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The Effects of Dietary Fishmeal Substitution by Full-Fat and Defatted Zophobas morio Larvae Meals on Juvenile Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata): An Integrative Approach
Get PDFThis study evaluated the dietary fishmeal substitution by full-fat (FF) and defatted (DF) Zophobas morio meals regarding growth, feed efficiency, proximate and fatty acid compositions, digestive enzymes activities, histology and midgut microbiota in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Juveniles initially weighing 3.4 g were distributed to triplicate groups and fed at satiation six isonitrogenous (8.41%) and isocaloric (21 Mj/kg) diets for 100 days. An insect meal-free diet was the control (CTRL), two diets contained a FF Z. morio meal at 49 g/kg (FF-49) and 97 g/kg (FF-97), and three diets contained a DF Z. morio meal at 58 g/kg (DF-58), 116 g/kg (DF-116) and 174 g/kg (DF-174) at the expense of fishmeal. Neither the form nor the inclusion level of Z. morio meals affected the feed intake of fish denoting a similar acceptability to that of fishmeal. Fish survival, growth and feed efficiency were not impaired by all dietary inclusion levels of Z. morio meals. Proximate composition of fish was altered but without indicating a clear correlation with the form or inclusion level of Z. morio. Increasing inclusions of both forms of Z. morio meals tended to decrease 22:6n-3, 20:5n-3, 18:3n-3 and 18:2n-6 levels in fish tissues. All fish exhibited similar proteolytic enzyme activities, but the increasing inclusions of both insect meal forms led to gradual increases in the lipase and α-amylase activities indicating a compensatory mechanism for lipid and carbohydrate digestion. The use of Z. morio meals led to some mild histomorphological changes in the intestine and liver that were more pronounced in fish fed the FF form at the highest inclusion level. Midgut bacterial communities of the groups were similar and dominated by potentially beneficial members of Saccharimonadales and Rhodobacteraceae, except FF-97 fish that had high abundances of Legionella- and Pandoraea-like bacteria. To conclude, Z. morio meal, either FF or DF, is a suitable insect protein for fishmeal substitution towards more sustainable aquafeeds for S. aurata.This study was supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (AWARE project, Grant Agreement No. 101084245) and the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation of the Hellenic Republic under the European Regional Development Fund (FInAl project, MIS 5045804 and T6YВΠ-00076).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Effect of incineration, co-incineration and combustion on TSE hazards in category 1 animal by-products
Get PDFThe European Commission requested EFSA to assess the effect of incineration, co-incineration and combustion of Category 1 animal by-products (ABP) on the BSE/TSE hazards in ash resulting from these treatments. The presence of residual TSE hazards is assessed by detection of prion infectivity or seeding activity. TSE agents or prions are challenging to inactivate completely using heat-based methods. Different TSE strains exhibit varying degrees of thermoresistance. Based on available studies at temperatures 120–134°C, the C-BSE strain is more thermoresistant than other evaluated strains. The vast majority of Category 1 ABP is rendered into ‘meat and bone meal’ prior to incineration/co-incineration/combustion. Scenarios involving co-incineration for cement production do not need to be considered because all ash is incorporated into the cement. It is not possible to generalise the time/temperature combinations to which Category 1 ABP are subjected across all processes. Due to the challenges in precisely measuring the temperature and residence time in industrial systems, and the wide range of system designs and operating conditions, it can only be assumed that Category 1 ABP are exposed to at least the legal requirements as determined by the conditions of the gas produced or injected into the process: 850°C for 2 s or 1100°C for 0.2 s. The limited sensitivity of the method used in a study involving C-BSE at 1000°C for 20 min prevented a conclusive exclusion of residual C-BSE prions.. Therefore, it is not possible to exclude – with high certainty (> 99%) – the presence of residual BSE/TSE hazards in ash produced from the incineration, co-incineration or combustion of Category 1 ABP. It is recommended to generate data on the actual reduction of infectivity in ‘meat and bone meal’ spiked with thermoresistant TSE field strains after treatment with the time/temperature combinations required by the legislation or specific industry processes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Apple trees’ behavior to a single-season megadrought stress
Get PDFExtreme weather events such as megadroughts (long duration and intense droughts) are becoming common in regions with Mediterranean climates and threaten the continuity of fruit production. In this context, this study assesses the effects of a single-season megadrought on the physiological response and mortality of mature apple trees in a high-density orchard. Two treatments were imposed in two weighing lysimeters with four trees in each one, (i) Control: fully irrigated according to the crop evapotranspiration; and (ii) Drought: rainfed from 7 May 2023, until the end of the season. Trees’
evapotranspiration and trunk water potential were continuously monitored during the experiment in combination with periodic measurements of the soil water content, stomatal conductance, midday stem water potential, and apple size. The trunk water potential of apple trees in the drought lysimeter during the 2023 season fell below − 4.5 MPa, with stomatal conductance decreasing from 0.4 mmol m− 2 s− 1 before withholding irrigation to 0 mmol m− 2 s− 1 60 days later. In the following spring 2024, the four apple trees subjected to the megadrought were agronomically dead (did not sprout). Our results showed that, for apple trees, a threshold value of water potential of -3.5 MPa must not be surpassed to ensure the tree survival, while values below − 4.0 MPa for 27 days cause the death of the trees.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Eco-efficiency indicators in traditional Iberian pig farms in the dehesa ecosystem: Integrated economic and environmental performance
Get PDFThe traditional Iberian pig production system in the dehesa ecosystem of southwestern Spain and Portugal represents a significant cultural and ecological model of extensive livestock farming currently facing sustainability challenges. This study aimed to identify eco-efficiency indicators by integrating economic and environmental dimensions across traditional Iberian pig farms. Structured surveys were conducted across 68 farms, complemented by life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts including climate change, acidification, eutrophication, energy demand and land occupation. Multivariate statistical analysis identified two distinct farm types: Mixed-orientation Farms (MF, 45.59% of farms), characterised by diversified production phases and greater reliance on external inputs, and Acorn-Fed Farms (AF, 54.41% of farms), specialised in acorn-based fattening with greater dehesa ecosystem integration. AF demonstrated significantly lower environmental impacts across all categories except land occupation, with reductions ranging from 9% to 18% compared to MF. Furthermore, AF achieved superior eco-efficiency with gross margins 15% higher than MF and economic returns per unit of environmental impact 32% to 59% higher across all indicators. These findings demonstrate that farrow-to-finish farms specialised in montanera systems can simultaneously achieve greater profitability and reduced environmental impacts, providing a replicable model for sustainable livestock production in Mediterranean agroecosystems.This research was funded by National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, grant number RTA2013-00063-C03-02.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Varietats de colza erúcica d'hivern i primavera
Get PDFLa major part de la colza cultivada actualment és del tipus 00, que es caracteritza pel seu baix contingut en glucosinolats i àcid erúcic, per tal que es pugui destinar a l’alimentació. Tot i això, el cultiu de colza erúcica (HEAR), per obtenir un oli amb un alt contingut en àcid erúcic, amb destí a la indústria, pot ésser una oportunitat pels productors. Entre el material de colza erúcica hi ha material hivernal (REACTIV, RHAMSES, RHODES, ROLLER, ROSETTA, entre altres) i de primavera (REPLAY). Aquests mostren un potencial productiu similar a les colzes convencionals. Entre les més productives, dintre les d’hivern, es poden destacar REACTIV, ROLLER i RHODES. Normalment presenten un contingut en oli molt alt, superior als híbrids d’hivern 00.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Digitalización del riego en cítricos por medio de sensores y adaptación al cambio climático optimizando el consumo de agua
No full textEl IRTA ha llevado a cabo un estudio el proyecto CITRUSREG con el objectivo de aportar datos reales que conduzcan a la maxima optimización del riego en una plantación citrícola.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Laboratory evidence on the vector competence of European field-captured Culex theileri for circulating West Nile virus lineages 1 and 2
Get PDFBackground Culex theileri (Theobald, 1903) is distributed in Afrotropical, Paleartic, and Oriental regions. It is a mainly
mammophilic foodwater mosquito that is involved in the transmission of West Nile virus (WNV, renamed as Orthofavivirus nilense by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses [ICTV]) in Africa. This virus is a mosquito-borne
favivirus that is kept in an enzootic cycle mainly between birds and mosquitoes of the Culex genus. Occasionally, it
afects mammals including humans and equines causing encephalopathies. The main purpose of the present study
was to evaluate the vector competence of a European feld-captured Cx. theileri population for circulating WNV line‑
ages (1 and 2).
Methods Field-collected Cx. theileri larvae from Sevilla province (Spain) were reared in the laboratory under sum‑
mer environmental conditions. To assess the vector competence for WNV transmission, 10–12 day old Cx. theileri
females were fed with blood doped with WNV lineages 1 and 2 (7 log10 TCID50/mL). Females were sacrifced at 14and 21- days post exposure (dpe), and their head, body, and saliva were extracted to assess infection, dissemination,
and transmission rates, as well as transmission efciency.
Results A Culex theileri population was experimentally confrmed as a highly competent vector for WNV (both line‑
ages 1 and 2). The virus successfully infected and disseminated within Cx. theileri mosquitoes, and infectious virus iso‑
lated from their saliva indicated their potential to transmit the virus. Transmission efciency was 50% for lineage 1 (for
both 14 and 21 dpe), while it was 24% and 37.5% for lineage 2, respectively. There was barely any efect of the midgut
infection barrier for lineage 1 and a moderate efect for lineage 2. The main barrier which limited the virus infection
within the mosquito was the midgut escape barrier.
Conclusions In the present study, the high transmission efciency supports that Cx. theileri is competent to transmit
WNV. However, vector density and feeding patterns of Cx. theileri mosquitoes must be considered when estimating
their vectorial capacity for WNV in the feld.
Keywords West Nile virus, Culex theileri, Vector competence, Arbovirus, Transmissioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Un filtre mòbil per poder filtrar aviat els olis elaborats per petits productors
Get PDFDes de fa 3 anys que s’organitza un congrés a nivell mundial sobre el sector oleícola, el congrés Mundolivar 2025info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Overview of clams packaging systems sustainability
Get PDFThis work analyses the protection requirements and options for primary and transportation packaging of shellfish. It considers the properties of materials and the most recent developments and innovations in the arena created by legislation shaping packaging practices and frameworks of circularity and sustainability. A short review of the environmental profiles of typical packaging systems is provided. Fresh clams must be alive when sold, and the shelf-life period is defined based on the time the clams are alive. This product is highly perishable and valued, and losses and waste must be reduced.This work was financed by the scientific cooperation of EEA Grants under the project ATLANTICLAM - BRING EURO-NATIVE CLAM SPECIES FROM ‘FARM TO FORK’ – PT-INNOVATION-0097 and co-financed by Pacto da Bioeconomia Azul under the Invitation Notice No. 02/C05-i01/2022, referring to the development of projects within the scope of the Mobilizing Agendas for Business Innovation, framed and financed within the scope of component No.5 - Capitalization and Business Innovation of Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (Project nº C644915664-00000026). This work was supported by National Funds from FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the scope of CBQF UIDB/50016/2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Deficit irrigation affects fruit quality, production and resource allocation of ‘d’Anjou’ and ‘Bartlett’ pear trees
Get PDFExcessive tree vigor is a common problem in North American pear orchards. Strategies like regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) can help manage vegetative growth, improve fruit quality, reduce physiological disorders, and enhance water use efficiency. A two-year study on ‘d’Anjou’ and ‘Bartlett’ pears evaluated their response to three irrigation strategies: (i) full irrigation at 100 % crop evapotranspiration (ETc) throughout the season (CTL), (ii) RDI with 100 % ETc from April–June and 50 % ETc from June–October, and (iii) plant-based irrigation (PBI) similar to RDI but triggered by a stem water potential threshold of −1.25 MPa. Deficit irrigation reduced soil water content, gas exchange, and midday stem water potential. ‘d’Anjou’ pear trees were more vulnerable to water restrictions than ‘Bartlett’. Both RDI and PBI treatments effectively reduced tree vigor and pear psylla damage without compromising yield. In the second year, the number of fruits per tree increased, and water productivity improved by 53 % (RDI) and 40 % (PBI), while water use dropped by 37 % and 28 %, respectively, compared to CTL. Fruits from deficit-irrigated trees were consistently smaller. In a low-crop year, they were sweeter and less firm, suggesting accelerated ripening. RDI reduced fruit size more than PBI, but both treatments improved vigor control and reduced pear psylla damage. In semi-arid regions, plant-based irrigation offers an effective method for managing pear tree vigor, enhancing sustainability, and maintaining desirable fruit quality.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio