Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
This section publishes research on sustainable agriculture and food systems that ensure food security while minimizing environmental impacts. It emphasizes agroecological approaches, sustainable farming techniques, and food production systems that promote equitable access to nutritious food. The section welcomes studies addressing challenges such as food waste, supply chain sustainability, and the integration of traditional knowledge into modern agricultural practices.
Section Board Members
The editorial board for this section is currently being assembled.
ERA-Chair in VALORTECH, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 56/5, Tartu 51006, Estonia
Research Keywords:
sustainable food production; food security; food quality and safety
Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), Department of Agrifood System Economics, Camino de Purchil S/n., 18004 Granada, Spain
Research Keywords:
agricultural economics; ecological/environmental economics; agricultural systems modelling; multifunctionality/sustainability of agriculture; bioeconomy; digital agriculture; certified quality systems; economics of innovation; food supply chains; productivity/technological change in agrifood systems; biomass/bioenergy; energy economics
Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, 68200 Orestiada, Greece
Research Keywords:
production agriculture; crop physiology; weed biology; pesticide use and safety issues; risk assessment; farmers’ behavior
Published Articles (1)
Article 21 Jan 2026
Krasimir Bratoev
Highlights of Sustainability
Volume 5 (2026), Issue 1, pp. 61–69
Volume 5 (2026), Issue 1, pp. 61–69
179 Views46 Downloads
Article 21 Jan 2026
Krasimir Bratoev
The separation of grain mixtures using flat mechanical sieves is a probabilistic process that depends significantly on the separator’s geometric parameters. This study investigates the relationship between the length-based separation coefficient $\mu (x)$and the area-based separation
The separation of grain mixtures using flat mechanical sieves is a probabilistic process that depends significantly on the separator’s geometric parameters. This study investigates the relationship between the length-based separation coefficient $\mu (x)$ and the area-based separation coefficient $\mu (xy)$, emphasizing the critical role of the sieve’s shape and working area. Through theoretical modeling, we demonstrate that the separation process follows an exponential decay pattern along the sieve length, while the overall efficiency is determined by the total sieving area. For sieves with equal diagonals, the square-shaped sieve maximizes the working area (at $\beta =\pi /2$) and minimizes grain losses, resulting in optimal separation performance. The area-based coefficient $\mu (xy)$ remains constant under fixed diagonal conditions, whereas the length-based $\mu (x)$ varies with the length $x$, as proven by the derived dependency $\mu (x)_{e}=\mu (xy)_{e}\cdot \sqrt{1+tg^{2}(\alpha _{e})}$. Experimental similarity criteria ($\pi _{1}$,$\pi _{2}$) confirm that grain losses are identical for rectangular and square sieves with equal diagonals; however, the square sieve provides a higher sieving probability per unit area. The study proposes a geometric optimization framework for flat sieves, recommending square configurations with dimensions derived from the equivalence $\mu (x)_{0}\cdot x_{0}=\mu (xy)_{e}\cdot r_{e}$. These results provide a theoretical foundation for designing high-efficiency separators, though experimental validation is suggested for future work.
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Highlights of Sustainability
Volume 5 (2026), Issue 1, pp. 61–69
Volume 5 (2026), Issue 1, pp. 61–69
179 Views46 Downloads
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