Agroecosystem Resilience in Marginal and Underutilized Lands: Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Management
A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecosystem, Environment and Climate Change in Agriculture".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 7
Special Issue Editor
Interests: water-energy-food (WEF) nexus; GIS and remote sensing technology; climate modeling; agrarian greenhouse gas emissions; machine learning and deep learning
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Marginal lands are areas where conventional agricultural production is constrained by biophysical shocks (e.g., extreme weather events, poor soil quality) and socioeconomic shocks (e.g., lack of infrastructure, limited market access). Underutilized lands, while possessing greater agricultural potential, are not currently being used to their full capacity. Quantifying and managing these landscapes present significant challenges due to inconsistent definitions, limited data availability, and the complexity of integrating biophysical, socioeconomic, qualitative and institutional variables. Innovative methods technology such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis offer promising solutions but face limitations in resolution, validation, and contextual sensitivity.
This special issue explores the critical nexus between agroecosystem resilience and the challenges and opportunities presented by marginal and underutilized lands. We aim to gather cutting-edge research and insights into sustainable practices, innovative technologies, and policy frameworks that support farmers, practitioners, and decision-makers in fostering equitable and resilient agricultural systems. We welcome original research articles, reviews, case studies, and perspectives that contribute to the understanding and advancement of agroecosystem resilience in marginal and underutilized lands. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
Artificial intelligence and machine learning: Applications for identifying, classifying, and monitoring marginal lands and optimizing adaptive management strategies under changing climatic and socioeconomic conditions
Geospatial Analysis: Evaluation of remote sensing and spatial modeling techniques for sustainable land management.
Governance and Socioeconomic Factors: Analysis of local governance, land tenure systems, market access, and institutional support in shaping agroecosystem resilience.
Regenerative and Indigenous Practices: Assessment of practices such as cover cropping, agroforestry, organic farming systems, and indigenous agricultural methods in restoring soil health and biodiversity.
Smallholder Contributions: Exploration of small farmer innovations and practices that promote soil health, biodiversity, resilience, and food security.
Integrated Resource Management: Investigation of holistic approaches to enhance productivity and resilience in resource-constrained environments. Submissions should be supported by empirical evidence, theoretical frameworks, or critical analysis.
Manuscripts must offer valuable insights for promoting sustainable agroecosystems and livelihoods in vulnerable environments.
Dr. Hubert Hirwa
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. Agriculture 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 2600 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
- agroecosystem resilience
- marginal and underutilized lands
- sustainable agriculture
- governance and socioeconomic factors
- regenerative and indigenous practices
- integrated resource management
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