Technology & Engineering

Pharmaceutical chemistry (PC) represents a dynamic field of research that plays a pivotal role in the development of life-saving pharmaceuticals. PC is a precise science: One needs to rely on the accuracy of previous discoveries that have provided massive amount of precious information and databases as a solid foundation to move forward. PC is also an art where the artist uses a subtle mixture of knowledge, experimental learning, creativity, intuition, boldness, and serendipity to paint the right canvas.

Nature often serves as a stimulus for pharmaceutical chemists. Many drugs are derived from natural compounds found in plants, fungi, or microorganisms. Chemists study these natural sources, seeking inspiration to design synthetic molecules that mimic the therapeutic properties of the originals while optimizing their characteristics.

Francis Collins, geneticist and expert in the pharmaceutical industry, explains that the molecular cause of 4,000 diseases is no longer a secret to humanity, but there are only treatments available for 250 of them. Therefore, the world requires more professionals who can produce better medicines and solve more needs. For this reason, it is urgent to discover a new system, new drugs, better industrial processes and faster responses for rare and complex diseases. That is the importance and need for more students in love with PC.

It is the author's wish that volumes 1 and 2 of this series may serve as motivation for students who intend to get started in the exciting world of drug design, synthesis and development. There is no nobler objective than improving health and quality of life of the human race. The unprecedented increase in human life expectancy, which has almost doubled in a hundred years, is mainly due to drugs and to those who discovered them. It is more important to create awareness in the student that he/she is responsible for his own learning and not simply a passive consumer of information. In this way we will be able to train versatile professionals with an attitude of transformative social change.

Removing the barriers to the Global Optimization of Plant Utility Systems by providing practical tools and techniques to deal with these unique challenges is the purpose of this book.

The operating cost of a typical Plant Utility System of a typical Industrial Production Process Plant is enormous - often in tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars per Annum. With so much money at stake, one would expect that heroic optimization efforts would be made to reduce the operating cost, however such is usually not the case. One reason for this complacency is that Plant Utility Systems are usually "cost centers" in Process Plants and their operating cost is prorated amongst the various Production Units, so it suffers from what is at times referred to as "the tragedy of the commons". Another reason for this complacency is that the Plant Utility System structure is significantly different than that of other Production Units, as for flexibility and safety reasons it has a large spare capacity to meet increased utility demand during startups, shutdowns, and emergencies. The existence of a spare equipment necessitates optimization of discrete decisions, whereby traditional optimization techniques do not readily apply.

Part of the problem is that the traditional engineering curriculum primarily emphasizes only one of the many optimization methods, called Non-Linear Programming (NLP). Although NLP can address large classes of optimization problems, it has fairly stringent requirements that all describing relationships (or functions) be continuous and have continuous derivatives. Additionally, in general, NLP only guarantees a local but not the global optimum.

Another optimization method is particularly well suited for modeling Plant Utility Systems is called Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP). And unlike NLP, MILP methods can guarantee global optimum, which is very reassuring. MILP, however, does impose linearity requirements but as discussed in this book there are techniques to overcome this limitation.

For a chemist who is concerned with the synthesis of new energetic compounds, it is essential to be able to assess physical and thermodynamic properties, as well as the sensitivity, of possible new energetic compounds before synthesis is attempted. Various approaches have been developed to predict important aspects of the physical and thermodynamic properties of energetic materials including (but not limited to): crystal density, heat of formation, melting point, enthalpy of fusion and enthalpy of sublimation of an organic energetic compound. Since an organic energetic material consists of metastable molecules capable of undergoing very rapid and highly exothermic reactions, many methods have been developed to estimate the sensitivity of an energetic compound with respect to detonationcausing external stimuli such as heat, friction, impact, shock and electrostatic discharge. This book introduces these methods and demonstrates those methods which can be easily applied.

“GeoAI—the integration of spatial analysis, AI, and big data—is creating new insights that promise to transform our understanding of the world.”  

Jack Dangermond, president of Esri 

Discover how organizations are powering greater automation, prediction, and optimization with GeoAI. 

Organizations across the globe have long relied on geographic information system (GIS) technology to manage and analyze data through the powerful lens of location, helping them tackle some of the toughest business and societal challenges. The emergence of AI-enhanced GIS has opened new opportunities to these groups to automate complex spatial analyses and harness the full power of spatial analysis. This democratization of GIS can help everyone make better decisions faster, from city planners and policymakers to businesses, research groups, and constituents.  

GeoAI: Artificial Intelligence in GIS explores a collection of real-life stories about public- and private-sector organizations as well as NGOs and nonprofits successfully using GeoAI to manage processes, workflows, policies, and communication. The book also includes a technology showcase that provides ideas, strategies, tools, and actions to help jump-start your own use of GeoAI. 

“GeoAI—the integration of spatial analysis, AI, and big data—is creating new insights that promise to transform our understanding of the world.”  

Jack Dangermond, president of Esri 

Discover how organizations are powering greater automation, prediction, and optimization with GeoAI. 

Organizations across the globe have long relied on geographic information system (GIS) technology to manage and analyze data through the powerful lens of location, helping them tackle some of the toughest business and societal challenges. The emergence of AI-enhanced GIS has opened new opportunities to these groups to automate complex spatial analyses and harness the full power of spatial analysis. This democratization of GIS can help everyone make better decisions faster, from city planners and policymakers to businesses, research groups, and constituents.  

GeoAI: Artificial Intelligence in GIS explores a collection of real-life stories about public- and private-sector organizations as well as NGOs and nonprofits successfully using GeoAI to manage processes, workflows, policies, and communication. The book also includes a technology showcase that provides ideas, strategies, tools, and actions to help jump-start your own use of GeoAI. 

All over the world, and with a great emphasis in the business area, there is a growing recognition that innovation plays a key role. In a world characterized by high levels of competition, uncertain environments, expanding markets, financial constraints, among others, the probability of success is deeply determined by innovation. Only flexible, dynamic, and innovative organizations can survive in a world characterized by continuous challenges and changes. Innovation Management in Research and Industry covers innovation management issues with a special emphasis on the field of research and industry. Gathering contributions that are exceptional in terms of theory, evidence, and/or methodology and that significantly advance social scientific research on innovation management in research and industry, this book is designed to increase the knowledge and effectiveness of all those, practitioners and academics, which are concerned with these issues, both in the profit or non-profit sectors, or in the public or private sectors. In sum, this book can be used for academics, researchers, managers, engineers, under and pos graduate students, and other professionals in related matters with management and innovation.

1) Highlight the importance of organizational flexibility and continuous learning to keep up with technological and market changes.

2) Explore how an organizational environment that fosters creativity and experimentation can drive sustainable innovation.

3) Emphasize the role of new technologies (AI, IoT, Big Data) as catalysts for innovation and competitive differentiation.

Essential knowledge of steel-framed structure design is a cornerstone for architectural, civil, and structural engineers, as well as for students planning careers in structural design and construction. Structural Steel Design, Fourth Edition delivers a comprehensive understanding of structural steel design, starting with the fundamentals and progressing to the design of a complete structural system. It emphasizes not just the individual steel elements or components but their integration within the broader context of the entire structure.

By working through the chapters and corresponding design project tasks, readers will complete the design of a full steel structure, allowing them to grasp the connections between discrete components and the larger system. This approach reinforces the importance of seeing the "big picture" in structural design.

Encouraged by the American Institute for Steel Construction, this book goes beyond traditional textbook exercises by offering real-world examples, project-based exercises, and open-ended problems that challenge the reader to make decisions and navigate the iterative nature of structural design. Practical details and real-world end-of-chapter problems reflect the types of challenges encountered in professional engineering practice, making this text not just an academic resource but a practical guide for aspiring engineers.

In Zeiten leistungsfähiger KI-Systeme wie der GPT ist Value-based Engineering dringend erforderlich. Dabei handelt es sich um einen neuen transdisziplinären IT-Innovations- und Engineering-Ansatz, der die menschlichen Werte und die gesellschaftlichen Folgen von IT-Systemen bereits bei der Planung und in frühen Entwicklungsphasen berücksichtigt. Das Buch erzählt die Geschichte, warum wir Technologie für die Menschheit mehr denn je brauchen und welchen Prinzipien wir bei ihrer Entwicklung folgen sollten. Konkret ist es ein Leitfaden dafür, wie genau Unternehmen ihre Innovationsbemühungen verfolgen sollten, mit einem Epilog darüber, wie sich dies von aufstrebender Science-Fiction unterscheidet. Der in diesem Buch mit konkreten Fallstudien, Formularen und über 90 Abbildungen dargestellte Ansatz des Value-based Engineering wurde von über 100 Experten aus der ganzen Welt im Rahmen eines Projekts namens IEEE P7000 TM entwickelt und überarbeitet.

https://www.value-based-engineering.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrLvHXQKvx17-PbWaYJzEQQ

Biotechnologische Prozesse werden laufend weiter erforscht und ermöglichen damit neue Produkte und Herstellungsverfahren. Um die Prozesse im Labor effektiv untersuchen zu können muss die Herstellung automatisiert stattfinden. Grundlage für die automatisierte Produktion ist die Regelungstechnik, die für gleichmäßige Umgebungsbedingungen sorgt. So benötigen viele lebende Organismen zum Beispiel regulierte Temperaturen und eine kontrollierte Sauerstoffzufuhr.

Regelungstechnik ist eine etablierte Methodik, die in vielen Bereichen – vom Fahrzeugbereich über Luft- und Raumfahrt und Telekommunikation – ihre Anwendung findet. Die Methodik muss jedoch auf die Herausforderungen der Anwendung zugeschnitten werden.

In diesem Buch werden etablierte Verfahren auf die Anforderung der Bioverfahrenstechnik zugeschnitten erklärt. Dazu wird das Zeitverhalten der Prozesse – die Dynamik – untersucht, mathematisch beschrieben und darauf basierend Regelalgorithmen entwickelt.

Dieses Buch richtet sich vornehmlich an Biotechnologen und Studierende der Bioverfahrenstechnik, die Labor- und Produktionsprozesse automatisieren möchten

This book will consist of the development, processing, and manufacturing of high-performance metallic biomaterials in healthcare and biomedical applications in context with surface modification and coating of implants. Bioresorbable metallic composites along with high-performance metallic materials and their processing, and characterizations will be the central theme of the book. Effectively, the variety of fifteen chapters presented in the book will be quite interesting and up-to-date with the scope of future research work. This has the potential to be valuable to researchers in material engineering disciplines, biomedical engineering, and also to clinical professions. The background information and the latest literature review provided in each chapter will be an in-depth analysis of the topic covered in the chapter.

The work describes synthesis, characterization, synthetic mechanisms, and applications of functionalized nanomaterials. Starting with surface functionalization of two-dimensional, carbon- or polymer-based materials it discusses nanomaterials for environmental applications such as adsorption and degradation of pollutants or wastewater treatment and energy storage such as batteries and supercapacitors.

Ein Fachingenieur erzählt die volkswirtschaftlich bedeutsame Entwicklungsgeschichte der stromerzeugenden Kraftwerks-Gasturbine, ausgehend von Erfindungen und systematischen Entwicklungen einer der ehemals führenden Weltfirmen auf diesem Gebiet über einen Zeitraum von inzwischen mehr als 100 Jahren. Gerade in wirtschaftlich unruhigen Zeiten ist eine Rückbesinnung auf belastbar reale Werte als Folge kreativer Erfindungen und dauerhaft nachhaltigem Management eine gute Inspirationsquelle.

Obwohl die Erstausgabe des Buches noch als Technikgeschichte der ersten BBC/ ABB/Alstom Kraftwerks-Gasturbinen angelegt war, hat die komponentenbezogene Betrachtungsweise unter Berücksichtigung genereller Entwicklungstrends die universelle Brauchbarkeit dieser Arbeit bestätigt – entsprechend wurde der Buchtitel auch für diese deutsche Erstausgabe breiter als nur auf diese Firmengruppe bezogen gefasst. In diesem Sinne sticht die historisch-thematische ingenieurtechnische Behandlung auf Gasturbinen-Komponentenebene hervor. So zeigt das Buch insbesondere die durch BBC maßgeblich beeinflusste Axialverdichter-Entwicklung ausgehend von Prandtls Tragflügeltheorie, den jahrzehntelangen Fortschritt im Bereich emissionsarmer Brennkammern und das auch fertigungstechnologisch hoch anspruchsvolle Umfeld luftgekühlter Axialturbinen, ebenfalls schon in den 1930er Jahren ein Geniestreich des BBC-Ingenieurteams in Baden, CH.

Die bloße zeitliche Länge gewisser ingenieurtechnischer Entwicklungen über mehrere Dekaden gestattet interessante Beobachtungen über die geschäftsmäßige Umsetzung sowie den Einfluss rechtzeitiger Technologievorbereitungen und - bereitstellungen. Im Rückblick ergeben sich aufschlussreiche Erkenntnisse über die Auswirkung langfristig angelegter Geschäftsentscheidungen. Im Jahr 2017 wurde das Buch mit dem angesehenen Engineer-Historian Award der ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) ausgezeichnet.

Biotechnological advances sparked a food revolution with new ideas for a sustainable food future. The book embodies all microbial and food biotechnology related topics, and current, emerging, and future technologies for food fortification, safety and security. It critically assesses the use of emerging trends in biotechnology to develop disease resistant raw foods and products, enhance food and food products nutritional profiles, and reduce negative effects of animal nutrition. It explains the influence of genetic variations in foods, and the varied responses to diet, nutrients, and overall health outcomes. The use of fermentation technologies to create innovative and sustainable food products with novel organoleptic attributes, and the conversion of food waste into useful products are discussed. The book also covers genetic modification methods to reduce or eliminate food allergens, and blockchain technologies that enable transparency and food security along the food supply chains.

• Emerging technologies in food processing, biotechnology and microbiology.
• Functional foods, nutrigenomics, gene editing and personalized nutrition based on individual genomes.
• Food informatics, supply, safety, waste, packaging and bioeconomy.

Achieving Net Zero is a wicked problem that is not just a question of applying technological innovation to existing transport patterns and behaviours. It involves all three aspects of the environmental, social and economic sustainability triangle and any attempt to significantly reduce transport’s CO₂ emissions will involve major technological and behavioural changes – indeed, a fundamental rethink of existing expectations. Any approach needs also to be politically achievable, promoting opportunities for improving quality of life while not evading the issues at hand.

This 20^th volume in the Transport and Sustainability series focuses on Net Zero transport, providing a go-to source of information for policymakers, businesses, scholars and students alike. The contributors discuss the nature and scale of the issues associated with moving towards net zero transport, along with the opportunities for positive and transformational change. The chapters in Towards Transport Net Zero address the topic from a range of different perspectives including different transport modes, policy areas, social and demographic considerations and economic sectors.

The Transport and Sustainability series addresses the important nexus between transport and sustainability, containing volumes dealing with a wide range of issues relating to transport, its impact in economic, social and environmental spheres and its interaction with other policy sectors.

This chapter is an introduction for gender and agriculture practitioners on why and how to strengthen smallholder women’s land rights and tenure security through agricultural development programming. Smallholder women farmers have disproportionately limited and insecure land rights and have less access to agricultural inputs and services. Without confidence that in the long-term they can access, manage, and benefit from a given parcel of land, they have less incentive and ability to invest in agricultural productivity and sustainable practices. The chapter draws from twenty development projects, government programs, and private sector examples from the land and agricultural sectors to illustrate practices that agricultural projects and private sector actors can apply to improve smallholder women farmers’ land tenure, agricultural practices, and empowerment. The practices are organized across five technical approaches: awareness-raising, expanding women’s land access and governance roles in customary systems, land certification, combining land and agricultural interventions, and addressing social norms.

Poultry is one of the most consumed meats in the United States, and processors strive to provide consumers with safe and wholesome products. Consequently, poultry processors are challenged to reduce the abundance of pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni in raw poultry products. Despite implementing numerous control measures throughout the processing stages, Salmonella and C. jejuni persist in raw poultry. This review aims to explore various antimicrobials, including organic and inorganic acids, used as short-duration dips and sprays to reduce common pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, and Escherichia coli) on raw chicken whole carcasses and meat portions.

In recent years poultry meat and egg consumption has seen an exponential increase worldwide. There is therefore a strong demand for ensuring the microbiological safety of poultry products. The main pathogenic bacteria in poultry meat and eggs are Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. These pathogens are able to adapt to and survive in poultry processing environments. Acceptable bacterial concentrations in poultry products are defined by health agencies. Sampling and detection methods are then developed for microbiological control. PCR, RT-PCR and immunoassays have now replaced culturing methods. Research has focused on the development of high-throughput and low-cost methods through analytical microdevices based on biosensors with short response times for on-site use and with low detection limits. This chapter describes newly-developed optical and electrochemical biosensors for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens in poultry.

This chapter is about official control of poultry processing operations from a European perspective. Official control is a cornerstone of food safety, fair trade, animal health and welfare. In poultry processing, official control comprises of ante- and post-mortem inspections of poultry and food safety inspections that verify food business operators’ compliance with food safety legislation. The chapter begins with a section exploring meat inspection, covering food chain information and ante- and post-mortem inspections. This is followed by a section on food safety inspections.

This chapter reviews key few methods of genetic biocontrol focusing on those systems that have been developed for crop insect pests. These include “sterile release systems” where e.g. sterilized males produce sperm which carries dominant lethal mutations that result in their offspring failing to develop or prevents functional sperm from being produced. We contrast these systems with “fertile release systems” which involve releasing insects that are capable of producing some offspring but with genetic defects that e.g. mean that fewer females survive. The chapter discusses the varied strengths and weaknesses of these different systems.

There is a clear need for an integrated approach to human, animal and ecological health reflecting the four organic principles of Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care and their supporting text. In the early 2000s, the One Health approach was established to recognise the strong links between human health and animal and planetary health. Later, the One Welfare approach was established to complement One Health. For organic farming, the challenges with these approaches include the practical focus on health as the presence or absence of named diseases rather than systems integrity as well as a focus on mitigating negative outcomes rather than building positive systems and practices which lead to high welfare for humans, farmed animals and wild animals. It is suggested here that agroecological food production could be better served by using a Post-Normal Science approach (PNS) which is a framework where uncertainty, value loading and different perspectives are considered.

Organic dairy cows should be able to rely on homegrown forages, especially pasture, as their main source of nutrition. A critical aim is to ensure cows have the optimum body condition at calving and inevitable lactational loss of condition are minimised. Some of the desired attributes of an organic pasture include resilience to variable climatic conditions, the ability to flourish without artificial fertilisers, the potential for climate change mitigation and the supporting of ecological biodiversity. Soil health is key to ensuring effective pasture-based dairy farming and grassland management is critical in this respect. Having the right breed and type of animal for the system and being able to adapt management to meet variations in seasonal and climatic conditions are important factors. In this chapter, rotational grazing systems and the use of diverse species pastures are explored with regards to their practical application and the achievement of organic farming objectives.

This chapter focuses on supporting animal health and welfare at herd level and giving more emphasis to preventative animal health and welfare planning (AHWP) with less reliance on antibiotics. It outlines some of the major challenges currently facing improvements to dairy cow health and welfare and improving AHWP in organic dairy farming. These range from the complexity of animal health and going beyond the five freedoms for animal welfare, to the importance of farming systems and the varying approaches and perspectives to sustainability within organic dairy farming. The role and ongoing development of the farmer-advisor relationship is discussed. The chapter then goes on to discuss the importance of relationships and the benefits of developing enhanced communication skills alongside applying participatory and bottom-up approaches to change. The role of facilitators, peer-to-peer learning, informal and formal networks and the inclusion of other actors involved in dairy herd health planning are also discussed.

Despite several efforts to develop control measures to reduce the contamination of poultry products, foodborne illness remains a major concern to the processors as well as the consumers. A wide range of interventions have been applied both in postharvest settings as well as in preharvest live bird production. Biotics are a group of compounds that when consumed by the host will impart benefits to the host. This chapter reviews the categories of biotics that include prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and related compounds currently being used as well as potential candidates for future applications in poultry production.

The global population is increasing rapidly, and with it comes a growing demand for food, particularly protein sources. The aquaculture industry, which provides fish for human consumption, is expanding to meet this demand. The aquaculture expansion is not without impacts and constrains. Among them, the feed production is of major concern. Processed animal proteins (PAPs) derived from insect-derived meals has been gaining attraction in recent years because considered as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional protein sources. Among the eight insect-derived PAPs allowed, the black soldier fly – BSF (Hermetia illucens) seems to be one of the most promising. This chapter reviews the potential use of BSF-derived proteins in aquaculture. In particular, the review focus on the effect of BSF larva meal on fish performances and health as well as on economic and environmental parameters.

Addressing the environmental sustainability of livestock systems is a multidimensional challenge that requires a comprehensive understanding of interconnected factors. Systems modeling-based life cycle assessment (LCA) offers a valuable approach to systematically navigate these complex interactions. Although poultry production is generally deemed more environmentally sustainable than other livestock systems, it still contributes to environmental impacts such as global warming, eutrophication, acidification, water use and biodiversity loss. This chapter review the key role of LCA in identifying these impacts and their sources in the poultry production chain, as well as potential mitigation strategies.

• Provides an overview of the key challenges facing successful development of circular, closed-loop agricultural systems
• Details recent advances in waste management and its application in urban agricultural settings
• Reviews sustainable alternatives to plastics in food packaging and their role in mitigating the environmental impact of the food-packaging industry

In this chapter, understanding and controlling Salmonella in poultry meat is explored. The authors suggest that studies in model systems based on bacteriophage and vaccines could in turn, more generally serve as an invaluable guide for efforts to limit Salmonella and the emergence of resistance in poultry for other interventions not discussed in this review. The chapter then identifies key areas of future research focused on integrating empirical findings with functional genomics, innovative statistical approaches (e.g., structural equation models), and mathematical modeling. This combination of tools will: (1) enable a more complete understanding for managing Salmonella and AMR in poultry while also improving bird health, immunity, and welfare and (2) provide valuable insights to uncover broad-scale patterns in other pathogens and livestock production systems.

The common housefly (Musca domestica), a ubiquitous presence in various environments, has been a subject of scientific investigation for over a century. This chapter explores the potential use of housefly larvae as a sustainable animal feed ingredient. Their ease of rearing, rapid growth, high nutritional value, and environmental benefits in nutrient recycling have revived interest in using them as an alternative protein source for food and feed. Despite these advantages, housefly larvae have not achieved significant commercial viability. The chapter examines key challenges and ways of achieving successful commercial production.

Biological control is important for the management of small insect pests such as thrips, aphids, psyllids and whiteflies, and options to enhance the effectiveness of the natural enemies of these pests are urgently needed. Stimuli associated with host plant finding, mostly vision and olfaction, provide the basis for pest (and increasingly natural enemies) monitoring but there are also a range of additional opportunities based on these stimuli to manipulate pest and natural enemy dynamics for improved pest management. This chapter examines the visual and olfactory systems associated with host finding, that is the period before physical contact with the plant (habitat and host location and not host acceptance), and how responses to these stimuli might be exploited to enhance biological control. Our focus is on thrips and other small, winged insects, and particularly those which are plant pests and the targets of biological control programmes.

The number of sustainability standards and certifications applied in agricultural supply chains has grown considerably in the past decade, creating confusion for consumers and challenges for producers, particularly small-scale producers in developing countries. This chapter provides an overview of the range of sustainability standards that have emerged, who has developed them, their content and rationale. It also explores how companies select the standards they use, and how this is changing. Recent choices made by brands and retailers accentuate some of the challenges associated with standards for smallholders and further contextualises the mixed picture concerning impacts on smallholders. The chapter provides a summary of implications of sustainability standards, including how they may contribute to improved practices, but highlights limitations of standards on their own as a tool to hold business to account, stressing the importance the overall sustainability strategy of the company, and its commitment to sustainability.

There have been great advances in many aspects of organic dairy farming, which has become increasingly efficient and productive with a strong market. However, in some cases this has occurred through increasing specialization and scale of production, which risks the sector not being able to fully address the major challenges of environmental and social sustainability, animal welfare and the ability to deliver affordable and nutritious products. These challenges can be addressed by referencing the core organic principles of health, ecology, fairness and care, by adopting a more holistic, systems-based perspective and with organic dairy farming being viewed as an important part of wider rural communities and landscapes. This chapter explores some of these ecological, social and food-system frameworks and what they mean for the future of organic dairy farming. Key elements include a focus on pasture-based production, reduced dependency on feed imports and incentives reflecting organic farming’s aims and aspirations.

Agri-food supply chains have been linked to a number of negative environmental and social externalities, including environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and labour abuses and there are growing societal demands that such negative impacts should be addressed. This chapter considers the role of supranational policy, and regional and national policy in driving sustainability standards with regards to some of these issues and how they influence the strategies employed within individual organisations and across agri-food supply chains. The chapter also reviews developments in forms of hybrid governance and uses the example of the role of green finance to show how agri-food supply chain strategies are being reshaped.

This chapter considers the challenges associated with the use of biocontrol agents in foliar spray applications, including the equipment, spray parameters, formulation and their impact on treatment efficacy. It discusses the various factors that affect effective foliar treatment and provides examples of how they can be optimised. These factors include the persistence of biocontrol agents, the impact of spray systems on surface coverage, the potential of equipment and adjuvants to develop more targeted foliar spray applications, and finally the rainfastness of biocontrol agent.

Integration within natural cycles and between farmed enterprises are routes through which we can develop organic dairy farming into an ecologically principled form of food production with animal and human welfare benefits. Integration requires relationships of varying degrees of synergy and complementarity between two or more farm elements, from simple two enterprise systems to dynamic and diverse systems with enterprises integrated in time and space and synergistic sharing of resources. The attributes of partially separated, rotationally integrated and fully combined enterprises within a single farm boundary are described and discussed. Opportunities beyond the farm boundary include between farm beneficial cooperation to share resources, integration at the landscape level and across the food chain utilising low-cost feed options within a circular economy. A case-study illustrates innovation, including mobile milking and cooperation to overcome infrastructural constraints enhancing animal welfare and nutrient recycling within a crop-dairy farm.

Recognizing a need for sustainability approaches beyond current models of certification, the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) established the Sustainable Agriculture Framework (SAF) in 2018, an outcome-based approach designed to guide organizations and local stakeholders towards greater and more durable progress in achieving sustainability and, ultimately, more positive changes for landscapes, farmers, communities and companies alike. This chapter describes SAF and how it has been applied in practice in a number of sustainability programmes.

• Provides a comprehensive overview of the major types of contaminants in food, including environmental and process contaminants, as well as natural toxins
• Reviews the establishment of major international and EU food safety frameworks
• Addresses recent advances in techniques for monitoring and detecting chemical contaminants in food

This chapter explores patterns of antimicrobial use (AMU) in poultry production, reviews recent modifications in AMU use and assesses their impact on trends in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The chapter also examines examine the common antimicrobial-resistant bacteria associated with poultry and the impact of specific agricultural practices on AMR. Finally, the chapter outlines and evaluates strategies for managing and reducing AMR in poultry production.

Yellow mealworm (T. molitor) is a safe and sustainable alternative protein source for aquafeed, given advantages such as high protein content and better amino acid profile when compared to alternative plant-protein sources. This chapter provides an overview of the current use of T. molitor as alternative ingredient to fishmeal. It summarises recent reviews on the use of these invertebrates in aquafeeds and their impact on key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with growth performance and feed efficiency, product nutritional quality, as well as their immunomodulatory potential and effect on host gut microbiota.

This chapter provides an overview of some of the nature markets and finance mechanisms, which may provide farmers and land managers with opportunities to integrate farming for nature into their businesses, generating new revenue streams, and also offering opportunities to draw private finance into conservation across supply chains in the agriculture sector. The author considers the drivers behind these new markets and provide an overview of some of the opportunities and challenges they may bring.

This chapter explores the concept of quality in organic milk. Quality encompasses many extrinsic properties of dairy production like animal welfare, the impact on biodiversity, climate change, and fair treatment of everybody along the supply chain. This chapter focuses on composition of the milk and asks how far organic milk varies from non-organic products and what potential there is to improve quality further. This chapter reviews key research relating to differences in protein, fatty acid and mineral composition between milk from organic and conventional production, as well risks from drug and pesticide residues. It also explores how implementation of calf-cow-contact (CCC) systems on welfare grounds affects milk quality.

This chapter discusses chemical and pathogen hazards related to industrial production of selected insect species such as the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and house cricket (Acheta domesticus), both of which are authorized for human food and animal feed in the European Union (EU). The chapter also considers black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) which are only allowed as animal feed in Europe. The chapter reviews hazards associated with rearing, processing and storage of the insect and derived products focussing particularly on chemicals and pathogens known to be of risk for human consumption. The chapter also discusses techniques related to hazard detection and monitoring.

Escherichia coli is a common gastrointestinal bacteria that has a vast genetic, physiologic, and biochemical diversity in E. coli, which allows this organism to thrive in many environments. But E. coli contains several pathogenic groups (e.g., pathotypes) which can cause disease and morbidity in poultry, reduce poultry producers profitability, and can impact the health and safety of human consumers of poultry meat products. As the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters has become increasingly restricted, alternatives to antimicrobials (ATA) have become a higher priority. The use of probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, bacteriophage, and organic acids have the potential to alter the gastrointestinal microbial population and to reduce pathogenic groups of E. coli. Thus strategies that can reduce these important pathogens from poultry are critical to ensuring the efficient production of poultry meat, but also the safety of these important sources of protein for humans.

• Summarises the latest developments in ecological principles underpinning agroecology which provide the foundation for approaches such as regenerative agriculture
• Reviews how to balance trade-offs in agroecosystems to balance yields with resilience and protection of biodiversity
• Assesses how to optimise practical agroecosystems by involving farmers and using open-source technology and indigenous knowledge

In recent years, the yellow mealworm has undergone a significant transformation, from a global pest species to a prominent insect species for feed and food purposes. However, farming mealworms is still a relatively new business venture, offering ample opportunities for optimization and innovation. This chapter aims to explore yellow mealworm rearing techniques. The authors begin by discussing the mealworm life cycle, followed by the sort of environments needed to effeciently rear mealworms. They then go into detail about the rearing of different life stages of mealworm, including egg production and handly, growing the larvae, pupation, and beetle population. Finally, they explore challenges to scaling up production and the design of rearing facilities.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural defense mechanism in organisms that detects and neutralizes foreign genetic materials, particularly viral RNA. This process involves the creation of single-stranded micro RNAs that target and inhibit complementary messenger RNA (mRNA), thus halting gene expression. The discovery that external double-stranded RNA molecules can trigger RNAi has led to significant interest in academic and industrial circles, resulting in applications like genetically modified crops and insecticidal compounds. The first RNAi-based insecticide received commercial approval in the USA in 2023. The key advantage of this biotechnology lies in its high specificity, as it targets unique sequences in the mRNA of the intended organism. However, the effectiveness of RNAi varies between species due to factors such as dsRNA degradation, cellular uptake, and genomic variations. While evidence suggests limited risks for mammals and vertebrates, comprehensive evaluations are essential to address potential non-target effects and the risk of insect resistance.

This chapter presents an overview of proximal sensing techniques used in practical precision agriculture, with the overall aim of contributing to more sustainable crop production. To provide perspective on the usefulness of crop sensors, the chapter starts with an example of why site-specific crop management is important and how it relates to sustainable production. The basics of crop canopy reflectance are then presented, followed by an introduction to two practical precision agriculture techniques, site-specific weed management and real-time crop sensing, mainly focusing on within-field nitrogen application. Two case studies in which different types of proximal sensors are used, individually or in combination with other techniques (UAVs and satellites), are described. Finally, potential future developments are briefly discussed.

Probiotics and prebiotics boost poultry gut health and immunity. This chapter discusses current research and practical applications of these microbial-based supplements for chicken production. The chicken industry has struggled recently with gastrointestinal disorders, poor meal absorption, and viral infections. Probiotics and prebiotics, non-digestible food additives that boost gut microorganisms, may help. This chapter book explains probiotic and prebiotic interactions with avian gut flora. Probiotics and prebiotics impact poultry intestine bacteria balance, architecture, nutrient digestion, and immune control. The chapter also discusses issues in using probiotics and prebiotics. The chapter aims to provide a comprehensive reference for researchers, poultry nutritionists, veterinarians, and industry professionals interested in the potential benefits and practical applications of probiotics and prebiotics in poultry.

• Provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research in grassland science and management
• Includes a selection of case studies which highlight current challenges facing grasslands in Europe, South America and New Zealand
• Discusses recent developments in botanical composition of grasslands, including the design of multi-species swards and herbal leys

The information available on the nutrient requirements of broilers to maximize production or economics returns, is abundant but the data are often inconsistent because of factors such as the methodology used to estimate bird requirements and the differences in the nutritional value attributed to each ingredient. This chapter reviews some of the key factors affecting feed formulation, recent trends and current feed programs as well as options for improvement.

The founding principles of organic farming (health, ecology, fairness and care) guide the overall ethos of organic farming in an ever-changing environment. Using these principles, this introductory chapter discusses the key environmental, welfare, economic and other challenges facing contemporary organic dairy farming in Europe. It reviews the differing ways these challenges can be addressed, setting the scene for following chapters on specific issues.

Corn Fermented Protein (CFP) is the first commercially viable new source of high level (>50%), high quality vegetable protein, developed in the past twenty years and available for feeding to livestock, aquaculture, and companion animals. The protein product is derived from the sustainable fuel bioethanol production process and as a derivative of an industrial process is not in direct competition with food production. CFP has a low carbon index compared with a range of traditional protein products. This chapter describes the application of corn fermented protein in feed formulations for poultry.

The evolution of standards and certification in agri-food chains has taken place over nearly 40 years. The dynamics that led to this form of private governance have also changed over time. Contemporary issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and seeking to develop a food system that is resilient and sustainable has led to the emergence of new principles, practices and outcomes that the agri-food supply chain must deliver. This chapter reflects on these trends and the themes that run through the book to consider how we deliver safe, sustainable and socially responsible supply chains, now and into the future.

This chapter concerns the lives of calves from organic dairy farms. It opens with a description of management of calves under organic farming conditions. Next, cow-calf contact (CCC) during the milk feed period is described, followed by a section on non-replacement calves born in organic dairy herds.

Measuring and improving good agricultural practices (GAP) related to food safety of fresh produce is important, especially as many crops, such as leafy vegetables, are sold as ‘ready to eat’ at the point of purchase. Previous approaches to food safety-related hazard analysis and risk assessment for fresh produce GAP frameworks are being revisited and repositioned. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA), especially emergent systems such as vertical farming, are of interest in terms of promoting more sustainable practices and reducing land use for food production. Framing of what GAP is will vary from the field to controlled environments and so defining GAP from a food safety and sustainability perspective, and establishing appropriate operational guidelines for CEA systems is important. This chapter considers the debates about GAP in the context of CEA and how GAP can be developed as part of an effective food safety control programme in CEA systems.

Good agricultural practices (GAP) define the practices at the farm level that can be adopted to assure safe and healthy food is produced profitably with appropriate standards in terms of animal welfare, worker welfare and environmental protection. This chapter describes GAP, notions of good farming, how GAP standards have evolved in developed and developing economies, the opportunities to evolve these pre- and post-harvest standards, and their related principles and practices in the future.

Knowledge of amino acid formulation minimum constraints in the nutrient matrix are pivotal in order to allow for formulation flexibility, and subsequent broiler productivity at minimum nitrogen supply. Four key amino acid minimums that beg for more research are: arginine, glycine and serine, histidine, and phenylalanine and tyrosine. In this chapter the former have been reviewed.

Feed efficiency is a complex and very important genetic trait in broiler production. Content in this chapter is an overview of over 20 years of research of investigating mitochondrial physiology, gene and protein expression that enables a ‘proteogenomic picture’ to be ‘painted’ to aid in understanding of feed efficiency in muscle at the cellular level.

Despite its potential benefits, organic farming has a complex relationship with technological innovation which has sometimes been associated with intensive forms of production. This chapter discusses the ways precision and other new technologies can fulfil the core organic values of health, ecology, care and fairness. It outlines a responsible innovation framework in assessing how new technologies meet organic values, based on the principles of inclusion, anticipation, reflexivity and responsiveness. The chapter uses the example of virtual fencing to show how the framework can be used in practice.

Promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality plays a key role in accelerating equitable and sustainable agricultural systems in Africa, yet efforts to better integrate women in agricultural development often ignore the underlying social-economic drivers that underpin gender inequalities. This chapter uses primary data generated through the mixed methods approach, and the project-specific Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI). It also utilises rich secondary evidence from the region. Complex interconnections between women empowerment, social-cultural dynamics and agricultural opportunities in Uganda and Africa are also explored. Findings depict that the major disempowering drivers for rural women small holder farmers are more aligned to instrumental and intrinsic agency driven by social-cultural gendered power relations. The authors conclude that social and gender norms, rooted in the capitalist-patriarchal system limit women’s agency and agricultural opportunities. They recommend a gender responsive agricultural policy environment grounded in a transformative agenda that addresses the underlying gender inequalities.

Yellow mealworms, Tenebrio molitor, are increasingly being used as a source of protein for humans, as well as for feeding animals. However, as with any other type of livestock, yellow mealworms can be affected by diseases, which can lead to reduced productivity. In this chapter, the authors review recent research and describe common diseases that affect yellow mealworms and their causal agents, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other pathogens like microsporidians, nematodes, and gregarines. Subsequently, they discuss methods that, both now and in the future, could play a role in controlling the pathogens. While there already exists protocols to facilitate the development of good hygienic practices, the authors also explore techniques with the prospects of improving insect immunity such as selective breeding, immune priming and the use of probiotics, all of which could protect the insects against existing and as yet unknown pathogenic threats.

The purpose of this chapter is to appraise the current work done on the use of the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) as an alternative and sustainable protein source in poultry diets. The incorporation of insects in animal diets is regarded as an interesting topic in animal nutrition. Their popularity is expected to outstrip the current conventional feed ingredients globally. Based on nutritional analysis, yellow mealworm larvae are comparable to conventional poultry protein sources. Hence, they are widely documented as the most appropriate substitute for soybean meal and fishmeal as they have a similar influence on growth performance without having a negative impact on the carcass, meat quality, or egg quality. Therefore, this chapter will discuss the opportunity for using yellow mealworm larvae as a protein source in poultry diets. The nutritional and environmental benefits, processing and storge, and effects of Tenebrio molitor on poultry productivity are discussed.

Soil and water conservation is essential for sustaining agricultural production and for protecting the soil ecosystem. This chapter discusses an alternative approach for soil erosion mitigation, which advocates modification of soil properties that are linked to processes that control degradation of soil structure stability. The chapter reviews the potential of three types of soil stabilizing agents (gypsum and gypsiferous materials, synthetic polymers, and organic waste materials). The focus is the impact these soil stabilizers can have on cultivated soils, many of which are associated with poor structural stability (e.g. soils from semiarid or humid regions), which ultimately leads to limited infiltration and to elevated levels of runoff and soil erosion. Current research suggests that judicious application of such stabilizing agents to the soil can lead to enhanced soil surface structure stability and combating soil erosion.

Soil erodibility refers to the vulnerability of a soil to erosion. This chapter discusses approaches to defining soil erodibility. It then reviews two key soil properties affecting erodibility: aggregate stability and shear stress stability. The chapter assesses individual and combined techniques for measuring these properties and thus gauging the erodibility of a soil.

This chapter focuses on the impact of various substrates on the nutritional quality – in particular protein content - of the yellow mealworm larvae. The authors begin by describing the characteristics of rearing substrates for optimal yellow mealworm growth, including nutritional composition, biomass production, and feed conversion ratio. Next they analyse the yellow mealworm's protein content, and consider factors which may influence it. Finally the chapter touches on factors influencing the use of novel biomasses as substrates to increase the yellow mealworm proteins content, and discuss how the yellow mealworm has proven to be able to degrade polymer bio-plastics, thus opening new interesting opportunities to address the global plastic waste problem.

• Provides a comprehensive overview of the main crop models developed in North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific
• Considers how current crop models can be improved with future enhancements, such as the incorporation of genetics
• Details examples of current applications of crop models, focussing on genotype-environment-management (G x E x M) interactions

This chapter covers understanding and changing attitudes towards eating protein derived from insects. In recent years, there has been growing interest regarding the role of insects as novel protein sources to meet the increasing global demand for sustainable and nutritious food. However, though insects are consumed in some cultures, in others, in particular those where insects are not traditionally part of the human diet, the inclusion of insects has been met with scepticism and strong resistance. This chapter begins by exploring changing attitudes toward insect-based food and the psychological factors that affect these attitudes. It then moves on to discuss product-related determinants of consumer acceptance of insect-derived proteins. Finally, the impact of sociocultural factors on consumer acceptance is reviewed.

This chapter discussed the use of prebiotics in pig nutrition. It begins with a section covering dietary fibre and prebiotics, then moves on to describe types of prebiotics, including: oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and non-carbohydrate prebiotics. Next, mode of actions for prebiotics is explored. Finally, prebiotics in diets for pigs is highlighted, covering again: oligosaccharides and inulin, polysaccharides, and non-carbohydrate prebiotics.

This chapter describes advances in understanding and improving the use of macro-minerals in poultry with a particular focus on phosphorus (P). The chapter begins by outlining the challenges to optimising mineral nutrition in poultry, covering the characterisation of the P value in feed ingredients and factors that affect P availability. Next a section on case studies is explored, including a meta-analysis for assessing the P value of a diet and a model where the P and calcium (Ca) quantities required for maintenance and growth are aggregated to determine the overall needs of the animals. Finally, future trends are discussed, covering precision feeding for sustainability, the potential for compensatory mechanisms and genetic determinism, the balance between Ca and P in laying hens, and a digestible Ca system.

Agriculture is one of the most dynamic and productive sectors in the Mediterranean region, but it is also the most vulnerable to water scarcity. Currently, it is facing certain challenges, which compromise the sustainability and environmental impact of our food production system. In response, and to help address this issue, the PRECIMED project has developed a decision support system (DSS) to enhance the efficiency of farmers in their daily tasks, including irrigation and fertilization. The PRECIMED DSS offers end users the opportunity to deploy and integrate a range of IoT devices and web services from different sources, as well as the use of advanced agronomic services. The DSS outputs were tested and validated in four different Mediterranean countries, including Spain, Algeria, Tunisia and Greece, under both greenhouse (protected cropping) and open-field-scale cropping systems.

This chapter highlights the essential need for sustainable agriculture to mitigate the environmental impact of industrial crop production while meeting rising global food demands. It examines the transition from conventional weed management to site-specific weed management (SSWM), encompassing sophisticated weed detection techniques, data-based decision algorithms, and precise weed control tools. The chapter delves into the contribution of technologies such as remote sensing and autonomous robotics in enhancing weed management practices. Additionally, the chapter underscores the advantages of SSWM in reducing herbicide usage and advocates for the integration of intelligent robotics and precision systems to improve agricultural sustainability and efficiency, paving the way for more sustainable and productive farming practices.

Recent developments in harnessing solar energy have transformed solar powered irrigation systems (SPIS) into a cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional fossil fuel energy-based irrigation systems. This chapter reviews the current developments and future prospects for SPIS, highlighting how latest developments in solar technology have created opportunities to address energy–irrigation (groundwater) nexus challenges. It also highlights recent technological developments, including smart solar irrigation systems and real-time water monitoring. Future advances such as more refined automated water delivery and control systems might lead to more widespread adoption of SPIS. Considering Pakistan as a case study, this chapter explores adoption potential, including the different initiatives and efforts underway, concerns relating to farmer adoption, and the different strategies to ensure long-term sustainability of SPIS. We suggest that without effective regulatory control and market-based mechanisms, free solar energy can encourage groundwater over-exploitation and also impose various social and spatial externalities, unless the sustainability of water/groundwater resources is ensured.

An organic diet based on regionally produced feed components is a fundamental goal in organic pig production. There is a huge unexploited potential in implementing local produced “green feed components” in organic pig diets as a sustainable alternative to the current high reliance on concentrates like processed cereals and oil seed feed sources. This chapter concerns greed feed in organic pig farming with an emphasis on studies conducted under the conditions of Denmark and Northern Europe. The authors present findings from recent research on the energy and protein (amino acid) requirements of organic pigs. This is followed by a discourse on the possibility of enhancing the nutritional value of organic pig diets by incorporating more forage, either through direct foraging or by allocating roughage, as well as incorporating "green protein" sources.

To ensure sustainable pig production in terms of cost and environmental impact, it is essential to focus on enhancing feed efficiency. This necessitates a precise understanding of the nutrient requirements of both sows and growing pigs, enabling the development of tailored feeding strategies to optimize their performance. In this chapter, various modeling approaches are discussed, which have been designed to predict the nutrient requirements of individual sows or growing pigs. These models take into account factors such as protein/amino acids, energy, minerals, as well as the characteristics of the animal, the feed, and the environmental conditions. The chapter emphasizes the importance of incorporating individual variability among animals into pig feeding models, which can be applied in precision feeding. Furthermore, a case study is presented to illustrate the practical relevance of these models in improving feed efficiency for gestating sows.

Growth performance of broiler chickens may be sub-optimal because starch is digested too rapidly and protein too slowly. This chapter reviews how a better understanding of digestive kinetics can address this challenge and contribute to least-cost formulation of broiler diets to enhance chicken-meat production. It begins by reviewing the process of protein and starch digestion. The chapter then reviews factors affecting digestion such as the speed of protein digestion and amino acid absorption, the more rapid intestinal uptake of non-bound methionine, as well as the role of slowly-digestible starch in promoting broiler growth performance. The chapter shows that accounting for these factors can significantly improve the efficiency of broiler diets.

Greenhouse gas emissions on the farm have different sources: livestock, soils, plants on crop- and grasslands, and fuel and energy consumption. For livestock, methane emissions are most relevant, whereas on crop- and grasslands, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide show the most impact. There are a range of options to measure these emissions, but the different methods mainly focus on one source or a small section of the farm. This chapter explores these different methods. The authors begin by exploring chamber and eddy covariance measurements for crop- and grasslands before describing the range of emissions sources from livestock. They then compare how models and tools are cheaper and easier to apply, but the quality of the results is not comparable to direct measurements, and how these methods could contribute to net zero.

Despite increasing urgency and pressure from stakeholders to increase the sustainability of livestock production systems, little research has so far been carried out on the role of sustainability standards. Standards are perceived as a promising way forward in the transition towards more sustainable modes of production. In this chapter we apply a transition theory lens to sustainability standards in the dairy sector and identify progress towards more sustainable production. Analysis of the literature and in-depth interviews with dairy sustainability standard representatives highlight the increased pressure to prove sustainability claims of standards. Meanwhile, standards need to balance providing stability and accessibility to their producers while also allowing continuous improvement. While there is no one pathway toward sustainable development, it is clear that standards will continue to evolve, and their acceptance by farmers and consumers, and contribution to sustainability, will depend upon the pressures exerted on them by stakeholders with diverse interests.

This chapter provides an overview of co-products and other alternative feedstuffs for sustainable pig production. It opens with a discussion of feed evaluation, animal growth and carcass characteristics. Focus then moves to meat quality and animal health. After this, the chapter highlights the connection between sustainability and feed, in particular the greenhouse gas emissions of pigs, and the human-edible protein balance of swine and amount of land required to produce it. The chapter ends with a case study of the use of canola co-products as feedstuffs for pigs.

There is increasing scrutiny of the safety, environmental and social impact of food production. However, the complexity of modern agri-food supply chains has significantly complicated the process of setting and enforcing appropriate standards. The thematic scope of standards has also expanded from its original focus on safety and quality to cover social responsibility and ethical trading, animal welfare, environmental sustainability, biodiversity loss and nature-related risks.

Finally, the range of stakeholders involved in setting and monitoring standards governing agri-food supply chains has proliferated, from official national, regional and international bodies to non-government organisations (NGOs), the food industry itself and now the investment sector concerned to ensure their clients meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.

Improving standards and certification in agri-food supply chains: Ensuring safety, sustainability and social responsibility comprehensively addresses the challenges raised by this complex picture and features contributions from leading international experts from the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Rainforest Alliance. The book discusses how to reconcile the roles of different stakeholders in standard setting, how changes in governance and technology can improve accountability, as well as the different ways of enhancing good agricultural practices (GAP) to meet new ways of producing food.

The book also discusses the challenges and solutions in achieving effective standards promoting more socially responsible production and how best to address emerging practices to improve environmental sustainability such as regenerative agriculture.

This chapter focuses on assessing the impact of climate change on soil erosion by water. It begins by first describing the influence of climate change on event and annual erosivity, then moves on to discuss the influence of climate change on the protective effect of crops. A section on snowmelt erosion is also provided, before the chapter concludes with an overview of the multiple influences that climate change has on soil erosion.

• Provides a comprehensive overview of the ways agroforestry can support key ecosystem services
• Reviews the range of silvopastoral and silvoarable systems and their application in agriculture to optimise crop and livestock production
• Considers the benefits of temperate agroforestry in mitigating/adapting to climate change

Soil erosion is particularly affected by climate change, especially increases in the amount and intensity of rainfall. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2) developed by USDA-ARS has been developed to quantify soil erosion. However, it does not consider current climate and topographic conditions for estimating those factors, including the rainfall erosivity factor (R-factor) which is particularly significant given more frequent extreme storm events resulting from climate change. This chapter reviews developing a modified RUSLE model using ArcGIS ModelBuilder automation to develop processes for improving USLE factors so that soil erosion quantification can be estimated more precisely in both temporal and spatial dimensions.

Eco-labelling forest products through forest certification is a market-driven tool with a global influence. It is also met with challenges in acceptance and diffusion among stakeholders. Here the authors aim to provide a synthesis of forest certification impact and place this in the context of small private forest owners. The chapter starts with an introduction to the concept of forest certification and important governance and operations characteristics. Continued with a discussion about the impact of forest certification and how it can deliver environmental, social, and financial value. The case study focuses on the group of small private forest owners and their motivations to adopt forest certification. This is followed by a discussion about the logic behind forest certification for small private owners and what this could mean for the future of forest certification.

The modernisation of irrigation districts, where traditional networks based on open channels are replaced by pressurised pipe networks, represents a change in the delicate balance between water and energy use. In this way, water use efficiency is increased, but energy consumption is highly augmented. This fact implies a rise in water supply costs that, in many cases, can lead to a very significant reduction in farmers’ profits. This chapter addresses, on the one hand, measures to achieve energy savings in the water supply in pressurised networks of around 20–30%. These measures consist of alternative management strategies for the irrigation network and improvements in the hydraulic infrastructure. On the other hand, it highlights the potential role of renewable energies, including solar photovoltaic and micro-hydraulic energy, which can reduce energy costs and reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural production. All of these options are illustrated with reference to results obtained from Spanish case studies. Finally, new energy-saving measures can be developed based on deep learning from data. Thus, the roles of big data and artificial intelligence techniques that allow forecasting the demand at both irrigation district and plot scale are discussed. These measures will allow network management to be adapted to real operating situations, based on water demand forecasts, and will contribute to a more efficient use of water and energy resources.

• Highlights the importance of good agricultural practices (GAPs) in achieving a safe, sustainable and secure agri-food supply chain
• Considers the evolution of GAPs and their implementation within the fresh produce sector to improve food safety
• Includes case studies which demonstrate how GAPs have been utilised to improve crop production in three contrasting maize cultivation systems

This chapter discusses supply chain management responses used by companies in the food supply chain during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter first discusses the relevant literature on supply chain resilience. The chapter subsequently reviews supply chain responses in relation to different supply chain resilience capabilities, and then discusses the theory and practice of supply chain capabilities in food supply chains.

This chapter discusses the potential use of more sustainable alternative feed ingredients in poultry feed. It introduces the range of alternative protein-contributing ingredients, including crop sources such as legumes, peas and beans, as well as by-products from food and oilseed processing such as oil palm kernel and cottonseed meal, as well animal sources such as feather and blood meal. It also looks at potential energy/fiber-contributing ingredients such as bakery meal, food waste and fiber co-products such as hulls, pulp and bran. The chapter then discusses the role of exogenous feed enzyme additives (phytase, carbohydrase and protease) in counteracting anti-nutritional factors in alternative feeds and optimizing release of nutrients. Finally the chapter assesses the role of prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and precision biotics in optimizing gut function for improved feed utilization.

Soil water retention is an important factor that influences cropping systems and environmental sustainability and can be affected by various agronomic practices. Agronomic practices including tillage, cover cropping, crop rotation, and animal grazing practices have been implemented over several centuries to enhance crop productivity by improving soil–seed contact, reducing weed competition, increasing nutrient availability and cycling, and improving animal health. Over time and as a result of technological advancements and an increasing global human population, these practices have gradually evolved to include the use of mechanised equipment aimed at reducing human labour and increasing productivity. However, these advancements in agronomic practices can influence water infiltration and retention. This chapter discusses these practices and their influence on water infiltration and retention. Suggestions are also made on how these practices can be used to optimise soil water retention and availability.

A feed formulation program is used to determine a compound feed that meets all of its nutritional requirements and is at the lowest possible cost (least cost). This chapter addresses current challenges facing feed formulation programs, including the need to account for sustainability issues as well as the increasing range and volume of high-quality data on feedstuff composition and effects on poultry growth. The chapter discusses solutions such as tools for importing new data into the formulation database, developing linear and non-linear optimizers to handle a greater range and volume of data and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in future feed formulation.

Pig feeding and nutrition is a crucial aspect of pig farming, as it directly impacts growth, health, and productivity from birth to market weight. In this chapter the authors consider the key factors in the setting of nutritional guidelines, such as breed and genetic traits affecting nutrient and energy requirements, production goals, and growth stage and weight. Discussion then moves to how to formulate diets to maximise feed efficient and performance while still minimising nutrient excretion. Here the authors consider the diets of nursery pigs, growing-finishing pigs, boars, and gilts and sows. Finally, the authors examine the key challenges in formulating nutritional guidelines and their potential solutions. These challenges include heat stress, the presence of toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in feed ingredients, post-weaning diarrhoea, and the potential detrimental effect of high dietary leucine concentration.

This chapter discusses improving agri-food supply chains in North America, using the case of the sugarcane agro-industry in Mexico as a discussion point. The chapter focuses on sugarcane production in Mexico, then goes on to highlight factors determining the competitiveness of the sugarcane agro-industry. A section on the main technological issues related to sugarcane agri-business development is also included, followed by an overview of the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on sugarcane agri-business development. Regulatory issues related to sugarcane agri-business development are also highlighted and labour issues relating to sugarcane agri-business development are discussed as well. The chapter goes on to review pricing issues in the sugarcane industry, which is then followed by a review of the role of diversification and financing in sugarcane agri-business development.

This chapter describes the fundamental characteristics of the food systems of Eastern and Southern Europe, paying particular attention to their agro-export nature and the late predominance of large-scale distribution companies in their markets. The chapter then reviews the unsustainability of this model due to its high-energy demand and the need to opt for alternative channels, which the authors have framed within the short food supply chains (SFSCs), as the European Union is doing in its ‘From farm to fork’ strategy, which aims to correct the serious impacts of the Common Agricultural Policy. Finally, the chapter explains in detail how they are developing in Eastern and Southern Europe, pointing out the main problems they face and their current potential. The chapter also describes the types of SFSCs that currently exist in Spain as an example that could represent the other countries considered.

The global poultry industry tends to depend on a limited number of feed ingredients, which face a number of environmental and other problems. The objective of this chapter is to examine emerging, alternative ingredients for potential use locally or for development into global protein sources for the poultry industry.

Practiced by rural smallholders globally, agroforestry holds great promise for rural livelihoods, climate action, restoration, biodiversity conservation, and other socio-economic and environmental goals. Yet, agroforestry systems embed significant gender differences and inequalities that hinder the achievement of these goals. In this chapter, the authors explore the nexus of gender and agroforestry to unpack how gender shapes agroforestry systems, and how these systems (re)produce gender inequalities. To support this analysis, they draw on two frameworks – the Gender at Work framework, and the Reach-Benefit-Empower-Transform framework – to understand (1) gender transformative change in and through agroforestry, and (2) a range of programmatic approaches for working with gender to support this change. To bring the discussion to life, they draw on examples of agroforestry projects that have intentionally addressed gender relations and examine how they have fared. In so doing, they highlight entry points for agroforestry interventions to promote greater equality

This chapter presents five study cases on the application of smart technologies in farming and forestry systems. The first of these study cases presents the results of a long-term study to calibrate a Grassmaster II capacitance probe to estimate pasture productivity in the Mediterranean Montado ecosystem. The second case study presents a methodology for identifying yield zones within an olive grove based on Sentinel-2 satellite data. The third case study provides an overview of different remote sensing sensors, data and methodologies used for estimating forest biomass. The fourth case study assesses the carbon footprint of horticultural crops such as potato, onion, carrot, melon and watermelon. The final case study focuses on precision livestock farming, specifically a mobile application focused on thermal comfort.

Farm animal health management systems (FAHMSs) face significant challenges in data acquisition, integration, and analysis. In this context, the semantics of agriculture data, which takes advantage of semantic web technologies, is an important tool for improving data management and enabling informed decision-making. However, existing systems lack standardization, integrity, interoperability, reusability, and advanced analytical reasoning. The authors propose an ontology-driven, knowledge-based framework for FAHMSs to address these challenges. Their framework focuses on a cattle application scenario and provides a standardized framework, a species-specific Livestock Health Ontology (LHO), Resource Descriptive Framework (RDF) data generation, and semantic interoperability. This research aims to improve disease surveillance and early detection, leading to better animal health outcomes. The chapter comprehensively analyzes the background knowledge, presents the methodology as a case study, and concludes with future research directions and challenges.