Search Results (28,130)

The plant-based meat alternatives sector increasingly promotes its products as sustainable, yet the extent to which these claims are supported by transparent corporate disclosure remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the alignment between product-level sustainability claims and corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) transparency in the Italian online plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) market, considered as a case study within the broader European regulatory context. A dataset of 200 PBMA products from 11 companies was analyzed. Sustainability claims were collected from packaging and online materials, classified into textual, symbolic, and certification-based categories, and evaluated for specificity, substantiation, and transparency. Corporate ESG transparency was measured using an ESG Transparency Index based on 45 indicators from the “Sustainability Dialogue between SMEs and Banks” framework. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and multivariate regression were used to examine the relationship between claim intensity, ESG disclosure quality, and firm characteristics. The results reveal substantial variation in the alignment between product communication and corporate transparency. While specialized plant-based companies and some large retailers show higher ESG disclosure, several firms combine intensive sustainability messaging with limited reporting, indicating product–corporate communication gaps that may warrant further investigation. Regression results show that ESG transparency significantly predicts claim intensity, certifications are positively associated with claim intensity, and company size is not a significant predictor. By providing a multi-level assessment of sustainability communication, this study contributes to research on ESG disclosure, transparency alignment, and the screening of communication–disclosure gaps in environmental marketing. The findings offer insights for policymakers, regulators, and firms, particularly in the context of the European Union’s Directive 2024/825 on consumer protection against misleading environmental claims. Full article

Waste-derived fertilising materials, including sewage sludge, compost, digestate, food-waste-derived products and commercial organic or organo-mineral fertilisers, return nutrients to farmland but can also transfer microplastics to agricultural soil. This critical review examines their occurrence across these streams, analytical constraints, fate after application and the EU regulatory framework. Reported abundances span orders of magnitude and cannot be pooled because extraction, polymer identification and reporting are not harmonised, while particle-counting and mass-based methods measure different quantities. Field evidence indicates topsoil retention and accumulation after repeated application, whereas crop transfer and field-scale ecological effects remain poorly quantified. Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 sets no microplastic-specific product limit. For compost qualifying as CMC 3 and digestate other than fresh crop digestate qualifying as CMC 5, it controls plastic impurities above 2 mm by mass, while smaller particles remain outside that criterion. Waste-derived fertilisers can therefore form a recurrent, incompletely regulated pathway for microplastic transfer to soil. Controlled studies demonstrate hazard potential for selected particles and exposure conditions, but the magnitude and likelihood of effects under field conditions remain uncertain. The immediate priority is harmonised monitoring and reporting of the sub-2 mm fraction, including a stated lower size limit, polymer-confirmed particle counts and minimum QA/QC. Full article

The consumption of plant-based milk alternatives (PBM) has increased rapidly in recent years due to growing concerns about sustainability, health, and animal welfare. This study summarizes international research on consumer behavior related to PBM products based on large-sample questionnaire surveys and openly accessible sources. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley. Relevant articles were identified through the Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Dimensions databases. After a two-stage screening process, only Open Access journal articles published between 2018 and 2024 were included, covering studies conducted across Europe, North America, the Middle East, the Far East, and Australia. Eligible studies used questionnaire-based methods, involved at least 200 respondents, and focused on consumer behavior toward plant-based milk alternatives. The selected studies were analyzed using the “when–where–what” framework, considering research periods, geographical locations, and investigated topics. Findings were synthesized in a summary table and supported by a graphical model illustrating key consumer behavior dimensions. Results show that taste, health consciousness, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare are the main drivers of PBM consumption across different countries and cultures. However, price sensitivity, nutritional concerns, and strong attachment to conventional dairy products remain significant barriers to wider adoption. These findings can support the identification of target consumer groups and the market positioning of PBM products, while also providing a foundation for future consumer behavior research. By establishing the scope, volume and comparability of the existing quantitative evidence base, this scoping review also assesses whether the literature is sufficiently mature to support a subsequent systematic review. Full article

This article presents an Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (AI–IoT/AIoT) decision-making framework for smart water management and sustainable aquaponic systems. The framework connects sensors, IoT telemetry, machine learning algorithms, and real-time monitoring of key water quality parameters, with the aim of early detection of deviations, operational decision support, and risk reduction in system management. A special contribution of the paper is that water is viewed simultaneously as a limiting resource, a biological factor and an operational cost. The proposed framework defines the structure of a decision support system, including monitoring of temperature, pH value, dissolved oxygen, ammonia/ammonium, EC/TDS value, water flow, feeding regime, and basic biological indicators. In the methodological sense, the paper presents a conceptual-methodological framework based on publicly available data, scenario estimates, and a clearly defined protocol for future pilot validation of high-frequency operational data. In addition to the technical architecture, the framework includes elements of responsible application of AIoT systems: data quality control, sensor deviation and drift detection, model explainability through XAI/SHAP, data transfer security, and the possibility of human confirmation before risky interventions. The economic part of the paper shows ROI/NPV as a scenario estimate, based on explicit assumptions about costs, resource consumption and possible operational savings, and not as a confirmed financial result. The framework is aligned with the principles of the circular bioeconomy, as it links the monitoring of water quality, the reduction in nutrient losses, the reuse of resources, and better planning of interventions in aquaculture and aquaponics. The results indicate the potential of AIoT approaches to improve monitoring, transparency and operational decision-making, while the actual effects on productivity, water consumption, food consumption, energy, and economic sustainability must be confirmed in a pilot phase. Full article

Introduction: Restrictive diets are increasingly encountered in pediatric practice and may be adopted voluntarily or prescribed for medical conditions. Although they can support normal growth when appropriately planned, exclusion of nutritionally important foods may increase the risk of nutrient inadequacy. This narrative review examined nutritional deficiencies and laboratory monitoring in children following plant-based, food-allergy elimination, gluten-free, ketogenic, and protein-restricted diets for inherited metabolic disorders. Methods: Targeted searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were conducted through 30 June 2026 using pediatric, diet-specific, nutritional-status, and biomarker terms. Because this was a narrative review, the literature was selected and synthesized qualitatively rather than through a formal systematic-screening process; no fixed study count, duplicate independent screening, or formal risk-of-bias assessment was performed. Professional guidelines and position papers were prioritized when discussing monitoring considerations, while pediatric studies were used to describe dietary intake, biochemical findings, clinically manifest deficiency, and growth outcomes. Results: Nutritional risks differed according to the foods or nutrients restricted. Vitamin B12 and iron were major concerns in plant-based diets, whereas cow’s milk and multiple-food elimination increased the risk of inadequate calcium, vitamin D, iodine, protein, and energy intake. Gluten-free diets were commonly associated with low fiber, iron, folate, and B-vitamin intake, particularly when refined, non-fortified products predominated. Ketogenic dietary therapy required attention to selenium, vitamin D, bone-related minerals, carnitine in selected patients, and linear growth. In phenylketonuria and related disorders, nutritional adequacy depended strongly on protein-substitute adherence and appropriate provision of essential amino acids and micronutrients. Across all dietary patterns, laboratory results required interpretation in relation to dietary intake, growth, supplementation, inflammation, medication, and the underlying condition. Across dietary patterns, inadequate intake, biochemical abnormalities, clinically manifest deficiency, and impaired growth were considered related but distinct outcomes. Conclusions: Nutritional monitoring should be individualized and based on the actual dietary restriction and clinical risk. The principal contribution of this review is a practical, risk-based framework that links the specific dietary restriction and adequacy of replacement foods with growth, symptoms, supplementation, and targeted laboratory biomarkers. Full article

The agri-food sector generates significant quantities of by-products and waste biomass, representing both an environmental challenge and an opportunity for resource recovery within a circular bioeconomy. This study developed a decision-support framework for the sustainable valorization of major residues from the Italian agri-food sector. Following a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) of multiple Italian agri-food supply chains, tomato and grape supply chains were selected as representative case studies because they generated the largest quantities of valorizable by-products among the agri-food sectors evaluated, namely tomato pomace and grape marc. MFA based on FAOSTAT and PRODCOM data (2019–2023) was combined with a literature review to assess biomass availability and physicochemical characteristics. The analysis identified tomato pomace and grape marc as the predominant residues. Tomato pomace showed high moisture content (63.34%), balanced organic composition, and a favorable C/N ratio, supporting its suitability for anaerobic digestion with an average biomethane potential (BMP) of 0.143 m³ CH₄/kg TVS. Conversely, grape marc exhibited a carbon-rich lignocellulosic structure, with a carbon content of 47.67%, C/N ratio of 24.73, and BMP of 0.195 m³ CH₄/kg TVS, favoring thermochemical conversion pathways, particularly pyrolysis. The framework also highlights the importance of cascading strategies, prioritizing the recovery of high-value compounds, and pretreatment approaches to improve biomass conversion efficiency. Overall, this approach supports optimized resource recovery and sustainable agri-food waste management. Full article

The chronic overuse of antibiotics has accelerated the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, creating a global public health crisis as conventional therapies fail against multidrug-resistant pathogens spreading through water and food chains. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) has been established as an important visible-light-driven photocatalyst for antibacterial applications. This brief review systematically examines the structure–property relationships governing CdS-based antibacterial materials, including crystallographic polymorphs (cubic sphalerite and hexagonal wurtzite), morphological diversity from quantum dots to hierarchical architectures, and synthesis methodologies that critically influence particle size, crystallinity, and surface chemistry. The mechanisms of antibacterial action are elucidated, encompassing photocatalytic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, controlled Cd²⁺ ion release, and membrane disruption. A detailed tabulated analysis is presented across three material classes: pristine CdS, binary composites, and ternary Z-scheme heterostructures. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular docking simulations provide atomic-level insights into charge transfer dynamics and enzyme inhibition mechanisms. Finally, critical challenges, photocorrosion, toxicity, biocompatibility concerns, and scalability limitations are addressed. This review bridges fundamental materials science with antimicrobial applications to guide rational design of next-generation CdS-based antibacterial materials. Full article

Seniors represent a vulnerable demographic group at risk of inadequate nutrient and fiber intake due to various age-related changes. It is essential to address the issue of nutritional security for this growing population category. The objective of this work was to formulate polysaccharide arabinogalactan (AG) and beta-glucan (BG)-based edible gels in combination with MT (Methyl cellulose) and study the effect of the addition of different amounts of sweetener to obtain the desired sensorial characteristics for elderly subjects. The addition of sucrose (SU) and palatinose (PT) at different concentrations was investigated to develop stable, spoonable gel formulations with appropriate rheological, textural, sensory, and water-holding properties. The optimal formulations obtained by viscosity measurement were AG:MT 2:2 (w/w) and BG:MT 3:1.6 (w/w) respectively, retaining up to 10% (w/w) SU and 30% (w/w) PT respectively. From these matrices, prototypes of edible gels for the elderly were designed, representing a source of dietary fiber and a potentially easy-to-swallow food form for the elderly. Their organoleptic properties were characterized by sensory evaluation (N = 65 panelists). The addition of MT to maintain the viscosity in BG hydrogels was more pronounced than in AG hydrogels. Full article

Fonio is the smallest of the millets and one of the world’s oldest crops, grown across West Africa. Some landraces are the world’s fastest maturing cereals, helping small-scale farmers in semi-arid regions survive mid-season hunger as they await harvesting of primary crops. Fonio comprises two species distinguished by spikelet colour (white and black), with white fonio being dominant. Here we review research in white fonio from a cross-disciplinary, systems-based perspective, including germplasm conservation, crop breeding, agronomy, mechanization, and value chain development. Fonio is consumed like rice and comparable or superior nutritionally, but can survive dry/marginal soils. Despite food security potential, it remains semi-domesticated and underutilized, associated with low yield, lodging, seed shattering and post-harvest drudgery. Recently, there have been exciting advances in white fonio germplasm collection, genome sequencing, population structure analysis and agronomic/stakeholder surveys. Controlled experiments have identified physio-morphological-metabolomic acclimation traits as targets to breed fonio for improved drought tolerance, critical in the Sahel region of Western Africa, which is dry and among the most vulnerable to climate change and food insecurity. These advances have laid the foundation to develop fonio as an economically viable crop to improve the livelihoods of Sahelian indigenous peoples. White fonio could serve as a model for how modern techniques can be used to fully domesticate ancient crops and adapt them to climate change. Full article

Acartiidae are often among the most dominant and ecologically critical copepod groups in estuarine pelagic food webs. Here, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of Acartiella sinensis, representing the first mitogenome for the family Acartiidae. The circular genome is 14,368 bp in length and exhibits a strong A+T bias (79.7%) and a compact organization, with all genes encoded on the heavy strand. Codon usage exhibits a preference for A/U-ending codons, while tRNA secondary structure analysis reveals two serine tRNAs lacking DHU arms and several G–U mismatches. Comparative analysis across 29 copepod mitogenomes indicates a distinctive gene arrangement in A. sinensis, particularly a reversal of Cytb and NAD3 with local tRNA rearrangements. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated sequences of 13 protein-coding genes recover A. sinensis as sister to the clade comprising Labidocera rotunda (Pontellidae) and Eurytemora affinis (Temoridae), supporting close evolutionary relationships among these calanoid lineages. Our study provides fundamental genomic information for A. sinensis and contributes to the understanding of mitochondrial genome evolution and phylogenetic relationships within Calanoida. Full article

The increasing prevalence of presbyphagia and mild dysphagia among adults over 65 years (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative, IDDSI, levels 4–6) has increased the demand for texture-modified foods that ensure safe swallowing while providing added health benefits. This study aimed to develop functional gummy-like systems containing grape pomace extracts obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction using either a natural deep eutectic solvent (NaDES; choline chloride:citric acid, 1:1) or water, and to evaluate the effects of extraction medium and formulation composition on their physicochemical, textural, and bioactive properties. A simplex-centroid mixture design was used to assess the combined effects of gelatin (4–8%), low-methoxyl pectin (1–3%), and extract concentration (5–10%). NaDES-based formulations exhibited lower water activity and a more homogeneous moisture distribution than aqueous counterparts, indicating improved water structuring within the gel network. Intermediate gelatin–pectin ratios produced cohesive matrices with moderate firmness, consistent with IDDSI levels 5–6. Formulation F5 (6% gelatin, 1% pectin, 7.5% extract) showed the best overall performance, combining favorable textural properties with the highest total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. These findings support the use of NaDES-extracted grape pomace for developing functional foods suitable for individuals with dysphagia. Full article

Electrochemical sensors have become integral components of modern analytical science owing to their exceptional sensitivity, rapid analytical performance, portability, and low operating costs. These advantages have facilitated their broad implementation in environmental monitoring, clinical diagnostics, food safety, and pharmaceutical analysis. However, the increasing use of non-biodegradable materials in sensor fabrication has raised concerns regarding electronic waste and environmental sustainability. This review examines the recent progress in the development of green electrochemical sensors based on biodegradable polymers, with a particular focus on cellulose, chitosan, alginate, and starch. The chemical structures, physicochemical properties, and functional characteristics of these biopolymers are discussed in relation to their roles as sensing matrices and electrode modification materials. Representative applications reported in the literature are systematically reviewed, highlighting their use in the detection of pharmaceuticals, biomolecules, pathogens, heavy metals, pesticides, and environmental pollutants through various analytical techniques, including differential pulse voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, amperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, fluorescence, and colorimetric methods. The integration of biodegradable polymers with nanomaterials is also evaluated in terms of improving sensor sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. The incorporation of biodegradable polymers into electrochemical sensing platforms offers a sustainable pathway toward next-generation analytical technologies. By balancing high sensing efficiency with a lower environmental footprint, these materials support the transition toward analytical systems designed in accordance with the principles of green chemistry and green analytical chemistry. Full article

Plant diseases have long been considered a major threat to global food production systems. Therefore, early diagnosis is vital to mitigate the risk of these diseases. This task can be challenging, as the number of harmful diseases is substantial. One technology that has gained widespread interest is artificial intelligence, specifically deep learning, which is used to identify plant diseases using leaf patterns. This paper presents two deep learning models, a custom CNN model and a transfer learning model based on the DenseNet-121 architecture. Experiments were carried out using the PlantCity dataset, which consists of twelve subsets of diverse crop species representing fruits, vegetables, and grains with variations among the subsets, including the number of classes, the subset sizes, class distribution, and visual complexity of disease symptoms. The two models were evaluated using multiple metrics, including accuracy, loss, precision, recall, and F1-score. Explainable AI using the LIME technique was deployed to better interpret the acquired results. Results showed that the developed transfer learning model based on DenseNet-121 had superior performance over the CNN model, with accuracies ranging from 86% to 99% across eleven experimented crops. In order to perform an independent experimental validation for the developed model, future work will focus on constructing a local crop dataset captured from Iraqi fields to evaluate the developed models based on the local environment. Full article

Invasive algal taxa represent an emerging but poorly quantified threat to Iraq’s freshwater ecosystems. Drawing on floristic surveys, recent molecular detections, and regional literature, this review synthesizes the current evidence regarding the occurrence of Didymosphenia geminata and Hydrodictyon reticulatum and identifies Leptolyngbya benthonica and Nostoc paludosum as cryptogenic cyanobacterial taxa requiring further ecological assessment. A preliminary qualitative risk evaluation identifies D. geminata and H. reticulatum as high-priority taxa for monitoring based on their documented invasion history elsewhere, potential ecological effects, and likelihood of introduction and spread. In contrast the cryptogenic cyanobacteria Leptolyngbya benthonica and Nostoc paludosum should be interpreted cautiously because they are recently detected taxa whose origin and ecological behavior remain uncertain. Potential ecological risks include competitive displacement of native periphyton, disruption of benthic food webs, oxygen depletion during decomposition, and habitat alteration through the formation of dense mats. Major knowledge gaps include the absence of baseline distribution data, continued reliance on morphology-based identifications, limited application of molecular tools, and the lack of standardized national risk-assessment frameworks. Addressing these gaps would improve Iraq’s ability to detect, monitor, and manage algal invasions, thereby safeguarding vital water resources under escalating climatic and anthropogenic pressures. Full article

Bran enrichment improves the nutritional value of wheat-based bread but often impairs appearance, structure and sensory acceptance. This study investigated the role of controlled particle-size fractionation of brown wheat flour (BWF, equivalent to whole wheat flour) into <500 µm and <250 µm fractions in balancing bioactive enhancement and functional potential with acceptable product quality. White wheat flour (WWF) served as a refined control. Bread samples were prepared from WWF, BWF and their two bran-rich fractions, and assessed for appearance, color, physicochemical properties, texture, total phenolic content (TPC), ABTS antioxidant activity, individual phenolics, sensory attributes, correlations and chemometric patterns (using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Square-Discriminatory Analysis (OPLS-DA)). Flour particle size strongly influenced bread color, texture and crumb structure: BWF bread samples were darkest, firmest and most chewy, whereas <250 µm bread was lighter and softer. TPC and ABTS activity were highest in BWF, followed by <500 µm and <250 µm, mirroring phenolic retention. Specifically, total phenolic content reached 1.58 mg GAE/g and ABTS antioxidant activity 19.49% in BWF, compared with 0.96 mg GAE/g and 18.31% in the <500 µm fraction, and 0.87 mg GAE/g and 17.67% in the <250 µm fraction. Bread hardness decreased from 5437 g in BWF to 4878 g in the <500 µm fraction and 4386 g in the <250 µm fraction. Key phenolic acids, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, sinapic and trans-ferulic acids, showed strong positive correlations with hardness and chewiness and negative correlations with appearance and overall acceptability. PCA and OPLS-DA confirmed distinct biochemical separation among bread types, with the PCA model explaining 73% of the total variance (PC1 = 57% and PC2 = 16%), and phenolic subclass distribution was identified as the main discriminant factor. Bread from the <500 µm fraction preserved phenolics but reduced sensory quality, while finer fractions (<250 µm) improved acceptability at the cost of some flavonoids and antioxidant capacity. Fractionation of flour, therefore, provides a practical strategy to optimize bioactive–sensory trade-offs in fiber-enriched bread samples. This study contributes to efforts in achieving sustainable development goals aimed at improving nutrition and food security. Full article