Home / Current Article

Artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionizes food analysis through the provision of fast, accurate, and non-destructive evaluation of the quality, safety, authenticity, and nutritional content of food products. AI methods such as machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, spectroscopy, biosensors, and internet of things (IoT) make it possible to identify food adulteration, contamination, spoilage, and quality issues in real-time while minimizing manual labor and time of analysis. AI also makes it possible to have personalized nutrition, smart packaging, supply chain optimization, and predictive quality management and thus plays an important role in improving food security and sustainability. This article explores the use of artificial intelligence in food composition and quality analysis, the workflow of AI based food analysis, and the different food types that can be analyzed using this technology including dairy products, fruits and vegetables, cereals, meats, seafood, spices, oils, coffee, tea, and processed foods. The advantages, industrial applications, and some of the challenges posed by AI are also discussed in this article.

Mithun (Bos frontalis) is an important livestock resource closely associated with the sociocultural and economic life of tribal communities in Northeast India. Traditional free-range rearing is increasingly challenged by shrinking grazing resources, animal health risks and limited herd monitoring. Scientific management, including semi-intensive rearing, improved feeding, preventive healthcare and systematic herd management, can help address these constraints (Khan & Mitra, 2021; Vikram et al., 2021). Tenning village of Peren district, Nagaland, provides an encouraging example of this transition. With technical guidance and continued field-level support from ICAR?National Research Centre on Mithun (ICAR?NRC on Mithun), farmers gradually adopted semi-intensive Mithun rearing, strengthened animal health management and revived collective action through a farmers? society. The community Mithun herd increased from 12 animals before the intervention to 128 animals by 2025. The experience demonstrates the potential of combining scientific knowledge, traditional community institutions and sustained extension support for strengthening Mithun-based livelihoods.

A kalingada is one of the most important crops of arid and semi-arid regions of Gujarat and desert area of Rajasthan. Traditionally it was already in cultivation. Now a day, due to its rich nutritional composition and balanced profile of various amino acid, it is considered as a potential crop. It?s cultivation is increasing day by day along with exploration of germplasm collection and development of improved varieties with quality parameters. Locally/traditionally, it was in cultivation for vegetable only. But in recent day, it is cultivated for seed, vegetables, oil and protein content. It is cultivated with low requirement of nutrient, irrigation water and other management practices. It is less affected by various biotic and abiotic stress, giving high net return comparison to other major crops, thus better to be known as climate-resilient crop. Apart from these, each part of this crop is useful for humankind and animals also. So, it is noteworthy to say that this crop is ?Kalpataru? or ?Wonder crop?.

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL; Hermetia illucens) have emerged as an environmentally sustainable solution for addressing global challenges related to organic waste management, food security, and protein scarcity. BSFL efficiently convert organic waste into high-quality protein, lipid-rich biomass, and nutrient-rich frass fertilizer, thereby supporting a circular bioeconomy. Their application in aquaculture offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fishmeal, improving fish growth while reducing feed costs and pressure on marine resources. Frass enhances soil fertility, improves nutrient availability, and promotes plant health through natural disease resistance. Furthermore, government initiatives and increasing market demand are encouraging BSFL-based enterprises, making this technology a promising approach for sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, environmental conservation, and rural economic development.

Assisted migration involves the intentional movement of tree populations or species to climatically suitable habitats in response to changing climate. It enhances forest resilience by improving the adaptive capacity of tree species, conserving biodiversity and sustaining ecosystem productivity and services. By mitigating the risks of climate-induced forest decline such as reduced growth, regeneration failure and species loss, assisted migration ensures forest survival and supports sustainable forest management.

Soil is a vital ecosystem that sustains biological nutrient cycling and promotes crop productivity. Soil is not merely a physical medium that supports plants, it is a dynamic ecosystem with billions of microorganisms that regulate the processes essential for plant survival. Bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, algae, protozoa and other microscopic organisms work together as biological workforce, maintaining soil fertility, recycling nutrients, protecting plants and supporting agricultural productivity. For decades, modern agriculture has relied on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to maximize crop production. However, excessive use of these chemical inputs has resulted in soil degradation, nutrient imbalance, environmental pollution and depletion in microbial diversity. Many native soil microorganisms play essential roles in supporting plant growth and maintaining ecosystem balance. This article highlights the beneficial interactions between plants and microorganisms including the symbiotic association of nitrogen fixing microbes. Additionally, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plant development by producing phytohormones and releasing organic compounds that improve the availability of essential minerals. Beneficial microorganisms such as Trichoderma, and Bacillus also contribute to plant protection by activating Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) and suppressing soil borne pathogens through the production of antimicrobial compounds.

Soil erosion is a major environmental challenge that threatens agricultural productivity, ecosystem stability, and infrastructure development worldwide. Conventional methods of vegetation establishment are often labor-intensive, time-consuming and less effective on steep slopes or degraded landscapes. Hydroseeding has emerged as an innovative and sustainable technique for rapid vegetation establishment and effective soil stabilization. The process involves spraying a slurry containing grass or native plant seeds, mulch, fertilizers, soil conditioners, tackifiers and water onto exposed soil surfaces using specialized equipment. This method ensures uniform seed distribution, enhances seed-to-soil contact, conserves soil moisture, and protects seeds from displacement by wind and water. Hydroseeding significantly accelerates vegetation establishment, reducing runoff and preventing further soil degradation while improving landscape restoration. The technology has gained widespread application in highway embankments, mining reclamation sites, construction projects, riverbanks, forest restoration, parks and agricultural lands vulnerable to erosion. Compared with traditional seeding methods, hydroseeding is more cost-effective for large areas, requires less labor, and provides faster and more uniform plant establishment. Additionally, the use of biodegradable mulch and environmentally friendly additives promotes sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation. Despite its advantages, successful hydroseeding depends on appropriate seed selection, climatic conditions, site preparation, and proper maintenance during the early establishment phase. Recent advances, including drone-assisted hydroseeding, precision application technologies and eco-friendly mulch formulations, are further improving its efficiency and expanding its applications. As climate change intensifies land degradation and erosion risks, hydroseeding offers a practical, scalable, and environmentally responsible solution for restoring degraded landscapes, enhancing ecological resilience and supporting sustainable natural resource management.

Virtual farming is transforming modern agriculture by integrating Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and real-time data analytics to enable smarter, more sustainable farming systems. A digital twin is a dynamic virtual replica of a physical farm that continuously receives data from sensors, drones, satellites, weather stations, and farm machinery. This digital ecosystem allows farmers to monitor crop growth, soil health, irrigation, nutrient status, and environmental conditions in real time while simulating different management scenarios before implementing them in the field. AI-powered predictive analytics further enhance decision-making by forecasting pest and disease outbreaks, estimating crop yields, optimizing irrigation schedules and improving fertilizer recommendations. Virtual farming reduces production costs by promoting precision resource management, minimizes environmental impacts through efficient input use and strengthens climate resilience by supporting proactive responses to weather variability and extreme events. In India the Digital Agriculture Mission and increasing adoption of smart farming technologies are accelerating the transition toward data-driven agriculture. However, challenges such as limited digital infrastructure, high implementation costs, inadequate technical skills and concerns regarding data security continue to hinder widespread adoption, particularly among smallholder farmers. Addressing these constraints through policy support, digital literacy programs, affordable technologies and public-private partnerships will be essential for realizing the full potential of virtual farming. As technologies such as machine learning, robotics, block-chain and autonomous farm machinery continue to evolve, virtual farming is expected to redefine agricultural production by improving productivity, sustainability and profitability. Ultimately, the convergence of Digital Twins, AI, and real-time data represents a transformative pathway toward resilient, intelligent and future-ready agriculture capable of ensuring long-term food security and environmental sustainability.

Mango fruit flies are hidden but highly destructive pest that threatens profitable and sustainable mango production in India and other tropical countries. Among the different species, Bactrocera dorsalis is the most damaging due to its rapid multiplication, wide host range, and severe fruit infestation. The pest causes internal fruit damage, premature fruit drop, rotting, and significant reduction in market and export quality, leading to economic losses ranging from 20-80% under favourable conditions. Because the larvae feed inside the fruit, early detection is often difficult. This article highlights the distribution, identification, life cycle, symptoms, and economic importance of mango fruit flies. It also emphasizes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the most effective and environmentally safe strategy for control. Important practices include orchard sanitation, destruction of fallen fruits, deep ploughing, fruit bagging, methyl eugenol traps, protein bait sprays, conservation of natural enemies, and need-based application of selective insecticides such as spinosd. The article further discusses the possible influence of climate change on fruit fly outbreaks and the role of emerging technologies such as smart trapping systems, AI-based monitoring, and drone-assisted surveillance. Adoption of farmer-friendly IPM practices can reduce pesticide dependence, improve fruit quality, protect the environment, and enhance the export competitiveness of mango growers.

Artificial intelligence can bring timely crop, weather, pest and market advice to millions of Indian farmers. Yet the same technology can also reproduce existing inequalities when access depends on a smartphone, a stable signal, a formal land record or a language that the system understands. This article explains how unequal connectivity, gendered control of devices, invisible tenancy, biased datasets and weak accountability may create a new agricultural divide. It argues for a human-plus-AI model built on low-bandwidth access, locallanguage testing, recognition of actual cultivators, transparent uncertainty and accessible grievance redressal. Smart farming will be genuinely smart only when its benefits reach farmers who are currently least visible to digital systems.

Vaccination is one of the most efficient strategies for preventing infections. Though traditional vaccines have saved many people, scientists keep trying to develop vaccines which are better and safer. Nanotechnology is one of the most promising approaches in this case. Protein-loaded nanoparticles are tiny particles that deliver protein antigens to the immune cells in order to evoke a stronger immune response from the body. These nanoparticles protect the protein antigens from degradation and make sure they reach the required cell targets. They can be used for developing vaccines for conditions like influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, COVID-19, and cancer. This article will introduce you to the basics of protein-loaded nanoparticles.

Floristry is a creative and commercially important branch of floriculture that combines artistic expression with scientific knowledge to design attractive floral arrangements for diverse social, cultural and commercial occasions. Professional florists use flowers, foliage and decorative materials to create bouquets, wreaths, centrepieces and event decorations that communicate emotions and enhance aesthetic appeal. Modern floristry also involves customer service, marketing, postharvest handling and sustainable practices. International floral design styles such as Japanese, English, Dutch, Australian and Modern European have enriched the profession worldwide. With increasing demand for flowers in celebrations, hospitality and corporate events, floristry continues to grow as a dynamic industry offering significant artistic, cultural and economic opportunities.

Natural farming can help small farms grow in a way that's good for the environment and can handle climate change. It makes soil healthier, protects different kinds of plants and animals, cuts down on the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and helps farms bounce back from bad weather. But it needs a lot of knowledge and has to be adapted to each specific farm, meaning farmers need to make choices all the time based on their situation. It looks into how Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools could help small farmers in Odisha, India, practice natural farming. These tools would combine machine learning, satellite imagery, mapping technology, computer vision, and language processing with the local knowledge farmers already have about their land and farming. It points out how AI could help farmers adapt to local climate changes, choose a better mix of crops and farming methods that support biodiversity, spot pests and diseases early using image technology, make better decisions about using natural pesticides and fertilizers, and reach more farmers with advice through platforms that work in different languages and can be used with voice commands. These ideas are especially important for Odisha, given its varied farming conditions and its vulnerability to storms, droughts, unpredictable rain, pest outbreaks, and unstable markets. However, using AI effectively comes with big challenges. These include a lack of organized data from rural areas, poor digital infrastructure and internet access, low digital skills, unfair access to technology, worries about how AI makes decisions and whether to trust it, and the need to include and protect farmers' traditional knowledge. Therefore, it stresses that AI should be used to help farmers make decisions, not to replace their experience, judgment, and traditional ways of farming. To create digital tools that are easy to use, understandable, available in multiple languages, and fit for local needs, we need a cooperative and ethical approach involving farmers, researchers, agricultural advisors, tech developers, and government officials. This kind of effort can improve how farmers make decisions, make farms more resilient to climate change, use resources more efficiently, and help transform small-scale natural farming in Odisha into a more sustainable system.

Nestled in Kaimur and Rohtas districts of Bihar, Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the state's largest protected forests and is rightly known as a "Living Museum of Nature". Its diversity landscapes of Sal, Bamboo, and mixed deciduous forest provide refuge to a rich variety of plants and wildlife while supporting the livelihoods of nearby communities. Beyond its natural beauty, the sanctuary is home to ancient forts, prehistoric rock painting, and the historic Mundeshwari Temple, reflecting unique blend of ecological and cultural heritage. This article explores the geography, history, and rich biodiversity of Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, highlighting its importance in conserving Bihar's natural wealth and inspiring greater appreciation and protection of this remarkable landscape.

The National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 (NIPU-2026) is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening India's fertilizer sector by promoting domestic urea production and reducing import dependence. The policy encourages the establishment of 8-9 new gas-based urea plants with an additional production capacity of 10 million tonnes. Key provisions include assured Return on Equity (12-16%), transparent cost mechanisms, foreign exchange risk mitigation, and improved investment incentives. NIPU-2026 is expected to enhance fertilizer availability, improve food security, generate employment, conserve foreign exchange, and support the vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat through a sustainable, efficient, and investorfriendly fertilizer manufacturing ecosystem.

Agritourism is a rapidly growing sector that combines agriculture and tourism, offering visitors opportunities to experience rural life, farming activities, and local culture. By giving farmers more money, producing jobs, and encouraging sustainable tourism, it is a successful rural development model in India. Farmers, local communities, and visitors all gain from agritourism, which also protects the environment and cultural heritage. The industry has enormous development potential despite obstacles like bad marketing, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of training. Growing market forecasts show that agritourism can be a key factor in boosting rural economies and encouraging sustainable agricultural growth. Rising market projections indicate that agritourism can play a vital role in strengthening rural economies and promoting sustainable agricultural development. The industry has enormous development potential despite obstacles like bad marketing, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of training. Growing market forecasts show that agritourism can be a key factor in boosting rural economies and encouraging sustainable agricultural growth.

Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) has become an important nutraceutical crop due to its high omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, dietary fibre and other bioactive compounds with great health promoting properties. The breeding work in India has traditionally been directed towards yield improvement and resistance to diseases, and less towards nutraceutical attributes. The article presents the opportunities and challenges for breeding linseed with optimized nutraceutical properties for Indian agro-climatic conditions. It shows the breeding priorities such as higher production of ?-linolenic acid (ALA), lignans, better quality oil, and better nutritional quality, and discusses the application of conventional and molecular breeding techniques. It further highlights the need for advanced phenotyping, genomics, and value chain development to boost genetic gains. Building research, policy support and publicprivate partnerships will be key to creating high-value nutraceutical linseed varieties that will be beneficial to farmers, consumers and the functional food sector.

El Ni?o is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon associated with the warm phase of the El Ni?o?Southern Oscillation (ENSO), characterized by abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Although it originates far from India, El Ni?o significantly influences the southwest monsoon, often resulting in below-normal rainfall, higher temperatures, prolonged dry spells, and increased frequency of droughts. These climatic anomalies adversely affect agricultural productivity by delaying sowing, reducing crop yields, increasing irrigation demand, intensifying pest and disease incidence, and threatening water resources and food security. The severity of its impacts varies depending on interactions with other climatic systems such as the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). The article highlights climate-smart adaptation strategies, including crop diversification, adoption of drought-tolerant varieties, efficient water management, conservation agriculture, and integrated farming systems to enhance resilience against climate variability. It also emphasizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI), remote sensing, satellite observations, and digital advisory platforms in improving seasonal weather forecasting, early warning systems, and location-specific agro-advisories for farmers. Strengthening institutional support through agencies such as IMD, ICAR, and State Agricultural Universities, along with enhancing farmer awareness and access to climate information, is essential for building sustainable, climate-resilient, and productive agricultural systems in India.

"Aromatic plants are much more than the source of pleasant fragrances?they are emerging as catalysts for sustainable agriculture, rural entrepreneurship, and women-led economic empowerment." 

The commercial cultivation of high-value essential oil crops has potential to transforms agrarian livelihoods across semi-arid and underutilized Indian landscapes. By integrating these resilient botanicals into traditional agroforestry frameworks, smallholder farmers are unlocking diversified revenue streams while simultaneously enhancing regional biodiversity and soil health. Furthermore, the surging global demand for natural extracts across the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries creates unprecedented export opportunities, positioning India as a burgeoning hub for botanical commerce. This economic upswing is further amplified by targeted government initiatives like the Aroma Mission, which provides farmers with high-quality planting material, distillation unit setups, and technical training to maximize profitability.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are advanced nanomaterials gaining attention in present times owing to their impressive properties and applications. These are synthesized by organic ligands linked to the metal ion by coordinate bond. There are many properties of MOFs i.e., large surface area, high porosity and functional group variability which make them significant to be utilised in wide-range applications. Some of the prominent applications of MOFs include gas storage, environmental remediation, controlled/slow-release carrier for agrochemicals and energy storage. Present article highlights the importance and application of MOFs along with the composition, types, advantages and challenges for future perspectives.

Water scarcity is a major challenge to sustainable agriculture, making improved water-use efficiency (WUE) essential for ensuring food security. The "More Crop per Drop" approach aims to maximize crop productivity per unit of water through efficient irrigation and improved agronomic practices. This review highlights key strategies, including precision irrigation, laser land levelling, mulching, conservation agriculture, integrated nutrient management, rainwater harvesting, climate-resilient crop varieties, digital agriculture, and watershed management. It also discusses the challenges limiting adoption, such as high investment costs, limited technical knowledge, and climate variability. The review concludes that integrating innovative technologies with sustainable water management practices can significantly enhance crop water productivity and support climate-resilient agriculture.

Urban farming has become a major solution for creating sustainable and healthier cities. It includes growing crops and plants in urban cities through methods such as rooftop gardening, vertical farming, hydroponics, community gardening and microgreens cultivation. With increasing urban population, urban farming helps to improve food security by providing fresh food. It also supports reduce food transportation, reusing organic waste and increasing greenspaces in cities. It includes different methods of urban farming along with their benefits and challenges. Urban farming is closely linked with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG2, SDG3, SDG8, SDG11, SDG12, SDG13 and SDG15, it helps to improve food security, promote good health, create employment opportunities, build sustainable cities, encourages responsible consumption, support climate action and protect land and biodiversity. Although urban farming faces limitations such as limited space, and water scarcity, it is emerging as an effective approach for building greener, healthier and sustainable urban environments.

Millet roti is emerging as a nutritious and sustainable alternative to wheat roti in Northern India. Rich in dietary fiber, minerals, and bioactive compounds, millets offer several health benefits, including improved glycemic control, digestive health, and dietary diversity. In addition, millets are climate-resilient crops that require fewer resources, supporting sustainable food production. However, challenges related to dough handling and texture limit the widespread acceptance of millet roti. Technological interventions such as composite flour formulations, hydrocolloids, fermentation, germination, and extrusion can enhance product quality and consumer acceptability. Thus, millet roti represents a promising option for promoting healthier diets and more sustainable food systems in Northern India.

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana), popularly known as ragi, is one of the most important climate-resilient cereal crops cultivated in the semi-arid and rainfed regions of India. It serves as a vital source of food, nutrition, fodder, and livelihood for millions of small and marginal farmers. Although finger millet is naturally more drought tolerant than many major cereals, increasing climate variability, delayed monsoons, prolonged dry spells, and rising temperatures are posing serious threats to its productivity. Studies have reported yield losses of up to 61% under severe drought conditions. Therefore, strengthening the drought resilience of finger millet has become essential for ensuring sustainable millet production and nutritional security. This article discusses the importance of drought proofing in finger millet, the major challenges posed by drought, and the scientific and management approaches available to enhance drought tolerance. These include genetic improvement, identification of drought-tolerant varieties, agronomic interventions, soil and water conservation practices, and modern breeding tools. A comprehensive drought-proofing strategy can significantly contribute to climate-resilient agriculture and improve the livelihoods of farming communities in drought-prone regions of India.

The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan under the Khet Bachao Abhiyan was implemented by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kotwa, Azamgarh-I, to strengthen the dissemination of scientific agricultural technologies through direct farmer?scientist interaction. During the campaign, field outreach activities were conducted in more than 100 villages across all 17 development blocks of Azamgarh district. Farmers received practical guidance on balanced nutrient management, Natural Resource Management (NRM), integrated pest and disease management (IPM), scientific crop production, horticultural practices, post-harvest management and household nutrition. Field visits, crop diagnostics and interactive discussions enabled timely technical support and strengthened the linkage between farmers and KVK scientists. The campaign demonstrated the effectiveness of field-based extension in delivering need-based scientific advisories and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

"Why human, animal and environment health are connected - and why treating them as one is the work of the century"

The environment, animals, and human health are all part of one story rather than three distinct ones. Ebola, COVID-19, bird flu, and the slow-burning problem of antibiotic resistance are all found where people, animals, and ecosystems converge. One Health is the term for the 20-year-old notion that these seams can only be addressed together, which has been embraced by the world's leading agricultural and health organisations. This feature examines the origins of this concept, why it is important to both veterinarians and the general public, how it appears in everything from the family dog to the world's livestock and wastewater, and why its potential still depends on dismantling disciplinary barriers.

Agriculture stands at the crossroads of two urgent global challenges: feeding a rapidly growing world population while simultaneously confronting the mounting pressures of climate change. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) has emerged as a strategic framework that seeks to enhance agricultural productivity and household incomes, strengthen climate resilience, and reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions where feasible. Without transformative adaptation strategies, climate change is projected to reduce global crop yields and increase food insecurity, while rising GHG emissions further exacerbate the crisis. This article explores the core structures, practices, and technologies underpinning CSA, including precision agriculture, regenerative farming, soil and water conservation, agroforestry, and digital tools, which together form an integrated pathway toward sustainable food production in an era of unprecedented environmental change.

Global agriculture must increase crop production while ensuring the sustainable use of available resources. Improving crop productivity depends not only on the genetic potential of crops but also on the efficient production, translocation and utilization of photoassimilates within the plant. The source?sink relationship plays a vital role in regulating crop growth, yield and quality. The source, mainly mature green leaves, produces carbohydrates through photosynthesis, while the sink includes developing grains, seeds, fruits, roots and tubers that utilize or store these assimilates. Maintaining a proper balance between source capacity and sink demand ensures efficient dry matter partitioning and higher harvestable yield. Agronomic practices such as balanced nutrient management, optimum plant population, efficient irrigation, foliar nutrition, canopy management and the use of plant growth regulators help improve source efficiency and sink strength. In addition, breeding approaches aimed at enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and sink capacity offer new opportunities for sustainable yield improvement. Thus, effective source?sink management enhances resource-use efficiency, improves crop productivity and quality and contributes to long-term food and nutritional security.

Agriculture is facing significant challenges such as rising food demand, food safety concerns, environmental sustainability issues and climate change, all of which are severely affecting global food security. Currently, over 815 million people are chronically hungry, with nearly 64% of them living in Asia (Friha et al. 2021; Pathak et al. 2020). In traditional farming systems, the late detection of crop stress, diseases and nutrient deficiencies often leads to reduced yield, lower crop quality and inefficient use of resources such as water, fertilizers and pesticides. Therefore, the adoption of modern technologies like drones and machine learning has become essential to improve risk assessment, disaster response and transparent evidence-based decision-making to support vulnerable farmers and enhance food security (Debangshi 2021). In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have gained increasing popularity due to their flexibility, ease of operation and ability to capture high spatial resolution data, enabling rapid and non-destructive extraction of crop phenotypic information (Deng et al. 2018). Equipped with RGB, multispectral and thermal sensors, drones generate large volumes of high-resolution data across different crop growth stages and field conditions. These data can be efficiently analyzed using machine learning algorithms such as Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). This integration enables early detection of crop stress and diseases, accurate yield prediction, improved irrigation scheduling and precise input management. Overall, it enhances productivity, resource-use efficiency and supports sustainable agriculture.

All mutations are not harmful or all are useful but some can transform the future of agriculture. In the past mutations are considered to be harmful and it leads to genetic disorders in human beings, but in plant breeding mutations have played a remarkable role in the development of diverse cum superior crop varieties. This article includes about what is mutation, how mutations are created, merits and demerits and its application in crop improvement.

The production of disease-free fish is fundamental to ensuring the quality, safety, and value addition of seafood products. Fish health directly influences muscle quality, processing efficiency, shelf life, and consumer acceptance, making it an essential component of modern aquaculture and seafood processing. Infectious diseases and physiological stress can cause tissue damage, microbial contamination, biochemical deterioration, and quality defects that reduce the suitability of fish for processing into high-value products such as fillets, surimi, smoked fish, canned products, and ready-to-cook items. Furthermore, poor fish health contributes to increased post-harvest losses, economic losses, and food safety concerns throughout the seafood supply chain. Effective biosecurity measures, disease surveillance, hygienic harvesting, and Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) help maintain fish quality before processing, while Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems, proper sanitation, cold-chain management, and advanced preservation technologies ensure product safety and quality during processing. Integrating fish pathology with fish processing technology provides a comprehensive farm-to-fork approach that enhances seafood quality, minimizes losses, supports sustainable aquaculture, and improves the production of safe and value-added fish products. Promoting disease-free fish production therefore benefits farmers, processors, consumers, and the seafood industry by improving profitability, food safety, and long-term sustainability.

Biotic and abiotic stresses drive major global crop losses, a problem intensified by climate change. Classical breeding and genetic engineering, are useful but they are slow, limited in genetic diversity, and often face regulatory challenges. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing offers a precise, affordable alternative, using a guide RNA and Cas9 enzyme to introduce targeted DNA changes without foreign gene insertion. India has emerged as a leader among developing nations, with public institutions developing transgene-free, genome-edited rice, wheat, and mustard varieties, while millets stand out as a promising next frontier for climate-resilient nutrition. Despite challenges?limited genomic resources, regulatory ambiguity, and smallholder access?supportive policies such as India's 2022 genome-editing guidelines are accelerating adoption. With continued investment and clear regulation, CRISPR-Cas9 can help build a more resilient, food-secure agricultural future.

Soil compaction is a major constraint to sustainable agricultural production, adversely affecting soil physical properties, root growth, nutrient uptake, and crop productivity. It results from heavy machinery, livestock traffic, intensive tillage, repeated cultivation, and inherent soil characteristics, leading to increased bulk density and reduced pore space. Compacted soils restrict root penetration, limit oxygen availability, impair water infiltration and drainage, reduce nutrient accessibility, and increase the risk of soil erosion, ultimately affecting plant growth and yield. Effective management of soil compaction involves regular soil monitoring, conservation tillage, cover cropping, mechanical loosening through subsoiling or aeration, incorporation of organic amendments, and controlled traffic farming. Adopting these integrated management practices improves soil structure, enhances root development, and supports sustainable crop production while preserving long-term soil health.

Plants cannot flee from stress, they must endure it, adapt to it, and remember it. Dahlia variabilis, a geophyte with underground tuberous storage roots, offers a compelling model for understanding how climate-induced stress experiences are encoded in the plant body and carried into the next growing season. This article examines the molecular mechanisms by which heat, drought, and cold stresses imprint epigenetic marks, principally DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small RNA-mediated pathways onto dahlia tuber chromatin during the growing season. These marks persist through winter dormancy and influence gene expression upon resprouting the following spring, producing a primed, faster, and more robust response to the same stressors. Drawing on evidence from model species and geophytic analogues, we propose that epigenetic stress memory is functionally adaptive in dahlias ? a biological insurance policy written in chemistry rather than DNA sequence.