The Acacia genus is considered one of the most invasive taxa in some habitats, namely coastal dunes, maritime calcareous soils, fresh lands in the valleys, mountainous areas, and the banks of watercourses and roadsides. In Portugal, the severity risk is very high, so this study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and mineral contents of the green pods as a potential source for livestock feeds and soil fertilizer because, as far as we know, there is no use for this species. The seven different species of Acacia (Acacia mearnsii Link, Acacia longifolia (Andrews) Willd, Acacia melanoxylon R. Br., Acacia pycnantha Bentham, Acacia dealbata Link., Acacia retinodes Schlecht, and Acacia cyclops A. Cunn. ex G. Don fil) were evaluated. The results showed that Acacia green pods have a high protein, fibre and minerals content, especially in potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). All species present a different profile of the studied parameters, suggesting different potentials for their future use. Near-infrared spectroscopy was a potential tool to predict the earlier quality of the Acacia green pods to better select the raw material for the different applications.

Macroalgae are rich in bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and nutritional properties. In this study, the biochemical composition of three seaweed species—Ulva sp., Gracilaria multipartita, and Sargassum muticum—was analysed, focusing on their mineral content and macronutrient profile. The ash, protein, fibre, lipid, and carbohydrate contents ranged from (dw) 26.56 to 33.53 g/100 g, 10.13 to 18.43 g/100 g, 0.11 to 0.19 g/100 g, 5.83 to 10.88 g/100 g, and 42.48 to 53.27 g/100 g, respectively. The findings indicate that the species studied are excellent sources of essential minerals, particularly magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, and trace elements, such as iron, zinc, copper, and manganese. Sargassum muticum exhibited the highest mineral content and thus holds significant promise for further exploration in biomedical and therapeutic contexts. FTIR, FT-RAMAN, and FT-NIR analysis highlight the presence of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, including cell wall phycocolloids, and phenolic compounds. These results underscore the potential of macroalgae as natural sources of bioactive compounds for health-related applications, highlighting their value beyond traditional dietary supplementation.

In ancient times, the shoots of certain species within the Cytisus genus were used as animal feed. Cytisus striatus is a plentiful and widespread shrub that has long been utilized as a soil fertilizer in the Iberian Peninsula. The flowers of this shrub have traditionally been employed for medicinal purposes. However, the nutritional value of yellow broom flowers and fruits remains largely unexplored. In this study, flowers and fruit of C. striatus (Cytisus striatus) were collected from natural shrubs at three different locations in Portugal during the same year. An analytical assessment of their macro and micronutrient content was conducted. Regarding nutritional composition, flowers and fruits exhibited a fibre content of 18% and 42%, protein content of 21% and 12%, lipid content of 2% and 1%, carbohydrate content of 43% and 14%, and ash content of 4% and 3%, respectively. Potassium was the most abundant mineral, with concentrations of approximately 20,094 mg/kg in the flowers and 11,746 mg/kg in the fruits, followed by calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Compared to some edible flowers and fruits, these plant parts of C. striatus showed macro and micronutrient values similar to species such as lavender, lupins, and cowpea pod husks.

As consumers become more health-conscious, they are increasingly seeking out foods that offer potential health benefits, such as yoghurts. To encourage more sustainable and healthy consumption habits, it is important to develop food products using local food ingredients. This study focused on fermented dairy products, namely by developing various formulations of Greek yoghurt using strawberry-tree fruit (Arbutus unedo L.) (STF) and peach (Prunus persica) puree, with no added sugar. Both peach and STF were sourced locally. A sensory analysis was performed to determine the preferred formulation, selecting either z1 (20% STF and 80% peach) or z2 (30% STF and 70% peach). After comparing the two, z1 emerged as the preferred formulation. For this formulation, physicochemical and microbiological analyses were conducted. A Greek yoghurt that incorporates peach and STF was developed while satisfying the requirements for “low-fat”, “low-saturated fat”, and “no added sugars” nutrition claims. These are all important features that align with the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization in promoting a healthy diet that encourages reduced fat and saturated fat intake, limited consumption of added sugars, and increased fibre content. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time describing a Greek yoghurt containing STF purée.

The use of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller) has proven to be a viable alternative for feeding small ruminants, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. It serves as an accessible source of water and nutrients, partially replacing more expensive and less available feeds, especially during periods of feed scarcity. This review examines the nutritional value and chemical composition of cactus pear cladodes and their application in small ruminant feeding. Additionally, general aspects related to planting systems, biomass production, and cladode storage are discussed. Three examples of diets incorporating Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes in small ruminant feeding are presented: Assaf sheep breed, fattening lamb, and Saanen goat breed. In these diets, the proportion of fresh O. ficus-indica cladodes varied between 51.3% and 79.2%. A literature review was conducted to evaluate the impact of cactus pear cladodes on meat and milk production and quality. In general, O. ficus-indica cladodes exhibit low levels of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). However, they are an excellent source of energy, rich in non-fibrous carbohydrates, and have a high DM digestibility. Given the importance of DM, CP, and NDF in ruminant nutrition and the high-water content of cladodes, O. ficus-indica can be effectively integrated into diets when animals have access to dry forage and a high-CP feed source. The use of O. ficus-indica represents a promising option for feeding small ruminants, offering a sustainable solution to reduce dependence on imported feeds and contributing to a lower carbon footprint, without compromising meat and milk production or quality.