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Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing sectors of food production worldwide, playing a vital role in fulfilling the increasing demand for aquatic protein production. However, infectious diseases remain one of the major concerns for the sustainability of aquaculture production. Conventionally, antibiotics and chemotherapeutics have been used for the control of infectious diseases in cultured aquatic animals. The overuse of antibiotics has led to serious concerns, such as the emergence of antibiotic resistance, environmental contamination, and the presence of residues of antibiotics in fish products. Hence, the use of sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives for the management of infectious diseases has become essential. Probiotics and prebiotics have become important feed additives for improving fish health and production. Probiotics are live microorganisms, which, when administered in sufficient amounts, provide health benefits for the host, while prebiotics are nondigestible components of feed that promote the growth of beneficial microflora in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Probiotics and prebiotics, as microbial feed additives, have been found to be effective for improving the health of farmed fish. Hence, the use of probiotics and prebiotics can be used as sustainable alternatives for improving the health of farmed fish.

Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food production systems globally. However, diseases are a key constraint to sustainable aquaculture production systems. Certain bacterial pathogens, e.g., Aeromonas, Vibrio, Flavobacterium, and Streptococcus, cause notable economic losses in fish and shellfish farming. Conventional treatments for these diseases include antibiotics. However, their misuse is resulting in antimicrobial resistance, pollution of the environment, and possible hazards to human health. Hence, eco-friendly options for sustainable aquaculture production systems are urgently needed. Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically target and kill bacterial cells. Phage therapy is a method for using bacteriophages for the treatment of bacterial diseases in aquaculture production systems. Phages are viruses that target specific bacterial pathogens while leaving other harmless microbes intact. Several researchers have shown that phage therapy can reduce disease-causing bacteria in aquatic animals and increase their survival rates. Phages are naturally present in aquatic systems and can replicate in infected tissues. Phages are thus an eco-friendly option for sustainable aquaculture production systems. Though bacteriophages have limitations in their use for aquaculture production systems, their use in phage therapy is promising for sustainable aquaculture production system.

ScienceDirect, Elsevier's primary full-text digital platform, provides access to over 23 million peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and reference works spanning physical sciences, life sciences, health sciences, and social sciences. Unlike bibliographic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, ScienceDirect hosts complete article content, making it uniquely suited for in-depth literature review and knowledge synthesis. This article examines the platform's historical development, scope, key features, publication workflow, and comparative standing among major academic databases.

In many developing regions, livestock production is hindered by the seasonal scarcity of green fodder and the inherent bulkiness of available crop residues. These factors complicate storage, escalate transportation costs, and lead to inconsistent nutrient intake. Densification technology?the process of converting loose biomass into enriched, compact forms such as pellets and Densified Complete Feed Blocks (DCFBs)?offers a strategic solution. By integrating fibrous residues with concentrates and minerals, densification minimises selective feeding and stabilises rumen fermentation. This article explores the mechanical processes, nutritional benefits, and implementation challenges of feed densification, highlighting its role in improving milk yields by up to 20% and fostering sustainable agricultural practices (Garg, 2012).

Ensuring the quality and safety of meat and meat products is a critical responsibility in public health and food inspection systems. Rapid ?platform tests? performed at slaughterhouses and meat processing units help inspectors assess freshness, detect spoilage, and prevent unsafe meat from entering the food chain. These tests are simple, economical, and provide immediate results without requiring advanced laboratory equipment. The present article highlights commonly used physical and chemical platform tests used for evaluating meat quality, explains their scientific basis in simple language, and emphasizes their importance in protecting consumer health and economic interests.

Selective breeding is important to improving aquaculture species growth rate, illness resilience, and reproduction ability. Genetic improvement attempts on shrimp, tilapia, Indian major carps, rainbow trout, and Atlantic salmon have generated measurable genetic progress. With more precise technologies like genomic selection and molecular markers such as SNPs and QTLs coming into existence, the much-maligned breeding results hold more accuracy. The threats to genetic diversity with inbreeding and biosecurity concerns remain real and even more critical in aquatic settings. Barraged by environmental threats and technological constraints, shrimp breeding is far from a potent application. Recent innovations such as feed optimisation and CRISPR-Cas9 are delineating our future strategies. The avenue widening for scientific intervention in aquaculture stands to greatly enhance food security and sustainability, and maintain cultured species' genetic integrity and commercial value.

In the contemporary research ecosystem, reliable citation databases are essential for identifying credible scholarly literature and assessing research impact. Web of Science (WoS), managed by Clarivate, is one of the most recognized multidisciplinary citation databases used globally for research discovery and evaluation. Known for its rigorous journal selection criteria and structured citation indexing, WoS enables researchers to track citation patterns, evaluate scholarly influence, and identify high-quality journals for publication. Its Core Collection includes major indexes such as the Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Arts & Humanities Citation Index. The database also supports widely used research metrics, including the Impact Factor and h-index, which play a crucial role in academic promotions, funding decisions, and institutional ranking. This article examines the historical development, structure, citation metrics, advantages, limitations, and broader significance of Web of Science in strengthening research integrity and scholarly communication.

For India, striking a balance between high agricultural output and environmental stewardship is a critical task. Increased fertilizer use due to population pressure has led to serious soil deterioration, nitrate contamination of groundwater, and greenhouse gas emissions. The patterns in fertilizer usage in India underscore the dangers that uneven nutrient application poses to the ecosystem. It recommends Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), which blends chemical, organic, and nano fertilizers, as well as rigorous soil testing.

This article gives a comprehensive short overview of diagnostic techniques, emphasizing the transition from conventional methods to advanced molecular, biosensor-based, and lateral flow assay technologies. It highlights the urgent need for sensitive, rapid, specific and effective diagnostic tools to enhance infectious disease control and surveillance. PCR, ELISA, Isothermal amplification and CRISPR-based approaches offer high analytical precision and pathogen detection. This article also outlines the advantages and some limitations of each platform, underscoring the demand for integrated, portable and high-performance diagnostic system.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a principal regulator of soil fertility and one of the largest terrestrial carbon pools. This popular article reviews how 'ancient' seeds (traditional landraces and locally adapted varieties) and modern hybrid seeds influence SOC through differences in root architecture, biomass allocation, phenology and management practices. Evidence indicates that genotype-driven differences particularly root biomass and rhizosphere interactions can alter carbon inputs to soil (Heinemann et al., 2023; Junaidi et al., 2018). However, effects of seed type cannot be divorced from cropping systems, management (tillage, residue return, fertilization) and environment, which which Paustian et al. (1997, 2016) and Sanderman et al. (2010) identify as the primary controls on SOC. The article synthesizes empirical studies and outlines research and policy implications for breeding and carbon-smart agriculture.

Fisheries extension is crucial for improving rural fishing communities through resource management, skill development and knowledge dissemination. Cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) are important players in this endeavour. FFPOs are more professionally managed and focused on business, whereas cooperatives are democratically operated and based in the community. By sharing infrastructure, arranging training, enhancing market access and forging closer ties with government and finance services, they work together to support small-scale fishermen. By working together, fishers can better advocate their needs, adopt sustainable practices and secure fair prices. Realworld examples, like Kerala?s MATSYAFED and NABARD-backed FPOs, show the positive impact of these groups on fisher livelihoods. However, there are still difficulties, particularly with technical capability, legal concerns and women's involvement. By filling these gaps with inclusive programming, policy assistance and training, these organisations will be able to fully realise their potential as catalysts for sustainable fisheries development.

Seed treatment is a strategic pre-sowing intervention designed to enhance crop establishment under diverse biotic and abiotic stress conditions by improving germination, seed vigor and early-stage protection. Chemical, biological and physical seed enhancement techniques including priming, coating and dressing are evaluated using standard seed quality parameters such as germination percentage and seedling vigor index. These treatments have been shown to improve germination by 10-25 per cent and contribute to yield gains ranging from 5-15 per cent, depending on crop and environment. By increasing input-use efficiency and strengthening stress tolerance, seed treatment plays a critical role in climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable crop intensification.

Digestion, food absorption, immunological regulation, and disease resistance are all significantly influenced by the gut microbiota of freshwater aquaculture species. Recent developments in metagenomics, specifically next generation sequencing (NGS) and shotgun sequencing, have allowed scientists to go beyond straightforward microbe identification and do thorough functional assessment of fish gut ecosystems. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Fusobacteriota are regularly found to be dominant in studies including tilapia, carp, and native freshwater species. Additionally, host genetics, nutrition, habitat, and environmental stressors have a significant impact on microbial structure and metabolic capability. Gaining an understanding of these microbial populations presents significant opportunity to enhance conservation, disease control, feed efficiency, and sustainable aquaculture development.

Humans need to include vegetables in their diets because these foods help people achieve better health and prevent illness. Vegetables serve as the primary providers of essential micronutrients which contain a diverse range of vitamins that include vitamins A and C and E and K and all B-complex vitamins together with potassium and calcium and magnesium and iron. Vegetables contain dietary fiber and bioactive compounds which include antioxidants and phytochemicals as their main nutritional components. The evidence shows that people who eat vegetables regularly experience lower chances of developing chronic noncommunicable diseases which include cardiovascular diseases and hypertension and type 2 diabetes and obesity and specific cancers. Their protective effects are largely attributed to their ability to reduce oxidative stress and modulate inflammatory pathways and improve gut microbiota composition and regulate blood glucose and lipid metabolism. The high fiber content of vegetables improves digestive health while producing feelings of fullness which helps people control their weight and keep their metabolic processes balanced. By examining the latest scientific research, the study reviews different ways in which the various vegetables affect human health.

Producing onion seeds (Allium cepa L.) profitably demands enhanced, strategic farming practices. The wide differences in seed yields across genotypes underscore the importance of selecting top-quality bulbs and superior cultivars. Optimal planting timing, spacing, nutrient application, irrigation, and pollinator support greatly influence seed yield and quality. Integrated pest management and strict isolation distances are crucial for maintaining varietal purity. Timely harvesting and proper seed storage maintain vigour and market value. Adopting these evidence-based methods can significantly increase seed production and farmers' earnings.

In pig production system accurate estimation of growth performance is essential as it contributes directly to the animal welfare and farm productivity. However, manual weighing of pigs is labor intensive and often cause stress to the animals, thereby increasing the risk of disease transmission. In modern pig production, group housing systems has made the accurate measurement of individual-level growth performance a challenging task. To address this challenge, the article will explore the used of artificial intelligence (AI) to estimate individual pig growth in group-level housing systems. There are two complementary approaches to estimate individual pig growth. The first approach is to analyse temporal weight data to understand the hidden growth variations among pigs and predict the performance of the animals in a non-invasive manner providing high performance. The second approach is to extract morphological features from images or videos data to analyse the growth patterns. These approaches can be used for early detection of abnormal pigs, reduce labor costs, improve efficiency and long-term sustainability in pig production.

Sesbania is a fast-growing leguminous shrub widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for its multiple agricultural and medicinal benefits. Belonging to the Fabaceae family, it plays a vital role in sustainable farming through its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, enrich soil fertility, and serve as high-quality green manure and fodder. The plant thrives in diverse soil conditions, from sandy to waterlogged areas, making it suitable for low-input and resource-limited farming systems. Beyond its agricultural value, Sesbania sesban holds significant medicinal importance; various parts of the plant viz., leaves, bark, flowers, and seeds are traditionally used to treat ailments such as fever, skin infections, and digestive and liver disorders. Its bio active compounds, including flavonoids and alkaloids, contribute to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The species also offers additional benefits such as fuelwood, shade, and erosion control, making it an ecologically valuable resource. Overall, Sesbania sesban represents a sustainable, multipurpose plant that enhances both environmental health and rural livelihoods through its combined agricultural and therapeutic uses.

Saline and sodic soils represent one of the most serious forms of land degradation affecting agricultural productivity across arid, semi-arid and coastal regions of the world. Conventional reclamation approaches such as chemical amendments, freshwater leaching and drainage are often expensive, water-intensive and slow to deliver visible improvements, particularly in regions facing freshwater scarcity. In recent years, aquaculture has emerged as an innovative and complementary land-use option for salt-affected soils. By converting degraded lands into managed aquatic production systems, aquaculture not only generates economic returns but also initiates gradual physical, chemical and biological improvements in soil quality. This article reviews the concept of aquaculture-based reclamation of saline and sodic soils, examines the underlying mechanisms involved, presents relevant case studies, and discusses opportunities, constraints and future research needs. The synthesis suggests that aquaculture, when scientifically planned and integrated with conventional reclamation measures, can serve as a sustainable pathway for rehabilitating salt-affected soils while enhancing food security, livelihoods and ecosystem services.

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is a holistic approach that combines the judicious use of chemical fertilizers with organic manures, crop residues, and biofertilizers to achieve sustainable crop production. Continuous and imbalanced use of inorganic fertilizers has resulted in soil degradation, declining nutrient use efficiency, environmental pollution, and rising input costs. INM aims to maintain soil fertility, improve nutrient use efficiency, enhance soil biological activity, and ensure stable crop yields over the long term. By integrating multiple nutrient sources, INM not only meets the immediate nutrient requirements of crops but also improves soil health and resilience under changing climatic conditions. This article highlights the concept, components, role, benefits, and challenges of Integrated Nutrient Management in achieving sustainable and climate resilient agriculture.

Elsevier plays a significant role in advancing agricultural research through its integrated publishing and analytics ecosystem. By providing access to high-quality peer-reviewed journals and digital platforms such as ScienceDirect and Scopus, Elsevier enhances research visibility, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making. Its citation metrics and analytical tools support research evaluation and strategic planning in agriculture. While Elsevier?s integrated publishing ecosystem promotes high-quality peer review, global accessibility, and data-driven insights, challenges such as subscription costs, article processing charges, and metric limitations remain areas of concern. Overall, Elsevier?s publishing and analytics infrastructure significantly contributes to accelerating innovation, advancing sustainable agricultural practices, and supporting global food security initiatives.

Black pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense), locally known as kala matar, is an underutilised indigenous legume traditionally cultivated in the cold desert regions of the Indian Himalayas, particularly the Spiti Valley. Despite its high nutritional value and exceptional climate resilience, this hardy pulse has gradually declined due to the replacement of subsistence crops with commercial green peas. The present article highlights the ecological, nutritional, cultural, and economic significance of black peas, emphasizing their adaptation to low temperatures, limited rainfall, and poor soils, along with their role in biological nitrogen fixation and sustainable farming systems.

With the escalating environmental problems and pressures that humankind has been inflicting, genomics is imperative for solving conservation problems for which attention is needed urgently. Conservation genomics increases the precision and success of conservation programs by coming up with cutting-edge ways to monitor endangered species, assess genetic variability, and understand evolutionary processes. Transcriptomics, whole-genome sequencing, and DNA barcoding can all provide comprehensive insights into species adaptation, population structure, and resilience to environmental changes. Such genomic techniques help to identify imperilled populations and restore genetic diversity while framing appropriate policy for ecosystem management. The text shows how genetics can inform conservation programs on the ground and policy decisions by giving real-life examples that worked. Genomic knowledge must be integrated into conservation activities so that species are preserved, ecosystem services are provided, and ecological sustainability is secured in perpetuity.

Agricultural sustainability in the twenty-first century requires more than yield maximization; it demands ecological restoration, nutrient balance, and climate resilience. Declining soil organic carbon and widespread micronutrient deficiencies have weakened the functional capacity of agricultural soils worldwide. At the same time, agriculture remains a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Micronutrients regulate essential biochemical pathways in plants, while carbon-smart agriculture restores soil organic carbon and enhances resilience against climatic stress. When integrated, these two dimensions create a regenerative framework capable of improving productivity, nutritional quality, and environmental stability simultaneously. It presents a systems-based exploration of the relationship between micronutrient stewardship and carbon-smart agricultural practices, arguing that soil carbon restoration is fundamental to restoring nutrient efficiency and longterm soil health.

Climate change has become a major challenge for global agriculture, significantly affecting crop productivity, resource use efficiency, and the sustainability of farming systems. Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall patterns, and frequent extreme weather events increase the vulnerability of agricultural production, particularly in regions dependent on monsoon rainfall. Climate smart agronomy has emerged as an effective approach to address these challenges by integrating adaptive and sustainable agronomic practices. It focuses on improving crop productivity, enhancing resilience to climate variability, and promoting efficient use of natural resources. Key strategies include adjustment of sowing time, adoption of climate-resilient crop varieties, efficient water management, soil health improvement, crop diversification, and integrated nutrient management. These practices help reduce production risks, improve resource use efficiency, and maintain yield stability under changing climatic conditions. Adoption of climate smart agronomic practices can therefore play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and long-term food security under changing climate scenarios.

Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) plays a vital role in sustainable and eco-friendly crop protection, particularly in tribal farming systems. The present study documents and analyzes the traditional practice of using an effigy locally known as Palabhuta for crop protection in the tribal districts of Odisha, with specific reference to villages of Khairiput block in Malkangiri district. The practice is predominantly followed by tribal communities cultivating millets, paddy, pulses, oilseeds, maize, and vegetables under rainfed and terrace farming systems near forest fringes. Palabhuta is a farmer-made effigy constructed from locally available materials such as paddy straw, bamboo or wooden poles, earthen pots, cloth, and reflective materials. Installed at 4?5 units per acre and periodically repositioned, it creates visual, auditory, and psychological deterrence against granivorous birds and wild animals, especially monkeys, which cause significant crop damage. Variations such as reflective decorations, sound-producing drums, and symbolic elements like a dummy gun enhance its effectiveness. The practice is cost-effective, easy to adopt, non-toxic, and environmentally safe, making it suitable for resource-poor farmers and farm women. Beyond pest deterrence, Palabhuta also reflects socio-cultural beliefs related to protection from theft and evil influences. The study highlights Palabhuta as a sustainable, gender-inclusive indigenous innovation that complements modern crop protection approaches and supports climateresilient, low-input agriculture in tribal regions.

Rapid changes in food habits, urbanization, and increasing reliance on processed foods have contributed to widespread malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in India. Nutrition gardening, also known as kitchen or nutri-gardening, has emerged as a low-cost, sustainable, and household-level intervention to improve dietary diversity, food security, and overall well-being. Nutrition gardens involve the planned cultivation of diverse vegetables, fruits, leafy greens, herbs, and medicinal plants in available household spaces, ensuring year-round access to fresh and safe produce. Beyond nutritional benefits, nutrition gardening enhances women?s empowerment, reduces household food expenditure, and strengthens livelihood resilience. Sustainability lies at the core of this approach, as nutrition gardens reduce food miles, conserve water through efficient use, enhance on-farm biodiversity, and promote circular resource use through composting and organic inputs. Supported by national programmes and extension systems, nutrition gardening integrates environmental, economic, and social dimensions, making it a scalable strategy for improving household nutrition, health, and community resilience.

Lepidoptera, comprising butterflies and moths, are generally perceived as harmless insects; however, growing evidence demonstrates that several species possess potent venoms, particularly during the larval stage. Lepidopteran venoms have evolved primarily as defensive adaptations against predators, parasitoids, and accidental human contact. These venoms are delivered through specialised structures such as urticating setae, spines, and venomous scales, which release bioactive compounds upon contact. Venomous caterpillars, including Lonomia obliqua, Doratifera vulnerans, and Comana monomorpha, can cause a range of effects from localised pain and dermatitis to severe haemostatic disorders. Lepidopteran venoms are biochemically diverse, comprising peptides, proteins, enzymes, and inflammatory mediators, and have evolved independently across multiple lineages. Beyond their medical relevance, these venoms represent promising sources of novel bioactive molecules with potential applications in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play a crucial role in enhancing plant defense by activating systemic resistance against a broad range of pathogens. This review explores the molecular basis of PGPR-mediated induced systemic resistance (ISR), with particular emphasis on defense signaling pathways regulated by jasmonic acid, ethylene, and salicylic acid. The induction of ISR involves multiple mechanisms, including the regulation of plant hormone signaling, synthesis of antimicrobial metabolites, and priming of plant defense systems. As a result, plants exhibit increased expression of defense-related genes and a strengthened immune response. A clear understanding of these molecular interactions is essential for promoting sustainable agricultural strategies and minimizing dependence on chemical pesticides. Recent progress in omics-based approaches and bioinformatic tools has significantly improved our understanding of PGPR-plant interactions, facilitating the discovery of new bacterial strains and key signaling components. Future studies should emphasize the integration of multi-omics data with field-based research to enhance the effective application of PGPR for improved crop protection and productivity.

Genetically modified (GM) crops contribute significantly to sustainable agriculture by increasing yields, enhancing tolerance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses, and reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. Currently cultivated in 29 countries across nearly 190 million hectares, major GM crops such as soybean, maize, cotton, and canola show particularly high adoption in the Americas and India. Their cultivation has improved farmer incomes and reduced production costs. Bt-based crops have also lowered pesticide exposure, benefiting farm workers? health. However, concerns related to allergenicity, antibiotic resistance, long-term health risks, and public acceptance persist, highlighting the need for rigorous biosafety evaluation and transparent scientific communication.

Insect mitochondrial genomics is an important tool for investigating genome organisation, evolutionary relationships and applications in pest management. Insects possess compact mitochondrial genomes of approximately 15?18 kb, encoding 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs and a non-coding control region. These genomes are maternally inherited, show limited recombination and evolve rapidly, making them informative for phylogenetic and comparative studies. Advances in next-generation sequencing have greatly increased the availability of complete insect mitochondrial genomes, revealing variation in genome structure, including gene rearrangements, nucleotide compositional bias, control-region duplication and genome fragmentation. While these features provide useful phylogenetic signal, they may complicate deep-level inference. Mitochondrial genomics also supports species identification, detection of cryptic taxa, monitoring of invasive pests and insecticide resistance, contributing to pest management and biosecurity.

A growing tropical superfood prized for its remarkable nutritional makeup and therapeutic qualities is dragon fruit, also referred to as pitaya. This fruit, which is a member of the cactus species of the genera Hylocereus and Selenicereus and grows well in arid tropical regions, is widely grown in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and increasingly in India. It is abundant in the B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, iron, dietary fibre, and healthy fatty acids, all of which are vital for general health and well-being. Dragon fruit also includes potent bioactive substances such betalains, polyphenols, and flavonoids that help neutralise dangerous free radicals and offer high antioxidant protection. Among its many therapeutic advantages, the fruit is especially beneficial for cardiovascular health since it improves blood circulation and lowers bad cholesterol. Its high fibre content and low glycaemic index help to effectively control blood sugar and manage diabetes. Additionally, dragon fruit promotes digestive health by preventing constipation and enhancing good gut bacteria as a natural prebiotic. Laboratory studies indicate that its bioactive chemicals may have anti-cancer benefits, and its vitamin C and antioxidant content boost immunity and lower inflammation. Dragon fruit is important for agriculture and the economy in addition to its health benefits because of its adaptability, low water requirements, and rising demand on the international market. It also highlights its importance in future food security by providing chances for nutraceutical research and value-added product development. All things considered, dragon fruit is a nutrient-dense functional food that has significant potential to treat lifestyle disorders, enhance nutrition, and support global sustainable agricultural growth.

Textiles today serve not only as protectors and comfort providers but also as attentive listeners to the language of your body. The inherent potential of textile technology has been used to create high-end and high-tech products that cater to markets that are not traditionally served by textiles. Smart textiles are one of such technological creations. It's clear that smart clothing means more than filling a number of cargo pockets of a battle uniform with computer equipment or putting electronic devices and batteries in it. It's a technology with an enormous degree of complexity. The innovative use of sensor technology and textile engineering to track minor physiological changes generated by the human body is one of the functions of the smart textiles. These smart textiles are therefore known for their ability of tracking and analyzing the vital parameters such as body temperature, respiration, heart rate, and muscular activity. They serve as monitors of one?s health and well-being through incorporation of sensors and conductors seamlessly.

Seed production in annual flowering crops plays a crucial role in sustaining the floriculture industry by ensuring the supply of genetically pure, high-quality seeds. The essential principles of annual flower seed production including selection of suitable varieties, site and soil requirements, isolation distance and standardised cultural practices (Hartmann et al., 2011). It emphasises the importance of proper sowing time, nutrient and irrigation management, pollination behaviour and systematic roguing for maintaining varietal purity. Critical aspects of seed maturity, harvesting at physiological ripeness, post-harvest drying, processing and safe storage are also discussed to preserve seed viability and vigour.

The global dairy sector is undergoing a transformative shift with the emergence of lab-grown milk, produced via precision fermentation. Unlike plant-based alternatives, lab-grown milk replicates the exact proteins found in cow?s milk?casein and whey?without involving animals. This technology offers sustainable, ethical, and climate-friendly solutions, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption. Globally, start-ups such as Perfect Day, Remilk, and TurtleTree are pioneering fermentation-derived dairy, securing regulatory approvals in the US, Singapore, and Israel. For India, the world?s largest milk producer, lab-grown milk presents both opportunities and challenges: it can reduce imports of whey protein, create high-value protein markets, promote biotech entrepreneurship, and complement traditional dairying. Key challenges include regulatory clarity, consumer acceptance, technology costs, and protection of smallholder livelihoods. Strategic policy support, public-private partnerships, and investment in indigenous biotechnology are critical to the integration of lab-grown milk into India?s dairy sector. A balanced approach can enable India to harness innovation while safeguarding cultural traditions and rural economies, positioning the country as a global leader in sustainable dairy.

Accurate heat detection plays a vital role in maintaining reproductive performance, milk yield, and overall farm income in dairy cattle and buffalo (De Vries, 2006; Lucy, 2001). Conventional observation methods frequently fail to identify estrus correctly, particularly in buffalo where heat signs are less visible, resulting in longer open periods and financial losses (Roelofs et al., 2010; Diskin & Sreenan, 2000). AI-based technologies utilize sensors, behavioral monitoring, and data analysis to determine the most suitable time for insemination (Saint-Dizier & Chastant-Maillard, 2012). Studies indicate that these systems significantly enhance detection efficiency, improve pregnancy rates, and contribute to more sustainable dairy production (Roelofs et al., 2010; De Vries, 2006).

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major cereal crop essential for global food security, yet its productivity is severely constrained by diverse diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes. These pathogens reduce yield, grain quality, and farmer income, particularly under favorable environmental conditions. Major fungal diseases such as rusts and Fusarium head blight, bacterial leaf streak, Karnal bunt, viral mosaic diseases, and cereal cyst nematodes significantly affect production worldwide. This manuscript reviews major wheat diseases, their symptoms, and impact, and presents a general methodological framework for disease assessment and management to ensure sustainable wheat production under changing climatic conditions.

Streptococcal infections are among the most destructive bacterial diseases affecting aquaculture worldwide, particularly in warm-water fish such as Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Despite long-term dependence on antibiotics, streptococcosis continues to cause recurrent outbreaks, high mortality, and severe economic losses. The persistence of this disease is largely attributed to pathogen diversity, virulence variation, host?pathogen interaction, and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Recent advances in genomic and proteomic studies have provided critical insights into the adaptive mechanisms and virulence determinants of fish-pathogenic Streptococcus spp. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, genomic characterization, and current challenges in the management of streptococcal infections in aquaculture systems.

The rapid growth of the digital era has resulted in the generation of huge and complex datasets from sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, environmental monitoring, finance, and social media. This has led to the emergence of Big Data, commonly characterized by the five V?s: volume, velocity, variety, veracity, and value. However, data alone cannot provide meaningful knowledge without proper analysis. Statistics plays a crucial role in Big Data by offering systematic tools for organizing, modeling, and interpreting large-scale datasets. Statistical techniques such as regression analysis, hypothesis testing, clustering, factor analysis, and predictive modeling help in identifying patterns, relationships, and trends, thereby supporting evidence-based decision-making. Modern tools including R, Python, SPSS, SAS, Apache Spark, Tableau, and Power BI enhance the processing and visualization of Big Data. Despite its benefits, challenges such as computational complexity, storage issues, privacy risks, and ethical concerns remain significant. Future developments must focus on scalable and transparent analytical methods for sustainable Big Data applications.

Predicting crop disease outbreaks remains a significant challenge in agricultural management, with far-reaching implications for food security, yield optimization and environmental sustainability. Traditional disease surveillance systems largely rely on manual field inspections and reactive control measures, which are often labour-intensive and costly prone to human error. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a machine learning based framework for forecasting crop disease outbreaks by integrating weather and soil data, thereby enabling risk-driven crop protection strategies. The study first investigates the epidemiological relationships between key environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, and soil pH, as the occurrence of major fungal, bacterial and viral crop diseases. Using historical datasets obtained from agricultural extension services and meteorological stations, multiple predictive models are developed and evaluated, including Random Forests, Gradient Boosting Machines (GBMs), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks. These models are assessed based on their ability to provide early warnings of disease outbreaks at the farm level, supporting proactive pesticide application and timely agronomic decision-making.

Globally, about 10% of land is affected by waterlogging and over 6% by salinity, reducing soil health and crop productivity. Although conventional drainage systems work effectively, they are expensive and produce effluents that are difficult to handle. Biodrainage offers a sustainable alternative by using deep-rooted, fast-growing and high-transpiring plants to remove excess water and salts through evapotranspiration. This approach not only lowers groundwater levels but also enhances nutrient conservation, promotes carbon sequestration, supports biodiversity and improves crop performance, making it a viable strategy for integrating agroforestry into cropping systems and restoring sustainability in affected agricultural systems.

Water scarcity and rising cultivation costs have increased the need for efficient irrigation methods in Indian agriculture. Conventional surface irrigation practices such as flood, basin, and furrow irrigation often result in low water-use efficiency, uneven water distribution, and soil-related problems. In this context, rain-gun sprinkler irrigation offers a practical and efficient alternative for irrigating large agricultural fields. A rain-gun system applies water in the form of artificial rainfall through a high-pressure rotating nozzle, enabling uniform water application over a wide area within a short time. The system consists of key components such as pipelines, connectors, valves, filters, and a tripod-mounted rain gun, and may be used in portable or fixed form depending on field conditions. Rain-gun irrigation is suitable for crops like sugarcane, maize, cotton, groundnut, pulses, vegetables, and fodder, particularly in medium to large fields with sandy loam and loamy soils. Field experiences indicate improved water-use efficiency, reduced labour requirement, and better coverage compared to conventional surface irrigation. Although adoption is influenced by factors such as energy requirement and wind sensitivity, government support through subsidy schemes and growing awareness of water-saving technologies highlight the potential of rain-gun irrigation for sustainable water management in Indian agriculture.

Animal-derived foods such as milk, meat, eggs, and fish provide humans with essential nutrition and are widely consumed across the world. These foods are rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. However, if proper hygiene is not maintained during production, processing, storage, or transportation, such foods may become contaminated with harmful microorganisms, including viruses.Viruses are microscopic infectious agents that cannot be seen with the naked eye. When contaminated food is consumed, these viruses may enter the human body and cause illnesses such as diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and gastroenteritis. Therefore, detection and monitoring of viruses in animal-origin foods are extremely important for ensuring food safety and protecting public health. This article explains the major methods used for viral detection in food samples, including ELISA, Latex Agglutination, RT-PCR, and Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, in simple language.

Squalene is natural potent antioxidant present in vegetable oil, fish liver oil, palm oil, grain amaranth, buckwheat etc. It is mainly used in skin care products due to photoprotective agent and strongly quenches free radicals. Commercially squalene is derived from deodorized distillate from the refining of vegetable oil followed by extraction either by solvent or super critical fluid extraction method. Micronized squalene emulsions are being used as immune adjuvant, treat the COVID 19. Natural source of squalene served the functions of nutraceuticals i.e. prevention and treatment of CVD, improves the immunity, increase the GSH, CAT, SOD hormones to quenches the free radicals in cellular level. Squalene's potential health benefits are attributed to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardio protective properties, among others. Hence, the consumption of squalene rich foods can boost immunity, improve skin health and also maintain healthy life style.

India possesses vast and diverse inland fisheries and aquaculture resources that play a crucial role in supporting livelihoods, food and nutritional security, poverty alleviation and economic development. Inland fisheries contribute significantly to employment generation, income diversification and value addition, particularly for rural and marginalized communities, including women. The sector also supports ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation and national economic growth through trade, taxation and contributions to gross domestic product. Despite its immense potential, the effective use of fisheries for poverty alleviation faces multiple challenges, including resource constraints, overexploitation, destructive fishing practices, post-harvest losses and inadequate adoption of ecosystem-based management approaches. Global initiatives such as the FAO?s Blue Transformation framework highlight the need for sustainable and inclusive management of aquatic food systems. Addressing these challenges through responsible fisheries management, value addition, livelihood diversification and policy support can enhance the sector?s contribution to poverty reduction, food security and sustainable development in India.