Search Results (249)

Given the current global agricultural system, honey bees are exposed to a complex network of stressors that can act simultaneously, making it challenging to maintain healthy colonies. Therefore, studies on natural products to improve colony health have increased in recent years. Among them, fungal extracts have been shown to be beneficial to honey bees. However, there remains a knowledge gap regarding lifespan and histomorphological studies in bees fed fungal extracts. Our current study aimed to assess the impacts of extracts from Ganoderma lucidum (GL), Hericium erinaceus (HE), Inonotus obliquus (IO), and Trametes versicolor (TV) on the lifespan and midgut of honey bees. Newly emerged Carniolan honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) were fed 4% of each fungal extract until the death of the last individual to assess survival probability. For histomorphological analyses, bees were fed for 7, 14, and 21 days and sampled at these same time points. Then, the midguts were dissected and histologically processed for qualitative and semi-quantitative microscopic analyses. The results showed that the fungal extracts did not significantly affect honey bee survival, and that the histomorphology of the intestinal villi, digestive cells, and regenerative cells in bees treated with fungal extracts did not differ from that of untreated bees throughout the analyzed period. Similarly, no differences were observed in the midgut lesion index between bees treated with fungal extracts and the untreated group. Overall, the absence of harmful effects on lifespan and midgut suggests that feeding fungal extracts may be a potential alternative for supporting bee health. Full article

The growing demand for natural, safe, and sustainable bioactive compounds has sparked interest in indigenous essential oils (EOs) for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and therapeutic properties. Their practical applications are often limited by poor solubility, volatility, and susceptibility to degradation when exposed to light, heat, and or oxygen. The literature lacks exploration of the indigenous EOs in nanoencapsulation studies. Using nanosystems and carriers, the oil can be delivered to targeted areas over a longer period. This is useful for various applications, including biopesticides, regenerative medicine, gene therapy, textiles, and antimicrobial coatings. Studies reveal that nanoencapsulated EOs exhibit higher insecticidal and antimicrobial activity than free oil. In this review, we observed that Lippia javanica is the most used EO in nanoencapsulation processes. This may be attributed to its broad spectrum of biological activities and its wide distribution in South Africa. This review examines the applications of selected nanoencapsulated indigenous EOs of the Eastern Cape province in medicine, food, and agriculture. The findings underscore the potential of nanoencapsulation to transform indigenous EOs into multifunctional agents that can support health, food security, and sustainable agricultural practices, while calling for further research on safety, regulatory frameworks, and commercialization pathways. Full article

This essay reflects on how regenerative strategies used within the field of ecology can be considered in terms of Fine Art practice and pedagogy (and vice versa) and proposes how these methodological alliances inform and extend our understanding of the relationship between these disciplines. Building on recent interest in regenerative practice in the field of design and contemporary art, this piece of writing compares actions of ecological restoration with methods and processes taking place in the artist’s studio. Referencing specialists in the fields of regenerative agriculture, ecology and contemporary arts practice, this text suggests potential alignments and coalescences that broaden our understanding of what a ‘regenerative’ perspective may mean for art practice and, in particular, that of collage and painting, which are central to the author’s own work. This essay includes accounts and anecdotes from conversations with students in studio tutorials alongside recollections of conversations with tutors when I was a student, where discussions highlight processes and decision-making that align with what a ‘regenerative art practice’ might look like. In conclusion, building on Basarab Nicolescu’s proposal of the transdisciplinary, this essay locates the edge of boundaries as fertile ground for radical method-making. Full article

Agri-food systems account for a substantial share of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with a significant proportion arising from upstream supply-chain activities beyond direct operational control. In this context, effective decarbonization requires systematic assessment of emissions across all life-cycle stages. This study applies an ISO 14040/44-compliant cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to CERELAC^® infant cereal, a processed dairy-based product, to quantify Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions and identify mitigation pathways across the full product life cycle. Results indicate that Scope 3 emissions account for 94.3% of total product emissions, with product use (44.7%) and purchased goods and services (36.9%) as the primary contributors. Upstream agricultural inputs—particularly milk powder—emerge as the dominant hotspot due to methane emissions and energy-intensive processing. Scenario-based evaluation suggests that regenerative sourcing, ingredient optimization, packaging redesign, logistics improvements, and consumer-phase engagement could significantly reduce life cycle emissions. The findings demonstrate how product-level LCA can operationalize Scope 3 decarbonization strategies in processed food systems, bridging corporate net-zero ambitions with actionable supply chain interventions. These results provide transferable insights for cleaner production transitions within the agri-food sector. Full article

Soil degradation driven by inappropriate soil management is a serious global challenge, while climate change-induced yield declines are increasing the conversion of natural ecosystems to agricultural land. This review examines how soil structure influences soil health, focusing on organo-mineral complexes derived from microbial biomass and soil organic carbon-to-clay (SOC/Clay) ratio as an indicator of structural quality. Regenerative agriculture based on conservation farming practices helps mitigate SOC depletion and aligns with the nature-based solutions framework. In Hokkaido, Japan, 10 years of clean agricultural applications (cover crops and organic matter application) increased SOC storage in farmland affected by volcanic eruption. This was associated with improved bulk density, porosity, cation exchange capacity, and phosphate absorption capacity, indicating improved soil health. The increased SOC rose SOC/Clay ratio to levels comparable with unaffected farmland (≥1/13). When the SOC/Clay ratio exceeded 1/13 (soil carbon storage level of 30 t C/ha/15 cm), carbon sequestration rate became negative. This suggests that improved soil health and structural quality may promote carbon saturation and stimulate microbial decomposition of existing SOC. While the threshold for SOC/Clay ratio varies depending on soil type, vegetation type, climatic conditions, and land use, changes in the SOC/Clay ratio can provide insights into changes in soil health and structural quality. Full article

The rapid digitalisation of the agri-food sector has generated unprecedented volumes of farm and value chain data, but also highly fragmented data ecosystems and asymmetric power relations between farmers, technology providers, and public authorities. In response, the European Union has developed a comprehensive data governance architecture—including the Data Governance Act, the Data Act, the GDPR and the EU Code of Conduct on Agricultural Data Sharing—and is building a Common European Agricultural Data Space (CEADS). This article examines that governance framework and explores its implications for the agri-food sector in Spain. Through a qualitative legal policy review, we map the regulatory landscape, analyse five major European and Spanish initiatives (CEADS/AgriDataSpace, AgData, Agdatahub, RegenAg-X, and DADS), and use Spain as a national case study. A multi-level actor model (meta-governance, data originators, transformation intermediaries, and data users) structures the comparative analysis. On this basis, six design principles for responsible agri-food data spaces are identified: clarity of use cases, inclusive multi-stakeholder governance, data life cycle mapping, privacy and sovereignty by design, a fair economic model, and regulatory compliance as a trust factor. The article identifies open research questions on anonymisation of georeferenced data, data sovereignty, and equitable value distribution, and outlines an agenda for future empirical and legal research. Full article

This article examines the context and aims of We Feed the UK: a multi-site series of arts projects and exhibitions, organised by the Gaia Foundation, that were exhibited at venues across the United Kingdom from February 2024 to June 2025. These aims were to celebrate and advocate for diverse regenerative food production businesses and community initiatives through poetry and photography. The featured enterprises combine food production with objectives such as biodiversity renewal, community development, mental health support and social justice, and the article proposes that this combination of environmental advocacy and affective social issues appeals to a wide and diverse audience. It supports this proposal through an examination of the first photography project in the series: Johannes Pretorius’s Intervention and Renewal, that engaged with a Cumbrian dairy farm that successfully combines biodiversity regeneration, organic agriculture and educational initiatives. Drawing upon Actor–Network Theory and notions of time as they pertain to the photograph, this examination reveals a project that offers both familiar imagery of British pastoral tropes, and the contemporary realities of the British food production system. As such it offers multiple points of engagement for audiences, and an effective entry point for the We Feed the UK programme. Full article

Soils as the important components of the global carbon cycle play a critical role in food security as well as in supporting adaptation to climate change. The current review presents recent research on interactions between soil systems and climate dynamics. Climate change and poor land-use practices pose significant threats to soil health. In this context, the application of Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) strategies provides important benefits. These practices contribute to climate change mitigation by increasing carbon storage in soils and improving soil resilience to extreme climate conditions. Regenerative agriculture practices, including Conservation Agriculture (CA), cover crops, organic materials, and diversified cropping systems can store carbon at rates of about 0.1 to 1.2 t C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Moreover, these practices improve biodiversity and enhance soil properties, with yield responses varying depending on environmental and management conditions. Climate change accelerates soil degradation by raising temperatures, altering rainfall patterns, and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. Consequently, these factors lead to marked reductions in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stocks and degrade essential soil properties. This review places SSM within an extensive sustainability framework that is closely linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key goals addressed include SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). It also examines related policies, presents case studies from different agroecological regions, and discusses future research directions. Wider adoption of SSM requires strong economic incentives and inclusive governance. These measures can support climate-resilient agriculture and net-zero emission goals. Full article

The decline of soil organic matter in Kazakhstan due to long-term monoculture and intensive fertilizer use has increased the need for sustainable soil management strategies. This study aimed to develop a new composting technique to produce more performant organic fertilizers from cattle manure to contribute to the broader strategy to increase soil organic matter and to improve fertility in northern Kazakhstan soils. Composting experiments were conducted using oxidized coal at 5%, 10%, and 20% dosages combined with two microbial consortia, and physicochemical and microbiological parameters were monitored throughout the process. The addition of microbial consortia and oxidized coal significantly enhanced composting dynamics by accelerating the transition to the thermophilic phase and increasing microbial activity. Treated systems exhibited higher temperatures (up to 48–49 °C), greater microbial abundance, and improved nitrogen transformation, characterized by increased NH₄⁺–N accumulation followed by NO₃⁻–N formation. Organic matter degradation was more efficient in amended treatments, while oxidized coal contributed to improved moisture retention and pH stabilization. However, excessive coal addition (20%) reduced microbial activity at later stages. Among the treatments, the combination of Consortium 3 with 10% oxidized coal showed the most balanced performance, with enhanced microbial activity, efficient nutrient transformation, and stable compost maturation. These findings demonstrate that the integration of microbial consortia with oxidized coal is an effective strategy for improving composting efficiency and producing high-quality organo-mineral fertilizers, with potential for improving compost quality and nutrient stabilization, and supporting sustainable and regenerative soil management in degraded agricultural systems. Full article

Soil degradation, nutrient depletion, and persistent weed pressure represent critical challenges in the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices in subtropical organic farming systems. Reliance on conventional inputs threatens long-term soil health and ecosystem resilience, highlighting the need for regenerative alternatives. Cover crops are widely recognized as multifunctional agroecological tools with the capacity to enhance nutrient cycling, perform weed suppression, and improve soil organic matter. To evaluate their effectiveness in South Florida's subtropical climate and organic raised bed systems, a field experiment was conducted as a Randomized Block Design (RBD) at the Florida International University Organic Garden during the 2024 summer season. The six cover crops species that were tested include green gram (Vigna radiata), hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), soybean (Glycine max), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). Data collected includes plant establishment, biomass accumulation, weed suppression, soil physiochemical properties, and plant nutrient composition. Sorghum and sunn hemp produced the highest fresh and dry biomass, with sorghum achieving the most effective weed suppression with the lowest weed biomass and weed population. Sunn hemp contributed to enhanced nitrogen content in plant tissues, while hibiscus promoted the highest soil P and N concentrations. Pearl millet exhibited the highest total carbon and organic matter content, indicating potential for enhancing soil carbon content and soil fertility. Results show that each cover crop species can provide a specialized or generalized ecosystem service depending on management goals. Full article

Regenerative agriculture (RA) is expanding across the Western Canadian Prairies, but its microbial foundations under climatic constraint remain insufficiently integrated. This review synthesizes evidence from long-term Prairie field experiments, regional and global datasets to evaluate how regenerative management reshapes soil biological processes and agronomic performance across systems. RA practices including no-till, diversified rotations, cover cropping, and organic amendments consistently enhance microbial biomass (up to 40–86%), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance (32–60%), and microbial diversity (≈50%), alongside increases in soil organic carbon (up to 15.6 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), aggregate stability (up to 38%), and water retention (up to 30–34%). These biologically mediated improvements are linked to enhanced nutrient cycling and crop nitrogen uptake (13–47%), as well as increased microbial enzymatic activity and functional gene abundance. Agronomically, these changes translate into yield gains ranging from 10% to 147% under long-term no-till and 14–38% under diversified rotations, with additional system-level benefits including reductions in synthetic nitrogen inputs (up to 73%) and herbicide use (up to 42%). While agronomic benefits vary across temporal scales and environmental conditions, this synthesis identifies microbial communities as key mediators of interactions among climate, plant, and soil systems, underpinning improvements in soil health, pest suppression, and yield stability in semi-arid, climate-variable Prairie agroecosystems. Continued long-term, system-level research is needed to refine regionally adapted regenerative transitions and to clarify how microbial processes mediate resilience under future climate uncertainty. Full article

The study analyses the role of GEOfood products and geoproducts in the eco-cultural sustainability and territorial regeneration of Portuguese UNESCO Global Geoparks, highlighting how geodiversity, agriculture, gastronomy and local communities are integrated into sustainable development strategies. GEOfood is presented not only as a certification mark, but as an instrument of territorial governance, capable of strengthening short supply chains, promoting local products, preserving traditional agro-silvo-pastoral systems and reinforcing the cultural identity of the territories. An analysis of the five Portuguese geoparks—Naturtejo, Arouca, the Azores, Terras de Cavaleiros and Estrela—highlights four main strategic pillars: certification and territorial branding, strengthening short supply chains and empowering producers, integrating gastronomy into interpretive tourism, and contributing to regenerative tourism practices. The results show positive impacts in terms of ecological conservation, landscape preservation, socio-cultural continuity and local economic resilience. It is concluded that GEOfood functions as a mechanism for integrated territorial enhancement, converting geological and food resources into economic, cultural and educational assets, whilst supporting landscape regeneration, the intergenerational transmission of knowledge and the sustainability of rural communities. Full article

The agricultural sector in Mexico, specifically the coffee and sugarcane supply chains, faces the critical challenge of reconciling economic profitability with environmental sustainability and rural social progress. This study presents a critical literature review and conceptual framework that evaluates existing analytical models and proposes methodological integration pathways to simultaneously optimize Triple bottom line (TBL) dimensions in vulnerable smallholder systems. Unlike prior reviews that focus on generic Sustainable Supply chain management (SSCM) practices, this work explicitly addresses the suitability and limitations of multi-objective optimization (MOO) and Life cycle assessment (LCA) for regenerative supply chain objectives in the Mexican coffee and sugarcane context. A critical review of 76 core articles published between 2020 and 2025 was conducted, employing comparative evaluation criteria and narrative synthesis to assess trade-offs, data requirements, and scalability constraints. The review reveals that while agricultural intensification often exacerbates environmental degradation, the adoption of sustainable practices can impose significant financial burdens on vulnerable smallholders. However, analytical models like MOO and LCA serve as robust decision-support systems that effectively evaluate trade-offs and balance competing economic, environmental, and social objectives by identifying optimal production scenarios. The contribution of this work is threefold: (1) a critical synthesis distinguishing regenerative from sustainable supply chain paradigms, (2) a comparative assessment of analytical model applicability to smallholder contexts, and (3) a conceptual framework integrating local socioeconomic realities, traditional knowledge, and modern technological approaches. Fostering resilient supply chains in Mexico requires customized analytical frameworks that explicitly operationalize social indicators, address data limitations, and enable cross-sector collaboration. Ultimately, localized models are essential to simultaneously enhance rural livelihoods, reduce carbon footprints, and maintain economic viability. Full article

Soil degradation in both agricultural and urban environments is accelerating due to intensive land use, plastic pollution, construction practices, and climate change, threatening ecosystem stability, food security, and carbon storage capacity. This review synthesizes current advances in biopolymeric materials as regenerative alternatives to conventional soil management approaches. Biopolymers derived from natural sources—including polysaccharides, proteins, and lignin-based compounds—are examined for their multifunctional roles in improving soil structure, enhancing water retention, optimizing nutrient delivery, stabilizing slopes, and supporting pollutant immobilization. Recent developments highlight the emergence of stimuli-responsive hydrogels, controlled-release fertilizer matrices, and composite soil conditioners capable of simultaneously addressing water stress, salinity, erosion, and contamination. In parallel, biodegradable agricultural films and in-soil degradable materials offer pathways to reduce microplastic accumulation while maintaining agronomic performance. Beyond agriculture, bio-based construction materials and bio-receptive design strategies extend biopolymeric interventions into the built environment, promoting soil permeability, microbial diversity, and circular material flows. The review emphasizes the need for context-specific formulation, long-term field validation, and life-cycle assessment to ensure environmental safety and scalability. By integrating soil science, polymer chemistry, and regenerative design, biopolymeric systems are described here as tools for restoring soil health and fostering resilient urban–rural ecosystems under conditions of environmental change. Full article

Sustainable development was documented in two Dutch case studies on arable farms acting as living labs, showing that methods are available to assess indicators and thresholds of ecosystem services in line with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Both farms met the various thresholds and thus obtained the lighthouse qualification, implying that these farmers can follow in the future their own type of successful management. The government, representing its citizens, should not prescribe farmers what to do but require them to reach the goals of sustainable development in their own professional way. Meeting the thresholds is the overall goal and that should also apply to various broadly defined farming systems emphasizing, for example, regenerative, organic, circular, nature-inclusive and high-tech-precision management. Current environmental regulations for agriculture in England and the Netherlands focus on payment for a variety of single management measures that have no quantitative relation with ecosystem services unless indicator measurements and assessments would be made. Questions are currently raised within the scientific community about the living lab concept and about methods and procedures to measure indicators and thresholds for ecosystem services. If the community cannot agree on an operational methodology soon, a scientifically sound expression for sustainable agriculture will remain beyond reach. Full article