Moisture sorption behaviour and sensory profile of fruit pulp powders of four mango varieties
João Vieira1*, Iván Daniel Filip3,4, Isabel Matos1, Alessandra Rodrigues1,2, Ana Rita Trindade1,2, Luís Silva5, João Cassinello6, Teresa Carita7, Maria de Belém Freitas1,2, Alcinda Neves1
1Koforidua Technical University, Department of Food and Postharvest Technology, Koforidua, Ghana
2University of Ghana, Department of Food Process Engineering, Koforidua, Ghana
| ARTICLE INFO | ABSTRACT |
| TYPE: Original scientific paper https://doi.org/10.17508/CJFST.2025.17.2.05 |
Pastures in the Mediterranean region are vital for sustaining local agriculture and preserving biodiversity. When well-managed, these pastures enhance soil structure and fertility, reduce erosion, and improve water retention. These functions are especially critical in a climate marked by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Moreover, these systems play a key role in carbon sequestration, contributing significantly to climate change mitigation. Mediterranean pastures also support the conservation of endemic plant species and provide essential habitats for a variety of wildlife. Quinta do Freixo (Algarve, Portugal) with an area around 800 hectares, is dedicated to sustainable agriculture and promotes ecological, economic and social sustainability. In addition to organic agriculture production, the farm also produces value-added food products and offers rural tourism experiences. On this farm, a dense shrubland of rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.) is converted into pastures using a holistic method that includes mechanical cutting of the shrubs, spreading hay and grazing with Campaniça sheep under a regenerative rotational grazing (RRG) system. As a part of the project named “Revitalgarve: Revitalization of rural areas” (PRR-C05-i03-I-000237), these restored pastures are regularly monitored. Assessments included measurements of dry matter production and floristic composition. In addition, both the pastures and Cistus ladanifer shrublands were evaluated for the nutritional value and mineral composition of their foliage material. This approach has contributed to the development of species-rich pastures, rich in legumes and grasses and characterized by high protein content, excellent digestibility, and a well-balanced mineral composition. Although Cistus ladanifer had a relatively lower nutritional value due to its lower protein content and digestibility, the analysis showed that its aerial parts can serve as a supplementary feed resource, especially in periods of forage scarcity, contributing to overall feed availability in extensive grazing systems.The control of shrublands through this practice maintains biodiversity and reduces the risk of wildfires by effectively managing fuel loads. |
| *CORRESPONDENCE João Vieira jfvieira@ualg.pt |
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| ARTICLE HISTORY Received: May 6, 2025 Accepted: June 26, 2025 |
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| CITATION Vieira J, Filip ID, Matos I, Rodrigues A, Trindade AR, Silva L, Cassinello J, Carita T, de Belém Freitas M, Neves A. The conversion of rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.) shrubland into biodiverse pasturesCroatian Journal of Food Science and Technology (2025) 17 (2) 1 – 15 |
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 COPYRIGHT: © 2025 by the author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). |
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| KEYWORDS
dry matter production; nutritional value; regenerative rotational grazing; sheep; mineral composition |
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| KEY CONTRIBUTION
The manuscript highlights key contributions of sustainable pasture management, including improving soil health and water retention, sequestering carbon for climate change mitigation, conserving biodiversity, reducing wildfire risks, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices that balance ecological, economic, and social factors. |