Search Results (102)

Agricultural nondestructive testing technology is pivotal in safeguarding food quality assurance, safety monitoring, and supply chain transparency. While conventional optical methods such as near-infrared spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging demonstrate proficiency in surface composition analysis, their constrained penetration depth and environmental sensitivity limit effectiveness in dynamic agricultural inspections. This review highlights the transformative potential of microwave technologies, systematically examining their operational principles, current implementations, and developmental trajectories for agricultural quality control. Microwave technology leverages dielectric response mechanisms to overcome traditional limitations, such as low-frequency penetration for grain silo moisture testing and high-frequency multi-parameter analysis, enabling simultaneous detection of moisture gradients, density variations, and foreign contaminants. Established applications span moisture quantification in cereal grains, oilseed crops, and plant tissues, while emerging implementations address storage condition monitoring, mycotoxin detection, and adulteration screening. The high-frequency branch of the microwave–millimeter wave systems enhances analytical precision through molecular resonance effects and sub-millimeter spatial resolution, achieving trace-level contaminant identification. Current challenges focus on three areas: excessive absorption of low-frequency microwaves by high-moisture agricultural products, significant path loss of microwave high-frequency signals in complex environments, and the lack of a standardized dielectric database. In the future, it is essential to develop low-cost, highly sensitive, and portable systems based on solid-state microelectronics and metamaterials, and to utilize IoT and 6G communications to enable dynamic monitoring. This review not only consolidates the state-of-the-art but also identifies future innovation pathways, providing a roadmap for scalable deployment of next-generation agricultural NDT systems. Full article

The production of winter wheat, spring barley, spring oilseed rape, and field beans requires detailed experimental data studies to analyze the quality and productivity of spring barley grain under different cultivation and tillage conditions. As the world’s population grows, more food is required to maintain a stable food supply chain. For many years, intensive farming systems have been used to meet this need. Today, intensive climate change events and other global environmental challenges are driving a shift towards sustainable use of natural resources and simplified cultivation methods that produce high-quality and productive food. It is important to study different tillage systems in order to understand how these methods can affect the chemical composition and nutritional value of the grain. Both agronomic and economic aspects contribute to the complexity of this field and their analysis will undoubtedly contribute to the development of more efficient agricultural practice models and the promotion of more conscious consumption. An appropriate tillage system should be oriented towards local climatic characteristics and people’s needs. The impact of reduced tillage on these indicators in spring barley production is still insufficiently investigated and requires further analysis at a global level. This study was carried out at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (Lithuania) in 2022–2024. Treatments were arranged using a split-plot design. Based on a long-term tillage experiment, five tillage systems were tested: deep and shallow plowing, deep cultivation–chiseling, shallow cultivation–disking, and no-tillage. The results show that in 2022–2024, the hectoliter weight and moisture content of spring barley grains increased, but protein content and germination decreased in shallowly plowed fields. In deep cultivation–chiseling fields, the protein content (0.1–1.1%) of spring barley grains decreased, and in shallow cultivation–disking fields, the moisture content (0.2–0.3%) decreased. In all fields, the simplified tillage systems applied reduced spring barley germination (0.4–16.7%). Tillage systems and meteorological conditions are the two main forces shaping the quality indicators of spring barley grains. Properly selected tillage systems and favorable climatic conditions undoubtedly contribute to better grain properties and higher yields, while reducing the risk of disease spread. Full article

Nd–Fe–B permanent magnets are vital for numerous key technologies in strategic sectors such as renewable energy production, e-mobility, defense, and aerospace. Accordingly, the demand for rare earth elements (REEs) enormously increases in parallel to a significant uncertainty in their supply. Thus, research and innovative studies are focus on the investigation of sustainable solutions to the problem and a closed-loop value chain. The present study is based on two benign-by-design approaches aimed at decreasing the recycling loop span by preparing standardized batches of EoL Nd–Fe–B materials to be treated separately depending on their properties, as well as using mechanochemical method for waste processing. The previously reported benefits of both direct recycling and mechanochemistry include significant improvements in processing metrics, such as energy use, ecological impact, technology simplification, and cost reduction. Waste-sintered Nd–Fe–B magnets from motorbikes were collected, precisely sorted, selected, and pre-treated. The study presents a protocol of resource-efficient recycling through mechanochemical processing of non-oxidized sintered EoL magnets, involving the extraction of Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnetic grains and refining the material’s microstructure and particle size after 120 min of high-energy ball milling in a zirconia reactor. The recycled material preserves the main Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnetic phase, while an anisotropic particle shape and formation of a thin Nd/REE-rich layer on the grain surface were achieved. Full article

Effective stored-grain insect pest detection is crucial in grain storage management to prevent economic losses and ensure food security throughout production and supply chains. Existing detection methods suffer from issues such as high labor costs, environmental interference, high equipment costs, and inconsistent performance. To address these limitations, we proposed PDA-YOLO, an improved stored-grain insect pest detection algorithm based on YOLO11n which integrates three key modules: PoolFormer_C3k2 (PF_C3k2) for efficient local feature extraction, Attention-based Intra-Scale Feature Interaction (AIFI) for enhanced global context awareness, and Dynamic Multi-scale Aware Edge (DMAE) for precise boundary detection of small targets. Trained and tested on 6200 images covering five common stored-grain insect pests (Lesser Grain Borer, Red Flour Beetle, Indian Meal Moth, Maize Weevil, and Angoumois Grain Moth), PDA-YOLO achieved an mAP@0.5 of 96.6%, mAP@0.5:0.95 of 60.4%, and F1 score of 93.5%, with a computational cost of only 6.9 G and mean detection time of 9.9 ms per image. These results demonstrate the advantages over mainstream detection algorithms, balancing accuracy, computational efficiency, and real-time performance. PDA-YOLO provides a reference for pest detection in intelligent grain storage management. Full article

Traditional horticultural information systems lack fine-grained, transparent on-farm event traceability, often providing only high-level post-harvest summaries. These systems also fail to standardise and integrate diverse data sources, ensure data privacy, and scale effectively to meet the demands of modern agriculture. Concurrently, rising requirements for global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance, notably Scope 3 emissions reporting, are driving the need for farm-level visibility. To address these gaps, this study proposes a novel traceability framework tailored to horticulture, leveraging global data standards. The system captures key on-farm events (e.g., irrigation, harvesting, and chemical applications) at varied resolutions, using decentralised identification, secure data-sharing protocols, and farmer-controlled access. Built on a progressive Web application with microservice-enabled cloud infrastructure, the platform integrates dynamic APIs and digital links to connect on-farm operations and external supply chains, resolving farm-level data bottlenecks. Initial testing on Victorian farms demonstrates its scalability potential. Pilot studies further validate its on-farm interoperability and support for sustainability claims through digitally verifiable credentials for an international horticultural export case study. The system also provides a tested baseline for integrating data to and from emerging technologies, such as farm robotics and digital twins, with potential for broader application across agricultural commodities. Full article

As worldwide emergencies occur with growing frequency, including extreme weather, geopolitical conflicts, and pandemics, there is a crucial need to improve grain supply chain resilience to ensure food sustainability during such emergencies. This study investigates the cross-cutting effects of certain key factors potentially influencing grain supply chain resilience, namely infrastructure development, technological innovations, and government aid. It develops a structural equation model of these influencing factors based on Chinese data and applies Bayesian estimation. The results show that government aid is the most critical factor influencing the resilience of the grain supply chain, with a direct impact on grain supply chain resilience of 0.459, an indirect impact through technological innovations of 0.33, and an indirect impact through infrastructure development of 0.026. The study found that the resilience of China’s grain supply chain generally exhibits an upward trend, with a high level of government aid and deficiencies in infrastructure and technological innovation. This paper not only provides new research ideas and methods for the study of grain supply chain resilience, but it also offers policy references for reducing the risk of grain supply deficiencies and improving the sustainability of grain systems. Full article

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has significantly disrupted global food supply chains, exacerbating existing food security challenges. To mitigate these disruptions, this study proposes a comprehensive approach to establishing sustainable intermodal terminals and technology parks along the Ukrainian–Polish border. To address this research issue, we analyzed the Ukrainian and global grain markets using publicly available statistical data. This analysis revealed the need to enhance grain transit through Poland, with terminal development identified as a crucial factor. Furthermore, a thorough analysis of the Polish freight rail transport market provided forecasts of potential demand for rail transit. Utilizing Petri nets as a modeling tool, we simulated the transit system at the macro level. Based on this simulation, we identified potential locations for freight terminals at the Ukrainian border near EU countries. Employing the AHP methodology, we evaluated these potential locations and selected Kovel in the Volyn region of Ukraine as the most promising alternative. For this location, we proposed the development of a new technological park. The implementation of this project, with the capacity to process and clear up to 600 wagons per day, would facilitate the transshipment of up to 3000 tons of grain per day from Ukraine to EU countries. Full article

Agroecology is increasingly used to study the evolution of farms and food systems, in which livestock plays a significant part. While large-scale specialized livestock farms are sometimes criticized for their contribution to climate change and nutrient cycle disruption, interest in alternative practices such as raising multiple species, integrating crop and livestock, relying on pasture, and marketing through short supply chains is growing. Through a narrative review, we aimed to determine if the scientific literature allowed for an evaluation of the agroecological contribution of alternative livestock farming practices. Taking advantage of ruminants’ capacity to digest human-inedible plant material such as hay and pasture on marginal land reduces the competition between livestock feed and human food for arable land. Taking advantage of monogastric animals’ capacity to digest food waste or byproducts limits the need for grain feed. Pasturing spreads manure directly on the field and allows for the expression of natural animal behavior. Animals raised on alternative livestock farms, however, grow slower and live longer than those raised on large specialized farms. This causes them to consume more feed and to emit more greenhouse gases per unit of meat produced. Direct or short supply chain marketing fosters geographical and relational proximity, but alternative livestock farms’ contribution to the social equity and responsibility principles of agroecology are not well documented. Policy aimed at promoting practices currently in place on alternative livestock farms is compatible with agroecology but has to be envisioned in parallel with a reduction in animal consumption in order to balance nutrient and carbon cycles. Full article

Extreme climate events can threaten food production and disrupt supply chains. For instance, the 2023 drought in Catalonia caused large areas of winter cereals to wilt and die early, yielding no grain. This study examined whether Sentinel-2 can detect total crop losses of winter cereals using ground truth data on crop failure. The methodology explored which Sentinel-2 phenological and greenness variables could best predict three drought impact classes: normal growth, moderate impact, and high impact, where the crop failed to produce grain. The results demonstrate that winter cereals affected by drought exhibit a premature decline in several vegetation indices. As a result, the best predictors for detecting total crop losses were metrics associated with the later stages of crop development. Specifically, the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the first half of May showed the highest correlation with drought impact classes (R² = 0.66). This study is the first to detect total crop losses at the plantation level using field data combined with Sentinel-2 imagery. It also offers insights into rapid monitoring methods for crop failure, an event likely to become more frequent as the climate warms. Full article

Grain supply chains remain stable in the face of natural disasters, and the resilience of the grain supply chain plays an important role. In a complex scenario of exposure to shocks, it is significant to identify the critical nodes of the grain supply chain and propose countermeasures accordingly to enhance the resilience of the grain supply chain. In this paper’s study, firstly, a triangular model of contradictory events is used to describe complex scenarios and obtain Bayesian network nodes. Secondly, the fragmentation of the scenario is based on the description of the scene, the scene stream is constructed, the event network is obtained, and the Bayesian network structure is built on the basis. Then, combining expert knowledge and D–S evidence theory, the Bayesian network parameters are determined, and the Bayesian network model is built. Finally, the key nodes of the grain supply chain are identified in the context of the 2022 drought data in the Yangtze River Basin in China, and, accordingly, a strategy for improving the resilience of the grain supply chain is proposed in stages. This study provides a new research perspective on issues related to grain supply-chain resilience and enriches the theoretical foundation of research related to supply-chain resilience. Full article

Grain supply chains (GSCs) are crucial for global food security, economic development, and environmental sustainability. This study investigates the complexities and challenges of enhancing the resilience of GSCs. The research unravels decision-making intricacies, assesses post-harvest risks and stakeholder interactions, and identifies future research avenues. This systematic literature review (SLR), following PRISMA guidelines, and conducted with two search rounds, addressed questions of resilience and efficiency of post-harvest GSCs, key decision factors of stakeholders influencing the sustainability and operational success of GSCs, and methods that can be used to develop robust decision-making for managing risks and uncertainties in GSCs. A comprehensive database of post-2000 journal articles from the Web of Science and Scopus was analysed using bibliometric and content analysis. This research identified five key themes: (1) operational complexity requiring strategic resilience, (2) comprehensive risk management strategies, (3) critical role of transport and storage infrastructure, (4) significant impact of stakeholder decisions on GSC dynamics, and (5) diverse methodological approaches for robust analysis. These themes illustrate the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within GSCs, suggesting that integrating operations research with behavioural economics is vital for improving strategic decision-making. The results advocate for adopting advanced technologies and innovative multidisciplinary methods to improve GSC efficiency and resilience, which are essential for navigating geopolitical tensions, market fluctuations, and complex stakeholder behaviours. It identified under-researched areas such as farmer transport decisions and logistics provider selection, and integrated emerging themes (such as resilience and behavioural aspects), contributing to the body of knowledge and supporting enhanced decision-making in GSCs for a stable global food supply system. Full article

This study examines the role of bulk cargo ports in improving supply chain efficiency within the Bohai Rim port cluster in China, addressing a gap in the research that has primarily focused on container ports. By analyzing 13 ports in the cluster through the shiftrate model and network analysis, this research aims to understand their adaptation to changing trade patterns and economic conditions. The Bohai Rim is a key hub for four major bulk cargo types—grain, coal, oil, and ore—each with distinct growth rates and trade networks. This research classifies the ports into four tiers based on their operational capabilities and market influence. Key findings reveal that the cargo transport network has shifted from a tri-power structure (Dalian, Tianjin–Tangshan, Qingdao–Rizhao port groups) to a dual-core pattern, now led by Tangshan and Qingdao Ports. Qingdao Port, with its advanced technologies and international orientation, has become a central player in global dry bulk transport. This shift reflects the changing dynamics of regional trade, with Qingdao’s port technologies and global connectivity positioning it as a leader in the industry. This study provides valuable insights for port authorities, helping them understand the evolution of port systems and enhance the efficiency of neighboring ports. Full article

Freekeh is produced from roasted, immature wheat grains. It is very popular in Middle Eastern and North African nations. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of different types of mycotoxins, physical impurities, and microbiological contamination in local freekeh products. Lateral flow competitive immunochromatographic assay was used to evaluate the occurrence of mycotoxins. It was found that physical impurities for some tested products exceeded the permitted limit (>2% of straw and foreign grains). Moreover, our findings showed that total aerobic bacterial and fungal counts in Freekeh products varied from 1 to 4 logs and from 1.39 to 4.3 logs, respectively. The incidence ranges of aflatoxins and ochratoxin were 3.17–3.33 ppb and 4.63–8.17 ppb, respectively. The levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) and T2/HT2 (trichothecene T2 and deacetylated form HT2) were less than the limit of detection. More than 78% of Freekeh samples tested had aflatoxin and ochratoxin contents higher than the limit permitted by the European Commission (4 and 5 ppb). In conclusion, gaining knowledge about the quality, safety, and labeling of freekeh products can help increase their commercial potential. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the factors affecting contamination levels within the freekeh supply chain. Full article

Mycotoxin research is facing unprecedented challenges, starting from the urgent need to cope with the consequences of climate change, the global shortage of grain due to unstable political scenarios, and the major transformation of the supply chains after the COVID-19 pandemic. In this scenario, the mycotoxin contamination of human and animal foods is still unavoidable, thus representing a major challenge to global food security. Next to this, the shift to sustainable and circular food production might be accompanied by an increase in food safety issues involving mycotoxins, e.g., when new technologies are applied to reuse side streams from the food industry, it is not known if and how mycotoxins accumulate in these by-products. MycoTWIN is an EU-funded Horizon 2020 project which fosters knowledge transfer and scientific cooperation within the Mediterranean area, involving worldwide experts, decision makers, and stakeholders in the field of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins. The MycoTWIN project hosted working group meetings, whose aim was to propose operational plans and/or scientific strategic plans to shape the future research directions to better cope with these challenges. In the working group cycle “Future proof approaches for the management of toxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins along the food chain”, a multi-actor group was guided in co-creation exercises to elaborate on future research directions and propose relevant actions to be implemented for the present to long-term time periods. The discussion focused on three main topics relevant to the assessment and management of risks associated with mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi: (i) needs for the harmonization of molecular and chemical methods and data analysis, (ii) from lab research to marketable solutions: how to fill the gap, and (iii) gaps in data quality for risk assessment. Full article

Stored products, such as grains and processed foods, are susceptible to infestation by various insects. The early detection of insects in the supply chain is crucial, as introducing invasive pests to new environments may cause disproportionate harm. The STAR Center at Stevens Institute of Technology developed the Acoustic Stored Product Insect Detection System (A-SPIDS) to detect pests in stored products. The system, which comprises a sound-insulated container for product samples with a built-in internal array of piezoelectric sensors and additional electret microphones to record outside noise, was used to conduct numerous measurements of the vibroacoustic signatures of various insects, including the Callosobruchus maculatus, Tribolium confusum, and Tenebrio molitor, in different materials. A normalization method was implemented using the ambient noise of the sensors as a reference, to accommodate for the proprietary, non-calibrated sensors and allowing to set relative detection thresholds for unknown sensitivities. The normalized envelope of the filtered signals was used to characterize and compare the insect signals by estimating the Normalized Signal Pulse Amplitude (NSPA) and the Normalized Spectral Energy Level (NSEL). These parameters characterize the insect detection Signal Noise Ratio (SNR) for pulse-based detection (NSPA) and averaged energy-based detection (NSEL). These metrics provided an initial step towards the design of a reliable detection algorithm. In the conducted tests NSPA was significantly larger than NSEL. The NSPA reached 70 $\mathrm{d}$$\mathrm{B}$ for T. molitor in corn flakes. The insect signals were lower in flour where the averaged NSPA and NSEL values were around 40 dB and 11 $\mathrm{d}$$\mathrm{B}$ to 16 $\mathrm{d}$$\mathrm{B}$, respectively. Full article