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Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture and Livestock Practices: Enhancing Food Supply Chains for a Resilient Future

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2025 | Viewed by 4092

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Emmanuel Olatunbosun Benjamin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Professorship for Development Economics and Policy, University of the Bundeswehr, 85577 Neubiberg, Germany
2. Aglobe Development Center, Lagos 100275, Nigeria
Interests: conservation agriculture; sustainable development; aquaculture; agroforestry innovation adoption; women and youth empowerment; payment for ecosystem services; carbon accounting; integrated pest management; climate change; human security; development economics; aquaculture economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Gertrud Buchenrieder

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Professorship for Development Economics and Policy, University of the Bundeswehr, 85577 Neubiberg, Germany
Interests: poverty analysis; development studies; rural development; economic analysis; impact assessment; governance; social capital; rural livelihoods; sustainable rural development; financial services; development economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With currently used agricultural, aquaculture, and livestock practices, characterized by intensive tillage, monoculture, the widespread use of inorganic chemicals, and limited nutritional management, effluent discharge is significantly degrading natural resources, including soil, water, air, the climate, and biodiversity. For instance, global land degradation from aforementioned practices affects over 1.9 billion hectares and imposes an annual cost of up to USD 20 million, affecting two billion people. As the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the challenge lies in feeding this growing population while preserving the environment. To address global poverty, hunger, and human insecurity, there is a critical need to increase agricultural and livestock productivity without compromising the well-being of future generations. This necessitates a shift towards regenerative agro-ecosystems, particularly through innovative technologies, sustainable intensification, and animal production, marking a paradigm shift from conventional agriculture towards practices with positive or neutral ecological, socioeconomic, and environmental outcomes.

The journal Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050, IF 3.3) is currently running a Special Issue titled" Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture and Livestock Practices: Enhancing Food Supply Chains for a Resilient Future". Sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, and livestock practices are vital for building a resilient food supply chain. These practices protect the environment by reducing degradation and pollution, optimizing resource use for long-term productivity, and ensuring economic viability by promoting adaptable, cost-effective methods. Furthermore, they contribute to food security by enhancing the health and stability of crops, fish, and livestock, while supporting social well-being by improving livelihoods and nutrition. Additionally, they help mitigate climate change and enhance the resilience of food systems to climate-related stresses, ensuring sustainable food production for future generations. Given your research interests and excellent publication record, we would like to invite you to contribute your recent research work to this Special Issue.

The aim of this Special Issue on sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, and livestock practices is to explore and highlight innovative approaches that promote environmental protection, resource efficiency, and economic viability in food production systems. This issue seeks to present research and case studies that demonstrate how these sustainable practices can enhance food security, improve social well-being, and build resilience against climate change and other challenges. It aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on resilience and ways of enhancing future supply chains by providing insights and solutions that support the transition towards sustainable systems. This aligns with the scope of the journal on land and aquatic ecosystems maintenance, biodiversity preservation, and applications of sustainability.

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

  • Climate-smart agriculture;
  • Climate-smart aquaculture;
  • Sustainable fisheries;
  • Organic farming;
  • Agroforestry;
  • Integrated pest management (IPM);
  • Innovation and technologies;
  • Agribusiness;
  • Sustainable livestock production.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Emmanuel Olatunbosun Benjamin
Prof. Dr. Gertrud Buchenrieder
Guest Editors

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

  • precision agriculture
  • innovation and technology
  • artificial intelligence (AI)
  • impact assessment
  • food policy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 4011 KiB  
Article
Impact of Sustainable Agricultural Practices on Early Potato Yield Components
by Zorana Srećkov, Vesna Vasić, Anđelko Mišković, Vuk Vujasinović, Maja Radišić, Mladen Radišić and Gordana Racić
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4070; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094070 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 379
Abstract
Soil and plant covering methods offer sustainable agricultural benefits by improving soil health, water use efficiency, and reducing chemical inputs. A three-year split-plot experiment (2019–2021) evaluated the impact of various covering techniques on early potato production using two varieties (Cleopatra and Riviera). Treatments [...] Read more.
Soil and plant covering methods offer sustainable agricultural benefits by improving soil health, water use efficiency, and reducing chemical inputs. A three-year split-plot experiment (2019–2021) evaluated the impact of various covering techniques on early potato production using two varieties (Cleopatra and Riviera). Treatments included control, plastic mulch, agrotextile, low tunnels, and their combinations. The study assessed stem number, number of tubers per plant (including per stem), average tuber mass, tuber mass per plant, and tuber yield. Results demonstrate the significant positive impact of covering methods on early potato yield. The combination of agrotextile and low tunnels resulted in the highest increases, improving key yield components like tuber number and mass per plant. While varietal differences existed, the covering methods’ influence was paramount. These findings offer a basis for optimizing early potato production for higher yields and quality. Future research should investigate the economic viability of these methods and explore organic alternatives to plastic coverings for sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture and Livestock Practices: Enhancing Food Supply Chains for a Resilient Future)
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25 pages, 2307 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Goat Farming in Southeastern Tunisia: Challenges and Opportunities for Profitability
by Rihab Day, Aziza Mohamed-Brahmi, Fatma Aribi and Mohamed Jaouad
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3669; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083669 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 849
Abstract
Goat farming represents a critical component of rural livelihoods, food security, and cultural heritage in southeastern Tunisia. This study adopts a multi-stakeholder approach to analyze the goat value chain in Tataouine, incorporating focus groups, semi-structured questionnaires, and direct observations with 80 farmers, 3 [...] Read more.
Goat farming represents a critical component of rural livelihoods, food security, and cultural heritage in southeastern Tunisia. This study adopts a multi-stakeholder approach to analyze the goat value chain in Tataouine, incorporating focus groups, semi-structured questionnaires, and direct observations with 80 farmers, 3 veterinarians, 13 butchers, and 100 consumers. The findings reveal strong local demand, with 72% of consumers purchasing goat meat and 66% consuming milk. However, significant inefficiencies exist, particularly a misalignment between production and market requirements: while 92% of butchers prefer fattened animals, only 16% of farmers engage in fattening practices. Women constitute 49% of dairy processors, yet face persistent resource constraints. Climate pressures exacerbate these challenges, with 80% of farmers reporting water scarcity and 93.8% observing pasture degradation. Three strategic interventions emerge as pivotal for sustainable development: targeted support for feed-efficient fattening techniques, establishment of women-led dairy processing collectives, and implementation of climate-resilient water management systems. These measures address core constraints while leveraging existing strengths of the production system. The study presents a transferable framework for livestock value chain analysis in arid regions, demonstrating how integrated approaches can enhance both economic viability and adaptive capacity while preserving traditional pastoral systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture and Livestock Practices: Enhancing Food Supply Chains for a Resilient Future)
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19 pages, 2661 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Technical Efficiency and Resilience of Rwandan Smallholder Farmers Participating in Small-Scale Irrigation Schemes
by Emmanuel Olatunbosun Benjamin, Alexander Lotz, Oreoluwa Ola and Gertrud Rosa Buchenrieder
Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 1925; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17051925 - 24 Feb 2025
Viewed by 573
Abstract
In a number of developing countries, low productivity and technical inefficiency, with climate change looming in the background, remain a severe challenge for the agricultural sector, especially smallholder farmers. To enhance smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in terms of agricultural productivity while mitigating the adverse [...] Read more.
In a number of developing countries, low productivity and technical inefficiency, with climate change looming in the background, remain a severe challenge for the agricultural sector, especially smallholder farmers. To enhance smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in terms of agricultural productivity while mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, improving technical efficiency in a sustainable manner is a promising option. One possible alternative is the use of solar-powered small-scale irrigation systems in areas vulnerable to climate change to ensure sufficient access to water. This study uses stochastic frontier analysis to analyze technical efficiency and its determinants among smallholder farmers who benefit from a solar-powered small-scale irrigation scheme in Gitaraga, Bugesera District, Rwanda. Similar smallholders from a neighboring village, who were not participating in the irrigation scheme, represent the control group. The results suggest that inputs such as land, water, and labor are positively correlated to agricultural productivity. Farmers participating in the irrigation scheme are 31.2 percentage points more technically efficient compared to non-participants, despite similar climatic conditions. Thus, relaxing the water constraint on arable land will increase agricultural productivity. Explanatory inefficiency determinants include years of farming experience and market access. Subsequently, policy makers should continue to support programs that improve smallholder access to sustainable irrigation schemes, other infrastructure, extension services, and upstream value chains, as well as markets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture and Livestock Practices: Enhancing Food Supply Chains for a Resilient Future)
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22 pages, 490 KiB  
Article
Predicting Tilapia Productivity in Geothermal Ponds: A Genetic Algorithm Approach for Sustainable Aquaculture Practices
by Vadim Tynchenko, Oksana Kukartseva, Yadviga Tynchenko, Vladislav Kukartsev, Tatyana Panfilova, Kirill Kravtsov, Xiaogang Wu and Ivan Malashin
Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9276; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219276 - 25 Oct 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1773
Abstract
This study presents a case focused on sustainable farming practices, specifically the cultivation of tilapia (Mozambican and aureus species) in ponds with geothermal water. This research aims to optimize the hydrochemical regime of experimental ponds to enhance the growth metrics and external characteristics [...] Read more.
This study presents a case focused on sustainable farming practices, specifically the cultivation of tilapia (Mozambican and aureus species) in ponds with geothermal water. This research aims to optimize the hydrochemical regime of experimental ponds to enhance the growth metrics and external characteristics of tilapia breeders. The dataset encompasses the hydrochemical parameters and the fish feeding base from experimental geothermal ponds where tilapia were cultivated. Genetic algorithms (GA) were employed for hyperparameter optimization (HPO) of deep neural networks (DNN) to enhance the prediction of fish productivity in each pond under varying conditions, achieving an R2 score of 0.94. This GA-driven HPO process is a robust method for optimizing aquaculture practices by accurately predicting how different pond conditions and feed bases influence the productivity of tilapia. By accurately determining these factors, the model promotes sustainable practices, improving breeding outcomes and maximizing productivity in tilapia aquaculture. This approach can also be applied to other aquaculture systems, enhancing efficiency and sustainability across various species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture and Livestock Practices: Enhancing Food Supply Chains for a Resilient Future)
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