AI can empower agriculture for global food security: challenges and prospects in developing nations.

Food and nutrition are a steadfast essential to all living organisms. With specific reference to humans, the sufficient and efficient supply of food is a challenge as the world population continues to grow. Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be identified as a plausible technology in this 5th industrial revolution in bringing us closer to achieving zero hunger by 2030-Goal 2 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). This goal cannot be achieved unless the digital divide among developed and underdeveloped countries is addressed. Nevertheless, developing and underdeveloped regions fall behind in economic resources; however, they harbor untapped potential to effectively address the impending demands posed by the soaring world population. Therefore, this study explores the in-depth potential of AI in the agriculture sector for developing and under-developed countries. Similarly, it aims to emphasize the proven efficiency and spin-off applications of AI in the advancement of agriculture. Currently, AI is being utilized in various spheres of agriculture, including but not limited to crop surveillance, irrigation management, disease identification, fertilization practices, task automation, image manipulation, data processing, yield forecasting, supply chain optimization, implementation of decision support system (DSS), weed control, and the enhancement of resource utilization. Whereas AI supports food safety and security by ensuring higher crop yields that are acquired by harnessing the potential of multi-temporal remote sensing (RS) techniques to accurately discern diverse crop phenotypes, monitor land cover dynamics, assess variations in soil organic matter, predict soil moisture levels, conduct plant biomass modeling, and enable comprehensive crop monitoring. The present study identifies various challenges, including financial, infrastructure, experts, data availability, customization, regulatory framework, cultural norms and attitudes, access to market, and interdisciplinary collaboration, in the adoption of AI for developing nations with their subsequent remedies. The identification of challenges and opportunities in the implementation of AI could ignite further research and actions in these regions; thereby supporting sustainable development.

Occurrence, distribution, source apportionment, ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals in water, sediment, fish and prawn from Ojo River in Lagos, Nigeria.

The study investigates the occurrence and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in water, sediment, fish, and prawn from the Ojo River with a view to identify the source of origin and the associated ecological and human health risks. The result shows that heavy metal concentrations in water [As = 0.010, Cd = 0.001, Cr = 0.041, Cu = 0.019, Co = 0.050, Fe = 0.099, Pb = 0.006, Ni = 0.003, and Zn = 0.452(mg/L)] were within the acceptable limits. The heavy metals in the sediment [As = 0.050, Cd = 0.287, Cr = 0.509, Cu = 0.207, Co = 0.086, Fe = 33.093, Pb = 0.548, Ni = 0.153 and Zn = 4.249 (mg/kg)] were within their respective background levels or earth's crust and the TEL and PEL standard limits. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fish and prawn tissues are in this hierarchical form: Fe > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Co > Pb > Ar > Cd and Fe > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ar > Ni > Co > Cd, respectively. The bioaccumulation factors of heavy metals in fish ranged from 0.893 - 16.611 and 1.056 - 49.204 in prawn, which were higher than the biota-sedimentation factors (BSAF) values, inferring that the fish and prawns of this study ingested heavy metals highly from water column. The aggregated BSAF scores (fish = 5.584 and prawn = 9.137) showed that these organisms are good concentrators of heavy metals in sediments. The water quality index and other pollution indices (Single pollution index, Heavy metal assessment index, and Heavy metal pollution index) demonstrates slightly clean water, with a moderate level of contamination. The HI values of heavy metals in water, fish, and prawn were lower than 1, implying non-carcinogenic risk in children or adults. The ADD and EDI values of the metals were within their respective oral reference doses (RfD). The TCR values showed that exposure to water, either by ingestion or dermal absorption and the consumption of P. obscura and M. vollenhovenii from the Ojo River would not induce cancer risks in people, though As, Cr, Cd, and Pb showed carcinogenic potentials. The sediment contamination indices such as CF, mCd, EF, and Igeo showed a moderate level of pollution. The ecological risk values (NMPI, mCd = 0.068, PLI = 0.016, and R.I = 86.651) of heavy metals implies "no-moderate risk" except for Cd, which showed high risk. The ecotoxicological parameters,  m-PEL-Q (0.024) and m-ERM-Q (0.016) denotes low contamination and no probability of acute toxicity. The CV analysis showed high dispersions and variabilities in the distributions of the heavy metals in water. Other source analyses (Pearson's correlation matrix, PCA, and HCA) showed that both natural processes and anthropogenic activities are responsible for the occurrence of heavy metals in water and sediment from the Ojo River.

Proximate, minerals, carotenoid and trypsin inhibitor composition in the exoskeletons of seafood gastropods and their potentials for sustainable circular utilisation.

Periwinkle shells of Tympanotonus fuscatus, Pachymelania aurita, and Thais coronata were analyzed for their proximate composition, nutritionally significant minerals, trypsin inhibitors, and carotenoids. The mean values obtained were compared using an ANOVA test. The results showed that T. fuscatus had the highest mean moisture content of 0.96 ± 0.14% and a mean value of 0.49 ± 0.13% for crude fibre but was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from P. auritus. The crude protein and fibre content of T. fuscatus was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than other periwinkle samples. T. coronata had the highest mean total ash content and was significantly different (p < 0.05) from other periwinkle samples. T. fuscatus had the highest mean value for Mg (0.32 ± 0.03 mg/kg) and differed significantly (P < 0.05). The mean Ca content of P. aurita was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from that of T. coronata. The mean values of CaCO3 in T. fuscatus, P. aurita, and T. coronata were 57.20 ± 2.46, 59.50 ± 3.23, and 62.36 ± 1.56 (mg/kg), respectively. T. coronata was significantly different (P < 0.05) from other periwinkle samples. The mean values of carotenoids in T. fuscatus, P. aurita, and T. coronata were 7.17 ± 2.14, 18.00 ± 5.27, and 11.20 ± 3.60 (mg/kg), respectively, and P. aurita was significantly different (P < 0.05) from other periwinkle samples. T. fuscatus and P. aurita had shells with significant amounts of trypsin inhibitor (23.30 ± 4.50 mg/kg and 22.90 ± 14.10 mg/kg, respectively), making them less suitable for livestock feed. In contrast, T. coronata had a lower mean value of 11.80 ± 7.19 mg/kg for trypsin inhibitor, making it an excellent addition to livestock feed. The low crude fibre and fat contents of the periwinkle samples in this study make them suitable for processing complementary foods, especially for hypertensive patients. The high percentage of CaCO3 in periwinkle shells makes them a probable source used in the production of slurry for chromatography. The findings suggest that periwinkle shells contain specific minerals that can be applied in numerous industries. Increased use of these gastropod shells will result in successful application in product creation and a sustainable bio-circular economy.

Gaps and Challenges in Harnessing the Benefits and Opportunities of Indigenous Certification for a Sustainable Communal Commercial Lobster Fishery.

The Marshall Decision of Canada's Supreme Court inspired the Mi'kmaq in the 1700s regarding recognizing fishing rights to the Mi'kmaq communities. Despite this recognition, the Mi'kmaq communities did not have access to commercial fisheries due to the denial of absolute recognition of territories and rights and underrepresentation and participation in resource allocation, governance, and decision-making processes. A potential approach to these issues is the development of third-party Indigenous community-based sustainability certification standards for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) commercial fishery of Nova Scotia by Mi'kmaq communities. An Indigenous certification is a market-based tool that focuses on a holistic approach to the sustainability of the resource, followed by independent accreditations and standards. This study identifies the gaps, challenges, and opportunities of Indigenous-based certifications for the American lobster commercial fishery. We adopt a participatory approach to conventional policy analysis and perform a secondary analysis of existing legal and scientific resources to glean valuable information for supporting the establishment of an Indigenous certification for the American lobster. Certification could provide benefits such as increased control over fisheries management, governance, rights, and socioeconomic interest, building capacity for Mi'kmaq communities, and improving stakeholder relationships. However, there are issues with the entry points of certification for Indigenous peoples related primarily to the dominant actors in accreditation. This study will support further research and engagement of the Mi'kmaq people toward developing an Indigenous certification scheme.

Biometric and gonadosomatic indices and chemical constituents of edible tissues and exoskeletons of Callinectes amnicola and their potential for reuse in the circular economy paradigm.

The study investigates some biological indices and chemical compositions of Callinectes amnicola and their potential for reuse in the context of the circular economy paradigm. The total of 322 mixed-sex C. amnicola collected over a period of six months was examined. The morphometric and meristic characteristics were estimated for biometric assessment. The gonads were obtained from the female crabs for gonadosomatic indices. The shell was obtained using the hand removal technique by detaching it from the crab body. The edible and shell portions were processed separately and subjected to chemical analysis. Our findings showed that females had the highest sex ratio across the six months. The slope values (b) for both sexes exhibited negative allometric growth across all months since the slope values obtained were less than 3 (b < 3). The values obtained for Fulton's condition factor (K) of crabs in all examined months were greater than 1. The edible portion had the highest moisture level at 62.57 ± 2.16% and varied significantly (P < 0.05). The high amount of total ash obtained in the shell sample showed that ash is the main mineral present in crab shells and showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). The shell sample had the highest concentrations of Na and CaCO3. Based on the findings of this study, it was observed that the shell waste contains some essential and transitional minerals (Ca, CaCO3, Na, and Mg) and can be utilized as catalysts in several local and industrial applications, such as pigments, adsorbents, therapeutics, livestock feeds, biomedical industries, liming, fertilization, and so on. Proper valorization of this shell waste should be encouraged rather than discarding it.