National Food Research Articles

The Coupling Coordination Degree and Its Driving Factors for Water–Energy–Food Resources in the Yellow River Irrigation Area of Shandong Province

Water resources, energy, and food are essential for the development of society, and they are strongly interdependent. The coupling and coordination relationships of the water–energy–food (WEF) system are important for regional resource security and high-quality development. The Yellow River Irrigation Area in Shandong Province, China, is a grain production base and has a substantial impact on national food security. To examine the water, energy, and food subsystem dynamics in this area, an evaluation system for the WEF system was established. A comprehensive weighting method based on game theory was employed to determine index weights. TOPSIS was used to assess the development level of the WEF system. A coupling coordination degree model was used to analyze the evolution of the coupling coordination degree of the WEF system from 2000 to 2020, and a GWR model was constructed to explore the spatial heterogeneity of its driving factors. The findings indicated that the development level of the WEF system in the study area was moderate, with a gradual upward trend. The coupling coordination degree fluctuated between 0.62 and 0.739. The GWR model revealed that temperature had an overall negative effect on the coupling coordination degree, with the greatest impact on the central irrigation area; the slope and NDVI had a negative effect, with increasing intensity from the southwest to the northeast; and rainfall had an overall positive effect, with the greatest impact on the irrigation area near the estuary in the northeast. Overall, the building area ratio had a negative effect on the coupling coordination degree, with exceptions in some areas. These research outcomes provide theoretical support for sustainable agricultural development in the Yellow River irrigation areas of Shandong Province and methodological reference data for studying collaborative resource utilization in irrigation regions.

¿Puede un pescado cambiar de estatus?

This article will try to discuss the inversion of a stereotype associated with a food product - mackerel (Scomber colias) - a fish whose consumption was connoted with popular and poverty contexts, and its revitalization that has taken place especially since 2011, concomitant with the worsening of the economic crisis in Portugal. This process of revitalization and resignification, initially put into practice by renowned Portuguese chefs, also entered the lexicon and practices of nutritionists who try to promote the idea of "healthy eating". Parallel to the economic crisis, another factor contributed to the revitalization of mackerel in Portugal: the imposition of fishing quotas on sardines, a fish recognized as a symbol of national food practices, associated with summer and its festivities. This brief analysis shows us how the process of gourmetisation of mackerel took place in a very specific context - an economic crisis in Portugal - a process that, as we will try to demonstrate, did not last over time.

A pH-responsive dual-emission composite for fast detection of BAs and visual monitoring seafood freshness with large luminescence color difference

Sensing biogenic amine (BAs) content is very important for assessing food freshness. To address the limitations such as small color difference values (ΔE) and complex preparation of probes for visualizing the freshness of seafood, a pH-responsive ratiometric fluorescent probe (EnEB) was prepared by Eu(NO3)3, trimeric acid (BTC), and hydrochloric acid norepinephrine (Enr). EnEB emitted blue (446 nm) and red fluorescence (616 nm) originating from Enr and Eu3+, respectively, and exhibiting a fluorescence wavelength difference up to 170 nm. The ratiometric fluorescent signals of EnEB showed a linear correlation with pH in the range of 5.5–8.0. Thus, EnEB can rapidly and precisely detect BAs, such as histamine, tyramine, and spermine, with detection limits and response times of 1.14 μmol/L (3 s), 1.04 μmol/L (8 s), and 0.41 μmol/L (2 s), respectively. Furthermore, an EnEB aerogel was prepared by loading EnEB in a matrix formed by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and agarose (AG). EnEB aerogel exhibited excellent acid-base gas-sensing properties. The fluorescence color of EnEB aerogel can change significantly with the deterioration of seafood. When seafood changed from fresh to decayed, the ΔE value of EnEB aerogel was as high as 80.9. Importantly, the results of seafood freshness by naked eye using EnEB aerogel was consistent well with the TVB-N content and the freshness standard stipulated by national food standard, indicating EnEB aerogel can accurately visually and real-time monitor seafood freshness. Furthermore, the strategy for sensing food freshness based on EnEB aerogel also offered multiple color variations to indicate fine freshness levels of seafood. This work provided a convenient, efficient, and accurate approach to assessing the freshness of seafood. Additionally, EnEB also has promising applications in security and anti-counterfeiting.

The Impact on People who Trade on the Fish Species ‘Limnothrissa miodon’ - Kapenta for their Livelihood: Practical Perceptions of Traders of Siavonga

Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made lake and reservoir by volume. It lies 1300km upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Lake Kariba was filled between 1958 and 1963 following the completion of the Kariba dam at its north eastern end flooding the Kariba Gorge on the Zambezi River. Culturally controversial, the local people believed that the construction of the dam would anger the Zambezi river god Nyami-nyami, who rise up and cause the dam would wall to collapse destroying the bridge as well as resulting in floods of catastrophic proportions. It is believed that the Nyami-nyami lives under a rock close to the Kariba dam wall. The rock is called ‘Kariwa’ meaning trap as the local people believed if you canoed past its location you would be sucked down in whirlpool never to be seen again. This where the name Kariba originates from, laced with the local mythology. In the late 1960s a type of fish Limnothrissa miodon locally known as Kapenta was introduced in Lake Kariba from lake Tanganyika. Kapenta is a small sardine fish which supports a large and viable fishery for Zimbabwe and Zambia. Kapenta, a type of fish also known as fresh water sardine has several chemical compositions that help reduce the risk of various diseases including prostate cancer. A recent chemical composition analysis of Kapenta by the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) shows a great variation in the nutrient composition for the dry and fresh Kapenta. NFNC principal nutritionist Mr. Musonda Mofu says dry Kapenta contains 209 calories of food energy compared with 85 calories of food energy in fresh Kapenta. In addition dry Kapenta contains 63 grammes of protein and only 16 grams of protein in fresh Kapenta. The paper reflects on the declining population of this small nutrient rich fish due to over-harvesting, climatic changes with increasing temperatures and with the decreasing levels of water storage. A cumulative study on the pattern of nurturing the fish for economic and social flexibility is the main concern of this paper.

Framework assessment of sustainability: Methodology for evaluating the conformance of fishery and aquaculture management systems to FAO guidelines

Sustainability is about meeting the needs of current generations without compromising those of future generations. For fished and aquacultured products, sustainability is often gauged on an individual fishery or farm basis but can be driven by a well-designed and implemented regulatory management system, or set of laws, rules, and policies promulgated by a governmental entity. To achieve global coverage via current assessment approaches requires enormous effort and resources due to the sheer number of individual operating units. System assessments are well established in assuring seafood safety, but much less so in regard to sustainability. This paper presents a tool to measure sustainability based on the prevailing regulatory management system and invites other researchers and practitioners to gauge the applicability of the methodology to new contexts. Evaluating how management systems support sustainable practices is key for assessing current reality and planning change. The methodology presented is based on international criteria for sustainability set forth in United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines for the ecolabelling of fish and fishery products as well as aquaculture certification. The assessment tools are the distillation of qualitative criteria found within the FAO guidelines into simple propositions called “Topics of Pertinence” that enable a straightforward cross-checking of whether the requirements and provisions of regulatory management systems reflect broadly accepted sustainability criteria in fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Assessments document what management systems aim to do via laws, regulations, and policies, and verify mechanisms within the systems that support implementation and compliance. While other sustainability assessments exist, the methodology described here is unique in that it is the only process that provides a system-based approach targeting higher management levels, which can increase global coverage of sustainability assessment from the current lower-tiered approach of certifying at individual production entities.

Increase in colonic PRopionate as a method of prEVENTing weight gain over 12 months in adults aged 20–40 years (iPREVENT): a multi-centre, double-blind, randomised, parallel-group trial

Obesity drives metabolic disease development. Preventing weight gain during early adulthood could mitigate later-life chronic disease risk. Increased dietary fibre intake, leading to enhanced colonic microbial fermentation and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, is associated with lower body weight. Despite national food policy recommendations to consume 30g of dietary fibre daily, only 9% of adults achieve this target. Inulin-propionate ester (IPE) selectively increases the production of the SCFA propionate in the colon. In previous studies, IPE has prevented weight gain in middle-aged adults over 6 months, compared with the inulin control. IPE is a novel food ingredient that can be added to various commonly consumed foods with a potential health benefit. This 12-month study aimed to determine whether using IPE to increase colonic propionate prevents further weight gain in overweight younger adults. This multi-centre randomised-controlled, double-blind trial was conducted in London and Glasgow, UK. Recruited participants were individuals at risk of weight gain, aged between 20 and 40 years and had an overweight body mass index. Sealed Envelope Software was used to randomise participants to consume 10g of IPE or inulin (control), once per day for 12 months. The primary outcome was the weight gained from baseline to 12 months, analysed by an 'Intention to Treat' strategy. The safety profile and tolerability of IPE were monitored through adverse events and compliance. This study is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials (ISRCT) Database (ISRCT number: 16299902). Participants (n=135 per study arm) were recruited from July 2019 to October 2021. At 12 months, there was no significant difference in baseline-adjusted mean weight gain for IPE compared with control (1.02kg, 95% CI:-0.37 to 2.41; p=0.15; n=226). Neither the IPE (+1.22kg) nor the control arm (+0.07kg) unadjusted mean gains in body weight reached the expected 2kg threshold. In the IPE arm, fat-free mass was greater by 1.07kg (95% CI: 0.21-1.93), and blood glucose elevated by 0.11mmol/L (95% CI: 0.01-0.21). Compliance, determined by intake of ≥50% sachets, was reached by 63% of IPE participants. There were no unexpected adverse events or safety concerns. Our study indicates that at 12 months, IPE did not differentially affect weight gain, compared with the inulin control, in adults between 20 and 40 years of age, at risk of obesity. NIHR EME Programme (15/185/16).

An Assessment of Promoting Culinary Tourism in Ghana

Purpose: Ghana's tourism and hospitality industry has been extensively researched over the past five decades, primarily focusing on culture and heritage tourism, nature and economic tourism, marketing, and service quality. The aim is to assess the potential of culinary tourism as a powerful tool for creating sustainable livelihood empowerment channels, offering a beacon of hope for the future. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study was conducted with a rigorous qualitative research design and desk review approach, ensuring a comprehensive topic exploration. Published data and literature on the food tourism prospects of eight regions in Ghana were analysed. The gathered data was then subjected to content analysis, a common technique in qualitative research. Research Limitation: The findings derived from the desk review may not be generalisable to other contexts, populations, or geographic areas due to the reliance on specific literature that may not capture all perspectives. This acknowledgement ensures that the audience is fully informed about the scope of the study. Findings: The study exposes the stark reality that the culinary tourism market in Ghana, despite its significant potential, remains underdeveloped. This underscores the crucial need for strategic interventions and the active participation of all stakeholders in the industry's development. Practical Implication: From a practical point of view, the Ghana Tourism Authority must show greater interest in developing the sector by organising regional and national food festivals annually. This effort must be publicised internationally to attract tourists interested in exploring Ghana's culinary diversity. Social Implication: Culinary tourism promotes sustainable food production and consumption practices by emphasising local, seasonal, and environmentally friendly ingredients. This reduces tourism's carbon footprint and supports responsible consumption patterns. Originality/Value: This study has revealed a significant research gap with practical implications. Thus, narratives on the potential of culinary tourism across eight regions in Ghana have known to have been provided practical actions towards enhancing culinary tourism in Ghana.

UNLOCKING COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: CPF 249, A MEDIUM-MATURING SUGARCANE VARIETY FOR PUNJAB

The substantial growth of sugar industry and the need to ensure national food security entail the extension of crushing season for sugar mills in Punjab by introducing medium and late maturing sugarcane varieties. The variety CPF 249 is a cross of CP 87-1628 × CP 84-1198, was developed from fuzz imported in 2002 from the Sugarcane Station in Canal Point, USA, and subsequently grown at the Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad. Following successful initial selection, CPF 249 underwent four years of testing in preliminary, semi-final, and final varietal trials from 2008 to 2012. This medium-maturing variety demonstrates high tonnage and superior sugar recovery compared to other medium-maturing varieties such as CPF 247, SPF 245, and HSF 240. Furthermore, CPF 249 exhibits resistance diseases and insect pests, positioning it as an excellent alternative to SPF 245, SPF 234, and HSF 240 throughout Punjab. Economically, it offers a significant advantage, yielding an additional profit of Rs. 223,000 over SPF 245, Rs. 138,000 over HSF 240, and Rs. 54,000 per hectare compared to other local checks.

Expedited program and utilization for anticancer drug approval in China and the United States

Objective: To systematically summarize and comparatively analyze the development, establishment and usage of oncology drugs speedy review approaches in China and in the United States between 2012 and 2021. Methods: Based on National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) websites, the development and current status of the speedy review approaches were consulted and summarized. Approved oncology drugs in China and in the United States (87 in China, 118 in the United States) over the past decade were analyzed using chi-square test for group comparison. Results: Five speedy approaches have been established in China and in the United States, three of which are the same, priority review, conditional approval or accelerated approval and breakthrough therapy. The rest two are special review and approval, special examination and approval in China, and fast track and real-time oncology review in the United States. Compared to the United States, speedy review approaches in China set up late (1992 vs. 2005). The overall utilization rates of the oncology drugs speedy review approaches were similar between the China and United States (90.8% vs. 92.4%, P=0.800) in the previous 10 years, and priority review have highest utilization rates in both China and the United States without significant group difference (77.0% vs. 82.2%, P=0.381); relatively low utilization rates of conditional approval (31.0% vs. 44.9%, P=0.041) and breakthrough therapy (2.3% vs. 50.0%, P＜0.001) were seen in China. 52.9% of new drugs applied for special examination and approval in China and 40.7% of new drugs applied for fast track in the United States. Overall, the priority review both in China and the United States are stable, with a similar average annual utilization rate (84.8% vs. 83.7%); accelerated approval and breakthrough therapies in the United States fluctuate wildly, but the situation is tending towards stability in the last 3 years. Conclusions: Both China and the United States have established a relatively complete accelerated review system, with an overall utilization rate over 90%; China's accelerated review started late, although the overall utilization rate is close to that of the United States. The utilization rates of conditional approval and breakthrough therapy are still relatively low. Flexible usage of speedy review approaches, gaining regulatory recognition to use alternative endpoints, achieving real-time review and guidance are keys to accelerate new drug development in China.

Analisis Determinan Volume Impor Gandum di Indonesia

Wheat is one of the food commodities consumed by the Indonesian people. The need for wheat in Indonesia from year to year tends to increase but is almost entirely met through imports and makes Indonesia one of the world's largest wheat importers. Dependence on food commodities from the import side has a huge risk for national food security because in addition to the increasingly limited foreign exchange owned, there is also uncertainty in terms of quantity and price. The purpose of this study is to find out the factors that affect wheat imports in Indonesia. The variables in this study are foreign exchange reserves, international wheat prices, domestic rice prices, and the US dollar exchange rate. This study uses secondary data with a quantitative approach using 34 data. Data analysis techniques using descriptive statistical analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study show 1) Foreign Exchange Reserves, International Wheat Prices, Domestic Rice Prices, and the US Dollar Exchange Rate simultaneously have a positive and significant effect on the Volume of Wheat Imports in Indonesia, 2) Foreign Exchange Reserves partially have a positive and significant effect on the Volume of Wheat Imports in Indonesia, 3) International Wheat Prices partially have a negative and significant effect on the Volume of Wheat Imports in Indonesia, 4) Domestic Rice Prices and the US Dollar Exchange Rate have no significant effect on the Volume of Wheat Imports in Indonesia.

Application of K-Means Clustering and OR-Tools to Optimize Rice Distribution: A Case Study of Perum Bulog Indonesia

Food security is one of the Indonesian government's priority policies aimed at maintaining economic and political stability. To ensure the nutritional needs of its population are met, the government requires sufficient food availability distributed nationwide at stable and affordable prices. Rice is the main staple food in Indonesia. According to data from the National Food Agency, rice consumption in Indonesia is very high, averaging 139 kilograms per capita per year, with a dependency rate of 97%. In response to food security challenges, the Indonesian government has entrusted the Food Supply and Price Stabilization Program (SPHP) for rice to Perum BULOG, a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) specializing in food logistics. To optimize distribution to Perum BULOG’s retailers, called Rumah Pangan Kita (RPK), efficient routes and transport capacity are prioritized. Therefore, this paper proposes an approach using the Heterogeneous Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (HCVRP) to enhance distribution efficiency and reduce delivery costs. By employing the K-Means algorithm to cluster RPK addresses and Guided Local Search via OR-Tools to determine suitable transportation types, this study successfully identified optimal delivery routes for each cluster and corresponding vehicle types. The results demonstrated a reduction in delivery costs of up to 21%, significantly improving the efficiency of the SPHP rice distribution process. This outcome ultimately supports rice availability and price stability, crucial for maintaining food security in Indonesia.

Prevalence of Anemia and its associated factors among 6–59 months age children visiting public hospitals at Afar Region, Northeast Ethiopia: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundAnemia is a significant global public health issue among children aged 6 to 59 months, particularly in low-income countries like Ethiopia. Studies focusing on pastoral communities, especially in the Afar Region, often underestimate the prevalence of anemia in these children. To address this information gap, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among children aged 6 to 59 months in public hospitals in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia.MethodA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 6 to 59 months, using systematic random sampling, at public hospitals in the Afar Region from February 28 to April 30, 2023.The data collection tool was adapted from the Ethiopian National Food Consumption Survey and the World Health Organization Infant and Young Child Feeding guidelines. Data entry was performed using EpiData version 4.2 and Anthroplus software for anthropometric measurements. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26. Binary logistic regression models were applied to identify predictors of anemia, with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultAmong the 306 children aged 6 to 59 months, the overall prevalence of anemia was 46.41 (95 CI: 43.8–48.9 ). Of the 142 anemic children aged 6 to 59 months, 62 (43.66 ) had mild anemia, 60 (42.25 ) had moderate anemia, and 20 (14.08 ) had severe anemia. Key factors associated with anemia included mothers with no formal education, the lowest family monthly income, a family size greater than five, and rural residence. Additionally, a previous diagnosis of parasitic infection, children aged 24–35 months, early weaning, a malaria diagnosis within the past three months, and diarrhea in the last two weeks were significant predictors of anemia in children aged 6 to 59 months.ConclusionIn the current study, anemia in children aged 6 to 59 months was classified as severe and is regarded as a critical public health issue. This suggests that more efforts should be made to significantly decrease anemia by actively involving rural mothers with no formal education and low income who have children aged 6–59 months, focusing on the prevention and management of malaria, diarrhea, and parasitic infections.

Evaluation of rhizospheric Pseudomonas spp. for the management of Fusarium wilt of tomato in Cholistan, Pakistan

Agriculture plays a crucial role in national development, food security, and poverty reduction. Despite its importance, the agricultural sector's contribution to GDP is gradually decreasing. Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, has significantly hindered tomato production globally. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), a widely grown vegetable, is threatened by various pathogens, with Fusarium wilt being particularly damaging due to yield and quality loss. Synthetic chemicals are commonly used to control Fusarium wilt in tomatoes, but these chemicals are harmful to the environment and human health due to their toxicity and persistence. This has prompted researchers to develop eco-friendly alternatives. In preliminary tests, 10 isolates of Pseudomonas spp. were evaluated in vitro against Fusarium oxysporum. Four isolates that effectively inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum were chosen for further experimentation. A greenhouse study revealed that two bacterial isolates, IUB310 and Mad1230, significantly reduced disease severity by 69.2% and 65%, respectively. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria from the Pseudomonas family not only combat pathogens but also induce systemic resistance in plants by strengthening cell walls and triggering defensive proteins and compounds. The results clearly highlight the significance of Pseudomonas strains in suppressing F. oxysporum and promoting plant growth, indicating their potential use in managing Fusarium wilt in tomato cultivation.

Determination of selected phenolic compounds from Malaysian urban farming community

Urban farming in communities especially around the city has been highlighted by the Malaysia government under Under National Physical Plan Policy in order to promote food sovereignty by citizens. It is also a crucial strategy to support the agenda for national food security. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the scientific information on major phenolic compounds which include quercetin, protocatechuic acid, and gallic acid from existing vegetables in Malaysian urban farming communities. The collected vegetables consist of leafy and non-leafy types. The detection of the phenolic compounds was carried out using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Standard phenolic compounds were used as reference material to determine their content in the samples using the calibration curve method. Based on the data obtained, mostly all the collected vegetables from urban farming communities consist of the targeted major phenolic compounds. Leaf mustard possesses the highest content of quercetin, protocatechuic acid, and gallic acid recorded at values of 20.32, 19.60, and 78.23 µg/g, respectively compared to others. Pak choi possess the second highest content of quercetin with the value of 20.13 µg/g, while okra for total phenolic acids with value of 43.10 µg/g. Overall, from the data, it is suggested that leaf mustard could be an important vegetable to be planted under urban farming besides other types of vegetables.

Public Perception of the Food Estate Program of Cassava Cultivation as a Strategic Logistic Reserve in Realizing Regional Food Security in Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan

This research examines the implementation challenges of Indonesia’s Strategic Logistics Reserve Development Program (CLS), specifically focusing on cassava cultivation in Gunung Mas Regency. Launched as part of the 2020-2024 National Strategic Program (PSN), the initiative aims to address potential food security issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, land degradation, and climate change. The program's primary goal is to develop food estates to enhance national food security. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, including interviews with key stakeholders, analysis of program documentation, and community surveys to assess the program’s effectiveness and impact. Key findings reveal significant obstacles, including policy misalignment, unsuitable land conditions for cassava, inadequate infrastructure, and a top-down implementation strategy that lacks local community involvement. Results indicate that while the program has led to some positive outcomes, such as job creation and increased food independence, it has also faced severe criticism. Issues such as suboptimal cassava growth, environmental damage, and socio-cultural impacts have led to negative public perceptions. The failure to issue a crucial Presidential Decree, poor inter-governmental coordination, and inadequate understanding of the program by local communities have compounded these challenges. Analysis suggests that the program’s shortcomings are due to a combination of regulatory delays, environmental mismatches, and insufficient stakeholder engagement. To address these issues, the research recommends a comprehensive evaluation of the program, restoration of damaged lands, enhanced community participation, and stronger environmental safeguards. Improved collaboration between central and regional governments and better alignment of policies and infrastructure are essential for the program’s success in achieving its food security objectives.

On-site visual sensing of antibiotics in food by new fluorescent lanthanide metal–organic frameworks

In recent years, foods that contaminated by the antibiotics is a serious threat to human health, so, the on-site visual detection of antibiotics in food is crucial. In this work, two new two-dimensional lanthanide metal–organic frameworks (2D LnMOFs) are synthesized by mild hydrothermal method and detailly characterized by single crystal structure analysis, photophysics, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), FT-IR spectra. Results show the two LnMOFs has high thermo-stability, strong acid and alkaline resistance. Further studies reveal that TbMOF is a highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for the antibiotics of enrofloxacin (Enr) and ciprofloxacin (Cip), with a very short response time of 15 s. The limits of detection (LODs) for Enr and Cip are very low values of 190 and 70 nM, respectively, based on the method of 3σ/K, which is lower than the national food safety standard (GB 31650–2019). In addition, portable test paper based on TbMOF is fabricated, which realized the visible and on-site detection of Enr and Cip in the real samples of egg and milk.

Relationships between soil test phosphorus and county-level agricultural surplus phosphorus.

National nutrient inventories provide surplus phosphorus (P) estimates derived from county-scale mass balance calculations using P inputs from manure and fertilizer sales and P outputs from crop yield data. Although bioavailable P and surplus P are often correlated at the field scale, few studies have investigated the relationship between measured soil P concentrations of large-scale soil testing programs and inventory-based surplus P estimates. In this study, we assessed the relationship between national surplus P data from the NuGIS dataset and laboratory-measured soil test phosphorus (STP) at the county scale for Arkansas, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. For optimal periods of surplus P aggregation, surplus P was positively correlated with STP based on both Pearson (Arkansas: r=0.65, North Carolina: r=0.45, Oklahoma: r=0.52) and Spearman correlation coefficients (Arkansas: ρ=0.57, North Carolina: ρ=0.28, and Oklahoma: ρ=0.66). Based on Pearson correlations, the optimal surplus P aggregation periods were 10, 30, and 4 years for AR, NC, and OK, respectively. On average, STP was more strongly correlated with surplus P than with individual P inventory components (fertilizer, manure, and crop removal), except in North Carolina. In Arkansas and North Carolina, manure P was positively correlated with STP, and fertilizer P was negatively correlated with STP. Altogether, results suggest that surplus P moderately correlates with STP concentrations, but aggregation period and location-specific factors influence the strength of the relationship.

Pollution Evaluation and Risk Control Suggestion of Heavy Metals in Soil-crop System in Different Soil Parent Material Areas of Guangxi

To study the heavy metal pollution and influencing factors of soils and crops in different parent material areas and provide the basis for the classification and control of cultivated land, a total of 1 326 soil surface samples and 46 crop seed-root soil samples were collected from Xingye County in the southeast of Guangxi. The enrichment characteristics of heavy metals in the soil-crop system of four soil-forming parent materials were compared and analyzed, and the influencing factors of Cd absorption by rice were studied. The comprehensive quality impact index method was used to evaluate the soil and crops in the study area, and the safe use of cultivated land was proposed according to the evaluation results. The results showed that in the four soil-forming parent material areas, only the carbonate rock parent material area showed obvious enrichment of heavy metals in the soil, especially Cd. According to the "National Food Safety Standard for the Limit of Pollutants in Food" （GB 2762-2022）, the excess rate of heavy metal Cd in rice seeds was 35.7%, and the other heavy metal rates were not exceeded. The bioconcentration coefficient of heavy metal Cd in rice from different parent material areas was as follows： quaternary sediment area > carbonate parent material area > clastic parent material area > granite parent material area. The enrichment of Cd in rice was affected by soil pH and CaO. When the soil pH value was in the range of 5.5-6.5, the Cd content and exceeding rate of rice seed increased significantly. The evaluation results of soil-crop heavy metal pollution showed that the overall heavy metal risk in the study area was high, and the proportions of clean, mild, light, moderate, and heavy pollution were 23.91%, 10.87%, 17.39%, 17.39%, and 30.43%, respectively. Combined with the distribution of the comprehensive quality influence index and the pollution characteristics of different parent materials, the classification and control suggestions were put forward, which provided ideas for the safe utilization of polluted cultivated land.

Pengembangan Strategi Pemasaran Hasil Pertanian Jagung

Developing a marketing strategy for corn agricultural products is an important step to increase the competitiveness and income of corn farmers in Indonesia. Corn as one of the main agricultural commodities has great potential to meet food and industrial needs. This discussion aims to analyze the current conditions of the corn market, identify the challenges faced by farmers, and formulate effective marketing strategies. The results of the discussion show that factors such as product quality, price and market accessibility greatly influence the success of corn marketing. Apart from that, the use of information technology and digital marketing has also been proven to increase market reach and distribution efficiency. Based on these findings, recommended marketing strategies include strengthening distribution networks, improving product quality through training for farmers, and using digital platforms for marketing. By implementing this strategy, it is hoped that corn farmers can increase their income and contribute to national food security

Determination of azodicarbonamide in flour samples using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with xanthydrol pre-column derivatisation

Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is approved as a food additive in flour products due to its oxidising and bleaching properties. However, it is prohibited in Australia and Europe on account of its toxicity and the risk of causing asthma in humans. A method was developed to determine ADA in actual flour samples. This work presents an optimised methodology based on derivatisation and clean-up procedures followed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–ESI-MS/MS). The analytical method was successfully validated. An excellent result was obtained for the linearity of matrix-matched calibration curves (R 2 > 0.99) in the concentration range of 0.10–80 mg/kg. The recovery rate varied from 81.7% to 102.3%. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of repeatability (n = 6) were 1.3–4.1%, and inter-day RSDs (n = 6) were 2.2–4.8%. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification were 0.014 and 0.042 mg/kg, which were significantly lower than the requirement of 45 mg/kg stipulated in the Chinese National Food Safety Standard (GB 2760-2014). The detection rate of ADA in 26 flour samples was 23.1%, with the concentration ranging from 0.023 to 23.2 mg/kg.