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Pearl millet and cowpea composite porridge
Get PDFThe aim of this thesis was to develop a composite porridge with a high nutritional value, to help combat child malnutrition in Mozambique. The research focused on the use of pearl millet and cowpea, crops that are widely cultivated and consumed in the northern region of the country, known for their climate resilience, availability and accessibility. Both grains are acknowledged for their high nutritional value and health-promoting compounds. In Mozambique, it is common for children and adults to consume the same food, which are predominantly starch-based. However, these foods are typically high in viscosity whilst low in energy and protein density and lack essential micronutrients crucial for child growth. This thesis focused on evaluating the effects of different pre-treatments, namely soaking, germination, and fermentation, on the physicochemical and morphological properties of pearl millet and cowpea flours as well as the resulting composite porridges. The primary objective was to identify the formulation with improved nutritional quality and reduced anti-nutritional factors, while maintaining both sensory appeal and cultural acceptability. The results revealed that germination altered starch granules of pearl millet and significantly reduced a porridge’s viscosity, whereas the cowpea starch granules were less affected. Pre-treatments enhanced the extractability of dietary fibre and phenolic compounds. Both fermentation and germination also promoted the enzymatic breakdown of the starch into smaller fractions. The six porridge formulations developed using fermented pearl millet exhibited rapidly digestible starch and lower levels of phytic acid. Among the developed composite porridges, those containing fermented samples, either together or combined with germinated pearl millet or cowpea were all liked by Mozambican mothers, with fermented pearl millet and cowpea combined with germinated cowpea being the most liked. Overall, the results highlight the potential of using pre-treated samples to develop affordable, culturally acceptable, and nutritionally balanced composite porridge to address protein-energy malnutrition in Mozambique and similar low-income countries
The heritability accuracy in forest tree breeding programs relying on random mating
Get PDFIn forest tree breeding, there is a growing trend towards using pedigree reconstruction after offspring are produced through natural random mating (open-pollination), as an alternative to traditional controlled crosses and full-sib genetic trials. Given that most forest tree species are predominantly outcrossing organisms, the accuracy of narrow-sense heritability (h2) under natural mating conditions has not been thoroughly examined, particularly with regard to sample size. Our simulation study focuses on the genetic parameters specific to Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) in Norway. We used the stochastic model MoBPS to simulate a founder population with 100,000 SNP markers distributed across 12 haploid chromosomes, representative of many conifer species. Parental trees were selected from this population, followed by random mating and offspring evaluation. We focused on estimating the accuracy of h2, with particular attention to its precision and bias. Our results suggest that the population sample sizes currently used in forest tree breeding are generally adequate for achieving precision. However, we identified two primary sources of bias: one due to dominance effects and the other from phenotypic parental selection. We discuss potential strategies to mitigate these biases in breeding programs
Nature-Based Solutions and Public Participation: Unpacking Tensions in Sustainable City Development in Northern Europe
Get PDFSecuring the acceptance of nature-based solutions (NbS) in urban greening is central for addressing current social, environmental, and climate-related challenges. To achieve this, participatory planning processes are increasingly encouraged in NbS projects. However, challenges often arise, as NbS and public participation are not always seamlessly compatible. Based on a cross-case, qualitative content analysis of project organizers' experiences in seven urban NbS planning projects in Northern Europe, we unpack three social tensions that can limit the role of participatory NbS: (1) tensions between the openness or "closedness" of environmental and participatory objectives; (2) tensions between the increasing time demands for participatory NbS processes and limitations for largely project-based NbS delivery; and (3) tensions between the roles of expert and lay knowledge. We illustrate these tensions through our cases, showing the challenges that they create for project organizers, both in terms of implementing NbS projects, as well as the risks that they have for broader NbS and participatory goals. We use the experiences and learnings from our cases to suggest paths that can help planners balance these tensions and potentially lead to more inclusive and transformative NbS planning models
EU Biomass supply, uses, governance and regenerative actions
Get PDFThis report is the fourth comprehensive public report by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) entirely dedicated to the topic of biomass in its many shapes and forms. This is the ten-year anniversary edition of the JRC Biomass Mandate. In the sections that follow, we discuss the competing requirements for biomass, and why this makes it so important to address biomass governance. In the central chapters of the report, we quantify biomass supply from forests, agriculture, and marine ecosystems, as well as waste streams for a wide range of uses in the European Union. The second half of the report is dedicated to a presentation and discussion of various possible actions to address biomass governance. We conclude by highlighting the need for system’s level assessments to facilitate policy coherence. This report reflects the direct work of JRC scientific staff and their collaborators, bringing together expertise from several units of the organisation, all united by a common attention to biomass
SNP-based linkage mapping reveals novel quantitative trait loci for yield traits in noug (Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass.)
Get PDFNoug (Guizotia abyssinica) is a vital Ethiopian oilseed crop lacking comprehensive genomic resources. This study constructed the first high-density SNP-based linkage map for this diploid species (2n=30, genome size ~1.7 Gb). Using an F2 mapping population of 286 individuals, we generated 13,888 high-quality SNPs from genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), which were mapped onto 15 linkage groups (LGs) with a mean marker density of 2.1 cM, covering 90.6% of the genome. Phenotypic evaluation revealed significant variation for nine agronomic traits, including plant height (110–292 cm), days to flowering (49–115 days), and oil content (13.88–55.62%). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping identified 27 QTL for six traits. Major findings include a flowering time QTL (qDTF-9-1) on LG9 explaining 7.6% of phenotypic variation (PVE) and a seed yield QTL (qNSPP-5-1) on LG5 explaining 2.9% PVE. Comparative genomics with sunflower (Helianthus annuus) revealed significant synteny, enabling the identification of candidate genes underlying these QTL: CLC-b (for qDTF-9-1) and GPT1 (for qNSPP-5-1). Additional QTL were detected for thousand-seed weight (cumulative PVE 51.2%), flower size (47.5%), capitula number (32.8%), and oil content (38.1%). This high-density genetic map and the identified QTL provide a foundational genomic resource for marker-assisted breeding to improve yield and agronomic traits in noug
Water quality and pesticide contamination in agricultural streams: assessing white-rot fungi and biochar treatments as remediation strategies
Get PDFPesticides used in agriculture, such as herbicides and fungicides, can reach water bodies through runoff and are a threat to freshwater ecosystems. Traditional methods to remove organic pesticides often lack efficiency or are too costly at scale. White-rot fungi (WRF) offer a green alternative by producing enzymes that break down persistent pollutants like pesticides. Biochar, made from organic waste, is another sustainable option due to its high adsorption capacity and carbon sequestration potential. This study evaluates water quality and pesticide contamination in five agricultural streams in Norway, and tests treatments with WRF and biochar as cost-effective, eco-friendly solutions for removing pesticides from surface waters. Eutrophication status based on total phosphorous ranged from high to bad conditions, while total nitrogen was relatively high at all locations. 35 pesticides were detected in at least one location, with concentrations ranging from 0.001 μg/l to 9.1 μg/l (for fluroxypyr). The most frequently detected compound was trifloxystrobin acid (present in all studied locations). Three water treatments were tested in the laboratory, two using WRF, in the form of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and pellets, and one using biochar. The approaches showed promise in reducing pesticide concentrations, with biochar (average removal efficiency of 94 %) significantly outperforming WRF-based treatments (27 % average removal efficiency for WRF: SMS and 20 % for WRF: pellets). However, all treatments led to increases in total phosphorus, though the increase was lower for WRF: pellets. WRF treatments also significantly increased total organic carbon and total nitrogen, which raises concerns about the risk of eutrophication
Farm advisors' perspectives on barriers and opportunities for wetland creation - the view from Sweden
Get PDFFarm advisors are important knowledge transfer agents for improving rural sustainability. Most literature focuses on their role in improving farm economies, but they can also promote greater environmental sustainability. Across Europe, most natural wetlands have been drained, impacting multiple ecosystem services (ES) including biodiversity support and nutrient retention, highlighting the need for increased restoration and creation efforts. In Sweden, these efforts depend on voluntary landowner actions. We interviewed farm advisors to learn how they encourage landowners to create and manage wetlands and the institutional barriers they still encounter. Advisors highlighted trust and long-term relationships as key success factors and considering landowner motivations that often prioritize recreational and cultural ES. Advisors noted overly complex bureaucracy, breaks in funding, inadequate long-term support, and lack of holistic perspectives as barriers for wetland creation. These insights about successful advisor/landowner interactions for wetland creation can be applied when implementing other agri-environmental measures
Deep engagement with a pluralistic landscape: Response to Katherine Burlingame (2024), "Landscape geographies: Interdisciplinary landscape research and a new framework to apply landscape as method"
Get PDFGenomic prediction powered by multi-omics data
Get PDFGenomic selection (GS) has transformed plant breeding by enabling early and accurate prediction of complex traits. However, its predictive performance is often constrained by the limited information captured through genomic markers alone, especially for traits influenced by intricate biological pathways. To address this, the integration of complementary omics layers—such as transcriptomics and metabolomics—has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance prediction accuracy by providing a more comprehensive view of the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation. We used three datasets, each collected under a single-environment condition, which allowed us to isolate the effects of omics integration without the confounding influence of genotypeby-environment interaction. We assessed 24 integration strategies combining three omics layers: genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. These strategies encompassed both early data fusion (concatenation) and modelbased integration techniques capable of capturing non-additive, nonlinear, and hierarchical interactions across omics layers. The evaluation was conducted using three real-world datasets from maize and rice, which varied in population size, trait complexity, and omics dimensionality. Our results indicate that specific integration methods—particularly those leveraging model-based fusion—consistently improve predictive accuracy over genomic-only models, especially for complex traits. Conversely, several commonly used concatenation approaches did not yield consistent benefits and, in some cases, underperformed. These findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate integration strategies and suggest that more sophisticated modeling frameworks are necessary to fully exploit the potential of multiomics data. Overall, this work highlights both the value and limitations of multi-omics integration for genomic prediction and offers practical insights into the design of omics-informed selection strategies for accelerating genetic gain in plant breeding programs
House crickets in circular food systems
Get PDFMany elements in current food production are unsustainable, while population growth and increased meat consumption will further intensify food demands. Circular food systems offer a more sustainable model for food production by recycling organic residual streams from the food supply chain and promoting resource efficiency. Edible insect species can efficiently convert residual streams into protein and frass (a by-product made of faeces, shed exoskeletons, and leftover feed), making them ideal for circular food systems. This thesis examines how house crickets (Acheta domesticus) and their by-product, frass, can be integrated into circular food systems. In Paper I, the scientific literature on edible insects in circular food systems is reviewed, and key ecological knowledge gaps are identified. In Paper II, building on this conceptual overview, the performance of house crickets reared on crop residues from pea and tomato were assessed. Growth and final weights were reduced under both crop residue diets; however, a significant decline in survival was observed only in tomato residue. The quantity and mineral nutrient composition of frass also differed by diet type. In Paper III, the effects of house cricket frass on the vegetative growth and nutrient concentration of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) were evaluated under different frass pre-treatments and application methods. The tallest plants were produced when non-heated frass was mixed into the substrate, the highest shoot biomass resulted from surface application, and the greatest leaf chlorophyll content was observed with delayed application. Nutrient uptake also varied by pre-treatment and application method. Finally, in Paper IV, the role of frass-associated microbial communities on spring wheat performance and aphid population growth was explored. While herbivory had the strongest impact on seedling growth, unsterile frass slightly improved root biomass and leaf chlorophyll content under aphid pressure. Aphid populations were generally lower on plants grown with sterile frass. Frass and aphid treatments also shaped the rhizosphere bacterial community, indicating that frass microbes can influence soil microbiota dynamics. Together, the findings highlight the potential of house crickets to transform crop residues into food and frass in circular food systems