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Topic Review
Crop Diversification and Weed Control
Weeds can be defined as any plant that is objectionable or interferes with the activities or welfare of humans. In a crop production system, weeds compete for the same resources as the crops, such as water, nutrients, sunlight, and space, limiting crop productivity. Aggressive weed competition reduces crop yield significantly and adds further cost to crop production owing to their management. Yield loss due to weeds depends on several factors such as density, time of emergence, type of weed, and crop type. 
  • 1.4K
  • 02 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Industrial Animal Farming and COVID-19
The threat of zoonoses (i.e., human infectious diseases transmitted from animals) because of industrial animal farming may be receiving less attention in society due to the putative wildlife origin of COVID-19. To identify societal responses to COVID-19 that do address or affect the risk of future zoonoses associated with industrial animal farming, the literature was screened for measures, actions, proposals and attitudes following the guidelines of a scoping review. Forty-one articles with relevant information published between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2021 were identified directly or indirectly via bibliographies from 138 records retrieved via Google Scholar. Analysis of relevant content revealed ten fields of policy action amongst which biosecurity and change in dietary habits were the dominant topics. Further search for more relevant records within each field of policy action retrieved another 8 articles. Identified responses were furthermore classified and evaluated according to groups of societal actors, implying different modes of regulation and governance. Based on the results, a suggested policy strategy is presented for moving away from food production in factory farms and supporting sustainable farming, involving the introduction of a tax on the demand side and subsidies for the development and production of alternative meat.
  • 1.4K
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Fucoidan-Derived Functional Oligosaccharides
Oligosaccharides derived from natural resources are attracting increasing attention as both food and nutraceutical products because of their beneficial health effects and lack of toxicity. New interest has emerged in fucoidan, partially hydrolysed into fuco-oligosaccharides (FOSs) or low-molecular weight fucoidan, owing to their superior solubility and biological activities compared with fucoidan. There is considerable interest in their development for use in the functional food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. 
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Automated Tracking Systems for Assessment of Farmed Poultry
One of the most commonly farmed livestock is poultry and their significance is felt on a global scale. Current poultry farming practices result in the premature death and rejection of billions of chickens on an annual basis before they are processed for meat. This loss of life is concerning regarding animal welfare, agricultural efficiency, and economic impacts. The best way to prevent these losses is through the individualistic and/or group level assessment of animals on a continuous basis. On large-scale farms, such attention to detail was generally considered to be inaccurate and inefficient, but with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology individualised, and per-herd assessments of livestock became possible and accurate.
  • 1.4K
  • 15 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Phage Therapy in Aquaculture Management
Therapeutic bacteriophages, commonly called as phages, are a promising potential alternative to antibiotics in the management of bacterial infections of a wide range of organisms including cultured fish. Their natural immunogenicity often induces the modulation of a variated collection of immune responses within several types of immunocytes while promoting specific mechanisms of bacterial clearance. 
  • 1.4K
  • 26 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Intestinal Organoids
Following advances in primary cell culture techniques, organoids have been developed. Such technological breakthroughs have opened a new path in the study of microbial infectious diseases, and thus opened onto new strategies to control foodborne hazards. 
  • 1.4K
  • 07 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Enhanced Traceability of Livestock-Based Products by Blockchain Technology
Blockchain has become a modern technology that can enhance the traceability of products and services, which is particularly relevant to agri-food supply chains. While blockchain technology is potentially sustainable and worthy of applications, there remain various limitations and complications toward adoption, such as the low awareness among stakeholders, the weak sector-wide coordination, and the lack of capacity in primary suppliers. Potential benefits and implications of blockchain technology for the food industry have yet to be widely understood, especially in the ASEAN. These findings would call for coordinated support from both the governments and the private sector, especially to raise awareness of the technology, reinforce sector-wide coordination, and develop skills required for adoption.
  • 1.4K
  • 17 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Whey-Derived Peptides and COVID-19
The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is a key regulator of blood pressure and hypertension. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE) are two main components of the RAS that play a major role in blood pressure homeostasis. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses ACE2 as a receptor to enter cells. Despite some controversies, numerous studies have reported a significant association between the use of ACE inhibitors and reduced risk of COVID-19.
  • 1.4K
  • 05 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Sleep in Non-human Animals
Sleep in non-human animals refers to a behavioral and physiological state characterized by altered consciousness, reduced responsiveness to external stimuli, and homeostatic regulation. Sleep is observed in mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some fish, and, in some form, in insects and even in simpler animals such as nematodes. The internal circadian clock promotes sleep at night for diurnal organisms (such as humans) and in the day for nocturnal organisms (such as rodents). Sleep patterns vary widely among species. It appears to be a requirement for all mammals and most other animals.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Epizoochory in Parrots
Plant–animal interactions are key to sustaining whole communities and ecosystem function. However, their complexity may limit our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the species involved. The ecological effects of epizoochory remain little known compared to other seed dispersal mechanisms given the few vectors identified. In addition, epizoochory is mostly considered non-mutualistic since dispersers do not obtain nutritional rewards. Here, we show a widespread but unknown mutualistic interaction between parrots and plants through epizoochory.
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Helminth Fauna of Muskrat (Germany)
The muskrat is a neozoon species that has occupied many countries of continental North Europe after its introduction from north America as fur animals. Due to its burrowing activity it damages river and canal banks and structures of flood control. For this reason, the eradication of this alien species is recommended. Muskrats are also of parasitological interest since they can act as suitable intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis. On the other hand, little is known on the other helminths that infect muskrats. A total of 130 muskrats of different age groups trapped in different habitats in the Barnim district of the Brandenburg state by a professional hunter were examined for parasites and seven trematodes (Echinostoma sp., Notocotylus noyeri, Plagiorchis elegans, Plagiorchis arvicolae, Psilosostoma simillimum, P. spiculigerum, Opisthorchis felineus and four larval cestode species (Hydatigera taeniaeformis, Taenia martis, Taenia polyacantha, Taenia crassiceps) were detected. Larval stages of E. multilocularis were not found. O. felineus was found for the first time in muskrats in Germany. All the named parasites were present in Europe prior to the introduction of muskrats. With a prevalence of 48.9%, Strobilocercus fasciolaris, the larval stage of the cat tapeworm, H. taeniaeformis, was the most frequent parasite found in adult muskrats. 
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Digital Horizon of Smart Agriculture
Agriculture is essential to the existence of the human race, as well as the foundation of our civilization, because it provides food, fuel, fiber, and other resources necessary for survival; however, it is facing critical challenges due to anthropogenic climate change, which hampers food and nutritional security. Several measures have been implemented to enhance agricultural productivity, including plant breeding, genetic engineering, and precision agriculture. The world has witnessed the burgeoning development of novel scientific innovations and technological advancements enabled by drones, smart sensors, robotics, and remote sensing, resulting in a plethora of revolutionary methods that can be applied to real-time crop modeling, high-throughput phenotyping, weather forecasting, yield prediction, fertilizer application, disease detection, market trading, farming practices, and other environmental practices vital to crop growth, yield, and quality. Digitalization is the most significant technological advancement of our time, and it profoundly affects agriculture and other industries. Delivering a comprehensive view of how technology could help in tackling critical issues like environmental degradation and threatened world biodiversity, this perspective emphasizes the perks of digitalization.
  • 1.4K
  • 09 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Digital Agriculture Food and Wine
Digital Agriculture, Food, and Wine deals with the implementation and integration of digital data, sensors, technology, and tools on agricultural applications from the farm to consumers. These technologies can range from big data, sensor technology, sensor networks, remote sensing, robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Data processing is performed using new and emerging technologies, such as computer vision, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, among others. The latest advances made by the Digital Agriculture Food and Wine Sciences group (DAFW) from The University of Melbourne deals with crop monitoring/decision making, assessment of quality of produces, non-invasive sensory analysis for consumer perception assessment, and animal stress and welfare assessments.
  • 1.4K
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Seed Yield in Red Clover
Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a perennial forage legume which is valued for its yield, nitrogen fixation and forage quality. However, seed yield is often unsatisfactory in red clover. Seed production has been the objective of various studies with different approaches. This review paper summarizes and discusses recent results from various studies on seed yield and fertility in red clover, and opens perspectives for future research.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Antibiotics for Animal Husbandry
Since the 1950s, antibiotics have been used in the field of animal husbandry for growth promotion, therapy and disease prophylaxis. It is estimated that up to 80% of the antibiotics produced by the pharmaceutical industries are used in food production. Most of the antibiotics are used as feed additives at sub-therapeutic levels to promote growth. However, studies show the indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens that threaten both animal health and human health, including vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). This scenario is further complicated by the slow progress in achieving scientific breakthroughs in uncovering novel antibiotics following the 1960s. Most of the pharmaceutical industries have long diverted research funds away from the field of antibiotic discovery to more lucrative areas of drug development. If this situation is allowed to continue, humans will return to the pre-antibiotics era and potentially succumb to huge health and economic consequences. Fortunately, studies investigating various alternatives to antibiotics use in livestock show promising results. These alternatives include the application of bacteriophages and phage derived peptidoglycan degrading enzymes, engineered peptides, egg yolk antibodies, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics, as well as quorum quenching molecules. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the use of growth-promoting antibiotics and their impact on livestock and provide insights on the alternative approaches for animal husbandry. 
  • 1.4K
  • 27 May 2021
Topic Review
Biliary Atresia
The term biliary atresia has substituted the original term of “extrahepatic biliary atresia”, which has been in use for several generations. The concept was related to the often-identified absence of gallbladder with an obliterated cord at the site the extrahepatic biliary system. It is now known that biliary atresia is a necro-inflammatory and fibro-obliterative process of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tract.
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Induced Systemic Resistance and Beneficial Microbes
Plant beneficial microorganisms improve the health and growth of the associated plants. Application of beneficial microbes triggers an enhanced resistance state, also termed as induced systemic resistance (ISR), in the host, against a broad range of pathogens. Upon the activation of ISR, plants employ long-distance systemic signaling to provide protection for distal tissue, inducing rapid and strong immune responses against pathogens invasions. The transmission of ISR signaling was commonly regarded to be a jasmonic acid- and ethylene-dependent, but salicylic acid-independent, transmission. 
  • 1.3K
  • 18 Mar 2022
Topic Review
African Clawless Otter
The African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) is a fascinating semi-aquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. Renowned for its sleek, streamlined body and lack of visible claws on its forelimbs, this otter species is well-adapted to its aquatic lifestyle in freshwater habitats, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands. With a diet consisting primarily of fish, crustaceans, and amphibians, the African Clawless Otter plays a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of aquatic ecosystems across its range.
  • 1.3K
  • 08 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Six Papaya Cultivars Grown
Six papaya (Carica papaya L.) cultivars, grown in a Mediterranean climate under greenhouse conditions, were screened for physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, nutritional and sensory characteristics. The fruits, harvested with more than 50% of yellow surface (between 60% and 77%) were tested for carotenoids content, phenolic content, reducing activity (ABTS), and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA50). The physicochemical traits were measured in terms of the titratable acidity and soluble content whereas proximal composition along with moisture, fats, total sugar, ash, vitamin A, C, and E content. Moreover, the sensory profile was analyzed by a semi-trained panel. Although the six analyzed cultivars reached qualitative characteristics to satisfy market needs, significant differences among them were found in a genotype-dependent manner. In particular, Cartagena and Maradol cultivars evidenced the highest values of minerals and vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols, ABTS and CAA50 and reached the best commercial requisites (size, total soluble solids content/titratable acidity ratio). As for sensory analysis, we observed significate differences only for sweetness, juiciness, odor, and flavor of peach and exotic fruits whereas descriptors related to unpleasant defects or sensations always have very low scores in all the observed cultivars. These results highlight the possibility of obtaining quality papaya fruits in a Mediterranean climate using greenhouse growing.
  • 1.3K
  • 03 May 2021
Topic Review
Problems in Paddy Procurement System in Bangladesh
Bangladesh derives one-half of its agricultural GDP and one-sixth of its national income from paddy. It is crucial to the farmers’ ability to survive. The majority of farmers in Bangladesh are classified as middle- or low-income. They must frequently take out loans to cultivate paddy. Moreover, they are compelled to sell their paddy at a lower price immediately after harvesting for primarily two reasons: the lack of storage facilities; and the immediate need for money to pay back loans taken out to buy labour, seeds, fertiliser, insecticides, and other necessities, and to fund daily costs.
  • 1.3K
  • 19 Jan 2024
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