Important Food Research Articles

The Belt and Road Initiative and China's diversifying food imports: A perspective on the "Five-pronged approach"

The diversification of imported food varieties is essential for ensuring China's food security. Since the inception of the Belt and Road initiative (BRI), there has been a significant increase in agricultural trade cooperation between China and participating countries, facilitated by the "Five-pronged approach" (FPA). However, existing research regarding the BRI's impact on imports has not yet fully addressed the complexities inherent in agricultural trade, such as stringent logistics, customs regulations, inspection and quarantine procedures, and the varying trade costs associated with different agricultural commodities. This underscores a research gap in understanding the BRI's effectiveness in promoting diversified food imports, particularly across distinct food categories. Utilizing the Difference-in-Differences model, this research evaluates the BRI's contribution to China's diversified food imports and the heterogeneity of food types. The empirical findings suggest the initiative significantly promotes diversification in China's food imports, notably in the case of vegetable products, while the expansion of animal product imports continues to require sustained support from the FPA. The mechanism analysis indicates the FPA effectively reduces both direct and implicit trade costs, thereby fostering the growth of diversified food imports in China. Additionally, this study examines the initiative's effect on food and nutrition security among participating countries, highlighting a marked promotion of diversified food imports and dietary diversity. This research reinforces the BRI's pivotal role in advancing food security, both within China and across the participating nations.

Developments in welfare of parent stock and commercial broilers.

Meat poultry breeding plays a critical role at the start of the food chain. Breeding solutions are long-term - as available in the DNA of the populations. They are also cumulative - the gradual improvements add up -, and disseminated widely throughout the production chain. Poultry meat is an important animal source food, and instrumental for global food security. The contribution that poultry breeding makes to meet current and future needs can be described in terms of a Code of Good Practice for Sustainable Breeding (Code-EFABAR®), and as Five Commitments to 1) Health, Food Safety and Food Security; 2) Diversity; 3) Balanced Breeding; 4) Management and Stockmanship; and 5) Transparency, Communication and Engagement. The review describes these commitments. Understanding what future directions are foreseen in the medium and long term is the basis for change. The dialogue and close cooperation with stakeholders in society is crucial to anticipate developments, by investigating and implementing them in steady and careful balanced selection leading to better welfare, productivity and sustainability outcomes.

Enhancing enzymatic resistance of pea type 3 resistant starch through pressure heating and annealing.

Type III resistant starch (RS3) is an important functional food ingredient. In this study, RS3 was prepared by retrogradation of pea starch after acid hydrolysis and pullulanase debranching. Heat-moisture treatments, including annealing (90°C, 40-70% moisture content) and pressure heating (121°C, 10-40% moisture content), were employed to further enhance the RS content of pea RS3. The relationship between the structural changes and digestibility of pea RS3 was investigated. The results showed significant increases in relative crystallinity, particle size, gelatinization temperature, and RS content, while swelling power, pasting viscosity, and rapidly digestible starch content were markedly decreased after heat-moisture treatment. A strong positive correlation (r=0.94*) was observed between relative crystallinity and RS content. The highest RS content of 85.6% was achieved after pressure heating at 20% moisture content, which was notably higher than the 45.6% RS content before heat-moisture treatment. This study highlights the beneficial effects of annealing and pressure heating in enhancing RS content in pea RS3, providing valuable insights for developing RS3 with high RS content after cooking.

The function of the Wadden Sea in the life cycle of small pelagic fish

Most fish species require different habitats to complete their life cycle, with coastal areas often playing a crucial role as nursery areas for juveniles. The Wadden Sea is an important nursery area for juvenile fish in the North Sea ecoregion. Despite extensive research on the nursery function of the Wadden Sea for demersal species, its role in the life cycle of small pelagic fish (SPF) remains largely unknown. This limits our understanding of the Wadden Sea ecosystem, as SPF are the dominant component of the overall fish biomass and serve as important food source for higher trophic levels. We studied the role of the Wadden Sea in the life cycle of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), European sprat (Sprattus sprattus), European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) and European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) through monthly stow net and seasonal trawl surveys. Our study showed that SPF use the Dutch Wadden Sea primarily as juvenile habitat, with herring being the dominant marine juvenile representative. Length frequency distributions and genetic analysis revealed that the juvenile herring originated predominantly from southwestern waters, such as the English Channel. Additionally, the Wadden Sea still provides spawning grounds for herring and anchovy, with no substantial spawning observed for sprat. While smelt can complete nearly its entire life cycle in the Wadden Sea, it depends on connectivity to nearby freshwater for spawning. In summary, the Wadden Sea functions as a nursery for juveniles, and to a lesser extent as spawning grounds for adults. A thorough understanding of these functions is crucial for identifying bottlenecks and implementing effective conservation and management strategies.

Chemical mixtures of mercury, PCBs, PFAS/PFOS, and pesticides in freshwater fish in the US and the risks they pose for fish consumption

Freshwater fish are important food sources that also pose risks to human and wildlife health because of the bioaccumulation of environmental chemicals in their tissues. Although most studies, fish consumption advisories, and regulations focus on individual contaminants, fish consumers are exposed to mixtures of chemicals, including legacy contaminants and contaminants of emerging concern, that can have combined effects. Chemicals of emerging concern represent one source of hazard, but legacy contaminants can still pose threats to fish consumers due to their persistence in the environment. We investigate the following questions: 1) Do different chemicals correlate with one another in fish tissue, and if so, how? 2) How do levels of different chemicals in fish tissue vary by time and location? and 3) How do observed chemical levels compare with risk-based screening levels? Using several national data sources established and maintained by the US Environmental Protection Agency (NRSA, NCCA-GL, GLENDA, and NLFTS), this study examines the co-occurrence of chemicals in freshwater fish in lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers in the US. We determine that organic contaminants correlate with one another, but generally not with mercury; organic chemicals have declined over time, but mercury has not; and fish concentrations of legacy contaminants-even those banned for decades-continue to exceed risk-based screening levels. Despite some successes in curtailing release of pollutants, some contaminants in fish tissue have not declined and legacy and emerging pollutants continue to pose risks to fish consumers in the US. Correlations between chemicals in fish tissue suggest that exposures to mixtures is prevalent in the US but that organic contaminants do not generally correlate with mercury-noteworthy particularly since fish consumption advisories in the US are frequently driven by the level of mercury, and do not account for exposure to multiple contaminants. While programs such as the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) Program seek to systematically monitor contaminants in fish tissue and other environmental indicators, continuous support from the US federal government is required to sustain this monitoring. Moreover, greater legislative and regulatory efforts are required at both the state and federal levels to reduce continuing sources and ongoing contamination.

A predictive krill distribution model for Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera using scaled acoustic backscatter in the Northern California Current

Euphausiids (krill) are globally significant zooplankton prey for many commercially important or endangered predator species. In the productive upwelling system of the Northern California Current (NCC), two krill species, Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera, dominate the preyscape and constitute an important food resource for many seabirds, cetaceans, and fish. In this study, we use five years of hydroacoustic and net tow data collected in the NCC to develop integrative models predicting acoustic backscatter scaled for E. pacifica or T. spinifera separately. Boosted Regression Trees and Generalized Additive Models are applied in an original ensemble hurdle framework to predict krill presence and abundance from a diverse set of topographic and oceanographic predictors. Krill metrics had significant relationships with seabed depth, distance to submarine canyons, and variables indicative of dynamic ocean conditions (e.g., total deviance explained in acoustic data: 25 % in the presence-absence model & 49 % in the abundance model). Predictions of krill abundance at 5 km resolution averaged by month indicate differential habitat preferences between the two species: T. spinifera was constrained to the continental shelf, around and inshore of the 200 m isobath, whereas E. pacifica was found in greater abundances just offshore of the 200 m isobath and into offshore water in lower abundances. E. pacifica was generally more abundant than T. spinifera (10:1.3 ratio). Both species increased in abundance in the spring and summer, followed by a rapid decline in the fall, and lowest abundances in the winter. These models can produce fine-scale spatial and year-round weekly predictions of E. pacifica and T. spinifera abundance in the NCC, which will provide essential knowledge and new spatial layers about critical ecosystem components to support research and management.

The role of lactic acid bacteria in food, agriculture and industry: A review

Globally, COVID‐19 pandemic imposed unparalleled challenges for food, agriculture and industries that led to disruptions in supply chains and demand dynamics. In Nigeria, this period showcased people’s adaptability, resilience and innovativiness and underscored the importance of diversifying supply chains. This paper reviews the importance of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) in food, agriculture and industry specifically highlighting their role as starter cultures for fermented foods. Lactic acid bacteria belong to a group of gram positive, beneficial bacteria, which produce lactic acid as their primary fermentation product. They have always been used for food and dairy products fermentation and focus has been on their applications. Fermented foods are produced through fermentation of certain sugars, especially lactose by LAB. The end products of the breakdown include bacteriocins which are bio-protective agents of industrial importance. Of particular agricultural and food importance is probiotic application of some LAB. Probiotics are living microbial feed supplement that beneficially affects the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance. The Bacteriostatic and bactericidal potentials of certain metabolites of LAB origins were elucidated. These polypeptides synthesized by the LAB ribosome have been reported to be antagonistic to several bacteria. The nutritional benefits and safety consideration of LAB were also emphasized. Limitations to the use of LAB and their future prospect were briefly highlighted. Given the potential applications of LAB to the Nigerian food, agriculture and industries, it is recommended that starter cultures with outstanding traits be further developed and adapted to local needs.

On-farm diversity and production challenges in Ethiopian tef [Eragrostis tef ((Zuccagni) Trotter)] landraces from Arsi zone, Ethiopia: Implications for breeding and conservation.

Tef [Eragrostis tef ((Zucc.) Trotter)] is a remarkable indigenous crop, highly adaptive and resilient to erratic and extreme climatic and soil conditions. It is a major staple food in Ethiopia and is usually cultivated for household consumption and the generation of income. However, nowadays, the crop particularly, the landraces are exposed to genetic erosion owing to biotic and abiotic factors. Thus, detecting the current status and production bottlenecks of the crop is key to enhance its production and conservation. The main objectives of this study were to assess the extent of on-farm diversity, genetic erosion and current production challenges of Tef landraces in Arsi Zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia. The study was conducted in the Arsi zone, Southeast Ethiopia using 400 selected farmers. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using Minitab version 19. The respondent farmers included the different sex groups, age groups, educational status, marital status, and religious outlooks. S: A total of 26 Tef landraces have been identified to be cultivated over the last 2 to 3 decades and/or still in production in the study areas. The respondents indicated differences in the landraces with regard to morphological features which along with the naming's could suggest their genetic distinctiveness. Patterns of on-farm diversity in the landraces showed a varied abundance in the area where eleven landraces showed a relatively higher estimate (D=0.75 in Sergegna to D=0.58 in Bulga). With the exception of Aruso Tef (D=0.47), all the remaining landraces showed minimal or no (D=0.00) genetic abundance. The extent of the Sorenson similarity index revealed a higher similarity (0.69 in Enkelo Wabe vs Arsi Robe to 0.77 in Shirka vs Arsi Robe) and the areas revealed a higher landrace richness (R) and evenness index (E). However, patterns of temporal genetic diversity and extent of genetic erosion revealed that only 10 are grown currently (combined genetic erosion of 61.54%). In general, biotic and abiotic factors are challenging the current production of the crop in the area. Hence, researchers and all stakeholders should pay attention to conserving and breeding this important food crop. Understanding the extents of on-farm diversity and possible production challenges of the crop could facilitate and enhance its breeding, conservation and utilizations and hence, contribute to the food security of the country.

Impact of the unconventional extraction on antioxidants and antimicrobial characteristics of hibiscus and olive leaves extracts.

The antioxidant extracts considered a very important food additive which promoting the protection of lipid and prolong the shelf life of food products. The aim of this investigation was decrease the time of extraction of hibiscus leaves extract (HLE) and olive leaves extract (OLE) from 48h to only 6h without reducing efficiency of these extracts. HPLC assay, scavenging radical activity by DPPH˙ (IC50), inhibition lipid peroxidation by both β-Carotene/Linoleic Acid Bleaching (βCB) and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARs) assays, antibacterial and antifungal activities measured for different concentrations of ethanolic extracts by conventional extraction (CE) and difference in pressure extraction (DPE) methods, and the results shown a considerable in mean difference (P<0.05) between the mean values of all extracts of same raw material and also extraction methods, a positive effect for the extracts by DPE method. The absolute ethanolic extracts registered high efficiency (P<0.05) and the olive leave extract was the highest (273.5±1.5mg GAE g-1 of dried extract, 18.1±0.8μgmL-1 to IC50, 86.2±0.2% to βCB, 91.16±0.45% to TBARs, 34.94±0.7 (P<0.05) to inhibitor the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, and 1.25±0.5 (P<0.05) to diameter the colony of Aspergillus ochraceus). The results also showed that DPE extraction not only reduced the extraction time to 12.5% (P<0.05) (from 48h to only 6h), but also registered higher efficiency in antioxidant and antimicrobial activity compared with the conventional extraction method.

Oyster shells as archives of present and past environmental variability and life history traits: A multi‐disciplinary review of sclerochronology methods and applications

AbstractOysters inhabit a variety of coastal and deep‐sea settings over a wide latitudinal range and have a role as ecosystem engineers. They also represent an important food source for humans since hunter‐gatherer times, which motivates interest in using oyster shells as environmental and life history archives. Still, oysters have often been disregarded in sclerochronology studies, although several methods based on both microtextural and geochemical approaches have successfully been investigated. We review how these methods have been used to improve interpretations of shell records, and we identify knowledge gaps in a variety of disciplines. Those include ecology to study larval dispersal and growth rates; archaeology to determine shell midden constructions and site occupations; and palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimate reconstructions from tidal to annual timescales. We also suggest standardizing sclerochronology procedures to improve palaeoenvironmental reconstructions and biophysical models on oyster larval dispersal.

Agribusiness in the UAE: Challenges and Technological Advancements, A Review

This review comprehensively analyses the agribusiness landscape in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), highlighting the challenges and strategic responses that shape the sector. The UAE’s agribusiness is pivotal for economic diversification and reducing oil dependency. However, it faces significant obstacles due to the harsh desert climate, limited arable land, and freshwater scarcity. Soil salinity and water constraints necessitate innovative agricultural practices. Technological innovations such as vertical farming and hydroponics, alongside government initiatives like the ‘National Food Security Strategy 2051’, are crucial for sustainable agriculture. The paper examined the UAE’s reliance on food imports and the associated risks, including supply chain disruptions and market volatility. It outlines resilience strategies such as crop diversification, supply chain improvements, and continuous innovation. Through case studies of pioneering enterprises like Pure Harvest Smart Farms and Al Dahra, the paper showcases successful applications of climate-resilient crops and advanced farming techniques. These firms demonstrate the potential for successful agribusiness despite environmental challenges. The paper concludes that addressing these challenges is vital for the UAE’s food security, ensuring a stable food supply, and supporting a diversified, sustainable economy. Investment in AgriTech, research, innovation, and strategic policy implementation are key to the future of agriculture in the UAE.

Postharvest quality response of green chili (&lt;i&gt;Capsicum Frutescens L&lt;/i&gt;.) fruits to different concentrations of salicylic acid and calcium chloride

Capsicum frutescens L. (green chili) is an important food crop normally used in traditional cuisine. It is soft in texture with high moisture content and active metabolism; hence, it is highly vulnerable to quality deterioration. The object of this study was to explore the storage conditions for the enhancement of postharvest storage life of C. frutescens with six treatments: 1mM/L (T1), salicylic acid (SA) 2mM/L (T2), SA 4mM/L (T3), calcium chloride (CaCl2) 0.5% (T4), CaCl2 1.5% (T5), and CaCl2 2% (T6). Treated fruits were packed in three different types of pack-ing materials (polythene, paper, and cardboard), and the experiment was duplicated to store at 10ºC and 25ºC. The quality of fruits was assessed by decay percentage, weight loss percentage, length of shelf life, and antioxidant activities. The given treatments improved the quality of chili. The shelf life was significantly enhanced by 4mM/L SA and 2% CaCl2 treatment for up to 56 days in cardboard packaging at 10°C.

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Household Food Demand in Estuaire Gabon: A Near-Ideal Quadratic Demand System Approach

Gabon depends heavily on food imports to safeguard its food security; yet household food consumption patterns remain underexplored. This study investigates the structure of food demand in the Estuaire region, incorporating demographic determinants such as the age of the household head, household size, youth proportion, and residential distance from shopping centers. Using primary data collected from a randomized survey of 410 households, the analysis employs the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) model to estimate expenditure and price elasticities. The results indicate that expenditure elasticities are universally positive, with luxury items, including meat, eggs, and fish, exhibiting greater sensitivity compared to staple foods such as poultry, oil, rice, cassava, and bananas, which display inelastic demand. Price elasticities for meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and rice are negative, adhering to the law of demand. Demographic factors, including education, age, and residential location, significantly influence the consumption of meat, cassava, bananas, and oil. Household size, employment type, and youth composition also emerge as critical determinants of increased demand for poultry, fish, and rice. These findings offer policy-relevant insights to strengthen food security and address socioeconomic disparities.

Identification of Pratylenchus coffeae as a causal agent of root rot disease in Sorghum bicolor in China

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an important food and feed crop. Root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) are a group of pathogenic nematodes that cause severe economic losses in various food and cash crops. This study identified diseased sorghum plants with stunted growth and brown, rotting roots in sorghum fields in Shanxi Province, China. A species of root-lesion nematode was isolated by modified Baermann funnel method and named the GL-1 population. Afterward, the GL-1 population of root-lesion nematodes was identified as P. coffeae through a combination of morphological, rDNA-ITS and rDNA-28 S D2-D3 region techniques for molecular biological identification. We also conducted greenhouse experiments to assess the parasitism and pathogenicity of GL-1 and four other P. coffeae populations on sorghum through pot inoculation. At 60 days after inoculation, the results indicated that all five populations of P. coffeae were capable of infecting and causing damage to the sorghum plants. Sorghum is a suitable host for P. coffeae (with a reproduction factor > 1). Moreover, compared with those in the control group, the aboveground fresh weights and root fresh weights of sorghum in the five inoculation groups were significantly lower, and brown spots or even necrotic rot appeared on the roots. All five populations were highly pathogenic to sorghum, but there were significant differences in pathogenicity among the populations. This study provides a scientific basis for identifying and detecting root-lesion nematodes in sorghum.

Analysis of agricultural land condition in Western Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2023: the impact of climate change.

Kazakhstan's insufficient food production contributes to its dependency on food imports, highlighting the need for science-based technologies to address land degradation and boost domestic production. The privatisation of land and the establishment of a market economy led to the division of collective farms and significant land fragmentation, resulting in a reduction of agricultural land by 10.6 million ha in the West Kazakhstan region, particularly between 1991 and 2000. Desertification and soil degradation have led to decreased soil fertility, adversely affecting the agricultural industry. Over the last 30years, the area of eroded soils has increased by 5-9%. As of 2022, over 16.7% of agricultural land remains unused, a substantial rise from 1991. This study aims to investigate the qualitative and quantitative transformations of agricultural land in the region over the past three decades and to assess the impact of climate change on land degradation processes. To achieve this, cartographic analysis of NDVI3g (Global Inventory Monitoring and Modelling System [GIMMS]) data for 1990-2022 was conducted, employing linear ordinary least squares and median Theil-Sen trend methods to identify long-term vegetation trends. The results showed a negative trend in agricultural lands with a decline rate of 0.0025 per year (P = 0.009). However, in the past 13years, a positive trend was observed in only three regions, with an average increase of 0.007 per year (P = 0.03). These findings are statistically significant and highlight the growing impact of climatic factors on agricultural and natural ecosystems.

Modeling, Analysis, and Transmission Dynamics of Cassava Mosaic Disease Through Stochastic Fractional Delay Differential Equations

Cassava is the sixth most important food crop worldwide and the third most important source of calories in the tropics. More than 800 million people depend on this plant’s tubers and sometimes leaves. To protect cassava crops and the livelihoods depending on them, we developed a stochastic fractional delayed model based on stochastic fractional delay differential equations (SFDDEs) to analyze the dynamics of cassava mosaic disease, focusing on two equilibrium states, the state of being absent from cassava mosaic disease and the state of being present with cassava mosaic disease. The basic reproduction number and sensitivity of parameters were estimated to characterize the level beyond which cassava mosaic disease prevails or declines in the plants. We analyzed the stability locally and globally to determine the environment that would ensure extinction and its persistence. To support the theoretical analysis, as well as the reliable results of the model, the present study used a nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) method. This numerical method not only improves the model’s accuracy but also guarantees that cassava mosaic probabilities are positive and bounded, which is essential for the accurate modeling of the cassava mosaic processes. The NSFD method was applied in all the scenarios, and it was determined that it yields adequate performance in modeling cassava mosaic disease. The ideas of the model are crucial for exploring key variables, which affect the scale of cassava mosaic and the moments of intervention. The present work is useful for discerning the mechanism of cassava mosaic disease as it presents a solid mathematical model capable of determining the stage of cassava mosaic disease.

Effect of Sowing Date and Post-Emergence Herbicide Application on Growth of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major Rabi crop around the world, including India. After rice, it is India's second-most important food grain crop, accounting for about half of all calories and protein. To improve wheat growth and output, it is crucial to seed at the right time and use effective weed control techniques. An Experiment was conducted at Pilikothi Farm of T. D. P. G. College, Jaunpur, U.P. during the Rabi season of 2018-19 and 2019-20. Experiment was laid out in split plot design replicated thrice with three sowing dates i.e. 15 November, 30 November and 15 December as main plot treatment and six weed management practices i.e. weedy check, weed free, 2, 4 DEE @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha., Carfentrazone @ 0.025 kg a.i./ha., Metsulfuron methyl @ 0.004 kg a.i./ha., Arylex 20.85% + Florasulam @ 20% as sub plot treatment. Soil of the experimental field was sandy clay loam. Fertilizer dose of 150:60:40 kg N, P2O5 and K2O per hectare were applied. The results of the two years experiment clearly indicate that plant height, number of tillers, and leaf area index values were recorded high under sowing on November 15th as compared to other dates of sowing, while Arylex 20.85% + Florasulam @ 20% recorded higher growth over the rest of the herbicide treatments, but the weed-free plot recorded the highest values of the aforementioned growth parameters. Based on the findings, it is possible to infer that planting wheat on time (15th November) with Arylex 20.85% + Florasulam 20% herbicide for weed control may result in increased crop growth in the agro-climatic conditions of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Monitoring of potato viruses in the Altai region and their influence on morphometric and biochemical parameters of plants

Potatoes are one of the most important food crops, and most susceptible to diseases, including viral ones. They can lead to significant yield losses (up to 30-80 %), and in the case of infection by several viruses, this damage increases. The article presents the results of evaluation of viral infection of seed potatoes in Altai Territory (10 potato samples from Kytmanovsky, Pervomaisky districts and Barnaul city) and its influence on morphometric and biochemical parameters of plants. The presence of viruses (X, Y, M, A, S, leafroll virus and tuber spindle viroid) in the samples was determined by RT-PCR using a ‘SINTOL’ set of reagents. Biochemical parameters: chlorophyll a and b concentrations, malonic dialdehyde, peroxidase activity were determined spectrophotometrically. The maximum frequency of occurrence in the districts of the region was observed for two viruses PVY, PVS. On varieties Colomba and Juwel, the prevalence of Y virus reached 100 %, S virus 90-100 %. Tuber spindle viroid (quarantine object), leafroll virus and A virus were absent in all tested samples. Evaluation of morphometric indices revealed a 1.4-fold decrease in the number of leaves affected by virus Y, relative to virus-free plants (variety Colombo). On the variety Gala, the combination of Y+S viruses caused in plants a reduction of leaf plates and an increase in the number of leaves by 1.9 times. S virus infection of Gala variety resulted in a 1.27-fold increase in MDA concentration and a 1.26-fold increase in peroxidase activity. Combined virus infection (PVY + PVS) enhanced the negative effect observed with mono-infection.

Food Safety and Consumer Choices

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in freshwater ecosystems worldwide are a growing threat to human health and the health of aquatic ecosystems. In East Africa, HABs threaten the livelihoods and health of the more than 42 million people who live in the Lake Victoria basin. Since fish is an important food source in this area, understanding how food safety concerns from HABs influence consumer choices is crucial to any policy response. My findings highlight the severity of the impacts of HABs in Lake Victoria and the danger to the surrounding community, yet the existing research on food safety and consumer perceptions is somewhat limited. In this paper, I summarize recent updates to the literature regarding harmful algal blooms and discrete choice experiments to explore what existing literature can tell us about how algal blooms may affect consumer choices.

Resource Utilization and Profitability of Rice Production in The Terai Region of Nepal

Rice is the most important staple food crops in Nepal; however, the national yield of rice is low which has led in insufficient supply and heavy annual import. So, this study assessed the profitability and resource utilization of main and spring season rice production. A Semi-structured interview schedule was administered in 2022 among 360 randomly selected main-season rice-producing farmers across three major rice-producing districts of the Terai region of Nepal. Similarly, it conducted four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to collect necessary data for spring season rice from two Terai districts within similar agro-ecological regions. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to assess the resource utilization in main season rice production. The result revealed that the total cost and revenue of spring season rice production per hectare was higher, with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.63 compared to the main season. It was found that major resources such as the cost of seed, farm yard manure (FYM), chemical fertilizer, micronutrients, and pesticides were underused. On the other hand, the cost of labor, tillage, and harvesting were found to be overused in the main season of rice production. The proportion of the increase in rice income to the increase in costs of inputs for main season rice production was less, as indicated by the return to scale being less than unity. Hence, the study recommends to focus on addressing on prioritization to increase the cropping area under spring season rice and optimization in the use of resources supported by improved technologies to improve profitability and increase farmers’ income from rice this can eases the constraints in the domestic supply of rice and thereby contribute to lowering the annual volume of rice import. SAARC J. Agric., 22(2): 153-167 (2024)