Food Products Research Articles

Differences in willingness to pay for various types of carbon-labeled products: A dynamic perspective

Carbon labeling (CL) is a carbon reduction policy with development potential that has not yet been widely promoted worldwide. This study explores the trend of consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for different types of carbon-labeled products from a dynamic perspective, to provide a reference for future pilot projects. The research team collected 3788 valid questionnaires from China's first-tier cities spanning a five-year period and used interval regression to analyze the impact and change of consumer traits on WTP for the four types of carbon-labeled products in 2019 and 2024. The bootstrap method was further used to examine the impact mechanisms to explore ways to improve the current situation. This study found that (1) WTP for food, textiles, electronics, and other household products with CL generally decreased from 2019 to 2024. Textiles and electronics experienced a smaller decline, while food and other household products witnessed larger decreases. (2) The effect of consumer characteristics on WTP changes from 2019 to 2024. Consumers' frequency of low-carbon behaviors no longer significantly affects WTP across all product categories, while attitudes toward CL only affect textiles and electronics. (3) Consumers' perceived environmental value is the mechanism by which personal traits affect WTP. Finally, based on the findings, this study suggests that the selection of textiles and electronics as a pilot product is more likely to be accepted by consumers and that emphasis should be placed on the promotion of the environmental values of CL.

Towards sustainable agricultural development and food security in East Asia: The role of broad money and banking credits

The existing literature has extensively explored the role of financial development in boosting agricultural output. However, there is a lack of empirical research on the effects of broad money and banking credits on food production in East Asian countries. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between financial variables and agriculture in selected East Asian economies from 1995 to 2019, focusing on food security. Our findings indicate that increases in broad money and financial sector credit significantly enhance long-term food security by 0.216% and 0.846%, respectively. Additionally, we observed positive correlations between food security and agricultural inputs: a 1% increase in agricultural land, fertilizer use, and renewable energy adoption improves food security by 0.219%, 0.049%, and 0.146%, respectively. Robustness checks and Granger causality tests further validate these results. This study underscores the critical role of financial resources and agricultural inputs in food security and calls for a reassessment of credit systems to mitigate any adverse effects. These findings provide important insights for policymakers aiming to strengthen food security in East Asia.

Life Cycle Assessment of an Avocado: Grown in South Africa-Enjoyed in Europe.

Food production is known to have significant environmental impacts, with the main contributors residing in the farming and transportation life cycle phases. Of the various food products transported around the world, avocados have increasingly gained attention as a high-commodity superfood. Avocados require specific climatic and agricultural conditions for farming, with the most fertile land and conditions located outside Europe. Consequently, most avocados consumed in Europe are imported over vast geographical distances, with little information available to quantify the environmental impacts of this imported superfood. This paper aims to present the most detailed life cycle assessment results of an avocado cultivated, grown and harvested in the Limpopo Province of South Africa and exported to the European market for sale and consumption. A life cycle assessment was developed for the farming, harvesting, handling, packaging, ripening, transportation, and carbon sequestration potential of the avocado, and it was used to conduct a holistic life cycle assessment. Input data was obtained through an 18-month data collection campaign across the relevant stakeholders. A baseline 'business-as-usual' scenario is focused on throughout this study, and scope for optimisation is identified for each life cycle phase where applicable, accompanied by uncertainty analyses. Results show a total carbon input of 904.85 kg CO2e/tonne. Mitigating this, 521.88 kg CO2e/tonne is offset, resulting in a net carbon footprint of 382.97 kg CO2e/tonne with uncertainty ranges of -23.22 to +58.69 kg CO2e/tonne, normalised to 57.45 g CO2e/avocado grown in South Africa and sold in Europe. The environmental impacts of the avocado industry under consideration are largely mitigated by the "nature first" philosophy of the farming and logistics enterprises, which have made significant investments in reducing emissions. Sensitivity analyses indicate that implementing large-scale renewable energy, using alternative packaging instead of cardboard, and selling avocados unripened could further enable the farming enterprise to achieve Net Zero objectives. These measures could reduce baseline emissions from 382.97 kg CO2e/tonne to a theoretical -68.54 kg CO2e/tonne, representing a 117.9% decrease. Although this study does not quantify climate change impacts, qualitative analyses suggest that climate change will have a net negative effect on the avocado industry in South Africa. These regions, typically located in micro-climates, are projected to become wetter and warmer, adversely affecting crop phenology, pest control, road conditions, management complexity, farmer livelihoods, and food security. The study recommends large-scale implementation of the optimisation strategies identified to achieve Net Zero objectives and the development of proactive climate change mitigation strategies to enhance the resilience of avocado supply chains to future stressors. These insights are crucial for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers aiming to promote sustainability in the avocado market.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of Chemical, Bioactive Profile, and Anti-oxidant Potential of Gabiroba (Campomanesia cambessedeana): An Underexplored Fruit from Brazil

Background: The Cerrado region has one of the world's largest and most diverse tropical biodiversity, hosting several species of exotic fruits little explored. In this context, we can highlight the gabiroba (Campomanesia cambessedeana), a native fruit tree belonging to the Myrtaceae family. However, its fruits are not used frequently, except by the local population who consume them, and are also reported as nutritional. Objective: This work evaluated the chemical composition of the whole fruit, pulp, peel, and seed of gabiroba. Methods: Physicochemical characterization, bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential, and mineral profile (ICP-OES) were evaluated. Individual phenolic compounds and organic acids by liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) of the pulp, peel, and seed fractions of gabiroba were also explored. Results: The results showed that the gabiroba fruit has a low lipid content (1.09 g 100 g-1), high magnesium content (12.60 μg g-1), and significant values of total phenolics (153.17 mg EAG 100 g-1), vitamin C (51.20 mg AA 100 g-1) and antioxidant potential by DPPH radical scavenging (15.35 g sample g-1 DPPH). The analysis of organic acids showed that the pulp and peel are rich in malic acid (7.29 and 8.15 mg 100 g-1, respectively) and the seed in citric acid (10.26 mg 100 g-1). On the other hand, both pulp, peel, and seed fractions showed similar individual phenolic composition, mainly being composed of catechin (3.36, 2.71, and 2.70 mg 100 g-1), gallic acid (1.67, 1.66, and 1.68 mg 100 g-1) and rutin (0.85, 1.39 and 1.16 mg 100 g-1, respectively). Conclusion: The individual phenolics in the gabiroba fractions may have been responsible for the high antioxidant activity. In this way, gabiroba has demonstrated its technological potential for its full use in producing food products and applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry.

Sustainable Development of Urban Agglomerations around Lakes in China: Achieving SDGs by Regulating Ecosystem Service Supply and Demand through New-type Urbanization

The mechanism through which New-type Urbanization (NU), as a new direction in urban development, influences the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by regulating the Ecosystem Services (ES) supply and demand remains to be determined. It is particularly true in urban agglomerations around lakes, characterized by severe human-land conflicts, where socio-economic development is closely linked to water. We selected China’s urban agglomerations around lakes as the study area. We investigated the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of NU and the Ecosystem Service Supply and Demand Ratio (ESDR) from 2000 to 2018. We specifically focused on the dynamic trends of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Furthermore, we utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to reveal the direct effects and indirect pathways through which NU influences the achievement of SDGs in the study area, emphasizing the differentiated performance of this mechanism across various urban agglomerations around Lakes. The results indicated that the ESDR has a particularly evident downward trend in urban centers along lakes, rivers, and road networks in spatial terms. The level of NU in urban agglomerations around lakes has increased by about 50% overall. It geographically exhibits three main spatial distribution patterns: “diffusion along the lake,” “homogeneous distribution,” and “diffusion along the river.” NU directly inhibits the achievement of SDGs but indirectly promotes the improvement of ESDR for food production and soil conservation, thereby indirectly facilitating the achievement of SDG 2 and SDG 15, but has an inhibitory effect on SDG 13. By regulating ESDR, NU is most effective in achieving SDGs in the urban agglomerations around Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake but has a significant inhibitory effect on the urban agglomeration around Hongze Lake. This research provides quantitative evidence for the urban planning shift, terrestrial ecosystem function restoration, and SDGs achievement in urban agglomerations around lakes. It also offers new insights from China for the sustainable urban construction of urban agglomerations around lakes worldwide.

The role of physical chemistry in food and beverage

Physical chemistry is a fundamental science that underpins many critical processes in food and beverage production. This paper explores the influence of physico-chemical properties on basic reactions such as crystallization, enzyme kinetics in fermentation, and the Maillard reaction, all of which play a significant role in determining the flavor, texture, stability, and quality of food products. By examining the effects of factors like temperature, pH, solute concentration, and the presence of additives, we demonstrate physical chemistry principles guide the manipulation of these processes to optimize product characteristics. Understanding these interactions allows for greater control over food production techniques, leading to innovations in texture enhancement, flavor development, and preservation. This study highlights the importance of physical chemistry in advancing the food and beverage industry by providing insights into the molecular mechanisms that influence the sensory and functional properties of products.

Impact of season and maturity stage on biochemical parameters of Averrhoa carambola fruits

The nutritional quality of fruits can be affected by changes in physiological indicators during fruit ripening, which is why it is important to identify the stage of maturity and the appropriate season for harvesting. Based on this observation, this study was carried out to evaluate the influence of the two different seasons and the stage of maturity on the nutritional parameters of Averrhoa Carambola. The results showed a significant effect (p<0.0001) of the two seasons and maturity stage on the biochemical parameters of A. carambola fruits. Ash contents and pH were significantly high in rainy seasons and at the ripe stage. Their values ​​were respectively (6.80±0.59%) and (3.54±0.27). Moisture and titratable acidity concentrations decreased significantly during maturation while total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, and total soluble solids increased significantly during maturation. vitamin C and phenolic compounds were more abundant in the dry season and at the green stage. The values ​​were Vitamin C (15,869.64±0.03 mg/g), polyphenols (30.92±0.03 mg GAE/mg), flavonoids (30.59±0.28 mg EQ/g) and tannins (21-.02±0.01 mg GAE/g). This study suggests that there are differences in the biochemical parameters of starfruit between seasons depending on the maturity stage. The data provided useful information on the season and ideal stage of maturity for harvesting and their use in food products.

Causes of quality defects in cassava-based food production: an ishikawa diagram analysis

Causes of quality defects in cassava-based food production: an ishikawa diagram analysis

Mitigating effects of Nigeria seaweed phytonutrients on biochemical and physiological conditions of Lycopersicon esculentum under heavy metal-induced abiotic stress

Abiotic stress has become a significant issue in recent years, affecting various physiological and biochemical aspects of crops and threatening food security. This study aimed to investigate the effects of seaweed on the biochemical and physiological conditions of Lycopersicon esculentum under heavy metal-induced abiotic stress. Lycopersicon esculentum plants were grown in greenhouse bags for four weeks and then exposed to 0.10M Pb Nitrate. They were divided into six groups: one control group sprayed with tap water and five experimental groups sprayed with different seaweed concentrations (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%). Results showed that abiotic stress led to notable decreases in root length, shoot length, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, Rubisco activity, and carotenoids by 48%, 47% 38%, 65%, 61%, 77%, 75%, and 68%, respectively. Seaweed treatment improved these indices, with the 80% seaweed group showing increases of 27%, 21%, 44%, 36%, 56%, and 48%, 54% after 21 days. Additionally, seaweed application enhanced antioxidant activities in the roots (SOD by 71%, CAT by 45%, POD by 51%, and APX by 92%) and in the leaves (SOD by 18%, CAT by 26%, POD by 34%, APX by 58%) compared to the control. The study concluded that seaweeds significantly mitigated oxidative stress in plants, boosting growth, antioxidant potential, mineral absorption, and osmotic protection. Nigeria seaweeds could be a promising tool to enhance food production by reducing oxidative stress in crops.

Decarbonization and waste reduction in a disrupted food supply chain: a step towards achieving food sustainability

PurposeThis study aims to reduce carbon emissions and minimize waste in the event of disruptions in a short and fast-food perishable such as fruits, vegetables, packaged food items, etc. supply chain through optimal investment in green and preservation technologies.Design/methodology/approach This study utilized a Hessian matrix approach to optimize decision variables with an objective to maximize the profit function.FindingsThe study demonstrates that investing in both green and preservation technology within a short and fast-food supply chain is highly beneficial for decarbonization and waste reduction and it leads to profit maximization. It has been shown with the help of a numerical experiments with investment in both green and preservation technology that total profit is 3.09% higher than without investment made in either technology.Practical implicationsThis study aids the industry in achieving food sustainability by minimizing waste of perishables and also minimizes carbon emissions which is essential for environmental protection. It assists industries in determining the optimal investment in preservation technology to minimize waste and in green technology to reduce emissions, thereby maximizing profits.Originality/valueThe current study formulates an inventory model that helps in decarbonization and waste reduction in food supply chain with the consideration of machine learning, demand disruption, preservation technology investment, screening of purchased items, waste disposal, a double triangular distribution deterioration rate, green technology investment, carbon emissions from various supply chain activities, carbon tax policy and fuel price variation over time for perishable food products in a two-warehouse system.

Measuring palatability of pet food products: Sensory components, evaluations, challenges, and opportunities.

The pet food industry is a growing business launching a variety of new products in the market. The acceptability or preference of pet food samples has traditionally been measured using either one-bowl or two-bowl tests. Academic researchers and professionals in the pet food industry have explored other methods, including the cognitive palatability assessment protocols and the ranking test, to evaluate more than two samples. A variety of approaches and perspectives were also utilized to predict palatability and key sensory attributes of pet foods, including descriptive sensory analysis by human-trained panelists and pet food caregivers' perceptions of pet food. This review article examined a range of testing methods for evaluating the palatability of pet foods, specifically targeting products for dogs and/or cats. It outlined the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Additionally, the review provided in-depth insights into the key sensory attributes of pet foods and the methodologies for assessing palatability. It also explored pets' behavioral responses and facial expressions in relation to different pet foods. Furthermore, this review discussed current challenges and future opportunities in pet food development, including the use of instrumental analyses and artificial intelligence-based approaches.

Recent Advance of Sustainable Polymers for Packaging Applications

The extensive application of non-renewable polymers has brought about deep environmental concerns, demonstrating the immediate requirement for new biodegradable and biobased packaging choices. The work offers an in-depth look at a wide array of degradable and biobased polymers like Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVOH), as well as starch and cellulose materials, discussing their qualities, uses, and the issues faced in food packaging. These types of green polymers, either in new ways or from renewable sources, offer great advances not only from decomposition into harmless parts but also from the reduction of environmental damage. The essay covers the exploitation side of this material, be it the role of PLA in enzymatic, hydrolytic, or microbial degradations, or the main tactical function of PHA in terms of a water barrier aimed at preserving the quality of stored food. Additionally, the multifunctionality of these substances is represented anew in packaging dairy goods, such as fruits, and vegetables, and specialized applications like edible films or water-soluble bags. The participation of compostable polymers has become increasingly vital in the area of food packaging to meet consumers’ demands and to upgrade the present science technologies aimed at guiding food producers who are looking for more sustainability in their business.

Incidence of type 2 diabetes by occupation – 10-year follow-up of the Gutenberg Health Study

Abstract Background In order to implement targeted type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention measures for the workplace, it is important to identify high-risk occupations. Most previous studies examine the association between T2D and occupation cross-sectionally, but longitudinal studies are missing. This study aims to investigate the 10-year incidence of T2D in the working population of a German cohort and identify occupations with an increased risk. Methods Data from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) were used to examine occupation at baseline (2007-2012) and T2D incidence at the 10-year follow-up. Occupational phases were coded into categories according to the KldB 2010. T2D was defined as either a physician-diagnosed T2D, HbA1c-level ≥6.5% or use of antidiabetic drugs. Age- and sex-standardised incidence and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for occupational groups based on the age- and sex-distribution of the German population. Standardised incidence ratios (SIR) and 95% CI were calculated using the incidence in the total GHS working population as the reference. Results Of 8130 workers at baseline, 45.2% were female, the mean age was 48.4 years and 4.5% had prevalent T2D. 388 cases occurred between baseline and the 10-year follow-up within the subgroup of persons without prevalent T2D at baseline and with follow-up data (n = 5954). The standardised incidence was 6.9%. “Food production and processing” (20.7%), “cleaners” (16.5%) and “drivers and mobile plant operators” (14.8%) had the highest standardised incidences. Compared to the total working population, we observed a threefold increased SIR for employees in “food production and processing” (3.0, 95% CI 1.8-4.7) and a two times higher SIR for “cleaners” (2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.7) and “drivers and mobile plant operators” (2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.3). Conclusions We identified occupations with an increased risk of T2D. Preventive measures and etiological research on work-related risks should focus on these occupations. Key messages • The highest standardised incidence was observed in the occupational groups “food production and processing”, “cleaners” and “drivers and mobile plant operators”. • Targeted prevention measures for type 2 diabetes in the workplace should focus on these occupational groups with increased incidence.

Smart Irrigation System using IOT

The majority of nations rely heavily on agriculture to power their economies. A nation's growth is mostly dependent on agriculture, notably for people's livelihood and the production of food and other raw resources. The rise of agriculture is the main driver of a nation's economy. One type of irrigation system that is frequently utilized in the agricultural industry is the smart irrigation system. In areas of farming where water is scarce, irrigation is used. This intelligent irrigation system is designed with farmers in mind. In this paper, the proposed smart irrigation system uses NodeMCU ESP8266. This system reads the values using sensors and waters the plants based on those values. Also, the system will send notification as well as email to the owner for a certain interval of time depending on the owner specification. The owner can also remotely monitor values by using the mobile application or web application. It is very easy to implement, and will save manpower, leading to a cost-effective solution for efficient water management in agriculture. This system harnesses the power of a microcontroller to monitor and control irrigation process, ensuring optimal water usage.

Investigating the diverse role of ultra-processed foods on cardiometabolic multimorbidity: Highlights from the ATTICA prospective study (2002-2022)

Abstract Background/Introduction The role of ultra-processed foods (UPF) on multimorbidity is currently unknown with limited research implying the existence of complex associations among the diverse UPF categories. Purpose The aim of the present work was to investigate the association of total and subgroup intake of UPF with cardiometabolic multimorbidity, after twenty years of observation, in a Mediterranean region. Methods In 2001-2002, n=3,042 free-of-cardiovascular disease (CVD) men and women from Attica, Greece, were recruited. Dietary assessment was based on a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The NOVA Food Classification system was used to assign the food products as UPF using a standard methodology. The food products assigned as UPF were further grouped as "bread and cereals", "spreads and sauces", "sweets and desserts", "artificially and sugar-sweetened beverages", "processed meat products" and "savory snacks". Cardiometabolic multimorbidity was defined as the co-occurrence of two cardiometabolic diseases i.e., type 2 diabetes and CVD within a 20-year follow-up period in a sample of n=1,846 participants with available data. Results The median consumption level of UPFs was 26.6 (16.3) servings/week contributing to around 40% of participants total daily energy intake. Over the 20–year follow–up period, n=231 cases of cardiometabolic multimorbidity were recorded. Ranking from 1st tertile (lower intake– 11.8 mean servings/week) to 2nd tertile (23.3 mean servings/week) and 3rd tertile (44.7 mean servings/week) regarding the consumption level of UPF, 20-year cardiometabolic multimorbidity was 9.5%, 13.4% and 14.7% respectively. Multi-adjusted analysis revealed that one standard deviation (SD) increase in UPF intake (servings/week) or in contribution of UPFs to total energy intake (% total energy intake) was associated with 26% [Odds ratio (OR)=1.26, 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) (1.17–1.85)] and 29% higher risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity [OR=1.29, 95%CI (1.08–1.69)]. Among UPF subgroups, only in case of artificial and sugar-sweetened beverages [OR=1.06, 95%CI (1.02–1.13)] as well as spreads and sauces [OR=1.06, 95%CI (1.02–1.13)] a positive association was observed. In case of breads and cereals an inverse association was observed [OR=0.95, 95%CI (0.92–0.98)]. In the rest categories even if a positive trend was observed (all ORs>1) significance was not reached (all p-values<0.05). Conclusion A dose-response relationship between UPF consumption and elevated risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity was emerged. However, the diverse categorization of UPFs accompanied by the contradicting associations revealed herein among the different subcategories of UPFs could imply the need to return to the evaluation of foods more on the basis of their nutritional role and less on the basis of their degree of processing. The nation context accompanied by specific dietary habits should also be taken into consideration.

Proportions and types of different sweeteners in the Hungarian packaged food supply

Abstract Branded food databases facilitate the analysis of sweetener use in commercial packaged food products. The purpose of this study was to map the use of sweeteners in relevant packaged food categories and to assess and compare the nutrient profile of non-sugar (including sugar alcohol) vs. added sugar sweetened food products in Hungary. The foodDB software, developed by University of Oxford, enables automated online data collection, and was used to compile data of all foods and drinks available from four major Hungarian supermarket websites, selected by market share in March 2021. Only products containing either added sugar and/or non-sugar sweeteners were included in the study. These were categorized into 12 food groups using specific search terms. After data cleaning the final product number was 2016. 72% of the products was sweetened with added sugars only, 15% of them with non-sugar sweeteners only and 13% contained both sugars and non-sugar sweeteners. Chewing gums (92%), soft drinks (60%), energy drinks (50%) and pickles (35%) contained non-sugar sweeteners in the largest proportion. More than 90% of flavoured alcoholic beers, chocolate bars, breakfast cereals and yogurts were sweetened with added sugar only. Nine categories included food items containing multiple non-sugar sweeteners per product. The most common non-sugar sweeteners were acesulfame-potassium, sucralose, aspartame present in 15%, 10%, 9% of the total products respectively. Muesli bars with non-sugar sweeteners contained less energy but also less fibre than muesli bars with added sugars only; whereas pickles with non-sugar sweeteners contained less energy but were significantly higher in salt than those products with added sugars only. The presence of non-sugar sweeteners is widespread in the Hungarian food supply; however, their use does not guarantee a more beneficial nutrient profile. Branded food databases are useful tools to analyse the nutrient composition of packaged foods. Key messages • Branded food databases are useful tools to monitor the composition of the packaged food supply. • The nutrition profile of foods with non-sugar sweeteners can be less favourable than foods with added sugars.

AI-driven optimization of agricultural water management for enhanced sustainability

Optimizing agricultural water resource management is crucial for food production, as effective water management can significantly improve irrigation efficiency and crop yields. Currently, precise agricultural water demand forecasting and management have become key research focuses; however, existing methods often fail to capture complex spatial and temporal dependencies. To address this, we propose a novel deep learning framework that combines remote sensing technology with the UNet-ConvLSTM (UCL) model to effectively integrate spatial and temporal features from MODIS and GLDAS datasets. Our model leverages the high-resolution spatial data from UNet and the temporal dependencies captured by ConvLSTM to significantly improve prediction accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate that our UCL model achieves the best R2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$R^2$$\\end{document} compared to existing methods, reaching 0.927 on the MODIS dataset and 0.935 on the GLDAS dataset. This approach highlights the potential of AI and remote sensing technologies in addressing critical challenges in agricultural water management, contributing to more sustainable and efficient food production systems.

A school-based intervention to foster adherence to the Mediterranean diet in adolescents: the PROMEDLIFE project

Abstract The need to maintain the production of local foods characterized by a high nutritional index, update traditional food production methodologies by developing attractive tech-based approaches, promote healthy eating habits that meet consumers’ preferences and acceptability, as well as reducing the complexity of supply chains (Farm to Fork) must be addressed to ensure food and nutrition security. This is especially true in Mediterranean countries undergoing dietary and nutritional changes that affect their inhabitants’ health while creating many socio-economic and environmental challenges. PROMEDLIFE aims to increase adherence to the Mediterranean diet through a multi-actor approach by encouraging the adoption of a healthy eating lifestyle while decreasing the environmental and economic impact of food production and processing. It also aims to attain optimal food communication and education through training programs that target primary and secondary students as well as their families, from children to older adults. A 4-week nutritional and sensory educational intervention in high school students involves frontal lessons, a web-app for families enrolled, and games on nutrients, food groups, balanced meals and various eating occasions, healthy and sustainable diets. In addition, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, nutritional knowledge, sociodemographic and lifestyle data, picky eating, and food neophobia are investigated. Including nutritional lectures in the school curriculum of high schools promotes knowledge acquisition about healthy diet. However, a period longer than 4 weeks may be necessary to translate this knowledge into improved eating habits. The project is still ongoing, and follow-up data collection will be performed. Final analysis, including data on picky eating and food neophobia, as well as overall eating behavior at follow-up, will allow an evaluation of possible long-term changes.

Exploring Climate Change Impacts on Temperature Extremes in the South Saskatchewan River Watershed, Alberta, Canada

In recent years, the frequency and intensity of extreme temperature events have escalated, posing unprecedented challenges to ecosystems, economies, and human health. As global temperatures rise, these events are emerging as critical threats; therefore, understanding their changes is essential for developing strategies to mitigate their growing risks under global warming. In this study, we used ETCCDI (Expert Team on Climate Change Detection, Monitoring, and Indices) temperature indices to analyze future changes in extreme temperature events in the South Saskatchewan River Watershed (SSRW) in Southern Alberta, Canada, a critical area for irrigation, agriculture, and food production. This analysis is based on an ensemble of 26 Global Circulation Models (GCMs) and three Shared Socio-economic Pathway (SSP) scenarios, in three periods (2015–2030, 2041–2060, 2071–2100), compared against the base period of 1951–1990. The results suggest substantial changes in most of the studied indices towards higher temperatures, with a significant rise in both the numbers of days with extreme temperatures and the magnitude of the temperature itself, as well as a notable drop in the number of cold days. As a result of warming, the growing season length is 16 days longer in 2015–2030 compared to the base period and is projected to increase substantially by the end of the century. A longer growing season might seem favourable for agriculture, but it can disrupt water availability and cause unpleasant environmental consequences. Overall, the scenarios considered in this research suggest that the SSRW could experience warming at a significant rate. This finding underscores the urgent need for adaptation and mitigation actions to enhance resilience and sustainability.

Color Dominance-Based Polynomial Optimization Segmentation for Identifying Tomato Leaves and Fruits

Optimization processes or methods play an essential role in the continuous improvement of various human activities, particularly in agriculture, given its vital role in food production. In precision agriculture, which utilizes technology to optimize food production, a primary goal is to minimize the consumption of resources like water, fertilizers, and the detection of pests and diseases. In the fertilization process, it is essential to identify any deficiencies or excesses of chemical elements. Nutrient deficiencies, which are essential for plant development, are typically detected in the leaves of crops. This paper proposes a methodology for optimizing the color threshold dominance factors employed in the segmentation process for tomato crop leaves and fruits. The optimization is performed using an interpolation method to find the values that maximize the segmentation of leaves and fruits used by the color dominance segmentation method. A comparison of the interpolation method results with those obtained using a greedy algorithm, which iteratively finds the optimal segmentation values, shows nearly identical outcomes. Similarly, a UNetmodel is used for semantic segmentation, the results of which are inferior to those obtained by the proposed interpolation optimization method. The most significant contribution of the interpolation method is that it requires only a single iteration to generate the initial data, in contrast to the iterative search required by the greedy algorithm and the lengthy training process and video card dependency of the UNet model. This results in an 80% reduction in computation time.