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Identifying governance challenges in scaling biofortification programs and the potential of training: a case study of Uganda
Full text linkIntroduction: Biofortification initiatives can significantly help reduce micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. However, when hidden hunger affects a large segment of the population, large-scale implementation is necessary to achieve the desired results. We aimed to identify governance challenges in biofortification, and potential remedies based on a conceptual framework that considers low demand and the invisible nature of micronutrient traits in crops.
Methods: Using process net maps and quantitative methods, this paper explores how farmer training can address governance issues.
Results: Results show that, in addition to common agricultural marketing issues, sweet potato vine multipliers struggle with vine supply, value chain actors adulterate iron beans, and consumers are hesitant to pay higher prices for biofortified crops. These problems may result from information asymmetry, merit goods, collective action issues, and free riding. Furthermore, training had little impact on reducing the governance challenge arising from information asymmetry.
Discussion/conclusion: One of the key solutions was investing in subsidies to increase production and raise awareness of the importance of nutritious foods. With governance problems, there is a need to take them into consideration when planning and expanding biofortification programs.The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This work was primarily supported by the DAAD Grant 91732971, which funded Alioma Richard’s PhD at Hohenheim University. Additionally, part of the funding for data collection was provided by the Department of Rural Development Theory and Policy as part of Alioma Richard’s PhD program
Educational ideals affect AI acceptance in learning environments
Full text linkAI is increasingly used in learning environments to monitor, test, and educate students and allow them to take more individualized learning paths. The success of AI in education will, however, require the acceptance of this technology by university management, faculty, and students. This acceptance will depend on the added value that stakeholders ascribe to this technology. In two empirical studies, we investigate the hitherto neglected question of which impact educational ideals have on the acceptance of AI in learning environments. We find clear evidence for our study participants’ conviction that humanistic educational ideals are considered less suitable for implementing AI in education than compentence-based ideals. This implies that research on the influence of teaching and learning philosophies could be an enlightening component of a comprehensive research program on human-AI interaction in educational contexts.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (3115
Toward food-grade production of the Glutamicibacter halophytocola diamine oxidase using Komagataella phaffii
Full text linkThe diamine oxidase from Glutamicibacter halophytocola (DAO-GH) was recombinantly produced in K. phaffii using the constitutive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter for methanol-free production. Firstly, K. phaffii clones were generated for intracellular and secretory DAO-GH production that still possessed antibiotic resistance due to the cloning procedure. For intracellular production, a maximum intracellular DAO activity of 15,404 nkat/Lculture was achieved in fed-batch bioreactor cultivations, while for secretory production, the highest extracellular DAO activity of 6,078 nkat/Lculture was achieved using the αMF signal peptide without its EAEA sequence. The intracellularly produced DAO-GH was partially purified in several purification steps with a yield of 80%, a purification factor of about 10 and specific DAO activity of 16.7 nkat/mgprotein. The secretory DAO-GH production resulted in a specific DAO activity of 15.4 nkat/mgprotein already in the cell-free culture supernatant at the end of cultivation without further purification steps. The food industry aims to avoid the use of antimicrobial resistance in enzyme production, therefore, a new cassette plasmid with self-excisable antibiotic resistance markers was constructed for secretory DAO-GH production. The antibiotic-resistance-free K. phaffii clone generated with this plasmid achieved a maximum extracellular DAO activity of 4,770 nkat/Lculture in a fed-batch bioreactor cultivation. The DAO-GH obtained in this cultivation was spray-dried, resulting in a storable powder with 23 nkat/gpowder DAO activity and a water activity value of 0.12. This study demonstrated the secretion of recombinant DAO in a microbial host such as K. phaffii for the first time and provides a strategy for generating antibiotic-resistance-free K. phaffii clones.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Universität Hohenheim (3153
Genomic evidence of positive selection highlights functional divergence associated with environmental resilience in central and West African indigenous cattle
No full textAfrican indigenous cattle harbor rich genetic diversity shaped by long-term adaptation to tropical climates and endemic diseases, notably trypanosomiasis. To investigate the genetic basis of natural disease resistance, we analyzed 33,147 SNPs in 1,047 individuals from 17 breeds using complementary selection scans (iHS, XP-EHH, and Rsb) in a multi-cohort framework. Fifteen pairwise comparisons across six breed groups enabled robust detection of recent positive selection, capturing both within-breed and breed-specific adaptive signals. We identified 229 selective regions, with 47 outlier SNPs consistently detected by multiple methods. Selection signals were enriched on chromosomes 5, 7, and 29, containing candidate genes such as ATF4, PKNOX2, DNAJB7, TEF, NFE2, and several SPINK and HOXC family members, many associated with immune function and trypanosome challenge response. These genomic regions represent promising targets for the development of breeding strategies aimed at enhancing disease resilience. By identifying genomic regions under selection, this study provides interesting insights for sustainable livestock improvement and conservation efforts in West and Central Africa. Our findings support the integration of indigenous genetic resources into breeding programs designed to optimize productivity while maintaining resilience to environmental and disease pressures.Otto Bayer FoundationThe International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, SwedenGates Foundation and with UK aid from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Grant Agreement INV-040641) under the auspices of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH)The German Research FoundationThe joint RiSC program of the State Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg and the University of Tübinge
Mitigating phytotoxicity of hydrothermal liquefaction hydrochar toward potential agricultural applications
No full textValorizing hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) by-products is essential to improve process sustainability and support its industrial-scale implementation. However, the direct agricultural application of HTL-derived hydrochar remains limited due to reported phytotoxic effects. By studying and mitigating phytotoxicity, this work evaluates the potential suitability for agricultural use of hydrochar, the solid by-product from continuous HTL of a 50/50 wt. % cattle manure and wheat straw mixture at 325 °C, separated with an in-line filter. Phytotoxicity was assessed using seed germination assays with Barley (Hordeum vulgare) and Cress (Lepidium sativum) seeds. Two hydrochar post-treatments, washing (hydrochloric acid and water) and pyrolysis (300 °C and 500 °C), were examined to mitigate hydrochar phytotoxicity. Raw HTL-hydrochar significantly hindered plant growth, reducing the root lengths of barley and cress by 37 % and 70 %, respectively, compared to the control. Water-washed post-treatment eliminated hydrochar phytotoxicity and enhanced Barley root growth by 42 % compared to control at a 15 ton ha⁻¹ application rate, indicating a possible growth-stimulating effect. Pyrolysis also mitigated hydrochar phytotoxic effects, with cress root lengths statistically similar to the control. No uptake of heavy metals by the plants were observed in the germination assays. These results suggest that phytotoxicity originates from water-soluble organic compounds, likely phenols, short-chain organic acids and aldehydes, produced during HTL process and adsorbed in the hydrochar surface. The novelty of this work lies in demonstrating the complete removal of phytotoxicity from HTL hydrochar using technologically mature and scalable post-treatments. Therefore, a barrier to hydrochar valorization is removed, enabling further investigations into agronomic applications. This work contributes to a circular biomass valorization strategy
COFfee: a coffee waste@anthraquinone COF nanocomposite as a photocatalyst for green hydrogen production
No full textSustainability is pivotal for the growth, development, and survival of future generations, necessitating a shift to renewable energy sources and sustainable materials. The development of waste-derived, visible-light-active, nontoxic photocatalysts for water splitting is a promising approach in this direction. We report the one-pot synthesis of a novel waste coffee (WC)-based covalent organic framework (COF) nanocomposite, WC@DqTp, via a vortex-assisted solvothermal method. Integrating an anthraquinone-based COF (DqTp) with WC enhances its photocatalytic performance through improved charge separation. The photocatalytic activity of WC@DqTp for hydrogen evolution from water using platinum as a co-catalyst without an added sacrificial agent (36.1 μmol g –1 h –1 ) was almost two times higher than that of bare COF DqTp (21.2 μmol g –1 h –1 ). XPS, photoelectrochemistry, and PL lifetime measurements demonstrated that the superior efficiency of the nanocomposite is likely due to the formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction between WC and DqTp. This work highlights the potential of sustainable materials as efficient photocatalysts for green hydrogen generation
Potential of homopolysaccharide-producing starter cultures in the fermentation of coconut yoghurt alternatives enriched with pea protein isolate
Full text linkThis study investigates the use of a homopolysaccharide (HoPS)-producing Latilactobacillus sakei strain for the production of protein-enriched plant-based yoghurt analogues based on coconut milk. Formulations varied in added sucrose (2.5% or 5.0% w / w ), pea protein isolate (PPI; 0–5.0% w / w ), and tapioca starch (0%, 1.5% w / w ), and were fermented with either a HoPS-producing strain ( L. sakei 1.411), or a non-exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing control strain ( L. sakei 1.2037) with very similar acidification kinetics. Microbial growth and pH were monitored, HoPS content was determined via HPLC, and both firmness and syneresis were assessed during 5 days of storage at 4 °C. EPS yields were significantly higher ( p < 0.05) in samples with 5.0% w / w added sucrose compared to those with 2.5% w / w . Fermentation with L. sakei 1.411 generally resulted in firmer gels ( p < 0.05) and reduced syneresis ( p < 0.05) compared to L. sakei 1.2307 and the enhanced viscosity (sample thickness) was also observed in a sensory analysis. Samples containing starch and 5.0% w / w PPI showed the highest firmness-related values. These findings demonstrate the potential of in situ HoPS production to improve the texture and stability of protein-enriched coconut-based yoghurt analogues. It highlights the importance of matrix formulation, strain selection and process control, which all contribute to the final product quality.This research was funded by Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen (VLAIO); Grant number: Tetra-Cornet, HBC.2022.0779.Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen (VLAIO
Selective coupling or genuine integration? Startups in the twin transformation
Full text linkStartups actively shape innovation during the twin transformation to sustainability and digitalization. Our analysis of >21,000 ventures reveals that genuine twin-transformers, i.e., startups able to integrate digital and green technologies, are rare and primarily driven by software. While sustainable ventures readily adopt digital tools, digital ventures rarely embrace sustainability. This asymmetry reflects different configurations of complementarities between digital and sustainable technologies, which investor preferences reinforce. Eventually, this may lead to superficial coupling rather than deep integration. To address the issue, we offer targeted recommendations for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers aiming to foster scalable, hardware-based solutions critical for sustainability
Microbiota responses to feed particle size, calcium concentration, and phytase supplementation in broiler chickens
Full text linkThis research aimed to investigate the modulation of broiler-chickens gut microbiota by dietary particle size (PS), exogenous phytase, and calcium (Ca) concentration. Eight experimental diets varied in PS (fine 222 µm (PF) and coarse 309 µm (PC)), Ca concentration (4.9 and 7.2 g/kg), and exogenous phytase (0 and 1000 FTU/kg). A total of 560 Ross 308 broiler chickens were allocated to 56 metabolism units at 7 days of age and randomly assigned to each diet (7 replicates per treatment). On days 22 and 23, the birds were slaughtered, and the digesta from the gizzard, ileum, and ceca were sampled and pooled on a metabolism unit basis. DNA extraction was followed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.
Thirteen amplicon sequence variants (ASV) were present across the gizzard, ileum, and ceca, most of which were assigned to Limosilactobacillus and represented a substantial share of the total relative abundance in each section, 86 % in the gizzard, 88 % in the ileum, and 30 % in the ceca. Six of these L. reuteri ASVs were significantly enriched by coarse particle feeding, suggesting strain-specific adaptation to enhanced phosphorus availability. In the ileum, Candidatus arthromitus (p < 0.001) and Rombustia (p < 0.05) showed a significant increase in relative abundance in PC compared to PF. Phytase supplementation reduced the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus (p < 0.05), while higher Ca concentration decreased that of C. arthromitus (p < 0.05). In the ceca, increases in the relative abundance of Anaerostipes (p < 0.05) and Clostridia vadin BB60 were found for PC diets compared to PF (p < 0.001). The addition of phytase and Ca also significantly affected several genera, albeit the variations were less than 1 %.
Dietary PS, exogenous phytase, and Ca concentration modulated the gut microbiota, specifically influencing the abundance of key microorganisms like Candidatus arthromitus, Anaerostipes, and Clostridia vadin BB60, involved in phosphorus metabolism and overall broiler chickens' health
A decade of change and future prospects of organic farming in Iran using the multi‐round Delphi method
Full text linkIn recent years, the concept of organic farming has gained increasing attention due to its reduced use of agrochemicals, ecological preservation, and contribution to sustainability. However, the analysis of data from 2013 to 2021 shows that organic agriculture in Iran remained almost unchanged until 2016, with approximately 18,871 hectares under cultivation. After 2016, a period of stagnation ensued, followed by a decline, suggesting a regression rather than a progression in the sector. The present study aims to identify and evaluate the primary indicators influencing the development of organic agriculture in Iran by leveraging the expertise of subject‐matter experts. To this end, a four‐round, two‐phase Delphi method was employed to identify, refine, and validate the indicators. This method entailed conducting interviews with Iranian organic farming experts representing diverse organizations and sectors within organic agriculture. The identified factors were then grouped using the 7S model (Strategy, Structure, System, Skills, Staff, Style, and Shared Values). A nonparametric test was used to determine changes in these indicators over the past decade. The study's findings suggest that structural enhancements, increased knowledge, and growing societal awareness of sustainability have exerted a favorable influence. Nevertheless, systemic and policy constraints have curtailed the comprehensive advancement of organic farming. This research offers significant insights to the dynamics of organic agriculture in Iran and provides concrete recommendations for promoting its development in the future