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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: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 64125

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Dr. Bhim Bahadur Ghaley

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Guest Editor

Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark
Interests: agronomy; agroforestry; intercropping; plant-soil process modelling; soil carbon dynamics; conservation agriculture; nutrient and water use; arable crops; carbon sequestration; climate-smart agriculture; production system carbon footprint; environmental impacts
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Dr. Andrea Pisanelli

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Guest Editor

National Research Council, Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems, 05010 Porano, Italy
Interests: agroforestry systems; multifunctional agriculture; resilience; rural development policy; agroforestry product value chain; participative approach
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable food, fodder and energy production is critically important due to the increasing demands on the finite land base to achieve food security for a growing global population. At the same time, there is growing awareness and science-based evidence of the on- and off-site adverse impacts of intensive agriculture on the environment. This calls for concerted efforts from all quarters including farmers, advisory services, researchers and policy makers to facilitate adoption of environmentally friendly farming practices without compromising food, fodder and energy production. To facilitate the process, this special issue is inviting high quality and original manuscripts on cropping systems, crop rotations, agroforestry and other relevant production systems that enhance efficient resource (radiation, nutrients and water) use and food, fodder and energy production without adverse impacts on environment. Manuscripts that highlight enhanced environmental performance in terms of provision of ecosystem services are also welcome as are articles that showcase successful uptake of sustainable land management practices and production systems due to innovative knowledge transfer tools and activities.

Dr. Bhim Bahadur Ghaley
Andrea Pisanelli
Guest Editors

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Keywords

crop rotation
cropping systems
conservation agriculture
agroforestry
resource use efficiency
ecosystem services
crop–soil process modeling
soil health
carbon sequestration
climate-smart agriculture
production system carbon footprint
environmental impacts

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 2177 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing Transition to Organic Farming in Italy Through a Dynamic Mathematical Programming Model: Impacts on Agricultural Area and Budget Allocations

by Rebecca Buttinelli, Riccardo Ercolini and Raffaele Cortignani

Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4581; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094581 - 6 May 2026

Viewed by 456

Abstract

The European Union aims to achieve the target of 25% of land under organic farming by 2030. Italy reached the share of 18.7% in 2022, although significant regional differences persist. This study analyzes farms’ conversion response in the Lazio region (Italy) using a dynamic version of the AGRITALIM agro-economic supply model on a sample of 578 FADN farms. Addressing the limitations of static modeling frameworks that assume full conversion, this study aims to simulate individual farm conversion choices over time, by accounting for conversion and maintenance phases costs and price premiums. This framework tests the hypotheses that a dynamic modeling approach can highlight nuanced responses and that increases in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments are able to increase organic conversion rates. Results show limited effects of increased economic support: the 2023–2027 CAP reform, characterized by higher support, leads to a 5.1% increase in the area under organic farming, while a 40% increase in financial support generates an expansion of 12%. Farm responses are highly heterogeneous: rural provinces, larger and arable farms are more responsive, while smaller farms and livestock are less likely to convert. These findings highlight the need for integrated policy strategies combining financial support, reduced costs, technical assistance, and improved market access. The methodological approach adopted in this study provides a useful tool for supporting the design of targeted and effective policy interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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34 pages, 1373 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Subsidy Design for Sustainable Fresh Agricultural Supply Chains: A Differential Game Approach

by Linrong Zhou, Guangxing Wei, Mengying Feng and Yiwei Duan

Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2357; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052357 - 28 Feb 2026

Viewed by 611

Abstract

Fresh agricultural products are highly perishable, and inadequate preservation leads to food loss and supply chain inefficiency, undermining sustainability. This study develops a continuous-time differential game model to analyze dynamic pricing and cold-chain investment decisions in a two-echelon fresh agricultural produce supply chain under government intervention. Two subsidy regimes are examined: one targeting suppliers’ cold-chain investments and another supporting the retailer based on sales volume. By explicitly modeling the dynamic evolution of product freshness, we analyze how subsidy intensity and allocation influence firms’ strategies, market outcomes, and social welfare over time. The results show that when initial freshness is low, firms consistently adopt a penetration pricing strategy and increase cold-chain investment irrespective of subsidy intensity. In contrast, when initial freshness is high, a critical subsidy threshold emerges: Below this threshold, firms employ skimming pricing and reduce investment, whereas above it, they switch to penetration pricing and raise investment. Under equal government expenditure, supplier subsidies achieve higher product freshness but raise retail prices, while retailer subsidies lower prices and stimulate demand, albeit with more modest freshness improvements. Welfare effects are non-linear: supplier subsidies are more effective at low intensities, whereas retailer subsidies become superior beyond a specific threshold. These findings provide actionable insights for designing sustainable, targeted subsidy policies in fresh agricultural supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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23 pages, 1662 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Hybrid Deep Learning Model for Wheat Price Prediction: LSTM–Autoencoder Ensemble Approach with SHAP-Based Interpretability

by Yelda Fırat and Hüseyin Ali Sarıkaya

Sustainability 2026, 18(4), 1960; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18041960 - 13 Feb 2026

Viewed by 814

Abstract

Accurate prediction of wheat prices is crucial for market participants and policymakers because volatility in agricultural markets affects food security and economic planning. This study proposes a hybrid deep-learning-based framework for daily wheat price prediction in Türkiye. The approach first applies an autoencoder to detect and remove anomalous price–quality records from a dataset of 38,019 market transactions collected between June 2022 and May 2023. A weighted ensemble combining Linear Regression, Random Forest, Support Vector Regression and an attention-based Long Short-Term Memory network is then trained on quality parameters and market attributes, with data split into training, validation and test sets. On the independent test set the ensemble achieved a coefficient of determination R² = 0.9942 and a mean absolute error of 0.1646 TL, outperforming the constituent models. SHAP analysis identifies the price–quality ratio as the most influential feature, while the ablation analysis shows that some of the high accuracy derives from price-derived variables’ strong correlation with the target. Cross-validation confirms robustness and generalization. Overall, the framework provides an effective and interpretable tool for wheat price forecasting, though the short data collection period and single-product focus limit generalizability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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19 pages, 572 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Socio-Economic and Natural Factors Shaping Türkiye’s Virtual Land Trade Balance

by Saliha Çelik and Harun Uçak

Sustainability 2025, 17(17), 8034; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17178034 - 6 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1617

Abstract

Agricultural trade not only facilitates the exchange of final products but also leads to the indirect transfer of arable land resources involved in their production processes across countries. These indirect flows are commonly referred to in the literature as virtual land flows or virtual land trade. An in-depth understanding of the factors influencing virtual land flows is crucial for both the management of these flows and the sustainable and efficient allocation of limited arable land resources on a global scale. The objective of this study is to identify the key determinants that influence virtual land flows in Türkiye’s trade of plant-based agricultural products. To achieve this, the virtual land trade balance for Türkiye was computed by estimating the import and export volumes of virtual land from 1986 to 2019, based on crop, year, and country-specific yield values. Subsequently, the relationship between Türkiye’s virtual land trade balance and macroeconomic and environmental variables—such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the real effective exchange rate, annual total precipitation, per capita arable land, and fertilizer usage—was investigated using the ARDL bounds testing approach. The findings of this study indicate that the most significant factors influencing Türkiye’s virtual land flows are per capita arable land endowment and fertilizer usage. This result highlights the strong relationship between virtual land flows and variables related to productivity and natural resource endowment, while also emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainability considerations and environmental impacts into contemporary agricultural policy frameworks. Elucidating the dynamics of virtual land trade is a pivotal step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of international agricultural trade, as well as the equitable and efficient allocation of arable land resources. Furthermore, it represents a fundamental strategy for global agricultural production, offering critical insights for shaping future agricultural policy and practice at the global level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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14 pages, 276 KB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Affecting the Promotion of Conservation Tillage in Black Soil—The Case of Northeast China

by Yan Qu, Chulin Pan and Hongpeng Guo

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9563; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179563 - 25 Aug 2021

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 4045

Abstract

Taking the conservation tillage influences of black soil in Northeast China as the research object, the paper is written according to the advice of relevant experts and technicians in Northeast China, the study also calculates the weight of each influencing factor through the Delphi and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Then, the significance of the factors affecting the benefit of conservation tillage is analyzed. The results show that, based on the comprehensive analysis, it is concluded that the economic factor is the primary factor affecting the benefit of black soil conservation tillage in Northeast China. Among the twelve influencing factors, eight of them have a significant impact on the development of conservation tillage benefits on black soil in Northeast China. Such as the degree of government subsidy; the adaptability of agricultural machinery; the input of new technology; relevant policies, laws and regulations; the quality of conservation tillage; the income of agricultural machinery farmers; practical application capacity; government publicity. Therefore, in the process of implementing the black soil conservation tillage, we should focus on these influencing factors, which will effectively promote the sustainable development of agriculture in Northeast China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

22 pages, 5301 KB

Open AccessArticle

Farm Rejuvenation-Induced Changes in Tree Spatial Pattern and Live Biomass Species of Cocoa Agroforests in Central Cameroon: Insights for Tree Conservation Incentives in Cocoa Landscapes

by Frederick N. Numbisi, Dieudonne Alemagi, Ann Degrande and Frieke Van Coillie

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8483; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158483 - 29 Jul 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4467

Abstract

Cocoa agroforests sustain ecosystem services (ESs) to varying degrees. These services are otherwise mostly provided by other non-cocoa shade or companion trees. However, the density of shade trees is associated with services and/or disservices that drive farm-specific tree management successions. Considering the growing impacts of climate crisis on farm productivity and the need for adaptation strategies, the ESs are increasingly provisional and contingent on the prevailing vegetation, land tenure, and management successions, amongst others social and ecological factors. To assess the temporal changes in shade management, we surveyed an age gradient of “family farms” in cocoa agroforests created from forest (fCAFS) and savannah (sCAFS) land cover. We evaluated the temporal changes in farm structure, relative tree abundance, and live aboveground biomass of the major canopy strata. We used a spatial point process and linear mixed effect analysis to assess the contributions of associated perennial trees (AsT) on farm rejuvenation patterns. The density of cocoa trees was inconsistent with farm age; this was significantly high on farms in sCAFS (1544 trees ha

^{- 1}

) with spatially random configuration across farm age. On farms in fCAFS, we observed a transition of the cocoa tree configuration in the order regular, random, and clustering from young (with highest density of 1114 trees ha

^{- 1}

) to old farms. On a temporal scale, there is no clear distinction of farm structure and biomass between fCAFS and sCAFS. However, the cycle of tree species and structural composition of the canopy strata are dissimilar; the live biomass allocation for the considered use groups of tree species was different with farm age. The observed dynamics in canopy tree structure and live biomass provide insights into farmers’ temporal allocation of uses and prioritization of different tree species with farm age. We recommend the consideration of such landscape-specific, tree management dynamics in proposing on-farm tree conservation incentives. Our results are also conducive to reliable estimates of the ecosystem services from CAFS in the national implementation of conservation mechanisms such as REDD⁺. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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17 pages, 810 KB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen Fertilizer Effects on Pea–Barley Intercrop Productivity Compared to Sole Crops in Denmark

by Reed John Cowden, Ambreen Naz Shah, Lisa Mølgaard Lehmann, Lars Pødenphant Kiær, Christian Bugge Henriksen and Bhim Bahadur Ghaley

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9335; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229335 - 10 Nov 2020

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5570

Abstract

Cereal–legume intercropping increases the nitrogen (N) input from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and improves the exploitation of fertilizer and soil N, often leading to higher grain N content and higher productivity per unit land area compared to monocrops. Previous studies have found that these effects are more tangible under low soil and fertilizer N conditions compared to high N availability, and there is a need to assess the N uptake at critical crop development stages in order to time the N application for maximum uptake and use efficiency. The objective of this study was to assess the productivity of pea–barley intercropping compared to monocropping under 0 kg N ha⁻¹ (0 N) and 100 kg N ha⁻¹ (100 N). In 2017, a split plot experimental design was implemented with pea (Pisum sativum) sole crop (SC pea), barley (Hordeum vulgare) sole crop (SC barley), and pea–barley intercrop (IC total) as the main plots and 100 N applications in two 50 kg N ha⁻¹ splits at 30 and 60 days after emergence as subplots within the main plots. The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), based on grain dry matter (GDM) yields in the pea–barley intercrop (IC total), was higher (1.14 at 0 N and 1.10 at 100 N), indicating 10–14% greater radiation, nutrient, and water use efficiency compared to the sole crops and 4% greater resource use efficiency at 0 N compared to the 100 N; this illustrated greater total intercrop productivity compared to sole crops. The 100 N treatment decreased the SC pea and pea in intercrop (IC pea) GDM and grain dry matter N (GDMN) and increased the GDM and GDMN in SC barley and barley in the intercrop (IC barley). Intercropping increased the grain N content and therefore the protein content of the grains in 0 N and 100 N treatments. The highest fertilizer N yield, % nitrogen derived from fertilizer (%NDFF), and % nitrogen use efficiency (%NUE) were achieved in SC barley followed by IC total, indicating that intercropping improved the soil and fertilizer N use compared to SC pea. The IC pea increased the % nitrogen derived from atmosphere (%NDFA) from 67.9% in SC pea to 70.1% in IC pea. IC total increased the share of %NDFF, %NDFS, and %NDFA compared to the SC pea, which indicated a significant advantage of intercropping due to the complementarity of the component species under limited N supply in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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9 pages, 228 KB

Open AccessArticle

Productivity and Economic Evaluation of Agroforestry Systems for Sustainable Production of Food and Non-Food Products

by Lisa Mølgaard Lehmann, Jo Smith, Sally Westaway, Andrea Pisanelli, Giuseppe Russo, Robert Borek, Mignon Sandor, Adrian Gliga, Laurence Smith and Bhim Bahadur Ghaley

Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5429; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135429 - 6 Jul 2020

Cited by 84 | Viewed by 15924

Abstract

Agroforestry systems have multifunctional roles in enhancing agronomic productivity, co-production of diversity of food and non-food products and provision of ecosystem services. The knowledge of the performance of agroforestry systems compared with monoculture is scarce and scattered. Hence, the objective of the study was to analyze the agronomic productivity and economic viability of diverse agroforestry systems in Europe. A network of five agroforestry systems integrating arable crops, livestock and biomass trees was investigated to assess the range of agricultural products in each agroforestry system. Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was used to measure the agronomic productivity, whereas gross margin was used as an indicator for economic viability assessment. LER values ranged from 1.36–2.00, indicating that agroforestry systems were more productive by 36–100% compared to monocultures. Agroforestry gross margin was lower in Denmark (€112 ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) compared to United Kingdom (€5083 ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and the crop component yielded higher returns compared to negative returns from the tree component in agroforestry. Hence, the study provided robust field-based evidence on agronomic productivity and economic viability assessment of agroforestry systems in diverse contexts for informed decision making by land managers, advisory services, farmers and policymakers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

14 pages, 1172 KB

Open AccessArticle

Productivity and Topsoil Quality of Young and Old Permanent Grassland: An On-Farm Comparison

by Goaitske Iepema, Joachim G. C. Deru, Jaap Bloem, Nyncke Hoekstra, Ron de Goede, Lijbert Brussaard and Nick van Eekeren

Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2600; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072600 - 25 Mar 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4447

Abstract

Renewing agricultural grasslands for improved yields and forage quality generally involves eliminating standing vegetation with herbicides, ploughing and reseeding. However, grassland renewal may negatively affect soil quality and related ecosystem services. On clay soil in the north of the Netherlands, we measured grass productivity and soil chemical parameters of ‘young’ (5–15 years since last grassland renewal) and ‘old’ (>20 years since last grassland renewal) permanent grasslands, located as pairs at 10 different dairy farms. We found no significant difference with old permanent grassland in herbage dry matter yield and fertilizer nitrogen (N) response, whereas herbage N yield was lower in young permanent grassland. Moreover, the young grassland soil contained less soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (C) and soil organic N compared to the old grassland soil. Grass productivity was positively correlated with SOM and related parameters such as soil organic C, soil organic N and potentially mineralizable N. We conclude that on clay soils with 70% desirable grasses (i.e., Lolium perenne and Phleum pratense) or more, the presumed yield benefit of grassland renewal is offset by a loss of soil quality (SOM and N-total). The current practice of renewing grassland after 10 years without considering the botanical composition, is counter-productive and not sustainable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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Review

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20 pages, 707 KB

Open AccessReview

Organic Production of Fruits and Vegetables in the US: Importance, Trends, and Challenges

by Sixto A. Marquez, Damar D. Wilson and Ram L. Ray

Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1491; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031491 - 2 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1534

Abstract

Organic fruit and vegetable production in the United States is increasingly popular, driven by consumer interest in foods associated with healthier lifestyles and environmentally friendly practices. This review synthesizes evidence on the production of this subsector from 1960 to 2021, using major literature databases (Agricola, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar), to summarize health and environmental implications, economic importance, research trends, and persistent challenges. The production of fruits and vegetables is frequently reported to exhibit favorable quality and safety attributes, including higher antioxidant capacity and lower levels of cadmium, pesticides, and other chemical residues, supporting its relevance to nutrition and human health. This type of practice is also described as contributing to environmental restoration and preservation through improved soil conditions, reduced reliance on synthetic inputs, enhanced nutrient cycling, and climate-smart benefits such as increased soil organic matter and lower energy intensity. Nevertheless, it faces constraints that increase costs and limit scalability, including high labor demand, limited effectiveness and availability of some organic pest control tools, perishability, post-harvest losses, certification burdens, and market access regulations. Despite these barriers, data indicate growth: from 2007 to 2021, acreage increased by more than 100%, farm-gate value rose from $685 million to $1913 million, and the number of participating farms increased by more than 100%. Moreover, it accounts for 0.9% of the total value of the agricultural production in the U.S. Overall, the outlook for U.S. organic fruit and vegetables is encouraging, supported by expanding consumer demand, government support, and improved conditions for international trade. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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21 pages, 380 KB

Open AccessReview

Agroforestry Benefits and Challenges for Adoption in Europe and Beyond

by Maya Sollen-Norrlin, Bhim Bahadur Ghaley and Naomi Laura Jane Rintoul

Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 7001; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177001 - 27 Aug 2020

Cited by 151 | Viewed by 22040

Abstract

Soil degradation is a global concern, decreasing the soil’s ability to perform a multitude of functions. In Europe, one of the leading causes of soil degradation is unsustainable agricultural practices. Hence, there is a need to explore alternative production systems for enhanced agronomic productivity and environmental performance, such as agroforestry systems (AFS). Given this, the objective of the study is to enumerate the major benefits and challenges in the adoption of AFS. AFS can improve agronomic productivity, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, soil biodiversity, water retention, and pollination. Furthermore, they can reduce soil erosion and incidence of fire and provide recreational and cultural benefits. There are several challenges to the adoption and uptake of AFS in Europe, including high costs for implementation, lack of financial incentives, limited AFS product marketing, lack of education, awareness, and field demonstrations. Policies for financial incentives such as subsidies and payments for ecosystem services provided by AFS must be introduced or amended. Awareness of AFS products must be increased for consumers through appropriate marketing strategies, and landowners need more opportunities for education on how to successfully manage diverse, economically viable AFS. Finally, field-based evidence is required for informed decision-making by farmers, advisory services, and policy-making bodies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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