Abstract

Agricultural issues in Sub-Sahara Africa tend to be complex and involve multi-dimensions and multi-stakeholders with formal and informal institutions. To address these challenges in parboiled rice value chain, multi-stakeholder approach, specifically innovation platform (IP), is used to strengthen interactions and knowledge sharing in agricultural innovation systems. To assess outcome changes in IPs, qualitative data were collected through Focus group discussion and Key informant interviews in two IPs in Benin (Glazoue and Malanville). Results showed that farmers benefit from IPs by (i) demand driven innovation generation; (ii) catalysing innovation dissemination; (iii) market demand and requirements, (iv) changing what they produce and how they produce it; and (v) getting access to finance and handholding. In the sector of rice production waste management, the cocreation process of innovation focused on converting rice residues and by-products into value-added products to reduce waste, enhance sustainability, and create economic opportunities. This co-learning process among parboiled rice value chain stakeholders led to the improvement of rice parboiling process through the development of (a) GEM parboiling technology (grain quality-enhancer, energy efficient and durable material); (b) rice husk Briquettes;  and (c) the Biomass gasification technology. Research and development organizations used the IPs to engage all the stakeholders of the parboiled rice value chain to study and improve market and value chains. The facilitation of IPs should be both internal and external and focus on identifying and building soft skills of IP facilitators and champions and foster policy and institutional change. It is important to pay attention to gender bias and power issues while using this multi-stakeholder approach to identify and address common concerns more effectively and synergistically. By leveraging rice production waste, parboiled rice value chain stakeholders can address pressing environmental challenges while creating economic value, fostering rural development, and advancing toward sustainable agricultural practices.

The main technological stages of oil production related to drilling operations require the use of a wide variety of drilling fluids with a complex, multicomponent chemical composition. The drilling fluids used and the resulting drilling waste must be safe for human health and the environment. Currently, the toxicity and danger of drilling fluids has been extremely insufficiently studied, which requires detailed scientific research to assess the general toxic effects of drilling fluids. In an acute and subacute experiment conducted on adult male rats and guinea pigs, dose-dependent toxicity effects of drilling mud were established: lethal doses (LD16, LD50, LD84, LD100) were scientifically substantiated, and features of skin-irritating and skin-resorptive action were shown. Under conditions of acute and subacute intoxication, features of feeding behavior and body weight dynamics, the nature of behavioral reactions revealed by the number and duration of racks, frequency and duration of grooming were revealed. The systemic toxic effect of drilling mud is also based on the study of the activity of detoxification enzymes, clinical and laboratory indices of peripheral blood, as well as morphological and morphometric changes in the organs and tissues of experimental animals. It has also been proven that sex and species differences play a significant role in the implementation of the general toxic effects of drilling mud.

Phosphorus recovery from sanitary wastewater is critical for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. This research presents an innovative approach combining material synthesis and chemometric optimization to develop a robust, cost-effective solution for phosphorus capture. A composite material, SiO₂@FeOOH, derived from quartz sand waste and scrap iron, was synthesized via a green, scalable coprecipitation method. The process was optimized using Design of Experiments (DoE) to enhance phosphorus adsorption capacity while adhering to zero-waste principles. The optimized adsorbent exhibited a high phosphorus adsorption capacity (up to 40 mg P/g) and resilience under conditions simulating treated wastewater, including the presence of competing ions and humic substances. Chemometric modeling elucidated the impact of synthesis parameters on the material’s properties, enabling precise control of its performance. Key findings revealed that the presence of calcium ions enhanced phosphorus capture by forming insoluble calcium-phosphorus deposits, while maintaining the adsorbent’s regeneration potential. This work highlights a dual achievement: turning industrial waste into a value-added product and advancing circular economy practices in wastewater treatment. The combination of sustainable synthesis and chemometric insights underscores the potential for scalable phosphorus recovery technologies, addressing both environmental and agricultural challenges. These results align with global sustainability goals, offering a pathway to integrate waste management with nutrient recycling effectively. Therefore, this work explores the synthesis process, chemometric strategies, and environmental implications of this approach, emphasizing its alignment with innovation startegies in sustainable waste management.

 Amidst growing energy demands and environmental concerns, this study explores the potential of organic food waste as a sustainable feedstock for biogas production. A laboratory-scale biogas digester was employed to investigate the anaerobic digestion of starch-rich food waste from Petroleum and Gas Engineering Department,Imo State University Campus. The 40-day experiment examined key parameters influencing biogas yield, including volatile solids concentration, effluent density, biogas density, and reaction rate constant. Biogas production was measured using the water displacement method. This research aims to optimize biogas generation from organic food waste, providing a viable solution for community-level waste management and renewable energy production.