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Environmental and Economic Sustainability in Agri-Food System

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 6119

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Behnaz Saboori

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Natural Resource Economics, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
Interests: sustainable agriculture; food security; environmental protection; agri-food policies; sustainable food production; climate-smart agriculture; agri-food system innovation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the face of escalating environmental concerns and the imperative for economic resilience, the sustainability of the agri-food system has emerged as a critical area of inquiry. This Special Issue, "Advancing Environmental and Economic Sustainability in the Global Agri-Food System", invites scholarly contributions that address these interconnected challenges. By examining innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture, efficient resource use, and economic viability, this Special Issue aims to illuminate pathways towards a more sustainable and equitable global food system. Contributions are welcome from a range of disciplines, including but not limited to environmental science, agriculture, economics, and social sciences, to foster a comprehensive understanding and promote interdisciplinary solutions.

This Special Issue seeks to explore innovative research and practices that address the dual challenge of environmental and economic sustainability in the agri-food sector. It aims to bring together interdisciplinary perspectives that examine the dynamics of agricultural practices, food production, distribution, and consumption in the context of sustainability. We encourage submissions that offer insights into sustainable agricultural technologies, policies for environmental protection and economic growth, food security, and the role of circular economies in the agri-food system. Comparative studies, case studies, and reviews that highlight successful models and practices at various scales, from local to global, are particularly welcome.

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

  • innovative agricultural practices for sustainable growth;
  • circular economies and zero-waste systems in agri-food;
  • climate resilience and adaptation in agriculture;
  • economic policies for sustainable agri-food systems;
  • technological innovations for food security and sustainability;
  • socio-economic impacts of sustainable farming on rural communities;
  • sustainable food production and consumption patterns;
  • integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services in agri-food systems;
  • the role of policy and governance in achieving agri-food sustainability;
  • case studies of successful sustainable agri-food initiatives.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Behnaz Saboori
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

  • sustainable agriculture
  • food security
  • economic resilience
  • environmental protection
  • agri-food policies
  • circular economy
  • resource efficiency
  • sustainable food production
  • climate-smart agriculture
  • agri-food system innovation

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

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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32 pages, 4719 KiB  
Article
Framework for Estimating Environmental Carrying Capacity in Diverse Climatic Conditions and Fish Farming Production in Neotropical Reservoirs
by Elisa Maia de Godoy, Tavani Rocha Camargo, Moranne Toniato, Danilo Cintra Proença, Johana Marcela Concha Obando, Rodrigo Roubach, Pablo Gallardo and Guilherme Wolff Bueno
Sustainability 2025, 17(12), 5282; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125282 - 7 Jun 2025
Viewed by 67
Abstract
Effective sustainable fish farming necessitates enhanced models that incorporate environmental variability and contemporary monitoring methods. This research presents an innovative framework for assessing and modeling the environmental carrying capacity based on phosphorus (ECCp) in tropical and neotropical lakes and reservoirs. The model evaluates [...] Read more.
Effective sustainable fish farming necessitates enhanced models that incorporate environmental variability and contemporary monitoring methods. This research presents an innovative framework for assessing and modeling the environmental carrying capacity based on phosphorus (ECCp) in tropical and neotropical lakes and reservoirs. The model evaluates phosphorus waste from tilapia farming (Oreochromis niloticus) under diverse climatic conditions and production scenarios in cage systems. Using bioenergetic modeling and Monte Carlo simulations, we estimated phosphorus retention in fish and maximum production limits across different temperatures (21 °C, 25 °C, 29 °C) and dietary phosphorus concentrations (0.8%, 1.2%, 2.1%) in Brazil’s Chavantes reservoir. Results indicated that phosphorus retention diminished with higher dietary phosphorus and increased temperatures, ranging from 51% (0.8% P) to 20% (2.1% P). Phosphorus discharge ranged from 3.3 to 20.5 kg/ton of fish produced. The ECCp model forecasted an allowable production of roughly 40 tons per year at full operational capacity, reflecting a 41% increase compared to current regulations. The model’s accuracy (96%) surpassed that of traditional regulatory frameworks, which rely on static parameters, emphasizing the shortcomings of existing practices. The findings promote enhanced modeling strategies, sophisticated monitoring, adaptive management, and revised public policies to mitigate phosphorus emissions and support sustainable aquaculture in tropical and neotropical regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Economic Sustainability in Agri-Food System)
20 pages, 1137 KiB  
Article
Ecological vs. Traditional Aquaculture: Carbon Footprint and Economic Performance of Integrated Fish–Euryale ferox Systems
by Jiayin Ling, Guozheng Li, Guodong Yuan, Liang Xiao, Liwen Shao, Yaoyang Chen and Jianqiao Qin
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 4927; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114927 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 242
Abstract
This study examined the carbon footprints of freshwater fish farming and Euryale ferox seed (gorgon fruit) production, comparing integrated ecological mode and traditional farming practices based on ISO 14067 and PAS 2050 standards. The ecological mode achieved a 24% lower carbon footprint per [...] Read more.
This study examined the carbon footprints of freshwater fish farming and Euryale ferox seed (gorgon fruit) production, comparing integrated ecological mode and traditional farming practices based on ISO 14067 and PAS 2050 standards. The ecological mode achieved a 24% lower carbon footprint per unit product than traditional practices, driven by reduced material and energy use. Key emission sources included aeration electricity, feed, and wastewater treatment for fish farming, fertilizers, insecticides, and drainage energy for E. ferox planting. The integrated model combining high-density fish ponds and E. ferox pond reduced the overall carbon footprint (Micropterus salmoides: 4.342 kg CO2-eq/kg; E. ferox seed: 0.208 kg CO2-eq/kg) compared to traditional practices (Micropterus salmoides: 5.672 kg CO2-eq/kg; E. ferox seed: 0.297 kg CO2-eq/kg). It also lowered production costs, increased profits, and mitigated GHG emissions by using E. ferox and lotus ponds as treatment facilities and reducing fertilizer use. The ecological model showed lower unit costs and higher profits (Micropterus salmoides: 4.01 RMB/kg vs. 2.46 RMB/kg; E. ferox seed: 2.53 RMB/kg vs. 1.93 RMB/kg) than those of the traditional mode. This study underscores the potential of ecologically integrated modes to mitigate water pollution and carbon emissions in agriculture, offering a sustainable solution to meet the rising demand for aquatic products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Economic Sustainability in Agri-Food System)
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23 pages, 2418 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Influence Mechanism of Government Assistance on Farmers’ Planting Willingness in the Context of Extreme Weather: An Empirical Study Based on the Grain Farmers in Jiangxi Province, China
by Yanzhe Li, Kai Hu and Liping Wu
Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1351; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041351 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 695
Abstract
In recent years, with increasing global warming, extreme weather such as high temperatures and droughts has occurred more frequently, with serious impacts on grain production and farmers’ livelihoods. High temperatures and drought can lead to a range of production problems such as water [...] Read more.
In recent years, with increasing global warming, extreme weather such as high temperatures and droughts has occurred more frequently, with serious impacts on grain production and farmers’ livelihoods. High temperatures and drought can lead to a range of production problems such as water shortages, increased irrigation costs, reduced land fertility, and reductions in grain yields. Ultimately, these problems can inhibit farmers’ willingness to grow grain and threaten regional food security. The government usually takes appropriate assistance measures to compensate for the loss of grain farmers, so as to stimulate the farmers’ incentive to grow grain. Therefore, the influence mechanism of government assistance on farmers’ willingness to grow grain in the context of extreme weather is an issue worth exploring. From the perspective of grain farmers, this paper takes the grain farmers in Jiangxi Province affected by high temperatures and drought in 2022 as the research sample and empirically analyzes the influence mechanism of government assistance on farmers’ willingness to grow grain. In addition, this paper also discusses the heterogeneity of the impact of government assistance on the planting willingness of farmers with different agricultural income ratios and literacy levels. The Ordered Logistic model and mediation effect model were applied in this study. The results of the study show that government assistance can effectively incentivize farmers’ willingness to grow grain, and risk preference has a mediating effect in the process. In addition, government assistance has a stronger incentive effect on the planting willingness of farmers with a high ratio of agricultural income and a high level of literacy. Finally, the paper puts forward corresponding countermeasure suggestions based on the conclusions to help the government formulate more complete risk response policies and establish a more effective risk prevention mechanism. This paper provides a theoretical reference for achieving sustainable development of grain production in the context of extreme weather, which helps to improve the resilience and sustainability of grain production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Economic Sustainability in Agri-Food System)
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12 pages, 1376 KiB  
Article
Continuous Ozonation Coupled with UV-C Irradiation for a Sustainable Post-Harvest Processing of Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. Fruits to Reduce Storage Losses
by Natalia Matłok, Tomasz Piechowiak, Miłosz Zardzewiały, Bogdan Saletnik and Maciej Balawejder
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5420; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135420 - 26 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1827
Abstract
Ozonation and UV irradiation are promising sustainable methods for extending the shelf life of stored fruits. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the constructed system, enabling simultaneous ozonation and UV-C irradiation of cranberry fruits in extending their shelf [...] Read more.
Ozonation and UV irradiation are promising sustainable methods for extending the shelf life of stored fruits. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the constructed system, enabling simultaneous ozonation and UV-C irradiation of cranberry fruits in extending their shelf life. The effectiveness of this solution was determined by analyzing the properties of fruits subjected to the processes. The impact of these processes on the shelf life of fruits was assessed during 42 days of storage at a temperature of 8 °C and 80% humidity. It was demonstrated that applying the ozonation process to fruits, as facilitated by the developed solution’s throughput, led to a reduction in microbiological load (fermentation bacteria count reduction by 3.4 log cfu−1), resulting in an extension of their shelf life and a reduction in storage losses (8.98% by mass). The implementation of the developed solution, by reducing water loss and limiting fruit losses (approximately 5% less compared to the control group) during storage, contributes to tangible benefits for the producers and distributors of these fruits. The proposed modification has a positive environmental effect by reducing waste and makes the cultivation of cranberries more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Economic Sustainability in Agri-Food System)
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Review

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25 pages, 2791 KiB  
Review
Environmental Impact of Agricultural Land Transfer in China: A Systematic Review on Sustainability
by Meseret C. Abate, Zhen He, Baozhong Cai, Yuangji Huang, Geremew Betelhemabraham, Tesfaye Bayu and Amsalu K. Addis
Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6498; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156498 - 30 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2579
Abstract
Farmland holding fragmentation facilitates more extensive use of agricultural chemicals, which harm the natural environment. Agricultural land transfer in China aims to consolidate agricultural holdings, promoting economies of scale and addressing socio-economic and environmental concerns. This systematic review aims to examine the impact [...] Read more.
Farmland holding fragmentation facilitates more extensive use of agricultural chemicals, which harm the natural environment. Agricultural land transfer in China aims to consolidate agricultural holdings, promoting economies of scale and addressing socio-economic and environmental concerns. This systematic review aims to examine the impact of agricultural land transfer on the environment. The review evaluates 60 empirical research articles retrieved through the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases, which discuss the relationship between agricultural land transfer and the environment. The findings indicate that agricultural land transfer has both positive and negative impacts on the environment. Farmers who engage in land rental and adopt sustainable agricultural practices, including the utilization of organic fertilizers, implementation of conservation measures, and application of efficient carbon reduction techniques, have demonstrated a notable positive influence on the environment. The lack of regulatory mechanisms concerning agricultural land transfer, including non-adjacent agricultural land transfer and large-scale farmers’ improper chemical utilization, causes significant negative environmental consequences such as biodiversity loss and ecosystem destruction. As such, we recommend innovative institutional developments addressing spatial and temporal considerations, land use, market systems, and household conditions to reconcile the links between agricultural land transfer policy and environmental outcomes. We urge continued research into the multidimensional and potential effects of agricultural land transfer to facilitate better-informed policy-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Economic Sustainability in Agri-Food System)
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