scholarly journals Co-Incineration of Rice Straw-Wood Pellets: A Sustainable Strategy for the Valorisation of Rice Waste

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 5750
Author(s):  
Cristina Moliner ◽  
Dario Bove ◽  
Elisabetta Arato
Keyword(s):  
Rice Straw ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Silica Content ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Experimental Plant ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization

Agricultural activities produce an estimated amount of 32.7 MToe/year of residues in EU countries. They are mostly disposed in landfills, incinerated without any control, or abandoned in fields, causing severe impacts on human health and environment. Rice is one of the most consumed crops worldwide with an annual production of 782 million tons according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations database. In this context, the EU-funded project LIFE LIBERNITRATE promotes the use of renewable residual sources (i.e., rice straw) to obtain new materials with an added value. The methodology is based on the incineration of rice straw in an own-designed and constructed valorization system. Rice straw/wood pellets are burned in optimized conditions to produce a maximized quantity of ashes with high silica content. These materials will be then used to treat water polluted with nitrates, representing an optimal example of circular economy strategy. In this work, the own-designed valorization unit is described, with special focus on its main constituting elements. The theoretical study of the co-incineration of rice straw and wood pellets identified the optimised combustion conditions. Experimental tests using the theoretical inputs confirmed the most adequate operational conditions (10 g rice straw pellets/min + 10 g wood pellets/min, 6–7 Nm3/h of air, T = 500 °C) and helped in the definition of improvements on the experimental plant.

scholarly journals Ensuring Agricultural Sustainability through Remote Sensing in the Era of Agriculture 5.0

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 5911
Author(s):  
Vanesa Martos ◽  
Ali Ahmad ◽  
Pedro Cartujo ◽  
Javier Ordoñez
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Information Acquisition ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
World Population ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization ◽  
Zero Hunger

Timely and reliable information about crop management, production, and yield is considered of great utility by stakeholders (e.g., national and international authorities, farmers, commercial units, etc.) to ensure food safety and security. By 2050, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates, around 70% more production of agricultural products will be needed to fulfil the demands of the world population. Likewise, to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the second goal of “zero hunger”, potential technologies like remote sensing (RS) need to be efficiently integrated into agriculture. The application of RS is indispensable today for a highly productive and sustainable agriculture. Therefore, the present study draws a general overview of RS technology with a special focus on the principal platforms of this technology, i.e., satellites and remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs), and the sensors used, in relation to the 5th industrial revolution. Nevertheless, since 1957, RS technology has found applications, through the use of satellite imagery, in agriculture, which was later enriched by the incorporation of remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs), which is further pushing the boundaries of proficiency through the upgrading of sensors capable of higher spectral, spatial, and temporal resolutions. More prominently, wireless sensor technologies (WST) have streamlined real time information acquisition and programming for respective measures. Improved algorithms and sensors can, not only add significant value to crop data acquisition, but can also devise simulations on yield, harvesting and irrigation periods, metrological data, etc., by making use of cloud computing. The RS technology generates huge sets of data that necessitate the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to extract useful products, thereby augmenting the adeptness and efficiency of agriculture to ensure its sustainability. These technologies have made the orientation of current research towards the estimation of plant physiological traits rather than the structural parameters possible. Futuristic approaches for benefiting from these cutting-edge technologies are discussed in this study. This study can be helpful for researchers, academics, and young students aspiring to play a role in the achievement of sustainable agriculture.

Cultivation of Stropharia rugosoannulata on rice straw

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
zhi jin
Keyword(s):  
Rice Straw ◽  
Chemical Engineering ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Organic Manure ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Toxic Heavy Metals ◽  
Edible Fungi ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization ◽  
Organic Farming System

<p><strong>Cultivation of </strong><strong>Stropharia rugosoannulata</strong><strong> on rice straw</strong></p><p> </p><p>Zhi Jin, Xue-Feng Hu</p><p>School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China</p><p> </p><p>According to statistics, the annual output of crop straw in China attains more than 900 million tons. A C/N ratio of the straw of grass crops is too high to be bio-degraded rapidly when it returns to fields, adversely affecting the next rotation of crops. Therefore, the straw on the fields after harvesting is often treated with burning in China since the early history. The open-air burning, however, often causes the severe pollution of atmosphere, and has thus been forbidden by the Chinese government. However, the treatment of straw has become a headache problem since then.<strong> </strong>Stropharia rugosoannulata is one of the top ten mushrooms in the international mushroom market, as well as one of the important edible fungi recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to the developing countries. The rice straw, mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, protein, resin and nutrient elements of Ca, P, K, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and Co, provides sufficient nutrients to Stropharia rugosoannulata. A field experiment was conducted to study the feasibility of growth of Stropharia rugosoannulata on fresh rice straw in the suburb of Shanghai after rice was harvested in late 2019. The cultured mycelia of Stropharia rugosoannulata were evenly sprinkled over fresh rice straw, and covered with a thin layer of soil and again with a layer of rice straw. The culture bed was kept at humidity of 70%-75% and temperature of 22°C-28°C. After two months, the sporophores of Stropharia rugosoannulata came out abundantly. This suggests that Stropharia rugosoannulata can grow and produce sporophores on fresh rice straw without addition of any organic manure. The sporophores of Stropharia rugosoannulata are treasures in food and highly enriched in human nutrients, with 25.75% of crude proteins, 2.19% of crude fat, 7.99% of crude fiber, 45.93% of carbohydrates and 16.72% of amino acids, as well as some antioxidants such as flavoniods, saponins and phenols. Moreover, the cellulose, hemicellulose and other non-biodegradable substance in rice straw were highly decomposed after the growth of Stropharia rugosoannulata, thus making it rapidly available to crops when returning to fields. With high content of organic matter and available nutrients, free of toxic heavy metals, the fungal-degraded rice straw is high-quality organic manure and will be chosen to be applied to the organic farming system in Shanghai in the future.</p>

scholarly journals Evaluation of Rice Straw Ash as a Pozzolanic Addition in Cementitious Mixtures

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 773
Author(s):  
Samantha Hidalgo ◽  
Lourdes Soriano ◽  
José Monzó ◽  
Jordi Payá ◽  
Alba Font ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rice Straw ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Aqueous Suspension ◽  
Chloride Content ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Silica Content ◽  
Insoluble Residue ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
United Nations Food ◽  
Straw Ash

Rice husk ash is one of the most widely studied biomass ashes used in pozzolanic addition. Given its lower silica content, rice straw ash (RSA) has been explored less often, despite the fact that, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), rice straw (RS) production is estimated at 600 million tons/year. In this work, RSA was physically and chemically characterized, and its pozzolanic properties were assessed. A controlled conditioning, burning, homogenization and grinding procedure was carried out to obtain RSA from RS. Chemical composition, insoluble residue, reactive silica, chloride content and particle size distribution were assessed for ash characterization. To determine RSA pozzolanicity, Frattini, electrical conductivity and pH measurements in an aqueous suspension of hydrated CH/RSA mixtures were obtained. Portland cement (PC) mortars with 15% and 30% RSA substitutions evaluated. The mechanical tests showed specimens with a strength activity index up to 90% and 80% with 15% and 30% RSA, respectively, after 3 days, and these values grew to 107–109% after 90 curing days.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF THE WORLDWIDE CONCENTRATION OF PELLET IMPORTS (2012-2018)

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Cristina Carvalho Soares ◽  
Álvaro Nogueira de Souza ◽  
Edvaldo Pereira Santos Júnior ◽  
Anna Manuella Melo Nunes ◽  
Maísa Santos Joaquim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Energy Structure ◽  
Technological Diffusion ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization ◽  
Very High ◽  
Biomass For Energy

ABSTRACT Faced with the transition in the global energy structure with the shift in consumption of fossil fuels to renewable and clean sources, there has been an increase in the demand for forest biomass for energy purposes, especially wood pellets, and imports have grown in recent years. Therefore, this study analyzed the world concentration of pellet imports from 2012 to 2018. Data on pellet imports were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the following indicators were used to measure the concentration: Concentration Ratio [CR(k)], Hirschman-Herfindal Index (HHI), Theil Entropy Index (E), Gini Inequality Coefficient (G) and the Hall-Tideman Index (HTI). The results showed a growth of 16.67% p.a. of global pellet imports, from 8.76 million tons (t) in 2012 to 22.15 million tons in 2018. The CR(k) indicated very high concentration for countries and high in the subcontinents. The HHI showed a high concentration for continents and subcontinents and a moderate concentration for countries. Entropy and HTI corroborated the analyzes found in the HHI. The G pointed out strong inequality for all territorial levels and showed trends towards a reduction in inequality as of 2015. The reduction in the concentration in the final years of study is related to the expansion and technological diffusion of energy conversion of the densified biomass, which makes this fuel more affordable.

Food waste and dynamic complex systems: The case of Peru and a solution model proposal Part 1: Peruvian Anchoveta (Engraulis ringens)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A Almenara
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Revenue Management ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Intelligent Systems ◽  
Solution Model ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization ◽  
Engraulis Ringens ◽  
The United Nations

[THE MANUSCRIPT IS A DRAFT] According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2020), food waste and losses comprises nearly 1.3 billion tonnes every year, which equates to around US$ 990 billion worldwide. Ironically, over 820 million people do not have enough food to eat (FAO, 2020). This gap production-consumption puts in evidence the need to reformulate certain practices such as the controversial monocropping (i.e., growing a single crop on the same land on a yearly basis), as well as to improve others such as revenue management through intelligent systems. In this first part of a series of articles, the focus is on the Peruvian anchoveta fish (Engraulis ringens).

To the Empire and Beyond

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A. Barton
Keyword(s):  
Second World War ◽  
World War ◽  
Chemical Fertilizers ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization ◽  
Organic Farmers ◽  
Southern Rhodesia ◽  
The Government ◽  
Second World

This chapter traces the expansion of industrial agricultural methods after the Second World War. Western governments and the Food and Agriculture Organization pushed for increased use of chemical fertilizers to aid development and resist Soviet encroachment. Meanwhile small groups of organic farmers and gardeners adopted Howard’s methods in the Anglo-sphere and elsewhere in the world. European movements paralleled these efforts and absorbed the basic principles of the Indore Method. British parliament debated the merits of organic farming, but Howard failed to persuade the government to adopt his policies. Southern Rhodesia, however, did implement his ideas in law. Desiccation theory aided his attempts in South Africa and elsewhere, and Louise Howard, after Albert’s death, kept alive a wide network of activists with her publications.

scholarly journals Strengthening implementation of antimicrobial resistance national action plans

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Anderson ◽  
K Schulze ◽  
A Cassini ◽  
D Plauchoras ◽  
E Mossialos
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Governance Framework ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization

Abstract Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major challenges of our time. Countries use national action plans as a mechanism to build engagement among stakeholders and coordinate a range of actions across human, animal, and environmental health. However, implementation of recommended policies such as stewardship of antimicrobials, infection prevention and control, and stimulating research and development of novel antimicrobials and alternatives remains inconsistent. Improving the quality of governance within antimicrobial resistance national action plans is an essential step to improving implementation. To date, no systematic approach to governance of national action plans on AMR exists. To address this issue, we aimed to develop the first governance framework to offer guidance for both the development and assessment of national action plans on AMR. We reviewed health system governance framework reviews to inform the basic structure of our framework, international guidance documents from WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the European Commission, and sought the input of 25 experts from international organisations, government ministries, policy institutes, and academic institutions to develop and refine our framework. The framework consists of 18 domains with 52 indicators that are contained within three governance areas: policy design, implementation tools, and monitoring and evaluation. Countries must engage with a cyclical process of continuous design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation to achieve these aims.

scholarly journals Plasma and Urinary Amino Acid-Derived Catabolites as Potential Biomarkers of Protein and Amino Acid Deficiency in Rats

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1567
Author(s):  
Joanna Moro ◽  
Nadezda Khodorova ◽  
Daniel Tomé ◽  
Claire Gaudichon ◽  
Catherine Tardivel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Factorial Method ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization ◽  
Weanling Rats ◽  
Urinary Amino ◽  
One Way Anova

Objective: Dietary intakes must cover protein and essential amino acid (EAA) requirements. For this purpose, different methods have been developed such as the nitrogen balance method, factorial method, or AA tracer studies. However, these methods are either invasive or imprecise, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2013) recommends new methods and, in particular, metabolomics. The aim of this study is to determine total protein/EAA requirement in the plasma and urine of growing rats. Methods: 36 weanling rats were fed with diets containing 3, 5, 8, 12, 15, and 20% protein for 3 weeks. During experimentation, urine was collected using metabolic cages, and blood from the portal vein and vena was taken at the end of the experiment. Metabolomics analyses were performed using LC-MS, and the data were analyzed with a multivariate analysis model, partial least Squares (PLS) regression, and independent component-discriminant analysis (ICDA). Each discriminant metabolite identified by PLS or ICDA was tested by one-way ANOVA to evaluate the effect of diet. Results: PLS and ICDA allowed us to identify discriminating metabolites between different diet groups. Protein deficiency led to an increase in the AA catabolism enzyme systems inducing the production of breakdown metabolites in the plasma and urine. Conclusion: These results indicate that metabolites are specific for the state of EAA deficiency and sufficiency. Some types of biomarkers such as AA degradation metabolites appear to be specific candidates for protein/EAA requirement.

scholarly journals Analysis of Antioxidant and Antiallergic Active Components Extracted From the Edible Insect Oxya yezoensis

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2110233
Author(s):  
Masahiro Saiki ◽  
Naomichi Takemoto ◽  
Maki Nagata ◽  
Masako Matsumoto ◽  
Yhiya Amen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Soluble Fraction ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Active Components ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization

In recent years, entomophagy has attracted increased attention, as it was recommended as a potential source of food by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In Japan, Oxya yezoensisis one of the most widely eaten insect species, but studies of its functionality as a food are limited. In this study, we reported the optimal characterization of the total phenolic compounds in methanolic extract (OME) and different fractions of OME. Additionally, the antioxidant and antiallergic activities of the OME fractions were evaluated. The results showed that the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of OME has potential antioxidant activity, whereas the n-hexane-soluble fraction showed the strongest inhibition of β-hexosaminidase, which is one of the key factors in allergic reactions. It was concluded that phenolic compounds might contribute to the antioxidant activity while unsaturated fatty acids contribute to the antiallergy activity.

Food and Agriculture Organization

1952 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 430-432
Keyword(s):  
Director General ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization ◽  
Sixth Session

The sixth session of the Food and Agriculture Organization Conference, held from November 19 to December 7, 1951 in Rome,1 elected Amintore Fanfani (Italy) chairman and reappointed Norris E. Dodd Director-General for an additional two-year period. On November 21, 1951 the conference voted to admit to FAO Argentina by 53 votes to 0, Japan by 47 votes to 0, Nepal by 49 votes to 1, and Laos by 44 votes to 2.

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