Stratégies méthodologiques pour l’analyse de la conversion et la diversification des régions de canne à sucre

Sugar has been the major commercial product from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). Production of the sweetener in Mexico depends on three factors: a) the amount and quality of the industrialized sugar cane, b) sugar mill yield, and c) the installed capacity and crushing capacity in sugar mills. However, the analysis of production factors affecting their competitiveness (productivity and diversification capacities) has been carried without considering the spatial and temporal distribution and agro ecological aptitude of sugarcane regions and others socioeconomic constraints.  This study to identify using the multicriteria method AHP (Analytic Hierarchy) in a GIS and participatory techniques, as suitable tools for analyzing complex systems, the key factors that determine the potential of sugarcane supply areas to establish diversification projects are sugarcane land suitability, sugarcane yield and farm size account for 78% of the potential of sugar cane regions. However, for sugarcane growers diversification it is known but still unattractive.El azúcar ha sido el principal producto comercial de la caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum). La producción del edulcorante en México depende de tres factores: a) cantidad y calidad de caña de azúcar industrializada; b) rendimiento de la fábrica; y c) capacidad instalada y de molienda de ingenios azucareros. Sin embargo, el análisis de factores de producción que afectan su competitividad (productividad y capacidad de diversificación) se ha llevado a cabo sin considerar la distribución espacial y temporal, aptitud agroecológica de las regiones cañeras y factores limitantes socioeconómicos. Este trabajo identificó mediante el método multicriterio AHP (Jerarquías analíticas) en sistemas de información geográfica y técnicas participativas, como herramientas para el análisis de sistemas complejos, donde los factores clave Aptitud agroclimática al cultivo de caña de azúcar; Rendimiento de campo; y Tamaño de la unidad de producción explican el 78 % del potencial de regiones cañeras para establecer proyectos de diversificación y/o reconversión productiva. Sin embargo, para los productores cañeros la diversificación es un tema conocido, pero poco atractivo.Le sucre a été le principal produit commercial de la canne à sucre (Saccharum officinarum). La production de l’édulcorant au Mexique dépend de trois facteurs: a) la quantité et la qualité de la canne à sucre industrialisée; b) la performance de l’usine; et c) capacité des installations et moulins de broyage des usines. Cependant, l’analyse des facteurs de production qui affectent la compétitivité (productivité et la capacité de diversification) a été effectuée sans tenir compte de la distribution spatiale et temporelle, l’aptitude agro-écologique des régions de canne à sucre et les facteurs limitatifs socio-économiques. Ce travail a identifié au travers de la  méthode multicritère AHP (Analytical Hierarchy) avec des systèmes d’information géographique et des techniques participatives comme outils pour l’analyse des systèmes complexes, au les facteurs clés aptitude agroclimatique pour la canne à sucre; la performance sur le terrain et la taille de l’unité de production expliquent le 78% du potentiel des régions de la canne à sucre pour établir des projets de diversification et / ou reconversion productive. Cependant, pour les producteurs de canne à sucre la diversification est un problème connu, mais peu attrayant

Manejo sostenible de subproductos agroindustriales y estrategias tecnológicas de bioconversión

In order to evaluate sustainable strategies to obtain solid biofuel and fertilizers from agroindustrialby-products in contrast to the agroecological zoning and expansion of crops in Veracruz, Mexico,drying methods with orange peels, sugarcane bagasse and crop residues were tested. The experiments to obtain a solid biofuel with 12.28% humidity in 30 days. Six fertilizer production treatments in plastic containers from 30 to 90 days were evaluated using by-products: orange peel, cachaça, stillage, molasses, ashes, manure, sugar cane crop residues and edible mushroom production through composting techniques, vermicomposting and bocashi. Fertilizers with pH between 5.4 and 12.0, 3% to 70% of M.O. and C / N ratio from 8 to 40. The agroecological zoning was carried out with the Maxent software, determining that the geographic regions with the greatest aptitude for citrus and sugar cane crops are located in the Mexican southeast and in particular the state of Veracruz. For sugarcane, the limiting factors for productivity as raw material for biorefineries are related to access to water (rainfall) and explain 57.1% of the simulation. In the case of citrus, the factors are related to temperature, rainfall and topography, which together impact 44.5%.Con el propósito de evaluar estrategias sostenibles para obtener biocombustible sólido y abonos a partir de subproductos agroindustriales en contraste con la zonificación agroecológica y  expansión de cultivos de Veracruz, México, se probaron métodos de secado con cáscaras de naranja, bagazo de caña y residuos de cosecha. Los experimentos  permitieron obtener un  biocombustible sólido, con 12,28 % dehumedad en 30 días. Se evaluaron seis tratamientos de producción de abono en contenedores plásticos de30 a 90 días utilizando subproductos: cáscara de naranja, cachaza, vinazas, melazas, cenizas, estiércoles,residuos de cosecha cañera y de producción de hongos comestibles mediante las técnicas de compostaje,vermicompostaje y bocashi. Se obtuvieron abonos con pH entre 5.4 y 12.0, 3% al 70 % de M.O. y relación C/N de 8 a 40. La zonificación agroecológica se realizó con el software Maxent, determinando que las regiones geográficas con mayor aptitud para cultivos de cítricos y caña de azúcar se localizan en el sureste mexicano y en particular el estado de Veracruz. Para caña de azúcar, los factores limitantes a la productividad como materia prima para biorrefinerías, están relacionados con el acceso al agua (precipitación pluvial) y explican el 57,1 % de la simulación. En el caso de cítricos, los factores se relacionan con temperatura, precipitaciónpluvial y topografía, que en su conjunto impactan el 44,5 %

Synergistic effects of ethanolic plant extract mixtures against food-borne pathogen bacteria

Plant extracts are an important part in agroecology, as they benefit environment in combating pathogenic organisms, without resorting to synthetic chemicals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of mixtures of ethanol extracts from semi-desert plants [creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), tarbush (Flourensia cernua) and paddle cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica)] against Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. The maximum antimicrobial activity was achieved with the creosote  bush–tarbush-paddle cactus mix (1:1:1) v/v, followed by paddle cactus-tarbush (1:1) v/v. E. coli was the bacterial strain that showed the highest growth inhibition as consequence of the concentration of plant extracts (4000 and 5000 ppm of tarbush). While with the creosote bush plant extracts, the highest inhibition halos were observed. Synergistic effects were observed when mixtures of ethanolic plant extract against food-borne pathogen bacteria were used, so this may be a better way to design alternative pathogen control methodologies for food-borne pathogen bacteria.Keywords: Larrea tridentate, Flourensia cernua, Opuntia ficus-indica, ethanolic plant extract mixtures, foodborne pathogenAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(5), pp. 699-704, 29 January, 201

Evaluación multicriterio y aptitud agroclimática del cultivo de caña de azúcar en la región de Huasteca (México)

Sugarcane production is one of the most important activities in the Huasteca region of Mexico, which requires plans to increase productivity and reduce uncertainty caused by limitations and the market. By zoning the crop using a multi-criteria evaluation AHP (analytic hierarchy process) in GIS (Landsat 7 ETM+), thematic maps (climate and soil) were generated associated with the variables of cane using ILWIS and ESRI ArcGIS 9.2. The AHP methodology provides a framework for assessing and zoning the crop in order to synthesize the interaction between the variables that determine crop productivity and represent the key point of agronomic management of space in Huasteca. The results showed that the methodology of remote sensing, GIS and AHP, can also serve as an effective, low cost tool. La caña de azúcar es una de las más importante actividades productivas en la región Huasteca de México y que requiere de planes para incrementar la productividad y disminuir la incertidumbre ante las limitaciones y el mercado. Mediante la zonificación productiva potencial del cultivo a través de una evaluación multicriterio AHP (proceso de jerarquías analíticas) en un ambiente SIG (Imgenes Lansat 7 ETM+), se generaron mapas temáticos (climáticos y edafológicos) relacionados con las variables del cultivo de caña empleando ILWIS y ESRI ArcGis 9.2. La metodología AHP proporcionó el marco de evaluación y la zonificación del cultivo al sintetizar la interacción entre las variables que determinan la productividad del cultivo y representan el punto clave del manejo agronómico espacial en Huasteca. Los resultados demostraron que la metodología de percepción remota, AHP y SIG, pueden servir además como herramienta efectiva, de bajo costo. 

Competitive Edible Mushroom Production from Nonconventional Waste Biomass

Worldwide, there is an increase in acreage dedicated to the competitive production of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and palms crops as productive diversification for food, feed, fiber, and fuels. However, in developing countries, there is malnutrition by an inadequate diet caused by deficiency in quality or quantity of food. Therefore, options are needed for the production of foods, mainly of high protein content such as edible mushroom from by‐products. In Veracruz, Mexico, there is a large megadiversity of wastes derived from endemic plants, fruits, legumes, pods, leaves, straws, and flowers that are generated in a large amount and are disposed off through open‐field burning without a specific use. The objective was to evaluate the potential of 30 nonconventional by‐products and wastes for the production of low‐cost oyster mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus. Biological efficiency (BE) varied from 17.65 to 180% and at least the 60% of the evaluated substrates (BE greater than 50%) are viable for the production of mushroom Pleurotus especially in view of its low contamination in trials and abundance and availability and diversity throughout the agricultural year as wastes. Besides, the spent substrates were converted into organic manure compost, vermicompost and bocashi to close the cycle for new food production

Competitive Management of Sugarcane Waste and Reduction of CO2 Emissions from Harvest Burning in Supply Regions

Sugarcane is an important crop in more than 100 countries around the world. Their burning is a cultural activity before and after the harvest; however, pollutants and greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere can affect the human health and weather, respectively. The aim of this research is to report the CO2 emissions of the main countries dedicated to the cane production and explain their relevant relation with the dry matter available to the burn and how it can affect their alternative uses. The methodology used in this study identifies the relation between biomass burned (dry matter) and CO2 emissions, estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with the techniques of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The study was carried out for the period of 1990–2014. The results show an important positive trend in the increase in the annual production levels and the biomass burned during the harvest period. The high correlation between harvested area and yield per hectare in countries such as Brazil and the United States allows to have more biomass available for alternative uses. Countries such as Mexico and Colombia have a low correlation between both the parameters due to the increase in the harvested hectares and reduction of their performance per hectare

TRENDS AND RESEARCH ON COVID-19 AND FARMERS USING VOSVIEWER

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to use bibliometric analysis to provide an overview of the empirical and theoretical research that has been carried out with regard to COVID-19 focusing on scientific publications on the topic of farmers. Design/methodology/approach: The global literature on COVID-19 and agricultural producers (farmers) published between 2019 and 2022 (August 8), was obtained from the SCOPUS database, comprising a total of 665 documents. VOSviewer was used to perform a bibliometric analysis of these papers. Results: The two countries that published the most research related to the terms studied were the United States and India. Research conducted in these countries was found in the most cited studies. The studies focused on five major topics: agriculture, epidemiology, psychology, economic impact, as well as rural areas and risk determination. The evolution of the topics over time showed that the research originally began with health-oriented studies, and that once the protocols for the return to normal were generated, studies were carried out to visibilize the producers and their challenges during the pandemic in addition to the support strategies that were generated and the impact that the pandemic had on them, as well as on the local, regional, national, and global economy. Limitations on study/implications: The documents analyzed are exclusive to the SCOPUS database, so literature was excluded from other sources such as Google Scholar or Web of Science, which could contain important information on the subject in relation to other disciplines. Findings/conclusions: This type of study makes it possible to better understand the current state of the art regarding the effect of COVID-19 on the agri-food sector, thus allowing researchers to visualize the relevance of, and guide, their research on the topic. Keywords: bibliometric analysis; resilience; farming; SARS-CoV-2; pandemic; farm workers.RESUMEN Objetivo: El objetivo de esta investigación fue utilizar el análisis bibliométrico para brindar una visión general sobre las investigaciones empíricas y teóricas que se han realizado sobre COVID-19 con énfasis en las publicaciones científicas que hayan abordado el tema de los productores agropecuarios. Diseño/metodología/aproximación: La literatura global sobre COVID-19 y productores agropecuarios (farmers) publicada entre el 2019 hasta 2022 (08 de agosto), se obtuvo de la base de datos SCOPUS, compuesta de un total de 665 documentos. Se utilizó VOSviewer para realizar un análisis bibliométrico de estos. Resultados: Los dos países que más publicaron investigaciones relacionadas a los términos estudiados fueron Estados Unidos e India. En estos países se realizaron investigaciones que se encuentran dentro de las más citadas. Las investigaciones se han focalizado en cinco grandes temas: agricultura, epidemiología, psicología, el impacto económico, y las áreas rurales y la determinación del riesgo. La evolución en el tiempo de los tópicos, permiten visualizar que originalmente se inició con investigaciones orientadas a la salud, para una vez generados los protocolos para volver a la normalidad, se realizaron investigaciones para visibilizar a los productores y sus retos durante la pandemia, así como las estrategias de apoyo que se generaron y el impacto que tuvo la pandemia en ellos, la economía local, regional, nacional y global. Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: Los documentos analizados son exclusivos de la base de datos de SCOPUS, por lo que se excluye la literatura proveniente de otras fuentes como Google Schoolar, o Web of Science, las cuales podrían contener información importante del tema en relación con otras disciplinas. Hallazgos/conclusiones: Este tipo de estudios nos permiten comprender mejor el estado del arte actual del efecto del COVID-19 en el sector agroalimentario. Lo que permitiría a los investigadores visualizar la pertinencia y direccionar sus investigaciones relacionadas con el tema. Palabras clave: análisis bibliométrico; resiliencia; agricultura; SARS-CoV-2; pandemia; trabajadores agrícola

Detección de Agave angustifolia y Agave cupreata con técnicas geomáticas en Guerrero, México

The agave plant has significant economic and cultural value, it is considered an agricultural and forestry product, and is also used in the production of a significant number of products. In Mexico, one of the most representative derivatives of agave are distilled beverages of mezcal and tequila, whose sales have increased outside the country. In response to this demand, Guerrero has reported an annual growth in production of 1.5 %, with an increase in area of more than 1,000 hectares between 2015 and 2020. This commercial boom has generated an expansion and intensification of planting and production of Agave spp. (Asparagaceae), as well as the use of inadequate agricultural production techniques and changes in traditional technology. That is why the objective of this work was to spatially locate the mezcal agave, in particular the species Agave cupreata Trel. & Berger and Agave angustifolia Haw., with geomatic technologies to identify the diversified environments of the agave (wild or cultivated) that strengthen the agro-productive processes and enhance the by-products of the crop. The study found that the potential area for agave cultivation is more than 25,000 hectares higher than that reported by official sources and that the calculations made with geomatic technologies have an accuracy of 91 % to identify suitable areas for the use and conservation of these two species of economic importance.La planta del agave tiene un significativo valor económico y cultural, pues no solo se considera un producto agrícola y forestal, sino que además se emplea en la elaboración de una cantidad importante de productos. En México, uno de los derivados más representativos del agave son las bebidas destiladas de mezcal y tequila, cuya venta se ha incrementado fuera del país. En respuesta a esta demanda, Guerrero ha reportado un crecimiento anual de la producción de mezcal del 1,5 %, con un aumento en la superficie de más de 1.000 hectáreas entre 2015 y 2020. Este auge comercial ha generado una expansión e intensificación de la siembra y producción de la Agave spp. (Asparagaceae), así como el uso de técnicas agrícolas de producción inadecuadas y cambios en la tecnología tradicional. Es por ello que el objetivo de este trabajo fue localizar espacialmente el agave mezcal, en particular las especies Agave cupreata Trel. & Berger y Agave angustifolia Haw., con tecnologías geomáticas para identificar los ambientes diversificados del agave (silvestre o cultivado) que fortalezcan los procesos agroproductivos y potencien los subproductos del cultivo. El estudio encontró que la superficie potencial del cultivo de agave es superior a lo reportado por fuentes oficiales en más de 25.000 hectáreas y que los cálculos realizados con tecnologías geomáticas tienen una precisión del 91 % para identificar áreas adecuadas para el aprovechamiento y la conservación de estas dos especies de importancia económica

Influence of sugarcane burning on soil carbon and nitrogen release under drought and evapotranspiration conditions in a Mexican sugarcane supply zone

"Sugarcane cultivation is an agricultural activity of worldwide importance. This crop has been cultivated in Mexico for centuries, impacting important productive areas like the study region called Huasteca Potosina which is located at the Central-East part of Mexico. The relationship between soil conditions, weather and production per hectare allows identifying the edaphological and climatic conditions (aptitude levels) for cultivating sugarcane in the study area. The objective of this research work is to analyze the relation between the cultivated hectares and production of sugarcane. Likewise, to explain its behavior and interpret the contribution of N and C released to the atmosphere for burning sugar cane in association with events and meteorological parameters involved in the flux of water between soil and atmosphere such as drought, evapotranspiration and rainfall. The methods and indicators for burning waste provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the value of potential evapotranspiration as Thornthwaite and drought severity index were applied in order to understand the correlations between the drought severity index and potential evapotranspiration, and between C and N release and potential rainfall availability. The results show the increment of harvested hectares and the loss of water from the soil by the increase of periods of drought events and evapotranspiration. The volatilized nutrients in soil varied from 1.32 x 105 to 2.17 x 105 t for C and from 1.32 x 103 t to 2.17 x 103 t for N during the burning of sugarcane, affecting production levels with values fluctuating between 38 t/ha to 77 t/ha for the term of 1990-2010.""El cultivo de caña de azúcar es una actividad agrícola de importancia mundial llevada a cabo en México durante siglos, impactando importantes áreas productivas como la región de estudio llamada Huasteca Potosina, localizada al este central de México. La relación entre las condiciones del suelo, clima y producción por hectárea permite identificar las condiciones edafológicas y climáticas (niveles de aptitud) para cultivar la caña de azúcar en el área de estudio. Bajo este contexto, el objetivo fue analizar la relación entre las hectáreas cultivadas y la producción de caña de azúcar y explicar su comportamiento al interpretar las contribuciones del N y C liberados a la atmósfera por la quema de caña asociados a eventos y parámetros meteorológicos involucrados en el flujo de agua entre el suelo y la atmósfera como sequía, evapotranspiración y lluvia. Los métodos e indicadores para la quema de residuos provistos por el Panel Intergubernamental del Cambio Climático (IPCC. por sus siglas en inglés), el valor de la evapotranspiración potencial por Thornthwaite y el índice de severidad de la sequía fueron aplicados para comprender las correlaciones entre el índice de severidad de la sequía y la evapotranspiración potencial, así como entre el C y el N liberados y la disponibilidad potencial de lluvia. Los resultados muestran el incremento en las hectáreas cosechadas y la pérdida de agua del suelo por el aumento de los periodos de sequía y la evapotranspiración. Los nutrientes del suelo volatilizados, varían de 1.32 x 105 ton a 2.17 x 105 ton para C y 1.32 x 103 ton a 2.17 x 103 ton para N durante la quema de caña de azúcar, lo que afecta sus niveles de producción con valores que fluctúan entre 38 t/ha y 77 t/ha durante el periodo 1990-2010.

Economic evaluation of a business model of a Vanilla planifolia bio-factory using BIT® bioreactors

Objective: Evaluate the economic and financial viability for the implementation of a biofactory responsible for the in vitro propagation of Vanilla planifolia with  BIT® bioreactors. Design/methodology/approach: A completely randomized design was used. The data was processed with the IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 21). A Mann–Whitney U test was performed (p≤ 0.05). An Economic-Financial Evaluation was carried out, determining the main economic indicators: Profitability, Minimum Acceptable Rate of Return (TREMA), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit-Cost Ratio (R B/C). Results: BIT® temporary immersion bioreactors were used in this study. An average multiplication rate of 18.37 shoots per explant was obtained. When performing the economic-financial analysis of this agribusiness model over a five-year horizon, it yielded an Internal Rate of Return of 12.36% and a Benefit-Cost Ratio of 1.81 and a Net Present Value of MX$286,506.73 Mexican pesos (US$ 14,474.93). ), with a payback period of two years and seven months. Limitations on study/implications: Using semi-solid culture media in the multiplication stage in vanilla decreases production capacity and significantly lowers the profitability of the biofactory. Findings/conclusions: The profitability of a biofactory for the production of vanilla depends on the multiplication rate, achieved in this case satisfactorily through the use of BIT®; This vanilla biofactory agribusiness model using bioreactors can be adopted by investors as an economic development strategy.Objective: To evaluate the economic and financial viability for the implementation of a biofactory responsible for the in vitro propagation of Vanilla planifolia with TIB® bioreactors. Design/methodology/approach: A completely randomized design was used. The data were processed with the IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 21). A Mann-Whitney U test was performed (p≤ 0.05). An Economic-Financial Evaluation was carried out, determining the main economic indicators: Profitability, Minimum Acceptable Rate of Return (MARR), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit-Cost Ratio (B/C R). Results: TIB® temporary immersion bioreactors were used in this study. An average multiplication rate of 18.37 shoots per explant was obtained. When performing the economic-financial analysis of this agribusiness model over a five-year horizon, it yielded an Internal Rate of Return of 12.36%, a Benefit-Cost Ratio of 1.81, and a Net Present Value of MX$286,506.73 pesos (US$ 14,474.93), with a payback period of two years and seven months. Limitations on study/implications: Using semi-solid culture media in the multiplication stage in vanilla decreases the production capacity and significantly lowers the profitability of the biofactory. Findings/conclusions: The profitability of a biofactory for the production of vanilla depends on the multiplication rate, achieved in this case satisfactorily through the use of TIB®. This vanilla biofactory agribusiness model using bioreactors can be adopted by investors as an economic development strategy