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Abstract This literature review was built upon recently published articles on Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) of agricultural biogas plants, to: enhance understanding of the relevant literature in the field and the related question by readers worldwide. It was designed to highlight methodological issues and impact indicators, which best represent this research field; consequently, they should be considered in performing environmental assessments of agro-biogas derived energy systems. The literature review highlighted the wide variability of environmental results due to the ways the feedstock mixtures were produced, managed, and supplied; and due to the regions in which the anaerobic digesters were located and operated. Differences were found to be related to the aim and function of the study and to the methodological approach used, especially for the development of the environmental impact assessments. Other differences resulted from the ways the energy produced was utilised, whether it was used as an input to the natural gas national grid, and/or if it was used within the production system. The authors of this review concluded that, although much progress has been made, many unsolved challenges and methodological choices must be addressed to further improve the robustness of LCA in relation to AD and to related approaches.

AbstractThe Green Revolution is often seen as epitomising the dawn of scientific and technological advancement and modernity in the agricultural sector across developing countries, a process that unfolded from the 1940s through to the 1980s. Despite the time that has elapsed, this episode of the past continues to resonate today, and still shapes the institutions and practices of agricultural science and technology. In Brazil, China, and India, narratives of science-led agricultural transformations portray that period in glorifying terms—entailing pressing national imperatives, unprecedented achievements, and heroic individuals or organizations. These “epic narratives” draw on the past to produce meaning and empower the actors that deploy them. Epic narratives are reproduced over time and perpetuate a conviction about the heroic power of science and technology in agricultural development. By crafting history and cultivating a sense of scientific nationalism, exceptionalism, and heritage, these epic narratives sustain power-knowledge relations in agricultural science and technology, which are underpinned by a hegemonic modernization paradigm. Unravelling the processes of assemblage and reproduction of epic narratives helps us make sense of how science and technology actors draw on their subjective representations of the past to assert their position in the field at present. This includes making claims about their credentials to envision and deliver sustainable solutions for agriculture into the future.

This study investigates potential changes in erosion rates in the Midwestern United States under climate change, including the adaptation of crop management to climate change. Previous studies of erosion under climate change have not taken into account farmer choices of crop rotations or planting dates, which will adjust to compensate for climate change. In this study, changes in management were assigned based on previous studies of crop yield, optimal planting date, and most profitable rotations under climate change in the Midwestern United States. Those studies predicted future shifts from maize and wheat to soybeans based on price and yield advantages to soybeans. In the results of our simulations, for 10 of 11 regions of the study area runoff increased from +10% to +310%, and soil loss increased from +33% to +274%, in 2040–2059 relative to 1990–1999. Soil loss changes were more variable compared to studies that did not take into account changes in management. Increased precipitation and decreasing cover from temperature-stressed maize were important factors in the results. The soil erosion model appeared to underestimate the impact of change in crop type, particularly to soybeans, meaning that erosion increases could be even higher than simulated. This research shows that future crop management changes due to climate and economics can affect the magnitude of erosional impacts beyond that which would be predicted from direct climate change

La sécheresse agricole est l'un des risques agricoles les plus dommageables dans le monde qui peut entraîner des pertes agricoles importantes et une pénurie d'eau. L'utilisation d'images satellites pour surveiller la sécheresse agricole a fait l'objet d'une attention croissante de la part des chercheurs et a également été appliquée à l'échelle régionale et mondiale. Dans cet article, la température de surface de la terre (LST) et les produits d'éclat du nouveau Sentinel-3A SLSTR (radiomètre de température de surface de la mer et de la terre) lancé par l'Agence spatiale européenne (ESA) sont utilisés pour la première fois pour estimer l'indice de condition de température de la végétation (VTCI), qui à son tour est utilisé pour surveiller la sécheresse agricole dans la plaine de Hetao en Mongolie intérieure, en Chine. Cet article analyse initialement la corrélation entre le LST et l'indice de végétation à différence normalisée (NDVI) en utilisant des séries temporelles MODIS LST et NDVI dans différentes conditions de croissance de la végétation. Les résultats révèlent que VTCI ne peut être utilisé que pendant les saisons chaudes (fin du printemps et période estivale) lorsque des corrélations négatives entre LST et NDVI sont observées. Par conséquent, les images VTCI sont capturées dans la zone d'étude entre juillet et août 2017 à l'aide de Sentinel-3A SLSTR LST et NDVI et sont utilisées pour l'enquête sur la sécheresse. Ces images révèlent que le VTCI moyen des pixels des terres cultivées dans la zone d'étude est passé de 0,4511 le 28 juillet à 0,5229 le 12 août avant de diminuer à 0,4710 le 18 août en raison des précipitations de la première période, indiquant ainsi que VTCI a une réponse opportune aux précipitations. Pendant ce temps, la comparaison croisée des valeurs VTCI de Sentinel-3A SLSTR montre une grande cohérence en termes de distribution spatiale avec celle estimée à partir des produits EOS MODIS. La différence entre ces indices variait de −0,1 à 0,1 pour la plupart des points, en particulier dans la couverture terrestre cultivée. Dans l'ensemble, les résultats appuient l'utilisation des produits LST et NDVI de Sentinel-3A SLSTR dans la surveillance de la sécheresse agricole. La sequía agrícola es uno de los peligros agrícolas más dañinos en todo el mundo que puede provocar importantes pérdidas agrícolas y escasez de agua. El uso de imágenes satelitales para monitorear la sequía agrícola ha recibido cada vez más atención de la investigación y también se ha aplicado a escala regional y mundial. En este documento, la temperatura de la superficie terrestre (LST) y los productos de radiancia del nuevo Sentinel-3A SLSTR (radiómetro de temperatura de la superficie del mar y la tierra) lanzado por la Agencia Espacial Europea (esa) se utilizan por primera vez para estimar el índice de condición de temperatura de la vegetación (VTCI), que a su vez se utiliza para monitorear la sequía agrícola en la llanura de Hetao de Mongolia Interior, China. Este documento analiza inicialmente la correlación entre LST y el índice de vegetación de diferencia normalizada (NDVI) mediante el uso de productos MODIS LST y NDVI de series de tiempo en diferentes condiciones de crecimiento de la vegetación. Los hallazgos revelan que el VTCI solo se puede usar en estaciones cálidas (finales de los períodos de primavera y verano) cuando se observan correlaciones negativas entre LST y NDVI. Por lo tanto, las imágenes de VTCI se capturan en el área de estudio entre julio y agosto de 2017 mediante el uso de Sentinel-3A SLSTR LST y NDVI y se utilizan para la investigación de la sequía. Estas imágenes revelan que el VTCI promedio de los píxeles de tierra cultivada en el área de estudio ha aumentado de 0.4511 el 28 de julio a 0.5229 el 12 de agosto antes de disminuir a 0.4710 el 18 de agosto debido a las precipitaciones en el primer período, lo que indica que el VTCI tiene una respuesta oportuna a las precipitaciones. Mientras tanto, la comparación cruzada de los valores de VTCI de Sentinel-3A SLSTR muestra una alta consistencia en términos de distribución espacial con la estimada de los productos EOS MODIS. La diferencia entre estos índices osciló entre -0,1 y 0,1 para la mayoría de los puntos, especialmente en la cubierta vegetal cultivada. En general, los hallazgos respaldan el uso de los productos LST y NDVI de Sentinel-3A SLSTR en el monitoreo de la sequía agrícola. Agricultural drought is one of most damaging agricultural hazards worldwide that can bring significant agricultural losses and water scarcity. The use of satellite images for monitoring agricultural drought has received increasing research attention and has also been applied at both the regional and global scales. In this paper, the land surface temperature (LST) and radiance products of the new Sentinel-3A SLSTR (sea and land surface temperature radiometer) launched by European Space Agency (ESA) are used for the first time for estimating the vegetation temperature condition index (VTCI), which in turn is used for monitoring agricultural drought in the Hetao Plain of Inner Mongolia, China. This paper initially analyzes the correlation between LST and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) by using time series time MODIS LST and NDVI products under different vegetation growth conditions. The findings reveal that VTCI can only be used in warm seasons (late spring and summer periods) when negative correlations between LST and NDVI are observed. Therefore, VTCI images are captured in the study area between July and August 2017 by using Sentinel-3A SLSTR LST and NDVI and are utilized for drought investigation. These images reveal that the average VTCI of the cultivated land pixels in the study area has increased from 0.4511 on July 28 to 0.5229 on August 12 before declining to 0.4710 on August 18 due to the rainfall in the first period, thereby indicating that VTCI has a timely response to rainfall. Meanwhile, cross-comparison of VTCI values from Sentinel-3A SLSTR shows high consistency in terms of spatial distribution with that estimated from EOS MODIS products. The difference between these indices ranged from −0.1 to 0.1 for most points, especially in the cultivated land cover. Overall, the findings support the use of the LST and NDVI products of Sentinel-3A SLSTR in monitoring agricultural drought. يعد الجفاف الزراعي أحد أكثر المخاطر الزراعية ضررًا في جميع أنحاء العالم والذي يمكن أن يؤدي إلى خسائر زراعية كبيرة وندرة المياه. حظي استخدام صور الأقمار الصناعية لرصد الجفاف الزراعي باهتمام بحثي متزايد وتم تطبيقه أيضًا على المستويين الإقليمي والعالمي. في هذه الورقة، يتم استخدام درجة حرارة سطح الأرض (LST) ومنتجات الإشعاع الخاصة بالمقياس الإشعاعي الجديد Sentinel -3A SLSTR (مقياس درجة حرارة سطح البحر والأرض) الذي أطلقته وكالة الفضاء الأوروبية (ESA) لأول مرة لتقدير مؤشر حالة درجة حرارة الغطاء النباتي (VTCI)، والذي يستخدم بدوره لرصد الجفاف الزراعي في سهل هيتاو في منغوليا الداخلية، الصين. تحلل هذه الورقة في البداية العلاقة بين LST ومؤشر الاختلاف الطبيعي للغطاء النباتي (NDVI) باستخدام السلاسل الزمنية لمنتجات MODIS LST و NDVI في ظل ظروف نمو مختلفة للغطاء النباتي. تكشف النتائج أنه لا يمكن استخدام VTCI إلا في المواسم الدافئة (أواخر فصلي الربيع والصيف) عند ملاحظة الارتباطات السلبية بين LST و NDVI. لذلك، يتم التقاط صور VTCI في منطقة الدراسة بين يوليو وأغسطس 2017 باستخدام Sentinel -3A SLSTR LST و NDVI وتستخدم للتحقيق في الجفاف. تكشف هذه الصور أن متوسط VTCI لبكسلات الأراضي المزروعة في منطقة الدراسة قد ارتفع من 0.4511 في 28 يوليو إلى 0.5229 في 12 أغسطس قبل أن ينخفض إلى 0.4710 في 18 أغسطس بسبب هطول الأمطار في الفترة الأولى، مما يشير إلى أن VTCI لديها استجابة في الوقت المناسب لهطول الأمطار. وفي الوقت نفسه، تُظهر المقارنة المتقاطعة لقيم VTCI من Sentinel -3A SLSTR اتساقًا عاليًا من حيث التوزيع المكاني مع تلك المقدرة من منتجات EOS MODIS. تراوح الفرق بين هذه المؤشرات من -0.1 إلى 0.1 لمعظم النقاط، خاصة في الغطاء الأرضي المزروع. بشكل عام، تدعم النتائج استخدام منتجات LST و NDVI من Sentinel -3A SLSTR في مراقبة الجفاف الزراعي.

In order to meet consumer needs, the livestock industry is increasingly seeking natural feed additives with the ability to improve the efficiency of nutrient utilization, alternatives to antibiotics, and mitigate methane emissions in ruminants. Chitosan (CHI) is a polysaccharide with antimicrobial capability against protozoa and Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, fungi, and yeasts while naringin (NA) is a flavonoid with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. First, an in vitro gas production experiment was performed adding 0, 1.5, 3.0 g/kg of CHI and NA under a completely randomized design. The substrate containing forage and concentrate in a 70:30 ratio on a dry matter (DM) basis. Compounds increased the concentration of propionic acid, and a significant reduction in methane production was observed with the inclusion of CHI at 1.5 g/kg in in vitro experiments (p < 0.001). In a dry matter rumen degradability study for 96 h, there were no differences in potential and effective degradability. In the in vivo study, six crossbred heifers fitted with rumen cannulas were assigned to a 6 × 6 Latin square design according to the following treatments: control (CTL), no additive; chitosan (CHI1, 1.5 g/kg DMI); (CHI2, 3.0 g/kg DMI); naringin (NA1, 1.5 g/kg DMI); (NA2, 3.0 g/kg DMI) and a mixture of CHI and NA (1.5 + 1.5 g/kg DMI) given directly through the rumen cannula. Additives did not affect rumen fermentation (p > 0.05), DM intake and digestibility of (p > 0.05), and enteric methane emissions (p > 0.05). CHI at a concentration of 1.5 g/kg DM in in vitro experiments had a positive effect on fermentation pattern increasing propionate and reduced methane production. In contrast, in the in vivo studies, there was not a positive effect on rumen fermentation, nor in enteric methane production in crossbred heifers fed a basal ration of tropical grass.

AbstractAimsTo establish which components of energy balance mediate the clinically significant weight loss demonstrated with use of cotadutide, a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1)/glucagon receptor dual agonist, in early‐phase studies.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a phase 2a, single‐centre, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial in overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes. Following a 16‐day single‐blind placebo run‐in, participants were randomized 2:1 to double‐blind 42‐day subcutaneous treatment with cotadutide (100–300 μg daily) or placebo. The primary outcome was percentage weight change. Secondary outcomes included change in energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE).ResultsA total of 12 participants (63%) in the cotadutide group and seven (78%) in the placebo group completed the study. The mean (90% confidence interval [CI]) weight change was −4.0% (−4.9%, −3.1%) and −1.4% (−2.7%, −0.1%) for the cotadutide and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.011). EI was lower with cotadutide versus placebo (−41.3% [−66.7, −15.9]; p = 0.011). Difference in EE (per kJ/kg lean body mass) for cotadutide versus placebo was 1.0% (90% CI −8.4, 10.4; p = 0.784), assessed by doubly labelled water, and −6.5% (90% CI −9.3, −3.7; p < 0.001), assessed by indirect calorimetry.ConclusionWeight loss with cotadutide is primarily driven by reduced EI, with relatively small compensatory changes in EE.

Abstract This study aims at determining the technology combination that provides the lowest emissions and energy cost for the food-industrial sector. Using a linear optimization objective function in determining the least-cost pathway, data from various sources were compiled to perform simulations on two scenarios; a business as usual (BAU) case and an 80% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. Even in the base case, the emission level reaches 21% of 1990 levels; a reduction of 39% over the simulation period. This indicates that even without the imposition of GHG constraints on the food sector, it is economically more beneficial for the industry to migrate from fossil fuels. This migration takes place by replacing energy from LPG, LFO, Kerosene, HFO, Coal and Natural gas with biomass, biogas and CHP electricity. Economic benefits arise from the fact that biogas and biomass are produced from wastes which are generated onsite within food factories, hence the avoidance of purchasing energy feedstock from the market. The change in energy consumption between the two scenarios is similar due to the prevalence of least-cost solutions and similar energy and food demand requirements. However, the reduction in emissions are greater in the 80%-GHG case than the BAU case; 52% compared to 39% for the BAU case, for 2050 relative to 2010. This is largely owing to decarbonization of grid electricity. This study finds that the food-industrial sector has the potential to exceed this 80% reduction target to a value of 92%, due to the availability of onsite feedstocks to generate biogas. In this simulation, of all waste produced, 92% of waste feedstock is consumed in AD and CHPs, whilst the remaining 8% is dried and processed to be burned in biomass boilers.

Marginal farm land is land characterised by low food, feed and fodder crop productivity due to soil and environmental limitations. Such land may however be utilised for bio-energy crop production. We investigate the economic viability of small scale combined heat and power anaerobic digestion (CHP AD) projects based on feedstock from farm waste and bio-energy crops grown on a representative temperate latitude marginal farm land in the UK. Using a realistic set of five project feedstock-mix scenarios, and considering standard technology and current market and policy regimes, we deploy a stochastic framework to assess prices of electricity required for these projects to break-even and conduct sensitivity analyses of key project parameters. Accounting for the current market prices and policy tariffs for heat, we find that critical electricity sale prices of about 17.46 p/kWh to 27.12 p/kWh are needed for the projects to break even. These prices are well above the current combined feed-in-tariff support and market prices for electricity over the past years in the UK. We conclude that the use of marginal land to generate power for export using small-scale CHP AD in the UK and the wider temperate latitude countries is unviable, if energy and farming policy regimes do not provide substantial support.