Eco-Efficiency and Vulnerability of Agro-Ecosystems to Environmental Threats

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
Amalia-Gianina Străteanu ◽  
Simona Nicoleta Stan
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Plant Protection Products ◽  
Efficient Production ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Abstract Eco-efficiency is based on environmental, social and economic principles, focusing not only on the use of fewer natural resources (raw materials) and energy but also on the cost-effective use of new technologies (eco-innovation) for the same volume of production and generation of low waste (efficient production). Agro-ecosystems globally, once with the development of the pesticide industry (plant protection products) and under the influence of aggressive marketing, have been based on the large-scale application of big amounts (perhaps too high) of pesticides. Many of the pesticides used in agriculture have a high persistence and degrade very slowly, which leads to the soil, water and even air pollution, with negative effects on plants, animals and, implicitly, humans. If these are used in short term and at low concentrations, pesticides can have beneficial effects (crop protection and their conservation and prevention of vector-borne disease) but in large quantities and applied over a long period of time can be toxic to humans and with a negative impact on the environment and ecosystems (degrading essential ecosystem services).

The sugar and alcohol industry in the biofuels and cogeneration era: a paradigm change (part II)

2014 ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Electo Eduardo Silv Lora ◽  
Mateus Henrique Rocha ◽  
José Carlos Escobar Palacio ◽  
Osvaldo José Venturini ◽  
Maria Luiza Grillo Renó ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Process Integration ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Alcohol Industry ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
Steam Parameters

The aim of this paper is to discuss the major technological changes related to the implementation of large-scale cogeneration and biofuel production in the sugar and alcohol industry. The reduction of the process steam consumption, implementation of new alternatives in driving mills, the widespread practice of high steam parameters use in cogeneration facilities, the insertion of new technologies for biofuels production (hydrolysis and gasification), the energy conversion of sugarcane trash and vinasse, animal feed production, process integration and implementation of the biorefinery concept are considered. Another new paradigm consists in the wide spreading of sustainability studies of products and processes using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the implementation of sustainability indexes. Every approach to this issue has as an objective to increase the economic efficiency and the possibilities of the sugarcane as a main source of two basic raw materials: fibres and sugar. The paper briefly presents the concepts, indicators, state-of-the-art and perspectives of each of the referred issues.

scholarly journals New Circular Challenges in the Development of Take-Away Food Packaging in the COVID-19 Period

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4705
Author(s):  
Ewa Kochańska ◽  
Rafał M. Łukasik ◽  
Maciej Dzikuć
Keyword(s):  
Social Transformation ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Distribution Channels ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Industrial Transformation ◽  
Specific Distribution ◽  
Food Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has set new challenges for the HoReCa industry. Lockdowns have coincided with and strongly impacted the industrial transformation processes that have been taking place for a decade. Among the most important HoReCa transition processes are those related to the rapid growth of the delivery-food market and ordering meals via internet platforms. The new delivery-food market requires not only the development of specific distribution channels, but also the introduction of appropriate, very specific food packaging. Food packaging and its functionality are defined by the administrative requirements and standards applicable to materials that have contact with food and principally through the prism of the ecological disaster caused by enormous amounts of plastic waste, mainly attributed to the food packaging. To meet environmental and administrative requirements, new technologies to produce food packaging materials are emerging, ensuring product functionality, low environmental impact, biodegradability, and potential for composting of the final product. However, predominantly, the obtained product should keep the nutritional value of food and protect it against changes in color or shape. Current social transformation has a significant impact on the food packaging sector, on one hand creating a new lifestyle for society all over the world, and on the other, a growing awareness of the negative impact of humans on the environment and increasing responsibility for the planet. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to develop a circular economy based on the paradigm of shortening distribution channels, using local raw materials, limiting the consumption of raw materials, energy, water, and above all, minimizing waste production throughout the life cycle of products, all of which are in line with the idea of low-carbon development.

scholarly journals mRNA-Based Vaccines

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 390
Author(s):  
Frank Kowalzik ◽  
Daniel Schreiner ◽  
Christian Jensen ◽  
Daniel Teschner ◽  
Stephan Gehring ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Cell Genome

Increases in the world’s population and population density promote the spread of emerging pathogens. Vaccines are the most cost-effective means of preventing this spread. Traditional methods used to identify and produce new vaccines are not adequate, in most instances, to ensure global protection. New technologies are urgently needed to expedite large scale vaccine development. mRNA-based vaccines promise to meet this need. mRNA-based vaccines exhibit a number of potential advantages relative to conventional vaccines, namely they (1) involve neither infectious elements nor a risk of stable integration into the host cell genome; (2) generate humoral and cell-mediated immunity; (3) are well-tolerated by healthy individuals; and (4) are less expensive and produced more rapidly by processes that are readily standardized and scaled-up, improving responsiveness to large emerging outbreaks. Multiple mRNA vaccine platforms have demonstrated efficacy in preventing infectious diseases and treating several types of cancers in humans as well as animal models. This review describes the factors that contribute to maximizing the production of effective mRNA vaccine transcripts and delivery systems, and the clinical applications are discussed in detail.

scholarly journals Review on the Biological Detoxification of Mycotoxins Using Lactic Acid Bacteria to Enhance the Sustainability of Foods Supply

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 2655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belal J. Muhialdin ◽  
Nazamid Saari ◽  
Anis Shobirin Meor Hussin
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Lactic Acid Bacteria ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Good Potential ◽  
Biological Detoxification ◽  
Safe Food

The challenges to fulfill the demand for a safe food supply are dramatically increasing. Mycotoxins produced by certain fungi cause great economic loss and negative impact on the sustainability of food supplies. Moreover, the occurrence of mycotoxins at high levels in foods poses a high health threat for the consumers. Biological detoxification has exhibited a high potential to detoxify foodstuffs on a cost-effective and large scale. Lactic acid bacteria showed a good potential as an alternative strategy for the elimination of mycotoxins. The current review describes the health and economic impacts associated with mycotoxin contamination in foodstuffs. Moreover, this review highlights the biological detoxification of common food mycotoxins by lactic acid bacteria.

scholarly journals THE TECHNOLOGY OF CO-CULTURING OF POTATOES WITH HONEY PLANTS AND PROSPECTS OF ITS TECHNICAL SUPPORT

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Voiku
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Economic Effect ◽  
Plant Protection Products ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Real Economy ◽  
The European Union

The right way out of the crisis of the agro-based industries is the maximum use of the opportunities of scientific and technological progress and the orientation of the real economy to innovative development. One of the promising technologies of crop production is an innovative technology in potato growing, which provides for the co-culturing of potatoes with honey crops. Phacelia tanacetifolia (PhaceliatanacetifoliaBenth) is selected as honey crop, which is a valuable green manure. It allows to reduce the need for organic and mineral fertilizers, increases the ecological cleanness of products, favors the growth of potato yield, provides the additional honey yield. Phacelia significantly improves the soil structure, displacing a significant part of weeds, providing natural loosening of the soil, protection from drying out, from pests and parasites. The co-culturing of potatoes with phacelia protects the environment from the use of dangerous plant protection products. If the economic effect is defined as the difference between the profits of innovative and traditional technologies, then, according to preliminary calculations, the level of profitability of innovative technology in potato growing is 1.9 times higher, and the profit from 1 ha is 1.6 times higher compared with the traditional technology. Large-scale development of the proposed technology is hampered by the lack of potato planters and seed planters, which provide planting of potatoes and sowing seeds of honey crops simultaneously, in the Russian market and the markets of the European Union. An innovative technology - mounted seeder for potato planters was developed by the staff members of the Pskov State University. The article describes the main agro-technological requirements to this device. A general model and a kinematic scheme were developed to visualize the combination of the working elements of the potato planter and the mounted seeder. The developed model falls into the type of seed planters, which is designed to sowing in drills the seeds of honey crops (phacelia) in the furrow between potatoes at the time of the forthcoming closing of this furrow by soil, and can be used in agricultural engineering. Potential consumers of the proposed innovative technology in potato growing and the developed mounted seeder are farm enterprises and agricultural production cooperatives, which have small plots of land, use crop rotation systems in potato growing, and work for reducing costs and increasing the yield of potato cultivation.

Challenges for India’s Agriculture: Towards a New Green Revolution?

2021 ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Ellina P. Shavlay
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Green Revolution ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Indian Government ◽  
Primary Sector ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Gradual Introduction

Agriculture continues to be one of the most significant sectors of India's economy today. The country is successfully performing in a wide range of primary sector fields, gradually increasing its export potential. However, the first green revolution caused significant damage to the country's resources, as a result of which, in the post-bipolar period, the state began to take actions aimed at changing the established practices of the last century. However, the second revolution, which began in the 1990s, did not solve all the difficulties. In this regard, the author's goal is to analyze the existing key problems of the primary sector and consider possible answers to them in the field of innovative technologies. The author comes to the conclusion that it is the digitalization of agricultural activities that could qualitatively increase the level of income of the population and the efficiency of the primary sector both in the domestic and foreign markets. At the same time, the introduction of new technologies is impossible without changing the institutional environment and work on socio-cultural factors that have a substantial negative impact not only on India's agriculture, but on all socio-economic processes in general, and therefore New Delhi will need to take comprehensive measures on a large scale rather than limit oneself to the primary economic sector. The Indian government has to carry out a comprehensive reform of its economy, otherwise there is a great threat of undermining social stability. The gradual introduction of innovative solutions and digitalization of agriculture will have a relatively quick, visible, but at the same time sustainable effect.

Comparison of Spray Configurations in a Spray Cabin Design for Ornamental Potted Plants: A Proof-of-Concept Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 647-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Zwertvaegher ◽  
Dieter Foqué ◽  
Donald Dekeyser ◽  
Stephanie Van Weyenberg ◽  
David Nuyttens
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Pest Management ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Spray Deposition ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Plant Protection Products ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Spray Application ◽  
Concept Study ◽  
Potted Plants

Abstract. With the implementation of integrated pest management in the European Union, growers are obliged to manage pests in a manner that minimizes health and environmental risks due to the use of plant protection products. Among other approaches, this goal can be achieved by optimizing spray application techniques. As an alternative to the predominantly used handheld equipment, such as spray guns, spray boom systems might substantially improve spray application, and thus crop protection management, in greenhouses. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to compare different spray configurations in a spray cabin designed to spray ornamental potted plants that are moving on a conveyor belt. Seven different spray configurations were examined for optimal spray deposition in two crops (azalea and ivy) using mineral chelate tracers. The deposition tests showed that the presented prototype can satisfactorily spray potted plants up to a height of 25 cm including the pot height. The best spray deposition was found with two flat-fan nozzles oriented 35° upward, spraying at 1.0 bar and an application rate of 1047 L ha-1. This configuration increased deposition on the underside of the leaves and at the middle foliage layer compared to the other configurations that were evaluated. The spray cabin with a band spray setting has potential to mitigate the use of plant protection products and achieve a more efficient spray application compared to traditional handheld techniques and broadcast spray boom techniques. Keywords: Crop protection, Integrated pest management, Nozzle type, Spray deposition.

scholarly journals Safety in Wine Production: A Pilot Study on the Quality Evaluation of Prosecco Wine in the Framework of UE Regulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Marcotrigiano ◽  
Sandro Cinquetti ◽  
Riccardo Flamini ◽  
Mirko De Rosso ◽  
Luca Ferraro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Plant Protection Products ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Wine Production ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Production Methods ◽  
Sensory Features ◽  
Maximum Residue Levels

In Italy, wine production is considered a sector of excellence, where the wines’ appreciable sensory features are favored by environmental factors, including weather and climate conditions, which benefit territories with a specific vocation. The whole chain involves many economic and agri-food sector operators, and requires an in-depth assessment of specific risks for identifying critical points, keeping the entire production process under control, and ensuring product traceability. This article describes the results of a pilot study conducted in the Prosecco DOCG (Designations of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin) area, concerning the detection of residues of plant protection products in fifty wine bottles. Although considerably below the maximum residue levels, all the samples tested were positive, ranging from two to five active substances detected in each sample. In addition to the provisions of the European Community legislation, this paper critically evaluates some best practices models that are already used by the Wine Federations of Italy, with the aim of identifying advantages of and areas for improvement in production methods, applicable to raw materials reception, rasping, storage, and bottling phases, in order to guarantee product safety and quality.

scholarly journals Hygienic evaluation of the most common methods of agricultural crops treatment with chemical protection products (literature review)

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
А.А. Borysenko ◽  
А.М. Antonenko ◽  
B.I. Shpak ◽  
S.Т. Omelchuk ◽  
V.G. Bardov
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Plant Protection Products ◽  
Chemical Plant ◽  
Rational Approach ◽  
Biological Efficiency ◽  
Pesticide Application ◽  
Hazard Class ◽  
Safety Control

Global strategies, including application of chemical plant protection products, are important in the cultivation of safe corps and preservation of human health. A promising area of preventive medicine, agronomy, agroecology and agroengineering is the optimization of methods of pesticide formulations application. The aim of the work was a hygienic assessment of the most common and latest methods of crops treatment with chemical pesticides. Results. The biological effectiveness of different types of pesticides is achieved by different application rates of the working solution. The most common method of pesticide application is spraying, which ensures the application of pesticides in the drop-liquid state and is characterized by low consumption of active substance per unit area, variable-controlled distribution on the treatment surface, provides good adhesion and retention on facilities, allows the use of combined formulations. One of the most effective ways to minimize the negative impact of chemical plant protection products and achieve economic success is a rational approach to the choice of pesticide application, as it takes into account the hazard class of pesticides, the presence of water protection zones, the sensitivity of target crops, etc. Conclusion. Rational application of pesticides includes minimizing the overall effect of pesticides on human health and the environment and achieving high-targeted biological efficiency. Adherence to the methodology of choosing the type of pesticide application and selection of the type of spray is a key point in optimizing the rational use of chemical plant protection products, which requires a detailed study from the standpoint of both efficiency and safety. Control over compliance with the recommendations should be included in sanitary-hygienic and sanitary-ecological monitoring.

scholarly journals OPTIMIZATION OF CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE (TILLAGE X FERTILIZATION X PLANT PROTECTION) FOR SOYBEAN IN THE TRANSYLVANIAN PLAIN

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 44-52
Author(s):  
Felicia Mureșanu ◽  
Teodor Rusu ◽  
Felicia Chețan ◽  
Rozalia Kadar ◽  
Diana Hrișcău
Keyword(s):  
Plant Protection ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Plant Protection Products ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Agricultural Technologies ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Tillage System

"The purpose of this study was to improve conventional agricultural technologies in soybean crop to ensure a higher yield and reduced environmental impact under climate conditions specific for the Transylvanian Plain. For the experimental design a three-factorial experiment was set up (tillage x fertilization x plant protection products). Factor interaction was evaluated using formula AxBxC-R:4x4x4-3 to highlight the benefits of the practices. This study examined yield crops and size of the soybean plants in an effort to identify best practices. Yield was highly increased in conventional soil tillage system (3420 kg/ha), whereas for the minimum soil tillage system and for direct sowing there were no significant difference 2755-2995 kg/ha and 2605 kg/ha, respectively. Crop performance in terms of yield was highly influenced by the soil tillage system (57.5%), followed by plant protection treatments (22.9%) and fertilization (11.8%). Fertilization with N40P40 + gulle + green fertilizer ensured the highest soybean production (3132 kg/ha). Plant protection treatments during vegetation determined significant yield increases, with high influence of insecticides and a cummulative effect when both fungicides and insecticides were used (3193 kg/ha). Highest size of plants was registered in conventional soil tillage system. Overall crop protection treatments during vegetation (insecticide + fungicide) triggered not significant increases in plant size, except Teo TD soybean cultivar."

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