Food Supply Research Articles

Monitoring airborne pathogen transmission for enhanced safety at food processing facilities

AbstractFood manufacturing and processing are part of the nation's critical infrastructure. Due to the recent global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the potential contamination of the food chain and the resulting public health implications are of high consequence to society. The current primary food manufacturing and processing facilities already have various mechanisms such as hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system in place. However, the widespread microbial infections in these facilities raise concerns that they will not only threaten the welfare of food processing workers, but also have a potentially greater consequence on the public if the food is contaminated with an infectious agent.Despite the increasingly recognised role of the environment in the spread of microbes, the effect of air properties remains poorly understood. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in meat processing facilities not only provide a means of transport for viruses and bacteria but may also deposit them on surfaces where they can survive for days. To maintain a stable and safe food chain supply during the pandemic, the challenges to ensure safe food supply and protect the workers' health must be quickly addressed through sustainable, safe and economic approaches. With these two imminent challenges in mind, the overall goal of this review article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of the environment in the impaction and resuspension of bioaerosols, focusing on airborne bacteria and viruses. The review includes the latest results of modeling the spread of microbial aerosols in the airflow and the development of preventive measures to mitigate virus contamination in the unique environment of meat processing operations. By understanding how the environmental factors and seasonality affect the infectivity and spread of airborne pathogens, mitigation measures can be designed to minimise future infections within and beyond these facilities.

Blockchain implementation for food safety in supply chain: A review.

Food safety has emerged as the topmost priority in the current fast-paced food industry era. According to the World Health Organization, around 600 million people, approximately 1 in 10 individuals worldwide, experience illness due to contaminated food consumption, resulting in nearly 0.42 million fatalities annually. The recent development in software and hardware sectors has created opportunities to improve the safety concerns in the food supply chain. The objective of this review is to explain the fundamentals of blockchain and its integration into the supply chain of various food commodities to enhance food safety. This paper presents the analysis of 31 conceptual works, 10 implementation works, 39 case studies, and other investigations in blockchain-based food supply chain from a total of 80 published papers. In this paper, the significance of adapting conceptual ideas into practical applications for effectively tracing food commodities throughout the supply chain has been discussed. This paper also describes the transformative role of blockchain platforms in the food industry, providing a decentralized and transparent ledger to access real-time and immutable records of a product's journey. In addition, both the positive impacts and challenges associated with implementing blockchain technology in the food supply chain have been evaluated. In summary, the blockchain-based food supply chains offer greater transparency, traceability, and trust, ultimately resulting in higher standards of food safety and quality.

Unveiling the emerging trends of egg components-based biodegradable food packaging development: A comprehensive review.

Food packaging plays a crucial role in the food supply chain by aiding in food preservation and reducing food losses throughout the distribution process. The extensive, unregulated utilization, and waste mismanagement of food packaging materials made up of conventional petroleum-based plastics has led to a significant environmental crisis. Egg components-based food packaging has attracted considerable attention from the global packaging industry as a viable alternative to synthetic polymers due to its biodegradability, sustainability, and health-related benefits. This comprehensive review explores the composition and properties of egg components (eggshell, eggshell membrane, egg white, and egg yolk), and recent advancements in biodegradable packaging films derived from them. Additionally, it introduces the characteristics of these films and their applications in food, highlighting their biodegradability, sustainability, and suitable mechanical, barrier, thermal, optical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties as substitutes for traditional synthetic polymers. The utilization of various egg components in the packaging industry is a safe, non-toxic, cost-effective, and economical approach. However, it was found that incorporating active compounds from natural sources into packaging films, as well as composite films composed of egg components combined with other biopolymers, resulted in superior properties, compared to single component films. Moreover, the application of novel technologies in film development has proven to be more effective than conventional methods. These innovative egg components-based packaging films can be optimized and commercialized for use as packaging materials for food products.

Gulf Stream intrusion and deep current upwelling drive dynamic patterns of temperature and food supply within cold‐water coral reefs

AbstractOne of the most significant features of the Northwest Atlantic, the Gulf Stream influences high magnitude environmental fluctuations in deep habitats across the South Atlantic Bight. Amid this variability, the Blake Plateau harbors extensive reefs formed by cold‐water corals that were previously assumed to rely on narrow ranges of temperature, currents, and particulate supply. A benthic lander collected near‐bed conditions at the Richardson Reef Complex, a cold‐water reef dominated by the scleractinian Desmophyllum pertusum at 830 m within the path of the Gulf Stream. Specific behavior of the Gulf Stream resulted in recurring environmental patterns at depth. During offshore meanders, deep stream components intruded onto the reef and caused rapid (3.74°C per hour) temperature increases up to 10.8°C (> 5°C above the site mean) and increased chlorophyll. Within 2 d of peak temperatures, intrusions were replaced by strong, turbid upwelling currents that rapidly cooled the site to temperature minima (4.13°C). While considerable environmental variability from the Gulf Stream may otherwise implicate a thermally stressful setting for corals, high‐temperature events were likely mitigated by their short duration (< 37.4 h) and physical coupling with enhanced organic material. This hypothesis was supported by high‐density clustering of D. pertusum occurrences within 50 km around the Gulf Stream's position along the South Atlantic Bight. This suggests that cold‐water corals experiencing environmental variability can be sustained by relationships between food supply, temperature, and currents that vary in strength along stochastic time scales, shedding further light on the niche of cold‐water corals.

Socio-cultural factors associated with mushroom consumption among tea garden population of Dibrugarh, Assam

Background: Major challenge with climate change in India is sustaining food supply for economically disadvantaged leading to widespread malnutrition and related illnesses. Aim of the study was to assess the socio-cultural factors associated with mushroom consumption among tea garden population of Dibrugarh, Assam. Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in which 6 tea gardens were selected based on high mushroom consumption. From each selected tea garden, 35 households were covered using simple random sampling technique and data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire. Results: Majority (61.72%) of the respondents were males, 69.04% belonged to lower middle socioeconomic status (class IV). Easy availability (80%) during monsoon was common reason for consumption. Most of them (95.71%) used traditional identification methods. Traditional cooking methods were followed, with the assumption that those rendered all mushroom edible. Majority believed that lemon could dilute toxins in case of accidental poisoning. Conclusions: There was a need to make community aware of scientific identification of edible mushroom to prevent morbidities and mortalities arising out of it.

Sustainable agriculture: leveraging microorganisms for a circular economy.

Microorganisms serve as linchpins in agricultural systems. Classic examples include microbial composting for nutrient recovery, using microorganisms in biogas technology for agricultural waste utilization, and employing biofilters to reduce emissions from stables or improve water quality in aquaculture. This mini-review highlights the importance of microbiome analysis in understanding microbial diversity, dynamics, and functions, fostering innovations for a more sustainable agriculture. In this regard, customized microorganisms for soil improvement, replacements for harmful agrochemicals or antibiotics in animal husbandry, and (probiotic) additives in animal nutrition are already in or even beyond the testing phase for a large-scale conventional agriculture. Additionally, as climate change reduces arable land, new strategies based on closed-loop systems and controlled environment agriculture, emphasizing microbial techniques, are being developed for regional food production. These strategies aim to secure the future food supply and pave the way for a sustainable, resilient, and circular agricultural economy. KEY POINTS: • Microbial strategies facilitate the integration of multiple trophic levels, essential for cycling carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrients. • Exploring microorganisms in integrated biological systems is essential for developing practical agricultural solutions. • Technological progress makes sustainable closed-entity re-circulation systems possible, securing resilient future food production.

The impact of COVID-19 on livelihood assets: a case study of high-value crop farmers in North-West Bangladesh.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on public health, extending to the food system and people's livelihoods worldwide, including Bangladesh. This study aimed to ascertain the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on livelihood assets in the North-Western areas (Rajshahi and Rangpur) of Bangladesh. Primary data were collected from 320 farmers engaged in high-value agriculture using a multistage sampling method. The data were analysed using first-order structural equation modelling. The findings reveal a significant impact (p < 0.01) of the pandemic on all livelihood assets in Bangladesh. Notably, human assets exhibited the highest impact, with a coefficient of 0.740, followed sequentially by financial (0.709), social (0.684), natural (0.600), physical (0.542), and psychological (0.537) assets. Government-imposed lockdowns and mobility restrictions were identified as the major causes of the pandemic's negative effects on livelihoods, which included lost income, rising food prices, decreased purchasing power, inadequate access to food and medical supplies, increased social insecurity, and a rise in depression, worry, and anxiety among farmers. The effects of COVID-19 and associated policy measures on the livelihoods of high-value crop farmers have reversed substantial economic and nutritional advances gained over the previous decade. This study suggests attention to the sustainable livelihoods of farmers through direct cash transfer and input incentive programs to minimize their vulnerability to a pandemic like COVID-19 or any other crisis in the future.

Global Value Chains: Sourcing Strategies for Resilience amidst COVID-19

COVID-19 has profoundly impacted the already vulnerable pharmaceutical, agricultural, and food supply chains, leading to disruptions in their sourcing processes. Hence, it is crucial to emphasize the universal imperative of enhancing resilience in Global Value Chains across various industries in today’s interconnected global economy. It seeks to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted GVCs and influenced the availability of critical resources. We have investigated the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on Global Value Chains due to its widespread disruption of supply chains, which has posed immediate challenges for businesses and necessitated resilience strategies. Our research reveals a consistent relationship between impact levels observed in domestic and international contexts. Changes in domestic impact levels closely align with those observed abroad, indicating a robust positive correlation. This correlation emphasizes the interdependence of sourcing challenges across both domestic and international spheres. We propose near-shoring as a management strategy by integrating regional market trends alongside digital transformation to optimize supply chain resilience, enabling businesses to cope with fluctuations in markets and take advantage on new possibilities.

A High-Resolution Distribution Dataset of Paddy Rice in India Based on Satellite Data

India, as the world’s second-largest rice producer, accounting for 21.7% of global rice production, plays a crucial role in ensuring global food supply stability. However, creating high-resolution rice maps for India, such as those at 10 to 30 m, poses significant challenges due to frequent cloudy weather conditions and the complexities of its agricultural systems. This study used a sample-independent mapping method for rice in India using the synthetic aperture radar (SAR)-based Rice Index (SPRI). We produced 10 m spatial resolution rice distribution maps for three years (i.e., 2018, 2020, and 2022) for 23 states in India, covering 98% of Indian rice production. The method effectively utilized the unique characteristics of rice in the vertical–horizontal (VH) backscatter coefficient time series of Sentinel-1, from ttransplantation to the maturity stage, combined with cloud-free Sentinel-2 imagery. By calculating the SPRI values for each agricultural field object using adaptive parameters, the planting locations of rice were accurately identified. On average, the user, producer, and overall accuracy over all investigated states and union territories was 84.72%, 82.31%, and 84.40%, respectively. Additionally, the regional-scale validation based on the statistical area at the district level showed that the coefficient of determination (R2) ranged from 0.53 to 0.95 for each state, indicating that the spatial distribution of the statistical planted area at the district level was reproduced well.

An Economic Insights of Agricultural Sustainability in the Himalayan Districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India

The agriculture scenario has witnessed a tremendous change after the independence of the Indian subcontinent. It had undergone number of reforms to protect both supply and demand side interests. The food security was ensured by increasing its production and the country has emerged as one of the top producers of number of commodities. The commercialization of agriculture shifted subsistence farming to a more market-oriented approach, where agricultural production is primarily aimed at generating income and participating in the market economy which involves increased scale of production, adopting modern technologies and focusing on cash crops and high – value commodities. However the unscientific use of these resources and indispensable application of inputs has led to several drawbacks like labour migration, shift to monoculture practices, decline in the water table, vulnerabilities in terms of food security during market fluctuations. Creating concerns of sustainability needs an immediate attention. Sustainability is to be assured to ensure food supply and for the balanced economic growth. Agricultural sustainability in Jammu and Kashmir is influenced by various factors. It provides production environment to a number of niche crops including apple, walnut, saffron, vegetables, major agriculture products etc., But its agriculture faces the unique environmental, social and economic challenges, despite known for their rich ecological diversity. Though essential, the urbanization results in the shift of productive land to undesirable use which may lead to ecological implications. This background necessitated a comprehensive attempt to examine the sustainability of agriculture in relationship with various economic, ecological and social indicators with an intention to come up with findings having greater policy implications for long term sustenance of agrarian economy in J&amp;K. Shopian(0.604) ranked first among all the districts in terms of Agricultural sustainability, followed by Jammu(0.598) and Kathua(0.564) and least performing districts were found to be Srinagar(0.406), followed by Ramban(0.413) and Kupwara(0.420). The calculated Composite Sustainability Index helps us to differentiate the districts based on their index value under various categories of the sustainability level.

Buckwheat: An Underutilized Himalayan Crop with Multifaceted Nutraceutical Benefits

Abstract: The human population is growing and alternate food options are needed to provide food and nutritional security to mankind. Reduced agricultural output as a result of climate change and increased demand for grains because of continuous population growth have created a gap between demand and supply of food. Buckwheat is a pseudocereal crop plant with high nutritional value that can be included as an alternate food in our diet. It is a traditional crop plant grown in the high mountains of the Himalayas for food as well as fodder. It completes its life cycle in 3-4 months, so is mostly grown as a second crop in between main crops like maize and barley. It also acts as a green manure by improving the phosphorus content of the soil. Buck-wheat has high nutritional value as it is rich in essential amino acids, vitamin B, trace elements, and other nutrients. The main bioactive compounds identified in buckwheat are rutin, quercetin, isoquercetin, d-chiroinositol, resveratol, and vitexin, which are responsible for its pharmacolog-ical properties. Research focused on value addition by exploring its nutritional, pharmaceutical, and other alternative uses of commercial importance, is needed for reviving buckwheat cultiva-tion practices and its conservation. Considering the multifarious applications of buckwheat, this review summarizes the currently available knowledge on the agronomic and nutraceutical sig-nificance of buckwheat to project its value as a future crop in the avenue of agriculture and functional food

Guide DNA dephosphorylation-modulated Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute fluorescence biosensor for the detection of alkaline phosphatase and aflatoxins B1

Foodborne hazardous factors pose a significant risk to public health, emphasizing the need for the development of sensitive and user-friendly detection strategies to effectively manage and control these risks in the food supply chain. Pyrococcus furiosus argonaute (PfAgo)-based biosensing approaches have been extensively explored due to its built-in signal amplification. However, the property that PfAgo is a DNA-guided DNA endonuclease has enabled almost all the existing PfAgo-based reports to be used for the detection of nucleic acids. To lend PfAgo toolbox to extended non-nucleic acid detection, we systematically investigated the mechanism characteristic of PfAgo′ preference for guide DNA (gDNA) and proposed a gDNA dephosphorylation-modulated PfAgo sensor for the detection of non-nucleic acid targets. Our results indicated that PfAgo exhibits preference for 5′-phosphorylated gDNA at a specific ratio of PfAgo to gDNA concentration. Leveraging this PfAgo′ preference and the dephosphorylation activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), ALP could be detected as low as 2.7 U/L. Furthermore, the PfAgo was coupled with immunolabelled ALP to develop a PfAgo-based fluorescence immunosensor, which achieves aflatoxins B1 detection with a detection limit of 29.89 pg/mL and exhibits satisfactory recoveries in wheat and maize samples. The developed method broadens the application scope of PfAgo toolbox, and provides a simple, sensitive, and universal detection platform for a variety targets.

Habitat preferences of breeding Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus in Central Europe

ABSTRACT Capsule A description of habitats used for breeding by Eurasian Sparrowhawks, along with variables affecting their breeding habitat selection. Aims To describe the habitat preferences of breeding Eurasian Sparrowhawks, and to identify variables affecting their breeding habitat selection at different spatial scales, in a rural area of Central Europe (Czech Republic). Methods Eurasian Sparrowhawk nests were found and the habitat characteristics of breeding sites were measured at three spatial scales, and then compared with randomly selected locations. Results The nests were regularly distributed within the forests of the study area, avoiding small forest patches. The territories were somewhat associated with dense forest stands of a distinctive structure. All nests were built in coniferous trees, in the lower parts of their green crowns and close to the trunks. In the areas surrounding the nests, we found a greater abundance of some bird (prey) species and a higher diversity of birds, compared to the random areas. Conclusion The Eurasian Sparrowhawks preferred to breed in forests with a specific structure that provided sufficient concealment and access to their nests, and they located their breeding territories as far from each other as possible. The birds also seemed to prefer breeding in localities with a greater food supply. The variables affecting Eurasian Sparrowhawk breeding habitat selection may include intraspecific competition, size and structure of available forests, availability of coniferous trees for nest placement, and the composition of the food supply in the vicinity of their nests.

Revisiting the risk of introduction of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) into the United States – An updated semi-quantitative risk assessment

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is associated with encephalitis in humans and reproductive and neurological illness in pigs. JEV has expanded beyond its native distribution in southeast Asia, with identifications in Europe (2010) and Africa (2016), and most recently, its spread into mainland Australia (2021−2022). The introduction of JEV into the United States (US) is a public health risk, and could also impact animal health and the food supply. To efficiently and cost-effectively manage risk, a better understanding of how and where diseases will be introduced, transmitted, and spread is required. To achieve this objective, we updated our group's previous qualitative risk assessment using an established semi-quantitative risk assessment tool (MINTRISK) to compare the overall rate of introduction and risk, including impacts, of JEV in seven US regions. The rate of introduction from the current region of distribution was considered negligible for the Northeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountain, West, Alaska, and Hawaii regions. The South region was the only region with a pathway that had a non-negligible rate of introduction; infected mosquito eggs and larvae introduced via imported used tires (very low; 95% uncertainty interval (UI) = negligible to high). The overall risk estimate for the South was very high (95% UI = very low to very high). Based on this risk assessment, the South region should be prioritized for surveillance activities to ensure the early detection of JEV. The assumptions used in this risk assessment, due to the lack of information about the global movement of mosquitoes, number of feral pigs in the US, the role of non-ardeid wild birds in transmission, and the magnitude of the basic reproduction ratio of JEV in a novel region, need to be fully considered as these impact the estimated probability of establishment.

Food purchasing and eating patterns: Assessing the role of people’s mobility, social networks, and attitudes on healthy diets

A poor diet has crucial impacts on individuals and society as a whole. In addition to individual preferences, there is evidence that people’s diet is related to their social, economic, and geographical environment, including their mobility context. However, few studies have an empirical, integrated perspective of these previous dimensions. This paper presents an empirical effort to understand people’s food purchasing and eating preferences concerning their mobility dynamics, social networks, habits, perceptions, activities, and sociodemographics, going beyond a static distance-based food supply perspective. The case study corresponds to the city of Concepción, Chile, using data that included nutrition, mobility, social networks, habits, perceptions, activities, and sociodemographics. The relationships between people’s eating and shopping patterns and these different contextual dimensions were analyzed through joint multivariate statistical modelling.The empirical findings suggest that greater spatial proximity to the purchase of food does not significantly impact the quality of the diet. However, greater proximity to food supply affects the frequency and characteristics of the transport mode to the shopping trips, impacting the diet quality, especially in the case of open street markets. This relationship shows that mobility patterns play an essential role in the impact of spatial accessibility on the purchase of food and the quality of people’s diets. The results also confirm that food consumption and purchasing decisions go beyond individual sociodemographics and are influenced by other aspects of people’s overall mobility patterns, social capital, and attitudes.

Identification of priority conservation areas in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei using multi-scenario trade-offs based on different spatial scales and their drivers

Identifying priority conservation areas (PCAs) on the basis of ecosystem services (ESs) trade-offs is a crucial step in achieving optimal ecosystem management in the BTH, noting the complex spatio-temporal and scaling effects inherent in these ecosystems. A cross-scale quantification of spatial and temporal changes in ecosystem services and their correlations was conducted in the BTH. Furthermore, the Ordered Weighting Algorithm (OWA) was introduced to simulate a variety of scenarios in order to determine the PCAs and to explore the drivers of ES in the PCAs. The results indicated that Food supply (FS), Water yield (WY), and Soil retention (SR) in the BTH increased by 16.4 × 104t/hm2, 81.81 mm, and 37081.29 t/hm2, respectively. In contrast, Carbon storage (CS) and Habit quality (HQ) exhibited a decrease of 0.01 t/hm2 and 0.03. Spatially, the high-value areas of ESs at the county scale exhibited greater clustering. At the county scale, there were two trade-offs and eight synergies in 2000, and four trade-offs and six synergies by 2020. In contrast, at the raster scale, there were two trade-offs and eight synergies from 2000 to 2020. The mechanisms of change were similar and exhibited spatial heterogeneity. Scenario 6 represents the optimal priority conservation area, exhibiting the most balanced conservation efficiency of each ecosystem service. This scenario enables the simultaneous conservation of multiple ESs. The natural factors within the PCAs exert a stronger influence on ESs than socio-economic factors. The inclusion of interacting factor effects will enhance the explanatory power of the drivers. The findings of this study can serve as a theoretical foundation for cross-scale ecosystem service management decisions.

Food Banks as a "Treasure Trove": Users' Experiences of a Western Australian Food Relief Organization.

Food banks are providing crucial relief as food insecurity increases worldwide. While these services are essential for vulnerable populations, there is variability in foods available and users may experience poor nutritional quality, and an overabundance of discretionary foods, contributing to public health risks including overnutrition and obesity. Understanding how customers perceive food availability, variety, and quality is important to inform relief services and health interventions. This study reports the findings of a convergent parallel mixed-methods investigation of user experiences and perceptions of food availability, variety, and quality at a major food bank in Western Australia. Food bank customers (N = 207) at a food bank branch and mobile van locations completed a survey, with an option to complete a subsequent semi-structured interview (n = 15). Approximately 80% of the survey sample had low (48%) or very low (30%) food security, half of the sample had been using the food bank for longer than 6 months, and 77% reported the food bank as their first choice for food. Three-quarters (77%) reported financial barriers to a balanced diet in the past twelve months and described how limited availability and variety complicated shopping. Interviewees explained complex perceptions of these issues, including favouring healthy food while considering discretionary food as a "luxury" that enhanced their quality of life. Our findings suggest that food bank users experience barriers to maintaining a balanced diet, encounter variable supplies of healthy and nutritious foods, and have concerns about the impacts of frequent discretionary food consumption. These findings have implications for public health promotion.

COVID-19’s impact on food environment in the Indian states of Telangana, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Punjab: a descriptive qualitative study to build further research in India’s food environment resilience building

Background and aimGlobally, COVID-19 has had a profound impact on food and nutrition security. This paper aims to gather the perspective from Transforming India’s Green Revolution by Research and Empowerment...

Hydrochemical characterization and evaluation of irrigation water quality using indexing approaches, multivariate analysis, and GIS techniques in K'sob Valley, Algeria

Irrigation plays a vital role in addressing increasing need for food production and promoting economic advancement. To meet the demands for food supply and economic progress, it is essential to underscore the significance of assessing water quality in dry regions. The current study was carried out to evaluate and predict the suitability of water quality for agricultural use in the K'sob valley in the M'sila region (Northeast Algeria). A combination of irrigation water quality indices (IWQIs), Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis and multivariate statistical methods were used for this purpose. Several physicochemical parameters, such as temperature (T°), hydrogen ion concentration (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity (Turb), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3−, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, PO4− and SiO22+ were all measured from 40 samples collected at ten surface water locations during four seasons. The concentrations of the main cation and anion were shown as follows: Na+>Ca2+> K+ > Mg2+, and SO42− > HCO3− > Cl− > NO3− indicating mixed Na-Cl-K or Na-SO4 water facies. Significant seasonal variation for each parameter (T, pH, Turbidity, Salinity, COD, NH4+, Cl−, SO4−, and NO2−) was reported (p < 0.05). Additionally, a significant spatial variation (p < 0.05) was observed among different stations for the parameters: TDS, EC, Ca2+, Na+, HCO3−, SO4−, NO3−, and PO43− (p < 0.05). The irrigation water quality index (IWQI), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na%), Kelly index (KI), and permeability index (PI) had values varying between 28.1 and 56.8, 5.65 and 12.45, 75 and 87, 2.61 and 6.54 and 83, and 97, respectively, and a significant seasonal effect was recorded. According to the Wilcox diagram, 70% of samples were unsuitable for irrigation, while 30% of samples were questionable. The IWQI map revealed that 50% of the samples fell within the very poor category for irrigation, while 20% and 30% of the samples were inside the poor and unsuitable categories, respectively. The principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of K'SobValley water revealed three different categories of water based on elemental composition and seasonal variations. The results obtained in this study can be valuable for surface water management. Furthermore, the developed methodology can serve as a useful tool for identifying critical hydrogeochemical components in arid and semi-arid environments related to surface water.

Developing IoT Sustainable Real-Time Monitoring Devices for Food Supply Chain Systems Based on Climate Change Using Circular Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set

Developing IoT Sustainable Real-Time Monitoring Devices for Food Supply Chain Systems Based on Climate Change Using Circular Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set