Food Production Potential Research Articles

A GIS-Based Simulation Method for Regional Food Potential and Demand

A quantitative assessment of food-water-energy interactions is important to assess pathways and scenarios towards a holistically sustainable regional development. While a range of tools and methods exist that assess energetic demands and potentials on a regional scale, the same is not true for assessments of regional food demand and potential. This work introduces a new food simulation workflow to address local food potential and demand at the regional level, by extending an existing regional energy-water simulation platform. The goal of this work is to develop a GIS-based bottom-up approach to simulate regional food demand that can be linked to similarly GIS-based workflows assessing regional water demands and energetic demands and potentials. This allows us to study food-water-energy issues on a local scale. For this, a CityGML land use data model is extended with a feed and animal potential raster map as well as a soil type map to serve as the main inputs. The workflow simulates: (1) the vegetal and animal product food potentials by taking climate, crop type, soil type, organic farming, and food waste parameters into account; (2) the food demand of vegetal and animal products influenced by population change, body weight, age, human development index, and other indicators. The method is tested and validated in three German counties with various land use coverages. The results show that restricting land used exclusively for energy crop production is the most effective way to increase annual food production potential. Climate change by 2050 is expected to result in annual biomass yield changes between −4% and 2% depending on the region. The amount of animal product consumption is expected to rise by 16% by 2050, while 4% fewer vegetal products are excepted to be consumed.

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Potential food products derived from the main aquaculture resource in high Andean regions

Trout was introduced in our country in 1928 and managed to adapt to the freshwater ecosystems of the Peruvian highlands. It currently represents the economic livelihood of many micro and small-scale fish farmers, together with medium and large companies in regions such as Puno, Pasco, Huancavelica and Junín, whose growth in recent years has been considerable. The 71.98% of this resource was destined for consumption in its fresh state and only 28.02% was processed as frozen, which shows the lack of diversification of value-added products in the production chain of this sweet aquaculture species, together with a shortage of research. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to compile the latest studies, carried out in different countries, related to the processing of this species because it is an excellent raw material due to its nutritional value and techno-functional characteristics. The research work collected covered the use of traditional methods and technologies such as marinating, salting, drying, and smoking, as well as innovative restructuring processes applied to trout minced muscle and filleting by-products. These investigations found that the different food products were differentiated by their physical and sensory attributes, techno-functional properties, shelf life and/or preparation. With this review, we hope to contribute to the triple helix model focused on this resource, from and for the Andes, to promote its sustained production, productive chain, and food security for the inhabitants of the Andean regions.

Triterpenoids, phenolic compounds, macro- and microelements in anatomical parts of sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) berries, branches and leaves

This study aimed to identify and quantify triterpenoids, phenolic compounds (by UPLC/ESI-Q/TOF-MS) and minerals (by FAAS) of the anatomical berry parts (skin, flesh, endocarp, seed), branches and leaves of seven sea buckthorn cultivars. The flavonols exceeded 0.7 g/100 g dry weight of leaves and skins. The ratio of quercetin to isorhamnetin derivatives was higher than 1.0 for skins, flesh, branches and leaves. The most flavan-3-ols and polymeric procyanidins were found in branches, and phenolic acids in leaves. 11 triterpenoids were identified, including some new ones such as pomolic acid dominating in berry parts. Triterpenoids were five times more abundant in the flesh than the leaves, where ursolic acid constituted 46 % of these triterpenes. High contents of corosolic acid and betulinic acid were specific for branches, and betulin and oleanolic and ursolic acids for skins. The best sources of sodium were endocarp and leaves, potassium – flesh and endocarp, calcium – leaves, and magnesium – seeds. Leaves and branches were rich in iron and copper, while seeds were rich in zinc. A characteristic feature of leaves was an iron to manganese ratio of 1:1. Diverse fractions of sea buckthorn give the potential of non-waste food production with the desired profile of pro-health components.

Comparison of Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence Genes, Phylogroups, and Biofilm Formation of Escherichia coli Isolated From Intensive Farming and Free-Range Sheep.

Pathogenic E. coli are among the most frequently isolated bacterial pathogens on large-scale sheep farms in China. Antibiotic use in wool sheep production is a risk factor for promoting the emergence of resistant E. coli. To reveal the differences of E. coli populations in sheep from different farming systems the antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes, biofilm formation, and phylogroups of 500 E. coli isolates obtained between September 2019 and December 2020 in northwest China from diarrheic infections of intensive farming and free-range sheep were analyzed. The antimicrobial susceptibility test for 12 classes of antimicrobial agents was determined using the broth microdilution susceptibility method, and PCR was used to detect the differences in virulence genes and phylogroups. Additionally, biofilm formation was determined using microtiter plate and slide agglutination methods. Among the 500 E. coli isolates, the majority of the isolates were multidrug resistant (75.4%) and carried at least one virulence gene (94.8%). We observed that 412 (82.4%), 360 (72.0%), and 266 (53.2%) are found to be resistant to sulfisoxazole, florfenicol, and tetracyclines, respectively. Resistance was also observed to mequindox (46.8%), ampicillin (43.6%), spectinomycin (38.6%), enrofloxacin (34.2%), ceftiofur (21.0%), gentamycin (20.4%), ceftazidime (17.8%), and polymyxin B (7.8%) but no resistance was found to meropenem. These results showed that strains from free-range subjects had fewer antibiotic resistance strains rather than sheep that were intensively farmed (P < 0.05). We observed fifteen virulence genes, of which etrA (n = 401, 80.2%) is the most common. In addition, EAEC (86.4%) is dominant among free-range sheep and EHEC (80.1%) is dominant among intensive farming. Among all virulence genes, the strongest correlation was found between etrA and papC gene (P < 0.001, OR = 455.68). Similarly, the strongest correlation was also found between eltA and sulfisoxazole (P < 0.001, OR = 877). Furthermore, the majority of the E. coli isolates belonged to phylogroup B1 (50.6%), followed by phylogroup C (20.6%), A (7.4%), E (7.4%), D (5.8%), B2 (1.6%), and F (1%). Interestingly, phylogroup B2 and D were all distributed in intensive farms. In addition, 33 (6.6%), 373 (74.6%), and 94 (18.8%) showed moderate, weak, and no connection biofilm formation ability, respectively. These data uncovered that wool sheep serve as a reservoir of pathogenic E. coli harboring multiple resistance phenotypes and virulence genes. The overlapping virulence-associated traits between IPEC and ExPEC indicated the zoonotic potential and safety threats of sheep food products. It is urgent to improve the proper use of antimicrobials in China as well as other countries.

Xylooligosaccharides as an innovative carrier matrix of spray-dried natural blue colorant

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are emerging prebiotic carbohydrates with a high potential to promote health and wellness due to their ability to modulate gut microbiota. Their use as a carrier of milk proteins-crosslinked genipin, an innovative natural blue colorant, was examined in this study. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a standard prebiotic carbohydrate, and maltodextrin (MD), a standard carrier material, were compared to XOS as wall materials. The effect of the carrier system on the powdered blue colorants was assessed regarding their size, morphology, free-genipin content, blue color intensity, moisture content, water activity, hygroscopicity, water adsorption, and physical structure. Their technological properties as food colorants were evaluated by incorporating in foodstuffs: beijinho, Chantilly, and muffin. XOS exhibited positive effects compared to other carriers evaluated. XOS-based microparticles presented higher free-genipin retention; smaller particle diameter equal to 6.5 ± 0.4 μm, and higher blue color intensity. The microparticles produced with XOS were more hygroscopic compared to other carrier matrices. However, similar to FOS and MD, the blue colorant carried with XOS presented an amorphous structure. XOS was the best carrier in food applications due to the less interference on the blue color in the powder colorant. The XOS microparticles could be easily incorporated into some food matrices. Therefore, spray-dried blue colorant using XOS presented significant innovative potential in many food products, acting as a functional ingredient, replacing artificial blue colors, and incorporating prebiotic properties.

Biological Properties, Health Benefits and Enzymatic Modifications of Dietary Methoxylated Derivatives of Cinnamic Acid.

Methoxylated derivatives of cinnamic acid play an important role in the formation of the pro-health potential of food products. Numerous reports present them as molecules with strong antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer as well as hepato-, cardio-, and neuroprotective activities. In the last three decades, many research groups have tried to extend the practical application of these molecules as therapeutic and antioxidant agents extensively studying the methods of their lipophilization as the solution of problems of their low oral bioavailability and rapid metabolism. This article summarizes the latest data of natural sources of occurrence, biological potential and bioavailability of methoxy derivatives of cinnamic acids. Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of this group of dietary compounds are also extensively discussed as well as reviewing the methods of their chemical and enzymatic lipophilization in the aspect of their use in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Incorporating user preferences in rooftop food-energy-water production through integrated sustainability assessment * *Discover how to benefit from urban rooftops implementing food, energy and water systems for self-sufficient cities.

With the overall aim to design successful implementation strategies of food-energy-water production systems on urban roofs, we propose an integrated process that includes participatory processes and a multi-dimensional sustainability assessment of environmental, social and economic indicators. The proposed framework was applied to a typical housing estate in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona made up of 201 buildings and 13,466 inhabitants and characterized by a high share of low-income families. We assess several future scenarios of joint electricity production (photovoltaic panels), vegetable production (through open-air farming and greenhouses), green roof implementation and rainwater harvesting and rank them according to non-participatory and participatory approaches. In general, there was a tendency for residents to choose strategies providing energy and water rather than the food production potential of rooftops. However, the environmental assessment indicated that the least impacting alternatives from a life cycle approach were those promoting vegetable production, meeting 42 to 56% of the residents’ fresh produce demand and reducing environmental impacts by 24 to 37 kg CO2eq m−2 of rooftop/year. Hence, we found that residents were mainly concerned with energy expenses and not so much with food insecurity, social cohesion or the impacts of long-distance supply chains. Our assessment supports urban sustainability and helps identify and breach the gap between scientific and user preferences in urban environmental proposals by informing and educating residents through a participatory integrated assessment.

Exploring Local Maize Diversity for Increased Agricultural Sustainability: New Insights into Drought Stress Response and Recovery of Guinea-Bissau Landraces

Landraces are rightfully known as the backbone of sustainable food production, particularly in areas experiencing significant environmental constraints. However, protecting landraces from genetic erosion and valuing their potential for plant breeding and sustainable food production requires in-depth understanding of their phenotypic traits. Two Guinea-Bissau landraces (GA, GV) and two elite cultivars (P98438, P0023) were subjected to drought stress for 7 (S1) and 12 (S2) days. After this period plants were rewatered (R). The relative water content (RWC) was unchanged in S1 and decreased in S2 in all genotypes. Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters changed moderately in S1 and remarkably in S2, including on GA and GV plants, where a decrease of Fv/Fm and PI, and an increase in absorbed, trapped, and dissipated energy per reaction center, was found. P0023 plants showed the most contrasting behavior to Guinea-Bissau genotypes, presenting an increase in Fv/Fm and PI values and a decrease in the specific energy fluxes per reaction center (RC), whereas P9838 presented an intermediate behavior. Drought (S1 and S2) decreased the amount of chlorophyll (Chl.) and carotenoids in GA and GV plants. On the contrary, in the P0023, the only pigment to decrease with stress was Chl. b. Fatty acid (FA) analyses allowed for the identification of C16:0, C18:2, and C18:3 in larger amounts, and C14:0, C16:1t, C18:0, and C18:1 acids in lower abundance. Drought stress decreased C18:3, the double bond index, and the total FA (except for P0023 and GV in S2) and increased C14:0 and C16:0 acids. The expression of phospholipase D (PLD) was higher at S2. After recovery, PLD expression presented a notorious decrease on the Guinea-Bissau landraces. P0023 showed the smallest alterations after recovery, while Guinea’s plants suffered more radical alterations leading to the conclusion that Guinea’s landraces were more drought-sensitive and that their recovery rate was impaired.

Public action and policy implementation: a comparative analysis of Urban Agriculture in three regions of São Paulo

ABSTRACT This article presents an analysis of the municipal urban agriculture (UA) policy implementation at the local level, based on a comparison of three regions of the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil—namely extreme south, east, and north. Our findings show that although UA policymaking of the past has led to successful improvements at the municipal level, implementation is carried out timidly. They also show that policy implementation is still more remarkable in the southern region, less so in the eastern region, and almost nonexistent in the northern region. Our analysis suggests that three factors explain local differences in policy implementation: (1) access to land, (2) farmers’ organisations, and (3) the actions of nongovernmental organisations. We conclude that these aspects are producing a vicious cycle of differences between the three regions. Regions that have greater access to land also have greater potential for food production and more support to assist farmers’ production and organisation. As a result of these conditions, they are benefited with more policy implementation that reinforces the conditions for accessing food markets and public interest in reinvesting in them, reproducing inequalities related to policy implementation between the regions.

SEGAE: An online serious game to learn agroecology

CONTEXTThere is growing evidence that agroecology can reconcile the environmental, economic, and social pillars of agricultural sustainability. However, teaching and learning agroecology is challenging, especially since most agricultural graduate programs in Europe are not adapted to teach the diversity of its related practices. OBJECTIVETo improve agroecology learning, we built the online simulation game SEGAE. This article illustrates the game's relevance for learning agroecology. METHODSThe game is based on a modeling framework that gamifies the implementation of agroecological practices in an integrated crop-livestock farm and assesses their impacts on sustainability. To do so, SEGAE is based on an output-oriented approach that represents impacts of practices on various indicators. These impacts are included in a matrix, which is associated with a dynamic graphical interface accessible to players. Two examples of game sessions were developed to illustrate the game's potential. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSIn the first example, players can gain knowledge about agroecological practices by implementing practices that improve soil quality and assessing their impacts on sustainability. Results of this example place the farm's improved overall sustainability into perspective with its reduced food production potential. In the second example, players can improve their skills in transition management and acquire a systems approach by converting the farm to organic farming within five years. Results of this example prompt discussion of the steps needed to obtain organic certification and the coherence between crop and animal production needed to foster sustainability. SIGNIFICANCESEGAE was designed to strengthen European training in agroecology, and active contributions from users would help to improve this tool, extend it to new farming systems and forge connections within the community of teachers working on agroecology.

Effect of Administration of CHAGURO Made of Chayote (Sechium edule) and Tuna (Thunnus sp.) on Rats Induced with Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide and a High-Fat Diet

This study was conducted to develop Chaguro, a low-cost supplementary food made of chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz) and tuna fish (Thunnus sp.), for diabetes and dyslipidemia diet therapy. In order to find a formula with effective hypoglycaemic and antidyslipidemic properties, dried tuna and chayote were mixed at different ratios: F1 (75% tuna, 25% chayote), F2 (50% tuna, 50% chayote), and F3 (25% tuna, 75% chayote). Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned into healthy control group or groups induced with streptozotocin-nicotinamide and a high-fat diet. Chaguro was administered 2.7 g/ kgBW/ day using a gavage for 28 days. The administration of all Chaguro formulas improved blood markers compared to the negative control group (p &lt; 0.001). Chaguro F2 lowered fasting blood glucose (97.07±1.18 vs 266.31±5.31), total cholesterol (113.59±2.22 vs 208.78±4.31), triglycerides (89.93±2.51 vs 142.35±2.83), LDL-c (33.87±1.87 vs 87.85±3.34) and increased HDL-c (69,08±1,85 vs 23,91±1,64) level the most compared to the negative control group (p &lt; 0.001). Streptozotocin-induced weight loss was also prevented in all diabetic rats fed with Chaguro, with the bodyweight being similar to that of healthy controls at the end of the intervention (p &lt; 0.001). This study found that Chaguro may be a potential food product to help lower blood glucose and improve lipid profile in diabetes and dyslipidemia.

Crossroad of Tradition and Innovation – The Application of Lactic Acid Fermentation to Increase the Nutritional and Health-Promoting Potential of Plant-Based Food Products – a Review

1. Acín Albiac, M., Di Cagno, R., Filannino, P., Cantatore, V., Gobbetti, M. (2020). How fructophilic lactic acid bacteria may reduce the FODMAPs content in wheat-derived baked goods: a proof of concept. Microbial Cell Factories, 19(1), art. no.182. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934.... CrossRef Google Scholar

Wild radish (Raphanus sativus var. hortensis f. raphanistroides) root extract protects neuronal cells by inhibiting microglial activation

External stimulus-induced activation of microglia plays an important role in the protection of neurons in the central nervous system; however, over-activation of microglia could cause neuronal damage, and it is implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of wild radish (Raphanus sativus var. hortensis f. raphanistroides) root extract (WRE) on microglial over-activation. Mouse microglia BV-2 cells and rat primary microglia were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), treated with WRE, and analyzed for nitric oxide (NO) production, pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression, and p38 kinase phosphorylation. Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were treated with microglia-conditioned medium and analyzed for cell viability. Stimulation with LPS increased NO production and iNOS expression in BV-2 cells and primary microglia, but the treatment with WRE decreased both. Furthermore, WRE downregulated the mRNA expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 in LPS-activated microglia. Treatment with the conditioned medium of LPS-induced BV-2 cells decreased the viability of SH-SY5Y cells, but the damaging effect was significantly alleviated in cells treated with the conditioned medium of LPS plus WRE-cultured microglia. This indicated that the WRE treatment of microglia could protect neuronal cells from microglial activation-induced neurotoxicity. WRE may be a potential food product to attenuate neuroinflammation via the inhibition of microglial over-activation, which can slow down the neurodegenerative processes in the brain.

A comprehensive spatial analysis of social vulnerability to natural hazards in Zimbabwe: Driving factors and policy implications

The impact of hazards on population groups has always been different, depending on the social and environmental factors of the impacted people. An enhanced understanding of what influences people's susceptibility to hazards, how and why, is a prerequisite for designing mitigation plans, prioritizing resources for preparedness and formulating an appropriate adaptation strategy. This study therefore, assessed the geographic variation of social vulnerability to natural hazards in Zimbabwe. It used data acquired from the national statistics agency on 24 variables that reflected a wide range of social vulnerability indicators. The variables were carefully selected considering their relevance in increasing social vulnerability in Zimbabwe. Then, the study used a principal component analysis and a factor analysis technique in a GIS environment to quantify social vulnerability and model its underlying drivers respectively. The analyses revealed that 68% of the country has above moderate values of social vulnerability. Very high social vulnerability is in poor rural districts of western and southern Zimbabwe. This coincided with agro-ecological regions with low potential for food production, while the lowest vulnerability scores were in small towns. Poverty, informal employment, household heads, birth rate and the special needs population, which explained 82.065% of the total cumulative variance, drive social vulnerability. The geographic variation of social vulnerability provides policy-makers a scientific basis for resource allocation to vulnerability hotspots or key factors.

Shrimp Paste Crackers as Potential Product Development for Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs)

There are many Small and Medium Enterprises processed food in the marine and fisheries sector in Central Java Province area, such as Demak Regency, Semarang City, and Pekalongan Regency. However, some business actors have not dared to innovate their products. Shrimp paste is one of the marine products that is processed by fermentation. Generally, shrimp paste is made from shrimp or small fish and is used as a spice in chilli sauce. The addition of shrimp paste to crackers is intended to increase its utilization as a marine product in the product development of Small and Medium Enterprises. This study aimed to determine the effect of adding shrimp paste on its chemical properties (moisture, protein, and fat content) and consumer acceptance through sensory testing. The ratio of tapioca flour and shrimp paste used in this study were 100: 0, 100: 5, 100: 10, and 100: 15. The results of the sensory analysis showed that the formulation with a ratio 100:15 was the most preferred formulation by the panellists. Based on the results of chemical analysis, the moisture content of crackers before and after frying 100:15 formulation ratio was 8.84% ± 0.14 and 1.85% ± 0.26. Fat and protein contents at 100:15 formulation ratio were 43.63% ± 4.23 and 1.67% ± 0.12 while those in the control were 26.46% ± 3.67 and 0.63% ± 0.70. Sensory evaluation data showed that consumer could accept this shrimp paste cracker as a potential food product.

Self-sufficiency through urban agriculture: Nice idea or plausible reality?

With more than half of the world’s population residing in cities, there has been intense interest in urban agriculture’s contribution to sustainability and self-sufficiency. This paper provides new insights into the potential for food production to occur within residential properties. High-resolution optical imagery was employed to quantify residential land immediately available for vegetable production (i.e. residential lawn) in a low-density city. Adelaide (Australia) was used as a case study. Productivity was estimated according to three empirical (low, medium and high) and one commercial yield scenario. Under high and medium yield scenarios, lawn in a typical block exceeded the space required to achieve household self-sufficiency of vegetables. Under the high-yield scenario, 23 % of lawn area would be required to meet the recommended vegetable intake of residents, while under the medium yield scenario, 72 % would be required. This study demonstrates the plausible reality of self-sufficiency through backyard vegetable production. Other resources that might limit production, such as labour, water and nutrients, are explored in the discussion. Urban agriculture is shown to be particularly worthwhile in low density cities; contrasting previous research performed under different urban conditions. However, in this case study, potentially productive land has decreased over time.

Understanding the Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Water–Energy–Food Nexus in the Gidabo Watershed, East African Rift Valley

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes have significant influences on the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus, as the WEF nexus characteristics change naturally due to dynamic LULC changes. However, understanding the WEF nexus’ potential and characteristics in the watershed under the influence of LULC changes is less commonly explored. This study used the social network analysis (SNA) model to analyze the interaction between land use (LU) types and water, energy, and food nexus attributes. Moreover, we used regression analysis to analyze the impact of various LU types on the WEF nexus. The LULC maps of 1986, 2000, 2011, and 2019 were prepared by digital classification method with proper accuracy using satellite imagery. The results show that agroforestry is the dominant LU type, accounting for 25.8–53.1% from 1986 to 2019. Further, settlement increased a 100-fold, which shows the dynamic LULC changes. SNA computed the maximum inter-linkage for forest and water access attributes, while agroforestry and food attributes acted as bridge in the network. This shows that there was inter-dependence between LULC changes and the WEF nexus. This result suggests that LU dynamics can exert pressure on the WEF nexus’ resource potential, resulting in WEF insecurity. The analysis of impacts of LULC changes on the WEF nexus shows that the changes that occurred in major LUs (i.e., agroforestry, bare land, settlements, and grass land) had significantly impacted hydrological behaviors, energy characteristics, and food production potential. Understanding LULC changes helps us to conserve and manage WEF nexus resources and to resolve the current dilemmas between land, water, energy, and food sector policies and decisions to improve resource productivity, lower environmental pressure, and enhance human wellbeing and security.

Virulence Properties of mcr-1-Positive Escherichia coli Isolated from Retail Poultry Meat.

The great plasticity and diversity of the Escherichia coli genome, together with the ubiquitous occurrence, make E. coli a bacterium of world-wide concern. Of particular interest are pathogenic strains and strains harboring antimicrobial resistance genes. Overlapping virulence-associated traits between avian-source E. coli and human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) suggest zoonotic potential and safety threat of poultry food products. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data of 46 mcr-1-positive E. coli strains isolated from retail raw meat purchased in the Czech Republic. The investigated strains were characterized by their phylogroup—B1 (43%), A (30%), D (11%), E (7%), F (4%), B2 (2%), C (2%), MLST type, and serotype. A total of 30 multilocus sequence types (STs), of which ST744 was the most common (11%), were identified, with O8 and O89 as the most prevalent serogroups. Using the VirulenceFinder tool, 3 to 26 virulence genes were detected in the examined strains and a total of 7 (15%) strains met the pathogenic criteria for ExPEC. Four strains were defined as UPEC (9%) and 18 (39%) E. coli strains could be classified as APEC. The WGS methods and available on-line tools for their evaluation enable a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis of virulent properties of E. coli strains and represent a suitable and comfortable platform for their detection. Our results show that poultry meat may serve as an important reservoir of strains carrying both virulence and antibiotic resistance genes for animal and human populations.

Organic vegetables from community-supported agriculture in Italy: Emergy assessment and potential for sustainable, just, and resilient urban-rural local food production

Global crises such as the covid-19 pandemic highlight the interconnectedness and vulnerability of human systems, requiring integrated transdisciplinary studies aimed at breaking unsustainable and unjust practices. In this work, a horticultural collaborative production system is addressed, inspired by the community-supported agriculture (CSA) model. In a highly industrialised area of Northern Italy, with significant wild land consumption, an alternative bottom-up experience is described for the provision of vegetables in a short and cooperative not-for-sale supply chain. Local organic farming and just labour conditions seek ecological sustainability and social equity beyond market dynamics. This CSA project contributes to the resilience of a territory currently affected by health and economic plights. Its claims, limits, and potentials of a project of this kind are investigated for the first time by means of the Emergy Assessment (EMA). The socio-ecological and economic inputs in the system at issue are identified and quantified, partly eased by the transparent process of the target community, and some key indicators are calculated. The new specific emergy values for the organic horticultural produce at hand are 3.15E+12 sej/kg (without labour and services), with organic manure as a leading input (37%) and 1.02E+13 sej/kg (with L&S), with labour as a leading input (38% paid, 8% voluntary) as key inputs; their calculation corrects underestimations present in some biased studies. This EMA provides fruitful insights of a single replicable and/or scalable project, thus offering current barrier and future opportunities for local improvement and exportability to crisis and post-crisis scenarios, and anyway for pursuing sustainability goals.

(ENTER ARMENIAN TITLE HERE) (Main Directions of the State Policy to Ensure Competition in Agriculture)

Armenian Abstract: ENTER ARMENIAN ABSTRACT HERE English Abstract: The main mission of agriculture is to ensure food security and increase the welfare of the population. The influence of natural factors on the sustainable development of the agricultural sector is still great. Long-term state support tools, development of technical, technological and insurance systems are important for the management of these risks. The development of agriculture in the Republic of Armenia is considered a priority. At present, the development of agriculture is hindered by a number of factors, such as high risk of farming, small size of farms, land fragmentation, low share of large commodity farms, insufficient co-operation of farmers, productive market infrastructure. In modern conditions, the main criterion for the efficiency of agricultural production is the level of competitiveness of economic entities. At the same time, due to the global socio-economic, geopolitical and environmental problems, the country's food security, production and resource potential of the agro-industrial complex, and the sustainable development of all agricultural production can be prioritized.