Colin J. Chartres, 'Water, investment and food security', 2014 | Water resources are already very scarce. With further demand from population growth, dietary changes, biofuel production, urbanisation and climate change, it will be extremely difficult to find enough supply to enable an increase in global food production by 70 per cent. There are, however, potential solutions that involve increasing water productivity, improved water storage, more irrigation and re-using waste water. But current investment levels in overseas development aid and spending at country level are unlikely to be sufficient to ensure food security in the relatively short- term, let alone by 2050, when the global population is forecast to be nine billion. This article describes some of the issues that have to be faced to deliver food security and overcome water scarcity, and how these improvements can be achieved through a combination of science, policy and investment

Energy crisis is a worldwide problem; Pakistan is facing severe shortage of this, especially in summer. To overcome these crises, huge amount of fossil fuels is being utilized which ultimately resulting in their exhaustion. In order to cope up the increasing energy requirements, alternative energy sources are required that should be cost-effective, environment friendly and technically feasible. In this scenario biodiesel production from algae has attracted scientist's attention worldwide. At present, the major constraint in biodiesel production from algae is nutritional cost for algal growth. Present research work was planned to minimize nutritional requirements of algae by using food industry waste water as a medium for algal growth towards economical biodiesel production. For this purpose four algal strains (A1, A2, A3 and A4) collected from different fresh water sources were evaluated for their potential use in biodiesel production. The waste water was pre-analyzed to determine the concentrations of different nutrients. All algal strains were grown in Bristol media and different dilutions (10, 20, 40, 80 and 100%) of food industry waste water. Growth data was recorded for one week. The results showed that algal biomass gradually decreased with increasing dilution of food industry waste water and was found higher in 100% waste water concentration than other dilutions. Cultivated algae were harvested for biodiesel production with n-Hexane as oil extractant and NaOH as a catalyst in different combinations through a chemical process ca\led transesterification. The FFA (free fatty acid) profile of algae 1 (A1) by using 75% hexane and 0.5% NaOH combination was found to be higher than other combinations. Higher concentration of NaOH (1%) resulted in soap formation. The aforesaid situations, plus owing to the best biomass production using 100% waste water concentration, deemed algae 1 (A1) as the best candidate among all four strains evaluated for biodiesel production.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hot spring water against the survival of food-borne microorganisms, Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which are skin disease pathogens, and Helicobacter pylori, gastritis inducing microorganism, were tested. The content of fluoride in tested hot spring water is 14.1 mg/L, which is higher than the standard of safe for drinking water 1.5 mg/L, but the results on 48 other items were up to the standard.

Food security is a critical issue for the Arabian Peninsula countries due fast population growth, reduced domestic food production and the tighter global food markets because of trading partners�?? strained export surpluses. Water scarcity is a major concern for the AP. The renewable water resources per capita is considered the lowest in the world and has decreased from 1250 m3 in 1950 to 76.2 m3 in 2014. Furthermore, the projected water demand in AP for the year 2025 will exceed the double of the current groundwater availability, estimated at 8030M m3. In response to the alarming water situation, ICARDA in collaboration with the National Agricultural and Extension Systems (NARES) has established a program in AP, which has developed, evaluated, and introduced technology packages that empower growers to produce high-quality crops with less water. These technologies include: 1) the integrated forage production system based on indigenous plant species; 2) the introduction of spineless cactus as animal feed; and 3) protected agriculture with associated developed technologies such as soilless culture (hydroponics). Similarly, ICARDA and NARS works on date palm has resulted in improving water and land productivity for date production. Such water saving technology packages are being transferred to farmers in AP region through ICARDA and National scientists and extension agents. Conclusively, a noticeable impact on the on-farm water management through the increased productivity per unit of water and land created. The demand for more applied research in the region is inevitable to ensure an adequate level of food security based on Climate-smart agriculture practice | Azaiez Ouled Belgacem, Arash Nejatian, Mohamed Ben-Salah, Ahmed Moustafa. (31/8/2017). Water and Food Security in the Arabian Peninsula: Struggling for more actions. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 5, pp. 550-561.

The efficiency of a recirculation system for the cultivation of C. auratus, fed with natural and artificial diets was evaluated. The experiment consisted of four treatments with four replicates. The first two treatments used recirculation system and the last two static system. In the first and fourth treatment, animals were fed with brine shrimp biomass (50% CP), while in the second and third treatments a commercial flake ration (42% CP) was used. At the end of cultivation (60 days), water samples were taken from all experimental units and subjected to standard plate count for determining the density of mesophilic bacteria. Final weight (g), final length (cm), specific growth rate (% day -1) and weight gain (%) were significantly different (p<0.05) among tested diets, but the culture systems did not affect fish performance. There was significant difference (p<0.05) between systems for total ammonia and nitrite. Animals fed with brine shrimp biomass acquired more intense and brighter colors than those fed only with commercial flake food. The values of standard plate count of mesophilic bacteria ranged from 7.0 × 10³ to 1.1 × 10(4) CFU.ml-1. In this study we observed that C. auratus is a species tolerant to adverse water conditions, perhaps with increased stock densities, the recirculation system could play some positive role on the zootechnical performance of cultured animals.

A eficiência de um sistema de recirculação para o cultivo de C. auratus, alimentados com dieta natural e artificial foi avaliada. O experimento consistiu de quatro tratamentos com quatro repetições. Os dois primeiros tratamentos utilizaram sistemas de recirculação e os dois últimos sistemas estáticos. No primeiro e quarto tratamento, os animais foram alimentados com biomassa de artêmia (PB 50%), enquanto nos tratamentos dois e três, com ração comercial em flocos (42% PB). Ao final do cultivo (60 dias), amostras de água foram coletadas em todas as unidades experimentais e submetidos a contagem padrão em placas para determinação da densidade de bactérias mesófilas. O peso final (g), comprimento final (cm), taxa de crescimento específico (% dia-1) e ganho de peso (%) foram significativamente diferentes (p<0,05) entre as dietas testadas, mas os sistemas de cultivo não afetaram o desempenho dos peixes. Houve diferença significativa (p<0,05) entre os sistemas para os níveis de amônia total e nitrito. Os animais alimentados com biomassa artêmia adquiriram cor e brilho mais intensos do que aqueles alimentados apenas com ração comercial em flocos. Os valores de contagem padrão em placas de bactérias mesófilas variaram de 7,0 × 10³ para 1,1 × 10(4) CFU.ml-1. Neste estudo, observou-se que C. auratus é uma espécie tolerante a condições adversas de água, talvez com maior densidade de estocagem, o sistema de recirculação poderia desempenhar papel positivo sobre o desempenho zootécnico dos animais cultivados. | The efficiency of a recirculation system for the cultivation of C. auratus, fed with natural and artificial diets was evaluated. The experiment consisted of four treatments with four replicates. The first two treatments used recirculation system and the last two static system. In the first and fourth treatment, animals were fed with brine shrimp biomass (50% CP), while in the second and third treatments a commercial flake ration (42% CP) was used. At the end of cultivation (60 days), water samples were taken from all experimental units and subjected to standard plate count for determining the density of mesophilic bacteria. Final weight (g), final length (cm), specific growth rate (% day -1) and weight gain (%) were significantly different (p<0.05) among tested diets, but the culture systems did not affect fish performance. There was significant difference (p<0.05) between systems for total ammonia and nitrite. Animals fed with brine shrimp biomass acquired more intense and brighter colors than those fed only with commercial flake food. The values of standard plate count of mesophilic bacteria ranged from 7.0 × 10³ to 1.1 × 10(4) CFU.ml-1. In this study we observed that C. auratus is a species tolerant to adverse water conditions, perhaps with increased stock densities, the recirculation system could play some positive role on the zootechnical performance of cultured animals.