Browsing by Author "Tavan M"

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    Biofortification of kale microgreens with selenate-selenium using two delivery methods: Selenium-rich soilless medium and foliar application
    (Elsevier BV, 2024-01-01) Tavan M; Wee B; Fuentes S; Pang A; Brodie G; Viejo CG; Gupta D
    Selenium (Se) is essential for human health as it is involved in various fundamental biological functions. This study aimed to assess the effects of Se enrichment in kale microgreens through biofortification in a soilless cultivation system. Two Se (as sodium selenate) application methods were assessed, including supplementation into the nutrient solution or as a foliar spray at four concentrations: 0, 10, 20 and 40 µM Se in a completely randomized design considering triplicates. For this purpose, minerals, nitrate and ammonium content, as well as fresh yield and dry matter of kale microgreens, were recorded after a 14-day growing period in an environmentally controlled vertical farm. Results showed that kale microgreens successfully accumulated up to 893.3 and 24 µg Se/ kg dry matter under the nutrient solution and foliar treatments, respectively, while yield remained unaffected. Selenium (Se) enrichment of the nutrient solution at 20 µM Se concentration resulted in the optimum treatment for fresh consumption purposes and supplying this element in human diets in the future, providing adequate dietary Se in less than five grams of the fresh kale microgreens.
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    Nutrient-adequate diets with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions or price are the least acceptable—insights from dietary optimisation modelling using the iOTA model®
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2025-08-01) Tavan M; Smith NW; Fletcher AJ; Hill JP; McNabb WC; Das A
    Over the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in the environmental sustainability of diets because food systems are responsible for a third of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). However, less attention has been paid to the nutrient adequacy, consumer acceptability, and affordability of such diets. Such knowledge is particularly scarce in New Zealand, where approximately 40% of adults and 20% of children may live under severe to moderate food insecurity. The iOTA Model® is a country-specific dietary optimisation tool designed to fill this gap by bringing the various aspects of diet sustainability together and providing evidence-based knowledge on not just the environmental impact of food but also its economic and nutritional sustainability. The iOTA Model® was constructed using mixed integer linear programming by integrating New Zealand-specific dietary data. Features such as digestibility and bioavailability considerations have been incorporated as part of the iOTA Model®, allowing for a more accurate estimation of nutrient supply. The model is available as an open-access tool and allows users to explore various dimensions of a sustainable diet. Eight optimisation scenarios, along with baseline diets, were investigated for adult males and females in New Zealand. Results showed that reducing dietary GHGE or price by approximately 80% was possible while meeting nutrient adequacy requirements. However, such diets deviated substantially from the baseline eating patterns, indicating lower consumer acceptability, and only included a limited variety of foods. On the contrary, diets with minimum deviation from baseline remained realistic while adhering to nutrient targets and reducing GHGE by 10 and 30% in female and male consumers aged 19–30 years, respectively, and weekly price remained below the baseline. Expansion of the model to additional countries and its open-access nature will allow independent dietary sustainability research through optimisation.
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    Reassessing the sustainability promise of cultured meat: a critical review with new data perspectives
    (Taylor and Francis Group, 2025-02-21) Tavan M; Smith NW; McNabb WC; Wood P
    There are currently over 170 companies in the field of cultured meat (CM) which have attracted over US$3 Billion in investments since 2019. The CM industry owes much of this success to the many claims around environmental benefits and alleviating animal welfare concerns, while being equally nutritious and as acceptable as conventional meat. This review aims to provide a much needed discussion on the latest research findings concerning the nutritional and environmental sustainability of CM and provide an evidence-based discussion around some of the challenges that the industry faces today. Recent developments in the field have revealed that some of the sustainability claims of the CM industry are overly ambitious and not supported by evidence. Environmental assessments have revealed that CM production is highly energy intensive and its environmental footprint can only be improved if renewable energy sources are used. In terms of nutritional quality of CM, there are many unknowns and gaps in the knowledge that require investigation.