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Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry (CCF): Synergies and trade-off
Get PDFpeer-reviewedSitka spruce is commonly planted in Ireland because it has fast growth and is suitable for the available markets. At the end of the forest rotation, a plantation forest is often harvested during a single operation (clearfelled) and then replanted. Over the last two decades there has been increasing interest in alternative forest management practices that do not require all of the trees to be felled at the same time. To research alternatives to clearfelling, the DAFM-funded ContinuFOR project trials different
thinning options to transform an even-aged Sitka spruce plantation to continuous cover forestry (CCF)
The consequence of supplementing with synbiotic systems on free amino acids, free fatty acids, organic acids, and some stability indexes of fermented milk
Get PDFpeer-reviewedAn investigation on the impacts of different prebiotics (inulin, galactofructose, soy protein isolate (SPI), and spirulina) and co-culturing with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei on the biological metabolites [free amino acids (FAAs), free fatty acids (FFAs), and organic acids] and stability parameters of fermented milk is presented. All fermented milks represented an increased FAA content compared with their milk counterparts, while the synbiotic fermented milk supplemented with galactofructose (YGF) and spirulina (YSP) were more efficient in this regard. The total organic acid content of the samples was not significantly affected by the type of prebiotics, and co-culturing by L. paracasei, YGF and YSP presented a different pattern, with the highest succinic acid (0.77 mm) and oxoglutaric acid (0.27 mm) contents, respectively. The thermal stability of the fermented milks did not change by loading various prebiotics and co-culturing, while the phase, colloidal, mechanical, and shear stability indexes were significantly affected
Green synthesis of nanomaterials for smart biopolymer packaging: challenges and outlooks
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There are several physical and chemical methods for synthesizing nanomaterials, while the most appropriate techniques involve using green chemistry and eco-friendly material. Recently, green synthesized materials for different applications have gained attention as a result of their environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness. Applying green synthesized nanoparticles (NPS) in food packaging has been extensively investigated. Biopolymers require filler to enhance the optical, barrier, thermal, antimicrobial, and mechanical properties of packaging. Biopolymer packaging incorporated with green synthesized NPs is expected to simultaneously enhance performance while reducing environmental damage. The current review article focuses on biopolymer films with bio (green)-synthesized nanomaterials and their effectiveness in reducing the negative environmental implications of synthetic packaging. It also covers the general concepts of green synthesis of NPs, their production methods, their performance, and characterization, and discusses the potential, performance and recent developments of bio-nanocomposite films/coatings in biodegradable food packaging. Recent reports and trends provide more insight into the impact of green synthesized nanomaterials on food packaging
Understanding agricultural land leasing in Ireland: a transaction cost approach
Get PDFpeer-reviewedFormal written land leasing contracts offer an alternative to land purchase for those farmers wishing to expand their land area and provide greater security relative to informal short-term rental agreements and are particularly important for beginning farmers with resources insufficient to purchase land. Formal land leasing contracts vary in terms of their duration, but there is limited understanding about the determinants of contract duration in developed countries. In this research, we use econometric techniques and transaction level data to explore the determinants of duration for agricultural land lease contracts for two regions in Ireland. Under the transaction cost economics approach, the research explores the role of legal status, price and non-price conditions in influencing the contract duration. Results indicate that the legal status of the tenant is a significant factor in influencing the duration. Provisions such as break clauses appear positively related to duration and confirm the theoretical expectation that long-term contracts create a demand for processes that enable adaptation over the course of long-term exchange
Datafile: Plant diversity enhanced nematode-based soil quality indices and changed soil nematode community structure in intensively-managed agricultural grasslands
No full textpeer-reviewedPlant productivity, decomposition and nutrient cycling are controlled by plant-soil-biota interactions. However, it remains poorly understood how plant species diversity and diversity interactions impact belowground communities that modulate these processes in intensively-managed grassland systems. In managed grassland communities, comprising species selected for agronomic performance, we investigated how plant species diversity affected the soil nematode community and associated ecological indices with a focus on assessing abovegroundbelowground interactions. A total of 27 nematode taxa were identified from 61 experimental field plots in which plant species diversity was systematically manipulated from a pool of six plant species within three functional groups (FGs; grasses, legumes, herbs). In general, there were strong effects of plant species identity on the nematode community; interspecific interaction effects did not consistently occur, but where they did were best related to plant community evenness. The equi-proportional six-species plant community had a significantly higher nematode diversity, maturity index (MI), structure index (SI) and proportion of sensitive taxa (omnivore and predators) but a lower enrichment index (EI) than the individual monocultures. The two legumes (Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens) had the highest EI but lowest abundance of fungivores and channel index, indicating a bacterial- dominated decomposition pathway. Moreover, the community structure of nematodes in the equiproportional six-species community was significantly different from that in the monocultures. This change in community structure was associated with factors highly correlated with plant diversity, including higher aboveground biomass yield and total nitrogen in harvested biomass as well as lower biomass of weed species. Overall, our results show that multi-species forage sward mixtures that include grasses, legumes, and herbs can have a positive effect on the soil nematode community and nematode-based soil quality indices. This is of practical relevance for farmers and for EU agricultural policy targeted at sustainability, soil health and farming for biodiversity benefits
Fermented foods and gastrointestinal health: underlying mechanisms
Get PDFpeer-reviewedAlthough fermentation probably originally developed as a means of preserving food substrates, many fermented foods (FFs), and components therein, are thought to have a beneficial effect on various aspects of human health, and gastrointestinal health in particular. It is important that any such perceived benefits are underpinned by rigorous scientific research to understand the associated mechanisms of action. Here, we review in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies that have provided insights into the ways in which the specific food components, including FF microorganisms and a variety of bioactives, can contribute to health-promoting activities. More specifically, we draw on representative examples of FFs to discuss the mechanisms through which functional components are produced or enriched during fermentation (such as bioactive peptides and exopolysaccharides), potentially toxic or harmful compounds (such as phytic acid, mycotoxins and lactose) are removed from the food substrate, and how the introduction of fermentation-associated live or dead microorganisms, or components thereof, to the gut can convey health benefits. These studies, combined with a deeper understanding of the microbial composition of a wider variety of modern and traditional FFs, can facilitate the future optimization of FFs, and associated microorganisms, to retain and maximize beneficial effects in the gut
Influence of a cattle access point on temporal changes in stream turbidity
Get PDFUnrestricted cattle access can have negative impacts on aquatic systems, including increases in stream water turbidity and suspended sediment levels. Many agri-environmental policies require the exclusion of livestock from waterbodies; however, data that quantify these impacts are scarce. This study used sensors measuring turbidity, a proxy for suspended sediment, together with motion-detecting cameras, to examine the influence of cattle in-stream activity on water quality in north-east Ireland. Two nephelometers, which automatically measured and logged turbidity, were placed upstream and downstream of a cattle access point in July 2017, while cameras were used to record cattle behaviour. A second deployment was made during February 2018 when cattle were absent. During low flows, frequent short-lived increases in turbidity were recorded at the downstream nephelometer only. These coincided with cattle accessing the water. There was a significant positive relationship between the longitudinal differences (downstream − upstream) in turbidity and the total number of cattle accessing the stream. There was no relationship between turbidity and stream discharge in July (when cattle were present), although that period was dominated by lower flow levels, with only 2 days in which discharge increased above baseflow. In contrast, there were no similar short-lived increases in turbidity in February 2018 when cattle were absent from the field, but there was a strong significant positive relationship between stream discharge and turbidity. These results highlight the consequences of cattle access for water column turbidity levels, particularly during periods of low streamflow, and therefore inform future agri-environmental policy in Ireland
Anti-methanogenic potential of seaweeds and seaweed-derived compounds in ruminant feed: current perspectives, risks and future prospects
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With methane emissions from ruminant agriculture contributing 17% of total methane emissions worldwide, there is increasing urgency to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in this sector. One of the proposed strategies is ruminant feed intervention studies focused on the inclusion of anti-methanogenic compounds which are those capable of interacting with the rumen microbiome, reducing the capacity of ruminal microorganisms to produce methane. Recently, seaweeds have been investigated for their ability to reduce methane in ruminants in vitro and in vivo, with the greatest methane abatement reported when using the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis (attributed to the bromoform content of this species). From the literature analysis in this study, levels of up to 99% reduction in ruminant methane emissions have been reported from inclusion of this seaweed in animal feed, although further in vivo and microbiome studies are required to confirm these results as other reports showed no effect on methane emission resulting from the inclusion of seaweed to basal feed. This review explores the current state of research aiming to integrate seaweeds as anti-methanogenic feed additives, as well as examining the specific bioactive compounds within seaweeds that are likely to be related to these effects. The effects of the inclusion of seaweeds on the ruminal microbiome are also reviewed, as well as the future challenges when considering the large-scale inclusion of seaweeds into ruminant diets as anti-methanogenic agents
Insights on the effects of antimicrobial and heavy metal usage on the antimicrobial resistance profiles of pigs based on culture-independent studies
Get PDFpeer-reviewedAntimicrobial resistance is a global threat to human, animal, and environmental health. In pig production, antimicrobials and heavy metals such as zinc oxide are commonly used for treatment and prevention of disease. Nevertheless, the effects of antimicrobials and heavy metals on the porcine resistome composition and the factors influencing this resistance profile are not fully understood. Advances in technologies to determine the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in diverse sample types have enabled a more complete understanding of the resistome and the factors which influence its composition. The aim of this review is to provide a greater understanding of the influence of antimicrobial and heavy metal usage on the development and transmission of antimicrobial resistance on pig farms. Furthermore, this review aims to identify additional factors that can affect the porcine resistome. Relevant literature that used high-throughput sequencing or quantitative PCR methods to examine links between antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial and heavy metal use was identified using a systematic approach with PubMed (NCBI), Scopus (Elsevier), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) databases. In total, 247 unique records were found and 28 publications were identified as eligible for inclusion in this review. Based on these, there is clear evidence that antimicrobial and heavy metal use are positively linked with antimicrobial resistance in pigs. Moreover, associations of genes conferring antimicrobial resistance with mobile genetic elements, the microbiome, and the virome were reported, which were further influenced by the host, the environment, or the treatment itself
Generation of Bioactive Peptides from Porphyridium sp. and Assessment of Their Potential for Use in the Prevention of Hypertension, Inflammation and Pain
Get PDFpeer-reviewedInflammation, hypertension, and negative heart health outcomes including cardiovascular disease are closely linked but the mechanisms by which inflammation can cause high blood pressure are not yet fully elucidated. Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes play a role in pain, inflammation, and hypertension development, and inhibition of these enzymes is currently of great interest to researchers and pharmaceutical companies. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the drug of choice in terms of COX inhibition but can have negative side effects for consumers. Functional food ingredients containing cyclooxygenase inhibitors offer a strategy to inhibit cyclooxygenases without negative side effects. Several COX inhibitors have been discovered, to date, from marine and other resources. We describe here, for the first time, the generation and characterization of a bioactive hydrolysate generated using Viscozyme® and Alcalase from the red microalga Porphyridium sp. The hydrolysate demonstrates in vitro COX-1 inhibitory activity and antihypertensive activity in vivo, assessed using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Peptides were identified and sequenced using MS and assessed using an in silico computational approach for potential bioactivities. The peptides predicted to be bioactive, including GVDYVRFF, AIPAAPAAPAGPKLY, and LIHADPPGVGL were chemically synthesized and cyclooxygenase inhibition was confirmed. Peptides AIPAAPAAPAGPKLY and LIHADPPGVGL had COX-1 IC50 values of 0.2349 mg/mL (0.16 µM) and 0.2193 mg/mL (0.2 µM), respectively. The hydrolysate was included in a food carrier (jelly candies) and an antihypertensive effect was observed in SHRs.NORTH-WEST EUROPE INTERRE