Search Results (2,513)

Saudi Arabia is expanding its domestic coffee sector under Vision 2030, yet coffee farming remains vulnerable to leaf diseases and pest damage. Image-based artificial intelligence studies conducted under Saudi field conditions remain limited, particularly in relation to assessing image-based visible disease severity. This study designs a hierarchical deep learning framework for screening coffee leaf diseases using field-collected images of Saudi coffee leaves. Three tasks were addressed: binary health status classification, four-class disease or pest damage identification, and binary visible severity classification. A dataset of 550 RGB images was collected from Al-Dayer Governorate, Jazan, under natural field conditions. ResNet50, DenseNet121, and EfficientNet-B0 were evaluated via transfer learning in two phases: a Saudi-only phase and an integrated phase that combined Saudi data with selected JMuBEN and JMuBEN2 samples. In the Saudi-only phase, ResNet50 achieved 96.47% accuracy for binary classification, while DenseNet121 achieved 68.66% and 78.12% for disease and visible severity classification, respectively. In the integrated phase, performance improved to 99.74%, 97.76%, and 97.37%. These integrated-phase results are interpreted as evidence that dataset expansion and increased visual diversity can improve model performance, rather than as definitive estimates of field deployment performance. The results show that binary classification is feasible under limited local data, whereas fine-grained disease classification is more constrained by dataset size and class imbalance. Grad-CAM visualizations were used to support qualitative interpretability and should not be interpreted as biological validation of disease localization. The framework is positioned as a decision-support screening approach that requires further expert-validated, multi-farm, and multi-season evaluation before deployment. Full article

The study aimed to analyze how peasant economies in the municipality of Caicedonia recognize, classify, and manage functional biodiversity associated with coffee, plantain, and orange production systems to propose a contextualized framework for species accounting and ecological cost assessment within the coffee ecosystem. A qualitative interpretive approach with exploratory quantitative support was adopted through an exploratory descriptive design and participatory action research methodology. The study integrated 21 semi structured interviews conducted with producers managing approximately 61 associated crop units distributed across diversified farming systems. Data collection included field visits, direct observation, participatory species identification exercises, and thematic interviews focused on ecological functions, agricultural practices, biodiversity management, and perceived environmental impacts. The methodological framework additionally incorporated thematic coding, functional species classification, ecological cost identification, process and strategy mapping, descriptive frequency analysis, and multiple correspondence analysis to explore relationships among crop systems, species, ecological functions, management practices, and environmental pressures. The findings indicate that producers develop consistent empirical classifications regarding pests, pollinators, biological control organisms, and ecological indicators while recognizing cumulative ecological impacts associated with intensive agricultural practices. Quantitative exploration analysis revealed differentiated ecological configurations according to crop system and biodiversity management dynamics, supporting contextualized biodiversity accounting for sustainable agronomic decision making. Full article

The leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella Guérin-Méneville & Perrottet, 1842 (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), is a major pest of coffee plants (Coffea spp.) worldwide. It is recognized for its widespread occurrence in coffee plantations and the quantitative and economic losses it causes to coffee production, especially in regions with higher temperatures and greater water deficits. We evaluated historical and current research approaches to leaf miner management, establishing current knowledge through a systematic review of research on biological control agents (BCAs), plant extracts and cover crops or intercropping for L. coffeella control, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We conducted a systematic review of research findings from 1980 to 2025, developing a set of a priori criteria for subsequent replication of the review process. This review covers 130 publications, of which 28 met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies were conducted in five countries, although 75.00% of the studies were from Brazil. The BCAs accounted for 60.71%, followed by plant extracts (32.17%) and cover crops or intercropping (7.15%). Field studies were predominant, prioritizing diagnostic studies, surveys, studies on alternative control methods, and finally studies on BCAs, providing an effective solution. The limitations and prospects for their management were analyzed, and we highlighted recommendations that will improve future studies. Full article

Background/Objectives Coffee is widely consumed worldwide and is rich in bioactive compounds with potential metabolic benefits. Recently, lipid-enriched coffee formulations have gained popularity; however, their biological effects and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methods In this study, we employed an integrated multi-omics approach to investigate the impact of coffee and high-fat coffee on the plasma metabolome and gut microbiota of C57BL/6J mice. Eighteen male mice were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 6) and received water, coffee, or high-fat coffee by oral gavage daily for 14 days. The plasma metabolome was analyzed via UHPLC-MS/MS, and the gut microbiota was profiled u 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results Metabolomic analysis revealed distinct clustering patterns among groups. A total of 200 metabolites were significantly altered in the coffee group compared with the water group, while 86 metabolites were altered in the high-fat coffee group compared with the coffee group, with 56 overlapping metabolites suggesting a core metabolic response. Microbiome analysis showed that coffee consumption increased the abundances of Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium and decreased the levels of Ligilactobacillus and Muribaculum. Coriobacteriaceae UCG-002 and Turicibacter were significantly enriched in the high-fat coffee group, whereas Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, Mucispirillum and unclassified Lactobacillaceae were reduced. Association analysis highlighted the top 20 metabolites with the highest degree of connection to gut microbial genera, two of which belong to the chlorogenic acid pathway. Conclusions Reduced levels of ferulic acid and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, two metabolites potentially involved in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, were observed in the high-fat coffee group, suggesting that dietary cream influences microbiota-associated chlorogenic acid metabolism. Full article

Geisha coffee (Coffea arabica L. cv. Geisha) is internationally recognized for its exceptional sensory quality; however, its functional properties and bioactive composition remain insufficiently explored. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, vascular bioactivity, and toxicological safety of an aqueous extract of roasted Geisha coffee (AErGC) from the Chiriquí highlands, Panama. The chemical composition was determined using HPLC-PDA. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and lipid peroxidation assays. Vascular effects were studied in rat aortic rings, and safety was evaluated through Artemia salina and a single-dose acute oral toxicity model in rats (OECD 423). Chemical characterization was performed by HPLC-PDA, revealing notably elevated levels of caffeine (69.5 ± 6.4 mg/g) and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (74.5 ± 6.9 mg/g). The extract exhibited strong free radical scavenging capacity, with an IC₅₀ value of 14.7 ± 4.9 µg/mL in the DPPH assay, and inhibited lipid peroxidation by 72.71 ± 1.63% at 15.6 µg/mL. In endothelium-intact rings, AErGC induced a concentration-dependent vasorelaxant effect, reaching a maximum relaxation of 70.84 ± 2.9%. Toxicological results showed an LC₅₀ > 1000 µg/mL in A. salina and an oral LD₅₀ > 2000 mg/kg, classifying the extract as Category 5 (low toxicity). These findings highlight Panamanian Geisha coffee as a promising functional beverage with antioxidant and vascular protective properties, supporting its potential as a nutraceutical. Full article

Background/Objectives: There has been a growing concern about excessive caffeine consumption among heavy green tea drinkers on health outcomes, such as cardiovascular diseases or cancer. We evaluated the association between green tea consumption and risk of all-cause mortality in Vietnam. Methods: We used data from the Hanoi Prospective Cohort Study, an ongoing study comprising 42,146 participants aged 10 or older in Northern Vietnam who have been followed up between 2007 and 2019. Green tea intake was derived from a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We performed a Cox proportional hazard regression model to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between green tea consumption and risk of all-cause mortality, adjusted for potential confounding factor. Results: After a median follow-up of 11 years (range: 0.13–11.64 years), we identified 2494 deaths. Overall, there was an inverse association between green tea intake and risk of all-cause mortality (HR_{perSDincrement} = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89–0.97, P_trend < 0.001). This pattern was more pronounced in males (HR_{perSDincrement} = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89–0.97, P_trend < 0.001) but not in females (HR_{perSDincrement} = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.86–1.02, P_trend = 0.12; P_{heterogeneity} = 0.81). In stratified analysis, the inverse association pattern was seen in both younger and old age groups, in individuals with BMI < 23 kg/m², in both ever and never smokers, among ever alcohol drinkers and never coffee drinkers, and in individuals with and without history of type 2 diabetes (P_{heterogeneity} = 0.31). Conclusions: Findings from the current study, the first prospective cohort study in Vietnam, suggest a protective effect of green tea consumption on risk of all-cause mortality. Further studies are warranted to validate our findings in similar population and settings. Full article

Background: Instant Cascara (IC) beverages, derived from dried coffee cherry pulp, represent an upcycled plant-based ingredient rich in phenolic compounds and methylxanthines. Although spray-drying enables the production of soluble cascara powders without carriers, previous sensory evaluation highlighted limitations in palatability, supporting the need for formulation strategies. Objective: To evaluate how the incorporation of inulin-type carriers with different degrees of polymerization modulates production yield, the apparent recovery of bioactive compounds, and formulation-dependent in vitro biological and receptor-level responses of Instant Cascara beverages. Methods: Formulations without carrier (IC 0.0) and with long-chain inulin (IC 1.0) or oligofructose-enriched inulin (IC 2.0) were prepared and characterized. Production yield, phytochemical composition, and in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and receptor-mediated responses were assessed using analytical tools, cell-based assays, and receptor-based platforms. Results: Carrier incorporation improved production yield, particularly for IC 1.0. Although differences in apparent recovery of bioactive compounds were observed, all formulations preserved relevant in vitro biological activities. IC 2.0 showed stronger nitric oxide inhibition and apoptosis induction in colorectal cancer cell models. Receptor-based assays revealed formulation-dependent differences, including reduced activation of bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs), absence of sweet receptor (TAS1R2/TAS1R3) activation, and modulation of muscarinic (M3) and dopaminergic (D3/D4) receptor responses. These effects are consistent with variations in the composition and effective concentration of bioactive compounds between formulations, particularly caffeine. Conclusions: The incorporation of inulin-type carriers influences production yield and modulates in vitro biological responses and receptor-level responses of Instant Cascara beverages. IC 2.0 represents a formulation with a favorable balance between technological performance and functional responses, associated with a distinct receptor-level profile. This balance may be related to a reduced contribution of bitterness-associated compounds, such as caffeine, together with the preservation of other bioactive components contributing to the observed biological responses. These findings provide a mechanistic in vitro basis for future sensory and in vivo studies evaluating how formulation-dependent differences in bioactive composition may influence physiological responses and consumer perception. Full article

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are generated in millions of tonnes annually due to rising global coffee consumption, posing significant challenges, including greenhouse gas emissions, waste-disposal problems, and the loss of valuable compounds like caffeine, dietary fibre, phenolics, antioxidants, proteins, and lipids, offering prospects for potential valorization. Its composition is influenced by several factors. This review focuses on recent advancements in the valorization of SCG across sectors such as food, nutraceuticals, bioenergy, and packaging. The emphasis is on pretreatment, extraction, and bioconversion methods, as well as current research gaps, limitations, and future directions. SCG valorization is oriented toward integrated, multi-product biorefinery systems based on green extraction and bioconversion technologies to recover high-value compounds in both the food and non-food sectors. Nonetheless, industrial scalability is limited by composition variability, energy-intensive processing, techno-economic constraints, and safety and regulatory issues that remain unresolved. The shortcomings, such as inadequate standardized characterization, toxicological validation, and pilot-scale studies, are critical gaps. Scalable, energy-efficient processes, AI-assisted optimization, and regulatory alignment development should be a priority in future research, so that sustainable and commercial deployment is possible. Full article

In complex mountainous environments, the asynchronous development between external color turning and internal sugar accumulation (often termed “false maturity”) in coffee cherries poses a severe challenge to post-harvest quality sorting and the consistency of final coffee products. To overcome the limitations of single-phenotype detection in raw material screening, this study proposed a multimodal quality discrimination framework integrating fruit hyperspectral imaging, micro-topography, and plant physiological characteristics. Taking typical mountain-grown fresh coffee cherries as the research object, and after comparing various spectral preprocessing and feature dimensionality reduction algorithms, the multimodal fusion efficacy of nine machine learning classifiers was systematically evaluated. The results demonstrated that: (1) Full-spectrum difference analysis quantitatively confirmed the limitations of visual harvesting; spectral reflectance differences between high- and low-sugar fruits were highly concentrated in the red and red-edge regions, with the maximum difference precisely located at 676 nm. (2) Compared to the single-spectrum model (mean accuracy of 75.93%), the fully fused Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) network effectively mitigated background noise induced by heterogeneous environments, improving the mean classification accuracy to 77.22% with a mean Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.827. (3) Correlation analysis clarified the quantitative association between topography and quality; micro-topographic slope (r = 0.346) was identified as the key environmental driver of spatial differentiation in fruit sugar content, while plant chlorophyll A content (r = 0.183) exhibited a corresponding physiological response trend. This study not only explains the root cause of visual assessment failure from a physical optics perspective but also reveals the spatial variation laws of quality driven by micro-topography, providing preliminary data support for the intelligent sorting of raw materials and ensuring post-harvest quality consistency of mountainous crops. Full article

Coffee oil, an increasingly recognized yet underutilized byproduct of spent coffee grounds, has attracted attention due to its diverse lipid composition and minor components. This study systematically investigated the lipid characteristics of coffee oils extracted from both Arabica and Robusta spent coffee grounds subjected to varying roasting degrees. Comprehensive analyses were conducted, mainly regarding oil yield, acid and peroxide values, fatty acid profiles, sn-2 positional fatty acid distribution, triacylglycerol composition, tocopherol content and total Folin-reactive compounds, as well as squalene and sterol profiles. The selected Arabica samples generally showed higher oil yields than Robusta samples, with oil contents ranging from 12.13% to 15.14% and 10.10% to 13.01%, respectively. Arabica coffee oils showed relatively high total tocopherol levels, ranging from 930.35 to 1495.37 mg/kg, whereas Robusta coffee oils ranged from 637.69 to 867.21 mg/kg. Total Folin-reactive compounds varied among samples and should be interpreted as composition-related indicators rather than direct evidence of antioxidant function. In contrast, Robusta coffee oils contained much higher levels of squalene and total sterols, ranging from 97.00 to 170.37 mg/100 g and 787.29 to 1007.92 mg/100 g, respectively. Chemometric analyses showed distinct grouping patterns among the selected coffee oil samples. In the present sample set, the overall lipid profiles were more closely associated with the Arabica and Robusta sample groups than with the assigned roasting levels. These results provide compositional information for the potential use of Arabica coffee oil as a tocopherol- and Folin-reactive compound-rich lipid ingredient. Robusta coffee oil may be further evaluated for applications requiring higher levels of squalene, phytosterols, and relatively saturated lipid structures. This study provides novel insights into the compositional complexity of coffee oil and supports its targeted valorization across various industries. Full article

Conventional sterilization methods limit smallholder mushroom cultivation in PNG. This study evaluated alternative disinfection approaches for Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) using coffee parchment and Cenchrus fungiraminus (C. fungigraminus) as substrates. After screening 20 strains, the superior strain PXF9 was selected. Three methods were compared: (1) Complete Sterilization with Aseptic Inoculation (CSAI) applied to T1 (experimental) and T2 (sawdust control); (2) Short Sterilization with Open Inoculation (SSOI) applied to T3 (experimental) and T5 (control); and (3) Non sterilization with Open Inoculation (NSOI) applied to T4 (experimental). CSAI (T1) achieved the highest yield (3985.26 ± 2.00 ^d g/24 bags), biological efficiency (83.03%), protein (28.44 g/100 g), and profit (14.76 USD), with the fastest colonization (21 days). SSOI (T3) produced the largest fruiting bodies; NSOI (T4) had the lowest heavy metal levels. SSOI and NSOI were economically beneficial (9.88 and 5.96 UDS per 24 bags). Bioactive compounds (e.g., naringenin, ergosterol peroxide), were detected across treatments. While CSAI maximizes productivity, SSOI and NSOI offer low-cost alternatives for resource-limited farmers. Full article

Background: The influence of surface sealants on the color stability of composite resin restorations remains controversial. This in vitro study evaluated the effect of two surface sealants on the color stability of a nanohybrid composite resin exposed to staining beverages. Methods: Ninety specimens of Enamel Plus HRi Bio Function (BF2) composite resin were divided into three groups: without sealant, with Embrace™ WetBond™ Seal-n-Shine™, and with Ena Bond Seal. Specimens were immersed in black tea, Coca-Cola^®, red wine, orange juice, coffee, or distilled water for 40 h. Color measurements were obtained before and after immersion using the OptiShade colorimeter in accordance with the CIELAB color system. Results: Significant differences were observed according to both the staining solution and the surface sealant applied (p < 0.001). Red wine produced the highest color changes in all groups, while coffee and black tea also caused clinically perceptible discoloration. The Seal-n-Shine™ group exhibited the highest ΔE values and greater color variation compared with the control group. In contrast, the Ena Bond Seal group exhibited chromatic behavior closer to that of the unsealed composite resin. Conclusions: Color stability was significantly influenced by both the staining solution and the applied surface sealant. Full article

Packaging systems play an important role in maintaining the storage stability of fermented specialty green coffee beans, thereby contributing to the preservation of attributes associated with coffee quality. This study advances the understanding of how multilayer oxygen-barrier packaging influences the storage stability of fermented and non-fermented green Arabica coffee beans. Samples were analyzed after 3, 6, and 9 months for moisture sorption behavior and content, instrumental color, texture, and packaging mechanical resistance. Moisture content remained within the recommended range for green coffee (8.5–11%) in all systems, while rupture force values ranged from 480 to 570 N. Fermented samples showed limited moisture variation, whereas non-fermented coffees exhibited greater variability, particularly in thinner and more permeable packaging. The GAB model showed superior fitting performance for moisture sorption data, with R² values up to 0.99, indicating better predictive accuracy than the BET model. Color analysis showed progressive changes during storage, with non-fermented coffee exhibiting greater color variation than fermented coffee under similar conditions. Among the evaluated systems, the thickest multilayer packaging (Packaging 2) showed superior mechanical strength (56.63 MPa), and barrier performance, approximately three times higher than the other systems. Overall, high-barrier multilayer packaging combined with fermentation effectively preserved green coffee physicochemical quality during long-term storage. Full article

Despite geographical proximity and broadly similar agro -climatic conditions, China and Vietnam show sharply divergent coffee export performance, with Vietnam ranking as the world’s second largest exporter, while China’s exports remain modest. This study compares the determinants of their bilateral coffee exports over 2001 to 2022, using a gravity model estimated by Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood with partner and year fixed effects, a specification that retains zero trade flows and absorbs global price and demand shocks. Once these common shocks and fixed bilateral factors are controlled, trading-partner demand characteristics such as GDP, population, and urbanization are not robust determinants of exports for either country. The most consistent determinant is domestic production, which is positively associated with exports for both nations and helps explain their divergent export scale. Domestic consumption cannot be separated cleanly from production, so it is not interpreted as crowding out exports. On the policy dimension, Vietnam’s WTO accession shows a positive association with exports while China’s Belt and Road participation shows none, but these are institutionally different forms of integration and are read as associations, rather than causal effects. The findings carry implications for sustainable development, linking producer competitiveness to livelihoods under Goal 1, growth and decent work under Goal 8, and the balance between domestic and export use of production under Goal 12. Full article

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising biopolymer for environmentally friendly coating development. However, its UV radiation resistance has not yet been sufficiently studied, particularly in formulations containing plasticizers or fillers. In this study, a series of samples were prepared: pure PLA films, PLA films with plasticizers, filled composites, and films obtained from aqueous PLA dispersions. The samples were tested for UV resistance and characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, surface energy analysis, and topography. The results showed that UV irradiation of pure PLA caused carbonyl band broadening and a shift toward lower wavenumbers, water contact angle decrease and surface energy polar component increase. The effect of plasticizers was chemical composition-dependent; epoxy linoleic acid increased the degradation rate, whereas PEG-400 and menthol oleic acid reduced the carbonyl groups accumulation. Menthol oleic acid demonstrated the strongest stabilizing effect. The calcite and kaolin fillers promoted surface oxidation and hydrophilization, while coffee grounds biochar reduced the degradation rate. Films obtained from aqueous dispersions were the most sensitive to UV aging, as residual emulsifier significantly enhanced surface hydrophilization. Full article