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Aprovechamiento sostenible del lactosuero: oportunidades y desafíos para la economía circular
No full textThe milk processing in cheese production generates whey as the primary byproduct, which has a high nutrient content. However, it often goes to waste and is mostly discharged into the environment without pretreatment, leading to an environmental pollution problem. Because of its importance, the main objective of this study was to delve into fundamental aspects related to the valorization of whey and its importance in the agri-food and socio-economic fields. The methodology was founded on a systematic review of the scientific literature, including a thorough evaluation of scientific articles and statistical sources from the last six years (using databases such as Scielo, Redalyc, Scopus, FAO, and INEC, among others), based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results and relevant discussions regarding whey production in Ecuador and available processing technologies were analyzed. Furthermore, the study emphasized the importance of finding sustainable applications for whey, such as using it in bioplastics, bio-products, biofuels, and other beneficial products for the food industry and the environment. In this context, some limitations and challenges associated with the industrial use of whey were identified and discussed, such as handling large volumes of this byproduct and the variability in its commercial value. Among the conclusions, it was determined that whey contains important nutrients derived from milk, which can be widely utilized by various industries, such as the food, chemical, cosmetic, and biomedical industries, according to the reviewed studies. Here, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive view regarding the constraints and challenges related to harnessing this valuable protein through extraction and purification methods, and its applications in different fields
Suggested Project Design, Senegalese Component of the OMVS Regional Grain Stabilization Project
No full textExcerpts: The Senegalese component of U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) assistance to the OMVS (Organization for Development of the Senegal River Valley) Regional Grain Stabilization Project is authorized under Non-Capital Project Paper, Project No. 625-11-150-600, April 2, 1972, and revised March 1972. The long run objective of this project is to involve the countries of Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal (members of the OMVS) in a regional program to manage cereal grain supplies. The project authorizes technical assistance and other funding inputs for an initial effort (FY 72-FY 75) to develop relevant and complementary domestic cereal grain supply management programs in each OMVS member country as a basis for initiating effective regional cooperation. The following discussions represent this team's suggested design for the Senegalese component of the OMVS Regional Grain Stabilization Program. It is intended as a working document, and the team anticipates there will be a number of additional inputs into the design before it becomes final. In preparing its report the team has followed guidelines provided by USAID and the Malian project design, which was suggested as an example
Farmer Involvement in Irrigation Agriculture: Evidence from the Anambra-Imo River Basin Irrigation Scheme, Nigeria
No full textThis study was conducted in the Anambra catchment of the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority(AIRBDA), Nigeria. The aim was to analyse the involvement of farmers in irrigation agriculture as a key component of public agricultural project performance. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting ninety(90) farmers from the catchment of the AIRBDA. Descriptive statistics provided initial insight into operational and structural characteristics, while relevant visualizations were produced using Python and Excel. The Logit estimate identified factors influencing farmers’ involvement in the irrigation schemes, thereby offering empirical evidence relevant for project appraisal and management. Results showed that 15.6% of farmers reported non-participation, while about 84.4% were active participants in the scheme. The estimated model reported a Wald chi² of 39.65 and a log pseudolikelihood of –281.37084. Farm experience, household size, major occupation, farm income, and membership in the Water Users Association (WUA) significantly influenced farmers’ involvement in the irrigation scheme. It recommends strengthening Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) systems, whereby farmers manage routine water allocation, while the River Basin management provides technical oversight, with a member of the Water Users Association as a part of its team
Antibiotics Curb Diseases in Livestock, Boost Growth
No full textExcerpts: Two ears of corn, two bushels of potatoes, two pigs, two calves, two chickens, two turkeys now grow where but one grew before. This has been achieved through the concerned work of many people in all walks of science and farming. Among the several scientific discoveries which substantially contributed to the abundant yields of our meat, egg and milk production was the astonishing discovery in the early 1950's of the "antibiotic growth effect" on livestock. It was at first unexpected, illogical, and baffling, but enormously exciting for it opened new vistas of research in animal science
From Pen to Print: A Handbook About ERS Research Manuscripts
No full textExcerpt: We put this material together to help author and editor alike to attain the lower end of the time range with a product both can be proud of. It can also be a handy reference for the person typing the manuscript and the camera copy. • The first section discusses the procedures and forms necessary for clearing, editing, and printing the publication. • The next five sections provide guidelines for writing the report, typing the manuscript, editing the report, preparing the final copy, and proofreading that copy before it is printed. • The last two sections give general information on selecting artwork and cover designs and on printing and distribution. • Appendixes list the types of ERS publications and the series into which nonperiodic reports fall
Balancing India and China: A Case Study of Sri Lanka
No full textSri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean has placed it at the centre of intensifying geopolitical competition and rivalry between China and India. This report examines Sri Lanka’s experience in balancing its own priorities and needs with the competing interests and concerns of India and China through the lens of project financing. It provides a data-driven understanding of the opportunities, challenges, and pitfalls that countries like Sri Lanka face by analysing the grants, loans, and investments made by China and India from 2000 to 2023. Drawing from these findings, the report also sheds light on safeguards countries like Sri Lanka can adopt to overcome the challenges and mitigate risks. The experience of Sri Lanka provides valuable insights and lessons for countries navigating similar dynamics that strive to manage strategic competition and rivalry between global and regional powers with their own development needs and priorities
A Highly Effective Deep Learning Tool for Identifying Plant Leaves
No full textThis work addresses pattern recognition in the agronomic domain, with a particular emphasis on identifying plant leaves using an adaptive neural network technique. We introduce a tool designed for two primary groups: botany researchers and a broader range of scientists applying it to plant identification and classification. We delve into the capabilities of Deep Learning, focusing on generalization abilities that enable accurate predictions on unseen data, which is essential for handling the variation in leaf shapes, sizes, and structures across species. The implementation details of these neural networks are described, including data preprocessing, network architecture design, training strategies, and evaluation techniques to ensure robustness and reliability in real-world applications
Leveraging Deep Learning for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Wheat Diseases: Challenges and Innovations
No full textThis research introduces a deep learning system for the early identification and categorization of wheat illnesses, with the objective of optimizing crop health and promoting agricultural sustainability. Results in up to high classification accuracy for brown rust, yellow rust, leaf rust, and septoria. The combination of artificial intelligence (AI) with image processing methodologies such as rescaling and augmentation allows the system to accurately classify wheat crops that are well or unhealthy. The presented system is of great interest for precision agriculture, providing an affordable means to reduce the application of pesticides and encourage sustainable agricultural practices. Ongoing research involves linking this diagnostic platform with drone technology to facilitate on-demand, point-by-point disease surveillance and monitoring across large areas, further extending the platform’s applicability in field applications for food securit
Las legumbres en la dieta de la comunidad universitaria de la Universidad de Carabobo, Venezuela
No full textThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) considers legumes as a fundamental part of sustainable development and food security. They are foods rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fibers, and bioactive compounds beneficial to health. In Venezuela they are part of the cultural and gastronomic identity of the nation. However, food consumption patterns have changed in recent decades. For this reason, it was of interest to characterize aspects related to the consumption of legumes in the community linked to the University of Carabobo (UC). To this end, a descriptive and cross-sectional investigation was developed through a survey designed by the researchers and validated by experts. It was structured with 20 questions related to sociodemographic aspects and eating habits. The sample was non-probabilistic, made up of people from the university community who participated voluntarily. It was applied online during June and July 2024 period, and the data was collected and tabulated for analysis. A total of 125 people participated, the majority female (76%), with an average age of 38.3 years, residing mainly in Aragua (68%). It was found that 97.6% stated that they consumed legumes, with frequencies between 1 to 3 times a month (40%) and once a week (36%). The most consumed legume was beans (64%). Respondents also reported eating meat and other foods of animal origin with a frequency between 2 to 4 times a week (54%). These results can be considered part of an initial diagnosis of the consumption patterns of the university community and it would be recommended to delve deeper into this type of study, to verify if the diet provides the necessary nutrients for the development of cognitive skills and work activities
Livestock Grazing Impacts on Riparian & Aquatic Ecosystems in the Wilderness of the Western U.S.
No full textThe objectives of this project were to: 1. Synthesize the literature on livestock grazing impacts to riparian and aquatic ecosystems in wilderness of the western United States 2. Analyze the data from as many prior studies as feasible in a meta-analysis to discern broad geographic and ecological patterns in livestock grazing impacts to riparian and aquatic ecosystems of the western United States 3. Develop a set of prioritized knowledge-gaps based upon the literature synthesis and meta-analysis 4. Prioritize recommendations for future research on livestock grazing impacts to riparian and aquatic ecosystems of the western United States based on the literature synthesis, meta-analysis, and the set of prioritized knowledge gaps