Plant factories (PFs), also known as vertical farms, are advanced agricultural production systems that operate independently of geographical and environmental conditions. They utilize artificial light and controlled environments to produce horticultural plants year-round. This approach offers a promising solution for the stable and efficient supply of high-quality horticultural produce in urban areas, enhancing resilient urban food systems. This review explores the economic and environmental impacts and potential of PFs. Breakthroughs in PF research and development are highlighted, including increased product yields and quality, reduced energy input and CO2 emissions through optimized growing conditions and automation systems, transitioning to clean energy, improved resource use efficiency, and reduced food transport distances. Moreover, innovations and applications of PFs have been proposed to address challenges from both economic and environmental perspectives. The proposed development of PF technologies for economic and environmental benefits represents a comprehensive and promising approach to urban horticulture, significantly enhancing the impact and benefits of fundamental research and industrial applications.

The growing global population and increasing human demands have led to a rise in organic waste volumes. These wastes contain potential risk substances like pathogenic bacteria (PB), antibiotics (ABs), heavy metals (HMs), and microplastics (MPs), which can threaten public health through direct contact or food chain transmission. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have emerged as a promising solution for organic waste management and crop-livestock integration. They efficiently reduce organic matter, produce high-quality proteins and fats, generate green biofertilizers, and mitigate harmful substances and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the specific mechanisms by which BSFL transform organic matter, produce organic fertilizers, and reduce harmful substances remain unclear, significantly limiting the further development and application of BSFL bioconversion technology. In recent years, numerous studies have revealed that BSFL gut microbiota possess functions such as promoting the degradation of substrate nutrients, regulating host nutrient synthesis and metabolism, directly or indirectly inhibiting the proliferation of PB, biodegrading or cometabolizing ABs, mitigating the mobility of HMs, and biodegrading MPs. Therefore, exploring and developing BSFL gut microbiota could be of great significance for optimizing the efficiency of BSFL in organic waste transformation, effectively reducing potential risk substances in organic waste, and promoting their wide applications in biomedicine and energy sectors. This review systematically summarizes the composition, function, and environmental impacts of BSFL gut microbiota, focusing on their roles in organic waste transformation and reducing PB, ABs, HMs, and MPs. We believe that in-depth exploration in this field will significantly advance the application of BSFL in integrated crop-livestock systems, which is essential for achieving humanity's sustainable development goals.

1% PA can induce a mild decrease in the maternal glucose tolerance and lipolysis mainly by activated MAPK and PPARα signaling.

The placenta is a unique bond between the mother and the fetus during pregnancy, and a proper placental angiogenesis is vital for fetal development. H₂S is an endogenous stimulator of angiogenesis that is mainly produced by the methionine transsulfurationpathway. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of gestational dietary methionine on maternal and placental H₂S production in sows. Multiparous sows (Large×White; third parity; n = 65) were randomly allocated into five groups, with feed diets comprisingstandardized ileal digestible methionine/lysine (Met/Lys) ratios of 0.27 (nutrient requirements of swine (NRC); 2012 level), 0.32, 0.37, 0.42, and 0.47, respectively. The litter size and weight at birth were measured and recorded. Maternal blood samples were obtained at embryonic day (E) E40 d, E90 d, and E114 d of gestation. The placental samples were collected at parturition. The results showed that maternal plasma H₂S concentration was not affected at E40 d. However, the maternal plasma H₂S concentration changed quadratically with the dietary Met/Lys ratio at E90 d (p < 0.01) and E114 d (p = 0.03). The maximum maternal plasma H₂S concentration was at the dietary Met/Lys ratio of 0.37. Meanwhile, maternal plasma H₂S concentration was positively correlated with piglets born alive (p < 0.01) and litter weight (p < 0.01). Consistent with the maternal plasma, the placental H₂S concentration also changed quadratically with the dietary Met/Lys ratio (p = 0.03); the Met/Lys ratio of 0.37 showed the maximum H₂S concentration. In conclusion, our findings revealed that the gestational dietary Met/Lys ratio could affect maternal and placental H₂S concentrations, which may be an important molecular mechanism affecting placental angiogenesis and piglet development.