Pub Date : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102725
Bin Wang , Ishtiaq Ahmad , Dong Wang , Jilai Cui , Xingqian Ye , Ming Zhang
Altitude is a critical determinant of tea quality. However, the metabolic regulatory mechanisms underlying altitude-associated effects in fresh leaves of Camellia sinensis cv. Xinyang Maojian remain poorly understood. In this study, integrated metabolomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses were employed to elucidate how altitude modulates flavonoid and phenolic acid biosynthesis. High-altitude conditions markedly promoted the accumulation of non-pigmented flavonoids, with the majority of flavanones, chalcones, isoflavones, and flavanols displaying significant increases relative to low-altitude samples (fold change ≥2.00), whereas anthocyanin biosynthesis was broadly suppressed (fold change ≤0.50). In parallel, most structurally complex phenolic acid derivatives with antioxidant potential, such as galloylated esters and caffeoyl glucosides, were enriched, while simpler benzoic acid–type compounds were predominantly reduced. These coordinated metabolic shifts were consistently supported by transcriptomic and proteomic evidence. Collectively, the results demonstrate that high-altitude environments redirect metabolic flux toward bioactive and defense-related polyphenols, providing mechanistic insights into quality enhancement and ecological adaptation in Xinyang Maojian tea.
{"title":"Integrated multi-omics reveal altitude-dependent reprogramming of flavonoid and phenolic acid metabolism in Xinyang Maojian tea","authors":"Bin Wang , Ishtiaq Ahmad , Dong Wang , Jilai Cui , Xingqian Ye , Ming Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102725","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102725","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Altitude is a critical determinant of tea quality. However, the metabolic regulatory mechanisms underlying altitude-associated effects in fresh leaves of <em>Camellia sinensis</em> cv. Xinyang Maojian remain poorly understood. In this study, integrated metabolomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses were employed to elucidate how altitude modulates flavonoid and phenolic acid biosynthesis. High-altitude conditions markedly promoted the accumulation of non-pigmented flavonoids, with the majority of flavanones, chalcones, isoflavones, and flavanols displaying significant increases relative to low-altitude samples (fold change ≥2.00), whereas anthocyanin biosynthesis was broadly suppressed (fold change ≤0.50). In parallel, most structurally complex phenolic acid derivatives with antioxidant potential, such as galloylated esters and caffeoyl glucosides, were enriched, while simpler benzoic acid–type compounds were predominantly reduced. These coordinated metabolic shifts were consistently supported by transcriptomic and proteomic evidence. Collectively, the results demonstrate that high-altitude environments redirect metabolic flux toward bioactive and defense-related polyphenols, providing mechanistic insights into quality enhancement and ecological adaptation in Xinyang Maojian tea.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102725"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102728
Wenhua Liao , Shanshan Wang , Zhanghua Yi , Yuan Bian , Meiling Liu , Yueyang Jing , Chunjing Liu , Jianzhi Xie , Zhiling Gao
Tannins originating from root exudates and plant extracts may act as biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs) for mitigating nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in the context of circular agriculture. However, the differences of condensed (CT) and hydrolysable (HT) tannins in their effects on soil N2O emissions remain unclear. This study used incubation and pot experiments combined with structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate the comprehensive impacts of the proanthocyanidin (PC) and tannic acid (TA) on soil N2O emissions, considering the influence of fertilizer type (urea vs cattle slurry) and plant (absence vs presence). In contrast to the consistent inhibitory effect of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) applied to both urea- and slurry-amended soils, PC and TA strongly reduced N2O emissions from slurry-amended soil, but had differed impact on N2O (mitigation by PC and enhancement by TA) for urea-amended soil. More importantly, in the presence of cabbage plants, both PC and TA significantly inhibited N2O emissions under both urea and slurry applications, and improved the biomass production and nitrogen use efficiency to different extents. From a microbial perspective, PC and TA likely reduce N2O emissions in urea-amended soil by lowering the (nirS + nirK)/(nosZ I + nosZ II) ratio. In slurry-amended soil, however, they achieve N2O mitigation primarily by increasing the abundance of nosZ II while reducing the abundances of AOA, AOB, nirS, and nirK. In conclusion, the impact of PC and TA on soil N2O emissions can be fertilizer-specific, however in presence of cabbage plants both PC and TA can mitigate N2O emissions regardless fertilizer types. In future it warrants more research to examine the effectiveness of PC and TA on N2O mitigation for different cropping systems under various environmental conditions.
在循环农业的背景下，来自根分泌物和植物提取物的单宁可以作为生物硝化抑制剂（BNIs）来减少一氧化二氮（N2O）的排放。然而，缩合单宁（CT）和水解单宁（HT）对土壤N2O排放的影响差异尚不清楚。本研究采用培养和盆栽试验相结合的结构方程模型（SEM），综合考虑肥料类型（尿素vs牛浆）和植物（有无）的影响，评价了原花青素（PC）和单宁酸（TA）对土壤N2O排放的综合影响。与施用3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐（DMPP）对尿素和浆料改良土壤均有一致的抑制作用相比，PC和TA对浆料改良土壤N2O排放均有显著的抑制作用，但对尿素改良土壤N2O的抑制作用（PC的抑制作用和TA的增强作用）存在差异。更重要的是，在白菜存在的情况下，PC和TA均显著抑制了尿素和浆态施肥下N2O的排放，并不同程度地提高了生物质产量和氮素利用效率。从微生物的角度来看，PC和TA可能通过降低(nirS + nirK)/(nosZ I + nosZ II)比值来减少尿素改良土壤中N2O的排放。然而，在浆料改良的土壤中，它们主要通过增加nosZ II的丰度而降低AOA、AOB、nirS和nirK的丰度来实现N2O的缓解。综上所述，PC和TA对土壤N2O排放的影响可能是肥料特异性的，但在卷心菜植物存在的情况下，PC和TA对N2O排放都有抑制作用，无论肥料类型如何。在不同的环境条件下，不同的种植制度下，PC和TA对N2O的缓解效果有待进一步的研究。
{"title":"Impact of the application of proanthocyanidin and tannic acid on nitrous oxide emissions from upland soils","authors":"Wenhua Liao , Shanshan Wang , Zhanghua Yi , Yuan Bian , Meiling Liu , Yueyang Jing , Chunjing Liu , Jianzhi Xie , Zhiling Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102728","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102728","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tannins originating from root exudates and plant extracts may act as biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs) for mitigating nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions in the context of circular agriculture. However, the differences of condensed (CT) and hydrolysable (HT) tannins in their effects on soil N<sub>2</sub>O emissions remain unclear. This study used incubation and pot experiments combined with structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate the comprehensive impacts of the proanthocyanidin (PC) and tannic acid (TA) on soil N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, considering the influence of fertilizer type (urea vs cattle slurry) and plant (absence vs presence). In contrast to the consistent inhibitory effect of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) applied to both urea- and slurry-amended soils, PC and TA strongly reduced N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from slurry-amended soil, but had differed impact on N<sub>2</sub>O (mitigation by PC and enhancement by TA) for urea-amended soil. More importantly, in the presence of cabbage plants, both PC and TA significantly inhibited N<sub>2</sub>O emissions under both urea and slurry applications, and improved the biomass production and nitrogen use efficiency to different extents. From a microbial perspective, PC and TA likely reduce N<sub>2</sub>O emissions in urea-amended soil by lowering the (<em>nirS</em> + <em>nirK</em>)/(<em>nosZ</em> I + <em>nosZ</em> II) ratio. In slurry-amended soil, however, they achieve N<sub>2</sub>O mitigation primarily by increasing the abundance of <em>nosZ</em> II while reducing the abundances of <em>AOA</em>, <em>AOB</em>, <em>nirS</em>, and <em>nirK</em>. In conclusion, the impact of PC and TA on soil N<sub>2</sub>O emissions can be fertilizer-specific, however in presence of cabbage plants both PC and TA can mitigate N<sub>2</sub>O emissions regardless fertilizer types. In future it warrants more research to examine the effectiveness of PC and TA on N<sub>2</sub>O mitigation for different cropping systems under various environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102728"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102727
Md. Shakhawat Hossain , Shah Fahad , Tanwne Sarker , Md. Ghulam Rabbany , Sabina Yeasmin , Rana Roy
Overlooking fundamental safety measures when applying pesticides in agriculture endangers farmers' health, increases healthcare expenses, and harms the environment. It's well-documented that Bangladeshi farmers use pesticides without taking enough precautions. Employing cross-sectional data, this study utilizes the theory of averting behavior model to assess pesticide handling practices, occupational hazards, and health expenditures among smallholder vegetable producers. While previous Bangladeshi studies focused solely on farmers' attitudes, knowledge, and practices regarding the use of pesticides, the current research identifies a critical gap and presents some new insights. The findings reveal that the application of safety equipment and pesticide container disposal methods was significantly influenced by farmers' investments in health and safety measures (P < 0.05) and the health consequences (P < 0.05) they faced. Farmers spent 4.21 US dollars per farm on health and safety measures against pesticide exposure during the 2023 vegetable season. Most farmers were unaware of properly managing pesticide equipment and disposal techniques for pesticide containers. The logit model results also reveal that farmers were more likely to adhere to precautionary measures and dispose of empty pesticide containers correctly as their age, educational level, and participation in the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) training program increased. These findings emphasize the need for practical IPM training and farmers' educational programs to ensure safe pesticide use. Findings can assist policymakers in understanding the reasons behind the improper application and disposal of pesticide containers. Moreover, the research suggests improved pesticide handling practices can boost sustainable agriculture and reduce health and occupational risks in Bangladesh.
{"title":"Pesticide handling practices, occupational risks, and health expenses among Bangladeshi smallholder vegetable farmers","authors":"Md. Shakhawat Hossain , Shah Fahad , Tanwne Sarker , Md. Ghulam Rabbany , Sabina Yeasmin , Rana Roy","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102727","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102727","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Overlooking fundamental safety measures when applying pesticides in agriculture endangers farmers' health, increases healthcare expenses, and harms the environment. It's well-documented that Bangladeshi farmers use pesticides without taking enough precautions. Employing cross-sectional data, this study utilizes the theory of averting behavior model to assess pesticide handling practices, occupational hazards, and health expenditures among smallholder vegetable producers. While previous Bangladeshi studies focused solely on farmers' attitudes, knowledge, and practices regarding the use of pesticides, the current research identifies a critical gap and presents some new insights. The findings reveal that the application of safety equipment and pesticide container disposal methods was significantly influenced by farmers' investments in health and safety measures (P < 0.05) and the health consequences (P < 0.05) they faced. Farmers spent 4.21 US dollars per farm on health and safety measures against pesticide exposure during the 2023 vegetable season. Most farmers were unaware of properly managing pesticide equipment and disposal techniques for pesticide containers. The logit model results also reveal that farmers were more likely to adhere to precautionary measures and dispose of empty pesticide containers correctly as their age, educational level, and participation in the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) training program increased. These findings emphasize the need for practical IPM training and farmers' educational programs to ensure safe pesticide use. Findings can assist policymakers in understanding the reasons behind the improper application and disposal of pesticide containers. Moreover, the research suggests improved pesticide handling practices can boost sustainable agriculture and reduce health and occupational risks in Bangladesh.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102727"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102720
Saturnin Naïm , Laverdure Tchamani Piame , Edith Marius Foko Kouam , Michele Létitia Tchabou Tientcheu , Maxime Merlin Djoufack Tonfack , François Zambou Ngoufack , Pierre Marie Kaktcham
In recent years, low-income consumers of alcoholic beverages in Chad have converged more towards indigenous beverages, such as Bili-bili. Its production and commercialization, is mostly carried out in unhygienic conditions and often in the grey zone, out of the full control of the Chadian government. This study aims to assess socio-economic and cultural importance of Bili-bili commercialized in N'Djamena (Chad) and its physico-chemical and hygienic characteristics. Firstly, a survey was carried among 715 producers and 795 consumers of Bili-bili. Secondly, forty-five samples of Bili-bili were collected and then used to determine the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics using standard methods. As a result, Bili-bili was produced exclusively by women, of whom 99.3 % considered as a source of income. Beyond being very used in many traditional ceremonies (78.07 %), the consumption of Bili-bili was motivated by its relatively low cost compared to modern alcoholic beers (56.5 %) and its nourishing aptitude (31.9 %). In lasted case, 65.4 % consume it for the pleasure provided by the alcohol content. Also, Bili-bili could not be kept for more than 24 h with a consistent taste (78.16 %). Its consumption sometimes produces undesirable effects in consumers, such as gastric upset, diarrhea, and vomiting (66.62 %), as well as stomach and headache (32.45 %). The Bili-bili produced had a pH (2.99–4.21) and a composition made of proteins (5.63–12.37 %), lipids (0.03–3.78 %), carbohydrates (81.33–89.23 %) and ethanol (2.33–4.60 g/L). Some samples contained aflatoxin (0.13–1.20 μg/L). The microflora included yeasts (7.39–9.36 log CFU/mL), lactic bacteria (7.11–8.44 log CFU/mL), molds (0.45-0. 78 log CFU/mL), Bacillus cereus (3.33–7.61 log CFU/mL) and sulfite-reducing bacteria (0.75–2.08 log CFU/mL). Bili-bili production has a remarkable socio-economic and cultural importance. However, its hygienic quality remains mediocre, making it a spread of spoilage and/or pathogenic bacteria.
{"title":"Production and consumption trends of Bili-bili marketed in N'Djamena (Chad): Socio-economic and cultural importance, physico-chemical and hygienic characterization","authors":"Saturnin Naïm , Laverdure Tchamani Piame , Edith Marius Foko Kouam , Michele Létitia Tchabou Tientcheu , Maxime Merlin Djoufack Tonfack , François Zambou Ngoufack , Pierre Marie Kaktcham","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102720","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102720","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, low-income consumers of alcoholic beverages in Chad have converged more towards indigenous beverages, such as <em>Bili-bili</em>. Its production and commercialization, is mostly carried out in unhygienic conditions and often in the grey zone, out of the full control of the Chadian government. This study aims to assess socio-economic and cultural importance of <em>Bili-bili</em> commercialized in N'Djamena (Chad) and its physico-chemical and hygienic characteristics. Firstly, a survey was carried among 715 producers and 795 consumers of <em>Bili-bili</em>. Secondly, forty-five samples of <em>Bili-bili</em> were collected and then used to determine the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics using standard methods. As a result, <em>Bili-bili</em> was produced exclusively by women, of whom 99.3 % considered as a source of income. Beyond being very used in many traditional ceremonies (78.07 %), the consumption of <em>Bili-bili</em> was motivated by its relatively low cost compared to modern alcoholic beers (56.5 %) and its nourishing aptitude (31.9 %). In lasted case, 65.4 % consume it for the pleasure provided by the alcohol content. Also, <em>Bili-bili</em> could not be kept for more than 24 h with a consistent taste (78.16 %). Its consumption sometimes produces undesirable effects in consumers, such as gastric upset, diarrhea, and vomiting (66.62 %), as well as stomach and headache (32.45 %). The <em>Bili-bili</em> produced had a pH (2.99–4.21) and a composition made of proteins (5.63–12.37 %), lipids (0.03–3.78 %), carbohydrates (81.33–89.23 %) and ethanol (2.33–4.60 g/L). Some samples contained aflatoxin (0.13–1.20 μg/L). The microflora included yeasts (7.39–9.36 log CFU/mL), lactic bacteria (7.11–8.44 log CFU/mL), molds (0.45-0. 78 log CFU/mL), <em>Bacillus cereus</em> (3.33–7.61 log CFU/mL) and sulfite-reducing bacteria (0.75–2.08 log CFU/mL). <em>Bili-bili</em> production has a remarkable socio-economic and cultural importance. However, its hygienic quality remains mediocre, making it a spread of spoilage and/or pathogenic bacteria.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102720"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102717
Ramón Gabriel Rico Ferrer, María del Rosario Figàs, Nicolás Arroyo, Miquel Martínez, Elena Soler, Cristina Casanova, Jaime Prohens, Salvador Soler
The Tomata Valenciana tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) landrace, valued for its local importance and unique organoleptic qualities, shows notable intra-varietal diversity. In this study, 46 accessions from three subtypes (‘Blanca’, ‘Masclet’, and ‘Intermitja’) were assessed using 57 morpho-agronomic and 15 biochemical descriptors. High phenotypic variation was observed, particularly in fruit morphology and agronomic traits. Features like fruit weight (FWH), locule number (LCN), and fruit tip formation (FTF) showed high heritability (H2 > 0.6). Principal Component Analysis clearly separated subtypes based on morphology: ‘Blanca’, which had larger, rounder fruits with lighter immature colour; ‘Masclet’, with darker green shoulders and pointed tips; and ‘Intermitja’, which showed intermediate traits and greater plant vigour. In contrast, biochemical traits displayed reduced variation among subtypes and low H2. These findings highlight the morphological and agronomic diversity of Tomata Valenciana, especially in fruit traits that are valuable for breeding and varietal authentication. The identification of stable, differentiating traits supports conservation efforts and legal recognition through quality labels. The unique profile of the ‘Intermitja’ subtype provides new insights into possible hybridization processes within landraces and their contribution to maintaining genetic diversity in traditional farming systems.
{"title":"Morpho-agronomic and biochemical diversity of the Tomata Valenciana landrace reveal key traits for its revalorisation and subtype differentiation","authors":"Ramón Gabriel Rico Ferrer, María del Rosario Figàs, Nicolás Arroyo, Miquel Martínez, Elena Soler, Cristina Casanova, Jaime Prohens, Salvador Soler","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102717","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102717","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Tomata Valenciana tomato (<em>Solanum lycopersicum</em> L.) landrace, valued for its local importance and unique organoleptic qualities, shows notable intra-varietal diversity. In this study, 46 accessions from three subtypes (‘Blanca’, ‘Masclet’, and ‘Intermitja’) were assessed using 57 morpho-agronomic and 15 biochemical descriptors. High phenotypic variation was observed, particularly in fruit morphology and agronomic traits. Features like fruit weight (FWH), locule number (LCN), and fruit tip formation (FTF) showed high heritability (<em>H</em><sup><em>2</em></sup> > 0.6). Principal Component Analysis clearly separated subtypes based on morphology: ‘Blanca’, which had larger, rounder fruits with lighter immature colour; ‘Masclet’, with darker green shoulders and pointed tips; and ‘Intermitja’, which showed intermediate traits and greater plant vigour. In contrast, biochemical traits displayed reduced variation among subtypes and low <em>H</em><sup><em>2</em></sup>. These findings highlight the morphological and agronomic diversity of Tomata Valenciana, especially in fruit traits that are valuable for breeding and varietal authentication. The identification of stable, differentiating traits supports conservation efforts and legal recognition through quality labels. The unique profile of the ‘Intermitja’ subtype provides new insights into possible hybridization processes within landraces and their contribution to maintaining genetic diversity in traditional farming systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102717"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102723
Linshan Lin , Philipp Mennig , Roberto Villalba , Johannes Sauer
China's demand for animal-sourced foods has risen quickly as dietary patterns shift, which has added to environmental pressure. Sustainable dairy production depends not only on natural resource endowments but also on macro-level socio-economic development, meso-level market mechanisms, and farm-level industrialization and resource investment. However, few studies have examined how these drivers interact with one another. In this study, we employ structural equation modeling (SEM) and panel data from 29 Chinese provinces (2006–2022) to build a framework of multidimensional drivers and analyze the spatiotemporal changes in milk production and its associated environmental costs. We find that growing regional gaps in milk output and environmental impacts are driven mainly by socioeconomic growth and dairy industrialization, rather than by natural endowments. Fresh milk supply also remains highly uneven: in more developed regions, demand has grown much faster than local production. For most drivers, increases in milk production are larger than the extra environmental burdens they create. Resource investment is the main exception: its pollution effect is about 1.5 times its production benefit. Although technological and managerial progress has slowed the rise in environmental costs, industrialization has not fully offset the pressure caused by more intensive use of feed and energy. These findings suggest that future policy should focus on improving feed and energy efficiency, better balancing regional supply and demand, and promoting cleaner industrialization with joint carbon–nitrogen management. Overall, the study provides evidence for more sustainable dairy development and context-specific policy design, offering insights into improving agricultural sustainability and resource efficiency in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
{"title":"Navigating sustainability transitions in China's dairy sector: Insights from a multi-dimensional driver analysis","authors":"Linshan Lin , Philipp Mennig , Roberto Villalba , Johannes Sauer","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102723","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102723","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China's demand for animal-sourced foods has risen quickly as dietary patterns shift, which has added to environmental pressure. Sustainable dairy production depends not only on natural resource endowments but also on macro-level socio-economic development, meso-level market mechanisms, and farm-level industrialization and resource investment. However, few studies have examined how these drivers interact with one another. In this study, we employ structural equation modeling (SEM) and panel data from 29 Chinese provinces (2006–2022) to build a framework of multidimensional drivers and analyze the spatiotemporal changes in milk production and its associated environmental costs. We find that growing regional gaps in milk output and environmental impacts are driven mainly by socioeconomic growth and dairy industrialization, rather than by natural endowments. Fresh milk supply also remains highly uneven: in more developed regions, demand has grown much faster than local production. For most drivers, increases in milk production are larger than the extra environmental burdens they create. Resource investment is the main exception: its pollution effect is about 1.5 times its production benefit. Although technological and managerial progress has slowed the rise in environmental costs, industrialization has not fully offset the pressure caused by more intensive use of feed and energy. These findings suggest that future policy should focus on improving feed and energy efficiency, better balancing regional supply and demand, and promoting cleaner industrialization with joint carbon–nitrogen management. Overall, the study provides evidence for more sustainable dairy development and context-specific policy design, offering insights into improving agricultural sustainability and resource efficiency in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102723"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In the current era, the meat supply chain plays a vital role in the food industry. The meat supply chain is experiencing significant challenges due to the increase in demand and Circular Economy (CE) challenges. In the meat supply chain, a huge waste is generated during the meat processing, and it is much needed to manage waste effectively, considering the large quantities of by-products, packaging, and residues generated. The current research focuses on identifying and examining the factors that enable a shift towards a CE for sustainable meat supply chain. The study uses IMF-SWARA and Triangular Fuzzy Bonferroni Mean (TFBM) methods to identify the key enablers and validated through industry and academic experts. Findings indicate that reverse logistics, followed by the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling (3Rs), and strong leadership commitment, are crucial enablers for adopting a CE in the Indian meat supply chain. This research offers policies and strategies to the managers and practitioners to adopt a sustainable meat supply chain for CE.
{"title":"Driving circular economy: Key enablers for a sustainable meat supply chain in India","authors":"Sumit Gupta , Priyank Srivastava , Hammad Ansari , Rahul Mor , Surya Prakash , Sandeep Jagtap","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102719","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102719","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the current era, the meat supply chain plays a vital role in the food industry. The meat supply chain is experiencing significant challenges due to the increase in demand and Circular Economy (CE) challenges. In the meat supply chain, a huge waste is generated during the meat processing, and it is much needed to manage waste effectively, considering the large quantities of by-products, packaging, and residues generated. The current research focuses on identifying and examining the factors that enable a shift towards a CE for sustainable meat supply chain. The study uses IMF-SWARA and Triangular Fuzzy Bonferroni Mean (TFBM) methods to identify the key enablers and validated through industry and academic experts. Findings indicate that reverse logistics, followed by the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling (3Rs), and strong leadership commitment, are crucial enablers for adopting a CE in the Indian meat supply chain. This research offers policies and strategies to the managers and practitioners to adopt a sustainable meat supply chain for CE.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102719"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102676
Mohammad Abdus Shahid Rafi , Volkan Senyurek , Ardeshir Adeli , Huang Yanbo , John E. Ball , Ali C. Gurbuz
Accurate crop yield estimation is crucial for decision-making and planning in modern agriculture with increasing challenges with food security. Yield predictions provide farmers with insights into expected production, facilitating optimized resource allocation, improved agricultural management strategies, and enhanced profitability. This study investigates the application of machine learning (ML) techniques, including Feedforward Neural Networks (FNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Random Forest (RF) models, for predicting crop yields using multi-sensory time-series data that has been collected on two fields over a four-year timeframe. The focus is on corn (Zea mays) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) yield, two of the top critical crops in Mississippi region. A multi-sensory dataset was collected using multispectral cameras and LiDAR sensors mounted on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), along with soil moisture and temperature data from volumetric probes and environmental data from a nearby weather station. Over four years, more than 30 features were extracted weekly from five major categories, with 235 ground truth yield records from plots in the field. The study outlines the methodology for feature selection and examines its impact on yield prediction accuracy. Using percentile root mean square error (RRMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) as performance metrics, the study found that the proposed LSTM model produced lower field-wise errors (9 − 21 % MAPE) compared to other models and validation, indicating superior performance in predicting yields across selected weeks. The proposed ML-based approach, validated through year-based and field-wise cross-validation methods, demonstrates the effectiveness of using UAS-collected multi-sensor data for accurate yield estimation in corn and cotton.
{"title":"Investigation of machine learning based techniques for crop yield estimation of corn and cotton using multi-sensor data fusion","authors":"Mohammad Abdus Shahid Rafi , Volkan Senyurek , Ardeshir Adeli , Huang Yanbo , John E. Ball , Ali C. Gurbuz","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102676","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102676","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate crop yield estimation is crucial for decision-making and planning in modern agriculture with increasing challenges with food security. Yield predictions provide farmers with insights into expected production, facilitating optimized resource allocation, improved agricultural management strategies, and enhanced profitability. This study investigates the application of machine learning (ML) techniques, including Feedforward Neural Networks (FNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Random Forest (RF) models, for predicting crop yields using multi-sensory time-series data that has been collected on two fields over a four-year timeframe. The focus is on corn (<em>Zea mays</em>) and cotton (<em>Gossypium hirsutum</em>) yield, two of the top critical crops in Mississippi region. A multi-sensory dataset was collected using multispectral cameras and LiDAR sensors mounted on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), along with soil moisture and temperature data from volumetric probes and environmental data from a nearby weather station. Over four years, more than 30 features were extracted weekly from five major categories, with 235 ground truth yield records from plots in the field. The study outlines the methodology for feature selection and examines its impact on yield prediction accuracy. Using percentile root mean square error (RRMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) as performance metrics, the study found that the proposed LSTM model produced lower field-wise errors (9 − 21 % MAPE) compared to other models and validation, indicating superior performance in predicting yields across selected weeks. The proposed ML-based approach, validated through year-based and field-wise cross-validation methods, demonstrates the effectiveness of using UAS-collected multi-sensor data for accurate yield estimation in corn and cotton.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102676"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cooked poultry products, particularly boiled chicken breast, are highly prone to quality deterioration caused by lipid oxidation, protein degradation, and microbial spoilage. This study developed biodegradable films from pomelo peel pectin and sodium alginate enriched with tannic acid (0.5 % and 1.0 %) and evaluated their physicochemical properties and ability to preserve boiled chicken breast during refrigerated storage. The films were characterized for thickness, color, opacity, UV–visible light transmittance, moisture content, water solubility, water contact angle, barrier properties, mechanical properties, storage stability, antioxidant capacity, and biodegradability. Preservation performance was assessed through pH, color, shear force, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N). The results showed that adding tannic acid significantly reduced film moisture content, water vapor and oxygen permeability while enhancing tensile strength, UV-blocking ability, and antioxidant activity. All films demonstrated visual stability and good biodegradability. When applied to boiled chicken breast, tannic acid enriched films effectively delayed pH increase, discoloration, lipid oxidation, texture deterioration, and TVB-N accumulation compared with unwrapped samples and films without tannic acid. These preservative effects were attributed to the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of tannic acid, combined with the enhanced barrier and mechanical performance of the film matrix. In conclusion, the addition of 0.5–1.0 % tannic acid to pomelo peel pectin/sodium alginate films improved functional properties and meat preservation, demonstrating their potential as natural based active packaging for cooked poultry products.
{"title":"Development of biodegradable film based on pomelo peel pectin, sodium alginate, and tannic acid for preserving boiled chicken breast meat quality","authors":"Nattha Jariyapamornkoon, Nattawut Siriwat, Thipwarin Dara, Wichai Sutthitham","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102714","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102714","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cooked poultry products, particularly boiled chicken breast, are highly prone to quality deterioration caused by lipid oxidation, protein degradation, and microbial spoilage. This study developed biodegradable films from pomelo peel pectin and sodium alginate enriched with tannic acid (0.5 % and 1.0 %) and evaluated their physicochemical properties and ability to preserve boiled chicken breast during refrigerated storage. The films were characterized for thickness, color, opacity, UV–visible light transmittance, moisture content, water solubility, water contact angle, barrier properties, mechanical properties, storage stability, antioxidant capacity, and biodegradability. Preservation performance was assessed through pH, color, shear force, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N). The results showed that adding tannic acid significantly reduced film moisture content, water vapor and oxygen permeability while enhancing tensile strength, UV-blocking ability, and antioxidant activity. All films demonstrated visual stability and good biodegradability. When applied to boiled chicken breast, tannic acid enriched films effectively delayed pH increase, discoloration, lipid oxidation, texture deterioration, and TVB-N accumulation compared with unwrapped samples and films without tannic acid. These preservative effects were attributed to the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of tannic acid, combined with the enhanced barrier and mechanical performance of the film matrix. In conclusion, the addition of 0.5–1.0 % tannic acid to pomelo peel pectin/sodium alginate films improved functional properties and meat preservation, demonstrating their potential as natural based active packaging for cooked poultry products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102714"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102715
Huiying Ji , Hualong Chen , Lili Chen , Abraham Allan Degen , Yan Li , Xiuxiu Weng , Yi Ma , Jianwei Zhou
Traditionally, Tibetan sheep grazed natural pasture without supplements, but growth performance was poor. Feedlot finishing was introduced to improve the average daily gain (ADG) rate of these sheep, but there was concern that it may compromise the nutritional value and characteristic meat flavor. Flaxseed, rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, has been reported to improve meat quality and flavor, but its effects on bodyweight change, serum parameters, and nitrogen (N) metabolism in fattening Tibetan sheep remain unclear. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap. Twenty castrated male Tibetan sheep (43.6 ± 2.11 kg) were assigned randomly to a control (CON) group and an 8 % flaxseed-supplemented (FS) (n = 10 per group) for 50 days. CON sheep had greater (P < 0.05) dry matter intake, nitrogen (N) excretion, and N retention, tended to reduce ADG, while feed conversion rate (FCR) and N utilization efficiency did not differ between groups. FS sheep had lesser (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of total protein, globulin, glucose and malondialdehyde, but a greater (P < 0.01) concentration of glutathione peroxidase. Urinary purine derivatives excretion tended to be greater (P < 0.01) in CON than FS sheep, whereas rumen microbial N production, microbial protein synthesis efficiency and renal urea-N reabsorption did not differ between groups. In conclusion, flaxseed tended to reduce growth performance and increase FCR but improved antioxidant capacity without affecting N utilization efficiency in feedlot Tibetan sheep.
{"title":"Effect of supplementary flaxseed on growth performance, serum parameters, and nitrogen metabolism in Tibetan sheep fattened in a feedlot","authors":"Huiying Ji , Hualong Chen , Lili Chen , Abraham Allan Degen , Yan Li , Xiuxiu Weng , Yi Ma , Jianwei Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102715","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102715","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditionally, Tibetan sheep grazed natural pasture without supplements, but growth performance was poor. Feedlot finishing was introduced to improve the average daily gain (ADG) rate of these sheep, but there was concern that it may compromise the nutritional value and characteristic meat flavor. Flaxseed, rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, has been reported to improve meat quality and flavor, but its effects on bodyweight change, serum parameters, and nitrogen (N) metabolism in fattening Tibetan sheep remain unclear. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap. Twenty castrated male Tibetan sheep (43.6 ± 2.11 kg) were assigned randomly to a control (CON) group and an 8 % flaxseed-supplemented (FS) (n = 10 per group) for 50 days. CON sheep had greater (<em>P</em> < 0.05) dry matter intake, nitrogen (N) excretion, and N retention, tended to reduce ADG, while feed conversion rate (FCR) and N utilization efficiency did not differ between groups. FS sheep had lesser (<em>P</em> < 0.05) serum concentrations of total protein, globulin, glucose and malondialdehyde, but a greater (<em>P</em> < 0.01) concentration of glutathione peroxidase. Urinary purine derivatives excretion tended to be greater (<em>P</em> < 0.01) in CON than FS sheep, whereas rumen microbial N production, microbial protein synthesis efficiency and renal urea-N reabsorption did not differ between groups. In conclusion, flaxseed tended to reduce growth performance and increase FCR but improved antioxidant capacity without affecting N utilization efficiency in feedlot Tibetan sheep.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 102715"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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