Educação socioambiental a partir da economia circular: integrando ambientes formais e não-formais como modelo conceitual para valorização de recursos orgânicos

Organic solid waste represents a significant portion modern society’s waste. However, from the circular economy (CE) perspective it is possible that these materials are no longer considered as waste, but as organic resources, given their nutritional and economic potential. Starting from the perspective of CE and education as a tool that redefines and creates new values, this study aimed to develop a conceptual model of actions and guidelines for socio-environmental education focusing on the lifecycle of food with the aim organic resource valorization. The study involved participants from a municipal market and high school students at a state public high school of a midsize Brazilian city. Qualitative data collection involved semi-structured interviews. Within this context and the perspectives of the actors, socio-educational proposals were structured in a participatory way to optimize the food lifecycle. As a result, the structured conceptual model proposes the integration of multiple actors, from the local community and formal teaching environments, into a non-formal process designed for day-to-day use with a view to promoting CE attitudes and thus sustainable development.Los residuos sólidos orgánicos constituyen una porción representativa de los residuos producidos por la sociedad moderna. Sin embargo, desde la perspectiva de la economía circular (EC), es posible que estos materiales ya no se consideren como residuos, sino como recursos orgánicos, dado su potencial nutricional y económico. Partiendo de la educación como herramienta para la redefinición del conocimiento y la multiplicación de valores, este estudio tuvo como objetivo desarrollar un modelo conceptual de acciones y lineamientos para la educación socioambiental enfocados en abordar el ciclo de vida de los alimentos, desde la perspectiva de la CE, con un enfoque con miras a la valorización de los recursos orgánicos. El estudio involucró a licenciatarios de un Mercado Municipal y estudiantes de secundaria de una escuela pública estatal en una ciudad brasileña de tamaño mediano. La recolección de datos cualitativos se realizó a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas. A partir de la realidad local, se estructuraron propuestas socioeducativas, de manera participativa, para optimizar el ciclo de vida de los alimentos. Como resultado, o modelo conceitual desenvolvido propõe a integração de multiplicadores do olhar sustentável, oriundos da comunidade local e de ambientes formais de ensino, em um processo da prática e para a prática, com vistas à promoção de atitudes orientadas à EC e, consequentemente ao desenvolvimiento sustentable.Os resíduos sólidos orgânicos constituem uma parcela representativa dos resíduos produzidos pela sociedade moderna. Na ótica da economia circular (EC), no entanto, é possível que esses materiais sejam considerados não mais como resíduos, mas sim como recursos orgânicos, visto seu potencial nutritivo e econômico. Partindo da educação como ferramenta de ressignificação de saberes e multiplicação de valores, este estudo teve como objetivo desenvolver um modelo conceitual de ações e diretrizes de educação socioambiental com foco na abordagem do ciclo de vida dos alimentos, sob a ótica da EC, com vistas à valorização de recursos orgânicos. O estudo envolveu permissionários de um Mercado Municipal e discentes do ensino médio de um colégio público estadual de uma cidade brasileira de médio porte. A coleta de dados qualitativos ocorreu por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. A partir da realidade local foram estruturadas, de forma participativa, propostas socioeducativas para otimizar o ciclo de vida de alimentos. Como resultado, o modelo conceitual desenvolvido propõe a integração de multiplicadores do olhar sustentável, oriundos da comunidade local e de ambientes formais de ensino, em um processo da prática e para a prática, com vistas à promoção de atitudes orientadas à EC e, consequentemente ao desenvolvimento sustentável.   &nbsp

Efeito de extratos de casca de café (Coffea arabica L.) na germinação e crescimento de pepino (Cucumis sativus L.)

The allelopathy is the effect of inhibiting or stimulating the plant growth, for substances produced by another plant. This study aimed to evaluate the allelopathic potential of the crude extract of the coffee husks on the germination and development of seeds of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The experimental design was in randomized blocks with 10 replicates of 5 concentrations of extracts (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) applied in pots containing commercial substrate and 20 seeds of C. sativus in each one. It also tested the allelopathic effect on seeds of C. sativus placed in Petri plates, lined with filter paper and the extracts of 25, 50, 75 and 100% in randomized blocks with 6 replicates for each treatment. The control was carried out with distilled water for both biotests systems. The application of coffee husks extracts on the commercial substrate stimulated the C. sativus biomass development, as the concentration increased. The most concentrated extract, in Petri plates systems, inhibited the development of the radicle in all treatments comparing to the control. Despite of the aqueous extract of coffee husks has shown to be at low concentrations as germination stimulus, when it was applied in high concentrations, inhibition events were observed.A alelopatia é o processo pelo qual produtos do metabilosmo secundário de um determinado vegetal são liberados, podendo inibir ou estimular o crescimento de outras plantas relativamente próximas. Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o potencial alelopático do extrato bruto da casca de café (Coffea arabica L.) sobre a germinação e desenvolvimento de sementes de pepino (Cucumis sativus L.). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com 10 repetições e 5 concentrações dos extratos (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20%) aplicadas em vasos contendo substrato comercial e 20 sementes de C. sativus em cada vaso. Testou-se, ainda, o efeito alelopático sobre sementes de C. sativus em placas de Petri, forradas com papel filtro e com os extratos a 25, 50, 75 e 100%, em blocos casualizados e com 6 repetições cada. O controle foi feito com água destilada nos dois bioensaios. A aplicação do extrato de casca de café no primeiro bioensaio estimulou o aumento da biomassa de C. sativus, conforme aumentou a concentração. O extrato mais concentrado, no segundo bioensaio, inibiu o desenvolvimento da radícula em todos os tratamentos, em comparação ao controle. O extrato de casca de café em baixas concentrações estimulou a germinação e desenvolvimento de C. sativus e em altas concentrações inibiu seu crescimento e desenvolvimento. Devido ao potencial alelopático comprovado que o resíduo possui, torna-se de grande importância que estudos sugiram novas opções de uso da casca de café e práticas de manejo, para prevenção à poluição de ecossistemas

Hotspots of soil pollution: possible glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid risks on terrestrial ecosystems and human health

The study presents a literature review of glyphosate (GLY) occurrence and its breakdown product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), in soils worldwide, but with a specific focus on South America. In addition, an ecological risk approach based on the ecotoxicological endpoints for key soil biota (e.g., collembolans, and earthworms) assessed the impact of GLY and AMPA on these organisms. A generic probabilistic model for human health risk was also calculated for the different world regions. For what reports the risk for edaphic species and the level of pollution under the worst-case scenario, the South American continent was identified as the region of most concern. Nonetheless, other areas may also be in danger, but no risk could be calculated due to the lack of data. Since tropical countries are the top food exporters worldwide, the results obtained in this study must be carefully examined for their implications on a global scale. Some of the factors behind the high levels of these two chemicals in soils are debated (e.g., permissive protection policies, the extensive use of genetically modified crops), and some possible guidelines are presented that include, for example, further environmental characterisation and management of pesticide residues. The present review integrates data that can be used as a base by policymakers and decision-makers to develop and implement environmental policies

Metabolic consequences of the water we drink: a study based on field evidence and animal model experimentation

The effect of the chronic consumption of water contaminated with residual concentrations of DDT’s metabolites (DDD—dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane and DDE—dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) found in the environment were evaluated on the biometric, hematological and antioxidant system parameters of the hepatic, muscular, renal and nervous tissues of Wistar rats. The results showed that the studied concentrations (0.002 mg.L−1 of DDD plus 0.005 mg.L−1 of DDE) could not cause significant changes in the hematological parameters. However, the tissues showed significant alteration in the activity of the antioxidant system represented by the increase in the activity of the enzymes gluthathione S-transferases in the liver, superoxide dismutase in the kidney, gluthathione peroxidase in the brain, and several changes in enzymatic activity in muscle (SOD, GPx and LPO). The enzymes alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) were also evaluated for the amino acids’ metabolism in the liver, with ALT showing a significant increase in the exposed animals. In the integrative analysis of biomarkers (Permanova and PCOA), the studied concentrations showed possible metabolic changes and damage to cellular structures evidenced by increased oxidative stress and body weight gain among the treated animals. This study highlights the need for further studies on the impact of banned pesticides still present in soils that may induce adverse effects in organisms that may prevail in future generations and the environment

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora