Essential oils of three species of Artemisia genus (A. absinthium L., A. campestris L. and A. herba-alba (Asso)) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and their potential insecticidal and repellent activities against the stored grain insect Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) was investigated. Fumigant and repellent activity bioassays were investigated in vitro. Chemical characterisation of essential oils showed that the bicyclic monoterpenes were predominant in all Artemisia essential oils, A. absinthium essential oil having the highest content of bicyclic monoterpenes, bicycloheptanes, naphthalenes and cycloalkenes. A. campestris had the highest content of sesquiterpenoids and acyclic monoterpenoids. A. herba-alba was characterised by the highest amounts of menthane monoterpenoids, oxanes, cumenes, oxolanes, ketones, benzenoids and monocyclic monoterpenes. Fumigant bioassay demonstrated that the three types of oil applied separately caused significant insect mortality. The lowest median lethal dose, LC50=142.8 μL/L, was observed with A. herba-alba. In repellency test, essential oil of A. absinthium was more potent with more rapid action than all other species. The mixture of Artemisia sp. essential oils showed an antagonistic effect in all the tested combinations. This study highlighted an important potential of Artemisia sp. especially A. herba-alba and A. absinthium in the control of the pests of stored products.

In the Mediterranean region, the expansion of greenhouse horticulture has enabled the year-round supply of fresh vegetables. Compared to open field horticulture, this farming method can generate higher returns for farmers. However, it is often associated with significant environmental pressures. This research aims to pinpoint important opportunities for improvement of the environmental and economic performance of greenhouse farming in the Mediterranean region by showing the life cycle’s environmental and economic impacts and by highlighting life cycle hotspots. This is achieved through the combined application of life cycle assessment and life cycle costing to four case studies (commercial greenhouses) spanning the Mediterranean Basin (Italy, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey). The case study findings highlight the following environmental hotspots and related impacts: (i) fertigation management can generate up to 11,283 m³/ha/year of water use impact; (ii) fertilizer leaching can generate up to 27 kg of N eq marine eutrophication impact; and (iii) crop protection treatments can generate up to 130,037 kg 1,4-DCB of terrestrial ecotoxicity impact. The large use of plastic materials (greenhouse and fertigation infrastructures) is an additional critical aspect due to manufacturing and disposal, contributing to eutrophication impact categories. Economic hotspots are related to greenhouse management (up to 35% total costs of production) and hired labor (up to 40% total costs of production). The lessons learnt from these case studies offer valuable insights into the sustainability challenges of greenhouse horticulture across the Mediterranean region. The hotspot analysis points to the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the most critical impacts while ensuring economic viability. This study enriches scientific understanding by examining different production and socioeconomic contexts, offering crucial insights for the advancement of sustainable practices in greenhouse agriculture such as the use of decision support systems to optimize input use.

The present study focuses on the evaluation of the potential of a Tunisian Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) isolate named Hr1, isolated from dead and diseased pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae under laboratory and field semi-controlled conditions. The bacterial strain Hr1 showed an insecticidal activity against the pest’s neonates in comparison to the spinosad-based insecticide (Tracer 240 SC®) during bioassays under laboratory conditions. A carboxymethyl cellulose-talc (CMC-talc)-based formulation of the Bt isolate was prepared to evaluate the potential of the bacterium on tomato plants infested with H. armigera under semi-controlled field conditions with and without rain simulation. The results showed the efficacy of the formulation than the spinosad-based insecticide and the treatment with unformulated bacterium. The results also showed the persistence of Bt isolate activity even after rain-wash than the treatment with unformulated bacterium.

Agriculture 4.0 represents a huge opportunity for the transformation of agrifood sectors. However, its adoption (and diffusion) in real-world farming contexts faces multiple challenges. This study focuses on greenhouse farming within the Mediterranean basin. It aims to assess the needs of actors involved in the uptake of Agriculture 4.0 and define enabling conditions to support achieving these needs, focusing on the introduction of an innovative decision support system in real-world greenhouses for tomato production. A qualitative and comparative approach is implemented, using participatory data collection methods with cross-disciplinary experts from four case studies across the Mediterranean Basin. Data are collected through one-to-one open discussions, supported using context and SWOT analyses to stimulate reflection and recall. The findings highlight the need to improve digital literacy among farmers and advisors, build trust through tailored education conditions and mentorship, and support young farmers with financial incentives and training. Market dynamics are relevant as well, pinpointing the need for stronger product images and increasing consumer awareness through certification and labelling. Great interest and technology potential emerges from the possibility to enable (partial) remote work thereby benefiting a work-life balance. Simplifying bureaucratic processes and enhancing policy support for cooperation and farmer unions are also essential for encouraging farmers to adopt digital technology.