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Agricultural production has dual functions as a carbon emitter and sink, and fully exploiting the carbon sink function of agriculture is highly valuable for ensuring carbon neutrality. The layout of net carbon in agriculture shows an imbalance, i.e., underscaling in areas with a net carbon advantage or overscaling in areas with a net carbon disadvantage, which restricts the fulfillment of agricultural carbon sinks. Clarifying the global pattern of net carbon imbalances in agriculture and their drivers is highly important for improving the overall net carbon. In this regard, this paper focuses on the global net carbon in agriculture in 155 countries and regions, and a spatial mismatch index of net carbon in agriculture (MNCA) is constructed based on the relative difference between net carbon and cultivated land. Spatial autocorrelation analysis and the standard deviation ellipse are used to reflect its spatiotemporal evolution pattern. In addition, through geographically weighted regression, we explored the effects of agricultural structure, agricultural economic development, the scale of labor and cultivated land and organized the mismatches into carbon and area effects. The results show that (1) global agricultural production represents net carbon emissions, while developing countries represent net carbon sinks, and there is a mismatch of net agricultural carbon in most regions; (2) the MNCA is characterized by low-low clustering in North America, Asia and Europe, with its center of gravity falling in western Africa and migrating northeastward; and (3) the main factors influencing the MNCA are the agricultural structure and economic level. Underscaling in areas with a net carbon advantage is a major problem. To increase the global agricultural carbon sink capacity, we suggest that North America, South Asia and other regions strictly implement agricultural emission reduction policies and that Central America, South America and Africa tentatively upgrade agricultural technology and their economies to alleviate farmland pressure through transnational cooperation. In this paper, the global net carbon imbalance in agriculture is identified and the overall implementation path of increasing carbon sinks is explored to provide a reference for achieving carbon neutrality. This study reports a global mismatch in net carbon in agriculture and identifies the wasted carbon sink advantage of developing countries as the root problem. • It is a new indicator to measure the efficiency of net carbon allocation in the agricultural production process. • Agricultural production in developing countries shows a net carbon sink advantage. • Under-scaling of net carbon advantage is major problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the economic viability of biochar application in crop production, focusing on varying application rates of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 tons per hectare. Biochar, produced through biomass pyrolysis, has shown promise in improving crop yields and contributing to environmental sustainability. The biochar production financial metrics were analyzed, and it shows that the economic parameters such as Operational Expenditure (OPEX) amounting to $2339.40, feedstock cost of $2420.25, and transport cost of $293.71. The total biochar production cost was $232.87 per ton, with labour costs comprising 27.07 % of the overall production and application expenses. The analysis revealed that the maximum annual revenue from crop production (peas in the rabi season and maize in the kharif season) reached $525.88 per hectare at a biochar application rate of 12 tons/ha. Carbon sequestration revenue was estimated at $186.6 per ton of biochar. Economic indicators revealed that the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) was the highest at 1.476, with an 8 ton/ha biochar application rate. At the same time, the net present worth (NPW) and internal rate of return (IRR) also maximized at this rate, reaching $932.85 and 85.71 %, respectively. Conversely, higher biochar application rates of 24 and 28 tons/ha resulted in negative NPW and IRR values and BCR values below 1, indicating economic infeasibility at these levels. These findings highlight the economic viability and potential agronomic benefits of biochar application at optimal rates of 8 tons/ha for promoting sustainable crop production. • Biochar production cost is $232.87 per ton of biochar. • One ton of biochar production mitigates 6.22 tons of CO 2. • Biochar can support a circular bioeconomy in crop production by reusing agricultural crop residue. • Biochar application of 8 tons/ha is feasible; policymakers should support this rate and discourage rates over 20 tons/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh vegetables are prone to foodborne pathogen infection due to improper cultivation methods and poor post-harvest handling practices. This paper describes the prevalence of foodborne pathogens in three vegetables (tomato, brinjal, and lablab) cultivated by small-scale producers (SSP) of India. We assessed the possible entry of pathogens into the vegetable production chain. Samples from soil, manure, irrigation water, harvesting bins, and workers' hands were assessed as sources of possible pathogen entry. In addition, further sampling was done to determine prevalence of these pathogens in the produce from the agricultural fields and markets. Total plate counts, yeast and mold count, total coliforms like general microbial indices, and possible foodborne pathogens like Salmonella , Escherichia coli O157, Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and norovirus were assessed in all the samples by standard microbiological, biochemical, and molecular methods. The results revealed that among the three vegetables we studied, brinjal had the highest load of general microbial indicators. Moreover, the total coliforms count of market vegetables was higher than that of on-farm vegetables, indicating poor hygiene in post-harvest operations. The pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in the market tomatoes (0.35 log 10 cfu/g), and E. coli was detected in the market samples of brinjal (2.98–3.89 log 10 cfu/g) and lablab (0.59–2.21 log 10 cfu/g), thereby revealing fecal cross-contamination during pre or post-harvest operations. None of the vegetable samples were contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus , Salmonella sp., and norovirus. However, the microbiological source tracking of primary production farms showed that E. coli O157:H7 was present in manure (9/27), soil (6/27), harvest bins (6/27), and irrigation water samples (3/27) of SSP farms. In addition, soil (33%), manure (11%), and harvest bins (11%) had Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In conclusion, our study suggests that adequate knowledge of good agricultural practices for small-scale producers to cultivate microbiologically safe vegetable production and proper handling strategies for vegetable vendors is crucial to mitigate foodborne pathogen outbreaks through fresh vegetables. • The work delineates food safety issues of fresh vegetables of small-scale producers. • Field and market samples of tomato, brinjal and lablab had high microbial indices. • Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli found in fresh produces. • Manure, soil, irrigation water, and harvest bin are sources of contamination. • Good agricultural practices for microbial safe vegetable production identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Examines how urban conservation unevenly incorporates peri-urban village land and housing. • Details how uneven incorporation shapes social differentiation. • Shows how uneven incorporation shapes experiences of rural-urban transitions. • Develops a volumetric conceptual framework including multiple dimensions of space and time. • Reorients approaches to agrarian and urban questions through attention to their interconnections. A central feature of China's "green" development plan has been the creation of conservation zones across the peri-urban fringes of major cities. In these conservation zones, rural land and housing are being unevenly incorporated into urban space, leading to a diverse set of experiences for dislocated villagers. In this paper, I develop a volumetric approach to analyze the spatial politics of agricultural and urban transitions in China's conservation zones. I advance theories of vertical and volumetric space, which consider relations across heights, depths, and surfaces, through attention to the temporalities and everyday experiences of volumes. My volumetric approach provides a foundation for delineating how the uneven valuation and compensation of rural land and housing shapes social differentiation, as well as how villagers navigate and experience rural-urban transitions. Furthermore, I argue that a volumetric account of three-dimensional space exposes the interconnections between agrarian and urban questions, which are usually considered discretely. The central contribution of this paper, therefore, is to reorient the agrarian and urban questions in relation to one another across horizontal, vertical, and temporal axes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Transnational labor migration from Myanmar contributes to upland smallholder agricultural intensification in China. • This in-migration from Myanmar to China is long-term rather than only being seasonal. • Smallholders will change future land use practices due to the substitution of labor from Myanmar. • We contribute to research on agrarian changes in upland rural society in the context of out- and in-migration. Abstract This paper examines the effects of transnational labor migration from Myanmar (Burma) on upland land use practices on the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar borderland, particularly in the context of out-migration and the aging of the local labor force. The study is based on a combined framework, with economic and geopolitical dimensions, and using in-depth fieldwork. The findings are as follows: (1) The increase of available labor from Myanmar, as a substitution for and supplementation of the outgoing local labor force that is migrating to China's cities, helps local villagers cultivate crops, thus influencing smallholder land use. (2) This inward migration from Myanmar to China is long-term (rather than only being seasonal), based on the year-round nature and demands of China's farming activities. (3) Due to the in-migration of labor from Myanmar, local villagers will flexibly adapt to planting cash crops that provide stable market prices. Such practices may delay the marginalization of farmland use. We argue that agricultural intensification can be achieved in the upland of the China-Myanmar borderland in the context of out- and in-migration. Smallholders can obtain profits from agricultural activities by hiring Burmese laborers, which helps to avoid a land abandonment scenario. This paper contributes to the existing body of literature on agrarian changes and rethinks agricultural growth in the upland rural society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of organic chemistry in the 1800s quickly lead to the realisation that products previously derived from plants and animals could be derived synthetically from alternative organic sources. Although it slowly became clear that there were limitations to this technology, the goal of producing animal protein synthetically has remained a tantalising prospect for scientists, with new hopes being rekindled throughout the years as new knowledge emerged or technologies developed. The demonstration of synthetic meat (also termed in vitro meat) in 2013 revived this dream and, with the refinement of protein synthesis technologies, 31 start-ups are now working to become the first company to market synthetic animal protein. The potentially transformative nature of this technology make it essential to understand its potential to disrupt conventional agriculture at an early stage. This paper addresses this issue by examining historical substitutions that have lead to the decline or even decimation of agricultural industries, namely: alizarin (madder), indigotin (indigo) and vanillin (vanilla). Following an outlining of the historical cases themselves, it identifies substitution product complexity, ease of synthesis, compatibility with industrial processes, and contamination of the natural product as four key issues that affect the substitution transition. Analysis of the specific synthetic animal protein case suggests that, while there are many additional issues that could affect any transition, three aspects are key: development of transferrable technologies in the medical sector, potential environmental advantages, and a lack of consumer resistance to its "unnatural" nature. Finally, the paper argues that rather than a complete substitution (e.g. alizarin & indigo) a furcated market (e.g. vanillin) with various classes of protein production is likely to emerge – within which industrial livestock production will struggle to compete against cheap synthetic alternatives. • Synthetic animal protein products will be available in the next decade. • Historical substitutions provide lessons for the future protein transition. • Intensive livestock production will ultimately struggle to compete with biosynthetics. • Market furcation is the likely future of the animal protein market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • This paper uses exogenous variation during the growing season to identify the role of income on discounting in the Highlands of Ethiopia. • We take advantage of the availability of panel data to control for individual specific sources of heterogeneity. • We find that income variations driven by anomalies in rainfall are strong predictors of farmers' subjective discount rates. • We estimate that a 10% increase in negative rainfall anomalies, increases subjective discount rates by 20%. • Discounting is significantly correlated with the likelihood of undertaking agricultural investments. Abstract We have combined farm household panel data, weather data and discount rates, as measured by a hypothetical survey question, to estimate the impact of income on discounting. This paper has found that income variation driven by anomalies in rainfall during the main growing season is a strong predictor of farmers' subjective discount rates. Farmers prefer a smaller immediate reward to a larger deferred one when affected by negative income shocks, while they display lower discount rates when the income shocks are positive. We have also found that higher discount rates are negatively correlated with profitable agricultural investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A vibrant literature has emerged around Bourdieusian-inspired notions of the 'good farmer' and how such concepts might aid our understandings of agriculture and agricultural change. To date, however, studies of the good farmer have been framed largely in relation to land management, with little consideration given to riparian environments which make up a significant part of the farmed landscape. Drawing on in-depth interviews with farmers in a river catchment in the North of England (UK), this paper considers how farmers' engagement with riparian environments on their farms feature in, and are (re)shaped by, notions of good farming. The paper observes how riparian environments' (im)materiality, unpredictability and untidiness limit their ability to generate and exhibit capital(s) and how an infrequency of direct engagement with rivers – arguably reinforced through recent regulatory changes on what farmers can and cannot do to riparian environments – mean that farmers have often not developed skills and capitals associated with rivers in the same way that they have for land. These observations are used to consider farmers' engagement with more recently introduced river health-enhancing managements and to consider whether, when taken together, we might be witnessing a shift in how riparian environments contribute to good farming and good farmer status. Highlights • Bourdieusian-inspired literature on the 'good farmer' might be expanded to encompass the discussion of riparian environments. • Riparian environments offer fewer opportunities for capital accumulation and capital demonstration for farmers. • There is evidence that positive river management(s) may be starting to be incorporated into good farmer status as the rules of the game change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Examines a fresh case of land and water investment in northern Ghana. • Situates the case in a longer historical context of land grabs in Africa. • Discusses the land/agrarian questions and their resolution in this case. • Interrogates the industrialisation implications of the case for Ghana. • Raises issues for further research on the case. Abstract Despite its hostile climatic conditions, the Northern Ghana has recently attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) in land and water acquisitions for capitalist farming. Drawing on the insights of agrarian political economy, this paper critically analyses a new and under-researched case of such investment in the "Overseas", Northern Region, by The Integrated Water Management and Agricultural Development Ghana Limited (IWAD). The thrust of the analysis is the implications of the business model of IWAD for the social (re)production of peasants and the industrialisation vision of the Ghanaian state. I argue that helpful and important insights into these implications – especially the linkages between land acquisition, capitalist agriculture, agrarian change and industrialisation – can be gained by situating contemporary land acquisitions in the longer historical span of land grabs in Africa. This exercise should focus on the articulation of the (re)production of African rural populace with the global economy through global primitive accumulation. After doing this, the paper then documents and discusses the land question and its resolution in this specific case, and then examines the emerging agrarian change in the Overseas and its significance for industrialisation in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The agricultural sector in Nigeria provides a socio-economic resource base for exiting pervasive poverty, and transforming the economy. However, with the challenges posed by climate change through variability in rainfall, the agricultural livelihoods and poverty status of the population could be threatened due to the vulnerability context of the country. This paper explores the relationship between rainfall and food poverty through the assessment of vulnerability to climate change in an agricultural economy by geo-referencing and mapping of rainfall variability and food poverty. It provides a quantification of the scale and location of the area under food poverty and rainfall variability with scenarios that provide alternative sustainable development pathways of desirable outcomes. The coefficients of variation of rainfall or precipitation seasonality were computed from geo-referenced data and topologically overlaid on the most recent food poverty profile for Nigeria. The findings reveal intriguing phenomena bordering on agro-climatic and socio-economic factors of climate change vulnerability. The findings provide a basis for policy formulation and implementation on inequity of food poverty and environmental sustainability. It offers empirical insights on how to rethink concepts of socio-economic and environmental sustainability through landscapes and livelihoods as outcomes of vulnerability contexts. The paper concludes that, there is need for agricultural transformation along vulnerability dimensions. The evidence of the nexus between rainfall and food poverty could be a new model for promoting sustainability of the agrarian economy in Nigeria. Highlights • Rainfall variability exacerbates food poverty in rain-fed agricultural-based economy. • Agroecological-based system of agricultural production enhances agricultural livelihoods and environmental resilience. • The nexus between precipitation and poverty has implications for landscape, livelihoods and sustainable agricultural development. • Strategic climate change adaptation policy should aim at improving food poverty situation, and boosting resilience through agroecological-based food production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The paper investigates the impact of rainfall shocks on agricultural productivity and crop-specific agricultural land productivity. The paper also examines the impact of negative rainfall shocks on household consumption as well as its distributional impact by initial wealth and geographical zones. We use nationally representative panel datasets from Nigeria merged with georeferenced rainfall information. Negative rainfall shocks have heterogeneous effects on crop-specific agricultural productivity and based on geographical zones. We use an instrumental variables regression approach, where agricultural land productivity is instrumented with negative rainfall shocks. A negative rainfall shock decreases agricultural productivity and hence decreases household consumption by 37%. We also show considerable differential impacts of rainfall shocks on household consumption by initial values of wealth and geographical zones. Rainfall shocks have a negative, significant impact for asset-poor and nonpoor households, but has a higher impact on household consumption for asset-poor households. Similarly, it has higher impact for land-poor households and households in northern Nigeria. Highlights • The impact of rainfall shocks on crop-specific agricultural productivity was investigated. • The paper examines the impact of negative rainfall shocks on household consumption. • The distributional impact of rainfall shocks was examined. • Heterogeneous effects of rainfall shocks were identified. • Differential impacts of rainfall shocks on household consumption was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced technologies offer a promising answer, especially integrating personalized context-aware systems through ubiquitous devices and adaptive learning. This paper explores the ability of these technologies to transform agricultural practices, improving performance and sustainability. This study aims to analyze the effect of integrating context-aware structures in agriculture using ubiquitous gadgets and adaptive learning fashions. It specializes in assessing the upgrades in helpful resource control, crop yield, and environmental sustainability and explores the farming community's economic, social, and academic advantages. Utilizing a combined-methods approach, the studies combine intensive literature with empirical statistics series, including discipline experiments, surveys, and interviews with key agricultural stakeholders. It examines contemporary farming practices, the capabilities of rising technology, and the conditions for enforcing robust context-aware systems in farming. Implementing context-aware systems improves agricultural practices by optimizing water and chemical usage, enhancing soil health, and increasing crop yields. Ubiquitous devices and adaptive learning models facilitate specific, real-time selection-making, leading to extra sustainable and green farming operations. Feedback from the rural community similarly underscores the positive effect of technology on improving accessibility to facts and collaborative learning. The study demonstrated that integrating personalized, context-aware systems with IoT and adaptive learning significantly improves agricultural efficiency and sustainability, evidenced by enhanced resource management and increased crop yields. This study contributes to the discourse on leveraging advanced technology to reap agricultural sustainability and units the groundwork for destiny research and coverage development in era-better farming. • Personalized context-aware system leveraging ubiquitous devices and adaptive learning to enhance agricultural sustainability. • Significant improvements in environmental sustainability by integrating advanced technologies into farming practices. • Sensor network of soil moisture sensors, weather stations, and drones, providing comprehensive real-time agricultural data. • Impact of technology on agriculture, boosts information access, refines decision-making, empowers communities. • Adaptive learning models (Random Forest and LSTM) highlighting adaptability and accuracy in data-driven farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the emergent properties of deagrarianisation processes in two villages in the central Eastern Cape, South Africa. The claim of is that much of the deagrarianisation literature and debate does not acknowledge the importance of landscapes and the interaction between their constituent elements, notably people, forests, grasslands, fields, grazing lands, open spaces, built environments and homesteads, all of which contribute to shaping and, in turn, are shaped by livelihoods. Conceptualising a landscape as a spatial entity and associated assemblage of practices, discourses and history, this paper dissects the landscape in terms of land uses for residential and cultural purposes, growing, grazing and gathering. These land use categories together represent the rural domain to which the villagers are attached as a place and a home. Their use of the land is not necessarily oriented to fully exploring its productive potential. The article explores the transformation from a productive landscape to one which largely hinges on consumption. The blurring of boundaries between the formally designated land use categories signifies the transformations occurring in many of the rural areas in the former homelands of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Belgium, Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs) collectively organize the cultivation and distribution of cannabis for the personal use of their members. In this paper we seek to improve understanding of the motivations and practices of cannabis growers operating within CSCs, shedding light on the cultivation process.Methods: We draw on data gathered through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with the directors of seven active Belgian CSCs (n = 21) and CSC growers (n = 23). These data are complemented by additional fieldwork and a review of policies relating to CSCs', including bylaws and growing protocols.Findings: The Belgian CSCs rely on single and multiple in-house grower arrangements. Most CSC growers had been cultivating cannabis prior to joining their current CSC, albeit growing in different contexts (non-commercial and commercial). The CSC growers discussed both ideological and pragmatic motives for operating within a CSC. Cultivation took place indoors and followed organic practices. Despite their small-scale (20 plants on average), the grow sites used specialized equipment. The growers reported receiving financial compensation to cover production costs.Conclusion: This paper offers new insights into a particular sector of domestic cannabis cultivation - CSC growers and their practices within those collectives - which has not been studied previously. The Belgian CSCs have decentralized production among small-scale grow sites, at a size comparable to that found in other small-scale cultivation studies. In terms of motivations and practices, CSC growers share some features typically ascribed to small-scale cannabis cultivators. At the same time, CSC growers seemed particularly engaged with the CSC model and willing to adhere to the (self-)regulated practices developed by the organizations. This had implications for the way cultivation was organized and for the role of the grower within the CSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the heterogeneity and richness of Mediterranean farming systems, it is difficult to assess the nature and causes of observed dynamics based on single case studies. This research identifies case studies conducted on the north and south of the Mediterranean basin to provide a comprehensive overview of the current land and farming system dynamics and their main drivers. We analyze 80 papers published in international journals from 1985 to 2015. The studies vary in spatial scale, from 4 km 2 in the case of peri-urban regions and small agricultural areas to more than 500,000 km 2 in the case of national-based analyses. Most of the papers focus on mountainous rural areas, whereas only a few case studies are located in mixed regions or peri-urban inland regions. We analyze the farm trajectories behind the general dynamics to understand the ongoing processes at the agricultural level and their related drivers. Social and demographic drivers are indicated as particularly relevant for abandonment, which is frequently associated with intensification processes. Intensification dynamics are driven mainly by economic factors, which particularly affect annual crop production. Few papers analyze the dynamics of extensification and more research in this field is needed to understand this process and its eventual transition to the abandonment of agricultural areas. This analysis provides an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and information from a diverse range of disciplines and interest groups, which should be combined to formulate effective land use policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using both household level and plot-level data from Northern Bangladesh, this paper analyzes the difference in agricultural productivity across different contractual arrangements among ultra-poor households. Employing the fixed-effect model on the pseudo panel data, the paper finds evidence of sub-optimal use of inputs and, consequently, lower productivity for lands cultivated under sharecropping contracts. The inefficiency on the part of sharecroppers is also evident from the stochastic frontier model. Although the paper finds that credit has no direct impact on productivity, the results of Logit estimates suggest that availability of credit induces households to opt for fixed-rental contracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces are crucial for citizens’ wellbeing. Nonetheless, many Latin American cities struggle to provide sufficient and equitable green space distribution for their citizens. By looking at the Chilean capital Santiago as an example, this paper examines whether the growing urban agriculture movement provides a feasible opportunity to increase public urban green space access. It does so by using the policy arrangement approach to analyse change and stability in two policy domains: urban green space planning and urban agriculture. The paper investigates urban green spaces and urban agriculture and the role of practitioners, urban planners and policymakers. The analysis found opportunities for urban agriculture to facilitate the expansion of urban green spaces in Santiago if policy mechanisms enable private or public spaces to be maintained by citizen organizations. Such mechanisms may, however, encounter resistance from public agencies, as it is unresolved who is involved and who benefits from urban agriculture. The paper concludes that urban agriculture is an opportunity for urban greening in Santiago, although changes are needed in how green areas are planned and conceived. Additionally, urban agriculture should not be understood as a substitute for parks but as a complementary form of green space provision with a distinctive value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most AFN studies tend to investigate in which ways these socio-economic constructs are distinct from conventional agricultural circuits. Less emphasis has been put on investigating how the relational processes leading to the formation of different types of AFN constitute different socio-economic constructs. In this paper, I use theoretical underpinnings from the debate in economy geography about proximity dynamics to explore the relational processes of formation of AFN. The use of proximity as a conceptual framework allows distinguishing between spatial (i.e. Euclidean distance) and relational (cognitive, organizational, institutional and social) understandings of emerging producer-consumer relations. I will perform this empirically by investigating accounts from small organic farmers located in a remote rural region of Sweden of how they establish and develop such short relations. The paper comforts findings from previous studies accounting that individual farmers are engaged in co-occurent forms of market relations but goes further by emphasizing the new spatialities and temporalities of the flows of goods, persons and information across the physical landscape that are induced through the formation of AFN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• AI-driven tools are pivotal for optimizing agriculture productivity in developing and emerging economies. • Big data and ML serve as catalysts for sustainable practices. •.Standardized frameworks is essential for comparing AI in agriculture, fostering collaboration among stakeholders. • Tailored digital solutions are imperative for overcoming specific agricultural challenges. • Collaboration of government, private sector, and educational institutions is essential to bring innovative technologies and methodologies. Agriculture is the backbone of numerous developing and emerging economies, supporting millions of livelihoods and playing a crucial role. The transformative integration of AI-driven tools, big-data analytics, and advanced technologies, such as drones and satellites, can transform agricultural decision-making in these developing and emerging economies and globally. Acknowledging the intricate web of biophysical and socioeconomic factors that influence agricultural systems, we highlight the pressing need for innovative approaches. We explore the critical role of big-data analytics, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Machine Learning (ML), and remote sensing in transforming the sector, with a focus on enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. In this context, continuous real-time monitoring becomes essential, allowing farmers to manage their agricultural systems with precision. Implementing AI-driven tools and devices enables the collection and analysis of data in real time, leading to timely decisions that can significantly improve crop yields and resource management. This study discusses the impacts of big-data analytics on agriculture, including reduced pesticide use and improved crop yields. It presents concrete examples of AI applications in crop and animal farming, emphasizing precision irrigation, fertilizer management, animal health monitoring, and reproductive efficiency. We advocate for customizing these technologies to suit local contexts, which can lead to ensuring deep integration into developing and emerging economies' agricultural practices. In conclusion, the paper calls for collaborative efforts from governments, the private sector, and educational institutions to make these technologies accessible, affordable, and culturally relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry represents a potentially multi-beneficial approach to land management as it may enhance a farming household's income and income stability simultaneously with nutrition security and climate change mitigation. However, our comprehension of the specific characteristics within agroforestry systems that bolster economic productivity remains limited, exacerbating the challenges of land management for smallholder livelihoods. This complexity is compounded by the potential influence of carbon revenue, adding an additional layer of intricacy to the equation. This paper aimed to identify the key economic determinants of multistrata agroforestry in sub-Saharan Africa with and without potential carbon revenue. A quantitative survey of 135 farmers was performed regarding their multistrata agroforestry systems with contrasting histories in three regions of Ethiopia. The carbon sequestration rate and carbon stocks in agroforestry were assessed on one-fifth (27) of the farms. The relative importance of hypothetical determinants of agroforestry systems' economic performance was modeled using descriptive statistics and generalized linear models. Farm size and fertilizer usage were the primary drivers of the farm economy, but farm net income was also highly influenced by the richness and diversity of the income sources. In addition, tree diversity had a positive impact on the net income, whereas the proportion of legume trees and trees with a large diameter correlated negatively with the income. Potential carbon revenue at prices of US$40 tCO 2 −1 and US$100 tCO 2 −1 increased income for multistrata agroforestry farms without significantly changing the magnitude of the identified key determinants. This suggests that the most economically viable agroforestry systems inherently possess a strong capacity for carbon sequestration, effectively serving as carbon sinks. Consequently, carbon revenue serves as a compelling financial incentive for the adoption of these agroforestry systems. Ultimately, this research underscores the pivotal role of biological and product diversity in shaping economic productivity within multistrata agroforestry systems. Moreover, it highlights the accessibility of diversity management for smallholder farmers, even under conditions of resource constraints. [Display omitted] • The economic determinants of agroforestry systems remain not well understood. • The determinants with and without potential access to carbon market were identified. • The farm income was mainly affected by farm size and fertilizer use. • Diversity of the income sources was key determinant regardless of carbon revenue. • Diversity is manageable for all smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent explosion of attention given to the land grabbing phenomenon, contract farming has been identified as a potentially inclusive alternative for smallholders to outright acquisition of farm land by agri-business capital. This paper responds to these claims by resituating contract farming as an equally important form of land control. The focus of the paper is a case study of potato contract farming in Maharashtra, India. While there is ‘nothing new’ about contract farming as a mode of agriculture production in India, its influence on patterns of agrarian change is poorly understood. Adopting an agrarian political economy-informed livelihoods approach, the paper argues that rather than an inclusive alternative to land grabbing, contract farming in the study site represents another way that capital is coming to control land in rural India, with just as important implications for agrarian livelihoods. While some individual households have improved their livelihoods through participation, the contract scheme acts to reinforce already existing patterns of inequality. In particular, the unequal power relations between firm and farmer skew the capture of benefits towards the firm, and render participating households vulnerable to indebtedness and loss of autonomy over land and livelihood decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the decoupling of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from agricultural economic growth in 30 Chinese provinces from 1997 to 2014. First, CO 2 emissions from agricultural production activities, farming, and livestock husbandry are computed. Then, this paper explores the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of CO 2 emissions and their intensity in China’s agricultural sector. Finally, this paper compares decoupling of China’s agricultural CO 2 emissions from agricultural output value across different regions and years. The results indicate that fertilizer, in-season rice cultivation, and cattle generated the most CO 2 emissions in the categories of agricultural production activities, farming, and livestock husbandry, respectively. The results also show that East China covered more periods of the strong decoupling of CO 2 emissions from agricultural output value between 1997 and 2014. To decrease CO 2 emissions, this paper suggests imposing a higher value-added tax on fertilizer producers, while waiving value-added tax for organic fertilizer and substituting animal manure for conventional fertilizers where possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovations are regarded as critical to improving the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness of African agriculture. However, few efforts have been directed at understanding ‘agricultural innovators’, especially among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa who face low agricultural productivity and widespread food insecurity. This paper investigates the profile of innovators from a local perspective in a semi-arid smallholder farming area in south-west Zimbabwe. The paper is based on data collected from key informant interviews and a household questionnaire survey administered to 239 households from Gwanda and Insiza districts between 2013 and 2014. Qualities or attributes of an innovator (which constitute the profile of an innovator) identified by key informants included: resource endowment; social networks; education; and enthusiasm (passionate and hardworking). The attributes were used in a logit regression model to estimate the probability of the 239 households exhibiting the attributes of an innovator. Social networks and resource endowment, as depicted by amount of land cultivated, were found to significantly influence the probability of an individual being an innovator. Interestingly, the common attributes of education or belonging to an innovation platform used by extension and development agents, were found not to influence the probability of one being an innovator. The paper concludes that understanding local perceptions of innovators, which is based on appreciation of the socio-economic and biophysical circumstances, should be used to identify a ‘basket’ of context specific innovations that have potential to address the diverse needs of rural households farming households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farm subsidies have become increasingly maligned in agricultural policy debates, but the merits of subsidies are a distraction from deeper political, economic, and ecological problems in agriculture. Drawing on a history of the U.S. Farm Bill, this paper argues that a fixation on farm subsidies ignores why they came into being, and more generally glosses over the imperative for modern states to intervene into agricultural economies. Karl Polanyi's 'double movement' framework is used to situate the rise and fall of agricultural supply management within food regime theory. In the second, or surplus food regime, the U.S. government wielded excess commodities as geopolitical tools—even as domestic farm policy labored to contain overproduction, and thus support agrarian viability. In the subsequent corporate food regime, “free market” agriculture displaces and discredits supply management, even as massive government intervention into how food is grown and sold continues. Making space to remember historical price support programs, to situate their accomplishments and limitations, and to recognize residual supply-management mechanisms (such as farm cooperatives and agricultural marketing orders) is crucial for fostering agricultural viability in the US and beyond. Twentieth century supply management had flaws, but it cannot be wholly omitted. This paper highlights key motivations, elements, and contradictions of these policies and programs to begin the process of considering how supply management principles and strategies could be updated and enhanced for 21st century agriculture. Such a framework would need to pay more attention to diversity within domestic and international agricultures, and be more sensitive to the multi-scalar dimensions of food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agent-Based Models (ABMs) are becoming a widespread approach to model human-environment interactions. They belong to the class of individual-based modelling approaches, which allow a bottom-up representation of the system being modelled, eliciting its macro-level evolution while modelling the micro-level behavior of its individuals. This paper deals with the application of an ABM to simulate future crop patterns in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg under a pre-defined scenario. The simulated scenario deals with the introduction of a “green consciousness” component in farmers' decisions, substituting a purely rational approach based only on profit maximization. The results of the ABM are used to perform a life cycle assessment of Luxembourg's agricultural system. The paper first describes the difficulties and the challenges connected with building an ABM for agriculture and then shows the results of the selected case study. The results show that, from a lifecycle perspective, a “greenness” criterion aimed only at reducing greenhouse gases emissions reveals patently a sub-optimal choice and causes burden shifts to other impact categories. Finally the ABM-based (bottom-up) approach is compared with a top-down approach applied in a previous study by the same authors to model the same system. Assets and drawbacks of the two approaches are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gordon Conway postulated that in comparison to traditional agroecosystems, crop yields from modern agroecosystems are: (1) higher; (2) less sustainable; and (3) more variable, particularly in the early adoption stages. The existing literature predates more recent developments and does not employ long-term time series data to identify time phases using any econometric tests for structural breaks. This paper fills this gap by investigating the applicability of Conway's hypotheses to Bangladeshi rice yields over sixty years examining trends, their sustainability, and their variability. We find mixed support for Conway's hypotheses. Rice yields rose substantially following the Green Revolution. Overall, higher yields have been sustained. However, they have now virtually plateaued, and various factors (including environmental and ecological) have increased the risk of these yields becoming unsustainable. Until recently, absolute variations in Bangladesh's rice yields were found to be higher than before the Green Revolution. This supports Conway's third hypothesis. However, the relative variability of Bangladesh's rice yields has consistently fallen since the Green Revolution. We highlight the trio of general factors determining rice yields and underscored the need for holistic analysis. Non-economists often overlook economic factors while economists often do not pay adequate attention to eco-environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector in developed countries has been experiencing a growth in the percentage of women, yet very little economic research documents the role and contribution of farm women across these countries. Through an interdisciplinary systematic literature review of 184 international peer-reviewed, English-language studies between 1970 and 2020 we investigate the economic contribution and visibility of women working in the agricultural sector in the United Kingdom (UK). Differences within farm women as a group are explored and used to develop a framework characterising the different economic classifications of farm women across a spectrum of economic contribution and visibility. A comparison of the economic contributions of farm men and women also reveals key differences between farming practices and outcomes. As such, the study reveals key barriers to women's economic participation and visibility in agriculture to be associated with access to land, education and organisations. These factors are evaluated in the context of wider policy. The outcomes of this study increase understanding of factors shaping women's economic contribution and visibility in UK agriculture and will inform further research investigating female participation in agricultural business management and decision making. As the UK formulates its own domestic agricultural acts, UK-wide research will be needed to inform policy and overcome barriers facing women in farming. • Systematic literature review of 184 international papers published 1970–2020. • Farm women's economic identities can be characterised by contribution and visibility. • Gendered differences can be characterised by economic contributions, farming practices and outcomes. • Key barriers to farm women are associated with access to land, education and organisations. • Further UK-specific research is needed as domestic Agriculture Acts are developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• China's sustainable development relies on agricultural trade and carbon emissions. • Carbon emission transfer index in agricultural trade is measured. • Decoupling-recoupling model and integrated prediction model are constructed. • A unified framework for trade, environment and technology is established. Under the new development pattern of domestic and international "dual circulation" in China, studying the relationship among green technology innovation, agricultural trade deficit (ATD) and carbon emission transfer embodied in agricultural trade (ATCT) becomes crucial for achieving coordinated and unified high-quality economic development and efficient environmental protection. Based on this, the paper uses environmental input–output model, "two-stage" decoupling and recoupling model, panel vector auto-regressive model, spatial econometric model and "rolling" Grey-BP neural network prediction model to explore present status of ATD, ATCT and their relationship, driving role of green technology innovation, as well as whether that relationship will be improving in the future. The results reveal the following: (1) China's ATD and ATCT show an increasing trend year by year, and their inter-provincial differences are gradually significant over time. The overall relationship between ATD and ATCT does not display ideally, which makes it necessary to quickly transform that relationship into reasonable and ideal state. (2) Green technology innovation has significant positive "U-shaped" and inverted "U-shaped" local effects on ATD and ATCT respectively, with a reasonable range of ATD reduction while ATCT increase valuing from 0 to 0.290, and has significant positive "U-shaped" spatial spillover effect on both without any reasonable range. The short-term effect of green technology innovation on coordinated promotion between ATD and ATCT is superior to the long-term one. (3) Green technology innovation has a significant regional heterogeneity. Regional differences must be taken into consideration seriously, and the measures adapted to local conditions are crucial. The role of fundamental and progressive green technology innovation has heterogeneity, which means that targeted development and utilization of green technology products are important. (4) Regardless of the time horizon, the relationship between ATD and ATCT will improve, which can provide a key step for coordinated development of economy and environment in agricultural trade. Therefore, in order for China to implement and promote further opening-up, reduce agricultural trade dependence, ensure food security and important agricultural product supply, as well as achieve the unity of high-quality economic development and ecological efficient protection, it is necessary to reasonably reverse trade deficit and increase carbon emission transfer in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture sector in India is diminishing day by day which affects the production capacity of ecosystem. There is an exigent need to solve the problem in the domain to restore vibrancy and put it back on higher growth. The paper proposes an e-Agriculture Application based on the framework consisting of KM-Knowledge base and Monitoring modules. To make profitable decisions, farmers need information throughout the entire farming cycle. The required information is scattered in various places which includes real time information such as market prices and current production level stats along with the available primary crop knowledge. A knowledge dataflow model is constructed connecting various scattered sources to the crop structures. The world around is getting automated replacing manual procedures with the advancement of technology, since it is energy efficient and engross minimal man power. The paper proposes the advantages of having ICT in Indian agricultural sector, which shows the path for rural farmers to replace some of the conventional techniques. Monitoring modules are demonstrated using various sensors for which the inputs are fed from Knowledge base. A prototype of the mechanism is carried out using TI CC3200 Launchpad interconnected sensors modules with other necessary electronic devices. A comparative study is made between the developed system and the existing systems. The system overcomes limitations of traditional agricultural procedures by utilizing water resource efficiently and also reducing labour cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the political system and in public perception, the well-functioning of economy is frequently equalled to the output of the national economic system. However, during the last decades, this narrow conception of economic prosperity started to erode. This paper is based on a rural prosperity conceptual framework that takes into account the systemic nature and dynamics of interactions and impacts within rural systems through the analysis of an organic agriculture cooperative called Camposeven in the south east of Spain. The focus is on rural prosperity, differences in understanding, related parameters and strategies used by the cooperativés farming partners to success without following the traditional conventions of economic growth and farm-efficiency. Experience lessons in this paper demonstrate that the “technical-economic” approach of rural prosperity is not sufficient and results emphasize the important role of individuals’ behaviour as well as the contexts in which they are involved. The findings point to the increasing relevance of expanding both the theory and practice of rural prosperity approaches in sustainable rural development. This is important in order to enrich the connections between rural prosperity and other concepts such as social capital, innovation, social learning and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts often arise in relation to the conservation of protected predator species. If stakeholders are well defined and involved in participatory processes, their views and perceptions can be incorporated and steps can be made towards resolving such conflicts. In this paper, a case from Hungary is presented. In this case, a participatory management planning process was initiated in the Jászság Special Protection Area of European importance (SPA), within the frame of a LIFE+ project focusing on the conservation of the Eastern Imperial Eagle ( Aquila heliaca ). It provided a good opportunity to address a complex conflict situation between nature conservationists, game managers and farmers. We identified structural conflicts such as contradictions between direct agricultural payments and nature conservation goals, conflicts related to different views of the main influencing factors, relational problems between various stakeholders, and even differences in value orientation. The participatory management planning process was successful in clarifying the conflict situation and making productive steps toward a common understanding and resolution. Besides the mutually agreed conservation measures, the establishment of an administrative and financial incentive such as the high nature value area (HNVA) scheme proved to be an especially important factor for mitigating the conflict. It also contributed to a more successful realisation of nature conservation objectives in an area dominated by private land owners. However, continued interaction and cooperation are needed to stabilise this progress. Our paper also shows that stakeholder involvement in conservation management planning can transcend the strategic dimension of participation, and address broader common values besides the interests of land user groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first wave of research on the ‘global land grab’ largely focused on the international drivers of investment and impacts of individual projects in host countries. More recent studies have acknowledged the important roles played by both host states and societal organisations in these deals. However, there has been little attempt to analyse how processes of agricultural investments also transform the state itself. The present paper builds on theories regarding the social roots of state power and the literature on the links between land and authority, to construct a framework that can be used to explore these linkages. The central argument of the paper is that in situations of overlapping authority between state and societal organisations—which is common in Africa—increased agricultural investment requires infrastructure development and can provoke changes in power relations between state and society that have important implications for state capacity. We illustrate this by examining the recent investment trends in two countries that have figured prominently in the ‘land grab’ literature but where land tenure regimes and state–society relations take markedly different forms—Ethiopia, where a ‘strong’ state has actively promoted agricultural investments as part of a developmental and state-building project that has enhanced its territorial control; and Ghana where chiefs have taken advantage of increased demand from investors in an attempt to (re-)assert their authority over land vis-à-vis the state and other societal organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wellbeing is gaining prominence in international development discourse as an alternative means of conceptualising and assessing progress against human development goals. This paper operationalizes the concept of social wellbeing (comprised of interlinked material, subjective and relational dimensions) as a framework for understanding the effects of agrarian change, as experienced by inhabitants of two villages in rural Southwest Bangladesh. Production of two ostensibly similar high value export crops (tiger shrimp and freshwater prawn) resulted in radically different trajectories of agrarian change and social wellbeing outcomes in the two villages. These were broadly positive in the village producing prawn, but broadly negative in the village producing shrimp. The paper links these divergent wellbeing outcomes to the ways in which peasant livelihoods became commodified in each village. Different patterns of commodification are shown to be linked to differences in the biological characteristics of the two organisms farmed. The paper demonstrates the theoretical, methodological and analytical utility of integrating social wellbeing and political economy of agrarian change perspectives in the study of rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary International trade in medicinal herbal products is growing, while value chains are becoming more complex and governed by a range of public and private standards. There is a debate over the extent to which phytomedicine production can be beneficial for farmers in low- and middle-income countries. More generally, there are varied views about the extent to which small farmers are disadvantaged by stringent public health and private consumer standards in northern markets for agricultural products. This paper proves a comparative analysis of value chains, using case studies of turmeric production in India. It marries a qualitative investigation of turmeric producing sites in India with an investigation into the chemical quality of various turmeric products. The aim of the paper is to understand the way that varied structure and governance of value chains changes the benefits to both producer and consumer. When production is for the organic northern market, we found evidence of a “captive” value chain, where the lead firm requires strict adherence to conditions of production and processing. Prices for farmers were relatively stable, at a reasonably high level. In contrast, where farmers were producing for local markets, including the major auction at Erode, prices were volatile and farmers bore considerable risk. We found that competition and volatility in the market-based chain can lead to turmeric adulteration and contamination, both intentional and unintentional. Our case study suggests that many small turmeric farmers would find it difficult to meet both public and private health standards, in contrast to some academic literature that argues that public health standards do not discriminate against small farmers. More than this, our study adds to the discussion of the impact of standards, suggesting clear consumer benefits in northern markets. However, there are also indications that only larger and more dynamic farmers can participate in the lucrative phytomedicine trade. As such, our study tentatively supports previous literature suggesting that the application of standards in northern markets lead to increasing farmer differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper brings forward techno-economic results of a study developed with rosemary. Process intensification was applied for obtaining two fractions of bioactive compounds: one fraction rich in volatile oil and other fraction rich in non-volatile extract. Terpenoids as 1,8-cineole and camphor were obtained by supercritical CO 2 extraction (SFE-CO 2 ). Afterwards, phenolic compounds as rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid were obtained by pressurized water extraction (PWE). We performed SFE-CO 2 and PWE in the same multipurpose equipment without unloading the bed. Extraction yields and composition of each extract fraction were evaluated. We obtained approximately 2.5 wt.% of a fraction rich in volatile oil at 40 °C, 30 MPa and solvent mass to feed mass (S/F) ratio of 2.5 g CO 2 /g rosemary. Likewise, we obtained approximately 18.6 wt.% of a fraction rich in non-volatile extract at continuous temperature increase of 1.1 °C/min (from 40 °C to 172 °C), 10 MPa and S/F ratio of 9.5 g water/g rosemary. We simulated costs of manufacturing of extracts obtained by SFE-CO 2 in three productive plants containing 2 vessels of 10 L, 50 L and 100 L. The influence of bed geometry was considered into the simulation model, whereas the bed height (H B ) to bed diameter (D B ) ratios were: H B1 /D B1 = 7.1 and H B2 /D B2 = 2.7. We simulated the productivity of extracts and operating costs for an industrial plant containing 2 vessels of 100 L using the process intensification performed in this paper (SFE-CO 2 + PWE). The proposal is promising and can encourage industrial application, because the higher use of the vegetal matrix for obtaining diversified bioactive compounds can reduce 28% of the annual production costs of SFE-CO 2 + PWE processes whether comparing with SFE-CO 2 process alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Donor sponsored projects are often criticized for the tendency to impose standardized institutional and technical solutions in irrigation. Although, this might be the case, a project is based on internal actors, ‘project owners’, who influence solutions and implementation processes. Little attention has been paid to project owners, internal dynamics and how these shape aid projects. In this paper, a water user associations (WUAs) project in Central Asia is explored, which introduced flow regulating and metering devices ( hydroposts ). It is explored how change within project owners, differences in their interests and absence of a proper knowledge management system within the project influenced the alteration of project objectives, causing failure of the implementation process. The paper concludes that internal dynamics within projects are the main source of project uncertainty and risk. Some recommendations are offered how these risks can be minimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the paper is to understand the determinants of the spatial location of participation in Agri-Environmental Schemes and, in particular, to understand the interplay between structural determinants, priority criteria and spillover effects in guiding participation. As a first step, the paper seeks to conceptualise the issue based on the existing literature. Thereafter, an econometric model is used to provide an empirical application on data regarding participation in measure 214 of the Rural Development Programme 2007–2013 in an Italian region (Emilia-Romagna). The results show that both priority scores and the spatial dimension are significant in affecting participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of ecosystem services shifts the human–nature relationship from a conservation-oriented into a utility-oriented one. Advocates of the concept assume that it can alter the attitude and behaviour of human actors with respect to nature. The ecosystem services concept has so far received little attention in scientific literature about collaborative landscape planning. Consequently the potential of information about ecosystem services to influence landscape planning processes is unknown. In this paper we address the impact of different storylines about ecosystem services on actor behaviour. In these storylines, we distinguish three frames on ecosystem services: a social–cultural frame (emphasizing social–cultural services), an economic frame (emphasizing production services) and a sustainability frame (highlighting regulation services). We propose a conceptual framework in which we connect the concept of framing to attitudinal, sender–receiver and contextual factors. The framework is illustrated by a spatial planning experiment with academic students and by a case of collaborative landscape planning. The student experiment illustrates how attitudinal factors may intervene in the impact frames on actor behaviour. The case analysis shows how researchers who facilitated collaborative landscape planning used various frames as they attempted to build up the actor network to create collaborative relations in different phases of the planning process. The significance of our paper is that we provide an approach to investigate how information on ecosystem service benefits is processed by multiple actors in collaborative landscape planning processes. Our exploration implies that planners who facilitate a collaborative planning process have to be aware that purposively using ecosystem service frames stimulates engagement of actors with diverging backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the determinants of farmer participation in agri-environmental measures (AEMs) using the Slovenian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) during the 2004–2010 period. Previous papers have not shown a straightforward relationship between farm size and decisions to participate in AEM. Considering explicitly the farm size, the controversial subject of the role of farm size is investigated by conducting logit regression analyses. We examine the influence of farm-specific characteristics on participation in AEMs using three different farm sizes: small, medium, and large. The findings strongly suggest that there are differences between the determinant factors of AEM participation based on farms’ utilised agricultural area, particularly between small and large farms. This conclusion is supported by those variables that describe farm capital per land intensity, off-farm income and type of farming as significant determinants for large farm models but not for small farm models. Furthermore, variables that describe land productivity negatively influence participation in AEMs for large farms, whereas these variables positively influence the participation of small farms. The results highlight the importance of how these previously confirmed factors influencing AEM participation differ according to the three different farm sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of broadband access on agribusiness in rural Wales and the resulting implications on entrepreneurial activity. Despite attempts by Government and telecommunications providers to develop widespread broadband coverage in Wales, concerns remain in relation to an increasing digital divide between urban and rural locations. Broadband is a key enabling technology therefore connectivity is significant, not only in communication, but also in the ability for businesses to innovate and grow. Wales is a predominantly rural country with 84% of the total land area in Wales being used for agriculture (Welsh Government, 2013). The food and farming sector represents a significant part of the Welsh economy, and is dominated by small businesses. Connectivity and increased use of technology are vital for these businesses to overcome location constraints and various industrial challenges, notably Brexit. The research uses survey data from 738 farmers and 107 food SMEs in Wales, with 19 follow-up semi-structured interviews. The survey results highlight issues of technology adoption, with 19% of farmers in the survey having no access to broadband internet, with others reporting the speed of connection being a limiting factor. The consequences of poor connectivity point to limited computer skills and low levels of soft technology adoption, a lack of engagement with social media, limited scope for innovation and restricted business growth, with 55.1% of food respondents identifying poor broadband access as a barrier to internationalisation. This has led to agrifood businesses adopting a passive approach to growth opportunities. The findings suggest that rural areas remain at a disadvantage due to poor connectivity, an issue that must be tackled by the Welsh Government to readdress the balance in the economy and limit a brain drain of skilled people moving to urban areas, often outside Wales. Support for such businesses is vital, particularly given the pressures and uncertainty in the industry, as broadband access represents an important enabler for future innovation and entrepreneurial activity. • A clear divide exists in levels of connectivity between urban and rural areas in Wales. • Farmers were most impacted by limited connectivity, with 19% of farmers having no access to broadband internet. • 55.1% of food respondents identified poor broadband access as a barrier to internationalisation. • Agribusinesses displayed a passive approach to growth opportunities. • Support is vital for agribusinesses in improving connectivity to develop greater innovation and entrepreneurial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study conducted to explore the research material used by agricultural economists for their studies in the U.S. The research is based on the study of the literature of the U.S. Agricultural Economics Journal during 2001 to 2005. The analysis of bibliographical citations provided an insight into the utilization of research materials by the researchers. It was detected that, journals and books are the primary types of materials used by the agricultural economists, whereas government publications and working papers account for the other two major resources for the researchers. The websites are not considered as scholarly resources by the agriculture economists.

Abstract: ‘Care farming’ (variously ‘green care in agriculture’, ‘farming for health’, ‘social farming’ and ‘therapeutic agriculture’) in the UK has grown rapidly over the last five years from the low base identified by preliminary scoping studies conducted at that time. In countries where the activity is most widely practised, the research focus has been primarily upon the care provided by farms, leaving a paucity of knowledge about the farms providing care. However, such care is ‘co-produced’, meaning that insights from both agricultural geography and the geographies of care deserve to be unified. In the British context, an agricultural perspective has seldom been applied; where done so, it has dismissed care farming as merely ‘hobby farming’ or conceptualised it as a minor economic activity helping to diversify the farm business and illustrating ‘multifunctionality’. Surprisingly little attention has been paid to either its relationship with productive ‘core’ farming activities or the consequences for farmers themselves. Using questionnaires and interviews, the express purpose of this paper is to identify and explicate the characteristics of care farms and farmers. Analysis reveals that it is not easy to pigeon-hole care farmers according to their age, motives, size of farm or land tenure. The paper moves on to discuss the transformative nature of care farming on the way in which farmers live their lives. In particular, symbiotic human–animal relations emerge regardless of whether livestock are kept as pets or commercial enterprises. Also revealed is the altruistic satisfaction of farmers as they provide ethical care and see positive changes in their service users. The paper concludes by suggesting how the multiple connections that are found to result from the interaction of agricultural practises and care provision might be more accurately conceptualised and articulated as ‘connective agriculture’. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the international literature farmer stress, mental illness and suicide are linked to economic conditions affecting farm viability that have emerged in relation to the neoliberal transformation, corporatization and globalization of agribusiness juxtaposed with climate change and concerns over environmental sustainability and periodic agricultural crises. Research and scholarship in this area has largely been framed through mental health frameworks informed by positivist and ‘psy’ discourses that marginalize ethical, political and emotional dynamics that shape farmer distress. At the margins of this dominant discursive framework however, interdisciplinary scholarship is emerging that problematizes farmer distress and suicide. This paper extends and contributes to this body of scholarship through insights derived from critical consideration of the operation of a moral economy in relation to farmer distress. It draws on elements of Andrew Sayer's work, which poses intersections between moral economy, political economy and wellbeing, to analyse empirical data from interviews with Australian wine grape growers experiencing distress. The paper demonstrates that in this case study, emotional distress arises from ethical breaches within social and economic relations between farmers, corporations and the State. In doing so, it brings the ethical and emotional dimensions of economic activity to the fore and thus calls for the problematization of social and political responses to farmer distress and suicide prevention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent advances in artificial intelligence, particularly in the field of multi-agent system theory and techniques, offer great promises in the development of decision support systems. This paper designs an agent-based regional agricultural economy decision support system (RAEDSS) to deal with complex decision problems. It introduces the architecture of the system, including interface agents, management agents, functional agents, model agents, information agents and knowledge agents and their interactions. Since dynamic analysis, evaluation, forecast, optimization and decision of regional agricultural economy are the central task of RAEDSS, this paper gives a detailed discussion on the decision processes and internal mechanisms in the system. Meanwhile, agent-based modeling is introduced to simulate and evaluate policy impact on rural development in different scenarios as an important part in RAEDSS. The simulation result shows that this agent-based agricultural development model is able to perform regeneration and is able to produce likely-to-occur projections of reality. The related issue such as building an agent based on the theory of classifier systems is also surveyed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presented a multi-objective indicator system for the performance evaluation of crop production system based on emergy method. Eight emergy indicators were selected to analyze the crop production system in the 31 provinces of mainland China to compare intensive use, scale management, investment density, environmental pressure, output benefit, output density, output per capita, and economic benefit. This paper conducted a comparison of each indicator in different provinces, and divided the 31 provinces into 10 groups by cluster analysis. The results show that: the crop production system among provinces has a significant difference and it is summarized into 10 development modes; with the development of modern agriculture, Chinese crop production system still complies with the input–output balance; the majority of provinces cannot achieve win-win between economic investment and environmental health; most of the underdeveloped provinces with high productivity may not be able to obtain good economic benefit; there is a significant positive correlation between the scale management degree and emergy output per capita in the crop production system; 10 development modes and policy suggestions are deduced. It is concluded that emergy-based multi-objective indicators can serve as an effective method in the evaluation of crop production system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this research work is to study the progress of research on innovations in India and to outline and identify the key disciplines, journals, articles and authors. For this, the author studied the existing literature from the various fields in which innovations in Indian research work has been published using ISI Web of Knowledge database. This paper finds that there is an increasing amount of research work on innovations in India and the bibliographical search resulted in three-hundred-ninety-eight documents and eight-hundred-eighty-eight authors; and were published in three-hundred-four different sources and classified in ninety-one multiple disciplines. The seven major disciplines and their underlying journals are business and economics, agriculture, public administration, education and educational research, psychology, plant sciences and social sciences—other topics account for the majority of publications. The most prolific journals measured by the number of research papers published are Economic and Political Weekly, World Development, Harvard Business Review, Technology Forecasting and Social Change and Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the European Mediterranean basin, pasture-based sheep farming systems are mostly located in marginal/High Nature Value areas. These production systems are multifunctional, and their economic, environmental and social roles are equally important and recognised by policy makers and by society. However, the number of animals and holdings is decreasing, and there is great uncertainty regarding the reproducibility of these farming systems, which depends on many internal and external farm factors and their interactions. The aim of this paper was to perform a comprehensive assessment of sustainability in different sheep farming systems in north eastern Spain using the MESMIS framework. We followed a case-study approach to perform an in-depth investigation of 4 sheep meat and dairy farms with different intensities of reproduction management. Critical points of sustainability, including weaknesses and opportunities, were obtained using a participatory process with stakeholders (farmers and technical advisers) that resulted in the selection of 37 sustainability indicators that were classified according to the systemic attributes defined by MESMIS (productivity, stability, self-reliance, adaptability, equity) and according to the classical sustainability pillars (social, economic and environmental). Some underlying patterns could be observed when analysing sustainability pillars, attributes and indicators. A positive relationship between productivity and intensification level in meat farms was observed; however, economic sustainability was determined not only by on-farm but also by off-farm activities. The economic efficiency of farming (without considering subsidies) was mainly explained by the capture of added value in the dairy systems and the combination of high animal productivity as well as high forage and feed self-sufficiency in the meat systems. Social issues were also central to explaining sustainability at the farm level, including the prospects of generational turnover and the manner in which farmers perceive and rate their activity. A clear trade-off between economic and environmental indicators was observed, i.e., the higher the economic sustainability, the lower the environmental sustainability. Each farm scored differently for diverse attributes, pillars and individual indicators. The scores differed according to size, structure, resource availability and managerial skills, which implies that it would be difficult to apply a holistic sustainability analysis to farming systems instead of individual farms. A number of methodological questions arose during the evaluation process relative to the stakeholders perception of these indicators, their relevance and meaning, the reference values for comparison, or their validity to assess sustainability across spatial and temporal scales. These questions are discussed in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights • The relative export competitiveness (REC) for India and her competitors is developed. • The REC covers exports of sugar, rice, wheat, and cotton, each relative to other exports. • India's rice, cotton, and sugar are competitively advantaged but not wheat. • The REC is time varying and is mainly lower for India than her competitors. • An attempt is made to explain the determinants of the REC. Abstract In this paper, we derive time-varying relative export competitiveness (REC) of India's top agricultural exports (rice, wheat, cotton and sugar) against India's share of world agricultural exports (REC_WA) and world exports (REC_WE) from 1961 to 2012. We reveal that India's exports of all four commodities became relatively competitive over time but these were not as competitive as the top, or selected emerging, exporters of the four commodities. We also examine the determinants of REC in these four commodities focusing on factors including crop-specific and aggregate factor endowments, domestic price, export prices, and GDP per capital, preferential trade agreements, export restrictions and bans, and India's Green Revolution. The regression analysis was mainly confined to the 1981–2012, due to data constraints. We find that the time series regression results are similar in sign and significance for REC_WE and REC_WA. Our key findings suggest the REC in wheat, rice, and cotton deteriorated as a result of export restrictions. Capital had negative effects on cotton REC. Labor and farm size did not influence the REC in the commodities. The Green Revolution improved the REC in rice and cotton (in Phase 3). The WTO had a positive effect on the REC in rice. The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Agreement adversely affected the REC in wheat and rice but strengthened the REC in cotton and sugar. Higher domestic price reduced the REC in cotton. Higher per capita income strengthens the REC in wheat with a lag. We explain these results and suggest policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A "digital revolution" in agriculture is underway. Advanced technologies like sensors, artificial intelligence, and robotics are increasingly being promoted as a means to increase food production efficiency while minimizing resource use. In the process, agricultural digitalization raises critical social questions about the implications for diverse agricultural labourers and rural spaces as digitalization evolves. In this paper, we use literature and field data to outline some key trends being observed at the nexus of agricultural production, technology, and labour in North America, with a particular focus on the Canadian context. Using the data, we highlight three key tensions observed: rising land costs and automation; the development of a high-skill/low-skilled bifurcated labour market; and issues around the control of digital data. With these tensions in mind, we use a social justice lens to consider the potential implications of digital agricultural technologies for farm labour and rural communities, which directs our attention to racial exploitation in agricultural labour specifically. In exploring these tensions, we argue that policy and research must further examine how to shift the trajectory of digitalization in ways that support food production as well as marginalized agricultural labourers, while pointing to key areas for future research—which is lacking to date. We emphasize that the current enthusiasm for digital agriculture should not blind us to the specific ways that new technologies intensify exploitation and deepen both labour and spatial marginalization. • A "digital revolution" is underway in agriculture marked by technologies like sensors, AI, and robotics. • Digitalization impacts labour and rural communities across industrial agri-food contexts. • New technologies are likely to intensify exploitation and deepen marginalization for most vulnerable. • Equitable, non-exploitative agtech needs to be enhanced and foregrounded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconfiguration of power relations is crucial to transformations in agro-food systems. In this paper, we propose a conceptual basis for understanding this relation, building on the approaches to power of transition studies and other strands of studies. We explore the conditions for reconfigurations to occur by analysing three cases, concerning participatory plant breeding in Italy, public food procurement in France and diversification of agrifood chains in Wales. We highlight the critical importance of creating enabling relational environments, where power reconfiguration can occur. Within this new configuration, new, diverse sources of power are mobilized and new practices and institutions are co-constructed and legitimised, establishing the conditions for new socio-technical trajectories to emerge and for further transformative potential to develop. Our results show that a more variegated and dynamic configuration of power relations is needed. Transformations of agrifood systems depend on the variety of interactions that, in a multi-scale and dynamic dimension and through the play of the different forms of power, may develop among the actors involved. Understanding these processes and the implications that they show in terms of governance is critical. • Power dynamics take place in the variety of pathways where transformation occurs. • Need for variegated and dynamic configurations of power relations in agrifood systems. • Importance of dynamics among reinforcive, innovative and transformative power. • Role that may be played by proper scale, spaces, tools and rules of governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]