A procedure for the design of agro-industrial processes considering product quality is proposed. It is exemplified with a case study to produce non-centrifugal cane sugar at the artisanal level. Modeling and simulation are valuable tools for the adequate selection of operating parameters. For this purpose, cane juice with 5.35 pH and 12.55 °Brix were considered as process limits. For concentration, random values of pH 5.5 - 7, °Brix 89 - 93, and concentration time of 20 - 30 minutes were generated. In crystallization, random values of pH 5.5 - 7, °Brix 90 - 94, agitation time of 10 - 20 minutes, and temperature of 40 - 60 °C were generated. Ten batches equivalent to one day, 120 batches equivalent to one month, and 1560 batches equivalent to one year were simulated. The inclusion of quality attributes in the process design allowed reducing defective products, a Sigma level higher than 3 was obtained, the economic and financial indicators are positive when the color in ICUMSA units fluctuates between 9000 - 11000.

The climatic variability observed in Pastaza Canton has significantly affected agricultural and livestock productivity, compromising local food security. This study aims to analyze how climatic variables influence the main crops and livestock production between 2011 and 2021. An applied, non-experimental, descriptive correlational, and cross-sectional methodology was used. Data were obtained from INAMHI meteorological records and the Public Agricultural Information System, considering variables such as mean temperature, total precipitation, relative humidity, and potential evaporation. Results showed that average monthly temperatures (20.63 ◦C–22.06 ◦C) were favorable for banana and cassava but below the optimal range for cocoa. Total precipitation reached 508.70 mm in May, causing waterlogging in coffee and sugarcane crops, whereas September (285.35 mm) showed water deficits. Relative humidity levels (85.00%–89.36%) increased fungal disease incidence and management costs, while potential evaporation (54.16 mm–89.57 mm) reduced soil moisture, affecting pineapple crops. In livestock systems, June and July presented favorable thermal conditions, and balanced evaporation in February maintained adequate pasture availability. Overall, banana and cassava exhibited greater adaptation to climatic variability, while cocoa, coffee, sugarcane, and pineapple showed productivity reductions associated with irregular rainfall and high humidity.

En la actualidad, el aprovechamiento de los residuos agroindustriales del sector alimentario fomenta la sostenibilidad y economía circular. Los residuos tradicionalmente manejados mediante incineración o vertederos contienen nutrientes valiosos como carbohidratos, proteínas, lípidos, vitaminas y compuestos bioactivos. El presente artículo tuvo como objetivo identificar las principales propiedades funcionales de los productos elaborados con residuos agroindustriales. La revisión sistemática se realizó mediante la metodología PRISMA, la cual cubrió información acerca de residuos de frutas, vegetales, cereales, bovino, ovino, aves, peces y de la industria láctea. Los residuos agroindustriales de frutas, como cáscaras y semillas, son ricos en fenoles. Los subproductos de bovinos y ovinos como los órganos internos presentan proteínas y colágeno, útiles en alimentos funcionales. Los residuos de pescado, principalmente la piel y vejiga natatoria, proporcionan gelatina rica en aminoácidos para la alimentación y farmacia. Los desechos avícolas, como patas y piel de pollo, son fuente de colágeno para gelatina comestible y aplicaciones industriales. Se concluye que estos residuos son una fuente rica de ingredientes funcionales, ofreciendo beneficios en la prevención de enfermedades crónicas y la promoción del bienestar general, además, de contribuir a la sostenibilidad ambiental y a la innovación en la industria alimentaria.

The study addresses the need to structure technological routes in the province of Pastaza, where the lack of planning has limited agro-industrial development. Through a technical and objective prioritization, agricultural, livestock, and forestry resources with the highest transformation potential were selected, ensuring their valorization within efficient and sustainable production systems. The methodology was based on the grouping of technologies by sector, establishing selection criteria grounded in production volume, economic value, transformation potential, and environmental sustainability. Applicable technologies were identified for sugarcane, milk, and pigüe, considering biorefinery processes, waste utilization, and the optimization of production routes through P-Graph. The results indicate that the province produces 10,201 tons of sugarcane annually, 8,471 liters of milk daily, and has a forest cover of 749,633 hectares, demonstrating the potential of these resources for bioethanol production, biofuels, dairy derivatives, and kraft pulp. It is concluded that the integration of these technological routes contributes to productive diversification, the strengthening of the local bioeconomy, and agro-industrial sustainability. However, the adoption of these technologies faces challenges related to investment, infrastructure, and market acceptance. It is advisable to conduct experimental validation of the processes and to develop strategies that promote their implementation, ensuring a positive impact on the competitiveness of the agro-industrial sector and the efficient management of resources in Pastaza.

Transitioning toward efficient and digital industrial design requires preliminary tools that support early decision-making in plant layout studies. This qualitative and exploratory study analyzes an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted and Augmented Reality (AR)-supported workflow within the Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) framework for the preliminary spatial evaluation of a cosmetic emulsion production plant. The study was developed as a case study based on a previously reported layout for obtaining cosmetic emulsions from Amazonian oils. A top-view layout was examined through structured prompts aligned with SLP criteria, including product journey, activity relationships, relational diagrams, and space requirements. ChatGPT was used only as a qualitative reasoning assistant, without optimization, prediction, mathematical modeling, or algorithmic functions. After the AI-assisted review, the refined layout was represented in three dimensions and visualized through AR in a real environment. The results identified potential improvements related to operational flow, traceability, critical area relationships, and spatial organization. AR-assisted visualization provided preliminary visual evidence of compatibility between the refined layout and the selected site, supporting an early review of circulation, access, and volumetric behavior. The sequential integration of SLP, AI, and AR is proposed as an exploratory workflow for early-stage layout evaluation, pending future quantitative validation studies and expert technical review.

The study addresses the problem of the need to develop a sustainable alternative to conventional shampoos that use large amounts of water and plastic contributing to environmental pollution. The objective was to formulate a solid shampoo using Oenocarpus bataua oil, cocoa butter and Cinchona officinalis, evaluating its functional and physicochemical properties to identify the most efficient and environmentally friendly formulation. To do this, an experimental mixture design was used by adjusting the concentrations of cinchona powder and ungurahua oil and aspects such as foam formation, pH, electrical conductivity, dirt dispersion and antioxidant activity were evaluated. As a result, formulation 5 was the most outstanding, showing the highest foam formation capacity (10,75 cm) and stability (10,6 cm), an adequate pH of 6,45 and a good balance in electrical conductivity (594 µS/cm) and dirt dispersion. Although other formulations presented a higher antioxidant activity (up to 517 mg eq. TROLOX/L), formulation 5 achieved a more efficient balance between all the evaluated properties, meeting the stated objectives of efficacy and sustainability.