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Copyright of Trans/Form/Ação is the property of Trans/Form/Acao 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.)

Background: Despite the high average per capita income and the Human Development Index for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the average area of organic farms does not exceed 23.5 thousand hectares during the period 2018-2022. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the impact of potential expansion in organic agriculture on self-sufficiency and production inputs (chemical fertilizers and pesticides). Methods: This study relied on secondary data from the FAOSTAT website and the statistical book issued by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, in addition to studies and research related to organic agriculture. In achieving its objectives, this study also relied on economic and statistical analysis. Result: This study showed that the productivity of organic farms is lower than that estimated for conventional farms, with rates ranging from a minimum of 19.2% for green fodder crops to a maximum of 74.8% for palm trees. With the doubling of the area of organic farms, a small relative decline in both total production and self-sufficiency of food products is expected. This is due to the modest average area of organic farms and their low productivity compared to conventional farms and most of the area of organic farms is planted with palm trees and fruits. It was also found that with the increase in organic farms by 100%, the amount of savings in chemical fertilizers and pesticides is estimated at 17041.8, 464.0 tons for each, respectively. Finally, the agricultural policy put the producer in front of two options: Namely organic agriculture and good agricultural practices. Therefore, this study recommends the need to compare organic agriculture with good agricultural practices from the point of view of the producer, the country and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroponics, a soil-less agriculture system, consumes less water and resources compared to traditional soil-based farming. However, it requires simultaneous monitoring of various parameters, making it challenging. This article explores a ground-breaking hydroponic system designed to revolutionize modern farming by creating a precision-controlled environment for plant growth. Our research developed a Smart Hydroponic farm using Internet of Things (IoT) technology to highlight its advantages over traditional humanintervened hydroponics. Given the high costs of organic farming, this paper offers a more feasible solution through automated hydroponics with remote monitoring and control. The system exemplifies smart agriculture by utilizing real-time sensors for light, pH, EC, temperature, water level, and a camera module, all managed by a Raspberry Pi processor. It aims to save labor and resources while providing precise control over watering and fertilization. The primary function of this hydroponic system is to automate parameter monitoring and control via actuators, facilitating faster production of green leafy vegetables and eliminating the labor-intensive tasks typically associated with farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farming and reading education, as an important carrier for strengthening labor education in agricultural related majors in universities, has profound significance in cultivating the mission of strengthening agriculture and promoting agriculture among local application-oriented undergraduate students and their love for agriculture. It is beneficial for contemporary college students to inherit the excellent traditional culture of farming and reading inheritance. With the advancement of the new agricultural science construction, the role of local applied undergraduate colleges in cultivating high-quality practical and skilled landscape professionals is becoming increasingly evident. The Department of Landscape Architecture at Suqian University has strengthened the effectiveness of landscape education by optimizing top-level design to promote institutional construction, conducting innovative exploration and practice of the “1+1+3+3” farming and reading education model in the field of landscape architecture, and jointly building a farming and reading education practice base. Based on the connotation construction of cultivation education in the landscape architecture major of Suqian University, this paper proposes the construction and innovation of its cultivation education model, mainly including: relying on interdisciplinary integration to optimize talent cultivation goals and plans; creating a “cross-border integration” curriculum system and update teaching methods; relying on the Industrial College of Suqian University (Suhua College) to implement professional characteristic development; promoting the organic integration of farming and reading education with social practice, innovation and entrepreneurship; relying on the new model of labor education with the characteristics of “northern Jiangsu”, we aim to create an “immersive” education pattern. These measures have constructed and innovated the cultivation and reading education mode of landscape architecture majors, promoted the improvement of students’ practical ability, innovative thinking, social responsibility, and comprehensive quality. At the same time, they have also provided reference for the cultivation and reading education of landscape architecture majors in other applied undergraduate colleges and universities under the background of the new agricultural science construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional value and technological parameters of milk produced in organic and conventional farming systems, taking into account the breeds of cow, feeding system, and season of production in Poland. A total of 413 milk samples were analysed, of which 220 were from Simmental cows raised on organic farms and 193 were from conventional farms, including 64 from Polish Black-and-White cows fed in a traditional system, as well as 65 from Simmental cows and 64 from Holstein-Friesian cows fed in a TMR (Total Mixed Ration) system. The milk was analysed for content of fat, protein, lactose, and urea; somatic cell count; suitability for processing (active and titratable acidity, casein content, protein-to-fat ratio, heat stability, and rennet coagulation); and content of biologically active substances (whey proteins, fatty acids, and macro- and microelements). Simmental cows from organic farms had the lowest daily milk yield, with the lowest concentrations of basic nutrients. However, it was a richer source of α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin and lysozyme and had the highest content of PUFA s. It also had a favourable protein-to-fat ratio and the shortest rennet clotting time, but it contained less Ca, Mg and Zn than milk from farms using a TMR system. The season of production had a greater influence on the composition, nutritional value and technological parameters of milk from farms using traditional feeding, including organic farms, compared to those using a TMR diet. Milk from organic farms obtained in the summer season contained more dry matter, including total protein, β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and lysozyme. It was also characterised by a more preferable fatty acid profile, i.e. lower content of SFA and higher of UFA, including MUFA and PUFA. In turn, milk from the winter season contained more fat and showed better heat stability. At farms using traditional feeding regimens, both organic and conventional, the production period had a more significant impact on the differentiation of the content of mineral components in milk (mainly macroelements). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike traditional agriculture, which is characterized by the use of large quantities chemicals, the development of organic agriculture helps to conserve natural resources, and influences employment growth and the opening of new jobs in rural areas. For the development of organic farming, one of the main factors is soil type. This article analyzes soil resources, explores prospects for the growth of organic agriculture in Serbia and provides a comparative analysis of the development of organic production in Montenegro, Bulgaria and Croatia. Using official statistics, the situation in the production of organic products in individual countries is analyzed. The results of the growth of organic agricultural land and the share of organic agricultural land in the total volume of agricultural land are presented according to indicators. The comparative analysis carried out in this article is based on available statistical data on the land area and the types of the soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the demonization and weaponization of conventional agriculture in recent years, as well as the promotion of radical agricultural transformation. It emphasizes the need for improvements in current agricultural practices through science-based technologies, such as improved crop varieties, soil management strategies, and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The article also examines two claims that have been used to support radical agricultural transformation: the loss of plant genetic diversity and the contribution of smallholder farmers to global food production. It questions the validity of these claims and highlights the potential for misleading policy decisions based on questionable estimates. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of evidence-led policies for sustainable food production. [Extracted from the article]

The application of traditional plant pesticides in agriculture is very common among the tribes of Nagaland, India. In most of the districts, the local communities are strictly restricted from using chemical pesticides, and hence, the farmers rely on organic and plant-based pesticides to control varieties of seasonal pests manifested in their crop fields. Jhum cultivation is a traditional agroforestry system practiced by the Naga tribes of India, especially by the Angami tribe. Varieties of vegetables, fruits, and other economically important plant species are cultivated in Jhum agroforestry. To maintain the organic nature of this farming method, diverse plant species with unique formulations were used for the management of crop pests. Two types of Jhum cultivation were recorded. Both were related to slashing and burning forests for agriculture. Twenty-one vegetable species and twelve other economically important plant species were recorded from the Jhum fields. Manifestations of 24 pests/ diseases were found in the studied area and 10 different parts of 56 plant species belonging to 33 families were used to control these pests/ diseases. Eight unique methods of pesticide formulation were recorded. Pesticidal plant-related data were analyzed through quantitative tools like use value (UV), informants' consensus factor (ICF), and family use value (FUV). A traditional and unique plant-based pest control system in agroforestry was obtained from the study which will help in formulating modern biopesticides. It will transmit knowledge of traditional organic agriculture to the modern agriculture system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016, summarily outlawing all chemical inputs, the Indian state of Sikkim transitioned to completely organic agriculture. Despite "organic discontents" of farmers and citizens about autocratic implementation, lowered yields, and unsatisfactory prices, "Sikkim Organic" enjoys global accolades and local compliance. The paradox of alternative agriculture in the Global South is that it is often promoted by the same state-science-capital hegemonic formation that pushed the conventional paradigm. How has the Sikkimese state negotiated this paradox and continued to claim success, when other radical state-led organic transformations have failed? Recent scholarship advocates for contextual definitions of organic success, beyond the parameters of yield and profit. They examine the socio-political concerns of farmers, middlemen and consumers that shape their engagement with the phenomenon. This lens is seldom applied to the state. Drawing on ethnographic conversations with farmers, local consumers, state officials and discourse analysis of governmental literature and speeches, this article analyzes the Sikkimese state's efforts at consolidating its hegemony as a process of political brand-building. Highlighting the cultural aspects of policy implementation, it analyzes the affective resonances about traditional agrarian practices and about the morality of organic markets that the state discursively creates to support its organic regime. This extends the critique of the state beyond the focus on governmentality and neoliberalization through state-led certification/standardization. The article neither absolves the state of its failures nor dismisses the potential of progressive organic policies. It shows the significance of contextual cultural-political framings in determining outcomes of large-scale experiments towards sustainable agrarian futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of climate change, the decline in biodiversity and current socio-economic trends, which support the processes of industrialization or abandonment of agricultural land, have generated numerous concepts and trends to encourage sustainable agriculture and a better connection between agricultural activities and nature. Concepts such as traditional agricultural landscapes (TALs), high nature value farmlands (HNV farmlands), organic farming, and agricultural heritage systems are associated with the maintenance or sustainable development of ecological agricultural systems, with an emphasis on providing ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, and heritage protection. This study aimed to review the concept associated with traditional agricultural landscapes and identify the evolution and trends in research on traditional agricultural landscapes. We hypothesize that our findings will advance our understanding of potential alternative methods of sustainable agricultural development associated with traditional agricultural landscapes. We analyzed articles published in international journals, linked to the Web of Science database, related to traditional agricultural landscapes between 1992 and 2021 (n = 230). Keyword analysis was used to identify trends and developments in traditional agricultural landscape research. We chose a non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) because we intended to examine how the relationships between different concepts are established. Our results illustrate the most common research topics related to traditional agricultural landscapes and alternative development pathways associated with sustainable agriculture. The terms used are promoted by the journal Biodiversity and Conservation, which contains articles addressing the top topics of interest and relevance to the research topic of this paper. The NMDS analysis captures the complexity of the topic addressed through the resulting areas of intersection. Our findings suggest that several topics of current interest are addressed in the research on traditional agricultural landscapes. The interest of the scientific community in traditional agricultural landscape research shows a growing trend. The adaptation of traditional agriculture to the current context is a particularly important subject to be addressed in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional farming always modifying by good innovation in agriculture, while the holistic idea of organic farming checks the use of synthetic inputs where in opposite side, the concept of natural farming allowing farming with few traditional and locally available inputs. The all three farming concepts are fundamentally different, to check it on real field, a experiment was conducted on medium black calcareous clayey soil at Junagadh (Gujarat) during rabi2019-20 to kharif 2020 in order to evaluate low cost natural farming, organic farming and conventional farming in major six crops of Gujarat. The experimental results revealed that conventional farming module significantly increased yields of crops as compared to organic farming and low cost natural farming. Significantly higher available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium after harvest was found under conventional farming, while organic farming module registered significantly higher organic carbon, heat soluble S; DTPA extractable Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn after harvest, which was found at par with conventional farming. Economic analysis showed that maximum net returns gross returns, and B:C ratio were observed under conventional farming module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, the practice of agriculture has transformed from the era of traditional to that of intensive agriculture in the bid to boost the production index that will satisfy the food needs of the globally growing population. However, the continuous and exaggerated use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has resulted in major adverse impacts on food and environmental safety, whereas most traditional techniques for reclamation of natural soil nutrients, including shifting cultivation and polyculture, are no longer attractive measures of land rejuvenation. There is, therefore, the need for urgent evaluation and adoption of innovative methods of replenishing the agricultural soils that conform to the current agricultural systems without exerting undesirable effects on the ecosystem. In this review, we elucidated the use of key bioresources, such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and biopesticides, as alternatives to chemical-based products in attaining a safe and sustainable agricultural system. Bioresources are naturally available, safe, and easily accessible products. The potential of these biological products in fostering soil microbial growth, plants' productivity, and induced host immunity to diseases, alongside the promotion of healthy soil–microbe–plant relationships and preservation of the ecosystem processes without disruption, are aspects that were also explored. Therefore, the productive use of bioresources is considered strategic as it pertains to attaining safe and sustainable food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this article is to analyze the progression of organic farming at the European level, with emphasis on trends and changes in the cultivated area under this system. The article seeks to underscore the significance and benefits associated with organic farming, particularly in response to the detrimental effects of conventional agriculture on the environment and human health, and to provide relevant information for the promotion and adoption of sustainable practices in agriculture. In light of extensive research, agricultural experts have acknowledged the adverse environmental and health consequences of conventional agriculture over the course of several decades. Consequently, they have embraced organic farming, which draws inspiration from traditional farming methods spanning thousands of years. By employing statistical analysis and utilizing data from reputable sources, the study highlights the increasing prevalence of organic farming across Europe, specifically exploring the perspective of Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To study the genetic basis of the impact of genotypes and morpho-physio-biochemical traits under different organic and inorganic fertilizer doses on the shelf life attribute of tomatoes, field experiments were conducted in randomized block designs during the rabi seasons of 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. The experiment comprised three diverse nutrient environments [T1—organic; T2—inorganic; T3—control (without any fertilizers)] and five tomato genotypes with variable growth habits, specifically Angoorlata (Indeterminate), Avinash-3 (semi-determinate), Swaraksha (semi-determinate), Pusa Sheetal (semi-determinate), and Pusa Rohini (determinate).Results: The different tomato genotypes behaved apparently differently from each other in terms of shelf life. All the genotypes had maximum shelf life when grown in organic environments. However, the Pusa Sheetal had a maximum shelf life of 8.35 days when grown in an organic environment and showed an increase of 12% over the control. The genotype Pusa Sheetal, organic environment and biochemical trait Anthocyanin provides a promise as potential contributor to improve the keeping quality of tomatoes.Conclusion: The genotype Pusa Sheetal a novel source for shelf life, organic environment, and anthocyanin have shown promises for extended shelf life in tomatoes. Thus, the identified trait and genotype can be utilized in tomato improvement programs. Furthermore, this identified trait can also be targeted for its quantitative enhancement in order to increase tomato shelf life through a genome editing approach. A generalized genome editing mechanism is consequently suggested.

Simple Summary: Campylobacter spp. from contaminated chickens is the single largest cause of foodborne illness in the United States. Returning to traditional farming practices, such as rearing poultry on rotational pastures, is proposed to reduce human disease risks while improving animal welfare. Yet, little is understood about how environmental factors and farm management alter pathogen prevalence. Here, we assess environmental and farm management factors that impact Campylobacter spp. prevalence in poultry on 27 open-environment farms spanning the USA states of California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho over a three-year period. We found that 26.0% of individual chicken fecal samples we tested were positive for Campylobacter spp. We detected Campylobacter spp. in ≥1 fecal sample in 69.4% of flocks and 85.2% of farms. Our analyses suggest that Campylobacter spp. prevalence increases in poultry on farms with higher average wind speeds in the seven days preceding sampling; on farms embedded in more agricultural landscapes; and in flocks typified by younger birds, more rotations, higher flock densities, and the production of broilers. Our findings indicate that farmers will face greater risk of infected poultry when there are high wind speeds, when their farms are located in highly agricultural areas, and if they raise broilers. Foodborne pathogens cause over 9 million illnesses in the United States each year, and Campylobacter from chickens is the largest contributor. Rearing poultry outdoors without the use of antibiotics is becoming an increasingly popular style of farming; however, little is understood about how environmental factors and farm management alter pathogen prevalence. Our survey of 27 farms in California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, USA, revealed a diversity of management practices used to rear poultry in the open environment. Here, we assess environmental and management factors that impact Campylobacter spp. prevalence in 962 individual chicken fecal samples from 62 flocks over a three-year period. We detected Campylobacter spp. in 250/962 (26.0%) of fecal samples screened, in 69.4% (43/62) of flocks, and on 85.2% (23/27) of farms. We found that Campylobacter spp. prevalence was predicted to increase in poultry on farms with higher average wind speeds in the seven days preceding sampling; on farms embedded in more agricultural landscapes; and in flocks typified by younger birds, more rotations, higher flock densities, and the production of broilers. Collectively, our results suggest that farms in areas with higher wind speeds and more surrounding agriculture face greater risk of Campylobacter spp. introduction into their flocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing global environmental and food challenges necessitates holistic approaches that consider environmental, societal, and economic dimensions. This study examines three large-scale organic farming conversion programs and their associated policies in Sikkim, India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. Sikkim stands as the world's first state to fully transition to organic agriculture, while Bhutan is embarking on a similar path, and Sri Lanka is implementing a toxin-free program. A qualitative analysis reveals key drivers and barriers in these large-scale conversions. Five crucial factors for successful transitions to large-scale organic farming emerge: effective institutional leadership, affordable third-party certification, phased reduction of agrochemicals through clear political pathways, development of extension networks, market access with price premiums, and the provision of organic inputs. Key drivers include improving rural livelihoods, upscaling traditional farming practices, addressing health concerns related to agrochemicals, and preserving natural resources. Significant challenges include shortages of organic inputs, limited market access, inadequate food supply, a lack of knowledge about alternative practices and inputs, and high certification costs. In addressing these factors and challenges, policymakers and scientists can better navigate the complex landscape of large-scale organic farming conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Rice–duck coculture is an ecological agricultural mode; however, the nutritional and environmental benefits of transforming from conventional rice monoculture to rice–duck coculture are unknown. Based on survey data and the life‐cycle assessment approach, this study conducted a carbon footprint evaluation of conventional rice monoculture (CR), organic rice monoculture (OR), and organic rice–duck coculture (ORD) using different functional units. RESULTS: The carbon footprint per hectare of ORD (7842 ± 284 kg CO2eq ha−1) was slightly lower than that of CR (7905 ± 412 kg CO2eq ha−1), while higher than that of OR (7786 ± 235 kg CO2eq ha−1). Although the rice yield of ORD was slightly lower than that of CR, its nutrient density unit (NDU) did not decrease significantly due to the additional duck yield. Thus, the carbon footprint per NDU of ORD was significantly lower than that of OR by 24.3% (P < 0.05) and was 5.8% higher than that of CR, but this was not statistically significant. Due to the higher economic profits of ORD, its unit of carbon footprint per economic profit was significantly reduced (by 47.1–75.7%) compared with the other two farming modes, while the net ecosystem economic budget was significantly increased by 98.5–341.9% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Transforming from a rice monoculture to a coculture system will contribute to a win–win situation for human health and environmental sustainability. This study highlighted the abundant nutritional output function of the rice–duck coculture and analyzed the urgency and necessity of transitioning from traditional agriculture to ecological agriculture from the production and consumption perspectives. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the influence of neighborhood effects (NE) on tea farmers' intention to convert from traditional to organic farming in the mountainous areas of northern Vietnam. It differs from previous studies in two aspects. First, we combine the theory of planned behavior and the theory of herd behavior to explain farmers' intention to convert from traditional to organic farming, focusing on the impact of the NE. Secondly, to measure NE, we use a combination of questionnaires and methods of measuring herd behavior by McCartney and Shah. Using the generalized structural equation modeling and data collected from 263 tea farmers in Thai Nguyen, we found that NE has a positive and direct significant effect on farmers' intention to convert to organic tea production in the case where neighbors both live nearby and have a close relationship with the subject. In addition, it indirectly impacts farmers' conversion intention through attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavior control. To encourage tea farmers to convert to organic farming, policymakers and extension workers should take advantage of the NE to increase farmers' confidence about the benefits and the possibility of successful organic farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural, Environmental & Veterinary Sciences is the property of Arab Journal of Sciences & Research Publishing (AJSRP) 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.)

In response to the loss of agricultural biodiversity, food and livelihood security, traditional farming techniques, and rural culture, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization launched the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems initiative in 2002. On the 20th anniversary of the initiative, to systematically understand the core values and practical significance of agri-cultural heritage and scientifically analyze the problems and prospects of agri-cultural heritage conservation, this article used“question and answer （Q&A）”to obtain a panoramic view of agri-cultural heritage from the host and eleven academic interviewees based on different perspectives. Experts expressed their opinions on a range of relationships between agri-cultural heritage and ecological agriculture, agricultural and intangible cultural heritage, historical and cultural value of agri-culture, the practical significance of agri-cultural heritage conservation and food security, agricultural biodiversity conservation, rural revitalization, implementation of international conventions, and theoretical thinking and practical exploration of the dynamic conservation of agri-cultural heritage in China. The interview results showed that these agricultural heritage systems with living, dynamic, and systemic characteristics contain rich agricultural biodiversity, ecological agricultural technologies, traditional farming culture, and the reasonable structure of the ecological landscape are significant, when dealing with eco-environmental problems brought by industrialization and urbanization, in the promotion of sustainable agricultural development and rural revitalization. As a special type of heritage, agri-cultural heritage conservation needs to be based on a new paradigm while emphasizing the leading role of governments. In addition, it needs to establish policy incentives, industry integration development, and multi-participation and benefit sharing mechanisms to fully mobilize the enthusiasm of local farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture and related activities generate a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions with environmental and biodiversity implications. Based on the European objectives proposed by the Green Pact, this paper assesses the carbon footprint of agricultural chains for European OECD member countries. The period analysed is 2000–2019, and the method applied is panel data, specific to OLS models. We opted for three research directions: one is general, one is geographical and one is in temporary dynamics. The general analysis shows that in the European region, the organically cultivated area and economic growth reduce the carbon footprint, while fertilisers, aquaculture production, investments in road infrastructure and agricultural area determine its increase. The geographical analysis outlines the existence of two clusters, one consisting of Member States where agricultural chains reduce their carbon footprint and one consisting of a larger number of Member States, including the major European agricultural powers, where agricultural chains increase the carbon footprint. The temporary analysis reveals that the EU has changed its paradigm since 2008–2009. Economic growth has been slowly decoupling from the carbon footprint since 2016, and the rest of the factors analysed have become more environmental since the late 2010s. The EU has positioned itself towards achieving the objectives set by the Green Pact at a slow pace, justified by the heterogeneity of members' national characteristics, in addition to its purpose not to harm the food security of the population. In order to achieve the objectives proposed by the Green Pact, it is necessary to focus on more extensive organic farming and traditional production methods, more extensive efforts to reduce nitrogen surplus in fertilizer content, to support short agri-food chains and to identify new production techniques, including the use of nanotechnology and high-performance technologies. Local agricultural chains are crystallizing into a possible solution to the insecurity generated by energy and food crises, political conflicts, pandemics, under the observation that organic products should be excluded from the category of luxury commodity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds provide important ecosystem services in many ecosystems, including important pest control effects on productive systems. The typically low bird diversity observed in intensive agricultural landscapes renders them more susceptible to pests that cause important economic losses. Although these pests have traditionally been controlled using chemical methods, recent work suggests that bird-mediated biological control is an effective and environmentally friendly form of ecological intensification practice. We conducted a global meta-analysis to synthesize the effect of the exclusion of wild birds on crop damage, pest abundance, and crop yield in agroecosystems. We used 179 case studies from 55 articles, from which we found that wild birds reduced crop damage and pest abundance, but increased crop yield. The positive effect of birds as biological control agents was found to be significant on conventional farms using traditional chemical methods but not on organic farms. Our analysis shows that embracing ecological intensification practices such as using wild bird species as pest control represents a win–win strategy for agriculture and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of society and the continuous improvement of people's living standards, leisure agricultural tourism based on agricultural production has gradually become popular, which takes agricultural landscape, agricultural experience and agricultural product shopping as content, and leisure agricultural tourist attractions have emerged. At present, some ecological agriculture projects are reconstruction or transformation projects, which are the recreational transformation of the original base for traditional agricultural projects in order to survive and seek market stimulation. However, due to the unscientific planning of the basic system, the low level of operation and management, and the lack of a scientific theoretical system for demonstration during the transformation process, the planning and transformation of the ecological agriculture project have not been promoted, and the project industry development has not been improved. Therefore, under the support of the concept of circular economy, this paper combines the Internet of Things technology to carry out the planning and analysis of ecological agricultural tourist attractions, and combines the experiments to analyse the effectiveness of this method. From the research point of view, it can be known that the ecological agricultural scenic area planning method constructed in this paper has certain effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microelements and plant growth regulators are essential to sustain the crop production of traditional and organic farming systems. Thus, a 2–year field experiment was conducted the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University at "Demo" district, Fayoum Governorate, Egypt during the two successive seasons of 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 The study aimed to examine the effects of zinc sulfate, cytokinin rates and yeast extract concentrations and their interactions on yield and yield attributes of wheat plants. Along the two seasons, yeast extract concentrations had statistically significant effect on plant height, spikes number per plant, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and crud protein percentage. Wheat plants treated with 0.50 ml/liter cytokinin rate surpassed to untreated plants on plant height, spikes number per plant, 1000 grain weight, grain yield and straw yield in two seasons (2018-2019) and (2019-2020). A significant effect in 1000 grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and crud protein percentage were obtained by spraying wheat plants with zinc sulfate concentrations in both seasons. Interaction between zinc sulfate (1 g/liter) x cytokinin rate (0.50 ml/liter) and yeast extract concentration (5 or 10 g/liter) showed that producing the highest values of grain yield (ton/fed) and straw yield (ton/fed). Also, the data reflect appositive result of this chemical substance on maximization wheat productivity under these experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for sustainable agriculture is leading many economies to turn to crop rotation systems and to abandon monoculture systems which generally require increased use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. But the optimization of crop rotation remains a challenge, especially when considering organic farming. This work tackles the optimization of crop rotation in traditional organic farms with plot adjacency constraints and nutrient amendments. In the present configuration, each farmer owns a certain quantity of rudimentary equipment and a number of workers, all considered as resources. Farms are subdivided into plots and each plot allows only one crop at a given period. At a given interval of time, each plot receives a certain quantity of nutrient. The generated rotations are of fixed durations for all plots and the objective is to maximize farmers' income. A linear programming approach is used to determine the solution of the proposed farming model. Three levels of constraints are combined in the linear program to generate realistic rotations: (i) biophysical constraints including crop succession and plot adjacency; (ii) structural constraints including budget and resources; (iii) organizational constraints such as nutrient amendment and market demand. To evaluate the performance of the model, scenarios based on real-world data has been defined and solved using free solvers. The solutions obtained indicate that all the constrains are satisfied. In addition, farmers' revenue is improved, reaching a stationary position when the quantity of available resources is equal or greater than the quantity of required resources. Finally, Cbc solver is faster than GLPK solver; and it provides solutions on larger instances where GLPK does not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil balancing is widely used in organic farming, but little is known about the practice because technical knowledge and goals for the practice are produced and negotiated within an alternative community of practice (CoP). We used a review of the private soil balancing literature and semi-structured interviews with farmers and consultants to document the knowledge, shared meanings, and goals of key actors within the soil balancing CoP. Our findings suggest this CoP is dominated by discourse between private consultants and farmers, with few contributions to or from scientists or the peer reviewed literature. The idea of soil balancing is centered around improving soil quality through adjustments in Base Cation Saturation Ratios (BCSR), and practitioners report a wide range of positive agronomic outcomes. For most soil balancers, however, BCSR is only one part of a broader approach to soil health management that also utilizes traditional soil fertility recommendations and soil health-building cultural management practices. Meanwhile, a survey of land grant university soil fertility specialists and the peer-reviewed literature documented a high degree of skepticism and a lack of scientific evidence that BCSR can boost crop yields. We conclude that this scientific discourse reflects a disconnect from the practices and meanings used in the soil balancing CoP. While tensions between the dominant and niche agricultural knowledge systems are not unique, we believe a better appreciation for the nuanced meanings and goals within the soil balancing CoP present an opening for expanded collaborations with scientists doing research on soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh's economy and livelihoods of majority of its population depend on agriculture. Despite the importance of agriculture, ensuring food security is a concern because of frequent natural disasters, the effects of climate change, and land degradation. The country has limited land area but diverse ecosystems (hills, plains, coastal, and wetlands). Climatic variations include temperature, rainfall, and humidity. The homestead production system in Bangladesh follows traditional organic farming, with a diversity of fruits, vegetables, spices, and tuber crops. The conventional agriculture in Bangladesh became heavily dependent on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides after the Green Revolution. This has resulted in numerous human health and environmental hazards, compromising food safety. Liberalization and globalization have marginalized small farmers in Bangladesh because of their low bargaining power. Organic agriculture is a potential alternative agricultural production system. It can address human welfare implications of agriculture while ensuring sustainable development. However, the number of farmers practicing organic agriculture and area under organic farming remain small. Therefore, this article provides an overview of the potential of organic farming in Bangladesh by examining the historical development, current state of organic farming, and the bottlenecks in the growth of organic farming. The Bangladeshi model of organic farming development is different from that of the rest of the world, as it is championed by the vibrant local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The organic agriculture has the potential to become the default production system in Bangladesh, provided the bottlenecks in adoption are addressed, keeping in view the homegrown NGO-backed model of organic agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural production is always built on the basis of excessive pesticide and chemical fertilizer input in China, which leads to the imbalance of farmland ecological environment and is not conducive to the sustainable development of agriculture. Meanwhile, the shortage of agricultural population is becoming increasingly prominent, so it is imperative to seek an ecological, efficient and intelligent agricultural modes. Based on years of practice and exploration, the author's team built China's first eco-unmanned farm in Zibo, Shandong Province, and put forward the mode and development concept of "eco-unmanned farm". This article concluded that pesticides, fertilizers and soil farming methods have caused the most serious adverse effects on farmland ecosystems. To solve these problems, a series of unmanned operation methods and modes were used to carry out ecological management and transformation of the farmland ecosystem to realize the sustainable development of agricultural production. After that, functions of the automatic collection and processing of farmland information, scientific decision-making and remote control of unmanned agricultural machines were realized through the integration of air and ground agricultural information acquisition, ground-air integrated unmanned agricultural machinery cooperative operation, and the construction of a smart cloud brain capable of fully autonomous decision-making. Eco-unmanned farms cover two parts: ecological management and unmanned operations. The connotation of ecological management includes precise spraying of pesticides and fertilizers, ecological fertile soil and the construction of circular ecosystems. The connotation of unmanned operation includes intelligent perception of farm information, accurate analysis of big data, scientific decision-making with artificial intelligence, positioning and navigation of satellite systems, and collaborative operations between agricultural machinery. The eco-unmanned farm mode implements ecological management of farmland through unmanned operation methods, thereby organically combining ecological agriculture with unmanned farms. Traditional ecological agriculture cannot meet the development needs of modern high-efficiency agriculture. Therefore, unmanned operation methods for ecological management were applied to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and finally achieved a relatively ecological state. Precision spraying refers to spraying on-demand using unmanned ground and aerial precision spraying technology and equipment based on the spraying prescription map generated based on farmland crop information. The construction of a material-recycling farmland ecosystem is to recycle agricultural wastes such as straws through planting, breeding and farming, as well as increasing biodiversity. Ecological fertile soil refers to the use of ecological mechanization technology and methods to simplify farming, improve the ecological environment and soil structure, scientifically treat and efficiently use straw in the field, and reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers. The unmanned farm is the ultimate form of “Replacing Humans with Machines”. It has three basic elements: perception, decision-making and execution, which corresponds to the human nervous system. The Internet of Things replaces human perception organs; big data and artificial intelligence form a smart cloud brain, replaces the human brain; unmanned agricultural equipment replaces manned agricultural machinery that requires human limbs to participate in execution. The smart cloud brain is the most important "organ" of the unmanned farm and the development degree of the smart cloud brain determines the degree of the unmanned farm's intelligence. The eco-unmanned farm mode has application scenarios such as smart field, smart orchard, smart greenhouse, smart fishery, and smart pasture. However, its core idea is always the deep integration of ecological development concepts with intelligent equipment and information technology. The technical mode of eco-unmanned farm needs to be equipped with corresponding support systems according to local conditions in different application scenarios. The article summarized the key technologies and modes of eco-unmanned farms, and proposed the implementation connotation of the eco-unmanned farm mode, in order to provide valuable information for the development of future agriculture, smart agriculture, and the promotion of high-quality development of agricultural and rural modernization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming was developed to reduce agriculture's negative impacts on the environment and enhance biodiversity for sustainable productivity in agricultural ecosystems, but the long-term effectiveness of its application in Japanese rice paddies is unclear. We sought to understand how long-term organic farming affects the abundance of animals in both the rice growth and fallow seasons, and how soil properties change. We investigated the abundance of fishes, frogs, beetles, and shellfish in the floodwater in summer, and the abundance of earthworms (mainly Enchytraeidae), arthropods (spiders and springtails), and soil properties in aerobic soils in autumn. We examined fields which had been farmed organically for 10 and 18 years in Tochigi, Japan. Fields farmed with conventional management, located close to the selected organic fields, were used as a control. All selected fields were located in a valley, which is the typical landscape of a traditional Japanese farming village, called a yatsuda in Japanese. The results showed an increase in soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus in plowed soils that had been converted from conventional to organic farming both 10 and 18 years earlier. However, the abundance of various animals were not affected significantly by long-term organic rice farming, other than arthropods in the aerobic soils that had been farmed organically for 18 years. The quantity of most animals in floodwater and fallow season soil was unaffected by long-term organic rice farming in the yatsuda paddy fields, probably due to the circumstances and similar irrigation systems for both conventional and organic rice farming, as well as lighter doses of agrochemical application for conventional rice cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small-scale ecological farming methods of Uttarakhand hills are key to ensuring resilience to climate change as these are based on enhancing diversity, thereby increasing options to respond to climate instability. Beside eco-nutrition, local community-level economic incentives are also considered important for sustainability of traditional hill farming and food systems. Feasibility of integrating four local marketing initiatives to traditional hill farming, i) promoting community-supported organic/biodynamic agriculture (CSA), ii) linking traditional farming with school meal (MDM) programs, iii) enhanced market access and value chain development for local plant food resources, and iv) creating off-farm employment opportunity at community level for rural youths, among others, are explored in the present study. The need of re-assessing existing food and nutrition-related health and agriculture policy, and developing cross-sectoral implementation strategies on food and livelihood security, nutrition, and health was also addressed. The outcomes are expected to set priorities for state policy for a more profitable local level agriculture and regenerative food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sikkim is a Himalayan state, where more than 64% of its populace still depends on agriculture and its allied sectors. As land plays an important role in agriculture, it is vital to comprehend how the land use change makes an impact on the growth of agriculture in Sikkim. State experienced different farming practices over the period of time. Before the merger with Indian union in 1975, there was a traditional farming practice in Sikkim. But with the merger, state got influenced by 'Green Revolution' which introduced chemical based farming (conventional farming). However, during the year 2003 state government took an initiative to convert all the cultivable land into organically cultivable land and became fully organic state in 2016. With the changing pattern of agriculture, land use pattern also get influence. The study found that the net sown area has decreased in all the districts except the east district during 2010-11 from the year 2005-06. Net sown area has decreased, however, there is an increase in the area of current fallow and culturable waste land. The forest area has also increased in Sikkim during 2010-11. The number of operational holdings of all the classes has decreased except the large class. The operated area of all the class has decreased except the medium class. The number and area of irrigation holdings has decreased in north and east district, however, there is an increase in the irrigation status in south and west district. The cropping intensity has also increased in 2010-11 from 2005-06 in Sikkim. The secondary source of data has been used for the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Andean páramo is notable for high soil carbon storage and its contribution to ecosystem services. However, the páramo's ability to maintain high soil carbon levels is threatened by land use change from tussock grassland and shrublands to agricultural uses. A chronosequence study was conducted in the páramo around Quito, Ecuador, to determine the rate of soil carbon loss from traditional fallow agriculture. In parallel, a land use and land cover classification of Landsat images was used to measure the change in agricultural areas between 1991 and 2017. There was a significant negative relationship between the time since initial cultivation of a field and soil C: Older agricultural sites had significantly less C compared to natural ecosystems due to an average loss of 0.045 percent soil C per year. Undisturbed sites had significantly more soil C than cultivated sites but not pastures or fallow fields, indicating that cultivation is the most detrimental stage of the fallow agricultural cycle for soil C storage. There was an 838 percent increase in cultivated land between 1991 and 2017 but a 10 percent decrease in pastures, indicating a trend away from traditional regenerative agriculture toward land use types that lead to substantial losses in soil carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing consumer awareness of animal welfare, and also on humanitarian grounds, the search is on to find the possibility of using slow-growing cockerels, which are becoming an alternative for conventional broilers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate slaughter value and meat quality in two new strains of Polish Crested cockerels: CP-11 (40 birds) and CP-22 (40 birds) which were raised for 25 weeks on a finishing diet based on whole wheat and oat grain. Carcase quality parameters (carcase weight, dressing percentage, leg and breast muscle percentage) were evaluated. Moreover, breast meat parameters (pH24, cooking loss, colour, muscle fibre diameter, sensory traits, chemical composition, fatty acid profile) were determined. The results showed that CP-22 cockerels were characterised by significantly lower carcase weight (p <.05) and significantly higher dressing percentage (p <.05) compared to CP-11 cockerels. Genotype had no significant effect on breast meat quality parameters such as acidity, cooking loss, colour, as well as chemical composition of raw meat, tenderness, texture parameters, and muscle fibre size. On the other hand, breast meat from CP-22 cockerels was characterised by higher aroma desirability (p <.05) as well as higher content of nutritionally desirable fatty acids such as CLA (p <.01), GDLA (p <.01), AA (p <.01), EPA (p <.05), DPA (p <.05) and DHA (p <.01). Summarising, the obtained results indicated that the application of a similar model for the farming and feeding of surplus Polish Crested cockerels will provide a relatively large amount of meat, which can be used in traditional or alternative farming. The cockerels of both strains exhibited high dressing percentage, their meat had a beneficial chemical composition and delicate texture. Breast meat from CP-22 cockerels was characterised by higher aroma desirability as well as higher content of nutritionally desirable fatty acids. The use of post-production cockerels of the CP-11 and CP-22 strains of Polish crested chickens may be a good choice for organic farming or free range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was not until I arrived in California as a young Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, at the end of 1980, that I realized that all my training in agronomy at the University of Chile was based on the California model. SOCLA has also put its scientific expertise at the service of peasant organizations and has developed collaborative links with I Via Campesina i and other national farmer organizations in various countries which have embraced agroecology as a key component of food sovereignty. [Extracted from the article]