eChapters

Computational intelligence is central to the development of proactive, personalized and connected healthcare systems. This chapter examines artificial intelligence, machine learning, expert systems, medical-image analysis, IoT, big-data analytics, cloud computing and blockchain as key enabling technologies. It presents intelligent architectures for diagnosis, monitoring, treatment support and secure health-data management. Privacy, cybersecurity, explainability, bias, fairness, scalability and deployment challenges are discussed in relation to practical healthcare implementation. The chapter proposes a research roadmap involving trustworthy AI, advanced privacy-preserving mechanisms, edge-cloud intelligence, digital twins, multi-omics integration and personalized health models. It also emphasizes accessible computational-intelligence solutions for rural and resource-constrained healthcare environments

This chapter explores how ergonomics is evolving in response to technological innovation, demographic change, globalization and sustainability. It traces the discipline’s progression from classical physical ergonomics to cognitive, organizational, integrated and smart ergonomics. Emerging applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, wearable sensors, virtual systems and real-time data analytics are examined. The chapter also considers adaptive workspaces, human–robot collaboration, remote work and inclusive design for an ageing and increasingly diverse workforce. Future ergonomists are presented as strategic contributors to human–technology integration rather than only assessors of posture and physical risk. Ethical, economic and accessibility challenges accompanying technological transformation are also considered

Introduction
Over the past few decades, fisheries nutrition has undergone a remarkable transformation, driven by the rapid expansion of global aquaculture and the increasing need for sustainable seafood production. As wild fish stocks have become overexploited and the demand for protein-rich aquatic food sources continues to rise, aquaculture has emerged as a vital solution for meeting the growing global need for fish and seafood. By 2014, aquaculture production had surpassed wild-caught fisheries in providing fish for human consumption, marking a significant shift in how we obtain seafood. This growth, however, brings with it numerous challenges, particularly regarding the nutrition of farmed fish.
Fisheries nutrition, as a specialized field, plays a pivotal role in supporting aquaculture’s ability to provide healthy, high-quality fish for human consumption while maintaining environmental balance. As aquaculture intensifies, the demand for high-quality, cost-effective feed ingredients has surged. Traditional reliance on marine-derived ingredients like fishmeal and fish oil is becoming increasingly unsustainable, as these resources are finite and face depletion due to overfishing. This has resulted in rising costs for these inputs, placing economic pressures on aquaculture producers. Additionally, marine-derived ingredients contribute to ecological imbalances, prompting the need for alternative solutions in feed formulation.
At the same time, the environmental impacts of aquafeeds have garnered increased scrutiny. The production of feed ingredients such as soybeans, corn, and other crops can contribute to deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, undermining efforts to achieve environmental sustainability in aquaculture. Nutrient waste from uneaten feed and fish excreta can also lead to eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems, damaging water quality and biodiversity. Therefore, fisheries nutrition must address not only the nutritional requirements of fish but also the broader ecological footprint of aquafeed production and usage.

The Anthropocene epoch underscores an era of interconnected crises, where climate change, biodiversity collapse, and socioeconomic inequities amplify systemic vulnerabilities. Traditional siloed approaches—scientific research detached from policymaking, and policies divorced from community engagement—have proven inadequate in addressing these complex challenges. This chapter posits that systemic resilience necessitates the integration of science, policy, and community efforts through adaptive governance frameworks. By synthesizing transdisciplinary research, participatory policymaking, and grassroots innovation, the analysis highlights how evidence-based strategies, grounded in local realities, can bridge institutional and societal divides. Case studies, such as Costa Rica’s Payment for Ecosystem Services and Bangladesh’s Cyclone Preparedness Program, demonstrate the efficacy of co-produced solutions that align scientific rigor with equitable implementation. Challenges, including communication disparities, power imbalances, and funding misalignments, are critically examined to identify barriers to integration. The chapter concludes that dismantling sectoral silos, prioritizing marginalized voices, and fostering iterative collaboration are imperative for navigating Anthropocene uncertainties. These insights advocate for institutional innovations that embed inclusivity and adaptability into global sustainability agendas, offering a roadmap for transformative action across science, policy, and community domains.

As he looks to the future, Dr. Chauhan envisions several key goals to further the field of veterinary medicine: Expanding the scope of Veterinary Science :
Future goals of Dr. Chauhan
1. Advancing Research in Veterinary Pathology: Building upon his extensive research background, which includes authoring 120 books, contributing 101 chapters, and publishing 239 research papers, Dr. Chauhan aims to delve deeper into emerging diseases affecting livestock and companion animals. He plans to focus on molecular pathology to better understand disease mechanisms at the genetic level, facilitating the development of targeted treatments and preventive measures.
2. Promoting ‘Cowpathy’ and Indigenous Practices: Known as the “Cowpathy Man,” Dr. Chauhan has been a proponent of integrating traditional knowledge with modern veterinary practices. He intends to conduct rigorous scientific studies to validate and promote the use of indigenous products in animal healthcare, aiming to offer sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional treatments.
3. Enhancing Veterinary Education: With a passion for veterinary education, Dr. Chauhan plans to develop comprehensive curricula that incorporate the latest advancements in veterinary science. He seeks to mentor the next generation of veterinarians, emphasizing the importance of ethical practices, continuous learning, and adaptability in the face of evolving challenges in animal health.

In spite of the problems with dosage and viability of probiotic strains, a lot more work is required for industry standardization and safety issues. However, it is noted that probiotics have considerable potential against many pathogenic and other diseases. A wide range of clinical trials are still needed to standardize and optimize the conditions. Ongoing basic research will continue to identify and characterize existing strains of probiotics, identifying strain-specific outcomes, determine optimal doses needed for certain results and assess their stability through processing and digestion.

India is the second largest producer of vegetables in the world. Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi recommends intake of 125g leaf vegetables, 100g roots and 75g other vegetables/ day / adult for a balanced diet. Green leaf vegetables occupy an important place among the food crops as these provide adequate amounts of many vitamins and minerals for humans. Besides this, leaf vegetables are easy to grow and readily fit in any cropping system owing to its short duration. They are rich sources of carotene, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, folic acid and minerals like calcium, iron and phosphorus (Ramdasmurthy and Mohanram, 1984).
 
In nature, there are many greens of promising nutritive value, which can nourish the ever increasing human population. In spite of their nutritional importance, in India, leaf vegetable production is limited to kitchen gardens and market gardens due to various reasons. Although they can be raised comparatively at lower management costs even on poor marginal lands, they have remained underutilized due to lack of awareness and popularization of technologies for utilization.

7.1 Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the imitation of human intellect in machines designed to emulate human activities and cognitive functions. These machines are designed to accomplish tasks that normally require human intellect, such as learning, problem solving, perception, and decision-making (Zhang et al., 2022). Horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and ornamental plants, are of paramount importance in global agriculture, as they contribute significantly to food security, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, the cultivation of these crops poses numerous challenges for growers, such as fluctuating market demand, insufficient resources, unpredictable climate conditions, and the constant threat of pests and diseases (Nowak & Grant, 2018). In recent years, the agricultural sector has experienced a significant shift owing to advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies (Liakos et al., 2018). AI has emerged as a powerful tool for the cultivation of horticultural crops, providing solutions for boosting productivity, sustainability, and efficiency (Shrivastava & Kumar, 2021). By utilizing AI, horticulturists can overcome the traditional challenges associated with crop management, resource allocation, and environmental sustainability, paving the way for a more resilient and productive agricultural sector (Garg et al., 2019). The integration of AI into horticultural crop production encompasses a diverse range of applications, including precision agriculture, crop monitoring and management, predictive analytics, automated harvesting, and genetic improvement (Golhani et al., 2018). These applications leverage machine learning algorithms, remote sensing technologies, and data analytics to analyze vast amounts of agricultural data ranging from soil composition and weather patterns to crop health and market trends (Araus& Cairns, 2014). Through intelligent data-driven insights, AI enables farmers to make informed decisions in real-time, optimize resource utilization, minimize waste, and maximize yields (Kamilaris et al., 2017). This technological convergence offers promising prospects for food production, enabling stakeholders to explore new avenues for growth, resilience, and sustainability in horticultural crop cultivation (Mohanty et al., 2016).

The future of biodynamic farming is intricately linked to emerging trends and technologies that are transforming the landscape of agriculture. As the world grapples with environmental challenges, the demand for sustainable farming practices is intensifying. Biodynamic farming, rooted in ecological principles and holistic management, is gaining prominence as a viable solution for sustainable food production. This article explores the future of biodynamic farming, focusing on the emerging trends and technologies that are poised to shape its development. From advances in digital agriculture and precision farming to the integration of renewable energy and sustainable practices, the article examines how these innovations can enhance the effectiveness and scalability of biodynamic farming. Additionally, it highlights the role of research, education, and policy support in driving the adoption of biodynamic practices worldwide. By embracing these trends and technologies, biodynamic farming can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable global food system.

Biodynamic farming, an agricultural approach founded on Rudolf Steiner’s principles, has evolved significantly since its inception. As the global agricultural landscape continues to shift towards sustainability, the future of biodynamic farming is increasingly influenced by emerging trends and technologies. This article explores the future trajectory of biodynamic farming, focusing on key trends such as the integration of digital technologies, advancements in soil health management, and the growing emphasis on climate resilience. Additionally, the article examines how biodynamic practices are adapting to meet contemporary challenges and opportunities. By analyzing these developments, the article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the future potential of biodynamic farming and its role in shaping sustainable agriculture.

With recent work it has become clear that bacterial societies are very complex. Gene expression in bacterial communities are heterogenous. The heterogeneous gene expression contributes towards the biofilms in fluctuating environments which needs to be understood.Technique like single-cell analysis can help in the investigation of more complex communities. Recently, Jahid and Ha, (2012) have written a review on microbial biofilms of produce and the future challenges to food safety many outbreaks have been observed involving food- borne pathogens. Therefore, there is an urdent need for the safety of foods especially against microbial attacks and biofilm formation as they cause a risk to public health. Medically, the pathogenic microorganisms form biofilm- associated with the epithelial or endothelial lining which are embedded in the lungs, intestinal or vaginal mucus layer, the teeth or other medical implant surfaces or formed intracellularly (Dewasthale et al., 2018). Teichoic acids are characteristic major components of the cell surface in Gram-positive bacteria.

Introduction

The successful combination of technology and finance, commonly referred to as Financial Technology (henceforth, FinTech), can be understood as “technology enabled financial innovation” that may result in new business applications, models, products and/or processes, that create manifold material impact on f inancial markets and provision of financial services (Schueffel, 2016).

FinTech presents a promising prospective of bettering the situation of financial inclusion in developing countries like India by leveraging on technology in an innovative manner. Inclusive growth can be achieved through FinTech by means of broad-based prosperity, reduction in transaction costs and better access to financial services to the underserved (Sahay et al., 2020). In this context, Fintech companies are institutions applying technological innovations to increase efficiency and create enhanced access to the finance industry. There has been tremendous growth of such companies in recent years and it has also captured the interest of investors alike.

26.1 Introduction

The green revolution brought dramatic changes in productivity of rice and wheat and the production increased tremendously using high yielding wheat and rice varieties coupled with fertilizers and pesticide use to meet urgent demands of food. The world population is growing rapidly at an alarming rate. It has crossed 7 billion mark and is expected to become between 8.3 and 10.9 billion by 2050 (United States Census Bureau (USCB). India is second largest populous country of the world with 17.4 % of world population. Such an enormous overpopulation will result in extreme pressure on environment, global food supplies and energy resources. The less arable land and fewer renewable and non-renewable resources, the food production has to come from increases in production rather than expansion of cultivable areas.

Introduction

The contribution of agrochemicals in improving food security and human health cannot be undermined. They are, however, like a double-edged weapon; their indiscriminate use could result in a serious threat to the sustainability of the agricultural production system and human health. Though their long-term effects on environment and human health are yet to be fully understood, the short-term adverse effects of their indiscriminate use became apparent soon after their invention during the World War II. Many insect pests have developed resistance to chemical pesticides, and a number of beneficial insects that are natural enemies of the pests have disappeared. Realizing these threats, the scientific community has been proactive and developed safer alternatives using flora and fauna as substitutes for chemical pesticides. These alternatives are claimed to be as effective as chemical pesticides. Experimental evidences indicate that these provide effective protection against pests when used in conjunction with other methods of pest control, including chemical pesticides. The strategy is often referred to as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Since the adoption of IPM as a cardinal principle of plant protection in 1985, India has devised and implemented many IPM programmes encompassing research, extension and education with the objective to reduce the use of chemical pesticides, improve farm profitability, conserve environment and reduce adverse effect of pesticides on human health. Their effect is revealed in considerable reduction in pesticide-use, particularly during 1990s. The purpose of this paper is to provide a perspective on the IPM with emphasis on food security and safety.

Benjamin et al., (2016) have focused on the small-scale food processing enterprises (SSFPEs) as one of the important measures for national development and addressing food security challenges, particularly in Nigeria. The authors have explained the need for food processing as there has been tremendous food losses and wastages in the country. Enhancing the food processing and productivity for mechanization of food processing unit operations, development of new and existing technologies, design and development of machinery, systems for processing and preservation of different agricultural produce of high target have been undertaken. SSFPEs have played an important role in the economy of a developing country, particularly in terms of employment creation, income generation, post-harvest losses reduction, food preservation, value addition, improvement of food safety, nutritional quality, increase in shelf-life of a product and to act as training grounds for entrepreneurs before they invest in large scale enterprises. SSFPE’s around the world and especially in Nigeria are faced with significant challenges that compromise their ability to function and contribute optimally to the economy. Financial constraints and lack of management skills are the major constraints. It is important that governments and non-governmental organizations must encourage and facilitate the development of SSFPE’s. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO or GAIN in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. FAO’s Nutrition and Food Systems Division (ESN), in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) 2018,

“I think that there is far too much work done in the world,” writes Bertrand Russell in In Praise of Idleness. Rightly so, a workaholic is not necessarily a valued employee. Why we work, asks Barry Schwartz. Why for most of us work is monotonous and meaningless? Why we have twice as many “actively disengaged” workers in the world as there are “engaged” workers?

Do we work only for money? Some think, work is about pay and nothing more. It is true, people work for money, but not always. Many people work for the challenge, meaning, and engagement it brings. “The lesson here is that just how important material incentives are to people will depend on how the human workplace is structured. And if we structure it in keeping with the false idea that people work only for pay, we’ll create workplaces that make this false idea true,” writes Schwartz.

Ornamentals are beautiful plants used in home and urban landscaping to enhance quality of our lives. Ornamental crops are widely cultivated worldwide and appreciated for their characteristics and unique appreciable qualities such as attractive color, impressive shape and size of flower and for fragrance of flowers and foliage. Earlier ornamental plants were largely associated with our social life. Of late trends has changed towards commercialization and now they are used for decoration, personal adornment and value added products viz. dry flowers, extraction of essential oils, perfumes and dyes and in landscaping. Further, it helps in creating more job opportunities for youth and women.

The growing demands for quality flowers, introduction of new ornamental plants and diversification needs more attention in ornamental floriculture industry. Novelty is the key to success in ornamental horticulture. Introduction of exotic ornamentals and the domestication and release of new genotypes of wild ornamentals is always welcome in this connection. Some exotic ornamentals hitherto not widely grown in Indian gardens as well as a few native ornamentals with capability to bring in a color revolution and having the potential for exploitation are discussed below.

The rapid pace of technological innovation, coupled with mounting environmental challenges and shifting societal expectations, is fundamentally reshaping the landscape of sustainable food production. In this chapter, we explore the future outlook of this dynamic field by examining emerging trends in weather intelligence, the transformative potential of innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and data integration, as well as the evolving policy and ethical considerations that underpin sustainable agriculture. The integration of advanced technologies with traditional agronomic practices has led to the development of data-driven systems that not only forecast weather with greater accuracy but also optimize crop management, resource utilization, and risk mitigation. As we look toward the future, the convergence of these disciplines promises to usher in a new era of resilient, efficient, and environmentally conscious food production systems. We begin by outlining the current landscape and identifying key trends that are driving change. The discussion then transitions into an exploration of cuttingedge innovations in AI, IoT, and data integration that are revolutionizing weather intelligence. Subsequent sections address the policy frameworks and ethical dilemmas accompanying rapid technological adoption in agriculture, before concluding with a vision for future research directions and strategic planning. Finally, the chapter suggests additional topics—such as blockchain for supply chain transparency and urban vertical farming—to ensure a holistic view of sustainable food production in a rapidly changing world.
12.1 Emerging Trends in Weather Intelligence and Food Production
Over the past decade, advancements in sensor technologies, communication networks, and computational algorithms have revolutionized weather forecasting and climate monitoring. These breakthroughs are not only critical for predicting weather events but also serve as the foundation for proactive decision-making in agricultural management. High-resolution satellite imagery and remote sensing techniques now provide granular data about atmospheric conditions, soil moisture levels, and crop health (Fig.12.1).

8.1 Introduction

Considering increased awareness and interest in using herbal products because of their safer nature, the world market of traditional medicinal and aromatic plants is growing at a very fast pace. The global herbal industry is projected to be worth 5 trillion US$ by 2050 (the world bank report, 2000). These resources not only provide primary health care, but also nutraceutical support for wellness. Also, it has been experienced that they may help in curing some of the deadly and painful diseases such as cancer, HIV, AIDS, rheumatism, arthritis etc. India, due to its rich heritage in use of medicinal and aromatic plants under various traditional medicinal systems, which are important source of information about plant properties and use, can become a major player in the global context and can increase its market share substantially. To achieve this, an effective, efficient, and vibrant program is required to cover various aspects of management, research, and development.

9.1 Introduction 
Biochemical technology focuses on developing sustainable conversion of renewable materials like lignocellulosic wastes into value-added products with reduced emissions. The utilization of integrated bioprocess engineering for transforming carbon sources into diverse biotechnological products via microbial cells is an emerging field (Pais et al., 2016). Bioprocess engineering is a collection of thermodynamics, process simulation, bio-separations, microbiology, bioprocess kinetics, and systems engineering aiming for biomass conversion, biocatalysis-driven processing methods, and microbial processes. These processes can range from microscale to large-scale designs and systems (Liu et al., 2016) and generate value-added products such as biofuels like bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas (Patel et al., 2022); in pharmaceuticals (Tsopanoglou et al., 2021), probiotics (Lei et al., 2024), textiles (Bahtiyar et al., 2021), bioplastics, and biopolymers (Pathom-aree et al., 2024). Reactor design, fermentation, kinetics, and optimization are integral to bioprocess engineering. Not always but the pretreatment methods for lignocellulosic waste and its improvement should be considered for an optimized bioprocess engineering as they are the carbon source during fermentation. Pretreatment methods are physical, chemical, biological, or hybrid of any three treatments used to acquire desired products. Cost-effective and relatively slow biological pretreatment needs microorganisms to convert lignocellulosic waste into useful desired products (Abo et al., 2019). Chemical pretreatment utilizes harsh chemicals to increase biomass degradation, porosity, and solid separation but unfortunately are rarely used due to the harmful effects (Arora et al., 2018). Physical pretreatment methods utilize mechanical pressure to break down biomass but are expensive and irregular. Pretreatment for source and strain acquisition is the initial step of upstream bioprocessing followed by reaction conditions and bioreactor design (John et al., 2020). The primary part of any upstream process is to produce the desired product like enzyme followed downstream processing such as purification of the value-added product. The value-added products are developed via fermentation in equipment known as Bioreactors. Different bioreactors being utilized recently in bioprocess engineering and biorefinery are membrane bioreactors that offer high productivity, low environmental impact, and high flexibility (Akkoyunlu et al., 2024); airlift bioreactors (Hernández- Acevedo et al., 2024); fixed bed/packed bed and fluidized bed bioreactors are being utilized for their potential of reduced expenses, simpler design, enhanced temperature regulation and homogenous mixing (Srivastava et al., 2022) (Figure 10.1). Despite their high production and safety, the traditional large-scale stainless-steel vessels batch-wise are often expensive, inflexible, and have long construction times. As an alternative to the costly route, single-use equipment was introduced. Since they are pre-sterilized and are readily accessible to purchase as needed, this disposal method offers great flexibility and lower investment costs by eliminating the need for sterilization. However, there is high waste generation leading to a dent in sustainability and circular bioeconomy (Frank, 2018). The transformative step of the production system shifting from batchwise to continuous production has ultimately led to a decreased environmental footprint and prices and increased product quality and yield (Gerstweiler et al., 2021). The cost of bioprocess engineering (upstream and downstream) is dependent on factors such as types of feedstocks, fermentation types like submerged and solid-state, product types, and microbe or enzyme types (Kumar