Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.6, 308-316 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 308 Research Insight Open Access Impact of Agricultural Practices on Wheat Food Safety Rugang Xu, Zhonghui He Modern Agricultural Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: zhonghui.he@cuixi.org Field Crop, 2024, Vol.7, No.6 doi: 10.5376/fc.2024.07.0031 Received: 20 Oct., 2024 Accepted: 25 Nov., 2024 Published: 15 Dec., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Xu and He, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Xu R.G., and He Z.H., 2024, Impact of agricultural practices on wheat food safety, Field Crop, 7(6): 308-316 (doi: 10.5376/fc.2024.07.0031) Abstract This study explores the impact of pre- and post-harvest agricultural practices on wheat food safety, focusing on pesticide residues, heavy metal contamination from fertilizers, irrigation water quality, and fungal mycotoxins. A detailed case study highlights pesticide residue levels in a high-production region, analyzing contributing factors, detection methods, and mitigation strategies. Additionally, the role of sustainable approaches such as precision agriculture, biofertilizers, biopesticides, and genetic improvements in enhancing food safety is discussed. Regulatory frameworks and global standards are examined to evaluate existing policies and their effectiveness. The findings underscore the need for balancing productivity with safety, addressing challenges such as climate change, and adopting emerging technologies for contaminant detection and management. This study emphasizes practical recommendations and future research priorities to ensure safer wheat production practices and safeguard public health. Keywords Wheat food safety; Agricultural practices; Pesticide residues; Heavy metals; Sustainable solutions 1 Introduction Wheat is a fundamental staple food worldwide, ranking as the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice. It serves as an inexpensive source of calories and protein, making it a crucial component of the global diet (Bibi and Ilyas, 2020). The importance of wheat is underscored by its role in food security, particularly in regions like India, where it is a major food crop (Gahlot et al., 2020). As the global population continues to rise, the demand for wheat is expected to increase, necessitating sustainable production practices to meet future needs (Ma and Cai, 2024). Ensuring food safety in wheat production is vital due to the potential negative impacts of conventional agricultural practices. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides can lead to soil degradation, water pollution, and the accumulation of harmful substances in wheat, compromising its nutritional value and safety (Bibi and Ilyas, 2020). Moreover, agricultural pollution poses significant threats to human health and the environment, highlighting the need for eco-friendly and sustainable farming practices. The adoption of improved wheat varieties and sustainable agricultural practices can enhance food security and safety, as demonstrated in studies focusing on Ethiopia and other regions (Shiferaw et al., 2014; Rebouh et al., 2023). This study attempts to explore the impact of various agricultural practices on the safety of wheat as a food product, discuss how management strategies such as conservation tillage, eco-friendly practices, and the use of improved wheat varieties influence wheat performance, microbial communities, and overall food safety, and provide an overview of sustainable methods that can enhance wheat production while ensuring its safety for consumption. 2 Agricultural Practices Influencing Wheat Food Safety 2.1 Pesticide use and residue accumulation Pesticide use in wheat farming is a common practice aimed at controlling pests and diseases to ensure high yields. However, the accumulation of pesticide residues in wheat grains poses significant food safety concerns. The adoption of eco-friendly agricultural practices, such as biological crop protection and the integration of resistant wheat varieties, can help mitigate these risks by reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides (Rebouh et al., 2023). These practices not only contribute to sustainable wheat production but also enhance food safety by minimizing pesticide residues.
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