Insight into insect protein production and gut microbiota from mixed food waste bioconversion by Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae.

ABSTRACT The continuous growth in global population is driving a substantial increase in electricity demand, resulting in higher fuel consumption and worsening environmental degradation. As a sustainable alternative, electric vehicles (EVs) have gained prominence due to their potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and their lower operating and maintenance costs compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. However, the widespread integration of EVs introduces new challenges for microgrid (MG) operations, particularly in terms of operational optimization and grid stability. This paper investigates the impact of EV charging behavior and regulation on the optimal operation of MGs, focusing on minimizing both operational and environmental protection costs. The analysis considers dynamic conditions, including high penetration levels of EVs charging simultaneously, which may compromise MG performance. A MATLAB‐based optimization framework was developed to evaluate the economic distribution of power within the MG, incorporating two critical factors: the scheduling of EV charging and the implementation of vehicle‐to‐grid (V2G) technology. The results underscore the importance of coordinated charging strategies in improving the cost‐effectiveness and reliability of MG operations under increasing EV integration. The novelty of this work lies in the integration of EV charging/discharging schedules with V2G impact in a unified optimization model, providing actionable insights for MG operators and highlighting the dual role of EVs as both loads and distributed energy resources.

The rapid global population growth, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), is expected to significantly increase the demand for food by 2050 while agricultural productivity is inadequate. Conservation agriculture (CA) approaches have been recognised as possible remedy. This study was done semi-arid parts of Kondoa district, Tanzania, examined the effects of CA on households’ food security. Data were collected from 360 farmers through household surveys, employing both principal component analysis (PCA) and a multinomial endogenous treatment effects model to assess the impact of CA. The study found that CA practices significantly improve Household Dietary Diversity Scores per Adult Equivalent Unit (HDDS/AEU) and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) scores. Factors positively influencing CA package adoption include farm size, household size, social group membership, and access to extension services. The study highlights the synergistic effects of combining multiple CA practices, which collectively have a greater impact on food security than individual practices. The findings underscore the importance of promoting CA practices as a strategy to enhance food security in semi-arid regions. Policymakers and agricultural extension services should focus on providing support and resources to farmers, including training, access to credit, and knowledge-sharing platforms.

With global population growth and rising consumption levels, the demand for meat has increased dramatically. Traditional animal husbandry, due to its high resource consumption and significant environmental pressures—such as substantial greenhouse gas emissions, land occupation, and water resource waste, has become difficult to sustainably meet future demands. As an emerging alternative protein source, plant-based meat substitutes can significantly reduce resource consumption and alleviate environmental pollution by extracting protein from plants and simulating the taste of meat. Based on the life cycle assessment method, this paper systematically compares the environmental impacts of plant-based meat substitutes and traditional pork on greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water consumption, and land use during the production process. The results indicate that plant-based meat substitutes exhibit superior environmental performance in all dimensions. Furthermore, this article explores the current challenges in the industry, such as insufficient consumer acceptance, and proposes corresponding promotion strategies, providing both a theoretical foundation and practical references for the development of plant-based meat substitutes.

Global population growth intensifies pressure on conventional protein production, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives, such as single-cell protein (SCP). While SCP is established in animal feed, its wider adoption faces challenges in feedstock sustainability, production efficiency, and scalability. This review examines how synthetic biology addresses these barriers across the SCP value chain. We trace the evolution of substrates from sugars to waste-derived streams and C1 compounds, emphasizing advances in engineered microbial C1 assimilation. Strain development has progressed from classical screening to rational design and model-driven metabolic engineering for optimized protein biosynthesis. Fermentation has shifted from conventional methods to model-based, digitally enabled precision control for robust, and scalable bioprocessing. Finally, we discuss emerging strategies for nutritional customization in human applications, including programmable sensory attributes and demographic-specific amino acid profiles, positioning SCP as a versatile protein source for sustainable feeds and nutrient-dense, sensorially accepted future foods.

Fabrication of waste bread-derived biodegradable mulch film with sustained-release atrazine performance.

Urban green spaces play a crucial role in improving environmental quality, mitigating climate change impacts, and enhancing the well-being of city inhabitants. However, water scarcity caused by global warming, population growth, pollution, and unsustainable irrigation practices increasingly threatens the sustainability of conventional landscaping models. The use of turfgrass and non-native species with high water requirements has amplified this pressure, often resulting in degraded and visually unappealing urban landscapes during summer droughts.Xeriscaping, a concept developed in the early 1980s in Denver, USA, represents a sustainable landscaping approach based on water-efficient planning, the use of drought-tolerant plants, soil conservation techniques, and reduced maintenance inputs. This paper explores the potential of xeriscaping for urban areas in Romania, where climate change and soil aridization are becoming more pronounced. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of indigenous flora adapted to drought conditions, which can provide ecological, economic, and aesthetic benefits.

Global population growth, accelerated urbanization, and rising per capita income have driven a continuous increase in the demand for meat consumption. However, traditional livestock production models not only impose a significant environmental burden, such as greenhouse gas emissions, land and water resource consumption, but are also closely associated with various health risks, including foodborne illnesses, antibiotic resistance, and zoonotic diseases. As a sustainable alternative to animal-derived food, plant-based food has experienced rapid development in the global food industry in recent years. This paper systematically reviews the definition, raw material composition, and processing technologies of plant-based foods, with a focus on analyzing research progress in their nutritional value, health effects, environmental sustainability, and market acceptance. Additionally, it explores technological innovations in areas such as protein structure modification, texture simulation, and functional component enhancement of plant-based food, as well as challenges and prospects in nutritional optimization, long-term health effect evaluation, and market promotion. This study aims to provide reference and insights for scientific research, product development, and industrial application of plant-based food.

Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients, containing high levels of proteins, oils, fibers, phenolic compounds, and other beneficial substances. Coffee grounds can be a promising source of nutrients for plants, improving water, air, and thermal regimes in soils and increasing the fertility of agricultural lands. Spring barley holds a central place in global and national agricultural production, as it is a leading grain crop with diverse applications in food, animal feed, and industrial sectors. Barley plays a key role in ensuring food security, especially in the context of global population growth and climate change. Therefore, the goal of this research was to determine the effect of coffee grounds on the yield of Vakula spring barley grown on sod-podzolic medium loamy soil in vegetation experiments. Our studies have shown that applying pure coffee grounds has a negative effect on the growth and development of spring barley. The phytotoxicity of the leached coffee residue increased with higher application rates. However, when coffee grounds were applied in combination with mineral fertilizers, the grain yield increased 1.9-fold compared to the application of pure coffee grounds and was comparable to the yield obtained with the NPK fertilizer treatment. Applying pure coffee grounds decreased both the crude protein content and its total yield in the grain crop. The highest starch yield was observed with the combined application of coffee grounds and mineral fertilizer, reaching 8 g/vessel, which was 1.2 times greater than the control. Applying pure coffee grounds reduced the starch yield in spring barley grain by 2.3-6.2 g/vessel, or 35.5-95.8%, compared to the control. The highest fat yield was observed with complete mineral fertilizer and with the combined application of coffee grounds and NPK fertilizer, reaching 211-212 g/vessel, 1.3 times greater than the control

Facing the significant challenges posed by global population growth and urbanization, plant factories, as an efficient closed cultivation system capable of precise environmental control, have become a key direction in the development of modern agriculture. However, high energy consumption, particularly lighting (which accounts for over 50%), remains a major bottleneck limiting their large-scale application. This study systematically explored the effects of dynamic light regulation strategies on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth, physiological and biochemical indicators (such as chlorophyll, photosynthetic, and fluorescence parameters), nutritional quality, energy utilization efficiency, and post-harvest shelf life. Four different light treatments were designed: a stepwise increasing photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) from 160 to 340 μmol·m−2·s−1 (T1), a constant light intensity of 250 μmol·m−2·s−1 (T2), a three-stage strategy with high light intensity in the middle phase (T3), and a three-stage strategy with sequentially increasing light (T4). The results showed that the T4 treatment exhibited the best overall performance. Compared with the T2 treatment, the T4 treatment increased biomass by 23.4%, significantly improved the net photosynthetic rate by 50.32% at the final measurement, and increased ascorbic acid (AsA) and protein content by 33.36% and 33.19%, respectively. Additionally, this treatment showed the highest energy use efficiency. On the 30th day of treatment, the light energy use efficiency (LUE) and electrical energy use efficiency (EUE) of the T4 treatment were significantly increased, by 23.41% and 23.9%, respectively, compared with the T2 treatment. In summary, dynamic light regulation can synergistically improve crop yield, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, nutritional quality, and energy utilization efficiency, providing a theoretical basis and solution for precise light regulation and energy consumption reduction in plant factories.

By 2050, global population growth will lead to a significant increase in demand for animal-based products, including seafood. Aquaculture is a key solution to meet these needs while reducing pressure on wild aquatic stocks. However, its environmental footprint and energy demand remain open concerns. This study explores the co-location of offshore aquaculture with a wave energy converter—WaveRoller—as a renewable power source. Using a 44-year dataset from the Portuguese coast near Peniche, the analysis evaluates the survivability and operation of the WaveRoller, long-term percentile trends, seasonal energy production, extrapolated extreme events using probabilistic modeling, and confidence intervals for energy costs. A scenario-based range of energy demand is constructed from a baseline blue mussel production of over 400 tons/yr. The K-Means clustering method is applied to reduce data size while maintaining its representativeness. Results show that a 600 kW WaveRoller is similarly suited to operational wave conditions compared to a 1000 kW device, though it excels when aquaculture energy demand peaks in Summertime. The probability that a single WaveRoller fails to meet annual aquaculture energy needs is nearly zero, though, during Summer, it can become statistically significant. The opposite is verified on survivability during Winter, under harsher wave conditions. The Levelized Cost of Energy is calculated for different expenditure scenarios, with minimum values slightly under 200 EUR/MWh being reported only under ideal conditions. Future work should include climate change scenarios and life cycle assessments to better evaluate environmental impacts and techno-economic viability.

The continuous rise in textile waste, driven by global population growth and the proliferation of fast fashion, has raised concerns about its efficient recycling and sustainable management. This study aims to assess the feasibility of recycling textile waste by incorporating recycled cotton fibres as reinforcement in polypropylene-based composites. Specifically, it examines the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of composites composed of 50% recycled polypropylene and 50% reinforcing fibres (either virgin or recycled cotton), with and without the addition of 5% maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene as a compatibilizer to enhance fibre-matrix adhesion. Although the use of recycled cotton as reinforcement reduced the mechanical properties of the composite material, the addition of 5% compatibilizer improved these properties to levels comparable to those of composite reinforced with virgin cotton.

Against the backdrop of global population and food demand growth, the development of ratoon rice is conducive to increasing food production and ensuring food security. Applying agricultural biotechnology and plant growth regulator to ratoon rice production is a key measure to promote the development of green agriculture and address the challenges of global food security. A total of 4 treatments were set up in this study: T1 (regulator); T2 (biological agent made from plant materials); T3 (microbial agent); and control (CK). The results showed that T3 up-regulated many key genes (OsHsfC1b, OsCNGC16, OsOSM1, OsSAPK9, and DTH2, etc.) and metabolites (spermine, citric acid, riboflavin, and shikimic acid). T2 was found to up-regulate key genes OsAPT2, OsZIP8, OsCIPK14, OsCIPK7, OsPR4c, and OsVIT2, and its regulatory effects involved carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, etc. In addition, the two biological agents and one regulator significantly increased the accumulation of stem dry matter and yield in the first season. T1, T2, and T3 significantly increased the final regenerative capacity of Yongyou4949 at D5 (fifth node from the top); T1 and T2 significantly increased the maximum and final regenerative capacities of Shuangliangyou138 at D5. This study provided guidance for developing more effective agricultural management strategies, which is conducive to the sustainable development of agriculture.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-06751-z.

In the face of global population growth, climate volatility and mounting ecological pressures, agricultural science is shifting from traditional yield-centered paradigms toward integrated, sustainable development models. This study employs CiteSpace (version 6.1.5) to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 1780 scholarly publications on agricultural science research from 2000 to 2024, drawn from both the Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. By adopting a systematic process of article selection as represented by the PRISMA flowchart, the dataset was refined through rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure analytical robustness. CiteSpace, a powerful visualization and analysis tool, and VOSviewer were used to conduct keyword co-occurrence mapping, cluster analysis, temporal evolution modeling and institutional collaboration analysis. The results reveal three dominant global research themes: climate change adaptation, agricultural system resilience and technological innovation. Global trends augment precision agriculture, carbon management and digitalization. Chinese studies continue to focus on yield increment and improvement of principal crops, underlined by the growing application of smart agriculture, ecological administration and rural revitalization policies. Institutional research finds Jiangsu University to be an essential node in China's agricultural science network. By synthesizing cross-regional, bilingual datasets, this study offers new evidence for the converging but also diverging paths of agricultural research worldwide and in China. Such evidence is supportive of the use of evidence-based policy making, academic strategy and innovative agricultural reform in the context of sustainable development. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Global human population growth results in increased emissions of chemical pollutants like heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). These two non-essential elements have strong bioavailability and toxicity, causing harmful health effects on humans, and the wider environment. Synanthropic wildlife species like the white-eared opossum may act as sentinels of environmental contamination, since they have a high incidence in urban areas and close contact with humans. The aim of this study was to conduct toxicological and histopathological analyses of white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) that live in the city of Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul state in Brazil. In addition, we surveyed Cd and Pb in soil and water from sites where D. albiventris were captured. A total of 23 animals were captured and, after recording biological parameters, were euthanized and necropsied. Liver and central nervous system (CNS) samples were sent for toxicological analysis of Cd and Pb. Fragments of the liver, brain, kidney, and reproductive system were collected for histopathological evaluation. The presence of Cd and Pb in the liver and CNS was identified, with a high concentration of Pb in the CNS. Additionally, we found higher concentrations of Pb in both soil and water samples than in the animals. In the histopathological analysis, mild to moderate degenerative tissues lesions were found and may be compatible with damage caused by the presence of Cd and Pb. Nevertheless, our statistical analysis indicated that contamination by Cd and Pb did not threaten the health of the sampled animals. This study is the first in Brazil to detect background levels of Cd and Pb in the liver and CNS of D. albiventris, correlating these concentrations with histopathological lesions. The findings further emphasize the importance of understanding the interactions among the environment, humans, wildlife, and domestic animals within the One Health framework.

Microalgal bioengineering for futuristic applications in synthetic and space biology.

Global population growth leads to a high demand for quality minerals, particularly for industrial production. Guinea, rich in mineral resources, has more than 23 billion tonnes of bauxite in the Boké region, of which the sub-prefecture of Sangarédi, operated by the Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG), is a major site. In this context, a geological characterization study of the Parawi bauxitic deposit was carried out to better understand its petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical composition. The methodology adopted is based on a geological prospecting campaign, with samples collected in the field using an Estwing-type hammer, as well as in boreholes thanks to an ATLAS COPCO drilling rig. Petrographic analysis reveals that the deposit developed on Devonian aleurolites and argillites, intruded by Mesozoic dolerites, then topped with Cenozoic bauxites. The semi-quantitative mineralogical study indicates a predominance of gibbsite (43–84%), followed by boehmite (1–20%). The contents of hematite and goethite-alumogoethite vary between 1 and 21%, while kaolinite and quartz remain marginal (0–1%). On the classification diagrams, the samples are divided between bauxite, ferritic bauxite and kaolinitic bauxite. The high Al2O3 contents reflect a strong lateritization, while the SiO2 contents reflect a weak weathering. Observed bauxitisation processes include kaolinite preservation or destruction, deferruginisation and dehydration. This geological characterization is an essential step to ensure the profitability, safety and sustainability of the exploitation of the Parawi deposit, and guides decision-making at each phase of the mining project.

Abstract Owing to the robust global economy, population growth, and high urbanization rates, the building sector is experiencing significant expansion and an increase in energy demand. Consequently, the building sector has become one of the largest consumers of energy worldwide, making sustainability an important consideration. Sustainable design strategies aim to reduce the energy consumption of buildings, thereby mitigating their negative environmental impacts. Typically, the demand for better thermal comfort due to changes in lifestyle and needs has led to the use of air conditioning, which increases energy demand and expenses for users. Therefore, architects are reconsidering alternative methods, such as passive design strategies, to increase thermal comfort. One of these strategies is the courtyard, one of the oldest building elements in human history, which has been applied in various climatic conditions. Studies have shown that courtyards and atria can enhance the energy efficiency of buildings, particularly in hot and dry climates. However, proper integration of these elements is necessary to take advantage of them and optimize the energy performance of buildings. Therefore, this study focuses on analyzing existing studies that investigate the effect of courtyards and atria on energy demand in hot desert regions. It aims to identify, explain, and categorize the main design variables of these two elements and then examine their individual impacts on energy performance. Finally, this paper presents a comprehensive set of variables that are essential for the effective integration of courtyards and atria into building design in hot, dry regions.

The escalating pressure from global population growth, climate change, and resource consumption is intensifying the burden on traditional agricultural production. Against this backdrop, soil degradation and pollution present increasingly severe challenges, creating a vicious cycle with rising food demands. Maintaining soil health and its ecosystem services has thus become a critical prerequisite for achieving sustainable agriculture in the future. This review explores the impacts of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics on soil microbial communities and their interactions. Soil C and N are key determinants of microbial diversity and community structure, intrinsically linked to soil C/N cycling, crop productivity, and ecological balance. Environmental factors such as nitrogen fertilizer application, organic matter amendment application, litter decomposition, elevated CO2 concentrations, and nitrogen deposition significantly influence soil C and N dynamics. Changes in soil C and N content regulate microbial community dynamics and the synergistic, competitive, and antagonistic interactions among microorganisms. Meanwhile, microbial communities actively respond to alterations in soil C and N availability. The resulting shifts in microbial communities and their interactions subsequently regulate soil C/N cycling and ecosystem stability, ultimately influencing ecosystem functions. By elucidating the mechanisms underlying soil carbon-nitrogen-microbial interactions, this review significantly advances our understanding of soil ecosystem responses and feedback mechanisms in the context of global change, while also providing crucial practical guidance for enhancing soil fertility and promoting sustainable agricultural development through microbial regulation.

Abstract Rapid global population growth poses major challenges in waste management and food production. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens ) present a solution by transforming organic waste into nutrient-dense, protein-rich feed for animals. In this study, we evaluated how various mixtures of organic diets impact BSFL growth and nutritional value. Seven diet combinations were tested, including fruit/vegetable waste, potatoes scraps, and livestock forage, with mixtures comprising 100% of each, 50% of two, and a 50%/25%/25% combination. Conducted under controlled conditions, the study measured larval growth, mortality, waste conversion efficiency, and nutritional content. Findings showed the 50% fruit/vegetable, 25% potatoes scraps, and 25% forage blend yielded optimal results, with the highest larval biomass (0.25 ± 0.04 g/larva), lowest mortality (5.6 ± 1.9%), and most efficient waste conversion (9.64 ± 1.8%). Nutritional analysis revealed that larvae fed on this mix had protein levels (44.5 ± 2.1% on dry matter basis) comparable to conventional protein sources for poultry. Higher levels of C12:0, C14:0, C16:0 and C18:1c9 were observed in larvae fed the diets containing little of these fatty acids. Additionally, larvae fed high proportion of fruit and vegetable had the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid contents. By converting waste into valuable protein sources, BSFL offer a promising approach to meeting future food security and environmental sustainability goals.