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The framework of the methodology presented in this study is an effort to integrate and optimize the agro-industry sector, especially energy in biogas. In this study, the technique of the system in functional analysis is shown systematically to translate various energy requirements in the factory as criteria for performance and functional design to be integrated, optimized, and energy efficient. The case study results indicated that biogas power plants, with a capacity of 1.5 MW, can produce around 13,140 MWh per year. The annual return on investment (ROI) is around 37.13%. With this ROI value, the payback period is 31 months. The overall reduction of greenhouse gases is approximately 77,826 tons CO2 eq/year. The potential value of carbon trading is about USD 3,113,040 per year. This strategic model presents a novel approach by integrating biogas energy production with a customized wastewater treatment system adapted to biodigesters' effluent characteristics. It offers a sustainable, economically feasible, and scalable solution, combining resource recovery, waste minimization, and potential for carbon trading into a unified system. The novelty of this research lies in maximizing the utility of biogas plants by efficiently treating and reusing wastewater, creating a closed-loop, zero-waste process. Future research on hybrid systems integrating Biogas power plants by focusing on efficiency optimization, economic feasibility, environmental impacts, and innovative approaches like AI and blockchain could make the hybrid system a more robust, scalable, and sustainable solution. Thus, the framework based on the results of this study finds tools that can maximize and integrate energy sources, especially biogas, in the agro-industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to cast light on the limits and merits of Wolf's recourse to the concept of mode of production, I set up a dialogue between Europe and the people without history and the roughly contemporary intervention known as the "Brenner debate." Wolf provides a mode of production solution and Brenner provides a class struggle solution to envisioning historical process. To explore the analytical strength of bringing Brenner to bear upon Wolf, an analysis of entangled agro-industrial crises in the Spanish province of Huelva is presented. A Wolfian framework, augmented by Brenner's focus on class struggle, reveals how the appropriation of nature and the exploitation of labor are conjoined and reinstates agricultural wage labor in its central position in the reproduction of the regional agricultural model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into agriculture is a pivotal solution to address the pressing challenges posed by rapid population growth and escalating food demand. Traditional farming methods, unable to cope with this surge, often resort to harmful pesticides, deteriorating soil health. However, the advent of AI promises a transformative shift toward sustainable agricultural practices. In the context of the United States, AI's historical trajectory within the agricultural sector showcases a remarkable evolution from rudimentary applications to sophisticated systems focused on optimizing production and quality. The future of American agriculture lies in AI-driven innovations, spanning various facets such as image sensing for yield mapping, labor management, yield optimization, and decision support for farmers. Despite its numerous advantages, the deployment of AI in agriculture does not come without challenges. This paper delved into both the benefits and drawbacks of AI adoption in the agricultural domain, examining its impact on the agro-industry and the environment. It scrutinized the emergence of robot farmers and AI's role in reshaping farming practices while acknowledging the inherent problems associated with AI implementation, including accessibility, data privacy, and potential job displacement. Moreover, the study explored how AI tools can catalyze the development of agribusiness, offering insights into overcoming existing challenges through innovative solutions. By comprehensively understanding the opportunities and obstacles entailed in AI integration, stakeholders can navigate the agricultural landscape adeptly, fostering a more sustainable and resilient food system for future generations.

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article presents the results of a study focused on collaboratively developing an Innovation Management Model (MGI) for the leather agro-industrial chain in Colombia. This study integrates the participation of interested parties, the prioritization of variables, the literature review, and the validation of the model, emphasizing sustainability considerations throughout the process. The methodology involved a literature review, using Scopus and Google Scholar, focusing on innovation management models, open innovation, and sustainability of the leather sector. In addition, three surveys were conducted to prioritize the established variables, using Likert scale questions, to assess relevance and congruence. Key findings included 26 critical variables covering aspects such as agricultural and technological innovation in platforms and projects, capacity development, R&D activities, supply chain dynamics, innovation management processes, knowledge and technology integration, business model adaptation for sustainable development, and environmental impact assessment. The prioritized innovation model aims to guide stakeholders to define open innovation strategies, sustainable and regenerative innovation generation, and improvement of strategic and technological capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wastage of food items emerges as a critical concern impacting both food security and the economy. Additionally, it contributes to environmental degradation and climate change. Valorizing food waste and investigating its new potential uses in the food business and beyond may help to manage these issues. Bioactive components or dietary fibers are food trash types often useful as crude resources. Apple pomace and citrus peel are regular sources of dietary fibers, particularly pectin. Recently developed food waste streams and by-products are now considerable potential nutritional fiber sources. Hence, a need to restrict traditional procedures requires using unique extraction approaches. Past studies on the dietary fiber extraction from agricultural leftovers are central discussions in this manuscript. A comprehensive review commenced using different databases, including Science Direct and Scopus. Out of 308 scientific publications, 10 fundamental studies on the extraction techniques 'ultrasound' and 'microwave' were choices after filtering the data. With a focus on reevaluating agricultural residues for utilization in food, biotechnology, and medicines, these vital studies explored the effects of dietary fiber extraction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into agriculture is a pivotal solution to address the pressing challenges posed by rapid population growth and escalating food demand. Traditional farming methods, unable to cope with this surge, often resort to harmful pesticides, deteriorating soil health. However, the advent of AI promises a transformative shift toward sustainable agricultural practices. In the context of the United States, AI's historical trajectory within the agricultural sector showcases a remarkable evolution from rudimentary applications to sophisticated systems focused on optimizing production and quality. The future of American agriculture lies in AI-driven innovations, spanning various facets such as image sensing for yield mapping, labor management, yield optimization, and decision support for farmers. Despite its numerous advantages, the deployment of AI in agriculture does not come without challenges. This paper delved into both the benefits and drawbacks of AI adoption in the agricultural domain, examining its impact on the agro-industry and the environment. It scrutinized the emergence of robot farmers and AI's role in reshaping farming practices while acknowledging the inherent problems associated with AI implementation, including accessibility, data privacy, and potential job displacement. Moreover, the study explored how AI tools can catalyze the development of agribusiness, offering insights into overcoming existing challenges through innovative solutions. By comprehensively understanding the opportunities and obstacles entailed in AI integration, stakeholders can navigate the agricultural landscape adeptly, fostering a more sustainable and resilient food system for future generations.4th [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Indonesian Fisheries Processing Journal / Jurnal Pengolahan Hasil Perikanan Indonesia is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista CEA is the property of Revista CEA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research proposes an efficient alternative for dehydrating cassava bagasse to address the inherent challenges in the handling, transportation, storage, and preservation of this agro–industrial residue generated in cassava starch production plants. This residue is characterized by high moisture retention, considerable volume, and hydrophilic nature, complicating conventional drying methods. This study evaluates the impact of emerging ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric field (PEF) technologies prior to convective drying to enhance the dehydration efficiency of cassava bagasse, aiming at its valorization and contributing to the sustainability of the cassava starch industry. The findings reveal that pretreatment with ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) significantly reduces the drying time of cassava bagasse compared to convective drying alone. With probe ultrasound at 26 kHz for 30 min, the drying time is reduced by 72% (3.83 h vs. 14.0 h); with bath ultrasound at 37 kHz for 30 min, it is reduced by 56.0% (6.16 h vs. 14.0 h); and with PEF at 7.5 kV/cm for 30 min, it is reduced by 52.4% (6.66 h vs. 14.0 h). These emerging technologies increased the effective diffusivity and modified the molecular structure of the bagasse, thereby improving mass transfer and drying process efficiency. These results are particularly useful for developing more efficient and sustainable strategies for drying agricultural by-products, with direct implications for the post-industrial treatment of agro–industrial residues with high water content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia Agraria is the property of Historia Agraria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Hass avocado (Persea americana Mill) has become one of the most important agricultural products in Colombia, significantly increasing its production in recent years. Its properties and characteristics, mainly by its oil content compared to other varieties, as well as the composition of its peel and seed, generate high demands for the plant material in fresh and derived products in international markets. The purpose of this article is to present a technological and commercial perspective for the Hass avocado agro-industrial chain in Colombia, through technological surveillance of the pulp, seed and peel, market research and a global overview of consumption trends, which will generate possible applications and opportunities for the Hass avocado chain. In the national context, Colombia in 2022, ranked seventh in the amount of exported tons of fresh avocado, experiencing growth in the period 2018-2022. In 2023, Colombia shipped more than 120 thousand tons of Hass avocado to more than 30 countries. In general terms, the Colombian agribusiness culminated 2023 with a record in exports, reaching a 26.3% increase in containers shipped to different international markets. Colombia's growing participation in avocado exports highlights the quality of its products, the improved organization of the production chain, and its capacity to adapt to global market trends, positioning the country strategically to take advantage of opportunities in the avocado industry. Regarding technological surveillance, emphasis was placed on patents related to cosmetic or hygiene preparations that include oils, fats or waxes of vegetable origin. This analysis highlights the various possibilities of incorporating Hass avocado in different product formulations, evidencing its promising incursion into different global markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to use the malt bagasse by-product for developing high-dietary fibers cereal bars. Three formulations were tested and contained 0% (control), 19% and 24% of malt bagasse. The bars with malt bagasse were rich in dietary fiber and protein, with 6.06 and 26.35 g/100 g, respectively for samples with 19% of bagasse, and 8.43 and 26.22 g/100 g, respectively, for bars with 24% of this by-product. The total phenol content (TPC) of the bars with 19 and 24% of bagasse, was 100.37 and 192.13 mg GAE/100 g of sample, and the EC50 was 21.58 and 14.78 mg/mL (DPPH assay), respectively. The incorporation of this by-product into the formulations enhanced their TPC and antioxidant capacity. These samples had a high sensory acceptance. The formulation with the lowest malt bagasse concentration showed high global acceptance (56%) and purchase intention. The sensory attributes that pleased the tasters the most, rated as "liked moderately," were the color and odor of both bars. Cereal bars showed an improved nutritional composition and antioxidant capacity after malt bagasse addition, and the formulation with 19% should be the best choice among the tested formulations, when considering the set of nutritional and sensory aspects. The malt bagasse was successfully valorized as an ingredient in a functional food, whilst contributing to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources in the Urabá region of Colombia, one of the most significant banana-producing areas for global consumption, are confronted with substantial challenges due to agro-industrial activities, population growth, untreated wastewater discharge, and excessive groundwater usage. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of surface waters in Urabá, delving into the influence of agro-industrial activities and human interventions on water quality. The evaluation includes a correlation analysis of multiple water quality parameters measured in ten significant rivers of the region. The findings reveal overall water pollution, potentially associated with the lack of wastewater treatment systems in nearby communities and indicate potential seawater intrusion due to groundwater overexploitation from human and agricultural activities. Among the studied rivers, the Apartadó River exhibits the poorest water quality, while the León River demonstrates better conditions, benefiting from less human interference and natural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Agroindustri Halal is the property of Universitas Djuanda and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This qualitative research aimed to explore the financial policies and strategies adopted by companies in the agro-industrial sector in an effort to improve their financial performance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research used a case study approach conducted at PTPN X Jember. PTPN X Jember is an agro-industry company that produces world-class tobacco as its main product. Through in-depth interviews and periodic observations, data mining was carried out by considering one finance director as the main informant and supplemented by an in-depth review of financial report documents as secondary data reinforcement. Data analysis adopts Miles and Huberman's technique consisting of three activities, i.e. data reduction, data display, and drawing conclusions/verification. The results of the study indicated that there is a strong preference for PTPN X to carry out a cost optimization strategy to encourage increased performance, which had an impact on increasing the quantity and quality of products. Quality products had a direct effect on increasing profits despite the COVID-19 pandemic situation. This research contributed to the development of financial management literature, especially corporate financial strategies during times of crisis in the agro-industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With the emergence of new automation and mechanized technologies in the production and processing of agricultural products in Iran, which aim to accelerate the food supply process, adopting appropriate management models in the field of maintenance becomes inevitable. This is crucial to maintain and enhance the operational reliability of agricultural machinery, tools, and equipment. Furthermore, proper management of various physical assets in the agricultural industry, including operation and maintenance, is one of the most important requirements. This is due to their crucial role in ensuring readiness and high availability during the seasons of planting, cultivating, and harvesting agricultural products. These needs differ from that of other continuous production processes. Materials and Methods: To achieve an efficient model in the field of maintenance, the following steps have been investigated:a) Reviewing and identifying the most important criteria and sub-criteria driving the maintenance management. This is based on the previous literature and the experts’ opinion.b) Evaluating and prioritizing the main criteria and the interactions between their sub-criteria using the Best-Worst Method (BWM).c) Providing improved solutions for maintenance management of Iranian agro-industries.We decided to employ BWM because, compared to similar methods, it (i) provides more reliable pairwise comparisons, (ii) reduces the possible anchoring bias that may occur during the weighting process by respondents, (iii) is the most data-efficient method, and (iv) provides multiple optimal solutions which increase flexibility when accessing the best weight point. The process of weighting by BWM is summarized in five steps:1) Determine a set of evaluation criteria identified by the experts or decision-makers.2) Identify the most important (Best) and the least important (Worst) criteria according to the experts or decision-makers, each of which may have their own Best and Worst.3) Determine the preference of the Best criterion over all the other criteria using a number from 1 to 9 (where 1 represents equal importance and 9 represents extremely more important).4) Determine the preference of all the decision criteria over the Worst criterion.5) Compute optimal weights. Results and Discussion: According to the preliminary surveys, the most important criteria in the excellence maintenance model were identified as “organizational management”, “human-related factors”, and “organizational aspects”, respectively. The results of the BWM revealed that sub-criteria such as "top management support," "fund allocation and inventory resource management," and "appropriate maintenance strategies" had the greatest impact on maintenance management in agro-industries, with global weights of 0.108, 0.075, and 0.067, respectively. Additionally, these findings were compared to previous research conducted in the field of agricultural and production system maintenance models. Conclusion: The findings of this study could assist managers in revising and developing maintenance management models in the agro-industries. Future studies could consider calculating the interactions among the criteria that were omitted in this study to simplify the evaluation process which might improve the accuracy of weighing criteria. This can be achieved through the combination of the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and structural equation modeling.

The upward movement of water through capillary rise from the shallow water-table (1–1.5 m) to the root zone (0.4–0.6 m) is an important incoming flux in the soil system. UPFLOW is a specialized model for determining capillary rise, which is a simple model with a small amount of input data. This research was conducted to assess the efficiency of the UPFLOW model in the simulation of capillary rise in shallow water-table conditions, based on the observed capillary rise using a lysimeter in the agro-industry of Amirkabir, Khuzestan. The input data of the model include: crop(root-water uptake rate at different sections of root zone, crop cover type, crop coefficient), soil(number of soil layers and their thickness, mean soil-water content of the profile, anaerobiosis point of the soil, saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil profile), weather(maximum and minimum temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, and relative humidity, ET0) and water-table(depth to water-table from the soil surface, salt content of the groundwater) were measured. Then, the capillary rise was calculated for each month during the stages of sugarcane growth. The performance of this model was evaluated by the statistical indices including determination coefficient (R2), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), relative error (RE), and model efficiency (EF). The results of the field measurement showed that the highest amount of capillary rise (1.6 mm) was observed in July, with the maximum evapotranspiration (400 mm) and the maximum growth of sugarcane. The lowest value (0 mm) also was observed in the months when sugarcane growth stopped, i.e., November, December, January, and February. The results of this research have shown that the UPFLOW model in the studied area has not shown suitable efficiency (based on statistical indicators) in the simulation of the upward flow in specific conditions of water-table, crop, soil, climate, and management measures (R2:0.23, MAE:8.71, RMSE:9.10, RE:180.50, EF: -136.40). Therefore, this model, in shallow water-table conditions, to accurately estimate capillary rise, requires comprehensive evaluations of various effective factors and, if possible, to modify and adjust this model in this area.

This research proposes an efficient alternative for dehydrating cassava bagasse to address the inherent challenges in the handling, transportation, storage, and preservation of this agro–industrial residue generated in cassava starch production plants. This residue is characterized by high moisture retention, considerable volume, and hydrophilic nature, complicating conventional drying methods. This study evaluates the impact of emerging ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric field (PEF) technologies prior to convective drying to enhance the dehydration efficiency of cassava bagasse, aiming at its valorization and contributing to the sustainability of the cassava starch industry. The findings reveal that pretreatment with ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) significantly reduces the drying time of cassava bagasse compared to convective drying alone. With probe ultrasound at 26 kHz for 30 min, the drying time is reduced by 72% (3.83 h vs. 14.0 h); with bath ultrasound at 37 kHz for 30 min, it is reduced by 56.0% (6.16 h vs. 14.0 h); and with PEF at 7.5 kV/cm for 30 min, it is reduced by 52.4% (6.66 h vs. 14.0 h). These emerging technologies increased the effective diffusivity and modified the molecular structure of the bagasse, thereby improving mass transfer and drying process efficiency. These results are particularly useful for developing more efficient and sustainable strategies for drying agricultural by-products, with direct implications for the post-industrial treatment of agro–industrial residues with high water content.

During the years with acute epiphytotic conditions, infectious diseases of plants cause significant crop losses. To ensure the productivity of agricultural crops, pesticides are used, that is, substances of chemical nature that protect plants from phytopathogens. Widespread use of pesticides leads to contamination of soil and water resources, changes in the microbiome, disruption of normal plant growth and development. In order to minimize the anthropogenic impact on the territory of the agroindustrial complex and ensure the protection of cultivated plants from biotic stresses, environmentally safe analogues of chemical pesticides have been developed – biopesticides based on bacteria and fungi (have become more widespread), as well as viruses. The review, based on the analysis of 105 scientific sources, examines the advantages of these drugs, describes promising biological control agents that can be included in their composition, namely endophytic (colonize plant tissues) and extremophilic (survive in aggressive environmental conditions) microorganisms. The use of endophytic microorganisms in the fight against infectious diseases of plants is promising due to their ability to have a direct impact on the growth of crops and their induced resistance. The positive effect associated with the use of extremophilic microorganisms is associated with the universality of their use, namely the ability to maintain efficiency in various soil and climatic conditions.

Copyright of Revista En-Contexto is the property of Tecnologico de Antioquia, Institucion Universitari and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Agro-industry is one of the industrial sectors that is considered important to adopt the Circular Economy (CE) principles due its close relation with agriculture and food system, as well as its significant contribution to the transition of a low-carbon economy. The CE focus on resource efficiency and waste reduction could preserve the use of natural resources like soil, water, and energy while also reducing the dependency of agro-industry on them, and protect the environment. Although the CE approach can bring long-term benefits, the agro-industry faces many challenges and obstacles to overcoming the complexity of integrating business processes, supply chains, and collaboration between stakeholders to align with the corporation’s business strategy for implementing CE. The purpose of this study is to analyze CE adoption in the agro-industry by exploring the business process circularity that is being carried out to achieve sustainable business. The results of this study show that CE adoption in the agro-industry is being carried out through the innovation of connecting various production process systems, creating added value, and searching for new business opportunities by focusing on handling agro-waste and valorizing by-products. The study revealed wider insights regarding CE adoption in agro-industry corporate strategies as a transformative business model innovation towards sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bistua: Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Básicas is the property of Facultad de Ciencias Basicas de la Universidad de Pamplona and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction With the emergence of new automation and mechanized technologies in the production and processing of agricultural products in Iran, which aim to accelerate the food supply process, adopting appropriate management models in the field of maintenance becomes inevitable. This is crucial to maintain and enhance the operational reliability of agricultural machinery, tools, and equipment. Furthermore, proper management of various physical assets in the agricultural industry, including operation and maintenance, is one of the most important requirements. This is due to their crucial role in ensuring readiness and high availability during the seasons of planting, cultivating, and harvesting agricultural products. These needs differ from that of other continuous production processes. Materials and Methods To achieve an efficient model in the field of maintenance, the following steps have been investigated: a) Reviewing and identifying the most important criteria and sub-criteria driving the maintenance management. This is based on the previous literature and the experts' opinion. b) Evaluating and prioritizing the main criteria and the interactions between their sub-criteria using the Best-Worst Method (BWM). c) Providing improved solutions for maintenance management of Iranian agro-industries. We decided to employ BWM because, compared to similar methods, it (i) provides more reliable pairwise comparisons, (ii) reduces the possible anchoring bias that may occur during the weighting process by respondents, (iii) is the most data-efficient method, and (iv) provides multiple optimal solutions which increase flexibility when accessing the best weight point. The process of weighting by BWM is summarized in five steps: 1) Determine a set of evaluation criteria identified by the experts or decision-makers. 2) Identify the most important (Best) and the least important (Worst) criteria according to the experts or decision-makers, each of which may have their own Best and Worst. 3) Determine the preference of the Best criterion over all the other criteria using a number from 1 to 9 (where 1 represents equal importance and 9 represents extremely more important). 4) Determine the preference of all the decision criteria over the Worst criterion. 5) Compute optimal weights. Results and Discussion According to the preliminary surveys, the most important criteria in the excellence maintenance model were identified as "organizational management", "human-related factors", and "organizational aspects", respectively. The results of the BWM revealed that sub-criteria such as "top management support," "fund allocation and inventory resource management," and "appropriate maintenance strategies" had the greatest impact on maintenance management in agro-industries, with global weights of 0.108, 0.075, and 0.067, respectively. Additionally, these findings were compared to previous research conducted in the field of agricultural and production system maintenance models. Conclusion The findings of this study could assist managers in revising and developing maintenance management models in the agro-industries. Future studies could consider calculating the interactions among the criteria that were omitted in this study to simplify the evaluation process which might improve the accuracy of weighing criteria. This can be achieved through the combination of the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and structural equation modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the configuration of the agricultural territorial project in the Osa Peninsula based on the experience of associates of the oil palm cooperative OSACOOP. With a qualitative methodology, the local experience and the socioeconomic characteristics of the peasant families linked to this cooperative are analyzed to reflect on their permanence and reproduction of life in this territory. Based on the concepts of territory and territorialization processes that manifest in the productive dynamics and the particularities of this geographical space, the narratives of interviewees are taken up again to illustrate the processes of occupation, settlement and permanence of peasant agriculture in the area in which in which the cooperative is a key actor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of such processed agrifood products as dehydrated apple is related to the quality and variety of fresh harvested products and connected with wastage reduction throughout the agrifood supply chain. For this purpose, cold‐storage management is important to avoid or mitigate the quality decay of fresh products stored in refrigerated systems. This paper explores the benefits of a two‐stage stochastic programming model for product quality through the selection of producers and the management of cold storage to mitigate deterioration and guarantee the maintenance of quality. A case study with real data from an agribusiness company is presented in the case study to illustrate and assess the suitability of the stochastic approach. Uncertainty regarding the conversion rate of fresh apples into the final dehydrated product and the purchase cost of the apples in the system are represented through scenarios generated from historical data. Recourse actions include the purchase of additional fruit and renting of additional cold stores to meet the demand. Based on the different scenarios, the value of the stochastic solution shows that modeling and solving the proposed stochastic model minimizes costs by an average of around 6.4%. In addition, the expected value of perfect information demonstrates that using a proactive strategy could reduce costs by up to 9%. These results ensure the applicability of this model in practice before and during the harvesting season for planning and replanning as uncertainty is revealed under a rolling horizon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well-established maintenance management system is key in improving the operational performance within agricultural production systems. In this paper, we investigated the major criteria influencing effective maintenance management in agro-industries. To that end, we started by presenting a hierarchical structure of criteria and their Critical Success Factors (CSFs) after reviewing related studies and dividing the criteria into the categories of organization management, human-related, and organizational aspects. To assess the weight of the criteria and their cause-effect relationship, we collected the opinions of maintenance experts working in different agro-industries in Iran, using several online questionnaires which were based on Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques such as Best-Worst Method (BWM) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL). The results of the BWM revealed that top management support, and fund allocation and inventory resource management are the most important CSFs in the proposed maintenance model with the global weights of 0.108 and 0.075, respectively. According to the DEMATEL, five CSFs such as top management support, training and education, fund allocation and inventory resource management, maintenance strategies and policies, and adequacy of the maintenance crew, were recognized as causal variables of maintenance management within Iranian agro-industries. The proposed methodology in this paper could help agro-industries in ensuring an effective maintenance management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart packaging provides one possible solution that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In comparison with traditional packaging, which aims to extend the product's useful life and to facilitate transport and marketing, smart packaging allows increased efficiency, for example by ensuring authenticity and traceability from the product's origin, preventing fraud and theft, and improving security. Consequently, it may help to reduce pollution, food losses, and waste associated with the food supply chain. However, some questions must be answered to fully understand the advantages and limitations of its use. What are the most suitable smart packaging technologies for use in agro-industrial subsectors such as meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, bakery, and pastry? What are the opportunities from a perspective of life extension, process optimization, traceability, product quality, and safety? What are the future challenges? An up-to-date, systematic review was conducted of literature relevant to the application of indicator technologies, sensors, and data carriers in smart packaging, to answer these questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia Agraria is the property of Historia Agraria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Coconut is one of the key plantation commodities in the Mempawah Regency that needs to be developed. This is necessary in order to increase the income of coconut sugar craftsmen and also allow them gain knowledge of the industrial scale through feasibility studies on the agro-industry. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the structure of production cost and operating income as well as the feasibility of the coconut sugar agro-industry. This analysis is important for craftsmen in the regency that engage in the continuous production of coconut sugar. Furthermore, this study was conducted in Mempawah Regency with 34 coconut farmers. The analysis of the R/C ratio and Break-Even Point (BEP) was used to determine the indicator of financial feasibility. The result revealed that the average production cost needed by the agro-industry was 7,659,868 IDR month-1 and the generated income was 3,483,132 IDR month-1. Additionally, the coconut sugar agro-industry was financially feasible as the obtained R/C ratio was 1.45. The BEP of production volume and Cost of Good Solds (COGS) was 346 kg and 9,814.92 IDR which is less than the actual production volume and price. It was suggested that craftsmen of coconut sugar produce more than 346 kg of sugar per month with a selling price above 9,814.92 IDR kg-1 in order to obtain profit.

Abstract The Monascus fermentation industry has gained global attention. Its key products, i.e., pigments, functional food ingredients, food supplements, and medicinal use, are growing in the world’s market. Efforts to find the cost-effective substrate for Monascus fermentation have remained the target. This paper aimed to appraise the utilization of agro-industrial by-products (cereal, starchy tuber and root, legume, fruit, and coffee processing) as a cost-effective substrate for Monascus fermentation. The specific objective was to review the by-products pre-treatment, the fermentation process, product yield, and the bioactivity of the fermented products. Among all the by-products that could be used as the fermentation substrate, cereal brans do not need pre-treatment, but others need a suitable pre-treatment step, e.g., cassava peel, okara, and jackfruit seed to list a few, that need to be powdered beforehand. Other substrates, such as corn cob and durian seed, need soaking and size reduction through the pre-treatment step. During fermentation, Monascus produce many pigments, monacolin K, associated with rise in phenolic and flavonoid contents. These products possess antioxidant, antihypercholesterol, antidiabetes, and antiatherosclerosis activities which underpin their health significance. In conclusion, we report in this review the agro-industrial by-products which have potential prospects for pigments, functional food ingredients, food supplements, and therapeutic usages produced from Monascus fermentation.

The first steps in improving the welfare of farmers and driving regional development are the determination of the main superior medicinal plants and precise market segmentation. North Sumatra Province is the third-highest province in Indonesia that uses traditional medicine, although it has not been able to increase the value of farmers' welfare. The medicinal plant industry cannot thrive because the products of medicinal plants and the demands of the market are not in harmony. This research was therefore conducted to determine the main superior medicinal plants and their derivatives according to market needs to create an equitable distribution of community welfare and regional development. The study employed quantitative and qualitative analyses with location quotient (LQ), shift-share (SS), IJAH analytics and descriptive analytical methods. The results of the LQ and SS analyses revealed that there were four main superior plants (Zingiber officinale, Kaempferia galangal, Ammomum cardamomum, and Morinda citrifolia). According to the outcome of the IJAH Analytics, three of the four main superior medicinal plants (Z. officinale, K. galangal, and M. citrifolia) can treat 615,625 patients with 57 type and 17 different diseases group. The determination of the main superior medicinal plant derivatives and knowing the presence of disease sufferers are potential consumers that will increase economic transactions for farmers, the primary and secondary industries of medicinal plants. Increased economic activity results in more demand for derivatives of medicinal plants, which raises the value of Farmer Exchange Rate (FER). It also raises investment value, increases labour absorption, facilitates easier access to capital, facilitates market segmentation and clarifies consumer characteristics, all of which support equitable welfare distribution and successful regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business strategy is an effort to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in an agro-industry. The research objective on salted egg agro-industrial center is to identify a model for business development. The advantages of salted duck eggs have been recognized by people in south east asian countries and east asian countries. This observational research was conducted on 105 salted egg agro-industries in Brebes Regency. Data on 22 variables of quantitative strategic planning were collected through interviews using a questionnaire. Strategy formulation framework method was applied to determine specific alternative strategies to reach sustainable competitive advantage The results showed that the salted egg agro-industry were not supported by the availability of duck eggs and upstream industry (50.58%) although most consumers were fond of salted egg due to its taste (52.38%), texture (58.10%), and price (71,43%). The salted egg agro-industry was in the aggressive position. The best strategy concept for business policy development was market penetration The market penetration strategy was chosen, namely increasing promotion and sales volume. Market penetration strategy is suggested to be the mod-el for empowering salted egg agro-industry and agro-industrial commodities in general so that the activ-ity of duck farming and upstream industry can be leveraged.

Coffee is one of the leading commodities in Bengkulu Province. The Agricultural Technology Research Center (BPTP 2014) said Bengkulu Province was one of the top three producers of Indonesian coffee, therefore Bengkulu Province was suitable for agro-tourism development, but in its development agro-tourism would be left behind if it could not innovate according to market trends. Research objectives: to find a strategic location for the development of agro-tourism as well as the right strategy in developing agro-tourism based on the coffee agro-industry. The method used: the method of observation / descriptive analysis, the selected districts will be analyzed the development strategy with the SWOT analysis method Result: the calculation of the LQ method shows that Kepahiang Regency was chosen to be the location for agro-tourism development because the LQ value is 1.049, if the LQ value 1 the area is considered capable of exporting products exit the area. The position of developing agro-tourism in Kepahiang district is currently in quadrant II. This position shows that agro-tourism is already strong, but still faces big challenges. Agro-tourism must continue to diversify its strategies in order to face future threats. The results of the SWOT analysis produce 8 alternatives: Maintain the quality of the coffee produced so that consumer confidence is guaranteed, and tourists will come to visit again. 2) Maintaining the beauty around the tea plantations, by cooperating with the tea plantation managers. 3) Looking for investors who want to invest in agro-tourism as partners. 4) Review agro-tourism institutional management, increase promotional activities to increase market demand. 5) Maintaining characteristics and quality to avoid disappointment of coffee consumers. 6) Increasing the number of coffee processing industries due to abundant resources. 7) Increase the number of training sessions in collaboration with the Government and related agencies to improve the skills of both coffee processing workers and coffee farmers. 8) Improve facilities and infrastructure in order to defend agro-tourism from losing visitors.

The citrus agro-industry is one of the world’s most important agricultural sectors. The Persian lime is one of six citrus fruit groups with economic significance. The technological lifecycle of Persian lime sector is assessed in this study using the growth S-curve approach. The objective is to depict the technology life cycle trajectory and current stage of the Persian lime citrus fruit, as well as each of its value chain phases, in order to facilitate better decision-making and technological strategies. The study uses technological patents collected from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) database from 1975 to 2009. The S-curve model of Persian lime and its value chain stages is generated using logistic mathematical regression. According to the findings of this study, Persian lime is in the maturity stage of the technology life cycle. As a result, the primary strategy could be cost reduction, process innovation, and price strategies to capitalize on market opportunities. When compared to other value chain phases, the transformation phase has the highest number of patents according to the value chain analysis and it is the unique value chain phase with statistical significance in the model. The transformation phase is also at the maturity stage of the technology life cycle. This creates opportunities in two ways: first, to adopt previously developed technologies in the transformation phase and improve process efficiency to reduce costs; and second, to reinforce innovative technological efforts in other phases of the Persian lime value chain, such as growth, harvest, or post-harvest.

Tomato pomace is rich in carotenoids (mainly lycopene), which are related to important bioactive properties. In general, carotenoids are known to react easily under environmental conditions, which may create a barrier in producing stable functional components for food. This work intended to evaluate the storage stability and in vitro release of lycopene from encapsulated tomato pomace extract, and its bioaccessibility when encapsulates were incorporated in yogurt. Microencapsulation assays were carried out with tomato pomace extract as the core material and arabic gum or inulin (10 and 20 wt%) as wall materials by spray drying (160 and 200 °C). The storage stability results indicate that lycopene degradation was highly influenced by the presence of oxygen and light, even when encapsulated. In vitro release studies revealed that 63% of encapsulated lycopene was released from the arabic gum particles in simulated gastric fluid, whereas for the inulin particles, the release was only around 13%. The feed composition with 20% inulin showed the best protective ability and the one that enabled releasing the bioactives preferentially in the intestine. The bioaccessibility of the microencapsulated lycopene added to yogurt increased during simulated gastrointestinal digestion as compared to the microencapsulated lycopene alone. We anticipate a high potential for the inulin microparticles containing lycopene to be used in functional food formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]