Assuring Food Security Research Articles

Evaluation of watertightness and slope stability analysis of Upper Guder dam, West Showa, Central Ethiopia

Ethiopia is currently emphasizing the construction of micro dams to enhance agricultural productivity and assure food security. The Upper Guder Dam, situated in the West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia, is one such project. However, the dam faces challenges due to complex geological and structural conditions, including leakage and slope instability. Hence, this study focuses on addressing the abutment slope stability and watertightness condition of this dam. Accordingly, the study employed discontinuity surveying, Seismic Refraction Tomography (SRT), Rock Quality Designation (RQD), and Lugeon testing to assess the water tightness. Additionally, kinematic analysis and the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) were used to evaluate abutment slope stability. Results from surface geological mapping and core drilling showed that the dam site is constituted by quaternary soil, tuff, and basalt. The Lugeon test results indicate that the left abutment of the dam is susceptible to leakage down to a depth of 40 m, which suggests that the permeable zone extends deeper than the results revealed by the SRT. Furthermore, this test demonstrated that the dam's right and central foundations are susceptible to leakage to the drilled depths. The SRT revealed that the central foundation, right, and left abutments of the dam are susceptible to leakage to the depth of 35 m, 30 m, and 34 m, respectively. Moreover, the kinematic analysis revealed that a section of the left abutment of the dam is susceptible to wedge mode of failure due to the intersection of JS1 and JS2. The LEM modeling of the right abutment of the dam also depicted that this section of the dam is unstable under saturated conditions which illustrates the importance of precipitation as the major slope destabilizing factor in the study area. Based on the study findings, this study recommended the use of curtain grouting to address the water tightness issue and slope angle reduction to mitigate the slope instability problem.

Valorisation of Agri-Food Waste for Bioactive Compounds: Recent Trends and Future Sustainable Challenges.

Worldwide, a massive amount of agriculture and food waste is a major threat to the environment, the economy and public health. However, these wastes are important sources of phytochemicals (bioactive), such as polyphenols, carotenoids, carnitine, coenzymes, essential oils and tocopherols, which have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic properties. Hence, it represents a promising opportunity for the food, agriculture, cosmetics, textiles, energy and pharmaceutical industries to develop cost effective strategies. The value of agri-food wastes has been extracted from various valuable bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, dietary fibre, proteins, lipids, vitamins, carotenoids, organic acids, essential oils and minerals, some of which are found in greater quantities in the discarded parts than in the parts accepted by the market used for different industrial sectors. The value of agri-food wastes and by-products could assure food security, maintain sustainability, efficiently reduce environmental pollution and provide an opportunity to earn additional income for industries. Furthermore, sustainable extraction methodologies like ultrasound-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pulse electric field-assisted extraction, ultrasound microwave-assisted extraction and high hydrostatic pressure extraction are extensively used for the isolation, purification and recovery of various bioactive compounds from agri-food waste, according to a circular economy and sustainable approach. This review also includes some of the critical and sustainable challenges in the valorisation of agri-food wastes and explores innovative eco-friendly methods for extracting bioactive compounds from agri-food wastes, particularly for food applications. The highlights of this review are providing information on the valorisation techniques used for the extraction and recovery of different bioactive compounds from agricultural food wastes, innovative and promising approaches. Additionally, the potential use of these products presents an affordable alternative towards a circular economy and, consequently, sustainability. In this context, the encapsulation process considers the integral and sustainable use of agricultural food waste for bioactive compounds that enhance the properties and quality of functional food.

The Role of Transport, ICT and Power Infrastructure in the Ethiopian Economy

Infrastructure development plays an important role in reducing poverty, assuring food security and sustainable development of a country. One of the key challenges hindering the economic growth of developing countries is the lack of proper transport, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and energy sector infrastructures. This research aims to examine the importance of transport, ICT and power sector in Ethiopia’s economic growth and identify the main challenges these sectors have been facing based on data obtained from different secondary sources such as websites of the World Bank and Trading Economics, official reports, and published works. Descriptive statistical analysis was implemented to describe the secondary data obtained, while graphs, tables, and charts were used to visualise the results. Despite the difficulties in establishing and sustaining necessary infrastructure, research indicates that the growth of Ethiopia’s economy is largely attributed to infrastructure development. Furthermore, year after year, progress has been made in each sector of development, though there are still obstacles to overcome. Poor quality of road, transport and ICT infrastructure have been key factors of poor development in the country. There is an imbalance between the power needed and the available power. Given Ethiopia’s abundance of resources, the country must continue to prioritise infrastructure development.

Aflatoxins in food: Prevalence, health effects, and emerging trends in its mitigation—An updated review

AbstractMycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by a variety of fungal and mold species. One of the mycotoxin families that is often regarded as the most concerned one in human and animal feeds, is aflatoxin. Aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus species are very toxic and cause significant contamination of food supplies, resulting in serious health repercussions including carcinogenicity. To date, several regulations on aflatoxin permissible level limits have been established in a number of nations. Based on government guidelines and restrictions, consumers and food producers anticipate that aflatoxin contamination in food should not negatively impact human and animal health. Aflatoxin contamination of food commodities poses a consequential risk to humans and is also associated with substantial financial losses. Conventional mycotoxin reduction strategies involve both preventative and decontamination approaches. The present review gives an update on recent research on conventional approaches, including pre‐ and post‐harvest procedures that could potentially be used to decontaminate aflatoxin. Additionally, the current study delves into the source of contamination, global occurrence, impact on human health, and management strategies to assure food security and safety.

Evaluation of Ecosystem Water Use Efficiency Based on Coupled and Uncoupled Remote Sensing Products for Maize and Soybean

Accurate quantification of ecosystem water use efficiency (eWUE) over agroecosystems is crucial for managing water resources and assuring food security. Currently, the uncoupled Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) product is the most widely applied dataset for simulating local, regional, and global eWUE across different plant functional types. However, it has been rarely investigated as to whether the coupled product can outperform the uncoupled product in eWUE estimations for specific C4 and C3 crop species. Here, the eWUE as well as gross primary production (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) from the uncoupled MODIS product and the coupled Penman–Monteith–Leuning version 2 (PMLv2) product were evaluated against the in-situ observations on eight-day and annual scales (containing 1902 eight-day and 61 annual samples) for C4 maize and C3 soybean at the five cropland sites from the FLUXNET2015 and AmeriFlux datasets. Our results show the following: (1) For GPP estimates, the PMLv2 product showed paramount improvements for C4 maize and slight improvements for C3 soybean, relative to the MODIS product. (2) For ET estimates, both products performed similarly for both crop species. (3) For eWUE estimates, the coupled PMLv2 product achieved higher-accuracy eWUE estimates than the uncoupled MODIS product at both eight-day and annual scales. Taking the result at an eight-day scale for example, compared to the MODIS product, the PMLv2 product could reduce the root mean square error (RMSE) from 2.14 g C Kg−1 H2O to 1.36 g C Kg−1 H2O and increase the coefficient of determination (R2) from 0.06 to 0.52 for C4 maize, as well as reduce the RMSE from 1.33 g C Kg−1 H2O to 0.89 g C Kg−1 H2O and increase the R2 from 0.05 to 0.49 for C3 soybean. (4) Despite the outperformance of the PMLv2 product in eWUE estimations, both two products failed to differentiate C4 and C3 crop species in their model calibration and validation processes, leading to a certain degree of uncertainties in eWUE estimates. Our study not only provides an important reference for applying remote sensing products to derive reliable eWUE estimates over cropland but also indicates the future modification of the current remote sensing models for C4 and C3 crop species.

Millets-A Powerhouse for Food Security and Combating Malnutrition

Malnutrition remains a global challenge, affecting millions of people and posing a significant threat to food security. It has become the emerging challenge in the contest of raising uncertainty of food supplies. Malnutrition factors like hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiency has become life threatening for children and women, as they become susceptible to common infections and life-threatening diseases. Millets are the ancient heritage grains valued for their nutritional properties as well as due to their high resistance to abiotic stress and low input requirement. These coarse grains are a rich source of carbohydrates, dietary fibres, fats, proteins, vitamins, essential minerals and trace elements, essential amino acids, and anti-oxidants, and hence can be regarded as miracle grains. Despite the ease of cultivation and various nutritional and therapeutic properties, very less importance is given for its promotion. These neglected crops can assure food security and sustainable production. In this review, a brief account on the role of millets to combat malnutrition and achieve nutritional security has been furnished.

Ancient and modern wheat varieties: A trade‐off between soil CO2 emissions and grain yield?

AbstractIntroductionHumanity is facing two great challenges: producing enough food for a growing population and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we investigated the choice of specific wheat varieties to improve carbon storage in soil while producing enough grain to assure food security. We hypothesize that ancient wheat varieties could store more carbon than modern ones, due to a likely bigger and deeper root system or to more recalcitrant root organic matter.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a field experiment with four modern and four ancient wheat varieties, on four different sites with contrasted soil properties. Root morphology was assessed by image analysis and potential CO2 emissions by incubation for 60 days. Since in situ carbon storage differences between ancient and modern varieties were expected to be weak and not cumulated due to rotation, we estimated expected CO2 emissions from root biomass and potential CO2 emissions. The grain yield was also measured.ResultsThe breeding type (ancient vs. modern varieties) affected root length in two of our four sites, with longer roots for ancient varieties, but it did not affect other root traits such as biomass. The breeding type also affected CO2 emissions, with higher measured CO2 emissions for modern than ancient varieties in Arenic Cambisol conditions (Morvan), and higher estimated (considering root biomass variations) CO2 emissions for modern varieties in Rendzic Leptosol conditions (Saint Romain). Root traits and estimated CO2 emissions were also dependent on the soil properties of the different sites. We did not find any significant differences in grain yield between ancient and modern varieties.ConclusionA possible trade‐off between carbon storage and grain production was expected, but our results suggest that some types of soil can support both high grain yield and C storage, especially those with an important depth, a neutral pH and a fine texture.

The complex interplay between plant-microbe and virus interactions in sustainable agriculture: Harnessing phytomicrobiomes for enhanced soil health, designer plants, resource use efficiency, and food security

The present-day climate change scenario represents a substantial peril to the global population concerning food security, given the potential impacts on agricultural productivity, food availability, and accessibility. The excessive use of agrochemicals, as fertilizers and pesticides, leads to the deterioration of soil health as well. Sustainable land-use practices without perturbing the soil ecosystem are achievable only with a comprehensive mechanism. The current need for sustainable agriculture is fulfilled by harnessing the noble services of plant-microbial association. Microhabitats around plant roots represent the region of maximum microbial activity. Microbiomes play a functional role in affecting plant growth, soil fertility and biogeochemical cycles. Plant-microbe interactions are highly specific to the host controlled by root exudates, metabolites, environmental factors and symbiotic associations e.g. legume-rhizobia and plant-fungi association. Proper strategies for the use of microbial inoculants will certainly facilitate the various crop improvement programs. The present review, therefore, exemplifies the various studies on the potential of plant microbiomes for sustainable agricultural ecosystems coupled with assuring food security. The review also summarizes recent trends in plant microbiome diversity, the relationship between host plant and microbe, transgenic plants, designer plants and their role in mitigating soil stress. Nevertheless, the future of the global population and food production rely on the prospects of plant microbiome ingenuity.

Agricultural value chains in a fragile state: The case of rice in Myanmar

The large majority of extreme poor in the world lives in fragile states. Yet, despite the enormous importance of these areas for global poverty and food insecurity, there is relatively little research examining how agricultural value chains, crucial for assuring food security, respond and adapt to such contexts. This paper analyzes Myanmar’s rice value chain – its most important staple and biggest value chain – during the economic collapse and political instability caused by a military coup in early 2021. It relies on unique data collected with a large sample of rice retailers and millers before and after the coup. Despite many challenges in the rice value chain after the coup – most importantly linked to banking and transport – rice processing and trade continued, assuring availability of rice in most retail markets and illustrating the resilience of the value chain to such major shock. While processing margins were mostly stable, an increased distribution margin (between rice millers and retailers) led to 11 percent higher average retail prices after the coup, implying welfare losses of almost USD 0.5 billion for the country. Using a market-pair regression method, we further find that localized violence near sellers and buyers, distances traveled, and distance of vendors from borders are associated with significantly increased rice price dispersion between rice retailers and mills. Despite the amalgam of problems to address in such settings, prioritizing the easing of transport restrictions and facilitating cheap and safe spatial arbitrage of food products would likely help prevent further food price inflation, assure higher farm prices, and therefore improve welfare.

WAYS TO IMPROVE THE AGRICULTURAL DIGITIZATION PROCESS

In today's world of global and regional military-political and economic events, the presentation of proposals for designing and implementing effective measures to assure food security and tackle the oncoming food crisis is becoming increasingly important for each nation. During the research, analytic, logical, comparative, and statistical methodologies were employed. According to studies, information and communication technologies have a key role in the growth of agricultural production in European and Central Asian countries, influencing society and the state in general on the social, economic, and political levels. The adoption of such technologies enables the improvement of the quality of goods and services, as well as the expansion of agricultural and food export. According to studies information and communication technologies play an important role in the development of agricultural production in European and Central Asian countries, influencing the social, economic and political field of society and the state in general. The adoption of such technologies enables the improvement of the quality of goods and services, to expand the export of agricultural and food products. Currently, developed and developing countries are migrating to their digital agriculture system, which is tailored to each country's needs and operates in the interests of national policy.

Enhancing Access and Adoption of Improved Seed for Food Security of Ethiopia (A Review)

Increasing agricultural productivity is central to accelerate economic growth and improving the wellbeing of both rural and urban people in Ethiopia. Agriculture, particularly crop production, has a greater effect on both the rural and the urban poor who spend more than a half of their incomes on food. Therefore, generation and transfer of improved technologies are critical prerequisites for agricultural development particularly for an agrarian based economy such as of Ethiopian. Seed, especially that of improved varieties, are among the most important productive inputs which can take the lion`s share from other agricultural inputs in affecting productivity, livelihood and assuring food security in Ethiopia. The direct contribution of quality seed alone to the total production is estimated at 15 –20% depending upon the crop and it can be further raised up to 45% with efficient management of the other inputs. Despite the importance of improved seed in increasing crop productivity, their availability on the required amount, quality and time is still limited in Ethiopia. The unavailability of quality seed at the right place and time coupled with the poor promotion system is one key factor accounting for the limited use of improved seed, which further contributing to low crop productivity. Therefore, in order to access quality seed at the required time and amount to the farmers and increase the adoption of improved seed, there is a need to have a robust seed system which can strictly control seed outlets and a strong seed-related extension program. The present paper reviews about enhancing access and adoption of improved seeds for better food security in Ethiopia. Keywords: Adoption, food security, improved seed, seed access DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-3-02 Publication date: March 31 st 2023

Climate Resilient Varietal Development of Diverse Crops through Mutation Breeding in Bangladesh

The capability to quickly generate a considerable range of genetic variation in plants through mutation enables the mutagenesis approach extremely successful in developing climate-resistant cultivars across the entire world. In Bangladesh, plant breeders are confronted with a significant challenge in producing resilient and high-yielding cultivars rapidly capable of adapting to the changing environment in this densely populated region. Based on Mutant varieties data of Bangladesh which are available in the domain of FAO/IAEA Mutant Varieties Database (MVD), this review attempted to highlight the relevance of mutation breeding in crop variety development to adapt to changes occurring in diverse ecosystems of Bangladesh during this era of ongoing climate change. So far, seventy-eight mutant varieties of important crops have been released in Bangladesh, including rice, wheat, mustard, sesame, jute, rapeseed, tomato, black gram, chickpea, grass pea, lentil, mung bean, groundnut, and onion. Significant improvements in agronomic and botanical qualities have been made to maximize crop production. Salinity-tolerant varieties for southern coastal regions, drought-tolerant varieties for drought-prone locations, early mature varieties for flash flood escape in haor regions, submerged tolerant varieties for flooding regions and various major disease and insect resistant varieties have been generated through mutation breeding. These mutant varieties with climate-resilient traits are sustainable under different climatic circumstances, playing a key role in assuring food security in Bangladesh. Therefore, it is anticipated that mutant breeding will contribute significantly to meeting the challenges that food production will confront in the near future due to a changing climate.

Fruit based agroforestry systems - potential means for sustaining carbon sequestration, improving soil health and diet of community in red and lateritic zone of West Bengal, India

Fruit-based agroforestry systems (AFS) can assure food security towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and improvement in carbon sequestration, soil qualities of low-fertile degraded land. Those were revealed through observations on farmers’ practices, literature reviews and results from different agroforestry arrangements of mango with gamhar and eucalyptus; and sweet orange with gamhar for two years (2017-18 to 2018-19) of alley cropping with pigeon pea, green gram, cowpea and toria in ongoing AF experiments at Regional Research Station (Red & Lateritic Zone), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jhargram, West Bengal, India. Total carbon stock as well as potential food energy production were higher in AFS than either in sole silvi tree, fruit tree or plots under alley crops, because of better performances of all tree and crop components in AFS. Mango with eucalyptus-based AFS gave higher carbon stock (62.33 t ha-1 yr-1) including improvement in degraded acidic soil pH (6.20%), SOC (11.86%), available N (9.09%), available P (13.97%), available K (11.64%) contents in soil. In that way, fruit-based agroforestry systems can be used as a viable alternative land use to improve soil health, diet and livelihood security even of resource-poor farm families throughout the year, especially during their impoverished needy times in a year.

Food security in a food self-sufficient economy: A review of China's ongoing transition to a zero hunger state

In a contemporary globalised world, assuring food security in the conditions of developing a food self-sufficient economic structure represents not only a challenge in terms of the changing agricultural paradigm, but also an important instrument in assuring, in a long-term manner, societal resilience. However, while achieving self-sufficiency in food, China still faces challenges in terms of establishing sustainable food security and transitioning to a zero hunger state. Rapid economic growth and urbanisation have resulted in shifting food consumption patterns from crops towards more nutritious meat and dairy products and higher-qualitative imported foods. In this study, the current state of food security and production and trade in food and agricultural products in China during 2000–2020 have been analysed and an overview of the strategic directions of the domestic sustainable development, food security, and zero hunger policies are highlighted. The main aim of the study is dedicated to identifying the critical shortcomings and gaps in combating hunger and food insecurity in China and proposing policy recommendations regarding improving the stability of the food supply in the country and deigning new possible strategies to achieve it. The results highlight the major trends and shifts of the food security paradigm in the process of developing a food self-sufficient economy.

Rice area mapping in Palakkad district of Kerala using Sentinel-2 data and Geographic information system technique

Proper calculation of rice cultivation area well before harvest is critical for projecting rice yields and developing policies to assure food security. This research looks at how Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) can be used to map rice fields in Palakkad district of Kerala. The area was delineated using three multi-temporal cloud free Sentinel-2 data with 10 m spatial resolution, matching to crop's reproductive stage during mundakan season (September-October to December-January), 2020-21. To make classification easier, the administrative boundary of district was placed over the mosaicked image. The rice acreage estimation and land use classification of the major rice tract of Palakkad district comprising five blocks was done using Iterative Self-Organisation Data Analysis Technique (ISODATA) unsupervised classification provision in ArcGIS 10.1 software, employing False Colour Composite (FCC) including Blue (B2), Green (B3), Red (B4) and Near-infrared (B8) Bands of Sentinel-2 images. The classification accuracy was determined by locating a total of 60 validation points throughout the district, comprising 30 rice and 30 non-rice points. The total estimated area was 24742.76 ha, with an average accuracy of 88.33% and kappa coefficient 0.766 in five blocks of Palakkad district. The information generated will be helpful in assessing the anticipated production as well as the water demand of the rice fields.

Optimal Nitrogen Rate Increases Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiencies of Maize under Fully Mulched Ridge–Furrow System on the Loess Plateau

Increasing water and nitrogen use efficiencies (i.e., WUE and NUE) in dryland agroecosystems to maintain high agricultural output with lower environmental costs, such as minimal soil water depletion and nitrate-N residue, are key responsibilities to assure food security for a growing global population. The impact of N rate on soil water balance, soil nitrate N residue, grain yield, WUE, crop N recovery efficiency (REN), agronomic use efficiency of N fertilizer (AE), and net economic return were examined on maize production on the rainfed Loess Plateau during 2011–2018. Field treatments included four N application rates (N0, no N fertilizer applied; N100, 100 kg N ha−1; N200, 200 kg N ha−1; N300, 300 kg N ha−1). Results showed that compared with N0, grain yield increased by 56, 110, and 115% under N100, N200, and N300, respectively, with corresponding improvements in net economic return of 5497, 10,878, and 11,088 RMB ha−1 yr−1, respectively; no significant difference was detected between N200 and N300. Compared to N0, N fertilization significantly increased WUE through improving photosynthetic WUE (i.e., transpiration efficiency), but there was no significant difference between N200 and N300. Compared to N100, the REN was gradually decreased as N rates increased, AE was not significantly changed under N200 and significantly decreased under N300 due to a decreased leaf photosynthetic NUE. Compared to original soil water storage at 0–300 cm soil depths, after seven years of continuous experiments, treatment of N0 enhanced soil water storage by 52 mm and treatment of N100 had no effect on soil water storage, but treatments of N200 and N300 depleted soil water storage by 73 and 109 mm, respectively. Our findings showed that 200 kg N ha−1 improves WUE and NUE with less environmental cost and should be regarded as the economically optimal N rate on the semiarid western Loess Plateau of China for sustainable maize production.

Optimal deep convolutional neural network based crop classification model on multispectral remote sensing images

Multispectral remote sensing images (MRSI)are widely employed to assess modifications in water bodies, land use and land cover changes, forest degradation, landscape change, and so on. Conventionally, MRSI is applied to map crops globally. MRSI based crop classification has gained considerable interest in the areas of agricultural productivity, agricultural policies, assuring food security, and recognizing sustainable agricultural development. Recently developed deep learning models can also be employed for crop classification using multispectral remote sensing images. In this aspect, this paper presents an optimal deep convolutional neural network based crop classification model (ODCNN-CCM) using multispectral remote sensing images. The presented ODCNN-CCM technique initially employs adaptive wiener filtering based image pre-processing technique. Moreover, RetinaNet model is applied to perform feature extraction process. Finally, dolphin swarm optimization (DSO) with deep stacked denoising autoencoder (DSDAE) model is applied for crop type classification. The performance validation of the proposed technique is validated using the Indian Pines Benchmark (INB), University of Pavia Benchmark (UPB), and Salinas Scene Benchmark (SSB). The proposed model achieves maximum accuracy of 97.51%, 98.33%, and 97.75% on the INB, UPB, and SSD datasets respectively.

CAN CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE HELP TO ASSURE FOOD SECURITY THROUGH SHORT SUPPLY CHAINS? A SYSTEMATIC BIBLIOMETRIC AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Purpose – This paper aims to reveal potential research possibilities for enhancing climate-smart agriculture through short supply chains. Research question – How can short supply chains assure food security and the promotion of climate-smart agriculture? Research methodology – Bibliographic and bibliometric coupling techniques were employed using data from 1990–2022. The raw data was processed using the VOSviewer 1.6.18 software version. Findings – The results confirm the positive effect of the systemically important relationship between the short supply chain and food security. Research limitations – Climate-smart agriculture is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Additional variables may have moderating and mediating effects on the impact of short supply chains on food security. Practical implications – The results establish the importance of having a short supply chain for food security in different aspects of the process from the harvest to the table. Originality and value – This study confirms the rationale for developing shorter food supply chains to assure food security and climate-smart agriculture when possible.

Comparing Wild and Cultivated Food Plant Richness Between the Arid American and the Mesoamerican Centers of Diversity, as Means to Advance Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the Face of Climate Change

Climate change is aggravating agricultural crop failures, and the paucity of wild food harvests for Indigenous desert dwellers in Mexico and the U.S. This food production crisis challenges ongoing efforts by Indigenous communities in obtaining greater food security, prompting them to reconsider the value of traditional Indigenous food systems in both Mesoamerica and Arid America, two adjacent centers of crop diversity. While food production strategies in these two centers share many features, the food plant diversity in the Western Mesoamerican region appears to be greater. However, a higher percentage of plants in Arid America have adapted to water scarcity, heat, and damaging radiation. The phytochemical and physiological adaptations of the food plants to abiotic stresses in arid environments offer a modicum of resilience in the face of aggravated climate uncertainties. By comparing food plant genera comprising Western Mesoamerican and Arid American diets, we detected a higher ratio of CAM succulents in the wild and domesticated food plant species in the Arid American food system. We conclude that food plant diversity in the ancestral diets of both centers can provide much of the resilience needed to advance Indigenous food sovereignty and assure food security as climate change advances.

Sulfate Fertilization Preserves Tomato Fruit Nutritional Quality

Sulfur is an essential mineral in human nutrition, involved in vital biochemical processes. Sulfur deficient soil is becoming a severe issue, resulting from increased agricultural production and decreased sulfur emissions. Tomato cultivation using sulfur-poor soils and desalinated water is becoming widespread, and might result in plant and fruit sulfur deficiency. In the current work, we aimed at evaluating the effect of sulfur fertilization (0.1–4 mM) on fruit sulfur concentrations, under both low (4 mM) and high (11 mM) nitrogen fertilization, to assess fruit sulfur biofortification, alongside the effect on fruit mineral composition, and on tomato plants. The experiment was performed on a semi-commercial scale, during two seasons, with a real-life fertilization range. We evaluated fruit elemental composition, in addition to young (diagnostic) leaves, as an indication to nutritional status. Our results show no harmful effect of low sulfur treatment on plant growth and high yield. Increased fertilization-sulfur exclusively induced sulfur accumulation in the fruit, while increasing fertilization-nitrogen subsequently increased fruit nitrogen. Sulfur treatments resulted in a consistent negative effect on fruit molybdenum and calcium, as well as a positive effect on fruit sodium levels. At the same time, other fruit minerals, including phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper, remained unaltered by sulfur treatments. Leaf response trends generally adhered to those of fruit. Taken together, our findings suggest that sulfur fertilization can biofortify tomato with sulfur while retaining fruit mineral composition and nutritional quality, excluding a decrease in Molybdenum levels, to assure food security and maintain fruit and vegetables as a significant source of sulfur and other minerals. Possibilities of practical application of this work’s results include optimization of fertilization levels in crop cultivation under sulfur deficiency for yield and nutritional quality, alongside the biofortification of tomatoes with sulfur and nitrogen with no adverse effect to other fruit minerals.