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In Myanmar, 70% of the rural population engages in rice farming for their livelihoods. Since 2013, the government and development projects have introduced a variety of sustainable rice cultivation ...

Food systems need to focus more on health, prosperity, and environmental sustainability. This requires changes in what, where, how and by whom food is produced, marketed, and consumed. Interdisciplinary research and trans-disciplinary collaboration are needed.Stakeholders need to agree on their respective roles, values, responsibilities and modus operandi so that research better responds to real-world challenges and opportunities. In this Viewpoint we argue that this is especially the case in the Global South post Covid-19. Without these changes, there will continue to be unrealistic expectations of impact from agricultural research, and disappointment when these are not realized.

Vietnam is supportive of the transition to sustainable rice production in the Mekong Delta. The national program promoted best management practices for rice production through “1 Must Do and 5 Reductions” (1M5R). This review traces the technological development and uptake of 1M5R in national policies and by end-users. We highlight the outcomes from various policy-supported initiatives and unpack plausible pathways that generated the widespread adoption of 1M5R in eight provinces in the Mekong River Delta: at least 104,448 smallholder rice farmers were reached, and 1M5R practices adopted on 113,870 hectares. The scaling of 1M5R was enabled through a convergence of different socio-technical systems with varied foci, including sustainability certification, contract farming, consolidation of production, and improved use of inputs, aside from the development of sustainable technologies. In addition, 1M5R was promoted with incentives generated by a World Bank project and other initiatives in line with a national policy of increasing the quality of rice production for national and international markets. The interconnections of varied socio-technical systems, enacted by different intermediaries, catalyzed the spread of 1M5R. The widespread adoption by smallholder farmers increased their profits and raised awareness across diverse stakeholder groups of the higher marketability of rice produced with sustainable practices.

Farmer adoption of sustainable rice farming technologies and practices is critical for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Often adoption is investigated in isolation focusing on factors influencing farmer decision making and overlooking the effects of technology adoption on farmers’ livelihoods and perceptions of change. Therefore, the present study investigated technology adoption and its effects on farmers with a special focus on additional revenue allocation and perception of social, economic and environmental change. Using a digital survey platform, 153 farmers (21.6% female) were interviewed in three sub-districts of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. On average, farmers adopted two technologies or practices, adopted high-yielding rice varieties, and increased their revenue from US$105 to US$122 per hectare per season. Barriers to adoption included time constraints, unsuitability for field conditions and incompatibility with cropping systems. Farmers invested the extra income in farming business and improved diets. Furthermore, farmers perceived changes in social and human capital and also poverty reduction due to technology adoption. This study highlights the importance of including an analysis of social impact in agricultural research.

Simple Summary While developments in animal welfare science have led to a greater understanding of the welfare needs of calves (Bos taurus), there are prevailing concerns that current knowledge has not been adopted in practice. Given that the perceptions of veterinarians have direct implications for the level of welfare protection afforded to calves, this study investigated the current thinking of veterinarians towards the welfare of young calves in New Zealand. Through a nationwide survey, the findings revealed that veterinarians strongly disagreed with the specifications of certain calf welfare regulations. Veterinarians also expressed diverse concerns for the potential risks of calf welfare compromise across the production chain and identified multiple barriers to implementing welfare-related change. The findings indicate considerable support among veterinarians for strengthening the level of welfare protection afforded to calves in New Zealand. Given the asymmetries that exist between the current regulatory framework and veterinary perspectives, the findings suggest that more needs to be done to improve calf welfare in New Zealand. Abstract Despite recent legislative amendments to address areas of highest risk to the welfare of calves (Bos taurus) in New Zealand, there are prevailing concerns that animal welfare science knowledge has not been adopted in practice. As a part of a larger, nationwide study investigating the perceptions of veterinarians towards calf welfare, the aim of the current work was to investigate the perceptions of veterinarians towards the level of welfare protection afforded to young “bobby” calves in New Zealand. This study also explored concerns for welfare compromise and identified barriers to welfare-related change for calves more generally. An electronic mixed-methods survey was completed by 104 veterinarians registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. The findings revealed that veterinarians strongly disagreed with the specifications of certain calf welfare regulations. Veterinarians also identified areas at highest risk of calf welfare compromise across the production chain and barriers to welfare-related change. These findings demonstrate considerable support among veterinarians for improving the level of welfare protection afforded to calves. Given the discrepancies that exist between the current regulatory regime and veterinary perspectives, the knowledge gained from this study can be used in support of regulatory reform to strengthen calf welfare in practice and policy in New Zealand.

Despite the overuse of fertilizer in China, yields have stagnated while environmental pollution has risen. To increase sustainable production, the &ldquo, Three Controls&rdquo, Technology (3CT) was adopted in Guangdong Province as an agricultural best management practice for rice production. Its goal is to reduce the fertilizer use of farmers while decreasing the number of unproductive tillers and controlling pests and diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the farmers&rsquo, perception of 3CT focusing on three different impact factors: economic, social, and environmental. Using a digital survey questionnaire application, 142 farmers from six villages in Guangdong Province were interviewed to evaluate perceived changes in their farming and livelihood since adopting 3CT. Results showed that the farmers were highly satisfied with 3CT. They perceived positive livelihood changes and increased agronomic performance with reduced fertilizer use. Farmers who had adopted 3CT for the longest perceived significantly higher levels of change, more benefits, and improved agricultural efficiency. The study showed that 3CT is highly appreciated by farmers due to its effectiveness, ease of use, and compatibility. Our model highlighted the relevance of including social and environmental impact analysis for sustainability research in agriculture. Ultimately, 3CT has the potential of being implemented in other regions of China.

Paddy rice cropping systems are largely intensive with widespread use of modern high yielding varieties, fertilizers, and agrochemicals, mostly characterized by rice monocropping, particularly when irrigated. Food provisioning is the most obvious ecosystem service derived from rice farming, but rice farming is also a way of life, particularly in Asia where 90% of rice is produced. Rice farming has been in existence for a long time and is an integral part of cultural traditions globally and is celebrated through different sociocultural festivities and forms part of societal cultural identities. Being semiaquatic, rice fields provide a habitat for a diverse assemblage of fauna and flora. The unique characteristics of paddy soils enable them to sustain intensive rice production and regulate the biogeochemical nutrient cycling. Paddy soils contribute about 11% of the greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, largely through methane, but also sequester significant amounts of carbon, contributing to mitigation of the emissions. Nonetheless, paddy rice systems offer a range of ecosystem services that vary with growth stages and management practices.

Prioritization of animal welfare issues can help identify which areas most require research funding and raise awareness of best practices. A modified Delphi method was used to obtain expert opinion on the highest priority welfare issues for UK farmed livestock. Fifty-eight UK-based experts were recruited onto the study, with a minimum of 3 years experience of working with either cattle, pigs, poultry, or small ruminants (12-16 experts per group). Experts were chosen to represent a broad range of opinions. Two rounds of surveys were conducted online using Online Survey, and the final round was an in-person workshop with 21 experts. In the first survey, experts were provided with a comprehensive list of species-specific welfare issues derived from the literature. Participants were asked to score each welfare issue, for (i) severity, (ii) duration, and (iii) prevalence on a 6-point Likert scale. The results of the first survey were reviewed and the welfare issues which scored a neutral-to-high response (scores 3-6) were carried forward. In round 2, participants were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the rankings that were made from the results of round 1. The final stage of the process was a workshop, which consisted of a combination of group exercises and discussions, to reach the final consensus. Welfare priority lists were divided into two categories: severity/duration, and prevalence, to identify the priority welfare issues affecting individual animals and the population, respectively. Across all farmed species common concerns were inadequate or inappropriate nutrition, inability of stockpeople to recognize or treat welfare issues (such as pain or behavioral problems), lameness, chronic or endemic health issues, euthanasia and mortality and morbidity of neonates. Specific concerns related to behavioral restriction and damaging or abnormal behavior in pigs, poultry and dairy animals, inadequate housing for pigs and poultry, consequences of breeding decisions in pigs and poultry, and lack of access to veterinary care in sheep and beef. This Delphi process resulted in consensus on the most significant welfare challenges faced by UK livestock species and can help to guide future research and education priority decisions.

Background Rabbits are the third most popular pet in theUK, but little research into their welfare needs has beenconducted.Methods A modified Delphi method was used to generateexpert consensus on the most important welfare issues forrabbits in the UK. The study involved 11 experts, recruitedfrom a range of disciplines. The experts generated aninitial broad list of welfare issues via an online discussionboard. Two rounds of online surveys were conducted toprioritise these issues. The final round was a workshopwith a subsection of experts. The experts decided thatwelfare issues should be ranked considering: (1) severity,(2) duration, and (3) prevalence.Results Experts considered that rabbits were often keptin inadequate housing, were not handled or socialisedproperly, were fed inappropriate diets and owners failedto vaccinate their rabbits against preventable diseases.Rabbits were thought to experience a reduced lifeexpectancy. Lack of owner knowledge of rabbit husbandryand behaviour and, in some cases, also lack of veterinaryknowledge, contributed to poor rabbit welfare.Conclusions The Delphi process resulted in consensuson the most significant welfare challenges faced by rabbitsand can help guide future research and education prioritydecisions.

Simple Summary Despite developments in animal welfare science regarding perioperative pain management in calves (Bos taurus), there are concerns that current knowledge has not been adopted in practice. Given that the perceptions of veterinarians have implications for how the welfare needs of calves are assessed and managed in practice, this study sought to quantify veterinary perceptions towards perioperative pain management in calves, including barriers to its use and whether demographic differences may influence those perceptions. A nationwide survey was electronically distributed to veterinarians registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. Veterinarians largely associated multimodal pain management with the greatest reduction in perioperative pain. Most veterinarians also perceived that postprocedural pain persists beyond 24 h for disbudding and castration and did not support the use of differential treatment based on developmental age. Despite this, certain barriers were identified for their potential to inhibit the use of pain management on-farm. While demographic differences were found to influence veterinary perceptions towards perioperative pain management, the findings revealed considerable support among veterinarians for improving pain mitigation in calves. Given the opportunity, veterinarians in New Zealand would likely support strengthening the minimum provisions afforded to calves in practice and policy. Abstract While veterinarians are instrumental to the welfare of calves (Bos taurus), limited knowledge exists concerning veterinary perceptions towards perioperative pain management in calves. As a part of a larger, nationwide study investigating the perceptions of veterinarians towards calf welfare, the current work sought to quantify veterinary perceptions towards perioperative pain management, including barriers to its use, and investigate demographic influences affecting those perceptions. An electronic mixed-methods survey was completed by 104 veterinarians registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. The current work revealed that most veterinarians considered a multimodal approach as the most effective method for ameliorating perioperative pain in calves, rejected the practice of differential treatment based on developmental age, and perceived that postprocedural pain persists beyond 24 h for the majority of procedures included in the survey. Despite this, veterinarians identified certain barriers that may inhibit the provision of pain mitigation on-farm, including costs, inadequate recognition of pain, and ingrained farming practices. Certain demographic effects were found to influence perceptions towards perioperative pain management, including gender, the number of years since graduation, and species emphasis. Nevertheless, the current work demonstrated considerable support among veterinarians to improve pain management protocols during routine husbandry procedures. The asymmetries that exist between the current minimum provisions of perioperative pain management and veterinary perspectives suggest that substantive improvements are necessary in order to reconcile New Zealand’s existing regulatory regime with developments in scientific knowledge.

Traveller horses are often perceived to be exposed to poor welfare due to Travellers&rsquo, traditional way of horsemanship. However, few studies have investigated Traveller horse welfare. Hence, the present study aims to explore Traveller horse owners&rsquo, attitudes to horse care and welfare. Semi-structured interviews and discussion groups examined 14 Irish Traveller horse owners&rsquo, attitudes and approach to horse ownership. Additionally, a body condition scoring (BCS) instrument was assessed for its accuracy and ease of use when applied by Traveller horse owners. Additionally, the BCS system was used to assess 18 horses. Results show that Travellers have a good understanding of horses&rsquo, natural behaviours and environment, which is reflected in their management practices. However, barriers to improved welfare are land availability, since landowners are often reluctant to lease to Travellers, and the impoundment of horses as a consequence of fly grazing, under the Control of Horses Act 1996 (Ireland). Furthermore, Travellers regarded the BCS as a useful tool, but would require training to apply the scoring successfully. The results suggest that attitudes and management practices are favourable, but Travellers have limited means to overcome barriers. Therefore, it is necessary to increase capacity building and assist with the acquisition of land.

Rice farmers in the Mekong Delta are not only experiencing challenges due to climate change but are also expected to increase production through sustainable intensification. Increased production and mechanization, such as using combine harvesters leave farmers with more rice straw in the field, which farmers often choose to burn resulting in adverse health effects, increased air pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Farmer adoption of recently promoted sustainable rice straw management practices is low. The present study, therefore, investigated factors influencing the acceptance of different rice straw management practices. 111 smallholder rice farmers participated in the study. Farmers’ perceptions of risks, benefits and their acceptance of eight different rice straw management practices including burning, soil incorporation, composting, mushroom and biogas production, and different collection methods, was investigated via a survey questionnaire. Results show that farmers often burn their rice straw even though they perceive high risks, few benefits and expressed low levels of acceptance for rice straw burning. Acceptance of rice straw management practices differs between practices; however, benefit perceptions are the strongest predictor for all practices followed by knowledge about climate change. Risk perceptions were a weak predictor for some practices including burning and biogas production. The regression models explain up to 50% of the variance. Results show that the experiential system determines farmers’ perception of practiced straw management options. This study also shows that even though climate change is not psychologically distant to farmers, sustainable behavior will depend on the acceptability, feasibility and perceived benefit of options provided.

Climate change will continue to have a largely detrimental impact on the agricultural sector worldwide because of predicted rising temperatures, variable rainfall, and an increase in extreme weather events. Reduced crop yields will lead to higher food prices and increased hardship for low income populations, especially in urban areas. Action on climate change is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 13) and is linked to the Paris Climate Agreement. The research challenge posed by climate change is so complex that a trans-disciplinary response is required, one that brings together researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers in networks where the lines between “research” and “development” become deliberately blurred. Fostering such networks will require researchers, throughout the world, not only to work across disciplines but also to pursue new South−North and South−South partnerships incorporating policy-makers and practitioners. We use our diverse research experiences to describe the emergence of such networks, such as the Direct Seeded Rice Consortium (DSRC) in South and Southeast Asia, and to identify lessons on how to facilitate and strengthen the development of trans-disciplinary responses to climate change.

Communication skills teaching in medical education has yet to acknowledge the impact of the Internet on physician-patient communication. The authors present a conceptual model showing the variables influencing how and to what extent physicians and patients discuss Internet-sourced health information as part of the consultation with the purpose of educating the patient.A study exploring the role physicians play in patient education mediated through health information available on the Internet provided the foundation for the conceptual model. Twenty-one physicians participated in semistructured interviews between 2011 and 2013. Participants were from Australia and Switzerland, whose citizens demonstrate different degrees of Internet usage and who differ culturally and ethnically. The authors analyzed the interviews thematically and iteratively. The themes as well as their interrelationships informed the components of the conceptual model.The intrinsic elements of the conceptual model are the physician, the patient, and Internet based health information. The extrinsic variables of setting, time, and communication activities as well as the quality, availability, and usability of the Internet-based health information influenced the degree to which physicians engaged with, and were engaged by, their patients about Internet-based health information.The empirically informed model provides a means of understanding the environment, enablers, and constraints of discussing Internet-based health information, as well as the benefits for patients' understanding of their health. It also provides medical educators with a conceptual tool to engage and support physicians in their activities of communicating health information to patients.

This study presents findings from the first stage of a three-year project (“An investigation of 13–17- year-olds’ attitudes and behaviour to animals and development and testing of interventions to promote the concept of Duty of Care” -SMDO-ZGLD15) that aims to ascertain the most effective ways to promote a duty of care (DOC) towards animals among children and young people. The project was instigated by a call from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for research in this area in line with recent changes in animal welfare law. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of pet ownership among adolescents in Great Britain and identify any sociodemographic differences between pet owners and non-pet owners. A total of 14,328 11-to 15-year-old adolescents from England, Scotland, and Wales were included in the analysis. Results revealed 15-year-old adolescents were significantly more likely than 11-year-old adolescents to own dogs (OR = 1.146, p < 0.001) but less likely to own fish, reptiles, or amphibians (OR = 0.629, p < 0.001), and small mammals (OR = 0.630, p < 0.001). Thirteen-year-olds were significantly more likely than 11-year-olds to own dogs (OR = 1.240, p = 0.021) and birds (OR = 1.299, p = 0.010), but significantly less likely to own fish, reptiles, or amphibians (OR = 0.795, p < 0.001). No gender differences were found. White adolescents were more likely than non-white adolescents to own all pet types. Those living in single-parent families were significantly more likely than those living with two parents to own dogs (OR = 1.186, p = 0.013) and cats (OR = 1.319, p < 0.001). Furthermore, those who reported living in stepfamilies were also more likely to own cats (OR = 1.428, p < 0.001). Adolescents with siblings were more likely to own cats (OR = 1.391, p = 0.001), fish, reptiles, or amphibians (OR = 1.220, p = 0.037) than adolescents without siblings. Adolescents with employed parents (both or one) were significantly more likely than those with unemployed parents to own dogs (OR = 1.414, p = 0.002) and birds (OR = 1.523, p = 0.018). Adolescents from high-affluence families were less likely than adolescents from low-affluence families to own dogs (OR = 0.888, p = 0.037), small mammals (OR = 0.832, p = 0.005), and birds (OR = 0.801, p = 0.046). Furthermore, family affluence differences were found in different pet types. Differences in all pet types and siblings were also found in a proxy measure of attachment to pets. This study provides evidence that pet ownership is related to several sociodemographic factors. These are relevant to take into account when performing HAI studies on adolescents. Postprint

Due to past major food scares, food-safety perceptions have become a widely investigated topic. The aim of the present study was to examine food-safety perceptions separately for every step of the total meat supply chain, as such a detailed approach yields more promising strategies to ensure food safety in the future. Using a large-scale survey, we examined people’s risk perceptions of 18 steps describing the total meat supply chain. The results revealed a clear distinction between risk perception at the production stage and risk perception at home in the total meat supply chain, in that people perceived significantly less risk at home. However, people’s risk perceptions of the single stages in the total meat supply chain were overall slightly above average. Additionally, there were individual differences, as risk perception at the production stage was highly correlated with risk perception at home, meaning that some people perceived more risk than others overall. Using a multiple regression analysis, we ...

Objective This study aimed to translate and validate German, Italian, and French versions of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy (S-TOFHLA), to be used in Switzerland and its neighboring countries. Methods The original English version of the S-TOFHLA was translated by applying standardized translation methods and cultural adaptations. 659 interviews were conducted with Swiss residents in their preferred language (249 German, 273 Italian, and 137 French). To assess the validity of the measures, known predictors for health literacy (age, education, and presence of a chronic condition) were tested. Results For all three language versions, results show that younger participants, participants with a higher education and participants with chronic medical conditions had significantly higher levels of health literacy. Furthermore, the three health literacy scales categorized participants into three health literacy levels with most people possessing either inadequate or adequate levels. The highest levels of health literacy were found in the Swiss-German sample (93%), followed by the Swiss-French (83%) and Swiss-Italian (67%) samples. Conclusion The German, Italian, and French versions of the S-TOFHLA provide valid measures of functional health literacy. Practice implications The translated versions can be used in the three different language regions of Switzerland as well as in neighboring countries following ‘country specific' adjustments and validations.

In 2005, Swiss citizens endorsed a moratorium on gene technology, resulting in the prohibition of the commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops and the growth of genetically modified animals until 2013. However, scientific research was not affected by this moratorium, and in 2008, GMO field experiments were conducted that allowed us to examine the factors that influence their acceptance by the public. In this study, trust and confidence items were analyzed using principal component analysis. The analysis revealed the following three factors: "economy/health and environment" (value similarity based trust), "trust and honesty of industry and scientists" (value similarity based trust), and "competence" (confidence). The results of a regression analysis showed that all the three factors significantly influenced the acceptance of GM field experiments. Furthermore, risk communication scholars have suggested that fairness also plays an important role in the acceptance of environmental hazards. We, therefore, included measures for outcome fairness and procedural fairness in our model. However, the impact of fairness may be moderated by moral conviction. That is, fairness may be significant for people for whom GMO is not an important issue, but not for people for whom GMO is an important issue. The regression analysis showed that, in addition to the trust and confidence factors, moral conviction, outcome fairness, and procedural fairness were significant predictors. The results suggest that the influence of procedural fairness is even stronger for persons having high moral convictions compared with persons having low moral convictions.