The Vietnamese government has been fostering an enabling environment for vertical integration within t he rice v alue c hain t hrough c ontract farming (CF) to enhance value chains, improve product quality, and increase farmers’ incomes. While previous studies have explored the impacts of CF participation versus non-participation, there is limited evidence on the differing effects of specific CF types. This study addresses self-selection bias using propensity score matching (PSM) to evaluate and compare the effects of two CF types―indirect contract farming (CF-I) and direct contract farming (CF-D)―on rice farmers’ income and yield in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Data were collected from 437 rice farmers across three provinces: Can Tho, An Giang, and Hau Giang. The findings indicate that participation in contract farming is not scale-neutral; CF-D tends to benefit larger-scale farmers. Additionally, farmers involved in CF-I experienced higher yields and incomes compared to non-CF farmers, with yield increases ranging from 0.44 to 0.76 tons/ha and income increases from 7.48 to 8.99 million VND/ha. Farmers participating in CF-D saw income increases of 5.04 to 5.54 million VND/ha, but the change in yield was not statistically significant. Moreover, those involved in CF-I had both higher yields and incomes than those engaging in CF-D. This study provides comparative evidence on the effects of different CF types in the rice sector and suggests that scaling up CF, particularly CF-I, can effectively enhance farmers’ yields and incomes.

In Korea, the agricultural industry has witnessed a growing emphasis on reducing reliance on imported forage by adopting locally available alternatives to enhance sustainability and self-sufficiency. Given the limited information on the potential use of whole-crop rice silage (WCRS) as livestock feed, this study evaluated the effects of total mixed rations (TMR) containing WCRS on the rumen microbiota of Hanwoo heifers. Thirty heifers (body weight = 351 ± 39 kg) were randomly assigned to three TMR diet groups for the early fattening period: oat hay (OH), oat hay with Italian ryegrass silage and corn silage (OIC), and silages from whole-crop rice, Italian ryegrass, and corn (WCRSEF). During the late fattening period, the same heifers (569 ± 40 kg) were reassigned to three other treatment groups: perennial ryegrass (PRG), Italian ryegrass silage and alfalfa hay (IRGA), and silage containing whole-crop rice (WCRSLF). The effects of different feeding diets on the rumen microbial composition of Hanwoo heifers were investigated using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The analysis revealed similar microbial diversity among the treatments across both fattening periods. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most dominant phyla during early and late fattening periods. Moreover, during the early fattening period, heifers fed WCRS exhibited a higher ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes, whereas Firmicutes became more predominant in the late fattening period. Hungateiclostridium and Porphyromonas were identified as biomarkers (LDA score > | 2 |; p < 0.05) for the WCRSEF and WCRSLF groups, respectively. Furthermore, the microbial co-occurrence network highlighted different patterns (| r | = 0.85; p < 0.05) between the early and late fattening periods. The results provide significant insights into the effects of WCRS as a substitute for conventional forages such as oat hay, perennial ryegrass, alfalfa, and Italian ryegrass silage. The findings suggest that WCRS can modulate the rumen microbiome of Hanwoo heifers.

This study investigated the quality and antioxidant characteristics of rice morning bread prepared with the addition of apple peel powder (APP, 0, 4, 8, and 12% w/w). It sought to evaluate the influence of APP on the antioxidant capacity of rice morning bread. The findings are summarized as follows: First, as the APP content increased, the weight of the rice morning bread significantly increased, while the volume and specific volume decreased (p<0.001). Second, the Hunter color values showed that the L value (lightness) decreased, whereas the a (redness) and b (yellowness) values increased significantly. Third, texture profile analysis revealed that hardness and chewiness increased with increasing APP levels, whereas cohesiveness decreased (p<0.001). Fourth, antioxidant activities (measured with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH], 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) [ABTS] radical scavenging ability, and ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP]) improved significantly. Fifth, the total phenolic content (TPC) of rice morning bread significantly increased with increasing levels of APP (p<0.05). In conclusion, although APP significantly enhances antioxidant properties, given the bread's physical characteristics, a 4% addition is most appropriate. This study suggests that apple peel powder, a sustainable byproduct, is a promising material for developing functional bakery products.

This study aimed to provide agricultural drones to small-scale rice farming communities and assess their ability to manage and utilize these drones collaboratively without external support. Conducted in Paraguay in 2024, this research was part of the Korea Partnership for Innovation in Agriculture (KOPIA) project under the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea. The target f armers w ere f rom six communities in t he I tapúa and Misiones d epartments t hat had adopted KOPIA's cultivation techniques to enhance rice productivity. In rice fields, drones are primarily utilized to spray pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, as well as to apply urea fertilizer. The shared use of drones was organized into two groups: one for the Itapúa Department and another for the Misiones Department, with each group receiving one drone. Community members shared the drones and collected per-hectare usage fees to cover pilot fees, drone repairs, and spare parts. From August 2024 to July 2025, during one rice season, the Itapúa Department group recorded 106 drone usage services, w hile the Misiones Department g roup had 1 18 services. In the Itapúa g roup, approximately 70.2% of the total funds collected were spent on shared drone use, with around 38.4% allocated for pilot fees. Sharing agricultural machinery could provide a viable solution, enabling tenant farmers to access essential equipment without the financial burden of ownership.

Biodiversity in paddy ecosystems not only enhances crop production but also regulates ecosystem functions, providing various ecosystem services. Benthic macroinvertebrates are crucial organisms that play vital roles in these ecological processes; however, research on their community dynamics in paddy ecosystems is still limited. This study aimed to examine how the community characteristics and ecological functions of benthic macroinvertebrates differ across various types of organic floury rice cultivation. The findings indicated that Rice Field 2 (RF2) hosted a greater diversity of species compared to the other paddy fields. Over time, both the diversity and richness indices in RF2 and RF3 were significantly higher than those in RF1. Similar trends were observed in the functional feeding groups (FFGs) and habitat orientation groups (HOGs). These results suggest that organic floury rice cultivation practices and proximity to the Doombeong (traditional farm pond) jointly influence the community composition and ecological functions of benthic macroinvertebrates. Consequently, differences in cultivation practices can alter vegetation structure, while the complex habitat provided by Doombeong serves as an important refuge for benthic macroinvertebrate communities, aiding in biodiversity conservation and the maintenance of ecological functions in paddy ecosystems.

In this study, we aimed to compare the quality characteristics of madeleines prepared by substituting wheat flour with stabilized rice bran (SRB) at levels of 0–40%, and evaluated physicochemical properties and consumer acceptability to investigate sensory characteristics. Volume and baking loss significantly increased, whereas the moisture content significantly decreased with increasing SRB substitution levels (p<0.05). Concerning color, the L* value significantly decreased, whereas the a* and b* values significantly increased with an increasing SRB content (p<0.05). In the texture profile analysis, hardness significantly decreased with higher SRB levels. Moreover, both gumminess and chewiness displayed significant reduction in proportion to the SRB content. In the consumer acceptability test, the control group exhibited the highest score for appearance (7.91±1.25), while the appearance scores of SRBadded samples decreased with an increasing SRB content, suggesting that darker colors negatively influenced consumer preference. However, the SRB 30% group yielded the highest scores in grain flavor and overall acceptability (6.00±2.16 and 6.53±1.68, respectively). Based on the combined results of quality characteristics and consumer evaluation, we determined 30% SRB substitution the most suitable level for madeleine formulation.

This study evaluated the applicability of ‘Baromi2’ (B2) rice flour as a functional ingredient in lean bread by replacing wheat flour at levels of 10%, 20%, and 30%. Bread was produced under standardized baking conditions, and its quality characteristics were assessed through physicochemical analyses (including specific volume, texture, and color). The internal crumb structure was also examined to assess gluten network integrity. As the substitution level increased, finished product volume decreased and crumb hardness significantly increased, indicating weakening of the gluten network. Internal structure analysis revealed that higher substitution levels and reduced pore evenness. Among the samples, the 10% substitution level produced bread with the most balanced texture and crumb structure. These results suggest that ‘B2’ rice flour can be used to partially replace wheat flour in lean bread to enhance nutritional diversity and maintain product quality.

In this study, freeze-dried red beet powder was characterized for its physicochemical properties and functional components and subsequently incorporated into rice cookies at levels of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% to assess its effects on quality characteristics and antioxidant activity. As the level of red beet powder increased, moisture content decreased, whereas both the diameter and thickness of the rice cookies increased, resulting in a reduced spread ratio. In terms of color parameters, lightness and yellowness decreased, whereas redness significantly increased with increasing red beet powder content, indicating a distinct visual change in the cookies. Antioxidant activity increased proportionally with red beet powder levels. These findings demonstrate that incorporating red beet powder effectively enhances the antioxidant activity and functional properties of rice cookies.

메탄(CH4)은 지구 온난화에 크게 기여하는 온실가스이며, 우리나라 농업 분야에서 벼 재배는 메탄 배출의 주요한 원인으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 벼 뿌리의 형태학적 특성과 토양 환경이 메탄 배출 특성에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위하여 온도 조절이 가능한 인공 유리 온실에서 삼광과 신동진 벼 품종을 대상으로 포트 실험을 수행하였다. 생육 단계별로 챔버를 이용한 메탄 가스 포집과 벼의 생육 특성 및 뿌리의 형태학적 특성을 조사하고 토양의 산화환원전위, 온도, 용존유기탄소를 함께 측정하였다. 두 품종 모두 유수형성기 이후 메탄 배출량이 급격히 증가하여 출수기에 최대 1.7-2.1 mg CH4 m-2 hr-1을 보였으며, 누적 메탄 배출량은 삼광 품종이 다소 높았으나 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 없었다. 벼 뿌리의 형태학적 특성은 두 품종 간 유의한 차이가 없었으나, 주요 생육 시기의 메탄 배출 변화와는 유사하였다. 또한, 토양 산화환원전위는 담수기간이 지속될수록 환원 조건이 더욱 형성되었다. 이는 토양 내 메탄생성균의 기질 공급 등의 유리한 조건을 형성하여 메탄 생성이 활발해졌을 것으로 판단된다. 이러한 결과는 벼 품종 및 재배 관리에 따른 농업 부문의 메탄 저감 전략 마련에 기초 자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.