Search Results (213)

Biorefineries that convert the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) into advanced biofuels can integrate waste management with renewable energy production. However, their environmental performance remains insufficiently characterised owing to a scarcity of life cycle assessment (LCA) studies based on real operational data. This study presents a gate-to-gate LCA of a demonstration biorefinery processing source-separated food waste into bio-oils, bioethanol, and biogas. The ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method was applied across 18 impact categories, with system expansion crediting the displacement of rapeseed oil, maize-derived ethanol, and marginal biogas-derived electricity. The net global warming potential (GWP) was 68.5 kg CO₂ eq per tonne of wet OFMSW (69% reduction from gross), placing the biorefinery 83–93% below landfilling, 63% below incineration with CHP, and above standalone anaerobic digestion systems that lack the energy-intensive drying and enzymatic hydrolysis steps of the present configuration. Bio-oil and bioethanol achieved net-negative GWP per kilogram of product (−0.89 and −0.66 kg CO₂ eq, respectively), whilst eleven of eighteen categories achieved net savings under system expansion. Enzyme production dominated the bioethanol environmental profile (37–94% across categories), whilst drying dominated bio-oil (46–93%). Monte Carlo simulation confirmed that the sign of the net impact stayed unchanged across the entire 95% confidence interval (the interval did not span zero) for 17 of 18 categories. Full article

Maintaining food systems in the face of climate change (CC) is a major concern. Palm oil is included in many commodities, and oil palms (OPs) will be adversely affected by an inclement future climate, which could cause OPs to experience increases in disease incidence, higher mortality and a decline in growth. Basal stem rot, bud rot and Fusarium wilt of the OP are considered in the present paper, as attempts to control these diseases have been unsuccessful. A new approach may be the replacement of compromised OPs with different crops better suited to the future climate and which may exhibit fewer diseases initially because of the “parasites lost” phenomenon. Maintaining a vegetable oil product is an important advantage of this approach. How CC will affect OPs has been determined previously by CLIMEX modelling. The modelling of a future suitable climate has also been carried out for soybeans, maize and the common bean using the same modelling parameters. This enables direct comparisons with the OP production in countries such as Colombia, Nigeria and Papua New Guinea. Limited data for rapeseed are also available. The results show that the suitability of future suitable climate for OPs was much reduced in these countries and that for soybeans remained beneficial. Under these conditions, soybeans may exhibit fewer diseases, as they would be an introduced and annual crop. Maize exhibited far fewer advantages, and the common bean and rapeseed showed none. Maize exhibited potential advantages in Nigeria until 2050. A novel method for adapting to the serious diseases, poor growth and mortality of OPs would be to grow soybeans in regions similar to those in which OPs currently grow, but for which modelling suggests that their health will become limited. Plans, which could be modified when real-time data become available, could be made for replacing OPs with soybeans. This current paper provides a novel method for mitigating the future diseases, poor growth and mortality of OPs whilst maintaining valuable oil production. Full article

Plant lecithins are complex mixtures of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidic acid (PA) and lysophospholipids. They are increasingly demanded as natural, non-allergenic emulsifiers and as nutraceutical carriers. Quantitative data on the phospholipid (PL) fraction of less-commodity oilseeds, however, remain dispersed. This review compares the PL composition, processing-dependent extractability, and functional behavior of six oils: hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), corn/maize (Zea mays L., germ), pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.), flax/linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), and camelina (Camelina sativa L.). Across the six oils, total PL content varies by more than an order of magnitude (c.a. 0.25% in camelina oil bodies; >1% in solvent-extracted hemp and c.a. 0.5–1.0% in Styrian pumpkin oil), and PC fraction ranges from 30% (hemp seed tissue) to 56% (rapeseed-comparable sunflower). Flax stands out for both an exceptionally high PE share (22.7%) and a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in the PL fraction (53.3%) that exceeds rapeseed, sunflower and soy by an order of magnitude. We integrate recent extraction (cold pressing, supercritical CO₂, microwave-assisted, aqueous enzymatic) and degumming data (water, acid, enzymatic with phospholipases A1/A2/C) with functional evidence in emulsions, oil bodies, and bioactive delivery. Full article

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a highly destructive invasive Lepidopteran pest, poses a serious threat to global agriculture, particularly maize production. Plant essential oils (EOs) represent a promising class of botanical pesticides owing to their diverse bioactivities and low environmental persistence. In this study, we evaluated the insecticidal and antifeedant activities of 40 commercially available EOs against third-instar S. frugiperda larvae. After an initial screening at 4 μL/mL, 10 EOs that caused ≥70% mortality at 72 h were selected for bioassays to estimate LC₅₀ value and chemical analysis by GC-MS. Contact toxicity assays showed that geranium EO had the highest activity (LC₅₀ = 2.105 μL/mL at 72 h), followed by cypress (2.123 μL/mL) and niaouli (2.391 μL/mL), whereas tea tree EO exhibited the lowest activity (3.592 μL/mL). Antifeedant tests revealed that clove EO caused the strongest feeding deterrence at both 24 h (antifeedant indices AFI = 72.8%) and 48 h (AFI = 63.4%), while most other EOs lost their deterrent effect within 48 h. GC-MS analysis of the 10 active EOs identified a complex mixture of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and oxygenated derivatives; major constituents included D-limonene, 4-terpineol, carvacrol, caryophyllene, and longifolene. These results provide laboratory evidence that several plant EOs, particularly geranium, cypress, niaouli, and clove, possess strong insecticidal and antifeedant activities against S. frugiperda larvae, supporting their potential as eco-friendly botanical insecticides. Full article

Maize (Zea mays) production in Africa has been severely constrained by the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, since the pest was first detected on the continent in 2016. Botanical pesticides are increasingly promoted as low-cost alternatives to synthetic insecticides, but the African evidence base remains scattered across plant species, formulations, experimental settings, and outcome measures. This study was conducted as a structured narrative review with an evidence-informed SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) synthesis to evaluate the efficacy, field relevance, and practical limitations of botanical pesticides used against FAW in African maize systems. Literature published between 2016 and 2026 was identified through structured searches of Google Scholar and PubMed and was synthesized narratively because substantial heterogeneity in botanicals, extraction methods, doses, application methods, target stages, and study settings precluded meta-analysis. The review shows that Azadirachta indica currently has the strongest balance of laboratory-to-field support, while Tephrosia vogelii and Nicotiana tabacum remain promising but with conditional options because of chemotype dependence and phytotoxicity concerns. Essential oils expand the mechanistic scope of the evidence base but are still limited by volatility, weak persistence, and comparatively few field validations in African maize systems. Overall, botanical pesticides have credible potential within smallholder-oriented integrated pest management, but require standardisation, better field validation and clearer biosafety evidence, and more accessible formulations are needed before broad recommendation can be justified. Full article

The transition toward a sustainable bioeconomy is increasingly recognised as a key pathway for resource efficiency and climate resilience in emerging economies. However, system-level analyses integrating biomass flows, governance structures, and actor dynamics remain limited, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study develops a systems-oriented analytical framework combining material flow assessment, stakeholder mapping, governance assessment, and innovation systems analysis to evaluate the structure, performance, and circularity of biomass systems in Ghana. The analysis focuses on six major biomass sectors: cocoa, cassava, maize, plantain, oil palm, and shea. The results show that Ghana generates substantial biomass resources, yet significant inefficiencies persist, with major residue streams such as cocoa pod husks (~9 million tonnes (Mt) annually) and cassava peels (2.6–3.8 million tonnes annually) remaining largely underutilised. Across sectors, residue utilisation rates remain low, while biomass leakage is driven by fragmented governance, weak coordination among actors, spatially dispersed production systems, and limited processing and technological capacity. Compared with more integrated biomass-based economies, Ghana remains at an early stage of circular transition, despite considerable potential for value addition and resource recovery. The study contributes a transferable systems-based analytical framework for diagnosing circularity gaps and system inefficiencies in data-constrained bioeconomy contexts. Strengthening institutional coordination, decentralised processing infrastructure, and innovation systems is identified as critical for advancing a more circular and inclusive bioeconomy in Ghana. Full article

Lutein is a highly unstable antioxidant traditionally extracted using toxic solvents. To address this, this study evaluates the microencapsulation of marigold (Calendula officinalis) lutein utilizing a solvent-free, oil-based extraction approach as a potentially greener alternative to conventional organic solvent extraction. Lutein was extracted via Soxhlet, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and oil extraction using sunflower, corn, and grape seed oils. Emulsions were formulated with maltodextrin combined with gum arabic, tapioca starch, or waxy maize starch, and spray-dried. The resulting microcapsules demonstrated favorable moisture contents (0.98% to 3.43%) and high solubility (70.5% to 85.81%). Encapsulation efficiency ranged from 34.98% to 56.59%, peaking in formulations utilizing waxy maize starch and sunflower oil. Flowability was restrictive across all powders, indicated by elevated Carr’s Compressibility Index values. Scanning electron microscopy revealed predominantly smooth, spherical particles measuring less than 6 µm. Notably, while unencapsulated sunflower oil extract exhibited the highest lutein concentration, microcapsules containing grape seed oil showed relatively higher lutein concentration in the final product. This observation may be related to differences in oil composition; however, further studies are required to confirm the underlying mechanisms. Full article

Modern agriculture faces major challenges due to rapid population growth, climate change, and environmental constraints. Advanced polymeric systems for controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) are essential to address these challenges. Urea is one of the most widely used nitrogen fertilizers; however, its agronomic efficiency is limited by volatilization and losses. In this study, we report a sustainable strategy to encapsulate urea using a matrix derived from industrial sulfur waste and vegetable oil, improving agronomic efficiency while valorizing industrial residues and renewable resources. Through inverse vulcanization, a sponge-like polymer (Bp-SF) was synthesized. Two urea-loaded bio-composites (Bp-SF25U and Bp-SF32U) were also prepared. FT-IR analysis confirmed urea encapsulation and the formation of polymeric structures from sunflower oil. SEM revealed a porous morphology, while contact angle measurements confirmed the hydrophobic nature of the polymer matrix. Release kinetics showed sustained nitrogen release for more than 77 days, reaching approximately 60% cumulative release, governed by diffusion, with a fraction of urea retained within the matrix, potentially enabling prolonged nutrient availability. Pot experiments with maize showed that a lower dose of encapsulated urea (79 mg) produced similar plant growth responses to a higher dose of free urea (92 mg), indicating improved nitrogen use efficiency. These sulfur cross-linked biopolymers represent a promising strategy to enhance urea efficiency while supporting greener fertilization strategies aligned with circular economy principles. Full article

Myrciaria floribunda is a plant found in the Northeast region of Brazil with several insecticidal properties that remain little explored. In this sense, this study aims to investigate the harmful effects of essential oil (EO) from M. floribunda leaves against Sitophilus zeamais, an important corn pest. The EO was applied in toxicity tests by fumigation, contact, and ingestion, as well as in in vitro assays to evaluate its effects on the activity of the enzymes α-amylase, trypsin, and acetylcholinesterase. Chromatographic analysis of the oil revealed (E)-caryophyllene (56.41%), viridiflorol (4.02%) and α-selinene (3.85%) as the main compounds. The essential oil (EO) showed fumigation toxicity, with an LC₅₀ of 3.2 μL/L of air, and (E)-caryophyllene with an LC₅₀ of 3.97 μL/L of air. The EO inhibited insect feeding, altering growth rate and feed conversion efficiency starting at 62.5 μL/g. In this study, an increase in amylase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was observed. This increase in AChE activity may cause an imbalance in the nervous system, leading to insect death. Thus, the EO of M. floribunda may serve as an alternative for the control of S. zeamais in stored corn and help prevent significant post-harvest losses for farmers. Full article

The maize weevil is a major postharvest pest of stored maize, causing substantial quantitative and qualitative grain losses and posing a serious threat to food security. In many regions of the world, particularly in developing countries where maize is a staple crop, maize weevil infestations can account for up to 50% of postharvest maize losses annually. Traditionally, synthetic pesticides have been used to manage maize weevils, but their prolonged application has been associated with environmental contamination, pesticide resistance, and adverse health effects in humans and animals. These challenges have inspired the search for safe, eco-friendly, and bioactive alternatives from natural sources. Citrus plants are among the most widely consumed fruits globally, with their peels and leaves constituting a significant proportion of agricultural waste. These waste products are rich in essential oils, particularly limonene, which has demonstrated potent insecticidal properties against maize weevils. Repurposing citrus waste into biopesticides offers a sustainable strategy for mitigating maize weevil infestations, thereby reducing postharvest maize losses and enhancing food safety and security. This review examines the prospects of citrus limonene in the development of safe and effective maize weevil biopesticides, highlighting its major chemical constituents, biological activities, and mechanisms of action. Full article

Modifying food systems is required when they are threatened by a changing climate. Oil palm (OP) is a very important crop and climate change (CC) may decrease the areas in which OP can grow, as indicated by CLIMEX modelling. OP is affected by basal stem rot (BSR) and increasing incidences are indicated. Palm oil is used in many foods and biodiesel; Indonesia and Malaysia produce the largest volumes of the commodity. CLIMEX modelling of future suitable climates have also been applied to soybean, maize and the common bean (CB). The data for these crops were compared to those for OP in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in the current paper to determine if growing the crops in the same regions in which OP is grown is possible in the future. Soybean had higher areas of suitable climate compared to OP. BSR and OP mortality further disadvantaged OP. The suitable climate for OP decreased significantly in Thailand by 2050 and in areas of Indonesia and Malaysia by 2070; the equivalent areas for soybean remained at high suitability. OP climate suitability further declined by 2100 in these and some other regions. Soybean could usefully be grown to diversify from the OP monoculture in many cases. Maize could be a possible alternative infrequently and the CB does not appear to be a viable alternative. These comparisons are unique and the methods could be employed in other systems. Full article

The concern about plastic pollution drives the exploration of sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging materials. Alginate is a renewable, edible feedstock extracted from seaweed, which has been used for preparing edible biofilms. The major limiting factor in alginate biofilms wider application is that it is relatively weak in strength. This study explored a novel alginate composite biofilm prepared using alginate and maize bran derived arabinoxylans. In comparison with alginate alone, adding 2.5% w/w maize arabinoxylans increased the tensile strength of the film by 3.1 times. Using an optimized composition (2.5% alginate, 1% glycerol and 1.5% maize arabinoxylans), the tensile strength and elongation of the biofilm increased to 4.9 and 3.0 times that of alginate only biofilm to 6.88 ± 0.06 MPa and to 96.4 ± 9.9%, respectively. Interestingly, the water-holding capacity of biofilm increased from 5.5 times weight of water for 5 min for alginate alone biofilm to 27.6 times the weight of water for 50 min. When 0.5% clove essential oil was incorporated into the composite film, the biofilm exhibited excellent anti-microbial property, keeping raw meat free of bacteria for five days in both refrigerated and open environments. These results indicate that the alginate-based bio-composite film is a promising candidate for food packaging. Full article

Ustilago maydis is an economically significant biotrophic smut fungus, capable of infecting maize. This is a localized infection where tumors are formed, potentially in any of the aboveground parts of the plant. In extreme cases, maize plants may die. It is also dimorphic, i.e., it is capable of switching from yeast-like to filamentous forms. The switch can be induced by nitrogen sources, pH, and some lipids/oils. The active infectious form is the filamentous form which is capable of penetrating plant cells using the appressorium. This study focuses on understanding the mitochondrial genome diversity in U. maydis, the selection pressure on the genes encoded in the mitochondrial genome, and the phylogeny of the strains investigated. The results suggest that the strains maintained high consistency in genome architecture and synteny. The cox1 and cob genes in the genomes possessed different intron numbers, with the presence or absence of homing endonuclease genes (HEGs), which overall contributed to the differences in the genome sizes. Among the genes in the mitogenome, nad6 was the only gene that has a non-synonymous nucleotide change, but the overall changes within the mitogenomes suggest purifying selection. The study helped identify the different mitotypes using PCR, although further markers or whole-genome sequencing may be required to fully distinguish mitotypes. Full article

Strip intercropping of maize and soybean is a key practice for improving land productivity and ensuring food and oil security in the hilly regions of the Loess Plateau. However, complex interspecific interactions generate highly heterogeneous canopy structures, making it difficult for traditional linear models to capture yield variability within mixed pixels. Based on a single-season (2025) field experiment, this study developed a UAV multispectral imagery-based yield estimation framework integrating multiple machine-learning algorithms. Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) and partial dependence plots (PDP) were used to interpret the spectral–yield relationships under different spatial configurations. The predictive performance of linear regression and eight nonlinear algorithms was compared using 20 spectral features. Ensemble learning outperformed linear approaches in all intercropping scenarios. In the maize–soybean 3:2 pattern, the GBDT model delivered the highest accuracy (R² = 0.849; NRMSE = 9.28%), whereas in the 4:2 pattern with stronger shading stress on soybean, the random forest model showed the greatest robustness (R² = 0.724). Interpretation results indicated that yield in monoculture systems was mainly driven by physiological traits characterized by visible-band indices, while yield in intercropping systems was dominated by structural and stress-response traits represented by near-infrared and soil-adjusted vegetation indices. The generated centimeter-scale yield maps revealed clear strip-like spatial variability driven by interspecific competition. Overall, explainable machine learning combined with UAV multispectral data shows promise for within-season yield estimation in intercropping systems and can support spatially differentiated precision management under the sampled conditions. Full article

Background: The valorization of sustainable feed ingredients such fermented de-oiled rice bran meal (FDRBM) is crucial; however, the molecular mechanisms driving its benefits remain unclear. This study addresses this gap by investigating FDRBM as a dietary substitute for maize in rabbits to determine its effects on meat quality and underlying gut–liver axis communication. Methods: In an eight-week trial, New Zealand White rabbits were assigned to a control diet or the basal diet with a 20% substitution of either unfermented de-oiled rice bran (UFDRBM) or FDRBM. Post-trial, the researchers analyzed carcass traits, meat quality, and nutritional composition. A multi-omics approach integrates gene expression data from the ileum and muscle with liver metabolomics to model coordinated biological responses. Results: Although growth performance was similar, the FDRBM diet significantly improved meat quality by enhancing water-holding capacity and increasing essential amino acids (p < 0.05). Mechanistically, these improvements were associated with the upregulation of genes associated with oxidative muscle fiber (Tnnc1) and lipid metabolism. Analysis of the gut–liver axis revealed that FDRBM enhanced ileum antioxidant capacity, which coincided with profound reprogramming of liver metabolism (p < 0.01 *), identifying C17-sphinganine as a differential metabolite. Conclusion: This study provides novel insights into the mode of action of FDRBM, suggesting that it enhances rabbit meat quality in part by modulating metabolic gene expression and is associated with coordinated molecular changes across the gut–liver axis. Full article