The Influence of Various Modifications of Hazelnut Shell Flour as Potential Filler in Plywood Technology
This study investigates the potential of utilizing hazelnut shells (HS) as an innovative filler in three-layer plywood technology, addressing the growing need for sustainable, high-performance materials. Traditional plywood production relies on adhesives enhanced with various fillers to improve physical, mechanical, and operational characteristics. This research explores using native, chemically modified, and activated carbon derived from hazelnut shells as fillers in urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. The produced plywood's mechanical properties, water absorption, and formaldehyde emissions were thoroughly analyzed. Key findings demonstrate that incorporating 10 part by weight (pbw) native hazelnut shell flour significantly enhances the modulus of rupture (MOR) to 138.6 N mm-2 and modulus of elasticity (MOE) to 13,311 N mm-2. Chemically modified hazelnut shell flour achieves optimal results at 5 pbw, while activated carbon from hazelnut shells, even at 1 pbw, markedly improves bonding strength (2.79 N mm-2 referred to 0.81 N mm-2 for reference sample without filler added). Notably, activated carbon effectively reduces formaldehyde emissions (2.72 mg 100 g-1 oven dry panel referred to 3.32 mg 100 g-1 oven dry panel for reference samples with 10 pbw filler) and improves water resistance, indicating better further dimensional stability and lower environmental impact. The study also shows that excessive filler content negatively affects strength parameters, confirming the importance of optimizing filler concentration. These results highlight the potential of hazelnut shells as an eco-friendly alternative filler in plywood production, contributing to waste valorization and environmental sustainability. This study supports the practical application of hazelnut shell fillers, promoting a circular economy and reducing reliance on traditional, less sustainable materials, thus providing a valuable solution for the wood composite industry.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17164128
Sensory optimization of gluten-free hazelnut omelette and sugar-modified chestnut pudding: A free choice profiling approach for enhanced traditional recipe formulations
The Mediterranean region is distinguished by its gastronomic diversity and a wide variety of indigenous nut crops. In line with changing global food consumers' preferences, a noteworthy aspect is the increasing demand to the use of local varieties in recipe formulation. The aim of the present study was to incorporate the Terra Fria chestnut (Portugal) and Negreta hazelnut from Reus (Spain) in traditional Mediterranean recipes. The sensory, technofunctional, nutritional, and shelf-life characterization were investigated in hazelnut omelette (gluten and gluten-free) and chestnut pudding (sugar and sugar-free) formulations. Results conducted by trained assessors using the free choice profiling (FCP) showed that hazelnut omelette samples were described as "creamy," "smooth," and "handmade." In addition, the texture obtained with the hazelnut omelette gluten-free version showed the softest textural profile analysis attributes, with lower values for hardness (2.43 ± 0.36 N), adhesiveness (-0.38 ± 0.00 g s) and gumminess (2.12 ± 0.14). Furthermore, the shelf-life studies revealed a more golden color (>14.43 of a* CIELAB coordinate) and a lower moisture content (25.36%-43.59%) in the hazelnut flour formulation, in addition to the enrichment in terms of protein (8.36 g/100 g), fiber, and healthy fats. In the case of chestnut pudding, it was observed that the study parameters did not differ significantly from its sweetened analogue with positive attributes in FCP ("toasted," "fluffy," and "sweet"), positioning it as a viable alternative to sugar in this application. Therefore, both hazelnut flour in hazelnut omelette and oligofructose in chestnut pudding proved to be promising ingredients in the formulation of gluten-free and sugar-free developed products, offering attractive organoleptic and textural characteristics.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.17244
Development and Evaluation of a Fermented Pistachio-Based Beverage Obtained by Colloidal Mill
The aim of the present study was to develop a fermented pistachio beverage as a plant-based alternative to milk-based drinks. For this purpose, a colloidal mill was used to finely grind and homogenize the pistachios to obtain a homogeneous consistency and prevent sedimentation. In addition, lactic acid bacteria fermentation was used to develop unique flavours and characteristics in the final product and to achieve microbiological stability for up to 30 days of storage a 4 °C. The formulated beverages were evaluated for chemical-physical characteristics (pH, organic acid production, and fructose, sucrose, and glucose content), nutritional profile (proximate composition, amino acid and GABA content), and volatile organic composition by HS-SPME-GC/MS analysis. The pistachio-based beverages were characterized by a good source of protein, fat, fiber, and minerals (mainly K and P). The colloidal mill contributed to creating a homogeneous texture and to making the nutrients readily available to the starter microorganisms, which reached concentrations above 108 ufc/mL in the final products. The beverages were characterized by pronounced acidity and some by the presence of acetoin and 2,3-butanedione, volatile components associated with a yogurt- or kefir-like aroma. This innovative approach provides an alternative to traditional milk-based beverages and highlights the role of LAB in the development of nutritious and attractive plant-based beverages.
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13152342
Call for Data on Total Aflatoxins in Ready-to-Eat Peanuts
Towards establishing a Codex maximum level
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives has issued a request for data on total aflatoxins in ready-to-eat peanuts. The information collected will inform the Committee’s work towards establishing a maximum level for total aflatoxins in ready-to-eat peanuts.
Specifically, the Committee calls for:
- Data on occurrence of total aflatoxins for the last 10 years.
- Data collected with methods with a LOQ of 4 µg/kg or below.
- Data on ready-to-eat peanuts, for which it can reasonably be assumed that at least 90% or more of the food item consists of peanut, and no more than 10% is flavor, condiment or coating.
Submitted data must adhere to the specifications outlined in the call. The submission deadline is October 31, 2024.
Latest Trade News and Agreements: September 2024
China: Zero-Tariff Agreement for Mozambican Macadamias and Cashews
Thanks to a new agreement signed on September 3, 2024, macadamias and cashews from Mozambique can now be imported tariff-free into China. The agreement is valid for three years and can be renewed automatically.
China: Guatemalan Macadamia Shipments Entering China Normally
Guatemalan macadamia shipments are entering China without incident, according to a statement given by Guatemala's Deputy Minister for Integration and Foreign Trade, Hector Marroquín, to the Guatemalan media outlet Azteca Noticias in late August. This announcement follows meetings held between Guatemala and China in June at the World Trade Organization, during which the Chinese delegation assured their Guatemalan counterparts that they would consult with the Chinese authorities to determine the reason for the rejection.
India-UAE: Virtual Trade Corridor Agreement Signed
On September 10, 2024, India and the United Arab Emirates signed an agreement launching the India-UAE Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC), as reported by the Times of India. The VTC aims to enhance the ease of doing business by reducing administrative processes as well as logistics and transport costs. The agreement also launches the Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface (MAITRI), which integrates multiple Indian operational portals to facilitate interfacing with UAE portals.
Ukraine-EU: Public Consultation on Further Reciprocal Tariff Liberalization
The European Commission has issued a call for evidence on further reciprocal tariff liberalization between Ukraine and the European Union. Under Article 29 of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, consultations between the Ukraine and the EU can be held to accelerate and broaden the liberalization of trade on goods not already liberalized by the Agreement. The Commission is pursuing such consultations with Ukraine with the aim of adopting their result in the Association Committee in Trade Configuration at the latest when the current Autonomous Trade Measures regime expires in June 2025. The EU’s adoption of such a decision will need to be endorsed by the Council and the Commission will therefore make a proposal for an Article 218(9) Council decision.
Ukraine-UK: Free Trade Agreement
On August 22, 2024, the Ukrainian Parliament ratified the Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement between Ukraine and the United Kingdom. This agreement envisages full trade liberalization between the two countries for the next five years.
Food Safety Update: September 2024
EU: Plant Protection Products Update
The European Commission has renewed the approval or extended the approval period of several substances.
Approval of the use of folpet, metrafenone and captan was renewed until 2039. In the case of captan, some restrictions have been imposed. Specifically, use of this substance is only allowed outside flowering of the crop and when no flowering weeds are present in the rows of the treated crops. Furthermore, in order to ensure the protection of non-target organisms —in particular wild mammals, aquatic organisms and bees— only certain uses are authorized for outdoor applications on orchards.
The approval periods of acequinocyl, aluminium silicate, emamectin, fatty acids C7 to C20, pendimethalin, plant oils / rape seed oil and triclopyr were extended. The new expiration dates are as follows:
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- Acequinocyl: November 15, 2026
- Aluminium silicate: March 31, 2026
- Emamectin: November 15, 2026
- Fatty acids C7 to C20: August 31, 2024 or December 1, 2026 (depending on the substance)
- Pendimethalin: January 15, 2027
- Plant oils / rape seed oil: March 31, 2026
- Triclopyr: March 31, 2026
Marketing Orders: September 2024
USA: Proposed Amendments to California Raisins Marketing Order No. 989
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a recommended decision proposing to amend Marketing Order No. 989, which regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California. The proposed amendments would reduce the size of the Raisin Administrative Committee, eliminate the designated cooperative bargaining association member seat, lower quorum requirements, remove producer district representation, remove the requirement for separate member and alternate nominations for independent and small cooperative producers, remove factors for establishing marketing policy, add language to clarify the quality of reconditioned raisins, add authority to accept voluntary contributions, and add language regarding ownership of intellectual property. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service may make any such changes to the Order as may be necessary to conform to any amendment that may result from the hearing. This recommended decision invites written exceptions on the proposed amendments to be submitted by October 15, 2024.
Sustainability Update: September 2024
Cambodia: Partnership with EU and Germany to Boost Cashew Industry
The European Union and Germany have partnered with Cambodia on a project to enhance Cambodia’s cashew and pepper industries. The EU-German Cambodia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (CAPSAFE) project will focus on increasing local value addition, strengthening national systems governing food safety and climate-resilient agriculture, and increasing the capacity of producers and processors to adopt sustainable practices and relevant standards. With US$27 million in joint funding from the EU and Germany, the five-year project will be implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
EU: Guide on MOSH/MOAH Regulations
COLEAD/AGRINFO has published an EU-funded guide entitled Mineral Oil Hydrocarbon in Foods: An Introduction to Upcoming EU Regulation. The guide aims to help suppliers in non-EU countries to prepare for compliance with new EU rules limiting the presence of mineral oil hydrocarbons in food that will be implemented in 2025.
EU: Report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture
Launched in January 2024, the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture is a forum that brings together key stakeholders from across the whole agri-food chain and aims to shape a shared vision for EU farming. On September 4, 2024, the group released its final report, entitled A shared prospect for farming and food in Europe. The report presents an assessment of challenges and opportunities, followed by 14 recommendations that will guide the work of the European Commission when shaping its Vision for Agriculture and Food, a roadmap to be delivered within the first 100 days of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's second term. Different working groups will now be set up to take the work forward.
EU: Global Reporting Initiative Publishes CSRD Guide
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has published CSRD Essentials: The Definitive Guide to the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Intended as a one-stop-shop for navigating the challenges of reporting under the new Directive, this document features information about scope, timing and interactions with existing standards; reporting format; legal interconnections, auditing rules and internal supervision; and implementation procedures for small and medium enterprises.
Italy: AGEA Call for Expressions of Interest
Italy’s Agency for Agricultural Payments (AGEA) has issued a call for expressions of interest for projects that will support the quality and competitiveness of the production of nuts in the country. A total of €14,088,908 in funding is available for the 2024 season. Companies can apply for funding for the creation of new plantations and replanting; the introduction and/or modernization of irrigation systems; the introduction of innovations in plant protection management; and information and promotion campaigns. Expressions of interest must be submitted by October 2, 2024.
More information:
Operating Instructions No. 82 of 20 June 2024 - prot. Orpum_49960_Nuts 2024
Nuts - AGEA call for expressions of interest from 3 September to 2 October
USA: Hawaii Awarded USDA Funding for Macadamia Orchard Health
Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, Hawaii has been awarded funding for a project that envisages educational activities at the farm level to address management of mature and aging macadamia orchards, pest pressure and field practices to improve yields and kernel quality.
Improved Straw Decomposition Products Promote Peanut Growth by Changing Soil Chemical Properties and Microbial Diversity
The ameliorative effects of straw decomposition products on soil acidification have been extensively studied. However, the impact of chemically treated straw decomposition products on crop productivity and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two dosages of Ca(OH)2-treated straw decomposition products of peanuts on red soil acidity, fertility, and bacterial and fungal diversity through a pot experiment. The pot experiment included four treatments: chemical nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilization alone (CK), NPK chemical fertilization combined with peanut straw decomposition products (PS), NPK chemical fertilization combined with 4% Ca(OH)2-treated peanut straw decomposition products (PS4Ca), and NPK chemical fertilization combined with 8% Ca(OH)2-treated straw decomposition products (PS8Ca). High-throughput sequencing was performed to investigate the effects of these treatments on soil microbial diversity. The treatments with PS, PS4Ca, and PS8Ca significantly increased soil pH, exchangeable base cations, and nutrient content, whereas they decreased the exchangeable acid, especially exchangeable aluminum. The peanut growth improved substantially with the application of straw decomposition products. Specifically, PS4Ca significantly increased the Shannon and Richness indices of fungi. The principal coordinate analysis showed that the soil microbial communities in the straw decomposition product treatments were significantly different from CK. Linear discriminant analysis effect size identified unique bacteria and fungi between treatments. The Mantel test indicated that exchangeable base cations and pH were significantly positively correlated with bacterial communities, whereas available potassium was positively correlated with fungal communities. The partial least squares path modeling revealed that the bacterial communities positively and directly affected all peanut agronomic traits. In contrast, the fungal communities had a negative and direct effect only on peanut 100-pod weight. Therefore, adding Ca(OH)2-treated straw decomposition products could effectively improve crop productivity by alleviating soil acidification, increasing soil nutrients, and subsequently changing microorganisms.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167096
The Effects of Land Fragmentation on Hazelnut Farming in Türkiye: Environmental, Economic, and Policy Perspectives
Land fragmentation is a critical problem that threatens the economic and environmental sustainability of hazelnut farms. The aim of the study was to assess the economic and environmental effects of land fragmentation on hazelnut farming in Türkiye. The primary data for the study were collected through face-to-face questionnaires from 121 randomly sampled hazelnut farms. The partial budgeting analysis method was used to estimate the economic performance of the hazelnut farms. The environmental impact of land fragmentation in hazelnut farming was assessed using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. The study revealed that the average production cost per hectare was US$ 1834.0 in fragmented farms, compared to US$ 1661.2 in non-fragmented farms. The hazelnut production cost per kilogram in the fragmented farms was 20.18% higher than in non-fragmented farms. The higher share of variable costs in the total production costs of fragmented farms was due to increased hired labor costs. Economic performance indicators, including GDP, gross profit, net profit, and relative profit, were lower in fragmented farms compared to non-fragmented farms. The LCA results showed that hazelnut production emitted 618.60 kg of CO2-eq of greenhouse gas (GHG) per hectare in 1 year. Additionally, producing 1 kg of hazelnuts emitted 0.4495 kg CO2-eq of GHG emissions. For non-fragmented farms, the GHG emissions per kilogram of hazelnuts were 0.4780 kg CO2-eq, while in fragmented farms, it was 0.5342 kg CO2-eq. This represented an 11.74% increase in GHG emissions for fragmented farms. The significantly lower GHG emissions in non-fragmented farms were mainly due to differences in chemical fertilization and farm manure application. In contrast, fragmented farms showed a larger machinery-related contribution and a more pronounced impact of diesel usage on emissions. The study concluded that addressing land fragmentation on hazelnut farms would enhance their economic performance. GHG emissions can be mitigated by improving agricultural practices, optimizing machinery and fuel use, enhancing chemical management, reevaluating farm structures, and raising climate change awareness.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-024-01178-6