Alternative Production Research Articles

The alternative splicing landscape of infarcted mouse heart identifies isoform level therapeutic targets

Alternative splicing is an important process that contributes to highly diverse transcripts and protein products, which can affect the development of disease in various organisms. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents one of the greatest global threats to humans, particularly acute myocardial infarction (MI) and subsequent ischemic reperfusion (IR) injury, which involve complex transcriptomic changes in heart tissues associated with metabolic reshaping and immunological response. In this study, we used a newly developed ONT full-length transcriptomic approach and performed transcript-resolved differential expression profiling in murine models of MI and IR. We built an analytical pipeline to reliably identify and quantify alternative splicing products (isoforms), expanding on the currently available catalog of isoforms described in mice. The updated alternative splicing landscape included transcripts, genes, and pathways that were differentially regulated during IR and MI. Our study establishes a pipeline to profile highly diverse isoforms using state-of-the-art long-read sequencing, builds a landscape of alternative splicing in the mouse heart during MI and IR.

Insecticide resistance in Australian populations of the serpentine leaf miner Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

AbstractSerpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza huidobrensis, invaded New South Wales and Queensland late 2020. Overseas, L. huidobrensis has a history of developing insecticide resistance and, since its Australian discovery, has caused significant control issues in Australian horticultural industries. Here, we developed bioassay methods to test the response of L. huidobrensis larvae to spirotetramat and L. huidobrensis adults to dimethoate, imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole. Against two New South Wales and one Queensland collected strains, we found a 33‐fold elevated response against dimethoate and 200‐fold more against imidacloprid than the field‐recommended field rates. Furthermore, we found that a maximum rate of 64‐fold the field‐recommended rate of chlorantraniliprole controlled only 94% of one tested population. Similarly, the maximum rate of spirotetramat tested (64‐fold the field‐recommended rate) only achieved 84%–94% mortality for the same populations. Prior to our study, the efficacy of chlorantraniliprole and spirotetramat against Liriomyza was poorly studied, with only a few reports with chlorantraniliprole against Liriomyza trifolii. Consequently, none of the tested insecticides in this study will likely control Australian invasive L. huidobrensis at the field‐recommended rates. Our results presented here highlight the need to identify and study alternative chemical and biological products and natural enemies for the control of L. huidobrensis in Australian horticulture.

Trends and gender differences 2019-2024 in use of alternative smoking products (excluding e-cigarettes) by teenagers in Ireland

Trends and gender differences 2019-2024 in use of alternative smoking products (excluding e-cigarettes) by teenagers in Ireland

A systematic literature review of life cycle sustainability assessment of mass timber in the construction industry toward circular economy

AbstractLife cycle analysis has been used to evaluate the environmental impacts and economic costs of a range of engineered timber structural materials as well as other materials such as steel and concrete over the last two decades. This study presents a bibliometric analysis and systematic critical review by investigating the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of engineered timber products. LCSA is comprised of three main pillars namely, environment, cost, and social impact. The study compares alternative engineering wood products used in building structures such as columns, beams and wall surfaces. The geographical distribution, main sources of research, co-occurrence of keywords were analyzed for 93 peer-reviewed articles and conferences. The United States was the most productive country, contributing almost 23 documents. Australia was next with 12 publications. Most studies compared the LCA and LCC of alternative Mass timber products and concrete or steel. Most studies evaluated cross laminated timber (62%), followed by glued laminated timber (17%), and laminated veneer lumber (9%). A comparison of the economic and environmental aspects indicated that the social aspect are less considered. The review showed that the global warming potential of manufactring1 M3 of cross laminated timber is about 155.6–158.6 kg CO2eq. The majority of the publications reviewed focused on LCA whilst others focussed on the LCC of Mass timber. No research on social life cycle assessment has been conducted as yet. A framework is suggested for future research to identify the best alternative for engineering wood.

Chinese Herbal Medicines as Natural Alternative Products to Antibiotics in Weaned Piglets through Intestinal Microbiota Regulation.

During the growth process of weaned piglets, digestive problems such as gastrointestinal disorders and diarrhea are common. Farmers usually use antibiotics to help piglets grow smoothly. However, the overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance issues. Therefore, this study chose to use plant extracts as feed additives to explore their potential as alternatives to antibiotics. Additionally, Tilmicosin was used as the antibiotic because it is widely used in treating respiratory infections in piglets. Since traditional Chinese medicine often uses natural products, we selected Guizhi Li-Zhong (GLZ) extract as an alternative to antibiotics. The experiment involved 126 piglets, each 4 weeks old, which were randomly assigned to one of four groups: the sham group (basal diet without supplements, 10.3 ± 0.4 kg, n = 31), the low-dose GLZ group (basal diet with 0.05% GLZ, 10.9 ± 0.4 kg, n = 32), the regular-dose GLZ group (basal diet with 0.2% GLZ, 10.6 ± 0.4 kg, n = 32), and the regular-dose Tilmicosin antibiotic group (basal diet with 0.2% Tilmicosin, 10.2 ± 0.3 kg, n = 31). We recorded and compared the survival rate, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and diarrhea incidence among four groups of weaned piglets from the 4th to the 10th weeks of age. Then, we examined the oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in small intestine tissue (jejunum and ileum) through immunohistochemistry and Western blot and compared the gut microbiota in large intestine tissue (colon and rectum) through a next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis. Our results showed that weaned piglets supplemented with 0.05% and 0.2% GLZ had better survival rates, growth rates (p < 0.01), and feed conversion ratios (p < 0.01) compared to those receiving sham treatment. Even weaned piglets supplemented with 0.2% GLZ performed better than those supplemented with 0.2% Tilmicosin antibiotics (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the incidence of diarrhea and small intestine injury (indicated by oxidative stress-, inflammation-, and apoptosis-related proteins) in piglets supplemented with 0.05% and 0.2% GLZ was lower than in piglets receiving sham treatment (p < 0.05). Even piglets supplemented with 0.2% GLZ had less injury than those supplemented with 0.2% Tilmicosin antibiotics (p < 0.05). The NGS results further showed that GLZ treatment significantly improved beneficial bacteria in weaned piglets (p < 0.05), while antibiotic treatment reduced beneficial bacteria (p < 0.05). In summary, we recommend adding GLZ to the feed as an alternative to antibiotics. This not only effectively reduces intestinal damage but also improves the gut microbiota, thereby promoting the growth of weaning piglets.

Nicotine addiction is the main risk factor for the formation and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A review

The article considers the issue of studying the effect of nicotine dependence on the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as the main factor in the formation of inflammation mediated through the use of tobacco-containing, as well as alternative tobacco products, not only the epithelium of the bronchi, but also the endothelial cells of large and small vessels. Morphological changes in bronchopulmonary structures lead to pronounced tissue hypoxia, which in turn aggravates the course of the underlying disease, leads to the formation of concomitant pathology in the form of cardiovascular diseases, pathology of blood rheology, increased risks of thrombosis. Without considering the risks of early death in this context, we can say with confidence that a decrease in the level of quality of life and human activity will directly depend on the availability of constant and prolonged use of nicotine-containing products.

Alternative fixation mechanisms for complete removable dentures: a literature review and pilot study

Adhesives for removable dentures are specialized alternative products designed to enhance the retention of dentures. They help prevent dentures from shifting, ensuring comfortable and secure wear. Adhesives come in various forms, such as creams, powders, pads, strips, and gels. Creams and gels are applied to the inner surface of the denture, creating a strong bond with the gums, while powders provide a thin layer of fixation. Pads and strips can be conveniently attached to the denture, distributing the fixation evenly. Choosing the right adhesive is important for ensuring comfort and preventing possible allergic reactions. Regular cleaning of dentures and proper use of adhesives contribute to oral health and the longevity of the dentures. This literature review presents contemporary aspects and developments in materials aimed at improving the quality of retention for removable dentures.

Optimized thermal pretreatment for lignocellulosic biomass of pigeon pea stalks to augment quality and quantity of biogas production

By applying heat to the feedstock during the thermal treatment of biomass for the production of biogas, the organic material's biodegradability can be greatly increased. Biogas production is a huge research area for alternate energy production technology. Increased biodegradability, improved methane yield, pathogen, and weed seed destruction, and overall process efficiency are all benefits of this type of pretreatment. It is a useful pretreatment technique for maximizing the production of biogas because it can decrease inhibitory compounds, and increase the digestibility of biomass. This work focused on increasing the efficiency of biogas production from lignocellulosic biomass of pigeon pea stalks by a novel thermal pretreatment. The pigeon pea stalk is initially imposed to physical pretreatment (PT) by an automatic hammer mill which is considered as a base for comparing performance. Thermal pretreatment was carried out for one hour, and two hours durations at different temperatures like 100 °C, 125 °C, 150 °C, 175 °C, and 200 °C. Compared to physically pretreated pigeon pea stalks, 200ᴼC thermal pretreated pigeon pea stalks for two hours have produced 88.41 % higher biogas, 16.14 % increase of cellulose, 19.9 % higher volatile solid removal, and 3.94 % lesser lignin. The enhanced chemical characteristics were ensured by analyzing the chemical composition variations through the FTIR, XRD, and SEM images. So, this is recommended for enhanced biogas production.

Alternative products for breaking dormancy in ‘Reubennel’ plum in subtropical regions

Abstract Plum is a temperate fruit tree and thus shows abundant vegetative bud percentage and flowering following extended periods of low winter temperatures. When adequate periods of low temperatures do not occur, it is necessary to apply products to stimulate bud dormancy break and uniform leaf and flower appearance. This application is more frequently needed when plum trees are grown in the tropics. The objective of this study was to evaluate alternative products for breaking dormancy in ‘Reubennel’ plum in subtropical regions. The experiment was conducted at a site located at 22°22’S, 43°77’W and 1,173 m altitude, with a Cwa climate type. The following treatments were applied to eight-year-old ‘Reubennel’ plum trees in the 2018 and 2019 production cycles: 1) a negative standard composed of only water (control), a positive standard composed of 2) 1.5% hydrogen cyanamide (HC) (Dormex® commercial product) plus 4.5% mineral oil, 3) Erger G® organomineral fertilizer supplemented with 3% calcium nitrate, 4) 5% potassium nitrate and 5) 0.3% copper sulfate. Two liters of the treatment solutions were applied per plant with a sprayer. The effect of the tested products on vegetative bud percentage and flowering capacity, production cycle reduction and production and quality of ‘Reubennel’ plums was evaluated. It was concluded that the chemicals used to break dormancy affected only the phenology of plum trees in this subtropical region and that the application of copper sulfate can be used to break dormancy in these trees.

Effect of micro-oxygenation on color of wines made with toasted vine-shoots.

Toasted vine-shoots (SEGs) are an enological tool to improve wines, to differentiate them, and to encourage sustainable wine production. Micro-oxygenation (MOX) is typically combined with the use of alternative oak products to simulate the oxygen transmission rate of traditional barrel aging, affecting wine color. Its use alongside SEGs has been studied. Tempranillo wines were treated with SEGs at two doses (12 and 24 g L-1) after malolactic fermentation at two fixed micro-oxygenation levels: (a) low, which received 6.24 ± 0.87 mg L-1·month-1 of oxygen; and, (b) high, which received 11.91 ± 0.71 mg L-1·month-1 of oxygen. The wines were bottled and stored for 6 months. At the end of the treatment, MOX affected the anthocyanins and color parameters, but not the enological characteristics. At this time, the anthocyanins content reduction presented a negatively significant correlation with oxygenfor wines treated with 12 g L-1. The factors that most influenced the development of color parameters during the time after bottling were the period for which the wine evolved in the bottle and SEG dose. The visual sensorial descriptors showed an evolution according to aged red wines, but without differences according to the SEG-MOX treatments. The SEG-MOX treatments caused significant changes in wine color. It would be advisable to adjust SEG-MOX techniques to increase their effectiveness. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of alternative production system on the growth performances of two varieties of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum l.)

This paper examines the effect of an alternative production system on the growth performances of two varieties of tomatoes. Alternative farming systems provide a process for crop production using materials of natural origin to enrich soil and protect crops, thereby reducing the use of agrochemicals. Padma 108 F1 and Platinum 701 F1 tomato varieties were cultivated using both conventional and alternative farming methods in a completely randomized design. On the alternative farming method plot, cured cow dung manure was used for soil enrichment, and manual weeding was employed. In addition, insect pests’ control was achieved with a concoction of garlic (6 g/l), ginger (10 g/l), clove (5 g/l), onions (10 g/l), and dried capsicum pepper (4 g/l). Fungicidal treatment was by an infusion of leaves from Siam weed, neem, and bitter leaf (5 g/l each). Plant height, numbers of leaves, flowers, and fruits produced were determined manually for twelve weeks of observation on both plots. The highest height of 107.5 cm was observed in Padma tomato plants, while the least height (103.5 cm) was obtained for Platinum variety, at week 12. However, there was no significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in the heights of the two tomato varieties at full maturity and in between the farming systems. The same trend was observed for number of leaves, flowers, and fruits produced. The alternative farming model in this study produced similar growth performances in the two tomatoes varieties, and exhibits the potential to be a substitute for the conventional farming system of tomato as practiced by the smallholder farmers. Further studies on the bioactive components of the botanical materials used would be encouraged.

Impact and critical factors in Heijunka implementation an action research study

Purpose: Although Heijunka (production levelling or smoothing) is a lean tool designed to balance changing customer needs and production efficiency, this study aims to analyze the impact of Heijunka and identify various factors which can generally affect its successful implementation.Design/methodology/approach: We adopted an action research (AR) approach to analyze the consequences of implementing Heijunka in a factory that successfully operates in a lean environment but faces demand that is increasingly less predictable, and customers who require ever more individualized products at low prices with extremely demanding delivery timescales. An estimation of costs was carried out to compare three alternative production planning scenarios: (1) make to order (MTO) production, (2) weekly levelled production and (3) production with minimal changeovers.Findings: The analysis of the impact of implementing Heijunka in this factory demonstrated that MTO production planning without Heijunka is the most efficient option for the factory. We explore the reasons why Heijunka is not suitable for this factory even though other lean principles and tools have been successfully implemented. In this way we identify the main factors which might influence the successful implementation of Heijunka, such as changeover time, the number of different product types (and lot sizes) and the capacity that the production lines are running at.Originality/value: Based on close collaboration between researchers and practitioners in the field of Operations Management, this AR study provides important information for decision making in lean environments (applying Heijunka or not), as well for the advancement of the academic debate about successful lean implementation nowadays.

One health: the impact of environment, detergents and hygiene on barrier, microbiome and allergy

SummaryA variety of body surfaces, such as skin and mucosal membranes—from the nasopharyngeal area to the lungs, uterus, vaginal area, and digestive tract—contain complex microbial ecosystems that are tailored to the specifics of the respective niche [1].The so-called dysbiosis—a disadvantageous change in the composition of the microbiome—is associated with the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases [2]. Gastrointestinal as well as cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative, psychological, oncological, and also allergic diseases have been linked to microbial dysbiosis. Susceptibility to allergies can be due to genetic predisposition; in addition, extrinsic factors from today’s lifestyle increasingly contribute to microbiome changes, but also to the disruption of the skin and mucosal barrier and thus to the development of allergies [3].Gisela, a fictional farmer, guides us through this review. She is representative of adults and children of all genders in industrialized countries. During her daily routine, the skin and mucosal microbiome is influenced by a variety of exogenous factors. These include everyday personal hygiene products, detergents for laundry and dishes, food, medication, animal contact, and exposure to various outdoor environments. Gisela’s daily routine will illustrate how the human microbiome and the skin barrier are modified in positive or negative ways, and how this could influence the development of allergies. Furthermore, potential measures for the prevention and management of dysbiosis will be discussed in terms of examples of alternative products and behaviors.

Addressing the Difficulties and Opportunities to Bridge the Integration Gaps of Bio-Based Insulation Materials in the European Construction Sector: A Systematic Literature Review

Bio-based insulation materials (BbIMs) represent a potential alternative to conventional insulations, with their characteristics that favor a negative-carbon built environment. However, their use may face challenges that could prevent them from being used on a large scale in certain countries. The current study aims to provide focused insights into the practical difficulties and market opportunities for the application of BbIMs in Europe through a systematic literature review (SLR). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used as the basis for the conduct and reporting of this review. A keyword search was performed in Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases to select peer-reviewed English-language articles. HubMeta web tool was used to organize the selection process. The quantitative visualization of the literature was made by the Bibliometrix R package V4.1.4. Data were manually extracted and clustered in an Excel sheet. The review included 28 studies that have revealed interrelated insights. Difficulties range from regulatory and policy limitations and variability in performance, such as microbial growth and inconsistency in the behavior of materials under different conditions, to cost barriers. However, there are promising opportunities, including policy incentives and material performance benefits such as improved energy efficiency and indoor air quality. This research contributes to the literature by providing focused insights into the practical difficulties and market opportunities for the application of BbIMs in Europe. Research gaps and future perspectives point to the need for more field validation experiments, exploration of alternative production processes, and expanding life cycle assessment scopes to optimize their integration and performance. Stakeholders’ perceptions were made with a small sample in certain countries. Stakeholder perceptions were conducted with a small sample in some countries, so insights from stakeholders are needed to confirm or correct current findings.

Consumers’ willingness to pay for alternative protein food products: taste preference, health, and environmental concerns

ABSTRACT This study investigates consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for traditional animal meat, plant-based meat, and cell-cultured meat products, specifically focusing on beef, chicken, and pork categories. The experiment involves presenting participants with various meat options, along with the presence or absence of carbon footprint or low-salt labels. The findings reveal that consumers exhibit a lower WTP for plant-based and cell-cultured meat compared to traditional animal meat across all three categories (beef, chicken, and pork). Moreover, both carbon footprint and low-salt labels significantly increase consumers’ WTP. The choices made by consumers are influenced by attribute preferences and product-related concerns. Specifically, taste preference significantly impacts consumers’ preference for animal meat over cell-cultured meat in the beef, chicken, and pork categories; however, this effect is not significant for plant-based meat. Consumers who prioritize health concerns tend to choose plant-based beef and chicken over traditional options. Environmental concerns play a crucial role in pork choices, leading to a decrease in the selection of animal pork and an increase in the preference for cell-cultured pork. These findings offer valuable insights for industry stakeholders seeking to advance protein biotechnology and drive innovation in the food market.

Interplay of art and faith in women’s communities: Developing a heightened awareness of research perspectives and evolving methodologies

The Lost and Found: Revising Art Stories in Search of Potential Changes marked the inaugural conference of a collaborative initiative between the University of Wroclaw, Universidade Nova de Lisboa and the Polish Institute for World Art Studies in Warsaw. This unique meeting brought together university researchers and artists, creating a stimulating atmosphere. The collaborative artistic endeavours undertaken aimed to build community and explore alternative knowledge production rooted in affectivity and openness to surprise, rather than an immediate quest for success. The focus was on a shared experience of being together and learning about each other’s roles beyond the conventional boundaries of scholars and artists. At the heart of the conference was the project Residua of Pre-Modern Relations with Art in Selected Contemporary Convents in Lesser Poland and Lower Silesia, supported by the National Science Centre in Warsaw. Although the residues and anachronisms discussed during the meeting did not explicitly refer to religious orders, they provided insights into the significance of faith and the evolving nature of the sacred in contemporary art. The project’s premise challenged the distinction between the religious and the spiritual, emphasizing the roles of community, respect, and care. It was hypothesized that female religious orders maintain these values in relation to the place of art in everyday life. Consequently, if an art historian wishes to study the relationship between women’s art and the sacred in everyday life, they should learn from nuns and female artists, not merely study them.

Engineering of Aspergillus niger for efficient production of d-xylitol from l-arabinose

d-Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol present in diverse plants that is used as an alternative sweetener based on a sweetness similar to sucrose and several health benefits compared to conventional sugar. However, current industrial methods for d-xylitol production are based on chemical hydrogenation of d-xylose, which is energy-intensive and environmentally harmful. However, efficient conversion of l-arabinose as an additional highly abundant pentose in lignocellulosic materials holds great potential to broaden the range of applicable feedstocks. Both pentoses d-xylose and l-arabinose are converted to d-xylitol as a common metabolic intermediate in the native fungal pentose catabolism.To engineer a strain capable of accumulating d-xylitol from arabinan-rich agricultural residues, pentose catabolism was stopped in the ascomycete filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger at the stage of d-xylitol by knocking out three genes encoding enzymes involved in d-xylitol degradation (ΔxdhA, ΔsdhA, ΔxkiA). Additionally, to facilitate its secretion into the medium, an aquaglyceroporin from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was tested. In S. cerevisiae, Fps1 is known to passively transport glycerol and is regulated to convey osmotic stress tolerance but also exhibits the ability to transport other polyols such as d-xylitol. Thus, a constitutively open version of this transporter was introduced into A. niger, controlled by multiple promoters with varying expression strengths. The strain expressing the transporter under control of the PtvdA promoter in the background of the pentose catabolism-deficient triple knock-out yielded the most favorable outcome, producing up to 45% d-xylitol from l-arabinose in culture supernatants, while displaying minimal side effects during osmotic stress. Due to its additional ability to extract d-xylose and l-arabinose from lignocellulosic material via the production of highly active pectinases and hemicellulases, A. niger emerges as an ideal candidate cell factory for d-xylitol production from lignocellulosic biomasses rich in both pentoses.In summary, we are showing for the first time an efficient biosynthesis of d-xylitol from l-arabinose utilizing a filamentous ascomycete fungus. This broadens the potential resources to include also arabinan-rich agricultural waste streams like sugar beet pulp and could thus help to make alternative sweetener production more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Recombinant production of Paenibacillus wynnii β-galactosidase with Komagataella phaffii

BackgroundThe β-galactosidase from Paenibacillus wynnii (β-gal-Pw) is a promising candidate for lactose hydrolysis in milk and dairy products, as it has a higher affinity for the substrate lactose (low KM value) compared to industrially used β-galactosidases and is not inhibited by the hydrolysis-generated product D-galactose. However, β-gal-Pw must firstly be produced cost-effectively for any potential industrial application. Accordingly, the yeast Komagataella phaffii was chosen to investigate its feasibility to recombinantly produce β-gal-Pw since it is approved for the regulated production of food enzymes. The aim of this study was to find the most suitable way to produce the β-gal-Pw in K. phaffii either extracellularly or intracellularly.ResultsFirstly, 11 different signal peptides were tested for extracellular production of β-gal-Pw by K. phaffii under the control of the constitutive GAP promoter. None of the signal peptides resulted in a secretion of β-gal-Pw, indicating problems within the secretory pathway of this enzyme. Therefore, intracellular β-gal-Pw production was investigated using the GAP or methanol-inducible AOX1 promoter. A four-fold higher volumetric β-galactosidase activity of 7537 ± 66 µkatoNPGal/Lculture was achieved by the K. phaffii clone 27 using the AOX1 promoter in fed-batch bioreactor cultivations, compared to the clone 5 using the GAP promoter. However, a two-fold higher specific productivity of 3.14 ± 0.05 µkatoNPGal/gDCW/h was achieved when using the GAP promoter for β-gal-Pw production compared to the AOX1 promoter. After partial purification, a β-gal-Pw enzyme preparation with a total β-galactosidase activity of 3082 ± 98 µkatoNPGal was obtained from 1 L of recombinant K. phaffii culture (using AOX1 promoter).ConclusionThis study showed that the β-gal-Pw was produced intracellularly by K. phaffii, but the secretion was not achieved with the signal peptides chosen. Nevertheless, a straightforward approach to improve the intracellular β-gal-Pw production with K. phaffii by using either the GAP or AOX1 promoter in bioreactor cultivations was demonstrated, offering insights into alternative production methods for this enzyme.

Formation of the alternative food sector: advanced foreign experience and opportunities for energy-efficient food production

The article considers innovative directions of food production, which are actively researched in foreign science and mastered in practice in order to achieve food, energy, climate and environmental goals. The spheres of appli cation and the main producers of alternative food products are determined, the sources of energy efficiency improvement of agro-food systems arising from the replacement of traditional industries by alternative ones are identified. The key factors determining the formation and development of the alternative food sector have been identified, and the common features and distinctive features of the directions that have become widespread have been established. The prospects of alternative food products application in the Republic of Belarus are highlighted.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPANDING RESEARCH ON THE SERPENTINIZATION OF OPHIOLITE ROCKS BY NATURAL “WHITE” HYDROGEN FOR KAZAKHSTAN

In Kazakhstan, options and regions for hydrogen production are being considered, including in Western Kazakhstan, the Mangystau region, using the water of the Caspian Lake. The current advanced hydrogen production technologies, including green hydrogen, are very expensive, requiring billions of dollars of investment and potentially creating difficulties for the local population and nature, ecology, flora and fauna. At the same time, geological studies of alternative hydrogen production options in Kazakhstan are poorly developed. Kazakhstan needs and is currently very important to study serpentinization of ophiolite rocks using natural «white» hydrogen. In many countries, there is practically a «gold rush» now, hydrogeologists are conducting research on the search for natural «white» hydrogen. Hydrogeologists have now discovered numerous sources of natural hydrogen in geological environments from Mali to Switzerland, France, Germany, the USA, Canada, and Australia. More than 50 companies have sprung up to discover and mine it. A natural hydrogen well operates in Mali to provide energy to a local city with a population of about 4,000 people for free and forever. Unlike other geological fuels, which are formed over millions of years, natural hydrogen is generated by mixing water and iron particles, serpentinization of ophiolite rocks, and is renewable on the scale of human time, and not in geological epochs. Alternative options for the production and use of hydrogen are presented in this review, including various types of hydrogen, black, gray, green, blue, turquoise, pink and yellow, depending on the method of its extraction and production. Kazakhstan, with the richest natural ore reserves, including coal and polymetals, where ophiolite rocks may be located, may well have deposits of natural «white» hydrogen, such geological studies in Kazakhstan are poorly developed.