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Modern civilization is highly dependent on industrial agriculture. Industrial agriculture in turn has become an increasingly complex and globally interconnected system whose historically unprecedented yield relies strongly on external energy inputs in the shape of machinery, fertilizers, and pesticides. This leaves the system vulnerable to disruptions of industrial production and international trade. Several events have the potential to damage electrical infrastructure on a global scale, including electromagnetic pulses caused by solar storms or the detonation of nuclear warheads in the upper atmosphere, a pandemic leading to a significant reluctance to attend their workplaces, as well as a globally coordinated cyber-attack. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of crisis preparation and the establishment of more resilient systems. To improve preparation for high-stake risk scenarios their impact especially on critical supply systems must be better understood. To advance understanding of the implications for the global food system, this work aims to estimate the effect a global curtailment of industrial production could have on crop yields of the major staple crops: corn, rice, soybean, and wheat. We use a generalized linear model to estimate the loss in crop yield based on temperature, moisture, soil characteristics, nitrogen and pesticide application rates, the fraction of irrigated area and mechanization. The model predicts crop yields in two phases following a global catastrophe which inhibits the usage of any electric services. Phase 1 reflects conditions in the year immediately after the catastrophe, assuming the availability of fertilizer, pesticides, and fuel stocks. However, those stocks would be subject to rationed use in the first year. In phase 2, all stocks are used up and artificial fertilizer, pesticides and fuel are not available anymore. The predictions show a reduction in yield of 15 to 37 % in phase 1 and between 35 to 48 % in phase 2 depending on the crop. Soybean is least affected while wheat, rice and corn decline roughly by the same amount. Overall Europe, North and South America and large parts of India, China and Indonesia are projected to face major yield reductions of up to 95% while most African countries are scarcely affected. The findings clearly indicate hotspot regions which align with the level of industrialization of agriculture and highlight the need for preparation. 

This research aimed to assess the influence of different pre-impregnation times (PITs) (60, 180, and 300 min), heating or reaction times (H/RTs) (60, 90, and 120 min), and chemical modification of wood flour (WF) on the mechanical and physical properties of wood-plastic composites (WPCs). The study employed acetylated beech (Fagus orientalis L.) flour as the filler and polypropylene (PP) as the matrix phase producing of WPC samples through melt compounding and injection molding. The resulting composites underwent testing for their physical and mechanical properties. The findings revealed that WPCs derived from acetylated wood with PITs of 60 min and H/RTs of 60 min exhibited the highest mechanical properties, except for the bending modulus. Moreover, the lowest water absorption (WA) was observed in the PITs-H/RTs combination of 60-120 min, while the lowest thickness swelling (TS) occurred in the PITs-H/RTs combination of 300-60 min. The simultaneous utilization of pre-impregnation and reaction times demonstrated a synergistic effect on the physical and mechanical properties. Consequently, the chemical modification of wood flour and the application of suitable reaction times improved the interfacial adhesion, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the WPCs. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je procijeniti utjecaj različitih vremena predimpregnacije (PIT) (60, 180 i 300 min), vremena zagrijavanja (H/RT) (60, 90 i 120 min) i kemijske modifikacije drvnog brašna (WF) na mehanička i fizička svojstva drvno-plastičnih kompozita (WPC). U istraživanju je za proizvodnju uzoraka WPC-a taljenjem i injekcijskim prešanjem upotrijebljeno drvno brašno acetilirane bukovine (Fagus orientalis L.) kao punilo i polipropilen (PP) kao matrica. Zatim su ispitana fizička i mehanička svojstva dobivenih kompozita. Rezultati su pokazali da drvno-plastični kompoziti dobiveni od acetiliranog drva s vremenom predimpregnacije i zagrijavanja od 60 min imaju najbolja mehanička svojstva, osim modula na savijanje. Nadalje, najmanje upijanje vode (WA) zabilježeno je za kombinaciju PIT-H/RT 60-120 min, dok je najmanje debljinsko bubrenje (TS) izmjereno za kombinaciju PIT-H/RT 300-60 min. Istodobno je primjena predimpregnacije i zagrijavanja pokazala sinergijski utjecaj na fizička i mehanička svojstva. Posljedično su kemijska modifikacija drvnog brašna i odabir odgovarajućih vremena zagrijavanja poboljšali adheziju između faza, a time i svojstva drvno-plastičnih kompozita.

Palm oil production in Southeast Asia often occurs on nutrient-poor, acidic soils converted from primary forest. Both the agricultural conversion and the production of oil palm are subsidised in Indonesia. As well as depleting soil organic C and plant nutrients, agricultural production on these soils can result in the accumulation of trace elements (TEs)—including micronutrients and non-essential trace elements—from the use of TE-containing agrichemicals including phosphate fertilisers and Cu fungicides. We tested the hypothesis that palm soils will have lower C concentrations than forest soils, as well as accumulation of TEs including Cu, Zn and Cd. Soil samples from active and abandoned oil palm plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia, were analysed for general soil properties as well as TE concentrations. Soils were acidic and low in key nutrients, with production likely to be limited by deficiencies of N, P, K, Mg and Mo, present at some sites in mean concentrations as low as 0.021%, 118 mg kg−1, 778 mg kg−1, 1023 mg kg−1 and 0.095 mg kg−1, respectively. Mean organic C was lower (2.0–3.3%) than reported values in nearby forest soils (7.7%). Soils under palm production contained elevated levels of Cu, Zn, As and Pb up to 38, 91, 9.0 and 28 mg kg−1, respectively, likely due to agrichemical use. The correction of nutrient deficiencies in palm production would require significant fertiliser inputs, which would exacerbate TE accumulation and reduce the net economic revenue from oil production. Our data have shown that in the plantations we have sampled, soils have become degraded. These tropical, weathered, and naturally nutrient-poor soils are ill suited to intensive production that requires high ongoing nutrient inputs. These findings have implications for the sustainability of a regionally significant production system across Southeast Asia.

The tomato potato psyllid (TPP) Bactericera cockerelli is a serious pest of the Solanaceae family. The management of this pest using synthetic pesticides is problematic because of the development of pesticide resistance and environmental concerns including impacts on non-target organisms. The predatory bug Engytatus nicotianae has recently been identified as a useful biocontrol agent for TPP in greenhouses. The soil fungus Trichoderma Pers. is commonly used as a plant growth enhancer and biocontrol agent against phytopathogenic fungi. Therefore, there could be advantages associated with the combined use of these biocontrol agents. Some reports in other systems suggest that Trichoderma inoculation may alter the behaviour of pests and their natural enemies by modifying plant defence metabolites such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For this reason, this study aimed to investigate the individual and combined efficacy of these biocontrol agents (i.e., Trichoderma atroviride and E. nicotianae) against TPP in greenhouse grown tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Merlice). To this end, we compared the effect of each biocontrol agent and their combination on TPP abundance across different developmental stages (egg, nymphs, adults) and the number of infested leaves. We also investigated plant VOC emissions under the different treatments. Across all measured TPP stages, the treatments tested (E. nicotianae alone, T. atrovirdae alone, and T. atrovirdae + E. nicotianae) significantly reduced mean TPP counts relative to the control, and no significant differences were observed in VOC emissions among treatments. Overall, T. atrovirdae alone was less effective than E. nicotianae alone and its combination with T. atrovirdae in suppressing TPP populations. However, the combined use of Trichoderma + E. nicotianae did not show significant advantages over the use of E. nicotianae alone in controlling TPP. Therefore, their combined use needs to be further assessed in light of other advantages of Trichoderma to the crop (e.g., growth promotion or pathogen defence).

Grass species have a range of strategies to tolerate soil water restriction, which are linked to the environmental conditions at their site of origin. Climate change enhances the relevance of the functional role of anatomical attributes and their contribution as water stress tolerance factors. Morpho-anatomical traits and adjustments that contribute to drought resistance in Lolium perenne L. (Lp) and Bromus valdivianus Phil. (Bv), a temperate humid grass species, were analysed. The structure of the leaves and pseudostems (stems only in Lp) grown at 20–25% field capacity (FC) (water restriction) and 80–85% FC (control) were evaluated by making paraffin sections. In both species, water restriction reduced the thickness of the leaves and pseudostems, along with the size of the vasculature. Bv had long and dense leaf hairs, small and numerous stomata, and other significant adaptive traits under water stress, including thicker pseudostems (p ≤ 0.001), a greatly thickened bundle sheath wall (p ≤ 0.001) in the pseudostem to ensure water flow, and a thickened cuticle covering on leaf surfaces (p ≤ 0.01) to avoid water loss. Lp vascular bundles developed throughout the stem, and under water restriction the xylem vessel walls were strengthened and lignified. Lp leaves had individual traits of a ribbed/corrugated-shaped upper surface, and the stomata were positioned to maintain relative humidity outside the leaf surface. Water restriction significantly changed the bulliform cell depth in Lp (p ≤ 0.05) that contributed to water loss reduction via the curling leaf blade. This study demonstrated that the two grass species, through different morphological traits, were able to adjust their individual tissues and cells in aboveground parts to reach similar physiological functions to reduce water loss with increased water restriction. These attributes explain how both species enhance persistence and resilience under soil water restriction.

The loss of productive soils and food-producing landscapes on the edges of cities is an increasing issue facing Aotearoa New Zealand. Like many countries globally, New Zealand’s largest cities are facing rapid expansion because of increasing urbanisation, with high levels of low-density residential sprawl into the productive peri-urban hinterlands and increasing rates of ‘reverse sensitivity’. Food production, as a result, is being pushed further away, disconnected from the communities it serves, and often onto less productive soil. This paper explores the perceptions and attitudes of both peri-urban residents and food producers living and working within the peri-urban zone of Ōtautahi Christchurch. Conducting two surveys, one with residents and another with producers, respondents’ perceptions of food growing within this peri-urban landscape are explored to better understand the enablers and barriers of growing food close to cities. Overall, the results indicated that peri-urban residents appreciate food being produced close to where they live, with over 90% of residential respondents feeling either ‘mostly positive’ or ‘extremely positive’ towards food being grown close to their homes. Of greatest concern for peri-urban residents were issues relating to negative impacts on the environment and human health, with particular concern for water quality. The lack of accessibility to locally produced food was also identified as an area of concern to residents. Food producers felt less positive towards operating their food-production enterprises within the peri-urban zone, identifying a range of issues impacting their experience. The information rendered from these surveys provides a base for future land-use planning consideration within the peri-urban zone, where both food production and housing can co-exist.

Background: Small-scale forests (woodlots) increasingly account for a greater proportion of the total annual harvest in New Zealand. There is limited information on the extent of infrastructure required to harvest a woodlot; road density (trafficable with log trucks), landing size, or the average harvest area that each landing typically services. Methods: This study quantified woodlot infrastructure averages and evaluated influencing factors. Using publicly available aerial imagery, roads and landings were mapped for a sample of 96 woodlots distributed across the country. Factors such as total harvest area, average terrain slope, length/width ratio, boundary complexity and extraction method were recorded and investigated for correlations. Results: The average road density was 25 m/ha, landing size was 3000 m2 and each landing was serviced on average 12.8 ha. Notably, 15 of the 96 woodlots had no internal infrastructure, with the harvest completed using roads and landings located outside of the woodlot boundary. Factors influencing road density were woodlot length/width ratio, average terrain slope and boundary complexity. Landing size was influenced by average terrain slope, woodlot length/width ratio, and woodlot area. Conclusion: The results provide a contemporary benchmark of the current infrastructure requirements when harvesting a small-scale forests in New Zealand. These may be used at a high level to infer the total annual infrastructure investment in New Zealand's woodlot estate and also project infrastructure requirements over the foreseeable future.