Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing

Feeding plant-based by-products to dairy cattle has become so commonplace for some of the ingredients that they are no longer thought of as secondary products from food processing. These feed ingredients allow for more economical approaches for meeting the nutritional needs of dairy cattle and contribute to improving farm profitability. The by-products vary in total fiber (NDF) and the characteristics of the fiber for stimulating chewing and saliva production and providing energy to the cow. Oftentimes, these fiber sources can be used for partial replacement of forage, but even more commonly, they can be used to supply highly digestible fiber to replace rapidly degraded starch in high grain diets for lactating cows, providing for a slower rate of carbohydrate digestion and maintaining of rumen pH. Utilization of these feeds by ruminants is very important in environmental sustainability of food systems.

Turfgrasses are frequently grown in environments with less than optimal conditions, which ultimately negatively impacts plant growth and development. Between a changing environment and a desire to reduce inputs, turfgrasses will be exposed to even more stressful conditions. Understanding a plant's physiology and how they respond to stressful conditions is essential to developing turf areas that are able to maintain high levels of performance. This chapter covers physiological responses to four of the most common abiotic stress conditions: drought, heat, freezing, and salinity stresses. The chapter focuses on recent research that has improved our understanding of how these stresses damage plants and how in turn plants respond to tolerate these conditions. Knowledge of turfgrass physiology and their responses to different environments are essential to achieve sustainable turf areas in the future.

The neuropsychology of food consumption is a vast subject. This chapter concentrates on how value is established at the neurophysiological level and how it is related to behaviour. This is especially pertinent to the analysis of consumer choice, which refers here to being faced with two or more options, each of which has its own set of short and long term consequences that are in conflict with one another. Situations of choice arise principally when the expected outcomes of purchasing one commodity are relatively immediate, while those of a competing purchase are delayed, e.g., the taste reward of consuming a hyper-palatable food now as opposed to a healthier life enjoyed in the longer term.

This chapter reviews the key stages in the development of the chicken embryo: from the fertilized oocyte, the zygote, through to the hatched chicken. The chapter also covers extra-embryonic tissues like sub-embryonic fluid, yolk sac, amnion and chorion-allantois membrane (CAM) which develop in synchrony with the embryo and play essential roles in embryo development. In this chapter the main focus is the basic morphological and physiological aspects of development of the chicken embryo.

Direct-fed microbials (DFM), or probiotics, overall can improve feed digestion and/or fermentation, reduce the risk of rumen acidosis, increase milk production, enhance immunity and gut health, especially reducing calf diarrhea, and reduce mastitis in dairy cattle. The commonly used DFM include species of lactic acid bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus spp.), lactate-utilizing bacteria (e.g., Megasphaera spp.), propionate-producing bacteria (e.g., Propionibacterium spp.), Bacillus species, etc. Multispecies DFM can be more effective than single-species DFM. The modes of action differ between DFM intended to function in the rumen and those functioning in the intestines. However, the responses to DFM are inconsistent, owing to variations in bacterial species and strains, dose, diet, and animal factors. Future research is needed to elucidate the mechanism of particular DFM and their interactions with diet and the rumen and/or intestinal microbes, and other animal factors, and to optimize the dose, timing, and duration of DFM supplementation.

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most important viral diseases of domestic and wild suids. Over the last 15 years, ASF has gone truly pandemic and with that, fast, reliable, but also pragmatic diagnostic approaches are needed for early detection and surveillance. In the following chapter, three main points will be discussed that go beyond the well-established routine diagnostic techniques that are quite well-developed and described for ASF: a) the use of alternative sample matrices for ASF diagnosis in domestic and wild pigs, b) recent developments in pen-side diagnostics in a broader sense, and c) possibilities and recent advances for genomic epidemiology (especially in areas with occurrence of local variants).

Soil properties influence how turfgrass will look, function and perform. In this chapter, we explore our current understanding of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties relevant to turfgrass management and identify areas for future study. Recent advances in our understanding of physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils will help turfgrass managers work towards sustainable management of resources. In particular, the field of soil ecology and microbiology continues to reveal exciting new discoveries. Researchers are working towards a better understanding of estimating nitrogen availability from soil organic matter, and utilizing and managing the soil microbiome to augment turfgrass growth and suppress disease may be within reach in coming decades with continued investment in research on turfgrass and soil science.

Food production builds on the cooperation of enterprises within agri-food supply chains reaching from agriculture to retail. The interdependencies between enterprises require coordination of decisions and activities for assuring efficiency in production along the chain and serving the expectations of consumers and society regarding quality and sustainability. Coordination requires information and the availability of appropriate IT-based information and communication systems. The complexity of food chains in markets with changing trade relationships is mirrored in the complexity of suitable organizations of IT-based information and communication systems. This chapter outlines challenges in communicating information across food chains, discusses alternative solutions and identifies issues that require further research and development.

Cultured meat is an emerging novel food with potential to address many of the shortcomings of meat produced through intensified animal farming. To date, only one cultured meat product has received regulatory approval for commercialisation in Singapore. However these are still available on an order-by-order basis and at a relatively high price. The vision is that the cultured meat products will become affordable and readily available to the population. However, in order to achieve that vision multiple challenges are still to be addressed. This chapter will focus specifically on the scalable production and approaches to achieving sustainability in manufacturing of cultured meats. Lessons will be drawn from other relevant industries.

In the conventional hatching system environmental conditions (such as temperature, level of dust, use of disinfectants) may be suboptimal and furthermore, chickens lack access to feed and water until placement in the rearing house, which may be suboptimal too. This has led to development of alternative hatching systems. These alternative hatching systems differ in various ways from conventional hatching systems and these differences may affect day-old chicken quality as well as later life health, welfare and performance. This chapter compares alternative hatching systems with the conventional hatching system. It can be concluded that alternative hatching systems might be less challenging for chickens than the conventional hatching system, but effects on day-old chicken quality, and later life health, welfare and performance vary. For optimal chicken health, welfare and performance, settings in both the conventional and alternative hatching systems are more important than the hatching system itself.

The objective of this chapter is to present scientific evidence indicating the importance of incubation conditions on skeletal development, leg health, and locomotion. The first section will describe embryo bone development in avian species, its regulation, and the interaction effects of the environment. The second portion of the chapter will describe some literature documenting incubation factors' effects on bone development.

With a focus on the USA, this chapter traces the development of the country’s agri-food supply chain, which has experienced significant consolidation across all echelons. Types of agri-food supply chains are discussed, highlighting local agri-food supply chains which have become more prevalent recently in the USA. National supply chains, however, still play the major role, and are expected to do so in the future. The chapter also looks at the international trade flows of U.S. agri-food supply chains, with more detail provided for the USA‘s neighbouring countries (Mexico and Canada). A major part of the chapter is further devoted to key challenges facing the U.S. agri-food supply chain, which include the repercussions of the COVID19 pandemic, food safety, food losses and waste, labour shortages, droughts, and financial pressures. This is followed by a section highlighting recent developments, including technological innovations and sustainable agriculture.

Turfgrass breeding efforts are aimed at developing new turfgrass varieties adapted to a wide range of geographic regions with excellent seed or sod production, improved stress and pest tolerance, and elite turf quality under high, medium, and low maintenance practices. Various cooperative testing programs are available and utilized by turfgrass breeders to expedite these efforts. In addition, new technologies and advanced breeding strategies are being developed for enhanced DNA genotyping and high-throughput plant phenotyping approaches to improve turfgrass breeding and selection efficiency. This chapter discusses biological characteristics, traditional breeding strategies, current breeding objectives, and advanced breeding methods for the major cool- and warm-season turfgrass species. Although remarkable progress has been made in the development of improved turfgrass cultivars, much work remains to deliver turfgrass varieties that are able to withstand the stresses of the future.

This chapter explores the use of bioreactors for cell multiplication in cultured meat product development. The chapter begins by first providing an overview of the principles and structure of a bioreactor, which is followed by a breakdown of bioreactor operation modes: batch cultivation, fed-batch cultivation and continuous cultivation. The chapter also highlights the important bioprocess parameters that need to be considered when creating a stem cell niche in a bioreactor, such as temperature, oxygen, pH level, lactic acid and culture mixing. The chapter considers cultivation anchorage-dependent cells in stirred tank bioreactors, the scale-up of a bioprocess in bioreactors and also highlights areas which could help reduce cost and optimise processing within bioreactors.

Chicken eggs will not maintain peak hatchability for long when the eggs are stored. The chapter describes how both egg quality and embryo development will influence the effect of egg storage, considers practical aspects of using storage temperature, humidity and egg turning to keep eggs in good condition, with some reference to particular aspects of egg hygiene and egg transport. A case study describes the work at Aviagen developing a robust method to deliver short periods of incubation during egg storage to improve the hatchability of stored eggs.

Due to economic and environmental considerations, there exists a need for effective, efficient, and nondestructive methods for locating buried agricultural drainage pipes. Ground penetrating radar (GPR), a proximal soil sensing method, can potentially provide a means for drain line detection. This chapter details the evolution of research, through a series of studies conducted over the past twenty years, which focused on farm field mapping of subsurface drainage systems using GPR. The chapter first describes the evaluation of GPR against other proximal soil sensing methods. It then considers the factors potentially impacting GPR drainage pipe detection, goes on to examine GPR assessment of agricultural drainage pipe conditions and associated functionality implications, the effects of GPR antenna orientation relative to drain line directional trends and the integration of GPR with Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology. A section on drainage mapping with a multichannel, stepped-frequency, continuous wave 3D-GPR system is also provided which is then followed by a review of complementary employment of GPR and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery for drainage system characterization. The chapter concludes with a summary and recommendations for future research.

Understanding the genetics of C3 photosynthesis, particularly its regulation, is essential to undertake photosynthetic improvement. The expression of the photosynthesis-associated genes is regulated at different levels (transcriptional, post-transcriptional, post-translational), but very little is known about the regulatory networks involved. This chapter introduces the photosynthesis-associated core genes encoded either in the nucleus or in the chloroplast and discusses how different internal (e.g. redox state, circadian rhythm) and external (e.g. abiotic stresses, light) signals regulate their transcription, particularly in crop plants. Since the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of photosynthesis-associated genes is poorly understood, this chapter also discusses what is known regarding the transcriptional regulation of photosynthesis in C3 crops, mainly rice and tomato. Among the regulators described, few were shown in the field to have the potential to improve photosynthesis. How the state-of-the-art knowledge can be used for photosynthesis improvement and future work perspectives, including the use of transplastomics, is also discussed.

Farm managers must make numerous decisions every day. Farm management information systems (FMIS) can assist farmers in their daily collection of data, decision-making and reporting as well as in communication with stakeholders. After defining FMIS, this chapter defines functional requirements and standard modular components of FMIS. The chapter then reviews the evolution of FMIS and the role of technical architecture models which help to solve interoperability and customization challenges. The chapter concludes by reviewing future developments in digitalization and how these are affecting the evolution of FMISs.

This chapter reviews basic considerations in the development of tools to assist a decision-maker in making informed decisions and improve decision outcomes. This chapter reviews software engineering guidelines that facilitate the development of easily maintainable software tools. Water in the farm and the basic principles involving transfer of water in the farm are reviewed with a special focus on irrigation scheduling. Examples of successful decision aids since the appearance of the personal computer are presented that illustrate the evolution of decision support systems and its close association to information technology developments. Potential outcomes of fourth industrial revolution technologies are briefly discussed, including the beginning of a complex system approach to decision-making aids.

This chapter examines advances in remote and aerial sensing of crop water status. The chapter first discusses the quantification of plant water status and the various methods used to assess plant water stress. It then moves on to examine the use of electromagnetic radiation and how it can interact with matter. A section on optical remote sensing of plant water status is also provided, followed by sections on thermal infrared remote sensing and microwave remote sensing of plant water status. The chapter also offers potential areas for future research development and other sources for further information.

The Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor (SDHI, Carboxamide, Group 7) compounds represent the fastest growing fungicide class. The spectrum of activity of SDHIs encompasses Ascomycete, Basidiomycete, and Deuteromycete pathogens on a wide variety of hosts. SDHIs are a structurally diverse class, currently comprised of 24 compounds. They inhibit the activity of the succinate dehydrogenase enzyme complex (Sdh, respiratory Complex II), which couples the oxidation of succinate to fumarate in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA, Krebs) cycle with the reduction of ubiquinone to ubiquinol in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Resistance emerged rapidly following the introduction of SDHIs and has been reported in at least 30 species, mainly associated with target site mutations in Sdh subunits B, C, and D. As SDHI resistance may be associated with fitness penalties, evaluating the fitness of resistant isolates is a key part in the assessment of the risk of fungicide resistance developing in the field.

This chapter provides general description of the invasion and management response of six insects that have affected wheat and other cereal grains: Agriphila aeneociliella Eversmann (Lepid: Crambidae), Metopolophium festucae cerealium Stroyan (Hem: Aphididae), Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymen: Cephidae) (wheat stem sawfly), Sipha maydis Passerini (Hem: Aphididae), Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjuimov) (Hemi: Aphididae) (Russian wheat aphid), and Melanaphis sorghi Theobold (Hemi: Aphididae) (sugarcane aphid). A more detailed case study follows: the recent invasion of M. sorghi across the sorghum agroecosystem of North America. This near continent-scale invasion provides perspectives on invasion progression (both ecology and management) across ecological and agricultural gradients, and on management response appropriate at local and regional scales in the context of environmental (landscape and weather) factors that influence pest-natural enemy-plant interactions. The chapter concludes with a discussion of future trends in light of climate change and lessons learned from these recent insect pest invasions.

The rising and setting of the sun provides a regular transition between two starkly different environmental conditions for photosynthetic organisms such as plants. Since photosynthetic organisms rely on light as both an environmental signal and an energy source it is beneficial for plants to respond to and utilize light in a time-dependent manner. This timing information is provided by the circadian system, a complex biological oscillator that provides an internal reference that can be used to modify plants’ responses to light signals. In this review, we will discuss how the circadian system regulates photosynthetic processes, while also exploring how photosynthetic products can themselves feed into the circadian system to optimise interactions between plants and their environment.

In recent years, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) and advancements in remote sensing technology have provided alternative and more affordable means for monitoring crop health and stress than ground-based (hand-held or vehicle-mounted) or other aerial-based platforms (manned aircraft or satellites). However, few scientific studies have evaluated the application of sUAS in turfgrass systems. The use of sUAS in monitoring turfgrass requires an understanding of basic remote sensing principles; identifying the target of interest and the various sUAS platforms and sensors that provide the necessary resolution and frequencies to measure and monitor that target; calibration of sensors in the field; and data processing considerations. Those topics are discussed, followed by reviews of recent turfgrass field studies conducted to predict and manage drought stress and pest outbreaks, and improve phenotyping capabilities in turfgrass breeding programs. The use of sUAS remote sensing in turfgrass offers unique possibilities and challenges, which are addressed herein.

This chapter discusses the role of robotics in greenhouse cultivation, starting with key challenges. Current technology is then presented, grouped by the main tasks executed by the robots. The selective harvesting of major greenhouse crops (e.g. tomato, cucumber, sweet pepper, strawberries and flowers) is explored, followed by a description of crop maintenance operations, including automatic leaf removal. Plant propagation operations, including grafting and autonomous planting of cuttings, are then analyzed. Attention is then given to crop scouting and the detection of disease and insects and control tasks using robots and drones. A section on autonomous transport and logistics in the greenhouse concludes this section, before future trends in greenhouse robotics research are discussed. Despite considerable technical advances, success rates, accuracy and speed of most developed systems remain insufficient. Future research is needed in most areas, including enhancement of grippers, sensors and manipulators. Using artificial intelligence for sensing and control of greenhouse robots is expected to intensify in the future.

Grasshoppers, including locusts, and katydids are some of the most destructive pests in the world. Because they typically feed on a wide range of plants and migrate into cereal crops, consistent monitoring over vast areas is required to provide sufficient warning of population outbreaks. The long term cycling of populations can also result in relaxation of surveying efforts and loss of key knowledge, which challenge efforts to restore control during increases in population abundance. Diet is an important determinant of migratory behavior en masse, and diet also plays an important role in the insects’ defenses against microbes. Microbial application for locust control, in particular, is expanding. Understanding basic biology, improved outreach to remote areas for surveying, and tracking of migratory movements will all assist in improving forecasting and suppression of pest Orthoptera. Long distance movement of the pests makes national and international funding and coordination paramount for global food security.

Extension specialists and agents have played an integral part in proactively relaying resistance management information to fruit producers – generally through face-to-face meetings, farm visits, phone calls, newsletter articles and a myriad of traditional venues. This chapter features three case studies that illustrate how the extension service has been involved in (i) identifying resistance-related problems in producer fields, (ii) formulating and implementing solutions, and (iii) continued education of producers to adjust to ever changing resistance landscapes. Extension agents and specialists have two goals associated with resistance management: (1) provision of non-biased, accurate and current information to producers relative to resistance management best practices, and (2) rapid identification of resistance when it occurs, to be quickly followed by new recommendations – the feedback loop. The strong working relationship between Extension and producers educates both parties, continues to build trust, and generates the foundation for change.

Visual perception is key to most agricultural robots in order to make sense of their surroundings, necessary to make decisions and apply actions. This chapter will start with an overview of image sensors, systems, and typical vision tasks in agricultural robotics. Despite great progress in the past decade due to the introduction of deep neural networks, robots face two big challenges in perceiving the agricultural environment: the challenges of variation and incomplete information. Both challenges and available solutions are discussed in this chapter. However, the challenges are not yet solved. The chapter therefore ends with an outline of future research to approach the challenges and to allow successful use of robots in agriculture.

Interactions between plants and pollinators, and thus pollination, are network-based processes. Many early studies of plant-pollinator networks focused on interactions within agroecosystems, providing a substantial knowledge-base around agricultural pollinators and how they can be promoted. There is therefore an opportunity to use network ecology to understand, support and enhance pollination services through farm management and integrated decision-making. This chapter aims to provide an introduction to network thinking, as well as examples and ideas of how it can be applied to promote and manage pollination services in a range of agroecosystems. To do so we: (i) describe the important and agriculturally relevant characteristics and structures in plant-pollinator networks; (ii) demonstrate how plant-pollinator networks have been assessed from field to national scales; and (iii) discuss the developments required to further operationalise management and conservation based on pollination networks.

Wireworms are the immature stage of click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) species. Several species of wireworms are considered serious pests of agricultural crops, including small grains. Limited information with respect to objective species- and crop-specific economic injury levels, effective insecticides, and integrated pest management protocols have resulted in devastating yield losses in severely infested small grain fields. This chapter provides a review of what is known about wireworm ecology and management, focusing on the most recent advances in species identification, within-species population variation, and species-specific research on their management with respect to pest monitoring, prevention, cultural, biological, and chemical control methods. Throughout, the existing knowledge gaps will be highlighted and avenues for future research proposed.

This chapter addresses the advances in turfgrass insect pest management. It starts by first reviewing the recent studies of major turfgrass insect pests, such as annual bluegrass weevil, bill bugs, white grubs and fall armyworm. The chapter then moves on to discuss recent studies on emerging turfgrass pests, focusing specifically on European crane flies and Chaetocnema minuta. A section on integrated pest management practices is also provided, drawing attention to methods such as pest detection and monitoring, chemical control, insecticide resistance and non-target issues with chemical insectides. The chapter also discusses biological control, cultural control, host plant tolerance and resistance to pests and the use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.

New fungicide active substances are at risk of losing efficacy due to the development of resistance in target pathogen populations. In the European Union, an assessment of resistance risk is required by regulatory authorities for the approval of each fungicide product This chapter will review the development and scientific rationale of the widely used risk matrix approach to fungicide resistance risk assessment. This type of approach relies on previous experience of resistance with a particular fungicide mode of action, pathogen and agronomic system to assess the level of risk. A more recent trait-based approach that doesn’t rely on prior knowledge will also be reviewed. Finally, this chapter will consider future trends in fungicide resistance risk assessment.

This chapter will assess the sustainable use of phosphite in amenity turfgrass management, by exploring the often-contentious use of phosphite as a nutrient source, its use as a biostimulant, and its properties and efficacy as a plant protectant within many plants including turfgrasses.

Anthropogenic climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing biodiversity presently and into the future. Climate change, through increasing temperatures, and extreme events including droughts and fires, can be predicted to impact pollinators through a number of mechanisms, including altered phenologies and distributions, which in turn may lead to altered plant-pollinator interactions. This chapter presents an overview of observed and predicted impacts of climate change on pollinators, as well as factors that may mediate species’ responses, including synergisms with other threatening processes, and identify topics for further research. Given the importance of pollinating organisms for biodiversity and ecosystem services, the chapter concludes by presenting a number of ways in which we can help pollinators face the challenge of climate change.

Robotics and automation face several challenges in agriculture due to the high variability of products, task complexity, crop quality requirement, and dense vegetation. Such a set of challenges demands a more versatile and safe robotic system. Soft robotics is a new yet promising field of research aimed at enhancing current rigid robots, making it a good potential solution for these challenges. In this chapter, we review a potential group of soft grippers used for handling and harvesting crops and their suitability for agriculture, including challenges such as safety in handling and adaptability to different crops. The review aims to show why and to what extent soft grippers have been successful in handling agricultural tasks. This analysis provides a framework for future, systematic design of soft robots for a range of agricultural tasks.

In this chapter, we introduce major concepts associated with the management of invasive insects. We then focus more deeply on eradication and long-term management, especially integrated pest management, describing common factors associated with successful programs and potential challenges of each strategy. Brief case studies are provided to illustrate applications of eradication and IPM to various invasive insects in different regions. Lastly, we summarize recent research and technology that have progressed effective management of invasive insects and highlight areas where further research is needed.

This chapter reviews the emergence of the concept of 'farmer-led irrigation development' in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. It outlines a context in which formal irrigation in the region is considered to have under-performed, with consequent concern over lagging agricultural productivity and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Against this backdrop, there has been a growing recognition of investment in irrigation by small-scale farmers, motivated by opportunities to sell high value vegetables and rice to growing urban populations. The chapter reviews the literature on the phenomenon, briefly presents data from a case study and outlines key challenges and areas of future research.

Agricultural intensification, or the increase in crop production per unit of input or land area to meet the needs of a growing population, has resulted in a landscape dominated by large scale monoculture cropping. Pollinators, specifically, are impacted by the lack of diverse floral and habitat resources associated with this type of farming. Agriculture must develop practices that diversify the crop landscape and increase the availability of habitat and flowering resources to support these populations. In this chapter, we summarize the available literature on how the production space, i.e., within a crop production field, orchard, or pasture, can be more effectively managed to sustain pollinator populations. We report on various spatial and temporal approaches within the context of various cropping systems (row crops, specialty crops, perennial orchards, and perennial forage and pasture systems). Collectively, these approaches represent opportunities to re-introduce diversity into the agricultural landscape to benefit pollinators.

This chapter provides an overview of the state of the art for grasping and manipulation in agricultural settings. It begins with a review of the robotic mechanisms commonly used for manipulation and grasping. The discussion then addresses issues associated with the integration of different technologies required to create fieldable manipulation systems, namely perception and control. Finally, a review of some specific application areas being addressed is provided, including harvest, pruning and food handling. The chapter is intended to serve as an useful starting point for researchers and practitioners interested in learning more about the challenges and associated approaches being used for grasping and manipulation for agricultural applications.

Pest Risk Assessments (PRAs) provide a simple evidence-based evaluation of risk posed by one or more pests to crops and can support farmers and farm advisors in developing integrated pest management strategies. By providing a structured approach to estimating the likelihood of pests infesting crops, and the hazard they present to crop production, these assessments enable targeted preventative and mitigating actions with a clear link to impact. In this chapter we break down the processes and tools available to undertake a pest risk assessment, the potential influence of the perception of risk on decision making and provide a worked example for a priority pest in wheat.

Abiotic stresses of turfgrasses involve any environmental condition which limits plant growth, turfgrass quality, and system functionality. Commonly observed abiotic stresses in turfgrass systems include drought, high temperature, low temperature, low irradiance, traffic, salinity, and chemical phytotoxicity. Managing abiotic stresses with reduced irrigation, fertilizer, energy, and pesticides has become critical to the sustainability of the turfgrass industry. In this chapter, we aim to describe the current literature related to abiotic stress management in turfgrasses with an emphasis on sustainability of turfgrass systems. To this end, we have organized the discussion into four approaches to sustainable abiotic stress management: 1) managing growth, 2) moderating the environment, 3) enhancing stress tolerance, and 4) masking stress response.

Plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs), with an almost airtight and well-insulated structure, enable simple and accurate data acquisition and environmental control, time series analysis, and prediction related to plant phenotypes. With plant phenotyping based on cohort research in PFALs, the life cycle phenome history of both plant individuals and communities can be obtained non-invasively and continuously and analyzed from seed sowing to harvesting, with time series data on the microenvironment, management, and resource inputs/outputs. This chapter first reviews challenges affecting PFALs and introduces plant phenotyping in general, along with previous plant phenotyping studies in PFALs. Plant phenotyping based on plant cohort research in PFALs is also discussed, followed by experimental cohort research studies on individual phenotyping. Finally, the possibility of plant phenotype-based environmental control in PFALs, considering business-related factors, is discussed.

Nitrogen (N) is a key macronutrient required for plant growth and reproduction. Ammonium (NH4+) is a readily available nitrogen source for plant growth and an important contributor to net plant nitrogen uptake and utilisation. It is suggested that members of the high-affinity ammonium transporter family (AMT) and the low-affinity ammonium major facilitator (AMF, non-AMT type) NH4+ transporters operate respectively as high-affinity (HATS) and low-affinity (LATS) transport pathways, both contributing to the management of overall plant NH4+ transport, uptake and cellular redistribution. In this chapter, we will examine NH4+ transport systems operating across different plant cell types and tissues in both a N2-fixing legume root nodule and in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana.

Avocado fruit is rich in phytochemicals that have been associated with the prevention of some important diseases. This chapter discusses the important nutritional components of avocado fruit, especially the many important bioactive compounds they contain, as well as the important effects of avocado consumption on human nutrition and health, a driver behind the very significant growth and expansion of the industry in the last few decades. The chapter details nutraceutical properties of avocado, particularly their potential for the prevention and possible treatment of diseases such as macular degeneration, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular problems, and cancer, among others. Some folk medicinal uses of avocado and its components, as well as some pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other applications have been discussed. Potential allergic and toxic compounds have also been mentioned and discussed.

Light-emitting diodes (LED) are advancing the development of indoor vertical farming due to their varied light spectrum and photon flux density. The substantial energy cost of lighting systems requires improvement. This chapter reviews three major spectra applied to lettuce cultivation in indoor vertical farming systems. Red and blue light are the most efficient spectra for chlorophyll absorption and far-red light promotes light interception and increases photochemical efficiency. Research shows that the photon flux ratio between red and blue light affects plant architecture, leaf and photosynthetic characteristics, biomass production and phytochemical compound accumulation. Additional far-red over photosynthetically active radiation triggers shade avoidance responses and increases light interception, which combines with planting density effects. Aside from the above spectra, biomass production and quality, utilization of other light spectrum and dynamic lighting as well as plant modelling should be considered to promote light use efficiency in indoor vertical farming.

Among essential crop nutrients, nitrogen is the greatest management challenge due to highly dynamic transformations and losses. Applied N rates may be insufficient for optimum yields, or substantially exceed crop needs. The latter results in water, climate, energy and air pollution concerns, especially with maize (Zea mays L.) production. The economic optimum N rate is impacted by several features of a production environment, including inherent soil and climate characteristics, weather, agronomic management, and economic/risk factors. Conventional N calculators for maize are static, generalized and inherently imprecise. Adaptive maize N management in the 4R context can be supported by dynamic simulation models that incorporate the complexities of production environments and weather. As a case study, the Adapt-N technology is discussed with features on critical factors affecting N dynamics and the estimation of an EONR for maize production environments.

All photosynthetic organisms contain a light-harvesting antenna system, in which pigments absorb solar photons and energy is delivered to the photochemical reaction centers, and subsequent biochemical reactions store it for cellular use. The identity and quantity of pigments and the proteins that bind them in antenna system depend on the type of photosynthetic organism and its environment. Higher plants typically have several hundred antenna pigments associated with each reaction center. This chapter discusses the identity of various photopigments and their associated antenna system in the context of current research to improve the overall efficiency of photosynthesis. Various efforts to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis include expanding the Photosynthetically Active Radiation beyond the 400-700 nm range, decreasing the number of pigments associated with the reaction center and engineering the antenna systems of plants so as to create a gradient of light absorption from the top to the bottom of the canopy.

This collection features six peer-reviewed reviews on optimising key quality attributes in poultry products.

The first chapter considers recent research on enhancing the nutritional quality of poultry meat, focussing primarily on increasing the meat’s polyunsaturated fat content.

The second chapter describes different mechanisms and chemical compounds responsible for poultry meat flavour and off-flavour development. The chapter also reviews how these compounds can be manipulated to enhance flavour.

The third chapter provides a comprehensive overview of 20 years’ worth of research on understanding the genetics and genomics of meat quality traits in poultry species.

The fourth chapter reviews the main factors affecting poultry meat colour and includes a case study to demonstrate how packaging can influence poultry meat colour and lipid oxidation.

The fifth chapter addresses the role and influence of egg appearance and colour on consumer preferences and purchasing decisions, focussing on the shell, albumen and yolk.

The final chapter reviews the use of molecular breeding techniques to improve internal and external egg quality, including whole-genome methods, such as genome-wide association studies and genomic selection.

Plant-parasitic nematodes present a major constraint to production of bananas and plantains world-wide. Early efforts in management in the mid-twentieth century relied on applications of fumigant nematicides followed by non-fumigant organophosphates and carbamate compounds. The development of integrated nematode management systems incorporated the destruction of infected banana plants, a period of fallow, mostly with non-host plants and replanting with nematode free, preferably tissue cultured plants, with care taken to prevent reinfestation. In addition, nematode monitoring systems allowed banana growers to make informed management decisions. This chapter documents the success of integrated nematode management systems for banana production from around the world. The overall challenge of nematode management in bananas remains, which is to integrate practices allowing production to continue in the face of greater consumer demands for reduced inputs of pesticides. Future solutions involve changing from high-input monocultures to diverse agroecological systems to reduce losses in bananas caused by plant-parasitic nematodes.

This chapter explores the use of supplements to mitigate enteric methane emission in dairy cattle. It begins by highlighting two dietary approaches that can decrease enteric CH4 emission, the first being the improvement of forage quality and the second being the inclusion of concentrate feeds in the diet. The use of of dietary lipids and lipid supplements is also discussed, followed by a review of the use of alternative electron sinks, plant-based bioactive compounds and chemical inhibitors. A section on the growing interest of macroalgae use in ruminants is also provided. The chapter also discusses the additive effect of feed supplements as well as the economics of methane mitigation.

Plant production in plant factories with artificial lighting (PFAL) can be done continuously for similar crops regardless of location and climate, allowing interconnectivity of production worldwide. A combination of a PFAL modular system with data acquisition and analysis tools has the potential to improve crop production in PFALs. Using real time monitoring and AI driven adjustment of the growing environment can improve the resource use efficiency of PFALs worldwide. In this chapter we describe the main elements required to successfully build a global network of PFALs based on the experience of Infarm, a company that built the first world‘s cloud connected PFAL network.

It’s been suggested that around 12 million hectares of agricultural land are affected by soil erosion each year. If the degradation of the world’s soil reservoir continues, many have estimated that this could lead to a 30% reduction in global food production by 2040.

Understanding and preventing soil erosion provides a comprehensive overview of recent research on understanding the mechanisms of soil erosion, as well as the best practices for measuring and modelling soil erosion risk in agricultural soils. The book also considers the range of agronomic practices and techniques available to mitigate future soil erosion, including the use of buffer strips, zero/no-tillage and soil stabilisers.

In its detailed assessment of soil erosion, the book succeeds in highlighting the potential future impact of degraded soils on the quality, security and longevity of our global food system if the problem of soil erosion isn’t effectively managed.

Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB) Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is caused by the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium odoratissimum. At present, the spread of TR4 has been documented in at least 21 countries throughout all major Cavendish banana-producing regions of the world. It seems inevitable that TR4 will continue to spread to other regions that are currently not affected, as exclusion and field management have failed to contain the fungus. As this chapter shows, breeding for resistance to diversify the banana crop for the export trade and smallholder settings and developing control methods based on the latest insights are essential to manage TR4 to save an essential staple food for millions of people and the world's most favorite fruit.

This chapter focuses on the use of tannins as dietary supplements in dairy cattle nutrition. It begins by first identifying sources of tannins for supplementation, focusing specifically on the tropics and temperate climates. It then moves on to discuss the effects of tannins in dairy cows, such as the effects on palatability, digestion and performance, the use of tannins to mitigate emissions such as nitrogen and methane as well as the effects of tannins on milk quality. The chapter also draws attention to the anthelmintic properties of tannins before moving on to discuss the various factors that can influence the effects of tannin in animals. A section on the onset of tannin effects and long-term efficiency is also provided, which is then followed by an overview of the strategies than can be used to maximise beneficial tannin effects.

Because of their importance as pollinators of wild and cultivated plants, little concern has been paid to alien bees when entering a new ecosystem. Hence, approximately 80 alien bee species worldwide have spread outside their native ranges. Here, we explored the main impacts of alien bees on native bees through competition for food or nesting resources, interference, pathogen spillover, and genetic contamination. Implications for native bee conservation are also discussed. In addition, in this chapter, we developed a particular focus on the first alien bee that colonised Europe, Megachile sculpturalis. We emphasised the main knowledge gaps and important trends for future research. Finally, avenues for managing alien bee species and preventing their introduction are provided.

Extending shelf life, improving quality, and reducing waste of leafy vegetables during transport and storage are key to tackling the global food challenge. Leafy vegetables – as the most popular crop grown in indoor vertical farms – are considered an important contributor to a healthy diet but generally have a short shelf life. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive definition of quality and review studies on the effect of high photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) applied prior to harvest on phytochemicals in leafy vegetables. Increasing levels of phytochemicals (vitamin C, phenolics and carbohydrates) under high PPFD can directly improve health-related values at harvest, and more importantly, through their involvement in metabolic and redox homeostasis, ensure sufficient antioxidant capacity in leaves and suppress quality decay in storage. Increased PPFD during growth can be integrated with indoor vertical farming to improve quality and extend the shelf life of leafy vegetables.

Blemish-free bananas are a modern life staple. This chapter reviews management trends of bunch pests of bananas for export which cause cosmetic damage or trigger quarantine prohibitions in the context of changing regulatory and market requirements. The authors review six major insect pests of the banana bunch with a particular focus on understanding their life cycle as a basis for designing more ecologically-based pest management – red rust and flower thrips, aphids, scale insects, mealybugs and Colaspis beetles. Sections include monitoring pests and beneficial organisms, creating an environment less favourable for pests and more favourable for beneficial organisms, and direct control with insecticides and augmentation of beneficial organisms. The authors propose 5 cornerstone practices to ensure blemish-free bananas with a low level of rejects and reduced impact on human health and the environment – early bagging with bags containing non-toxic repellents, field sanitation and measures to promote conservation biological control - minimal pesticide use and increased hedge and cover plant diversity.

This chapter examines advances in understanding lipid requirements and utilisation in dairy cattle. The chapter begins by first highlighting the major lipid constituents found in dairy cow nutrition, such as free fatty acids, triglycerides, glycolipids and phospholipids. It then goes on to discuss lipid supplements, which is then followed by an examination of fat digestion and absorption in ruminant species. Sections on digestibility of dietary lipids and mammary metabolism of lipids are also provided. The chapter discusses the effects of lipids on feed intake as well as the effects of lipid supplements on milk production on composition. This is then followed by an overview of how dietary lipids can be used to modify milk fat for human health, as well as the effects of lipids on reproduction. The role of dietary lipids in metabolism regulation is also reviewed, followed by an analysis of the important considerations that should be taken into account when selecting for commercial inert fats. Practical recommendations for supplementing fats are also included.

This chapter introduces the background and theory underpinning use of odours by insects in pollination, discusses how flowers produce odours and highlights issues specific to crops such as selective breeding. It then explores current technologies and case studies in which natural or synthetic odours on or near the crop, and the interaction with insects, influences visitation, pollination success and yield.

This chapter focuses on improving safe confumser handling of fresh produce. It begins by first discussing consumer produce consumption, drawing specific attention to the consumption of high risk produce items. The chapter then moves on to review pathogens isolated from produce samples, which is followed by an analysis of outbreaks and illnesses caused by produce. A section on organic produce is also provided, focusing specifically on microbial quality of conventionally grown versus organic produce and foodborne outbreaks associated with organic foods. The chapter also provides an overview of farmers markets, comparing the quality of produce items from these markets to traditional retail and also identifies the foodborne illnesses that can occur due to farmers markets. Consumer knowledge and behaviours around safe produce handling and consumption is also discussed, followed by an overview of produce safety and vulnerable and immunocompromised consumers. The chapter includes an overview of fresh produce safety handling recommendations and resources, as well as a discussion on the need to include behaviour theories and formative research in the development of new and targeted education materials around produce safety.

The soil-borne fungus F. oxysporum forma specialis cubense (Foc), causing fusarium wilt of banana (FWB), is one of the most devastating diseases affecting banana. The fungus has a polyphyletic origin and strains and races have evolved with different wild banana species in various areas of the Indo-Malayan region, from where it has spread to other banana-growing areas via infected planting material. The management of FWB is based on the exclusion of the pathogen through the use of clean planting material, disinfection of tools and machinery, and the use of resistant varieties. Prior to 1960, Foc Race 1 (R1) destroyed the export trade based on the cultivar Gros Michel, which was replaced by Cavendish cultivars, which are resistant to Foc R1. Cavendish cultivars now account for over 50% of the world’s banana production. However, R1 is still a major issue for subsistence agriculture in America, Asia, and Africa. This chapter reviews the history, epidemiology, and management of Foc R1 and R2.

“This 400-page book explores how organic dairy farming addresses challenges including environmental impact, animal welfare and antibiotic resistance. The book is aimed at academics, international policy professionals and organic farmers seeking research-based guidance, however it would also be a valuable addition to undergraduate reading lists in food science, biological sciences and agriculture. This is a timely and well-written resource.” (Book Review Published in the International Journal of Dairy Technology)

The dairy sector continues to face increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact and contribution to climate change.It must also address consumer concerns surrounding issues such as animal welfare, antibiotic usage/resistance and the ethics of intensive production systems.

Advances in organic dairy cattle farmingconsiders how organic dairy farming has the potential to address these challenges whilst also meeting the key organic principles of health, ecology, fairness and care. The book reviews advances in areas such as breeding, optimising pasture-based production and organic milk quality, improving the health and welfare of calves and adult cows, as well as promoting biodiversity and the move to a more circular, sustainable bioeconomy.

This chapter reviews key issues in using sensor data in precision agriculture (PA) and, in particular, their mode of deployment (proximal or remote). It assesses relative strengths and weaknesses of proximal sensing techniques, compared with imaging data typically acquired from remote sensing platforms, before assessing trade-offs in sensor data resolution, as well as sources of error in the way data is processed. The chapter concludes by looking at ways of integrating remote and proximal sensor data, to utilize the beneficial characteristics of each type of data to improve the impact precision agriculture in improving efficiency and sustainability.

Salmonella is a frequent etiologic agent for foodborne illnesses acquired via consumption of plant-based foods. This may be attributed to the adaptability of this pathogen to various environments and hosts, including plants. Salmonella has a broad capacity to associate with fresh produce crops from a multitude of plant families, colonizing various anatomical structures of plants at all developmental stages, from root to leaf, from sprout to fruit. Salmonella identifies microsites on the plant surface with adequate water and nutrients and can enter plant tissues through natural plant openings such as stomata and lenticels. Its ability to persist on or penetrate plant tissues may also be facilitated by agricultural practices or post-harvest preparation of fruit and vegetables. This chapter discusses the various plant traits and agricultural practices that aid Salmonella association with fruit and vegetable crops, as well as the genetic strategies that Salmonella employs to compete in the plant niche.

This chapter reviews current knowledge on banana bunchy top disease, the most important virus disease of banana, worldwide. It provides an overview of the historical aspects of the disease and the early studies, outlines the symptoms of the disease and biological characteristics of the pathogen related to host range, transmission and spread. This is followed by an overview of control strategies which involve detection of the pathogen, its epidemiology and resistance in the host and how this can be used in management strategies.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) can be used for a variety of agricultural applications. This chapter summarizes the GPR background needed to apply this technique to agriculture, including a review of basic principles, data acquisition, and data processing methods. Recent advances in each of these areas are described. Applications to soil mapping, soil water content characterization, compaction, and root mass detection are discussed. A case study using GPR groundwaves to map the soil water content at two depths is presented. The chapter concludes with a summary of current capabilities and suggestions for future work.

Over the last decade, interest in rearing black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) has grown exponentially. BSF larvae (BSFL) can be reared on any waste substrate, but the type of substrate markedly impacts the overall efficiency of the process as well as the composition of the larval biomass. It also influences the overall environmental impact of the generated larval protein. In this chapter, we look at available waste streams for BSFL rearing in the European Union and globally. We describe the different process parameters, in addition to substrate properties that influence process efficiency, and how different substrates affect the process, the composition of the larval biomass as well as the environmental impact. Later in the chapter, the implications and challenges faced by the insect industry are discussed, along with ways in which these challenges can be met.

Whilst there are many types of agri-food supply chain, all face growing pressures to improve safety, efficiency, equity, environmental and health impacts for chain actors and consumers.

Frontiers in agri-food supply chains: Frameworks and case studies takes a considered approach to detailing the recent developments across the sector which support the changing demands placed upon agri-food supply chains, including the emergence of digital technologies to ensure a sufficient supply of safe, high-quality food. The collection highlights the need to assess the performance, infrastructure and governance of agri-food supply chains and provides detailed case studies from several regions around the world to demonstrate examples of improved performance.

In its comprehensive exploration of agri-food supply chains, the book succeeds in highlighting the fragility of our global food system and ways to improve the resilience and efficiency of agri-food supply chains.

With the global population estimated to reach 9 billion by 2050, agricultural production must align with this growth to alleviate any further burden on our current food systems. More sustainable and alternative modes of production are required to ensure that this overburden doesn’t occur and that the food security of millions isn’t compromised in the process.

Advances in cultured meat technology reviews the growing interest and emergence in the field of cellular agriculture as one possible solution to achieving this. The book reviews the major technologies used in cultured meat product development, including cell line sourcing, cell growth media, bioreactors for cell multiplication and tissue engineering using scaffolds. The need to establish regulatory frameworks to permit the creation and trade of this new type of product is also highlighted, as is the key issue of consumer acceptance of this new technology.

In its comprehensive exploration of the recent advances in cultured meat, the book showcases the potential of cultured meat production in alleviating the burden on our food systems, as well as some of the welfare and sustainability issues that arise during traditional livestock production.

This chapter examines advances in machine vision technologies for the measurement of soil texture, structure and topography. It starts by providing an overview of the basic principles of machine vision technologies, focusing on areas such as 3D surface modelling and various methods of soil thin section microscopy. Two case studies are also provided in the chapter to support the main text discussion.

This chapter addresses the enhancement of and reporting on natural capital and biodiversity within the dairy industry as part of one company's broader sustainable development strategy. The chapter focuses on the dairy industry, as it is heavily dependent on natural and animal resources and also uses them significantly. Milk is the central raw material for a wide variety of dairy products. A primary concern at the very beginning of the production chain is animal well-being. From farms to production facilities to wholesalers and retailers, there is a delicate logistic chain. This chapter displays how Valio Group is pursuing its sustainability orientation phrased as ‘sustainability in all actions and all markets’. Central influential factors comprise scientific originated roots by Professor Virtanen (Nobel Price in Chemistry 1945), corporate governance, science-based climate targets and their monitoring, and a cooperative, owned by dairy farmers, organization form.

Insects are abundant and mobile biotic organisms that perform essential functions beneficial to humans. While insects are a vital component to agricultural landscapes, the agricultural systems that require their inputs create stressors to populations through farming practices affecting habitat resources or their health. Farm conservation of wild areas and targeted farm management can promote insect biodiversity, resulting in pollination services to crops that increase yields and improved resources for wildlife, among other benefits. This chapter introduces some contemporary issues related to beneficial insects in agriculture – mostly the insect pollinators and bees – and introduces new concepts linking biodiversity with consumer markets, with an aim to advance insect biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes. Citizen science and educational opportunities involving cultural and natural histories can complement insect conservation in agricultural landscapes.

The impacts of climate change on food production in North Africa and Southwest Asia are severe, with rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells adversely affecting crop productivity and quality. Crop models are utilized to evaluate the impact of climate change and the potential of adaptation strategies to stabilize/enhance crop yields. The majority of studies in North Africa have focused on Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. In Southwest Asia, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey have been the focus of most studies. Limitations in impact assessment studies in these regions include a lack of data, compatibility of crop models, and inability of models to consider the effects of biotic stressors on crop growth due to poor agronomic practices. To reduce the uncertainty of model driven impact assessments, targeted experimental platforms are necessary to establish to explore the response of local crops and genotypes to potential adaptation strategies. Crop models should also encompass perennial crops and grasslands and use remote sensing technologies to provide high-resolution data for data-scarce regions.

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) conducts trials of turfgrass species across the USA and Canada. NTEP data collected since 1981 is publicly available at www.ntep.org. Data is collected on more than 100 parameters including key factors in sustainable turfgrass selection. Selection of turfgrasses with traits such as improved disease resistance, drought tolerance, persistence under poor soil conditions or low quality irrigation and fast establishment are shown to protect the environment, improve athlete safety, reduce inputs, thus improving sustainability. To improve access to sustainable turfgrass data, NTEP and the University of Minnesota have developed a relational database along with a user-friendly selection tool, the Turfgrass Trial Explorer. This tool is accessed at www.ntep.org/database.htm, which allows for additional selection, sorting, analyzing and downloading of NTEP data. Case studies are presented to demonstrate current and future use of the Turfgrass Trial Explorer for sustainable turfgrass selection.

This chapter provides an overview of crop modeling in three Latin American countries: Chile, Colombia and Brazil. It assesses model characteristics, strengths and weaknesses and areas for future development. The chapter includes developments in modelling the impact of climate change on key crops: upland and irrigated rice, common beans, soybeans, sugarcane and grass forage production for livestock.

Avocado is one of the world’s most economically important subtropical/tropical fruit crops, ranking fourth in export value behind bananas, grapes and apples. In the past 20 years, global avocado production has increased dramatically, with production now occurring in over 70 countries as a result of increased consumer demand.

This growth in production and consumer demand has been attributed to the fruit’s remarkable sensory, nutritional and nutraceutical properties. However, continued growth of the sector depends on optimising these properties, as well as improving the sustainability of pre-harvest cultivation and post-processing operations in the face of several challenges, including climate change.

Built on a lifetime’s experience from one of the world’s leading experts in the field, Sustainable production and postharvest handling of avocado considers how the avocado value chain can be optimised to achieve this growth. The book includes seven chapters which each offer a detailed insight into different elements of avocado production, covering topics such as nutritional compounds and health benefits, cultivars, growing techniques, pest and disease management, as well as post-harvest physiology and treatment and handling.

Written by a world-renowned expert, Sustainable production and postharvest handling of avocado will be a standard reference for commercial avocado growers, producers, processors and retailers, university and other researchers in tropical fruit science, as well as government and other private sector agencies supporting the sustainable production of avocados.

Pesticides used prophylactically in intensive farming negatively affect non-target organisms, contributing to the acceleration of species extinction. This chapter considers key issues of pesticide toxicity that harm biodiversity and the natural world, including the adjuvant problem and the cocktail effect. The chapter examines these issues and the pesticide authorisation process, and asks whether these mechanisms provide the protection necessary for wildlife, the soil and the wider natural environment. The case study explores the effect of pesticide use on endangered hedgehog.

This particular chapter will cover recent advances in turfgrass disease management that promote sustainable suppression of the pathogens that cause diseases.

This chapter provides an overview of the antioxidant nutraceutical compounds found in apples. Apples have always been recognised as foods with high nutritional value. In addition, their health benefits have always been the subject of intense research. This chapter summarises the characteristics and properties of the antioxidant compounds found in apples, their bioavailability, and the mechanisms by which they exert their antioxidant effects. The effects of maturation, ripening, and post-harvesting on the resulting antioxidant content are also discussed.

This chapter proposes a framework to develop new genotype (G) x management (M) technologies (G x M) to adapt to climate change, and to transition from current to future G x M technologies in a way that future food security does not come at the expense of current food security. The framework integrate genomic, agronomic, and environmental (E) predictors to accomplish two critical goals: 1-predict emergent phenotypes that stems from the dynamic interplay between G, E and M, and thus enable the breeder to consider the behavior of new genetic and trait combinations in environments that plants have not been exposed or tested before, and 2-identify G x M technologies that could increase food and nutritional security while regenerating natural and production resources.

Turfgrass is the single largest irrigated crop in the continental United States, however urban growth potential, potable water scarcity, limited annual precipitation, prolonged droughts, and food crops prioritization sets limits to the availability of water that can be allocated to turfgrass areas. For these reasons, research has been focused extensively on water conservation efforts for turfgrasses in recent years. Aside from the use of warm-season turf species where possible, several potable water conservation strategies have been proposed and investigated in recent years. In this chapter we will focus on: estimating turfgrass water needs, sprinkler irrigation system advances, subsurface drip irrigation, alternatives to potable water, management practices, use of plant growth regulators, and soil surfactants.

Pig nutrition faces many challenges, including the need to meet the changing requirements of animals as they grow whilst minimising environmentally-damaging nutrient losses. Additionally, with growing crops for feed seen as a significant contributor to climate change, there is an emerging consensus that the sector must seek alternative, more sustainable feed sources which have a reduced impact on the environment.

Advances in pig nutrition provides a comprehensive overview of the range of research addressing these challenges. The book addresses recent advances in understanding feed intake and feed formulation, focussing on advances in understanding pig nutritional requirements and ensuring feed safety. This collection also reviews the role of feed additives in optimising pig nutrition, including amino acids, prebiotics and exogenous enzymes.

The agricultural sector remains under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact and consequent contribution to climate change, whilst also producing enough food to feed a rapidly growing population. With the variety and volume of data, coupled with the advanced methods for data processing, a new era of digital agriculture is emerging as a possible solution to this monumental challenge.

Smart farms: improving data-driven decision making in agriculture provides a comprehensive review of the recent advances in gathering and analysing data as a means of improving farm sustainability, productivity and profitability. The book discusses the evolution of farm information management systems, highlighting current trends and challenges, as well as methods of data acquisition and analysis, including the use of artificial intelligence.

In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the nutrient profile of commonly used by-product feeds, how they are generated, and the limitations associated with their use in animal rations. We will focus on dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) because of its use across different livestock production systems and will specifically assess the impact of DDGS on the production performance of swine, poultry, and beef and dairy cattle and on the environment through published life-cycle analysis.

Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) is a major banana disease affecting small-holder farms in East and Central Africa. While BXW management practices have been introduced across extensive regions, achieving high levels of disease control and/or eradication has proven difficult. Resurgence of BXW in managed sites and the transmission to new regions are ongoing problems. In this chapter we present an overview of the disease epidemiology followed by the state-of-the-art of BXW control and prevention measures. We address management practices that have shown variable adoption successes, and present innovations recently introduced (including Single Diseased Stem Removal and improved tool sterilization options) or underway (including the development of resistant cultivars, and risk mitigation through early warning systems). Next, we discuss lessons learned from problems that have arisen during phases of implementation of management, the constraints that local farmers face and the shift towards sustainable management through integrated participatory extension services.

This chapter provides an overview of the main technologies for manure valorization into bioenergy and biofertilizer products. It discusses developments in more established technologies such as solid-liquid (S/L) separation, anaerobic digestion and composting. It also reviews more innovative techniques, including struvite precipitation, ammonia stripping/scrubbing as well as bioelectrochemical and membrane systems.