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Microfluidic analytical devices have gained significant traction by virtue of their unique merits in terms of miniaturization and attractive phenomena at microscale. The utilization of paper as a substrate material has witnessed substantial progress majorly due to its fast fluid transport, capillary action kinetics and improved detection limits bringing forward its techno-economic viability. This article provides light to the state-of-the-art developments in paper-based lab-on-a-chip (pLOC) devices for the detection of agri-food contaminants. Various fabrication processes for paper-based devices are elaborated along with their research progress. An analysis of its potential in detecting pesticides, viruses, food contaminants, foodborne pathogens, mycotoxins, and heavy metals in agricultural and food products has also been highlighted. Finally, the existing challenges and future prospects trending towards digitalization is emphasized to understand its feasibility and commercialization. pLOC devices offer numerous advantages due to its abundant availability of substrate, ease of fabrication, improved surface functionalization processes, as well as the ability to detect multiple analytes simultaneously (i.e., multiplexing) with low-volume requirements. There lies widespread opportunity with paper due to its porous cellulosic matrix and spontaneous channel flow of reagents or analytes enabling the development of standalone analytical devices. The sensitivity, selectivity, and repeatability are the crucial deciding parameters for evaluating the analytical performance of lab-on-a-chip sensors. A frugal engineering approach and protocol is ideally suited for the development of miniaturized sensors for on-site monitoring of contaminants in resource-limited settings. The monitoring of agri-food contaminants may further be combined with nanotechnology for signal enhancement, artificial intelligence and use of algorithms for the smart sensing to make it more user friendly for point-of-care applications. The use of pLOCs for the detection of agri-food contaminants has indeed paved the way to facilitate sustainable precision agriculture. [Display omitted] • pLOCs offer fast fluid transport, capillary action kinetics and high detection limit. • Notable progress is achieved on integrating pLOCs with nanomaterials to improve LOD. • A rapid, straightforward, and high-throughput manufacturing process is needed. • Cost-effective and high sensitive detection/readout mechanisms are required in pLOCs. • Integration of AI & ML can support the design, optimization and fabrication of pLOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper shows how the agri-sector is influenced by the emergence and development of the digitisation process. This is presented using a bibliometric analysis. The importance of studying and understanding the current challenges facing the agricultural sector including the emergence and development of the digitisation process of the sector is the main aim of this paper. All these challenges are felt by both the agricultural sector and the economy as a whole. This paper contributes to the literature. This is due to the bibliometric analysis through which the most important aspects of the challenges facing the entire agricultural sector today are observed. Among the current challenges facing the agricultural sector, climate change is among the most important. The results of the bibliometric analysis show that the keywords searched and their clustering confirm that the emergence and rapid development of digitisation brings both positive and negative effects to the whole agricultural sector. Following the search of Web of Science and Scopus databases, 203 papers were identified in Web of Science and Scopus using the phrase "the impact of digitization on agriculture". The bilbiometric analysis comprises several steps, including the analysis of the years of emergence of studies on the emergence of the digitisation process in agriculture. Thus, within this stage, the analysis of the years, it is signalled the transition from some aspects that concern the technological side to other economic and even human aspects. On the whole, there is a shift in research topics towards studying how the emergence and development of the digitisation process brings both positive and negative influences between the agricultural sector and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Virtuous Incubation System is a solution aimed at transforming poultry farming by integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technology into the incubation process. This paper seeks to improve the efficiency and success rate of poultry egg incubation while minimizing manual intervention, reducing resource consumption, and ensuring optimal conditions for embryo development by providing a smart incubator system. The smart incubator addresses the challenges of traditional manual monitoring and adjustments by leveraging IoT devices, sensors, and data analytics to create an automated and intelligent incubation system. It provides energy efficiency by incorporating energy-efficient components to minimize power consumption, thereby reducing operational costs for farmers, and by providing notifications and alerts where critical deviations in environmental conditions or equipment malfunction, enabling proactive intervention to prevent losses. A cross-section of small- to medium-scale poultry producers, particularly those engaged in hatching chicks, were interviewed to highlight the main challenges regarding the business of hatching chicks. It was learned through the interviews that chick production on a small to medium scale was relatively expensive due to the labor employed to monitor the production and losses due to adverse conditions resulting in a poor success rate in hatching the chicks. Thus, the implementation of the virtuous incubation system comes in to solve the main challenges being faced by the local poultry producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an innovative IoT-enabled crop storage monitoring system designed to revolutionize the preservation and quality assurance of stored agricultural produce. Central to this system are IoT sensors strategically deployed within storage facilities. These sensors are tasked with the continuous tracking and monitoring of crucial environmental parameters, specifically temperature, humidity, and gas levels. Leveraging this real-time data, the system is engineered to promptly detect and respond to any deviations from the prescribed optimal storage conditions. The core strength of this system lies in its ability to generate instantaneous alerts upon detecting irregularities. These alerts serve as preemptive measures, effectively averting potential spoilage and curtailing post-harvest losses by enabling timely interventions and corrective actions. By harnessing IoT technology, this paper aims to create a proactive, automated, and responsive framework that ensures the integrity and safety of stored agricultural produce, ultimately contributing to enhanced food security and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn crop row recognition during different growth stages is a major difficulty faced by the current development of visual navigation technology for agricultural robots. In order to solve this problem, an algorithm for recognizing corn crop rows during different growth stages is presented based on the ST-YOLOv8s network. Firstly, a dataset of corn crop rows during different growth stages, including the seedling stage and mid-growth stage, is constructed in this paper; secondly, an improved YOLOv8s network, in which the backbone network is replaced by the swin transformer (ST), is proposed in this paper for detecting corn crop row segments; after that, an improved supergreen method is introduced in this paper, and the segmentation of crop rows and background within the detection frame is achieved utilizing the enhanced method; finally, the corn crop row lines are identified using the proposed local–global detection method, which detects the local crop rows first, and then detects the global crop rows. The corn crop row segment detection experiments show that the mean average precision (MAP) of the ST-YOLOv8s network during different growth stages increases by 7.34%, 11.92%, and 4.03% on average compared to the MAP of YOLOv5s, YOLOv7, and YOLOv8s networks, respectively, indicating that the ST-YOLOv8s network has a better crop row segment detection effect compared to the comparison networks. Corn crop row line detection experiments show that the accuracy of the local–global detection method proposed in this paper is improved by 17.38%, 10.47%, and 5.99%, respectively, compared with the accuracy of the comparison method; the average angle error is reduced by 3.78°, 1.61°, and 0.7°, respectively, compared with the average angle error of the comparison method; and the average fitting time is reduced by 5.30 ms, 18 ms, and 33.77 ms, respectively, compared with the average fitting time of the comparison method, indicating that the local–global detection method has a better crop row line detection effect compared to the comparison method. In summary, the corn crop row recognition algorithm proposed in this paper can well accomplish the task of corn crop row recognition during different growth stages and contribute to the development of crop row detection technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A real-time grading method of roasted tobacco quality based on near infrared spectroscopy. • A key indicators selection method based on information gain and Fisher criterion was proposed. • A chemical indicator grading table was designed for reference. • Chemical indicator grading based on near infrared spectroscopy is a convenient, rapid and promising grading method. Traditional tobacco quality grading methods have limitations such as high human resource consumption and poor consistency, resulting in the grading accuracy being affected. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology, as a rapid and non-destructive analytical method, has been widely used for online inspection. This study aims to accomplish rapid, accurate and reliable real-time grading of tobacco quality by employing online near-infrared spectroscopy to detect key chemical indicators. A key indicators selection method based on information gain and Fisher criterion (IFRI) was proposed in this paper by associating tobacco chemical indicators with traditional quality grades. The key chemical indicators were selected from many indicators by two classical feature selection functions, and a chemical indicator grading table was designed based on a large number of statistical data on tobacco chemical indicators, and the table was applied to grade the tobacco quality of real data from different years. The results show that the IFRI algorithm is an effective method for selecting key indicators, and the selected reducing sugars-to-total nitrogen ratio and nicotine are the key indicators for tobacco quality grading. Moreover, we demonstrated that the designed grading table is reasonable and feasible. Compared with traditional grading, chemical indicator grading based on near infrared spectroscopy can not only be realized quickly by using an online near infrared instrument, but also the tobacco of the same grade is less discrete, better consistency and more representative after grading, and it is applicable to tobacco samples of different years, which is a convenient, rapid and promising grading method that can provide a reference for tobacco quality grading. Furthermore, the formulation design by utilizing different grades after grading can greatly improve the utilization rate of tobacco leaves. Notably, the method can also be applied to other fields, such as quality control of agricultural products, monitoring of food processing processes, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The adoption of new agricultural technologies is one of the key factors for achieving sustainable agricultural development. With the rapid development of China's economy and the widening gap between urban and rural areas, it has become the norm for farmers to seek employment outside their home villages. This phenomenon not only changes the lifestyle of farmers but may also affect their attitudes toward and adoption behavior of new agricultural technologies. However, existing research in this field is not yet sufficient. This paper aims to assess the overall impact, heterogeneous effects, and mechanisms of action of migrant work experience on farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies. Methods: Based on the 8,391 sample data from 243 counties in the 2018 China Labor Force Dynamic Survey (CLDS2018), this paper uses the Linear Probability Model (LPM), Two Stage Least Square (2SLS), Conditional Mixed Process (CMP) methods, and omitted variable test to estimate the impact of migrant work experience on farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies. Simultaneously, it explored the heterogeneity in the relationship between migrant work experience and the willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies from the perspectives of gender, age, and educational level. Lastly, the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) model was utilized to analyze the mechanisms through which migrant work experience affects farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies. Results: Migrant work experience significantly enhances farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies, with the probability of willingness among farmers with migrant work experience being 26.65% higher than that of farmers without such experience. At the same time, compared to female farmers, those born before 1980, and those with primary education or less, this enhancing effect is more pronounced among male farmers, those born after 1980, and those with more than a primary education. Furthermore, it was found that migrant work experience not only directly enhances farmers' willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies but also indirectly promotes it by increasing capital accumulation, enhancing risk awareness, expanding social networks, and strengthening agricultural cognition, with risk awareness and agricultural cognition playing a larger indirect role. Conclusion: Based on the empirical results, this paper suggests actively guiding farmers with migrant work experience to adopt new agricultural technologies, and encouraging return migrant labor with the intention of resettling in rural areas to engage in agriculture again, to further promote the adoption of new agricultural technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores to evaluate how Pakistan's agriculture is affected by climate change and to find techniques to mitigate and adapt to the changes. Pakistan's agriculture industry is drastically affected by climate change. The continuous inclination of temperature, shifting weather patterns, and more frequent climate change events are remarkably reducing crop yields, compromising food security and posing serious threats to rural livelihood. In order to evaluate the effects of climate change on agricultural output, water resources, and controlling pests, this study sought farmers in liable areas, reviewed a variety of literature in detail, and examined climate data. The paper also founds critical declines in crop yields, changes in developing seasons, and expanded irritation and sickness pressure. Farmers were observed using more groundwater, which resulted in a shortage of water and less fertile land. Pakistan needs to prioritize climateresilient agricultural techniques, raise farmer awareness and capacity building, improve water management, and encourage crop variety to ensure agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Republic of Moldova has made significant strides in adopting organic farming practices, supported by government subsidies and strategic focus on market demand. This paper aims to analyze the economic performance of organic farms in Moldova and their impact on the sustainable development of the agricultural sector, using primary data collected from 63 organic farms benefiting from subsidies between 2020 and 2022. The agricultural sector in Moldova has experienced a gradual increase in cultivated land, with a noteworthy 9.5% dedicated to organic farming. Economically, farmers have seen substantial growth in income per hectare, credited to favorable climatic conditions and advanced technologies. Although organic farming contributes significantly, constituting approximately one-third of total income, conventional agriculture remains the primary contributor with two-thirds. The impact of subsidies from the National Fund for Agricultural and Rural Development is evident in farm development, as calculated profits per one lei of subsidy have surged from 1.51 to 10.43 lei in 2022. This underscores the effectiveness of government support in fostering growth and development within Moldova's agricultural sector, emphasizing a positive trajectory for sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plants, People, Planet is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Digital agricultural technology service has the characteristics of high efficiency, convenience and flexibility, and plays an important role in the process of Chinese agricultural digitalization, which is of great significance for realizing the modernization and intelligent development of agricultural production. Methods: Based on micro-survey data of small-scale farmers in Sichuan Province, this study utilizes the OLS method and the mediation effect model to investigate the impact of digital agricultural technology services on farmers' willingness to adopt digital production technologies and its underlying mechanisms. Results: The results indicate that digital agricultural technology services effectively enhance farmers' willingness to adopt digital production technologies, especially among those engaged in cooperative. Further analysis of mechanisms suggests that digital agricultural technology services influence farmers' choices of household production and management methods by expanding their information channels, enhancing their cognition of digital production technologies, and facilitating access to technology. Moreover, heterogeneous analysis reveals significant differences in the willingness of farmers with varying levels of digital literacy to adopt digital production technologies. Digital agricultural technology services have a more pronounced impact on the willingness of highly digitally literate farmers. Discussion: The findings of this paper deepen our comprehension of the operational mechanisms of digital agricultural technology services in the context of agricultural development, and advocate for policy recommendations such as enhancing the supply of digital agricultural technology services, strengthening the role of new agricultural entities, improving farmers' digital literacy training, and enhancing policy support systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore whether digital finance can reduce agricultural carbon emissions, promote regional convergence, and foster inclusivity in rural revitalization and shared prosperity, this paper uses the provincial-level index of digital financial inclusion to analyze the impact of digital financial inclusion on the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions and the Degum Gini coefficient (D-Gini coefficient) of regional carbon emission intensity in 30 sample provinces from 2010 to 2020. It examines the mechanism of the impact of digital financial inclusion on both variables to understand the underlying factors better. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Digital financial inclusion significantly reduces the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions and narrows the gap in carbon emission intensity between regions. (2) The unconditional quantile regression coefficients show that the negative coefficients of the digital financial inclusion index and the three-dimensional indices decrease with increasing quantiles. However, the significant effects vary significantly at different quantiles. (3) Technological progress and the government's ability to allocate financial resources play a significant mediating role, and the income gap between urban and rural areas can be further narrowed, as well as the carbon emission intensity gap between provinces. The empirical results are robust and proven by replacing the econometric analysis method, changing the core variables, and other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) has brought about transformative changes across diverse industries, and its application in agriculture, particularly in soil management, has become a focal point of research and innovation. This paper explores the paradigm shift enabled by IoT in detecting organic carbon in soil, with the overarching goal of advancing agricultural productivity and sustainability. Emphasizing the pivotal role of organic carbon in soil health, the research addresses the existing challenges associated with its detection and underscores the potential advantages offered by IoT-based solutions for precise and real-time monitoring. The study meticulously examines various IoT technologies, including sensors, data analytics, and wireless communication protocols, within the specific context of organic carbon detection. A thorough review of contemporary techniques, methodologies, and devices utilized in IoT-based organic carbon detection in soil is presented. The paper not only sheds light on the current state-of-the-art but also explores the advantages, limitations, and prospects inherent in the implementation of IoT-enabled systems in agriculture. The envisioned outcomes encompass enhanced soil management practices, heightened crop yields, and the simultaneous preservation of the environment. In essence, this research contributes to the expanding body of knowledge surrounding IoT applications in agriculture, specifically emphasizing the transformative potential of IoT-enabled organic carbon detection for revolutionizing farming practices and promoting sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture plays a crucial role in fostering sustainable growth through the integration of various technological advancements such as image processing, artificial intelligence, deep learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The global population is increasing on a daily basis. The increasing demand within the agriculture industry has necessitated the collective enhancement of plant cultivation and field productivity. This paper emphasizes the significance of effectively managing the crop during its initial growth phase as well as during the harvesting era. Image processing and artificial neural networks are employed as distinct methodologies for detecting illnesses on leaves. When capturing images using drones, the resulting images undergo a process of segmentation and transformation, resulting in the identification of three distinct vectors that represent diseases. These vectors include colour, texture, and morphology. This paper reviews on various disease classification strategies that can be utilized for the detection of plant diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the European agri-food sector, operators with substantial bargaining power often engage in unfair trading practices (UTPs). Our paper aims to empirically examine the occurrence of UTPs and their influence on the performance of cooperatives. To fulfill the goal of our paper, we collected responses from 109 cooperatives in Greece after the transposition of a specialized EU Directive (i.e., Directive (EU) 2019/633). We found that, on average, the sampled cooperatives encountered three prohibited ("black") UTPs, while all reported at least one prohibited UTP. Moreover, the two most commonly reported practices (i.e., "unduly late payments" and "buyers' demand that suppliers pay for the deterioration or loss of products that occurred after ownership transfer") exerted a significant negative influence on cooperative performance, even in the presence of a proficient Board of Directors. Consequently, policymakers may need to pay more attention to UTPs and ensure that the national enforcement authorities are well-equipped to act rapidly and effectively against offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's agricultural economy has been hindered by insufficient accumulation of agricultural capital and credit constraints. It is worth investigating whether China's county financial marketization reform policy can alleviate these constraints and promote high-quality development of the agricultural economy (HQDAE). This paper presents an empirical analysis of the impact of county financial marketization reform on the HQDAE, based on county panel data. The focus is on the mechanism of county urbanization in the above relationship. The results show that county financial marketization has a significant non-linear impact on the HQDAE. Specifically, it has a 'U-shaped' impact on the overall growth of the agricultural economy and an inverted 'N-shaped' impact on the quality improvement of the agricultural economy. Secondly, the relationship between county financial marketization and the HQDAE is influenced by a threshold effect based on the level of county urbanization. As the level of county urbanization increases, the promoting effect of county financial marketization on HQDAE also increases significantly. Additionally, county financial marketization helps to promote county urbanization and accelerate urban-rural integration, which in turn leads to HQDAE. The research in this paper suggests that county-level local governments should promote a differentiated county financial system. In the early stages of financial market-oriented reform, the government should enhance the capacity of financial services in rural areas through tax breaks, policy incentives, and other measures to prevent financial leakage from agriculture. In the later stages of financial marketization reform, the government should strengthen financial supervision to prevent financial resources from being diverted from industry to capital. Moreover, to achieve the HQDAE, it is necessary to promote county financial market-oriented reform and accelerate the construction of county urbanization. This will help break the dual economic structure of urban and rural areas and promote the flow of financial capital, technology, and human capital from county cities to rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of agricultural futures market is of great significance to social economy and agri-cultural development. In view of the complexity of the fluctuation of agricultural futures prices, it is challenging to make up for the shortcomings of the existing data preprocessing technology so as to improve the prediction accuracy of the model. This paper puts forward a new VMDSGMD-LSTM model based on improved quadratic decomposition technology and artificial intelligence model. First of all, in the data preprocessing part, VMD is used to decompose the original futures price data, and SGMD is used to further process the remaining components. Secondly, the LSTM model is used to predict a series of modal components, and the final result is obtained by synthesizing the predicted values of different components. Furthermore, based on the futures trading data of wheat, corn and sugar in China agricultural futures market, this paper makes an empirical study in the 1-step, 2-step and 4-step ahead forecasting scenarios, respectively. The results show that compared with other benchmark models, the VMD-SGMD-LSTM hybrid model proposed in this paper has better forecasting ability and robustness for different agricultural futures, which effectively makes up for the shortcomings of existing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) within the agroclimatic domain is pivotal for addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change on agriculture. This paper embarks on a systematic review to dissect the current utilization of ML and DL in agricultural research, with a pronounced emphasis on agroclimatic impacts and adaptation strategies. Our investigation reveals a dominant reliance on conventional ML models and uncovers a critical gap in the documentation of methodologies. This constrains the replicability, scalability, and adaptability of these technologies in agroclimatic research. In response to these challenges, we advocate for a strategic pivot toward Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) frameworks. AutoML not only simplifies and standardizes the model development process but also democratizes ML expertise, thereby catalyzing the advancement in agroclimatic research. The incorporation of AutoML stands to significantly enhance research scalability, adaptability, and overall performance, ushering in a new era of innovation in agricultural practices tailored to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This paper underscores the untapped potential of AutoML in revolutionizing agroclimatic research, propelling forward the development of sustainable and efficient agricultural solutions that are responsive to the evolving climate dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the impact of education and training of farmers' professional cooperatives on agricultural green production, this paper uses the Oprobit model to analyze the impact of the time, methods, and content of cooperative education and training on green production willingness based on 534 micro-survey data of cooperative members in Sichuan Province. And then the instrumental variable method (IV-Oprobit) is used for endogeneity treatment and robustness test. The results show that: (1) Cooperative education and training time can significantly promote the green production willingness of members. Specifically, for every additional hour of education and training, the probability of "very willing" to participate in green production increases by 1.7%; (2) the four types of education and training methods of cooperative project demonstration, on-site training, bulletin board publicity, and online information publicity are all positively affecting the willingness of members to green production, and on-site training is the most effective method; (3) the three education and training contents of cognition, emotion and skills all positively affect the green production intention of members, and cognition is the most effective content; (4) the methods and contents of cooperative education and training have an interactive effect on the influence of members' green production willingness. Based on this, this paper proposes policy suggestions to optimize the functions, training methods, and content design of green production education and training in cooperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper firstly compares the structure of agricultural supply chain ecosystem from both internal members and external environment and analyzes the information transfer mechanism of information flow, capital flow, logistics and other energy and information in the supply chain. The importance of supply chain ecological coordination mechanism and its functional components are also discussed in depth. On this basis, the biosecurity strategy system of agricultural products supply chain management is constructed and the biosecurity strategy of supply chain management is proposed. Finally, the biosafety risk of agricultural products supply chain management in the e-commerce environment is assessed, and a multi-dimensional risk assessment index is proposed. Meanwhile, risk management theory is applied to provide a detailed analysis of the likelihood, loss, contagiousness, controllability and comprehensiveness of risks. The study showed that the risk indices were relatively high with the average values of 85% for transportation and storage technology risk, 76% for additive abuse risk, and 70% for agricultural input improper risk, respectively. The research in this paper provides new ideas and methods for biosafety management in the supply chain of agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image Enhancement (IE) is vital and one of the significant parts of Image processing. It is necessary to enhance the contrast and reduce the noise to improve the quality of the image.IE is one of the processes for altering the visibility of an image. It is widely applied in different fields such as medical science, industry, military, agriculture, etc. Image Enhancement is modifying digital images to make the image appear pleasing to the viewer. Several research works have been done on Image Enhancement. This paper also discusses the Self-Calibrated Illumination method (SCIM) and the HE method. SCIM along with HE Image Enhancement techniques and algorithms can improve the visual quality of the digital image. There are several techniques to enhance the quality of an image to extract meaningful information from the image. The wellknown techniques for image enhancement are the RetiNex-based method, Weber-Fechner method, Linear Regression algorithm-based method, Histogram Equalization, Fourier transform, etc. This paper reviews and compares the research work carried out in image enhancement based on the Histogram Equalization Method by different authors. This paper also reviews the merits and drawbacks along with the enhanced images and histogram plots obtained in these methods developed over the past decades. Finally, it concludes what further work needs to be done for a better quality of image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an innovative approach to improving agricultural practices using modern technologies such as machine learning, IoT, and image processing. The proposed system includes two main modules: fertilizer prediction and crop recommendation and crop disease detection. The first module utilizes machine learning algorithms to analyze data from various sources such as soil sensors, weather stations, and historical crop yield data to predict optimal fertilizer requirements and recommend suitable crops for the specific soil type and climate. The second module employs image processing and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithms to detect crop diseases by analyzing images captured by IoT devices such as drones and cameras. The proposed system aims to increase crop yield, reduce the cost of crop maintenance, and promote sustainable farming practices. The results of this research demonstrate the potential of smart agriculture technologies in improving food security and agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitization is becoming the key to achieving rural revitalization, and there is a complex inter-active relationship with farmer enrichment, and agriculture development, making it highly valued by governments around the world. Quantitatively evaluating the symbiotic relationship between rural digitization, farmer enrichment, and agricultural development, and reveal the driving mechanism behind them, which can provide evidence for the rural government, agricultural enterprises, and relevant stakeholders. This paper conducts an empirical study of 84 digital village national pilots in China based on coupling coordination model and geographically weighted regression, with focus on the spatial characteristics, symbiotic relationship and driving mechanisms of the pilots. The symbiotic relationship between rural digitization, farmer enrichment, and agriculture development has significant heterogeneity, with most of the pilots in coordination state. The driving mechanism of rural digitization, farmer enrichment, agriculture development, and symbiotic relationship were complicated, with significant heterogeneity and synergy in the driving forces of different factors, and special attention should be paid to spatial effects (the nature and intensity of regression coefficients in local regions) in the policy design and implementation. It is worth noting that population aging mainly plays a negative role, while industrialization, government support, resident capacity plays a positive role. The other factors play both positive and negative roles. Income gap between urban and rural residents, population aged 65 and above, financial self-sufficiency are the most critical factors. We suggest developing differentiated management policy, accurate management policy, and integrated management policy, which can provide a basis for digital village and smart village planning, construction and management in China. In view of the significant differences in rural digitalization and its driving mechanisms in different pilots as shown in the study, it is necessary to design differentiated spatial policies according to local conditions, to design accurate management policies based on the driving effects of key single factors, and to design integrated development policies by taking into account the interactive effects of multiple factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The symbiotic relationship between nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria and plants offers a promising avenue for sustainable agricultural practices and environmental remediation. This review paper explores the molecular interactions between nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria and nanoparticles, shedding light on their potential synergies in agricultural nanotechnology. Delving into the evolutionary history and specialized adaptations of cyanobacteria, this paper highlights their pivotal role in fixing atmospheric nitrogen, which is crucial for ecosystem productivity. The review discusses the unique characteristics of metal nanoparticles and their emerging applications in agriculture, including improved nutrient delivery, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. It delves into the complex mechanisms of nanoparticle entry into plant cells, intracellular transport, and localization, uncovering the impact on root-shoot translocation and systemic distribution. Furthermore, the paper elucidates cellular responses to nanoparticle exposure, emphasizing oxidative stress, signaling pathways, and enhanced nutrient uptake. The potential of metal nanoparticles as carriers of essential nutrients and their implications for nutrient-use efficiency and crop yield are also explored. Insights into the modulation of plant stress responses, disease resistance, and phytoremediation strategies demonstrate the multifaceted benefits of nanoparticles in agriculture. Current trends, prospects, and challenges in agricultural nanotechnology are discussed, underscoring the need for responsible and safe nanoparticle utilization. By harnessing the power of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria and leveraging the unique attributes of nanoparticles, this review paves the way for innovative, sustainable, and efficient agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide a scientific basis for the development of county-level agricultural industries through a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental and economic benefits of agricultural products. Focusing on Hancheng City in Shaanxi Province, this paper calculates and analyzes the carbon emission intensity per unit output value and the economic benefits of major agricultural products, assessing their comprehensive advantage indices. The research methods include data collection, data processing, and model construction, utilizing a bi-factor matrix analysis to explore the balance between environmental sustainability and economic profitability of different agricultural products. The results indicate that pepper and vegetables have the highest comprehensive advantages, demonstrating significant economic and environmental benefits, while soybeans show lower comprehensive advantages, requiring improvements in cultivation techniques and management practices. Based on the research findings, this paper proposes policy and management recommendations for different agricultural products, including focusing on the development of high-comprehensive-advantage products, improving cultivation techniques for low-comprehensive-advantage products, promoting green agricultural technologies, establishing a carbon footprint monitoring system for agricultural products, and strengthening agricultural infrastructure construction. The study's conclusions provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the agricultural development strategies of Hancheng City and similar regions, contributing to the achievement of sustainable agricultural development and carbon reduction goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current geopolitical and socioeconomic landscape creates a difficult and uncertain operating environment for farming and agri-food businesses. Technological innovation has not been suggested to be a "silver bullet" but is one of the ways organizations can seek to reduce environmental impact, deliver net zero, address the rural skills and labor deficit and produce more output from fewer resources and as a result, make space for nature. But what barriers limit this promissory narrative from delivering in practice? The purpose of the paper is to firstly explore the reported social, technical and systemic barriers to agri-technology adoption in an increasingly uncertain world and then secondly identify potential research gaps that highlight areas for future research and inform key research questions. Socio-technical and infrastructural barriers have been identified within the context of the complex hollowing out and infilling of rural communities across the world. These barriers include seventeen factors that emerge, firstly those external to the farm (economic conditions, external conditions including bureaucracy, market conditions, weather uncertainty and the narratives about farmers), those internal to the farm business (farming conditions, employee relations, general finance, technology and time pressures) and then personal factors (living conditions, personal finances, physical health, role conflict, social isolation and social pressure). Adaptive resilience strategies at personal, organizational and community levels are essential to address these barriers and to navigate agri-technology adoption in an uncertain and dynamic world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agriculture involves the use of organic farming technologies, which excludes the use of growth stimulants, hormones and chemical additives in animal feeding as well as fertilisers with pesticides and other hazardous chemicals. Sustainable land management practices are aimed at preserving soils, water resources and biodiversity. They mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving natural environments. Organic agriculture produces environmentally friendly food that contains fewer harmful chemicals, potentially reducing the incidence of diet-related disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis (via VOSviewer 1.6.16, Bibliometrix / Biblioshiny App) to explore the sustainable agriculture impact on public health and sustainable development of nations. Applying the Scopus database, 427 relevant papers were reviewed to identify trends, influential works, and key research themes. The analysis reveals that sustainable agricultural practices, which aim to reduce environmental impact, conserve resources and enhance productivity, have gained increasing attention since the mid-1990s. Noteworthy, contributions include fundamental works, influential studies and various UN and WHO publications. The research highlights keywords such as agriculture, public health, nutrition, and food security. Leading countries in this research domain include the USA, China, Canada, India, and the UK, demonstrating extensive international collaboration. The findings underscore the critical role of sustainable agriculture in addressing global challenges, promoting environmental stewardship, and supporting socio-economic progress, which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The study provides valuable insights into the development of sustainable practices and policies essential for future research and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the global population increase and the recovery of agricultural demand after the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of agricultural automation and autonomous agricultural vehicles is growing. Fallen person detection is critical to preventing fatal accidents during autonomous agricultural vehicle operations. However, there is a challenge due to the relatively limited dataset for fallen persons in off-road environments compared to on-road pedestrian datasets. To enhance the generalization performance of fallen person detection off-road using object detection technology, data augmentation is necessary. This paper proposes a data augmentation technique called Automated Region of Interest Copy-Paste (ARCP) to address the issue of data scarcity. The technique involves copying real fallen person objects obtained from public source datasets and then pasting the objects onto a background off-road dataset. Segmentation annotations for these objects are generated using YOLOv8x-seg and Grounded-Segment-Anything, respectively. The proposed algorithm is then applied to automatically produce augmented data based on the generated segmentation annotations. The technique encompasses segmentation annotation generation, Intersection over Union-based segment setting, and Region of Interest configuration. When the ARCP technique is applied, significant improvements in detection accuracy are observed for two state-of-the-art object detectors: anchor-based YOLOv7x and anchor-free YOLOv8x, showing an increase of 17.8% (from 77.8% to 95.6%) and 12.4% (from 83.8% to 96.2%), respectively. This suggests high applicability for addressing the challenges of limited datasets in off-road environments and is expected to have a significant impact on the advancement of object detection technology in the agricultural industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Statistics Canada administers the Agricultural Census every 5 years, and this paper presents unsuppressed data from the 2016 and 2021 Census. The data set encompasses detailed information on farm types, sizes, technology choices, and a demographic profile of farm operators from the 2021 Census. Data on farm characteristics and operator demographics is crucial for understanding innovation in agriculture and formulating evidence-based policies. Data description: The data sets cover the two most recent agriculture censuses of 2016 and 2021, presenting data on the number of farmers by region, farm type, size, and the adoption of technologies. Additionally, a third data set lists the number of farm operators by age and sex. The census questionnaire inquires about using different technologies, varying the types across the two census periods. Notably, there is no data suppression in these data sets, and they cover all 10 provinces in Canada, excluding the three territories. Farm types are categorized based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and farm size is measured in acres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The illegal occupation of farmland for building houses has impact not only on the land resources, but also the agricultural production, ecological environment, and food security. In order to protect farmland resources, maintain stable agricultural production activities and improve ecological environment, this paper designs and implements a time-point approval and dynamic monitoring solution and system for the problem of rural illegal occupation of farmland for constructing houses by comprehensively utilizing the satellite remote sensing technology (RS) and geographic information system technology (GIS). The result shows that the time-point approval and dynamic monitoring system can identify the illegal construction of houses accurately, thus this work can curb the generation of new illegal houses, and support the special governance of the construction of illegally occupied farmland effectively and continuously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of the continuous progress of China's agricultural reform, the development of characteristic agriculture is an important field of agricultural development in the country and even the world. Yunnan has unique advantages in geography, location, climate, and human resources, and has unique conditions for the development of agriculture with plateau characteristic. However, the sustainable development of agriculture with plateau characteristic is affected and restricted by many factors. How to promote the sustainable development of agriculture with plateau characteristic is an important research topic, and it is also the main purpose of this study. Therefore, through literature analysis and investigation, this study studies the advantages and disadvantages, development status, main problems, countermeasures and suggestions, macro development direction, and theoretical research methods of characteristic agriculture in the Yunnan plateau. This paper analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and the Adversarial Interpretation Structure Modeling Method (AISM) and proposes to combine the two models to make up for each other and improve the accuracy of model analysis. On this basis, a set of identification and evaluation systems of factors affecting the sustainable development of agriculture with plateau characteristic is established, which can comprehensively and accurately identify and evaluate various influencing factors, and provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of agriculture with plateau characteristic. Finally, combined with the relevant statistical data of Yunnan Province from 2009 to 2020 and many results calculated by the model, the factors affecting the sustainable development of agriculture with plateau characteristic were comprehensively analyzed. The results show that transportation, environment, and insurance support factors are the root factors that affect the sustainable development of agriculture with plateau characteristic, while the regional economy, scientific and technological support, and the development of agricultural enterprises are of high importance. Financial support, the level of agricultural mechanization, the quality of labor, and other factors can not be ignored. Finally, according to the results of the analysis, the corresponding policy recommendations are put forward to provide a reference for the sustainable development of plateau characteristic agriculture in Yunnan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the new challenges and crises facing agriculture, digitalization and green transformation have become important ways to solve the problems. This paper uses an international economics perspective to chart a new path for sustainable agricultural development. Specifically, it analyzes whether two-way international direct investment (FDI) can facilitate agricultural digital-green fusion(DGF)? Using a sample of 31 provinces (autonomous regions) from 2012 to 2021, this study finds: (1) Two-way FDI can significantly contribute to agriculture's DGF. (2) In the mechanism test, it is proved that two-way FDI can promote agriculture's DGF level by promoting green technology innovation capacity and overall regional technology innovation capacity. (3) The positive effects of two-way FDI are prominent in the eastern and central regions, coastal regions, and economically developed areas. (4) In the spatial Durbin model, the local two-way FDI growth improves agriculture's DGF level in the surrounding areas to a certain extent. The government is advised to prioritize openness, foster an environment for technological innovation, leverage spatial radiation for agricultural DGF, and advance digitally empowered agricultural modernization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the transformative potential of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in propelling the dairy industry toward net zero emissions, a critical objective in the global fight against climate change. Employing the Canadian dairy sector as a case study, the study extrapolates its findings to demonstrate the global applicability of these technologies in enhancing environmental sustainability across the agricultural spectrum. We begin by delineating the environmental challenges confronting the dairy industry worldwide, with an emphasis on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including methane from enteric fermentation and nitrous oxide from manure management. The pressing need for innovative approaches in light of the accelerating climate crisis forms the crux of our argument. Our analysis delves into the role of Big Data and AI in revolutionizing emission management in dairy farming. This includes applications in optimizing feed efficiency, refining manure management, and improving energy utilization. Technological solutions such as predictive analytics for feed optimization, AI in herd health management, and sensor networks for real-time monitoring are thoroughly examined. Crucially, the paper addresses the wider implications of integrating these technologies in dairy farming. We discuss the development of benchmarking standards for emissions, the importance of data privacy, and the essential role of policy in promoting sustainable practices. These aspects are vital in supporting the adoption of technology, ensuring ethical use, and aligning with international climate commitments. Concluding, our comprehensive study not only suggests a pathway for the dairy industry towards environmental sustainability but also provides insights into the role of digital technologies in broader agricultural practices, aligning with global environmental sustainability efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the agricultural sector faces the challenge of achieving an increase of 60% in food production without using much more land. This paper explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to bridge this "land gap" and mitigate the environmental implications of agricultural land use. Typically, the problem with using AI in such agricultural sectors is the need for more specific infrastructure to enable developers to design AI and ML engineers to deploy these AIs. It is, therefore, essential to develop dedicated infrastructures to apply AI models that optimize resource extraction in the agricultural sector. This article presents an infrastructure for the execution and development of AI-based models using open-source technology, and this infrastructure has been optimized and tuned for agricultural environments. By embracing the MLOps culture, the automation of AI model development processes is promoted, ensuring efficient workflows, fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, and promoting the rapid deployment of AI-driven solutions adaptable to changing field conditions. The proposed architecture integrates state-of-the-art tools to cover the entire AI model lifecycle, enabling efficient workflows for data scientists and ML engineers. Considering the nature of the agricultural field, it also supports diverse IoT protocols, ensuring communication between sensors and AI models and running multiple AI models simultaneously, optimizing hardware resource utilization. Surveys specifically designed and conducted for this paper with professionals related to AI show promising results. These findings demonstrate that the proposed architecture helps close the gap between data scientists and ML engineers, easing the collaboration between them and simplifying their work through the whole AI model lifecycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroponics is a type of soil-free farming that uses less water and other resources than conventional soil-based farming methods. Hydroponic cultivation system has high yield per acre of land with minimal consumption of water and can be a possible to meet the growing food demand of the world. The hydroponic plants fertility must be preserved, proper nutrition, a environmental temperature, and nutrient stability are crucial. It will be simpler for a farmer to keep track of all hydroponic plants by automatically monitoring nutrient flow and ambient temperature stability. By implementing artificial intelligence-based regulating algorithms in the agriculture industry, recent technology advancements are highly helpful in resolving these issues. This paper presents, automated hydroponic nutrient control system (AHNCS) for smart agriculture. System architecture is consisting of sensors network, Raspberry pi 4 microcontroller and actuators. Raspberry pi 4 microcomputer read sensor values from sensors process and activates particular actuator. The automation of the hydroponic system helps to avoid human intervention. The utilization of sensors and actuators, promptly act for the needs of the plant without any delay. The AHNCS having high accuracy, high efficiency and less delay. Hence, automation of the existing hydroponic system can reduce human dependency, provide accurate results, constant monitoring of plant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global food security and the pursuit of sustainable agricultural development, fostering synergistic innovation in the seed industry is of strategic importance. However, the collaborative innovation process between seed companies, research institutions, and governments is fraught with challenges due to information asymmetry and bounded rationality within the research and development phase. This paper establishes a multi-agent evolutionary game framework, taking the breeding of salt-tolerant rice as a case study. This study, grounded in the theories of information asymmetry and bounded rationality, constructs a two-party evolutionary game model for the interaction between enterprises and research institutions under market mechanisms. It further extends this model to include government participation, forming a three-party evolutionary game model. The aim is to uncover the evolutionary trends in collaborative behavior under various policy interventions and to understand how governments can foster collaborative innovation in salt-tolerant rice breeding through policy measures. To integrate the impact of historical decisions on the evolution of collaborative innovation, this research employs a delay differential equation (DDE) algorithm that takes historical lags into account within the numerical simulation. The stability analysis and numerical simulation using the DDE algorithm reveal the risk of market failure within the collaborative innovation system for salt-tolerant rice breeding operating under market mechanisms. Government involvement can mitigate this risk by adjusting incentive and restraint mechanisms to promote the system's stability and efficiency. Simulation results further identify that the initial willingness to participate, the coefficient for the distribution of benefits, the coefficient for cost sharing, and the government's punitive and incentivizing intensities are crucial factors affecting the stability of collaborative innovation. Based on these findings, the study suggests a series of policy recommendations including enhancing the initial motivation for participation in collaborative innovation, refining mechanisms for benefit distribution and cost sharing, strengthening regulatory compliance systems, constructing incentive frameworks, and encouraging information sharing and technology exchange. These strategies aim to establish a healthy and effective ecosystem for collaborative innovation in salt-tolerant rice breeding. While this research uses salt-tolerant rice breeding as a case study, the proposed cooperative mechanisms and policy suggestions have universal applicability in various agricultural science and technology innovation scenarios, especially when research meets widespread social needs but lacks commercial profit drivers, underscoring the essential role of government incentives and support. Consequently, this research not only contributes a new perspective to the application of evolutionary game theory in agricultural science and technology innovation but also offers empirical backing for policymakers in advancing similar collaborative innovation endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nudging the adoption of agricultural green production technologies (AGPTs) by cotton farmers is a practical need to implement the national "green development" strategy. Based on the micro-survey data of 502 cotton farmers, this paper empirically analyzed the influence and driving mechanism of cotton farmers' participation in cooperatives on their adoption of green production technology from the perspective of their inner cognition and external regulation by using the propensity score matching (PSM) model and the intermediary effect model. The study found that (1) the importance of agricultural green production technology to cotton farmers was in the order of soil testing and formula fertilization technology, green prevention and control technology, deep tillage technology, water-saving irrigation technology, new variety technology, and straw-returning technology. (2) Participation in cooperatives can significantly improve the adoption of agricultural green production technologies by cotton farmers, with an increase of about 27.16%, and the improvement effect on technology-intensive production links is pronounced. (3) By improving the inner cognition and external regulation of cotton farmers, cooperatives can enhance the green endogenous power of cotton farmers, improve environmental external constraints, and become an intermediary path to guide cotton farmers to adopt agricultural green production technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, agricultural cooperatives have become increasingly popular in the food industry. This paper aims to shed light on the extensive literature on agricultural cooperatives. Design/Methodology/Approach: In conducting this review, we applied the bibliometric review method. Initially, we retrieved 1249 bibliometric data from the Scopus database, which were reduced to 364 documents after applying the PRISMA guidelines. The data were filtered using the following keywords: "agricultural marketing cooperatives", "agricultural marketing societies", "performance", "value chains", and "supply chains". Findings: According to our findings, the present research is primarily focused on smallholders, sustainability, and supply chain management topics. We found that current research lacks an understanding of why agricultural cooperatives fail in terms of finances, investments, and implementation of strategies. We conclude that agricultural marketing cooperatives in their current state and legal form might not be flexible enough to compete in markets due to global and sustainability concerns. Finally, we provide a practical roadmap for researchers, investors, policymakers, and non-profits. Limitations: The main limitation of our review is that it contains only studies found in Scopus and examines only the English language literature. Originality/Value: Bibliometric analyses focused on agriculture cooperatives are scarce, and this paper provides a broader perspective of the existing literature. Moreover, it identifies research gaps and current trends in the field while providing a detailed description of how agricultural cooperative research has evolved over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper discusses the development trends of agricultural autonomous all-terrain vehicles (AATVs) from four cornerstones, such as (1) control strategy and algorithms, (2) sensors, (3) data communication tools and systems, and (4) controllers and actuators, based on 221 papers published in peer-reviewed journals for 1960–2023. The paper highlights a comparative analysis of commonly employed control methods and algorithms by highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. It gives comparative analyses of sensors, data communication tools, actuators, and hardware-embedded controllers. In recent years, many novel developments in AATVs have been made due to advancements in wireless and remote communication, high-speed data processors, sensors, computer vision, and broader applications of AI tools. Technical advancements in fully autonomous control of AATVs remain limited, requiring research into accurate estimation of terrain mechanics, identifying uncertainties, and making fast and accurate decisions, as well as utilizing wireless communication and edge cloud computing. Furthermore, most of the developments are at the research level and have many practical limitations due to terrain and weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern agriculture, the integration of advanced technologies has become indispensable for optimizing crop management and ensuring sustainable food production. This paper presents the development and implementation of a real-time AI-assisted push-broom hyperspectral system for plant identification. The push-broom hyperspectral technique, coupled with artificial intelligence, offers unprecedented detail and accuracy in crop monitoring. This paper details the design and construction of the spectrometer, including optical assembly and system integration. The real-time acquisition and classification system, utilizing an embedded computing solution, is also described. The calibration and resolution analysis demonstrates the accuracy of the system in capturing spectral data. As a test, the system was applied to the classification of plant leaves. The AI algorithm based on neural networks allows for the continuous analysis of hyperspectral data relative up to 720 ground positions at 50 fps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Different technology transfer mechanisms are used to disseminate innovative agricultural technologies. The extension approaches based on the top-down transfer of technology were dominated in the past. That paradigm could not achieve reasonable benefits to many users but the resource-rich clientele reaped the benefits. Therefore, new concepts and approaches were warranted. The paper describes the outcomes of the paradigm shift of agricultural extension from technology transfer to participatory technologies.. Research Method: The paper contains the information collected from published literature on technology transfer efforts, global experience in Participatory Rural Appraisal applications, and the research findings from participatory rural appraisal sessions conducted in Sri Lanka. Findings: The critical issue of technology transfer models was insufficient attention granted to incorporate the participation of grassroots-level clientele. Hence, real community needs were omitted. The concept of Participatory Rural Appraisal evolved as an alternative scenario and was implemented with promising results. The Participatory Rural Appraisal is a bottom-up approach, that incorporates local knowledge and community participation, uses simple technology, requires low cost, and could be applied in rural areas without complex apparatus. Participants have a great opportunity to express their actual needs. Hence, a valid plan can be designed and the community will participate in the following stages of the planning cycle. This study reviews the Participatory Rural Appraisal experience worldwide and the paradigm shift taken place in technology transfer from a top-down approach to participatory methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of the scientific and intellectual potential of the agri-food complex contributes to the achievement of sustainable socio-economic growth. The article proposes models for the development of the scientific and intellectual potential of the Russian agri-food complex. An analysis of the activities of existing institutes for the development of agricultural scientific research was carried out. The assessment of the state of scientific and intellectual potential was carried out on the basis of cross-country comparisons of indicators of the number of researchers and expenditures on research and development. Empirically, imbalances were identified between the number of researchers and internal R&D costs. The positive experience of forming the scientific and intellectual potential of countries with developed market economies has been systematized, priority directions and stimulation of innovation and investment development have been identified. The practical significance of the research results lies in increasing the efficiency of agricultural production based on the development of scientific and intellectual potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the dynamic interplay between digital finance and farm household income within the agricultural sector, utilizing the income elasticity of demand theory from bioeconomics to understand shifts in human needs and market models. We construct a theoretical framework to assess how digital finance tools are applied in bio-agriculture, focusing on their mechanisms in expanding market access, altering financing modes, and broadening coverage for agricultural households. Our analysis delves into the correlation between digital finance and farm incomes, exploring the threshold effects that delineate significant changes. We employ a comprehensive panel regression analysis using a mixed OLS model, along with random and fixed effects models, to quantify the impacts of digital finance on both agricultural and non-agricultural income among farmers. Our findings reveal substantial disparities: the mean non-agricultural income of farmers stands at 7,682.97 with a standard deviation of 5,054.09, whereas their agricultural income averages at 4,358.77 with a standard deviation of 1,667. Additionally, we document a pronounced growth in non-agricultural income, which has increased by approximately 9,000 yuan per capita over nine years, correlating with improvements in the total digital finance index. This growth suggests a homogenous promotion effect between digital finance and non-agricultural income. The insights garnered from this study offer valuable implications for policies aimed at fostering rural revitalization in conjunction with the expansion of digital finance, underscoring the critical role of digital technologies in enhancing the economic well-being of the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article conducts an in-depth analysis of the role of next-generation technologies in soilless vegetable production, highlighting their groundbreaking potential to revolutionize yield, efficiency, and sustainability. These technologies, such as AI-driven monitoring systems and precision farming methods, offer unparalleled accuracy in monitoring critical variables such as nutrient concentrations and pH levels. However, the paper also addresses the multifaceted challenges that hinder the widespread adoption of these technologies. The high initial investment costs pose a significant barrier, particularly for small- and medium-scale farmers, thereby risking the creation of a technological divide in the industry. Additionally, the technical complexity of these systems demands specialized expertise, potentially exacerbating knowledge gaps among farmers. Other considerations are scrutinized, including data privacy concerns and potential job displacement due to automation. Regulatory challenges, such as international trade regulations and policy frameworks, are discussed, as they may need revision to accommodate these new technologies. The paper concludes by emphasizing that while these sustainable technologies offer transformative benefits, their potential for broad adoption is constrained by a complex interplay of financial, technical, regulatory, and social factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling coordination of agricultural technology innovation with food security is of great significance for high-quality agricultural development. By identifying the coupling coordination relationship between the two systems and the influencing factors, this paper aims to promote the virtuous cycle of coordinated development between regional agriculture and technology, as well as accelerate the realisation of high-quality development of Chinese agriculture. Therefore, this paper explores the spatial and temporal coupling characteristics of the two using the entropy value method, coupling coordination degree model, and exploratory spatial data analysis, and it screens for important influencing factors using the grey correlation model. The main results show that ① the coupling coordination relationship between agricultural technology innovation and food security in China is at a dissonant stage, but the value of the coupling coordination degree increases from 0.2076 to 0.3437 during the period of study, and the level of coordination gradually improves. ② The degree of coupling coordination in the provincial space exhibits a distribution pattern of "high in the east and low in the west". The areas of high value are primarily situated in the provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, and other provinces along the southeastern coast of China, while the areas of low value are mainly located in the provinces of Qinghai, Ningxia, and other provinces in inland northwest China. ③ The Moran's index of provincial coupling coordination is greater than 0, showing a certain positive correlation, and there is a significant pattern of spatial aggregation. ④ The correlation coefficients between the influencing factors and the degree of coupling coordination are all greater than 0.35, indicating a moderate or high correlation, but the significance of technological support capacity and food distribution security increased over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Industrial Revolution led to great changes in the world. New technologies were being developed and introduced at a rapid pace, forever changing the way people lived and worked. One of the areas that underwent significant changes due to the Industrial Revolution is agriculture, which is one of the oldest and most traditional form of use of nature and land by humans. Making changes to the agriculture became possible only under the influence of industrial revolutions. Still, even in the early stages, they were not able to radically and visibly transform this important branch of the economy. One of the most visible effects of industrialization on agriculture is the introduction of new technologies. The interdependence between traditional agriculture and modern industrial sectors of the economy is crucial for the overall economic development of the country. The growth of the agricultural sector depends on the growth of industrial demand for agricultural products. Similarly, the growth of the industrial sector depends on an increase in the purchasing power of the agricultural sector for industrial products and an increase in the supply of raw materials for processing. Many developing countries have realized the importance and role of the agricultural sector's industrialization in the country's economic development which ensures food security, optimizes foreign trade balance and raises the welfare of population. The industrial revolutions transformed the agricultural sector from traditional agriculture to mechanized agricultural production and modern precision farming. The fourth industrial revolution stimulated the development of new technologies and methods that changed the global production system. Industry 4.0 has transformed agricultural operations using cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and machine learning, big data analytics, and the integration of cloud technology into agricultural machinery. Agriculture 4.0 is a digital model of agricultural production, which is based on a highly efficient production process and is the result of long-term technological development. The paper aims to analyze and describe the innovations of Agriculture 4.0, its origin, and characteristics. The paper discusses the current state of the industrial agriculture (industrial agricultural production model, production process, supply chain) sector's strengths and weaknesses. The paper presents the opportunities and challenges of digital agriculture, emphasizing its importance in solving several pressing issues in industrial agriculture. Innovation and technology are essential to maintaining competitiveness in the agricultural sector. Digitization of the agro-food sector creates a highly productive, predictable, and adaptable system to changes. Which, in turn, leads to an increase in food security. Industrial agriculture significantly increases productivity, but at the same time, monoculture and intensive animal husbandry, which is the main production model of modern industrial agriculture, cause great damage to the environment, public health, and animal welfare. In addition, although agricultural production is mechanized and computerized, the lack of digitization and intelligent systems is a major obstacle that hinders the possibility of improving automation. The agri-food supply chain is not managed wisely at the current stage. To solve the mentioned issues, it is necessary to integrate the innovative technologies of the emerging industry 4.0 in agriculture. At the same time, agricultural technologies are also evolving towards a new paradigm -- "Agriculture 5.0 ", which should better combine science and technology with social equity and sustainability. The development of bio-economy in the concept of Society 5.0 implies that the most promising areas of agricultural development are the optimal use of resources, mass personalization and individualization of the final product, the development of creative product differentiation, and the introduction of autonomous automatic decision-making systems based on robotic complexes. The absence of communication barriers in human-machine interaction, including the use of bioinformatics technologies, will allow us to focus on increasing heuristics for innovative solutions in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This abstract delves into the pressing social challenge of limited access to affordable agricultural technologies among farmers in Navalur, Karnataka, India. Specifically, the study concentrates on the labour-intensive and time-consuming process of manual seed sowing, which not only hampers efficiency but also takes a toll on the physical well-being of farmers, especially those engaged in small-scale agricultural activities. To tackle these issues, this paper proposes the development and implementation of a novel solution -- a seed sowing bot. The primary objective of this technological innovation is to alleviate the laborious aspects of seed sowing, offering a potential respite to farmers. The significance of addressing the gap in accessible agricultural technologies cannot be overstated, as it holds the key to empowering farmers, augmenting agricultural productivity, and contributing to sustainable rural development in Karnataka. By automating the seed sowing process, the proposed bot not only reduces the physical burden on farmers but also promises to enhance overall productivity. The abstract highlights the trajectory of conceptualization, creation, and evaluation of the seed sowing bot, showcasing its capability to effectively minimize manual labour while optimizing agricultural outcomes. The results underscore the feasibility and advantages of introducing this cost-effective technological solution to the farming community in Karnataka. In conclusion, this paper advocates for the adoption of the seed sowing bot as a strategic step towards addressing the challenges faced by farmers and promoting agricultural sustainability in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicopters provide aerial services such as firefighting, medical transport, agriculture, and construction for critical industries that form the backbone of modern society. These "aerial work" applications comprise the majority of the current market for civilian helicopters and include a diverse set of mission types and flight profiles; in many cases, aerial work applications are meeting growing needs driven by the climate crisis and energy transition. Through a series of more than 180 interviews with operators, pilots, and users across helicopter aerial work, this paper--the largest contemporary study of its kind -- surveys the challenges that the industry sees for itself. Part I analyzes and summarizes our original primary source data to provide both qualitative and quantitative assessments of the needs of this community. Part II presents a case study for aerial firefighting, where a growing demand driven by record-breaking climatic changes is straining the existing air crews, aircraft fleet, and firefighting technology. Many issues identified in firefighting are endemic problems that beset other neighboring applications within aerial work such as public services, energy infrastructure, construction, and agriculture; technologies that have the potential to have a significant impact on firefighting are discussed. Part III is an analysis of technology and how it might better meet the needs of helicopter aerial work. We identify characteristics such as compatibility, reliability, and application specialization that are valued by helicopter aerial work customers and operators. In the backdrop of unprecedented venture capital investment and technology development in new types of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for AAM, this paper's core finding is that the needs of helicopter aerial work are not being met: a venture capital culture prioritizes innovation that can create new markets over solving challenges in existing ones. Innovation for commercial air transport missions that operate under different market, environmental, and operational conditions does not "trickle down" to aerial work. We identify a need for increased collaboration between technologists and the aerial work community and for a more thoughtful approach towards investment and development to meet the growing challenges of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]