Search Results (2,491)

Genetic resources of small ruminants are essential for food security in arid regions; however, basic data for each breed in Saudi Arabia remain incomplete. This study establishes a comprehensive national database through a systematic survey of 104 farms, covering 21,214 heads of livestock (sheep and goats) across the kingdom’s primary agro-ecological zones between January and October 2025. Although national census data indicate that major breeds of sheep such as Naeemi, Najdi, Arabi, and Harri or goats such as Ardi exceed the FAO’s numerical thresholds for “not at risk,” our analysis reveals a fundamental paradox of “genetic vulnerability,” defined as a high risk of inbreeding depression and genetic stagnation despite high census numbers. The results show significant regional variations in prolificacy (p < 0.05), with the southern region displaying a substantial productivity gap compared to the central and eastern regions, mainly due to reliance on traditional grazing (46.7%) and limited infrastructure. This vulnerability is driven by a high risk of systematic inbreeding, with 65.7% of breeders acquiring sires from their own herds, a situation worsened by a severe 80% shortage of high-quality breeding males in the central region. Furthermore, selection criteria heavily emphasize esthetic phenotypic traits (over 80%) rather than production indicators (less than 8%), hindering genetic progress. Correlation analysis showed that higher farmer education levels were negatively associated with reproductive challenges (r = −0.216), while high feed prices remained a near-universal obstacle (97.1%). To mitigate these risks, we recommend implementing region-specific sire exchange programs to break closed breeding loops and establishing a national performance recording system to shift selection focus from phenotypic traits to measurable productivity. This study provides a vital, evidence-based framework for transitioning toward data-driven, resilient conservation and breeding strategies. Full article

This review outlines the health risks associated with excessive dietary intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, LA), which is highly prevalent in the Western diet. It proposes a targeted nutritional strategy to reduce n-6 PUFA overconsumption and increase n-3 PUFA intake, aiming to restore a healthier fatty acid balance and counteract imbalance-induced pathogenetic consequences. The conceptual framework builds on the foundational insights of William E. M. Lands regarding PUFA-driven eicosanoid imbalance. It extends these principles by integrating contemporary models of impaired adipose tissue expandability, functional lipodystrophy, insulin resistance, and ectopic lipid deposition as central mechanisms of lipotoxicity and as unifying drivers of the modern organo-metabolic spectrum of non-communicable diseases. The proposed nutritional strategy combines dietary modifications—such as avoiding seed oils and processed foods as well as products from industrialized animal farming, while prioritizing fatty fish and/or algae-derived supplements—with lifestyle interventions and ongoing laboratory monitoring. This approach is designed to lower chronic disease risk and improve overall metabolic resilience. In addition, Western-diet-related socioeconomic issues and ecological burdens are addressed. The objective of this review is to evaluate the biochemical and clinical relevance of HUFA imbalance and to assess the potential of dietary modulation of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs as a strategy to restore metabolic homeostasis. However, further research is required to corroborate the available findings before broader implementation of the proposed strategy can be recommended. Full article

The exceptional longevity of bats challenges classical theories of inflammaging and suggests an alternative that improved resilience in responding to pathogens and cellular damage can increase longevity. Accordingly, we have developed the Core Longevity State Vector (CLSV-6) to characterize an expanded explanation for inflammaging that can be predictive of successful aging and used to develop potential strategies for successful aging. Despite high metabolic rates and persistent viral exposure, many bat species have much longer lifespans than would be predicted for mammals of their size. The increased longevity of many bat species is achieved through damage tolerance, regulated inflammasome activity, constitutive basal antiviral defenses, enhanced autophagy–mitophagy, and efficient resolution of inflammation, rather than through heightened inflammatory immunity. The CLSV-6 is introduced as a multidimensional immunotype framework integrating six conserved mechanisms that link bat immunity to bat longevity and to human healthy aging: (1) damage tolerance, (2) autophagy–mitophagy, (3) proteostasis (management of degraded proteins), (4) basal immune readiness without activation, (5) inflammasome regulation, and (6) inflammatory resolution capacity. Together, these mechanisms enable a robust antiviral defense when needed without chronic inflammation. Notably, centenarians converge toward this bat-like configuration. Studies suggest that centenarians often preserve more functional NK cells, better macrophage regulation, and improved anti-inflammatory control, with both bats and humans exhibiting reduced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, resulting in greater immune resilience. Building on this framework, functional foods—including polyphenols, fermented foods, and herbal extracts—are proposed as practical strategies to shift human immunity toward bat-like, CLSV-6 immunotype by enhancing cellular quality control, regulating inflammasome activity, strengthening basal antiviral readiness, and supporting inflammatory resolution, thereby redirecting longevity strategies from immune stimulation toward damage containment and repair. This review reframes longevity as an emergent property of integrated immune damage management and provides a mechanistic roadmap for nutritional interventions to engineer healthier human aging inspired by bat immunity. Full article

The decoupling of physical loading configurations from dynamic temperature control in cold-chain logistics exposes supply chains to severe thermal compliance risks and exponential cost penalties. To address this structural gap, this study formulated the Cold Chain Unitization Loading Optimization Problem (CCULP). We propose a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model that integrates continuous-time heat-transfer dynamics—including door-opening impulse disturbances—and Q10-driven quality-decay kinetics as endogenous constraints within the hierarchical assignment of perishable goods to insulated containers, pallets, and vehicles. By treating container thermal resistance as a core decision variable, the model operationalizes a “prevention-first” economic strategy. To solve this NP-hard problem, we developed a Temperature-Aware Heuristic Algorithm (TAHA) that embeds a forward-Euler temperature simulation loop directly into the combinatorial search. Computational experiments on instances up to 100 SKU types demonstrate that TAHA achieves near-optimal solutions (within 0.7% of the MILP proven optimum) while converging 63 times faster than a genetic algorithm benchmark. Moreover, compared with traditional geometry-centric heuristics, TAHA’s proactive container-polarization strategy effectively eliminates the “penalty cliff,” yielding up to a 25.9% reduction in total system cost on Large-scale instances, almost entirely attributable to the elimination of temperature-violation penalties. Sensitivity analyses further confirm TAHA’s robustness under extreme environmental stress (e.g., 40 °C ambient temperatures) and frequent logistical disturbances, offering an integrated framework for proactive risk mitigation and for reducing food loss in sustainable temperature-controlled distribution. Full article

Grain production resilience forms a critical foundation for national food security, and the ongoing development of land transfer provides essential momentum for establishing a more resilient grain production system. Using panel data from 30 provincial-level regions from 2013 to 2024, this study constructs a multi-dimensional evaluation system for grain production resilience and calculates the comprehensive grain production resilience index using the entropy value method. This study applies two-way fixed effects and mediation models to empirically analyze the impact of land transfer on grain production resilience and its underlying mechanisms. The results show the following: (1) Land transfer significantly enhances grain production resilience: a 1 percentage point increase in the land transfer rate leads to a 0.0014-point increase in the resilience index, equivalent to 0.64% of the sample mean, and this finding remains robust after model replacement, extreme value trimming, and variable substitution. (2) Land transfer exerts its positive effect through three mediating pathways: agricultural insurance (scale dimension), specialized farmer cooperation, and agricultural mechanization. (3) Heterogeneity analysis reveals significant regional differences: the enhancing effect is more pronounced in non-major grain-producing regions and areas with underdeveloped agricultural service systems; while in major grain-producing regions and high-service-level regions, the relationship presents an inverted U-shape, with turning points at 66.794% and 71.921% of the land transfer rate respectively. Accordingly, this study proposes that China should further improve the institutional design of land transfer to systematically support the development of grain production resilience, optimize relevant policy pathways, and implement region-specific measures for targeted and effective intervention. Full article

Soils as the important components of the global carbon cycle play a critical role in food security as well as in supporting adaptation to climate change. The current review presents recent research on interactions between soil systems and climate dynamics. Climate change and poor land-use practices pose significant threats to soil health. In this context, the application of Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) strategies provides important benefits. These practices contribute to climate change mitigation by increasing carbon storage in soils and improving soil resilience to extreme climate conditions. Regenerative agriculture practices, including Conservation Agriculture (CA), cover crops, organic materials, and diversified cropping systems can store carbon at rates of about 0.1 to 1.2 t C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Moreover, these practices improve biodiversity and enhance soil properties, with yield responses varying depending on environmental and management conditions. Climate change accelerates soil degradation by raising temperatures, altering rainfall patterns, and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. Consequently, these factors lead to marked reductions in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stocks and degrade essential soil properties. This review places SSM within an extensive sustainability framework that is closely linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key goals addressed include SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). It also examines related policies, presents case studies from different agroecological regions, and discusses future research directions. Wider adoption of SSM requires strong economic incentives and inclusive governance. These measures can support climate-resilient agriculture and net-zero emission goals. Full article

Global population growth poses major challenges to agricultural systems, demanding more efficient strategies to secure food production. Conventional approaches have relied heavily on chemical inputs; however, their overuse disrupts ecosystems, threatens biodiversity, and undermines human and environmental health. To ensure sustainable productivity, it is essential to explore alternative approaches that leverage microbial functions to enhance plant growth and resilience. Bacteria are among the most abundant soil microorganisms, playing central roles in biogeochemical cycles and plant health. While well-studied phyla such as Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, and Bacillota have been widely applied as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents, members of the phylum Bacteroidota remain comparatively understudied despite being consistently abundant in plant-associated microbiomes. This review synthesizes current knowledge on Bacteroidota, highlighting their taxonomy, ecological diversity, contributions to nutrient cycling, and mechanisms that promote plant growth, as well as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. We also discuss the limitations that hinder their application, particularly challenges in cultivation and isolation, and outline future research directions to harness their potential for sustainable agriculture. Full article

This narrative conceptual review aims to examine how veterinary science intertwines with the different ontologies of resilience. As resilience has increasingly become an influential yet conceptually diverse framework, its different ontologies shape and are shaped by veterinary science thinking. This paper will begin with a brief overview of the origins of the resilience concept and its three major ontologies: engineering, psychological, and ecological resilience. Following these different ontologies, the paper then explores animal-level resilience, where engineering framings emphasise disease response and production stability, while welfare-oriented perspectives frame resilience in terms of the affective experience and the lived realities of animals. It then considers veterinary professional resilience, highlighting how emotional labour, workload pressures and structural constraints shape wellbeing across the profession. Finally, it analyses how veterinary science contributes to socio-ecological resilience through One Health approaches in public health, food systems and climate adaptation. Across these domains, resilience is often framed as a desirable attribute, yet it remains a value-laden concept that can obscure inequities or normalise preventable harms. This paper calls for critical, justice-oriented engagement with resilience to ensure it supports ethically grounded veterinary practice and promotes healthier, happier animals, more equitable systems, and sustainable professional environments. Full article

Background: Agroecology is increasingly discussed as a strategic response to the combined challenges of drought, ecological degradation, and rural vulnerability. In Morocco, this debate has become particularly urgent because agriculture now operates under persistent hydro-climatic stress, declining water availability, and strong territorial disparities between rainfed, irrigated, mountain, and oasis systems. Methods: This article is based on a structured critical review combined with an interpretive bibliometric synthesis of Moroccan and North African literature on agroecology, water stress, agricultural transition, and food-system resilience. The review was organized through conceptual framing, targeted source selection, thematic screening, and integrative synthesis. Results: Morocco is not an agroecological blank slate. Practices compatible with agroecological transition already exist across the country, including crop diversification, legume rotations, crop–livestock integration, biological regulation, organic amendments, and multifunctional production systems. However, previous reviews have mainly documented practices, projects, or sustainability initiatives without fully explaining why these remain weakly connected, poorly scaled, and insufficiently institutionalized under Moroccan conditions. This review shows that the principal barrier is not the absence of relevant practices but the absence of a coherent transition architecture capable of aligning water governance, farm economics, advisory systems, public incentives, territorial differentiation, and market valorization. The Moroccan case reveals a central paradox: agroecology is most necessary precisely where the structural conditions for its adoption are most fragile. To capture this contradiction, the paper proposes the concept of a Hydro-Agroecological Transition Trap, defined as a condition in which worsening water stress simultaneously intensifies the need for agroecological redesign and reduces the ability of farms and institutions to implement it. Conclusions: The manuscript concludes by proposing a six-pillar transition framework for Morocco based on water-smart agroecology, territorially differentiated pathways, participatory innovation, transition finance and risk-sharing, market construction, and multidimensional assessment. The originality of the study lies in shifting the analysis from a shortage of practices to a shortage of transition architecture, thereby contributing to international debates on agroecological scaling under chronic hydro-climatic stress. Full article

This study investigates consumer acceptance of insect-based foods, focusing on changes in visual evaluation after information disclosure and the influence of sociodemographic, attitudinal, and knowledge-related factors. An online survey among Italian consumers (n = 350) assessed the visual attractiveness of a cupcake containing 10%w/w Tenebrio molitor flour before (PRE) and after (POST) disclosure of the insect ingredient. Attractiveness decreased from 2.6 to 2.0, with 79% of POST evaluations in the lowest appeal categories. Women expressed more negative POST ratings and experienced a larger decline in attractiveness (Δ = POST−PRE), indicating greater sensitivity to information disclosure than men. The change in attractiveness (Δ) was linked to psychological variables: negative attitudes showed moderate negative correlations with Δ (r ≈ −0.3 to −0.6), whereas higher knowledge of regulatory, nutritional, and environmental aspects showed positive correlations (r ≈ +0.3 to +0.7), mitigating the decrease. Principal Component Analysis revealed two latent dimensions: PC1 (61.6%), representing an attitudinal continuum from aversion to acceptance, and PC2 (33.3%), reflecting differences in awareness. Respondents with higher PC1 and PC2 scores showed attenuated Δ values, indicating greater resilience to the disclosure effect. Overall, findings highlight a gap between visual familiarity and acceptance, shaped by emotions, knowledge, and gender-specific sensitivities. Full article

Gene-editing technology provides innovative strategies for coping with crop stress, enhancing resistance to biotic stresses (fungal, bacterial, viral infections) and abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, heavy metals, temperature extremes). The CRISPR/Cas9 system is widely used to knock out susceptibility genes, activate resistance genes, or modulate stress-response genes, yielding many stress-resistant crop varieties. However, off-target effects, chimeric effects, and the complexity of multi-gene synergistic editing limit its application. By optimizing and integrating with other cutting-edge technologies, gene editing is expected to yield highly stress-resistant and high-yielding crop varieties, contributing significantly to sustainable agricultural development and ensuring global food security. Rice, a key staple and model plant, has been extensively studied in gene-editing-based research on stress resistance. The practical potential of gene editing for agricultural improvement has been demonstrated by the effective modification of many genes linked to drought, salinity, temperature extremes, and disease resistance using CRISPR/Cas9 and related technologies. This review discusses gene-editing applications in crop stress research, examining the effects of various stresses on crops and the use of gene editing to develop stress-tolerant varieties. It offers substantial guidance for improving crop stress tolerance through gene editing, creating highly resilient cultivars with greater adaptation to complex, variable environments. Full article

Abiotic stresses caused by climate change pose a significant challenge to global food security, making it necessary to develop stress-resistant crops. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) is a drought-tolerant C₄ cereal and serves as a model crop for elucidating stress adaptation mechanisms and promoting climate-resilient agricultural solutions. This paper reviews the tolerance mechanisms of foxtail millet to abiotic stresses. Physiologically, the species exhibits excellent water-use efficiency, requiring 75% less irrigation than traditional cereals, achieved through enhanced osmotic adjustment via soluble substance accumulation and the maintenance of ion homeostasis. Morphological adaptations include reduced leaf area, adjusted stomatal density, well-developed root systems, and specialized anatomical features that optimize water conservation. At the molecular level, stress tolerance involves complex transcriptional networks mediated by multiple transcription factor family members, including those (NF-Y, DREB, NAC, WRKY, MYB) that coordinate stress-responsive gene expression, antioxidant defense systems, and osmotic adjustment pathways. Furthermore, this review summarizes multi-omics characteristics, including genomics (such as QTL mapping and GWAS), proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and regulatory networks, for foxtail millet under abiotic stress tolerance. Additionally, reproductive resilience is maintained through efficient mobilization of stem reserves to panicles, phenological plasticity in flowering timing, and preserved gametic viability under thermal stress. Combining advanced molecular breeding with the inherent tolerance of foxtail millet positions this crop as both a solution to climate change and a genetic resource for enhancing the stress resistance of other cereals. These findings establish foxtail millet as a valuable model for developing sustainable agricultural technologies essential for food security under projected climate scenarios. Full article

The increasing global demand for animal-derived food products, combined with growing environmental and public health concerns, has intensified the search for sustainable strategies in livestock production. Among emerging nutritional approaches, phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) have gained attention as natural alternatives to conventional synthetic growth promoters. PFAs, derived from herbs, spices, essential oils, and plant extracts, contain diverse bioactive compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and saponins. These compounds exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities that can support animal health, productivity, and product quality. Current research indicates that PFAs positively influence digestive physiology by modulating gut microbiota, improving intestinal integrity, and stimulating digestive enzyme secretion. These mechanisms enhance nutrient utilization, feed efficiency, and growth performance. In addition, the antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of plant-derived compounds strengthen the ability of animals to cope with physiological stress and disease, potentially reducing reliance on synthetic antimicrobials and supporting antibiotic-free production systems. PFAs may also improve reproductive performance and physiological stability, particularly in small livestock species and indigenous breeds. Beyond productivity benefits, phytogenic additives contribute to environmental sustainability by improving feed conversion efficiency and reducing nutrient excretion. The present literature review confirms that although variability in plant composition and the need for standardization remain challenges, PFAs represent a valuable component of integrated nutritional strategies aimed at achieving resilient, environmentally responsible, and economically sustainable livestock production systems. Full article

Despite producing much of the world’s food, small-scale farms face severe resource shortages, climate risks, and infrastructure gaps. While digital advances ranging from IoT sensing to AI-driven analytics offer pathways to improve productivity, adoption remains uneven. This integrative review synthesizes evidence on smart-farming technologies specifically for smallholders, identifying primary barriers, enabling conditions, and design principles for successful deployment. Unlike broader smart-farming reviews, the article explicitly evaluates small-farm suitability, evidence quality, and implementation architecture rather than technological capability alone. The synthesis shows that adoption is consistently constrained by clustered barriers, notably high capital and maintenance costs, limited technical capacity, and unreliable electricity or internet access. It also finds that evidence is strongest for modular, offline-capable monitoring and alerting tools, while evidence for durable gains from highly integrated full-platform systems remains thinner and more pilot-dependent. To advance equitable innovation, the review proposes a fit-for-context deployment logic centered on co-design, local repair and advisory capacity, and financing and policy support aligned with small-farm realities. Overall, smart farming can strengthen productivity, resilience, and environmental performance on small farms, but only when technologies are embedded in inclusive service models and implementation systems. Full article

Background: Microplastics, derived from plastic degradation and industrial sources, are widely detected in aquatic environments and food systems, posing increasing environmental and ecological risks. Aims: This study aimed to investigate how microplastics affect host physiology and gut microbiota, as well as determine whether microbiota changes actively modulate host responses. Methods: Using A. salina as a model organism, we combined physiological assays, oxidative stress analysis, gut microbiome profiling, and bacterial functional validation under chronic polystyrene microplastics exposure. Results: Polystyrene microplastics accumulated in the gut and significantly impaired growth and survival, accompanied by reduced digestive enzyme activity and immune function, as well as increased oxidative stress, indicating disruption of physiological homeostasis. Microplastic exposure also induced microbial dysbiosis, characterized by decreased diversity and compositional shifts. Functional assays demonstrated that a bacterium enriched under exposure, Pseudomonas knackmussii, partially restored host growth and physiological functions while reducing oxidative stress. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that gut microbiota are not only altered by microplastic exposure but also actively modulate host responses to environmental stress, providing new insight into microbiota-mediated resilience under pollutant stress. Full article