Search Results (161)

Postharvest losses amongst small-scale farmers in developing countries are high due to inadequate resources and infrastructure. Among the various affected crops, tomatoes are particularly vulnerable; however, studies on postharvest losses of most fruits and vegetables are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess postharvest tomato losses under different production systems within the small-scale supply chain using the indirect assessment (questionnaires and interviews) and direct quantification of losses. Farmers reported tomato losses due to insects (82.35%), cracks, bruises, and deformities (70.58%), and diseases (64.71%). Chemical sprays were the main form of pest and disease control reported by all farmers. The direct quantification sampling data revealed that 73.07% of the tomatoes were substandard at the farm level, with 47.92% and 25.15% categorized as medium-quality and poor-quality, respectively. The primary contributors to the losses were decay (39.92%), mechanical damage (31.32%), and blotchiness (27.99%). Postharvest losses were significantly higher under open-field production systems compared to closed tunnels. The fungi associated with decay were mainly Geotrichum, Fusarium spp., and Alternaria spp. These findings demonstrate the main drivers behind postharvest losses, which in turn highlight the critical need for intervention through training and support, including the use of postharvest loss reduction technologies to enhance food security. Full article

Background: The agri-food sector is a major contributor to environmental degradation and emissions, highlighting the need for sustainable practices to mitigate its impact. Within this sector, perishable food crops require targeted efforts to reduce their environmental footprint. Vertical integration is crucial for ensuring alignment between strategic and tactical decision making in supply chain management. This article presents a multi-objective mathematical model that integrates both economic and environmental considerations within the perishable food supply chain, aiming to determine optimal solutions for conflicting objectives. Methods: In this research, we employed combining goal programming with the epsilon constraint approach; this comprehensive methodology reveals optimal solutions by discretizing the values derived from the payoff table. Results: The model is applied to a real case study of the tomato paste supply chain in Ethiopia. To identify Pareto-efficient points, the results are presented in two scenarios: Case I and Case II. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the significant influence of the geographical location of manufacturing centers in supplier selection, which helps optimize the trade-off between environmental impact and total cost. The proposed solution provides decision makers with an effective strategy to optimize both total cost and eco-costs in the design of perishable food supply chain networks. Full article

The agro-industrial sector generates large volumes of fruit waste each year, leading to environmental concerns and sustainability challenges. In this study, we evaluate the potential of fruit residues—apple, pear, blueberry, tomato, papaya, and a mixed fruit juice blend—as alternative sources of high-value polysaccharides, including pectins, hemicelluloses, and cellulose. Additionally, white strawberry, included as a reference from fresh fruit rather than agro-industrial waste, was analyzed to expand the comparative framework. These biopolymers, naturally derived from the plant cell wall, are renewable and biodegradable, and they possess physicochemical properties suitable for applications in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, textile, and bioenergy industries. Using a combination of cell wall fractionation, biochemical characterization, and immunodetection of specific structural domains, we identified significant variability in polysaccharide composition and structure among the samples. Blueberry, pear, and apple residues showed high levels of rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) with extensive branching, while variations in rhamnogalacturonan-II (RG-II) dimerization and the degree of methylesterification of homogalacturonan were also observed. These structural differences are key to determining the gelling properties and functional potential of pectins. In the hemicellulose fractions, xylans and xyloglucans with distinct substitution patterns were especially abundant in apple and pear waste. Our findings demonstrate that fruit processing waste holds significant promise as a sustainable source of structurally diverse polysaccharides. These results support the reintegration of agro-industrial residues into production chains and emphasize the need for environmentally friendly extraction methods to enable industrial recovery and application. Overall, this study contributes to advancing a circular bioeconomy by transforming underutilized plant waste into valuable functional materials. Full article

The fresh produce supply chain sector is a vital pillar of any society and an indispensable part of the national economic structure. As a significant segment of the agricultural market, accurately forecasting vegetable prices holds significant importance. Vegetable market pricing is subject to a myriad of complex influences, resulting in nonlinear patterns that conventional time series methodologies often struggle to decode. Future planning for commodity pricing is achievable by forecasting the future price anticipated by the current circumstances. This paper presents a price forecasting methodology for tomatoes which uses price and production data taken from 2008 to 2021 and analyzed by means of advanced deep learning-based Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. A comparative analysis of three models based on Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) identifies LSTM as the most accurate model, achieving the lowest RMSE (0.2818), while SARIMA performs relatively well. The proposed deep learning-based method significantly improved the results versus other conventional machine learning and statistical time series analysis methods. Full article

In recent years, China’s vegetable market has faced frequent and drastic price fluctuations due to factors such as supply–demand relationships and climate change, which significantly affect government bodies, farmers, consumers, and other participants in the vegetable industry and supply chain. Traditional forecasting methods demonstrate evident limitations in capturing the nonlinear characteristics and complex volatility patterns of price series, underscoring the necessity of developing high-precision prediction models. This study proposes a hybrid forecasting model integrating variational mode decomposition (VMD), the Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm (FOA), and a gated recurrent unit (GRU). The model employs VMD for multi-scale decomposition of original price series and utilizes the FOA for adaptive optimization of the GRU’s critical parameters, effectively addressing the challenges of high volatility and nonlinearity in agricultural price forecasting. Empirical analysis conducted on daily price data of six major vegetables, specifically, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, beans, tomato, chili, and radish, from 2014 to 2024 reveals that the proposed model significantly outperforms traditional methods, single deep learning models, and other hybrid models in predictive performance. Experimental results indicate substantial improvements in key metrics including the Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Coefficient of Determination (R²), with R² values consistently exceeding 99.4% and achieving over 5% enhancement compared to the baseline GRU model. This research establishes a novel methodological framework for analyzing agricultural price forecasting while providing reliable technical support for market monitoring and policy regulation. Full article

Groundnut bud necrosis orthotospovirus (GBNV), a tripartite single-stranded RNA virus, poses a significant threat to United States agriculture. GBNV is a quarantine pathogen, and its introduction could lead to severe damage to economically important crops, such as groundnuts, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, and soybeans. For the rapid and accurate detection of GBNV at points of entry, TaqMan reverse transcriptase–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays were developed and the results validated using conventional reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Sanger sequencing. These assays target highly conserved regions of the nucleocapsid (NP) and movement (MP) proteins within the viral genome. Multiplex GBNV detection assays targeting the NP and MP genes, as well as an internal control plant gene, ACT11, showed efficiency rates between 90% and 100% and R² values of 0.98 to 0.99, indicating high accuracy and precision. Moreover, there was no significant difference in sensitivity between multiplex and singleplex assays, ensuring reliable detection across various plant tissues. This rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic assay will provide a valuable tool at ports of entry to prevent the entry of GBNV into the United States. Full article

Traditional tomato-braised beef brisket with potatoes is celebrated for its rich, complex flavors and culinary appeal but requires lengthy preparation. Pre-packaged versions of the dish rely on thermal sterilization for safety; however, high-temperature processing accelerates protein and lipid oxidation, thereby compromising its sensory quality. As the demand for ready-to-eat meals grows, the food industry faces the challenge of ensuring microbial safety while preserving flavor integrity. In this study, low-temperature plasma sterilization (LTPS) (160 KV, 450 s) was evaluated as a non-thermal alternative to conventional high-temperature short-time (HSS) sterilization. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis was conducted over a 10-day storage period, assessing microbial viability, physicochemical properties (pH, shear force, and water-holding capacity), oxidative markers (TBARS, TVB-N, and protein carbonyls), volatile compounds (GC-MS), and electronic nose (e-nose) responses. The results revealed that LTPS (160 kV, 450 s) successfully maintained bacterial counts below regulatory limits (5 lg CFU/g) for 72 h, ensuring that the microbial indicators of short-term processed products sold to supermarkets through cold chain logistics were in the safety range. Additionally, LTPS-treated samples showed a 4.2% higher water-holding capacity (p < 0.05) during storage, indicating improved preservation of texture. Furthermore, LTPS-treated samples exhibited 32% lower lipid oxidation (p < 0.05) and retained 18% higher sulfhydryl content (p < 0.05) compared to HSS, indicating reduced protein oxidation. GC-MS and e-nose analyses showed that LTPS preserved aldehydes and ketones associated with meaty aromas, while HSS contributed to sulfur-like off-flavors. Principal component analysis showed that the LTPS samples had shorter distances across various storage periods compared to HSS, indicating reduced differences in aroma difference. The findings of this study demonstrate LTPS’s dual efficacy in microbial control and aroma preservation. The technology presents a viable strategy for extending the shelf life of pre-prepared meat dishes while reducing oxidative and flavor deterioration, thereby establishing a solid foundation for LTPS application in the pre-prepared food sector. Full article

Sulfur is an intermediate element in plants. It plays an important role in the growth and development of plants. Plant roots absorb sulfate from their external environment and produce cysteine under the catalysis of cysteine synthase. Cysteine is a synthetic precursor of sulfur-containing metabolites and critical molecules including glutathione (GSH), methionine, vitamins, coenzymes, and antioxidants. It also plays a central role in plant stress resistance. In this study, we identified the Cys family genes in tomato and analyzed the expression of SlCys genes under cold stress. A bioinformatics analysis showed that the SlCys gene promoters were rich in cis-acting elements related to stress response. Transcriptome data analysis and qRT-PCR (real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction) experiments showed that SlCys5 may be the key gene in the Cys gene family for cold tolerance in tomato. After cold stress treatment, the SlCys5-silenced tomato plants were more sensitive to cold stress, and wilting was more severe than in control plants. Thus, SlCys5 is a positive regulator of cold tolerance in tomato. In this study, we elucidated the evolutionary pattern and functional differentiation of the Cys gene family in tomato, deepening our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of cold stress tolerance in plants. Full article

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a class of non-coding RNAs. In the study of Pseudomonas putida Sneb821-induced tomato resistance to Meloidogyne incognita, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to validate 12 lncRNAs in tomato. Among them, the lncRNA47258/miR319b/TCP molecular regulatory module was likely implicated in the process of Sneb821-induced tomato resistance against M. incognita. Through the application of tomato hairy root and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technologies for the investigation of lncRNA47258, it was determined that lncRNA47258 could target the TCP (Solyc07g062681.1) gene and modulate the metabolic pathway of tomato jasmonic acid-related indices, thereby impeding the infection of M. incognita. Moreover, the overexpression of the target gene TCP (Solyc07g062681.1) using tomato hairy root technology demonstrated that it could regulate the jasmonic acid synthesis pathway in tomato, consequently obstructing the infection and suppressing the development of M. incognita. Collectively, lncRNA47258/miR319b/TCP (Solyc07g062681.1) was preliminarily verified to be involved in the Sneb821-induced resistance process against M. incognita in tomato. Full article

The Agrobacterium fabrum C58 is a phytopathogen able to infect numerous species of cultivated and ornamental plants. During infection, bacteria genetically transform plant cells and induce the formation of tumours at the site of invasion. Bacterial cell wall components play a crucial role in the infection process. Lipopolysaccharide is the main component of Gram-negative bacteria’s outer leaflet of outer membrane. Its lipophilic part, called lipid A, is built of di-glucosamine backbone substituted with a specific set of 3-hydroxyl fatty acids. A. fabrum incorporates a very long chain hydroxylated fatty acid (VLCFA), namely 27-hydroxyoctacosanoic acid (28:0-(27OH)), into its lipid A. A. fabrum C58 mutants deprived of this component due to mutation in the VLCFA’s genomic region, have been characterised. High-resolution mass spectrometry was used to establish acylation patterns in the mutant’s lipid A preparations. The physiological properties of mutants, as well as their motility, ability to biofilm formation and plant infectivity, were tested. The results obtained showed that the investigated mutants were more sensitive to environmental stress conditions, formed a weakened biofilm, exhibited impaired swimming motility and were less effective in infecting tomato seedlings compared to the wild strain. Full article

Global food supply chains face mounting vulnerabilities due to climate change and environmental variability, with particularly severe implications for import-dependent nations like Qatar, where over 90% of food supplies rely on international trade. This high import dependency creates unique challenges, including supply disruptions, price volatility, and food security risks, especially as climate variability increasingly affects major food-exporting regions. This study develops a multi-objective optimization framework to enhance the resilience of Qatar’s food import system by integrating economic, environmental, and crop water requirement considerations, modeled as a stochastic variable. The framework addresses both average performance and worst-case scenarios using stochastic and robust optimization approaches, evaluating trade partners for three key crops—tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers. Results identify optimal suppliers that minimize costs, environmental emissions, and water usage variability, with Turkey contributing 42.10% of total imports, Iran 13.76%, and the Netherlands 9.52%. The findings demonstrate that a diversified import strategy significantly reduces vulnerability to climate-induced disruptions and improves supply chain stability. This research provides actionable insights for policymakers, including; (1) optimal supplier diversification targets to balance risk and efficiency, (2) specific trade partner recommendations based on multiple sustainability criteria, and (3) quantitative frameworks for assessing import portfolio resilience. Full article

This research aimed to assess how irrigation can affect the sustainability and quality of two Italian tomato cultivars: the “Riccio di Parma Casertano,” which is grown without irrigation, and the “Piennolo del Vesuvio DOP,” which requires irrigation. Life cycle assessment and water footprint analysis were used for sustainability assessment, while, for quality assessment, the content of bioactive compounds was analyzed by UV-Vis spectrophotometric assays. The results indicate that ‘Riccio di Parma Casertano’ is a more sustainable cultivar than ‘Piennolo del Vesuvio DOP’, with lower environmental impacts in all 18 impact categories, showing reductions ranging from 54.55% to 99.90%. This higher sustainability performance of “Riccio di Parma Casertano” is also characterized by increases of +32% in total polyphenol content and +43% in total flavonoid content as an adaptive response to water stress compared with “Piennolo del Vesuvio DOP”. However, “Piennolo del Vesuvio DOP” has a higher yield and better overall nutritional and functional quality, with higher concentrations of hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds, such as lycopene and β-carotene, due to irrigation. The results, therefore, show how the choice between the two cultivars might depend on a trade-off between sustainability and quality. In particular, ’Riccio di Parma Casertano’ could excel in contexts with low water availability while maintaining a good nutritional profile due to the synthesis of bioactive compounds; on the other hand, “Piennolo del Vesuvio DOP” could offer higher yield and nutritional qualities, although it needs improved agricultural practices to reduce overall environmental impacts. Full article

The genetic diversity of tomato in Italy and the growing interest in high-quality food products highlight the importance of establishing varietal distinctiveness through molecular strategies to ensure agrifood product quality and traceability. In this study, four Italian potato-like leaf (PL) landraces were analyzed: “Spagnoletta di Formia e di Gaeta” (SPA) from southern Lazio, “Giagiù” (GIA) and “Patanara” (PTN) from Campania, and “Pomodoro di Mola” (MOL) from Apulia. These landraces were genotyped for the potato leaf gene (C), with two PL American genotypes and a non-allelic PL mutant line included as outgroups. Nagcarlang served as control. An allelism test confirmed C as determinant gene. The SCAR marker for C revealed that the Italian landraces presented determinants other than the most representative one responsible for PL. Whole-genome sequencing of SPA identified a private novel nonsense SNP variant allele, confirmed through dCAPS marker analysis. Additionally, two novel PL alleles responsible for missense variations were identified in GIA/PTN and MOL. In silico protein analysis suggested that novel C alleles could be functional determinants for the protein activity. Overall, PL mutations identified for the first time could serve as molecular tools for agrifood chain traceability, enabling early differentiation and recognition of genotypically similar varieties. Full article

This study enhances the discussion on food security by examining trade equity between food consumers and the supply chain from an emergy perspective. The objective is to develop a food security indicator for Brazil as a case study that provides a holistic view of the historical relationship (from 1995 to 2022) between the emergy and money received by consumers and the emergy and money supplied by the food chain. Each item in the Brazilian food basket was evaluated using the Emergy Exchange Ratio (EER) indicator, which measures the advantages and disadvantages that consumers and the food chain experience in their exchanges. The results indicate that processed food items such as oils and butter generally provide greater net emergy benefits to consumers compared to fresh food items like meat, bananas, tomatoes, and potatoes, which often favor the supply chain. Furthermore, the findings highlight that vulnerable populations face significant challenges in achieving food security due to their increased efforts to generate income relative to the emergy they receive for their social welfare. The proposed food security indicator reveals that consumers enjoyed a more balanced trade since the mid-1990s; however, this trend has recently begun to reverse, underscoring the need for policies that ensure fairer exchanges. This work contributes to discussions on food security by considering an emergy-based approach with the modified Emergy per Money Ratio (EMR) as a complement to traditionally used approaches. Full article

Consumers perceive the level of organic food prices as the major obstacle to increasing purchases. The main objective of the presented study is to recognize the differences between the prices of organic and non-organic food (so-called price premiums) in the Polish organic food market. Consequently, in order to determine these differences, prices of organic and non-organic food were noted in 45 retail outlets providing both types of food products. The investigation was performed within the Poznań agglomeration for nine months, from October 2022 to June 2023. The research showed that organic food price premiums ranged between 35% and over 270%. The lowest premiums were observed in tomato passata, cereal and dairy products, and eggs and olive oil. The highest occurred in chocolate, tea, juices, rapeseed oil, and chicken. Compared to previous studies, premiums observed in the conducted research, although high, have decreased for most investigated products. Moreover, the differences in price premiums were noted depending on the outlet type—they were lower in supermarket and hypermarket chains than in small retail shops. It should be highlighted that measures to maintain organic market development should be carried out with particular emphasis on the continued participation of retail chains in the distribution of organic food and the increased participation of large companies in processing organic food. Full article