. as the saprotrophic microorganisms isolated from the forest litter, and nowadays their status as a very valuable decomposers in the agricultural soils was confirmed. The key features like the ability to survive under very unfavorable environmental conditions and the utilization of carbon sources contained in polymers like cellulose, hemicellulose, chitin make these fungi efficient as the agricultural inoculants. The growing interest in the application of Mortierella spp. is mainly due to the potential use of this genus in the increase of the nutrient uptake efficiency, positive effect in crop protection against adverse conditions, and reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides applied. Moreover, activities of Mortierella species selected from the wild or cultivated plants influence the soil microbiota and support the performance of the beneficial microorganisms enhancing significantly crop yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Microbe-Soil Interactions in Agroecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 4753 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Molecular and Physiological Responses of Rice and Weedy Rice to Heat and Drought Stress

by Leonard Bonilha Piveta, Nilda Roma-Burgos, José Alberto Noldin, Vívian Ebeling Viana, Claudia de Oliveira, Fabiane Pinto Lamego and Luis Antonio de Avila

Agriculture 2021, 11(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010009 - 24 Dec 2020

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 8324

Abstract

Rice is the staple food for about half of the world population. Rice grain yield and quality are affected by climatic changes. Arguably, rice cultivars’ genetic diversity is diminished from decades of breeding using narrow germplasm, requiring introgressions from other Oryza species, weedy [...] Read more.

Rice is the staple food for about half of the world population. Rice grain yield and quality are affected by climatic changes. Arguably, rice cultivars’ genetic diversity is diminished from decades of breeding using narrow germplasm, requiring introgressions from other Oryza species, weedy or wild. Weedy rice has high genetic diversity, which is an essential resource for rice crop improvement. Here, we analyzed the phenotypic, physiological, and molecular profiles of two rice cultivars (IRGA 424 and SCS119 Rubi) and five weedy rice (WR), from five different Brazilian regions, in response to heat and drought stress. Drought and heat stress affected the phenotype and photosynthetic parameters in different ways in rice and WR genotypes. A WR from Northern Brazil yielded better under heat stress than the non-stressed check. Drought stress upregulated HSF7A while heat stress upregulated HSF2a. HSP74.8, HSP80.2, and HSP24.1 were upregulated in both conditions. Based on all evaluated traits, we hypothesized that in drought conditions increasing HSFA7 expression is related to tiller number and that increase WUE (water use efficiency) and HSFA2a expression are associated with yield. In heat conditions, G_s (stomatal conductance) and E’s increases may be related to plant height; tiller number is inversely associated with HSPs expression, and chlorophyll content and C_i (intercellular CO₂ concentration) may be related to yield. Based on morphology, physiology, and gene regulation in heat and drought stress, we can discriminate genotypes that perform well under these stress conditions and utilize such genotypes as a source of genetic diversity for rice breeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1056 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Suitability of Composting Process for the Disposal and Valorization of Brewer’s Spent Grain

by Davide Assandri, Niccolò Pampuro, Giacomo Zara, Eugenio Cavallo and Marilena Budroni

Agriculture 2021, 11(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010002 - 22 Dec 2020

Cited by 62 | Viewed by 9956

Abstract

The brewing industry is characterized by the large production of by-products. Following the fundamentals of a circular economy, several attempts to recycle brewers’ spent grain (BSG) have been investigated. However, little information is available on its use for composting. Considering the main parameters [...] Read more.

The brewing industry is characterized by the large production of by-products. Following the fundamentals of a circular economy, several attempts to recycle brewers’ spent grain (BSG) have been investigated. However, little information is available on its use for composting. Considering the main parameters required for optimal development of composting, the objective of the present review was to analyze the literature to determine whether the microbial and physicochemical characteristics of BSG make it suitable for direct composting. As the main factors in the composting process, we considered the BSG moisture content, total carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, and pH. As described in the literature, the BSG moisture content, C/N ratio, and pH range from 70.6% to 81.3%, 7.1 to 26.5, and 3.8 to 6.9, respectively. This C/N ratio range is lower than the composting target range (20–30). Instead, the mean moisture content in the literature is higher than the 60% to 65% recommended for composting. Optimum pH for aerobic stabilization of compost ranges from 5.5 to 7.5, while the BSG pH in the literature is typically more acidic. Therefore, BSG is not suitable for direct composting. Addition of lignocellulosic bulking agents improves the reduction of moisture content during composting, while also optimizing the substrate properties, such as C/N ratio, air spaces, and pH, to positively affect the composting process. Moreover, livestock manure should be included as a starting material to promote the composting process. In this context, two hypothetical initial mixtures of BSG plus a lignocellulosic bulking agent and livestock manure are presented. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Editor’s Choice Articles

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI