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A total of 30 samples of filet green beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) from various popular markets in the Souss-Massa region (Morocco) were analyzed during 2021 for the presence of pesticide residues. We performed a QuEChERS extraction (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) combined with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). The method was validated in accordance with SANTE 11312/2021 guidelines. The results of this survey indicated that 8 out of 30 green bean samples are positives (0.015 to 0.112 mg/kg). Azoxystrobin was the most frequently detected pesticide, occurring in 5 samples. For authorized pesticides, none of the samples exceeded the European Maximum residue level (EU MRL) in green beans, but residue of fipronil-unauthorized substance was detected in one sample at 0.027 mg/kg. Hence, it is important to increase inspections for locally marketed fresh green beans and align agricultural practices with regulatory requirements.

Biochar is the carbonized material produced from biomass and is used in several environmental applications. The biochar characteristics depend on the carbonization conditions and feedstock. The suitability of a given biochar for soil improvement depends on the biochar characteristics, soil properties, and target plants. Biochar has been applied at 1–20% ( w / w ) in the soil, but currently there is a lack of information on what type and concentration of biochar are most suitable for a specific plant and soil quality. Too much biochar will reduce plant growth because of the high alkalinity of biochar, which will cause long-term soil alkalinity. In contrast, too little biochar might be insufficient to enhance plant productivity. In this study, a suitable concentration of cassava stem (an abundant agricultural waste in Thailand) biochar produced at 350 °C was evaluated for green bean ( Vigna radiata L.) growth from germination to seed production in pots over 8 weeks. The soil fertility was increased with increasing biochar concentration. At 5% ( w / w ) biochar, the soil fertility and plant growth were significantly enhanced, while 10% ( w / w ) biochar significantly enhanced bean growth and bean pod production. The increased biochar concentration in the soil significantly increased the soil total nitrogen and extractable potassium (K) levels but did not affect the amount of available phosphorous. Biochar at 10% ( w / w ) significantly induced the accumulation of K in the stems, leaves, nut shells, and roots but not in nut seeds. Moreover, biochar not only increased the K concentration in soil but also increased the plant nutrient use efficiency of K, which is important for plant growth. Graphical abstract ᅟ

Reducing the hidden costs (negative externalities) in Kenya’s green bean value chain could ensure a more environmentally sustainable, human health protecting and socially equitable value chain. However, existing research has not addressed which strategies farmers, packhouses and traders are willing to adopt to reduce (internalise) environmental, health and social externalities in this value chain. This study was conducted to identify internalisation options for the externalities in Kenya’s value chain and explore stakeholders’ willingness to adopt these options. Data were collected through a literature review and focus group discussions and analysed using a multi-criteria decision analysis. Stakeholders were willing to adopt or accept 60 out of 78 identified internalisation options. Farmers, packhouse operators and traders significantly preferred financial incentives over mandatory and voluntary internalisation measures. They were unwilling to adopt many of the voluntary options, especially those involving substantial initial costs. Stakeholders are legally obligated to comply with mandatory measures, such as fees, fines, permits, standards and taxes. Their acceptance of mandatory measures indicated a fear of severe repercussions for non-compliance. Internalising negative externalities requires strategies that align stakeholder interests (profit maximisation at minimum cost) with government enforcement and monitoring. These strategies should include a combination of financial incentives, mandatory strategies and voluntary measures. The Kenyan government must strengthen the capacity of public regulatory agencies to monitor and penalise stakeholders who generate negative externalities. The findings can guide stakeholders and policymakers in developing and implementing strategies for encouraging and enforcing accountability, transparency and responsibility for externalities.

Green bean is one of the widely cultivated crops in developing countries. However, its cultivation is constrained by low soil fertility. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of LBS and N rates on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of green bean at Hawassa, Ethiopia. Four levels of LBS (0, 20.6, 41.2 and 61.8 m 3 /ha) and four N levels (0, 20.5, 41 and 61.5 kg/ha) were used in factorial RCBD with three replications. Results revealed that the application of LBS and N rates significantly affected most parameters. The application of LBS (20.6 m 3 /ha) and N (41 kg/ha) increased CEC by 120% as compared to control. Similarly the application of LBS (41.2 m 3 ha −1 ) and N (20.5 kg/ha) gives the highest OC as compared to control. The addition of 41 N and 20.6 m 3 /ha LBS also scored the highest (14.3 t/ha) total pod yield as compared to control. Therefore 41 N with 20.6 m 3 /ha recommended both soil and green bean improvement.

Under the Under the project Support for Environmental Assessment and Management (SEAM), This project is being implemented by Reduction of Milk Losses at Miser Company for Dairy and Food, Mansoura, Egypt. It was implemented under the National Industrial Pollution Prevention Programmers (NIPPP). NIPPP focuses on the introduction and promotion of low-cost improvement measures, which can be easily and quickly implemented by factories. It also emphasizes the importance of economic benefits of any such intervention, particularly those with short pay-back periods. A summary of how these improvements were identified and the underlying problems solved, follows. Waste minimization through improved quality control procedures was implemented at Edfina Company for Preserved Foods, Alexandria, Egypt. A number of interventions costing LE 65,200 (Egyptian Pound) have yielded annual savings of LE 382,622. Quality control training and the implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system will lead to improved product quality and further savings. Although it is difficult to quantify at this stage further savings of LE 550,000 could be expected in the short term.

In general, adaptation of cover cropping in crop rotation practices to organic tunnels by methods supporting soil health and quality has not yet been fully optimized. Effect of field pea and pea-oat cover crops to soil physicochemical properties and cash crop quality was assessed in an organic high tunnel in southern Poland in 2016–2017, with the following planting sequence: spring cover crops/tomato/romaine lettuce/green bean/iceberg lettuce. The sole pea produced a lower aboveground biomass (3.06 t ha −1 ) than the pea-oat mixture (4.17 t ha −1 ), and the N content in their biomass was 155 kg N ha −1 and 136 kg N ha −1 , respectively. The results indicated that a high residue input from cover crops was important for soil organic carbon stock, for retaining plant-available N in organic matter, and for improving soil physical properties, especially wet aggregate stability. We observed an increase in soil pH and the availability of some mineral nutrients in the soil under cover crop treatments, especially Ca, Mg, K, and P. N uptake by the subsequent cash crop significantly ( p ≤ 0.05) increased with pea than with pea-oat biculture, and in the green manure formula than with the mulch treatment. Early spring cover cropping depressed the subsequent tomato yield, but enhanced green bean yield in the second year of cropping.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomical and environmental effects of digestate solid fraction (DSF) used as fertiliser in a vegetable crop succession (green bean, savoy cabbage, cabbage and cauliflower) in Northeast Italy (45°20’ N; 11°57’ E). Three fertilisation treatments were tested using DSF to substitute 0% (Tmin), 50% (T50) and 100% (T100) optimal level of mineral nitrogen fertilisation. The experiment was carried out from 22nd May 2014 (green bean sowing) to 3rd June 2015 (cabbage harvest). Summer and spring crops did not show significantly different marketable yield among fertilisation treatments with an average value (±standard error) of 9.0±0.5, 9.9±1.2 and 51.3±6.4 Mg ha–1 for green bean, cauliflower and cabbage, respectively. Lower DSF fertilisation effect was monitored on winter crop (savoy cabbage) with a marketable yield reduction of -35.1% than mineral fertilisation (25.9 Mg ha–1), whereas the T50 treatment was not significantly different compared to the two previous ones. Crop species significantly influenced the N use efficiencies with negative recovery and use efficiency indexes for the DSF fertilisation treatments. Soil CO2 emissions were not significantly influenced by fertilisation in all studied crops with median values always lower than 1 g m–2 h–1.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a powerful tool for the nondestructive evaluation of organic materials, and it has found widespread use in a variety of industries. In the food industry, it is important to know the district in which a particular food was produced. Therefore, in this study, we focused on determining the production area (five areas and three districts) of green coffee beans using classification analysis and NIRS. Soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) was applied as the classification method. Samples of green coffee beans produced in seven locations—Cuba, Ethiopia, Indonesia (Bari, Java, and Sumatra), Tanzania, and Yemen—were analyzed. These regions were selected since green coffee beans from these locations are commonly sold in Japan supermarkets. A good classification result was obtained with SIMCA for the seven green bean samples, although some samples were partly classified into several categories. Then, the model distance values of SIMCA were calculated and compared. A few model distance values were ~10; such small values may be the reason for misclassification. However, over a 73% correct classification rate could be achieved for the different kinds of green coffee beans using NIRS.

ABSTRACT Green ears of maize are much appreciated all over Brazil and reach higher prices than dry grain. This also occurs with green cowpea grain, which is much appreciated in the north and northeast of the country. The aim of this study was to identify maize and cowpea cultivars that can be grown as monocrops or intercrops to produce green grain in the state of Pará (PA). An experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with six replications in Marabá, PA. Monocrops of traditional varieties of the cowpea (‘Corujinha’ and ‘Sempre Verde’) and the maize cultivars (‘AG 1051’ and ‘AL Bandeirante’), and four alternating, intercropped rows of a combination of the varieties and cultivars were evaluated. The ‘AG 1051’ cultivar was more productive than the ‘AL Bandeirante’ cultivar, as both a monocrop and an intercrop. The cowpea cultivars showed a similar performance under both systems of cultivation. There was no interaction between the maize cultivars and cowpea cultivars. The monocrops were superior to the intercrops for green-ear, green-pod and green-grain yield. Considering the land equivalent ratio, if the aim is to produce green pods, intercropping is only beneficial in the AG 1051 + Corujnha combination. If the aim is for green-grain yield in the cowpea, intercropping is more advantageous when the ‘AG 1051’ cultivar is combined with any cowpea cultivar. The intercrop including the ‘AL Bandeirante’ cultivar is only beneficial with the ‘Corujinha’ cultivar, and if the aim is to market unhusked, green ears of maize.