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Since the beginning of life on earth, mankind has always used animals and plants for its nutrition and has continuously trained and developed them for their benefits and social, cultural, and economic needs. In the past, livestock and crop breeding were done by traditional farmers and ranchers. It improves the performance of livestock and crops, they performed the selection, which is one of the principles of plant breeding and livestock breeding. They made this choice with the help of information that was passed down to them from successive generations. It is a participatory plant breeding and production of crops with the help of researchers alongside farmers. Farmers work with researchers, scientists, and other stakeholders -even consumers- to improve crops and develop resilient plant varieties. Farmers are aware of their needs and have a conscious understanding of their agricultural land in terms of soil type, seed type, weather conditions, surface water, underground water conditions, etc. Therefore, they can play an important role in making decisions about the implementation of plant breeding and the type of planting pattern in the cultivated microclimates. In other words, farmers determine their cultivation goals based on their environments, conditions, tastes, and local cultures. The seed that is obtained in this way by the breed researchers with the help of the leading farmers, actually contributes significantly to the food governance of the people of that region and that country.

The majority of indigenous farmers in South Africa depend on rain-fed agricultural production for their livelihoods. Reliable indigenous weather forecasts are, therefore, required to guide rural farmers' decisions in regard to climate change. Much of the literature has shown that western scientific knowledge has failed at rural level. Indigenous knowledge has, for the past century assisted rural farmers' households in tackling the challenges of climate stressors and enhanced decision-making for adaptation. There is, therefore, much room for advancement in assessment processes to ensure adequate credit for indigenous knowledge systems. This study aimed to address two major knowledge gaps (i) to assess the relevance of indigenous knowledge in weather forecasts used by local farmers for climate adaptation, and (ii) examine farmers' perceptions in regard to climate change in Levubu and Nwanedi sites. Indigenous knowledge indicators used by farmers for weather forecasting, within their communities, were collected through questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. The results revealed various forms of indigenous indicators used by local farmers for weather forecasting, such as, star and moon movement, appearance of red and black ants and mist-cover on mountains. A better knowledge of indigenous knowledge systems should play an important role in determining suitable adaptation strategies toward climate change. It is recommended, hence, that policy makers should enhance indigenous knowledge among local communities regarding the implications of climatic stressors to increase crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local foods play an influential role in improving the tourism experience in destinations. Local foods can enormously enrich the tourism experience by connecting tourists with the heart and soul of a destination. Past research has identified various perception and motivational factors that support local foods' purchase intentions, but only from a consumer point of view. As the demand for local foods in tourist destinations is gaining more and more importance year after year, this study investigates the influence of those perceptions and motivational factors on purchasing local foods in a tourism destination. A survey was conducted among 470 US tourists who have visited destinations and tasted or purchased local foods in the last three years. Regarding the perception of local foods, the study's findings show that factors like freshness, trust and transparency, preservatives free, and better nutrition are highly reported. Regarding the motivations to buy local foods, the study findings show that factors like supporting the local farmers, enhancing sustainable agriculture, increasing local revenue, and reducing carbon emissions were highly reported. The findings of this study will provide a holistic experience for the tourists that allows them to immerse themselves in the destination's food culture and support the local economy and community. By effectively developing and promoting the destination's local foods by highlighting and promoting the highly rated perception and motivational factors, the destination can attract more food enthusiasts and curious tourists seeking authentic food and cultural experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of life on earth, mankind has always used animals and plants for its nutrition and has continuously trained and developed them for their benefits and social, cultural, and economic needs. In the past, livestock and crop breeding were done by traditional farmers and ranchers. It improves the performance of livestock and crops, they performed the selection, which is one of the principles of plant breeding and livestock breeding. They made this choice with the help of information that was passed down to them from successive generations. It is a participatory plant breeding and production of crops with the help of researchers alongside farmers. Farmers work with researchers, scientists, and other stakeholders -even consumers-to improve crops and develop resilient plant varieties. Farmers are aware of their needs and have a conscious understanding of their agricultural land in terms of soil type, seed type, weather conditions, surface water, underground water conditions, etc. Therefore, they can play an important role in making decisions about the implementation of plant breeding and the type of planting pattern in the cultivated microclimates. In other words, farmers determine their cultivation goals based on their environments, conditions, tastes, and local cultures. The seed that is obtained in this way by the breed researchers with the help of the leading farmers, actually contributes significantly to the food governance of the people of that region and that country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global seed trade has reached and conquered Northern Ghana, squeezing out local suppliers. Considering ongoing population growth, rapidly urbanizing communities, changing diets, and vast quantities of imported food products, the endeavours of enterprises that try to reduce the local food production deficit should be more appreciated. Rice, maize, and soybeans are three types of grain that dominate the global seed trade. Furthermore, the natural conditions and vegetation of the sub-tropical region are close to optimal. While rice and maize have been cultivated for a long time, soybeans are a new crop in the semi-arid climate zone of the Guinea-Savannah. The motivations and ambitions are clear: pushing improved soybean seeds into the traditional farming system of Northern Ghana to meet the zero hunger sustainable development goal while widening the market for western seed producers. In the Ghanaian context, microfinance is built on making customers dependent on services. On the bone hand, it is a tool to extend farm sizes through mechanization, fertilizers, and modern cultivation technologies to increase yield; on the other hand, microfinance could cause financial difficulties within society and farmer associations, and it has negative effects on unsupported and unfinanced activities such as cultivating indigenous crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses Will County in Illinois as a case study to examine the relationship between food citizenship and local food consumption in what we term to be the rural-urban blend of America. Food citizenship is participating in food-related actions promoting democratic, socially and economically equitable, and environmentally sustainable food systems. On the other hand, local food consumption is choosing and preferring to buy and eat local food over other conventional forms of food. The study used data analysis from a survey of 342 residents in Will County, Illinois, to test a conceptual model that considers various socio-psychological traits that food citizens might have, which could explain their preferences for local food, including local patriotism, perceived similarity with local farmers, social concern for the community's well-being, and environmental concerns. The findings reveal the intertwined nature of local patriotism and place identity, shedding light on their direct influence on food citizens' preferences. The perceived similarity with farmers and active engagement with local food producers deepen food citizens' understanding and connection, ultimately influencing their preferences for locally sourced food. The study also highlights the distinct roles of men and women in local food preferences, with local patriotism being more significant for men aged 40 and above. Finally, the results underscore the Midwest's unique socio-political landscape and the complex interplay of factors shaping local food preferences within rural-urban blends like Will County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agritourism is gaining growing recognition in both developed and developing countries. In developing countries, it is considered as an instrument, not only for sustainable rural development but also for local community poverty alleviation. Al-Baqura is an important agricultural village in the north of Jordan. In 2019, Jordan retrieved control over it after 25 years of leasing to external investors. Thereupon, the Jordanian government should encourage investments in this area and improve its agricultural production in terms of quality and quantity. The objectives of this study were to explore the perspectives of local farmers on the launch of agritourism in this village and to identify the variables that affect farmers' motives for engagement in agritourism activities in their locality. In addition, the study aimed at determining the agritourism-associated difficulties faced by the residents who seek to boost their livelihoods through tourism. The study followed the quantitative research approach and used a questionnaire as the data collection tool in a survey of 163 residents of Al-Baqura village. The results of the analysis uncovered a high potential for economic, environmental, and socio-cultural benefits of agritourism in this village. In particular, it will empower the women to improve their social status in society, provide the rural population with increased revenue and new job opportunities, and improve the quality of the environment. However, for agritourism development in this area, the government should support the local families and help them in establishing and operating tourism enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ethical beliefs are the basis for consumer's socio-environmental considerations. • Health consciousness influences consumer's attitude towards organic food. • Concern for local farmers influences consumer's attitude towards organic food. • No influence of environmental concern on consumer's attitude towards organic food. This study aims to examine the role of socio-environmental factors in forming a favorable attitude of consumers towards the consumption of organic foods. We developed the research instrument by pooling items from literature, followed by a pilot test. We collected the final data and statistically analyzed the same to validate the proposed model. Notably, we analyzed the proposed inter-relationships between the factors using SEM. The results suggest that the constructs of ethical beliefs, health consciousness, and concern for local farmers do have a significant and positive influence. Largely, the findings offer valuable insights to both marketers and producers in devising marketing strategies related to the promotion of organic food products in the Indian market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]