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Innovations in Agricultural and Rural Development in a Changing World

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2024 | Viewed by 3471

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Tomas Baležentis

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Guest Editor

Institute of Economics and Rural Development, Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, 03220 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: efficiency and productivity analysis; agricultural economics; resource economics; multi-criteria analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The agri-food industry has been subject to multiple local and global turbulences across the globe. The long-term trends of depleting natural resources and increasing urbanization have caused changes in factor availability. This has led to increasing production costs. In addition, the increasing volatility in yields and prices requires both risk management and technological advancement.

The increasing competitiveness for land has caused the emergence of such novel forms of farming such as vertical farming. Urban farming has also been introduced in urban areas. These novel forms of farming require complex innovations.

Recent developments in blockchain technology, the shared economy, and gamification provide opportunities to create platforms for agricultural producers and consumers. Such solutions may lead to decreased transaction costs and increased profitability. However, the supply chains need to be adapted to serve such platforms.

The present Special Issue seeks to gather contributions on the social, technological, and managerial innovations relevant to the agri-food sector. Theoretical and empirical papers that clearly indicate their importance and propose solutions for increasing the viability of agri-food production are welcome. Research covering both developing and developed countries is expected.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Social innovations in the agri-food sector;
Supply chain innovations;
Assessment of innovations in sustainability;
Technological innovations and their effects;
Impact assessment of the innovations in the agri-food sector;
Platforms for promoting innovations in the agri-food sector;
A sharing economy and network economy for agri-food innovations;
Innovative agri-food products and sustainability.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Tomas Baležentis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

agricultural innovations
sustainable innovation
technological change

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Digitalization on the Sustainability of Small Farms

by Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė and Rasa Melnikienė

Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4076; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104076 - 13 May 2024

Viewed by 461

Abstract

Digitalization of agriculture is one of the priorities of the EU’s rural development strategy “From Field to Table”, which promotes the creation of more added value and climate change mitigation in agriculture. A growing body of the literature argues that digitalization enables better information management, reduces production costs, and increases the potential for farm income growth, but only a few papers provide empirical studies on how digitalization improves the performance of small farms. To fill this gap in the literature, this paper presents a case study as empirical evidence of the impact of digital innovation on smallholder performance through a sustainable development lens. This paper reports research based on a pilot digitalization project implemented on a small organic farm. It examines the identification of logical links between the digitalization processes introduced and the impact of digitalization on the economic, social, and environmental performance of the small farm. The case study data were collected through semi-structured interviews and based on the results of a pilot project. The findings of this study provide evidence that the introduction of digital technologies has improved the economic performance of the farm, including a reduction in labor costs, improved customer relations, improvements in farmers’ investment planning, and process redesign. Based on this study, recommendations are made to policymakers on how to promote the uptake of digital technologies in smallholder farming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Agricultural and Rural Development in a Changing World)

Review

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37 pages, 3646 KiB

Open AccessReview

Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Dairy Farming in Canada amidst Climate Change

by Suresh Neethirajan

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010265 - 27 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2698

Abstract

In recent years, the Canadian dairy sector has faced escalating challenges due to its significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane. This paper critically examines a spectrum of innovative techniques aimed at mitigating methane emissions within this sector, scrutinizing their cost-effectiveness, efficiency, compatibility with animal welfare standards, and adherence to both existing and prospective Canadian environmental legislations. The discourse begins with an exhaustive overview of contemporary methane reduction methodologies relevant to dairy farming, followed by a rigorous analysis of their economic feasibility. This includes a detailed cost-benefit analysis, juxtaposed with the efficiency and technological advancements these techniques embody. A pivotal aspect of this examination is the alignment of animal welfare with emission reduction objectives, ensuring that the strategies employed do not compromise the health and well-being of dairy cattle. Furthermore, the paper delves into the legislative landscape of Canada, evaluating the congruence of these techniques with current environmental laws and anticipating future regulatory shifts. Performance indicators for emission reduction are critically assessed, establishing benchmarks tailored to the Canadian context. This is complemented by an exploration of the market potential of these innovations, including factors influencing their adoption and scalability in the market. The analysis culminates with a synthesis of case studies and best practices within Canada, offering insights into successful implementations and drawing lessons for future endeavors. This comprehensive approach not only addresses the immediate environmental and health impacts associated with dairy farming emissions but also significantly contributes to the overarching goal of sustainable development in the agricultural sector. The research presented in this paper holds significant implications for the future of sustainable dairy farming, offering a model for addressing environmental challenges while maintaining economic viability and animal welfare. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Agricultural and Rural Development in a Changing World)

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