Primary Food Production Research Articles

Cyanoremediation of Polluted Seawater in the Arabian Gulf: Risks and Benefits to Human Health

Cyanobacteria play a crucial role in marine ecosystems as primary producers of food and oxygen for various organisms while helping remove waste and toxic substances from the environment. They are essential to the carbon cycle and help regulate the climate. These marine autotrophs also aid in the absorption of essential elements and support diverse life forms. They help degrade organic compounds, including petroleum hydrocarbons as well as heavy metals. Fluctuations in cyanobacteria populations can indicate ecosystem health, influencing both human well-being and wildlife. Their significance also extends to potential technological advancements, thus providing valuable resources for fields such as pharmacology, medicine, health care, biofuels, cosmetics, and bioremediation. However, some species produce toxins that pose risks to human health and marine organisms. Consequently, cyanobacteria are a major focus of research aimed at preserving and improving marine ecosystems—especially given the environmental damage caused by past and potential future conflicts. This review highlights their roles in cyanoremediation and other industrial and biotechnological applications with a particular focus on the Arabian Gulf region.

Variations in the structure and function of the soil fungal communities in the traditional cropping systems from Madeira Island.

Agricultural soils are responsible for ecological functions and services that include primary production of food, fiber and fuel, nutrient cycling, carbon cycling and storage, water infiltration and purification, among others. Fungi are important drivers of most of those ecosystem services. Given the importance of fungi in agricultural soils, in this study, we aimed to characterize and analyse the changes of the soil fungal communities of three cropping systems from Madeira Island, where family farming is predominant, and investigate the response of fungi and its functional groups to soil physicochemical properties. To achieve that, we sequenced amplicons targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of the rRNA region, to analyse soil samples from 18 agrosystems: 6 vineyards (V), 6 banana plantations (B) and 6 vegetable plantations (H). Our results showed that alpha diversity indices of fungal communities are similar in the three cropping systems, but fungal composition and functional aspects varied among them, with more pronounced differences in B. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota were the main phyla found in the three cropping systems. Agaricomycetes and Sordariomycetes are the predominant classes in B, representing 23.8 and 22.4%, respectively, while Sordariomycetes (27.9%) followed by Eurotiomycetes (12.3%) were the predominant classes in V and Sordariomycetes (39.2%) followed by Tremellomycetes (8.9%) in the H. Saprotrophs are the fungal group showing higher relative abundance in the three cropping systems, followed by plant pathogens. Regarding symbionts, endophytes were highly observed in B, while mycorrhizal fungi was predominant in V and H. The structure of fungal communities was mainly correlated with soil content of P, K, N, Fe, and Cu. In addition, we identified bioindicators for each cropping system, which means that cultivated crops are also drivers of functional groups and the composition of communities. Overall, the three cropping systems favored diversity and growth of taxa that play important roles in soil, which highlights the importance of conservative management practices to maintain a healthy and resilient agrosystem.

No such thing as waste in primary food sector.

The European Union (EU) circular economy action plan aims to double its use of recycled material by 2030. We argue that waste-centric approach to resources may have adverse consequences to this ambition. The aim of the work was to find out the factors limiting or promoting the use of waste from primary food sector in countries with the same cultural background and similar climate in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway. Biomass from the primary food production sector is of good quality and excellent to use, but its use may be limited if given waste status. From numerous management decision trigger clusters, which may affect valorisation of the biomass, we focus on technology and policy. Our semi-structured interviews addressed the analysis and management of waste or by-products and explored the end-of-waste and alternative mechanisms that allowed the biomass to be valorised. However, the interviews revealed that none of the companies regard anything becoming waste, but as raw material or production left-over. Any obstacles hypothesised turned out not to be acknowledged by companies at all. This appears to be a very good example of the use of resources, but the approach is haphazard and may conflict with official understanding and waste reporting requirements. Definition of waste is the same in the EU, and arbitrary treatment can be misleading. There is a need for better management of the material flow to ensure effective biomass circulation avoiding its becoming waste. We recommend that this be addressed by introducing environmental, social, governance and a self-control system.

Dual benefits of biofouling reduction in non-fed aquaculture: On-site heat treatment enhances oyster production and mitigates local environmental impacts

We experimentally evaluated the biofouling reduction by on-site heat treatment in enhancing oyster aquaculture production and mitigating its environmental impacts. Specifically, we compared oyster growth, settling flux of particulate organic matter (POM), and its oxygen consumption rate (OCR) between heat-treated (HT) and non-treated (N) sections within suspension oyster farms in a temperate bay. HT demonstrated a substantial reduction of 81–99% in fouling mussel biomass and approximately 20–30% increases in cultivated oysters’ growth and condition index. The settling flux of POM was 10–57% smaller in HT mainly due to the reduction in biodeposition from fouling mussels. However, OCR of settling POM at a unit mass was 6–62% higher in HT than in N; overall, the short-term oxygen consumption by settling POM did not significantly differ between HT and N. The increase in OCR of settling POM in HT may be attributable to the decrease in biodeposits from fouling organisms and increase in the relative contribution of fresh POM entering from unfarmed areas. Meanwhile, from the longer-term perspective, the substantial reduction in settling POM by the heat treatment lower the potential for oxygen consumption in the bottom layers over the half-year farming operation by 31%. In conclusion, on-site heat treatment is a simple tactic for controlling nutrient and POM flows at production sites, simultaneously enhancing oyster production and mitigating the local environmental impact of non-fed oyster aquaculture. Furthermore, this approach exemplifies an effective tactic to enhance the sustainability of primary food production processes.

Characterization of antimicrobial resistant Enterobacterales isolated from spinach and soil following zinc amendment

Antimicrobial resistant bacteria can occur in the primary food production environment. The emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment can be influenced by several factors, including the presence of heavy metals. The aim of this study was to examine the presence and characteristics of antimicrobial resistant Enterobacterales in soils and spinach grown in soils with and without zinc amendment. A total of 160 samples (92 soil and 68 spinach) were collected from two locations, in which some plots had been amended with zinc. Samples were cultured on selective agars for detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and ciprofloxacin-resistant Enterobacterales. Samples were also cultured for enumeration of total Enterobacterales. Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out in accordance with EUCAST and CLSI criteria. The whole genome sequence (WGS) of selected isolates was determined. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry was also performed on soil samples in order to measure the concentration of zinc. In total 20 antimicrobial resistant Enterobacterales were isolated from the soil (n = 8) and spinach samples (n = 12). In both sample types, Serratia fonticola (n = 16) was the dominant species, followed by Escherichia coli (n = 1), Citrobacter freundii (n = 1) and Morganella morganii (n = 1) detected in spinach samples, and Enterobacter cloacae (n = 1) detected in a soil sample. The WGS identified genes conferring resistance to different antimicrobials in agreement with the phenotypic results; 14 S. fonticola isolates were confirmed as ESBL producers and harboured the blaFONA gene. Genes that encoded for zinc resistance and multidrug efflux pumps, transporters that can target both antimicrobials and heavy metals, were also identified. Overall, the findings of this study suggest the presence of zinc did not influence the AMR Enterobacterales in soil or spinach samples.

Integrating sustainability assessment tools with life cycle analysis for agroecological systems: A UK case study

CONTEXTLife cycle analysis (LCA) is increasingly used to assess the environmental impacts of primary food production. As an alternative, impacts can be assessed at the farm level using holistic sustainability assessment tools. OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an integrated approach combining a “detailed and narrow” LCA with a “broad and shallow” sustainability assessment could help integrate socioeconomic and ecosystem service evaluations in LCA by including a wide range of impact criteria. METHODSTo address this overarching objective, we present results from whole-farm sustainability assessments using the Public Goods Tool (PGT), a tool developed in the United Kingdom (UK) by the Organic Research Centre, and cradle-to-farm-gate LCAs of beef, carrots and tomatoes for (i) a diverse agroecological case study farm (CSF) and (ii) a specialised agroecological production system. The use of the PGT enabled comparison with similar UK farm systems and was extended to develop biodiversity and social indices to complement the LCA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSResults of the CSF demonstrated a relationship between environmental impacts and increased production efficiency, as the climate change impact per kg of product was strongly associated with higher yields, but this was less clear when impacts expressed per ha. The CSF produced less beef than the specialised system but more tomatoes and carrots, which reflects its higher labour input and less intensive production methods. The CSF generally used fewer external inputs, which decreased its overall impacts. Purchased feed contributed disproportionately to the water consumption of beef from the specialised system. PGT results highlighted the environmental benefits that can be delivered by ‘diverse’ agricultural systems and added detail to LCA results; for example the high labour input at the CSF helped generate social capital whilst partially explaining the reduced emissions from tractor operations modelled in the carrot LCA. SIGNIFICANCEWe conclude that LCA may not be the most suitable tool to consider these wider aspects of sustainability and can only provide an estimate of environmental impacts. LCA helps understand which parts of the food system have the greatest impacts, and how they could become more sustainable, but it cannot determine sustainable agriculture alone. The addition of rapid farm-level multi-criteria sustainability assessment tools can complement the LCA results, help reveal ‘blind spots’, and encourage adoption by farmers.

Power-law productivity of highly biodiverse agroecosystems supports land recovery and climate resilience

Transformative change in primary food production is urgently needed in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. Although there are a growing number of studies aimed at global policymaking, actual implementations require on-site analyses of social feasibility anchored by ecological rationale. This article reports the in-depth characterizations of low-input mixed polyculture of highly diverse crops managed on the self-organization of ecosystems, which performed better compared to conventional monoculture methods in Japan and Burkina Faso. Analyses on crop productivity and diversity showed that the primary production of ecosystems followed a power law, and through the underlying mechanisms excelled in (1) promoting diversity and total quantity of products along with the rapid increase of in-field biodiversity, especially useful for the recovery of local regime shift in a semi-arid environment; (2) a fundamental reduction of inputs and environmental load; and (3) ecosystem-based autonomous adaptation of the crop portfolio to climatic variability. The overall benefits imply substantial possibilities of a new typology of sustainable farming for smallholders sensitive to climate change, which could overcome the historical trade-off between productivity and biodiversity based on the human-guided augmentation of ecosystems.

Characterization of Azorean Plant Leaves for Sustainable Valorization and Future Advanced Applications in the Food, Cosmetic, and Pharmaceutical Industries.

The historical use of plants as sources of natural compounds has persisted over time. Increasing the intake of bioactive substances shows significant potential for promoting overall well-being and health. This study delves into the pigments, phenolic composition, and profile, along with antioxidant properties, of leaf extracts rich in bioactives from plants in the Azores region, contributing to sustainable primary food production. Analyses encompassed chlorophylls, carotenoids, total phenols, ortho-diphenols, and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant capacity assessment, polyphenolic profiling, and quantification. Psidium guajava L. and Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H.Rob. exhibited elevated chlorophyll content, while Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott displayed the highest carotenoid levels. Annona cherimola Mill., Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl, and Psidium guajava L. demonstrated pronounced total phenols, ortho-diphenols, and flavonoids. These findings align with heightened antioxidant capacity. HPLC-DAD (high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection) characterization unveiled elevated hydroxycinnamic acids in E. japonica and Ipomea batatas (L.) Lam. compared to A. cherimola Mill., while C. esculenta exhibited increased flavone content. Among the quantified compounds, flavonols were the ones that predominantly demonstrated contribution to the antioxidant capacity of these leaves. This research highlights Azorean leaf plants' antioxidant potential, fostering natural product development for better health.

Factors influencing the fate of chemical food safety hazards in the terrestrial circular primary food production system-A comprehensive review.

Food safety is recognized as a major hurdle in the transition toward circular food production systems due to the potential reintroduction and accumulation of chemical contaminants in these food systems. Effectively managing these hazardous contaminants in a risk-based manner requires quantitative insights into the factors influencing the presence and fate of contaminants in the entire circular food chain. A systematic literature review was performed to gain an up-to-date overview of the known factors and their influence on the transfer and accumulation of contaminants. This review focused on the terrestrial circular primary food production system, including the pathways between waste- or byproduct-based fertilizers, soil, crops, animal feed, and farmed animals. This review revealed an imbalance in research regarding the different pathways: studies on the soil-to-crop pathway were most abundant. The factors identified can be categorized as compound-related (intrinsic) factors, such as hydrophobicity, molecular weight, and chain length, and extrinsic factors, such as soil organic matter and carbon, pH, milk yield of cows, crop age, and biomass. Quantitative data on the influence of the identified factors were limited. Most studies quantified the influence of individual factors, whereas only a few studies quantified the combined effect of multiple factors. By providing a holistic insight into the influential factors and the quantification of their influence on the fate of contaminants, this review contributes to the improvement of food safety management for chemical hazards when transitioning to a circular food system.

Ways of Food Contamination, Its Impact and Prevention

Cross food contamination means transportation of bacteria or other microorganisms from contaminated substance to the food. Cross food contamination can happen during any stage of food production. Each year, a large number of people’s worldwide experience a foodborne illness, while there are number of causes, a most and common preventable one is cross food contamination. Cross food contamination as Bacterial cross food contamination is defined as the transportation of bacteria or other microorganisms from contaminated substance to the food. Other types of cross food contamination include the transportation of food allergens, chemicals, or toxins. Foodborne illness may cause by eating at restaurants, but there are many ways in which cross food contamination can occur, including, primary food production, from plants and animals on farms, during harvest or slaughtering of food animals, secondary food production including food processing and manufacturing, transportation of food, storage of food, distribution of food, grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and more, food preparation and serving at home, restaurants, and other foodservice operations, Given that there are many points at which cross food contamination can occur, it’s important to learn about the different types and how we can prevent cross food contamination.

Analysis of the self-sufficiency of wheat production in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wheat is recognized as a crucial staple food across nearly all countries. Achieving a specific level of self-sufficiency in primary food products is a common objective for nations, aimed at safeguarding domestic production, minimizing dependency on imports, and mitigating disruptions in global and regional supply chains. This study provides an analysis of wheat production and yields in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the goal of evaluating the self-sufficiency of wheat production. The analysis covers the period from 2010 to 2019. The study places particular emphasis on spatial analysis, including production, yield, and self-sufficiency at the level of local administrative units. The findings indicate that Bosnia and Herzegovina's self-sufficiency in wheat production stands at 54%, with significant variability in production quantities across different local government units. These insights offer a foundation for future research that could delve deeper into the spatial-temporal, economic, and food security dimensions of wheat production.

Socio-Economic Status and Relational Analysis among the Factors of Cattle Farming at Jhenaidah District in Bangladesh

The study investigated the socio-economic status and relationships among factors of cattle farming in four villages spanning two upazilas of the Jhenaidah district in Bangladesh. Data were collected from 60 cattle farmers engaged in cattle farming. For this purpose, a set of questionnaires was administered, covering the socio-economic features of the farmers, the costs and income from cattle, and the relational variables associated with cattle production. The results revealed that the average family size, percentage of males and females, and age were all significant. The average monthly income and expenditure were estimated at 17,558 and 21,175 thousand BDT, respectively. Most farmers were smallholders, with an average of only 81.91 decimal land for cultivation. Furthermore, the study found that male respondents predominantly participated in decision-making processes, accounting for 87.76% of decisions. The coefficient of yearly family income, age of the respondents, yearly family labor used in cattle farms, land used in primary food production, and family education level suggest that a one-unit increase might contribute to a 0.144, 1.953, 0.412, 0.903 unit increase in income from cattle production in the study area, respectively. However, the coefficients of the number of family members, respondents' traditional experience, land used in agriculture, and herd size of the farm indicate a negative relationship with income from cattle farming. This implies that a one-unit increase resulted in a 1.894, 1.442, 0.017, and 2.092 unit decrease in income, with all other variables held constant. Currently, there is a crying need to address the issues that cattle farmers face, and for that, the authority should propose several initiatives to attain sustainability and functionality.

The State Of Food Security And Import Substitution Potential Of Primary Food Products In RA

Հոդվածում ներկայացված է ՀՀ պարենային անվտանգության վիճակի վերլուծությունը և պարենային որոշ ապրանքների ներմուծման փոխարինելիության հնարավորությունը։ Պարենային անվտանգության ապահովումն ազգային անվտանգության կարևորագույն բաղադրիչներից է: Պարենային անվտանգությունը իրավական, կազմակերպական, նյութատեխնիկական և այլ բնույթի միջոցառումների համալիր է, որն ուղղված է անհրաժեշտ որակի և բավարար քանակությամբ, առողջության համար անվտանգ, լիարժեք պարենով ապահովմանը, որը հասանելի է հասարակության յուրաքանչյուր անդամի, այդ թվում՝ բնակչության առավել խոցելի հատվածների համար, և կարող է սպառվել նրանց կողմից ցանկացած պահի և ցանկացած իրավիճակում, այդ թվում՝ արտակարգ իրավիճակների և ռազմական դրության ժամանակ։ Երկրի պարենային անվտանգությունը ապահովվում է տեղական արտադրանքի արտադրության և սննդամթերքների ներմուծման միջոցով: Այս իրավիճակում կարևոր է, որ երկիրը կարողանա բալանսավորել սեփական արտադրության և ներմուծման ծավալները՝ ներմուծումից կախվածության նվազեցման համար: Ներկայացված խնդիրը արդիական է Հայաստանի համար: Սույն հոդվածի նպատակն է ուսումնասիրել պարենային անվտանգության և ապահովվածության վիճակը և գտնել ուղիներ ՀՀ-ում պարենային հիմնական ապրանքների ներմուծման փոխարինման համար: Նպատակին հասնելու համար խնդիր է դրվել ուսումնասիրել պարենային անվտանգության էությունը, վերլուծել պարենային ապահովվածությունը, բացահայտել ՀՀ-ում պարենային հիմնական ապրանքների ներմուծման փոխարինման ներուժը: Իրականացված վիճակագրական, համեմատական, տրամաբանական վերլուծությունների հիման վրա պարզ է դարձել, որ Հայաստանը համարվում է ներմուծող երկիր և մի շարք առաջնային ապրանքատեսակների գծով ուղղակիորեն կախվածության մեջ է ներմուծվող պարենամթերքներից։ Սակայն պետք է նշենք, որ երկիրը ունի զգալի ներուժ այդ ապրանքատեսակների ներմուծման փոխարինելիության համար։ Սույն հոդվածի գիտական նորույթը կայանում է նրանում, որ հեղինակների կողմից կատարված ուսումնասիրությունների և օրինաչափությունների հիման վրա բացահայտվել և հիմնավորվել են Հայաստանի պարենային ապահովության, պարենամթերքների ներմուծման փոխարինելիության բարելավմանն ուղղված գործոններ, որոնց կիրառությունը իր բարենպաստ ազդեցությունը կունենա պարենային անվտանգության, հետևապես ազգային անվտանգության զարգացման վրա: Հոդվածում համակարգված տեսքով ներկայացված է Հայաստանում պարենային ապահովվածության վիճակի վերլուծությունը, հիմնավոր է համարվել այն եզրահանգումը, որ պարենային անվտանգության ճիշտ քաղաքականության վարման միջոցով հնարավոր է Հայաստանում հասնել պարենային ինքնաբավության բավարար մակարդակի՝ ներքին արտադրության հաշվին։ В статье представлен анализ продовольственной безопасности в РА и возможности импортозамещения некоторых продуктов питания. Обеспечение продовольственной безопасности является одной из важнейших составляющих национальной безопасности. Продовольственная безопасность – комплекс правовых, организационных, логистических и иных мер, направленных на обеспечение необходимого качества и достаточного количества продуктов питания, которые безопасны для здоровья, полноценны и доступны каждому члену общества, включая наиболее уязвимые слои населения, и могут потребляться ими в любое время и в любой ситуации, в том числе во время чрезвычайных ситуаций и военного положения. Продовольственная безопасность страны обеспечивается за счет местного производства и импорта продовольствия. В этой ситуации важно, чтобы страна смогла сбалансировать объемы собственного производства и импорта, чтобы снизить импортозависимость. Представленная проблема актуальна для Армении. Целью данной статьи является изучение ситуации с продовольственной безопасностью и обеспеченностью, и поиск путей импортозамещения основных продуктов питания. Для достижения цели была поставлена задача изучить суть продовольственной безопасности, проанализировать продовольственную обеспеченность, выявить потенциал импортозамещения основных продуктов питания в РА. На основе проведенного статистического, сравнительного и логического анализа стало ясно, что Армения считается страной-импортером и по ряду основных продуктов напрямую зависит от импортируемых продуктов питания. Однако следует отметить, что страна имеет значительный потенциал по импортозамещению данной продукции.

Investigating systemic and social dynamics of food loss and waste: An application of waste regime theory to food production in Aotearoa New Zealand

This research investigates the relationships of social and discursive effects on food loss and waste (FLW) in primary food production through a case study of the kiwifruit industry in Aotearoa New Zealand by using ‘waste regime theory’, which was first developed by Science and Technology Studies scholar Zsuzsa Gille as an organising concept. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and analysis of industry and policy documents are interpreted through thematic analysis to explore the production, politics and representation of FLW, and to demonstrate the ways in which these factors interact to enact a ‘food waste regime’. The findings identify two distinct discourses of FLW: either as consequence of supply chain dynamics, or as a consequence of market driven quality assurance (QA) requirements. The former is seen as opening possibilities for technical interventions. The other is seen to be a baked-in structural reality of the industry that doesn’t allow for any strategic intervention. Either discourse arguably has the effect of invisibilising different aspects of FLW in the sector and potentially reducing the perceived need interventions by managers at a systemic level in the sector.

A Critical Review of AMR Risks Arising as a Consequence of Using Biocides and Certain Metals in Food Animal Production.

The focus of this review was to assess what evidence exists on whether, and to what extent, the use of biocides (disinfectants and sanitizers) and certain metals (used in feed and other uses) in animal production (both land and aquatic) leads to the development and spread of AMR within the food chain. A comprehensive literature search identified 3434 publications, which after screening were reduced to 154 relevant publications from which some data were extracted to address the focus of the review. The review has shown that there is some evidence that biocides and metals used in food animal production may have an impact on the development of AMR. There is clear evidence that metals used in food animal production will persist, accumulate, and may impact on the development of AMR in primary animal and food production environments for many years. There is less evidence on the persistence and impact of biocides. There is also particularly little, if any, data on the impact of biocides/metal use in aquaculture on AMR. Although it is recognized that AMR from food animal production is a risk to human health there is not sufficient evidence to undertake an assessment of the impact of biocide or metal use on this risk and further focused in-field studies are needed provide the evidence required.

ECONOMETRIC MODELING OF FOOD RESOURCE USE PROCESSES IN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN

In this article, the theoretical foundations of the processes of using food resources in the Republic of Uzbekistan are studied. Also, the issues of production and use of primary food products delivered to the population were considered, and the economic analysis of meat and dairy products produced and delivered to the population in 2001-2021. An econometric model of the study and analysis of the consumption of these products was created and solved in the EXCEL electronic program. Based on the obtained results, economic analyses, conclusions and proposals were developed.

Listeria Occurrence in Conventional and Alternative Egg Production Systems.

Listeria continues to be a persistent foodborne pathogen that is responsible for human cases of listeriosis when contaminated food products are consumed. Human subjects considered to be most susceptible include the elderly, immunocompromised, and pregnant women. Listeria is characterized as a saprophytic organism with the capability of responding and adapting to constantly changing environments because it possesses multiple stress response mechanisms to overcome varying temperatures, salt concentrations, and pH, among others. Primary foods and food products associated with listeriosis include dairy products and ready-to-eat meats such as turkey products. Historically, chicken eggs have not been identified as a primary source of Listeria, but the potential for contamination during egg production and processing does exist. Listeria species have been isolated from egg-processing plant equipment and are presumed to occur in egg-processing plant environments. Whether Listeria is consistently disseminated onto eggs beyond the egg-processing plant is a risk factor that remains to be determined. However, research has been conducted over the years to develop egg wash solutions that generate combinations of pH and other properties that would be considered inhibitory to Listeria. Even less is known regarding the association of Listeria with alternative egg production systems, but Listeria has been isolated from pasture flock broilers, so it is conceivable, given the nature of the outdoor environments, that layer birds under these conditions would also be exposed to Listeria and their eggs become contaminated. This review focuses on the possibility of Listeria occurring in conventional and alternative egg-laying production and processing systems.

Extrusion as a tool to enhance the nutritional and bioactive potential of cereal and legume by-products

Cereal and legume by-products obtained from primary food production industries pose an environmental and economic problem. Nevertheless, these residues can potentially yield value-added products due to their elevated content of dietary fiber, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and residual levels of proteins, which makes them a suitable and heightened option for reutilization in human consumption. Several studies identify extrusion as an innovative technology to modify the technofunctionality and nutritional properties of cereal and legume by-products, resulting in the production of improved ingredients. This review focuses on studies that evaluate the effect of extrusion to improve the nutritional and bioactive potential of cereal and legume by-products. A revision of the extrusion process parameters that improve the profile and bioavailability of dietary fiber, proteins, and phenolic compounds, and minimize antinutritional factors associated to cereal and legume by-products was done. The composition of by-products and process parameters such as feed moisture, barrel temperature and screw speed influence the resulting effect of extrusion. Studies suggest that extruding composite feedstock containing cereal or legume by-products may limit the molecular modifications that trigger the nutritional improvements. Therefore, extrusion applied as a pretreatment represents an interesting and economic alternative to improve the profile and bioavailability of the nutrients found in cereal and legume by-products which might lead to the development of functional ingredients useful to produce foods aimed to prevent chronic diseases.

Unravelling the Concentrations of Five Rare Earth Elements in Two Vineyard Red Soils

The La Mancha region is a primary food production area in central Spain, with extensive zones used as vineyards. This article aims to present information about rare earth elements’ (REEs) contents and deals with their distribution in two representative soil profiles (Alfisols) in this area. The presence of carbonates and a semiarid climate are its main characteristic environmental factors. Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), Neodymium (Nd), Scandium (Sc) and Yttrium (Y) concentrations were determined using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The results revealed the following maximum REEs’ contents (mg·kg–1): Ce 93.3, La 46.8, Nd 38.6, Y 25.5 and Sc 13.0. The REEs’ concentrations in the two soil profiles were in the following order: Ce > La > Nd > Y > Sc. The application of fungicides and the addition of fertilisers in vineyards can increase the soil concentration of rare earths up to this region’s normal background levels. According to the Geo-Accumulation Index (Igeo), soil samples were non-contaminated or slightly contaminated by REEs.

Seasonal Adaptation: Geographic Photoperiod-Temperature Patterns Explain Genetic Variation in the Common Vole Tsh Receptor.

The vertebrate photoperiodic neuroendocrine system uses the photoperiod as a proxy to time the annual rhythms in reproduction. The thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) is a key protein in the mammalian seasonal reproduction pathway. Its abundance and function can tune sensitivity to the photoperiod. To investigate seasonal adaptation in mammals, the hinge region and the first part of the transmembrane domain of the Tshr gene were sequenced for 278 common vole (Microtus arvalis) specimens from 15 localities in Western Europe and 28 localities in Eastern Europe. Forty-nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; twenty-two intronic and twenty-seven exonic) were found, with a weak or lack of correlation with pairwise geographical distance, latitude, longitude, and altitude. By applying a temperature threshold to the local photoperiod-temperature ellipsoid, we obtained a predicted critical photoperiod (pCPP) as a proxy for the spring onset of local primary food production (grass). The obtained pCPP explains the distribution of the genetic variation in Tshr in Western Europe through highly significant correlations with five intronic and seven exonic SNPs. The relationship between pCPP and SNPs was lacking in Eastern Europe. Thus, Tshr, which plays a pivotal role in the sensitivity of the mammalian photoperiodic neuroendocrine system, was targeted by natural selection in Western European vole populations, resulting in the optimized timing of seasonal reproduction.