Journal of Agriculture and Food Research最新文献

{"title":"Unveiling the cutting-edge applications of nanotechnology in the food industry- from lab to table-a comprehensive review","authors":"Shweta ,&nbsp;A.M. Brindhav ,&nbsp;Sunny Sharma ,&nbsp;Samareddin Azizi ,&nbsp;Vishal Singh Rana","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101831","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nanotechnology is a quickly growing field in the modern innovative world with significant applications in the modern food industry, enhancing many aspects of food production, safety, and quality. It introduces innovative solutions to address challenges in processing (nanostructured catalysts are being employed to improve the efficiency and food processing equipment uses nano silver particles for their antibacterial properties), packaging (clay nanoparticles enhance moisture barrier qualities and extend freshness), safety (rapid pathogen detection by nanosensors, such as Salmonella, in food products), nutrition (nanoencapsulation techniques such as omega-3 fatty acids are encapsulated in nanoliposomes to improve stability and solubility) and shelf-life extension (chitosan-based nanocoatings retain moisture longer and prevent it from deterioration). Despite their manifold benefits, some possible health hazards are linked to nanomaterial use. This analysis highlights the revolutionary effects of nanotechnology by including its developments and use in the food industry. It also includes techniques for mitigating risks and safety precautions to ensure that consumers are protected. Prospects like building sturdy regulatory compliance, openness and information for customers, cooperation among industry, regulatory organizations, and academics, manufacturing nanomaterials on a scalable basis, and monitoring of long-term consumer safety must be implemented in the nano sector with the correct dimensions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101831"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143714130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional properties of lactic acid bacteria isolated from raw goat milk and cottage cheese","authors":"Talgat Ikombayev ,&nbsp;Aynagul Ospanova ,&nbsp;Akkenzhe Omarova ,&nbsp;Šárka Horáčková ,&nbsp;Aigerim Tuganbay ,&nbsp;Gulmira Kassenova ,&nbsp;Venera Zhamurova ,&nbsp;Sarzhan Sharipova ,&nbsp;Zhulduz Suleimenova","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101822","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101822","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Probiotic cultures are crucial for human health, as they enhance the immune system and help synthesize essential vitamins. However, there is a lack of research focused on isolating lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains from goat milk or related products in Kazakhstan. Consequently, this study aimed to identify promising LAB strains with strong probiotic potential from samples of goat milk and goat milk cottage cheese, as well as to explore their applications for creating fermented products. As a result, we identified two strains, namely Gch 5.2.1 and KAN EI 4, isolated from goat cottage cheese and goat milk. The 16S rRNA analysis confirmed that the strains Gch 5.2.1 and KAN EI 4 belong to the <em>Lactobacillus paracasei</em> and <em>Lactobacillus</em> sp. Moreover, the strain Gch 5.2.1 demonstrated superior fermentation capabilities, higher adherence potential, and greater biofilm formation compared to KAN EI 4, making it more favorable for dairy product development. It exhibited consistent coaggregation abilities with pathogenic strains, suggesting its potential role in enhancing food safety. Additionally, Gch 5.2.1 showed susceptibility to multiple antibiotics and a more versatile carbohydrate fermentation profile, indicating its metabolic flexibility. Conversely, strain KAN EI 4 presented notable hydrophobicity and coaggregation capabilities but displayed higher resistance to certain antibiotics. Overall, the strain Gch 5.2.1 is suggested for further use in food processing due to its advantageous properties that align with the demands of probiotic formulations and dairy fermentation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101822"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An institutional framework for enhanced food security amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Strategic implementation and outcomes","authors":"Akbar Akbar ,&nbsp;Rahim Darma ,&nbsp;Andi Irawan ,&nbsp;Letty Fudjaja ,&nbsp;Riri Amandaria ,&nbsp;Rida Akzar","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101833","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101833","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant vulnerabilities in Indonesia's food security system, highlighting the urgent need for an effective institutional framework to ensure food availability, accessibility, and stability. This study, a collaborative effort involving key institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, BAPPENAS (Ministry of National Development Planning Agency), and DPR (House of Representatives), examines strategic roles in addressing these challenges. The research uses an Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach to identify key institutional drivers, constraints, and policy mechanisms crucial for enhancing food security. The data, gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with institutional stakeholders from Indonesia's agricultural sector, underscore the critical role of institutional coordination in strengthening resilience, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, and improving crisis response mechanisms. The findings highlight the pivotal roles of key institutions in strategic budget allocation, policy formulation, and legislative oversight, enhancing stakeholder commitment and program credibility. However, financial constraints, supply chain disruptions, and inadequate investment in agricultural innovation remain significant challenges. The research offers policy recommendations to address the barriers, including prioritizing budget allocations for agricultural development, improving stakeholder collaboration, and promoting research and innovation. By strengthening institutional synergy and fostering public-private partnerships, we can mitigate future food security risks, reduce vulnerabilities, and create a more adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable food security system in Indonesia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101833"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heavy metals in seaweed: Implications for health benefits, risks, and safety regulations","authors":"Lori Huang,&nbsp;Ji-Young Lee,&nbsp;Young-Ki Park,&nbsp;Jaeeun Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seaweed is widely recognized for its high nutrient content, including essential minerals, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds. However, environmental factors can lead to heavy metal accumulation, particularly arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, posing serious health risks such as carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, and oxidative damage. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the prevalence of heavy metals in various seaweed species, explains how these metals are absorbed, distributed, and become toxic in humans, and evaluates the health risks associated with both short- and long-term consumption. Evidence shows that heavy metal contamination in seaweed is common, making excessive or prolonged intake potentially hazardous. Although seaweed has a beneficial nutrient profile, comprehensive seaweed-specific safety regulations are urgently needed to ensure consumer protection. Inconsistencies in current guidelines, underscore the need for stronger standards, routine monitoring, and expanded research to identify safe intake levels. Ultimately, while seaweed remains a valuable dietary resource, enforcing permissible limits on heavy metals and educating consumers can help ensure that its health advantages are not compromised by toxicological concerns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101830"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimized planting density and nitrogen rate improved grain yield of drip-fertigated maize by enhancing canopy structure and photosynthetic capacity","authors":"Zhenlin Lai,&nbsp;Zhenqi Liao,&nbsp;Yiyao Liu,&nbsp;Hongtai Kou,&nbsp;Zhijun Li,&nbsp;Junliang Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The planting density regulation and nitrogen fertilizer application have been widely utilized in maize (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) production. Improving the canopy structure can enhance the light energy interception and photosynthetic capacity of maize. However, the mechanisms by which canopy structure influences maize yield under varying planting densities and nitrogen rates remain poorly understood. A two-year field experiment was conducted in northwest China, with three planting densities (LD: 80,000 plants ha⁻¹; MD: 100,000 plants ha⁻¹; HD: 120,000 plants ha⁻¹) and four nitrogen rates (N0: 0 kg N ha⁻¹; N1: 120 kg N ha⁻¹; N2: 180 kg N ha⁻¹; N3: 240 N kg ha⁻¹). Increasing planting density increased SDLA by 29.6 % in upper layer, 20.4 % in middle layer, and 12.7 % in lower layer compared to LD. Compared to N0, nitrogen application increased SDLA in middle layer by 30.0 %, in upper layer by 17.0 %, in lower layer by 11.6 %, separately. Compared to N0, the leaf base angle of the upper layer showed a significant increase by 6.4 % in N1, by 8.3 % in N2, and by 13.3 % in N3. Leaf base angle in N3 exhibited significantly increase by 10.5 % in middle layer and 11.1 % in lower layer. Compared to LD, the aboveground dry matter accumulation in the middle layer showed an increase of 23.0 % in MD, with no significant difference between MD and HD. In comparison to the aboveground dry matter accumulation of each layer under N0, the aboveground dry matter accumulation increased by 18.7 % in N1, 31.2 % in N2, and 33.3 % in N3, respectively. Increasing planting density led to a 10.8 % increase in IPAR in MD and a 17.1 % increase in HD over the entire reproductive period compared to LD, respectively. The MDN3 and MDN2 produced the highest grain yields in both years, at 17644 kg ha⁻¹ and 16217 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. Structural equation modeling indicated that nitrogen fertilization and planting density affected the intercepted light energy and ultimately dry matter accumulation and yield by influencing leaf basal angle and SDLA. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind yield variations under different planting densities and nitrogen rates, providing a scientific foundation for developing high-yield planting strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101813"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cold storage modifies bulb biochemical composition and morpho-phenological characteristics of tow lily cultivars","authors":"Fatemeh Abazarifard ,&nbsp;Roohangiz Naderi ,&nbsp;Seyed Najmmaddin Mortazavi ,&nbsp;Sepideh Kalateh Jari","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cultivation and storage of ornamental plants, particularly lilies, is crucial for their aesthetic and economic value. However, ensuring optimal quality during storage and post-storage transplanting remains a challenge. This study aims to determine optimal storage conditions for maintaining the viability and health of lily bulbs, minimizing post-storage losses, and maximizing flowering potential. Chelcheragh (<em>Lilium ledebourii</em> (Baker) Boiss) and Navona (an <em>Asiatic</em> hybrid lily cultivar) were collected and were then packed at either 1 or 7 °C in a cold room. The bulbs were stored for 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days at 1 or 7 °C. The results showed that from the start of storage until day 30, abscisic acid (ABA) increased in both cultivars before starting to decrease. The concentration of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was higher at 1 °C than at 7 °C in Chelcheragh and Navona, 268 % and 271 % higher, respectively. Gibberellic acid, which was 74 % higher than on the first day, peaked on day 120 in the Navona cultivar. Storing at 1 °C compared to 7 °C resulted in a higher sugar content. The highest sugar content was observed on days 60 and 90. While fructose was greater in Chelcheragh, sucrose, glucose, and total sugar were higher in Navona. Compared to Chelcheragh, Navona had higher saponin levels, reaching its maximum on day 120, up 34 % from the beginning of storage. Extending the storage duration, the number of days until blossoming decreased. In plants staged for 90 and 120 days under 1 °C, Navona attained the highest number of flower buds and leaves. The heat map revealed that the most variable compounds during storage were IAA, ABA, fructose, and glucose.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101826"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143800116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Leucine as a feed additive enhances the concentration of branched-chain fatty acids in cow's milk","authors":"Lingling Sun ,&nbsp;Tengfei Zhan ,&nbsp;Yisha Liu ,&nbsp;Lu Ma ,&nbsp;Zitai Guo ,&nbsp;James T. Brenna ,&nbsp;Dengpan Bu","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101828","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The feasibility of exogenously adding leucine (Leu) to produce branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) enriched milk by simulating rumen fermentation <em>in vitro</em> and feeding study <em>in vivo</em> was investigated. Treatments for <em>in vitro</em> fermentation trial were control, 0 mM of Leu (CON1); 1 mM of Leu (LEU1); 2 mM of Leu (LEU2); and 4 mM of Leu (LEU4). For the <em>in vivo</em> feeding study, 20 Holstein dairy cows were allocated to 2 treatments: control, 0 g/cow/d Leu (CON2; <em>n</em> = 10); and 80 g/cow/d Leu supplementation (LEU80; <em>n</em> = 10). The concentration of BCFA including <em>iso</em>-13:0 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), <em>iso</em>-15:0 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), <em>anteiso</em>-15:0 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), <em>iso</em>-16:0 (<em>P</em> = 0.02) and total BCFA (<em>P</em> = 0.01) in fermentation liquid increased linearly with increasing Leu inclusion rates. According to 16S rRNA sequencing, the abundances of Firmicutes (<em>P</em> = 0.04), Clostridia (<em>P</em> = 0.03) and <em>Saccharofermentans</em> (<em>P</em> = 0.04) in the LEU4 group were higher compared to CON1 group. Pathway analysis revealed that the differential metabolites are primarily associated with lysine degradation, glycerophospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism, trothane, piperidine and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis. In the <em>in vivo</em> trial, the result showed that Leu supplementation increased the concentration of BCFA in milk, including <em>iso</em>-13:0 (<em>P</em> = 0.01), <em>iso</em>-15:0 (<em>P</em> = 0.02), <em>anteiso</em>-15:0 (<em>P</em> = 0.01), <em>iso</em>-16:0 (<em>P</em> = 0.01), <em>iso</em>-17:0 (<em>P</em> = 0.02), and <em>anteiso</em>-17:0 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.02). Compared to the CON2 group, the concentration of total BCFA was increased by 26.2 % (891 μg/mL <em>vs</em> 706 μg/mL). In conclusion, supplementation of dairy cow's diets with Leu can enrich BCFA in milk. This can be useful for the design and development of functional dairy products that are beneficial for human health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101828"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating environmental, nutritional, and economic dimensions in Food choices: A case study on legume vs. meat-based burger patties","authors":"Abhishek Dattu Narote,&nbsp;Andrea Casson,&nbsp;Valentina Giovenzana,&nbsp;Alessia Pampuri,&nbsp;Alessio Tugnolo,&nbsp;Roberto Beghi,&nbsp;Riccardo Guidetti","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101820","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101820","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Addressing sustainability in modern food systems requires a multi-dimensional approach that considers environmental, nutritional, and economic aspects. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to analyze three burger patties (legume, chicken, and beef) across these dimensions, aiming to provide a holistic view of their impacts. While prior studies examined LCAs of plant-based meat and beef burgers with limited recipe data, this research expands on them by using commercial recipes for legume- and meat-based patties.</div><div>Conventional functional units, such as mass and individual nutritional content, fall short in capturing the full nutritional value. To bridge this gap, a modified Nutritional Rich Food Index (NRF Index) was introduced, integrating multiple nutrients (e.g., vitamins, minerals, macronutrients) into a single nutritional functional unit (n-FU) that better represents the overall nutritional quality.</div><div>Additionally, consumer purchase prices were incorporated to offer an economic perspective, and an economic functional unit (e-FU) was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of each patty concerning their nutritional and environmental performance. This novel combination of functional units enables a more comprehensive evaluation, revealing trade-offs between sustainability dimensions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>highlight significant environmental disparities among the products, with beef demonstrating the highest Global Warming Potential (GWP) at 4.64 kg CO₂ eq per 100 g, while the legume-based patty exhibited the lowest GWP at 0.113 kg CO₂ eq. Affordability indices indicate that meat options may be more accessible to budget-conscious consumers despite their higher environmental impacts.</div><div>This integrated assessment framework offers valuable insights for consumers and policymakers, supporting informed decisions that promote sustainable dietary choices aligned with nutritional and economic considerations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101820"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing the nutritional quality and concentration of noni, pineapple, and dragon fruit juice mixture using osmotic membrane distillation","authors":"Mochamad Nur Jalil Aripin ,&nbsp;Muh Umar Thoriq ,&nbsp;Helen Julian ,&nbsp;Hataitip Nimitkeatkai ,&nbsp;Amnat Jarerat ,&nbsp;Tjokorde Walmiki Samadhi","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101823","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101823","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research investigates the mixing of dragon fruit, noni, and pineapple juices to create a more nutritious functional beverage, followed by the concentration of the mixed juice using osmotic membrane distillation. The optimum mixture formulation concerning the nutrient value of the juice was 58.2 % dragon fruit, 25 % noni fruit, and 16.8 % pineapple juice. During the concentration process using osmotic membrane distillation, feed temperature positively impacted membrane flux, while the concentration of the draw solution had limited effects due to insufficient mass transport enhancement. The concentrated mixed juice retained most of its vitamin C and antioxidant properties, although significant thermal degradation occurred at 50 °C. The draw solution concentration also influenced vitamin C content, likely due to the interaction between potassium sorbate and vitamin C. While total phenolic content decreased, identifying the conditions affecting its degradation proved challenging. The optimized concentrated juice was obtained at a feed temperature of 46.5 °C and a draw solution concentration of 1 M, resulting in 87.1 DPPH % inhibition, 126.8 mg/100 mL of vitamin C, and 45.7 mg/100 g of total phenolic content. This study improves the sensory qualities of noni juice while preserving its nutritional integrity, marking a significant advancement in healthier fruit beverages, with membrane technology effectively concentrating the juice with minimal degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101823"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Cooling Atlas for preserving fruit and vegetables in low- and middle-income countries","authors":"Thijs Defraeye ,&nbsp;Jakub Vrba ,&nbsp;Josianne Cloutier ,&nbsp;Chris Beland ,&nbsp;Daniel Onwude ,&nbsp;Fatima Pereira da Silva ,&nbsp;Leo Blyth","doi":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101806","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101806","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Preserving fruit and vegetables after harvest is especially relevant for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) for food and nutrient security, reducing poverty, and increasing smallholder farmers' access to markets further afield. Cooling is one of the most impactful postharvest preservation methods, particularly when powered by renewable energy. A wide variety of cooling technologies exist, though only a subset is sufficiently advanced to present commercially viable deployment options in LMIC, of which only a smaller subset is widely known. Active cooling based on mechanical vapor compression is often considered the most commonly used solution. However, in LMIC, many structural and case-specific challenges limit their widespread use. Therefore, deploying alternative active and passive cooling technologies from a technical, financial, social, environmental, and political context could be more suitable. However, a key knowledge gap is that many active and passive technologies are not well-known and are, thereby, in limited use.</div><div>Our objective was to compile existing options to raise awareness of these promising cooling solutions for LMIC. These include multiple active cooling, passive cooling, and auxiliary technologies that prevent heat gains or regulate the incoming heat, for example, by thermal heat storage or ventilation.</div><div>The main outcome of this work is a compilation of these existing cooling solutions, listing the advantages and disadvantages and the physical processes underpinning how they provide cooling. We also have developed a selection matrix for the different technologies according to specific criteria. With that, we created a multifactorial evaluation for the technology spectrum for a certain country that can help stakeholders choose the right technology or a combination of technologies. Key factors here are cost, ease of installation, potential for scalability and adaptability, operation and maintenance, energy supply, energy use and storage, cooling process, cooling performance, suitability for food types, market accessibility, demand, and suitability for adoption by potential producers.</div><div>The Cooling Atlas aims to provide evidence for decision-makers and program implementers to make informed investment and implementation decisions. Our Cooling Atlas encompasses existing relevant cooling solutions for LMIC. Choosing the right cooling technology for a specific value chain and use case should be carefully evaluated before implementation. It should be a holistic solution to increasing food and nutrition security and safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34393,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agriculture and Food Research","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101806"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}