Agricultural Industry Sectors Research Articles

Sago pith waste: morphology, chemical composition and thermal properties

Comprehensive knowledge of the chemical components in the sago pith waste will facilitate the use of the materials in agricultural industrial sector and help to enhance their utilization in the chemical and biochemical related industry. This paper studied the chemical composition especially extractives, hemicellulose, α-cellulose, lignin and ash content as well as morphological and thermal properties of sago pith waste. The chemical compositions of sago pith waste were determined in accordance with the standard outlined in TAPPI test methods. The results revealed that the mean cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin values were 14.32, 17.45 and 4.83% respectively. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of functional groups that represented cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Morphological observation showed that the average size of sago pith waste was 300-600 µm with sago starch granules were seen entrapped in parenchyma cells. Based on the results, sago pith waste can be used as a non-wood renewable source for other applications.

Microbial Pigments Production through Agro Industrial Waste as a Substrate using Fermentation Techniques

Waste from agro-industries is widely utilized for the making of microbial pigments using fermentation technique. Production of microbial pigments through the fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrate through the action of enzymes. Production of food grade pigments needs high capital investments. Thus, utilization of agro-industrial waste plays an imperative role in the low cost production of microbial pigments. Agricultural industrial sector generates waste at large scale in the form of seeds, bagasse, whey and molasses etc. Agro-industrial wastes are not only biodegradable but also full of nutrients. Microbial pigment production through agro-industrial waste is an inexpensive and environmental friendly process that has positive impact on the environment. This review paper is aimed to focus on the microbial pigments production through agro-industrial waste as a substrate using fermentation technique. Agro-industrial waste utilization will reduce the environmental pollution as well as can help to produce variety of biological products such as biogases and biopigments etc.

The non-GM crop regime in the EU: How do Industries deal with this wicked problem?

In the European Union (EU), genetically modified (GM) crops are regarded as a socially-sensitive technology. At present, GM crops are rarely cultivated in the EU and non-genetically modified ingredients dominate the EU market. However, most consumers are unaware of the fact that many genetically modified ingredients (GMI) are present in EU supermarkets in spite of this virtual ban on GM. For example, eggs, meat or milk derived from GM-fed animals are marketed without a GM label. Moreover, the EU political landscape has failed to create a stable and predictable environment in which to either implement or reject GM crops and their applications. As such, the present non-GM crop regime in the EU presents a tricky and challenging environment for agribusiness companies to determine their GM business policy.Few academic studies have analysed this industry perspective on the current EU non-GM crop regime. In this paper, we therefore analyse which discourses influence the GM business policy of agribusiness companies that are active on the EU market and how these discourses influence the decision-making process of several agricultural industry sectors on whether to include or exclude GMIs in products for the EU market.The paper outlines three discourses that shape the discursive space of GM crop applications in the EU from an industry perspective, (i) GMIs as an agricultural payoff; (ii) GMIs as a marketing threat; and (iii) non-GM crops as a preset end goal. The paper also discusses how these discourses influence the GM business decision-making process for several agricultural industry sectors, these being the agricultural biotech industry, the compound feed industry, the food manufacturing and marketing industries, the potato industry and the organic farming sector. Accordingly, our research classifies the present non-GM crop regime in the EU as a “wicked problem”, due to the high level of conflict, discord and complexity involved.Wicked problems cannot be solved, but only managed. Therefore, this paper proposes a different type of solution to break the impasse, either in favour of or against GM crop applications, by demanding multi-level stakeholder engagement instead of the current supply-chain-focused mode-of-action in industry. Nevertheless, it is necessary to adapt our knowledge about governing the particular dynamics of wicked problems, and this presents a highly complex - albeit interesting - challenge for future research.

Experience with an integrated management system in a sugar and ethanol manufacturing unit

PurposeOver recent the past decades, integrated management systems (IMS) have emerged as one of the major tasks for practising managers and the academic community. In this context, this paper aims at identifying relevant practices related to an IMS in an organisation that belongs to the sugar cane and ethanol agricultural industrial sector in Brazil.Design/methodology/approachA review of mainstream literature on IMS is conducted followed by case‐based research used as the methodological approach. Data were gathered through a questionnaire as well as face‐to‐face semi‐structured interviews. The analysis was done a posteriori to construct the case description and perform the analysis.FindingsIssues that motivated the IMS implementation were identified. The paper also highlights the difficulties experienced and benefits accrued during implementation. The existence of a previous quality management system facilitated the implementation of the IMS. Nevertheless, a longitudinal study is desirable to assess further results in the long term.Research limitations/implicationsThis work is limited to a single unit of analysis. Therefore, empirical replications in other samples are needed to validate current findings.Originality/valueThis is one of the first known studies to investigate the implementation of an IMS in a manufacturing unit that produces sugar and ethanol.

A Multiple Case Study of Sustainability Issues in Companies from Sugar and Ethanol Industrial Sector

The sugar cane and ethanol agricultural industrial sector has emerged as one of the most prominent industrial sectors in developing countries like Brazil. Sustainability issues are now more and more important and companies from this sector have been structured their operations to achievepositive results. One of the ways of doing that is by implementing an integrated quality and environmental management system. In this context, this paper aims at identifying the relevant practices related to integrated management systems in four organizations that belong to the sugar cane and ethanol industrial sector. Data were gathered through a questionnaire and semi-structuredinterviews. The paper highlights relevant issues in policy of the four units. An individual case description is made in addition to a cross-case comparison. As a result, an analysis of management systems in those units enables to raise important issues on how the studied companies take careof their environment economically and with their use for continuous improvement. Finally, the evidence shows a general concern for the environment although this is demonstrated by a culture of reducing residuals and the control of waste of natural resources.

Exposure to inhalable dust and endotoxins in agricultural industries

Endotoxin is a well-known bacterial toxin that causes several health effects. Animal faeces and plant materials contaminated with bacteria have been identified as important determinants of organic dust related endotoxin exposure. Although high exposure to organic dust and endotoxins has been described regularly in agricultural industries, a detailed overview of levels of airborne exposure to endotoxins in the agricultural industry, as well as a systematic comparison between several specific branches using the same exposure assessment protocols are lacking. In this study, personal endotoxin exposure in a broad spectrum of agricultural industries was investigated and possible determinants of exposure were explored. 601 personal inhalable dust samples were taken in 46 companies of three agricultural industrial sectors: grains, seeds and legumes sector (GSL), horticulture sector (HC) and animal production sector (AP), with 350 participating employees. Dust and endotoxin levels were determined gravimetrically and by using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay, respectively. Basic descriptive analysis and elaborate analysis of variance were performed. Mean exposure levels were high, with large differences between sectors and between companies within the sectors. Highest dust and endotoxin exposures were found in companies of the GSL sector. In all three sectors exposure was higher in the primary production part compared to the (industrial) products processing part of the sector. The Dutch proposed health based occupational exposure limit (50 EU m(-3)) and temporary legal limit (200 EU m(-3)) for endotoxin were often exceeded. Differences in exposure between workers were larger than the day-to-day variability. Identified determinants increasing exposure levels were company, dustiness of the product and contact with animals/faeces. 'Wet' processes resulted in less dusty working environments and thus lowered endotoxin exposure. Overall, exposure to endotoxins over the whole range of agricultural industries is high. A 10-1,000 fold reduction in exposure is needed to reduce endotoxin related health risks.