Natural Bioactive Products In Sustainable Agriculture

This book discusses various aspects of bioactive natural products employed in the agrochemical and agriculture sectors. It covers the use of plants, microorganisms, and microbial metabolites as eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable alternatives to chemicals in the field of agriculture. Written by active researchers and academics, the book highlights state-of-art products in the field, as well as the gaps, challenges, and obstacles associated with the use of plants, microbes and their products. Given its scope, it is a valuable resource for the scientific community and professionals in enterprises wanting insights into the latest developments and advances in the context of biological products, including their applications, traditional uses, modern practices, and strategies to harness their full potential.

Structured into four main parts, this book navigates the intersection between food and functionality of plant-based products and provides insight into the nutritional composition of some key elements of plant-based diets. The book also introduces the most abundant adulteration practices and points out the analytical methods of quality monitoring, their current trends, and their potential future applications. The volume first looks at plant-based sustainable health foods, with a primary focus on millets, their nutritional and health benefits, as well as their potential as food security crops. The chapters also shed some light on demographics of millet production and discuss the impact of processing on the nutritional and organoleptic attributes of millet-based products. New advances in production, quality determination, and functional health benefits of two globally renowned beverages—wine and beer—are discussed while mapping consumption trends and consumers’ expectations and preferences. Sustainable and Functional Foods from Plants also explores some ethnic foodstuffs, ingredients, and condiments of functional importance for the cuisines of African, European, and Far Eastern countries, and then looks at the potential of bioactive compounds in medicinal foods and measurement techniques for quality of natural foods. The book will be informative for upper-level students as well as for food science teaching staff, researchers, and industrial personnel interested in theoretical and practical knowledge about sustainable and functional foods from plants.

Antifungal Metabolites of Rhizobacteria for Sustainable Agriculture focuses on plant health in agro-ecosystems of various economically important cash and food crops with a concern to promote sustainable agriculture. They have emerged as a key organic tool for enhancing yields. In a natural environment the interactions between plants and phytopathogenic fungi are complex and survival requires a development of resistance to plant diseases. Diversity of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) diversity depends on the nature of root exudates and soil conditions that affect their interaction with host plants. Novel strategies, such as, applying bioactive natural products against the pathogenic fungus are required to control disease sustainably. Various classes of secondary metabolites including lipopeptides, macrolides, alkaloids, terpenoids and phenolics from microorganisms and plants strongly suppress fungal growth and can also be effective in controlling plant diseases both in vitro and in vivo. The modes of actions of some potential antifungal secondary metabolites against pathogenic fungus are also discussed. Eco-friendly fungal species and their metabolites are excellent agents used for regulating various fungal and bacterial phytopathogens and may have tremendous potential for other applications, and play a key role in enhancing plant tolerance to stress. Antifungal Metabolites of Rhizobacteria for Sustainable Agriculture also covers bovine-based formulations used for sustainable production and nutritional security through horticultural crops, thereby addressing the problems associated with malnutrition and under-nutrition encountered by small and marginal farmers, as well as by families facing resource constraints. These techniques can also improve breathable air, drinkable water, and consumable foods. This book addresses the need to mitigate the health problems of people via organic crop production and to improve the socio-economic status of farmers (especially in developing countries), and to revitalize agricultural sustainability.

This book covers nanotechnology based approaches for improving the therapeutic efficacy of natural products. It critically explores lipid nanoarchitectonics, inorganic particles and nanoemulsion based tools for delivering them. With its chapters from eminent experts working in this discipline, it is ideal for researchers and professionals working in the area.

This book reviews the sources, extraction, processing and applications of value-added compounds from agro-waste, with a focus on drug delivery, tea, apple pomace, lignin nanocomposites, bioethanol, fertilizers and sitosterol. Food residues provide bioactive molecules, enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants, and animal feed.

Natural Bioactive Compounds: Technological Advancements deals with the latest breakthroughs in the field of screening, characterization and novel applications of natural bioactive compounds from diverse group of organisms ranging from bacteria, viruses, cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, bryophytes, higher plants, sponges, corals and fishes. Written by some of the most reputed scientists in the field, this book introduces the reader to strategies and methods in the search for bioactive natural products. It is an essential read for researchers and students interested in bioactive natural products, their biological and pharmacological properties, their possible use as chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents, and other future potential applications. Explores natural sources of bioactive compounds, including cyanobacteria, bacteria, viruses, fungi and higher plants Discusses the potential applications of biological products, such as their use in medicine (antibiotics, cancer research, immunology), as food additives, supplements and technological substances Analyzes the contributions of emerging or developing technologies for the study of bioactive natural compounds (characterization and purification)

Role of Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms in Sustainable Agriculture and Nanotechnology explores PGPMs (actinomycetes, bacteria, fungi and cyanobacteria) and their multidimensional roles in agriculture, including their increasing applications in sustainable agriculture. In addition to their traditional understanding and applications in agriculture, PGPMs are increasingly known as a source of nano-particles production that are gaining significant interest in their ability to provide more economically, environmentally friendly and safe technologies to crop growers. The book considers new concepts and current developments in plant growth, thus promoting microorganisms research and evaluating its implications for sustainable productivity. Users will find this to be an invaluable resource for researchers in applied microbial biotechnology, soil science, nano-technology of microbial strains, and industry personnel in these areas. Presents basic and applied aspects of sustainable agriculture, including nano-technology in sustainable agriculture Identifies molecular tools/omics approaches for enhancing plant growth promoting microorganisms Discusses plant growth promoting microorganisms in bioactive compounds production, and as a source of nano-particles

Sustainability is an essential part of our modern food production system. Carrying out food research that considers environmental, social, and economic factors, is a major objective for food producers and researchers. Strategic development and use of technology can greatly assist in the progression toward a more sustainable food system. Sustainable Production Technology in Food explores important scientific and practical aspects related to sustainable technologies used in all aspects of the food system. This book is organized into 13 chapters, that cover the main concepts related to sustainability and technology. Coverage includes current technology in the industry, technological developments to improve sustainability of food production (biopreservation, pulsed electric fields, high pressure processing, ultrasound, cold plasma, and nanotechnology), regulatory aspects, and future perspectives. Presents a comprehensive discussion around the technological advances of sustainable food production Addresses the current relationship between food production and sustainability Focuses on how technology can impact the sustainability of the food production system