Condensation Polymers as Controlled Release Materials for Enhanced Plant and Food Production: Influence of Gibberellic Acid and Gibberellic Acid-containing Polymers on Food Crop Seed

Controlled environment (CE) food crop production has existed in the United States for many years, but recent improvements in technology and increasing production warranted a closer examination of the industry. Therefore, our objectives were to characterize historical trends in CE production, understand the current state of the U.S. hydroponics industry, and use historical and current trends to inform future perspectives. In the 1800s, CE food production emerged and increased in popularity until 1929. After 1929, when adjusted for inflation (AFI), CE food production stagnated and decreased until 1988. From 1988 to 2014, the wholesale value of CE food production increased from $64.2 million to $796.7 million AFI. With the recent increase in demand for locally grown food spurring an increase in CE production, both growers and researchers have been interested in using hydroponic CE technologies to improve production and quality. Therefore, we surveyed U.S. hydroponic food crop producers to identify current hydroponic production technology adoption and potential areas for research needs. Producers cited a wide range of technology utilization; more than half employed solely hydroponic production techniques, 56% monitored light intensity, and more than 80% monitored air temperature and nutrient solution pH and electrical conductivity. Additionally, the growing environments varied from greenhouses (64%), indoors in multilayer (31%) or single-layer (7%) facilities, to hoop houses or high tunnels (29%). Overall, producers reported managing the growing environment to improve crop flavor and the development of production strategies as the most beneficial research areas, with 90% stating their customers would pay more for crops with increased flavor. Lastly, taking historical data and current practices into account, perspectives on future hydroponic CE production are discussed. These include the importance of research on multiple environmental parameters instead of single parameters in isolation and the emphasis on not only increasing productivity but improving crop quality including flavor, sensory attributes, and postharvest longevity.

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Legal Implications on Mismanagement of Agrochemicals in Smallholders’ Agro Production in Malaysia

Journal of ASIAN Behavioural Studies ◽

10.21834/jabs.v3i7.258 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (7) ◽

pp. 59 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alizah Ali ◽

Roha Mohamed Noah ◽

Shaherah Abd Malik

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Food Production ◽

Publishing House ◽

Food Crop ◽

Rural Farmers ◽

Legal Implications ◽

International Publishing ◽

Agriculture Conservation ◽

Good Environment ◽

Open Access Article

Purpose of this study is attempted to look into laws on mismanagement of agrochemicals towards the agro food production and conservation of ecosystem in Malaysia. Artificial fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and insecticides in manageable of rural farmers’ food yielding production could cost human hardship upon consumptions and detrimental to conservation. Economic sustainable minimal or chemical free tropical food yielding agriculture food crop not only will reap in profits in upgrading income and livelihood but will definitely create a good environment in developing countries. There are significant differences on laws on the issue of mismanagement of agrochemical application towards the production and conservation of ecosystems in Malaysia with the implementation of laws on agriculture chemicals. Keywords: Agriculture; conservation; agrochemicals; food production eISSN 2514-7528 © 2018. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.

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Food Crop Diversity, Women's Income-Earning Activities, and Distance to Markets in Relation to Maternal Dietary Quality in Tanzania

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/nxaa329 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 151 (1) ◽

pp. 186-196

Author(s):

Isabel Madzorera ◽

Mia M Blakstad ◽

Alexandra L Bellows ◽

Chelsey R Canavan ◽

Dominic Mosha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diet Quality ◽

Food Production ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Crop Diversity ◽

Dietary Quality ◽

Food Groups ◽

Food Crop ◽

Double Burden ◽

Rural Tanzania ◽

Maternal Overweight

ABSTRACT Background Women's dietary diversity and quality are limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Nutrition-sensitive interventions that promote food crop diversity and women's access to income could improve diets and address the double burden of malnutrition in LMICs. Objectives We examined the associations among food crop diversity and women's income-earning activities with women's diet quality, as well as effect modification by access to markets, in the context of small-holder food production in rural Tanzania. Methods Data from a cross-sectional study of 880 women from Rufiji, Tanzania, were analyzed. Women's dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. The prime diet quality score (PDQS; 21 food groups; range, 0–42), a unique diet-quality metric for women that captures the healthy and unhealthy aspects of diet, was computed. Generalized estimating equation linear models were used to evaluate the associations of food crop diversity and women's income-earning activities with PDQS, while controlling for socio-economic factors. Results Maternal overweight (24.3%) and obesity (13.1%) were high. The median PDQS was 19 (IQR, 17–21). Households produced 2.0 food crops (SD ± 1.0) yearly. Food crop diversity was positively associated with PDQS (P < 0.001), but the association was strengthened by proximity to markets (P for interaction = 0.02). For women living close (<1.1 km) to markets, producing 1 additional food crop was associated with a 0.67 (95% CI, 0.22–1.12) increase in PDQS, versus a 0.40 (95% CI, 0.24–0.57) increase for women living farther away. The PDQS increased with women's salaried employment (estimate, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.26–1.67). Conclusions Household food production may interact with access to markets for sales and purchases, while nonfarm income also improves women's diet quality in rural Tanzania. Programs to improve women's diet quality should consider improving market access and women's access to income (source of empowerment), in addition to diversifying production.

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