Massive soybean expansion in South America since 2000 and implications for conservation

A continental-wide decline of occupancy and diversity in five Neotropical carnivores

The Neotropics are a global biodiversity hotspot that has undergone dramatic land use changes over the last decades. However, a temporal perspective on the continental-wide distributions of species in this region is still missing. To unveil it, we model the entire area of occupancy of five Neotropical carnivore species at two time periods (2000-2013 and 2014-2021) using integrated species distribution models (ISDMs) in a Bayesian framework. The carnivores are the jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), margay (Leopardus wiedii), maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), tayra (Eira barbara), and giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). We mapped the temporal change, the areas where gains and losses accumulated for all species (hotspots of change) and calculated the temporal species turnover and change in spatial turnover. We show that (1) most carnivore species have declined their area of occupancy (i.e., range size) in the last two decades, (2) their diversity has decreased over time, mostly in the Chaco region, and (3) that hotspots of fast species composition turnover are in Chaco, the Caatinga region, and northwest of Mexico. We discuss how these newly identified hotspots of change overlap with regions of well-known and pronounced land use transformation. These estimated patterns of overall decline are alarming, more so given that four out of the five species had been classified as not threatened by IUCN. The official global threat status of these species may need to be re-evaluated. All this would be invisible if standard forecasts, local expert knowledge, or static threat criteria, such as range size, were used. We thus provide a new approach to evaluate past species range dynamics based on multiple lines of evidence, which can be employed over more species in the future, particularly in under-sampled regions.

A regional examination of the footprint of agriculture and urban cover on stream water quality

Freshwater systems in cold regions, including the Laurentian Great Lakes, are threatened by both eutrophication and salinization, due to excess nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and chloride (Cl-) delivered in agricultural and urban runoff. However, identifying the relative contribution of urban vs. agricultural development to water quality impairment is challenging in watersheds with mixed land cover, which typify most developed regions. In this study, a self-organizing map (SOM) analysis was used to evaluate the contributions of various forms of land cover to water quality impairment in southern Ontario, a population-dense, yet highly agricultural region in the Laurentian Great Lakes basin where urban expansion and agricultural intensification have been associated with continued water quality impairment. Watersheds were classified into eight spatial clusters, representing four categories of agriculture, one urban, one natural, and two mixed land use clusters. All four agricultural clusters had high nitrate-N concentrations, but levels were especially high in watersheds with extensive corn and soybean cultivation, where exceedances of the 3 mg L-1 water quality objective dramatically increased above a threshold of ‍∼30 % watershed row crop cover. Maximum P concentrations also occurred in the most heavily tile-drained cash crop watersheds, but associations between P and land use were not as clear as for N. The most urbanized watersheds had the highest Cl- concentrations and expansions in urban area were mostly at the expense of surrounding agricultural land cover, which may drive intensification of remaining agricultural lands. Expansions in tile-drained corn and soybean area, often at the expense of mixed, lower intensity agriculture are not unique to this area and suggest that river nitrate-N levels will continue to increase in the future. The SOM approach provides a powerful means of simplifying heterogeneous land cover characteristics that can be associated with water quality patterns and identify problem areas to target management.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-adipogenesis activities and proximate composition of Hermetia illucens larvae reared on food waste enriched with different wastes

The use of insects as a food source is not a new idea, but it has gained momentum in recent years due to the need for sustainable protein source in livestock feedstuffs and for more environmentally friendly organic waste treatment. In the case of black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens, research has focused on their ability to convert organic waste into usable nutrients and their potential as a protein source for animal and human consumption. In this study, black soldier fly larvae were reared on raw food waste (FW) mixed with garlic peel waste (G) and hydronic growth media waste (H) and the proximate composition and bioactive potential of black soldier fly larvae extract (SFL) were compared. Analysis showed that protein content of SFL fed with G was 4.21% higher and lipid content was 9.93% lower than FW. Similar results were obtained for SFL fed with H. Antioxidant activity of SFL-G was higher than that of SFL-FW and SFL-H. SFL-G treatment exhibited enhanced anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenesis activities as well compared to SFL-FW. Current results suggested that feeding black soldier fly larvae with food waste added with garlic peel and hydroponic growth media waste resulted in increased nutritional value, polyphenol content and bioactivity for SFLs. In this context, garlic peel waste-added food waste was suggested a promising substrate for black soldier fly larvae to obtain high-quality protein source with enhanced antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic potential.

Partial substitution of soybean meal with microalgae meal (Arthrospira spp. - Spirulina) in grower and finisher diets for broiler chickens: implications on performance parameters, footpad dermatitis occurrence, breast meat quality traits, amino acid digestibility and plasma metabolomics profile

This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal with microalgae meal (MM; Arthrospira spp.) during grower and finisher phases on productive performance, footpad dermatitis (FPD) occurrence, breast meat quality, amino acid digestibility and plasma metabolomics profile of broiler chickens. One thousand day-old Ross 308 male chicks were divided into 5 experimental groups (8 replicates, 25 birds/each): CON, fed a commercial soybean-based diet throughout the trial (0-41 d); F3 and F6, fed the CON diet up to 28 d of age and then a finisher diet (29-41 d) with either 30 or 60 g MM/kg, respectively; and GF3 and GF6, receiving CON diet until 14 d and then diets containing 30 or 60 g MM/kg from 15 to 41 d, respectively. All diets were iso-energetic and with a similar amino acid profile. Growth performances were recorded on a pen basis at the end of each feeding phase and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility was determined at 41 d. Footpad dermatitis occurrence was assessed on all processed birds, while breast and plasma samples were collected for meat quality and metabolomics analysis (proton nuclear magnetic resonance - 1H-NMR). At 41 d, CON group showed higher body weight than F6 and GF6 ones (2,541 vs. 2,412 vs. 2,384 g, respectively; P < 0.05). Overall, GF6 group exhibited the highest feed conversion ratio, while F3 did not present significant differences compared to CON (1.785 vs. 1.810 vs. 1.934 g feed/g gain, respectively for CON, F3 and GF6; P < 0.01). The occurrence and the risk of developing FPD were similar among groups. MM administration increased breast meat yellowness and reduced amino acid digestibility (P < 0.001). The 1H-NMR analysis revealed variations in the levels of some circulating metabolites, including histidine, arginine and creatine, which play important metabolic roles. Overall, these findings can contribute to expand the knowledge about the use of Arthrospira spp. as protein source in broiler diets.

Effect of different doses of camelina cake inclusion as a substitute of dietary soyabean meal on growth performance and gut health of weaned pigs

Camelina cake (CAM) is a co-product proposed as an alternative protein source; however, piglet data are still limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of CAM in substitution of soyabean meal on the growth, health and gut health of weaned pigs. At 14 d post-weaning (d0), sixty-four piglets were assigned either to a standard diet or to a diet with 4 %, 8 % or 12 % of CAM. Piglets were weighed weekly. At d7 and d28, faeces were collected for microbiota and polyamine and blood for reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) and thyroxine analysis. At d28, pigs were slaughtered, organs were weighed, pH was recorded on gut, colon was analysed for volatile fatty acids (VFA) and jejunum was used for morphological and gene expression analysis. Data analysis was carried out using a mixed model including diet, pen and litter as factors; linear and quadratic contrasts were tested. CAM linearly reduced the average daily gain from d0-d7, d0-d14, d0-d21 and d0-d28 (P ≤ 0·01). From d0-d7 increasing CAM linearly decreased feed intake (P = 0·04) and increased linearly the feed to gain (P = 0·004). CAM increased linearly the liver weight (P < 0·0001) and affected the cadaverine (P < 0·001). The diet did not affect the ROM, thyroxine, intestinal pH, VFA and morphology. All doses of CAM increased the α diversity indices at d28 (P < 0·05). CAM at 4 % promoted the abundance of Butyricicoccaceae_UCG-008. Feeding with CAM enhanced resilience in the gut microbiome and can be evaluated as a potential alternative protein source with dose-dependent limitations on piglet growth performance.

Accessing the specialized metabolome of actinobacteria from the bulk soil of Paullinia cupana Mart. on the Brazilian Amazon: a promising source of bioactive compounds against soybean phytopathogens

The Amazon rainforest, an incredibly biodiverse ecosystem, has been increasingly vulnerable to deforestation. Despite its undeniable importance and potential, the Amazonian microbiome has historically received limited study, particularly in relation to its unique arsenal of specialized metabolites. Therefore, in this study our aim was to assess the metabolic diversity and the antifungal activity of actinobacterial strains isolated from the bulk soil of Paullinia cupana, a native crop, in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. Extracts from 24 strains were subjected to UPLC-MS/MS analysis using an integrative approach that relied on the Chemical Structural and Compositional Similarity (CSCS) metric, GNPS molecular networking, and in silico dereplication tools. This procedure allowed the comprehensive understanding of the chemical space encompassed by these actinobacteria, which consists of features belonging to known bioactive metabolite classes and several unannotated molecular families. Among the evaluated strains, five isolates exhibited bioactivity against a panel of soybean fungal phytopathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). A focused inspection led to the annotation of pepstatins, oligomycins, hydroxamate siderophores and dorrigocins as metabolites produced by these bioactive strains, with potentially unknown compounds also comprising their metabolomes. This study introduces a pragmatic protocol grounded in established and readily available tools for the annotation of metabolites and the prioritization of strains to optimize further isolation of specialized metabolites. Conclusively, we demonstrate the relevance of the Amazonian actinobacteria as sources for bioactive metabolites useful for agriculture. We also emphasize the importance of preserving this biome and conducting more in-depth studies on its microbiota.

Mapping annual 10-m soybean cropland with spatiotemporal sample migration

China, as the world's biggest soybean importer and fourth-largest producer, needs accurate mapping of its planting areas for global food supply stability. The challenge lies in gathering and collating ground survey data for different crops. We proposed a spatiotemporal migration method leveraging vegetation indices' temporal characteristics. This method uses a feature space of six integrals from the crops' phenological curves and a concavity-convexity index to distinguish soybean and non-soybean samples in cropland. Using a limited number of actual samples and our method, we extracted features from optical time-series images throughout the soybean growing season. The cloud and rain-affected data were supplemented with SAR data. We then used the random forest algorithm for classification. Consequently, we developed the 10-meter resolution ChinaSoybean10 maps for the ten primary soybean-producing provinces from 2019 to 2022. The map showed an overall accuracy of about 93%, aligning significantly with the statistical yearbook data, confirming its reliability. This research aids soybean growth monitoring, yield estimation, strategy development, resource management, and food scarcity mitigation, and promotes sustainable agriculture.

CROPGRIDS: a global geo-referenced dataset of 173 crops

CROPGRIDS is a comprehensive global geo-referenced dataset providing area information for 173 crops for the year 2020, at a resolution of 0.05° (about 5.6 km at the equator). It represents a major update of the Monfreda et al. (2008) dataset (hereafter MRF), the most widely used geospatial dataset previously available, covering 175 crops with reference year 2000 at 10 km spatial resolution. CROPGRIDS builds on information originally provided in MRF and expands it using 27 selected published gridded datasets, subnational data of 52 countries obtained from National Statistical Offices, and the 2020 national-level statistics from FAOSTAT, providing more recent harvested and crop (physical) areas for 173 crops at regional, national, and global levels. The CROPGRIDS data advance the current state of knowledge on the spatial distribution of crops, providing useful inputs for modelling studies and sustainability analyses relevant to national and international processes.

European soybean to benefit people and the environment

Europe imports large amounts of soybean that are predominantly used for livestock feed, mainly sourced from Brazil, USA and Argentina. In addition, the demand for GM-free soybean for human consumption is project to increase. Soybean has higher protein quality and digestibility than other legumes, along with high concentrations of isoflavones, phytosterols and minerals that enhance the nutritional value as a human food ingredient. Here, we examine the potential to increase soybean production across Europe for livestock feed and direct human consumption, and review possible effects on the environment and human health. Simulations and field data indicate rainfed soybean yields of 3.1 ± 1.2 t ha-1 from southern UK through to southern Europe (compared to a 3.5 t ha-1 average from North America). Drought-prone southern regions and cooler northern regions require breeding to incorporate stress-tolerance traits. Literature synthesized in this work evidenced soybean properties important to human nutrition, health, and traits related to food processing compared to alternative protein sources. While acknowledging the uncertainties inherent in any modelling exercise, our findings suggest that further integrating soybean into European agriculture could reduce GHG emissions by 37-291 Mt CO2e year-1 and fertiliser N use by 0.6-1.2 Mt year-1, concurrently improving human health and nutrition.

A review on vegetable oil-based non isocyanate polyurethane: towards a greener and sustainable production route

The transition from conventional polyurethane (PU) to non isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) is driven mainly by safety concerns, environmental considerations, and sustainability issues associated with the current PU technology. NIPU has emerged as a promising alternative, addressing limitations related to traditional PU production. There has been increasing interest in bio-based NIPU aligning with the aspiration for green materials and processes. One important biomass resource for the development of bio-based NIPU is vegetable oil, an abundant, renewable, and relatively low cost feedstock. As such, this review aims to provide insight into the progression of NIPU derived from vegetable oils. This article highlights the synthetic and green approach to NIPU production, emphasizing the method involving the polyaddition reaction of cyclic carbonates and amines. The review includes case studies on vegetable oil-based NIPU and perspectives on their properties. Further, discussions on the potential applications and commercial importance of PU and NIPU are included. Finally, we offer perspectives on possible research directions and the future prospects of NIPU, contributing to the ongoing evolution of PU technology.

Deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions could arise when replacing palm oil with other vegetable oils

Oil crops are among the main drivers of global land use changes. Palm oil is possibly the most criticized, as a driver of primary tropical forests loss. This has generated two different reactions in its use in various sectors (e.g., food, feed, biodiesel, surfactant applications, etc.): from one side there is a growing claim for deforestation-free palm oil, whereas on the other side the attention raised towards other vegetable oils as possible substitutes, such as soybean, rapeseed and sunflower oil. We assess potential land use changes and consequent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for switching from palm oil to other oils and compare this solution to deforestation-free palm oils. We consider three scenarios of 25 %, 50 % and 100 % palm oil replacement in the eight major oil crop producing countries. Total GHG emissions account for anthropogenic emissions generated along the life cycle of the field production process and potential forest carbon stock losses from land use change for oil crops expansion. Replacing palm oil with other oils would have a worthless effect in terms of global emissions reduction since GHG emissions remain approximatively stable across the three scenarios, whereas it would produce a deforestation increase of 28.2 to 51.9 Mha worldwide (or 7 to 21.5 Mha if excluding the unlikely deforestation in USA, Russia, Ukraine and the offset deforestation in China, India). Conversely, if the global palm oil production becomes deforestation-free, its GHG emissions would be reduced by 92 %, switching from the current 371 to 29 Mt CO2eq per year. Although highlighting the historical unsustainability of oil palm plantations, results show that replacing them with other oil crops almost never represents a more sustainable solution, thus potentially questioning sustainability claims of palm oil free products with respect to deforestation-free palm oil.

Food plants in Brazil: origin, economic value of pollination and pollinator shortage risk

Pollination is a key ecosystem service of critical importance for food production. However, globally, several regions are already experiencing pollinator shortage as pollinators are declining. Here, we investigate the origin, pollinator dependence and economic value of 199 food crops cultivated in Brazil to understand to which extent (1) Brazilian agriculture is vulnerable to pollinator shortage, and (2) Brazilian society has already achieved a comprehensive perspective about crop dependence. We used Brazil as a case study as it is a megadiverse tropical country and the 3rd largest world crop producer and exporter, with most of the crops depending on pollinators. Our findings revealed that over half (53.7%) of the food crops in Brazil are native, with the North region of Brazil housing the higher diversity of native crops, in contrast with the South and Southeast regions. Additionally, considering the reproductive systems, among native food crops, 65.6% exhibit self-incompatibility or dioecy (i.e., requiring obligatory cross-pollination), whereas 30.6% of exotic food crops display this trait. Overall, Brazilian municipalities produce more exotic crops than native ones, with almost 4/5 of the total agricultural area of the country dedicated to the cultivation of exotic crops, which are generally self-compatible commodities that rely low to modestly on pollinators. Regarding the biomes, we observe that this pattern is followed by most of them, but for the Caatinga dry forest, where native crops dependent on pollinators predominate. However, when soybean is removed from the analysis, the areas devoted to exotic crops always decreased, even being equal to native crops in the Atlantic forest. Our results also indicate that considering the pollinator shortage, some Brazilian biomes may be at risk of losing >20% of their yields, mainly in the Caatinga dry forest and the Atlantic forest. Therefore, in this paper, we are discussing that the expansion of monocultures in Brazil's agricultural lands may have several impacts on the provision of pollination services, food production and, then, on food security not only for the Brazilian population, as Brazil is the 3rd largest world agricultural producer and exporter.

Suitability of Alternative Protein Foods for Agroecological Approaches to Address Nutrition in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Agroecology has been proposed as a holistic approach to transform food systems that meet global food requirements with favorable environmental and social impacts. Agroecology relies on science, practices, and social movements that emphasize ecological principles, local knowledge, culture, and traditions to increase the sustainability and equity of the food system. Agroecological practices have demonstrated positive outcomes on food security and nutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Agroecology principles can be applied across the food system and could facilitate the integration of certain alternative protein (AP) foods to address multiple issues. In this perspective, agroecological principles were analyzed to compare the suitability of different AP sources: unprocessed/minimally processed legumes, plant-based meats, edible insects, macroalgae (seaweed), fungal biomass, and cultivated meat. Considerations were identified for the feasibility of AP adoption in LMICs within an agroecological framework to provide nutrient-rich and sustainable diets while addressing other principles such as fairness and economic diversity. From this analysis, legumes, simplified plant-based meat analogs such as texturized plant proteins with minimal additives, edible insects, and macroalgae (location dependent) would make excellent nutritional contributions alongside animal-sourced food within LMICs within an agroecological framework. In contrast, highly processed plant-based meats, fungal biomass, and cultivated meat do not align well with agroecological principles for large-scale human consumption within LMICs. Furthermore, the production facilities to make these foods require robust capital investment and there may be issues related to who owns the intellectual property of these technologies. The NOVA classification system categorizes food based on the degree of processing. Our assessment suggests that foods with lower NOVA classification of unprocessed and minimally processed best fit the agroecological principles related to nutrition, agroecosystem, and societal demands for sustainable food systems.

Effects of Partial Replacement of Soybean with Local Alternative Sources on Growth, Blood Parameters, Welfare, and Economic Indicators of Local and Commercial Broilers

The effects of the partial replacement of soybean with alternative local agri-industry by-products and black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal on broiler growth performance, blood biochemistry, welfare, and, subsequently, economic performance of these diets were evaluated. A total of 524 day-old chicks from a local and a commercial strain were fed one of the three diets from the day of hatch to the slaughter age. The diets were the following: a soybean-based control diet, a diet in which soybean was partially replaced (SPR) with agri-industrial by-products, or a diet with BSF larvae meal added to the SPR (SPR + BSF). There was no effect of the diets on the slaughter weight, total feed consumption, and feed conversion of the chickens. The SPR + BSF diet reduced the blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, protein, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels in the local chickens and the gamma-glutamyl transferase, protein, and creatinine levels in the commercial broilers. The negative effect of the SPR diet on plumage cleanliness in the commercial broilers was alleviated by the SPR + BSF diet, whereas 100% of the local birds presented either slight or moderate soiling. The results showed that, due to the high cost of the BSF larvae meal, the SPR + BSF diet was not economically feasible. In a further study, the price trends of BSF larvae will be examined from the standpoint of economic profitability conditions.

Spatiotemporal change of cultivated land in China during 2000-2020

Cultivated land is of great significance for ensuring food security. Since the 21st century, China's rapid development has led to urban construction occupying a lot of cultivated land. The understanding of stage characteristics and regional differences needs to be improved. And it is necessary to quantify the temporal and spatial pattern of cultivated land changes since the 21st century. We used the global land cover dataset (GlobeLand30) to investigate the quantity and spatial distribution of cultivated land change in China from 2000 to 2020. The results show that: 1) Over the last two decades, China's arable land has diminished by 54,996 square kilometers. Notably, the arable land loss between 2010 and 2020 was 1.74 times greater than that from 2000 to 2010. This decline has been exacerbated by factors such as the expansion of urban and rural areas, as well as initiatives to revert farmland to forests and grasslands; 2) The eastern coastal regions experienced the most severe net arable land loss, with a net reduction of 42,989 square kilometers from 2000 to 2020, primarily driven by urban expansion; 3) In contrast, the western regions demonstrated the most substantial net increase in arable land, expanding by 11,583 square kilometers from 2000 to 2020, primarily driven by the development of forests and grasslands. It is noteworthy that despite some areas successfully implementing policies to return farmland to forests and grasslands, the ecologically fragile western regions continue to experience accelerated conversion of these natural landscapes into arable land, partly to compensate for the farmland decrease driven by urbanization in the eastern regions. Looking ahead, China's cultivated protection policy must strike a balance between the ecological value of the western region and the economic value of the eastern region.

Unleashing the sequestration potential of soil organic carbon under climate and land use change scenarios in Danish agroecosystems

Future global climate changes are expected to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition. However, the combined effect of C inputs, land use changes, and climate on SOC turnover is still unclear. Exploring this SOC-climate-land use interaction allows us to understand the SOC stabilization mechanisms and examine whether the soil can act as a source or a sink for CO2. The current study estimates the SOC sequestration potential in the topsoil layer of Danish agricultural lands by 2038, considering the effect of land use change and future climate scenarios using the Rothamsted Carbon (RothC) model. Additionally, we quantified the loss vulnerability of existing and projected SOC based on the soil capacity to stabilize OC. We used the quantile random forest model to estimate the initial SOC stock by 2018, and we simulated the SOC sequestration potential with RothC for a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario and a crop rotation change (LUC) scenario under climate change conditions by 2038. We compared the projected SOC stocks with the carbon saturation deficit. The initial SOC stock ranged from 10 to 181 Mg C ha-1 in different parts of the country. The projections showed a SOC loss of 8.1 Mg C ha-1 for the BAU scenario and 6 Mg C ha-1 after the LUC adoption. This SOC loss was strongly influenced by warmer temperatures and clay content. The proposed crop rotation became a mitigation measure against the negative effect of climate change on SOC accumulation, especially in sandy soils with a high livestock density. A high C accumulation in C-saturated soils suggests an increase in non-complexed SOC, which is vulnerable to being lost into the atmosphere as CO2. With these results, we provide information to prioritize areas where different soil management practices can be adopted to enhance SOC sequestration in stable forms and preserve the labile-existing SOC stocks.

One-third of cropland within protected areas could be retired in China for inferior sustainability and effects

Cropland encroachment on protected areas causes natural habitat loss, which may damage ecosystem functions and biodiversity conservation, leading to trade-offs between crop production and habitat conservation. Here we investigate the sustainable utilization and effects of cropland within protected areas, on which we make trade-offs with an established framework. Analyses show that 3.08 million hectares of cropland are identified within protected areas, about two-thirds less sustainable or less beneficial. 41 % and 26 % are expected to be retired for inferior sustainability and effects under the strictest and laxest habitat protection scenario, respectively. Although these retirements would cause a loss of crop benefits of 0.3-0.7 billion US dollars, they could bring ecological benefits of 2.9-3.6 billion US dollars annually. Approximately 11 % of cropland within protected areas is identified in poor agricultural conditions, and 19 % occupies areas of high protection importance, both of which are recommended for priority retirement. This study reveals the characteristics and impacts of cropland in protected areas and provides a quantified trade-off approach for conflicts between cropland and natural habitats, with important implications for production, conservation, and their trade-offs.

Bio-geophysical feedback to climate caused by the conversion of Amazon Forest to soybean plantations

Over the past two decades, soybean cultivation has become one of the principal replacements for forests in the Brazilian Amazon. Previous studies showed that the conversion of forests into large-scale soybean farms has different effects on local and regional climate than other forms of land use, e.g., conversion to pasture. The bio-geophysical feedbacks that lead to changes in temperature and rainfall caused by the expansion of commodity crops is not fully understood, and this has implications for both modelling potential future climatic change and understanding its impact. Here we performed model simulations to characterize the feedback to climate caused by the replacement of Amazonian forests with soybean and pastures. Our results show that: when compared to deforestation caused by pastures, the conversion of forests into soybean plantations results in more pronounced changes in the atmospheric boundary layer. Because they are characterized by a period of the year with bare soil, soybean fields transmit more long-wave radiation to the atmosphere than pastures, leading to an increase in boundary layer average temperature by 2.4 K. Although soybean plantations tend to strengthen convective lifting, the decrease in boundary layer water vapor content plays a decisive role in reducing rainfall. Finally, we demonstrate that the climatic impacts associated with the replacement of forests by soybean is likely to be magnified with agricultural expansion along new frontiers in the northern and western regions of the Amazon basin due to a more pronounced reduction in water vapor content.

Climate change effects on the distribution of yellow-breasted capuchin monkey (Sapajus xanthosternos (Wied-Neuwied, 1826))

The magnitude of recent climatic changes has no historical precedent and impacts biodiversity. Climatic changes may displace suitable habitats (areas with suitable climates), leading to global biodiversity decline. Primates are among the most affected groups. Most primates depend on forests and contribute to their maintenance. We evaluated the potential effects of climatic change on the distribution of Sapajus xanthosternos, a critically endangered primate whose geographical range encompasses three Brazilian biomes. We evaluated changes between baseline (1970-2000) and future (2081-2100) climates using multivariate analysis. Then, we compared current and future (2100) climatic suitability projections for the species. The climatic changes predicted throughout the S. xanthosternos range differed mostly longitudinally, with higher temperature increases in the west and higher precipitation reductions in the east. Climatic suitability for S. xanthosternos is predicted to decline in the future. Areas with highest current climatic suitability occur as a narrow strip in the eastern part of the geographic range throughout the latitudinal range. In the future, areas with highest values are projected to be located as an even narrower strip in the eastern part of the geographical range. A small portion of forest remnants larger than 150 ha located in the east has larger current and future suitability values. At this large scale, the spatial heterogeneity of the climate effects reinforce the importance of maintenance of current populations in different areas of the range. The possibility that phenotypic plasticity helps primates cope with reduced climatic suitability may be mediated by habitat availability, quality, and connectivity.

Hotspots and bottlenecks for the enhancement of the environmental sustainability of pig systems, with emphasis on European pig systems

Although pig systems start from a favourable baseline of environmental impact compared to other livestock systems, there is still scope to reduce their emissions and further mitigate associated impacts, especially in relation to nitrogen and phosphorous emissions. Key environmental impact hotspots of pig production systems are activities associated with feed production and manure management, as well as direct emissions (such as methane) from the animals and energy use. A major contributor to the environmental impacts associated with pig feed is the inclusion of soya in pig diets, especially since European pig systems rely heavily on soya imported from areas of the globe where crop production is associated with significant impacts of land use change, deforestation, carbon emissions, and loss of biodiversity. The "finishing" pig production stage contributes most to these environmental impacts, due to the amount of feed consumed, the efficiency with which feed is utilised, and the amount of manure produced during this stage. By definition therefore, any substantial improvements pig system environmental impact would arise from changes in feed production and manure management. In this paper, we consider potential solutions towards system environmental sustainability at these pig system components, as well as the bottlenecks that inhibit their effective implementation at the desired pace and magnitude. Examples include the quest for alternative protein sources to soya, the limits (perceived or real) to the genetic improvement of pigs, and the implementation of alternative manure management strategies, such as production of biogas through anaerobic digestion. The review identifies and discusses areas that future efforts can focus on, to further advance understanding around the potential sustainability benefits of modifications at various pig system components, and key sustainability trade-offs across the environment-economy-society pillars associated with synergistic and antagonistic effects when joint implementation of multiple solutions is considered. In this way, the review opens a discussion to facilitate the development of holistic decision support tools for pig farm management that account for interactions between the "feed * animal * manure" system components and trade-offs between sustainability priorities (e.g., environmental vs economic performance of pig system; welfare improvements vs environmental impacts).

Transformation of Brazil's biomes: The dynamics and fate of agriculture and pasture expansion into native vegetation

Land use and cover change (LUCC) in Brazil encompass a complex interplay of diverse factors across different biomes. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for informed decision-making and sustainable land management. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed LUCC patterns and drivers using 30 m resolution MapBiomas Collection 6.0 data (1985-2020). By mapping deforestation of primary and secondary natural vegetation, natural vegetation regeneration, and transitions between pasture, soybean, agriculture, and irrigation, we shed light on the intricate nature of LUCC in Brazil. Our findings highlight significant and increasing trends of deforestation in primary vegetation in the country. Simultaneously, the Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Pampa, and other regions of the Cerrado have experienced intensification processes. Notably, the pasture area in Brazil reached its peak in 2006 and has since witnessed a gradual replacement by soybean and other crops. While pasture-driven deforestation persists in most biomes, the net pasture area has only increased in the Amazon and Pantanal, decreasing in other biomes due to the conversion of pasturelands to intensive cropping in other regions. Our analysis further reveals that primary and secondary vegetation deforestation accounts for a substantial portion of overall forest loss, with 72 % and 17 %, respectively. Of the cleared areas, 48 % were in pasture, 9 % in soybean cultivation, and 16 % in other agricultural uses in 2020. Additionally, we observed a lower rate of deforestation in the Atlantic Forest, a biome that has been significantly influenced by anthropogenic activities since 1986. This holistic quantification of LUCC dynamics provides a solid foundation for understanding the impacts of these changes on local to continental-scale land-atmosphere interactions. By unraveling the complex nature of LUCC in Brazil, this study aims to contribute to the development of effective strategies for sustainable land management and decision-making processes.

Herbicides reduce the severity and sporulation of Phakopsora pachyrhizi in soybean with triple herbicide resistance

BACKGROUND

Transgenic event DAS44406-6 (E3) makes soybeans that are herbicide [glyphosate (Gly), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and glufosinate] and caterpillar resistant. The E3 soybean was commercially released for the 2021/2022 harvest in Brazil. We conducted this study to test whether Gly and 2,4-D applied alone and in a commercial mixture affect Asian soybean rust (ASR). Assays were conducted in detached leaves and in vivo, in a controlled environment using the herbicides Gly, 2,4-D and Gly + 2,4-D, and pathogen inoculation. Disease severity and spore production were evaluated.

RESULTS

Only the herbicides Gly and Gly + 2,4-D inhibited ASR in detached leaves and in vivo. When applied preventively and curatively in vivo, these herbicides reduced the disease severity and spore production of the fungus. In vivo, inhibition of disease severity reached 87% for Gly + 2,4-D and 42% for Gly. A synergistic effect was observed with the commercial Gly + 2,4-D mixture. Application of 2,4-D alone in the in vivo assays did not reduce or increase disease severity. Gly and Gly + 2,4-D act residually in inhibiting the disease. Growing E3 soybeans may combine weed and caterpillar management benefits with ASR inhibition.

CONCLUSION

Application of Gly and Gly + 2,4-D herbicides in resistant E3 soybean shows inhibitory activity for ASR. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Satellite forecasting of crop harvest can trigger a cross-hemispheric production response and improve global food security

Global food security is increasingly threatened by climate change and regional human conflicts. Abnormal fluctuations in crop production in major exporting countries can cause volatility in food prices and household consumption in importing countries. Here we show that timely forecasting of crop harvest from satellite data over major exporting regions can trigger production response in the opposite hemisphere to offset the short-term fluctuations and stabilize global food supply. Satellite forecasting can reduce the fluctuation extents of country-level prices by 1.1 to 12.5 percentage points for anticipated wheat shortage or surplus in Russia and Ukraine, and even reverse the price shock in importing countries for anticipated soybean shortage in Brazil. Our research demonstrates that by leveraging the seasonal lags in crop calendars between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, operational crop monitoring from satellite data can provide a mechanism to improve global food security.

Agricultural expansion raises groundwater and increases flooding in the South American plains

Regional effects of farming on hydrology are associated mostly with irrigation. In this work, we show how rainfed agriculture can also leave large-scale imprints. The extent and speed of farming expansion across the South American plains over the past four decades provide an unprecedented case of the effects of rainfed farming on hydrology. Remote sensing analysis shows that as annual crops replaced native vegetation and pastures, floods gradually doubled their coverage, increasing their sensitivity to precipitation. Groundwater shifted from deep (12 to 6 meters) to shallow (4 to 0 meters) states, reducing drawdown levels. Field studies and simulations suggest that declining rooting depths and evapotranspiration in croplands are the causes of this hydrological transformation. These findings show the escalating flooding risks associated with rainfed agriculture expansion at subcontinental and decadal scales.

Co-producing uncomfortable, transdisciplinary, actionable knowledges against the corporate food regime through critical science approaches

The current corporate food regime generates some of the most challenging ecological, social, and ethical problems for humanity in its quest for sustainability and ecological justice. Different scientific disciplines have analyzed these problems in-depth, but usually from their comfort zone, i.e., without engagement with other disciplines and epistemologies. The predominance of disciplinary visions seriously limits, however, understanding the complexities of the corporate food regime, including the impacts it generates. Further, most research concerned with this food regime confronts epistemological, methodological, and political limitations to engage with the type of solutions that could lead to transitions to just sustainabilities. Here we review and integrate the findings from scientific literature focused on the ecological, social, or ethical impacts of the corporate food regime, with an emphasis on impacts that operate on a global scale. In addition, we analyze the need for critical science approaches to trigger generative processes for the co-production of uncomfortable, transdisciplinary, actionable knowledges that are fit for designing just and sustainable food regimes. Much of the evidence presented in our analysis is in tension with the interests of the corporate food regime, which fosters decision-making processes based on selective ignorance of the impacts caused by this regime. Our work provides arguments that justify the need to promote transitions to just sustainabilities in agricultural systems from multiple domains (e.g., research and development, public policies, grassroots innovations). We posit that strategies to co-design and build such transitions can emerge from the co-production of uncomfortable, transdisciplinary, actionable knowledges through critical science approaches.

Going north: adaptation of soybean to long-day environments

This article comments on:

Zhu X, Leiser WL, Hahn V, Würschum T. 2023. The genetic architecture of soybean photothermal adaptation to high latitudes. Journal of Experimental Botany 74,2987–3002

In plant breeding, understanding genetic variation in the photoperiodic control of flowering time of crop plants such as soybean is a prerequisite for managing adaptation to new environments. Zhu et al. (2023) analyzed a large diversity panel of &gt;1500 early maturity soybean lines to disclose the genetic architecture behind the timing of flowering and maturity. Their findings confirm known maturity loci and reveal new candidate genes and alleles as well as environmental interactions of individual quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for flowering and maturity time. The results shed light on the complexity of the regulatory network which controls the timing of flowering in soybean. This supports the fine-tuning of plant architectures through the combination of stem termination and flowering genes towards a better adaptation of soybean to high latitudes or other stressful environments.

Trade-Offs between Temperature and Fitness in Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): Implications for Mass Rearing and Field Management

The brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1798) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is one of the most abundant soybean stink bug pests in Brazil. Temperature is a key factor that affects its development and reproduction, and fluctuating temperatures may impact the development and reproduction of E. heros differently from those under constant temperatures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of constant and fluctuating temperature on the biological characteristics of E. heros in three successive generations. Treatments consisted of six constant temperatures (19 °C, 22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C, 31 °C and 34 °C) and four fluctuating temperatures (25:21 °C, 28:24 °C, 31:27 °C, and 34:30 °C) evaluated for three successive generations. Second-stage nymphs were evaluated daily, and after they reached the adult stage, they were separated by sex, and the individual weight (mg) and pronotum size (mm) were recorded. After pair formation, eggs were collected to evaluate the pre-oviposition period, total number of eggs, and egg viability. The duration of the nymphal stage was reduced with an increase in both constant and fluctuating temperatures; however, at constant temperatures of 19 °C, 31 °C and 34 °C and fluctuating temperatures of 28:24 °C, there was no reproduction in adults. The base temperature and total degree day requirement for nymphal development were 15.5 °C and 197.4 dd, respectively. Pre-oviposition period (d), number of eggs per female, and viability of eggs (%) were affected by temperature across the generations. The multiple decrement life table analysis revealed that mortality was highest during the molting of the second-stage nymphs. These findings have important implications for E. heros' laboratory mass-rearing programs and for its management in fields.

Sustainable nutrition and the case of vegetable oils to match present and future dietary needs

Sustainable nutrition represents a formidable challenge for providing people with healthy, nutritious and affordable food, while reducing waste and impacts on the environment. Acknowledging the complexity and multi-dimensional nature of the food system, this article addresses the main issues related to sustainability in nutrition, existing scientific data and advances in research and related methodologies. Vegetable oils are epitomized as a case study in order to figure out the challenges inherent to sustainable nutrition. Vegetable oils crucially provide people with an affordable source of energy and are essential ingredients of a healthy diet, but entail varying social and environmental costs and benefits. Accordingly, the productive and socioeconomic context encompassing vegetable oils requires interdisciplinary research based on appropriate analyses of big data in populations undergoing emerging behavioral and environmental pressures. Since oils represent a major and growing source of energy at a global level, their role in sustainable nutrition should be considered beyond pure nutritional facts, at the light of soil preservation, local resources and human needs in terms of health, employment and socio-economic development.

The impact of wildfires on air pollution and health across land use categories in Brazil over a 16-year period

Forest fires cause many environmental impacts, including air pollution. Brazil is a very fire-prone region where few studies have investigated the impact of wildfires on air quality and health. We proposed to test two hypotheses in this study: i) the wildfires in Brazil have increased the levels of air pollution and posed a health hazard in 2003-2018, and ii) the magnitude of this phenomenon depends on the type of land use and land cover (e.g., forest area, agricultural area, etc.). Satellite and ensemble models derived data were used as input in our analyses. Wildfire events were retrieved from Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), provided by NASA; air pollution data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS); meteorological variables from the ERA-Interim model; and land use/cover data were derived from pixel-based classification of Landsat satellite images by MapBiomas. We used a framework that infers the "wildfire penalty" by accounting for differences in linear pollutant annual trends (β) between two models to test these hypotheses. The first model was adjusted for Wildfire-related Land Use activities (WLU), considered as an adjusted model. In the second model, defined as an unadjusted model, we removed the wildfire variable (WLU). Both models were controlled by meteorological variables. We used a generalized additive approach to fit these two models. To estimate mortality associated with wildfire penalties, we applied health impact function. Our findings suggest that wildfire events between 2003 and 2018 have increased the levels of air pollution and posed a significant health hazard in Brazil, supporting our first hypothesis. For example, in the Pampa biome, we estimated an annual wildfire penalty of 0.005 μg/m³ (95%CI: 0.001; 0.009) on PM_2.5. Our results also confirm the second hypothesis. We observed that the greatest impact of wildfires on PM_2.5 concentrations occurred in soybean areas in the Amazon biome. During the 16 years of the study period, wildfires originating from soybean areas in the Amazon biome were associated with a total penalty of 0.64 μg/m³ (95%CI: 0.32; 0.96) on PM_2.5, causing an estimated 3872 (95%CI: 2560; 5168) excess deaths. Sugarcane crops were also a driver of deforestation-related wildfires in Brazil, mainly in Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes. Our findings suggest that between 2003 and 2018, fires originating from sugarcane crops were associated with a total penalty of 0.134 μg/m³ (95%CI: 0.037; 0.232) on PM_2.5 in Atlantic Forest biome, resulting in an estimated 7600 (95%CI: 4400; 10,800) excess deaths during the study period, and 0.096 μg/m³ (95%CI: 0.048; 0.144) on PM_2.5 in Cerrado biome, resulting in an estimated 1632 (95%CI: 1152; 2112) excess deaths during the study period. Considering that the wildfire penalties observed during our study period may continue to be a challenge in the future, this study should be of interest to policymakers to prepare future strategies related to forest protection, land use management, agricultural activities, environmental health, climate change, and sources of air pollution.

It takes three to tango: citizen, fundamental and applied science

Citizen science is an undervalued tool in a scientist's toolbox with the potential to go beyond primary data collection to strengthen fundamental and applied science. We call for the integration of these three disciplines to make agriculture sustainable and adaptive to climate change, with North-Western European soybean cultivation as showcase.

Accelerated cropland expansion into high integrity forests and protected areas globally in the 21st century

Intact forests and protected areas (PAs) are central to global biodiversity conservation and nature-based climate change mitigation. However, cropland encroachment threatens the ecological integrity and resilience of their functioning. Using satellite observations, we find that a large proportion of croplands in the remaining forests globally have been gained during 2003-2019, especially for high-integrity forests (62%) and non-forest biomes (60%) and tropical forests (47%). Cropland expansion during 2011-2019 in forests globally has even doubled (130% relative increase) than 2003-2011, with high medium-integrity (190%) and high-integrity (165%) categories and non-forest (182%) and tropical forest biomes (136%) showing higher acceleration. Unexpectedly, a quarter of croplands in PAs globally were gained during 2003-2019, again with a recent accelerated expansion (48%). These results suggest insufficient protection of these irreplaceable landscapes and a major challenge to global conservation. More effective local, national, and international coordination among sustainable development goals 15, 13, and 2 is urgently needed.

Human impacts outpace natural processes in the Amazon

Amazonian environments are being degraded by modern industrial and agricultural activities at a pace far above anything previously known, imperiling its vast biodiversity reserves and globally important ecosystem services. The most substantial threats come from regional deforestation, because of export market demands, and global climate change. The Amazon is currently perched to transition rapidly from a largely forested to a nonforested landscape. These changes are happening much too rapidly for Amazonian species, peoples, and ecosystems to respond adaptively. Policies to prevent the worst outcomes are known and must be enacted immediately. We now need political will and leadership to act on this information. To fail the Amazon is to fail the biosphere, and we fail to act at our peril.

Risk assessment and validation of farmland abandonment based on time series change detection

Farmland abandonment, a widespread phenomenon during land-use transition, leads to a cycling or vanishing evolution of farmland resources. As urbanization advances, an increasing number of agricultural laborers migrate from rural to urban areas, causing ongoing farmland abandonment. However, in contrast to the abandoned information extraction and driving mechanisms revelation, the potential risk of farmland abandonment has received insufficient attention. This study took Yangtze River Economic Belt of China as study area, selected multiple aspects to construct a risk assessment system for farmland abandonment, and applied time series change detection to verify the results. The results showed that (1) farmland abandonment risk, with a regional average value of 0.0978, has strong spatial heterogeneity, with high values clustering in Yunnan-Guizhou and Sichuan-Chongqing mountainous areas and low values distributed in the midstream and downstream plains and the Sichuan Basin. (2) The proportion of farmland area gradually decreased as the risk grade increased. Farmland, with low abandonment risk, occupied an area of 204,837 km², constituting the highest percentage of 35.18% among the overall farmland, and was mainly distributed in the provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui. The area of farmland with high risk was 16,458 km², only accounting for 2.83%, the majority of which was clustered in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. (3) The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series change detection validated the reliability of the risk assessment system. Samples of farmland having low abandonment risk indeed had the lowest abandonment rate of 10%, and those which indicated high risk had the highest abandonment rate of 32%. We propose differentiated managements for farmland resources with high and low abandonment risk from the perspective of sustainable use. This study provides a more reasonable and scientific system for farmland abandonment risk assessment and helps to fill the research gap.

Growth performance, welfare traits and meat characteristics of broilers fed diets partly replaced with whole Tenebrio molitor larvae

The role of insects in animal nutrition has been reconsidered during recent years, paving the way for an increasing market for edible insects. Their protein and amino acid balance make them a promising source of protein for replacing high value proteins. Yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. (TM; Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae, have shown positive effects on broiler performance in several research studies and have a strong potential as a sustainable alternative protein source for monogastric animals. This study aimed to assess the effect of replacing various ratios of basal diets with T. molitor larvae on broiler performance as well as on several meat and welfare characteristics. For the study, 120 one-day-old male chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated in 3 treatments and 4 replications (10 birds per pen). Birds of the control group (basal diet) were fed with typical commercial maize and soymeal-based rations in mash form. The other 2 groups were treated with the same diet, after replacing 5% and 10% with dried TM larvae, respectively. On d 35 (end of trial), meat samples were collected and analysed. Body weight, feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio during the periods of 1 to 10 d (starter period), 11 to 24 d (grower period), 25 to 35 d (finisher period) and 1 to 35 d (total period) were assessed. Pododermatitis, diarrhoea, feather score and litter conditions were also assessed during the trial. The results indicated that TM larvae inclusion in the broilers' diet positively affected body weight gain values, as well as the carcass yield, the meat composition and various welfare traits. Additionally, the dietary treatments with TM larvae favourably affected meat composition and colour parameters, whereas there were also some positive effects on lipid and protein oxidation. Saturated fatty acids were decreased by the dietary supplementation whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acids to SFA ratio increased. In general, the study showed that whole TM larvae addition can provide a promising alternative to soybean meal in the diet of broilers, demonstrating a positive impact on growth, welfare and meat characteristics.

Triatoma costalimai, a neglected vector of Trypanosoma cruzi in the Cerrado savannas of South America: A comprehensive review

Triatoma costalimai is a little-known triatomine-bug species whose role as a vector of Chagas disease remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive review of the literature and assessed the evidence base from a public-health perspective. We found 89 individual documents/resources with information about T. costalimai. DNA-sequence and cytogenetic data indicate that T. costalimai belongs, together with Triatoma jatai, in a distinct clade within the 'pseudomaculata group' of South American Triatoma. Triatoma costalimai is probably a narrow endemic of the Cerrado on the upper Tocantins River Basin and associated ranges/plateaus; there, the species thrives in the sandstone/limestone outcrops typical of the "Cerrado rupestre" (rocky-soil savanna) and "mata seca decídua calcária" (limestone-soil dry forest) phytophysiognomies. Wild T. costalimai appear to feed on whatever vertebrates are available in rocky outcrops, with lizards and rodents being most common. There is persuasive evidence that house invasion/infestation by T. costalimai has increased in frequency since the 1990s. The bugs often carry Trypanosoma cruzi, often defecate while feeding, have high fecundity/fertility, and, under overtly favorable conditions, can produce two generations per year. Current knowledge suggests that T. costalimai can transmit human Chagas disease in the upper Tocantins Basin; control-surveillance systems should 'tag' the species as a potentially important local vector in the Brazilian states of Goiás and Tocantins. Further research is needed to clarify (i) the drivers and dynamics of house invasion, infestation, and reinfestation by T. costalimai and (ii) the genetic structuring and vector capacity of the species, including its wild and non-wild populations.

To clear or not to clear: Unpacking soy farmers' decision-making on deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado

Agriculture-driven deforestation has come to the top of the environmental policy agenda as one of the main sustainability issues of current food systems. A major case is soy production in Brazil, the largest grower and exporter of what has become the world's crop of choice for animal feed protein. Soy expansion has contributed to the continuous erasure of the Brazilian Cerrado, a highly biodiverse savanna with significant underground carbon storage that plays vital hydrological functions but remains mostly unprotected. Much of the remaining Cerrado vegetation is located within private farms and can be cleared legally; therefore, understanding soy farmers' attitudes regarding deforestation is paramount. Hence, this study explores and analyzes Brazilian soy farmers' perspectives, attitudes, and behavior concerning land-use change. We draw from the literature and semi-structured interviews with 24 soy farmers in Tocantins State, part of an agricultural frontier region called Matopiba. Our findings show how soy-farmer behavior follows primarily an economic rationale unconcerned with environmental sustainability. Farmers have moved to the frontier attracted primarily by cheap land prices and mainly occupied degraded pastures. Still, they have cleared vegetation directly for planting soy and show little restraint. Although chiefly interested in increasing yields, Brazil's soy farmers feel entitled to open new areas whenever they have the economic means and motivation. They may also engage in pre-emptive deforestation for fear of more stringent forthcoming regulations. Such attitudes offer a cautionary note to strategies that hope to conserve the Cerrado through voluntary behavioral change, such as adopting “best practices” or focusing on improving production in already-open areas. We argue that greater regulatory stringency and enforcement are much more promising pathways in the context of excessive permissiveness to deforestation in the Cerrado and actors oriented by profit and by what they are allowed to do. Well-enforced public policies that legally restrict their deforestation rights and protect the remaining areas of Cerrado would offer a royal road, but supply-chain actors, too, may need to become stricter about requesting conversion-free soy. We conclude that, without such actions, soy farmers' attitudes promise a continuation of business as usual toward the Cerrado's end.

Disentangling the numbers behind agriculture-driven tropical deforestation

Tropical deforestation continues at alarming rates with profound impacts on ecosystems, climate, and livelihoods, prompting renewed commitments to halt its continuation. Although it is well established that agriculture is a dominant driver of deforestation, rates and mechanisms remain disputed and often lack a clear evidence base. We synthesize the best available pantropical evidence to provide clarity on how agriculture drives deforestation. Although most (90 to 99%) deforestation across the tropics 2011 to 2015 was driven by agriculture, only 45 to 65% of deforested land became productive agriculture within a few years. Therefore, ending deforestation likely requires combining measures to create deforestation-free supply chains with landscape governance interventions. We highlight key remaining evidence gaps including deforestation trends, commodity-specific land-use dynamics, and data from tropical dry forests and forests across Africa.

Soybean Production and Spatial Agglomeration in China from 1949 to 2019

By mastering the spatial-temporal evolution of patterns of soybean production, a reference for optimizing a soybean production layout could be provided, ensuring food security. The variation coefficient method, and the comparative advantage and spatial autocorrelation models were used to analyze the spatial divergence regularities of soybean production, sown area and yield, spatial-temporal changes in the comparative advantages of soybean planting efficiency and soybean planting scale, and the spatial agglomeration characteristics in China from 1949 to 2019. The results indicate that (1) from 1949 to 2019, soybean production and yield changes in China remained constant with a fluctuating upwards trend, and soybean sown areas hardly changed, yet experienced a sharp fluctuation. (2) The Northeast China Plain (NECP) was the main soybean-producing area, and its main position was strengthened. In contrast, the main soybean production position of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (HHHP) has declined. The Northern arid and semiarid region (NASR), the Sichuan Basin and surrounding areas (SBSR), the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain (MLYP), and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (YGP) became new soybean production growth poles. (3) The spatial distribution of soybean planting efficiency-related comparative advantages in China extended from northern China to the whole country, and the soybean planting scale-related comparative advantages proceeded through three stages: steady expansion, relative stability, contraction, and stabilization. (4) The spatial agglomeration of soybean planting efficiency-related comparative advantages has weakened, and the spatial agglomeration of the soybean planting scale-related comparative advantages exhibited a strengthening-weakening-strengthening-weakening process. Through our research analysis, we propose a policy resource to fully utilize the soybean planting efficiency-related comparative advantages in southern China (SC), promote grain-soybean rotation patterns in the HHHP and NECP, improve the soybean cultivation subsidy system, and build a soybean industry chain in the NECP.

Perspective: Soybeans Can Help Address the Caloric and Protein Needs of a Growing Global Population

Feeding a growing global population with projected rising socioeconomic status will require additional sources of calories and especially protein. These sources need to align with the Sustainable Development Goals established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The soybean is uniquely positioned to meet this challenge based on the following criteria: (1) Global soybean production exceeds by ~4 times the production of all pulses combined (2) Soybeans are higher in protein than other legumes and soy protein quality is similar to animal protein quality (3) Soybeans are an excellent source of healthy fat, including both essential fatty acids (4) Soybeans, like other legumes, symbiotically fix atmospheric nitrogen thereby reducing the need for fertilizer inputs (5) Greenhouse gas emissions per unit protein are lower than for nearly all other foods (6) Soybeans, like other legumes, are also recognized as an affordable food that can be incorporated into diverse diets regardless of economic standing and (7) The range of foods produced from soybeans constitutes an important position in historic and contemporary cuisines, cultures and emerging consumer trends for plant-based protein. Although most soybeans are currently used for animal feed, soybean use is dictated by consumer demand. Therefore, soybeans are well positioned to meet future global needs for energy and protein. Armed with this knowledge, health professionals can feel justified in encouraging greater consumption of soyfoods for both personal and planetary reasons.

Addressing indirect sourcing in zero deforestation commodity supply chains

The trade in agricultural commodities is a backbone of the global economy but is a major cause of negative social and environmental impacts, not least deforestation. Commodity traders are key actors in efforts to eliminate deforestation-they are active in the regions where commodities are produced and represent a "pinch point" in global trade that provides a powerful lever for change. However, the procurement strategies of traders remain opaque. Here, we catalog traders' sourcing across four sectors with high rates of commodity-driven deforestation: South American soy, cocoa from Côte d'Ivoire, Indonesian palm oil, and Brazilian live cattle exports. We show that traders often source more than 40% of commodities "indirectly" via local intermediaries and that indirect sourcing is a major blind spot for sustainable sourcing initiatives. To eliminate deforestation, indirect sourcing must be included in sectoral initiatives, and landscape or jurisdictional approaches, which internalize indirect sourcing, must be scaled up.

Dietary Fats, Human Nutrition and the Environment: Balance and Sustainability

Dietary fats are essential ingredients of a healthy diet. Their production, however, impacts the environment and its capacity to sustain us. Growing knowledge across multiple disciplines improves our understanding of links between food, health and sustainability, but increases apparent complexity. Whereas past dietary guidelines placed limits on total fat intake especially saturated fats, recent studies indicate more complex links with health. Guidelines differ between regions of general poverty and malnutrition and those where obesity is a growing problem. Optimization of production to benefit health and environmental outcomes is hindered by limited data and shared societal goals. We lack a detailed overview of where fats are being produced, and their environmental impacts. Furthermore, the yields of different crops, for producing oils or feeding animals, and the associated land needs for meeting oil demands, differ greatly. To illuminate these matters, we review current discourse about the nutritional aspects of edible fats, summarize the inferred environmental implications of their production and identify knowledge gaps.

Meat Quality Parameters, Sensory Properties and Consumer Acceptance of Chicken Meat from Dual-Purpose Crossbreeds Fed with Regional Faba Beans

Consumers’ concerns regarding the ethical and environmental practices of the current poultry production system have led to the search for an alternative production method. This study evaluated samples of three dual-purpose chicken crossbreeds: Vorwerkhuhn × Bresse Gauloise (VBG), Vorwerkhuhn × White Rock (VWR), and Bresse Gauloise × White Rock (BWR), fed with two variants of faba beans (vicin/convicin-rich and -poor: VC+ and VC−, respectively) and soybeans to examine whether the FB-based diets affected the meat quality of the crossbreeds. pH, color, water holding capacity, tenderness, nucleotide content and proximal composition were analyzed instrumentally, whereas sensory properties were identified by a trained panel and product acceptance was evaluated by frequent chicken consumers. Results showed that from instrumental measurements, the yellowness of the samples was affected by the type of feedstuff, whereas most other parameters were affected by the crossbreed, particularly color and nucleotide content. Sensory attributes, specifically, overall chicken aroma as well as firmness and crumbliness, were affected by an interaction of the feedstuff and crossbreed. Consumer preference did not show significant differences between samples. Overall, a faba-bean-based diet appeared to be a suitable alternative to a soybean-based diet on the crossbreeds VBG, VWR, and BWR when assessing the overall quality and taste of chicken breasts.

Areas Available for the Potential Sustainable Expansion of Soy in Brazil: A Geospatial Assessment Using the SAFmaps Database

Recently, soybean production almost doubled in Brazil, reaching 122 million tonnes, and it is expected to increase even more. Brazil is the world’s largest producer and is primarily an exporter. From a sustainability point of view, soy production has been strongly criticized mainly in relation to deforestation, albeit for indirect effects. Soybean oil is a potential feedstock for the production of bio-jet fuels, which needs to be sustainable according to international criteria (sustainable aviation fuels—SAF). This paper aims to estimate the areas still available for soy expansion in Brazil, considering conditions that would allow the production of SAF. We used the SAFmaps platform, a geospatial database with information on the most promising bioenergy crops for SAF and their supply chains. Just by displacing pastures and observing a set of constraints, the total area available for expansion was estimated at 192.8 thousand km2, of which 43% is of high suitability. These areas are concentrated in the Center-West region. Assuming a vertical supply chain, the results of the case studies of SAF production indicate potential feasibility, but some hypotheses considered are optimistic. Moreover, the results indicate that there can be sustainable production of soybean oil and contribution to the production of SAF.

Increased climate pressure on the agricultural frontier in the Eastern Amazonia-Cerrado transition zone

Several large-scale drivers of both anthropogenic and natural environmental changes are interacting nonlinearly in the transition zone between eastern Amazonia and the adjacent Cerrado, considered to be another Brazilian agricultural frontier. Land-use change for agrobusiness expansion together with climate change in the transition zone between eastern Amazonia and the adjacent Cerrado may have induced a worsening of severe drought conditions over the last decade. Here we show that the largest warming and drying trends over tropical South America during the last four decades are observed to be precisely in the eastern Amazonia-Cerrado transition region, where they induce delayed wet-season and worsen severe drought conditions over the last decade. Our results evidence an increase in temperature, vapor pressure deficit, subsidence, dry-day frequency, and a decrease in precipitation, humidity, and evaporation, plus a delay in the onset of the wet season, inducing a higher risk of fire during the dry-to-wet transition season. These findings provide observational evidence of the increasing climatic pressure in this area, which is sensitive for global food security, and the need to reconcile agricultural expansion and protection of natural tropical biomes.

Civil war hinders crop production and threatens food security in Syria

Assessing the impact of violent conflict on Syrian agriculture is challenging given data limitations and attributability issues. Using satellite data at 30 m spatial resolution, we found that the extent of productive cropland showed greater interannual variability and spatial heterogeneity after the start of the civil war in 2011. Using changes in satellite-based night-time light as a proxy for war impact intensity, we also found that cropland close to severely impacted urban settlements faced greater disruption. Fixed-effects models revealed the relationship between productive cropland and precipitation for the pre-war period, whereas a counterfactual scenario constructed for the period 2012-2019 showed substantial variation at the regional level. While the ongoing conflict promoted cropland cultivation in safer zones, cropland reduction took place in the country's northwest and southeast regions. Our study demonstrated the combined utility of daytime and night-time satellite data to assess food insecurity in extreme environments and can help guide distribution of food and aid in Syria.

Global maps of cropland extent and change show accelerated cropland expansion in the twenty-first century

Spatiotemporally consistent data on global cropland extent is essential for tracking progress towards sustainable food production. In the present study, we present an analysis of global cropland area change for the first two decades of the twenty-first century derived from satellite data time-series. We estimate that, in 2019, the cropland area was 1,244 Mha with a corresponding total annual net primary production (NPP) of 5.5 Pg C year^-1. From 2003 to 2019, cropland area increased by 9% and cropland NPP by 25%, primarily due to agricultural expansion in Africa and South America. Global cropland expansion accelerated over the past two decades, with a near doubling of the annual expansion rate, most notably in Africa. Half of the new cropland area (49%) replaced natural vegetation and tree cover, indicating a conflict with the sustainability goal of protecting terrestrial ecosystems. From 2003 to 2019, global per-capita cropland area decreased by 10% due to population growth. However, the per-capita annual cropland NPP increased by 3.5% as a result of intensified agricultural land use. The presented global, high-resolution, cropland map time-series supports monitoring of natural land appropriation at the local, national and international levels.