Food and Energy Security最新文献

Adjusting the sowing date is a crucial strategy for improving rice adaptability to climate change and improving grain yield. Among the quality traits of fragrant rice, the content of 2-Acetyl-1-Pyrroline (2-AP) in brown rice has garnered significant attention due to its impact on flavor and market value. The comprehensive effects of weather changes induced by adjusting the sowing date on the synthesis and accumulation of 2-AP in fragrant rice, as well as on yield, remain unclear. We conducted a 5-year field study in Hubei Province, China, measuring sunshine duration, temperature, and rainfall variations under six sowing dates. The research aimed to assess the comprehensive effects of these changes on the 2-AP content in brown rice and fragrant rice yield. Delaying the sowing date resulted in shortening the rice growth duration from transplanting to heading. Early sowing (March 16) resulted in the highest rice yield, while late sowing (June 1) led to the highest 2-AP content. Generally, with delayed sowing, the effective panicles and 1000-grain weight increased, while the number of spikelets per panicle and grain filling rate decreased. The contents of proline, pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid, and γ-aminobutyric acid exhibited a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing with delayed sowing. The 2-AP content was significantly positively correlated with rainfall during the grain filling to maturity stage, while it showed significant negative correlations with sunshine duration, average air temperature, and the number of high temperature days (maximum air temperature ≥ 35°C) during the same stage. Since the sowing date for the highest yield differed from that for the highest 2-AP content, we recommend early sowing to achieve optimal yield while implementing other strategies to mitigate the negative effects of prolonged sunshine duration and high temperatures during the grain filling to maturity stage on 2-AP content. This study reveals the relationship between 2-AP content and the yield of fragrant rice with weather factors during different growth stages, providing new insights for adjusting sowing dates to adapt to climate change in order to achieve either high yield or high 2-AP content.

Intercropping cereals and legumes can increase agricultural productivity, but the effects of silicon (Si) fertilizer application on intercropped crop yield and interspecific root interactions in cereal/legume intercropping systems are unclear. Hence, field and pot experiments were conducted with dry-cultivated rice and soybean grown alone or intercropped under two Si levels (0 and 45 kg ha⁻¹) to investigate the effects of Si application on the yield, root morphology, and distribution of dry-cultivated rice/soybean intercropping systems. The results revealed that the total yields of the intercropping and monoculture systems were 15% and 13% greater, respectively, under Si application (Si45) than under no Si addition (Si0). Compared with the yield under monoculture, the total yield under intercropping increased by 5% and 7% under Si0 and Si45, respectively. This overyielding leads to a land equivalent ratio > 1 under both Si levels. This increase was primarily due to a 24% increase in intercropped soybean yield, despite a 7% decrease in rice yield averaging the two Si levels. The crop yield was positively correlated with root morphological traits, and the root surface area was the most significant predictor of crop yield. Intercropped soybean demonstrated a competitive advantage over rice. Thus, the root morphology traits of soybean were promoted, whereas these parameters in rice were inhibited by intercropping. Compared with Si0, Si application significantly promoted the root morphology and distribution traits of both crops in the intercropping system. Overall, the application of Si during dry-cultivated rice/soybean intercropping significantly enhanced yield production by modifying the root morphology and distribution.

The integration of cover crops during forage establishment represents a widely adopted agronomic strategy to suppress weed emergence, enhance stand establishment, and improve grassland community stability. In this study, a two-year field experiment (2023–2024) was conducted in Jiaozhou, Shandong Province, China, to evaluate the effects of varying sowing proportions of oat (Avena sativa), employed as a protective cover crop, on forage productivity and weed dynamics in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) mixed grasslands. The oat sowing ratios were set at 0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% in 2023, and subsequently refined to 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% in 2024, based on first-year performance. Two spatial configurations (same-row and inter-row sowing) were examined to assess resource partitioning effects. Results demonstrated that inter-row sowing combined with moderate oat inclusion (15%–20%) significantly improved system performance. In 2023, inter-row sowing with 15% oat yielded 16.57 t/ha, while in 2024, inter-row sowing with 20% oat achieved the maximum dry matter yield of 18.4 t/ha. Crude protein concentration also improved by 25.6%, reaching 20.13%. Meanwhile, grass and broadleaf weed biomass decreased by 87.2% and 83.4%, respectively, with total weed biomass and coverage reduced by 64.5% and 60.8%. Additionally, the land equivalent ratio (LER) peaked at 1.48, reflecting a 48% increase in land-use efficiency compared to monoculture systems. Collectively, these findings indicate that incorporating 15%–20% oat as a cover crop, particularly under inter-row sowing patterns, offers a practical and ecologically sound strategy for optimizing forage yield, improving nutritional quality, and achieving robust weed suppression. This approach contributes to sustainable intensification and reduced dependence on chemical herbicides in temperate forage systems.

Rice-crayfish system (RCS) is an integrated farming technology that benefits grain production, food safety, and green sustainable agricultural development. However, little is known about the effects of RCS on the biosynthesis of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP), a volatile aroma compound. The present study examined rice yield, 2-AP content, and its biosynthesis enzyme activities in two rice cultivars Xiangyaxiangzhan (XYXZ) and Meixiangzhan-2 (MXZ2) under rice-crayfish system (RCS), rice-crayfish system without crayfish (RCS-NC), and traditional rice system (TRS). The results showed that the 2-AP content was significantly higher in RCS than in RCS-NC and TRS. In RCS, the contents of proline and Δ1-pyrroline (2-AP biosynthesis precursors) and the activities of rice aroma-related enzymes proline dehydrogenase (ProDH), and Δ1 pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid synthetase (P5CS) were increased by 11.31%–12.55%, 19.53%–47.75%, 6.25%–8.98%, and 18.18%–51.26%, respectively, relative to those in RCS-NC. Up-regulation of P5CS2 and downregulation of BADH2 in RCS promoted 2-AP biosynthesis in two rice cultivars. Overall, the increase in the levels of proline, Δ1-pyrroline, ProDH, P5CS, P5CS2 gene and the decrease in BADH2 gene expression jointly led to the grain 2-AP content increase. RCS also improved soil properties such as soil total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents. Overall, this study reveals that RCS is an environmentally-friendly sustainable approach to improving aromatic rice traits.

The global push toward renewable energy systems has prompted a desire to more efficiently use land through the co-location of agricultural and industrial activities. Agrivoltaic systems (AV), crops grown underneath/adjacent to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, present a unique value proposition to produce food and energy in a single location. Here, we conducted a field trial within a PV site, empirically testing AV methods using small-scale sustainable farming practices in a peri-urban landscape in Hawaiʻi. By mimicking commercial production conditions, we identified the most profitable lettuce genotype (e.g., Magenta) and created an enterprise budget to generate realistic financial expectations for those (company, municipality, university) aiming to create energy-generating foodscapes. These empirical data generated in a commercial setting can be used as valuable inputs for future planning work in a range of different geographies.

In the rapidly evolving and competitive sector of agricultural production, optimizing operational efficiencies is crucial for the sustainability of enterprises. This study introduces a novel approach to enhance the profitability and sustainability of perishable food production enterprises by optimizing harvest planning and logistics activities, which are significantly influenced by weather conditions. Using the weighted fuzzy c-means (WFCM) method, a two-stage solution approach was developed to improve the decision-making process in both short- and long-term operational planning. In the first stage, clustering analysis was conducted to determine optimal facility locations and assign fields to these facilities, thereby facilitating the efficient processing of perishable food products. Following this, an integer linear programming model was developed to optimize the harvest plan, considering the variable weather-related costs and maximizing the total operating profit. This innovative approach not only considers the economic value of the product, which fluctuates over time, but also integrates weather precipitation data to dynamically adjust the harvesting plan, thereby minimizing costs and maximizing revenues. The model was rigorously tested using real data from 16 sugar factories in Türkiye and their corresponding sugar beet fields. The results demonstrated a substantial potential increase in operating profit by 27.47% compared with the current scenario. Furthermore, the model promises to reduce economic losses associated with improper storage and stacking and to stabilize seasonal fluctuations in vehicle supply and freight prices by distributing vehicle demand over a longer period. This study adds a significant layer to the existing literature, offering a comprehensive solution that addresses the complex interplay of various factors in agricultural production and setting the stage for more resilient and sustainable operations in the perishable food sector.

China's high-standard farmland construction (HSFC) stands as a cornerstone in safeguarding national grain security and nurturing sustainable agricultural development. A quantitative evaluation of HSFC policies serves as a potent methodology for refining and enhancing the policy architecture. This paper selects 174 policy documents on HSFC issued by the State Council and various ministries and commissions of China from 2011 to 2024. Firstly, the ROSTCM 6.0 tool is utilized to perform text mining. Subsequently, based on the keywords extracted from the text mining, a PMC index evaluation model for HSFC policies is constructed to quantitatively evaluate these 174 policies. Furthermore, according to the characteristics of policy development, the process is divided into three stages, and an in-depth analysis is carried out on these three stages. The highlights of this article lie in the use of the PMC index model and the integration of policy stage analysis. The PMC index model can intuitively show the overall situation of the policy as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each policy, which meets the research needs of the HSFC policy. By studying the textual development process of HSFC policy, this article identifies that the PMC index for HSFC policies was rated as “good and perfect” during 2011–2024. PMC surfaces show different states at different policy stages, generally with ups and downs at the time of policy formulation, and gradually smoothing out thereafter. Based on the characteristics of the different stages of development of the policies, this paper puts forward corresponding recommendations for the optimization of the HSFC policies and other policies.

International food trade is widely recognized as a crucial mechanism for ensuring global food security. However, its impacts on food security remain a topic of ongoing debate and warrant further exploration. Therefore, this study examined the spatial and temporal patterns of international food trade's role in ensuring food security for countries facing domestic food shortages. First, it was confirmed that the global food crisis was not caused by food production scarcity; the international food trade distribution inequity in the context of free trade may be the key factor in food insecurity. Second, the results revealed that international soybean trade contributed more than the other three international food trades in ensuring food security in the past 60 years, with the average ratios of trade amount to domestic shortages of rice, wheat, maize, and soybean being 84%, 96%, 92%, and 100%, respectively. Third, spatial heterogeneity was found in the role that international food trade played in ensuring food security. Almost all countries with domestic food shortages have alleviated the dilemma of food shortfall through international food trade, but some countries were still faced with the predicament, particularly some low- and medium-income countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, where the situation of food shortages deepened after participating in food trade activities. Addressing global food security requires equitable trade policies, strengthened antitrust regulations to curb transnational corporations’ dominance, and sustainable agricultural practices to enhance food distribution. Additionally, mitigating speculative activities, reassessing biofuel policies, and reducing food loss and waste are essential for fostering a more resilient global food system. This study offers insights into contemporary debates surrounding international food trade, underscoring the need for comprehensive policies and better programs across all sectors to facilitate food trading and promote global food security.

Shading from taller cereal plants often reduces the growth of shorter, intercropped legumes and the productivity of cereal-legume intercropping systems. To mitigate the effect of shade on companion crops, pruning (leaf cutting) maize plants at a seedling stage is an increasingly common practice. However, it is not clear if this leaf-removal strategy benefits leguminous crop yield without causing a loss in cereal crop yield. A 2-year field experiment was performed to investigate the impact of cutting maize leaves at V4 stage (T_V4) and V5 stage (T_V5) on the growth and yield of intercropped peanuts. Across 2 years, peanut yield was 22.9% higher in T_V4 and 33.5% higher in T_V5 treatments than it was in a nonleaf-cutting control, whereas maize grain yield was not affected, with a slight increase in T_V4 and a slight decrease in T_V5. Compared with uncut controls, maize plant height was reduced by 30.2 cm (23.9%) in the T_V4 treatment and 49.2 cm (35.5%) in the T_V5 treatment, whereas photosynthetically active radiation reaching peanuts strips increased by 16.6% and 22.8%, respectively; the net photosynthetic rates of peanuts increased by 17.4% on average. Seedling leaf cutting shortened maize roots but increased peanut root length (28.6%) and surface area (30.8%) over time. The positive effects of seedling leaf cutting contributed to an increase in nitrogen absorption by 26.6% and 20.8% greater total biomass of peanuts. Cutting leaves at stage V4 resulted in a greater intercropping-system land equivalent ratio than cutting them at the V5 stage, whereas leaf cutting at the V5 stage contributes to a greater increase in the intercropped peanut yield. We demonstrate that cutting leaves of intercropped maize at the seedling stage improves peanut yield by optimizing the canopy light environment and modifying belowground root development of peanuts.

Farm production diversity is widely recognized as a critical factor in enhancing household dietary quality, yet limited empirical evidence exists on its role in addressing food and nutrition security among smallholder farmers in Pakistan, particularly in rain-fed regions. These areas face unique challenges, including climate variability, water scarcity, and economic vulnerability, which exacerbate food and nutrition insecurity. Existing studies largely focus on other regions or contexts and often fail to capture the nuanced relationship between farm production diversity and dietary outcomes in areas with constrained market access. This study investigates the impact of farm production diversity on household dietary diversity in three rain-fed regions of southern Punjab: Layyah, Bhakkar, and Khushab. Using data from 450 smallholder households collected through a multi-stage sampling technique, we assess dietary outcomes such as calorie intake, micronutrient consumption, and dietary diversity scores. The study analysis incorporates production diversity indicators and regression models to examine the link between farm diversification and household nutrition, while accounting for the role of market access and climate variability. The findings confirm that farm production diversity significantly enhances dietary diversity and nutrition security, particularly when coupled with improved market access. This study offers novel contributions by providing context-specific insights for rain-fed agricultural systems and highlighting actionable pathways for policy interventions. To enhance dietary quality and mitigate food insecurity, policymakers should prioritize initiatives to strengthen market access, promote the adoption of climate-resilient farming systems, and encourage the integration of diverse, nutrient-rich crops into agricultural practices.