This review aims to emphasize the important role that goats and dairy goats play for many small-scale rural families worldwide, as well as to introduce a proposal for categorizing the main dairy goat production systems (DGPSs), using a multifactorial approach but emphasizing rainfall and nutritional supplementation level, as the focal categorization factors. The main DGPSs were divided into two metasystems based on available resources, each consisting of three production subsystems. In the first metasystem, the three subsystems have limited water, biotic, and economic resources, whose main economic rationality is based on reducing risk rather than maximizing outputs. In contrast, the three subsystems of the second metasystem usually have increased biotic, economic, and water resources, whose main emphasis involves maximizing product yield rather than reducing risk. The first metasystem involves DGPSs with a very limited or null nutritional supplementation: (a) subsistence, (b) extensive, and (c) agro-silvopastoral. The second metasystem includes those DGPSs with different levels of nutritional supplementation: (d) semi-extensive, (e) semi-intensive, and (f) intensive. There are numerous significant global initiatives focused on scientific collaboration and sharing information regarding nutrition, reproductive, and genetic technologies related to the safety and nutraceutical quality of goat milk and products while contextualized in different DGPSs. Hence, such scenarios should create additional opportunities for researchers, producers, policymakers, and development workers to come together and align interests and needs and exchange knowledge on effective goat farmer support strategies, environmental management, and consumer education. Undoubtedly, it is essential to reevaluate the DGPSs in the world since millions of producers and their families—most of them poor and marginalized—need this species, society needs their products, most of the worldwide arid and semi-arid lands need their recovery, and all of us should encourage the fulfillment of the sustainable development goals.

In recent years, the determination of the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of essential oils in wild plants, such as Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens Kunth), has become increasingly important. The objective was to compare the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Mexican oregano essential oil obtained from plants occurring naturally in semiarid areas (Wild1 and Wild2), and those cultivated in the field (CField) and greenhouse (CGreenhouse) in northern Mexico. The Mexican oregano essential oil extraction was performed using the hydrodistillation method, the antioxidant activity was determined using the ABTS method, and the antibacterial activity was assessed through bioassays under the microwell method at nine different concentrations. The aim was to determine the diameter of the inhibition zone and, consequently, understand the sensitivity level for four bacterial species. The results revealed an antioxidant activity ranging from 90% to 94% at the sampling sites, with Wild1 standing out for having the highest average antioxidant activity values. Likewise, six out of the nine concentrations analyzed showed some degree of sensitivity for all the sampling sites. In this regard, the 25 µL mL⁻¹ concentration showed the highest diameter of inhibition zone values, highlighting the Wild2 site, which showed an average diameter greater than 30 mm for the four bacteria tested. Only in the case of S. typhi did the CGreenhouse site surpass the Wild2, with an average diameter of the inhibition zone of 36.7 mm. These findings contribute to the search for new antioxidant and antibacterial options, addressing the challenges that humanity faces in the quest for opportunities to increase life expectancy.

The priming of seeds is shown as a viable technique to improve germination, the growth of the radicle and plumule, and the seedling vigor index, which gives rise to seedlings with higher quality and tolerance to environmental growing conditions. Sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) and selenium nanoparticles (nSe) were used as priming media and postgermination biostimulation in seeds of jalapeño pepper, in concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 mg L⁻¹ for the two Se species, and control treatment. This research aimed to determine the priming response of jalapeño pepper regarding the germination percent, germination speed index, radicle length, plumule length, fresh weight, and seedling vigor index. The stimulation and phytotoxicity thresholds were also computed. The results showed a percentage of germination greater than 80% in all concentrations evaluated. Most variables of jalapeño pepper presented stimulation responses at Na₂SeO₃ doses lower than 5 mg L⁻¹ and nSe doses lower than 15 mg L⁻¹. The higher daily germination was favored by nSe on the fifth day compared to the sixth day of Na₂SeO₃; in addition, the higher cumulative germination occurred on the sixth day with nSe and on the eighth day with Na₂SeO₃. The use of low Na₂SeO₃ concentrations positively favors germination and the morphological traits of the shoots. Likewise, the use of Se in nanometric form was friendlier, that is, the degree of tolerance to Se was higher.

Inequality, malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation are some of the global challenges facing humanity. These are aggravated in the context of climate change (CC), envisioning as a utopia to guarantee food security without risking sustainability. Considering the increase in scientific attention on dairy goat production (DGP), we aimed to carry out an exhaustive analysis regarding the evolution of DGP to determine both its socioeconomic and cultural importance during the period 1970–2022 and its possible scenarios for 2050. Over the last half century (1970–2022), dairy goats (DG; 214.01 million heads) have shown an inventory growth of 182%, and this is estimated to increase by 53.37% over the next 28 years (2023–2050). While DGP increased 196% during 1970–2022, it is projected to increase around 71.29% by 2050. Notably, however, the economic value of DGP almost quadrupled (+375%) during 1991–2022, and the same trend is estimated for 2023–2050. Historically, Asia has excelled in both goat inventory and goat milk production volume. This research highlights the crucial role of both goats and DG in the socioeconomic issues in various regions of the world, as they most often represent the only source of income for millions of smallholder families, particularly in developing countries. In the face of CC challenges, goats in general, and DG in particular, show an exceptional potential to be considered the “animal of the future” due to their refined and sophisticated ethological, adaptive, and physiological plasticity under generally clean, green, and ethical production schemes, mainly in marginal contexts in the arid and semi-arid zones of the world.

Trace element malnutrition causes the development of chronic degenerative diseases. The consumption of minerals and other compounds of biochemical origin through the intake of vegetables can attenuate these deficiencies to a great extent. Because the content in the plant depends on the conditions where it develops, there are still deficiencies that should be taken into consideration. For example, in Mexico, the intake of selenium does not cover the recommended daily requirement. The objective of this study was to use selenium nanoparticles (nSe) as a selenium (Se) source and to determine the effects on agronomic indices, antioxidant compounds, enzymatic activity, and accumulation of Se in fruits of a jalapeño pepper crop. Different concentrations of nSe (1, 15, 30, and 45 mg L⁻¹) were supplied via drench to jalapeño pepper plants at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after transplanting. The results indicate that applying nSe via drench with 45 mg L⁻¹ increased crop yield and antioxidant compounds. Moreover, all doses evaluated modified the activity of the enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and phenylalanine ammonium lyase (PAL), as well as improved the concentration of Se in fruits. The nSe incorporation via drench is an alternative to increase the content of Se and other nutraceutical compounds in jalapeño pepper fruits, possibly positively influencing human nutrition when consumed.

El selenio (Se) es un micronutriente esencial para el ser humano, pero en las plantas, esta esencialidad no se ha demostrado. Sin embargo, la suplementación de Se en los cultivos ha demostrado mejorar el rendimiento, y la calidad de la parte comestible. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el efecto de la fertilización foliar de Se sobre el rendimiento, calidad nutracéutica y la acumulación de Se en bayas de uva. Se evaluaron cinco dosis de Se (Na₂SeO₃ a 0,25; 0,5; 0,75; 1,0 y 1,25 mg.L^-1) y un control. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que la aplicación en dosis bajas de Se incrementó el rendimiento; en contraste dosis altas mejoran la calidad nutracéutica e inducen la acumulación de Se en las uvas. En conclusión, la vid es un cultivo con potencial de ser biofortificado y mejorar calidad de las bayas de uva.