Food system by-products upcycled in livestock and aquaculture feeds can increase global food supply

Effect of supplementing high-fiber or high-starch concentrates or a 50:50 mix of both to late-lactation dairy cows fed cut herbage on methane production, milk yield, and ruminal fermentation

High-fiber and high-starch concentrates are used as supplements to meet the energy demand of lactating cows or to fill herbage shortage in pastoral systems. Additionally, concentrates can be a tool to mitigate enteric methane (CH4) per unit of DMI (CH4 yield) and per unit of milk production. This study aimed to compare the effects of supplementing herbage-fed late-lactation dairy cows with high-fiber (FIB), high-starch (STA), or a 50:50 mix of both concentrates (MIX) compared with no supplementation (CON) on CH4 emission parameters and ruminal fermentation. Multiparous cows (Friesian × Jersey, average ± SD; 3.8 ± 0.8 yr old; 519 ± 50 kg BW, 211 ± 10 DIM; n = 32) were blocked by lactation number and then randomly allocated to receive (on a DM basis) the following: 0 kg/d of concentrate (CON), 5 kg/d of STA, 5 kg/d of FIB, or 5 kg/d of MIX (2.5 kg each of STA and FIB). After at least 14 d of diet adaptation, the CH4 emissions, DMI, and milk production were measured in respiration chambers for 48 h, ruminal fluid was collected after chamber measurements, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were analyzed. Daily milk production was recorded, and milk samples were analyzed for milk composition. The CH4 production (g/d) tended to be greater in concentrate-fed cows than CON cows. The CH4 yield was similar across the dietary treatments. The CH4 per kg of TS (calculated as fat plus protein production) was 22% less and tended to be up to 24% less per kg of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) in concentrate-fed cows than CON cows mainly due to an increase in FPCM production. After morning and afternoon feeding, the time to reach peak CH4 emissions was less in concentrate-fed cows than CON cows. The variation in the CH4 emission rate after morning feeding was greater in concentrate-supplemented cows than CON cows. The ruminal SCFA profile was similar among treatments. Regardless of the dietary treatment, the acetate plus butyrate to propionate plus valerate ratio was positively associated with CH4 yield, FPCM, and peak CH4 emission rate and negatively associated with the CH4 decline rate after peak emissions. High-starch, high-fiber, or mixed (50:50) concentrates trended to reduce the CH4 per unit of FPCM by up to 24% in lactating cows eating fresh herbage as a basal diet.

Enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefinery

Valuable feed crops and fossil fuel energy are used to produce animal meat. To become sustainable, meat production methods must adapt to include non-food substrates and renewable fossil-fuel alternatives. We evaluated the potential of protein livestock feed and biodiesel production through insect biorefining. The bioconversion efficiency of organic waste into black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) biomass was 32.0-35.8% after 24 d. The protein and lipid composition of BSFL changed with the cultivation time. The substrate influenced lipid content, and low lipid content led to lower lipid accumulation in the BSFL. Nevertheless, the potential productivity of proteins (42,471-48,345 kg ha-1 y-1) and lipids (41,642-64,708 kg ha-1 y-1) from BSFL cultivation with organic waste was higher than that of conventional livestock feed/biodiesel feedstocks, such as maize or soybean. In conclusion, insect biorefineries using BSFL can contribute significantly to the establishment of sustainable meat production.

High-added-value compounds recovery from supercritical fluid extraction-defatted European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) viscera by lactic acid bacteria (L. plantarum and L. casei) assisted fermentation

In this study, supercritical-CO2 (25.0 MPa, 40 °C, 75 min, 10.0 mL/min) was used to defeat sea bass viscera to facilitate the fermentation process. Then, the defatted samples were used as raw material to be fermented by lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei) over 72 h. After fermentation, solid matrices and supernatants were separated by centrifugation and analyzed for protein content, bioactive peptides, and minerals. Both LAB strains significantly (P < 0.05) increased protein content (24.9 % and 27.4 %) in the supernatants. Six bioactive peptides were identified, demonstrating antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antithrombotic, immunomodulatory, and hypolipidemic properties. Some 28 antioxidant peptide sequences were found, especially for EL (glutamic acid-phenylalanine) and KD (lysine-aspartic acid). Moreover, the mineral results showed the possibility of mineral accessibility, while the LAB strains also notably enhanced the antioxidants of the supernatants. This study highlights the potential of fish side streams in generating bioactive compounds through fermentation.

Thermo-reversible gelation and enhanced umami perception of myofibrillar proteins induced by protein-glutaminase-mediated deamidation

In this study, the absolute electrostatic charge of myofibrillar protein (MP) was substantially increased by protein-glutaminase (PG) treatment, which was a critical step for achieving the dissociation and solubility of MP under low salt condition. The PG-treated MP exhibited the capacity to form thermo-reversible gels that could be melted through heating and subsequently reformed into a stable gel structure upon refrigeration. The results of SDS-PAGE further revealed that the levels of soluble monomeric myosin and actin in the supernatant of deamidated MP (DMP) gels were markedly elevated, and confirmed the increased formation of intermolecular disulfide bond between myosin and actin. Additionally, moderate deamidation was beneficial for the improvements of MP gel properties, especially in terms of water-holding capacity and springiness. Electronic tongue and correlation analysis indicated that the umami perception of DMP was significantly enhanced because of the conversion of glutamine (Gln) to glutamate (Glu) residues that induced by PG deamidation.

Effect of by-products-based diet and intramuscular fat content on volatile compounds from pork

This study evaluated the effects of a fibre- and fat-rich by-products-based diet and the intramuscular fat (IMF) content on volatile compounds in pork. Meat samples were collected from sixteen gilts included in a feeding trial. Half of the animals were fed a conventional diet based on wheat, maize, barley and soybean meal, whereas the other half were fed a by-products-based diet that contained corn germ meal, malt sprouts, crispbread meal and proticorn, but no cereals or soya. Within each dietary treatment, four meat samples were selected from pigs in the upper quartile of IMF content (average 2.40 % ± 0.18 %, n = 8) and four from the lower quartile of IMF content (average 1.45 % ± 0.10 %, n = 8). SPME-GC-MS was used to evaluate the volatile profile of pork. A total of 45 volatile compounds were identified in the cooked pork samples. Aldehydes were the predominant chemical class in terms of the number of identified volatile compounds. No diet × IMF interaction was observed for the abundance of volatile compounds. Dietary treatment and IMF content significantly influenced the abundance of one and two aldehydes, respectively. Hexanal was more abundant in the meat of animals fed the conventional diet compared to the diet based on by-products. Tridecanal and tetradecanal were less abundant in pork with higher IMF levels. As precursors of volatile compounds, fatty acids were also analysed in the raw meat samples by GC. The concentrations of most fatty acids were higher in pork with higher IMF content but were not affected by diet. In conclusion, the volatile compounds profile of pork was only marginally affected by IMF content and feeding a by-products-based diet in the present study.

- Invited Review - Challenges and constraints to the sustainability of poultry farming in China

China's poultry industry is characterized by large-scale production and rich breeds, presenting both opportunities and challenges. In 2023, the industry produced 10.79 billion broilers, 28.38 million tons of eggs, and 4.88 billion waterfowl. The foundation of a thriving poultry industry lies in the continuous improvement of breeds. For instance, new lines of Lueyang black-boned chickens have been developed using genomic selection breeding, with a focus on improving production performance and unlocking their high-quality genetic potential. Precision nutrition programs enhance the expression of poultry's genetic potential and improve feed utilization efficiency. The five-dimensional feed evaluation system and the comprehensive National Feed Database provide formulators with accurate nutritional parameters of feed. Additionally, the concept of "nutrition power" and the "five-ring gold standard" enable researchers to analyze poultry's digestive physiology more effectively. Feeding management plays a crucial role in optimizing genetic potential and the effectiveness of precision nutrition. To further boost production efficiency, smart farming systems have been implemented, incorporating intelligent management of environmental factors, animal parameters, and poultry health tracking. Meanwhile, in order to improve material utilization efficiency across the entire poultry production chain and support the sustainable development of the poultry industry, it is essential to optimize and promote the application of the Poultry-Crop interaction systems. In summary, strengthening fundamental research in poultry, optimizing smart poultry farm platforms, and implementing Poultry-Crop Interacting systems will drive the sustainable development of China's poultry industry.

Impact of krill (Euphausia superba) meal on growth performance of aquatic animals: A meta-analysis and prospective directions

Antarctic krill meal (KM) (Euphausia superba) as a substitute for fishmeal in aquatic animal diets is gaining popularity worldwide. A quantitative approach investigating the efficacy of using this protein on the production performance of aquatic animals remains widely limited. Here, we employed a meta-analysis to quantify the overall effects (Hedges'g [g] value effect size) of KM on the specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and survival rate (SR) of several aquaculture species. A total of 22 records published during 2006 to 2022 from different countries, targeting 14 aquatic species, were employed in the present study. Overall, KM has a high nutritional value relative to fishmeal, particularly from the high protein and amino acid composition. Dietary KM significantly increased the overall effect size of SGR (g = 1.92) (P = 0.001); the positive effect was illustrated in marine species (g = 1.32 to 9.10) (P < 0.05) and sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) (g = 6.59) (P < 0.001). The overall g value for FCR (-2.42) was significantly improved compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The inclusion of KM in aquatic animal diets did not affect g value of PER (1.52, 95% confidence interval: -1.04 to 4.07) and survival rate (0.08, 95% confidence interval: -0.63 to 0.79) (P = 0.252 and 0.208, respectively). The meta-regression models indicated that SGR of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was significantly correlated with dietary KM by a positive linear model (P = 0.022). The cod and sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii) appeared to efficiently utilize krill-containing diets as illustrated by a negative linear model (P = 0.011 and P = 0.024, respectively) between dietary KM and FCR. Dietary KM positively correlated with PER for Atlantic cod (P = 0.021). Our meta-analysis highlighted the significant outcome of KM in diets for aquaculture species by reducing pressure on forage fish from marine resources and sparing edible foods. Specifically, including KM significantly reduced economic fish-in fish-out (eFIFO) in four taxa - the top forage fish consumers (P < 0.05): marine fish, salmon, shrimp, and trout. The meta-analysis revealed the decreased food-competition feedstuff in diets for important aquaculture species (P < 0.05) fed dietary KM. The outlook for efficient use of KM from marine resources in aquafeeds was elucidated in the present work.

Pressure on Global Forests: Implications of Rising Vegetable Oils Consumption Under the EAT-Lancet Diet

Global food production faces significant challenges, acting as a primary driver of land use change, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while a significant part of the world's population still struggles with food security and nutrition. In response, the EAT-Lancet Commission has proposed a healthy and sustainable planetary diet aimed at reducing resource-intensive foods like meat, starchy vegetables, and eggs, while suggesting a 67% increase in global per capita unsaturated oil consumption (e.g., soybean, sunflower, rapeseed) and the maintenance of the current palm oil intake. Using a spatially explicit land allocation algorithm, we assess how future global food oil demand for the expected 9.2 billion people by 2050 might impact forests and other carbon-rich ecosystems, along with associated land use change GHG emissions. We also evaluate the potential consequences of substituting palm oil with other vegetable oils, noting their different health and environmental implications. Results show that the projected 74% rise in global vegetable oil production for food by 2050 would require 317 million hectares of land-a 68% increase compared to maintaining current consumption. This could escalate pressure on forests and threaten global food security, potentially causing 115-120 million hectares of deforestation and 1163-1210 Mt. CO2 per year of GHG emissions from land use change, an 87% rise compared to maintaining current consumption rates. However, the EAT-Lancet diet foresees a reduction in other high-impact foods, potentially freeing other lands and reducing overall projected global food GHG emissions. Another relevant finding reveals that replacing palm oil with other oils would result in increasing land needs, up to 385 million hectares with a potential 148 million hectares of deforestation, and GHG emissions, up to 1525 Mt. CO2 per year, thus not representing a conclusive and viable solution towards sustainability. Instead, along with the growing importance of certification schemes for sustainable and deforestation-free food supply chains, ensuring sustainable production of all vegetable oils emerges as a critical strategy to prevent the conversion of biodiverse and carbon-rich lands.

Integrative Omics and Gene Knockout Analyses Suggest a Possible Gossypol Detoxification Mechanism and Potential Key Regulatory Genes of a Ruminal Lactobacillus rhamnosus Strain

Gossypol removal is crucial for the resourceful utilization of cottonseed meals in the food and feed industries. Herein, we investigated the comprehensive detoxification mechanism of a gossypol-tolerant strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (WK331) newly isolated from the rumen. Biodegradation assays showed that WK331 removes over 80% of free gossypol, of which 50% was biodegraded and 30% was converted into bound gossypol. Mass spectrometry identified eight novel degradation products of gossypol and proposed two previously unrecognized metabolic pathways: removal of the aldehyde group and cleavage of the naphthalene ring. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that an antioxidant defense system comprising NADH oxidase, thioredoxin peroxidase, and glutathione peroxidase is pivotal for enhancing gossypol tolerance. Subsequent gene knockout analysis found that bifunctional acetaldehyde-CoA/alcohol dehydrogenase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase play important regulatory roles in gossypol biodegradation. Collectively, our findings unmask a novel detoxification mechanism of gossypol in ruminal bacteria, which may contribute to the further development of gossypol-degrading enzymes.

Fish processing side streams are promising ingredients in diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) -Effects on growth physiology, appetite, and intestinal health

Due to the growth of aquaculture and the finite supply of fishmeal and oil, alternative marine protein and lipid sources are highly sought after. Particularly promising is the use of side streams from the fish processing industry, allowing for the recovery and retention of otherwise lost nutrients in the food production chain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of three fish processing side streams as fish feed ingredients. The side streams originated from different stages of the production chain, were used without further processing, and included sprat trimmings (heads, frames, viscera), marinated herring (fillets), and mackerel in tomato sauce (fillets and sauce). The three side streams contained moderate levels of protein (28-32% dry matter) and high levels of lipid (34-43%). The sprat trimmings included ca. 29% ash and 1.5% phosphorous, which may add value due to the high level of essential minerals but needs to be considered in feed formulations. Three diets were formulated to include 50% of each side stream replacing all fishmeal and ca. 80% of the fish oil of the control diet, which contained 35% fishmeal and 10% fish oil. The diets were evaluated in a 12-week feeding trial using rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish fed the sprat diet displayed the highest feed intake and growth and showed no negative effects on the intestinal health. The mackerel side stream displayed a good digestibility but resulted in lower growth rates compared to the sprat trimmings. Fish fed the herring diet displayed the lowest performance regarding growth, feed intake, and digestibility. They further exhibited a reduction in nutrient uptake in both proximal and distal intestines, likely contributing to the observed lower digestibility and growth, and a reduction in plasma ghrelin levels. As part of a circular approach to increase marine lipid and protein production for fish feed, the tested sprat and mackerel side streams are promising raw materials; however, additional studies using more commercial-like feed formulations are encouraged.

Clustering and classification for dry bean feature imbalanced data

The traditional machine learning methods such as decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) have low classification performance. This paper proposes an algorithm for the dry bean dataset and obesity levels dataset that can balance the minority class and the majority class and has a clustering function to improve the traditional machine learning classification accuracy and various performance indicators such as precision, recall, f1-score, and area under curve (AUC) for imbalanced data. The key idea is to use the advantages of borderline-synthetic minority oversampling technique (BLSMOTE) to generate new samples using samples on the boundary of minority class samples to reduce the impact of noise on model building, and the advantages of K-means clustering to divide data into different groups according to similarities or common features. The results show that the proposed algorithm BLSMOTE + K-means + SVM is superior to other traditional machine learning methods in classification and various performance indicators. The BLSMOTE + K-means + DT generates decision rules for the dry bean dataset and the the obesity levels dataset, and the BLSMOTE + K-means + RF ranks the importance of explanatory variables. These experimental results can provide scientific evidence for decision-makers.

Ex-Foods Diets Affect the Fatty Acid Profile of the Abdominal Adipose Tissue Without Significantly Affecting the Plasma Metabolome of Postweaning Piglets

Food leftovers can be used as alternative feed ingredients for monogastric to replace human-competing feedstuffs, such as cereals, recycle a waste product, reduce the feed-food competition and keep nutrients and energy in the feed-food chain. Among food leftovers, former food products (FFPs) are no more intended for human but still suitable for animal consumption. However, the metabolic impact of FFP has never been investigated. In this study, we evaluated the impact of replacing 30% of conventional cereals with FFP on abdominal fat quality and plasma metabolome modulation in postweaning piglets. Thirty-six Large White × Landrace postweaning piglets (28 days old) were randomly assigned to three dietary groups for 42 days: control (CTR), 30% replacement of CTR with salty FFP (SA), 30% replacement of CTR with sugary FFP (SU). Body weight and feed intake were measured to calculate average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The fatty acid profile of the diets and the abdominal adipose tissue was determined and a mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics investigation was performed on plasma samples. The growth performance was not significantly affected by SA and SU diets. Despite the different fatty acid profile of the diets, the fatty acid profile of the adipose tissue was rebalanced in piglets. The plasma metabolome was more affected by the time factor rather than the treatment factor. Six metabolites were significantly altered in SA and SU groups compared to CTR: caffeine, theobromine, proline-betaine, dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (PC 32:0), spermidine and l-tryptophan. Caffeine and glycerophospholipid pathways were significantly different between CTR and SA and SU groups, although no impact on other metabolic pathways was observed. Overall, the limited impact of FFP on the abdominal fat, plasma metabolome and related pathways in postweaning piglets demonstrated the value of FFP as innovative and sustainable feed ingredients to replace human-competing feedstuffs.

Hermetia illucens Larvae Meal Enhances Immune Response by Improving Serum Immunoglobulin, Intestinal Barrier and Gut Microbiota of Sichuan White Geese After Avian Influenza Vaccination

Hermetia illucens Larvae Meal (HILM) has been observed to enhance growth performance and immune function, yet the effects and mechanisms in geese remain less understood. Experiment I included 64 Sichuan White Geese to investigate the optimal additive amount of HILM in diet, and experiment II included 32 Sichuan White Geese to access serum immunoglobulin, spleen immune-related genes, intestinal morphology and gut microbiota at the optimal additive amount of HILM. The results showed that the addition of 1% HILM significantly increased the ADG of Sichuan White Geese (p < 0.05), serum H5-R14 and H7-R4 strain titer at 33 d (p < 0.01) and H5-R13 strain titer (p < 0.05) at 40 d, which is the optimal dose of this trial. Experiment II revealed that the 1% HILM significantly increased serum IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG3 and complement C3 (p < 0.05) and the mRNA expressions of IL-6 (p < 0.05) and CD4 (p < 0.01) in the spleen. The intestinal morphology was improved, and the secretion of SIgA and mRNA expression of Occludin in the jejunum were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Additionally, the abundance of Campilobacterota, Barnesiellaceae and Barnesiella was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while the abundance of Lactobacillaceae was significantly increased (p < 0.05). This research provides new insights into the use of HILM in geese production.

Sustainable food systems under environmental footprints: The delicate balance from farm to table

In today's world, agriculture is not only about food production but also a critical factor in global environmental change, economic stability, and human health, among other aspects. With population growth and increasingly scarce resources, exploring sustainable development of food systems has become crucial. Achieving this goal requires striking a delicate balance among food security, economic development, ecological environment, and human health. Traditional approaches to sustainable agricultural development research often focus solely on singular domains, overlooking the inherent connections and interactions among environmental, socioeconomic, and health dimensions. This perspective limits our comprehensive understanding of food systems. Environmental footprint assessments can be integrated with economic, systemic, and decision models to analyze environmental, socioeconomic, and health issues within food systems. This integration accurately captures the diversity, overlap, accumulation, and heterogeneity of environmental pressures resulting from human and natural factors. Therefore, we propose an innovative conceptual framework that considers environmental, socioeconomic, and health dimensions as crucial components, with the environmental footprint indicators at its core, to link various stages from farm to table. This framework constructs an evidence gap map, integrating dispersed data and perspectives from existing literature, thus showing knowledge gaps across these domains. Such an interdisciplinary approach not only provides a more comprehensive perspective on the multidimensional complexity of sustainable food systems but also reveals potential synergies and conflicts among environmental, socioeconomic, and health domains, thereby guiding more comprehensive and cautious policy-making. Importantly, it provides direction for future research to achieve the sustainable development of food systems, emphasizing the necessity of a comprehensive, integrated research perspective, particularly in strengthening studies on composited footprints, viewing the entire farm-to-table continuum holistically. Stakeholders must collaborate and coordinate environmental, socioeconomic, and health objectives to drive the sustainable development of food systems.

Towards sustainable upcycling of side streams of purple bread wheat using dry fractionation: Enhancing bioactive compounds and reducing harmful elements

Side streams from milling result in significant food wastage. While highly nutritious, their harmful elements raise concerns. To repurpose these side streams safely, this study designed a dry fractionation technique for anthocyanin-rich purple bread wheat. Four fractions - from inner to outer layers: flour, middlings, shorts and bran - alongside whole-wheat flour were obtained and examined by microstructure, antioxidant activity, anthocyanin profiles, and essential and harmful minerals. Across the four investigated cultivars, both anthocyanin content and antioxidant capacity increased from inner to outer layers. In comparison to flour, cyanidin-3-glucoside concentrations in middlings, shorts and bran were 2-5 times, 3-9 times, and 6-19 times, respectively. Concentrations of Cr, Ni, Sr and Ba progressively increased from inner to outer layers, Pb and Se exhibited uniform distribution, while Al was more concentrated in inner layers. These findings indicate that the fractionation technique is effective in deriving valuable ingredients from underexploited side streams, especially bran.

Neurospora intermedia from a traditional fermented food enables waste-to-food conversion

Fungal fermentation of food and agricultural by-products holds promise for improving food sustainability and security. However, the molecular basis of fungal waste-to-food upcycling remains poorly understood. Here we use a multi-omics approach to characterize oncom, a fermented food traditionally produced from soymilk by-products in Java, Indonesia. Metagenomic sequencing of samples from small-scale producers in Western Java indicated that the fungus Neurospora intermedia dominates oncom. Further transcriptomic, metabolomic and phylogenomic analysis revealed that oncom-derived N. intermedia utilizes pectin and cellulose degradation during fermentation and belongs to a genetically distinct subpopulation associated with human-generated by-products. Finally, we found that N. intermedia grew on diverse by-products such as fruit and vegetable pomace and plant-based milk waste, did not encode mycotoxins, and could create foods that were positively perceived by consumers outside Indonesia. These results showcase the traditional significance and future potential of fungal fermentation for creating delicious and nutritious foods from readily available by-products.

From Food Waste to Sustainable Agriculture: Nutritive Value of Potato By-Product in Total Mixed Ration for Angus Bulls

Raw potato fries are a type of potato by-product (PBP), and they have great potential as a partial replacement of grain in animal feeds to improve the environmental sustainability of food production. This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing corn with different levels of PBP (0%, 12.84%, 25.65%, and 38.44%) in the total mixed ration (TMR) of Angus bull. Sixty 16-month-old Angus bulls (548.5 ± 15.0 kg, mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to four treatments. The results indicated that with the increase in the substitution amount of PBP, the body weight decreased significantly. The dry matter apparent digestibility and starch apparent digestibility linearly decreased as PBP replacement increased. The feed ingredient composition in the TMR varied, leading to a corresponding change in the rumen microbiota, especially in cellulolytic bacteria and amylolytic bacteria. The abundance of Succiniclasticum in the 12.84% PBP and 38.44% PBP diets was significantly higher than that in the 0% PBP and 25.65% PBP diets. The abundance of Ruminococcus linearly increased. In conclusion, using PBP to replace corn for beef cattle had no negative impact on rumen fermentation, and the decrease in apparent digestibility explained the change in growth performance. Its application in practical production is highly cost-effective and a strategy to reduce food waste.

Effects of dietary supplementation with heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory response of juvenile large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea)

A ten-week culture trial in juvenile large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) (10.80 ± 0.10 g) was conducted to assess the impact of supplementing heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus (HLA) on growth performance, intestinal digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity and inflammatory response. Five iso-nitrogenous (42 % crude protein) and iso-lipidic (12 % crude lipid) experimental feeds with different levels of HLA (0.0 %, 0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.4 %, or 0.8 %) were prepared. They were named FO (control group), HLA0.1, HLA0.2, HLA0.4 and HLA0.8, respectively. The results indicated that HLA addition had no impact on survival (P > 0.05). In this experiment, the final body weight, weight gain rate and specific growth rate showed a quadratic regression trend, initially increasing and subsequently decreasing with the increasing in HLA levels, and attained the peak value at 0.2 % HLA supplemental level (P < 0.05). In contrast to the control group, in terms of digestive ability, amylase, lipase and trypsin exhibited a notable linear and quadratic pattern, demonstrating a substantial increase when 0.1% 0.2 % HLA was added in the diets (P < 0.05). Notably, elevated levels of catalase (CAT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were observed in the liver when adding 0.1%-0.2 % HLA, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly decreased and the liver exhibited a notable upregulation in the mRNA expression levels of nrf2, cat, sod2, and sod3 (P < 0.05). Additionally, the mRNA levels of genes associated with tight junctions in the intestines (zo-1, zo-2 and occludin) exhibited a significant upregulation when 0.2 % HLA was added in the feed (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of mRNA expression for proinflammatory genes in the intestines including tnf-α, il-1β, il-6 and il-8 exhibited a quadratic regression trend, characterized by an initial decline followed by subsequent growth (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the levels of mRNA expression for genes linked to anti-inflammatory responses in the intestines (including il-10, tgf-β, and arg1) exhibited a quadratic regression pattern, initially increasing and subsequently decreasing (P < 0.05). Compare with the control group, the levels of tnf-α, il-1β and il-8 expression were notably downregulated in all HLA addition groups (P < 0.05). When 0.2 % HLA was added, the expression levels of il-10, tgf-β and arg1 in the intestinal tract were markedly increased (P < 0.05). Overall, the supplementation of 0.2 % HLA in the feed has been shown to enhance the growth performance. The enhancement was attributed to HLA's capacity to improve antioxidant function, intestinal barrier integrity, and mitigate inflammatory responses. This research offers a scientific foundation for the utilization of HLA in aquaculture.

Palm kernel meal regulates the expression of genes involved in the amino acid metabolism in the liver of Tibetan sheep

BACKGROUND

Palm kernel meal (PKM) is a by-product of oil palm kernel after oil extraction, which is widely used in animal feeds due to its high energy content. This study aimed to investigate the impact of supplementing Tibetan sheep with PKM on their hepatic phenotype, oxidative stress and immune response. A total of 120 Tibetan lambs (Initial weight = 12.37 ± 0.92 kg) were randomly assigned into four groups: control group (C group, 0% PKM diet), low group (L group, 15% PKM diet), middle group (M group, 18% PKM diet), and high group (H group, 21% PKM diet) on a dry matter basis. The feeding experiment was performed for 130 d, including a 10 d adaption period.

RESULTS

Results showed that the level of GSH-Px were higher in the H and M groups than in the C and L groups (P < 0.05). The levels of IgM and TNF-α were higher in the M group when compared to those on the C group (P < 0.05). The level of IgA was significantly higher in the M group than in the H group (P < 0.05). Additionally, compared with the others groups, the hepatocytes in the M group displayed a radial arrangement, forming hepatic plates that were centered around the central vein. The transcriptome results revealed that proteasome 26 S subunit, ATPase 3 (PSMC3), proteasome 26 S subunit, ATPase 5 (PSMC5), proteasome 26 S subunit ubiquitin receptor, non-ATPase 4 (PSMD4), proteasome activator subunit 1 (PSME1), acyl-CoA dehydrogenase short/branched chain (ACADSB), enoyl-CoA hydratase, short chain 1 (ECHS1), serine dehydratase (SDS), ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), and phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) were the hub genes regulating the amino acid metabolism in the liver.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, dietary 18% PMK supplementation contributed to improve the hepatic phenotype, oxidative stress and immune response through regulating the expression of related genes.

Transcriptional response to an alternative diet on liver, muscle, and rumen of beef cattle

Feed cost represents a major economic determinant within cattle production, amounting to an estimated 75% of the total variable costs. Consequently, comprehensive approaches such as optimizing feed utilization through alternative feed sources, alongside the selection of feed-efficient animals, are of great significance. Here, we investigate the effect of two diets, traditional corn-grain fed and alternative by-product based, on 14 phenotypes related to feed, methane emission and production efficiency and on multi-tissue transcriptomics data from liver, muscle, and rumen wall, derived from 52 Nellore bulls, 26 on each diet. To this end, diets were contrasted at the level of phenotype, gene expression, and gene-phenotype network connectivity. As regards the phenotypic level, at a P value < 0.05, significant differences were found in favour of the alternative diet for average daily weight gain at finishing, dry matter intake at finishing, methane emission, carcass yield and subcutaneous fat thickness at the rib-eye muscle area. In terms of the transcriptional level of the 14,776 genes expressed across the examined tissues, we found 487, 484, and 499 genes differentially expressed due to diet in liver, muscle, and rumen, respectively (P value < 0.01). To explore differentially connected phenotypes across both diet-based networks, we focused on the phenotypes with the largest change in average number of connections within diets and tissues, namely methane emission and carcass yield, highlighting, in particular, gene expression changes involving SREBF2, and revealing the largest differential connectivity in rumen and muscle, respectively. Similarly, from examination of differentially connected genes across diets, the top-ranked most differentially connected regulators within each tissue were MEOX1, PTTG1, and BASP1 in liver, muscle, and rumen, respectively. Changes in gene co-expression patterns suggest activation or suppression of specific biological processes and pathways in response to dietary interventions, consequently impacting the phenotype. The identification of genes that respond differently to diets and their associated phenotypic effects serves as a crucial stepping stone for further investigations, aiming to build upon our discoveries. Ultimately, such advancements hold the promise of improving animal welfare, productivity, and sustainability in livestock farming.

Feeding pomegranate pulp to Ghezel lambs for enhanced productivity and meat quality

Agrifood by-products contain nutrients and bioactive compounds that can be used in the diets of livestock - thereby value-adding to an otherwise waste product of environmental and economic significance. This study investigated the effect of dietary pomegranate pulp in the total mixed ration of Ghezel lambs, evaluating its effect on growth performance, blood parameters, carcass traits, as well as meat quality and shelf life. 3-month-old Ghezel lambs (individually housed, n = 8) were randomly assigned to be either non-supplemented (control) or supplemented with 100 g/kg DM of sun-dried pomegranate pulp for 28 days, post-adjustment. Results showed that supplementation of lamb diets with pomegranate pulp significantly increased liveweight and average daily gains, while not significantly affecting dry matter intake. Lamb serum urea and alkaline phosphatase concentrations and hot carcass weight were increased with pomegranate pulp supplementation. Compared to control lambs, the meat from lambs fed the supplemented diet had higher concentrations of intramuscular fat, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid, total unsaturated fatty acid, and meat phenolic compounds. Pomegranate pulp supplemented lambs also had a higher ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids; and produced liver tissue with less fat and ash contents. Meat oxidative status (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) and quality (water holding capacity, colour, and pH) were improved when lambs were supplemented with pomegranate pulp. These findings demonstrate that using pomegranate pulp as a feed for Ghezel lambs has advantageous effects on animal performance and meat quality, offering valorisation of an agrifood by-product.

An optimized crop-livestock system can achieve a safe and just planetary boundary for phosphorus at the sub-basin level in China

The contribution of crop and livestock production to the exceedance of the planetary boundary for phosphorus (P) in China is still unclear, despite the country's well-known issues with P fertilizer overuse and P-related water pollution. Using coupled models at sub-basin scales we estimate that livestock production increased the consumption of P fertilizer fivefold and exacerbated P losses twofold from 1980 to 2017. At present, China's crop-livestock system is responsible for exceeding what is considered a 'just' threshold for fertilizer P use by 30% (ranging from 17% to 68%) and a 'safe' water quality threshold by 45% (ranging from 31% to 74%) in 25 sub-basins in China. Improving the crop-livestock system will keep all sub-basins within safe water quality and just multigenerational limits for P in 2050.

Challenges and opportunities when moving food production and consumption toward sustainable diets in the Nordics: a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023

The terms 'Nordic countries' or 'The Nordics' include the five countries Denmark, Finland, Island, Norway, and Sweden. This review includes evaluation of the Nordic countries against Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)/World Health Organizations' (WHO) guiding principles for healthy, sustainable diets with respect to environmental impact (principles #9 - #13) and sociocultural aspects (principles #14 - #16). A food systems perspective is taken to summarize and discuss the most important challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable diets. Food system, food security, self-sufficiency, and resilience perspectives are applied. The information can underpin decisions when developing and implementing Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) in the Nordics. None of the Nordic countries are on track to reach the 2030 UN climate and biodiversity goals. We describe how food production, processing, and consumption contribute to these and other environmental challenges, and what kinds of dietary changes/transitions consistent with these goals are required. A major challenge is the high production and consumption of meat and too low consumption of fish, vegetables, and fruits. Meat production is a major source of emissions and, together with farmed fish, heavily dependent on imported feed ingredients, leaving a large land-use and water footprint in exporting countries while domestic land resources are not used optimally. Dietary patterns have changed drastically over the past 50 years, and in large parts of the population, meat consumption has doubled since the 1970s, rendering historic food culture less useful as a basis for present-day recommendations. The Nordics have Europe's lowest use of antibiotics in animal and fish production and have made some progress in reducing food waste along the food chain. A major opportunity is better alignment of food production and consumption based on local or regional production potentials, in conjunction with better and more constructive integration with the global food system while integrating novel technologies to reduce emissions and resource use.

Evaluating Yield, Nutritional Quality, and Environmental Impact of Quinoa Straws across Mediterranean Water Environments

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a promising and versatile crop due to its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments and the exceptional nutritional value of its seeds. Nevertheless, despite the recent extensive research on quinoa seeds, the straw associated with this crop has received comparatively little attention. The valorisation of this by-product provides an opportunity to improve the overall outcomes of quinoa cultivation. In this work, three quinoa varieties were evaluated for two years (2019 and 2020) under three different Mediterranean water environments (irrigation, fresh rainfed, and hard rainfed), aiming to assess the straw yield and nutritional quality and to study the changes in the crop nutritional uptake associated with different water environmental conditions. The nutritional analysis included the quantification of the ash, crude protein, crude fat, minerals (P, K, Ca, Mg), and fibre (gross fibre (GF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), hemicellulose, cellulose) contents. As the results reveal, most of the parameters evaluated were susceptible to change mainly with the water environment but also with the genotype (or their interaction), including the yield, crude protein, relative feed value (RFV), and mineral content, which generally decreased under water-limiting conditions. Moreover, a comparative analysis revealed that straw Ca, Mg, and K contents were generally higher than in seeds. Overall, this study demonstrates that quinoa straw quality is genotypic and environmentally dependent, and these factors should be considered when aiming at improving straw feed value for livestock nutrition.

Wild fish consumption can balance nutrient retention in farmed fish

Wild fish used as aquafeeds could be redirected towards human consumption to support sustainable marine resource use. Here we use mass-balance fish-in/fish-out ratio approaches to assess nutrient retention in salmon farming and identify scenarios that provide more nutrient-rich food to people. Using data on Norway's salmon farms, our study revealed that six of nine dietary nutrients had higher yields in wild fish used for feeds, such as anchovies and mackerel, than in farmed salmon production. Reallocating one-third of food-grade wild feed fish towards direct human consumption would increase seafood production, while also retaining by-products for use as aquafeeds, thus maximizing nutrient utilization of marine resources.

Crop byproducts supplemented in livestock feeds reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Crop byproducts can be supplemented in livestock feeds to improve the utilization of resources and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We explored the mitigation potential of GHG emissions by supplementing crop byproducts in feeds based on a typical intensive dairy farm in China. Results showed that GHG emissions associated with production of forage were significantly decreased by 25.60 % when no GHG emissions were allocated to crop byproducts, and enteric methane emission was significantly decreased by 13.46 % on the basis of CO2 eq, g/kg fat and protein corrected milk. The supplementation did not affect lactation performance, rumen microbiota and microbial enzymes at the gene level. Metabolomics analysis revealed changes in amino acid catabolism of rumen fluid, which were probably responsible for more propionate production. In conclusion, supplementing crop byproducts in feeds can be a potential strategy to reduce GHG emissions of livestock.

Sustainable pig diets: partial grain replacement with former food products and its impact on meat quality

This study investigated the effects of salty and sugary former foodstuff products (FFPs) on the quality traits and meat composition of 36 male castrated pigs (Swiss Large White breed) as well as sensory characteristics of the loins. The animals were fed three different diets for both the growing (G) and finishing (F) phases: (1) a standard diet (ST), 0% FFPs; (2) a diet with 30% of sugary FFPs (e.g., chocolate, biscuits, cakes) as a replacement for traditional ingredients (SU); and (3) a diet with 30% of salty FFPs (e.g., bread, pasta, and breadsticks) as a replacement for traditional ingredients (SA). For a comprehensive assessment of meat quality, protein and fat content in the LD were analyzed. AA and FA profile were determined both in the LD and backfat. Meat quality traits such as pH and temperature, thawing, cooking and drip losses, and shear force have been evaluated. Then, pork loins have been assessed for sensory attributes by a trained sensory panel. The SA diet decreased 20:5 n-3 levels (P < 0.001) in the muscle and 22:5 n-3 levels (P < 0.05) in both muscle and backfat but increased (P < 0.05) the ratio of mono-unsaturated to saturated fatty acids compared to the ST group. Both the SU and SA diets elevated (P < 0.001) the n-6:n-3 fatty acids ratio compared to the ST diet. Dietary treatments did not affect other meat quality traits. Regarding sensory attributes, the loin from pigs fed with SU and SA diets were sweeter (P < 0.001). Loins of SA pigs were more tender (P < 0.001), had a more intense pork aroma (P < 0.001) and had more flavor (P < 0.01) compared to ST loins. Overall, the use of FFPs affected the fatty acid profile of pork while improving the sensory quality of the loins, with no negative effects observed on the technological and nutritional quality of the meat.

Rumen and fecal microbiomes are related to diet and production traits in Bos indicus beef cattle

Background

Ruminants harbor a complex microbial community within their gastrointestinal tract, which plays major roles in their health and physiology. Brazil is one of the largest producers of beef in the world and more than 90% of the beef cattle herds are composed of pure and crossbred Nelore (Bos indicus). Despite its importance to the Brazilian economy and human feeding, few studies have characterized the Nelore microbiome. Therefore, using shotgun metagenomics, we investigated the impact of diet on the composition and functionality of the Nelore microbiome, and explored the associations between specific microbial taxa and their functionality with feed efficiency and methane emission.

Results

The ruminal microbiome exhibited significantly higher microbial diversity, distinctive taxonomic profile and variations in microbial functionality compared to the fecal microbiome, highlighting the distinct contributions of the microbiomes of these environments. Animals subjected to different dietary treatments exhibited significant differences in their microbiomes' archaeal diversity and in the abundance of 89 genera, as well as in the functions associated with the metabolism of components of each diet. Moreover, depending on the diet, feed-efficient animals and low methane emitters displayed higher microbial diversity in their fecal microbiome. Multiple genera were associated with an increase or decrease of the phenotypes. Upon analyzing the functions attributed to these taxa, we observed significant differences on the ruminal taxa associated with feed efficient and inefficient cattle. The ruminal taxa that characterized feed efficient cattle stood out for having significantly more functions related to carbohydrate metabolism, such as monosaccharides, di-/oligosaccharides and amino acids. The taxa associated with methane emission had functions associated with methanogenesis and the production of substrates that may influence methane production, such as hydrogen and formate.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the significant role of diet in shaping Nelore microbiomes and how its composition and functionality may affect production traits such as feed efficiency and methane emission. These insights provide valuable support for the implementation of novel feeding and biotechnological strategies.

Amine-Functionalized Amyloid Aerogels for CO2 Capture

Climate change caused by excessive CO2 emissions constitutes an increasingly dire threat to human life. Reducing CO2 emissions alone may not be sufficient to address this issue, so that the development of emerging adsorbents for the direct capture of CO2 from the air becomes essential. Here, we apply amyloid fibrils derived from different food proteins as the solid adsorbent support and develop aminosilane-modified amyloid fibril-templated aerogels for CO2 capture applications. The results indicate that the CO2 sorption properties of the aerogels depend on the mixing ratio of aminosilane featuring different amine groups and the type of amyloid fibril used. Notably, amine-functionalized β-lactoglobulin (BLG) fibril-templated aerogels show the highest CO2 adsorption capacity of 51.52 mg (1.17 mmol) CO2 /g at 1 bar CO2 and 25.5 mg (0.58 mmol) CO2 /g at 400 ppm; similarly, the CO2 adsorption capacity of chitosan-BLG fibril hybrid aerogels is superior to that of pure chitosan. This study provides a proof-of-concept design for an amyloid fibril-templated hybrid material facilitating applications of protein-based adsorbents for CO2 capture, including direct air capture.

Preserving global land and water resources through the replacement of livestock feed crops with agricultural by-products

While animal-source foods contribute to 16% of the global food supply and are an important protein source in human diets, their production uses a disproportionately large fraction of agricultural land and water resources. Therefore, a global comprehensive understanding of the extent to which livestock production competes directly or indirectly with food crops is needed. Here we use an agro-hydrological model combined with crop-specific yield data to investigate to what extent the replacement of some substitutable feed crops with available agricultural by-products would spare agricultural land and water resources that could be reallocated to other uses, including food crop production. We show that replacing 11-16% of energy-rich feed crops (that is, cereals and cassava) with agricultural by-products would allow for the saving of approximately 15.4-27.8 Mha of land, and 3-19.6 km3 and 74.2-137.8 km3 of blue and green water, respectively, for the growth of other food crops, thus providing a suitable strategy to reduce unsustainable use of natural resources both locally or through virtual land and water trade.

Establishment of porcine fecal-derived ex vivo microbial communities to evaluate the impact of livestock feed on gut microbiome

Sustainable livestock production requires reducing competition for food and feed resources and increasing the utilization of food by-products in livestock feed. This study describes the establishment of an anaerobic batch culture model to simulate pig microbiota and evaluate the effects of a food by-product, wakame seaweed stalks, on ex vivo microbial communities. We selected one of the nine media to support the growth of a bacterial community most similar in composition and diversity to that observed in pig donor feces. Supplementation with wakame altered the microbial profile and short-chain fatty acid composition in the ex vivo model, and a similar trajectory was observed in the in vivo pig experimental validation. Notably, the presence of wakame increased the abundance of Lactobacillus species, which may have been due to cross-feeding with Bacteroides. These results suggest the potential of wakame as a livestock feed capable of modulating the pig microbiome. Collectively, this study highlights the ability to estimate the microbiome changes that occur when pigs are fed a specific feed using an ex vivo culture model.

High-Value Utilization of Marine Biological Resources

The ocean covers 71% of the surface of our planet and comprises a diverse variety of biological resources-a combination of marine animals, marine plants, and marine microorganisms that have economic value for human beings [...].

A global dataset for the production and usage of cereal residues in the period 1997-2021

Crop residue management plays an important role in determining agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and related changes in soil carbon stocks. However, no publicly-available global dataset currently exists for how crop residues are managed. Here we present such a dataset, covering the period 1997-2021, on a 0.5° resolution grid. For each grid cell we estimate the total production of residues from cereal crops, and determine the fraction of residues (i) used for livestock feed/bedding, (ii) burnt on the field, (iii) used for other off-field purposes (e.g. domestic fuel, construction or industry), and (iv) left on the field. This dataset is the first of its kind, and can be used for multiple purposes, such as global crop modelling, including the calculation of greenhouse gas inventories, estimating crop-residue availability for biofuel production or modelling livestock feed availability.

Global squid contamination by halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and its trade induced risk transfer

Squid is traded globally as an important food resource. However, the occurrence of carcinogenic halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HPAHs) in squid and the risk of their transfer through trade is little understood or recognized. Here, we comprehensively evaluated the occurrence and risk transfer by quantifying the congener-specific concentrations of HPAHs in 121 squid samples collected from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. This was the first time that nine of the 36 target chlorinated and brominated PAH congeners had been detected in squid. The HPAHs exhibited growth-dilution effects in the squid. The lipid content of squid was the most significant factor influencing HPAH bioaccumulation, while differences in squid growth and local ocean contamination influenced by geographical distribution also affected HPAH bioaccumulation. The redistribution and risk transfers of HPAHs in squid as a food could be affected by international trading. The cancer risks from squid consumption in China and Mexico were increased by 50 % and 30 %, respectively, because of international squid trading.

Chemical Composition and Functional Properties of Spray-Dried Animal Plasma and Its Contributions to Livestock and Pet Health: A Review

Spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) is a functional ingredient derived from healthy animal blood, used as a nutritional additive in livestock and pet nutrition. SDAP is rich in macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds such as immunoglobulins, albumin, growth factors, peptides, transferrin, and enzymes. This review focuses on the chemical composition of SDAP from porcine, bovine, and poultry sources, including protein quality and mineral profile. SDAP enhances performance and health in monogastric farm animals, aquaculture, and pets. It promotes growth rates and feed intake due to its high digestibility and superior amino acid profile compared to other protein sources. In pigs, SDAP's positive effects stem from tissue-specific actions in the gastrointestinal tract, impacting digestion, immunity, and barrier function. For poultry, SDAP shows promise as a substitute for antibiotic growth promoters, particularly in chick starter diets. SDAP contains functional proteins that regulate immune response, enhance intestinal health, and aid in stress conditions. It is also used as a binder in pet food, providing high protein content and other desirable properties. SDAP meets the dietary requirements of carnivorous pets, appealing to owners seeking animal-derived protein sources. Additionally, SDAP may help prevent cognitive impairment in senior dogs and cats.

Ensiling hybrid Pennisetum with lactic acid bacteria or organic acids improved the fermentation quality and bacterial community

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different additives on nutritional quality, fermentation variables and microbial diversity of hybrid Pennisetum silages. A control (CK - no additives) and seven treatments were tested, namely, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), Lentilactobacillus buchneri (LB), propionic acid (PA), calcium propionate (CAP), LP + LB; LP + PA and LP + CAP. In comparison with CK, all treatments increased the contents of crude protein and lactic acid, decreased the content of butyric acid, and altered the bacterial communities of the silage. Except for the CAP and LP + CAP treatments, the additives decreased pH and the ammonia nitrogen:total nitrogen (NH₃-N:TN) ratio. The results of principal component analysis revealed that the PA, LP + PA and LP + LB treatments ranked as the top three silages. The PA and LP + PA treatments exhibited higher water-soluble carbohydrate content, but lower pH, and NH₃-N:TN ratio than the other treatments. With the PA and LP + PA treatments, the relative abundances of Lactobacillus and Enterobacter decreased, and of Proteobacteria and Delftia increased, while the carbohydrate metabolism of the microorganisms improved. The LP and LB treatments reduced the Shannon and Simpson diversities. In the beta diversity, PA and LP + PA separated from the other treatments, indicating that there were differences in the composition of bacterial species. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus increased in the LP and LB treatments and of Leucanostoc and Weissella increased in the CAP and LP + CAP treatments. In summary, the addition of L. plantarum, L. buchneri, propionic acid, calcium propionate, and their combinations improved fermentation quality, inhibited harmful bacteria and conserved the nutrients of hybrid Pennisetum.

Review: Pig-based bioconversion: the use of former food products to keep nutrients in the food chain

The primary challenge of agriculture and livestock production is to face the growing competition between food, feed, fibre, and fuel, converting them from resource-intensive to resource-efficient. A circular economy approach, using agricultural by-products/co-products, in the livestock production system would allow to reduce, reuse, and redistribute the resources. Former food products (FFPs), also named ex-foods, could represent a valid option in strengthening resilience in animal nutrition. FFPs have a promising potential to be included regularly in animal diets due to their nutritive value, although their potential in animal nutrition remains understudied. A thorough investigation of the compositional and dietary features, thus, is essential to provide new and fundamental insights to effectively reuse FFPs as upgraded products for swine nutrition. Safety aspects, such as the microbial load or the presence of packaging remnants, should be considered with caution. Here, with a holistic approach, we review several aspects of FFPs and their use as feed ingredients: the nutritional and functional evaluation, the impact of the inclusion of FFPs in pigs' diet on growth performance and welfare, and further aspects related to safety and sustainability of FFPs.

Vegetable By-Products as Alternative and Sustainable Raw Materials for Ruminant Feeding: Nutritive Evaluation and Their Inclusion in a Novel Ration for Calf Fattening

This research aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition, in vitro digestibility, and gas production kinetics of 15 vegetable by-products generated by the agri-food industry compared with corn silage as a reference raw material. Nutritional characterization and in vitro ruminal fermentation tests were performed to determine in vitro organic matter digestibility and digestible energy values, short-chain fatty acids, and the gas production profile. Results indicate that vegetable by-products were more degradable, more extensively fermented, and fermented at a faster rate than corn silage. Going one step further in the valorization of these by-products in animal feed, the second part of the research aimed to compare the novel ration designed for calf fattening with a conventional one. An artificial rumen unit was used to obtain nutrient disappearance, rumen fermentation parameters, and gas production of rumen digesta. Very slight differences were observed between both experimental rations, with their composition being the main difference. Most of the unitary vegetable by-products and all mixes, as real examples of by-product generation in the agri-food industry, have higher digestibility and a greater nutritional value than corn silage. These by-products showed the potential to be used in ruminant-ensiled rations and could replace part of the ingredients in conventional diets.

Circularity in Europe strengthens the sustainability of the global food system

Redesigning the European food system on the basis of circularity principles could bring environmental benefits for Europe and the world. Here we deploy a biophysical optimization model to explore the effects of adopting three circularity scenarios in the European Union (EU)27 + UK. We calculate a potential reduction of 71% in agricultural land use and 29% per capita in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, while producing enough healthy food within a self-sufficient European food system. Under global food shortages, savings in agricultural land could be used to feed an additional 767 million people outside the EU (+149%), while reducing per capita greenhouse gas emissions by 38% but increasing overall emissions by 55% due to the increased population served. Transitioning the EU's food system towards circularity implies sequential changes among all its components and has great potential to safeguard human and planetary health.

Mycotoxins’ Prevalence in Food Industry By-Products: A Systematic Review

The recovery of biomolecules from food industry by-products is of major relevance for a circular economy strategy. However, by-products’ contamination with mycotoxins represents a drawback for their reliable valorization for food and feed, hampering their application range, especially as food ingredients. Mycotoxin contamination occurs even in dried matrices. There is a need for the implantation of monitoring programs, even for by-products used as animal feed, since very high levels can be reached. This systematic review aims to identify the food by-products that have been studied from 2000 until 2022 (22 years) concerning mycotoxins’ contamination, distribution, and prevalence in those by-products. PRISMA (“Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses”) protocol was performed via two databases (PubMed and SCOPUS) to summarize the research findings. After the screening and selection process, the full texts of eligible articles (32 studies) were evaluated, and data from 16 studies were considered. A total of 6 by-products were assessed concerning mycotoxin content; these include distiller dried grain with solubles, brewer’s spent grain, brewer’s spent yeast, cocoa shell, grape pomace, and sugar beet pulp. Frequent mycotoxins in these by-products are AFB1, OTA, FBs, DON, and ZEA. The high prevalence of contaminated samples, which surpasses the limits established for human consumption, thus limiting their valorization as ingredients in the food industry. Co-contamination is frequent, which can cause synergistic interactions and amplify their toxicity.

Food By-Products and Agro-Industrial Wastes as a Source of β-Glucans for the Formulation of Novel Nutraceuticals

Food and agro-industrial by-products provoke a great environmental and economic impact that must be minimized by adding value to these wastes within the framework of circular economy. The relevance of β-glucans obtained from natural sources (cereals, mushrooms, yeasts, algae, etc.), in terms of their interesting biological activities (hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, immune-modulatory, antioxidant, etc.), has been validated by many scientific publications. Since most of these by-products contain high levels of these polysaccharides or can serve as a substrate of β-glucan-producing species, this work reviewed the scientific literature, searching for studies that utilized food and agro-industrial wastes to obtain β-glucan fractions, attending to the applied procedures for extraction and/or purification, the characterization of the glucans and the tested biological activities. Although the results related to β-glucan production or extraction using wastes are promising, it can be concluded that further research on the glucans' characterization, and particularly on the biological activities in vitro and in vivo (apart from antioxidant capacity), is required to reach the final goal of formulating novel nutraceuticals based on these molecules and these raw materials.

Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids differs among sources of bakery meal when fed to growing pigs

A multistate experiment involving universities in IL, IN, KY, and MN was conducted as a part of the research efforts by the North-Central Coordinating Committee-42 on swine nutrition. The null hypothesis that there are no differences in the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) among different sources of bakery meal was tested. Eleven sources of bakery meal were procured from swine-producing states in the United States and each source was included in one diet as the sole source of AA. A N-free diet was prepared as well. Diets were prepared in one batch and divided into four sub-batches that were subsequently distributed to the four participating universities. At each university, diets were fed to 12 pigs that had a T- cannula installed in the distal ileum. Pigs were allotted to incomplete Latin square designs with 12 pigs and 4, 5, or 6 periods for a total of 21 replicate pigs per diet. Each period lasted 7 d with ileal digesta being collected from the cannulas on days 6 and 7. Samples were analyzed for AA and the SID of each AA was calculated. Results indicated that there were differences (P < 0.001) in the SID of all AA except Pro among the 11 sources of bakery meal. The differences in SID of AA observed in this experiment were greater than what is usually observed among sources of the same ingredient, indicating that there is more variability among sources of bakery meal than among different sources of other ingredients. This is likely a consequence of different raw materials being used in the production of different sources of bakery meal. Regardless of source of bakery meal, the AA with the least SID was Lys indicating that some of the raw materials in the product streams used to generate the bakery meals may have been overheated. Additionally, the Lys:crude protein ratio in each source of bakery meal was not a good predictor of the SID of Lys, which likely reflects the different raw materials being included in the different meals. In conclusion, the SID of AA varies among different sources of bakery meal and the SID of Lys is less than the SID of all other indispensable AA.

Digestibility of energy and concentrations of metabolizable energy and net energy varies among sources of bakery meal when fed to growing pigs

The null hypothesis that there are no differences in concentrations of digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and net energy (NE) among different sources of bakery meal was tested in a regional experiment involving 5 of the universities on the North Central Coordinating Committee-42 on Swine Nutrition. Eleven sources of bakery meal were procured from the swine producing areas in the United States and included in one diet as the only energy containing ingredient, and each diet was then divided into 5 batches that were used at the University of Illinois, Purdue University, University of Kentucky, University of Nebraska, and North Carolina State University. At each university, diets were fed to 22 growing pigs (2 pigs per diet) that were placed in metabolism crates, and feces and urine were collected for 5 d after a 7-d adaptation period. Diets and collected samples of feces and urine were dried and analyzed for gross energy. The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM) and gross energy and concentrations of DE, ME, and NE were calculated. Results indicated that there were considerable variation in the nutritional composition among the different sources of bakery meal with relatively large coefficients of variation for crude protein, starch, and acid hydrolyzed ether extract, but it was possible to analyze all sources of bakery meal to account for 100% of the ingredients. The average DE, ME, and NE in the 11 sources of bakery meal was 3,827, 3,678, and 2,799 kcal/kg DM, respectively. However, in contrast to the hypothesis, differences (P < 0.05) among sources of bakery meal in concentrations of DE (3,827 ± 201 kcal/kg DM), ME 3,678 ± 200 kcal/kg DM), and NE (2,799 ± 156 kcal/kg DM) were observed, but the variation among the 11 sources of bakery meal was not greater than what is usually observed among different sources of other ingredients. The differences observed are likely a consequence of the different product streams and production procedures used to produce the bakery meal. In conclusion, the average DE, ME, and NE in 11 sources of bakery meal is close to values previously reported, but there is some variation among sources depending on origin.

Natural Polyphenol Recovery from Apple-, Cereal-, and Tomato-Processing By-Products and Related Health-Promoting Properties

Polyphenols of plant origin are a broad family of secondary metabolites that range from basic phenolic acids to more complex compounds such as stilbenes, flavonoids, and tannins, all of which have several phenol units in their structure. Considerable health benefits, such as having prebiotic potential and cardio-protective and weight control effects, have been linked to diets based on polyphenol-enriched foods and plant-based products, indicating the potential role of these substances in the prevention or treatment of numerous pathologies. The most representative phenolic compounds in apple pomace are phloridzin, chlorogenic acid, and epicatechin, with major health implications in diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular and neurocognitive diseases. The cereal byproducts are rich in flavonoids (cyanidin 3-glucoside) and phenolic acids (ferulic acid), all with significant results in reducing the incidence of noncommunicable diseases. Quercetin, naringenin, and rutin are the predominant phenolic molecules in tomato by-products, having important antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The present understanding of the functionality of polyphenols in health outcomes, specifically, noncommunicable illnesses, is summarized in this review, focusing on the applicability of this evidence in three extensive agrifood industries (apple, cereal, and tomato processing). Moreover, the reintegration of by-products into the food chain via functional food products and personalized nutrition (e.g., 3D food printing) is detailed, supporting a novel direction to be explored within the circular economy concept.

Adoption of plant-based diets across Europe can improve food resilience against the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Crises related to extreme weather events, COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have revealed serious problems in global food (inter)dependency. Here we demonstrate that a transition towards the EAT-Lancet's planetary health diet in the European Union and the United Kingdom alone would almost compensate for all production deficits from Russia and Ukraine while yielding improvements in blue water use (4.1 Gm³ yr^-1), greenhouse gas emissions (0.22 GtCO₂e yr^-1) and carbon sequestration (17.4 GtCO₂e).