The present study investigates the effects of water temperature on digestive enzymes activity and food transit time in Caspian kutum ( Rutilus kutum ) larvae. Caspian kutum larvae (532 ± 0.05 and 543 ± 0.02 mg) were divided into two groups with three replicates and reared at different water temperature i.e. 25.6 ± 0.4°C (T₁) and 18.4 ± 0.1°C (T₂). At the end of the experiment, sampling of intestine was performed at 0, 1, 3, 5, 8, 16, 24 and 30 h after feeding from each treatment. In T₂, food was observed until 24 h after feeding and the intestine was empty 29 h after feeding, while in T₁ 19 h after feeding the intestine was empty. Digestive enzymes activities were higher in T₂ treatment. The peaks of trypsin and alkaline phosphatase enzymes activity were found 8 h after feeding in T₁, while occurred 16 h after feeding in T₂. The highest chymotrypsin and alpha-amylase enzymes activity were observed 5 and 8h after feeding in T₁ and T₂, respectively. These results confirmed remarkable effects of temperature on food transit time and digestive enzymes activity of Caspian kutum.

EFSA received a request from the Hellenic Food Authority for a scientific opinion on estimation of the risk to human health from the presence of chromium (Cr) in food, particularly in vegetables, and Cr(VI) in bottled water. The CONTAM Panel derived a TDI of 0.3 mg/kg b.w. per day for Cr(III) from the lowest NOAEL identified in an NTP chronic oral toxicity study in rats. Under the assumption that all chromium in food is Cr(III), the mean and 95th percentile dietary exposure across all age groups were well below the TDI and therefore does not raise concerns for public health. In the case of drinking water, the Panel considered all chromium in water as Cr(VI). For non-neoplastic effects the lowest BMDL10 for diffuse epithelial hyperplasia of duodenum in female mice and the lowest BMDL05 for haematotoxicity in male rats in a 2-year NTP study were selected as reference points. The MOEs indicate that for non-neoplastic effects the current exposure levels to Cr(VI) via drinking water are of no concern for public health. For neoplastic effects, the CONTAM Panel selected a lowest BMDL10 for combined adenomas and carcinomas of the mouse small intestine as the reference point. Overall, the calculated MOEs indicate low concern regarding Cr(VI) intake via drinking water (water intended for human consumption and natural mineral waters) for all age groups when considering the mean chronic exposure values with the exception of infants at the upper bound (UB) exposure estimates. MOEs below 10 000 were calculated at the UB 95th percentile exposure estimates, particularly for ‘Infants’, ‘Toddlers’ and ‘Other children’, which were highly influenced by the relatively high occurrence values under the UB assumption. To improve the risk assessment, there is a need for data on the content of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in food and drinking water.

"This report proposes a way to carry out a water-energy-food nexus assessment approach in order to: a) understand the interactions between water, energy and food systems in a given context, and b) evaluate the performance of a technical or policy intervention in this given context. The ultimate goal of the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus assessment is to inform nexus-related responses in terms of strategies, policy measures, planning and institutional set-up or interventions."--Publisher's description.

The present paper reports on the results of a long-term field study on the simultaneous influence of 2 environmental factors (temperature and food supply) on annual growth rates in the tellinid bivalve Macoma balthica. For >30y (1978–2009) we monitored twice-annually the weight changes of soft parts of individuals of known age at several permanent sampling stations located at Balgzand, an extensive (50km2) tidal flat area in the western Dutch Wadden Sea. Monthly data were available on mean water temperature and chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration from a nearby site in the main tidal inlet. Mean individual ash-free dry weights at ages of nearly 1 and of nearly 1.5y were assessed in February/March and in August, respectively. Such weights show a consistent annual pattern: they increase between late winter and early summer to decline for the remainder of the year. Annual multi-station means of the spring/summer individual weight gains were higher as chl a concentrations in the water had been higher and water temperatures had been lower for the growing season. These correlations proved to be stronger at sampling sites that were situated low in the intertidal zone close to the main tidal stream than at those high in the intertidal near the coast (where M. balthica obtain their food primarily by deposit feeding on benthic material). At the low off-shore sites, suspended algae are available for longer daily periods and their concentrations in flood water may be less depleted by grazers. The negative correlation between weight gain and water temperature may have been primarily based on the shortening of the M. balthica growing seasons in warm summers. We conclude that the present simultaneous trends of global warming and declining stocks of pelagic algae may affect M. balthica in the Wadden Sea in a similar, negative, way.

Due to global transformational trends, such as population growth, economic development and climate change, energy, water, land and human resources are increasingly under pressure to support societal development and to maintain necessary services. Decisionmakers need improved tools in order to be better informed about trade-offs and synergies between different development and management choices, and to help them identify options on how to sustainably manage resources.This report proposes a way to carry out a water-energy-food nexus assessment approach in order to: a) understand the interactions between water, energy and food systems in a given context, and b) evaluate the performance of a technicalor policy intervention in this given context.The ultimate goal of the nexus assessment is to inform nexusrelated responses in terms of strategies, policy measures, planning and institutional set-up or interventions.

For decades, increasing land productivity was a major driver of improving food security and reducing rural poverty. However, with increasing water scarcities, competing water demand across different sectors, and increasing cost of investments in water resources development require a paradigm shift. Improving the productivity of water use is emerging as a new way of addressing water scarcity while reducing vulnerability and improving income. Increasing both physical and economic water productivities (quantity per drop and value per drop) are central to this approach. The extent to which physical and economic water productivity should be improved is and area and context specific. However, the approach is especially important in areas that are populated with large agriculturally dependent small-holder rural people and areas that experience recurrent droughts and floods and lack access to proper infrastructure. A major part of the Ganga-Brahamaputra-Meghna (MBG) river basins have such characteristics. This report examines the current situation of poverty, food security and water productivity and their linkages and knowledge gaps in the MBG basins | Upali A. Amarasinghe, Bharat R. Sharma, 'Water productivity and poverty in the transboundary river basin of India and Bangladesh: a situation analysis. Project report submitted to IUCN under the project "Water Productivity, Poverty and Food Security?', International Water Management Institute (IWMI), 2014

Mestrado em Engenharia Alimentar - Instituto Superior de Agronomia | This thesis aims to study and analyze the country’s food security situation on a global level, but especially at a regional/local level. The study of this dissertation occurred in two specific regions, the district of Água-Grande and Mé-Zóchi, and allowed a better understanding of these important regions. A sample was selected through a stratified random sampling, with 110 survey equally distributed across different locations in the two districts. In this study, in 2014, it was found that there aren’t any significant differences in diet consumption in the two districts. The calorie intake, on average, in the two districts is about 3484.1 kcal/EH/day, and this value is higher in the district of Água-Grande (3601.26 Kcal/EH/day) compared to the district of Mé-Zóchi (3366.95 kcal/EH/day). Regarding the protein intake, it is also higher in the district of Água-Grande (120 g/EH/day) relative to the district of Mé-Zóchi (102.73 g/EH/day). In terms of quality of life indicators, the families of Mé-Zóchi show better results than the ones from Água-Grande. It is clear that the two regions studied are the most "central" and the most developed of the country, but we can say, in general, that they have good conditions of supply and food availability. In addition to improving the economic conditions (more revenue) it is necessary adequate food policy, distribution, investment in education and the efficient use of existing resources to improve food security.

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A novel method based on ultrasound-assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification microextraction (UASEME) has been developed for the preconcentration of cobalt prior to its determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. In the UASEME technique, chloroform was used as the extraction solvent, sodium dodecyl sulfate was adopted as emulsifier, and ultrasound was applied to assist emulsification. There is no need of using organic dispersive solvent which is typically required in conventional dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method. Several parameters that affect the extraction efficiency, such as the kind and volume of the extraction solvent, the type and concentration of the surfactant, pH of sample solution, concentration of the chelating agent, and extraction time and temperature were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the linearity of calibration curve was in the range of 0.1–5 ng mL⁻¹with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9992. An enrichment factor of 58 was achieved with a sample volume of 5.0 mL. The detection limit of this method for Co was 15.6 ng L⁻¹, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 4.3 % at 1.0 ng mL⁻¹concentration level of Co. The accuracy of the developed method was evaluated by analysis of the certified reference materials GBW07605 tea leaf and GBW10015 spinach. The method was successfully applied to determine trace cobalt in food and water samples with satisfactory results.