Search Results (535)

The pollution of soil by potentially toxic elements in industrial–agricultural transition zones threatens global food security and public health owing to their persistence and bioaccumulation. This study focused on Miyi County, Sichuan (China), a typical region with intensive vanadium–titanium magnetite mining and modern agriculture, and systematically analyzed eight heavy metals and metalloids (Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni) across the categories of atmospheric deposition, irrigation water, agricultural inputs, and soil–crop systems. A rigorous four-stage full-chain diagnosis (concentration–load–ecology–health) was executed to evaluate pollution levels and pathways. The single-factor pollution index identified cadmium (Cd) as the primary pollutant, exhibiting a maximum index of 32.63. The Håkanson potential ecological risk index (RI) demonstrated that Cd was the absolute dominant contributor, reaching a catastrophic single-element risk factor (Ei) of 2191.8 and contributing over 70% to the comprehensive ecological risk. Spatially, soils displayed a distinct point-source cluster diffusion pattern: the northern metallurgical zone was dominated by a Cr-Zn-Cu-Ni industrial assemblage, while the southern zone was enriched in Cd, Pb, As, and Hg. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) source apportionment quantitatively demonstrated that industrial emissions via atmospheric deposition were the primary driver, contributing 55–75% of the total soil exogenous inputs, while agricultural sources (livestock manure and legacy arsenic pesticides) exacerbated localized accumulation. While overlying irrigation water remained safe, channel sediments acted as historical pollution sinks. The human health risk model revealed that children in industrial core areas faced unacceptable carcinogenic hazards, with a lifetime carcinogenic risk (LCR) reaching 5.6 × 10⁻⁴. These highly specific multi-media findings support a macro spatial risk zoning and source interception strategy to decouple economic growth from regional food safety degradation in global transition economies. Full article

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a natural hydrocolloid with a high water-holding capacity and structuring potential in food systems. This study evaluated the effects of BNC addition at two concentrations (0.4% and 0.8%) on the physicochemical properties, texture profile, and microstructure of goat cheese during 21 days of refrigerated storage. Cheeses were characterized in terms of water activity (Aw), moisture content, and color (L*, a*, b*) and analyzed using texture profile analysis (TPA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and microscopy (optical, Cryo-SEM, and SEM). The addition of BNC significantly reduced water activity in a concentration-dependent manner; the 0.8% treatment reached the lowest Aw values by day 21. Moisture retention was improved, particularly at 0.4% BNC. Texture analysis showed that BNC reduced hardness and gumminess while increasing cohesiveness over time. FTIR spectra confirmed the incorporation of BNC into the cheese matrix, as evidenced by increased intensity in the C–H stretching region. Microstructural analysis demonstrated effective integration of nanocellulose fibers into the protein network, although higher concentrations led to localized fat agglomeration. These results indicate that BNC can serve as a clean-label ingredient to enhance the texture and stability of goat cheese, with potential applications in the development of fresh or reduced-fat style cheeses. Further sensory evaluation and compositional analysis (including fat content evaluation) are recommended to fully establish its practical utility. Full article

The aim of the research is to analyze the economic viability of conventional, no-till (without tillage) and organic wheat production systems based on a case study from Serbia during the agro-economic year 2024/2025. The methodological framework applies microeconomic evaluation using the gross margin method, break-even analysis, sensitivity analysis and economic efficiency coefficients. The results show that the organic production system achieves the highest gross margin (2286.9 EUR/ha) and coefficient of economy of production (6.7), followed by the no-till tillage system. These findings innovatively demonstrate that alternative production systems show potential to mitigate localized food insecurity risks by improving the short-term economic resilience of wheat farming in the face of rising investment costs and market volatility, thus providing actionable insights for strengthening regional food security and agricultural sustainability frameworks. Full article

Risk assessment is critical for managing health threats at the human–animal–environment interface, yet sector-specific approaches can result in fragmented actions. To address this gap, the Joint Risk Assessment Operational Tool (JRA OT), an operational tool of the Tripartite Zoonoses Guide, was developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Organization for Animal Health. The JRA OT provides a structured framework for joint qualitative risk assessments that integrate multisectoral expertise to identify risk pathways, assess likelihood and impact, and develop consensus-based risk management and communication options. Surveillance systems play a critical role in this process by providing the multisectoral data needed to inform risk assessments, while the JRA process helps identify information gaps and guide the strengthening of integrated One Health surveillance. Implemented in at least 52 countries, the JRA OT has informed national mandates in Indonesia, Viet Nam, and Tanzania, regional strategies in West Africa, and adaptations in Canada. Cascade training has been used to build subnational capacity to facilitate roll out. Sustained leadership commitment, multisectoral coordination, routine applications, local adaptation, and capacity building remain essential for global implementation. Full article

Livestock farming is blamed for its significant carbon footprint (CF), contributing to environmental pollution and climate change. Among other approaches, this has highlighted the need to find alternative feeding systems for cattle production that are potentially able to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this context, the objective of the present study was to compare the CF of producing cattle fed a Conventional diet versus cattle fed a diet that included vegetable by-products (VBP diet) sourced from the local agri-food industry. In this study, twenty-four entire male young bulls were reared in Navarra, Spain. Twelve calves were finished on the VBP diet that also included fodder and grain, and the remaining animals were finished with a local Conventional diet based on concentrate and straw. Results showed a larger CF of meat from animals fed the Conventional diet in comparison with the VBP-fed ones, that is, 117.84 kg versus 42.01 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of meat, respectively. This research demonstrates that using by-products from the local agri-food industry for feeding cattle has an important beneficial effect on the environment. It is not only a circular economy solution that recovers and recycles by-products instead of treating them as waste, but can also notably reduce the GHG associated with livestock production. This study marks the beginning of ongoing research into the effect of introducing regional vegetable by-products in the diet of livestock and their corresponding impacts on productivity and the environment, particularly in terms of GHG emissions per kilogram of feed consumed. Full article

Oaxaca is one of the most biocultural diverse regions in Mexico. Although the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica L.; Procyonidae, Mammalia) is widely used by Indigenous and rural communities throughout the Neotropics, its role within subsistence hunting, traditional food systems, and local management practices in Oaxaca has remained undocumented. This study analyzes the biocultural significance of N. narica hunting and consumption among four Indigenous groups in northern Oaxaca. Data were collected through ethnographic techniques, i.e., semi-structured interviews with locals, ethnozoological field trips, and participatory workshops conducted with Zoque, Zapotec, Chinantec, and Mazatec communities. In addition, an extensive literature review was carried out to contextualize and compare the field data. N. narica hunting is predominantly diurnal and collective, frequently involving dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and horses (Equus ferus caballus), and fulfills at least three functions, including food provisioning, crop protection, and limited wild meat trade. N. narica meat is incorporated into traditional diet and prepared in at least five culturally distinct culinary forms. The use of N. narica reflects complex ethnoecological knowledge and long-term human–fauna interactions embedded within Indigenous livelihoods. These findings underscore the relevance of a biocultural ethnoecological approach for understanding subsistence hunting, wild meat use, and rural livelihoods in Mesoamerica. Full article

Precise spatiotemporal assessment of habitat suitability is essential for crop pest and disease risk warning and food security. However, most existing approaches focus on disease occurrence, overlook spatial heterogeneity and time series information, and therefore, struggle to capture the habitat dynamics from occurrence to epidemic. We propose a dynamic framework for rice sheath blight (RSB) habitat suitability assessment that integrates rice phenology and disease time series to reveal fine-grained intra-annual spatiotemporal variability via a spatiotemporally adaptive strategy beyond the reach of traditional static models. Remote sensing and meteorological time series data, together with RSB survey data and crowdsourced records from southern China, are integrated in this study. First, the study area is partitioned into sub-regions and sensitive time windows (STWs) based on climate and rice-cropping systems. MaxEnt, combined with natural breaks, is then used to assess RSB occurrence suitability and delineate multi-level suitable areas. Geographical and temporal weighted regression (GTWR) and the coefficient of variation (CV) are finally applied within moderate-to-high occurrence-suitability areas to reconstruct time series of intra-STW epidemic potential dynamics and quantify their temporal variation. Results indicate the optimal phenology-based scheme yields one STW for single-cropping sub-regions and three STWs for double- and mixed-cropping sub-regions. MaxEnt AUC ranges from 0.610 to 0.768, with natural-break thresholds at 0.312 and 0.473. GTWR produces generally robust intra-STW fits (most local R² > 0.4), and the CV highlights localized, time-varying high-fluctuation zones within occurrence-suitable areas that static maps do not reveal. Overall, our method extends crop disease habitat suitability assessment from a static paradigm to a spatiotemporally adaptive, dynamic one, providing useful habitat background constraints for monitoring, early warning, and forecasting of crop pests and diseases under complex cropping systems. Full article

Selecting suitable agricultural land is critical for food security and sustainable development, particularly in arid regions facing resource scarcity and environmental degradation. This study assesses agricultural land suitability in Sohag governorate, Egypt, using a hybrid Geographic Information System (GIS), Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and geostatistical approach. Thirty-four representative soil profiles were morphologically described and analyzed for ten physical (slope, depth, erosion, texture, stoniness, drainage) and chemical (EC, pH, CaCO₃, organic matter) criteria, weighted using both the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and FAHP. Geostatistical analysis characterized the spatial variability in soil properties across the study area. The two suitability maps were validated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and Kappa statistics: the FAHP achieved higher prediction accuracy (AUC = 0.83, Kappa = 0.91) than the AHP (AUC = 0.81, Kappa = 0.88). The AHP-based map classified 40% (1154.92 km²) as moderately suitable (S2), 33% (952.81 km²) as marginally suitable (S3), and 27% (779.57 km²) as unsuitable (N); the FAHP-based map classified 42% (1212.67 km²) as S2, 30% (866.19 km²) as S3, and 28% (808.44 km²) as N. The proposed framework may serve as a reference for similar arid environments and support progress toward Sustainable Development Goals 2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13 and 15, conditional on local soil, water, climate and management conditions. Full article

Livestock production in Africa occurs across highly heterogeneous agroecological and management environments, ranging from extensive pastoral and mixed crop–livestock systems to intensive enterprises. These systems are characterized by seasonal and spatial variation in feed resources, reliance on locally available forage and agricultural by-products, climatic stress, endemic diseases, and the use of indigenous and locally adapted breeds. Such conditions create distinctive microbiome–host interactions that remain poorly represented in global livestock omics research. Although the gut microbiome is central to nutrient utilization, immune function, metabolic homeostasis, and resilience, the functional mechanisms linking microbial communities, diet, host physiology, and productivity in African livestock remain insufficiently characterized. African systems are particularly underrepresented in integrated microbiome–metabolomics datasets, longitudinal studies, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled predictive models, limiting the development of context-specific precision nutrition strategies. This review examines the integration of metabolomics and AI with microbiome and host data to advance precision livestock nutrition within an African and One Health context. It identifies both substantial constraints and strategic opportunities. Limited research infrastructure, high-quality regional datasets, computational capacity, and specialized expertise remain major barriers. Conversely, Africa’s diversity of livestock breeds, feed resources, agroecological conditions, and naturally occurring resilience phenotypes provides an important opportunity to identify microbiome–metabolite signatures associated with feed efficiency, disease resilience, climate adaptation, and product quality. Emerging metabolomics and computational capacity, particularly in South Africa, could support regional research networks and continental data infrastructures. Furthermore, the review proposes an Africa-specific approach that develops locally grounded, scalable, and resource-sensitive precision nutrition strategies, strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, animal health, food safety, climate resilience, sustainable livestock production, and broader One Health objectives. Full article

Balancing food production, ecosystem service value, and agricultural irrigation water consumption is a major challenge for sustainable agricultural development in China. However, quantitative evidence at the national scale remains limited on whether crop planting structure optimization derived from models can effectively achieve coordination among these three objectives. Existing studies mainly focus on individual crops or localized regions and rarely integrate the spatiotemporal evolution, influencing factors, and multi-objective optimization of major staple crops within a unified framework. This study developed a progressive framework integrating spatiotemporal evolution analysis, influencing factor identification, and planting structure optimization for wheat, rice, and maize. Spatial autocorrelation analysis, center-of-gravity shift analysis, and pixel-based image differencing were applied to reveal crop evolution patterns across China from 2000 to 2025. A five-dimensional indicator system comprising 17 quantitative indicators was developed through multiple experiments using four large language models, and the Random Forest algorithm was employed to identify key influencing factors and their relative importance. Based on these factors, optimization constraints were constructed, and a multi-objective fuzzy linear programming model combined with the NSGA-II algorithm was used to determine optimal crop area allocation across 28 provincial-level regions. The three staple crops exhibited a significant pattern of northward shift, eastward expansion, and southern contraction. Precipitation and market accessibility were common core influencing factors, ranking among the top five factors in all nine Random Forest models. Crop-specific factors, including soil available phosphorus for rice, accumulated active temperature for wheat, and soil pH for maize, explained differences in spatial responses among crops and provided a scientific basis for optimization modeling and coordinated improvement of food production, ecosystem service value, and irrigation water consumption. The optimized scheme increased total grain output by 3.6%, improved ecosystem service value by 11.0%, and reduced irrigation water consumption by 45.7% compared with the actual planting structure, all 28 provinces achieved improvement or stability in the three indicators simultaneously. Based on optimized crop allocation patterns, national planting structures were summarized into regional models, including a rice–maize dual-core system in Northeast China, wheat–maize rotation in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, rice-dominated systems in the middle and lower Yangtze River Basin and South China, water-efficient dryland farming in Northwest China, and a diversified balanced system in Southwest China. These findings provide a quantitative reference for optimizing China’s staple crop planting structure. Full article

The sustainability of Coffea arabica L. production in Oaxaca, Mexico, is increasingly threatened by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pest pressure, along with other factors that undermine the responsiveness of small-scale producers in the state, such as trade restrictions and coffee-related regulatory frameworks. These challenges are particularly acute in mountainous regions like Oaxaca, where coffee cultivation plays a central role in rural livelihoods, cultural identity, and territorial development. Studies demonstrate that localized models are vital for rural improvement, reducing the carbon footprint, and maintaining economic viability. Despite extensive research on agronomic, environmental, and market factors, sustainability strategies for coffee production often remain fragmented and insufficiently integrated. This systematic review used the Scopus Review database, searching by title, abstract, and keywords such as “sustainable coffee production” from 2015 to 2026. A total of 1085 documents were retrieved and processed using VOSviewer software to generate a bibliographic map in which frequently used words are grouped by color to show their relationships. Using Oaxaca as a regional case study, the article synthesizes the key factors influencing coffee productivity and quality, examines the main socio-environmental challenges, and proposes a conceptual framework that integrates agroecosystem management with socioeconomic processes under external climate and market pressures. The proposed framework highlights the central role of agroforestry systems and ecosystem services in improving climate resilience, conserving biodiversity, and supporting quality-oriented value chains. These processes generate feedback loops that influence farmers’ livelihoods, food security, and territorial sustainability. While grounded in the context of Oaxaca, the socio-ecological review and conceptual framework presented here are applicable to other Arabica-producing regions facing similar challenges, providing a structured basis for future research, policy design, and integrated sustainability strategies. Full article

The aim of this article is to determine the significance of short supply chains for local and regional development in Poland. The supply chain in Poland is defined as a coordinated set of people, financial and material resources, and activities involved in the process of delivering goods and services from the producer to the end consumer. Short Supply Chains (SSCs) are the foundation of the green economy, aiming to minimize the number of intermediaries and build direct relationships based on trust. Although short supply chains have been widely discussed in the context of sustainable agriculture and rural development, there is still limited research examining how digitalization and local organizational models jointly influence the development of SSCs and their contribution to local and regional development in Poland. This study addresses this gap by analysing selected Polish case studies and examining the combined role of digitalization, institutional support, and local initiatives in strengthening short supply chains. The article presents the situation of short supply chains in Poland using the example of selected organizations and initiatives, such as Poznań Green Market, Sady Grójeckie, Warmiński Koszyk, and Wiejska e-skrzynka. These cases demonstrate the impact of advancing digitalization on the development of local food markets, particularly in terms of shortening distribution channels, increasing access to local products, and strengthening producer–consumer relationships. The economic basis of SSCs is based on farmers taking over market margins and diversifying their income through agricultural retail trade (RHD), marginal, local, and limited (MOL) activities, and agritourism. This development is stimulated by EU funds, including the Rural Development Program (RDP) and Local Action Group (LAG) initiatives, as well as ongoing digitization and growing demand for local food. Furthermore, the development of local markets and short supply chains in the food sector is in line with the European “Farm to Fork” Strategy, which aims to ensure better food quality, reduce waste, and decrease the environmental impact of food systems. The analysis presented in the article will highlight the potential of short supply chains in political processes and make a significant contribution to the debate on strategies for supporting local and regional food markets. Full article

Investigating the dynamic interplay between population shrinkage and water resource carrying capacity holds critical implications for safeguarding national food security and ecological resilience. This study systematically examines the underlying mechanisms and spatiotemporal evolution of their coupling relationship in Northeast China, thereby advancing the theoretical framework of human–land systems and delivering empirically grounded insights for sustainable regional development. Drawing on balanced panel data from 34 prefecture-level cities in Northeast China over the period 2010–2023, this study develops a population shrinkage index grounded in registered population dynamics. Building upon the DPSIR (driving forces–pressures–state–impacts–responses) conceptual framework, we construct a comprehensive evaluation system for agricultural water resource carrying capacity, explicitly operationalizing each of its five dimensions. Employing a spatial Durbin model (SDM), we rigorously estimate the direct effect of population shrinkage on carrying capacity, while simultaneously testing the mediating pathways through human capital accumulation and fiscal policy interventions. The empirical analysis reveals that (1) over the study period (2010–2023), population shrinkage in Northeast China intensified progressively, expanding spatially from initially localized pockets to widespread, regionally contiguous areas. Concurrently, agricultural water resource carrying capacity displayed pronounced spatial heterogeneity and statistically significant spatial clustering. (2) Overall, the degree of population decline significantly negatively affects agricultural water resource carrying capacity. Further heterogeneity tests showed that this negative effect exhibits significant variation across different population-contracted regions and provinces. Among the control variables, urbanization rate, per capita GDP, and total water resources availability exhibit statistically significant positive associations with agricultural water resource carrying capacity (3) Over the study period, higher human capital endowment and greater fiscal intervention intensity significantly attenuated the adverse effect of population shrinkage on agricultural water resource carrying capacity. Full article

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is among the most prevalent nutritional disorders worldwide and a growing public health concern among women in Saudi Arabia. Available Saudi evidence remains fragmented, with single-center studies that vary by population, region, and diagnostic criteria. This review evaluated the prevalence of anemia in Saudi Arabia, assessed gender-related differences across the lifespan, and highlighted local determinants and prevention strategies relevant to women. Methods: Eight cross-sectional studies (26,412 participants) reporting anemia prevalence in Saudi individuals aged ≥13 with both-sex data were identified across five databases (2007–2024), excluding chronic-disease and under-13 studies. Quality was appraised with the JBI checklist, and because of substantial heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively by population group (SWiM guideline) rather than pooled. Results: Anemia was consistently more prevalent in women than men across all population groups and regions. Female prevalence ranged from about 18–22% in older and community adults to over 65% in female university students, whereas male prevalence ranged from none detected to 28% in a hospital-based sample. The lowest mean hemoglobin (10.4 g/dL) occurred in young women. Between study heterogeneity was considerable (I² > 99%) and persisted within sex subgroups, so findings were synthesized by population group rather than pooled into a single estimate. Conclusions: Anemia remains a significant public health challenge among women in Saudi Arabia, shaped by an interacting set of dietary, sociocultural, hereditary, and health-system determinants specific to the local context. Beyond confirming the female burden, this review consolidates fragmented national evidence, appraises its quality, and translates the findings into targeted recommendations: dietary counseling to address local inhibitors of iron absorption, screening during peak-risk periods, and integration with existing premarital screening and food-fortification infrastructure. Full article

Ensuring local and sustainable food security is gaining an important role in rural development strategies at national and regional scales in Europe. This relies to an important degree upon the implementation of new, or old, agri-environmental policy, namely, policies at the intersection of agriculture and the environment. Yet, the incorporation of agri-environmental policy in rural development strategies at the regional level creates, and often accelerates, contradictions between existing rural development paths and the structural changes needed to achieve both environmental objectives and economically viable agricultural development. Within this context, agroecological transitions are framed as key for transformations of national food systems. However, understanding the prospects and barriers for agroecological transitions and food security at the regional level requires a much deeper understanding of how national and international food policies shape and are shaped by long political economic trajectories of rural development with competing interests. In this paper, we explore these contradictions of rural development in Europe by comparatively analyzing the political nature of potential agroecological transitions in Europe and how these transitions interact with agri-environmental policies and rural development strategies at the regional level. Full article