Grain quality is largely driven by grain infrastructure (technology) and handling practices (application of knowledge on handling). The use of inappropriate infrastructure and inappropriate handling protocols poses food safety and health-related risks. This review provides evidence for the link between drying and storage operations in the context of preserving grain quality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the close grain quality relationship between drying and storage, with an appraisal of operations in Africa. This study further benchmarked successful and scalable models in Africa to infer guidance for promotion of optimal and effective drying and storage initiatives. While open-sun drying is undoubtedly the most adopted approach to grain drying for the rural-poor farmers, this study revealed greater success in grain storage, especially with the breakthrough at the introduction and adoption of small-scale hermetic storage technologies. Upon assessment of the cob, WFP Zero Food Loss Initiative, and AflaSight models implemented in Rwanda and Uganda, this study suggests: (i) the adoption of system thinking; (ii) the use of sustainable approaches such as gender inclusion, sustainable financing options, and use of existing infrastructures along-side novel interventions; and (iii) enabling policies and political will as strategic pathways for successful implementation of improved grain-quality interventions during drying and storage. In the short term, grain handlers must develop appropriate grain management protocols during open-sun drying to limit the impact of drying-related grain quality deterioration. Consortia-based implementation of the three models evaluated in this review could improve grain quality, food security and safety, and market linkages with premium grain markets, fostering economic growth and transformation.

The increasing protein demand driven by global population growth necessitates the search for an alternative protein source. Soybean meal (SM), with approximately 47–49% proteins, is a viable option. Soymeal protein isolate (SMPI) is a cost-efficient protein source with a well-balanced amino acid profile, making it suitable for addressing this demand. This study attempts to address the lack of information regarding the extractability and nutritional potential of SMPI obtained utilizing a weak base and recoverable solvent. In this work, the structural and compositional studies of SMPI, as well as the aqueous extractability of ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH), are investigated. Furthermore, we examined the effects of heat treatment during oil extraction, where a comparison between protein isolates from soymeal and whole soybeans was carried out. The maximum extraction yield of 24.1% was achieved by increasing the concentration of NH₄OH from 0.25–1%. In comparison to the soy protein isolate from whole soybeans (SPI), the compositional analysis report revealed that SMPI had higher levels of crude protein, moisture, and ash content, but lower levels of fat and carbohydrates. Furthermore, the examination of the amino acid composition confirms the existence of vital amino acids in SMPI. The amino acid score indicates that methionine, lysine, and threonine are the limiting amino acids. SMPI and SPI share structural and functional group similarities, as demonstrated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Gel electrophoresis using sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide shows that the protein molecular weight distributions of SPI and SMPI are similar. This in-depth evaluation emphasizes the advantages of SM by advocating its application in other sectors beyond conventional animal feed, such as nutritional supplements and bio-based products, and by improving the environmental sustainability and global food chains.

Highlights The effect of moisture on the physical properties of corn varied significantly with variety. There is no comprehensive moisture model for the prediction of physical properties of corn. The models derived from experimental data and models posited in the literature provide varying degrees of predictive accuracy. Abstract. Several corn varieties have been developed to match short maturity seasons and increase yield for specific end use, such as ethanol production and animal feed. However, it is unclear how varietal differences influence the physical properties. Similarly, there is no certainty that these varieties adhere to the moisture engineering properties relationships recorded in the literature. This research investigated the physical properties of 10 corn hybrids at three moisture content levels (13.5%, 15.5%, and 17% w.b.). The influence of moisture content on the different geometric (equivalent diameter, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, aspect ratio, surface area, projected area, flatness ratio) and gravimetric (bulk density, true density, porosity) properties were assessed and compared with the published literature. Further, this study assessed the potential of regression-based moisture engineering properties relationship models for the prediction and description of the physical properties of corn. Predictive and descriptive comparisons indicated that, in some instances, reference models provided better predictions of the geometric and gravimetric properties of a single variety compared to pooled samples. The study models provided better predictions for the pooled samples. However, the study results confirm no one-size-fits-all moisture physical property model exists. Using existing moisture content based regression models for description and predictive purposes should be done with specific variety references. Keywords: Corn hybrids, Moisture based physical property models, Prediction of physical properties.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) seed oil is recognized as a valuable oil due to its beneficial fatty acid profile, which includes a favorable balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, making it highly desirable for edible and bioproduct applications. Crude hempseed oil contains high concentrations of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and other amphiphilic compounds that can negatively affect its appearance, stability, and downstream processing. Therefore, bleaching is a crucial step in removing these pigments after the degumming and neutralization processes. To optimize the bleaching process, a Box–Behnken response surface methodology was employed, focusing on three factors: time (15, 30, 45 min), temperature (100, 120, 140 °C), and bleaching earth concentration (2.5, 5, and 7.5% w/w). The key response variables were β-carotene, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant activity. For chlorophyll removal, bleaching earth concentration accounted for 83.82% and 81.84% of the variation in the solvent-extracted and mechanically extracted oils, respectively. For β-carotene, the bleaching earth concentration accounted for over 93% of the variation in both types of oil. The optimal bleaching earth concentrations were determined to be 4.87% and 5.36% for the solvent-extracted and mechanically extracted oils, respectively, to achieve the target chlorophyll level of ≤150 ppb. Mechanically extracted oil had lower antioxidant activity after bleaching compared to solvent-extracted oil. The addition of bleaching earth, up to 5%, removed polar antioxidants, further lowering the oil’s antioxidant capacity. These findings suggest that optimizing bleaching conditions can significantly affect both pigment removal and the antioxidant profile of the final product.