The objective of this study was to evaluate the main yield components and quality attributes of four pecan cultivars. The experiment was conducted in a commercial orchard in the municipality of Francisco Beltrão, Paraná State, Brazil. Eight- and nine-year-old plants, spaced 10m x 9m apart, of the cultivars Barton, Imperial, Pitol 1 (Melhorada) and Pitol 2 (Importada) were evaluated over two agricultural seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020). The nuts were harvested using a Shaker-mak harvester attached to a tractor. After harvest, the fruits were left to dry in full sun for seven days. The number of nuts per plant and nut production (kg) were evaluated, and the productivity estimate (kg·ha-1) was obtained. From samples of 20 nuts per plant, the fresh nut mass (g), nut yield (%), diameter (mm), and length (mm) were measured. Samples of 10 nuts per plant were subjected to a breaking force test (N) to simulate the ease or difficulty of shelling. Under the soil and climatic conditions of Southwest Paraná, it was concluded that: the Barton cultivar was the most productive (12.4 kg·plant-1 = 1,376 kg·ha-1); the Imperial produced the largest nuts (9.1 g); the average nut yield of the evaluated cultivars was 47.8%; and the Imperial cultivar exhibited greater resistance to shell rupture.

El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo definir el costo de producción junto con otros indicadores económicos y físicos de una plantación adulta de pecán en la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dado que las plantaciones comerciales en Brasil, Uruguay y Argentina son jóvenes, siendo las más añosas de 30 años en Argentina, muy pocas han alcanzado el estado de adultez correspondiente a los niveles de producción plenos. Se realizó un análisis de los costos anuales totales insumidos en la producción y se determinaron algunos indicadores físicos y económicos en un establecimiento en el noreste de la provincia de Buenos Aires. El emprendimiento es de 15 hectáreas y 20 años de edad. La plantación se encuentra en suelos agrícolas con restricciones de drenaje leves, cuenta con equipo de riego por goteo y una persona dedicada. La información económica corresponde a la campaña 2022/23, signada por un contexto macroeconómico de alta complejidad que condicionó fuertemente los costos y los precios relativos. La cosecha fue de 2000 kilos brutos por hectárea y 1840 después de descontadas las mermas de calidad y humedad correspondientes. El costo de producción total, calculado de forma exhaustiva, incluidos los costos de oportunidad, fue de 3,06 dólares estadounidenses por kilo de nuez con cáscara. El precio obtenido fue de 3,4 dólares ponderando los valores de los distintos estratos de calidad logrados. Cabe destacar que este resultado altamente positivo se logró en año de alternancia positiva y signado por una sequía regional extrema.

Leucaena greggii is a native and endemic species of northeastern Mexico, distributed in semi-arid ecosystems in the states of Coahuila and Nuevo León. This taxon was recently included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, requiring its protection and ex situ conservation. The study was conducted at the Botanical Garden of Antonio Narro University in Saltillo, Mexico. The objective of this research was to characterize the morphology of the pods and seeds of L. greggii. During the fruiting stage, variables such as height, canopy cover, and stem diameter were recorded for each of the four trees. From each tree, 65 pods were collected, and their length, width, weight, shape, and color were measured. For 100 seeds from each tree, the variables length, width, thickness, weight, shape, and color were also recorded. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation analysis at a 5% probability level were performed for each quantified variable in pods and seeds. The results showed that the pods had an average length of 17.92 cm, width of 12.68 mm, and weight of 0.002 kg, with an elongated shape and mustard-brown color (YR 7/8). The seeds measured 9.30 mm in length, 6.84 mm in width, and 1.94 mm in thickness, weighed 0.086 mg, and had an oblong or elongated shape with a dark-brown color (YR 4/6). The number of seeds per kg was 12,155.44. This study found a positive and significant correlation between the length-weight and length-width variables for both seeds and pods.

The Algerian sheep flock, primarily located in the steppe regions, is composed of four major breeds: Ouled Djellal, Rembi, Hamra, and Beni Guil, of which the Rembi breed ranked second in number after Ouled Djellal. To better understand sheep farming practices, particularly regarding reproduction, 119 farmers from the departments of Djelfa, Laghouat, and Tiaret, where the Rembi breed is dominant, were surveyed. The results show that most flocks are of medium size, and that sedentary farming is the most common breeding method. The name of Rembi breed varieties differ among breeders. The name “Rembi” (properly said) predominates, followed by the name of “Chaala” and that of “Sagaa”. Other names, such as “Chagra” and “Djelfet Botma” are less commonly used. For reproductive management, most farmers rely on natural mating, and the use of the allotment is done either automatically or occasionally. Estrus occurs naturally without the use of hormonal treatments. A correlation between reproduction practices adopted by breeders and the breed diversity of each flock was observed. The anarchic character of breed mixing on farms was noted, further accentuating the crossbreeding of different breeds and varieties. Sheep farming in the Algerian steppe, particularly the Rembi breed, combines tradition practices and modern techniques. Nevertheless, the lack of a global strategy and poor management lead to widespread crossbreeding, threatening the Rembi breed.

En Argentina, la problemática de la propiedad y el uso de la tierra productiva no constituye actualmente un eje relevante del debate público nacional, a pesar de que desde los años 1960 se verifica un constante proceso de concentración de la estructura agraria. En ese marco, el artículo analiza los sentidos que los actores agrarios otorgan a la tierra, cómo visualizan la distribución de la tierra y el papel del Estado en la regulación y democratización de su uso. Se estudia, asimismo, la influencia de los discursos agrarista y liberal sobre la tierra en sus posicionamientos. Los datos utilizados provienen de grupos focales llevados a cabo en Junín (provincia de Buenos Aires) en 2019 y 2020 con diferentes sujetos agropecuarios: asesores, prestadores de servicios agropecuarios, trabajadores, rentistas, productoras/es familiares y empresarios de diferentes escalas. Los resultados muestran una baja problematización de la concentración, el predominio de sentidos que asocian la tierra a cualquier otra propiedad privada, una caracterización mayormente negativa de las experiencias históricas de intervención estatal en el tema y una muy baja influencia del discurso agrarista crítico. Estos posicionamientos predominantes se ven matizados en las expresiones de productores familiares y mujeres, quienes destacan un vínculo afectivo con la tierra y reclaman intervenciones puntuales del Estado para garantizar la continuidad intergeneracional de pequeñas y medianas explotaciones y el cuidado de la tierra en tanto bien estratégico. El análisis de estos sentidos en disputa sobre la tierra busca aportar al debate de la cuestión agraria y a comprender las condiciones de posibilidad de la producción familiar en la Argentina actual.

Family farming registries are a type of administrative registry designed to identify the different subjects of family farming with the purpose of implementing public policies and potentially planning various instruments. These administrative registries were created in the Mercosur countries from the discussion within the REAF and consolidated through Resolution GMC 25/07. This standard establishes the common criteria for the recognition and identification of family farmers and, additionally, for the creation of a system of voluntary registers with the objective of accrediting this condition against differentiated public policies for its targeting. These tools that constitute the registries have evolved unevenly in each of these countries based on their management processes and the effective application of specific policies, which, according to FAO, the case of this region is a global reference. The Uruguayan case does not escape this logic. In this work, a comparative analysis of the evolution of the registries in the region linked to different milestones will be carried out, as well as the public policies applied to this sector and the management models used, focusing on the case of the registry of family producers in Uruguay and with references to other cases in the region. There is some evidence that shows that administrative records are consolidated to the extent that there is a volume of public policies that use them and when protocolized information management processes are developed. Finally, a strategic importance of these records was observed in the targeting and effectiveness of public policies implementation.

The article analyzes the strategic role of women in the sustainability of family dairy farms in Uruguay. It incorporates economic, social, and cultural dimensions, aiming to highlight the intersection of gender roles, work organization, and generational succession. The study shows that women play a crucial role in both productive and caregiving tasks, despite often being undervalued. The lack of recognition for these activities contributes to perpetuating gender inequalities and compromises long-term sustainability. The study, which includes interviews with 48 dairy-producing families and a workshop with 50 women, shows how important women are in managing resources and adopting sustainable farming practices. However, they face cultural and structural challenges that limit their access to leadership and decision-making, reinforcing traditional norms that favor men when it comes to generational succession. The findings emphasize that acknowledging women’s unpaid and caregiving work, along with their involvement in strategic decisions, is essential for promoting gender equity and supporting the sustainability of family farms. Technology and automation in repetitive tasks can help ease physical labor, freeing up time and improving well-being and productivity. The article suggests that policies focused on gender equity and supporting female leadership in agriculture are necessary for long-term sustainability. Addressing cultural and structural barriers through education, mentorship, and inclusive policies can help make family dairy farms more resilient and better prepared for future challenges.

Agroindustrial and domestic waste obtained from fruit and vegetable processing represents a nutritious, economical, and environmentally friendly raw material. These wastes have attracted attention because they are considered a good source of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and dietary fiber. Therefore, the combination of vegetable waste, legumes, and/or cereals could provide an alternative for both health and the environment. The objective of this research was to develop various products from the combination of vegetable waste, legumes, and/or cereals, verifying their acceptance and nutritional contribution. The work was carried out with pineapple shells, as well as lettuce waste from municipal markets and local juice and salad stores. These wastes were disinfected, dried, and ground to form homogeneous flours. The raw materials were selected and evaluated for their sensory acceptance and physicochemical composition. Chorizo-type sausage formulations were obtained with lettuce flour or pineapple shell/soy flour, and biscuits and pasta with lettuce flour or pineapple shell/wheat flour. Most products presented good sensory acceptance on a 9-point hedonic scale and showed an improvement in nutritional value compared to products without substitutions. Hence, plant waste could be transformed into valuable raw materials for nutrient recovery, becoming usable by-products. According to our results, the addition of these flours at concentrations of 10 to 20% could provide additional nutritional value, but further research is needed to improve their acceptability.

Challenges in Nutrition, Safety, and Sustainability"In a global landscape marked by interconnected challenges such as food security, access to adequate nutrition, and sustainable use of resources, food engineering stands out as a key field for shaping comprehensive solutions.It is in this context that the Fourth Ibero-American Congress on Food Engineering (CIIAL 2024) was held, a scientific and technical meeting space organized by the Association of Food Engineers of Uruguay (AIALU) in the city of Montevideo.CIIAL 2024 promoted Ibero-American cooperation by strengthening networks for research, development, and professional training in the food sector.Each edition of this Congress reaffirms its commitment to food engineering that, beyond seeking efficiency and innovation, is clearly oriented toward human, social, and environmental development.Over the course of three intensive days, a range of key topics were explored, organized around the following thematic areas: Food safety and risk assessment.Regulation.

Flowers of Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as butterfly pea, have a large amount of phenolic compounds able to prevent oxidation, in addition to having an intense blue color, which make it a food coloring source. This work aimed to microencapsulate the aqueous extract of the butterfly pea flower by spray drying using different proportions of maltodextrin and gum arabic as carrier agents. The hygroscopicity, water activity, concentration of polyphenols and anthocyanins, average size and antioxidant activity were determined in the powders obtained, named as colorants. The powders obtained were blue in color with varying intensities and the product with 100% maltodextrin showed lower hygroscopicity, higher concentration of polyphenols and smaller average diameter. The results suggest that gum arabic did not contribute to increasing the concentration of polyphenols, making it more viable to use only maltodextrin as a carrier agent in drying the extract due to its greater availability. Thus, the powders obtained have potential for industrial use such as coloring and the enrichment of foods and beverages.