Sustainable Food Production Systems Research Articles

Safe and sustainable fish and seafood system and per- and poly-fluorinated substances occurrence: the role of PFAS toxicity in the assessment.

Fish and seafood are valuable sources of both nutrients and organic contaminants. The expansion of the analytical per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) panel with toxicological characterisation necessitates an update of PFAS intake assessment and management within the context of cumulative exposure. Benthic and demersal seafood, such as clams, squid, and cuttlefish, are more prone to contamination with C9-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids, exhibiting the highest relative potency factors in terms of immunotoxicity, according to the grid recently proposed by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health, Environment, and Emerging Risk. Based on the Italian food consumption database referring to demersal and benthic biota such as squid, cuttlefish, crustaceans, and clams, a toxicology-based intake scenario was drafted to highlight the relevant contribution of such wild species to PFAS intake, well above the provisional health-based guidance value of 4.4ng/kg body weight per week. Ensuring consistency between PFAS reduction and substitution policies, environmental quality standards for water bodies, and the issuance of advisories and regulations regarding safe and sustainable intake of fish and seafood is crucial. This is done to prevent a loss of accountability for institutional bodies, which aim to protect fragile (sensitive and vulnerable) groups from PFAS exposure and simultaneously promote 'blue growth' as a sustainable food production system.

County-level intensity of carbon emissions from crop farming in China during 2000–2019

Agriculture is an important contributor to global carbon emissions. With the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and China’s carbon neutral strategy, accurate estimation of carbon emissions from crop farming is essential to reduce agricultural carbon emissions and promote sustainable food production systems in China. However, previous long-term time series estimates in China have mainly focused on the national and provincial levels, which are insufficient to characterize regional heterogeneity. Here, we selected the county-level administrative district as the basic geographical unit and then generated a county-level dataset on the intensity of carbon emissions from crop farming in China during 2000–2019, using random forest regression with multi-source data. This dataset can be used to delineate spatio-temporal changes in carbon emissions from crop farming in China, providing an important basis for decision makers and researchers to design agricultural carbon reduction strategies in China.

Circular farming: EU consumers’ purchase intention and willingness to pay for circular beef – a discrete choice experiment within the theory of planned behaviour

Circular farming is a sustainable food production system focused on recovering nutrients and minimizing negative environmental effects. Consumers’ preference for circular food stimulates producers to adopt circular farming systems. This study aims to analyse consumers’ willingness to pay for beefsteak produced in a circular farming system and behaviours that influence their preferences. 5,246 EU consumers were surveyed using choice experiment methodology and planed behaviour theory. Results showed circular beefsteak is preferred more than conventional beefsteak, but less than organic. Similarly, consumers are willing to pay a higher premium for circular beefsteak than for conventional and lower than organic. Preferences regarding planned behaviour theory showed social norms and perception of behavioural control increases preferences for circular beefsteak. Environmental attitudes increase organic beefsteak preferences, but reduce conventional beefsteak preferences, like sustainable behaviours and frequency. The potential market for circular beefsteak urges policymakers to create a standardized legal framework for circularity labelling, similar to organic certification.

Assessment of the Environmental Footprint of Various Food Production Systems

Purpose: This study sought to assess the environmental footprint of various food production systems. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the environmental footprint of various food production systems. Preliminary empirical review revealed that with a call for transformative changes to mitigate ecological impacts while ensuring food security and human well-being. Through a comprehensive analysis, significant variations in resource use and emissions were highlighted across different production methods. The study emphasized the interconnectedness between dietary choices, agricultural practices, and environmental outcomes, urging policymakers to enact evidence-based policies and agricultural stakeholders to adopt regenerative farming practices. Ultimately, the study served as a call to action for concerted efforts to transition towards a more sustainable and resilient food system, integrating ecological principles, social equity, and economic viability to promote harmony between human activities and the natural environment. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Systems theory, Ecological Economics and Agroecology models may be used to anchor future studies on the environmental footprint of various food production systems. The study made significant contributions to theory, practice, and policy in the realm of sustainable food production and environmental conservation. It advanced theoretical understanding by advocating for a systems-based approach to assessing environmental impacts and highlighting the importance of considering multiple dimensions of sustainability. In practice, the study recommended the adoption of agroecological approaches and the promotion of sustainable farming practices to mitigate environmental harm. Policy recommendations included the implementation of regulatory interventions and incentives to promote sustainability, while consumer education and international collaboration were emphasized for driving demand for sustainable food products and facilitating knowledge sharing. Lastly, the study underscored the importance of investment in research and innovation to drive continuous improvements in sustainable food production systems.

From sustainable feedstocks to microbial foods.

Climate change-induced alterations in weather patterns, such as frequent and severe heatwaves, cold waves, droughts, floods, heavy rain and storms, are reducing crop yields and agricultural productivity. At the same time, greenhouse gases arising from food production and supply account for almost 30% of anthropogenic emissions. This vicious circle is producing a global food crisis. Sustainable food resources and production systems are needed now, and microbial foods are one possible solution. In this Perspective, we highlight the most promising technologies, and carbon and energy sources, for microbial food production.

Utilising crop residues as hydroponic media for sustainable food production system

Utilising crop residues as hydroponic media for sustainable food production system

Policy strategies for managing food safety risks associated with climate change and agriculture

Managing food safety risks associated with climate change and agriculture necessitates comprehensive policy strategies to safeguard public health, ensure food security, and sustain agricultural productivity. This review delves into the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change on food safety and explores policy approaches aimed at mitigating these risks. Climate change presents a myriad of challenges to food safety, including altered patterns of precipitation, temperature extremes, and increased occurrences of extreme weather events. These changes impact various stages of the food supply chain, from production to consumption, exacerbating existing food safety risks and introducing new ones. Addressing these challenges requires proactive policy strategies that integrate climate adaptation and food safety management. Policy strategies for managing food safety risks associated with climate change encompass a range of measures aimed at enhancing resilience, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and strengthening food safety systems. One key approach involves the implementation of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, which aim to improve agricultural productivity while minimizing environmental impacts and enhancing resilience to climate change. CSA practices such as crop diversification, soil conservation, and water management can help mitigate the impacts of climate change on food safety by reducing the risk of contamination and enhancing the quality of agricultural products. Furthermore, policies aimed at promoting sustainable food production systems can contribute to mitigating food safety risks associated with climate change. These policies may include incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices, support for organic farming, and regulations to reduce the use of chemical inputs in agriculture. By promoting environmentally friendly farming practices, such policies can help minimize the occurrence of foodborne pathogens and chemical contaminants in food products, thereby enhancing food safety. In addition to promoting sustainable agricultural practices, policy strategies for managing food safety risks associated with climate change also focus on strengthening food safety systems and enhancing surveillance and monitoring mechanisms. This includes investing in infrastructure and capacity building to improve food safety testing and inspection capabilities, as well as enhancing early warning systems for foodborne disease outbreaks. By strengthening food safety systems, policymakers can better detect and respond to emerging food safety risks exacerbated by climate change, thereby reducing the likelihood of foodborne illness and protecting public health. Furthermore, international collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential components of effective policy strategies for managing food safety risks associated with climate change. Given the global nature of both climate change and the food supply chain, coordinated action at the international level is crucial for addressing shared challenges and exchanging best practices. International organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) play a critical role in facilitating collaboration and providing technical assistance to countries in developing and implementing effective food safety policies in the context of climate change. Managing food safety risks associated with climate change and agriculture requires a multifaceted approach that integrates climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture, and robust food safety systems. By implementing proactive policy strategies that promote sustainable practices, strengthen food safety systems, and foster international collaboration, policymakers can mitigate the impacts of climate change on food safety and ensure the availability of safe and nutritious food for all.

A Move towards Developing Usable Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Services for the Agricultural Sector

Dryland farming is at the center of increasing pressure to produce more food for the growing population in an environment that is highly variable and with high expectations for the standard of their production systems. While there is mounting pressure for increased productivity, the responsibility to protect the environment and diminish the agricultural sector’s carbon footprint is receiving growing emphasis. Achieving these two goals calls for a consolidated effort to ensure that the scientific community and service providers partner with farmers to create a sustainable food production system that does not harm the environment. In this paper, we studied the nature of the services present in the market and identified ways that could be used to improve the climate services available to the agricultural sector. Important factors that could increase the usability of climate services include coproduction, context-specific information, innovation, demand-driven services, timeliness of services, highly applicable information, provision of services in the correct format, services that increase user experience, specificity of services to a locale, and services that are easily accessible.

Rhizosphere Microorganisms Supply Availability of Soil Nutrients and Induce Plant Defense.

Plant health is necessary for food security, which is a key determinant of secure and sustainable food production systems. Deficiency of soil nutrients and invasion of plant pathogens or insects are the main destroyers of the world's food production. Synthetic fertilizers and chemical-based pesticides are frequently employed to combat the problems. However, these have negative impacts on microbial ecosystems and ecosystem functioning. Rhizosphere microorganisms have demonstrated their potency to improve or manage plant nutrients to encourage plant growth, resulting in increased yield and quality by converting organic and inorganic substances around the rhizosphere zone into available plant nutrients. Besides regulating nutrient availability and plant growth enhancement, rhizobacteria or fungi can restrict plant pathogens that cause disease by secreting inhibitory chemicals and boosting plant immunity to combat pests or pathogens. Thus, rhizosphere microorganisms are viewed as viable, alluring economic approaches for sustainable agriculture as biofertilizers and biopesticides. This review provides an overview of the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in soil nutrients and inducing of plant defenses. Moreover, a discussion is presented surrounding the recent consequences of employing these microorganisms and a sustainable strategy towards improving fertilization effectiveness, and encouraging stronger, more pest-resistant plants.

Novel SNP markers for flowering and seed quality traits in faba bean (Vicia faba L.): characterization and GWAS of a diversity panel.

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a legume crop grown in diverse climates worldwide. It has a high potential for increased cultivation to meet the need for more plant-based proteins in human diets, a prerequisite for a more sustainable food production system. Characterization of diversity panels of crops can identify variation in and genetic markers for target traits of interest for plant breeding. In this work, we collected a diversity panel of 220 accessions of faba bean from around the world consisting of gene bank material and commercially available cultivars. The aims of this study were to quantify the phenotypic diversity in target traits to analyze the impact of breeding on these traits, and to identify genetic markers associated with traits through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Characterization under field conditions at Nordic latitude across two years revealed a large genotypic variation and high broad-sense heritability for eleven agronomic and seed quality traits. Pairwise correlations showed that seed yield was positively correlated to plant height, number of seeds per plant, and days to maturity. Further, susceptibility to bean weevil damage was significantly higher for early flowering accessions and accessions with larger seeds. In this study, no yield penalty was found for higher seed protein content, but protein content was negatively correlated to starch content. Our results showed that while breeding advances in faba bean germplasm have resulted in increased yields and number of seeds per plant, they have also led to a selection pressure towards delayed onset of flowering and maturity. DArTseq genotyping identified 6,606 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by alignment to the faba bean reference genome. These SNPs were used in a GWAS, revealing 51 novel SNP markers significantly associated with ten of the assessed traits. Three markers for days to flowering were found in predicted genes encoding proteins for which homologs in other plant species regulate flowering. Altogether, this work enriches the growing pool of phenotypic and genotypic data on faba bean as a valuable resource for developing efficient breeding strategies to expand crop cultivation.

Seed Security for Food Security: A Situation Analysis from the Rural Home Gardens

Seeds being a primary agricultural input, its availability, access, and affordability is directly linked to the agricultural production. Traditional home gardens, backyards, Kandyan forest gardens, and micro-agricultural systems rich in biodiversity and species, mix with the knowledge and skills of the community to manage sustainable food production systems. Therefore, the study targeted to identify the types of seed production and preservation systems available among the farming community, and to identify the impact of seed ownership on household resilience to food insecurity. Data were gathered using an initial transaction walk, and a series of focus group discussions with rural households of Imbulpe and Boralanda GN divisions of Rathnapura and Badulla districts, respectively. The study areas were selected given the diversity of the crops in the area. Sample profile included 30 farmers who were purposively selected from each GN division. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and it revealed the existence of two seed production and preservation systems: formal and informal. Formal seed systems included both private and public stakeholders in seed and planting material business. Farmers used these formal seed systems for commercial level cultivation of both up-country and low-country vegetables. Informal seed systems were characterized with the own production, selection, storage, and maintenance of seed banks, barter system, and community seed gifting/sharing, and purchasing locally produced seeds from the locality. Informal seed systems were identified mainly for cereals (traditional rice varieties), pulses, fruits, vegetables, and spices at home gardening level. This resulted in seed and planting material ownership retaining among the local farmers. Seed ownership is an intangible asset which empowers social and human capital status of the households. Locally bred varieties proved to be resilient to climate change and maintain the crop diversity in home gardens. Informally sourced seeds recorded comparatively low yield than the hybrid/improved seed varieties that are sourced from formal seed systems. In conclusion own seed supplies ensured food availability, minimized seasonal yield variations, and enhanced meal diversity.
 Keywords: Food security, Household resilience, Seed system

Optimisation of Small-Scale Aquaponics Systems Using Artificial Intelligence and the IoT: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities

Environment changes, water scarcity, soil depletion, and urbanisation are making it harder to produce food using traditional methods in various regions and countries. Aquaponics is emerging as a sustainable food production system that produces fish and plants in a closed-loop system. Aquaponics is not dependent on soil or external environmental factors. It uses fish waste to fertilise plants and can save up to 90–95% water. Aquaponics is an innovative system for growing food and is expected to be very promising, but it has its challenges. It is a complex ecosystem that requires multidisciplinary knowledge, proper monitoring of all crucial parameters, and high maintenance and initial investment costs to build the system. Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are key technologies that can overcome these challenges. Numerous recent studies focus on the use of AI and the IoT to automate the process, improve efficiency and reliability, provide better management, and reduce operating costs. However, these studies often focus on limited aspects of the system, each considering different domains and parameters of the aquaponics system. This paper aims to consolidate the existing work, identify the state-of-the-art use of the IoT and AI, explore the key parameters affecting growth, analyse the sensing and communication technologies employed, highlight the research gaps in this field, and suggest future research directions. Based on the reviewed research, energy efficiency and economic viability were found to be a major bottleneck of current systems. Moreover, inconsistencies in sensor selection, lack of publicly available data, and the reproducibility of existing work were common issues among the studies.

El impacto positivo de los Sistemas Integrados Agro-acuícolas en el Objetivo para el Desarrollo Sostenible 6- Agua limpia y Saneamiento

The current state of the 9 planetary boundaries coupled with the growth rate of the world population has alerted us to reconsider how resources are used to meet food demand through sustainable agro-industrial systems. With only 0.01% of the world's total volume, freshwater plays a fundamental role in the stability and functioning of any biosystem. The inadequate handling of this extremely valuable resource has caused its operating space to be on the threshold of safety and is about to enter the zone of uncertainty. The actions presented by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are a strategy to reduce and correct some of these interrelated problems. Objective 6 of this document - Clean Water and Sanitation - seeks to guarantee the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, however, this has not yet been fulfilled. Therefore, it is essential to continue exhausting proposals for possible solutions to these issues. Aquaponics, a sustainable food production system, is based on the upcycling of water, the reuse of nutrients, and the reduction of wastewater in an organic sense. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to analyze the benefits that can be obtained from the use of aquaponic systems to partially accelerate the fulfillment of objectives 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, and 6.a in improving water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating landfills, and minimizing the release of harmful products, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse.

Agriculture land use transformation: A threat to sustainable food production systems, rural food security, and farmer well-being?

The acquisition of agricultural land is a crucial aspect of survival for numerous rural communities, serving as a fundamental tool for combating poverty and food insecurity and promoting equitable sustainable economic progress. The expropriation of land offers a promising prospect for remedying past inequities and promoting both economic progress and food sufficiency. Limited research has examined the association between land expropriation and food security, livelihood shocks, and the well-being of rural households worldwide. Therefore, this research explores the implications of land expropriation on food security, livelihood shocks, and well-being of land lost rural communities. The data were collected from 384 farmers selected through stratified sampling techniques using face-to-face surveys in rural China. The data were analyzed using descriptive and logit regression models. The descriptive findings showed that land expropriation has detrimental effects on the livelihood, food security, and well-being of the farmers. Furthermore, these impacts are more harmful among land-expropriated households with a lower educational level, a large family size, and women farmers in less developed rural communities. The econometric results evinced that gender, age, education level, marital status, family size, and negative changes in income all significantly affect the impact of land expropriation on the food security of farmers. Similarly, the findings revealed that farmers with lower education levels were more likely to be affected by land loss as compared to farmers with medium and high education levels. Farmers with complete land loss were 1.70 times more likely to suffer livelihood shocks than those with partial land loss. The results also evinced that the well-being of all farmers was not affected equally, and some farmers' well-being was affected more than others due to various socioeconomic backgrounds. Therefore, this study suggests the implementation of public policies that provide support to farmers who have been marginalized due to land acquisition.

Biostimulants towards sustainable food production

Biostimulants towards sustainable food production Cristina Cruz and Teresa Dias from Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, focus on biostimulants, which are more than a product, but a significant change towards sustainable food production systems.

Perspectives on sustainable food production system: Characteristics and green technologies

Sustainable food production covers a wide range of perspectives and embraces issues relating to environment, economy and society. Sustainability of food production systems faces challenges ranging from environmental degradation, resource competition to elevated food demands and integration of agriculture into the global economy. Considering its far-reaching socio-economic implications, this review first provides an overview of key characteristics that distinguish sustainable food production from conventional agricultural practices. In addition, emerging green technologies in promoting sustainable food production are summarized. Among those modern techniques, urban agriculture, next-generation plant-based foods and food nanotechnology are discussed in detail. Finally, futuristic solutions and research work are proposed to provide guidance for designing sustainable Agri-Food system.

Effects of altered gravity on growth and morphology in Wolffia globosa implications for bioregenerative life support systems and space-based agriculture

Understanding the response of plants to varied gravitational conditions is vital for developing effective food production in space bioregenerative life support systems. This study examines the impact of altered gravity conditions on the growth and morphological responses of Wolffia globosa (commonly known as “water lentils” or “duckweed”), assessing its potential as a space crop. Although an experiment testing the effect of simulated microgravity on Wolffia globosa has been previously conducted, for the first time, we investigated the effect of multiple gravity levels on the growth and morphological traits of Wolffia globosa plants. The plant responses to simulated microgravity, simulated partial gravity (Moon), and hypergravity environments were evaluated using random positioning machines and the large-diameter centrifuge. As hypothesized, we observed a slight reaction to different gravitational levels in the growth and morphological traits of Wolffia globosa. The relative growth rates (RGR) of plants subjected to simulated microgravity and partial gravity were reduced when compared to those in other gravity levels. The morphological analysis revealed differences in plant dimensions and frond length-to-width ratios under diverse gravity conditions. Our findings showed that Wolffia globosa is responsive to gravitational changes, with its growth and morphological adaptations being slightly influenced by varying gravitational environments. As for other crop species, growth was reduced by the microgravity conditions; however, RGR remained substantial at 0.33 a day. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential of Wolffia globosa as a space crop and its adaptability to diverse gravitational conditions, contributing to the development of sustainable food production and bioregenerative life support systems for future space exploration missions.

Plant Tissue Culture: Industrial Relevance and Future Directions.

Plant tissue culture has evolved in the last decades with several types of cultures being developed to promote a more sustainable food production system. Moreover, these cultures can be applied for the production of relevant metabolites with medicinal potential, thus contributing to nutrition and healthcare. Importantly, plant micropropagation has enabled agricultural expansion and tissue culture has emerged as a promising production alternative for several plants and their metabolites in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Plant tissue cultures present several advantages over conventional propagation techniques as they are season independent, enabling a continuous supply of the plants/compounds of interest, with the guarantee of high phytosanitary quality. In addition, genetic uniformity is generally maintained, thus reducing chemical variability that can compromise safety and efficacy. Nevertheless, despite their undeniable potential, with many researchers focusing on new strategies to improve production yield in cell cultures, such as with the use of elicitors or resorting to metabolomics engineering, an effective and lucrative large-scale production has yet to be obtained. Indeed, only a few compounds with market value are produced in this regard and several limitations such as contaminations, low culture yield and production costs still need to be overcome in order to take advantage of the full potential of these techniques.

Epistemicide in The Indonesian Food Estate Project in a Critical Approach of Boaventura de Sousa Santos

Food is one of the basic human needs that must be met. Historically, food security has become a dominant topic in the public policies of various countries. Food security is defined as the availability of food and the ability of individuals to afford adequate foodstuffs. To achieve food security, it is necessary to develop a modern food production system, hence, the Indonesian government started a food estate program to achieve national food security. The food estate project is projected to convert potential land into agricultural land which will create food availability for the community. However, the food estate project has not been able to fulfil the promised yields. The food estate project ignores the participation of the local community which has long had a traditional food production system. The development of a food estate project that ignores the role of the community ultimately displaces local wisdom and replaces it with a modern food production system. The development of food estate projects that trigger deforestation and rely on monoculture farming also hurts land fertility; this approach is contrary to local wisdom which prioritises sustainability principles. This condition can result in epistemicide, the systematic murder of local knowledge which will have an impact on local community livelihood. This situation will result in the food estate project perpetuating a food production system dominated by Western knowledge and eliminating the local community’s sustainable food production system. Thus, epistemicide in a food estate project will create a situation where food availability and food affordability cannot be achieved. This research describes how epistemicide appears in Indonesian food estate projects. This research is philosophical research on actual problems that aims to present criticism of Boaventura de Sousa Santos’ epistemicide theory for Indonesian food estate projects. 

Understanding the Potential to Increase Adoption of Orphan Crops: The Case of Lathyrus spp. Cultivation in Greece

Little progress has been made in translating the increased awareness of neglected and underutilized crops into a viable tool for advancing not just sustainable development in rural areas but also sustainable agricultural and secured food systems. This is caused, in part, by a lack of understanding the importance of several underutilized crops that are currently in cultivation. Among underutilized crops, grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) is an orphan legume crop with great agronomic potential due to its suitability for a variety of sustainable food and feed production systems throughout the world’s semi-arid and arid regions and its high protein content. The current study presents a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to unravel the following: What are the strengths and weaknesses of Lathyrus spp. cultivation, what factors are opportunities or initiatives that encourage the adoption of the crop by growers, and what factors are disincentives or threats that prevent its adoption? What strategies could help expand cultivation? We use data from a questionnaire survey of farmers in Central Greece (Thessaly) to examine their attitudes and perceptions with regards to the above questions. The outcome of this study strongly suggests that farmers are willing to adopt the new Lathyrus spp. cultivation if they are assisted via contractualization, training, and new financial tools.