Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Plants Protection

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 5070

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francesco Lops

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources, and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Interests: plant diseases; soilborne pests; disease management; sustainable; fungal pathogens; biological control; integrated protection; diagnosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global food production systems are facing increasingly complex and unprecedented challenges, including biodiversity loss, widespread soil degradation, and the impacts of climate change. These phenomena are severely affecting crops, leading to prolonged droughts, the spread of invasive species, and reduced plant resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. As a result, the ability to ensure food security for a growing global population is under threat.

The indiscriminate use of synthetic chemicals has exacerbated these problems, causing significant environmental and health issues. However, increasing awareness of the risks associated with such practices is driving a shift toward more sustainable agricultural models.

Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Protection aim to meet current food needs without compromising the resources and opportunities available to future generations. The primary goals of sustainable agriculture are to ensure food security in the context of climate change and population growth while safeguarding vital resources such as water, soil, and biodiversity. Sustainability also encompasses social dimensions, including improving the health and well-being of agricultural workers, upholding human rights, and promoting social equity.

This approach relies on environmentally friendly techniques that prioritize biodiversity and resource conservation. Key practices include minimizing harmful interventions such as excessive synthetic chemical use, monoculture, and mono-successions.

One of the most promising strategies is biological control through the use of naturally occurring microorganisms, known as biocontrol agents (BCAs). These agents offer an effective, sustainable alternative to conventional chemical solutions, aligning with the broader goals of sustainable agriculture. I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Francesco Lops
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

disease control
climate change
biodiversity
sustainable agriculture
food security
integrated production
chemicals
biological control
microorganisms (BCA)
ecological footprint

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 625 KB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Impact of Fertilizer Use, Economic Expansion, Methane Emissions, and Population Growth on Food Security in Nigeria

by Toluwalope Seyi Akinwande, Huseyin Ozdeser, Mehdi Seraj and Oluwatoyin Abidemi Somoye

Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031210 - 25 Jan 2026

Viewed by 559

Abstract

Food security remains a critical challenge in Nigeria. As a result, this research examines the impact of fertilizer use, economic expansion, population growth, and methane emissions on food security in Nigeria from 1970 to 2022. The methodologies used include the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, Wald Test, and the Spectral Granger Causality test. The ARDL results demonstrate that in the long run, fertilizer use spurs food security, although not significantly, while population growth reduces food security insignificantly. On the other hand, economic expansion and agricultural methane emissions are positively associated with food security, likely reflecting scale effects of agricultural production rather than a direct beneficial role of emissions. In the short run, fertilizer use and methane emissions drive food security. The Wald Test also confirms the short-run findings. Furthermore, the Spectral Granger Causality test showed that fertilizer use and economic expansion Granger-cause food security in the long, medium, and short term. Population growth, however, Granger-causes food security only in the long term, while methane emissions Granger-cause food security in the medium and long term. Based on these results, policies are recommended, and their further implications are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Plants Protection)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 566 KB

Open AccessArticle

Heat-Tolerant Quinoa as a Multipurpose Crop in the Tropics

by Edil Vidal Torres, Senay Simsek, Angela M. Linares Ramírez and Elide Valencia

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 1120; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18021120 - 22 Jan 2026

Viewed by 359

Abstract

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is increasingly valued as a climate-resilient crop due to its nutritional quality and adaptability; however, there is limited information on the nutritional composition of heat-tolerant genotypes grown in tropical environments or the potential of quinoa leaves as an additional nutrient source. This study assessed the nutritional composition of leaves and grains from three heat-tolerant quinoa genotypes (Ames 13746 (Pison), Ames 13748 (Copacabana), and Ames 13745 (Kaslae)) to support their use as multipurpose crops in warm regions. Crude protein, amino acid, dietary fiber fraction, total fat, total starch, and mineral (Ca, Mg, P, K, Fe, and Zn) concentrations were quantified using AOAC, AACCI, and AOCS standardized methods. The grains exhibited a balanced essential amino acid profile, with lysine concentrations exceeding those of most staple cereals. The protein contents in the leaves and grains did not differ among genotypes (p > 0.05), although combustion analysis yielded consistently higher values than the Kjeldahl method. The leaves differed significantly in insoluble and total dietary fiber (p < 0.05), with Kaslae presenting the highest levels. In grains, the dietary fiber, total fat, total starch, and mineral contents did not vary among genotypes. The leaf mineral composition differed in terms of Ca and P, while Mg, Fe, K, and Zn levels remained similar across genotypes. These findings underscore quinoa’s potential as a nutrient-dense, multipurpose crop for food production in tropical environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Plants Protection)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1853 KB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Six Phytotoxic Compounds as Plant Growth Inhibitors from Afzelia xylocarpa Leaves

by Ramida Krumsri, Yuka Asato, Shunya Tojo, Toshiaki Teruya and Hisashi Kato-Noguchi

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 995; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020995 - 19 Jan 2026

Viewed by 494

Abstract

Plant-derived phytotoxins are widely investigated as sustainable alternatives to synthetic herbicides; however, a major limitation is the insufficient chemical characterization of active constituents in many promising candidate species, including Afzelia xylocarpa (Kurz) Craib. In this study, the phytotoxicity of A. xylocarpa leaves and their phytotoxic compounds were investigated to evaluate their potential value as a bioherbicide. The results showed the A. xylocarpa leaf extracts suppressed the seedling growth of Lepidium sativum L., Lactuca sativa L., and Lolium multiflorum Lam. Six compounds were obtained from the A. xylocarpa leaf extracts using bio-guided fractionation and were identified as (+)-dehydrovomifoliol (1), (3R,6R,7E)-3-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-9-one (2), (+)-3-hydroxy-β-ionone (3), (S)-N-(1-hydroxy-3-phenylpropan-2-yl) benzamide (4), isololiolide (5), and (+)-lariciresinol (6). Compounds 1 to 6 significantly reduced seed germination, seedling growth, and dry biomass accumulation into different extents (p < 0.05). L. sativum roots were more susceptible to all the obtained compounds than other growth parameters, except for compound 4. Based on the doses of six compounds required for 50% growth inhibition (defined as EC₅₀ value), compound 3 (EC₅₀ values = 227.4 to 582.3 µM) and compound 5 (EC₅₀ values = 53.8 to 200.8 µM) were the most toxic against all the growth parameters of L. sativum and may be the principal active compounds of the A. xylocarpa leaf extracts. Such phytotoxic effects indicate that these six compounds could be candidates for bioherbicides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Plants Protection)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3530 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Dynamics of Farmland Rental Prices in Corn Belt: A Geographically Weighted Regression Approach Integrating Economic and Agricultural Indicators

by Shuai Li and Xuzhen He

Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010316 - 28 Dec 2025

Viewed by 515

Abstract

Understanding the forces that shape farmland rental prices in major agricultural regions such as the U.S. Corn Belt is essential for evaluating the economic and environmental resilience of agricultural regions. This study develops an integrated framework that combines spatial modelling with uncertainty-aware spatial analysis to examine how macroeconomic conditions influence rental dynamics across the core Corn Belt. Using geographically weighted regression, the analysis captures spatial variation in the sensitivity of rental prices to oil prices, interest rates, and economic activity, revealing substantial geographic heterogeneity in macroeconomic exposure. The results reveal pronounced spatial heterogeneity in rental price responses, with geographically weighted models consistently outperforming global linear specifications. Despite strong spatial variation in rental sensitivities, neither prediction uncertainty nor maize yield volatility displays a clear regional pattern, indicating that production stability and model reliability are highly localised. By linking spatially varying rent sensitivities with indicators of economic pressure and production instability, this study provides new insights into agricultural sustainability risk. The findings highlight the importance of place-based policy and region-specific risk management under increasing macroeconomic volatility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Plants Protection)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 5605 KB

Open AccessArticle

Liquorice Cultivation Potential in Spain: A GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Assessment for Sustainable Rural Development

by Víctor Fernández Ocamica and Monique Bernardes Figueirêdo

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11299; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411299 - 17 Dec 2025

Viewed by 559

Abstract

In the framework of the European bioeconomy, liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) represents a promising crop for sustainable agriculture due to its ecological adaptability, nitrogen-fixing capacity, and wide industrial applications. This study aims to identify suitable areas for liquorice cultivation across Spanish municipalities by integrating Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial analysis with a multi-criteria evaluation approach. Agronomic factors, annual mean temperature, soil pH, and water availability were combined with socioeconomic indicators including population decline, rural classification, and unemployment rate. Each municipality received a composite suitability score from 0 to 12 based on six criteria, with agronomic variables scored from 0 to 3 and socioeconomic factors assessed through binary classification. Results reveal that southern and southwestern regions, particularly Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura, exhibit the most favourable conditions for liquorice cultivation, offering both optimal environmental parameters and potential socioeconomic benefits. The study concludes that liquorice could serve as a regenerative and climate-resilient crop contributing to rural revitalization in Spain. A pilot case in Aragón illustrates its potential to promote social inclusion, repurpose historical assets, and stimulate local economies in depopulated, flood-prone areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Plants Protection)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1520 KB

Open AccessArticle

HARPS: A Hybrid Algorithm for Robust Plant Stress Detection to Foster Sustainable Agriculture

by Syed Musharraf Hussain, Beom-Seok Jeong, Bilal Ahmad Mir and Seung Won Lee

Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5767; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135767 - 23 Jun 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1462

Abstract

For sustainable agriculture practices to be achieved as a result of changing climates and growing hazards to the environment, improving resilience in plants is crucial. Stress-Associated Proteins (SAPs) have an important role in helping plants react to abiotic stress conditions such as drought, salinity, and changes in temperature. This study underlines the ability of the SAP gene family to promote stress adaptation mechanisms by presenting a thorough analysis of the gene family across 86 distinct plant species and genera. We present an optimized Hybrid Algorithm for Robust Plant Stress (HARPS), a unique machine learning (ML)-based system designed to efficiently identify and classify plant stress responses. A comparison with conventional ML models shows that HARPS substantially reduces computational time while achieving higher accuracy. This efficiency makes HARPS ideal for real-time agricultural applications, where precise and quick stress detection is essential. With the help of an ablation study and conventional evaluation metrics, we further validated the effectiveness of the model. Overall, by strengthening crop monitoring, increasing resilience, lowering dependency on chemical inputs, and enabling data-driven decision-making, this research advances the objectives of sustainable agriculture production and crop protection. HARPS facilitates scalable, resource-efficient stress detection essential for adjusting to climatic uncertainty and mitigating environmental consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Plants Protection)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

27 pages, 1664 KB

Open AccessReview

Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.) for Phytoremediation: Strategy to Improve and Integrate the Circular Economy

by Martina Ghidoli, Matteo Ceriani, Fabrizio Araniti, Marta Peconi, Fabrizio Adani and Roberto Pilu

Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3419; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073419 - 1 Apr 2026

Viewed by 405

Abstract

Phytoremediation is increasingly recognized as a sustainable and low-impact approach for the remediation of contaminated and marginal soils, particularly when combined with the cultivation of resilient non-food crops. Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) is a multipurpose industrial oilseed crop characterized by high biomass production, strong tolerance to abiotic stresses, and a remarkable ability to accumulate and tolerate potentially toxic elements. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of castor bean in phytoremediation systems, integrating agronomic management, physiological traits, traditional and industrial uses, and sustainability perspectives. Particular attention is given to agronomic practices that enhance plant establishment and remediation efficiency on contaminated lands. Beyond its environmental role, this review highlights the long-standing traditional uses of castor oil and the growing importance of castor bean as an energy and industrial crop, supplying renewable feedstocks for biofuels, bio-based chemicals, and materials within a circular economy framework. While genetic improvement and molecular tools offer future opportunities to optimize specific traits, the current potential of castor bean relies largely on its agronomic adaptability and multifunctionality. Overall, R. communis emerges as a strategic species for integrated phytoremediation systems that couple soil restoration with renewable resource production and sustainable land management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Plants Protection)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Sustainable Agricultural Production and Crop Plants Protection

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI