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Sub-Saharan Africa’s youths are change agents for sustainable food system transformation: Evidence, Challenges and Opportunities
No full textTransforming Africa’s agriculture and food system to become more sustainable, resilient and equitable requires urgent systemic change. This chapter focuses on the critical role of youth as agents of transformation. It synthesises emerging evidence on how young people across Sub-Saharan Africa play a transformative role in the transition toward sustainable and resilient food systems. Drawing on examples from a wide range of contexts, the chapter focuses on underreported pathways through which youth are driving change towards sustainability through efforts in regenerative agriculture, digital and climate-smart technologies, circular economy practices, agro-processing, sustainable agribusiness models, and inclusive value chains. Despite the growing momentum behind youth-led agricultural sustainable food system transformation in Africa, several systemic barriers limit these efforts' scalability and long-term impact. The chapter proposes strategic recommendations focused on youth-responsive policy reform, including tailored financing mechanisms and institutional support for skills development and innovation to sustain the momentum of sustainable food system transformation. The findings contribute to policy and academic debates on sustainable development, food security, and youth empowerment, offering insights for aligning national strategies with global goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 and SDG 12
Scoping review on farmer information sources for animal health
Full text linkLivestock farmers are the central decision makers for control of most endemic diseases, which makes them a vital stakeholder for the effective communication of information created from disease surveillance. We conducted a scoping review of the relevant scientific literature following PRISMA standards to identify the most common information channels or networks through which farmers receive information about animal health or disease. We found 50 articles that met our inclusion criteria (see methods section) by searching the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science from 1960 – Feb 2025. Most of the articles (n = 34) came from the UK. Most of the studies targeted cattle farmers (n = 31), followed by sheep farmers (n = 19) and pig farmers (n = 10). Farmers were reported to receive information from a wide variety of sources. Veterinarians were reported to be the most important information source (n = 36). Other sources reported to be important were nutritionists and foot trimers (n = 1), other farmers (n = 1), farmer associations and schemes (n = 1) and the farm press (n = 1). Five studies reported that a combination of different sources was the most effective for communicating to farmers. From this study, we can conclude that veterinarians are the primary animal health/disease information source for farmers and should always be included when designing strategies to communicate health/disease related information to farmer. Other information sources are less important but should be included when communication is intended to reach as many farmers as possible
Welfare Indicators for Aquaculture Research: Toolboxes for Five Farmed European Fish Species
Full text linkRefining approaches to measuring, monitoring and appraising animal welfare in aquaculture research is key to (i) protecting and optimizing it, (ii) documenting the severity of how and when it deviates, and (iii) ensuring good scientific quality, reliable results and reproducibility, amongst other factors. However, different fish species and life stages can have varying welfare needs and assessing their welfare can be challenging. An array of welfare indicators (WIs) can be utilized when documenting fish welfare, and there is currently little consensus on which WIs are most applicable to the key fish species used in European aquaculture research. The aim of this review is to propose updated, fit for purpose and comprehensive WI toolboxes for aquaculture research involving Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ), rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), European seabass ( Dicentrarchus labrax ), gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata ), and the common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ). Where possible, these toolboxes will also include life‐stage considerations. It also provides information on utilizing WIs in deciding humane end‐points as well as information on how to sample different types of indicators. The review closes with information on how digitalization can affect the collection, collation and analysis of WI data in aquaculture research, including both practical and theoretical considerations. The toolboxes incorporate a range of WIs that go beyond those required for legally safeguarding fish welfare in both laboratory and operational experimental facilities in the current European 2010/63/EU Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes and its amendment, the Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2024/1262
Assessing methane production and feed efficiency in both growing and mature ovine animals in six countries across Europe, South America and Oceania
Full text linkUnderstanding key animal performance and nuisance factors associated with methane (CH4) output and feed intake is crucial in developing greenhouse gas mitigation strategies and incorporating these traits into international sheep breeding goals. The objectives of the current study were to: 1) investigate animal and nuisance (environmental + management) factors associated with CH4 output and feed intake; and 2) determine relationships between CH4 output and feed efficiency in sheep and whether or not they differ by country. Methane output was measured in sheep in Ireland, Norway, New Zealand (NZ) and Uruguay using portable accumulation chambers (PAC), and in France using GreenFeed technology. Individual feed intake was quantified using various techniques across six countries (Ireland, United Kingdom, Norway, France, Uruguay, NZ), on sheep housed indoors, grazing outdoors, and consuming forage or a total mixed ration. Studies varied by sheep breed and age, as well as feed types and measurement methods; factors associated with the variability in CH4 output and feed intake therefore differed by country. Despite variation between studies, phenotypic relationships among CH4, carbon dioxide (CO2), feed intake, feed efficiency, and live weight, were broadly similar across countries. Correlations with CH4 output (g/d) were consistent and moderate with live weight (r = 0.41–0.55); variable with dry matter intake (DMI), ranging from 0.24 (France) to 0.88 (Norway); and consistently weak with residual feed intake (RFI). Correlations with CO2 output (g/d) were consistent with live weight gain (r = 0.57) where estimated (France, Uruguay); variable with DMI, from moderate (r = 0.48 for France to r = 0.54 for NZ) to high (r = 0.71, Uruguay); and weak (r = 0.12, Uruguay) to moderately weak (r = 0.21, France) with RFI. Despite disparate datasets, combining data facilitates comparison and discussion on methodologies and interpretation of results. Results support the hypothesis that specific biological processes govern some trait relationships, being independent of factors like breed, age and feed, but that other relationships (e.g. between CO2 and feed intake) are potentially strongly influenced by methodology and warrant further investigation. This is pertinent as we seek feed intake proxies to allow the estimation of CH4 yield, an important metric in international CH4 accounting
Prospects for Utilization of Modern Technologies for Cattle Improvement in Africa
Full text linkThis chapter discusses the prospects of the utilization of modern technologies for cattle improvement in African livestock production systems. The first section gives a general overview of modern technologies and their application for improving cattle in the African continent. Section 22.1 discusses the general overview of how different molecular information improves the development of large ruminants in Africa. The section outlines some practical case studies where molecular information has been used for the detection of genomic variations in African cattle and buffalo, the use of genetic markers to assign individuals to breeds, and parentage identification. It concludes with the use of molecular information in gene editing and transgenic animals in animal production. In Sect. 22.3, the prospect for the application of modern technology in developing livestock feeds and feeding is discussed with practical examples. The subsequent sections discuss the application of modern technologies in improving livestock housing and husbandry systems (Sect. 22.4). Other modern technological advancements, including the development of diagnostic tests for detecting genetic defects using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), using genomic markers for selective breeding, and genome editing to improve productivity and control of deleterious alleles in livestock, are also discussed. The chapter also reviews the application of modern technologies to improve livestock health. In each case, practical examples are outlined as case studies where the technologies are applied in the African setting. The chapter concludes by looking at challenges and constraints in the implementation of modern technologies in cattle and buffalo production in Africa. Potential solutions are suggested.</p
The antimicrobial alternative precursor-derived peracetic acid and zinc oxide lead to a sex dependent microbial modulation in weaning piglets
Full text linkSeveral authors described the sexual dimorphism of the gut microbiota in pigs and other animals in relation to sex-specific modulation following interventions such as diet or prebiotics and probiotics. These differences can also influence the host phenotype through the bi-directional pathways of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and could ultimately impact an animal's welfare and well−being. Postweaning diarrhoea is a multifactorial disease that occurs in piglets and is characterised by the sudden diet change from the sow milk to solid feedstuff, with moderate to heavy diarrhoea, accompanied by decreased performance, usually BW gain. In our previous work, we described that the broad-spectrum antimicrobial-alternative peracetic acid ameliorated the diarrhetic symptoms in piglets similarly to what was observed for zinc oxide. Here, we present a further analysis of this data set, assessing the interactions between interventions and sex. A 14-day animal study was carried out, during which 28-day−old, weaned piglets were allocated to 24-floor pens with four treatments, six pens and 12 piglets per treatment, six males and six females. The four treatments were a negative control, supra-nutritional in-feed zinc oxide, and either 50 or 150 mg/kg of in-water peracetic acid. Performance and postweaning diarrhoea were assessed throughout the study, whereas at day 14, gastrointestinal content samples were collected from all the pigs to allow downstream total bacterial quantification and 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. We found that the BW gain was greater in females compared to males given zinc oxide or peracetic acid. Moreover, apart from sex-specific differences in the microbial composition, we observed that both peracetic acid and zinc oxide led to different microbial modulation in males and females. Indeed, in the stomach, Sarcina, Actinobacillus and unclassified Neisseriaceae were depleted only in males given the high peracetic acid concentration, whilst the same treatment led to the reduction of Moraxella in females. Escherichia-Shigella was reduced after zinc oxide administration, but only in females. Finally, although Lactobacillus was less abundant in males in the caecum, both zinc oxide and peracetic acid led to its increase, but only in males.</p
Assessing attribute trade-offs and implicit biases driving consumers’ preference for tilapia
No full textConsumer preferences shape demand for fish. However, empirical evidence on non-nutritional drivers of choice is scarce. This paper examines consumer preferences for intrinsic attributes of tilapia through a survey of 449 Nigerian consumers focused on red and black tilapia. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) was used to examine subconscious biases, and conjoint analysis to determine the relative importance of various fish attributes in consumer decision-making. Results from the IAT show a strong implicit preference for black tilapia, which was more closely linked to positive attributes such as freshness and taste. Color was the most influential factor in consumer decision-making, followed by production source and price. Preference patterns varied slightly by age, but not by gender or education. This paper highlights how visual biases and attribute prioritization can shape consumer demand in emerging markets. The finding insights for product positioning, species diversification and marketing strategies across similar contexts.</p
Functionally rich crop rotations increase calorie and macronutrient outputs across Europe
Full text linkIncreased crop diversity in cereal-dominated rotations can enhance crop protection, nutrient use efficiency and climate change adaptation. Nevertheless, it is argued that replacing cereals in rotations diminishes food production, threatening food security. Here we compared outputs of calories and macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) for human consumption from cereal monocultures, cereal-only rotations and rotations including two or three functionally distinct crop types (cereals plus root and oil crops, legumes or ley) in 16 long-term experiments across Europe. Rotations with three functional types produced more calories and macronutrients than cereal monocultures and cereal-only rotations with forage crops used to produce milk. Carbohydrate gains depended on growing conditions and crop choice. Advantages increased over time but were lost with forage crops used for beef or biofuel. Functionally rich rotations provided macronutrient proportions closer to recommended human diets. Our analysis shows no trade-off between functionally rich rotations and food production or agricultural land expansion
Is cattle welfare affected by the methane-reducing feed additive 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP)?
No full textTo meet climate change targets, countries including Scotland are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture contributes around 10% of UK emissions, of which methane from ruminant livestock contributes around half. Across sectors, mitigation methods are being explored. The feed additive 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP, Bovaer) can reduce cattle methane emissions by up to 30% by inhibiting the final enzyme in methane synthesis in the rumen microbiome. Although now licensed for use in various jurisdictions including the UK and EU (for dairy and suckler cows), the possible impact of 3-NOP use on cattle welfare has not been fully investigated