Scarce Natural Resources Research Articles

Optimization of water and nitrogen management in wheat cultivation affected by biochar application − Insights into resource utilization and economic benefits

In the context of global climate change and natural resource scarcity, agricultural production is facing multiple challenges in improving crop yields and optimizing natural resource use. It is of great practical significance to optimize agricultural practices to achieve sustainable agricultural development. In this study, a two-year winter wheat field experiment was conducted in the Guanzhong Plain, Shaanxi, China, from 2020 to 2022 to assess the effects of biochar, irrigation, and N fertilizer rates on the yield, water-nitrogen use efficiency, and economic benefits of winter wheat. Specifically, biochar was applied to winter wheat at 30 t ha−1 in combination with two irrigation application rates, including regular irrigation (I100; actual evapotranspiration) and deficit irrigation (I80; 0.8 actual evapotranspiration), and three different N fertilizer rates at 210 (NH; conventional applied N rate by local farmers), 160 (NM; moderate N rate), and 110 kg ha−1 (NL; low N rate). The control groups in this study consisted of experimental plots under the NM and N0 (no N) without biochar application. The aboveground dry matter mass (ADM), yield, and net ecosystem economic budget (NEEB) of winter wheat showed increasing trends with increasing N application rates without significant differences between the NH and NM treatments. On the other hand, the water use efficiency (WUE), agronomic N fertilizer use efficiency (aNUE), and N fertilizer recovery efficiency (NRE) showed increasing-decreasing trends with increasing N fertilizer rates, reaching the highest values under the NM treatment scenario. The biochar addition significantly increased the winter wheat yield and WUE (P<0.05). On the other hand, the I80 treatment resulted in higher WUE and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) than those under I100 by 5.63 and 13.52 %, respectively. TOPSIS results indicated that the combined I80B1NM treatment was the optimal winter wheat management practice, maintaining high productivity while improving resource use efficiency and economic benefits. The results of the present study provide an important scientific basis and guidance for ensuring efficient and high-quality agricultural products in the Guanzhong Plain and other regions in China with similar climatic characteristics.

Optimal cost predictive BMS considering greywater recycling, responsive HVAC, and energy storage

A crucial aspect of a sustainable city is ensuring that energy and water supplies can adequately meet urban demand. With the scarcity of natural resources and growing electricity and water demand, it becomes increasingly important for consumers to manage their resource usage more efficiently. This paper proposes a novel perspective of demand-side management coordination strategy for a building's water-energy nexus to enhance the resilience and efficiency of the overall electricity-water-heating system. The model is formulated to optimally coordinates the onsite greywater recycling system, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) loads, and distributed energy generation systems with a bidirectional grid connection in a residential building. All subsystems are controlled by a model predictive controller (MPC) receiving real-time time of use (ToU) pricing from electricity and water utilities. The presented mixed integer linear programming model is verified to meet the customers' demands while reducing the operational costs. Results are compared with benchmark systems lacking the water recycling or energy storage system showing 8.3 % operational cost reduction while reducing potable water consumption by 21.5 %. The effect of increased MPC control horizon is also studied showing reduction in cost with increased horizon. Detailed analysis of the proposed framework computational burden and effect of prediction errors is performed to prove the MPC adaptability and robustness. Testing under increased room size and different user preferences further validate the efficacy of the proposed scheme in reducing the operational costs.

Corporate social responsibility: A Driver for green organizational climate and workplace pro-environmental behavior

In line with the United Nation's sustainable development goals (SDGs), the unsustainable use of scarce natural resources and worldwide environmental degradation call for the immediate implementation of green behaviors across all organizations. As environmental issues originate from human activities, they necessitate the realization and execution of employees' workplace pro-environmental behaviors (WPEB) and their stimulators. Drawing on social exchange and social identity theories, this study first investigates the mediating role of green organizational climate in the relationship between various forms of perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employees' WPEB. It further examines the mediated moderation via green shared vision. An adapted survey questionnaire was distributed to senior-level and middle-level managers of large and medium-sized manufacturing firms in Pakistan, and 349 responses were gathered. The partial least-squares technique was used for data analysis. The findings indicate that all forms of perceived CSR positively correlate with a green organizational climate, which further significantly leads to employees' WPEB. The results also show that a strong shared green vision among employees can improve the relationship between the green organizational climate and employees' WPEB and vice versa. Moreover, multi-group analysis shows that the relationship between customer-centric perceived CSR and green organizational climate was stronger for medium-sized firms than large ones. Thus, to ensure the implementation of SDGs such as decent work and climate action, firms' top management must recognize the importance of investing in both internal and external CSR initiatives to foster a green organizational climate leading to employees' WPEB. Companies should communicate their participation in CSR activities to all stakeholders through public platforms to increase inspiration. Policymakers should further introduce CSR excellence awards and non-compliance penalties to encourage firms' extensive participation.

Evaluation method for uniformity of steel slag concrete aggregate based on improved YOLOv8

The use of steel slag as a replacement for natural aggregates in concrete effectively alleviates the issue of natural resource scarcity. The uniformity of aggregates in steel slag concrete directly affects its performance and durability. Therefore, precise segmentation of aggregates in sedimentation images is crucial for evaluating their uniformity. This paper not only proposes an improved instance segmentation model for accurate segmentation of steel slag concrete aggregates but also introduces a new method for assessing the uniformity of aggregates when steel slag replaces natural aggregates. This method quantitatively analyses the area, replacement rate, and spatial distribution of the aggregates and conducts a comprehensive quantitative analysis using the comprehensive uniformity evaluation coefficient, K. This approach allows for the evaluation of the uniformity of aggregates in sedimentation images of steel slag concrete. Experimental results show that the proposed improved model achieved an mAP50 of 98.3 %. Furthermore, the aggregate uniformity assessment method based on the improved model can objectively and accurately evaluate the uniformity of steel slag concrete aggregates.

Snacking insects? A global market investigation

The world population is expected to grow rapidly and exceed 10.4 billion by 2100. In this scenario, greater environmental pressure and natural resource scarcity are inevitable. A possible solution suggested by international authorities is the use of novel protein sources for conventional production, such as the use of edible insects as food, in Western countries. The present work investigates recent market trends in the edible insect sector, in terms of a growing focus on sustainability, product offerings, diversification of insect-based products, and increasing consumer awareness. The Mintel Global New Product Database was used to identify newly launched products in the global market that incorporate insects as ingredients. The market analysis focused on the food category with the highest number of newly launched products, the insect snack bar category. The results of a global market investigation on insect snack bars are further presented including the market analysis of several aspects, such as price, country distribution, nutritional values, and communication strategies. Finally, market considerations are provided that could interest stakeholders in the insect supply chain, including retailers, manufacturers, and policymakers.

Groundwater potential mapping in arid and semi-arid regions of kurdistan region of Iraq: A geoinformatics-based machine learning approach

Groundwater (GW) is a crucial and increasingly scarce natural resource, that is affected by climate change and mismanagement. To manage GW resources effectively, it is crucial to accurately identify GW potential zones (GWPZs) using modern techniques. This study aimed to employ and assess geoinformatics-based machine learning (ML) models to delineate GWPZs in the Akre district, Kurdistan region of Iraq. Six nonparametric ML models were used: a support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbours (KNN), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), gradient boost DT (GBDT), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). These models were trained on diverse GWPZ-favourable influencing factors, encompassing topographic, hydrological, geological, and environmental aspects. The findings of this study revealed that the XGBoost model outperformed the other nonparametric models in terms of best-fit performance and accuracy in generating a GW potential map (GWPM), achieving a R2 of 0.88, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 11.348, and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 6.623. Notably, over half of the study area (53%) was categorised as having high or very high GWPZs, primarily in the low-lying Rovia Plain. The study identified rainfall, elevation, lineament density (LD), drainage density (Dd), topographic wetness index (TWI), and slope as the most significant factors influencing GWPZ modelling. This study provides a comprehensive framework for GW resource management, ecological conservation, and urban development planning. These insights are crucial for stakeholders, policymakers, and local authorities in strategic resource planning and environmental stewardship.

Novel Methods to Calculate and Estimate the Factors Influencing the Ecological Footprints of Pakistan

Increasing demand for natural resources has exacerbated the scarcity of natural resources. Shortage of natural resources for timely needs is raising some significant environmental issues for the fast-growing population. It is argued that there is a trade-off between economic growth and environmental quality but it is debatable. To expand this debate, this article examines the short-run and long-run relationship between ecological footprints and income growth accompanied by other macroeconomic indicators. This study investigated the validity of the Environmental Kuznets curve between income growth and environmental pressure in Pakistan. This paper is based on secondary data for the period (1970 to 2021). The Auto-Regressive Distributive lag-bound testing method is utilized to determine the short-run and long-run links between income growth and ecological footprints per capita. The study found that a larger proportion of Pakistan’s imports are contaminated with high embodied emissions. An increase in economic prosperity has dynamic implications for the environment across international borders. The products embodied emissions imported in Pakistan are greater than the emissions exported to other economies. The net effect of trade is negative on the environment in Pakistan. The study confirms that there exists a significant statistical relationship between ecological footprints and economic growth. This validates the evidence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve in the case of Pakistan.

Book Review: 「하이테크 강국 이스라엘」

A new book, High-tech powerhouse Israel, explains how it led to growth in the future-oriented high-tech industry. Despite geopolitics, religion, and cultural differences, Israel and Korea have similarities. Due to scarce natural resources, limited space, and unfriendly security, economic growth was rapid. Israel established a hightech ecosystem by swiftly pioneering new disciplines and expanding capabilities, while Korea based its industrial base on manufacturing. “High-Tech Powerhouse Israel” examines Israel's history, culture, and innovative ecosystem elements, analyzes its driving force that has grown into a global leader in the high-tech industry in a barren environment, and examines ways Korea can develop an innovative ecosystem. Han Jung-hwa, the author of “High-Tech Powerhouse Israel,” is a longtime researcher of management strategies and start-ups. He benchmarked Israel's technology start-up incubator policy to design Korea's Tech-Inverator Program for Startup (TIPS), a leading public-private partnership start-up support program. This book is crucial since it examines Israel's science, technology, and industry and includes the newest innovation ecosystem data. By introducing the latest trends in eight innovative sectors, including cybersecurity, climate technology, mobility, and fintech, as well as the possibility and policy of cooperation with Korea, it serves as a key to finding new growth engines in the management and industrial sectors. As a policy sector, it serves as a white paper for the institutional foundation to enhance new industry competitiveness.

Role and applications of advanced digital technologies in achieving sustainability in multimodal logistics operations: A systematic literature review

Integration of advanced digital technologies along with ensuring environmental sustainability in the logistics sector is becoming the need of the hour novel multimodal transportation concept. The rapid technological development in the era of industry 4.0 can not only create new opportunities in achieving highly efficient, intelligent, and smart logistics systems but also enable new business models for value addition, additionally, this novel system will also avoid environmental degradation and use of scarce natural resources that contribute to climate change. This paper summarizes the research trends of these technologies in multimodal logistics systems since 2005 through a systematic literature review. The results revealed a mixed picture of the situation, starting from emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain becoming key technological concepts for multimodal logistics systems to government policy hurdles and lack of impact breakthroughs in the industry. However, the results show that adaptation to these technologies improves the overall environmental, economic, and social sustainability of the system.

Fornecimento distribuído de água: Uma analogia didática

The scarcity of natural resources is a recurring problem in modern daily life. Much has been done to find solutions that generate the least environmental and social impact. Among the various challenges to face the scarcity of resources, this work presents in a playful way the issues involving the scarcity of water resources in a given region and the solutions found by the society of its surroundings. The work addresses the importance of the solutions presented to meet the needs of all. The format of the problem and the solutions presented is based on the text "The fable of the roast pigs". The issue of water scarcity is addressed, and any similarity with the scarcity of energy resources and the use of Distributed Generation (DG) is mere coincidence, or not.

Analysing the Influence of Recycled Concrete Aggregate and Expanded Perlite on Mortar Performance

With population growth and rapid urbanisation leading to excessive waste generation in the construction sector and the scarcity of natural resources, such as natural fine aggregates, the demand for recycled alternatives has increased. In exploring the potential of recycled materials for construction materials, the present study investigated the performance of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and expanded perlite in mortar as a partial replacement for fine aggregates. Different percentages of RCA and expanded perlite were used. A consistent percentage of perlite was used: 0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% and 35%. The RCA and expanded perlite were then mixed with other materials such as cement, water and fine aggregate. Flowability, compressive strength and flexural strength tests were carried out. It was found that a 90% replacement of RCA for each increasing percentage of perlite in the mortar mix resulted in a significant reduction in flow diameter. The compressive and flexural strength of the mortar increased with age. However, the flexural strength of the control mortar, which contained neither RCA nor perlite, consistently exceeded that of the mortar with these additives. The results provide valuable insights for the production of new materials in the construction industry, for waste management and for lightweight yet durable construction solutions.

Nexus of natural resources exploitation, social protection, and sustainable environment: COP27 is a sufficient solution?

A pervasive threat regarding human health, ecological balance, progress, and sustainability marks the current era. Many nations are grappling with the consequences of climate change and global warming caused by excessive carbon emissions from various harmful activities. Consequently, while some nations face resource constraints, they also work hard to keep the environment clean and green to promote sustainable growth. Concerns about the effects of climate change and global warming have recently shifted the focus of national governments and policymakers. Furthermore, these issues take center stage in developed nations due to the scarcity of natural resources, leading to increased carbon emissions. This research uses a panel data set that covers the top 20 developed countries from 2000 to 2021 to examine the relationship between nature's bounty (NAT) and welfare (SP) and carbon emissions (CO2). The next-generation panel assembly root test verified that all indicators were stationarity at the first difference, and the cross-sectional dependence (CSD) mirrored the panel countries' CSD. The second-generation cointegration technique (Wester Lund and Edgerton) was used to find an equation involving the variables. The rigorous check by the Cup-BC test and long-run empirical estimates from the Cup-FM estimation highlighted that technical innovation, social protection, and higher levels of green energy contribute to greater environmental sustainability and lower CO₂ emissions. Environmental quality declines and CO2 emissions rise in developed countries due to population, natural resource availability, and economic complexity index. The study's results may illuminate the reasons for environmental deterioration and propose solutions.

Evaluation of Life Cycle CO2 Emissions for the LDR-50 Nuclear District Heating Reactor

The LDR-50 low-temperature nuclear reactor is designed for the Finnish and European district heating markets, as an environmentally sustainable heating option for the 2030s. While the carbon footprint of conventional electricity-producing reactors is known to be small, there have been no comprehensive studies on the emission reduction potential when the technology is applied to the heating sector. This paper aims to fill this knowledge gap by means of life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis. The carbon footprint of the LDR-50 heating plant is evaluated, and compared to conventional heating fuels, direct electric heating, and heat pumps. The results of the analysis show that the life cycle CO2 emissions are low, although there are still significant uncertainties related to the construction phase, due to missing data. In addition to carbon footprint, the analysis is also extended to other adverse environmental impacts. It is concluded that significant reductions in CO2 emissions can be achieved by replacing fossil heating fuels with nuclear energy. The technology is considered a viable option alongside biofuels and heat pumps. The overall environmental impacts are low, and the production does not compete for low-carbon electricity or scarce natural resources.

Digital transformation as a catalyst for agri-food efficiency and a sustainable food future

The agri-food sector faces a number of unprecedented challenges, from climate change to natural resource scarcity to global population growth. These challenges require innovative solutions that will ensure sustainable food production while reducing environmental impact and promoting social equality. By using digital technology and innovation, we can increase efficiency, equity and sustainability across the food chain. To achieve this, however, it is imperative that governments, businesses and civil society work together to promote policies and practices that promote digital transformation in an inclusive and responsible way. The article outlines the results of a study to identify current trends in the development of the agri-food sector in the world and digital transformation, which opens a promising path to a more sustainable food future.

What are the best alternatives for sustainability? A rationalization theme for natural resource depletion and technical innovation

There has been a global upsurge in discussions about environmental sustainability. To fight climate change and attain long-term economic expansion, decreasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is crucial. In addition, these issues take center stage in the Next 11 economies due to the scarcity and overexploitation of natural resources, leading to increased carbon emissions. Advancements in technology are essential to achieving sustainable development. Making technical advances is the only way to guarantee that economic growth at lower environmental cost. In this piece, we'll look at how technological progress and the exhaustion of natural resources have affected CO2 emissions. The research examines the interplay between digitization, human capital, and the rule of law, among other aspects. Researchers analyzed panel series data for the next 11 economies from 2003 to 2022. However, the current study utilizes robust estimators to obtain the desired objective of study. Investigated outcomes describe, digitalization, technical innovation, and human resources hurt sustainability level, although the rule of law and the depletion of natural resources have a beneficial effect. The selected and other rising economies may use the predicted findings to inform policy decisions on how to best go forward with sustainable development.

Coastal Adaptation Pathways and Tipping Points for Typical Mediterranean Beaches under Future Scenarios

Coastal zones experience increasing climatic and human pressures, which lead to growing risks and tipping points (TPs) under future scenarios and natural resource scarcity. To avoid crossing TPs with irreversible coastal losses, this paper proposes the development of adaptation pathways based on advanced coastal oceanography and engineering knowledge that enables a comprehensive assessment of evolving coastal risks. These pathways feature sequential interventions steered by simulations and observations as a function of available coastal resources (mainly space and sediment) and risks for infrastructure and socioeconomic assets. Such an adaptation has been developed for urban and peri-urban Mediterranean beaches, considering conventional coastal engineering together with nature-based solutions (NbS). Both types of interventions are assessed in terms of key physical variables, which serve to evaluate performance and estimate TPs. This analysis supports the new coastal protection and management plan promoted by the regional government of Catalonia and the coastal adaptation plan of the central government of Spain. The approach and results illustrate the potential of adaptation pathways for beach sustainability, enhancing the compatibility between short-/long-term coastal protection objectives under present/future climate and management scenarios. The development of adaptation pathways underpins increasing stakeholder cooperation to achieve shared decisions for coastal sustainability.

EU Energy Security After Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine – Substance, Strategy and Lobbying

The energy supply of individual countries and international organisations plays a key role for economic development. Energy is a specific good, where access to it must be stable and uninterrupted. The functioning of any country’s economy depends on a well-functioning energy sector, but unfortunately, over recent years, newer and newer threats to energy security have been emerging, in addition to the consumption of scarce natural resources. These include not only uncertain and unstable suppliers, but also natural disasters and cyber-attacks to which energy networks are increasingly exposed. Over the last few years, the issue of energy security has also become increasingly important in the EU. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this policy acquired an entirely new dimension as the turbulence in EU energy markets contributed to significant economic difficulties including, among other factors, rising inflation in all EU Member States. Since then, the main priority of the EU’s energy policy has become the security and stability of energy supply. The aim of this article is to present and assess the effectiveness of the main EU measures taken to improve the EU’s energy security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These actions are extremely important to ensure long-term energy security in the EU, so it is essential that only the EU’s interests are taken into account. The article also highlights the dangers of the fossil fuel lobby and their influencing the EU’s decision-making process on energy security.

Spatial and component structure analysis of the inclusive circular economy: SGICE

Modern statistics and scientific research consider the circular economy rather one-sidedly, essentially as recycling and reuse of resources. The article proposes methodology (concept) of the global inclusive circular economy, which can be considered as a complex multidimensional system, the main components of which are the economic, sociological, ecological and circular aspects of the country's life. To achieve this goal, the GNU regression, econometrics and time-series library was used – an applied software package for econometric modeling, a part of the GNU project. Accordingly, we will define the global inclusive circular economy as the SGICE (Global Inclusive Circular Economy) system, characterized by the vector of functions. For the most exhaustive consideration of the entire range of opportunities of the global inclusive circular economy, the study developed and accordingly analyzed the integrated index of the development of the global inclusive circular economy (IGICE) by ecological, economic, social and circular components with isolated weakly correlated indicators. The ranking of countries was carried out separately by the components of the index, on the basis of which circular cores were distinguished: the social component (Belgium, the Czech Republic, USA, China, France, Greece, Austria, Australia), the ecological component (Japan, Denmark), the economic component (Germany, China), which became the basis for the model of formation of global inclusive circular chains. The conducted cluster analysis based on the component indicators of the index of the global inclusive circular economy confirmed the formation of a large circular gap (gap) in the ecological and circular components. This indicator is introduced for the first time and makes it possible to comprehensively analyze the country and highlight additional effects that arise from the moment of implementation of circular business projects and the inclusion of the country (on the basis of firms, corporations) in global circular chains of added value. After all, the main problematic aspects are the illegal trade in waste and growing smuggling, which cause serious negative social consequences and actualize the inclusive component in the justification of the global inclusive circular economy paradigm. Waste reduction combined with wise use of resources has the potential to address the gap resulting from the scarcity of natural resources and a growing global population or consumption. The formation of circular trade will contribute to: the determination of priority materials for trade and the required level of processing capacity, coordination of material quality standards, promoting demand for used goods and secondary raw materials, removing unnecessary regulatory barriers and avoiding environmentally harmful activities such as non-compliance, poor regulation and informal recovery.

Modeling the Intricate Association between Sustainable Service Quality and Supply Chain Performance: Moderating Role of Blockchain Technology and Environmental Uncertainty

The growing awareness about natural resource scarcity is spreading across industries, compelling businesses to implement sustainability initiatives. The service sector, including small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) involved in logistical operations, is actively pursuing measures to achieve the expected sustainability goals. In recent years, incorporating sustainable service quality attributes (SSQAs) has become a crucial strategy for attaining competitive advantages and sustainability objectives. In this context, the current study examines sustainable service quality attributes’ role in achieving sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP) and obtaining triple bottom line sustainability outcomes. Data were obtained from 295 logistics service-providing SMEs using the purposive sampling technique. The acquired data were then analyzed using the structural equation model. According to the findings, SSQAs have a positive association with SSCP. The moderating roles of blockchain technology (BT) and environmental uncertainty (EU) were significant between SSQAs and SSCP. SSCP also mediated between SSQAs, BT, and TBL. Meanwhile, EU and BT also have a significant influencing role between SSQAs and SSCP. The study adds to the body of knowledge within the domain of sustainability, by testing the unique interaction between sustainable service quality attributes and SSCP. Likewise, the use of blockchain technology as a moderator on a given relationship is empirically unique in itself. The study also provides the first of their kind findings on the subject matter in the context of 295 logistics service-providing SMEs from a developing country like Pakistan. The study’s findings are helpful for managers in transforming their services by embedding the SSQAs and developing their workforce to be equipped with the knowledge and facilities necessary to achieve TBL outcomes.

Optimizing glutamate production from microalgae extracts sourced from the Caspian Sea Basin: A cost-effective and sustainable approach with potential applications

The versatile free amino acid known as glutamate plays a key role in biological processes as a transmitter of signals between nerve cells, as well as in the food industry as a flavor enhancer. Extensive endeavors have been undertaken to produce glutamate using various methods, often relying on costly and scarce natural resources. This study aims to explore a cost-effective and abundant natural alternative for glutamate synthesis by utilizing microalgae extract sourced from the Caspian Sea basin. To achieve this goal, the submerged fermentation method was utilized. The fermented microalgae extract, inoculated with P. putida, exhibited substantially higher concentrations of glutamate compared to the uninoculated samples. Amongst the various seaweeds investigated, the aqueous Chlorella extract exhibited the highest Glutamate amount (3.1 ± 0.1 mg/g). Moreover, both the fresh and dehydrated microalgae extracts displayed a noteworthy rise in the concentration of soluble proteins during fermentation. It is worth mentioning that extracts treated with P. putida exhibited a total rise in the levels of overall phenolics and flavonoids, suggesting a promising improvement in their biologically active combinations. Furthermore, the functions of alpha-amylase and proteolytic enzymes experienced significant increments in the fermented extracts. This research highlights a promising method for generating glutamate using microalgae extract which has significant potential for the food industry, offering numerous advantages.