Recent scientific data indicate that nanotechnology has the potential to positively impact the agrifood sector, minimizing adverse problems of agricultural practices on environment and human health, improving food security and productivity (as required by the predicted rise in global population), while promoting social and economic equity. In this context, we select and report on recent trends in nanomaterial-based systems and nanodevices that could provide benefits on the food supply chain specifically on sustainable intensification, and management of soil and waste. Among others, nanomaterials for controlled-release of nutrients, pesticides and fertilizers in crops are described as well as nanosensors for agricultural practices, food quality and safety.

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Crop-livestock-forest (CLFi) and crop-livestock (CLi) systems are among the most recent agricultural developments in Brazil, and aligned with the principles of cleaner production. Such integrated systems can provide at least three types of product from the same land area over a defined period. This paper presents a holistic sustainability evaluation using life cycle assessment to compare combinations of integrated and conventional systems in the Brazilian Cerrado region. The study assesses a comprehensive set of indicators in the three sustainability dimensions: environmental, economic, and social (socio-ecoefficiency). By prioritizing CLFi, the production area to meet the demand of grains, meat and energy for 500 Brazilians, from 2007 to 2014, reached 70 ha, while the conventional systems would need 420 ha to meet the same demand. This result shows that it is possible to increase production to meet the growing food global demand without the need of expanding the agricultural frontier, preserving the remaining forestland. CLFi combinations systems decreased 55% in climate change potential (2389 t of CO 2 equivalent), when compared to the conventional systems. It was also observed that the more integrated systems improved the quality of employment, promoted future generation investments in society, and decreased the total production costs in 54%, when compared to conventional systems. Therefore, intensification achieved through good practices such as association, rotation, and succession by an agroforestry system, optimization of inputs (including water, energy, fertilizers, and crop protection agents), land use, soil quality, biodiversity and social aspects.

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A localização da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Jundiaí-Mirim, próximo a grandes centros urbanos e parques industriais, tem contribuído para a valorização das suas terras; em consequência, a região apresenta intenso processo de urbanização, que resultou em um aumento crescente da perturbação ambiental nas áreas florestais. Dada à necessidade de manutenção da vegetação natural, visto que a bacia hidrográfica é a fonte da água utilizada no abastecimento de Jundiaí, SP, este trabalho avaliou as modificações na qualidade ambiental dos fragmentos florestais da bacia hidrográfica entre 1972 e 2013. A qualidade ambiental foi determinada por meio da avaliação de nove indicadores de perturbação ambiental obtidos através de técnicas de Geoprocessamento e integrados pela Análise Multicritério. Os resultados mostraram uma tendência constante de deterioração da qualidade ambiental da vegetação natural entre 1972 e 2013, atribuída ao intenso processo de ocupação da bacia hidrográfica. Concluiu-se que: (a) a urbanização e o desmatamento da vegetação natural foram os principais responsáveis pelas alterações na qualidade ambiental; (b) existe a necessidade de criação de políticas públicas para a preservação da vegetação natural do manancial.

Water demand, pollution, and climate change threaten water security in industrialized and urbanized regions worldwide, especially in developing countries. Investments in massive infrastructure have often not met the water needs of the population, requiring water resource managers to adopt new approaches, such as decentralized and regionalized management at the micro-basin scale. However, little is known about the impact of anthropogenic activities on the water quality and vulnerability of streams that cross urban areas and feed into the main rivers and reservoirs supplying cities and industrial regions. The main goals of this research were to evaluate the water quality, pollutant loads, and effect of untreated sewage discharges in streams of the Piracicaba river basin, in the municipality of Americana, Southeast Brazil. The water quality parameters evaluated were as follows: pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, biochemical oxygen demand, inorganic phosphorus, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, real colour, turbidity, total dissolved solids, metals (Ba, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Zn), total coliforms, and Escherichia coli. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses were performed. The results revealed chemical and biological degradation of the water resources, and vulnerability of the urban streams due to the release of untreated sewage into these waterways. The findings indicate the need for an immediate implementation of policies to monitor and control discharges of industrial effluents into the sewage collection systems, as well as discharges of sewage into rainwater drainage systems, together with the maintenance of green spaces.