Search Results (17,628)

As the global agri-food system faces escalating climate-related challenges, developing localized low-carbon short food supply chains (SFSCs) has become a vital strategy for sustainable agriculture. To elucidate the psychological drivers of green consumer behavior within this context, this study integrates the Stimulus–Organism–Behavior–Consequence (SOBC) framework with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The aim is to investigate the continuous purchase intentions of Taiwanese consumers for organic cocoa. Data collected via an online survey from 377 consumers with prior cocoa consumption experience were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that personal attitudes and perceived behavioral control positively drive consumption intentions, whereas subjective norms do not. This suggests that consumption behaviors rely on substantive product evaluation rather than social pressures. Additionally, green product attributes and environmental values significantly enhance TPB constructs. Importantly, consumption intentions translate positively into perceived consumer effectiveness and continuous purchase intentions. By elucidating the psychological mechanisms underlying sustainable food choices, this study highlights the value of Taiwan’s “Tree-to-Bar” model. Practically, the findings highlight potential implications for policymakers and agribusinesses regarding how environmental attributes are communicated through front-of-pack (FOP) labels that emphasize local production and low-carbon mileage. Such approaches may help make environmental information more accessible to consumers, although their effectiveness should be evaluated in future research. Full article

Sustainable food system transformation is inseparable from planetary health, the interdependent wellbeing of human populations and the ecological systems that sustain them. Agroecology and regenerative agriculture are frequently portrayed as competing paradigms for sustainable food system transformation. This commentary challenges this framing as both analytically unwarranted and practically counterproductive. Grounded in Ethiopia’s smallholder agricultural context and informed by recent empirical evidence, we argue that these two approaches are complementary and mutually reinforcing. Agroecology emerged from an equity-centered, participatory, and politically engaged framework for transforming food systems, while regenerative agriculture contributes farm-level ecological restoration tools and measurable biophysical outcomes related to planetary health. Neither is sufficient alone: regenerative practices without agroecology’s social architecture risk reinforcing existing inequities; agroecology without a systematic effort to ensure a widespread increase in production for food security and a net positive regeneration of environmental health cannot fully deliver its transformative potential, particularly in contexts where productivity, livelihoods, and ecosystem restoration must be achieved Ethiopia’s concurrent validation of a National Agroecology Strategy (2026–2040) and advancement of a National Regenerative Agriculture Strategy (2026–2036) reflects a growing national recognition that these paradigms are essential partners, not rivals. An integrated framework embedding regenerative practices within agroecological principles offers the most scientifically grounded and contextually appropriate pathway for Ethiopia’s resilient, equitable, and productive agricultural transformation. Reframed in these terms, agroecology–regenerative integration is not simply a technical or sectoral fix but a direct contribution to planetary health, safeguarding the ecological systems, food security, and social equity on which human wellbeing ultimately depends. Full article

The continuous growth of the global population and the need to ensure food security require the development of sustainable agricultural technologies capable of maintaining crop productivity while reducing environmental impact. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria belonging to the genera Azotobacter and Azospirillum have attracted increasing interest due to their ability to improve plant nutrition and stimulate physiological processes associated with growth and productivity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the commercial biostimulant Azotofertil, based on Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum lipoferum, on the agrophysiological response of tomato and pepper plants, in comparison with conventional nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with three fertilization treatments and three biological replicates for each crop species. Soil pH, cultivable Azotobacter spp. populations, plant height, photosynthetic pigment content, vitamin C content, and total yield were evaluated. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan’s multiple range test (p < 0.05) and Pearson correlation analysis. The application of Azotofertil significantly increased the abundance of cultivable Azotobacter spp., photosynthetic pigment content, and vitamin C content, while no statistically significant differences were observed for soil pH or plant height. The most pronounced effect was observed for photosynthetic pigment content, which increased by 26% in tomato and by 21% in pepper compared to the control. Full article

Photosynthesis is the fundamental biological process underlying plant growth, crop productivity, and global food security. However, its efficiency is highly vulnerable to abiotic stresses, which disrupt chlorophyll biosynthesis, electron transport, carbon assimilation, stomatal regulation, and photoprotective mechanisms, ultimately reducing crop yield. Improving photosynthetic resilience under adverse environments has therefore become a major objective of modern crop improvement. Recent advances in phenomics and high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) have transformed the evaluation of photosynthesis-related traits by enabling rapid, non-destructive, and large-scale assessment across diverse environments, while facilitating quantitative characterization of structural, physiological, biochemical, and thermal responses to abiotic stress. Technologies including chlorophyll fluorescence, gas-exchange analysis, thermal imaging, hyperspectral imaging, LiDAR, and UAV-based sensing provide comprehensive insights into plant physiological responses and stress adaptation. Integration of these phenomic approaches with genomic information and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytical frameworks has strengthened genomic and phenomic prediction, enabling more accurate identification of candidate genes, selection of superior genotypes, and accelerated genetic gain. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in photosynthesis-related traits, phenomics, HTP technologies, and their integration with genomics and AI-assisted breeding, highlighting current challenges, knowledge gaps, and future opportunities for developing climate-resilient wheat and rice cultivars and promoting sustainable crop production. Full article

Pleurotus ostreatus (shimeji) is an edible mushroom widely recognized for its nutritional value and production of bioactive compounds. In addition to its fruiting body, mycelial biomass has emerged as a promising and sustainable alternative to produce bioactive compounds under controlled cultivation conditions. This study evaluated the nutritional composition, texture profile, biochemical composition, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant properties of the mycelium of P. ostreatus. Nutritional parameters were determined by FoodScan™ (NIR), while biochemical composition was assessed through spectrophotometric quantification of soluble proteins, free amino acids, reducing sugars, and total carbohydrates. Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) was performed to characterize the mechanical and technological properties of the mycelial biomass. Total phenolic compounds were quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and individual phenolics were identified by HPLC-DAD. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by ABTS, DPPH, TEAC, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. The mycelium exhibited high moisture content and relevant protein levels, as well as a rigid structural profile characterized by elevated hardness and gumminess. Biochemical characterization revealed considerable concentrations of soluble proteins and free amino acids, together with detectable levels of reducing sugars and total carbohydrates. The aqueous extract showed high total phenolic content and expressive antioxidant activity, with gallic acid identified as the predominant phenolic compound, followed by ferulic acid. The extracts also demonstrated efficient radical scavenging capacity in ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical assays. These findings highlight P. ostreatus mycelium as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds with potential applications as a functional ingredient in food, nutraceutical, and biotechnology sectors, reinforcing its role within circular bioeconomy strategies. Full article

The valorization of food by-products represents a key strategy for sustainable food systems and the circular bioeconomy. Pomegranate peels from two selected Italian cultivars were subjected to environmentally friendly extraction processes aimed at optimizing ellagitannins’ recovery and exploiting their biological activity. Punicalagin (PU) was the predominant compound, and the extracts exhibited high antioxidant capacity in both DPPH and FRAP assays. The Granato cultivar was selected for in vivo evaluation on the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) nematode model, where it extended lifespan and improved key healthspan markers. Locomotion, feeding activity, muscle integrity, and intestinal barrier function were improved through the activation of conserved stress-response pathways, particularly the SKN-1/NRF2 axis. The results were associated with improved mitochondrial function and reduced age-related oxidative stress, consistent with a hormetic mechanism. The extract also exhibited antibacterial activity, mainly against Gram-positive bacteria. Overall, the results highlight pomegranate peel as a sustainable source of high-value bioactive compounds with potential applications in nutrition, dietary supplements, and dermo-cosmetics. Full article

Komagataella phaffii has emerged as an important eukaryotic microbial cell factory for the production of industrial enzymes, biopharmaceuticals, and food-related proteins owing to its rapid growth, capacity for eukaryotic post-translational modifications, and suitability for high-cell-density fermentation. However, efficient heterologous protein production remains constrained by limitations in transcriptional regulation, protein secretion, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein-folding capacity. This review summarizes recent advances in engineering key expression elements underlying heterologous protein production in K. phaffii, with particular emphasis on promoter architecture redesign (e.g., upstream activating sequence (UAS) duplication and core promoter mutagenesis), signal peptide replacement and sequence engineering, molecular chaperone co-expression, and quantitative regulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Rather than focusing on individual expression modules, this review highlights a systems-level engineering perspective that integrates regulatory elements, intracellular processing, and secretory pathway optimization, illustrating the ongoing transition from empirical modification of individual expression elements to systems-level engineering of the secretory pathway. Recent advances in synthetic biology and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted approaches are further accelerating the development of predictive and precision engineering approaches for K. phaffii. Together, these advances provide a foundation for the rational design of next-generation K. phaffii cell factories for the sustainable production of structurally complex and high-value recombinant proteins. Full article

Honey is a natural food product highly valued for its nutritional and biological properties. Its quality and safety are increasingly affected by environmental contamination and apicultural practices. Among the most relevant contaminants, pesticide residues, veterinary antibiotics, and heavy metals represent major concerns due to their potential impact on human health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, sources, and distribution of these contaminants in honey, with particular emphasis on their relationship with agricultural activities, environmental pollution, and beekeeping treatments. Advanced analytical techniques, including liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), are highlighted for their ability to enable sensitive multi-residue and trace-level detection. The application of chemometric tools for data analysis and sample classification is also addressed, supporting the identification of contamination patterns and origin-related differences. In addition, recent developments in rapid screening methods and environmentally sustainable analytical approaches are discussed. Overall, this review emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and the integration of advanced analytical strategies to ensure honey safety, support regulatory compliance, and protect consumers. Full article

Ensuring the sustainability of agriculture-related industries requires not only expanding value added but also maintaining stable value creation and adaptive capacity under changing economic conditions. This study examines the economic and organizational sustainability of China’s agriculture-related industries within global value chains. Using the 2026 release of the OECD Analytical Activities of Multinational Enterprises database and ownership-split inter-country input–output tables for 2011–2023, we construct an ownership-disaggregated value-added accounting framework covering the production, processing, and circulation stages and apply structural decomposition analysis to identify the sources of value-added change and potential weak links. The results show that domestic demand is the principal source of value creation for both domestic-owned and foreign-owned enterprises and became increasingly important over the study period. Final-goods-related value added remains larger than intermediate-goods-related value added, although the latter grows more rapidly, indicating deeper participation in cross-border production networks. Structural exposure varies across stages and periods. Production is strongly supported by domestic demand but exhibits pronounced internal offsetting in some periods; processing becomes a major adjustment node during 2019–2020, while circulation records the clearest contraction in the same period before returning to a more balanced growth structure during 2020–2023. Foreign-owned enterprises, particularly in processing, become increasingly embedded in China’s domestic market and local production structure. Risk exposure is interpreted as structural sensitivity rather than a direct measure of risk probability or expected loss. The findings highlight the importance of domestic demand, diversified input and market linkages, greater stability and adaptability in processing and circulation, and well-governed cross-ownership relationships for sustainable value-chain development. Full article

Underutilised indigenous crops (UICs) are increasingly recognised for their potential to contribute to climate-resilient agriculture, dietary diversification, and household food security among smallholder farmers in South Africa. However, evidence regarding farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward these crops remains limited. This study examined the KAP of smallholder farmers toward UICs and assessed factors associated with their adoption in selected municipalities of South Africa. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 205 smallholder farming households using a structured questionnaire. Respondents were selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure involving purposive, snowball, and stratified sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, binary logistic regression, and bootstrap mediation analysis. Results showed that smallholder farmers generally possessed positive knowledge and attitudes toward UICs, particularly regarding their nutritional value, adaptability to local climatic conditions, and contribution to household food security. However, utilisation practices remained uneven across households. Age, farming experience, water availability, extension support, and market access were significantly associated with adoption. Formal bootstrap mediation analysis (1000 simulations) did not support attitudinal mediation of the knowledge-adoption relationship (ACME = −0.007, 95% CI: −0.079 to 0.059, p = 0.802), suggesting that knowledge operates through mechanisms other than attitudinal change. The study concludes that UICs possess significant potential to contribute to food security and climate adaptation in the study areas, but stronger institutional support, extension services, and market development are required for wider adoption. Full article

Background: Fresh-cut apples are highly susceptible to quality deterioration due to enzymatic browning and oxidative degradation of bioactive compounds. This study investigated the effects of conventional polyethylene packaging (PE, Pack 1) and two innovative biodegradable packaging materials (Pack 2 and Pack 3) on the stability of bioactive compounds in fresh-cut Golden Delicious apples during refrigerated storage. Individual phenolic compounds ((+)-catechin, caffeic acid, (−)-epicatechin, p-coumaric acid, rutin, and quercetin) were quantified by HPLC-PDA, while spectrophotometric assays were used to determine total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH). The environmental performance of the packaging materials was assessed through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using SimaPro v.9.5.5. Results: Polyphenol stability was significantly influenced by packaging and storage time (p < 0.001). Compared with fresh-cut apples at t0, Pack 2 promoted a 17.4% increase in total phenolic content after 21 days, whereas Pack 1 and Pack 3 showed reductions of 31.0% and 37.6%, respectively. HPLC analysis revealed compound-specific responses, with rutin and quercetin being markedly better preserved in Pack 3 after 21 days (17.65 and 1.93 mg/100 g, respectively) than in Pack 1 (0.67 and 0.19 mg/100 g, respectively). Two-way ANOVA confirmed significant effects of storage time, packaging, and their interaction on TPC, TFC, ABTS activity, and all individual phenolic compounds (p < 0.001), whereas DPPH activity was not significantly affected (p > 0.05). Pearson correlation (TPC–ABTS, r = 0.6885, p < 0.001) and principal component analysis indicated that antioxidant capacity was more closely associated with the qualitative phenolic profile than with total phenolic concentration alone. LCA highlighted environmental trade-offs among the packaging systems: Pack 1 showed lower impacts in several categories, Pack 2 displayed an intermediate environmental profile, whereas Pack 3 reduced dependence on fossil resources but exhibited higher land- and water-use impacts together with limitations related to end-of-life management. Conclusion: Packaging materials significantly affected the preservation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in fresh-cut apples while exhibiting distinct environmental profiles. The results demonstrate that no packaging system simultaneously maximized product quality and environmental sustainability, highlighting the importance of integrating analytical performance with life-cycle assessment when developing innovative food packaging solutions. Full article

In modern societies, the renewed concept of food as medicine coexists with unprecedented consumption of highly processed foods, food additives, environmental xenobiotics, and pharmacological agents, contributing to the increasing prevalence of metabolic and degenerative diseases and accelerated aging. Although modern pharmacotherapies have transformed disease management, long-term drug exposure introduces additional metabolic burdens, off-target effects, and cumulative toxicities that are profoundly influenced by nutritional status. Collectively, dietary constituents, environmental chemicals, endogenous metabolic by-products, and therapeutic agents constitute a complex exposome that requires continuous recognition, utilization, detoxification, and clearance. Within this context, the liver sinusoidal clearance system (LSCS) emerges as a central regulator of systemic homeostasis. We propose a conceptual framework in which circulating molecules are classified as self (S), modified self (M), and foreign (F) molecules according to their physiological handling by the LSCS. Through coordinated hepatic utilization of S molecules and selective clearance of M and F molecules, fenestrated liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) maintain metabolic homeostasis, immune tolerance, and physiological pharmacokinetics. Conversely, chronic dietary overload, poor dietary quality, food processing, and sustained exposure to pro-inflammatory and oxidative dietary and environmental molecules initiate chronic low-grade inflammation, which promotes LSEC capillarization, impairs hepatic clearance, increases the modification of S molecules into M molecules and establishes a feed-forward cycle that further amplifies chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Finally, we discuss recent advances in the programmable modulation of the LSCS, including its transient suppression to prolong therapeutic exposure and its activation to enhance the clearance of metabolically harmful M and F molecules through coordinated upregulation of the endoglin–stabilin-2–FcγRIIb axis and the LSEC markers Oit3 and Dnase1L3. We highlight dual-function supramolecular nanofiber platforms that enable bidirectional regulation of the LSCS through nanofiber complexes with therapeutic proteins, thereby expanding their therapeutic potential and enhancing efficacy in the treatment of metabolic, inflammatory, and age-related diseases. Full article

As the global population ages rapidly, demand for safe and effective strategies to promote healthy aging grows markedly. Natural bioactive compounds, with favorable biosafety profiles and multi-target regulatory properties, have become a core focus in developing anti-aging functional foods and nutraceuticals. Amid the search for novel sustainable bioresources, insects emerge as promising anti-aging candidates for their rich species diversity, scalable production, low environmental footprint, and abundant unique bioactive components such as functional proteins and bioactive peptides. Based on bibliometric analysis of 500 eligible publications spanning two decades, this review systematically identifies 32 anti-aging insect species across seven orders, classifies their bioactive components into five major categories, summarizes green extraction technologies, and evaluates their in vitro and in vivo anti-aging activities centered on oxidative stress and inflammatory regulation, while outlining the field’s trajectory from basic mechanistic research to functional application. It further highlights core challenges including fragmented research frameworks and insufficient robust in vivo validation. Finally, it recommends integrating established food science and medical methodologies with emerging technologies such as omics, artificial intelligence, and advanced delivery systems to advance future research paradigms. These efforts could provide a strong theoretical foundation for the efficient and sustainable use of insect resources in anti-aging applications. Full article

Small-scale fisheries are socio-ecological systems in which resource users interact with environmental conditions, fishing regulations, community initiatives, and institutional actors. Understanding how fishers perceive and report these interactions provides information on the social context of fisheries management, although such perceptions cannot substitute for independent assessments of ecological sustainability, behavioural compliance, or governance effectiveness. This study characterized fishers’ environmental perceptions, self-reported fishing practices, participation in environmental education and conservation activities, and perceptions of community and institutional involvement in fisheries management in Tecomate Lagoon, Guerrero, Mexico. A cross-sectional quantitative design was used, and structured questionnaires were administered to 120 active artisanal fishers selected through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies and percentages. Respondents primarily associated the lagoon with economic (49.17%) and food-related (25.83%) functions. Declining water levels (60.00%) and reduced species abundance (40.00%) were the environmental changes reported by respondents. Regarding fishing practices, 94.17% stated that they complied with fishing regulations, and 100% reported releasing organisms below the minimum legal catch size. Environmental training was reported by 95.00% of respondents, while 94.17% reported participation in conservation-related activities. CONAPESCA (80.83%) and UAGro (19.17%) were identified as institutions involved in fisheries-related initiatives. These findings characterize the perceptions and self-reported experiences of surveyed fishers and should not be interpreted as evidence of ecological sustainability, actual behavioural compliance, educational effectiveness, or governance performance. The contribution of the study lies in systematically documenting the resource-user perspective as a component of the social dimension of the fishery. This information provides a descriptive baseline that can complement future ecological, behavioural, institutional, and longitudinal assessments of small-scale fisheries in coastal lagoon systems. Full article

With the ever-growing population and increasing demand for food, cultivated meat (CM) represents a potentially sustainable alternative source of protein. However, one of the critical challenges is ensuring that the nutritional value of CM is comparable to that of conventional meat. In light of this, this scoping review aimed to systematically map the existing evidence from in vitro studies and identify potential nutritional fortification methods for CM. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to December 2025, supplemented by a hand search in January 2026. Studies were included if they were in vitro studies related to cultivated food that applied a fortification strategy or treatment to improve the nutritional value or food functionality and reported the relevant outcomes. Extracted data (e.g., fortification methods, cell lines, study results) were synthesized descriptively. Seven studies were eligible for inclusion. Three fortification strategies were identified, including metabolic engineering, product reformulation, and nutrient-enriched cell culture medium. Reported outcomes varied among the included studies and included changes in nutritional value, food functionality, and cellular functionality of CM. However, most studies used cell models that are primarily intended for research purposes rather than food production or human consumption, which may limit their relevance to commercial CM products. In conclusion, this review identified preliminary fortification approaches that may modify the nutritional value, food functionality, or cellular functionality of CM. However, further investigation is needed to determine their effects on the nutritional composition of the resulting cell biomass or final CM product. Full article