Rhynchoporus palmarum is widely considered to be a harmful pest of many crops. Nevertheless, it is highly valued as a food source in some countries, providing valuable components, mainly protein and fatty acids. The aim of this study was to develop a sausage with partial incorporation of R. palmarum larvae and to explore its potential as an alternative ingredient, taking into account the sensory acceptance of the final product, as well as nutritional and microbiological aspects. Experimental formulations containing 30, 20, and 10% larvae (F1, F2, F3, respectively) partially replaced pork meat and vegetable fat, and a control (F0) without R. palmarum larvae. One hundred and fifty semi-trained panelists rated the taste, aroma, color, texture, and overall acceptability of the four formulations using a 5-point hedonic scale. F2 showed favorable sensory acceptance for taste, color, texture, and overall acceptability, with no significant statistical difference from F0, but aroma showed a significantly better score than F0. Nutritional data showed increasing patterns for energy, fat, and sodium, while decreasing values for cholesterol, protein, and total carbohydrate for F1, F2, and F3, respectively. The microbiological characteristics of the experimental formulations for aerobic plate count, E. coli count, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. met the requirements of the Ecuadorian standard NTE 1338:2012 for cooked meat products. This research highlights the potential of Rhynchophorus palmarum larvae as a viable and sustainable option for partial meat substitution in sausage production, offering an innovative approach to improve nutritional value and diversify product offerings in the food industry.

La deforestación es uno de los problemas más críticos que enfrenta la humanidad. Ecuador es uno de los países latinoamericanos con mayor tasa de tala de bosques en comparación con su tamaño, debido principalmente al aumento de la superficie agrícola. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar la dinámica y cambios ocurridos en la frontera agrícola en los últimos 30 años en las cuencas hidrográficas pertenecientes al Zapotal utilizando herramientas de teledetección. Las imágenes fueron obtenidas de los satélites Sentinel 2 y Landsat desde 1990 hasta 2020. Se utilizó el software libre QGIS para analizar, clasificar y procesar las imágenes satelitales; a través de una matriz de confusión y el índice de kappa se evaluó la precisión. Se obtuvieron y procesaron imágenes satelitales de alta calidad y resolución correspondientes al periodo de 1990 a 2020. El Índice de Vegetación de Diferencia Normalizada (NDVI) permitió conocer la dinámica de la conformación de la vegetación del período estudiado y, en consecuencia, los usos del suelo en función de la cobertura vegetal. La dinámica de la frontera agrícola, determinada mediante las herramientas de teledetección utilizadas en este estudio, evidencia una disminución de aproximadamente un 15%. La metodología utilizada en este estudio demostró ser efectiva y económica para conocer la dinámica de la frontera agrícola, lo que proporciona una herramienta eficaz para monitorear, planificar y ejecutar diversos proyectos de ordenamiento territorial y desarrollo local.

Rhizospheric fungi are emerging as a critical research component in dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) production systems. Introducing beneficial non-native fungi is increasingly common due to their positive effects on plant growth, yield, and pathogen suppression. However, this practice may disrupt soil microbial communities, and commercial isolates often show limited adaptation to local conditions. This study aimed to identify native beneficial soil fungi associated with dragon fruit cultivation on the Ecuadorian coast and evaluate their effect on commercial production. Fungal isolates from four dragon fruit plantations were identified using microscopy and genetic sequencing (ITS, EF-1α, and beta-tubulin). The selected fungi were isolates closely related to Talaromyces tumuli, Trichoderma asperellum, and Paecilomyces lagunculariae. All isolates were tested for pathogenicity using detached cladode assays at the laboratory, and non-phytopathogenic monomorphic cultures were further evaluated in the field under a randomized complete block design consisting of T. asperellum, Talaromyces tumuli, a combination of both, and a water control. The combination of T. asperellum and Talaromyces spp. showed a favorable trend in terms of the plants’ vegetative development. However, inoculating Talaromyces tumuli into the commercial plants exhibited a slow response during the first 20 days of the field evaluations. Still, it resulted in a significant increase in the fruit’s diameter and weight, with increases of 88.23% and 67.64%, respectively, compared to those in the control. T. asperellum presented a lower number of fruits per plant, although it showed an increase in fruit diameter and weight. In conclusion, using the native beneficial fungi T. asperellum and T. tumuli contributes positively to the dragon fruit production system.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a C4 plant widely cultivated for the production of sugar, energy, and other derivatives. Sugarcane fixes a certain amount of carbon in the biomass but emits variable amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, depending on the technologies used in both field and industrial processes. This study quantified and described the spatial and temporal dispersion of CO2 emissions generated during the sugarcane harvest period by the San Carlos and Valdez sugarcane mills, in Guayas, Ecuador. Measurements of CO2 were carried out using a 3M's portable gas analyzer model Monitor 3M-EVM-7, which provides digital readings without requiring any additional procedure. Samples were taken every two weeks during the milling period (June to December). Sampling was carried out at distances of approximately 280, 500, 1000, and 3000 m from the central chimney of the factories. Locations were eventually georeferenced to allow for possible associations to infer spatial and temporal patterns and distributions. The effects associated with dispersion patterns of greenhouse gases released from the industrial chimneys as well as wind direction and speed were considered. The results show that CO2 emitted by the industrial sugarcane process did not impact surface-level measurements due to natural dispersion, although it decreased with distance. There was a high, negative, and significant correlation between CO2 concentrations and temperature; and a high, direct, and significant correlation with dew point. CO2 concentrations were inversely correlated with distances from the factory chimneys.