Organic Farming Research Articles

Comparative Study of Productivity of Organic and Conventional Agriculture in Maize Crops in East Java

This study provides a comparative analysis of the productivity of organic and conventional maize farming in East Java, employing a quantitative approach with 40 sample farms. Utilizing a Likert scale from 1 to 5, data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 26. The findings indicate that while conventional farming demonstrates higher average yields, the difference in productivity between the two systems is statistically significant but not substantial. Organic farming shows competitive productivity, particularly in the long term, due to its positive impact on soil health and sustainability. The study highlights the potential of organic farming as a viable alternative to conventional practices in maize cultivation, offering valuable insights for policymakers and farmers in East Java.

A study protocol for a randomized clinical trial on exposure and effects of pesticides consumption - the PEST-EXPO Brazil study

Randomized clinical trials are considered the gold standard for studies with dietary interventions, which is mainly due to the fact that they can establish causal relationships between food exposure and body composition measures or biomarkers. The aim of this study was to describe the details of a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial protocol to identify, characterize and evaluate the effects of human dietary exposure to pesticide residues in food. Specific aspects of planning (development of a research question, determination of objectives, selection of participants, randomization and blinding) and performance (recruitment of participants, measures to improve adherence, data collection, follow-up and evaluation of results) are addressed in this study. The study design proved effective in characterizing dietary patterns with foods originating from both conventional and organic agriculture. A total of 148 individuals were recruited for the study. The conventional group was represented by 47 % of the sample and the organic group was represented by 53 %. The practice of evidence-based nutrition has demanded that trials be well designed and systematically performed in the field of clinical nutrition. Therefore, this clinical trial emphasizes the importance of improving studies with toxicological nutrition that assess sources of exposure through food.•This double-blind, randomized clinical trial details the protocol for identifying, characterizing, and evaluating the effects of dietary exposure to pesticide residues.•The protocol demonstrates that well-designed and systematically conducted trials emphasize the importance of robust methodologies in evidence-based nutrition.•In the face of the global climate crisis, this clinical trial underscores the importance of enhancing studies in toxicological nutrition, particularly those evaluating sources of exposure through food, to better understand the dietary impacts on health.

Research on the economic efficiency of organic farming versus traditional farming

The method of organic farming is becoming more and more popular. All farmers are still concerned about finding workable ways to cut back on the number of treatments and minimize the usage of pesticides. The effort aims to establish a technical technique for producing some horticultural species that satisfies ecological agriculture requirements, as well as to explore some aspects of biological control to limit the spread of some diseases and pests in some horticultural species. The goal of this research is to investigate some aspects of biological control in order to prevent the development of certain diseases and pests in some horticultural species, as well as to design a technical approach for producing some horticultural species that fits the standards of ecological agriculture. It also includes a study on the economic effectiveness of an ecological culture technology for producing goods with high ecological purity in certain horticulture plants. Because the cost of the seedlings obtained ecologically is 50–150% greater than that of the conventional system, the total cost of tomato crops in the ecological system is higher than that of the conventional system.

Magnet-assisted nanoscale zerovalent iron soil washing in chlorpyrifos-contaminated soil remediation: Proof of concept

Chlorpyrifos (CPF)––a widely used organophosphate pesticide––is banned in many countries due to its persistence in the environment and high toxicity. Residue levels often vastly exceed safety thresholds, posing significant risks to human health and ecosystems. This persistent contamination challenges farmers, especially those transitioning to organic practices. Here, we propose magnet-assisted soil washing with nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) for the rapid remediation of CPF-contaminated soil. Soil mixed with water and nZVI facilitates CPF adsorption and degradation, with the CPF-sorbed nZVI being magnetically separated. We tested various nZVI conditions (inactivated [IZ] and activated [AZ], with and without hydrogen peroxide [H2O2]) against controls, including untreated soil and conventionally washed soil. The control experiments showed that conventional washing without nZVI removed 50.54 ± 3.48 % of the CPF via volatilization, leaving CPF residues in the soil (25.44 ± 2.12 %) that were above the maximum contamination level (MCL). Inactivated nZVI increased the removal by 24.38 ± 0.78 % via CPF sorption, but the MCL was still exceeded. However, AZ or nZVI with H2O2 achieved complete CPF removal (>99.95 %) within 180 min, reducing its concentration to below the MCL (<0.03 mg/kg). Thus, CPF sorption followed by either reductive dechlorination or oxidative degradation proved effective. Additionally, nZVI demonstrated reusability for three rounds while mitigating CPF toxicity, improving seed germination and plant growth. This method offers a promising solution for rapid soil decontamination, supporting the transition to organic farming.

Compost tea enhances volatile content in tomato fruits via SlERF.E4-activated SlLOX expression.

Aroma volatiles, essential for tomato fruit flavor, were previously reported to accumulate more abundantly in fruits cultivated with compost tea. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which compost tea regulates aroma volatile synthesis in tomato fruit remains elusive. Here, we found that compost tea treatment significantly increased the content of volatiles derived from fatty acids in tomato fruit. Transcriptional analysis revealed that compost tea application upregulated the expression of linolenic acid metabolic pathway gene LOXs (SlLOXD and SlLOXE). Furthermore, overexpression of SlLOXD and SlLOXE enhanced the volatiles in fruit, while compost tea treatment failed to increase volatiles content in loxd and loxe mutants. Interestingly, compost tea application increased the level of ACC, a precursor of ethylene. Treatment with an ethylene signaling inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) negated the aroma enhancement effect of compost tea on tomato fruits. SlERF.E4, a transcription factor responsive to ethylene signaling, bound to the promoters of SlLOXD and SlLOXE. Overexpression of SlERF.E4 led to increased expression of SlLOXD and SlLOXE, as well as elevated fruit volatile content. Indeed, aroma enhancement in the SlERF.E4-overexpressed tomatoes was not affected by 1-MCP. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the improvement of flavor in organic fruits and provide valuable insights for the development of strategies in organic agriculture.

Kajian Hukum terhadap Pengelolaan Sumber Daya Alam Berbasis Limbah Pasar untuk Pembuatan Pupuk Kompos

This journal looks at the legal concerns of managing natural resources by producing compost using a market-based method based on garbage. This study's primary goal is to evaluate the efficacy and compliance of the legal requirements controlling the use of market trash as a raw material for compost fertilizer. The study's findings indicate that there are several pertinent laws that offer a legal framework for market waste management, including the Environmental Law and government waste management rules. However, there are obstacles to the law's implementation and enforcement, such as a lack of knowledge among business actors and oversight flaws. To ensure sustainability and efficiency in managing market waste as a resource for making compost, this study also found that, despite the existence of existing regulations, regulatory updates and harmonization are still required. To maximize the environmental and economic benefits of market waste management, this research recommends improvements in regulations and law enforcement, as well as increased education and training for business actors.The results of the study indicate that the utilization of market waste for making compost has great potential in supporting organic farming and reducing the volume of waste that ends up in landfills. However, the implementation of this program requires a deep understanding of applicable regulations, as well as support from the government and the community. This article concludes that comprehensive legal-based waste management can improve the efficiency and sustainability of natural resource management, as well as have a positive impact on community welfare.

Berry Pomace Extracts as a Natural Washing Aid to Mitigate Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli in Fresh Produce.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) outbreaks have been frequently linked to the consumption of produce. Furthermore, produce grown on organic farms possess a higher risk, as the farmers avoid antibiotics and chemicals. This study sets out to evaluate the effectiveness of advanced postharvest disinfection processes using berry pomace extracts (BPEs) in reducing EHEC load in two common leafy greens, spinach and lettuce. Spinach and lettuce were inoculated with ~5 log CFU/leaf EHEC EDL-933 and then treated with three different concentrations of BPE (1, 1.5, and 2 gallic acid equivalent, GAE mg/mL) for increasing periods of time. After the wash, the bacteria were quantified. Changes in the relative expression of virulence genes and the genes involved in cell division and replication and response against stress/antibiotics were studied. We observed a significant reduction in EHEC EDL933, ranging from 0.5 to 1.6 log CFU/spinach leaf (p < 0.05) washed with BPE water. A similar trend of reduction, ranging from 0.3 to 1.3 log CFU/mL, was observed in pre-inoculated lettuce washed with BPE water. We also quantified the remaining bacterial population in the residual treatment solutions and found the survived bacterial cells (~3 log CFU/mL) were low despite repeated washing with the same solution. In addition, we evaluated the phenolic concentration in leftover BPE, which did not change significantly, even after multiple uses. Alterations in gene expression levels were observed, with downregulation ranging from 1 to 3 log folds in the genes responsible for the adhesion and virulence of EHEC EDL933 and significant upregulation of genes responsible for survival against stress. All other genes were upregulated, ranging from 2 to 7 log folds, with a dose-dependent decrease in expression. This finding shows the potential of BPE to be used for sanitation of fresh produce as a natural and sustainable approach.

Leverage points for the uptake of organic food production and consumption in the United Kingdom

Organic food systems are recognised as an important component in meeting United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. A leverage points perspective can help to identify approaches which have the potential to facilitate transformative systemic change towards organic and sustainable farming. Using fuzzy cognitive maps developed from expert stakeholder opinions, we modelled a system of drivers of organic food production and consumption in the United Kingdom, according to the UN Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems framework. The most influential concepts in the uptake of organic systems were related to system norms and values and social structures, such as short-term economic thinking, landowner engagement, and relationships with certification bodies. However, in a scenario analysis, organic stakeholders identified relatively shallower leverage points as more likely to change under a sustainable future, resulting in limited systemic change. This demonstrates the need for policies targeting system norms, values and social structures relating to food systems to facilitate the transition to organic and sustainable farming.

Breeding wheat for organic farming: Can the high grain protein gene Gpc-B1 help to tackle challenges in view of end-use quality?

Organic farming contributes to sustain healthy ecosystems, but challenges such as lower crop yields and supply of the nitrogen needs of crops remain. Wheat is the most important organic arable crop in Europe and grain protein content is the main quality trait also for grading organic wheat despite that high baking quality can be also realized at lower protein contents. Hence, breeding of organic wheat varieties that realize a stable high grain protein content even at lower nitrogen availability is of utmost importance to guarantee income of organic wheat growers. A major QTL for high grain protein content was identified in wild emmer and transferred into bread wheat. We tested six different wheat genetic backgrounds varying for the presence/absence of the functional Gpc-B1 allele in multi-location trials in Central Europe for their performance under organic growing. The increase in grain protein content caused by the functional Gpc-B1 allele was present in almost all genetic backgrounds, however, was not consistent across all tested quality traits. None the less, the functional Gpc-B1 allele may play a major role to increase the stability of organic wheat to reach minimum requirements by traders and processors with respect to grain protein content.

Mechanization Challenges in Selected Distinct Agricultural Systems in India

Mechanization has significantly advanced various sectors, particularly agriculture, by enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. But still mechanization finds challenges in several agricultural systems. This study explores the challenges of mechanization in some distinct agricultural systems in India. Through survey of previous literature from India, various agricultural systems were identified. Following, brainstorming on such agricultural systems, based on ranking, distinct agricultural systems with significant mechanization challenges were selected and insights were made. Results states the practices such as the water logged paddy farming system, protected cultivation, pandhal system, hill farming, mixed and intercropping systems, organic farming, and shifting cultivation were identified as distinct agricultural systems holding unique hurdles towards mechanization. Each system was discussed with the insights derived on brainstorming. Practicable strategies to overcome the discussed hurdles on the distinct systems were identified and presented in short. In overall, the study explores the various research gaps and challenges upon mechanization of some agricultural systems in India for which further investigations and actions needed.

Grasslands support more diverse and resilient earthworm communities to climate change than croplands in Central Europe

Diversity and community composition of earthworms, key drivers of ecosystem functions, are increasingly threatened by global change, including climate and land-use change. However, empirical evidence for interactions of these concurrent drivers in affecting earthworm communities is scarce. Here, we investigated the effects of an experimentally imposed climate change scenario, including warming and altered precipitation patterns, and land use with two croplands (both conventional farming and organic farming characterize a three-year crop rotation) and two grasslands (intensively-used meadow and extensively-used meadow) on earthworm communities across different seasons and years in a field experiment. Compared with grasslands, earthworms in croplands have lower species richness (-26 %), abundance (-80 %), and biomass (-73 %), particularly the abundance of juveniles (-83 %) and Aporrectodea rosea (-76 %) as well as the biomass of juveniles (-84 %), A. rosea (-72 %), Octolasion cyaneum (-47 %), and Lumbricus terrestris (-83 %). Due to extreme droughts in Central Europe from 2018 to 2020, earthworm abundance and biomass were low across land-use types, but in grassland they increased (abundance: +80 %; biomass: +85 %) in 2021 presumably due to increased moisture conditions. Main effects of experimental climate change and intensified management practices as well as interaction of experimental climate change and land use on abundance and biomass of earthworms were non-significant. Notably, experimental climate change and land use interactively altered earthworm community composition, with the most pronounced difference between ambient and future climate in croplands than in grasslands. This indicates that earthworm community composition more sensitively reflects changes in environmental conditions than earthworm abundance and biomass, but the latter two negatively responded to prolonged drought conditions. Our results indicate that grasslands have a higher resilience of earthworm populations to buffer adverse environmental conditions than croplands. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the response of earthworms to inter-annual climatic variability and experimental climate change under different land-use types.

Impact of Organic Manures and Liquid Formulations on Garlic Growth, Yield and Quality in Uttarakhand, India

The field study was carried out to VCSG, UUHF, Pauri Garhwal in 2022-2023 to investigate the integrated effect of organic manures and organic liquid formulations on the growth and yield of garlic. The main objective of this study was to determine the benefits of using organic manures and liquid formulations over conventional farming because the abundant use of nitrogenous fertilizers causes excessive vegetative growth at the expense of bulb formation. Among fourteen different treatment combinations that consist of various combinations of organic manures (FYM and Vermicompost) and organic liquid formulations (Panchgavya and Jeevamrit) treatment T3 i.e., FYM (10t/ha) + Panchgavya (2%) emerged as the best treatment concerning growth and yield of garlic. The findings showed that the maximum plant height (69.080 cm), number of leaves (8.400), leaf length (47.880 cm) and breadth (3.207 cm), and leaf area index (1.023) at all the 30 days intervals after sowing of garlic has been observed with the application of Treatment T3. The fundamental reason for the increased growth might be due to growth-promoting substances like auxins and gibberellins in panchgavya and high nitrogen and phosphorus in FYM. Concerning yield and quality attributes, the bulb diameter (5.657 cm), fresh weight of bulb (64.643 cm), length of the bulb (5.853 cm), number of cloves per bulb (12.200), bulb yield (120.833 q), total chlorophyll content (2.127 mg/g) and ascorbic acid content (15.333 mg/100g) was obtained maximum with the application of same treatment T3 i.e., FYM (10t/ha) + Panchgavya (2%) with yield increases up to 30% compared to control. However, the harvest index percent was found to be maximum (89.243 %) in treatment T13 i.e., Vermicompost (5t/ha) + Jeevamrit (6%). These findings suggest that organic farming practices can effectively enhance garlic production, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. Moreover, this study provides practical insights for farmers and contributes to the growing body of research on sustainable agriculture.

Understanding pyrethrin biosynthesis: toward and beyond natural pesticide overproduction.

Pyrethrins are natural insecticides biosynthesised by Asteraceae plants, such as Tanacetum cinerariifolium and have a long history, dating back to ancient times. Pyrethrins are often used as low-persistence and safe insecticides to control household, horticultural, and agricultural insect pests. Despite its long history of use, pyrethrin biosynthesis remains a mystery, presenting a significant opportunity to improve yields and meet the growing demand for organic agriculture. To achieve this, both genetic modification and non-genetic methods, such as chemical activation and priming, are indispensable. Plants use pyrethrins as a defence against herbivores, but pyrethrin biosynthesis pathways are shared with plant hormones and signal molecules. Hence, the insight that pyrethrins may play broader roles than those traditionally expected is invaluable to advance the basic and applied sciences of pyrethrins.

Transformative learning and engagement with organic farming: Lessons learned from Indonesia

Abstract The transformation process toward organic farming in Indonesia has been ongoing for 20 years, but progress has been slow. One of the reasons for the slow development of organic agriculture is the lack of attention given to the process of social change by the actors involved. This research aims to analyze the involvement of each actor in the transformation process toward organic farming. This research is a qualitative study that uses a constructivist–interpretive approach. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with 7 informants, through observations, and through focus group discussions with 30 participants, which included farmers (some of whom were members of farmer groups, members of organic farming communities, or heads of farmer groups), agricultural extension officers, and organic field school administrators. The data were examined via thematic analysis. The research results revealed social, cultural, and psychological barriers in the transformation process of the actors. Changes in spaces and forms of farmer learning and perspectives are the keys to the success of the transformation process toward organic farming. Farmers and actors involved in organic farming believe that technology adoption and the involvement of actors who synergize with each other through the support of dialogic processes and facilities to meet and share knowledge, experiences, and problems are the keys to the success of the transformation process. Social change is no longer top-down; it must be a dialogic process and a learning process from adult experience centering on a variety of relevant knowledge and feedback. Therefore, the actions that can be taken to encourage the acceleration of transformation toward organic farming include reforming organic farming institutions, establishing synergy with organic farming activist institutions, and providing access to information on organic farming development.

Minat Generasi Muda dalam Usaha Tani Padi Organik di Desa Gentungan Kecamatan Mojogedang Kabupaten Karanganyar

&lt;p&gt;The development of organic rice farming in Gentungan Village faced aging farmers. This research aims to assess the interest of the younger generation in organic rice farming in Gentungan Village, analyze the efforts made to increase youth interest in organic rice farming, and the impact of the existence of the Taruna Tani Lestari group. This research method uses descriptive qualitative. The location selection was purposively in Gentungan Village, Mojogedang Sub-district, Karanganyar. The number of informants in this research was 18, consisting of youth members of the Taruna Tani group, youth farmers not members of the Taruna Tani groups, and non-youth farmers—data analysis using Miles and Huberman using the Promethee method. Data validity used triangulation of sources and data collection methods. The results showed that youth interest in organic rice farming began to increase due to various efforts made by the village in collaboration with universities and other agricultural start-ups. The existing efforts include forming the Taruna Tani group, introducing technology and development of agricultural infrastructure, education and training in agriculture, collaborating with various stakeholders, establishing agro-tourism, and developing other commodities. However, the Gentungan Village government needs to formulate multiple policies in the Village Medium Term Development Plan (RPJM) related to efforts to increase youth interest in organic farming businesses to realize Gentungan Village as an Organic Village in 2030.&lt;/p&gt;

Partisipasi Masyarakat dalam Pengembangan Wisata Pertanian Organik di Desa Gentungan, Kecamatan Mojogedang, Kabupaten Karanganyar

Gentungan Village organic tourism is an educational and practical tourism in organic farming and Embung Setumpeng tourism. Gentungan Village organic tourism applies the concept of community-based tourism (CBT) which emphasizes the participation of local communities. Community participation is an activity of a person or group of people to be directly or indirectly involved in providing ideas or ideas on a development program. This study aims to analyze the stages and forms of community participation in the development of organic farming tourism in Gentungan Village, Mojogedang Sub-district, Karanganyar Regency. This research uses a qualitative analysis method with a descriptive approach, using data sources obtained through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The data analysis method uses Miles and Huberman’s interactive analysis. The results showed that there are 3 stages of community participation, namely (1) the planning stage, where the community is involved in community meeting activities, community involvement in the planning stage shows their participation in the form of time and thoughts contributed voluntarily. (2) The implementation stage, where the community is involved in the implementation of tourism activities. The Gentungan Village community is actively involved in addition to the community service activities of the tourist attractions, some residents become parking attendants and many people sell at the Embung Setumpeng location. Some people are also involved in comparative study activities by becoming presenters, outbound guides, and operators. (3) The stage of enjoying the results, where the community feels economic benefits with an increase in income and social benefits with an increase in mutual cooperation and the quality of human resources from tourism activities.

Field evaluation and characterization of a novel biostimulant for broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) cultivation under drought and salt stress which increases antioxidant, glucosinolate and phytohormone content

Anthropogenic global warming is affecting crop yield and thus compromising food security. Drought and salinization of the irrigation water or soil are increasingly frequent in most arable land, specifically in arid and semiarid areas such as the Mediterranean basin. Many crops have been displaced or their yield has plummeted in recent years, causing food shortages and price increases. In a context of global population growth and reduction in the availability of natural resources used in agriculture, finding novel tools that help farmers to maintain yield in an increasingly arid and saline scenario is of pivotal importance. This is particularly important in organic agriculture, where the number of available tools is very limited. Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms of natural origin whose function is to stimulate plant processes related to nutrient absorption, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress or the quality of the agricultural products obtained. In the present work, we have evaluated, in field, the agronomic effectiveness of a novel biostimulant formulation in a cruciferous crop of great interest in the Mediterranean basin (broccoli) under control conditions, water and salt stress. Our research has shown that our product had a positive effect on broccoli production and in delaying flowering time. We have also found that the application of our biostimulant increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense under drought conditions. Similarly, when exposed to salinity, the biostimulant increased the concentration of different phytohormones and glucosinolates. Taken together, our biostimulant increases the tolerance of broccoli to salt stress and water limitation by increasing the antioxidant response, the level of glucosinolates and eliciting the hormonal response.

Geostatistical modelling of soil properties towards long-term ecological sustainability of agroecosystems

A profound grasp of the quantitative spatial heterogeneity and distribution of the soil physicochemical attributes is crucial in understanding agricultural landscapes for ensuring the provisioning of soil ecosystem services. However, the analysis of data from remote sensing, like NDVI, can be of help in analysing the capacity of the landscape to provide supporting ecosystem services such as primary productivity. The research investigated and addressed the dispersion of important soil physico-chemical attributes in agricultural lands of the temperate Himalayan region of India using a geostatistical method and combining normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time-series data and the regression Kriging method. A 206 soil samples were gathered and assessed for soil parameters like pH, EC, OC, and available N, P, K, Ca, and Mg from Kishtwar district of Jammu. The coefficient of variation (CV) for pH and electrical conductivity (EC) ranged notably from 8.75 % to 118.98 %, highlighting diverse soil characteristics critical for local management practices. Mean elevation averaged 2743.32 m (m), with a moderate NDVI of 0.15, indicating dynamics in vegetation cover. Soil pH ranged from intensely acidic to marginally alkaline, with varying EC levels. Seemingly high organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), and potassium (K) levels, accompanied by medium phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) levels were found in the region. The study employed ordinary kriging (OK) to map the spatial distribution of soil parameters, utilizing mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and the Moran’s I index. Exponential models were the best fit models for OC, while spherical models were fit for pH, EC, N, P, and Ca. Mathematical models were best fit for K and Mg. Spatial analysis using spherical and exponential models revealed distinct distribution patterns for pH, N, P, Ca, and Mg. The results of the degree of spatial dependence from the semi-variogram analyses indicated a strong (0.06 %) to moderate (0.51 %) to weak (2.81 %) dependence. The interpolated maps showed a distinct gradient in elevation (1053–4413 m), OC (0.13–2.80 %), NDVI (−0.16–0.54), pH (4.80–8.00), EC (0.03–9.80 dS m−1), N (201.15–993.19 kg ha−1), P (3.00–96.00 kg ha−1), K (124.88–1110.71 kg ha−1), Ca (7.00–46.00 meq 100 g soil−1), and Mg (2.30–21.50 meq 100 g soil−1) at the regional scale, indicating a wide range of spatial soil heterogeneity. The heterogeneity maps of soil parameters generated by this research can be effectively used by land planners and farm managers at a regional scale for crop nutrient management to reduce soil contamination risk. These maps serve as baseline materials and effective tools for suitable land management strategies such as conservation-effective tillage, integrated nutrient management, and organic farming based on the spatial distribution of soil properties and they can significantly enhance the long-term ecological sustainability of agro-ecosystems’ management.

Sustainable Food: Reasons for the Attitude Behavioral Intention Gap among Consumers in Sustainable Consumption

Sustainable consumption is a popular trend today. The formal introduction of the term "sustainable consumption" began at the 1994 Oslo Symposium. Sustainable consumption basically refers to the use of natural, environmentally friendly, and recyclable green resources to serve society, protect the environment, improve quality of life, without affecting the lives and needs of future generations, while meeting the basic needs of humanity. The Chinese government is also actively promoting and deploying research and deployment on sustainable consumption. However, the research and practice process of sustainable consumption in China is not synchronized with developed countries. Compared to developed countries that started deploying and implementing the concept of sustainable consumption earlier, China's economic development stage is slightly behind developed countries, so the policy deployment and implementation of sustainable consumption in China was relatively late. The efforts towards sustainable development will benefit all of us. In the context of the development of sustainable consumption, the sustainability of food is a new industrial model of particular concern today. Sustainable food is cultivated and developed in ecological organic agriculture, and its continuous innovation and development help provide market opportunities for traditional agricultural farmers. The sustainability of food is committed to creating a resilient food system, achieving ecological species diversity and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Drinking Water and Biofilm as Sources of Antimicrobial Resistance in Free-Range Organic Broiler Farms.

Drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) represent an ideal environment for biofilm formation, which can harbor pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to assess longitudinally the microbial community composition and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as determined by 16S rRNA NGS and qPCR, respectively, in drinking water (DW) and biofilm from DWDSs, as well as faeces, of free-range organic broiler farms. The role of DWDSs in AMR gene (ARG) dissemination within the farm environment and transmission to animals, was also assessed. DW and biofilm microbial communities differed from those of faecal samples. Moreover, potentially pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcaceae) were identified in water and biofilms. High prevalence and abundance of ARGs conferring resistance to carbapenems (i.e., blaNDM), 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins (i.e., blaCMY-2), (fluoro)quinolones (i.e., qnrS), and polymyxins (i.e., mcr-3 and mcr-5) were detected in DW, biofilm, and faecal samples, which is of concern for both animal and human health. Although other factors (e.g., feed, pests, and wildlife) may contribute to the dissemination of AMR in free-range organic poultry farms, this study indicates that DWDSs can also play a role.