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Highlights Grapes are a rich source of bioactive molecules which contribute to the health benefits. Bioactive phytochemicals of grapes include phenolic compounds such as hydroxycinnamic acids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins and stilbenes. Grape consumption is linked to reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease and its major risk factors including hypertension. Grapes and its products can be considered as potential functional food in reducing hypertension.

Excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture in order to increase yields has proved unnecessary because a large part of them remain unused and have negative effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, it is a great challenge for farmers to replace the application of pesticides and fertilizers with nanopesticides and nanofertilizers, with the aim of reducing the use of mineral fertilizers and increasing yields, as well as supporting agricultural development. This review provides a detailed overview of the classification of pesticides, commonly used nanoparticles in agriculture and their function, as well as impact of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers on the environment. The application of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers and new delivery mechanisms to improve crop productivity are reviewed and described. Particularly, the advantage of the nanoencapsulation process is emphasized for both pesticides and fertilizers. For hydrophobic pesticides, it may be a tool to provide greater stability, dispersion in aqueous media, and allowing a controlled release of the active compound, which increases its effectiveness. In nanofertilizers, micro-or macronutrients can be encapsulated by nanomaterials which allow to release of nutrients into the soil gradually and in a controlled way maintaining soil fertility, thus preventing eutrophication and pollution of water resources. Risks assessment of application of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers in agriculture are required for their correct and safe application.

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Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum L.) are two legumes that are being developed as forage crops in Canada with potential benefits for animal and human health. Sainfoin, a perennial crop containing condensed tannins (CTs), is gaining popularity in western Canada because of its benefits for cattle. Its CTs make the crop bloat‐free for grazing cattle while improving protein digestibility and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The CT‐containing fenugreek is also considered as a bloat‐free annual forage legume that was developed to serve in short‐term crop rotations in western Canada. These crops are known to provide health and nutritional benefits to cattle with their high protein content and other beneficial nutraceuticals such as crude fiber, 4‐hydroxyisoleucine, steroid sapogenins, and galactomannans. Some of these nutraceuticals have the potential to benefit human health; however, such attributes have not been studied enough to harness the full potential of these legume crops in Canada. Recent research suggests that legumes are a healthy substitute for meat. However, metabolite analysis of sainfoin is mostly limited to proteins and CTs. The CTs reported in sainfoin are involved in reduction of blood pressure and detoxification and providing anticancer properties in humans. Recent studies on fenugreek have highlighted the beneficial nutraceuticals associated with human health but most of those claims are not backed by relevant clinical studies. In this article, we reviewed the nutritional quality attributes of sainfoin and fenugreek and assessed their potential as functional foods and nutraceuticals for animal and human health based on scientific evidence.

Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are rich in bioactive molecules contributing to health benefits. Consumption of grapes is linked to reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Studies on table grape cultivars are limited although much attention in research was focused on the wine industry. Bioactive effects of grapes as anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, cardioprotective, vasorelaxant, phytoestrogenic and neuroprotective have also been reported. For example, resveratrol is a natural food ingredient present in grapes, with high antioxidant potential. Here we conducted an exploratory study to investigate bioactive molecules, antioxidant activity and the association between constitutive stilbene synthase (STS) gene expression and the resveratrol biosynthesis in selected table grape varieties in North America. The phenolic compounds, fatty acid composition and antioxidant activity of four grape varieties were compared. Red Globe variety was rich in unsaturated fatty acids as well as phenolic compounds such as caffeic acid, quercetin and resveratrol. Meanwhile, the constitutive expression of grape stilbene synthase gene was higher in Flame and Autumn Royal where resveratrol content of these cultivars was relatively low compared to the Red Globe variety. This study shows the potential links in grape antioxidant activity and resveratrol production, but more studies are necessary to show the association.

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