Intensive Agricultural Practices Research Articles

Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Maintaining Sustainable Agroecosystems

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a crucial role in maintaining sustainable agroecosystems by forming mutualistic relationships with plant roots, improving soil health, facilitating nutrient uptake, and enhancing resilience to abiotic stresses. The mutualistic relationship between AM fungi and plants promotes a balanced microbial community and improves soil structure by forming stable soil aggregates. Additionally, AM fungi can lower the adverse effects of high soil phosphorus (P) while also enhancing plant tolerance to drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity through osmotic regulation and antioxidant production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi also support beneficial microorganisms, such as potassium (K)-solubilizing microbes and nitrogen (N)-transforming bacteria, which enhance the nutrient dynamics in soil. However, intensive agricultural practices, including heavy tillage and continuous monoculture, disrupt AM fungal networks and reduce microbial diversity, impairing their effectiveness. Adopting conservation practices such as reduced tillage, crop rotation, and organic amendments supports AM fungal growth. Incorporating mycorrhizal crops and utilizing native fungal inoculants can enhance AM fungal colonization and plant growth. These strategies collectively bolster soil health, crop productivity, and resilience, offering a promising solution to the environmental and agricultural challenges posed by intensive farming. By promoting AM fungi growth and colonization, agroecosystems can achieve long-term productivity and increased sustainability.

Feeding behavior and prey characteristics of great egrets (Ardea alba) in eco-friendly and conventional rice fields in South Korea

Rice fields are important wildlife habitats; however, intensive agricultural practices have reduced the population of farmland birds. As a high-level consumer, the great egret (Ardea alba) serves as an indicator of the overall biodiversity of rice fields. However, little is known about the effects of farming methods on the feeding habitat selection of the great egret. Therefore, we examined the influence of eco-friendly and conventional farming methods on prey characteristics and great egret feeding behavior in rice field ecosystems. We employed focal observations and trap-based sampling to quantify prey characteristics and great egret feeding behaviors in eco-friendly and conventional rice fields. Great egrets showed more hunting attempts per minute and a higher intake rate in conventional fields, but feeding efficiency did not differ. Moreover, they consumed larger loaches in eco-friendly fields than in conventional fields. Great egrets exhibited slower feeding behaviors in eco-friendly fields due to the increased handling time of larger prey, such as loaches. Eco-friendly fields supported a higher abundance of larger-sized loaches than conventional fields, indicating their potential for supporting a higher abundance of great egrets. Our findings highlight the importance of sustainable farming practices for the conservation of the great egret.

Moderating role of digital media on environmental awareness and environmental beliefs to shape farmers' behavioral intentions towards sustainable agricultural land conservation practices.

The Green Revolution in Pakistan introduced intensive agricultural practices aimed at enhancing food security and economic growth. However, these measures have degraded the country's fertile agricultural land and exacerbated climate pollution due to farmers' overexploitation of resources in pursuit of higher yields. Addressing this issue requires identifying factors that can influence farmers' behavior toward adopting sustainable practices. This study explores how farmers' environmental awareness (EA) and beliefs (EB) shape their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control to influence their intentions toward sustainable land practices. Furthermore, social media influence directly or indirectly moderate this relationship to achieve sustainable behavior as extending the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Using data from 1400 educated farmers in Punjab, Pakistan, the study employs structural equation modeling to test hypotheses, with mediation and moderation analyses highlighting the effects of EA, EB, and social media influence on farmer behavioral intentions. The findings reveal that the extension of TPB with the addition of EA and EB statistically significantly with a p-value <0.05 improved the explanatory power of the original TPB model. The findings highlight that farmers who actively engage with agricultural communities on social media become more environmentally aware and strengthen their beliefs, are more likely to adopt sustainable practices. In particular, governments of Pakistan should use social media as a strategic tool to actively raise awareness among farmers by disseminating eco-friendly agriculture practices across various social media platforms, thereby encouraging farmers to engage in more proactive environmental actions.

Influences of light-dark cycle and water temperature on in vitro egg laying, hatching, and survival rate of the Thaparocleidus vistulensis (Dactylogyridea: Ancylodiscoididae).

The European catfish (Silurus glanis) is an important species with high economic value, and its growing demand has led to intensive farming practices for it. However, this species is increasingly challenged by parasitic infections, particularly from a specific gill monopisthocotylan parasite called Thaparocleidus vistulensis. To establish effective management strategies, it is crucial to comprehend the fundamental environmental variables that could influence the reproductive and survival behavior of T. vistulensis. The present study conducted controlled in vitro experiments to observe the fecundity, hatching rate, and survival ability of T. vistulensis under varying light-dark conditions, as well as across a range of water temperatures from 5 to 35°C. Interestingly, light exposure led to a threefold increase in egg production by adult T. vistulensis compared to constant darkness. While light or dark conditions did not significantly affect the hatching and survival rate of adults, they did significantly affect the survival rate of oncomiracidia. The parasite's fecundity was optimal at 15°C. Eggs hatched fastest at 30 °C, whereas no hatching occurred at 5°C and 35 °C. The survival rate for both oncomiracidia and adults showed a negative correlation with increasing water temperatures. These findings provide fundamental insights into how varying environmental variables impact the life cycle of the parasite. The improved understanding of these findings provides a valuable basis for the management of T. vistulensis in cultured European catfish stocks in fish farms.

Edible insects: Maybe environmentally friendly, maybe healthy, maybe tasty—But are we ready to farm them?

AbstractFor some time, environmental researchers and activists have been trying to convince the world that there is an urgent need to change the dietary habits of the modern human population. Their reasoning is based on several issues, with two main pillars supporting the whole concept. One involves mitigating global hunger, and the other addresses the impact that today's agricultural production has on the environment, particularly due to extensive and intensive agricultural practices, especially in developing countries and regions that help feed their populations. Perhaps the most promising proposal—and, as bibliometric analysis shows, more and more popular in the scientific community—is to replace animal protein with insect protein. It would allow for shifting agricultural production from animal‐based to insect‐based. In order to address this concept, the research community has been deeply involved in studying edible insects over the last decade. In doing so, researchers have examined nutritional value, sustainable production and environmental impact, consumer acceptance, and the challenges and opportunities from various perspectives. One might think that with such deep knowledge, the agricultural industry is well‐equipped to initiate this shift. In this article, we argue that this statement is far from true. It appears that the scientific literature on edible insects fails to address what is likely the most important aspect for producers: farming techniques and practices, along with related topics such as feeding, protection from diseases, pathogens, and pests, rearing conditions, breeding, and many other factors. The critical need to improve the sustainability of global agricultural production and reduce its environmental impact calls for rapid changes, so the agricultural research community should stop waiting for others to decide whether edible insects are the way to go. Instead of waiting, they should focus on addressing the most critical aspects of insect farming. The industry is, in fact, ahead of science, as insect farms are spreading across the world. However, for them to succeed, strong support from agricultural science is urgently needed.

Annual Cropping Intensity Dynamics in China from 2001 to 2023

Spatial and temporal information about cropping patterns of single and multiple crops is important for monitoring crop production and land-use intensity. We used time-series MODIS NDVI 8-day composite data to develop annual cropping pattern products at a 250 m spatial resolution for China, covering the period from 2001 to 2023. To address the potential impacts of varying parameters in both data pre-processing and the peak detection algorithm on the accuracy of cropping pattern mapping, we employed a grid-search method to fine-tune these parameters. This process focused on optimizing the Savitzky–Golay smoothing window size and the peak width parameters using a calibration dataset. The results highlighted that an optimal combination of a five to seven MODIS composite window size in Savitzky–Golay smoothing and a peak width of four MODIS composites achieved good overall mapping accuracy. Pixel-wise accuracy assessments were conducted for the selected mapping years of 2001, 2011, and 2021. Overall accuracies were between 89.7% and 92.0%, with F1 scores ranging from 0.921 to 0.943. Nationally, this study observed a fluctuating trend in multiple cropping percentages, with a notable increase after 2013, suggesting shifts toward more intensive agricultural practices in recent years. At a finer spatial scale, the combination of Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope analyses revealed that approximately 12.9% of 3 km analytical windows exhibited significant changes in cropping intensity. We observed spatial clusters of increasing and decreasing crop intensity trends across provinces such as Hebei, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Gansu. This study underscores the importance of data smoothing and peak detection methods in analyzing high temporal resolution remote sensing data. The generation of annual single/multiple cropping pattern maps at a 250 m spatial resolution enhances our comprehension of agricultural dynamics through time and across different regions.

Assessing the Sustainability of Miscanthus and Willow as Global Bioenergy Crops: Current and Future Climate Conditions (Part 1)

Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) and Willow (Salix spp.) are promising bioenergy crops due to their high biomass yields and adaptability to diverse climatic conditions. This study applies the MiscanFor/SalixFor models to assess the sustainability of these crops under current and future climate scenarios, focusing on biomass productivity, carbon intensity (CI), and energy use efficiency (EUE). Under present conditions, both crops show high productivity in tropical and subtropical regions, with Miscanthus generally outperforming Willow. Productivity declines in less favourable climates, emphasising the crops’ sensitivity to environmental factors at the regional scale. The average productivity for Miscanthus and Willow was 19.9 t/ha and 10.4 t/ha, respectively. Future climate scenarios (A1F1, representing world markets and fossil-fuel-intensive, and B1, representing global sustainability) project significant shifts, with northern and central regions becoming more viable for cultivation due to warmer temperatures and extended growing seasons. However, southern and arid regions may experience reduced productivity, reflecting the uneven impacts of climate change. Miscanthus and Willow are predicted to show productivity declines of 15% and 8% and 12% and 7% under A1F1 and B1, respectively. CI analysis reveals substantial spatial variability, with higher values in industrialised and temperate regions due to intensive agricultural practices. Future scenarios indicate increased CI in northern latitudes due to intensified land use, while certain Southern Hemisphere regions may stabilise or reduce CI through mitigation strategies. Under climate change, CI for Miscanthus is projected to increase by over 100%, while Willow shows an increase of 64% and 57% for A1F1 and B1, respectively. EUE patterns suggest that both crops perform optimally in tropical and subtropical climates. Miscanthus shows a slight advantage in EUE, though Willow demonstrates greater adaptability in temperate regions. Climate change is expected to reduce EUE for Miscanthus by 10% and 7% and for Willow by 9% and 6%. This study underscores the need for region-specific strategies to optimise the sustainability of bioenergy crops under changing climate conditions.

Bilberries vs. Blueberries: A Comprehensive Review

The genus Vaccinium, which includes approximately 450 species, features economically significant berries such as bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). Bilberries flourish in acidic, well-drained soils, typically found in heathlands and coniferous forests, while blueberries benefit from a broader range of soil types and intensive agricultural practices. Sustainable cultivation strategies, including organic fertilization and efficient water management, are vital for optimizing production and addressing the environmental challenges posed by climate change. Both berries are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients, driving consumer interest and market growth despite competition from alternative crops. Additionally, tailored fertilization techniques are crucial for maximizing yield and fruit quality. By implementing circular economy principles, the production of bilberries and blueberries can enhance sustainability and profitability, ensuring their long-term success in agricultural systems.

Heavy Metals in Atmospheric Dust Deposition in Qalyubia Governorate Egypt: Occurrence and Diverse Impacts

The southern delta region of Egypt has serious environmental and public health issues due to heavy metal pollution (El-Askary et al. 2021). The air in Qalyubia has higher concentrations of metals including cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) due to the region's intense agricultural practices and industrial discharges. Ring road and the Banha Cairo regional route also traverse the governorate with heavy traffic. The source, distribution, and ecological effects of heavy metals in the south Nile delta region are examined in this study (El-Gamal &amp; Saleh 2016). Dust fall sampling allows us to pinpoint important pollution hotspots. The findings show a relationship between increased levels of contaminants and being located nearby industrial sites (Halmy 2019), showing that human activity is a significant source of pollution. We also evaluate the possible hazards to human health, especially for communities (Monib et al. 2024).

Diversity patterns of herpetofauna communities along a habitat alteration gradient in an Afrotropical large wetland – a test of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

Abstract Whilst wetlands are vital ecosystems supporting natural cycles and biodiversity, intensive agricultural practices and land use have led to widespread degradation, particularly in tropical Africa. In Uganda’s ‘cattle corridor’, an agro-pastoral landscape stretching across 84 000 km2, natural wetlands have been largely destroyed, and their degradation exacerbated by climate change. The Rufuuha wetland, located in southwestern Uganda, provides a study model to examine biodiversity across different habitat sectors: (i) intact, (ii) degraded, and (iii) restored areas. We studied the amphibian and reptile communities in Rufuuha wetland, which had been heavily degraded due to local community activities, such as agriculture and cattle grazing, before restoration efforts began in 2015. We found significant differences in species richness and diversity between the three areas. While species richness was similar across the areas, diversity and evenness were highest in the intact sector, followed by the restored and degraded areas. There was no support for the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, whereas evenness clearly detected changes in the community structure of herpetofauna along the habitat gradient that species richness did not. Amphibians were well-represented in the survey, showing clear patterns related to habitat quality, while reptile sampling was less comprehensive. Our study demonstrates that restoration efforts can positively impact biodiversity in Afrotropical wetlands. However, it is not yet clear whether the same biodiversity levels as in the intact areas can be reached also in the restored areas. Further studies, particularly on reptiles, are needed to better understand the full ecological impacts of habitat restoration in this region.

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN FOODBORNE PATHOGENS: GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS, MECHANISTIC CHALLENGES, AND CUTTING-EDGE DETECTION

Background: Foodborne pathogens’ AMR is considered one of the most significant risks to food safety and human health worldwide.This situation has been worsened by the misuse of antibiotics in livestock farming, making it hard to handle food borne illnesses andhigher rates of sickness and death. Objectives: The main objective of this work is to present a review of the epidemiological data on AMR in foodborne pathogens on a global level, to discuss the genetic and biochemical basis of resistance, and to analyze new approaches to diagnostics and prevention. Methods: The current literature was systematically reviewed to evaluate the incidence and factors related to AMR in these important pathogens; Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp., and Listeria monocytogenes. The study also discusses additional and more sophisticated diagnostic techniques such as CRISPR-based systems, and non-conventional forms of treatment like bacteriophages and antimicrobial peptides. Results: The data indicates that AMR continues to emerge in foodborne pathogens owing to factors such as intensive farming practices and global food trade, and environmental exposure. Some of the advanced diagnostic systems include metagenomics and point-of-care that can quickly and accurately identify the genes that cause resistance. It is, therefore, evident that nontraditional therapies hold promise in containing AMR but they have to be developed to a greater extent. Conclusions: AMR in foodborne pathogens requires a multifaceted approach involving accurate diagnostics, novel therapeutics, and cross-country cooperation. For this reason, there is need to embrace One Health approach to reduce the effect of AMR on health, food and the environment.

Pesticide Pollution in India: Environmental and Health Risks, and Policy Challenges

Intensive agriculture practices in India to meet the food demand of the increasing population have led to the use of agrochemicals such as pesticides in higher quantities to increase productivity resulting in contamination of the environment. Pesticides control pests, weeds, and diseases in plants, animals, and humans. Despite bans on pesticides such as organochlorides (OC), organophosphate (OP), or synthetic pyrethroids ranging from minimal to excessive, are detected in soil, surface water, and groundwater often exceeding WHO and BIS safety limits. The predominantly found pesticides were DDT, HCH, Endosulfan, malathion, chlorpyrifos, atrazine, endrin, cypermethrin, dichlorvos, etc. Different ranges of pesticides were detected in different states (Kashmir, UP, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, etc.) of India, which demonstrate that pesticides can persist in the environment and later can show bioaccumulation in the food chain. The article explores the consequences of this pollution such as biomagnification, bioaccumulation, and risks to human health and ecological integrity. This article also covers the adverse effects of pesticides such as carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenic, and endocrine-disrupting properties along with the importance of developing new policies or strengthening the current policies and regulations to monitor the use of pesticides.

Phytochemical S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide from Brassicaceae: a key to health or a poison for bees?

Intensive agricultural practices impact the health and nutrition of pollinators like honey bees (Apis mellifera). Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is widely cultivated, providing diverse nutrients and phytochemicals, including S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO). While the nutritional impact of rapeseed on bees is known, SMCSO's effects remain unexplored. We examined SMCSO and its related metabolites-3-methylthiolactic acid sulfoxide and N-acetyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide-analysing their seasonal fluctuations, colony variations and distribution in body parts. Our findings showed that these compounds in bee gut vary among colonies, possibly due to the dietary preferences, and are highly concentrated in bodies during the summer. They are distributed differently within bee bodies, with higher concentrations in the abdomens of foragers compared with nurses. Administration of SMCSO in a laboratory setting showed no immediate toxic effects but significantly boosted bees' antioxidant capacity. Long-term administration decreased bee body weight, particularly in the thorax and head, and altered amino acid metabolism. SMCSO is found in the nectar and pollen of rapeseed flowers and highly accumulates in rapeseed honey compared with other types of honey. This study reveals the dual impact of SMCSO on bee health, providing a basis for further ecological and physiological research to enhance bee health and colony sustainability.

Negative impacts of intensive agricultural practices on environment and ecosystem: A review

Negative impacts of intensive agricultural practices on environment and ecosystem: A review

Global prevalence of lagomorpha coccidiosis from 1951 to 2024: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The global prevalence of coccidia infection in lagomorphs and potential risk factors were investigated through a meta-analysis of 149 studies published between 1951 and 2024. The pooled prevalence of Eimeriidae, Sarcocystidae and Cryptosporidiidae was found to be 66.0%, 8.0% and 6.1%, respectively. Rabbits and hares exhibited the highest prevalence of Eimeriidae at 63.1% and 71.8%, while pikas had the highest prevalence of Cryptosporidiidae at 17.1%. Countries located in the southern hemisphere exhibited the highest prevalence of Cryptosporidiidae (11.4%). The African Region had the highest prevalence of Eimeriidae (73.3%) and Sarcocystidae(14.6%), while the Eastern Mediterranean Region had the highest prevalence of Cryptosporidiidae(13.6%). Juvenile rabbits exhibited the highest prevalence of Eimeriidae (67.4%), while senior Rabbit exhibited the highest prevalence of Sarcocystidae(17.1%) and Cryptosporidiidae(13.1%). The prevalence of coccidia in intensively farmed lagomorphs showed a slight upward trend over time, nearly reaching statistical significance (R2=7.88%, coefficient=0.019, P=0.127). This suggests that the current intensive farming practices may be losing effectiveness in controlling coccidia infections, which is concerning. Among Eimeriidae in lagomorphs, Eimeria coquelinae showed the highest prevalence (68.4%), while E. magna was most frequently reported. For Sarcocystidae, Besnoitia spp. had the highest prevalence (31.3%), with Toxoplasma gondii being most frequently reported. Cryptosporidium cuniculus was both the most prevalent and frequently reported Cryptosporidiidae species (6.9%), suggesting it may be a major Cryptosporidiidae pathogen in lagomorphs. These findings highlight the differences in prevalence of various Eimeriida species among different lagomorpha genera. This diversity underscores the complex relationships between specific parasites and their host species, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of coccidiosis epidemiology in lagomorphs worldwide.

Soil Microorganisms: Their Role in Enhancing Crop Nutrition and Health

Maintaining soil health is fundamental to sustaining agricultural productivity, however, the intricate role of soil microbial diversity in this process is not fully understood. Current research acknowledges that soil microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and archaea are pivotal in driving essential soil functions such as nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and disease suppression. However, the impacts of global environmental changes and intensive agricultural practices on the diversity of these microorganisms remain a critical gap in the literature. This gap is significant because a decline in microbial diversity could severely compromise soil health, and consequently crop productivity. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the factors influencing soil microbial diversity and examine their implications for crop performance. We assess both natural factors such as soil pH, moisture, temperature, and vegetation type as well as human-induced factors including tillage systems and fertilizer application. The review synthesizes recent findings on how these factors shape microbial communities and their functional roles in nutrient cycling, soil structure formation, and disease suppression. Our analysis highlights the mechanisms by which microbial diversity enhances plant growth and yield, addressing the gap in understanding the direct links between microbial diversity and agricultural outcomes. Our findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices that protect and enhance microbial diversity to safeguard long-term soil fertility and crop productivity. By addressing the challenges in manipulating soil microbial communities and integrating microbial ecology with crop management practices, this research advances our ability to sustain agricultural systems in the face of global environmental changes.

Sustainable Environmental Technologies: Recent Development, Opportunities, and Key Challenges

The ongoing increase in global population, industrialization, urbanization, and intensive agricultural practices has resulted in a wide range of environmental challenges including increased waste generation, rising greenhouse gas emissions, the uncontrolled release of emerging and toxic pollutants, degraded soil, water, and air quality, the depletion of natural resources, and the escalating impact of climate change [...]

Assessing the impact of agriculture value chains on food and water environments in Meerut District, India

Water and food are interconnected elements crucial for agricultural production and food security. While sufficient water resources have facilitated significant food production, intensive agricultural practices have contributed to the degradation of water resources. Agriculture value chains play a pivotal role in shaping food systems and can lead to virtual water movement through the production and trade of water-intensive crops. These chains affect both water and food environments, with water being a driver and food determining factors like availability and accessibility. Despite the economic benefits, agriculture value chains pose non-economic challenges, including environmental and social impacts. The focus on profitability often overlooks sustainability and equity concerns, leading to mono cropping and exclusion of small farmers from markets. This trend is evident in Meerut district, situated in the fertile Indo Gangetic plain and a top farming state in India. Despite its agricultural potential, the district has shifted towards sugarcane monoculture, impacting water and food environments. This study aims to explore the complex relationship between agriculture value chains, water sustainability, food availability and accessibility. The objectives include understanding these interlinkages, analyzing baseline scenarios, and assessing the implications of value chains on food and water environments. The analysis reveals the adverse effects of sugarcane monoculture on water environment, food environment and agricultural sustainability. To address these challenges, the study puts a way forward to adopt value chains approach for the strategical promotion of crop diversification, emphasizing resilience and sustainability.

Integrating short- and full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing to elucidate microbiome profiles in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) ponds.

Despite their immense economic value as a key aquaculture species, the production of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) faces significant challenges from intensive farming practices and disease outbreaks. Routine microbial profiling for disease surveillance could be a promising approach to anticipate and control disease outbreaks. To achieve this, accuracy in microbial profiling in shrimp ponds is crucial for enabling targeted action and prevention. Extensive documentation emphasizes that, beyond biological factors (related to the host, diet, or health status during the rearing period), technical elements, including sequencing techniques significantly influence bacterial community profiling. This study investigated the influence of short- and long-read sequencing of 16S rRNA genes on the microbial profiles in shrimp intestines, water, and sediments. The origin of the samples (intestine or environmental) in shrimp culture ponds primarily drove the observed differences in core microbial species. The ecological niches accounted for 56% of bacterial community variations in culture ponds. Both sequencing approaches showed consistent results in identifying higher-rank taxa and assessing alpha and beta diversity. However, at the species level, full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences provided better resolution than V3-V4 sequences. For routine microbial profiling in shrimp culture ponds, our study suggests that short-read sequences were sufficient for determining overall bacterial community.IMPORTANCEThis interdisciplinary study investigated the influence of sequencing techniques on bacterial communities profiling within Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) ponds. By integrating aquaculture, microbiology, and environmental science, we revealed the role of ecological niches and factors like salinity and pH on microbiota diversity and composition in shrimp intestines, pond water, and sediment. Additionally, we compared the taxonomic resolution using partial versus full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences, highlighting the value of longer amplicons for precise identification of key taxa. These findings provide novel insights into microbial dynamics underlying environmental effects in shrimp aquaculture. Comprehensive characterization of the pond microbiome could lead to management strategies that promote shrimp health and productivity. Furthermore, the potential of a multi-omics approach for integrating complementary data streams to elucidate environment-microbiome-host interactions was highlighted.

Balancing the right to food and environmental sustainability: A call for holistic transformation

This paper conducts an in-depth examination of the intricate nexus between the right to food and ecosystem conservation, recognizing the fundamental importance of addressing these interlinked issues for sustainable global development. Anchored in international and national legal frameworks, the right to food is explored not only as a moral imperative but as a binding human rights obligation. The analysis spans a broad spectrum, encompassing the impact of human activities such as population growth, climate change, and intensive agricultural practices on natural resources, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. The literature review highlights the far-reaching repercussions of food access constraints on marginalized populations, emphasizing the profound relationship between food and the environment. The study underscores the critical role of biodiversity, soil health, and climate change in shaping food security challenges, with a particular focus on the consequences of industrial agriculture. The examination of agroecology emerges as a central theme, offering a holistic approach that integrates ecological, health, social, and economic considerations into agricultural and food systems. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of published studies in the specified domains, providing a robust foundation for unraveling the complex dynamics and interdependencies between the right to food, ecosystem conservation, and the broader context of climate change and human activities. The paper puts forth a series of recommendations, emphasizing the need for policies that integrate human rights into agricultural actions, enhanced inclusivity for smallholder farmers, widespread adoption of agroecology, and educational campaigns to raise awareness. Agroecology is positioned as a key solution, not only for its contributions to climate resilience but also for its positive impact on soil health, biodiversity conservation, and long-term environmental sustainability. The paper advocates for a paradigm shift in global agricultural strategies, emphasizing integrated, sustainable approaches that prioritize inclusivity, environmental stewardship, and the well-being of present and future generations. The recommendations serve as a blueprint for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to collaboratively work towards a future where food security coexists harmoniously with ecosystem conservation, ensuring a sustainable and equitable world for all. Key words: Right, Food, Ecosystem, Conservation, Sustainable, Climate, Biodiversity, Agroecology, Agriculture, Policy