Water management initiatives are implemented under a concept called water footprint management (WF management). Different initiatives and pressures might have a positive influence on the implementation of WF management, such as the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, government support and coercive pressures. This study assessed the effects that CSR practices, government support, and coercive pressures have on the implementation of WF management initiatives. This study also evaluated the effects that the adoption of WF management has on firms’ reputations and legitimacy. A quantitative methodology was employed, in which a survey of 113 Chilean firms in the agri-food industry was carried out. Data were analyzed with the Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modelling method, which determines causal relationships between constructs. We found that CSR and government support exert a direct, positive, and significant influence on WF management. Also, WF management was found to have a direct, positive, and significant effect on firms’ reputations and legitimacy. CSR has a greater influence on WF management compared to government support, which shows that CSR initiatives are of paramount importance, surpassing the support provided by governments for the implementation of WF management practices. Considerable indirect effects of CSR on reputation and legitimacy were also observed. This study’s findings imply a crucial role for governments in prioritizing coercive pressures. In addition, it is imperative that agri-food firms foster their CSR programs to improve the implementation of WF practices, as the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated.

IntroductionThe food-energy-water (FEW) nexus highlights the interdependencies between the systems that people rely on for these essential resources. For example, globally, over two thirds of freshwater withdrawals are used to produce food, and another 10% is used during energy generation. In addition, the food system uses one eighth of global net energy. Seafood is a nutritionally important food, and it is critical to use freshwater and energy resources efficiently throughout seafood supply chains to safeguard future supplies and to reduce environmental impacts. Diverse seafood production methods result in highly variable resource use across supply chains, which may contribute to siloed efforts within supply chains to improve efficiency, instead of larger efforts that involve multiple seafood supply chains. Additionally, efforts to develop and implement efficiency strategies must be informed by fishers, aquaculturists, processors, and other seafood supply chain actors to avoid investing time and resources into strategies that will have low uptake. A significant proportion of seafood is imported into the U.S., so engaging with industry and stakeholders in the U.S. and abroad is critical for understanding and improving the FEW nexus associated with seafood consumed by Americans.MethodsTo understand how resources are being used, current and potential strategies to improve resource use, and relevant motivations and barriers, we conducted 47 semi-structured interviews from 2019 to 2021 with seafood supply chain actors, including producers and processors. Seafood supply chains included were farmed catfish produced in the U.S., farmed pangasius and shrimp produced in Vietnam, farmed Atlantic salmon produced in Norway, and wild-caught sockeye and pink salmon caught in the U.S.ResultsWe provide detailed descriptions of stages within each supply chain regarding resource use and efficiency strategies, and report higher-level findings that apply across supply chains. There was variation across settings regarding how resources are used and opportunities and barriers for improving efficiencies, but we also found commonalities in settings, indicating that resource-saving strategies or innovations could lead to increased efficiency across multiple supply chains. Interviewees shared that cost savings drove past adoption of, and high interest in, energy conservation practices. Generally, direct costs did not motivate reduced use of freshwater, but associated costs like energy to run pumps and supplies to treat contaminated surface water drove interest in reducing water use.DiscussionEfforts to improve resource use in the U.S. seafood supply should focus on identifying and scaling-up strategies that (i) involve improved efficiency of more than one resource and/or (ii) apply across multiple settings. This work should involve partnerships between industry, government agencies, and academic researchers, and should be informed by supply chain actors’ experiences and insights. The qualitative insights from this study encompass rich descriptions of FEW-relevant factors at the level of specific supply chain stages as well as findings across six major seafood supply chains in three countries. The study provides an essential complement to existing quantitative characterizations of resource use, and enables nuanced and informed responses to challenges.

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. High Lp(a) levels are genetically determined and lack effective pharmacotherapy. This case report describes a 67-year-old, vegan male with elevated blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol (TC), LDL, and Lp(a) who underwent a 10-day, medically supervised water-only fast followed by a 6-week SOS-free diet (free of added salt, oil, and sugar). At the 6-week-follow-up visit, he experienced significant reductions in several CVD risk markers, including blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. He also experienced an unexpected decrease in Lp(a), from 236.3 nmol/L to 143.4 nmol/L (39%). This decrease is comparable to reductions achieved with proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors. These findings suggest that prolonged water-only fasting and/or an SOS-free diet may be an effective alternative approach for managing high Lp(a) levels and reducing CVD risk in a vegan population, warranting further research.

Water related problems caused by climate change are threatening the future of food systems in both Netherlands and Ghana. In this paper we present the results of a comparative case study analysis. The objective is identifying similarities in the use of spatial information by experts and stakeholders in their attempts to remove the barriers or foster the enablers of NbS uptake in view of climate change. Experiences in this field have been listed in the Rhine-Scheldt Estuaries (the Netherlands) and Bono East Region (Ghana) about rainwater harvesting and reuse of wastewater. The analysis focused on identifying similarities in the use of spatial information by stakeholders in their attempts to remove the barriers or foster the enablers of NBS uptake. Both rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment techniques are available, and ready to be accepted and applied by farmers and food processing industry. Their uptake however is hampered by multiple barriers, ranging from biophysical and technical barriers to social and institutional barriers. We conclude that spatial information can be an enabler for adoption of nature-based solutions, if the spatial information is applicable for the assessment of a wide range of possible solutions for water scarcity considering food production, either nature-based solutions or technologies. In both case studies we observe a struggle to make the future spatially explicit. In both case studies, the effect on biodiversity of respectively reuse of effluent water and RWH did not play a direct role in the stakeholder dialogue.

Analysis of grain production performance can provide reference information to explore multiple cropping options and further improve the resource use efficiency of farming methods. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of grain production performance and efficiency of major crop production systems (CPS) in the Ethiopia’s Blue Nile Basin. The results show that only 39% of the basin is currently cultivated, although a significant cropland expansion (10%) was recorded between 1985 and 2020. The study identified 11 major CPS, mostly practiced in the basin. Of these, single cropping based on the main rainy season (Meher-Only) covers the largest area (26%), followed by Meher-Residual-Intermittent (12%) and Meher-Belg-Dependable (11%). Extended-Meher, Meher-Residual-Dependable, Meher-Residual-Intermittent, and Meher-Belg-Dependable are the four more powerful CPS with higher efficiency. Comparatively, CPS practiced in Wet-Woyna-Dega and Wet-Dega have better overall performance. Findings confirm that agricultural space management (land) and green-water (rainfall) utilization are the most influential factors, followed by land use planning and land use systems (CPS) invention. As landscape suitability for grain production governs future performance, in the low elevation and flood plains parts of the basin, the possibility of creating additional space into the food system is very high. In mountainous and high-altitude regions, the efficiency of grain production will decrease because incorporating additional arable land into the food system is trivial. In the last three decades, in BNB, only 10% of arable land (equivalent to 30 million quintals of food) has been added to the good system, which can support approximately 6 million people. Compared to the population growth of the basin (12 million 1985–2020), its contribution to the food system was less than 50%. This confirms that multiple cropping systems, such as Residual moisture-based CPS, have played a significant role in boosting the food system in the basin. Therefore, improving grain production performance/efficiency requires targeted investments, including the invention of more adaptable crop varieties, efficient cropping practices, and the introduction of advanced agricultural space and water management technologies. The results of the study will help identify important policy gaps and suggest possible options to enhance residual farming and other multiple cropping systems.

La presente investigación se realizó a 2812 m.s.n.m, con una temperatura promedio de 18°C, en el Barrio San Juan de la parroquia Eloy Alfaro del cantón Latacunga, provincia de Cotopaxi, con la finalidad de evaluar tres niveles de apio (Apium graveolens) 10%, 20% y 30% en el agua de bebida como suplemento alimenticio en la crianza de los pollos broiler. La presente investigación se realizó con una población de 100 pollos broiler en las etapas de crecimiento y engorde; de las cuales se designaron 4 tratamientos; T0 (Dieta base y agua de bebida – tratamiento testigo); T1 (Dieta base + 10ml/L de extracto de apio); T2 (Dieta base + 20ml/L de extracto de apio); y T3 (Dieta base + 30ml/L de extracto de apio‎‎‎‎‎‎‎) durante 7 semanas. El método que se empleó fue el, deductivo y experimental, para el análisis estadístico se utilizó Diseño Completamente al Azar (DCA) a través del diseño estadístico de InfoStat mediante el Test Duncan Alfa =0.05, como diferencia significativa. La recolección de los datos para las variables analizadas se realizó cada 7 días. Los resultados del análisis estadístico comparativo demostraron que el peso vivo de los pollos en el T0 fue superior en los tratamientos T1, T2 Y T3, en la semana 7, con 2829.12g. En la semana 3, el consumo de alimento y de agua de T1 y T2 obtuvieron similares valores 1.05 respectivamente, así mismo el T0 y T4 obtuvieron valores de 10.3 respectivamente. En el análisis de ganancia de peso en los tratamientos T1, T2 Y T3 mostraron resultados similares a partir de la misma semana 3, con valores de 654.22 y 651.72 en comparación al grupo control con valores de 855.3 en los tratamientos. El análisis de costo/beneficio demostró que el tratamiento control es el más rentable, con un beneficio neto de 0.33USD. | This research was conducted at an altitude of 2,812 meters above sea level, with an average temperature of 18°C, in the San Juan neighborhood of Eloy Alfaro parish, Latacunga canton, Cotopaxi Province. The aim was to evaluate three levels of celery (Apium graveolens) at 10%, 20%, and 30% in drinking water as a dietary supplement for broiler chickens. The study involved 100 broiler chickens during the growth and fattening stages, which were assigned to four treatments: T0 (Base diet and drinking water – control treatment); T1 (Base diet + 10 ml/L of celery extract); T2 (Base diet + 20 ml/L of celery extract); and T3 (Base diet + 30 ml/L of celery extract) for 7 weeks. The research employed a deductive and experimental method, and a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used for statistical analysis through InfoStat's Duncan test with Alpha = 0.05 as a significant difference. Data collection for the analyzed variables was performed every 7 days. The comparative statistical analysis results showed that the live weight of the chickens in T0 was higher in the T1, T2, and T3 treatments in week 7, with 2,829.12g. In week 3, the feed and water intake in T1 and T2 showed similar values of 1.05, respectively, while T0 and T4 obtained values of 10.3, respectively. In the weight gain analysis, treatments T1, T2, and T3 showed similar results starting from week 3, with values of 654.22 and 651.72 compared to the control group with values of 855.3 in the treatments. The cost/benefit analysis demonstrated that the control treatment is the most profitable, with a net benefit of 0.33 USD.

The service to the Brazilian rural population through sewage treatment services is still precarious. Data provided in the National Rural Sanitation Program (PNSR, 2019) show that about 80% of the households present in these areas dispose of their sewage inadequately, in the form of septic tanks or directly in lakes, rivers and the sea. This reality affects about 40 million Brazilians. This situation generates risks to public health and harms environmental quality, especially the quality of surface and underground water bodies, as well as soils. It adds to the situation currently observed to that projected as a result of future scenarios resulting from global climate change. The sixth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC. 2023) points to an increase in the water deficit for most of the Brazilian territory, and it is necessary, as a strategy to adapt to this scenario, the development of technological assets aimed at improving water quality and making better use of this natural resource. As agriculture is the largest water-consuming economic activity in the country and heavily dependent on fertilizer imports, it is clear that systems that provide the reuse of treated effluents, as well as the nutrients present in them, gain strength and become a priority to deal with the expected risks, increasing the resilience and sustainability of production systems. For this reason, Embrapa, in partnership with IICA,low-cost alternative, easy installation and operation, low energy and labor dependence, and high efficiency in the removal of organic load and pathogens to serve rural and isolated communities. The ReAqua System consists of two stages, the first consisting of the Sewage Treatment Plant (ETE) and the second the agricultural system for the production of vegetables. The WWTP is assembled using tanks and water tanks, PVC or fiberglass pipes and connections, as well as materials used for civil construction. The sewage treatment system is based on joint Septic Tank – Anaerobic Filter, followed by sequential slow filtration with increasing difficulty and chlorine disinfection. The agricultural system stage of vegetable production is based on the use of gravity irrigation, reuse of nutrients by fertigation, use of soil cover by mulching The quality of the reused water, as well as the agricultural management used, allows the safe production of vegetables with less dependence on mineral fertilizers.

High GI carbohydrates are associated with several diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The rate of starch digestion and absorption significantly impacts metabolic responses. Slowly digestible carbohydrates are advantageous for managing metabolic disorders such as diabetes and hyperlipidaemia and are found in legumes, pasta, and whole-grain cereals. Peas, a high-quality protein source, are typically consumed after soaking and cooking. Pea cooking water is the by-product of split yellow peas, often regarded as an ideal egg white substitute in bakery products due to its emulsifying properties. Pea cooking water (PCW) was recently reported to be rich in proteins, fibres and micronutrients. However, current research has not specifically investigated the nutritional aspects of pea cooking water, although significant nutrient loss is known to occur during cooking. This study investigated the potential of pea cooking water to manage glycaemic responses in carbohydrate-rich foods by examining its effects on human glycaemic levels as well as the structural and textural properties of these foods. This study examines the structural and nutritional modifications that occour to pasta when PCW or pea flour (PF) are incorporated into the formulation. The inclusion of freeze-dried PCW (PCWFD) in pasta significantly (P<0.05) reduced the optimal cooking time (OCT) and altered water absorption capacity due to its unique structural attributes. Compared to traditional wheat pasta, PCWP exhibited a lower OCT (P<0.05), reduced swelling index (P<0.05), and higher cooking loss when substituting 20% of semolina with PCWFD (P<0.05). Additionally, pasta substituted semlina with 10% and 20% PCWFD showed increased tensile strength and decreased cutting force (P<0.05), maintaining an intact microstructure and consistent particle size distribution. The incorporation of PCWFD modified protein-starch network of the pasta. The modified protein-starch networks in PCWP and PFP resulted in slower glucose release and a lower glycaemic response (P<0.05). The study explored the impact of varying cooking times and PCWFD levels, finding that longer cooking times and higher PCWFD concentrations affect cooking loss and water absorption, influencing glycaemic response. PCWP performs comparably or better than traditional pea flour pasta in in vitro glucose digestion tests. The food matrix does not disrupt the effect of PCW in reducing and slowing glucose release, as demonstrated by comparisons with rice boiled in PCW versus normal water. PCW incorporation significantly reduced postprandial glycaemic responses in human subjects (P<0.05), attributed to the high protein content and fibre effects on gastric emptying. The lower glycaemic index (GI) effect is also due to the higher protein content, lower starch content, and protein-starch interactions. Despite a fully gelatinized structure, PCWP maintain a reduced glycaemic response. These findings highlight the potential of PCW as a functional ingredient to enhance the nutritional profile of pasta, reduce glycaemic responses, and promote sustainable food processing practices. The present work addressed the potential health benefits of PCW to develop of functional food by investigating the effect on human postprandial glycaemic response. It represented a functional and innovative approach to food development while promoting environmentally sustainable practices.

O objetivo dessa publicação é apresentar o Sistema ReAqua, suas principais características e seu potencial uso para o atendimento a comunidades rurais e isoladas e para o reuso agrícola irrestrito para irrigação.

[ES] La sostenibilidad y la gestión eficiente de los recursos hídricos se han convertido en temas prioritarios para la industria agroalimentaria debido a la creciente presión sobre los recursos naturales y la demanda de prácticas más responsables. En este contexto, la huella hídrica emerge como una herramienta crucial para evaluar el consumo y la gestión del agua a lo largo de la cadena de producción. El presente TFM se enmarca en las prácticas realizadas por el alumno en la Cátedra de Nueva Transición Verde de la UPV y la colaboración con la Conselleria de Medio Ambiente de la GVA. La Ley 6/2022 del cambio climático y la transición ecológica de la Comunitat Valenciana introduce, en su artículo 80, la creación del Registro de Huella Hídrica de Productos, Servicios y Organizaciones. El objetivo de este TFM es evaluar la viabilidad de realización del cálculo de la huella hídrica por parte de las empresas agroalimentarias para inscribirse en el registro siguiendo la guía metodológica que está desarrollando la Consellería de Medio Ambiente y que necesita ser testada en distintos ámbitos de actividad. Para ello se realiza el cálculo de la huella hídrica de una cooperativa de cítricos de la provincia de Valencia, que representa un caso particular porque se debe contemplar la producción de muchos socios y las operaciones en el almacén hortofrutícola además es el cultivo más característico de la Comunitat Valenciana. Para ello se realiza el cálculo mediante la metodología de Water Footprint Assessment (WFA) llamada huella hídrica en la guía y la metodología de Análisis del Ciclo de vida (ACV) llamada huella de agua en la guía. Los resultados de la huella hídrica se expresan en m3/año, los de la huella de agua se expresan según sus diferentes categorías de impacto, una vez obtenidos se comparan con otros estudios. Este estudio demuestra la viabilidad del proceso de cálculo y de inscripción en el registro, teniendo en cuenta las dificultades encontradas durante el proceso. | [EN] Sustainability and efficient management of water resources have become priority issues for the agri-food industry due to the increasing pressure on natural resources and the demand for more responsible practices. In this context, the water footprint emerges as a crucial tool to assess water consumption and management along the production chain. This TFM is framed within the practices carried out by the student in the Chair of New Green Transition of the UPV and the collaboration with the Department of Environment of the GVA. The Law 6/2022 on climate change and the ecological transition of the Valencian Community introduces, in its article 80, the creation of the Water Footprint Register of Products, Services and Organisations. The aim of this TFM is to assess the feasibility of calculating the water footprint by agri-food companies to be included in the register, following the methodological guide being developed by the Regional Ministry of the Environment, which needs to be tested in different areas of activity. To this end, the water footprint of a citrus fruit cooperative in the province of Valencia is calculated. This is a particular case because it must take into account the production of the members and the postharvest operations in the e warehouse, which is also the most characteristic crop of the Valencia Region. For this purpose, the calculation is carried out using the Water Footprint Assessment (WFA) methodology called water footprint in the guide and the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology called water footprint in the guide. The results of the water footprint are calculated using two approaches and expressed either in m3/year or according to their different impact categories. The results are compared with other studies. In addition, this study demonstrates the feasibility of the calculation and registration process, taking into account the difficulties encountered during the process. | Fernandez Diaz, F. (2024). Estimación de la huella hídrica en una cooperativa agroalimentaria: un test para la implantación del Registro de la Huella Hídrica en la Comunitat Valenciana. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/206389