The circular economy is now being presented as a promising way to respond to the increasing depletion of forest resources. However, its application remains limited in value chains in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to analyses the perception and acceptability of four circular approaches proposed to actors in the timber and forestry sector in Benin, to assess their potential for implementation in a local context. The research is based on a field survey conducted in the north and south of the country, using semi-structured interviews with direct and indirect actors in the sector. The data collected was subjected to qualitative analysis, supported by descriptive statistics and econometric models to achieve the study’s objectives. Four circular economy strategies were proposed: eco-design, focused on sustainable product design; optimization of operations, aimed at improving process efficiency while taking ecological criteria into account; loan-exchange, which encourages the pooling of resources between actors; and industrial ecology, focused on inter-company coordination for systemic flow management. The results show overall favorable acceptability, with a marked preference for eco-design, optimization, and industrial ecology, which are perceived as particularly beneficial from an environmental standpoint. The loan-exchange strategy stands out for its social roots, strengthening solidarity and community cooperation. However, the use of these strategies remains dependent on factors such as the size and legal status of companies, access to information, the profile of stakeholders, and the local context.

Tropical almond tree (Terminalia catappa L.), belonging to the Combretaceae family, is an unfurling tree with different edible parts. This review discussed the nutritional content, ethnopharmacological applications, main bioactive components, biological effects and economic potential of T. catappa. T. catappa shows essential applications in medicine, cosmetics and pharmaceutics. The nutritional values of T. catappa are associated with its contents of carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, lipids, vitamins and amino acids. It is used in many ethnopharmacological applications, including a heart stimulator, anti-diarrhoeal, bactericidal, anti-parasitic and anti-stress. T. catappa is used to treat angina pectoris, asthma attacks and bronchitis. The main reported biological activities for T. catappa were antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-atherosclerosis, antitumor, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antimalaria, hepatoprotective, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory and antihyperlipidemic activities. The main bioactive components reported in T. catappa encompassed phenolic compounds, alkaloids, diterpenes, fatty acids, galloyl glucose and derivatives, steroids and coumarins. T. catappa shows great economic opportunities which need to be expanded and diversified, taking into account its sustainability.

In a context where traditional infrastructures face growing challenges related to climate change, the circular economy emerges as a promising alternative. This study aims to examine the relationship between circular economic models and traditional infrastructures in this context. The method used consists of a semi-systematic review supported by bibliometric review of 50 relevant articles, conducted between 2015–2024 using the Publish or Perish (PoP) application. The bibliometric analysis offers a unique perspective on the conceptual evolution of circular economy models and identifies emerging trends applied to traditional infrastructures, thus filling an important gap in the current scientific literature. The review found that traditional infrastructures present major challenges for the environment, with waste collection rates often below average. In response, the adoption of circular practices, promoting the reuse and recycling of resources, is identified as a promising strategy for mitigating these harmful impacts and promoting environmental sustainability. These models include eco-design, waste recovery, functional economy, and industrial ecology, each offering specific advantages in terms of waste reduction and resource efficiency. Through the analysis of case studies, particularly in France, the study illustrates the implementation of several circular economic models, offering concrete courses of action in the fight against climate change. Other models, such as bioeconomy and green transition, are also emerging.

Climate change, by exacerbating poverty and food insecurity, creates complex dynamics that threaten global food security. This study aims to examine the complex interactions between these phenomena (climate change, poverty and food security), adopting a multidimensional approach to understand their direct and indirect relationships. The study focused on eight countries representing the African, Asian, American and European continents, selected according to their Human Development Index (HDI). Data is collected for the period 1990–2020 from platforms such as FAO, World Bank, UNDP and Our World in Data, based on indicators of poverty, climate change and food insecurity (qualitative approach). Data analysis is based on time series (temporal evolutions in climate and poverty variables) as well as thematic content analysis. Analysis of evolutions in poverty indicators and the HDI reveals marked disparities between regions, with notable progress in Asia and Europe, but persistent challenges in Africa and Yemen. Similarly, these disparities are also observed for climate evolutions and changes in land, particularly in Africa and Asia. Regarding food insecurity evolutions, there is a considerable increase with marked regional disparities, where Africa and Latin America are the most affected. Direct arable effects include reduced agricultural productivity, crop and livestock yield, increased undernourishment, reduced livelihoods and producer incomes. Indirectly, these changes reduce crop quality, disrupt ecosystem services, exacerbate resource conflicts and increase production costs. These findings provide guidance for policymakers and researchers in developing integrated strategies that address not only food security and poverty, but also climate change.

Pigments are widely valued as colorants or bioactive agents in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors. The increasing attention on the natural pigments can be associated with the availability, dietary, low-cost, bioactivity and safety. Sorghum bicolor is a common plant crop with many health benefits commonly. 3-deoxyanthocyanidin derivatives are the predominant anthocyanidins in the leaf sheaths of red sorghum. In this review, the phytochemical and nutritional properties of the leaf sheaths of red sorghum and the stability of the main pigments are discussed. In addition, the taxonomical and geographic distribution and traditional uses of the red sorghum are discussed. Anthocyanidins (luteolinidin, apigeninidin, apigeninidin-flavene dimer, apigeninidin-7-o-methylflavene dimer and 7-o-methylapigeninidin) as well as other flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, saponins, steroids and tannins have been reported as dominant phytochemicals in the leaf sheaths of red sorghum. They are rich source of micronutrients like essential vitamins and minerals. These properties attract populations to use the leaf sheaths of red sorghum for diverse purposes. It is also resulted that 3-deoxyanthocyanidins in the leaf sheaths of red sorghum are resistant to pH, temperature, light and copigments.

The circular economy (CE) has emerged as an innovative response to the challenges of economic growth and environmental protection. This study aims to establish a portrait of the circular economy within the wood forestry sector in Benin. The methodology includes field surveys through structured interviews in the southern and northern zones and a documentary analysis. Data were collected from direct and political stakeholders to assess their knowledge and practices. A discourse analysis, focusing on internal factors, was used to understand and analyze the motivations of local actors in the use of CE strategies. The results show that the most used strategies are maintenance and repair (52.38%), followed by donation and resale (18%). The motivations mentioned by the actors in the two zones are mainly economic (improving income and limiting expenses) and social (esthetic). However, if most of the actors do not perceive limits to these strategies, others highlight certain weaknesses, including the long process of transforming used goods (19.69%) and the loss of quality of recycled materials (15.44%). To address these weaknesses, alternative strategies, such as eco-design, optimization of operations, loan-exchange, and industrial ecology, are proposed.

Although the circular economy (CE) has emerged as an innovative approach to address the challenges of protecting natural resources, the use of its strategies remains in its infancy, particularly in West Africa. This study examines the factors influencing the use of CE strategies in the wood and forestry sector in Benin. This study relied on a methodological approach based on surveys, using interview guides to collect information in both the southern and northern zones of the country. This information was collected at the level of the different actors directly involved in this sector, to identify the factors that influence the use of CE strategies using Probit models. The results show that access to information, the number of years of professional experience, the age of the actors and the type of training received are the determining factors in the use of these strategies (the models statistically significant at the 1% level). Other factors, such as knowledge of the costs and benefits of different strategies, are also identified as fundamental. Furthermore, a high financial capacity and an excess or overload of information are identified as the limiting factors for the use of these strategies.

IntroductionUrban flooding in Africa, intensified by climate change, poses a major challenge to sustainable urban development. In megacities like Lagos, the relationship between rapid urbanization and increased flood risk remains underexplored. This study investigates the interactions between urban expansion and flood occurrence in Lagos, identifies key contributing factors, and proposes strategies to enhance urban resilience.MethodsUrbanization data were obtained from the UN-Habitat database, while flood data were sourced from the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. Time series analysis was combined with qualitative review of secondary data to examine trends, spatial distribution of floods, and underlying causes.ResultsNigeria has experienced dynamic urban growth, with Lagos' population increasing from 7.28 million (1995–2000) to 17.15 million (2020–2025), a growth rate 2.4 times higher than the national average. Spatial analysis identified Lagos as a flood hotspot, with 35 recorded events-particularly concentrated in Victoria Island's Lekki area (7 events) and in Kosofe, Ikeja, and Agege districts (3 events each). Contributing factors fall into four categories: environmental, socio-economic, institutional, and structural. Flood impacts include agricultural land degradation, water pollution, erosion, infrastructure damage, crop loss, poverty aggravation, and public health risks such as the spread of infectious diseases.DiscussionDespite resilience measures such as modern infrastructure (e.g., the Great Wall of Lagos) and institutional frameworks (e.g., Lagos State Emergency Management Agency), effectiveness is hindered by governance issues, limited trust, and insufficient community engagement. Strengthening communication, integrating climate-tailored early warning systems, and fostering active community participation in flood management could enhance trust and long-term resilience.

Globally, agriculture is facing significant challenges due to climate change, which is seriously affecting grain yields. This research aims to analyze the significant effect of climate change (temperature and rainfall) on cereal production in Benin. The choice of Benin is explained by its strong dependence on agriculture and its vulnerability to climatic variations. This study employed climate and agricultural data from FAO and ASECNA (1990–2020) to evaluate the impacts of climate change on cereal production. SARIMA time-series models were used for forecasting, while the PLS-SEM approach assessed the relationships between climate variables and cereal production. The findings reveal a rise in temperatures and a gradual decline in precipitation. Despite these challenges, the time-series analysis suggests that Beninese farmers are expanding cultivated areas, successfully increasing production levels, and improving yields. Projections to 2050 indicate an increase in areas and production for maize and rice, while sorghum shows a constant trend. However, even with these projections, it is recommended to explore, in more depth, the resilience strategies used by cereal producers to better understand their influence and refine the orientations of future agricultural policies.

Sumac (Rhus coriaria) is a flowering plant that is widely consumed for its promoting health benefits and used in food preparations as a spice in the Mediterranean region. It is a high shrub or small tree with imparipinnate leaves, villus and red fruits with one-seeded drupe, and small greenish-white flowers. The nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential of sumac makes it a remarkable functional food. In this review, the phytochemical and nutritional properties of sumac as an under valorized functional food have been discussed. Flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and organic acids have been reported as dominant phytochemicals in sumac, which are well known for their pharmacological properties that attract many consumers to commonly choose sumac in their diet as well as food preparations. The remarkable volatile compounds present in sumac give it a unique aroma that increases its acceptance by consumers and potential use in the food industry. Sumac has been evaluated for a broad range of nutritional and pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anticancer, anti-infertility, and neuroprotective potential. This review has also briefly outlined the safety concerns concerning the use of sumac in terms of toxicology and interactions.

The oceans play a crucial role in the global ecosystem and offer solutions to meet the growing demand for food, water, and energy. However, a new economic concept is needed to regulate and sustainably exploit the maritime resources offered by the marine ecosystem to ensure sustainable development. It is in this initiative that the concept of the blue economy has emerged, in response to the inadequacy of measures taken by States to meet their obligations and achieve their objectives in terms of marine biodiversity conservation. This is how the blue economy concept was born, in response to the inadequacy of state measures to conserve marine biodiversity. This concept proposes an innovative solution integrating aquatic and human resources into sustainable economic activities. The aim of this study is to understand the opportunities and threats that the blue economy represents for innovative companies. This short literature review, based on a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) diagnosis of innovative companies, identified a number of obstacles to the development of the blue economy, such as climate change, lack of financing and the lack of instruments for measuring the performance of the blue economy. Action strategies could be implemented to mitigate risks, threats and hazards, and consider an economic approach that reconciles marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Mangrove ecosystems provide key ecosystem services in coastal areas. This study describes the riparian mangrove of the Wouri estuary, in the Douala region (Cameroon), emphasizing the changes in this ecosystem over the past decade and its current state. It highlights the different groups of actors who participate in the management and regulation of the resource. Finally, an analysis of the governance of the mangrove wood resource based on the theory of common goods by Elinor Ostrom (1990) is proposed by examining the results obtained from the previous points. The scientific interest lies in contributing to a better understanding of the socio-ecological changes in the mangrove in the context of increasing anthropogenic pressures, highlighting the governance challenges and conservation opportunities in a strategic region of Central Africa. This research reveals complex processes that characterize mangrove ecosystems on the Manoka and Cap Cameroon Islands. The lack of urbanization regulations, continued infrastructure growth, repeated flooding, and coastal erosion all have a negative impact on natural landscapes and forests. The use of wood for smoking and fishing, as well as coastal pollution resulting from deficient garbage management, also have a considerable influence. Strategic interventions are needed to ensure sustainable ecosystem management. Recommendations include the application of rules to prevent forest overexploitation.

Sustainable agriculture is a fast-growing field that attempts to provide energy and food for both present and future generations. Given that the concept of sustainability differs across disciplines, each region and country employs various alternative methods. The three primary facets of sustainable agriculture are social, environmental, and economic. For the past 25 years, experts have concentrated on sustainable agriculture, which has garnered a lot of attention. The SALSA (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis) and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocols are followed in this work. The literature search was conducted using Research Gate, Semantic Scholar, and Google Scholar. We thoroughly explored eight different strategies from earlier research. The eight (eight) primary sustainable practices: agroforestry, agrobiodiversity, cover crops, crop rotation, conservation tillage, soil conservation, water management, and smart farming-are based on the thematic analysis of this systematic study. The results provide a foundational understanding of incorporating these alternative methods with scientific findings into sustainable farming techniques. Government assistance is essential to achieving sustainable agriculture because it allows businesses to lower costs and facilitate the purchase of recyclable goods by consumers. Furthermore, through education on the land and farms, the government may help farmers advance their abilities.

Geospatial technologies like Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide a platform for swiftly evaluating terrestrial Carbon Stock (CS) across extensive regions. Employing an integrated RS-GIS method for estimating Above-Ground Biomass (AGB) and precise carbon management emerges as a timely and economical strategy for implementing effective management plans on a localized and regional level. This study reviews different RS-related techniques utilized in CS assessment, particularly in arid lands, shedding light on the challenges, opportunities, and future trends associated with the process. As global warming poses adverse impacts on major ecosystems through temperature and precipitation changes, professionals have a call to develop evidence-based interventions to mitigate them. Carbon sequestration involves harnessing and storing carbon stocks from the atmosphere to minimize the adverse effects of climate change. The review explores the effectiveness of integrating remote sensing and GIS methodologies in quantifying carbon sequestration within agroforestry landscapes. In addition, this review also assesses the traditional methods, including their limitations, and deeply delves into recent techniques, emphasizing key remote sensing (RS) variables for biophysical predictions. This study showcases the efficacy of geospatial technologies in evaluating terrestrial carbon stock, particularly in arid regions. The study reviews diverse techniques and sensors, like optical Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR), and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), extensively employed for above-ground biomass (AGB) estimation and carbon stock assessment with RS data, introducing and discussing new methods. Existing literature was examined to present knowledge and evidence on the effectiveness of these technologies in carbon sequestration. The key findings of this review will inform future research and integration of technology, policy formulation, and carbon sequestration management to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The article examines the availability of plant-based proteins in Europe and Asia, considering the challenges posed by climate, demographics, and economics. The availability of these proteins is crucial given the growing impact of climate, economic, and social variables. Indeed, these factors play a decisive role in the production and accessibility of plant-based proteins across countries. The study employed a causality analysis method using regression models to determine the relative impact of these factors on protein availability. Two indicators were prioritized: total national production and the daily accessible quantity per person. This approach made it possible to construct hypothetical trajectories, showcasing the interrelations between the different variables. The results show that the availability of plant-based proteins varies across regions. Factors such as rising temperatures, increasing pollutants, and rising prices of plant proteins are particularly concerning. In this context, legumes appear as a promising alternative. They offer resilience against climatic variations while being an excellent protein source. The findings also encourage rethinking our consumption. Meat, with its significant ecological footprint, should see its consumption decrease in favor of plant-based proteins, ensuring a more sustainable diet. To facilitate this transition, the importance of appropriate public policies and incentives for producing and consuming plant proteins is emphasized.

Climate change has emerged as a pressing concern affecting nations worldwide, particularly within the African continent, including Benin. Given that maize stands as a staple cereal in Benin, this research to assess the impact and predict the effects of climate change on maize production by the year 2050. To attain this objective, an assortment of data encompassing climatic conditions, demographic factors, fertilizer application levels, and emissions of environmental pollutants has been collected and analyzed. The data analysis based on ARDL and ARIMA models has unveiled those variables such as emissions of CO2 and CH4 through food waste, peak temperatures, precipitation patterns, and rural population density exert considerable immediate influence over maize production volumes. The predictive models portend an upswing in national maize production volume, albeit accompanied by a probable decline in per capita availability. Policies aimed at controlling activities that generate high levels of air pollutants should be formulated to increase production capacities.

Various narratives can be relevant in explaining and creating awareness on global warming because they can help harmonize information from different actors. Different players present varying perspectives on efforts required to alleviate the impact of climate change. The publication and review of 64 papers aimed at critically examining and reassessing the discourse surrounding climate change to move beyond sensational and exaggerated claims, and explore innovative and forward-thinking approaches that contribute to achieving a sustainable future. The paper first highlights the question of how current climate change discourse contributes to public understanding by addressing traditional narratives surrounding climate change. It also addresses the potential drawbacks of sensationalism and traditional narrative. The paper also highlights ways that can explore a balanced narrative to positively impact public perception and engagement with climate-related issues. Still, the work explores whether there are examples of successful policy reforms or economic initiatives that have effectively contributed to a more environmental future in the light of climate change. The results indicate that traditional narratives are still dominating, and transformative narratives are far from being mainstream. Ideas and concepts revolve around mitigation, which the majority of literature works in advanced nations countries focus on. However, the paper also observes some transformative narratives and innovative pathways challenging traditional narratives. These innovative approaches can open the way for additional social creativity and a sustainable future. Most studies propose additional studies to further comprehend and evaluate these innovative pathways since various obstacles require unpacking to shed more light on the effects of these pathways and the general public.

Due to rising temperatures and increased air pollutants, Turkey, like the rest of the world, is facing climate change that is profoundly affecting its agricultural sector. This situation is aggravated by the aging of the rural population, demographic pressures, and significant immigration from neighboring countries. Despite the expansion of areas dedicated to livestock, the production of animal proteins remains insufficient to meet the growing demand. This study investigated the availability of animal protein in Turkey, projecting the situation to 2030 using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models. Various data, encompassing greenhouse gas emission, climatic, economic, and social factors, were collected from sources such as the World Bank and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Databases. Even if Turkey currently meets its animal protein needs, future scenarios may differ. Predictions indicate a potential decline in protein availability at the individual level over the next decade due to climatic conditions, atmospheric and environmental pollutants, social factors, and the level of animal protein production. Projections suggest that the daily consumption of animal protein per individual could drop below 15 g/day. Therefore, it becomes imperative to explore alternative sources of protein such as protein from legumes and plant seeds. Additionally, other options, such as protein derived from grains and oilseeds, are considered key sources of plant-based protein. Projections suggest that the daily consumption of animal protein per individual could drop below 15 g/day.