Food Science and Agriculture: Research Highlights Vol. 7

Moringa Oleifera as a Climate-Smart Bio-Input for Enhancing Soil Fertility, Environmental Resilience and Crop Productivity in Smallholder Farming Systems

2026-06-12T10:40:51+00:00

Smallholder farmers are typically defined as producers cultivating relatively small landholdings, often less than five hectares, relying primarily on family labour and limited external inputs. These farming systems are predominantly rainfed, making them highly sensitive to climatic variability and environmental change. Land degradation is the broader process encompassing soil fertility decline, erosion, and structural deterioration. Soil erosion, the removal of topsoil by water or wind, is particularly damaging because topsoil contains the highest concentrations of organic matter and nutrients. Moringa is recognised as a climate-smart plant because of its ability to tolerate drought, poor soils, and high temperatures while maintaining biomass production. Moringa extracts contain phytohormones such as cytokinins and other bioactive compounds that function as bio-stimulants. Bio-stimulants enhance plant metabolic processes, including root growth and nutrient transport within the plant. Enhanced root development increases the root surface area available for nutrient absorption, while improved physiological activity raises nutrient use efficiency, defined as the plant’s ability to convert absorbed nutrients into biomass and yield. The chapter also highlighted productivity outcomes, showing that moringa interventions are associated with meaningful yield gains across cereals and horticultural crops. Overall, moringa offers a flexible and locally relevant pathway for strengthening productivity, resilience, and sustainability in smallholder farming systems.

Microbial Safety and Nutritional Integrity of Locally Produced Infant Flours in Ouagadougou: Effects of Production and Storage

2026-06-12T10:50:31+00:00

Protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies continue to pose significant public health challenges for young children in Burkina Faso and other low-income countries in West Africa. Although locally produced infant flours, which are typically formulated from blends of cereals and legumes, are increasingly promoted as affordable options for complementary feeding, recent studies have highlighted concerns regarding their variable microbiological quality and suboptimal nutrient density, particularly during storage. In this study, the microbiological safety, physicochemical composition, and storage stability were evaluated over two months of selected infant flours marketed in Ouagadougou. Products from six production units were included, and samples from six randomly selected supermarkets were collected at three time points: immediately after production (T0), after one month of retail storage (M1), and after two months (M2). Microbiological analyses, including counts of aerobic mesophilic flora at 30°C, Escherichia coli, yeasts, and moulds, were conducted at the National Agency for Environmental, Food, Occupational Health and Health Product Safety (ANSSEAT, ex-LNSP). Physicochemical parameters such as moisture, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, total ash, and iron content were determined at the Department of Food Technology (DTA/CNRST) using standardised reference methods from AFNOR and ISO, with results compared against Codex Alimentarius CXS 74-1981 criteria. Our findings revealed that at production (T0), approximately 83% of the samples complied with Codex limits for aerobic mesophilic flora (≤10⁵ CFU/g) and E. coli (absent in 1 g), demonstrating acceptable hygiene practices in most production units. However, counts of yeasts and moulds increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 1.8–2.5 log CFU/g at T0 to 3.2–4.1 log CFU/g at M2, with 44% of samples exceeding the recommended threshold of 10³ CFU/g. While carbohydrate contents ranged from 60% to 78% and lipid contents from 12% to 20% both meeting or surpassing Codex minima and supporting adequate energy density (>400 kcal/100 g dry matter) protein levels (8–13% vs. ≥15%) were inadequate in half of the units, and iron contents (2.3-4.8 mg/100 g vs. ≥8 mg/100 g) fell short in all samples. Moisture levels rose modestly from 4-6% at T0 to 5-9% at M2, likely contributing to microbial proliferation through permeable packaging. These results are consistent with recent findings from West African contexts, which underscore vulnerabilities along the food value chain. To enhance the safety and nutritional efficacy of these products, we recommend implementing airtight multi-layer packaging, systematic micronutrient fortification, and strengthened regulatory oversight throughout production and distribution.

Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Climate Change in Viticulture Systems

2026-06-12T10:53:50+00:00

Climate change is increasingly affecting viticulture through rising temperatures, heat waves, drought, and extreme climatic events, with significant consequences for grapevine phenology, physiology, yield, berry composition, and wine quality. This review critically synthesises current knowledge regarding the physiological, agronomic, and oenological impacts of climate change on viticulture systems, with emphasis on the interaction between heat stress, water deficit, genotype, and vineyard management practices. Particular attention is given to cultivar- and rootstock-dependent responses, environmental interactions, and the contrasting results reported under different climatic and management conditions. The review evaluates adaptation and mitigation strategies currently proposed for sustainable viticulture, including the use of drought-tolerant rootstocks, cultivar and clonal selection, vineyard relocation to cooler regions or higher altitudes, regulated deficit irrigation, cover crops, carbon sequestration practices, kaolin application, and overhead cooling systems. Evidence from field and controlled-environment studies indicates that these strategies may improve grapevine resilience by modulating water relations, canopy temperature, photosynthetic performance, and berry composition. However, their effectiveness is highly dependent on stress intensity, timing, cultivar, and local environmental conditions, highlighting the difficulty of establishing universal recommendations. The review also identifies important knowledge gaps related to the long-term effects of combined heat and drought stress, genotype × environment × management interactions, and the limited integration of physiological and agronomic approaches across viticultural regions. Overall, sustainable adaptation to climate change will require integrative and site-specific strategies capable of preserving grape quality, vineyard productivity, and environmental sustainability under increasingly complex climatic scenarios.

Impact of Land Degradation on Farmers' Livelihoods in Jhajjar District of Haryana

2026-06-12T10:57:37+00:00

Land degradation has become a serious challenge to sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods, particularly in regions affected by soil salinity, waterlogging, and declining soil fertility. In Haryana, intensive agricultural practices and improper land and water management have accelerated the degradation of productive farmland, adversely impacting crop productivity and farmers’ income. This chapter evaluates the economic effects of the problem of land degradation on growing Bajra and mustard in Jhajjar district of Haryana, where the problem of waterlogging, salinity, and drainage is associated with the emergence of problematic farm conditions. This district was chosen as the study area since it exemplifies one of the most affected districts within the state, which makes possible a comparison of farming productivity between normal and problematic farms. The primary data on these two types of farms were gathered using the well structured questionnaire from 60 farmers for the agricultural year 2024-2025, while the economics evaluation was performed by means of applying the comparative cost-return analysis of both crops. Measures such as variable cost, fixed cost, total cost, gross return, net return, returns over variable cost, and benefit-cost ratio were used. According to the obtained results, normal farms had greater total costs yet significantly better gross return and net return compared to problematic farms in terms of growing both Bajra and mustard. Also, the crop of mustard was proved to be more economically efficient than that of Bajra.

Effect of Bee–Carnauba Wax and Chitosan Coatings with Phenyllactic Acid on ‘Canh’ Orange Quality during Cold Storage

2026-06-16T08:29:38+00:00

The post-harvest shelf life of the fruit under ambient storage conditions is relatively short due to rapid decay, weight loss, and stalk abscission. The research aimed to compare the concentration effects of phenyl lactic acid combined with mixed wax (bees and carnauba wax; MW) with chitosan wax at cold temperature on the quality and storage time of postharvest ‘Canh’ orange fruit. At present, no stable or widely adopted technologies are available in Vietnam to effectively extend the shelf life of the orange fruit cv. Canh. Comparison 2% chitosan wax and 8% bees-carnauba mixed wax (MW) when combined with 2.5% phenyl lactic acid (PLA) on postharvest qualities of orange fruit cv. Canh during low temperature storage (5 ± 1°C) for 60 days was estimated. While untreated fruits were used as a control. Percentage of weight loss and fruit decay, total sugar, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid, and total microorganisms were monitored during the preservative time. The results showed that 2.5% PLA in combination with 8% MW had a higher preservative effectiveness when compared to 2.5% PLA in combination with 2% chitosan and control fruits, which was expressed as a lower percentage of weight loss and fruit decay, and lower total microorganisms for 60 days in storage. Moreover, fruits maintained nutrient ingredients expressed as total sugars, titratable acidity, TSS and ascorbic acid content. Postharvest decay of oranges was also reduced by the use of appropriate pre- and post-harvest fungicides, proper sanitation of the wash water and appropriate storage temperature and RH conditions. The addition of postharvest fungicides to the wax, emulsion to control post-harvest rot as Penicillium sp. in stored citrus fruit also proved helpful. Decay and total microorganisms increased slowly at PLA concentrations in association with MW at cold temperatures.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Assisted Technique for Inactivation of Food-Borne Pathogens

2026-06-16T08:31:22+00:00

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a nonthermal technology that shows promise for use in food processing. Although several studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial potential of cold atmospheric plasma against selected microorganisms, limited information is available regarding the comparative inactivation efficiency of Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) atmospheric cold plasma on different food-related pathogenic microorganisms under identical treatment conditions. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the cold atmospheric plasma (ACP) technique on the inactivation of selected microorganisms. A DBD cold plasma system operated with argon gas at 17 kV, 50 Hz, 55 W, and a gas flow rate of 10 L/min was used for microbial treatment on nutrient agar surfaces. The inactivation of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and four foodborne pathogens, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, was evaluated at different treatment times. In addition, the synergistic effect of aerosolised hydrogen peroxide (2% and 5%) combined with DBD plasma treatment was investigated. The results revealed that yeast can be effectively inactivated on an agar plate within 5 minutes of cold plasma treatment. Adding H₂O₂ in concentrations of 2 or 5% on an agar plate improved the inactivation of microorganisms using cold plasma. Furthermore, it was observed that it is possible to inactivate pathogen microorganisms on an agar plate using DBD cold plasma within a 3 to 5 min treatment time. Up to 57%, 96%, 91% and 94% pathogen microorganisms inactivation was achieved after 1 min DBD plasma treatments of S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, E. coli, and S. typhimurium, respectively. The study demonstrated that DBD atmospheric cold plasma, particularly when combined with hydrogen peroxide, is an effective non-thermal approach for the inactivation of food-related microorganisms.

Climate-resilient Pest Management Strategies in Pulses for Food and Nutritional Security

2026-06-19T11:11:10+00:00

Climate change is profoundly influencing the incidence, distribution, and severity of insect pests in pulse-based production systems, thereby threatening food and nutritional security. Pulses, which are rich in protein, dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals, occupy a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture and human nutrition. India, being the world’s leading producer and consumer of pulses, has achieved remarkable growth in pulse production; however, productivity losses caused by insect pests continue to remain a major challenge. Insect pests account for nearly 26–30% potential yield losses in pulses under field conditions, while storage pests contribute significantly to quantitative and qualitative deterioration during post-harvest storage. Changing climatic conditions, including rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and altered humidity regimes, have accelerated pest outbreaks, expanded pest geographical ranges, disrupted natural enemy complexes, and increased the frequency of pest resurgence and insecticide resistance. Major field pests such as Helicoverpa armigera, Maruca vitrata, Melanogromyza obtusa, sucking pests, mites, and storage bruchids have emerged as serious constraints to pulse productivity under climate variability. Therefore, climate-resilient pest management strategies integrating ecological, biological, cultural, mechanical, and need-based chemical approaches are essential for sustainable pulse production. The present chapter highlights the biology, damage symptoms, and ecology of major insect pests of pulses under field and storage conditions, with emphasis on climate-driven changes in pest dynamics. Further, it discusses integrated pest management (IPM) approaches including resistant varieties, intercropping, habitat manipulation, biological control agents, botanicals, pheromone-based monitoring, and judicious use of selective insecticides. Adoption of climate-smart and eco-friendly pest management strategies can reduce crop losses, minimize pesticide dependence, conserve biodiversity, and enhance resilience of pulse production systems. Strengthening integrated and adaptive pest management approaches will be critical to ensuring sustainable pulse productivity, nutritional security, and livelihood resilience under changing climatic scenarios.

Importance of Keto Diet to Vulnerable Groups

2026-07-02T03:57:29+00:00

The keto diet originated in the 1920s and has been utilised in India specifically to address obesity. The ketogenic diet is often compared to the Paleo diet, which is based on the foods consumed during the Paleolithic Period, typically including meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, while excluding grains, dairy, and soy products. In contrast, the keto diet incorporates a wider variety of foods. This preference for a natural diet over a processed one is attributed to the human body’s slower adaptation to processed foods. The ketogenic diet is characterised by high fat, adequate protein, and low carbohydrates. In a ketogenic diet, the ratio of fat to protein is 4 grams of fat for every 1 gram of protein, with a lower carbohydrate intake of approximately 50 grams per day. It comprises 10 per cent of the total daily calorie intake. It maintains a typical caloric value. This approach can lead to weight loss through the consumption of fats. It is primarily focused on weight loss but also offers various benefits for managing diseases such as cancer, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. Some guidelines must be followed prior to the intake of the keto diet, such as a history and physical examination, nutritional assessments and laboratory tests, including evaluations of lipids, renal function, liver function, and thyroid function. Patients with comorbid conditions such as pancreatitis or liver failure should avoid the keto diet. Following the intake of a ketogenic diet, there is a decrease in carbohydrate consumption, which results in insufficient glucose reserves for the central nervous system and for the oxidation of fats. After approximately three to four days of carbohydrate deprivation, the central nervous system switches to using energy derived from alternative sources such as acetyl coenzyme A (CoA). Some disadvantages of the ketogenic diet include “keto flu,” a temporary condition that can last from a few days to a few weeks and may present with symptoms such as fatigue, vomiting, nausea, insomnia, headaches, and dizziness. Hypoglycemia can also occur, and also gut dysbiosis may develop due to a decrease in carbohydrate supply to gut microorganisms, which can reduce fermentation processes in the gut and lead to inflammatory gut diseases. Symptoms of gut dysbiosis may include abdominal discomfort, vomiting, and diarrhoea. When implemented appropriately, the ketogenic diet has significant potential as a weight-loss strategy. Achieving consistent and sustainable results requires the standardisation of dietary protocols, comprehensive monitoring of ketosis and body composition, and the provision of effective support mechanisms.