Publications

Greening Cold Chain Infrastructure to Develop Global Food Corridors: Accelerating the Achievement of the 2030 Agenda

Research Paper
| July 27, 2023

Each year, one-third of the total food for human consumption is either lost or wasted even as millions worldwide experience food insecurity. Similarly, over 25 percent of vaccines are wasted each year while millions die from vaccine-preventable illnesses Sustainable cold chain infrastructure can significantly reduce post-harvest food loss and vaccine wastage, and deliver social and climate benefits. However, acknowledging the need for cold storage alone does not ensure food security or access to vaccines, and must be supported by policies and resources, including technologies.

A G20 Coalition on Emerging Technologies for a Zero-Carbon, Climate-Resilient Sustainable Future

Research Paper
| July 25, 2023

The Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals necessitate a move towards a developmental convergence point where all are safe, prosperous, and live in peace. Such a future partly hinges upon the timely development, deployment, and rapid diffusion of technologies, particularly emerging technologies. While these technologies are on the horizon, the risk lies in the time that they might take to have a mature market across the G20 countries.

Financing Climate-Smart Agriculture for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems

Research Paper
| July 20, 2023

A critical concern related to the agri-food system is inadequate financing to meet the adverse impacts of climate change, and the extreme variability of global food security and nutrition to attain Sustainable Development Goal 2 (zero hunger). As per the 2022 Report of the United Nations Secretary General on SDGs, 720 to 811 million persons suffered from hunger in 2020, with between 118 to 161 million added to the list of the hungry since 2019.

Molecular Diagnostic of Ochratoxin A With Specific Aptamers in Corn and Groundnut via Fabrication of a Microfluidic Device

Research Paper
| July 20, 2023

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the predominant mycotoxins that contaminate a wide range of food commodities. In the present study, a 36-mer aptamer was used as a molecular recognition element coupled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for colorimetric detection of OTA in a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPADs). The μPADs consisted of three zones: control, detection, and sample, interconnected by channels. UV-vis spectroscopy (UV-vis), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used for characterization of AuNPs and AuNPs/Aptamer.

Sensitive Fingerprint Detection Using Biocompatible Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Coating on Non‐Porous Surfaces

Research Paper
| July 20, 2023

In recent years, the development and application of biocompatible nanomaterials in the detection of fingerprints have become a major focus for the forensic sector and crime investigators. This study aims to synthesize biocompatible silica nanoparticles (Si NPs) through cost‐effective green methods and will be used to detect a latent fingerprint on a non‐porous surface. As a type of environmentally friendly nanomaterial, Si NPs were prepared via an oil–water mixed micro‐emulsion templating (MET) approach.

Arsenic ion assisted core–satellites nano-assembly of gold nanoparticles for its colorimetric determination in water

Research Paper
| July 19, 2023

Arsenic contamination in water has threatened lives globally. The capability of arsenic to interact with the sulfhydryl group of amino acids in human body is considered as one of the factors leading to its increased toxicity and there is the dire need for development of better detection platforms.

Fast-tracking Road Transport Decarbonisation through a New ‘International Sustainable Transport Alliance’

Research Paper
| July 14, 2023

Clean and affordable public transportation can lower carbon emissions, improve urban air quality, and enable economic development. India’s G20 presidency can leverage the country’s National Electric Bus Programme to serve as a model that can be replicated across emerging market and developing economies.

Tailoring Blended Finance to the Local Context to Support SDG-7

Research Paper
| July 12, 2023

The Indian government places high priority on the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector because of its significance in alleviating poverty. Its goal is to raise the sector’s share of the GDP to 50 percent and create jobs for at least 150 million people. However, the MSME sector faces several challenges, such as supportive infrastructural gaps related to energy provisioning, especially clean energy.

Towards a Circular Plastics Economy: India’s Actions to #BeatPlasticPollution

Article
| July 12, 2023

World Environment Day 2023 serves as an important reminder that the actions we take to mitigate plastic pollution have a significant impact. Now, more than ever, we must intensify these efforts and swiftly transition to a circular economy. Avanti Roy-Basu and Girija K Bharat say that as the world celebrates World Environment Day in 2023, focusing on “solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution”, it is crucial to understand that each one of us has multiple roles to play in addressing this global crisis.

Developing a Global Nitrous Oxide Reduction Policy for A Food-Secure Future

Research Paper
| July 11, 2023

Multilateral approaches to nitrogen pollution are generating synergies between climate change and food security and presenting opportunities to reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) globally. N2O is the most abundant ozone-depleting substance not yet regulated by the Montreal Protocol and a powerful greenhouse gas. Failure to reduce emissions will delay ozone layer recovery and worsen the climate crisis. While cost-effective mitigation technologies to reduce N2O emissions are available, policies and incentives to encourage the uptake of such measures are lacking.