Future Food Security Research Articles

Chromosome-level genome assembly and functional annotation of Citrullus colocynthis: unlocking genetic resources for drought-resilient crop development

Main conclusionThe chromosome-level genome assembly of Citrullus colocynthis reveals its genetic potential for enhancing drought tolerance, paving the way for innovative crop improvement strategies.This study presents the first comprehensive genome assembly and annotation of Citrullus colocynthis, a drought-tolerant wild close relative of cultivated watermelon, highlighting its potential for enhancing agricultural resilience to climate change. The study achieved a chromosome-level assembly using advanced sequencing technologies, including PacBio HiFi and Hi-C, revealing a genome size of approximately 366 Mb with low heterozygosity and substantial repetitive content. Our analysis identified 23,327 gene models, that could encode stress response mechanisms for species’ adaptation to arid environments. Comparative genomics with closely related species illuminated the evolutionary dynamics within the Cucurbitaceae family. In addition, resequencing of 27 accessions from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) identified genetic diversity, suggesting a foundation for future breeding programs. This genomic resource opens new avenues for the de novo domestication of C. colocynthis, offering a blueprint for developing crops with enhanced drought tolerance, disease resistance, and nutritional profiles, crucial for sustaining future food security in the face of escalating climate challenges.

Omics-Driven Strategies for Developing Saline-Smart Lentils: A Comprehensive Review

A number of consequences of climate change, notably salinity, put global food security at risk by impacting the development and production of lentils. Salinity-induced stress alters lentil genetics, resulting in severe developmental issues and eventual phenotypic damage. Lentils have evolved sophisticated signaling networks to combat salinity stress. Lentil genomics and transcriptomics have discovered key genes and pathways that play an important role in mitigating salinity stress. The development of saline-smart cultivars can be further revolutionized by implementing proteomics, metabolomics, miRNAomics, epigenomics, phenomics, ionomics, machine learning, and speed breeding approaches. All these cutting-edge approaches represent a viable path toward creating saline-tolerant lentil cultivars that can withstand climate change and meet the growing demand for high-quality food worldwide. The review emphasizes the gaps that must be filled for future food security in a changing climate while also highlighting the significant discoveries and insights made possible by omics and other state-of-the-art biotechnological techniques.

Equitable food and nutrition security initiatives for farmers and fisher folks in Masbate, Philippines

Loss of income among Filipino farmers and fisher folks caused by the pandemic resulted to food and nutrition insecurity in their respective households. Their low level of education limited their source of livelihood into small scale farming, fishing, or both thus also limiting their income and opportunity to find additional sources of income. Descriptive statistics was used alongside Smith’s Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to analyze the data and understand the respondents’ lived experiences. The pandemics negative effect to their source of livelihood prompted them to institute drastic coping mechanisms for survival. Despite the dire situation the respondents still possess a positive outlook in life and have shown their usual resiliency to disasters. Life lessons drawn from them aided in the formulation of personal and organizational development policies in the context of the province of Masbate, Philippines. Finally, the Smart Sirungan Framework for a Food and Nutrition Secure Future was created and presented for possible utilization and further studies.

A Comprehensive Overview on Sustainable Vegetable Gardening: Eco-friendly Approaches to Home Grown Production

Sustainable vegetable gardening is an eco-friendly practice that integrates organic farming principles, resource conservation, and biodiversity promotion to produce nutritious, chemical-free food while minimizing environmental impact. This approach emphasizes soil health through the use of organic amendments, crop rotation, composting, and mulching to improve fertility and water retention. Water conservation techniques, such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, are employed to optimize water use, especially in arid regions. Pest and disease management relies on integrated pest management (IPM), biological controls, companion planting, and the use of organic pesticides to reduce chemical input while maintaining crop health. Sustainable homegrown produce has been shown to have superior nutritional content compared to commercially grown produce, and the avoidance of synthetic chemicals reduces the risk of pesticide residue exposure. Gardening fosters healthy eating habits by connecting individuals to their food sources, encouraging the consumption of fresh, unprocessed vegetables, and contributing to food security. The mental and physical health benefits of gardening, including reduced stress, increased physical activity, and improved mental well-being, further highlight its holistic value. However, challenges such as the initial setup costs, time investment, pest management, and knowledge gaps can hinder widespread adoption. Addressing these challenges requires greater access to resources, educational initiatives, and the development of climate-resilient practices tailored to specific regions. Future trends in sustainable gardening include the adoption of technological innovations, such as smart irrigation systems, automation, and vertical farming, which offer scalable solutions for urban and small-scale gardeners. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of resilient, local food systems, and sustainable gardening is poised to play a critical role in addressing future food security concerns.

Breeding for flooding tolerance in rice: Advancements and future perspectives

Rice, the resilient grain, is cultivated in different types of ecosystems, from seacoast to hilly areas. Unfortunately, due to climate change, it frequently suffers from submergence stress during its growth period. Anoxic stress at the germination phase, flash flooding during the vegetative phase and water stagnation in low-lying areas are the major types of flooding in rice. When floodwaters rise, rice adapts. Some varieties stretch their stems toward the surface, gasping for air. Others remain dormant, conserving energy, like the FR13A landrace, SUB1 equips rice with underwater endurance. It orchestrates a genetic symphony, fine-tuning metabolic pathways and signalling survival. Some of the promising quantitative trait locus (QTLs) identified are qAG-9-2, which is responsible for anaerobic germination tolerance; qSUB1 for vegetative stage submergence tolerance, and qTIL12 for deep water adaptation. Identifying other novel QTLs and donors helps to breed varieties tolerant to different types of submergence stress. Along with Swarna SUB1, many mega-submergence-tolerant varieties have been developed and released for cultivation in Asia. As we cultivate these versatile survivors, we sow hope for a food-secure future.

Future Food Security Challenges in Riau Province, Indonesia

The food crisis is a real problem in various regions around the world, including Indonesia. This phenomenon is influenced by the rate of population growth which is increasing while farmlands are depleting due to the conversion of land into settlements, especially in Riau Province which is experiencing food security threats. Food security projections are made to provide an overview of the future condition of food security in Riau Province to support sustainability. The basic data used are data for 2018 and 2019. The measurement method used is the scenario method and then the availability calculation method according to Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 43/Permentan/OT.140/7/2010. Meanwhile, the calculation of food needs uses a formula taking into account the average consumption per capita per year from the regional agriculture service multiplied by the population in the year concerned. Then, the projections are measured using the arithmetic population growth formula approach for food availability and the geometric population growth formula for the food needs of the population. The food commodity in Riau Province used in the analysis is rice. The calculation results show that in the future food availability in Riau Province will not be able to meet its food needs. Keywords: availability of rice, rice needs, food security

Will a plant germplasm accession conserved in a genebank change genetically over time?

The simplified question on the genetic change of a conserved plant germplasm accession over time is raised for a better understanding of the challenging mission of conserving more than 7.4 million germplasm accessions in 2000 genebanks worldwide for generations to come. Its answer will influence how these genebanks operate to ensure the continued survival and availability of the conserved plant genetic resources for future food security. Here, we explore the expected impact of evolutionary forces on plant germplasm in genebanks, search for the theoretical expectations and empirical evidence for such impacts from the literature, and discuss the ramifications of the evidence for long-term plant germplasm management and conservation. It is expected that genetic changes of long-term conserved germplasm under genebank conditions will occur commonly as an evolutionary rule, not as an exception. Incorporating evolutionary biology into the Genebank Standards and operational procedures will benefit the mission of long-term germplasm conservation.

Ecogeographic Study of Ipomoea Species in Mauritius, Indian Ocean.

The wild relatives of crops play a critical role in enhancing agricultural resilience and sustainability by contributing valuable traits for crop improvement. Shifts in climatic conditions and human activities threaten plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), jeopardizing contributions to future food production and security. Studies and inventories of the extant agrobiodiversity, in terms of numbers and distribution patterns of species and their genetic diversity, are primordial for developing effective and comprehensive conservation strategies. We conducted an ecogeographic study on Ipomoea species and assessed their diversity, distribution, and ecological preferences across different topographic, altitudinal, geographical, and climatic gradients, at a total of 450 sites across Mauritius. Species distribution maps overlaid with climatic data highlighted specific ecological distribution. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed species distribution was influenced by geographical factors. Regional richness analyses indicated varying densities, with some species exhibiting localized distributions and specific ecological preferences while the other species showed diverse distribution patterns. Field surveys identified 14 species and 2 subspecies out of 21 species and 2 subspecies of Ipomoea reported in Mauritius. A gap in ex situ germplasm collections was observed and several species were identified as threatened. Further investigations and a more long-term monitoring effort to better guide conservation decisions are proposed.

Tropospheric ozone pollution: Implication for food security and crop nutrition in South Asia

The study was conducted on ambient ozone (O3), the most phyto-toxic air pollutant, and its effects on the growth and quality of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and peas (Pisum sativaum) grown in Northern Pakistan during the summer and winter of 2018. Okra was subjected to ambient O3 levels ranging from 43 to 63 ppb during the summer, with a mean O3 concentration of 55 ppb, while peas experienced lower winter concentrations of 15–25 ppb, with a mean O3 concentration of 19 ppb. The results indicated significant impacts on the growth and nutritional quality of crops, especially okra. Anti-ozonant ethylene diurea (EDU) was used for soil drenching to protect okra and green peas from O3 damage. Okra showed notable enhancements of 20%, 20%, 29%, and 13% in ash, protein, fiber, and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFE), respectively. Increase in plant height, leaf numbers, pod length, and dry weight was observed in EDU-treated okra plants. Conversely, peas exhibited less variation, although melioration was observed in plant height, pod numbers, length, and weight with EDU treatment. It was concluded that the concentration of ambient O3 in Peshawar is toxic enough to cause significant damage to crop growth and production. The stark difference in O3 impact during different seasons suggests that higher summer concentrations could severely compromise crop quality. This elicits significant concerns regarding food security in South Asia, especially for summer crops that can jeopardize future food security. It is recommended that further research be conducted on the effects of O3 on other regional crops to assess fully its implications for agricultural sustainability in the area.

Energy models in service of aquifer specific groundwater irrigation expansion in India

Abstract Pumping energy is a key component of the groundwater governance challenge, yet it is largely missing in the discourse on agricultural use of groundwater. A sub-category of literature studying groundwater-energy nexus tends to focus on groundwater depletion hotspots where entrenched interests and long-standing histories restrict the range of feasible energy pricing options. Using an agent based model, we estimate expected impacts of expanding groundwater irrigation under five different energy provision models in Odisha, an Indian state with among the lowest irrigation coverage, and therefore, free of path dependent policies. We find aquifer properties play a crucial role in mediating the groundwater-energy nexus. For this study region, on average, the maximum volume of water that can be pumped from a well of a specific depth in an alluvial aquifer is approximately 150 times the volume that can be pumped from a well in a hard-rock aquifer. Therefore, the risk of over-consumption and aquifer depletion is a far greater challenge in alluvial than hard-rock aquifers. Risks of groundwater consumption and depletion can be limited in hard-rock aquifers provided the number and depths of wells can be controlled. Capital subsidies for well construction could be an effective policy to increase irrigated area so long as economic incentives for digging deeper are not distorted. Our results imply that solar pumps are a relatively safe option for hard-rock regions where deep drawdowns naturally limit the extent of over-extraction. Solar pumps are also estimated to be among the most economical for expanding irrigation. Using a novel dataset comprising of biophysical and socioeconomic data, we find hard-rock regions to have limited irrigation coverage, high availability of annually replenishable groundwater, and high concentrations of marginalized farmers. Therefore, groundwater irrigation expansion in hard-rock areas could have dual benefits of ensuring future food security and targeting poverty reduction.

Soil volatilomics uncovers tight linkage between soybean presence and soil omics profiles in agricultural fields

Securing a stable food supply and achieving sustainable agricultural production are essential for mitigating future food insecurity. Soil metabolomics is a promising tool for capturing soil status, which is a critical issue for future sustainable food security. This study aims to provide deeper insights into the status of soybean-grown fields under varying soil conditions over three years by employing comprehensive soil volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling, also known as soil volatilomics. Profiling identified approximately 200 peaks in agricultural fields. The soil of soybean-presented plots exhibited markedly higher VOC levels than those of non-soybean plots during the flowering season. Pentanoic acid, 2,2,4-trimethyl-3-carboxyisopropyl, isobutyl ester, a discriminative soil VOC, was identified through multivariate data analysis as a distinctively present VOC in fields with or without soybean plants during the flowering period. Soil VOC profiles exhibited strong correlations with soil-related omics datasets (soil ionome, microbiome, metabolome, and physics) and no significant correlations with root microbiome and rhizosphere chemicals. These findings indicate that soil VOC profiles could serve as a valuable indicator for assessing soil status, thereby supporting efforts to ensure future global food security.

The geographies of apple cultivation: tracing the origins and dispersal of the wild apple Malus sieversii via the Silk Road to the Kashmir Valley

ABSTRACT The production and distribution of food is an important aspect of agricultural geography. Tracing the origin of crops is vital to ensuring future food security, especially in the context of geopolitical and climate change. Drawing on a case study of Kashmir, this article demonstrates how evidence from archaeobotany and ancient writings can be used to trace the geographies of apple domestication, cultivation and distribution. In doing so, it draws attention to the significance of trade networks; in this case those historically supported by the Silk Road.

Integrating Maize Yield and Agricultural Drought Analysis for Sustainable Food Security: A Provincial Study in South Africa (1993–2022)

ABSTRACTExtreme climatic events, such as droughts, hinder progress toward achieving the sustainable development goal of food security. South Africa is vulnerable to drought‐related agricultural losses, which have led to food insecurity. However, few studies have focused on the long‐term impacts of drought on crop production at a regional scale. Therefore, we aimed to examine the intensity, magnitude, and trend of rainfall‐based short‐term agricultural drought at the provincial scale in South Africa based on the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). Additionally, we analyzed the impact of agricultural drought on maize yield by calculating the Standardized Yield Residual Series (SYRS) and Crop Drought‐Resilience Factor (CDRF). To this end, we collected rainfall data from 29 stations across nine provinces along with maize yield data for the period of 1993–2022. Agricultural drought analyses based on the three‐month (SPI‐3) and six‐month (SPI‐6) SPIs demonstrated dynamic variations in occurrence, with Sen's slope indicating that 10 stations exhibited a significant increase in drought events across South Africa. Notably, SPI‐6 analysis showed that Gauteng, Free State, and North West provinces experienced the highest percentages of severe to extreme drought events during the study period, at 4.17%, 3.89%, and 3.61%, respectively. Furthermore, the majority of provinces in South Africa experienced an extreme SPI‐6 magnitude ranging from −46.03 in Western Cape Province to −61.6 in Free State Province. The dynamic effects of agricultural drought on maize yield revealed that the maximum yield loss of 13% occurred in 1993 in Eastern Cape Province, while some provinces experienced no yield loss during certain years. However, CDRF analyses identified Western Cape (CDRF [SPI‐3] = 0.52, CDRF [SPI‐6] = 0.62) and Mpumalanga (CDRF [SPI‐6] = 0.7) provinces as the most vulnerable to food insecurity due to the severe non‐resilience of maize to drought in these regions. This study reveals the complex interplay between climatic extremes and maize yield variability, providing valuable insights for managing regional food production systems and ensuring future food security in South Africa.

Technology for a Food-secure Future: A Review of Technology Advances in Sustainable Agriculture

There is no doubt that advanced technologies play a very important and crucial role in driving the agricultural sustainable practices in order to satisfy the increasing demand for food production as well as to minimize environmental impacts. This review article aims to provide comprehensive points of view regarding a current state as well as the future advances in smart farming techniques for developing an agricultural sustainability. The digital sensors are considered as key techniques for agricultural transformation which provide an accurate managing and monitoring the various agricultural activities such as crop production, soil moisture, micro climate data, and others. Valuable detailed data are acquired by these sensors to be delivered to the farmers in order to make suitable decisions, ensuring the sustainable and efficient utilization of the agricultural resources. Moreover, managing irrigation using the advanced technologies is benefited wireless monitoring remotely and controlling systems. These technologies and advanced tools help the farmers to reduce water consumption and increase their benefits as well as promotes sustainable management practices of the water resources. Additionally, the drones such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be attached with several kinds of sensors or cameras for capturing detailed information of crop health, soil status, required fertilizers, irrigation, and pesticides. Besides these benefits of drones, they provide a function of an early detection of agricultural problems which allow the decision makers for taking suitable actions. Furthermore, the biotechnology advances such as CRISPR gene editing, and transgenic animals’ developing are very beneficial for enhancing the crop yield, disease resistance, and nutrients availability, and agricultural sustainability. The precision agriculture (PA) integration with geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) provides site-specific management and its decisions in order to optimize the inputs utilization, waste reduce, and sustainable practices promotion. Also, advanced technologies’ application (i.e. artificial intelligence ‘AI’, machine learning ‘ML’, and the Internet of Things ‘IoT’) has been found to be a promising for achieving an agricultural sustainability. Therefore, by using these powerful technologies, the farmers can enhance an agricultural production, decrease an environmental effect and achieve the food security.

Design and Comparison of Vertical and Horizontal Hydroponic Systems for Coriander and Spinach Growth

Understanding the differences in growth performance between these two systems will provide valuable insights for optimizing hydroponic farming practices, particularly in regions with harsh climates and limited water access, where sustainable and efficient food production is crucial for addressing future food security challenges. As the global population continues to grow and climate stress intensifies, indoor/vertical farming is to complement traditional agricultural practices by enhancing sustainable food production and ensuring high-quality produce. The study demonstrated that the horizontal hydroponic system was significantly more effective for growing coriander than the vertical system. In summary, the horizontal hydroponic system consistently outperformed the vertical system for both spinach and coriander, with particularly pronounced results for coriander. Since the shoot is the main economic part of both spinach and coriander, the vertical hydroponic system outperforms the horizontal system, offering significant advantages for economic production. These findings highlight the importance of using vertical hydroponic systems to achieve higher and more profitable yields of these crops.

Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Production and Food Security

This comprehensive analysis provides a detailed examination of the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector, offering sustainable solutions with the objective of ensuring global food security. The detrimental impact of climate change on agricultural production, including global warming, significant alterations in precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events, has been meticulously assessed, with careful consideration given to their potential consequences for future food supply and security. In this context, a number of critical strategies and policies have been proposed, including the strengthening of water management policies, the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices, the development of climate-resilient seeds, and the enhancement of agricultural technologies. Moreover, the imperative for international collaboration and shared accountability has been forcefully emphasised, underscoring the necessity of maintaining this pivotal issue at the forefront of the global agenda. It is evident that a comprehensive approach is essential for combating climate change and ensuring sustainable agricultural production. Sustainable solutions and international cooperation are vital for guaranteeing a reliable future food supply and food security. In this context, the implementation of the proposed strategies and policies represents a crucial step towards aligning the agricultural sector with future needs and effectively addressing climate change.

Enhancing Technical Efficiency in Aquaculture: A Bibliometric Analysis and Literature Review

Early 2024, fueled by rising demand, growing awareness of healthier animal protein, and technological advancements. With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, aquaculture, particularly freshwater fish farming, is pivotal in satisfying the increasing need for animal protein. As the third-largest aquaculture producer, Indonesia faces significant challenges in optimizing production, requiring advanced technology, farmer education, and environmentally sustainable practices. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of the literature on technical efficiency in aquaculture, mapping out research trends, collaborations, and existing gaps. The findings highlight the critical role of technical efficiency in enhancing economic performance and promoting environmental sustainability. Factors such as farmer demographics, training, infrastructure, gender inclusion, and environmental adaptation are identified as key influencers of efficiency. The study emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of technical efficiency across various regions and species, underscoring Indonesia's potential as a focal point for further research in this area. This knowledge is essential for improving practices and policies to meet future food security needs effectively.

Is auxin the key to improve crop nitrogen use efficiency for greener agriculture?

Strengthening future food security through the application of unsustainable levels of inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizers to crop fields may exacerbate environmental damage. Coordination of N-use efficiency (NUE) and plant growth is, therefore, crucial for sustainable agriculture. Auxin plays pivotal roles in developmental and signaling responses that affect NUE. Hence, a better understanding of these processes provides great potential to improve crop NUE. This review summarizes the effects of auxin on N-related and root developmental processes that either directly or indirectly affect NUE in the model plant Arabidopsis and major crop species to highlight the potential of fostering sustainable agricultural development in the future through modulating auxin-related processes.

Photosynthesis: Genetic Strategies Adopted to Gain Higher Efficiency.

The global challenge of feeding an ever-increasing population to maintain food security requires novel approaches to increase crop yields. Photosynthesis, the fundamental energy and material basis for plant life on Earth, is highly responsive to environmental conditions. Evaluating the operational status of the photosynthetic mechanism provides insights into plants' capacity to adapt to their surroundings. Despite immense effort, photosynthesis still falls short of its theoretical maximum efficiency, indicating significant potential for improvement. In this review, we provide background information on the various genetic aspects of photosynthesis, explain its complexity, and survey relevant genetic engineering approaches employed to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis. We discuss the latest success stories of gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 and synthetic biology in achieving precise refinements in targeted photosynthesis pathways, such as the Calvin-Benson cycle, electron transport chain, and photorespiration. We also discuss the genetic markers crucial for mitigating the impact of rapidly changing environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures or drought, on photosynthesis and growth. This review aims to pinpoint optimization opportunities for photosynthesis, discuss recent advancements, and address the challenges in improving this critical process, fostering a globally food-secure future through sustainable food crop production.

Comparative Analysis of Physical and Functional Properties of Colored Horse Gram Varieties (Macrotyloma uniflorum) and Its Flour

Pulses has important role in contributing to food and nutritional security and replenishing soil nutrients having a huge potential in addressing needs like future global food security, nutrition and environmental sustainability. Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) is a minor, under-exploited legume of tropics and subtropics grown under dry-land agriculture. The present study was conducted with the objective to maximize the utilization of horse gram and its flour physical and functional properties. Hundred grain weight and density (3.33 g,1.29 g/ml) were higher in cream colored variety and it was lighter, redder (less green), yellower (less blue) than brown and black colored varieties. Thickness of varieties varied significantly, highest being in brown (2.18 mm) colored variety. Hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and percent germination (2.92 g/100 grains, 0.93, 3.83 ml/100 grains and 91.66 %) varied significantly with highest being in brown colored variety. Maximum amount of all the flours passed through 52 BSS standard sieve having 300 µ sieve opening. Loose bulk density was high in brown colored flour (0.41 g/ml) whereas tapped bulk density was high in cream colored flour (0.63 g/ml). Cream-colored horse gram flour was lighter (L* value being 78.72), redder (a* value being 5.78) and yellower (b* value being 16.84). There was significant difference in the functional properties of flour. The black colored flour had highest water absorption capacity (2.31 ml/g), oil absorption capacity (2.15 ml/g), swelling power (9.14 g/g), foaming capacity (36.23 %) and foaming stability (32.13 %) than other two flours. The wettability, flowability and cohesiveness of all three flours were good, fair and low respectively. Thus brown and black colored varieties had better physical and functional properties than cream-colored variety. The brown and black colored flour had highest loose bulk density whereas cream colored flour had highest tapped bulk density. Black colored flour had highest water and oil absorption capacity, swelling power, foaming capacity and foaming stability.