• Energy Research

Manufacturing and the further utilization of biogas is an efficient way of complementing or replacing primary energy resources. Ukraine has followed the global tendency to substitute fossil energy sources with renewable ones, which particularly includes biogas. Considering the experience of European countries, as well as the potential and needs of Ukraine, the necessity of biogas plant building implies three main factors: obtaining the energy sources, selling agricultural products and by-products of biogas production, and managing the environmental issues surrounding biogas generation. The growth dynamics of biogas plants and their productivity were analyzed for the period of 2012–2019. In doing so, the capacity and potential capabilities of biogas production in Ukraine by means of biological waste and agricultural raw materials were assessed. The article focuses on the importance of resolving the issues of sanitary and technogenic protection in biogas plant building and biogas manufacturing. It also points out the reasons that prevent Ukraine from going forward with biogas projects, as well as the main factors that affect biogas plant viability and efficiency. Based on the statistical data of previous years and regression analysis, the authors calculated the production output and biogas transformation. Herein, the trend model and Excel software were applied.

This study aimed at determining the survivability of probiotic bacteria cultures in model non-dairy beverages subjected or not to the fermentation and storage processes, representing milk substitutes. The experimental material included milks produced from desiccated coconut and non-dehulled seeds of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). The plant milks were subjected to chemical and microbiological evaluation immediately after preparation as well as on day 7, 14, and 21 of their cold storage. Study results proved that the produced and modified plant non-dairy beverages could be the matrix for probiotic bacteria. The fermentation process contributed to increased survivability of Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus in both coconut and hemp milk. During 21-day storage of inoculated milk substitutes, the best survivability of Lactobacillus casei was determined in the fermented coconut milk. On day 21 of cold storage, the number of viable Lactobacillus casei cells in the fermented coconut and hemp milks ensured meeting the therapeutic criterion. Due to their nutritional composition and cell count of bacteria having a beneficial effect on the human body, the analyzed groceries—offering an alternative to milk—represent a category of novel food products and their manufacture will contribute to the sustainable development of food production and to food security assurance.

AbstractThe paper analyzes the efficiency of material and energy expenditure in 679 farms with agricultural production as the main source of income for the years 2013-2015. Six groups of farms were identified according to usable agricultural area (UAA). The aim of the work was to determine the impact of UAA of farms on their material and energy expenditure efficiency. It was found that the area of UAA determines the farms’ material and energy expenditure efficiency. It was observed that small farms with UAA of 5 to 10 ha are characterized by the highest material and energy expenditure efficiency. It was proven that the material and energy expenditure efficiency in “Small” farms with UAA (<= 5ha) and “Very large”, with UAA (> 50ha) differs significantly from the efficiency determined for other farm groups. Material and energy expenditures were used the least efficiently in the farms with the smallest UAA.

Today, one of the greatest challenges faced by the agriculture industry is the development of sustainable and environmentally-friendly systems to meet nutritional demands of the continuously growing global population. A number of research studies have recently been undertaken with the aim to indicate types of parameters used in plant production that would be able to improve plant growth as well as the effectiveness and quality of yield, and to help plants cope with environmental stress. The aim of this study was to verify a hypothesis that the implementation of a sustainable agricultural technology, based on the use of synthetic biostimulants, will allow not only increasing crop yield and quality but also improving the cost-effectiveness of common bean cultivation. The field experiment was conducted in three growing seasons (2016–2018). In the growing season, the plants were treated with Atonik and Tytanit biostimulants in the form of single or double spraying. We determinated biometric traits, seed yield, seed number, and 1000-seed weight. Further analyses included contents of nutraceutical potential. The economic effect of using biostimulants was also calculated. The results of our experiment allowed verifying a hypothesis that the implementation of a sustainable agricultural technology based on the use of synthetic preparations was an effective method to increase plant productivity and, consequently, economic profits to farmers.

Crop production plays a critical role in global food security, with key commodities such as corn, wheat, soybean, and rice ranking among the most widely cultivated crops. These major crops are predominantly grown within extensive cropping systems. However, these systems are threatened by fungal diseases, which may cause substantial yield reductions. The most widely adopted strategy to manage fungal pathogens in extensively grown crops worldwide is chemical control. Nevertheless, this strategy has multiple drawbacks and potential hazards, including pathogen resistance, environmental contamination, and negative effects on human health and other organisms. As a logical result, over the last decades, conventional agricultural systems have been questioned and a transition toward more sustainable production methods has emerged. The new productive paradigm emphasizes the adoption of eco-friendly approaches to disease management, with biofungicides and biostimulants among the new tools gaining popularity. However, establishing a regulatory framework for these tools in different countries has proven challenging due to the lack of global harmonization. The primary objective of this review is to gather dispersed information on new tools and technologies (either available in the market or being studied) applicable to extensively grown crops generated by the latest scientific advances. Additionally, the review seeks to contribute to clarifying the categorization of these new tools (biostimulants, biofungicides, plant defense inducers, and technologies such as gene editing, RNAi, nanotechnology, and physical treatment) to enhance their understanding and to critically assess their potentials, challenges, and future perspectives. Furthermore, the review aims to identify tools successfully implemented in horticulture or other intensive production systems but not yet practically applied in extensively grown crops, to pave the way for future advances and potential adaptations of these tools to suit extensive agricultural practices. Finally, this review presents a practical disease management model that incorporates new tools to address a key disease in wheat.