National Food Research Articles

Another Provision: Co-Designing Communal Food Infrastructures in East London

We describe a participatory art/research project envisioning alternative infrastructures enabling food as a Universal Basic Service in the context of food poverty and the cost of living crisis. The four-year process involving people who have received food aid as well as food activists was co-produced with the National Food Service, a mutual aid group trialling new models for a more just food system. Modelling our creative research on this group’s careful engagement to build communal structures based on a “solidarity not charity” model of mutual care, we devised a process of infrastructural co-design and creative visioning for more just urban food futures. We reflect on the interplay of physical and social infrastructures and the role of food in care and mutual aid settings.

OsABT Negatively Regulates the Abscisic Acid Signal Transduction Pathway in Rice Seedling Roots

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a main food crop in China and is crucial for the maintenance of national food security. The growth of rice seedling roots is regulated by a variety of genes and is closely related to abscisic acid (ABA) metabolism and ABA signaling pathways. In this study, we found that OsABT could increase the length of rice root tip meristem cells and upregulate root development-related genes, thereby alleviating ABA’s inhibitory effects on rice root growth and seed germination. The overexpression of OsABT reduced the ABA content by downregulating ABA synthesis genes (OsNCED3 and OsNCED5) and upregulating the ABA catabolic gene (OsABA8ox2). In addition, OsABT interacted with OsPYL4, OsPYL10, and OsABIL2 via the ABA signal transduction pathway. By inhibiting the expression of positive regulatory genes (OsPYL9 and Rab16a) and increasing the expression of a negative regulatory gene (OsABIL1), OsABT negatively regulates the ABA signal transduction pathway. Transcriptome analysis revealed that OsABT inhibited the activity of Gene Ontology entries in response to ABA. Thus, OsABT increased the length of the rice root meristem, reduced the accumulation of ABA in the roots, and negatively regulated the ABA signal transduction pathway by interacting with key proteins in this pathway, ultimately relieving the inhibitory effect of ABA on rice root length and seed germination.

Spatial heterogeneity response of soil salinization inversion cotton field expansion based on deep learning

Soil salinization represents a significant challenge to the ecological environment in arid areas, and digital mapping of soil salinization as well as exploration of its spatial heterogeneity with crop growth have important implications for national food security and salinization management. However, the machine learning models currently used are deficient in mining local information on salinity and do not explore the spatial heterogeneity of salinity impacts on crops. This study developed soil salinization inversion models using CNN (Convolutional Neural Network), LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory Network), and RF (Random Forest) models based on 97 field samples and feature variables extracted from Landsat-8 imagery. By evaluating the accuracy, the best-performing model was selected to map soil salinity at a 30m resolution for the years 2013 and 2022, and to explore the relationship between soil electrical conductivity (EC) values and the expansion of cotton fields as well as their spatial correlation. The results indicate that:(1) The CNN performs best in prediction, with an R2 of 0.84 for the training set and 0.73 for the test set, capable of capturing more local salinity information. (2) The expansion of cotton fields has reduced the level of soil salinization, with the area of severely salinized and saline soils in newly added cotton fields decreasing from 177.91 km2 and 381.46 km2 to 19.49 km2 and 1.12 km2, respectively. (3) Regions with long-term cotton cultivation and newly reclaimed cotton fields exhibit high sensitivity and vulnerability to soil salinity. This study explores the excellent performance of deep learning in salinity mapping and visualizes the spatial distribution of cotton fields that are highly sensitive to soil salinity, providing a scientific theoretical basis for accurate salinity management.

An Economic Analysis of Maize Production across Major Producing States of India

National Food Security Mission has been taken by Government of India to increase coarse cereal Maize production in the country to meet food, feed for livestock and poultry and industrial raw material, domestic as well as global demand. The traditional and modern industrial uses have made it one of the fastest growing cash crops in the world. Considering its global as well as national importance, In this article, we have analysed the relative change, growth rate and CDVI (cuddy-della valle-index) in cost, returns, profitability and break-even production of maize during the study period 2000-01 to 2018-19 of Maize across major Maize growing states of India. The study found that Cost A1, cost A2, cost B1, cost B2, cost C1 and cost C2 of maize was found to be increased higher in Madhya Pradesh with highly significant annual growth rate during the study period than other states. These cost concepts showed low to medium instability for almost all the leading states. The findings revealed that maize was more profitable in Bihar, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, owing to higher net income and B:C ratios than in other states. Bihar states had higher differential yield and a greater discrepancy between the cost of production and the minimum support price. In some states, actual yields were lower than break-even, and production costs were greater than the minimum support price, resulting in losses for maize growers. The study's findings would help policymakers and governments devise appropriate development strategies and effective policies for less lucrative states.

Ethiopia's Potato Seed System: Regulatory Challenges, Quality Assurance Issues, and Pathways for Improvement ─ A mini review

Background Ethiopia’s potato seed system is currently hindered by a disjointed regulatory framework, insufficient quality assurance processes, and a lack of collaboration among stakeholders, which collectively impede agricultural productivity and food security. The regulatory environment is characterized by inconsistent seed certification practices and a dependence on informal seed sources, negatively affecting the quality of potato seeds available to farmers. Although potatoes play a crucial role in global food security by providing high yields compared to other staple crops, the sector grapples with significant challenges due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, limited technical expertise, and the widespread presence of counterfeit seeds throughout the value chain. Methods To tackle these challenges, this mini-review outlines potential improvements, stressing the necessity for a unified regulatory framework tailored to the unique issues of vegetatively propagated crops. For this reason, we have used different literature source from web of science, Pubmed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate and other scientific websites. We have documented the most relevant information focusing on potato seed system, regulatory frameworks, quality assurance bottlenecks and pathways for improvement across the seed value chain. Results our paper highlights key recommendations that includes enhancing training for regulatory staff, investing in research for disease-resistant varieties, and bolstering public-private partnerships to encourage innovation and resource sharing. Furthermore, improving traceability in the seed supply chain is essential for maintaining seed quality and integrity. Conclusions This review calls for a comprehensive strategy that fosters stakeholder engagement and promotes sustainable practices to rejuvenate Ethiopia’s potato seed system, thereby supporting the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers and strengthening national food security through integrated seed sector development and capacity improvement of the seed regulatory body as well as smallholder farmers.

Temporal patterns of energy intake and physical activity and cross-sectional associations with body weight status in children and adolescents: results from the Portuguese National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2015-2016.

Temporal energy intake (EI) and physical activity (PA) patterns may be associated with obesity. We aimed to derive and characterise temporal EI and PA patterns and assess their cross-sectional association with weight status in participants aged 6-14 years from the Portuguese National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2015-2016. We extracted times and EI of all eating occasions from two 1-day food diaries/24-hour recalls, while types and times of PA from 4-day PA diaries. We derived EI patterns (n=714) and PA patterns (n=595), using, respectively, a hierarchical and K-means cluster analysis, considering the average proportion of total daily EI (%TEI) and PA intensity (%TPA), within each 2-hour interval across the 24-hour day. We assessed the association between patterns and Overweight or obesity (Body Mass Index z-score ≥+1 Standard Deviation) using adjusted logistic regressions [Odds ratio (95% Confidence Interval)]. Three EI patterns were identified and labelled based on the 2-h interval of %TEI peaks: 1-"Early afternoon & Early evening"; 2-"Early afternoon & Late evening", and 3-"Late morning, Early and Mid-afternoon & Late evening". EI Pattern 3 vs. 1 was negatively associated with overweight or obesity [0.49 (0.26,0.92)]. PA pattern 1-"Late Morning, Mid-afternoon & Early evening" vs. Pattern 2-"Late afternoon", was not associated with weight status [0.95 (0.65,1.38)]. A daily EI pattern characterised by more and even %TEI peaks at earlier daytime periods, instead of less, may be negatively associated with overweight or obesity amongst Portuguese 6-to-14-year-olds, whereas the identified PA patterns might have no relationship.

Improving diets and multimorbidity prevention.

In 2023, the UK government announced a Major Conditions Strategy, publishing 'The case for change and our strategic framework', which set out the focus on cancers, diabetes, dementia, mental ill health, musculoskeletal disorders, CVD and chronic respiratory diseases. Together, these conditions account for 60% of total disability-adjusted life years lost to early death or ill health in England, and one in four adults has at least two (multimorbidity). This review considers some of the key dietary risks for these major conditions and population policies that may improve diets and reduce risks. UK Government dietary recommendations, based on independent risk assessment and advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, are encapsulated in the national food model, the Eatwell Guide. Based on key sources of dietary data - chiefly consumption data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey and consumer purchase data from Kantar - most people do not meet dietary recommendations. This review considers how science and evidence inform health improvement policy. This includes policies that encourage healthier food choices, such as labelling and public procurement standards to those that minimise the impact of the less healthy choice such as sugar and salt reduction and reformulation. The review also considers nutritional approaches to managing some non-communicable diseases. Given the role nutrition and excess weight play in the onset, prognosis and quality of life for those living with one or more of the major conditions, there are huge potential gains from even small dietary improvements across population groups.

Implementation of a UK supermarket intervention to increase purchasing of fresh fruit and vegetables: process evaluation of the WRAPPED natural experiment.

Placement interventions, characterised by greater availability and more prominent positioning of healthy food products in supermarkets and other food stores, are associated with healthier patterns of purchasing and diet. The WRAPPED intervention study is a natural experiment that aims to evaluate a supermarket placement intervention to improve fruit and vegetable sales, household purchasing and the dietary quality of women and their children. Process evaluation, alongside the evaluation of outcomes, is essential to understand how interventions are implemented, under what circumstances they are effective, and their mechanisms of impact. This study aimed to assess the implementation of the WRAPPED placement intervention. The study adopted a convergent mixed-methods design. Quantitative data extracted from study store planograms (visual representation of stores and product placement) before and after intervention implementation were used to assess the positioning of fresh fruit and vegetables in the first aisle from the front entrance (intervention dose). The availability of fresh fruit and vegetables in each study store was examined from stock-keeping unit (SKU) figures before and after intervention implementation. An intervention implementation survey (IIS) completed with store managers and senior supervisors before and 1- and 6-months post-intervention implementation enabled examination of the context across study stores. Semi-structured interviews with store managers and senior supervisors provided qualitative data about store staff experiences and perceptions of the intervention between 6-months post-intervention implementation. The placement intervention was implemented with close adherence to the study protocol. There were marked differences, post-intervention implementation, in the positioning of fresh fruit and vegetables in intervention stores compared with control stores: median distance in intervention stores was 8.0m (IQR 5.0 to 10.0) compared with 23.8m (IQR 21.0 to 30.0) in control stores (P < 0.0001). The availability of varieties of fresh fruit and vegetables increased in intervention stores post-intervention compared with control stores: median (IQR) among intervention stores was 72 (51, 84) compared with 56.5 (50, 62) in control stores (P = 0.03). The mean change from baseline to post-implementation in number of different fruit and vegetables available in intervention stores was 15.3 (SD 16.7) (P = 0.01). IIS and interview data demonstrated little difference between intervention and store contexts over time. Reinforcing factors for intervention implementation included: head-office leadership, store staff views and attitudes and increased awareness of the importance of offering healthy food in prominent locations within stores. This study demonstrated that placement interventions which promote fresh fruit and vegetables to customers in discount supermarkets can be implemented effectively. These findings are encouraging for the implementation of national food policies which modify retail environments to improve population purchasing and dietary patterns. NCT03573973; Pre-results.

Research on the impact and mechanism of digital economy on China’s food production capacity

Enhancing and strengthening food production capacity has always been a top priority in agricultural research, serving as a cornerstone for ensuring national food security and stable economic development. This study, based on panel data spanning from 2011 to 2021 across 30 provinces in China, delves into the mechanism through which the digital economy impacts food production capacity. Employing a double fixed effect model, a mediation effect model, and a panel threshold model, we uncover several key findings: The digital economy significantly boosts food production capacity, with robustness tests affirming the reliability of our results. Mechanism analysis reveals that the digital economy enhances food production capacity by elevating total factor productivity and bolstering agricultural resilience. The threshold effect underscores that urbanization levels exhibit a single-threshold impact, wherein the influence of the digital economy on food production capacity intensifies upon crossing this threshold. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the digital economy significantly boosts food production capacity in central and primary grain-producing regions, while its impact is comparatively weaker in the eastern and western regions, as well as in non-primary grain-producing areas. In summary, this research sheds light on the pivotal role of the digital economy in augmenting food production capacity, offering valuable insights into regional variations and thresholds in its impact across China.

Association between dietary diversity and lipid indices among Indian Kho-Kho players

Purpose Dietary diversity (DD) is a proxy indicator of nutrient adequacy and has been propagated as a health beneficial component of dietary behavior. This study aims to understand DD and its association with lipid indices among Indian Kho-Kho players. Design/methodology/approach In all, 50 Indian Kho-Kho players aged between 16 years and 31 years belonging to different regions of India were recruited. Dietary diversity score (DDS; food groups/day) and food variety score (FVS; number of food items/day) were considered to assess the DD. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization food frequency questionnaire was used as a tool. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL, VLDL and HDL were measured. Findings The DDS and FVS showed that athletes were consuming approximately 7 of 9 food groups (Mean ± SD: 6.5 ± 1.3) and 27 varieties of foods (Mean ± SD:27.0 ± 8.6) from 9 food groups per day. This study could not find significant differences for DDS and FVS among athletes belonging to different regions. FVSs of organ meat, eggs and spices and condiments were significantly positively associated with TG (p &lt; 0.036, p &lt; 0.020 and p &lt; 0.001) and VLDL (p &lt; 0.054, p &lt; 0.021 and p &lt; 0.001). LDL was inversely significantly associated with FVS of cereals, white root and tubers (p &lt; 0.032). Research limitations/implications DDS and FVS were not associated with lipid indices among Kho-Kho players. However, individual FVS of organ meat, eggs and spices and condiments may increase TG and VLDL. Optimum consumption of cereals and root tubers may help to maintain LDL levels among Kho-Kho players. Originality/value It was found that daily consumption of organ meat and eggs may increase TG and VLDL, and optimum consumption of cereals and white roots and tubers may help to maintain LDL. High energy and fat foods may act as mediators along with spices and condiments in increasing TG and VLDL.

Changes in per capita and aggregate apparent consumption of livestock-derived foods in Canada from 1960–2020

Abstract Food systems are a major driver of resource depletion and environmental degradation globally, with livestock-derived food production accounting for a disproportionate fraction of these impacts. At the same time, meat, eggs, and dairy products are important sources of protein, energy, and micronutrients in human diets. Higher rates of red and processed meat consumption has, however, also been linked to increased heath risks in high-income countries. Given the important role that livestock-derived foods play in both planetary and human health, it is important to understand patterns in their consumption and how these have changed over time. Here, we report and assess changes in Canadian apparent consumption of livestock-derived foods, as both mass of edible unprocessed products and total contained protein, between 1960 and 2020. We used Statistics Canada food availability data, as it is the closest available proxy for historical consumption data. The animal foods included are dairy, eggs, and chicken, turkey, pork, and beef meat, with results expressed in kilograms of boneless meat, shell-less eggs, and total milk solids per capita per year. Total national apparent livestock food consumption was also calculated, by multiplying annual per capita availability by national population, for each year included in this analysis. Results indicate that, over the last six decades, apparent per capita consumption of livestock-derived foods in Canada has remained surprisingly constant, peaking in the 1970s at 108 kg/person/year, and varying narrowly between 91–101 kg/person/year for the most recent 35 years. The composition of Canadians’ livestock-derived food intake, however, does appear to have changed markedly, with apparent consumption of beef declining since its zenith in the late 1970s, while the apparent consumption of chicken meat has grown rapidly. Substantial reductions in the consumption of livestock foods in Canada are required to stay within planetary boundaries.

Urban food availability and consumption in Grand Lomé, Togo: A household perception analysis

Introduction: Food well-being of the population is one of the priorities of the Togolese government, which relies on the agricultural investment and food security Programme to increase national food production. In addition, the country relies on food imports to make up the shortfall. At the same time undernourishment and malnutrition remain high among the country’s population. This research analyzes food supply and its implications for household consumption in Grand Lomé, Togo. [Methods] The methodology used documents, a survey of 963 heads of household randomly sampled households and semi-structured interviews with 10 households and with Togolese food safety agency (ANSAT). Quantitative data were processed and analyzed using Excel spreadsheets R and R-Studio, while content analysis was applied to the verbal applied to the verbal statements collected. Results: Firstly, the results show that domestic agricultural production contributed an average of 91% of food supply between 2014–2017. The deficit is made up by food imports, which rose from 13.5% in 2014 to 15.4% in 2017. This translated into an acceptable food energy consumption of 2337 Kcal/head/day in 2017. Secondly, 81% of respondents recognize a strong food presence at consumer markets, except that the chi-square test applied to the data at the 5% threshold shows (p-value &lt; 2.2 × 10−16), indicates that this satisfaction is a function of place of residence. Despite this, persistent shortages affect more staple crops, livestock and dairy products, leading households to deprive themselves and buy food at affordable prices. Finally, we observe non-diversified diets marked by regular consumption of “cereals/legumes”, vegetables and beverages to the detriment of “tubers/roots”, “meat/fish”, “fruit” and “dairy products”. Conclusion: This research shows that food supply, although adequate, is not sufficient to ensure balanced, nutritious and culturally appropriate food consumption by urban households. Recommendations: To meet these challenges, the central government, in collaboration with urban communes and consumer advocates, must mobilize resources to create urban agricultural farms, strengthen food protection systems, distribute staple products directly to households and limit the importation of food that is hazardous to health.

Strategy for ensuring national food security of the Republic of Belarus: monitoring results, objectives and mechanisms

Strategy for ensuring national food security of the Republic of Belarus: monitoring results, objectives and mechanisms

Research on Construction and Optimization Paths for Quality Concept Model of Green Supply Chain of Livestock Products

The quality of the supply chain for livestock products is related to the sustainable development of the livestock industry and national food security. Based on supply chain theory, green supply chain theory, and quality management theory, combined with the characteristics of livestock products and field research in China and Mongolia, a conceptual model of green supply chain quality for livestock products was constructed around two dimensions: livestock product quality and green supply chain service quality. Among them, the factors affecting the quality of livestock products are composed of 10 factors pertaining to breeding, slaughtering and processing, circulation, and sales; the factors affecting the service quality of the green supply chain of livestock products are composed of 16 factors in five links of supply chain services, such as logistics, information flow, capital flow, personnel quality, and public services. The quality of livestock products and the quality of green supply chain services of livestock products are not independent from each other, but show a relationship of mutual influence and mutual restriction. Focusing on the two dimensions of livestock product quality and livestock product green supply chain service quality, an optimization path of livestock product green supply chain quality is proposed. The research findings have certain guiding significance for promoting the high-quality development of green supply chains for cross-border livestock products in China and Mongolia.

Extent of Adoption and Constraints Perceived by the Beneficiaries in Adoption of National Food Security Mission (NFSM) on Pulses

The present study was conducted to examine the extent of adoption and constraints faced by beneficiaries in adoption of NFSM-Pulses scheme in selected districts of Kalyana Karnataka region of Karnataka state. Multistage random sampling technique was used for selection of respondents. A total of 90 beneficiaries were chosen from three districts of Kalyana Karnataka region. Descriptive statistics and Garrett’s ranking technique was carried out to examine the adoption level and rank the constraints, respectively. The finding of the study indicated that majority of the farmers adopted different intervention of NFSM scheme in that HYV seeds, seed treatment and crop rotation shows 100 per cent adoption. However, poor quality of inputs/machinery supplied under scheme, bias in selection of beneficiary, irregular fallow up by the concerned officer for implementation of scheme, lack of effective capacity building programme/training were the major constraints. The findings emphasize that while the NFSM aims to support pulse production, significant barriers must be addressed to enhance its effectiveness and reach.

Contribution of ultra-processed food and animal-plant protein intake ratio to the environmental impact of Belgian diets

There is growing concern about the various impacts of food consumption, both on human and planetary health. Given the context-specific nature of consumption patterns, evaluating their national-level impacts is crucial for proactive policy development. This research aims to evaluate the environmental impact of current Belgian diets, with particular attention to the contribution of food groups, ultra-processed foods (UPF), and the animal-to-plant protein ratio. The methodology consists of three key stages. Firstly, the Belgian diet was summarised, based on data from the Belgian National Food Consumption Survey 2014/2015. Secondly, the origin of the most frequently consumed foods was traced using trade databases. Finally, a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment was conducted to determine the impact of Belgian diets on climate change, water use, land use, and fossil resource scarcity. In this third step, an iterative procedure for selecting the food items to be included in the study was performed. The iterative approach resulted in the inclusion of 227 food items in the analysis. The results indicate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 4.4 [4.27–4.54] kg CO2-equivalent per person per day. Red meat (35 %), beverages (16 %), dairy products (16 %) and snacks (10 %) are identified as primary contributors to climate change. Similar results were observed for land use impacts. Water use and fossil resource scarcity exhibited different trends, with beverages being the most impactful food group. Moreover, UPF account for 50 % of the total climate change and land use impacts, with a linear relationship observed between increased UPF consumption and GHG emissions and land use. A similar linear trend is observed between the ratio of animal-to-plant protein intake and both climate change and land use impact categories. A shift from the current protein ratio to a ratio of 40/60, as suggested in the Flemish Green Deal Protein Shift has been shown to result in a reduction in GHG emissions of the diet by 31 %. This study emphasises the need to target the consumption of high-impact foods such as UPF and animal-based products. Future research will investigate the relationship between environmental and health impacts.

Jaringan Saraf Tiruan Backpropagation untuk Prediksi Harga Bahan Pangan di Wilayah Kabupaten Deli Serdang

Foodstuffs are raw materials in the form of agricultural, vegetable and animal products that are used by the food processing industry to produce a food product. Food ingredients consist of plant foods and animal foods. Food is the most basic need for human resources in a country. Food prices sometimes experience erratic increases or decreases. The aim of this research is to determine the results of food price predictions in the Deli Serdang Regency area using the Backpropagation algorithm. The data used in this research is food price data from 2020 to 2023 which comes from the official National Food Ingredients website. This research uses the Backpropagation algorithm artificial neural network method which uses several architectural models and the results of this test will produce the best accuracy values. The test results show that the best architecture for research on implementing the backpropagation algorithm in predicting food prices in Deli Serdang Regency is 2-10-1 with an accuracy of 87.5% and the 2-3-8-1 architecture with an accuracy of 87.5%.

Construction of calcium zirconate nanoparticles confined on graphitic carbon nitride: An electrochemical detection of diethofencarb in food samples

A well-known fungicide designated diethofencarb (DFC) is used on crops to eradicate fungal infections and increase agricultural production. However, the National Food Safety Standard has established an overall maximum residual limit of 1 mg/kg for DFC, and excessive usage of this chemical has detrimental effects on the environment in real-time. In this work, an improved electrochemical sensor based on hydrothermally synthesized CaZrO3 is incorporated into a g-C3N4 sheet and developed to quickly and accurately screen DFC, a well-known carbamate fungicide. The electrochemical sensor that was successfully designed demonstrated good conductivity, high ion diffusion parameters, a high electro-active surface area, and a quick electron transport ratio when used for DFC detection. The structure, crystalline accuracy, and purity of the as-prepared CaZrO3@g-C3N4 were examined using various analytical and microscopic techniques. Additionally, the cyclic voltammetry technique examined the electrochemical investigations of the CaZrO3@g-C3N4 modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). A robust synergistic interaction between the CaZrO3 and g-C3N4 makes large surface areas and improved DFC detection possible. The fabricated sensor exhibits a wide linear range of 0.01–230.04 μM, a low detection limit of 1.8 nM, and excellent stability according to the results of the DPV technique. Remarkably, our proposed sensor has proven to be feasible for real-time analysis and can distinguish DFC-spiked various food samples with a good recovery range.

Microplastics influence nutrient content and quality of salt-affected agricultural soil under plastic mulch.

Northeast China is an important food production base and plays a crucial role in national food security. However, the increase in salt-affected soils poses a challenge to agricultural production in this region. Plastic mulching is an effective technique for saline cropland improvement, and although it has increased crop yields in the short term, its long-term application may have introduced the problem of contamination by microplastics (MPs). The distribution of MPs in salt-affected cropland, along with the effects on soil nutrients, remains largely unknown. Accordingly, the presented research selected salt-affected cropland as the research object, after which MPs were quantified from 46 soil samples from currently mulched and unmulched fields. MPs abundance in the sampled soils ranging from 4.10×103∼1.50×104 particles per kilogram of dry soil. The detected MP polymers were mainly high-density polyethylene (46%), polypropylene (22%) and polyvinyl chloride (20%). The MP particles most commonly fell under the size ranges of 50∼100 μm (35%) and 100∼200 μm (28%), both of which are small particle sizes. The most commonly detected MP shapes were film (34%) and fragment (31%). The mulched samples from salt-affected cropland generally showed higher soil nutrient contents than the unmulched samples. Moreover, MP abundance, type, size, and shape all demonstrated strong correlations with soil organic carbon and total nitrogen. MP type is a major factor determining soil nutrient content. Plastic mulching serves as an important source of MPs in salt-affected cropland, with these contaminants affecting nutrient content. Future research should be broader in scope and include ecological benefits and policy implications, with a view to optimizing the problem of MPs contamination due to mulching.

Development of teaching materials with agricultural insight to introduce of agriculture in primary school students

Agriculture is one of the supports for national food needs, so it must continue to be preserved. Unfortunately, nowadays, the sustainability of agriculture is increasingly worrying. Many young people are no longer interested in becoming farmers or working in the agricultural sector. A solution like this must be immediately sought so that regeneration is maintained. This research aimed to develop teaching materials with agricultural insight to introduce of agriculture in primary school students in Indonesia. The research used the research and development (RD) method. Development was carried out using the Borg and Gall model, including: research and informing collecting, planning, preliminary development, and preliminary field testing and main product revision. The research results indicated that: i) the teaching material that was successfully developed was in the form of a textbook entitled “I love agriculture”. This book contains ten materials on agricultural, and ii) the test results showed that the agriculturaloriented teaching materials are of good quality. From the product eligibility test involving material experts and media experts, the average assessment score was 86.25%, while the average assessment score from students reached 85.25%. This research implied that students could get to know and love agriculture through learning activities at school.