Food Supply Research Articles

A dataset of interprovincial food trade flows in China

Understanding the food trading network is crucial for optimizing resource allocation, maintaining stability in the food system, and safeguarding food security. However, as one of the world’s largest agricultural producers, there is a dearth of publicly available data sources pertaining to China’s interprovincial physical food trade. Here, we developed a dataset of interprovincial physical food flows in Chinese mainland for the period 2000–2022, using the trade gravity model with the integration of food supply, food demand, and transportation data. This dataset includes 15 key types of plant-based and animal-based food products and represents the longest time series covering the most extensive variety of food products to date on China’s food trade patterns. The dataset reveals changes in dietary structures and trade patterns across regions within China since the 21st century. This work provides a methodological framework and dataset that could support studies on virtual resources flow, agri-environmental impact assessment, and food policy formulation across various food categories and regions.

Feasibility study on using combined tomography and spectroscopy techniques to evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of organo-mineral fertilisers

Fertilisers play a key role in agriculture, providing key nutrients needed by crops to ensure a secure food supply. However, with increasing prices and rising environmental concerns, there is a growing need to rely on alternative and sustainable fertiliser sources, introducing the opportunity to use organic amendments to formulate organo-mineral fertilisers (OMF). Despite their environmental advantages, the inherent variability in composition of organic amendments within OMF poses a challenge for their standardization. This study aims to use OMF derived from anaerobic digestate and coupled with carbon capture technologies to analyze for its physical characteristics and chemical composition using neutron computed tomography (NCT), X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). This is a feasibility study to assess using non-destructive techniques on OMF as previously this has not been explored. This work represents the first attempt to utilize a combination of imaging techniques to investigate on OMF and demonstrates their feasibility for measuring the variability between individual samples. This is a proof-of-concept study which shows that combining NCT and XCT can provide images on how uniformly packed each OMF pellet are. The use of RS is to characterize OMF is more challenging largely due to the high fluorescence background arising from its matrix. This study needs to be further developed to enable image-based analysis using machine learning algorithms to determine characteristics of large batches of OMF. Further development is needed building on this work to quantify OMF pellet characteristics so that it can be confidently used as novel fertilisers in agriculture.

An Enhanced Wheat Stripe Rust Segmentation Approach Using Vision Transformer Model

Worldwide, the wheat industry encounters major obstacles caused by stripe rust disease, triggered by the fungus Puccinia striiformis. This disease results in considerable losses of wheat crops and has significant economic repercussions. Accurate detection of crop diseases is vital for sustainable agriculture and food security. By effectively identifying and managing crop diseases, yield losses can be prevented and global food production can be ensured. This not only protects farmers’ livelihoods but also contributes to human health and well-being by safeguarding the food supply. Wheat plays a crucial role in Pakistan’s agriculture, covering 37% of the cultivated land and contributing 70% to total production. Stripe rust, a serious fungal disease, heavily affects wheat yield, causing a global loss of 5.5 million tons annually. Current models exhibit shortcomings in accurately detecting wheat stripe rust, necessitating improvements for more precise identification and diagnosis of the disease. Fortunately, recent advances in deep learning have led to significant improvements in object-detection accuracy, thus offering hope for better disease management. The purpose of this study is to introduce a method to minimize losses by accurately and promptly detecting stripe rust disease, thereby avoiding the need for manual inspection. To achieve this goal, we propose a vision transformer and a hybrid model to identify wheat stripe rust by analyzing multi-spectral and high-resolution image data. Additionally, we utilize two models, ViT-Base/16 and a transformer, which prove to be highly effective in accurately detecting diseases using the same datasets as the vision transformer model. The proposed method provides optimal results with a vision transformer and a hybrid approach with 98% accuracy and 97.9%, respectively. ViT-Base/16 and transformer models achieve an accuracy of 98% and 95%, almost. Using an improved vision transformer, we achieved precise detection of wheat stripe rust compared to previous methods. This has various benefits, such as safeguarding yields, reducing costs, supporting sustainable agriculture, facilitating crop monitoring, and improving disease management.

Advances in Food-As-Medicine Interventions and Their Impact on Future Food Production, Processing, and Supply Chains.

Advances in Food-As-Medicine Interventions and Their Impact on Future Food Production, Processing, and Supply Chains.

Regulations, biosecurity measures, and impact of COVID-19: A comprehensive mixed method study in traditional wet and live animal markets in Bangladesh.

Regulations, biosecurity measures, and impact of COVID-19: A comprehensive mixed method study in traditional wet and live animal markets in Bangladesh.

Fabrication of mycelium-gellan gum hybrids as next generation alternative protein foods produced by fermentation.

Fabrication of mycelium-gellan gum hybrids as next generation alternative protein foods produced by fermentation.

Nanosensors from Logistics and Supply Chain Perspective: A Literature Review

Introduction: Nanosensors are one of the most recent technologies obtained from the nanoworld. They have enhanced properties with potential applications in a wide spectrum of sectors. They exhibit exceptional properties in temperature monitoring, hazardous gas and vapor detection, humidity detection, as well as pathogens, toxins, and chemical contaminant detection. Among various nanosensor applications, one of the most recent usages of nanosensor technology is in logistics and supply chain management (SCM). Aim: This study aims at investigating the potential of nanosensor technology from logistics & SCM perspective, and specifically questions how can this technology contribute to food supply chains. Method: A systematic comprehensive literature review was conducted with the keywords: nanosensors & logistics, nanosensors & supply chain, nanosensors & smart packaging, and nanosensors & food logistics for the date range 2001-2022, covering a broad set of references. Findings revealed that nanosensors have significant potential in providing smart packaging, and improving traceability and visibility across all the logistics and SCM processes including end-to-end transportation and storage activities. Result: Hybrids of different types of nanosensors with the existing material identification systems provide new levels of traceability and visibility in SCM, enabling accurate tracking of a variety of parameters. The study has shown that the intersection of nanotechnology and logistics & SCM domains is still immature. Conclusion: This intersection is especially critical for food supply chains for meeting their special traceability requirements, and for serving food safety and organic food traceability across all stages of logistics.

Factors influencing the acceptance of alternative protein sources.

Factors influencing the acceptance of alternative protein sources.

Mapping socioeconomic factors driving antimicrobial resistance in humans: An umbrella review.

Mapping socioeconomic factors driving antimicrobial resistance in humans: An umbrella review.

Non-thermal processing techniques for sustainable food supply chains

Non-thermal processing techniques for sustainable food supply chains

Strategic carbon source supplementation enhances nitrite degradation by Pantoea sp. A5 in variable temperature conditions.

Strategic carbon source supplementation enhances nitrite degradation by Pantoea sp. A5 in variable temperature conditions.

Cereal processing by-products and wastewater for sustainable protein extraction.

Cereal processing by-products and wastewater for sustainable protein extraction.

Analysis of key challenges to implementation of FEFO in perishable food supply chain

Analysis of key challenges to implementation of FEFO in perishable food supply chain

A predictive modelling approach to decoding consumer intention for adopting energy-efficient technologies in food supply chains

A predictive modelling approach to decoding consumer intention for adopting energy-efficient technologies in food supply chains

Potential decarbonization for balancing local and non-local perishable food supply in megacities

Potential decarbonization for balancing local and non-local perishable food supply in megacities

Premature Mortality Attributable to Ultraprocessed Food Consumption in 8 Countries.

Premature Mortality Attributable to Ultraprocessed Food Consumption in 8 Countries.

Electrochemical detection of tetracycline using Cu-MOF functionalised screen-printed electrodes

This study offers a novel approach to fabricating an electrochemical sensor based on a screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with a monometallic copper metal–organic framework (Cu-MOF) for detecting tetracycline. Despite tetracycline is an antibiotic used extensively in both human and animal healthcare, overuse of the drug has polluted the environment and caused antibiotic resistance. To protect the public’s health and stop the development of resistant bacterial strains, it is essential to detect tetracycline in the supply of food and water. Furthermore, Cu-MOF was synthesized by a solvothermal technique utilizing terephthalic acid as the building block. Several characterization examinations verified the synthesis of the MOF. Because of the metal synergism between Cu ions, the monometallic Cu-MOF showed strong tetracycline adsorption and electrocatalytic capabilities. For the tetracycline electro-determination, it was therefore used as the electrode material. Differential Pulse Voltammetry was employed in the electroanalysis, with a linearity range of 0.0001–100 µmol L−1 and a detection limit as low as 1.007 µmol L−1. The sensor was successfully applied to real-sample matrices, including tap water and RO water, demonstrating good recovery values ranging from 97.05 to 105.71%; the suggested sensor showed good recovery of the antibiotic that had been spiked.

The Authoritarian Rise of China and Its Geopolitical Dilemma

China’s rise as a global superpower is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. This transformation impacts the security and prosperity of its neighboring countries and the future of the international, rules-based world order and global security. Beijing’s rapid economic growth has fueled its defense industry and accelerated its military expansion, encouraging its leadership to pursue assertive foreign policies and "wolf-warrior" diplomacy. China has extended its global influence through establishing Confucius Institutes and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Its funding of infrastructure projects, particularly in economically vulnerable countries, has fostered dependency on Chinese supply chains and markets. Additionally, China’s "debt-trap diplomacy" and efforts to forge alliances with authoritarian regimes have positioned it as an alternative to the United States, gaining the attention of authoritarian leaders worldwide. Despite these achievements, China faces significant geopolitical vulnerabilities, including hostile relationships with neighboring great powers, a declining demographic profile, a lack of political reform in its authoritarian system, dependence on global markets, and challenges in securing energy and food supplies. These weaknesses constrain China’s ability to project power and outcompete its rivals on the world stage.

The Role of Minerals in Human Health: Dietary Sources, Supplement Use, and Preparation of a Simple Multimineral Formula

Abstract Minerals, though required in small quantities, serve as the body’s silent orchestrators, governing everything from enzymatic reactions to the very framework of our bones. These inorganic micronutrients act as molecular switches, cofactors, and structural components, ensuring seamless physiological operations whether in transmitting nerve impulses, maintaining heartbeat rhythm, or defending against oxidative stress. Yet, paradoxically, in an era of abundant food supply, deficiencies in critical minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc persist as a global health paradox, silently undermining immunity, cognitive function, and metabolic health . Modern diets, skewed by processed foods and agricultural depletion, alongside socio-economic disparities, have exacerbated these gaps, driving a surge in reliance on supplements as a pragmatic remedy . This dissertation bridges the science of mineral metabolism with practical intervention, dissecting the indispensable roles of dietary minerals, their natural reservoirs, and the evolving landscape of supplementation. Beyond theoretical exploration, it ventures into applied science by formulating a cost-effective, multimineral blend using readily sourced ingredients—aimed at circumventing accessibility barriers. Merging rigorous literature synthesis with hands-on formulation techniques, this work not only maps the "why" behind mineral necessity but also demonstrates the "how" of creating equitable nutritional solutions. By harmonizing biochemistry with real-world applicability, the study aspires to contribute a scalable blueprint for combating hidden hunger in diverse populations.

The Economy and Everyday Nuances of Military Life: Food Supply for the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (RKKA) from 1941 to 1945

Introduction. The article delves into the food supply of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army in 1941–1945 in the prism of the everyday life of soldiers and officers. The sustenance of the military forces plays a crucial role in influencing their immediate combat effectiveness during military engagements. Due to the all-round tragic situation at the warfront in the early period of the war, there was a need for immediate reorganization of the material and technical system, especially the food supply system of the Red Army. Even in the key stages of the war, changes were constantly made in the system of supplying the army with food products. The changes were reflected in the standards of food products for soldiers and officers and in the organization of the army’s supply mechanism. Methods and materials. The problem studied in the article is considered from different perspectives. In examining the daily experiences at the front during the war, a variety of source levels are employed. The research extensively utilizes oral history and written accounts, including diaries, letters, and memoirs of war participants, to gain insights into everyday life directly at the warfront and the mood in the army, in addition to various laws and norms dealing with food supply. On the other hand, army life is subject to different regulations. The article also includes a partial comparative analysis. The organization of food supply in the Soviet and fascist German armies in 1941–1945, the norms of supply in the two armies are studied. Analysis. During the war, military servicemen’s daily life at the warfront, including food supply, was organized on the basis of various legal documents. In this regard, legal documents (resolutions, orders, and reports from the government authorities responsible for supplying the army with food products, etc.) were also used to reveal these aspects of the issue. The use of the above-mentioned sources in the article allows a comprehensive approach to the problem of food supply to the Red Army in 1941– 1945. That is, the introduction of legislation and security mechanisms is directly compared with the memories of military personnel who were witnesses and participants of these events. Results. Considering the growing interest of historians in everyday life and the food supply of the army, which is an important part of the history of the Second World War, it should be noted that the work in this direction has only started. Authors’ contribution. Kh.B. Babadjanov, together with A.K. Abdullaev, examined the scientific literature, as well as oral history materials, and came to conclusions on the topic. By carefully examining historical materials, Kh.B. Babadjanov was able to describe the features of everyday life and military routine, using the example of food supplies for the Red Army (RKKA) of workers and peasants from 1941 to 1945. A.K. Abdullaev contributed to the data summary and analysis of the available statistics.