Water use dynamics of almond and pistachio crops in the Mediterranean region amid climate change
Almond and pistachio are socio-economically significant tree crops grown in California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Continuing commercial production with efficient irrigation planning under changing climate requires an extensive understanding of their biophysical interactions such as altered phenology, biomass accumulation, transpiration, and other processes. This study examines the phenology and water use (ETc) responses of almonds and pistachios under two scenarios: climate change (warming-only) and climate change with elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2), using an agrohydrological model, VIC-CropSyst. The model was calibrated and validated using observations on crop evapotranspiration. The simulated crop responses to warming-only and eCO2 revealed compounding effects on chill accumulation, phenology, biomass accumulation, and eventually on crop water use. The active growth period from bud break to dormancy was prolonged by 10–25 days for both crops under simulated Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) scenarios compared to the baseline. The annual ETc under warming-only scenarios showed a slight increase for almonds (1 % under RCP4.5 and 3 % under RCP8.5) and a higher increase for pistachios (8 % under both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) by the mid-21st century. These increases in ETc translate to 260 (almonds) and 180 (pistachios) million m3/year of additional water for irrigation in the absence of eCO2 effects. The eCO2 is expected to moderately reduce irrigation demand by 35 million m3/year for almonds and increase by 140 million m3/year for pistachios over the baseline. The outcomes can guide decision-makers to anticipate potential threats and concoct adaptive strategies by managing irrigation and choosing suitable cultivars or alternate crops.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2024.109219
Intercropping alfalfa during almond orchard establishment reduces winter soil nitrogen and water losses, provides on‐farm revenue
The ecosystem benefits linked to intercropping and diversified agroecosystems is an area with increasing research interest, particularly in sustainable food production and farm resilience to extreme climate variability. Interrow cropping of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb] orchards during the 3–4 non-bearing, establishment years has potential to advance sustainable intensification in agricultural regions such as the Central Valley of California. In this study we evaluated ecosystem benefits linked to this intercropped agroecosystem in contrast to conventional almond systems with interrow spaces maintained bare. From Winter 2023 to Spring 2024 (157 days), we modeled soil hydrological properties (HYDRUS-1D) and quantified soil nitrogen using various approaches. Simulation from HYDRUS revealed that winter soil evaporative loss was most substantial for a flood-irrigated bare-soil control (208.1 mm) and lowest for the alfalfa intercropped interrow (59.2 mm). Estimated soil water storage was lowest in the alfalfa intercropped interrow and highest for bare-soil controls, indicating continuous plant water uptake throughout the winter period when almond trees are dormant. Winter soil N loss measured using suction lysimeters, ion exchange soil resins traps, and soil sampling (0–120 cm) indicated that N leaching was greatest in the bare-soil interrow spaces and lowest for alfalfa intercropped treatment. The utilization of free winter inputs, such as rainwater and slow-release mineralized N from dairy manure compost, translated to a 2.22 tonne ha−1 alfalfa yield and equated to a $500 ha−1 gross revenue for the first alfalfa cutting. Overall, the preliminary ecosystem benefits observed in this unique alfalfa–almond intercropped agroecosystem were attributed to augmentation in farm resource use efficiency and revenues generated during the winter season.
https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70024
Study Finds Premeal Pistachio Supplementation Improves Cardiometabolic Profile in Patients With Prediabetes
The study is among the first to investigate these effects in Asian Indians
A recent randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Nutrition sought to evaluate the effect of premeal pistachio supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in Asian Indian adults with prediabetes.
A total of 120 participants with prediabetes were recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group ate 30 grams of pistachios before breakfast and another 30 grams before dinner for 12 weeks, while the control group followed a routine diet that excluded nuts. Researchers assessed the effect of pistachio supplementation on cardiovascular risk markers, including blood sugar (glycemic) indicators.
The findings showed that this program of premeal pistachio supplementation significantly improved blood sugar control and lowered post-meal blood glucose levels in Asian Indians with prediabetes, without leading to weight gain. This study is among the first to investigate these effects in Asian Indians. The findings suggest that preloading meals with pistachios could promote satiety and help stall patients’ progression from prediabetes to diabetes.
The study was led by Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in Chennai, India, in collaboration with researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA, including Dr. Walter Willett, Dr. Frank Hu, and Dr. Shilpa N. Bhupathiraju, as well as Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó from Rovira i Virgili University, Spain. This study was supported by the American Pistachio Growers.
Ashwini, K., Abirami, K., Gayathri, R., Sasikala, S., Sudha, V., Shobana, S., Jeevan, R. G., Krishnaswamy, K., Deepika, V., Rajalakshmi, M., Bai R, M. R., Parkavi, K., Padmavathi, S., Anjana, R. M., Unnikrishnan, R., Hu, F. B., Willett, W. C., Salas-Salvadó, J., Bhupathiraju, S. N., & Mohan, V. (2025). Effect of Premeal Pistachio Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Asian Indian Adults with Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Nutrition, S0022-3166(24)01231-8. Advance online publication.
US FDA Updates “Healthy” Claim Definition to Include Nuts
INC backed the change submitting comments in favor of the new definition
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a rule under which nuts now qualify to bear the “healthy” nutrient content claim. Issued on December 19, 2024, the new rule is intended to help consumers identify foods that are particularly useful as the foundation of a diet that is consistent with dietary recommendations.
The updated criteria for the “healthy” claim are aligned with current nutrition science, the latest edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the updated Nutrition Facts label. Nutrient-dense foods that are encouraged by the Dietary Guidelines, with no added ingredients except for water, automatically qualify for the updated “healthy” claim because of their nutrient profile and positive contribution to an overall healthy diet.
Nuts are an example of a foods that did not previously qualify as “healthy” but are foundational to a healthy eating pattern and recommended by the Dietary Guidelines —and, as such, now qualify to bear the claim. In February 2023, the INC submitted comments to the FDA arguing in favor of updating the “healthy” claim definition.
To bear the “healthy” claim, a food product needs to:
- Contain a certain amount of food (food group equivalent) from at least one of the food groups or subgroups (such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc.) recommended by the Dietary Guidelines.
- Adhere to specified limits for the following nutrients: saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
The FDA is looking into creating a symbol that manufacturers could use on food labeling to show that a product meets the criteria for the “healthy” claim.
In response to public comments submitted to the FDA regarding the need to add sugars to dried cranberries to enhance their palatability, the FDA clarified that sweetened dried cranberries can be considered healthy under the new rule as long as they “contain added sugars for palatability in an amount that is no greater than the amount of total sugars in comparable products with endogenous (inherent) sugars but no added sugars” —for example, raisins.
FDA Updated “Healthy” Claim - Factsheet
FDA Updated “Healthy” Claim - Infographic
Effect of Premeal Pistachio Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Asian Indian Adults with Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Asian Indians are susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes at a lower age and often consume diets that are high in glycemic load and low in healthy fats. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 30 g prebreakfast and 30 g predinner supplementation of pistachios for 12 wk on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), other glycemic markers, anthropometry, and lipid profile of Asian Indians with prediabetes. Methods: In a 12-wk parallel arm, randomized controlled trial, we recruited 120 participants with prediabetes based on American Diabetes Association criteria. The intervention group (n = 60) consumed 60 g pistachios (30 g prebreakfast and predinner) whereas the control group (n = 60) followed a routine diet that excluded nuts. At baseline and 12 wk, we collected blood samples for biochemical analysis, anthropometrics, and 24-h recalls. Participants wore a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor during the trial's first and last 2 wk. Urinary N-methyl-trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline (MHP) was measured as a marker of pistachio consumption. Results: A total of 109 participants completed the study (follow-up rate = 90.8%). Compared with participants in the control group, those in the intervention group had significant reductions in HbA1c (mean between-group difference: -0.2; 95% confidence interval: -0.3, -0.1; P < 0.001] with no significant changes in fasting or 2-h post glucose load plasma glucose. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significant reductions in serum triglyceride, waist circumference, lipid accumulation product, visceral adiposity index, and atherogenic index. Urinary MHP (mg/g creatinine) showed a 62% increase in the intervention compared with the control group (P < 0.05). CGM data revealed significant decreases in the incremental area under the curve, 2-h after breakfast (28%, p=0.01) and after dinner (17%, P = 0.002) in the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusions: A 12-wk, premeal load of 60 g pistachios lowers HbA1c and improves cardiometabolic profile among Asian Indians with prediabetes. This is among the first studies to investigate these effects in this ethnic group. This study was registered in the Clinical Trial Registry of India as CTRI/2020/11/029340.
https://jn.nutrition.org/article/S0022-3166(24)01231-8/abstract
INC Pavilion: Anuga 2025
INC Pavilion: Anuga 2025
4-8 Oct, Cologne, Germany
Hosted every two years, Anuga is the leading global trade fair for the food and beverage industry. The event provides numerous sources of inspiration across more than 280,000 sqm of exhibition area embracing pioneering trending topics, and, of course, great business opportunities. To apply you must be an INC member. Applications will be open soon.
For more information, See Here
INC Pavilion: Gulfood 2025
INC Pavilion: Gulfood 2025
17-21 Feb, Dubai, UAE
Gulfood, the international leading trade fair for flavors, techniques, and food sustainability, will take place February 17-21, 2028.
Gulfood will cover all innovations and developments related to tools, services, and equipment. The social features of the event will produce a unique ecosystem that will establish the attending companies at the market front line and give them an advantage in the competition.
For more information, See Here