Agriculture Commons^™

Kinds Of Evidence Cited By Councilors In Municipal Council Sessions: The Case Of Santa Fe, Cebu, Philippines, Junald D. Ango

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This paper explores the practice of evidence-based policymaking (EBPM) in the municipal council of Santa Fe, Cebu, Philippines. Data for this study is based on a content analysis of the minutes of council sessions and committee meetings from July 2022 to August 2024. The use of evidence in policymaking has caught on among policymakers in the Philippines, at both the national and local levels. However, few studies have examined policymakers' use of evidence in municipal governments, especially those in smaller, less urbanized towns. In the case of the Municipality of Santa Fe, at least 13 kinds of evidence were cited …

Nitrogen Management Strategies For Specialty Tea Production In Louisiana: Rate, Source Type, And Nutrient Dynamics, Autumn D. Hilderbrand

LSU Master's Theses

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is an emerging specialty crop in Louisiana and the southeastern United States; however, region-specific nitrogen (N) management recommendations remain limited. This research evaluated N fertilizer source, application rate, and nutrient leaching to identify management strategies that improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and environmental sustainability during tea establishment.

Three complementary studies evaluated N source replacement, application rate, and fertilizer source effects on nutrient retention and movement. The first study evaluated the replacement of urea ammonium sulfate (UAS) with blood meal (BM) while maintaining a constant annual N application rate. Fertilizer replacement did not significantly affect leaf …

Harmful Algal Blooms: Risks For Food In Utah, Jose Brandao, Sarah Erwin, Stephanie Vaughn, Clare Entwistle

All Current Publications

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a problem because they can produce toxins that make water unsafe for people, animals, and the environment. In recent years, HABs have emerged as a growing concern in freshwater systems throughout Utah, including irrigation canals, reservoirs, and livestock ponds. HABs in freshwater are caused by cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae. These microorganisms can release dangerous toxins that can harm swimmers, pets, and the food supply. Unlike foodborne pathogens, these toxins cannot be removed by boiling, cooking, or washing the food. Therefore, regular monitoring is essential to detect HABs early and reduce exposure risks. This fact …

From Insight To Impact: Segmenting Consumers By Their Regenerative Agriculture Priorities, Lourival Carmo Monaco Neto, Gustavo Stevanin De Souza, Owen Jerome Zakrzewski, Allan Wayne Gray

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Regenerative agriculture is gaining traction in agrifood value chains, yet its definitional ambiguity and the heterogeneity of consumer priorities create strategic challenges for commercialization. Firms commonly assume a homogeneous ‘sustainable consumer’ motivated by environmental outcomes, but research on consumer food values suggests that economic attributes often outweigh environmental concerns when trade-offs are required. This study segments U.S. consumers based on how they prioritize seven core attributes of regenerative agriculture: soil health, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, food prices, crop yield, and farmer profitability. Using forced-ranking data from 1231 nationally representative U.S. consumers surveyed in August 2024, we apply a …

Food Systems Transformation Would Reshape Global Agriculture, Matthew Gibson, Marina Sundiang, Daniel Mason-D’Croz, Thais Diniz Oliveira, Felicitas Beier, Lauren Benavidez-Brouk, Astrid Bos, Maksym Chepeliev, Jonathan Doelman, Shahnila Dunston, Shinichiro Fujimori, Tomoko Hasegawa, Petr Havlik, Jordan Hristov, Jonas Jägermeyr, Marta Kozicka, Marijke Kuiper, Page Kyle, Thijs De Lange, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Hermann Lotze-Campen, Hermen Luchtenbelt, David Meng-Chuen Chen, Abhijeet Mishra, Christoph Müller, Gerald Nelson, Amanda Palazzo, Ignacio Perez Dominguez, Alexander Popp, Ronald Sands, Marco Springman, Elke Stehfest, Timothy B. Sulser, Kiyoshi Takahashi, Gianmaria Tassinari, Ferike Thom, Philip Thornton, Kazuaki Tsuchiya, Willem-Jan Van Zeist, Hans Van Meijl, Dominique Van Der Mensbrugghe, Detlef Van Vuuren, Hannah H.E. Van Zanten, Isabelle Weindl, Keith Wiebe, Xin Zhao, Mario Herrero

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Food systems are a major contributor to exceeding planetary boundaries1,2,3 and poor quality diets are a key mortality risk globally4. Projected population and income growth could exacerbate these challenges5. In response, there are calls for transformation towards healthy and sustainable food systems6,7,8. However, the scale and distribution of the impacts of this transformation on agriculture are underexplored. Here we show that, by 2050, the transformation of food systems towards healthy diets (adoption of the EAT–Lancet reference diet), improved productivity and halving of food waste results in a fundamental restructuring of global agriculture, aspects of which break with historical trends. Scenario …

Study On Structural Characteristics And Immunomodulatory Activity Of Flammulina Velutipes Crude Polysaccharide, Wang Xinnuo, Peng Chujun, Jin Yumeng, Zhang Molan, You Lijun

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To prepare Flammulina velutipes crude polysaccharide (FVP) and evaluate its structural characteristics and immunomodulatory activity. [Methods] FVP was prepared from Flammulina velutipes using hot-water extraction and ethanol precipitation, and its structural characteristics were characterized by combining Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography–multi-angle laser light scattering–refractive index detection (HPSEC–MALLS–RI). The immunomodulatory activity of FVP was evaluated using RAW 264.7 macrophages and a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mouse model. [Results] The total sugar content of FVP is (51.39 ± 1.36) g/100 g. Structural characterization results show that FVP has characteristic features of a β-type pyranose ring and exhibits a multi-component …

Research Progress In Production Process And Flavor Modulation Mechanisms Of Cooking Wine, An Nan, Liu Gongliang, Bai Weidong, Tong Xing, Wang Hong

Food and Machinery

As a core condiment in traditional Chinese cuisine, the flavor modulation mechanisms of cooking wine are closely related to its production processes. This review systematically organizes the three major production systems of cooking wine, i.e., brewed, blended, and seasoned, comparing their differences in base-wine origin, flavor-formation pathways, and product stability. By integrating the latest developments in flavoromics, molecular interactions, and intelligent fermentation, it provides a systematic analysis of the relationship between production process differences and flavor formation mechanisms. The paper clarifies the multi-stage “dissolution–modification–suppression” mechanism for off-flavor removal and proposes a metabolic flux-directed process optimization pathway. Additionally, it explores the …

Sources And Potential Risks Of Micro- And Nanoplastics In Foods, Zhao Xinlong, Li Wei, Zhang Mengling, Xing Liwen, Tian Huafeng

Food and Machinery

Plastics are widely used in food packaging, storage, processing, and other food-related applications, playing a vital role in extending food shelf life, reducing material loss, and promoting food circulation. However, these plastic products that come into direct or indirect contact with foods can release micro- and nanoplastics through various physical and chemical processes. These micro- and nanoplastics can accumulate in the human body through bioaccumulation and other pathways and have become one of the emerging contaminants threatening food safety and human health. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the research progress on the generation pathways, release mechanisms, potential health …

Prediction Model Of Green Grape Water Loss Rate Based On Multi-Model Soft Voting Fusion, Fan Gai, Jing Min, Ji Feng, Ma Maosen, Yao Xiaomin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] This study aims to achieve rapid and non-destructive detection of the water loss rate in green grapes, control losses, and ensure quality. Based on an LED-induced fluorescence spectroscopy system, a prediction method combining collected spectral data with a multi-model soft voting fusion approach was proposed for green grape water loss rate estimation. [Methods] Spectral data from 100 green grape samples were collected. Preprocessing was performed using multivariate scatter correction (MSC), standard normal variate transformation (SNV), normalization, and Savitzky–Golay (SG) filtering. Feature wavelength selection was carried out using the successive projections algorithm. Based on this, prediction models for the green …

Screening Of Weizmannia Coagulans With High Stress Tolerance, Xiao Xue, Yu Wendi, Hu Yuanliang, Zhang Xicai, Yu Xiang

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To isolate and screen novel Weizmannia coagulans strains with high stress tolerance. [Methods] Using commercially fermented pickle brine as the sample, W. coagulans strains were isolated, purified, and identified by selective culture medium methods, morphological observation, physiological and biochemical characterization, and 16S rDNA sequencing. Taking survival rate as the evaluation index, the stress tolerance of the isolated strains and three laboratory-preserved W. coagulans strains was determined under high-temperature (80–100 ℃), acidic (pH 2.0–3.0), and bile salt (0.1%–0.5%) conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to comprehensively assess the stress tolerance of the tested strains. [Results] Two W. coagulans strains, …

Effects Of Pretreatment Methods On Volatile Compounds And Active Ingredients In Flaxseed Oil, Zhu Lijun, Chen Fengzhen, Zhang Chengshuang, Zhao Baoyi, Meng Lingjun

Food and Machinery

[Objective] This paper aims to investigate the effects of microwave and roasting pretreatment methods on volatile compounds and active ingredients in flaxseed oil. [Methods] Flaxseeds were pretreated by microwave (720 W, 2–8 min) and roasting (140–200 ℃, 30 min), and then flaxseed oil was prepared by cold pressing. Using untreated cold-pressed flaxseed oil as a control, the differences in volatile compounds were analyzed by headspace gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) and an electronic nose. Additionally, the contents of tocopherols, phytosterols, and total phenolics were determined. [Results] A total of 72 volatile compounds are identified by HS-GC-IMS analysis, including aldehydes (20 …

Strategy For Linear Range Broadening Of Elisa Based On Antibody Synergistic Combination, Guo Cuili, Peng Juan, Lai Weihua, Xing Keyu, Gan Bei

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To broaden the linear range of ELISA for deoxynivalenol detection. [Methods] This paper obtains three antibodies with different sensitivities via mouse immunization, cell fusion and screening, ascites preparation, and antibody purification. By optimizing the working concentration and composition ratio of the antibody synergistic combination, the optimal antibody synergistic combination ratio is applied to ELISA to determine the linear range. [Results] The optimal reaction conditions for the ic-ELISA based on synergistic antibodies are as follows: the optimal working concentrations of the coating antigen and antibody are 0.3 and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively. The linear range of the synergistic antibody is obviously …

Quantitative Analysis Of Sorghum Starch Using Machine Learning And Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Li Ke, Ouyang Runkun, Dai Yijie, Li Jie, Hou Aixiang, Yang Yu, Li Zongjun

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To establish a model for the rapid quantification of sorghum starch based on near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms. [Methods] Brewing sorghum was used as the raw material. Near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectra were collected using a near-infrared spectrometer. The Isolation Forest algorithm was employed to remove outlier samples and optimize the dataset. Subsequently, multiple preprocessing methods and regression models were compared using various modeling software to analyze and establish a quantitative model for sorghum starch. [Results] After preprocessing with the Isolation Forest algorithm, the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model exhibited the best performance, with a coefficient of determination …

An Ai-Driven Safety Traceability And Monitoring System For Food Cold Chain, Zeng Xiaoqing, Zhang Yuyue, Xie Wenqing, Zhou Jianhua

Food and Machinery

Targeting the three major obstacles—information fragmentation, delayed risk response, and ambiguous accountability—in food cold chain safety governance, this study constructs an integrated cold chain safety traceability and monitoring system centered on artificial intelligence technology and incorporating the Internet of Things and blockchain. On the basis of a comprehensive risk analysis of the entire food cold chain process, and drawing on theoretical frameworks including supply chain resilience theory, information asymmetry theory, HACCP, and ISO 22000 food safety standards, this study designs a system architecture organized around five functional modules: multi-source data collection and traceability, dynamic food quality assessment, risk prediction and …

Terminal Control Method Of Parallel Food Sorting Robot With Multi-Algorithm Fusion, He Qing, Wu Tianfeng, Zhao Yini

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To address the problems of low trajectory tracking accuracy, delayed dynamic response, poor adaptability to external disturbances, and difficulty in meeting the requirements of high-speed and high-precision food sorting in the existing end-effector control of parallel food sorting robots. [Methods] A food sorting system based on a DELTA parallel robot was developed, and an end-effector control strategy integrating an improved whale optimization algorithm, adaptive fuzzy control, and nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control was designed. Adaptive fuzzy control was used to adjust the output gain in real time to enhance controller tracking accuracy. The improved whale optimization algorithm was …

Effect Of Double-Bin Plansifter Motion Parameters On Sieving Efficiency, Li Shuang, Wang Fengcheng, Deng Xiangzhi, Li Xinze, Zhang Baowei, Fu Yunfeng, Xue Chunzhi

Food and Machinery

[Objective] The aim is to explore the effect of double-bin plansifter motion parameters on the material sieving efficiency of different systems after wheat milling. [Methods] The milled materials produced by the break system, tailing roll, and scratch system, obtained from a typical milling production line, were selected as raw materials. The double-bin plansifter was used to sieve different materials to investigate the variations in residence time inside the sieve body and in sieving performance under different motion parameters of milled materials in each system. The motion parameters with the optimal sieving performance for the milled materials from each system were …

Extraction Optimization For Polyphenols From Clausena Anisum-Olens Kernel , As Well As Their Antioxidant And Antibacterial Activities, Liao Jianhong, Su Xiufang, Zheng Guangjin, Li Ganghui

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To optimize the extraction process of polyphenols from Clausena anisum-olens kernel, and to analyze their in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities. [Methods] With ultrasonic temperature, power, time, as well as solid–liquid ratio and ethanol volume fraction as experimental factors, the response surface method was employed to optimize the ultrasonic extraction process of polyphenols from C. anisum-olens kernel. Furthermore, the in vitro antioxidant activity of the polyphenols was investigated via free radical scavenging assays, and the antibacterial activity was determined using the well diffusion method. [Results] The optimal extraction process is an ultrasonic power of 94 W, an ultrasonic time …

A Multi-Defect Detection System Based On Improved Yolov 8s And Morphological Features For Fragrant Pear Grading, Wang Jinkai, Wu Chenchen, Cheng Rouxin, Wu Rentao

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To address the high missed detection rate of defective fruits and poor grading accuracy in current post-harvest fragrant pear sorting. [Methods] On the basis of an existing visual inspection system for fragrant pears, a machine vision detection system integrating an improved YOLOv8s algorithm and multi-dimensional morphological features is designed. An ECA attention module is introduced to enhance the model sensitivity to subtle defects, enabling fast and precise localization and segmentation of pears. Conventional morphological feature extraction is employed to conduct multi-dimensional shape analysis for identifying and rejecting defective fruits. Pressure-sensitive sensors are then used to grade the remaining qualified …

Ameliorative Effects And Mechanisms Of Crocetin On Insulin Resistance In High-Fat Diet-Induced Diabetic Mice, Wen Jing, Qin Si, Lyu Chenghao

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of crocetin in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice, and to preliminarily explore its regulatory effects on hepatic insulin signaling pathways and protein S-nitrosylation levels. [Methods] An insulin resistance model was established in C57BL/6J mice by HFD feeding. Mice were administered low (5 mg/kg), medium (10 mg/kg), or high (20 mg/kg) doses of crocetin for 8 weeks, with metformin (200 mg/kg) used as a positive control. Fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, serum insulin, lipid profiles, hepatic oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines were measured. Western blot was used to detect phosphorylation …

Comparative Analysis Of Beef Quality From Bashan Region, Wan Xiaohui, Yao Pingbo, Zhang Duoduo, Ma Xiaowen, Tang Youxue, Liu Yongfeng

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To clarify the unique quality of beef from the Bashan region. [Methods] Xizhen cattle beef from the eastern, southern, south-central, central, and northern regions of Zhenba County, Shaanxi Province, is taken as the material to investigate the differences in nutritional quality (moisture, protein, fat, and minerals) and eating quality (color, texture, and flavor). [Results] Zhenba beef has unique qualities, such as high protein and total mineral content, compared with the nutrient composition of beef in the food nutrient composition database published by the National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. For nutritional quality, …