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This study explores the nexus between livelihood goals (LGs) and livelihood strategy (LS) selection preferences. We construct a measurement of three livelihood goals (survival, security, and self-respect goals) by combining qualitative and quantitative analysis and classify livelihood strategies into three groups (agricultural, non-agricultural, and diversification) based on household income sources. The multinomial logit model with fixed effects empirically estimates the relationship between livelihood goal indices and livelihood strategy selection with panel data (2010–2018) from the China Family Panel Studies surveys (CFPS). The results show that households with survival goals are more likely to choose the agricultural and diversification strategies and less likely to select the non-agricultural strategy. Households with security and self-respect goals are more likely to choose the non-agricultural strategy and are less likely to select the agricultural strategy. Families with a higher self-respect goal level are more flexible in livelihood strategy selection. The livelihood strategy selection preference is consistent in different regions of rural China when households pursue survival and security maximization. From the low-level survival goal to the high-level self-respect goal, consistent with a gradual transition from a low-income agricultural strategy to the high-income non-agricultural strategy; the diversification strategy is the transformed livelihood strategy in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Site selection analysis is a fundamental methodology for the regeneration of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xfp) infected areas, with the introduction of Xfp immune/resistant tree crop species. The diffusion of these species could be assessed by combining ecological optima data, climate and soil attributes of the study area, and GIS tools. The study aimed to evaluate the potential suitability of eight Xfp immune tree crops, including Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) drought-resistant and new species, as follows: carob, hawthorn, prickly pear, mulberry, loquat, walnut, persimmon, and avocado. The use of GIS tools allowed the integration of different layers, such as climate and soil, to contribute to the identification of suitable areas for the cultivation of these tree crops helping the policy-makers to define plans for land use at a regional scale. Following the ecological optima, which represents the ideal environmental conditions for each species, this analysis provided valuable insights into the compatibility of the selected tree crops with the prevailing environmental factors in the affected area. Carob revealed its remarkable adaptability and drought resistance, presenting the broadest suitability. Hawthorn and Loquat also exhibited high adaptability, indicating their potential contribution to agricultural diversification and ecological balance. Conversely, crops like Avocado, Prickly pear, and Walnut, despite their economic value, demonstrated limited adaptability due to their specific soil and climate requirements. These findings can potentially contribute to the development of strategies for the policymakers, aimed at diversifying and enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems, facing the problem of emerging quarantine pathogens and the incoming climate change, and highlighting the possibility of opening new cultivation scenarios in the zones affected by Xfp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to rising population, the globe confronts serious issues with food security, unemployment, and ecological damage. In comparison to 9.9% in 2020 and 8.4% in 2019, about 10% of the world's population experienced hunger in 2021 (FAO, 2022). Diseases like anemia, thyroid, and night blindness can all be driven forth by malnutrition. Many low-income households find it expensive to eat animal products. A variety of neglected vegetables can serve as a substitute for vitamins, minerals, and secondary plant metabolites that support health. Under-utilized legumes, abundant in plant-based protein, offer an affordable alternative to address protein deficiency. The significant folic acid content of several underutilized green vegetables contributes to minimizing the risk of coronary ailments. Crop diversification is a strategy that considerably increases food security, health and nutrition, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability. In small-scale farming, the integration of a variety of crops not only enables more effective utilization of agro-ecological processes, but also contributes to the diversity of the human diet and raises family income. Vegetable crop diversification has potential to enhance availability and financial affordability of healthy and fresh food. Additionally, by cultivating a diverse range of crops locally, there will be rise in economic opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring food security is not only vital to the adequate supply of food in the world, but also the key to the economic development and social stability of various countries. Based on the panel data of 29 provinces in China from 2016 to 2020, this paper selects the number of foodborne diseases patients and iodine deficiency disease patients as reference objects, uses stunting rate of children under 5 years old, malnutrition rate of children under 5 years old, obesity rate of children under 5 years old, and newborn visit rate to measure improving nutrition, proposes Meta Entropy Two-Stage Dynamic Direction Distance Function (DDF) Under an exogenous Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to measure the efficiency of hunger eradication, food security, and improving nutrition under the influence of exogenous variable rainfall. The research results indicate that the sustainability of China's agricultural economy is insufficient, and the focus of attention should be different in different stages. In addition, the average efficiency of the three regions generally shows a decreasing level in the eastern, western, and central regions. In order to improve China's ability to guarantee food security, we must continue to strengthen the construction of agricultural infrastructure, increase policy support for green agricultural production, promote the diversification of agricultural production, and enrich people's agricultural product consumption varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual variability in mortality is widespread in nature. The general rule is that larger organisms have a greater chance of survival than smaller conspecifics. There is growing evidence that differential mortality between developmental stages has important consequences for the ecology and evolution of populations and communities. However, we know little about how it can influence diversification. Using an eco-evolutionary model of diversification that considers individual variability in mortality, I show that commonly observed differences in mortality between juveniles and adults can facilitate adaptive diversification. In particular, diversification is expected to be less restricted when mortality is more biased toward juveniles. Additionally, I find stage-specific differences in metabolic cost and foraging capacity to further facilitate diversification when adults are slightly superior competitors, due to either a lower metabolic cost or a higher foraging capacity, than juveniles. This is because by altering the population composition, differential stage-specific mortality and competitive ability can modulate the strength of intraspecific competition, which in turn determines the outcome of diversification. These results demonstrate the strong influence that ecological differences between developmental stages have on diversification and highlight the need for integrating developmental processes into diversification theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversifying high-input, monocropped landscapes like the US Corn Belt would provide both economic and ecosystem service benefits to the agricultural landscape. Decision support systems (DSS) and digital agriculture could help farmers decide if diversification is suitable for their operation. However, adoption of DSS by farmers remains low, likely due to lack of farmer engagement before and during the DSS development process. This study aimed to better understand the tasks, tools, and people involved in implementing farmland diversification with the goal to inform design of agricultural DSS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 farmers who had diversified their corn/soybean cropland with government-supported conservation programs (e.g., CRP, wetlands) and alternative crops (e.g., small grains, pasture) in the past four years. Interview data was transcribed and then analyzed using affinity diagramming. Results show farmers needed DSS to layer multiple sources of data and observations over several years to identify field productivity trends and drivers; spatial orientation of practices to fit management and field constraints; matching operation goals to alternative practices; financial planning and market exploration; and information on promising emerging practices like subsidized pollinator habitat. However, the interviews also highlighted structural barriers to diversification that DSS cannot or can only partially address. These included social pressures; market access; crop insurance policy; and quality of relationships with governmental agencies. Results indicate better DSS design can empower individual farmers to diversify cropland, but structural interventions will be needed to successfully diversify the agricultural landscape and support economic and ecosystem health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroecosystem simplification for greater food production has led to the loss of ecosystem services such as pest control by predators. Plant diversification has shown excellent potential to improve the diversity of crop predators such as spiders.However, in agroecosystems with frequent disturbances such as annual crops, it is unknown whether the effect of plant diversification on spiders depends on the surrounding landscape and the stages of the agricultural cycle (i.e., periods with differences in vegetation, weather and agricultural practices).Here, we evaluated the effect and interaction of local management (plant diversification), landscape (forest areas) and agricultural cycle on the richness and abundance from the main spider guilds of a maize polyculture in Mexico.We found that greater crop diversification (i.e., addition of legumes and leafy plants) caused a greater abundance of ground‐hunting spiders. We also show that a larger area of forest around the crop favours a greater richness and abundance of ground‐ and vegetation‐hunting spiders.We found that each stage of the agricultural cycle had a different spider richness and abundance, ground hunters were more common at the beginning of the agricultural cycle, while vegetation hunters and web‐builders were more common during the peak developmental stages of the crops.Our findings support the idea that to foster functionally diverse spider communities that potentially enhance natural pest control, we must jointly manage plant elements within the crop, in the surrounding landscape, considering the high dynamics of spider communities throughout the agricultural cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development involves multi‐level, multi‐actor and multi‐faceted processes and interrelations for which, ideally, comprehensive theoretical frameworks are required to understand the nature, dynamics and heterogeneity of changes generating greater sustainability in rural areas. Studies have utilised the rural web framework to explain these processes and interactions, but its application is lacking in sub‐Saharan Africa. This study addresses the gap in the literature by using the framework to (1) explore sustainable development indicators and (2) evaluate their socioeconomic determinants based on a questionnaire survey with data collected from 600 rural households in Ghana. Additionally, formal interviews were conducted with 60 participants, comprising village leaders, not‐for‐profit organisations and officers from municipal assemblies. This research shows that endogeneity, novelty production, and sustainability indicators describe rural regions as agriculturally diversified economies. Several factors contribute significantly to agricultural diversification, including social relationships, social groups, market participation, and the presence of migrants. These findings have implications for achieving two of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 1 (zero poverty) and SDG 2 (zero hunger), as they highlight the benefits of social and economic linkages between rural and urban areas within the context of agricultural production, exchange of resources and the mitigation of accessibility barriers to resources. We suggest that policies seeking to increase agricultural diversification, food security and achieve sustainable rural development should strengthen social relationships and institutional structures, increase market opportunities, assist farmers with organic certifications and bridge the rural–urban development gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of farm entrepreneurship and agribusiness management in the agricultural sector. It highlights the need for farmers and agribusinesses to integrate innovation, sustainability, and effective management into their practices. The article emphasizes the role of entrepreneurial competencies, such as financial management and marketing expertise, in successful farm management. It also explores the impact of human capital innovation, technological advancements, and inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurship on the agricultural industry. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of equipping farm entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and promoting practices that contribute to resilience, innovation, and community development in agriculture. [Extracted from the article]

Brazilian agriculture is characterized by the prevalence of small farms and regions with a high degree of rurality and dominance of the agricultural sector in the economy. These two characteristics affect the diversity of agricultural production in the country. Specifically, the article aims to analyze the effects of size farm and farmland use on agricultural diversification and the effects of demand and technology adopted by farmers. The database encompasses 4298 Brazilian municipalities from 1996 to 2017 (the last three agricultural censuses). Empirically, we consider spillover effects by estimating spatial models at the municipal level using panel data, highlighting the importance of location and neighborhood. The study's findings indicate a tendency toward local concentration of agricultural production in the country, despite the balance between municipalities with diversified and concentrated production. The results showed a significant effect of small farms and the municipalities' rurality degree on the agricultural output diversification. The study provides insights into the discussion on measures to strengthen support for small properties and regions that diversify crops to ensure economic efficiency and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the dynamic landscape of agriculture and food science, incorporating emergent crops appears as a pioneering solution for diversifying agriculture, unlocking possibilities for sustainable cultivation and nutritional bolstering food security, and creating economic prospects amid evolving environmental and market conditions with positive impacts on human health. This review explores the potential of utilizing emergent crops in Mediterranean environments under current climate scenarios, emphasizing the manifold benefits of agricultural and food system diversification and assessing the impact of environmental factors on their quality and consumer health. Through a deep exploration of the resilience, nutritional value, and health impacts of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) such as quinoa, amaranth, chia, moringa, buckwheat, millet, teff, hemp, or desert truffles, their capacity to thrive in the changing Mediterranean climate is highlighted, offering novel opportunities for agriculture and functional food development. By analysing how promoting agricultural diversification can enhance food system adaptability to evolving environmental conditions, fostering sustainability and resilience, we discuss recent findings that underscore the main benefits and limitations of these crops from agricultural, food science, and health perspectives, all crucial for responsible and sustainable adoption. Thus, by using a sustainable and holistic approach, this revision analyses how the integration of NUS crops into Mediterranean agrifood systems can enhance agriculture resilience and food quality addressing environmental, nutritional, biomedical, economic, and cultural dimensions, thereby mitigating the risks associated with monoculture practices and bolstering local economies and livelihoods under new climate scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereal grains are nutrient-dense food for a large section population in the world in general and developing and underdeveloped countries in Asia and Africa in particular along with their status as a staple food. Cereal crops such as rice and wheat are forerunners in achieving food security in the modern world of population explosion. Other cereals crops such as maize, sorghum, and pearl millets are proposed and promoted for various reasons such as the indirect promoter for agricultural diversification, promoter of diet diversification, capacity to contribute higher minerals (micronutrients) and other nutritional components in diet and their capacity to tolerate environmental odd situations. Besides these major cereal crops, the significance of millet has been highlighted in recent times. The millets are known for their tolerance to adverse environmental situations, nutritional superiority over major staple cereals, and multifarious uses. The availability in large quantities at an affordable price, policy support in production and distribution as well as strong institutional development activities (such as exploring genetic materials for high-yielding varieties development and success in tolerating biotic and abiotic stress) helps the cereal crops to remain a staple food. Besides staple and nutrient-dense food, cereals are also known for their very high crop residue production which is by default in most of the developing and underdeveloped countries used as fodder and feed to cattle, small ruminants, and also for poultry birds. Considering this status of cereals in human and animal nutrition, attempts have been made and still going on to enhance the nutritional status of these cereal crops in most of the developing and underdeveloped countries in Africa and Asia. Development of biofortified varieties, different methods of agronomic biofortification, success in developing genetically engineered nutrient-dense crops, different new and modified processing, and values addition in cereal grain-based nutrient-rich products and policies at the global and national level for the development of nutrient-dense food explain these attempts. On the other hand, lack of availability of seeds and low seed replacement ratio with nutrient-dense crops/varieties, socioeconomic constraints in the adoption of genetically engineered crops, lack of market incentives for biofortified cereals crops/varieties, lack of awareness and low adoption rate, constraints of bioavailability of nutrients in cereal grains and availability of a competitive source of nutrition other than cereals are other constraints in development and adoption of nutrient-dense cereal crops. Considering the significant contribution of cereal grains to the energy and protein supply to the majority of the population in developing and underdeveloped countries, all attempts to increase the nutritional status of cereal crops play a major role in supporting the attempts to achieve food and nutritional security in most of the Asian and African countries. The main objective of this chapter is to overview the status of cereal crops in Africa and Asia and the need for the development of nutrient-dense cereal crops. The chapter discussed the major nutrients designated for enriching the cereal grains and valid options for these enrichment. The development of nutrient-dense cereal grain varieties by exploring landraces and improved breeding techniques is the most important and largely explored option. This option will remain its highest significance in developing nutrient-dense cereal crops due to well-established institutional support and policy orientation and being a self-sustained avenue. The soil and plant-based approaches including bio-fortification, ferti-fortification, and diversification of cereal crops with millets stand second. This approach is gaining and will again intensify its impact on developing nutrient-dense crops. The harvesting complimentary and supplementary interactions of soil and plant-based approaches with newly developed nutrient-dense crop varieties will be forerunners in achieving the reach for the nutrient-dense crop to designated end beneficiaries. The legislation (mandatory or voluntary) for fortification of food products, supplementation of micronutrients through medication, the establishment of standards for food fortification, awareness creation in the market chain about nutrient-dense crops and their significance, and increasing attempts for incorporation of genetically modified crops in the food chain are the other avenues of significant role at present and future too. Considering the single major source of nutrition, the cereal grain will remain an affordable nutrient-dense grain for a large section of people from Africa and Asia. Therefore, the wider implications of the above-mentioned avenues are going on at present and will acquire more attention in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2014, Physostegia chlorotic moitié virus (PhCMoV) was discovered in Austria in Physostegia virginiana. Subsequent collaborative efforts established a link between the virus and severe fruit symptoms on important crops such as tomato, eggplant, and cucumber across nine European countries. Thereafter, specific knowledge gaps, which are crucial to assess lhe risks PhCMoV can pose for production and how to manage it, needed to be addressed. In this study, the transmission, prevalence, and disease severity of PhCMoV were examined. This investigation led to lhe identification of PhCMoV presence in a new country, Switzerland. Furthermore, our research indicates that the virus was already present in Europe 30 years ago. Bioassays demonstrated PhCMoV can result in up to 100% tomato yield losses depending on the phenological stage of the plant at the lime of infection. PhCMoV was found to naturally infect 12 new host plant species across eight families, extending its host range to 21 plant species across 15 plant families. The study also identified a polyphagous leafhopper (genus Anaceratagallia) as a natural vector of PhCMoV. Overall, PhCMoV was widespread in small-scale diversified vegetable farms in Belgium where tomato is grown in soil under tunnels, occurring in approximately one-ihird of such farms. However, outbreaks were sporadic and were associated al least once with the cultivation in tomato tunnels of perennial plants that can serve as a reservoir host for the virus and its vector. To further explore this phenomenon and manage the virus, studying the ecology of the vector would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector of Ukraine, playing a significant role in the formation of the main macroeconomic indicators, is under the constant influence of various factors, which makes it dynamic and unpredictable. These challenges present the agrarian sector with the task of flexible adaptation in the conditions of martial law and the post-war period to the need for reconstruction to ensure sustainable functioning and positioning it for the future. The purpose of the article is to determine the directions of funding needs for the restoration and reconstruction of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine in accordance with the strategic and tactical contours of solving the tasks of its long-term development, the implementation of which will contribute to the economic growth of this industry, the further transformation of the agrarian policy of Ukraine regarding state support for enterprises of the agro-industrial complex, internationalization and strengthening of the international partnerships. The article proposes an original scientific-methodical approach to determining the directions of financing the needs of the reconstruction of the agricultural industry of Ukraine, which involves determining the ratio of the directions of financing the needs of restoration and reconstruction of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine in accordance with the strategic and tactical contours of solving the tasks of its strategic development, which form its current and prospective state and the fulfillment of the set of socioeconomic conditions for their implementation in the conditions of transformational changes Among the socio-economic conditions for the implementation of the proposed directions, the article defines: ensuring the diversification of the structure of agriculture; conducting constant monitoring of competition and access to markets, regional differentiation, conducting administrative expertise on the management of recovery funds and constant assessment of the effectiveness of agrarian policy instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analyses of planthoppers were conducted using a mitogenome dataset to examine the evolutionary relationships of current families based on both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference methods. Delphacoidea, including Cixiidae and Delphacidae, and Fulgoroidea, including all other families, were consistently identified as monophyletic groups. However, Nogodinidae displayed a polyphyletic pattern, with various lineages emerging sister to several issidoid families. Variations were observed across different analyses in the positioning of (Dictyopharidae + Fulgoridae) and the relationships of Ricaniidae sister either to Issidae or to (Flatidae + Acanaloniidae). Several statistical tests indicate that the ML topology has the highest level of statistical confidence. The (Dictyopharidae + Fulgoridae) clade is best positioned as sister to (Derbidae + (Achilidae + (Tropiduchidae + other "higher" planthoppers families))) and the Ricaniidae as sister to (Flatidae + Acanaloniidae). With 13 fossil calibration points, origin times for Delphacoidea and Fulgoroidea were dated back to the Late Permian, approximately 257.46 million years ago. Delphacidae and Cixiidae split during the Late Triassic, while Fulgoroidea diversified earlier during the Middle Triassic. Divergence and diversification times are also provided for all other extant planthopper families. These results suggest that Delphacoidea and Fulgoroidea likely diverged from the older planthopper fossil families prior to the emergence of angiosperms and may have initially fed on gymnosperms and ancient ferns. The diversification of extant planthopper families occurred during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, influenced by evolving climatic conditions, the decline in gymnosperms, and the increasing diversity of angiosperm plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of Florida ranks third in the United States in beer production by volume, yet does not boast a commercially viable barley crop. This presents a potential market for Florida-grown barley. Despite similarities between the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones of Florida and traditional barley-growing regions, there persists a lack of best management practices for the successful cultivation and establishment of a barley crop in Florida. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential viability of eight spring-type barley varieties grown in Florida by comparing crop yields, extract, fermentability, and volatile compounds. Barley is not a typical crop grown in Florida, however, the inclusion would provide welcome diversification options for Florida farmers to grow over winter. This study is an initial investigation into the use of Florida barley as an ingredient in beer production. The average yields of the eight varieties ranged from 31.5 ± 6.8 to 42.9 ± 11.8 bushels per acre (1,695–2,308 kg/ha) for the optimal planting dates, which are comparable to similar growing regions. Fine Grind (f.g.) extract concentrations were highest in Copeland, Esma, Pinnacle, and Opera barley varieties, ranging from 68.4 to 73.6% dry basis (d.b.). Concerning fermentability, Copeland and Esma had the lowest final attenuation among the Florida-grown barleys (1.51 and 1.92°P, respectively). There were minor differences in volatile compounds between the control and experimental barleys. The results of this study support the possible viability of Florida-grown barley for brewing applications that prioritize using local ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how rising temperatures impact the agricultural production value of Thai farmers, compares potential adaptation strategies like agricultural diversification, and analyzes future projections based on IPCC AR6 scenarios. We analyze nationally representative socioeconomic survey data from farm households alongside ERA5 weather data, utilizing econometric regression analysis. Our analysis reveals that higher temperatures lead to a reduction in agricultural output value, with the situation expected to worsen as global warming progresses. Furthermore, we find that households with diversified production practices, such as a variety of agricultural activities or multicropping, exhibit a greater capacity to adapt to rising temperatures. These findings substantiate the importance of the country’s policies promoting integrated farming and diversified crop-mix strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the food security movement using a qualitative descriptive research method assisted by NVivo 12 Plus software from the Twitter account data source of the Ministry of Agriculture Republic of Indonesia, supported by previous research. Data coding was obtained from Twitter, social media, and news data, which supported the findings using a crosstab query feature. The analysis found that the government's strategy for maintaining food security was to increase production capacity, diversify local food, strengthen food reserves and logistics systems, and develop modern agriculture. They increased food production by intensifying 85,456 hectares of swamp land and maximizing 85,456 hectares of land. Diversifying local food by massively utilizing local food as an alternative food supply and strengthening food reserves and logistics systems by supporting food reserves that can be used to help other areas affected by disasters as a form of social care, and developing modern agriculture with Smart Farming Developing technology-based clever farming methods, including Agri Drone Sprayer liquid, Surveillance Drones (drones for land mapping), Soil and Weather Sensors, as well as the development of food safety applied to households. Scale with vertical hydroponic growing system training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ancient northern East Asians (ANEA) from the Yellow River region, who pioneered millet cultivation, play a crucial role in understanding the origins of ethnolinguistically diverse populations in modern China and the entire landscape of deep genetic structure and variation discovery in modern East Asians. However, the direct links between ANEA and geographically proximate modern populations, as well as the biological adaptive processes involved, remain poorly understood. Results: Here, we generated genome-wide SNP data for 264 individuals from geographically different Han populations in Shandong. An integrated genomic resource encompassing both modern and ancient East Asians was compiled to examine fine-scale population admixture scenarios and adaptive traits. The reconstruction of demographic history and hierarchical clustering patterns revealed that individuals from the Shandong Peninsula share a close genetic affinity with ANEA, indicating long-term genetic continuity and mobility in the lower Yellow River basin since the early Neolithic period. Biological adaptive signatures, including those related to immune and metabolic pathways, were identified through analyses of haplotype homozygosity and allele frequency spectra. These signatures are linked to complex traits such as height and body mass index, which may be associated with adaptations to cold environments, dietary practices, and pathogen exposure. Additionally, allele frequency trajectories over time and a haplotype network of two highly differentiated genes, ABCC11 and SLC10A1, were delineated. These genes, which are associated with axillary odor and bilirubin metabolism, respectively, illustrate how local adaptations can influence the diversification of traits in East Asians. Conclusions: Our findings provide a comprehensive genomic dataset that elucidates the fine-scale genetic history and evolutionary trajectory of natural selection signals and disease susceptibility in Han Chinese populations. This study serves as a paradigm for integrating spatiotemporally diverse ancient genomes in the era of population genomic medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Strandl.) is an economically important vegetable crop and one of the earliest domesticated crops. However, the population history and genomic diversification of bottle gourd have not been extensively studied.We generated a comprehensive bottle gourd genome variation map from genome sequences of 197 world‐wide representative accessions, which enables a genome‐wide association study for identifying genomic loci associated with resistance to zucchini yellow mosaic virus, and constructed a bottle gourd pangenome that harbors 1534 protein‐coding genes absent in the reference genome.Demographic analyses uncover that domesticated bottle gourd originated in Southern Africa c. 12 000 yr ago, and subsequently radiated to the New World via the Atlantic drift and to Eurasia through the efforts of early farmers in the initial Holocene. The identified highly differentiated genomic regions among different bottle gourd populations harbor many genes contributing to their local adaptations such as those related to disease resistance and stress tolerance. Presence/absence variation analysis of genes in the pangenome reveals numerous genes including those involved in abiotic/biotic stress responses that have been under selection during the world‐wide expansion of bottle gourds.The bottle gourd variation map and pangenome provide valuable resources for future functional studies and genomics‐assisted breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contributing to the growing interest in understanding the impact of farmer cooperatives on rural household welfare, we add new empirical evidence to the current literature and debate. In particular, this study investigates the impact of farmer cooperatives on sales per hectare of land and crop diversification, which have been largely overlooked. We apply the Propensity Score Matching method to the Cambodia Inter-Censal Agricultural Survey 2019, with its large sample size of 16,000 small-scale producers. Additionally, we perform a robustness check to ensure our findings are unbiased. Results indicate that Cambodian farmers perceive the cooperatives as a risk-sharing mechanism or knowledge-sharing platform that provides technical know-how to cope with natural calamities. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) outputs show a significantly positive impact of participating in the cooperatives on sales and the crop diversification index. This study thus advocates increasing technical support and implementing policies by the government to help cooperatives thrive and expand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Crop diversification is a promising practice to improve the sustainability of agricultural production systems, contributing to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem functions, and food security without compromising productivity. Although diverse cropping systems may be more labour-intensive and require good knowledge of the specific cropping system in the local context, they have high potential in managing many of the problems faced in current cotton production in India. However, the adoption of crop diversification is still moderate, with an overall crop diversification index (CDI) of 0.65 for all of India and state-wise CDI between 0.43 and 0.83. Methods: Therefore, a four-phased study was conducted to identify the main barriers to crop diversification in cotton-based farming systems in India and highlight levers that can foster their wide adoption to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. The study was carried out between January to October 2020 and consisted of i) a literature review of regional and national policy and planning, ii) situational analysis with a problem tree approach, iii) individual stakeholder interviews with stakeholders from the broader Indian cotton sector, and iv) a participatory feedback workshop with said stakeholders. A total of 51 stakeholders from 24 different organizations were interviewed, 37 of them on technical aspects of crop diversification and 21 stakeholders on market and policy aspects. The same stakeholders were invited to the participatory feedback workshop, where 26 participated in the session on different benefits of crop diversification practices, and the session on market and policy challenges counted 24 participants. The study focused on the main organic cotton producing states in India: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Results and discussion: In our study, it became evident that many policies and governmental schemes exist to promote national food security, sustainable agriculture, and agricultural marketing infrastructure, but crop diversification is still not gaining momentum on the ground. Various levers were identified in the areas of market and procurement, capacity building and knowledge transfer, supply industry and infrastructure, and farmers and women empowerment, where the current policy landscape is failing to foster crop diversification effectively on the farm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In foreign countries, rural tourism is developing with a high rhythm. Kazakhstan also has excellent opportunities for the development of this type of tourism. Currently, rural tourism in Kazakhstan is not fully developed. The article deals with the issues of organising rural tourism based on agriculture in the Aktobe Region. The study aims to improve methodological approaches to rural tourism development as an innovative activity type in the context of agricultural diversification. Three methodological stages have been identified: assessing the potential for rural tourism development, identifying priority types and subtypes of rural tourism, and identifying priority and promising areas for rural tourism development. The work assessed the possibilities of rural tourism development in the districts of the Aktobe Region using the ranking method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing crops in more diverse crop systems (i.e., intercropping) is one way to produce food more sustainably. Even though intercropping, compared to average monocultures, is generally more productive, the full yield potential of intercropping might not yet have been achieved as modern crop cultivars are bred to be grown in monoculture. Breeding plants for more familiarity in mixtures, i.e., plants that are adapted to more diverse communities (i.e., adaptation) or even to coexist with each other (i.e., coadaptation) might have the potential to sustainably enhance productivity. In this study, the productivity benefits of familiarity through evolutionary adaptation and coevolutionary coadaptation were disentangled in a crop system through an extensive common garden experiment. Furthermore, evolutionary and coevolutionary effects on species-level and community-level productivity were linked to corresponding changes in functional traits. We found evidence for higher productivity and trait convergence with increasing familiarity with the plant communities. Furthermore, our results provide evidence for the coevolution of plants in mixtures leading to higher productivity of coadapted species. However, with the functional traits measured in our study, we could not fully explain the productivity benefits found upon coevolution. Our study investigated coevolution among randomly interacting plants and was able to demonstrate that coadaptation through coevolution of coexisting species in mixtures occurs and promotes ecosystem functioning (i.e., higher productivity). This result is particularly relevant for the diversification of agricultural and forest ecosystems, demonstrating the added value of artificially selecting plants for the communities they are familiar with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural simplification continues to expand at the expense of more diverse forms of agriculture. This simplification, for example, in the form of intensively managed monocultures, poses a risk to keeping the world within safe and just Earth system boundaries. Here, we estimated how agricultural diversification simultaneously affects social and environmental outcomes. Drawing from 24 studies in 11 countries across 2655 farms, we show how five diversification strategies focusing on livestock, crops, soils, noncrop plantings, and water conservation benefit social (e.g., human well-being, yields, and food security) and environmental (e.g., biodiversity, ecosystem services, and reduced environmental externalities) outcomes. We found that applying multiple diversification strategies creates more positive outcomes than individual management strategies alone. To realize these benefits, well-designed policies are needed to incentivize the adoption of multiple diversification strategies in unison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: This research aimed to identify the agroclimatic zones in Brazil, excluding Rio Grande do Sul, that are suitable for olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivation, considering both climatic and topographical factors. Olives require specific conditions: moderate winter temperatures (7–15 °C), warmer summers (25–35 °C) and sufficient water during growth and fruit maturation. They can endure some drought, making them a viable option for agricultural diversification. Using daily meteorological data from 1989 to 2023 from NASA‐POWER, this study analyzed variables like air temperature (minimum and maximum) and rainfall. Key climate variables were the mean air temperature in winter (T_w), spring (T_s), summer (T_su) and autumn (T_a) and total annual precipitation (Prec). Criteria for suitability included: T_w between 5 and 20 °C, T_s between 15 and 23 °C, T_su between 15 and 30 °C, T_a between 15 and 22 °C, annual precipitation over 900 mm and altitude below 900 m. Geographic information system software and Python 3.8 were employed for data analysis and zoning. RESULTS: Results indicated that only 1.92% of the analyzed area, mainly in Minas Gerais, was suitable for olive cultivation. High temperatures and low rainfall in Brazil, particularly in the North and Midwest, make 59.56% of the country unsuitable for olive farming. Additionally, 18.58% of the land, mainly in the Northeast, faces challenges due to extreme heat (T_w) and insufficient water supply. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farming in the Central Dry Zone (CDZ) of Karnataka is predominantly rainfed and majority of farmers are small and marginal, facing numerous challenges. At present situation, diversification becomes imperative to address economic hardships of farmers. The present study was conducted to analyze profitability of major farming systems and socio-economic factors determining their adoption in CDZ. Four major farming systems viz., Crop + Sheep, Crop + Dairy, Crop + Horticulture + Dairy and Crop + Horticulture were considered for in depth analysis using the data collected using pre tested schedules through personal interview from 180 respondents, 45 each practicing these farming systems. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and suitable functional analysis. The results reveals that, among the four farming systems, Crop + Horticulture + Dairy system was found to be the most profitable with higher per acre net returns (Rs.4,04,757) followed by Crop + Sheep, Crop + Dairy and Crop + Horticulture. Among the different enterprises considered for the study, coconut found to be the most profitable followed by arecanut, while in seasonal agricultural crops, ragi accounted for the highest returns per rupee of expenditure across the farming systems. With respect to employment generation, among crop and livestock enterprises, farmers derived more employment from livestock enterprise (54-84%) followed by horticulture crops (25-58%). The inclusion of livestock and horticultural crops in the farming systems not only provided higher income but also year round employment. Further, in the study the Herfindahl index used to know the diversification in sources of income revealed that the farming systems comprised of diary component were emerged as the most diversified farming systems. The results on multiple linear regression to delineate factors determining farm net income under different farming systems showed that area under annual crops, number of livestock and area under horticulture crops were found to be significant factors in all the farming systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the complex dynamics of Fiji's sugarcane industry, shedding light on the challenges it faces and the implications for agricultural system resilience and sustainability. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between climatic and non-climatic stressors and farmers' decisions to abandon sugarcane farming. A total of 900 farmers were surveyed, which corresponds to approximately 7.5% of the sugarcane farming population in the country. Farmers were sampled using a stratified disproportional random sampling technique, by surveying 300 farmers from each of the three primary sugarcane mill regions in Fiji (Labasa, Lautoka, and Rarawai). Results depict an aging farming population with small land holdings, and limited income and agricultural diversification. While only 4% of farmers are currently considering abandoning sugarcane farming, a further 17.9% are uncertain about their future in the industry. The majority of farmers have been impacted by climate hazards, primarily tropical cyclones and floods, but the degree to which these hazards have affected livelihoods has had an effect on farmers' willingness to remain in the industry and on the extent to which they implement reactive or anticipatory responses to hazards. The study highlights the need for coordinated efforts to support sustainable intensification and planned adaptation, especially in the face of climate-induced vulnerabilities, this should be a priority as the sector continues to navigate sustainability issues. Additionally, it underscores the importance of transforming the industry to address both climatic and non-climatic stressors. Ultimately, this research offers valuable insights into the multifaceted issues confronting Fiji's sugarcane sector, and the broader agricultural systems it represents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compounding and cascading effects of climate change induced by anthropogenic activities threaten the livelihoods of indigenous communities living in fragile ecosystems and practicing shifting agriculture in mountainous regions. This study assessed differences in household-level climate change vulnerability and socioeconomic profiles of indigenous communities practicing shifting agriculture in the Indian Himalayas using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) framework. A total of 120 randomly selected households spread across 12 randomly chosen villages were surveyed, making sure that at least 10 households per village in Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, and Cachar districts of the state of Assam using the indicator-based household-level questionnaire to examine the cause and characteristics of vulnerability in the study region. Furthermore, focus group discussions were held in each village to delve into the community-based adaptive strategies employed by hill farmers, aiming to acquire an in-depth understanding of their approaches. The results revealed that villages with higher susceptibility to climate change are characterized by lower literacy levels, smaller land holdings with poor soil fertility, greater losses of crops due to extreme events, greater dependency on natural capital, and lower livelihood diversification. Villages with better land management techniques, higher decision-making abilities, agricultural diversification, and good market access had better adaptability to climate change. Agricultural diversification, transitioning from shifting agriculture to high-value cropping such as agroforestry, coupled with indigenous knowledge of the communities, provided tangible and intangible benefits and ecosystem services. Integrating high-value crops in shifting agriculture contributed to greater economic returns. In conclusion, shifting agriculture plays a vital role in the survival of ethnic culture, heritage, religious beliefs, and the livelihoods of nature-oriented hill farmers. Furthermore, improving fallow land management is crucial for maintaining ecological equilibrium and ensuring the sustainability of hill farmers’ lifestyles by fostering a community-environment-development nexus. Finally, we discuss the methodological implications of vulnerability assessment in the context of this study.

Research Highlight discussing: Heinen, J.; Dominguez, V.; Aguilera, G.; Malsher, G.; Vesterinen, E.; Roslin, T.; Bommarco, R.; Bartomeus, I. (2024). Diversified cropping strengthens herbivore regulation by providing seasonal resource continuity to predators. Journal of Applied Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2664.14674. Crop monocultures consist of homogenous agroecosystems highly dependent on pesticides for pest regulation and mineral fertilisation for maintaining plant nutrition, representing the least resilient system. Agricultural diversification practices can increase heterogeneity in agroecosystems, resulting in greater richness of arthropod predators and enhanced ecological services. Among natural enemies of pests, generalist predators are important for pest regulation as they prey on diverse arthropod pests and be present throughout the season. However, since they consume other predators (intraguild predation) and soil fauna, it is uncertain whether enhanced richness of generalist predators translates into improved pest regulation. The study by Heinen et al. examined how diversified crop rotation and organic fertilisation influenced predator–prey interactions throughout the cropping cycle in cereal fields. The predators' diet preference shifted over the growing season, indicating that soil fauna is an important resource for recruitment and maintenance of predators early in the season. Although intraguild predation was considerably high, it decreased across the season in fields with the greatest level of diversification, where predation of pests remained stable. This study demonstrated how diversified cropping is important for providing resource continuity with alternative prey (soil fauna and predators) over crop‐growing season, enhancing predator richness and herbivore regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zarafshan River runs from the mountains of Tajikistan and terminates in the sands of the Kyzyl-Kum Desert in Uzbekistan; it served as a communication route and homeland for the Sogdians. The Sogdians are historically depicted as merchants existing from the end of the first millennium BC through the first millennium AD. While recent research has provided the first glimpse into cultivation, commerce, communication, and consumption in the Lower Zarafshan, the agricultural heartland of the Middle Zarafshan Basin has remained unstudied. This paper presents the results of archaeobotanical investigations conducted at five ancient urban sites/areas spanning the fifth to the twelfth centuries AD: Kainar (Penjikent citadel), Penjikent (shahristan), Sanjar-Shah, Kuk-Tosh (pre-Mongol Penjikent), and Afrasiab. Collectively, these data show that cereals, legumes, oil/fiber crops, fruits, and nuts were cultivated on the fertile Zarafshan floodplains. In this paper, we discuss evidence for the diversification of the agricultural assemblage over time, including the introduction of new staple crops and fruits into an already complex cultivation system. In addition, we contrast our data with previously published results from sites along the course of the Zarafshan to determine whether there is a dietary difference between pre-and post-Islamic conquest periods at settlements located along the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The island ecosystem is influenced by the maritime climate and endemic flora and fauna that predominate the food production system. The observed variations and projected changes in rainfall and temperature severely affect the small islands and island states (SIS) more than large countries. In this study, we analyse the long-term changes in total rainfall, its seasonal variations, the number of rainy days and extreme events based on standardized global datasets and ground observations for SIS, including island regions of India, to identify suitable adaptation options in order to ensure sustainable food production. We link these climatic parameters with the observed waterlogging, moisture stress and salinity, compounded by the sea-water intrusion, which severely affects agricultural diversification and food production. In these areas, climate-smart alternative land management (ALM) methods, viz. raised beds, paddy–fish, farm ponds with broader dykes, etc. have been demonstrated and evaluated against these climate change-linked challenges at smallholder farms in the Andaman Islands and Sundarbans region of India. The results showed that the ALM methods created favourable conditions for crop growth and agricultural diversification by excluding sea-water intrusion, harvesting rainwater, reducing salinity and facilitating drainage amidst extreme events experienced during the observation period (2010–2020). ALM enhanced on-farm food production (2.7–34.6 tonne ha–1 rice equivalent yield), sustainability (0.23–0.79, measured as sustainable yield index) and net mitigation benefit (2.2–5.7 Mg CO2 eq. year–1), providing greater scope for its upscaling in the island and coastal regions as adaptation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural diversification and high-quality products deriving from sustainable crops such as hemp can represent a solution to revitalize marginal areas and reverse land abandonment. This study aimed at comparing four different hemp cultivars (Carmagnola Selezionata, "CS"; Futura 75, "FUT"; Felina 32, "FEL"; Secuieni Jubileu, "JUB") to provide information to select the best suited cultivar for cultivation in mountain marginal areas and for specific end-use applications. Hemp cultivars were cultivated in a single experimental field to compare their ecological and agronomic behavior (duration of life cycle phases, plant size and biomass allocation, and plant resource-use strategies). Through metabolomic analysis of both vegetative and reproductive parts of the plants we tested the presence of substances of nutraceutical interest and traced seed nutritional profile. The four cultivars had different ecological and agronomic behavior, and nutritional profile. We found several compounds with potential pharmaceutical and nutraceutical values in all parts of the plant (leaves, inflorescences, and stems). JUB resulted the most suitable for seed production while CS showed the highest content of bioactive compounds in flowers and leaves. FUT, showed the best suitability for multi-purpose cultivation, while FEL seemed to be not appropriate for the cultivation in mountain area. The multi-disciplinary approach we adopted was effective in distinguish across hemp cultivars and provided information to farmers for the selection of the best hemp cultivar to select. Hemp had a high potential for cultivation in marginal lands, demonstrating to be an economic resource due to its multi-purpose use and to the possibility to generate high-added values products. Our results could serve as a stimulus for the reintroduction of this culture in the study area and in other similar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beekeeping on rangelands is considered as a key approach for sustaining pastoral livelihood and reducing pressure on grazing lands. Previous studies are mostly focused on the ecological contributors of apiculture and the social criteria are not treated in much detail. The current research, therefore, uses the case of Sarayan Arid Rangelands in northeast Iran to examine the importance of social capital in adaptation of beekeeping as a pastoral livelihood diversification strategy. Through a random sampling procedure, 180 herders were selected in the study area. Questionnaires were used to collect data on trusts, collaboration, and solidarity as the main determinants of social capital and also herders' interests in beekeeping. Stepwise linear regression method was employed to estimate the relation between herders' interest in beekeeping and their social capital. The results show that about 33% in variance of motivation on beekeeping as a livelihood diversification strategy could be explained by the cooperation, trust, and solidarity among the rangeland users. Therefore, it is vital to introduce policies and measures to support collaboration and social networks among the rangeland users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the 'subsistence' character of smallholder production, agricultural production diversification is often seen as an effective strategy for smallholders to improve their diets' diversity and nutritional status, yet the existing evidence remains inadequate. The study applies bibliometric data from the "Web of Science" database to synthesize 46 papers from developing countries to explore the relationship between production diversity, dietary diversity, and nutrition in smallholder households. The study identifies the most influential journals, authors, organizations, and countries and reveals research themes related to agricultural production and food security. This data analysis can help researchers target potential collaborators and access influential literature in agricultural production diversity and dietary diversity research. In addition, the results showed that agricultural production diversity potentially influences households' dietary diversity, with mixed results: Agricultural production diversification is the primary way to improve food and nutritional security among smallholder families with low socio-economic status, inaccessible transportation, and poverty; market access and trade have more potential to improve dietary diversity among smallholder households with well-developed markets and higher income levels; the significant measures of agricultural production diversity include Crop Counts, FGPD, SI, and SWDI; the significant measures of dietary diversity include HDDS and IDDS. This paper provides a roadmap for agricultural production and food security researchers by conducting a systematic review of the literature, summarizing some research methods and perspectives applicable to local socio-economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of shift in cropping pattern is crucial for a good insight into the agricultural development of a region. The present study focused on the changes in the cropping pattern and the extent of crop diversification in Kerala, India. The results of the study revealed that the share of food crops to the gross cropped area substantially declined from 56.85% in TE 1987-88 to 40.73% in TE 2019-20, whereas the share of non-food crops increased remarkably from 43.14% in TE 1987-88 to 59.29% in TE 2019-20. The extent of crop diversification was higher in Idukki district, while crop specialization was prominent in Kozhikode district. Labour unavailability, high labour wage rates and climate variability were identified as the major constraints faced by the respondents in the study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population expansion and food insecurity as well as climate changes emphasize the need for advanced practices of agricultural sciences for enhancing the yield potential and nutritive qualities without damaging the environment. In this situation, legumes provide sustainable options for delivering multiple benefits in cropping sequences. Legumes as intercrops, green manure, or in rotation not only maintains soil quality but also break the cycle of insects, diseases, and weeds which are major problems in cereal-cereal cropping systems. Legumes also maintain soil biodiversity, fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, and ultimately reduce the need for agrochemicals. Legume residues have a low C:N ratio which enhances the carbon sequestration potential of soil. Apart from their environmental benefits, it significantly improves the nutritional quality of diets contributing to food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agriculture has become a global priority in response to increasing food demand and the challenges confronting agricultural production, such as biotic and abiotic stresses. In this review, we delve into the role of plant diversity in mitigating these stressors within tomato cultivation. Our investigation reveals that the most extensively studied companion species are Vicia villosa Roth, Coriandrum sativum L., and Allium cepa L., while the primary stressors under scrutiny include nutrient deficiencies, aerial pests, and soil-borne pathogenic diseases. Regarding nutrient deficiencies, the cover crop system has demonstrated its capacity to provide essential nutrients directly and indirectly to plants. In addressing aerial pests and pathogens, all cultivation systems exhibit contributions. Finally, we assert that incorporating plant diversity into agroecosystems can effectively counteract various types of stressors. These benefits align with the application of agroecological principles and the development of sustainable agroecosystems. Further assessments of the effects of additional companion plant species are imperative. This should encompass the identification of their distribution, optimal plant quantities, and cultivation systems that enhance their benefits. Ultimately, these evaluations will aid in the formulation of comprehensive guidelines to facilitate the selection and utilization of plant diversity for long-term sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture reserves are a key factor in maintaining soil fertility and all other related ecosystem services (including carbon sequestration, soil biodiversity, and soil erosion control). In semiarid blown-sand areas under aridification, water preservation is a particularly crucial task for agriculture. The international Diverfarming project (2017–2022), within the EU Horizon 2020 Program, focused on the impacts of crop diversification and low-input practices in all pedoclimatic regions of Europe. In this three-year experiment conducted in the Pannonian region, the impact of intercropping asparagus with different herbs on some provisioning and regulating ecosystem services was evaluated in the Kiskunság sand regions. Relying on findings based on a range of measured physical and chemical soil parameters and on crop yields and qualitative properties, advice was formulated for farmers. The message drawn from the experiment is somewhat ambiguous. The local farmers agree that crop diversification improves soil quality, but deny that it would directly influence farm competitiveness, which primarily depends on cultivation costs (such as fertilization, plant protection, and labour). Further analyses are needed to prove the long-term benefits of diversification through enriching soil microbial life and through the possible reduction of fertilizer use, while water demand is kept at a low level and the same crop-quality is ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion control is critical to global food production and ecosystem health worldwide, and particularly in the Mediterranean region, which is prone to erosion and is expected to be strongly affected by climatic and anthropogenic changes. In this paper, we explore how land use and management (LUM) can mitigate climate change impacts and increase agricultural attractiveness in pasture‐dominated Mediterranean mountain environments. One originality of the proposed research is to combine LUM scenarios incorporating environmental and socio‐economic behaviour with distributed process‐based modelling to simulate the impacts of global change. Specifically, soil erosion for different combinations of current and plausible future climate and LUM conditions were simulated on a small watershed located in eastern Sicily (Italy) using the LandSoil model. LUM scenarios were established as a modulation of environmental protection and agricultural production/diversification. The main management distinctions tested in this paper included intensive versus extensive practices for pasture, and conventional versus conservative practices for cereals and orchards. Simulations showed that the impact of climate change was very low and not significant in the studied watershed (i.e., −1.78% of erosion on average). Under current climate and compared to the baseline, LUM scenarios reported an increase in erosion for the business‐as‐usual (S1, +6.0%), market‐oriented (S2, +57.2%) and sustainability‐oriented (S4, +0.9) scenarios, respectively, whereas the nature‐oriented scenario led to a slight reduction in erosion (S3, −11.3%). Our results also emphasised that agricultural diversification coupled with adaptations in practices and management can improve the attractiveness of agriculture in pasture‐dominated environments while maintaining soil protection at an acceptable level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance and prevalence of recent ice‐age and post‐glacial speciation and species diversification during the Pleistocene across many organismal groups and physiographic settings are well established. However, the extent to which Pleistocene diversification can be attributed to climatic oscillations and their effects on distribution ranges and population structure remains debatable. In this study, we use morphologic, geographic and genetic (RADseq) data to document Pleistocene speciation and intra‐specific diversification of the unifoliolate‐leaved clade of Florida Lupinus, a small group of species largely restricted to inland and coastal sand ridges across the Florida peninsula and panhandle. Phylogenetic and demographic analyses alongside morphological and geographic evidence suggest that recent speciation and intra‐specific divergence within this clade were driven by a combination of non‐adaptive allopatric divergence caused by edaphic niche conservatism and opportunities presented by the emergence of new post‐glacial sand ridge habitats. These results highlight the central importance of even modest geographic isolation and short periods of allopatric divergence following range expansion in the emergence of new taxa and add to the growing evidence that Pleistocene climatic oscillations may contribute to rapid diversification in a myriad of physiographic settings. Furthermore, our results shed new light on long‐standing taxonomic debate surrounding the number of species in the Florida unifoliate Lupinus clade providing support for recognition of five species and a set of intra‐specific variants. The important conservation implications for the narrowly restricted, highly endangered species Lupinus aridorum, which we show to be genetically distinct from its sister species Lupinus westianus, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simplification of agricultural landscapes has been associated with an increase in pest pressure. While monocultures increase the resources available for pests and may facilitate their dispersion, the lack of non‐crop habitats may reduce the resources available for pest natural enemies. Herein, we tested which of these hypotheses, namely 'resource concentration' and 'natural enemies', can better explain the abundance of invasive mealybug pests in two subtropical fruit crops.For this aim, 17 persimmon orchards and 16 citrus orchards were sampled during three different seasons across two consecutive years. Using a model selection approach, we assessed the effects of the surrounding landscape (proportion of focal crops and semi‐natural habitats at different distances) and inter‐row ground cover vegetation on the abundance of mealybugs and their natural enemies.The proportion of focal crop in the landscape increased the abundance of mealybugs attacking both crops. This effect was found at closer distances (up to ~600 m) in citrus and at both closer and further distances (up to 1250 m) in persimmon.Non‐crop habitats, both surrounding semi‐natural habitats and ground cover vegetation, decreased the abundance of mealybugs by increasing the activity of their parasitoids in persimmon. Conversely, non‐crop habitats did not decrease the abundance of the main mealybug species attacking citrus, likely because this mealybug species was not attacked by native or naturalized parasitoids.Synthesis and applications. Our models show that the increase in habitat heterogeneity at local and landscape scales can reduce the abundance of invasive mealybugs in subtropical crops via 'resource concentration' and 'natural enemies' mechanisms. Therefore, habitat diversification strategies should be considered in the conservation biological control of invasive mealybugs. Importantly, our findings also show that the presence of efficient natural enemies is critical to maximize their control through habitat diversification strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to uncover the values that underlie farmers' strategic choices for business development. In particular, we uncovered farmers' values related to business development through farm diversification and compared these with values regarding business development through non-diversified farm activities. We considered diversified and non-diversified farm activities as two possible strategic orientations related to farm development. For each strategic orientation, the study systematically uncovered its values grounded on in-depth interviews with 23 farmers in Sweden, using the Zaltman metaphor elicitation technique. We analyzed values in terms of use- and non-use values related to the choice of strategic orientation. The results suggested that a heterogeneous set of use- and non-use values guide choices for farm strategic orientation. Particularly, for non-diversified farm activities, we identified eight values, of which three were categorized as use values and five as non-use values. For diversified farms, we found four values, all of which were categorized as non-use values. Our results highlight that policymakers need to approach farm development differently for each strategic orientation, considering that the underlying values between these two groups differ. Also, for farm advisors, results can be useful for improving and adapting the communication and interaction with farmers, which can further improve the content and influence of advisory services. The Zaltman metaphor elicitation technique expands the methodology of eliciting farmers' values and especially regarding farmers' strategic choices. This paper extends the knowledge of the driving forces that underlie farmers' choices for farm business development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loukkos perimeter, north-western of Morocco, is characterized by a strong dynamic of production systems, and a diversification of agricultural practices that require intensive use of pesticides due to activities of a spectrum of diseases and pests. Regarding the groundnut cultivation, it is mainly widespread in this Moroccan area, and it relies heavily on the intensive use of chemical inputs including pesticides. Unfortunately, this pesticide use poses significant health and ecological threat through the presence of residues in food, groundwater and surface water, especially since some alarming practices, and their impacts are, in most cases, poorly known, such as mixing of pesticides. This study focuses on the evaluation of the pressure of pesticide use on groundnut crop, and their impacts on the environment and human health from the determination of agro-environmental indicators (NT, QASI, TFI and EIQ) through field surveys conducted on 94 different groundnut farms representing an area of 313 ha. The results showed that groundnut crop is characterized by heavy pesticide use with an average treatment frequency of 9.97 treatments per cycle, dominated by herbicide treatments and by a variety of products used; 20 commercial products corresponding to 17 different active ingredients, including herbicides (71%), fungicides (22%) and insecticides (7%). According to survey results, all weed treatments were carried out by mixing two to three herbicides. The worst identified agricultural practice was that some of the pesticides used are not registered on this crop and used irrationally. For pesticide pressure, the average total TFI determined is 14.94. Moreover, in this study, the quantity of active substances indicator (QASI) was estimated for the first time revealing an increased use of pesticides equal to 6.17 kg/ha. These values show a heavy use of pesticides, which may be a major obstacle to long-term sustainable development because of their environmental and health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the intricate relationship between rainfall patterns, temperature variations, and food security in the Gibe III Dam watershed of southern Ethiopia. The study includes a household survey of 384 respondents, analysis of the standard rainfall anomaly index, and Mann-Kendall and Sen slope estimator tests, which were used to analyze the variability and trends in rainfall and temperature. Other instruments employed for the study include: the Household Food Balance Sheet (HFBS), Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Household Dietary Diversity (HDD), Rasch model, and Foster-Greer-Torbeck Index (FGT). Ordered logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of food security. The data show that the mean annual temperature increased at a rate of 0.02°C/year from 1990 up to 2021 with the largest positive anomaly (+1.2) and negative anomaly (-0.7) in 2018 and 2021, respectively, indicating interannual variability in rainfall. The HFBS model showed that 74.7 percent of survey respondents were food insecure and 25.3 percent food secure. The HFIAS scale showed that 25.54 percent of households were food secure, while 36.45 percent had mild food security, 30.45 moderate food security, and 7.55 severe food insecurity. The HDD index shows a medium level of dietary diversity with a mean score of 7.75. The Rash model shows mean food security scores of 15.3 for Kindo Koisha Woreda and 13.2 for Loma Bosa Woreda. A unit increase in age and agronomic measures increases the probability of being food secure, with odds ratio of 1.1 and 17.9, respectively. The FGT index shows that 74.2 percent of households do not meet 2,100 kcal, with a food security gap of 36.6 percent. Food security is threatened by seasonal fluctuations in rainfall and temperature, indicating that livelihood diversification and conservation agriculture should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discrepancy between short- and long-term rate estimates, known as the time-dependent rate phenomenon (TDRP), poses a challenge to extrapolating evolutionary rates over time and reconstructing evolutionary history of viruses. The TDRP reveals a decline in evolutionary rate estimates with the measurement timescale, explained empirically by a power-law rate decay, notably observed in animal and human viruses. A mechanistic evolutionary model, the Prisoner of War (PoW) model, has been proposed to address TDRP in viruses. Although TDRP has been studied in animal viruses, its impact on plant virus evolutionary history remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the consequences of TDRP in plant viruses by applying the PoW model to reconstruct the evolutionary history of sobemoviruses, plant pathogens with significant importance due to their impact on agriculture and plant health. Our analysis showed that the Sobemovirus genus dates back over four million years, indicating an ancient origin. We found evidence that supports deep host jumps to Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae occurring between tens to hundreds of thousand years ago, followed by specialization. Remarkably, the TDRP-corrected evolutionary history of sobemoviruses was extended far beyond previous estimates that had suggested their emergence nearly 9,000 years ago, a time coinciding with the Neolithic period in the Near East. By incorporating sequences collected through metagenomic analyses, the resulting phylogenetic tree showcases increased genetic diversity, reflecting a deep history of sobemovirus species. We identified major radiation events beginning between 4,600 to 2,000 years ago, which aligns with the Neolithic period in various regions, suggesting a period of rapid diversification from then to the present. Our findings make a case for the possibility of deep evolutionary origins of plant viruses. Author summary: Reconstructing the deep evolutionary history of viruses presents significant challenges, particularly due to a common decline in their evolutionary rate estimates over time. This decline can lead to substantial underestimations of their evolutionary history when divergence time since the most recent common ancestor are estimated based on extrapolations of the short-term evolutionary rates. Our study revisited the evolutionary timeline of the Sobemovirus genus, which was previously thought to have originated about 10,000 years ago based on short-term rate extrapolations. By employing the Prisoner of War model, which accounts for changes in virus rate estimates over time, and by analyzing updated datasets of sobemoviruses including metagenomic samples, we found that the Sobemovirus genus likely originated over four million years ago. This timeline significantly extends beyond prior estimates, challenging the conventional view of the origins of sobemoviruses and suggesting that they may have ancient beginnings. Furthermore, our study revealed that these viruses have undergone considerable diversification, influenced by agricultural development and environmental changes, particularly over the last 5,000 years. This study paves the way for new insights into the deep evolutionary history of plant viruses and the implications of their long-term interactions with hosts in the context of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]