Journal of Agriculture and Food Research最新文献

Digitalisation in agriculture is transforming the way farming is practised worldwide, and its potential benefits for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are particularly promising. Yet, scientific evidence on the digital technologies utilised by smallholder food producers in SSA and the associated challenges still needs improvement. This review attempts to provide a thorough overview of the technologies currently being employed by smallholder farmers in SSA while also exploring the associated challenges and opportunities. Through a systematic literature search, 27 relevant studies were analysed to identify the region-wise current technologies, challenges, and opportunities. Results show that various digital technologies are employed, including digital extension services and digital marketing of agricultural products. These technologies improve access to information and markets and enhance productivity. However, challenges hinder widespread adoption. Limited internet connectivity, low digital literacy, inadequate infrastructure, and affordability issues impede progress. Gender disparities further limit the equitable distribution of digitalisation benefits. Despite these challenges, significant opportunities arise from adopting digital technologies. The potential advantages are market access, better decision-making capabilities, and increased income and livelihoods. Digitalisation offers transformative possibilities for smallholder farmers in SSA. Overcoming barriers such as limited connectivity and low digital literacy is crucial. By harnessing the opportunities digital technologies can offer, the livelihoods of smallholder farmers can be uplifted, contributing to the growth of agriculture in SSA.

This review provides insights into the classification and biological properties of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) in farm animal nutrition. It serves as a single reference dealing with a broad range of PSMs affecting animal health and performance. PSMs have been classified in seven main groups including glycosides, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, phytic acid, non-starch polysaccharides, lectins, and enzyme inhibitors. The occurrence and anti-nutritional effects of PSMs, which are associated with plant, environment, animal, and processing factors, have been discussed. Methods for neutralizing PSMs have also been reviewed. Besides, the review provides insights into the adaptations to PSMs by farm animals through modulations in the gut microbiome. Such findings may be exploited to develop novel feed additives. This review also reveals beneficial properties of PSMs and such beneficial attributes can be used to promote animal and human health.

In the present study, Suaeda maritima polysaccharides (SMPs) were identified, characterised and evaluated for their immune-modulating effects on RAW264.7 macrophages and the underlying biological processes. Two acidic polysaccharides (SMP-F1 and SMP-F2) were obtained via ion-exchange chromatography from the crude polysaccharide (SMP-C). The SMP-C and its fractions mainly contained carbohydrates, proteins and sulphates, in variable proportions. Glucose, mannose, galactose and arabinose were the primary monosaccharide units, accompanied by smaller amounts of rhamnose and xylose. The molecular weight (Mw) of the SMPs ranged from 76.2 × 10³ to 245.0 × 10³ g/mol. SMPs can significantly induce the production of NO by up-regulating iNOS expression. The results showed that SMPs could increase TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 expression. In addition, SMP-F2 significantly boosts inflammatory reactions more than SMP-C or SMP-F1. Further study revealed that SMP-F2 was found to stimulate macrophage phagocytosis and the expression of CD11b, CD14, CD40 and TLR4. The major chains of the strongest immunostimulant, SMP-F2, were mainly 1,3-linked Manp, 1,4-linked Glcp and 1,4-linked Galp. The side chain of SMP-F2 was 1,3,6-linked Manp and 1,4,6-linked Galp, with terminals of arabinose, mannose and glucose. These findings show that SMPs, particularly SMP-F2, promote the ability to modulate immunological responses.

Collective action initiatives (CAIs) are important in ameliorating the negative externalities in agriculture to promote social and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the empirical basis exploring the context-specificity underpinning the CAIs is barely established. This study characterized the organizational attributes of the CAIs and their implications on policy targeting. The study employed mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches based on survey data drawn from 532 multistage randomly and proportionately sampled smallholder households, ten focus group discussions and two key informant interviews from the central region of Kenya. Multiple correspondence analysis and cluster analysis were used in exploring the organizational attributes of the CAIs. A multivariate probit model was employed to explore how organizational and household socio-economic characteristics influence participation patterns across the collective action typologies. The results revealed two typologies of collective action namely, efficiency and livelihood that were highly distinct in their level of formalization, membership composition, nature and scope of coordination, level of social capital, level of social networking and internal governance mechanisms. The households’ participation patterns across the efficiency and livelihood typology were differentially influenced by household demographics, farm and farming factors, assets, institutional and infrastructural factors. The findings suggest that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ collective action policy is inadequate and suggests a portfolio of context-specific collective action promotional policies. The policies would confer potential complementarities, synergistic and spillover effects in developing the CAIs to address multiple developmental objectives simultaneously.

The performance of most crop genotypes is greatly influenced by the interactions between genotype and environment. Providing information on well-adapted and high-yielding potato genotypes in a given environment is paramount for small-holder farmers to enhance their productivity. The study aimed to understand GEI effect on tuber yield, and identify and select widely or specifically adapted high-yielding potato genotypes for production. Eleven genotypes were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of the AMMI analysis of variance showed that tuber yield significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced genotype-environment interaction. This reveals that genotypes exhibit varying mean performance in tuber yield across different environments. The sum squared results showed that genotype (62.40 %) and environment (26.73 %) were the main contributors to tuber yield variation, while the genotype-environment interaction effect (10.87 %) contributed least to then tuber yield total variation. The AMMI, GGE biplot, and GSI analysis revealed Gudanie and Gorebella as superior genotypes in tuber yield, demonstrating high mean performance across tested environments. Thus, Gudanie and Gorebella have been chosen as the most broadly adaptable genotypes for production in all potato-growing agroecologies in the Dawuro zone. The GGE and AMMI biplot provided the genotype-by-environment interaction association among environments and genotypes.

Ensuring food safety in a world facing escalating demand and complex supply chains is a pressing challenge. Despite increasing awareness, obstacles such as information distribution, financial limitations, and insufficient infrastructure impede food safety efforts. Blockchain technology presents a promising solution by improving transparency and traceability in supply chains, which are essential for tackling food safety issues. This study explores the integration of blockchain into food safety frameworks, emphasising its compatibility and potential to transform food production and distribution. Drawing on literature, it identifies key challenges to blockchain adoption, including regulatory frameworks and interoperability issues, and proposes strategies such as government intervention and standardisation to overcome them. Ultimately, blockchain holds immense promise in revolutionizing food safety practices, ensuring safe and nutritious food for all.

This study investigated the effects of wheat cultivar and enzyme supplementation on growth, carcass traits, intestinal morphology, and blood parameters in broiler chickens. A total of 648 male chicks were assigned to 9 diets: four Iranian wheat cultivars (Sardari, Azar2, Pishgam, Sirvan) with and without enzyme supplementation, plus a corn-based control (6 replicates/diet, 12 birds/pen). Diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Chicks were fed for 39 days. Corn-based diets generally led to higher feed intake (FI) throughout the study compared to most wheat-based diets. However, during the finishing period (25–39 days), broilers fed diets containing Sardari and Azar2 wheat achieved the best weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to those fed Sirvan cultivar. Most of the carcass traits were not affected by the experimental treatments. Blood glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, and high-density cholesterol (HDL) levels were all noticeably affected by the type of wheat in the diet. Jejunum length and cecum weight were greatest in birds fed different wheat cultivars, while the corn-based diet resulted in the shortest jejunum and cecum length. Adding enzymes to the Pishgam cultivar diet increased the length of the ileum. significant interactions between wheat cultivar and enzyme were observed for jejunal villi characteristics (length, thickness, number) and muscle layer thickness, Broilers fed the Sardari diet exhibited the deepest crypts and lowest villi length-to-crypt depth ratio. The study concluded that there is a significant effect of wheat cultivar diversity on broiler performance traits, blood chemistry, carcass characteristics, and gut health. The findings also suggest that the selected enzyme may not be effective in all wheat cultivars due to the absence of a consistent wheat cultivar-enzyme interaction.

Microalgae are a diverse group of microorganisms with a wide range of physical characteristics and interactions with their surroundings. They hold great promise as strategic crops capable of producing substantial quantities of valuable biomolecules, such as protein and omega-rich oils, which have extensive applications across multiple industries. This perspective aims to provide an overview of recent advancements in the utilization of photobioreactors for the large-scale cultivation of microalgae. It also delves into the implications of this technology on factors such as land efficiency, environmental impact, and the biochemical composition of microalgae. In this manuscript, the potential solution to these challenges lies in the adoption of vertical semi-closed photobioreactors, which seamlessly integrate photobioreactor technology with principles of vertical farming. This perspective effectively underscores the pivotal role of photobioreactors in mitigating global climate change, as they contribute to processes such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration, conversion of greenhouse gases into increased biomass production, enhancement of air quality, and the modulation of climatic parameters. Furthermore, photobioreactors have the capacity to boost the production of bioactive compounds and biomass yields. For future considerations, we propose that the application of microalgae kinetics should be employed to gain a deeper understanding of microalgae production. This knowledge forms a critical foundation for the design and optimization of photobioreactors and the manipulation of microalgae metabolites, thus offering a pathway toward sustainable and efficient microalgae-based bioprocessing.

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is a popular vegetable in Bangladesh being nutritious, tasty, and cultivable throughout the year. Insect pests are the major constraint to its successful cultivation and production. The present study was conducted during the winter season when the sucking insect pests especially cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) are most abundant. Aphid infestation was observed in the brinjal plants since the early vegetative stage and sometimes the infestation rate reached up to 100 percent. Moreover, the infestation rate fluctuated with plants or duration. Aphids suck the cell saps resulting in stunting the growth of plants and yield reduction. As brinjal is consumed without peeling, contamination with toxic insecticides is a health concern. To address this, some bioinsecticides including abamectin preparation ‘Biomax M’, sodium lauryl ether sulphate preparation ‘Fizimite’, azadirachtin preparation ‘Fytomax’, Saccharopolyspora spinosa and Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki broth mixture preparation ‘Spinomax’, and potassium salt of fatty acid preparation ‘Fytoclean’ were selected to combat aphids. Besides, Voliam Flexi was applied as chemical control. A field study showed that abamectin preparation Biomax M was very potent against aphids showing zero percent aphid infestation. In addition, the chemical control Voliam Flexi 300 SC also provided zero percent aphid infestation. Therefore, Biomax M might be the non-toxic alternative to Voliam Flexi 300 SC for controlling aphids.

White yam (Dioscorea rotundata L.) is widely cultivated, and is a staple food in the Republic of Benin. However, its production is highly sensitive to soil infertility, leading to low yields over the years. In order to address the challenges of land reduction and climate change, it is crucial to introduce more adapted yam varieties to traditional Beninese agriculture. Water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) varieties are viable options, as they need less soil fertility and yield more than D. rotundata, but have a poor culinary performance. The aim of this study is to assess the agronomic and culinary performance of 15 improved water yam genotypes developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) compared to local cultivars. In 2022 and 2023, multilocal trials (4 sites) were performed in the yam-growing areas, and nine villages were selected for culinary evaluation. Linear mixed-effects models and generalized mixed-effects models showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in location, year of experimentation, and certain evaluated agronomic parameters. The improved varieties had a strong likelihood of producing small tubers that could be used as seeds. The agronomic and culinary performance of local water yam accessions has been superior to that of improved varieties. Due to its numerous medium tubers, TDa_1508044 could be introduced for production of yam chips. TDa_1510080, which showed a stable high yield throughout the trial sites, and TDa_1510119, which gave a great number of marketable large-size tubers, showed the best agronomic performance with a yield of more than 25 t/ha. TDa_1510043, TDa_0000194, and TDa_1515030 improved varieties that performed well in both culinary and agronomic ways could be widely adopted by farmers in the yam-growing areas of Benin.