Sustainable Production Research Articles

The Importance of Salicylic Acid, Humic Acid and Fulvic Acid on Crop Production

Abstract: Biostimulants are one of the most important substancesfor improving productivity, growth and yield of plants as well as heavy metal detoxification, and stimulating natural toxins, controlling pests and diseases and boosting both water and nutrient efficiency. Google Scholar, Science Direct, CAB Direct, Springer Link, Scopus, Web of Science, Taylor and Francis, and Wiley Online Library have been checked. The search was done to all manuscript sections according to the terms "Salicylic acid," "Humic acid," "Fulvic acid," "Biostimulants" and "Plant growth promotion." On the basis of the initial check, Titles and Abstracts were screened on the basis of online literature, and then articles were read carefully. Salicylic acid may have important roles in abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, cold, heavy metal and heat stresses, and it has been considered an important environmentally-sound agent with tremendous economical benefits and rapid responses. The positive effects of the application of salicylic acid have been reported in crops such as ajwain, alfalfa, anthurium, artemisia, artichoke, barley, bean, black mustard, broad bean, chickpea, chicory, canola, coriander, corn, cotton, cucumber, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, goji, longan, milk thistle, millet, onion, pea, pepper, pistachio, radish, rice, rosemary, rye, safflower, saffron, savory, sorghum, soybean, spinach, strawberry, sugar beet, tomato, wheat, etc. Humic acid can improve and stimulate plant growth and yield, suppress diseases and promote more resistance to stresses. Fulvic acid can increase root system and promote seed germination, growth rate and final yield. The present manuscript highlights the most important impacts of salicylic acid, humic acid, and fulvic acid ,emphasizing their roles in modern sustainable crop production.

Layered deposited MoS2 nanosheets on acorn leaf like CdS as an efficient anti-photocorrosion photocatalyst for hydrogen production

Photocatalytic hydrogen production through water splitting is an appealing technology to alleviate the escalating fossil fuel energy crisis. The advancement of visible-light-driven hydrogen production systems is a crucial aspect of hydrogen research. In this study, we successfully synthesized a unique acorn leaf-like CdS/MoS2 material via a hydrothermal method, with layered deposited MoS2 nanosheets, for driving hydrogen generation under illumination. By systematically varying the sodium molybdate concentration, We looked into how the MoS2 affected the optical properties and photocatalytic performance of the acorn-leaf-like CdS/MoS2.Under illumination, the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of the acorn leaf-like CdS/MoS2 reached 70.05 mmol·g−1·h−1 (at a catalyst dosage of 10 mg), which is approximately 330 times higher than the unmodified CdS original material. It was determined that the apparent quantum yield at 450 nm was 2.104 %, corresponding to a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 9.383 %. Mechanistic investigations revealed that MoS2 nanosheets function as co-catalysts and electron acceptors, effectively promoting electron transfer and the separation of photogenerated charge carriers from CdS, thereby consequently enhancing the kinetics of surface hydrogen evolution. This work offers valuable insights into the development of efficient photocatalysts with anti-photocorrosion properties for sustainable hydrogen production.

The Role of Consumers’ Knowledge of Native and Pollinator-friendly Plants and Their Prioritization of Plant Characteristics in Purchase Decisions

There is a growing trend toward planting native and pollinator-friendly plants in residential gardens and landscapes due to concerns about invasive plant species, water conservation, and urban land management. Yet, understanding consumer purchase behavior and how knowledge affects their purchase intent is largely unknown. In this analysis, we integrated national online and in-person surveys to determine the influence of consumers’ subjective and objective knowledge of native and pollinator-friendly ornamental plants on their purchase decisions. Factors influencing plant purchase decisions were measured using a 7-point Likert rating scale. We found that participants with relatively higher knowledge of native and pollinator-attractive plants placed more emphasis on sustainable production methods relative to the plant’s physical attributes (e.g., plant size, shape, etc.) and care-related characteristics (e.g., plant health, easiness of care, etc.). Plant lovers (i.e., frequent purchasers who spent relatively more money on plants than infrequent purchasers) were more likely to prioritize sustainable production methods over the plants’ physical attributes. In contrast, participants primarily buying plants from mass merchandisers/box stores tend to focus on visual appeal or aesthetic characteristics. Consumer marketing implications for the nursery and greenhouse industry stakeholders are discussed.

Use of acetate as substrate for sustainable production of homoserine and threonine by Escherichia coli W3110: a modular metabolic engineering approach

Acetate, a promising yet underutilized carbon source for biological production, was explored for the efficient production of homoserine and threonine in Escherichia coli W. A modular metabolic engineering approach revealed the crucial roles of both acetate assimilation pathways (AckA/Pta and Acs), optimized TCA cycle flux and glyoxylate shunt activity, and enhanced CoA availability, mediated by increased pantothenate kinase activity, for efficient homoserine production. The engineered strain W-H22/pM2/pR1P exhibited a high acetate assimilation rate (5.47 mmol/g cell/h) and produced 44.1 g/L homoserine in 52 h with a 53% theoretical yield (0.18 mol/mol) in fed-batch fermentation. Similarly, strain W-H31/pM2/pR1P achieved 45.8 g/L threonine in 52 h with a 65% yield (0.22 mol/mol). These results represent the highest reported levels of amino acid production using acetate, highlighting its potential as a valuable and sustainable feedstock for biomanufacturing.

Explanatory Model for the Estimation of the Minimum Monoculture Planted Area for Coffee that would allow reaching a Living Income

This study's objective was the construction of an explicative model to determine the minimum area necessary to be planted in coffee, to afford a living income, on monoculture coffee farms. In the sustainable coffee production scenario, the annual net income of families is evaluated in function of the achievement of a decent standard of living for all of its members. The metric which makes this possible is called living income. Unfortunately, among small coffee farmers, there is a large gap between real net income and living income, which is a multidimensional phenomenon, affected by exogenous, difficult-to-control factors, such as area cultivated in coffee and its sale price, in addition to variables derived from productive models employed, such as productivity, costs, and farm food production. Due to it being a multifactorial phenomenon, data mining algorithms were applied (decision tree and random forest), in order to classify those farms that would close the gap between net and living income. Model iterations were performed on a dataset that gathered historical production cost, income, and cultivated area information from farms located in four Colombian departments. It was concluded that the variables which explain the gap in a monoculture coffee system are as follows: Area planted in coffee, productivity, and sale price.

Pre-harvest treatments: A different insight into preservation of strawberries

Strawberry is one of the most favored consumed fresh fruits worldwide. However, the major constraint limiting future sustainable production and sales of strawberries is post-harvest decay. Thus, taking a deep look into the effective preservation measures including pre- and post-harvest techniques to retain freshness and inhibit the pathological spoilage of strawberries in the supply chain is of great significance and necessity. At present, relying solely on post-harvest technology is not enough to fix the aim of strawberry fruit preservation and longer shelf life. On the contrary, pre-harvest treatments could be extend shelf life of strawberry fruit and adapt to the diverse post-harvest environments. This review give the latest pre-harvest treatments, their effects on post-harvest quality and storability of strawberries, and develop the expectation of strawberries pre-harvest methods applicated in the future.

Enablers for green lean six sigma adoption in the manufacturing industry

PurposeThe objective of this article is to identify the relationships between the enablers in the implementation of Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) in the Mexican manufacturing industry (MMI).Design/methodology/approachTo create the survey instrument, the authors did an extensive literature research, which they then applied in the MMI to find the relationships between enablers and their impact on the positive effects of implementing GLSS projects. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA), the data were empirically and statistically corroborated. Furthermore, the authors validated the hypotheses that support the research using the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach in SPSS Amos.FindingsThe findings reveal that leadership has a positive impact on social and economic benefits (EcB), as well as an indirect impact on the environmental benefits (EB) of GLSS projects, with organizational involvement (OI) and performance measurement (PM) functioning as mediators.Practical implicationsThis study represents an empirical reference for practitioners and researchers pursuing high-quality, low-cost, environmentally and socially sustainable products or processes through the implementation of GLSS projects in the manufacturing industry.Originality/valueThis study provides a statistically validated model using the SEM technique to represent the relationships between GLSS enablers in the MMI.

Natural biosynthesis, pharmacological applications, and sustainable biotechnological production of ornamental plant-derived anthocyanin: beyond colorants and aesthetics

Natural biosynthesis, pharmacological applications, and sustainable biotechnological production of ornamental plant-derived anthocyanin: beyond colorants and aesthetics

Cleaner anaerobic fermentation and greenhouse gas reduction of crop straw.

Rice anaerobic fermentation is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and in order to efficiently utilize crop residue resources to reduce GHG emissions, rice straw anaerobic fermentation was regulated using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculants (FG1 and TH14), grass medium (GM) to culture LAB, and Acremonim cellulolyticus (AC). Microbial community, GHG emission, dry matter (DM) loss, and anaerobic fermentation were analyzed using PacBio single-molecule real-time and anaerobic fermentation system. The epiphytic microbial diversity of fresh rice straw was extremely rich and contained certain nutrients and minerals. During ensiling, large amounts of GHG such as carbon dioxide are produced due to plant respiration, enzymatic hydrolysis reactions, and proliferation of aerobic bacteria, resulting in energy and DM loss. Addition of FG1, TH14, and AC alone improved anaerobic fermentation by decreasing pH and ammonia nitrogen content (P < 0.05) and increased lactic acid content (P < 0.05) when compared to the control, and GM showed the same additive effect as LAB inoculants. Microbial additives formed a co-occurrence microbial network system dominated by LAB, enhanced the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, diversified the microbial metabolic environment and carbohydrate metabolic pathways, weakened the amino acid metabolic pathways, and made the anaerobic fermentation cleaner. This study is of great significance for the effective utilization of crop straw resources, the promotion of sustainable livestock production, and the reduction of GHG emissions.IMPORTANCETo effectively utilize crop by-product resources, we applied microbial additives to silage fermentation of fresh rice straw. Fresh rice straw is extremely rich in microbial diversity, which was significantly reduced after silage fermentation, and its nutrients were well preserved. Silage fermentation was improved by microbial additives, where the combination of cellulase and lactic acid bacteria acted as enzyme-bacteria synergists to promote lactic acid fermentation and inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria, such as protein degradation and gas production, thereby reducing GHG emissions and DM losses. The microbial additives accelerated the formation of a symbiotic microbial network system dominated by lactic acid bacteria, which regulated silage fermentation and improved microbial metabolic pathways for carbohydrates and amino acids, as well as biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.

Enhanced IL-12 transgene expression improves oncolytic viroimmunotherapy.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive sarcomas with unacceptably low cure rates occurring often in patients with neurofibromatosis 1 defects. To investigate oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus (oHSV) as an immunotherapeutic approach, we compared viral replication, functional activity, and immune response between unarmed and interleukin 12 (IL-12)-armed oncolytic viruses in virus-permissive (B109) and -resistant (67C-4) murine MPNSTs. This study compared two attenuated IL-12-oHSVs with γ134.5 gene deletions (Δγ134.5) and the same transgene expression cassette. The primary difference in the IL-12-oHSVs was in their ability to counter the translational arrest response in infected cells. Unlike M002 (Δγ134.5, mIL-12), C002 (Δγ134.5, mIL-12, IRS1) expresses an HCMV IRS1 gene and evades dsRNA activated translational arrest in infected cells. Our results show that oHSV replication and gene expression results in vitro were not predictive of oHSV direct oncolytic activity in vivo. Tumors that supported viral replication in cell culture studies resisted viral replication by both oHSVs and restricted M002 transgene expression in vivo. Furthermore, two IL-12-oHSVs with equivalent transcriptional activity differed in IL-12 protein production in vivo, and the differences in IL-12 protein levels were reflected in immune infiltrate activity changes as well as tumor growth suppression differences between the IL-12-oHSVs. C002-treated tumors exhibited sustained IL-12 production with improved dendritic cells, monocyte-macrophage activity (MHCII, CD80/CD86 upregulation) and a polyfunctional Th1-cell response in the tumor infiltrates. These results suggest that transgene protein production differences between oHSVs in vivo, in addition to replication differences, can impact OV-therapeutic activity.

Agricultural waste-based modified biochars differentially affected the soil properties, growth, and nutrient accumulation by maize (Zea mays L.) plants

Biochar (BC) is an organic compound formed by the pyrolysis of organic wastes. Application of BCs as soil amendments has many benefits including carbon sequestration, enhanced soil fertility and sustainable agriculture production. In the present study, we acidified the different BCs prepared from rice straw, rice husk, wheat straw, cotton stalk, poultry manure, sugarcane press mud and vegetable waste; following which, we applied them in a series of pot experiments. Comparisons were made between acidified and non- acidified BCs for their effects on seed germination, soil properties (EC, pH) nutrient contents (P, K, Na) and organic matter. The treatments comprised of a control, and all above-described BCs (acidified as well as non-acidified) applied to soil at the rate of 1% (w/w). The maize crop was selected as a test crop. The results showed that acidified poultry manure BC significantly improved germination percentage, shoot length, and biomass of maize seedlings as compared to other BCs and their respective control plants. However, acidified BCs caused a significant decrease in nutrient contents (P, K, Na) of soil,maize seedlings, and the soil organic matter contents as compared to non- acidified BCs. But when compared with control treatments, all BCs treatments (acidified and non-acidified) delivered higher levels of nutrients and organic matter contents. It was concluded that none of the BCs (acidified and non-acidified) had caused negative effect on soil conditions and growth of maize. In addition, the acidification of BC prior to its application to alkaline soils might had altered soil chemistry and delivered better maize growth. Moving forward, more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of modified BCs on nutrient dynamics in different soils. In addition, the possible effects of BC application timings, application rates, particle size, and crop species have to be evaluated systemtically.

The Selection of Biogas Plants in the Indian Context Based on Performability—An Analytic Hierarchy Process and Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment Approach

The purpose of this research paper is to present a framework for selecting a biogas plant for the Indian rural community, considering performability factors such as reliability, quality, maintainability, safety, and sustainability. This will ensure that the plant operates reliably, efficiently, and safely over its entire life cycle and can play a significant role as a decision-support tool for decision-makers (e.g., managers, engineers, stakeholders). The proposed framework integrates the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) to optimally evaluate and prioritize the best alternative based on performability factors. The findings show that the suitable biogas plant in the context of the Indian rural population is a fixed-dome-type plant. The decision-making process in selecting the best biogas plant can be effectively aided by using this suggested tool. Currently, there are no proper tools or methods for selecting biogas plants for rural areas due to a lack of data or relevant literature on operational issues. The proposed method uses performability factors for the selection, which has not been researched so far. Moreover, the AHP–WASPAS approach offers a robust method for selecting biogas plants, ensuring efficient and sustainable energy production. The proposed method will help policymakers and stakeholders to choose the best biogas plant in the context of Indian rural application.

Assessment of Plant Growth Promotion Potential of Endophytic Bacterium B. subtilis KU21 Isolated from Rosmarinus officinalis.

The current study aimed to evaluate the plant growth-promoting (PGP) potential of endophytic strain Bacillus subtilis KU21 isolated from the roots of Rosmarinus officinalis. The strain exhibited multiple traits of plant growth promotion viz., phosphate (P) solubilization, nitrogen fixation, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), lytic enzymes production, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. The isolate also exhibited antagonistic activity against phytopathogenic fungi, i.e., Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium graminiarum, and Rhizoctonia solani. The P-solubilization activity of B. subtilis KU21 was further elucidated via detection of glucose dehydrogenase (gdh) gene involved in the production of gluconic acid which is responsible for P-solubilization. Further, B. subtilis KU21 was evaluated for in vivo growth promotion studies of tomato (test crop) under net house conditions. A remarkable increase in seed germination, plant growth parameters, nutrient acquisition, and soil quality parameters (NPK) was observed in B. subtilis KU21-treated plants over untreated control. Hence, the proposed module could be recommended for sustainable tomato production in the Northwest Himalayan region without compromising soil health and fertility.

Economic efficiency of small-scale wheat production in Jigawa state, Nigeria

Africa’s most populous country has failed to grow more food for its fast-rising population. With 420,000 metric tons of wheat produced in Nigeria in 2020, the country is still far from bridging its 4.6 million metric tons annual wheat gap. Increasing wheat production is a challenge for the nation to fulfill the food requirements of its growing population. So far literature has shown a rise in research on wheat in different parts of Nigeria, with a paucity of information on the economic efficiency of wheat production in the study area, and the country in general. To bridge these knowledge and empirical gaps, this research investigates the economic efficiency of wheat production in Jigawa State of Nigeria using information gathered from a survey elicited by a well-structured questionnaire coupled with an interview schedule from 341 active wheat farmers selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Empirically, despite the wheat enterprise being profitable in the study area, farmers didn’t achieve the targeted goals of output maximization, cost minimization, and profit maximization as evident respectively by the technical, cost, and economic efficiency indexes. However, these goals were challenged by induced human risks viz. gender discrimination that affects women’s access to productive resources, poor labor productivity due to diminishing marginal returns associated with old age, capital consumption triggered by increased income, poor prioritization of wheat enterprise as a business, and vulnerable household size. Furthermore, the identified constraints mediating the links that affected the economic efficiency of wheat farmers were price/marketing, technological, managerial, and infrastructural risks. Therefore, for long-run sustainable wheat production, the responsibility lies on policymakers to concentrate more on marketing and technological risks challenging wheat production in the study area as empirically established by this research.

FOSTERING A LINK BETWEEN CREATIVITY AND CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE: ESSENTIAL FACTORS FOR ADVANCING INNOVATIONS IN FOOD INDUSTRY

This research aims to explore the acceptance of unconventional food products that convey creative solutions for sustainable food production and consumption. This paper presents the first stage results of an extensive Baltic Sea region’s population survey organized to understand how innovative food products’ creators could better enhance the link between sustainable products and different segments’ customer acceptance. In scope of this study, the authors focused on youth market segments, who are known for their adventurous and experimental eating habits. The authors hypothesized that products that have been created to comply with socially responsible and sustainable food products’ requirements face resistance from the youth who do not view them as superior to conventional ones. The cross-sectional study utilized mixed-method methodology, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, including a literature review, in-depth focus group interviews, and comparative analysis using normal distribution assessment and sentiment classification. The research findings indicate that while the youth acknowledge the social and environmental benefits of innovative food products, they remain hesitant to adopt them personally. Therefore, it is vital for innovative food creators to understand the biases and behaviors of young consumers, ensuring transparency about product contents, motivating them to embrace new consumption models, try unconventional foods, and highlight the personal and societal advantages of purchasing these items.

Greening Emerging Economies: Enhancing Environmental, Social, and Governance Performance through Environmental Management Accounting and Green Financing

Given the rising interest in sustainability globally, this paper investigates whether the environmental management accounting (EMA) and green financing of a firm are associated with superior environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, considering manufacturing firms from emerging economies like Bangladesh to address a gap in relevant research. Drawing on the perspective of contingency theory, this study is one of the first to analyze how EMA and green financing enable sustainable production to enhance ESG performance, as well as the mediation that sustainable production exerts on this relationship. This study entails an analysis of ESG performance in sensitive industries, i.e., those that are more likely to cause social and environmental damage. To test our hypotheses, we applied partial least squares path modeling to analyze data from 467 responses. Further, we used fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to check the robustness. The results suggest that sensitive industries present superior ESG performance through integrating EMA and green financing. Further, empirical evidence demonstrates that sustainable production fully mediates the relationship between EMA and ESG performance. Meanwhile, sustainable production does not moderate green financing and ESG performance. For managers, this study demonstrates how embedding green financing and EMA into the organizational process for transitioning to a sustainable production model can present superior ESG performance. Our study contributes to research on both the impact of EMA and green financing on ESG performance, mediation effects of sustainable production, and integrated analysis using PLS-SEM and fsQCA, and the practice of sustainability management in firms in developing countries.

Seaweed Extract for Sustainable Rice Production- A Review

Seaweed extract is a bio-simulant that obtain from seaweeds like Agar, and Alginate and many more species of seaweed. By application of seaweed extract in rice crop (Oryza sativa L.) can increase the growth, grain yield, biological yield and improves the nutrient content in grain. Seaweed extract application also reduces the biotic and abiotic stress on crops. This seaweed extract can be applied in many ways to crop plants like foliar spray, soil incorporation, etc., based on crop type. It can impact the cellular respiration of plants and incorporates many enzymes like NAA, auxins, vitamins, cytokinin’s and many other growths promoting hormones in plants. This extract also has growth stimulating properties. It can increase nutrient absorption capacity by increasing root growth. Most of the marine algae are rich in auxins that increase root growth. The application of seaweed extract in soil can improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. It can improve Arbuscular mycorrhiza by providing potassium to plant. Application of seaweed extract to soil can improve the availability of nutrients like calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. Moreover, foliar spray of seaweed extract in rice crop increases crop growth, yield, nutrient uptake, water uptake, increases photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance. So, seaweed extract incorporation in rice cultivation could be a better approach to gain long-term sustainable production.

Circumventing bottlenecks in H2O2 photosynthesis over carbon nitride with iodine redox chemistry and electric field effects

Artificial photosynthesis using carbon nitride (g-C3N4) holds a great promise for sustainable and cost-effective H2O2 production, but the high carrier recombination rate impedes its efficiency. To tackle this challenge, we propose an innovative method involving multispecies iodine mediators (I−/I3−) intercalation through a pre-photo-oxidation process using potassium iodide (suspected deteriorated “KI”) within the g-C3N4 framework. Moreover, we introduce an external electric field by incorporating cationic methyl viologen ions to establish an auxiliary electron transfer channel. Such a unique design drastically improves the separation of photo-generated carriers, achieving an impressive H2O2 production rate of 46.40 mmol g−1 h−1 under visible light irradiation, surpassing the most visible-light H2O2-producing systems. Combining various advanced characterization techniques elucidates the inner photocatalytic mechanism, and the application potential of this photocatalytic system is validated with various simulation scenarios. This work presents a significative strategy for preparing and applying highly efficient g-C3N4-based catalysts in photochemical H2O2 production.

Deep Learning Based Barley Disease Quantification for Sustainable Crop Production.

Net blotch disease caused by Drechslera teres is a major fungal disease that affects barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants and can result in significant crop losses. In this study, we developed a deep-learning model to quantify net blotch disease symptoms on different days post-infection on seedling leaves using Cascade R-CNN (Region-Based Convolutional Neural Networks) and U-Net (a convolutional neural network) architectures. We used a dataset of barley leaf images with annotations of net blotch disease to train and evaluate the model. The model achieved an accuracy of 95% for cascade R-CNN in net blotch disease detection and a Jaccard index score of 0.99, indicating high accuracy in disease quantification and location. The combination of Cascade R-CNN and U-Net architectures improved the detection of small and irregularly shaped lesions in the images at 4-days post infection, leading to better disease quantification. To validate the model developed, we compared the results obtained by automated measurement with a classical method (necrosis diameter measurement) and a pathogen detection by real-time PCR. The proposed deep learning model could be used in automated systems for disease quantification and to screen the efficacy of potential biocontrol agents to protect against disease.

Fire4CAST – a new integrative epidemiological forecasting model for the accurate prediction of infection risk and effective control of fire blight in Pyrus orchards

AbstractFire blight disease, caused by Erwinia amylovora is present worldwide and affects over 40 countries in Europe where it is listed as a quarantine or regulated pest often due to ineffective control strategies maladapted to the respective production systems. In Portugal, the disease was confirmed in 2010 and the occurrence of disease outbreaks in new production areas has risen over the years. The disease affects the national production of apple and pear fruits, with greater impact on the national pear variety ‘Rocha’, widely exported to European countries and Brazil. The mild temperatures and high relative humidity promote the progression of the disease during winter, revealing the potential activity of the bacterium in the latency period (LP) of the host. Infection alert risk using the established predictive models Maryblight TM, Cougarblight and BIS98 was put in place in 2013 by Centro Operativo e Tecnológico Hortofrutícola Nacional (COTHN). These attempts to control the spread of this disease, showed low accuracy for the Portuguese epidemiological reality. Within the framework of project Fire4CAST we developed a new epidemiological model to predict fire blight disease using a systems biology approach integrating microbiological, cytological and genomic pathogen data with phenological host development and climatic variables. The presence of E. amylovora was monitored in orchards with fire blight history using standard laboratory tests. Simultaneously, the implementation of immune-flow cytometry (IFCM) highlighted the viability of E. amylovora populations prevailing during winter and early spring, long before bloom risk period. The integration of the whole data set allowed the development of the Fire4CAST predictive model, able to monitor the expected infection date (EID) and to define accurate outbreak alarms. Fire4CAST model enabled the detection of outbreak risk during winter based on rules that consider climatic data variables, which were validated by effective presence of live and active E. amylovora populations and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) data, accomplishing a precision rate of 83%. Field application of Fire4CAST can hopefully guide the implementation of successful control strategies, leading to more sustainable pome chain production areas.