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Recent Submissions
- Exploring the Seasonal Variability of the Ecosystem Quality in the Sagar Islands of the Indian SundarbansAuthor(s): Singh, Anandita; Maity, Subrata; Sahoo, Satiprasad; Govind, Ajit; Das, Jayanta; Biswas, Brototi (Springer)Date: 2026-05-28Type: Book ChapterStatus: Timeless limited accessThe natural ecosystem of Sagar Island in the Indian Sundarbans determines coastal resilience by affecting seasonal transformations. The study tracks ecosystem quality patterns through geo-environmental indices including VCI, TCI, VHI, WCI, SCI, and SAVCI based on remote sensing data. EDAS model processing produces Ecosystem Quality Index (EQI) measurements throughout pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons from 2014 to 2023. A joint application of simple moving averages combined with Mann–Kendall tests confirms ecosystem quality declined constantly until it hit its maximum decline in 2018 due to cyclonic events. The data indicates that pre-monsoon period EQI values decline as environmental stress improves during the post-monsoon season. The study reveals an ecosystem sensitive zone (ESZ) combining all modeling output, about 27.37% of the area is highly sensitive, and 9.01% of the area is under a very highly sensitive zone of the island. The study found that ecosystem quality on Sagar Island declines significantly during pre-monsoon seasons, with 2018 being the worst year due to cyclones. A decade-long negative trend was confirmed, with over 36% of the island classified as ecologically sensitive. These findings prove that efficient management systems should unite improved water resource control measures with mangrove restoration projects to overcome climate change impacts. Knowledge obtained through investigations enables sustainable management of sensitive coastal environments across different time intervals.
- Robust greenhouse evapotranspiration modeling for sustainable multi-sectoral assessmentDate: 2026-05-27Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessTraditional greenhouse crop evapotranspiration (ET) models rely heavily on post-installation operational data, limiting their utility for pre-construction planning and design. This study developed a greenhouse-coupled ET model that integrates crop biophysical characteristics directly into a thermal model to overcome this barrier. By utilizing only local environmental data, the model quantifies cooling, heating, dehumidification, and irrigation requirements for selected crops prior to construction. Validation against experimental data demonstrated high reliability, with a normalized Root-Mean-Square Error (nRMSE) below 9% and R² exceeding 0.93. Simulations in the arid conditions of Minya, Egypt, revealed that crops significantly impact the microclimate, reducing peak internal temperatures by 11 °C in summer and 7°C in winter compared to an unplanted greenhouse. Additionally, the model quantified crop-induced humidity increases, allowing for the development of targeted climate control strategies. This integrated modelling approach optimizes resource management and energy efficiency, offering a robust tool for sustainable greenhouse design and multisectoral applications in precision agriculture.
- Genome-wide association study identifies candidate genes for agronomic traits under heat- and combined recurrent drought-and heat-stress in wheatAuthor(s): KebedeB, Amare; Mohammed, Wassu; Keneni, Gemechu; Stephen, Jones Christopher; Paul, Alok; Al-Shamaa, Khaled; Tadesse, Wuletaw (nature portfolio, 2026-08-28)Date: 2026-08-28Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessCombined heat and drought stress, mainly during sensitive growth stages, considerably limits wheat yields. Herein, we report on an experiment conducted to analyze and predict the phenology, architecture, and kernel yield component (PAKyC) traits of a diverse bread wheat population grown under heat stress and fully irrigated conditions (HSFIC), and combined recurrent drought and heat stress (CRDHS). 17,711 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to perform a GWAS for 13 PAKyC traits on 187 genotypes, a subset of 234 genotypes, using the BLINK model. Nine constitutive SNPs, 24 marker-trait associations (MTAs), broad-effect pleiotropic SNPs, conditional pleiotropic SNPs, adaptive pleiotropic SNPs under CRDHS, and two robust SNPs were identified. Furthermore, 35 candidate genes were associated with cellular components, biological processes, and molecular functions under CRDHS and HSFIC. Among these genes, 12 were highly expressed (> 0.5 TPM) in response to drought, heat, and combined stresses. Nine genes were identified to be transcription factors regulating drought and heat responses, while the functions of the other three genes remain unclear. Overall, HSFIC and CRDHS environments enabled the dissection of heritable and strongly correlated traits, MTAs, and pleiotropy types: constitutive, adaptive, and conditional. They also helped identify robust SNPs and candidate genes that are important for bread wheat breeding.
- Consumer preferences and business model innovation in women-led agri-food systems: Evidence from MoroccoAuthor(s): Rossi, Eleonora Sofia; Najjar, Dina; Oueslati, Dorsaf; Visioni, Andrea; Emanuele, Blasi (Elsevier Masson, 2026-05-31)Date: 2026-05-31Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessCONTEXT: Transforming agri-food systems requires innovation pathways that are socially embedded, genderresponsive, and capable of scaling without reproducing existing inequalities. In low- and middle-income countries, women's cooperatives play a strategic role in linking traditional food systems with emerging markets, yet the mechanisms through which product and organisational innovations jointly create economic and social value remain insufficiently understood. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates how product innovation and organisational innovation interact within a women-led agri-food cooperative in Morocco, and whether consumer demand can support responsible scaling while enhancing women's empowerment. METHODS: The analysis combines a qualitative Business Model Canvas (BMC) with a quantitative Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE). The BMC assesses changes in the cooperative's value proposition, resources, and market orientation before and after targeted innovation support. The DCE evaluates consumer preferences and willingness to pay for product attributes, including artisanal production, ingredient blending, labelling, and price.
- Translating genetic gains into food security by bridging wheat breeding and seed systems in AfricaAuthor(s): Tadesse, Wuletaw; Henkrar, Fatima; Lahrichi, Khaoula; Chawade, Aakash; Alemu, Admas (Frontiers Media, 2026-07-29)Date: 2026-07-29Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessWheat is cultivated on approximately 12 million ha across Africa and produces about 30 million tons at an average yield of 2.5 t ha-¹. Algeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe are the most important wheat producing countries in Africa. Though wheat production is increasing both vertically and horizontally, Africa imports more than 50 million tons of wheat annually at a price of 20 billion dollars to fulfil its demand. The level of wheat consumption and demand continues to rise because of rapid population growth, urbanization and changing dietary preferences. Since the early 1960s, Africa’s population has increased more than fivefold, whereas wheat production has increased only about three- to four-fold, widening the gap between domestic production and consumption and increasing vulnerability to international price and supply shocks. The central challenge is a translation gap where genetic gains and global breeding innovations are not yet converted into timely varietal turnover, affordable quality seed, resilient agronomy and food-security impact across the heterogeneous wheat environments of the continent. This review reframes wheat improvement in Africa as an innovation system linking target production environments, accelerated breeding, seed multiplication, regulatory pathways, farmer demand, market incentives and climate-smart crop management. We synthesize the main rainfed and irrigated wheat systems, the interacting stresses that define them and progress made through shuttle and speed breeding, doubled haploids, marker-assisted selection and genomic selection, and emerging tools such as gene editing and hybrid wheat. We argue that the decisive opportunity lies in integrating these tools with early-generation seed planning, rapid release and deployment pathways, regional harmonization, irrigation modernization, extension, mechanization and digital decision support. A practical agenda is proposed around environment specific product profiles, breeding to seed accountability, stress surveillance, decentralized but quality assured seed models and scaling platforms that connect varieties with agronomy, finance and markets. Such integration can convert genetic gain into grain, reduce import vulnerability and make wheat a stronger pillar of climate-resilient food security in Africa.