Search Results (1,494)

This study empirically investigates the impact and underlying mechanisms of farmers’ digital capability (DC) on large-scale farmland management, utilizing micro-survey data from 1144 rural households across five provinces in China: Anhui, Henan, Shaanxi, Hebei, and Shandong. The analysis employs a double machine learning model (DML). The results demonstrate that DC is positively related to farmers’ farmland inflow, thereby facilitating the realization of large-scale land management. Mechanism analysis reveals that farmers’ DC affects large-scale farmland management by expanding the transaction radius and improving agricultural production efficiency. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive effect of DC on farmland inflow is more pronounced when farmers possess advantages in human capital, income levels, business entity characteristics, and natural endowments. This finding suggests that the impact of farmers’ DC on large-scale farmland management is not yet inclusive. Accordingly, the government should actively construct a cultivation system for farmers’ DC, build an inclusive digital service platform for farmland transfer, help farmers bridge the digital divide, and further unleash digital dividends. In future research, we will conduct follow-up surveys on fixed farmer households to expand the survey scope, optimize the measurement of key variables, and carry out comparative analyses across different institutional contexts, thereby providing a more systematic scientific basis for the development of agricultural modernization driven by digital empowerment. Full article

This study stems from the clear need to understand why and how organizations in Romania integrate emerging digital technologies into circular economy (CE) practices, given the critical role of this integration in improving resource efficiency and supporting sustainable business models. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire applied to 149 organizations of different sizes, ranging from SMEs (fewer than 50 employees) to large corporations (over 500 employees), operating across multiple sectors, including agriculture, construction, security, services and research. The questionnaire assessed organizations’ familiarity with CE principles, their stage of CE implementation, and their adoption of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, cloud computing and robotics. The results indicate that most organizations are aware of the potential benefits of digital technologies, particularly in terms of resource efficiency, enhanced product traceability and support for sustainability goals. However, effective implementation remains quite limited in many cases due to inadequate or outdated infrastructure, lack of technical skills, and organizational resistance to changes. At the same time, the findings further reveal a growing strategic interest in digitalization: approximately 41% of SMEs and 59% of large organizations plan to increase investments in digitalization, primarily to improve sustainability performance and foster innovation. Overall, the study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of digitalization in support of CE in Romania and proposes practical recommendations for organizations and decision-makers, highlighting both emerging opportunities and persistent barriers. Full article

Logistics alliance and integrated passenger-freight transit are two widely adopted collaborative logistics modes in rural areas. With the rapid development of agricultural e-commerce, rural “first-mile” logistics has become critical for agricultural products' upward circulation, but remains constrained by high costs and insufficient service provision. Existing studies mainly focus on a single transportation mode and pay limited attention to logistics service providers’ strategic choice among alternative modes under government intervention. Using a Stackelberg game framework, this study models the interaction among the government, a logistics service provider, and a rural bus company, and analyzes transportation mode choice and subsidy effectiveness. The results show that government subsidies improve rural “first-mile” logistics service levels and stimulate demand for cargo collection services. Transportation mode choice is jointly influenced by market share, service cost coefficient, and subsidy intensity. Large-scale logistics service providers tend to adopt the integrated passenger-freight transit mode when subsidies are insufficient, and prefer the logistics alliance mode when subsidy support becomes adequate. These findings suggest that subsidy policies should consider fiscal capacity and regional operating costs: the integrated passenger-freight transit is more suitable under limited budgets, while the logistics alliance becomes preferable for promoting regional logistics development when sufficient subsidies can be sustained. Full article

This research addresses the challenge of assessing ecosystem services, ecosystem condition, and agricultural externalities in a Latin American socio-ecological context, where primary production is both a major economic activity and a pressure on ecosystems. In Uruguay, the intensification of agriculture and livestock farming has raised concerns about nutrient-related externalities affecting water and soil quality. Although the System of Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA)—Ecosystem Accounting framework is used for better ecosystem management, it does not explicitly represent externalities. Using the Santa Lucía sub-basin in Uruguay (supplying water to 60% of the population) as a case study, this research combines the Soil and Water Assessment (SWAT) Tool with ecosystem accounting principles to assess ecosystem services, ecosystem condition, and externalities. Model outputs are used to compile partial ecosystem accounts in physical terms, integrating spatially explicit indicators. Results show that nutrient losses to surface waters, interpreted as agricultural externalities, are predominantly driven by diffuse sources associated with croplands and dairy systems and shaped by hydrological connectivity. Despite data and model-related uncertainties, the approach supports hotspot identification and the spatial targeting of interventions and provides the basis for future monetary assessment, illustrating how hydrological modeling can complement ecosystem accounting in data-scarce contexts. Full article

The Yazoo–Mississippi Delta is an agricultural production zone and flyway for migratory birds. During winter, agricultural field-flooding practices are routinely used to support bird conservation and local recreational hunting opportunities. In response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, federal agencies incentivized flooding in summer and fall to mitigate the risks to migratory bird populations. This funding ceased in 2017, yet the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program Practice 644 and a local non-profit continue to incentivize flooding during fall. Ensuring that contractual water levels are met is challenging to determine. To that end, we developed the Field Inundation Tool/Survey, an integrated remote sensing approach using PlanetScope imagery (Planet Labs, San Francisco, CA, USA) to quantify associated hydrology patterns. We used the Normalized Difference Water Index and an Iso Cluster Unsupervised Classification to estimate field inundation and associated habitat types over a three-year period. The results indicate dynamic field inundation can be estimated via PlanetScope imagery. Derived inundation metrics were comparable with in situ sensor and digital elevation models among some treatment types. We documented future refinements for image quality and soil patterns. Our work can improve conservation incentivization by tracking spatial and temporal patterns in adoption and has applicability to other agroecosystems. Full article

Honey bee pollination of entomophilous commercial crops is a major input in agricultural management yet unlike irrigation, fertilisation and plant protection have yet to be integrated into precision agriculture practices. This study examines colony strength as a key determinant of efficient pollination. Over three years and across two study sites, we evaluated the relationship between colony strength (frames of bees, FOBs) and colony productivity using continuous hive weight monitoring. Hive weight data were analysed for both absolute gains and relative gains normalised per FOB across colony strengths. In all study periods, stronger colonies showed disproportionately higher weight gains compared to weaker colonies. For each additional FOB, the average increase in normalised weight gain ranged from 0.1 to 0.41 kg per colony, indicating a non-linear relationship between colony strength and productivity. An efficiency factor calculated for groups of strong and weak colonies ranged from 1.2 to 2.6, depending on the season and crop. Moreover, during periods of forage dearth, strong colonies exhibited lower weight losses than the weak colonies per FOB, making them more efficient under resource limited conditions. Our findings demonstrate that colony strength significantly influences foraging efficiency and colony resilience, ultimately supporting the conclusion that fewer stronger colonies will improve pollination outcomes while reducing the economic and environmental costs associated with commercial pollination services. Full article

Subsistence family farming in Peru is increasingly constrained by ecosystem degradation, climate variability, and limited access to productive services, particularly where environmental exposure is high. This study develops an Agro-productive and Territorial Vulnerability Index (IVAPT) to evaluate environmental, ecosystem, and socioeconomic vulnerability of subsistence agriculture at the district level nationwide. The index integrates district-level agricultural survey data (ENA-2024) with multi-temporal MODIS NDVI series (2000–2024) and comprehensive climatic, topographic, land-cover, and accessibility indicators, processed through multivariate statistics. Three objective weighting schemes (ENTROPY, CRITIC, PCA) construct thematic sub-indices of Environmental Exposure (EnvExp), Ecosystem Condition (EcoCond), and Socioeconomic Capacity (SocioCap). Results show more than half of Peru’s 1552 districts fall within moderate to very high vulnerability, with highest concentration in the Amazon region (Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios), Andean-Amazonian transitions, and highland districts (Huancavelica, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Puno) where biophysical constraints, ecosystem pressure, and socioeconomic isolation converge. Dimensional spatial complementarity EnvExp peaking on coast, EcoCond in Amazon, SocioCap in Andes demonstrates effective vulnerability reduction requires dimension-specific interventions. Despite divergent weighting schemes, spatial patterns remained consistent, validating identified hotspots. IVAPT provides a reproducible framework supporting evidence-based territorial planning and targeted investments in water infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation. Full article

Socialized agricultural services (SASs) play a crucial role in enhancing grain production capacity, promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable practices, and integrating smallholder farmers into modern agriculture. Our study applies the Super-Efficiency SBM (slack-based measure) model to measure the green grain production efficiency (GGPE) of farmers. We then employ the Tobit model, the threshold regression model, and the moderated effect model to empirically analyze the influence of SASs on farmers’ GGPE. SASs are found to significantly enhance farmers’ GGPE. Furthermore, the relationship between the scale of utilization of farmers’ services (SUFS) and GGPE exerts a single-threshold effect. Among government environmental regulations (GERs), both constrained and guided regulation measures significantly positively moderate the relationship between SASs and farmers’ GGPE. We recommend that governments tailor SASs to address specific farmer needs; develop differentiated support policies for service utilization scales based on local conditions; and strengthen the environmental regulatory framework through a multi-pronged approach, by reinforcing constrained environmental regulations, refining incentive environmental regulations, and deepening guided environmental regulations, to consistently elevate farmers’ GGPE. Full article

Although blood transfusion eco-compensation—a metaphorical term in the Chinese eco-compensation literature referring to short-term direct compensation—can balance stakeholder interests in securing ecological flows (e-flows) in water-scarce rivers, it often fails to enhance the productivity of disadvantaged stakeholders or expand long-term development opportunities. To overcome this limitation, this study introduces hematopoiesis eco-compensation, a metaphorical term for capacity-building, longer-term development-oriented compensation that improves irrigation water-use efficiency and agricultural productivity through water-saving infrastructure upgrades, enhanced irrigation technologies, and technical training. Based on this distinction, we developed a hybrid eco-compensation mechanism integrating the two approaches using a cost–expenditure method and applied it to the mainstream section of the Weihe River and the Baojixia Yuanshang Irrigation District in Northwest China under typical hydrological conditions. The main findings are as follows: (1) Compensation standards for both approaches increase with higher ecological flow targets, with average values of 2762 CNY ha⁻¹ and 1386 CNY ha⁻¹, respectively. (2) The two approaches differ in terms of participants, standards, and implementation methods, yet they are complementary and indispensable under current conditions. (3) Hematopoiesis eco-compensation generates positive ecological and economic effects, increasing the annual value of riverine ecosystem services by approximately 126 million CNY and the annual economic benefits of the irrigation district by approximately 467 million CNY. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for establishing long-term compensation mechanisms to maintain ecological flows in water-scarce regions. Full article

The agricultural sector, a vital industry for human survival and a primary source of food and raw materials, faces increasing pressure due to global population growth and environmental strains. Productivity, efficiency, and sustainability constraints are preventing traditional farming methods from adequately meeting the growing demand for food. Precision farming has emerged as a transformative paradigm to address these issues. It integrates advanced technologies to improve decision making, optimize yield, and conserve resources. This approach leverages technologies such as wireless sensor networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing to provide effective and cost-efficient agricultural services. Smart sensor technologies are foundational to precision farming. They offer crucial information regarding soil conditions, plant growth, and environmental factors in real time. This review explores the status, challenges, and prospects of smart sensor technologies in precision farming. The integration of smart sensors with the IoT and AI has significantly transformed how agricultural data is collected, analyzed, and utilized to optimize yield, conserve resources, and enhance overall farm efficiency. The review delves into various types of smart sensors used, their applications, and emerging technologies that promise to further innovate data acquisition and decision making in agriculture. Despite progress, challenges persist. They include sensor calibration, data privacy, interoperability, and adoption barriers. To fully realize the potential of smart sensors in ensuring global food security and promoting sustainable farming, the challenges need to be addressed. Full article

Horticultural facilities can boost crop yields and quality. However, their structures, costs, and resource efficiency vary significantly. Many facility operators prioritize short-term economic gains at the expense of long-term investments in energy efficiency and environmental management, ultimately leading to increased energy consumption and higher greenhouse gas emissions. A systems-based assessment of tomato production is essential for optimizing resource use. This study integrated emergy analysis (EMA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the sustainability of three tomato production systems: polytunnels, solar greenhouses, and glass greenhouses. The Results demonstrated that polytunnels exhibited the best environmental performance, with the lowest environmental loading ratio (ELR, 19.06) and environmental final index (EFI, 1.62). Solar greenhouses showed the best environmental composite index (ECI), outperforming others in mitigating potential environmental impacts. Glass greenhouses imposed the greatest environmental pressure (ELR, 168.51), primarily due to substantial natural gas consumption and infrastructure investment. Scenario analyses revealed that environmental performance across all systems could be significantly enhanced through shortening transport distance, extending the service life of construction materials, and managing energy use. The maximum reduction potentials for the environmental composite index (ECI)were 23.80% for polytunnels, 18.60% for solar greenhouses, and 19.90% for glass greenhouses. This study confirms that polytunnels are the most environmentally friendly option, and targeted management strategies can effectively steer facility-based agriculture toward a more sustainable trajectory. Full article

Food security and income generation remain a critical issue for small-scale farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to population growth, climate change, and market instability. Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) offer high nutritional value and have the capability to mitigate food insecurity but are underutilized due to social stigma. This review aims to systematically analyze the food and income contribution of cultivation and utilization of ILVs by small-scale farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa. This review analyses the literature on the role of ILV cultivation in enhancing food security and household income over the past two decades. A systematic search across five databases was conducted and identified 53 relevant studies. Findings indicate that ILVs contribute significantly to household nutrition and income through consumption and surplus sales. However, ILV cultivation faces barriers such as climate change, pest infestations, land degradation, water scarcity, insecure land tenure, limited agricultural training, poor communication networks, and restricted market access. Policy interventions are necessary to support small-scale farmers in ILV cultivation by providing agricultural extension services, promoting sustainable farming practices, and integrating ILVs into food security strategies. Further research should examine policy frameworks and supply chain mechanisms to enhance farmer participation and economic benefits from ILV production. Full article

Soil salinization severely constrains crop productivity and ecosystem services in arid regions. While the application of soil amendments represents a promising mitigation strategy, it remains uncertain whether this practice can effectively enhance soil quality index (SQI), crop productivity, and ecosystem service value (ESV) in saline–alkali farmlands. To address this, a three-year field experiment was conducted to analyze the effects of different amendments (rotary-tilled straw return (RT), plowed straw return (PL), biochar (BC), desulfurized gypsum (DG), DG combined with organic fertilizer (DGO), and an unamended control (CK)) on SQI, sunflower productivity, and ESV in a saline–alkali farmland of arid Northwest China. Results indicated that the BC treatment significantly reduced bulk density by 5.1–7.6% and increased porosity by 6.3–8.3% compared to CK. Both BC and DGO significantly increased soil organic matter and available nutrients while reducing saline ions (HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, Na⁺), which reduced soil salinity by 21.2–33.6% and 19.9–26.5%, respectively. These synergistic improvements enhanced the SQI by 76.8% and 74.1% for BC and DGO, respectively, relative to CK. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between SQI and crop nitrogen uptake and yield. Accordingly, BC and DGO increased nitrogen uptake by 74.9–129.0% and yield by 12.2–45.2%, with BC offering more stable benefits over time. Furthermore, BC increased the values of agricultural product supply, nutrient accumulation and climate regulation, thereby increasing the total ESV by 13.7–53.9% relative to CK. In summary, BC and DGO are effective strategies to synergistically enhance soil quality, crop productivity, and ecosystem services in saline–alkali farmlands of arid regions. Full article

The black soil region of Northeast China (NEC) is China’s most important food production base. Long-term inefficient land use has made its ecosystem vulnerable to widespread degradation, prompting the implementation of ecological restoration projects (ERPs) to enhance ecosystem service (ES) resilience. Yet, the complex interactions among key ESs, including grain production (GP), water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), and carbon storage (CS), as well as the spatial non-stationarity of their driving factors post-ERPs, have caused spatially heterogeneous, scale-dependent ES relationships. To address these gaps, this study aims to analyze temporal changes in ESs across multiple scales in NEC from 2000 to 2020. By mapping the interactions and quantifying their intensities, we revealed spatial variations in driving factors under different ERPs. The results show that the Natural Wetland Conservation Project (NWCP) and Three-North Shelterbelt Program (TNSP) have led to overall improvements in all ESs. In contrast, the Grain for Green Program (GFGP), the Land Salinity/Sodicity Amelioration Project (LASP), and the Natural Forests Conservation Program (NFCP) are associated with trade-offs between ESs. Interactions between ESs exhibited clear spatial scale dependence, and the dominant drivers varied across scales and restoration contexts. These findings highlight the importance of considering spatial scale and non-stationarity when evaluating ecological restoration outcomes. This study provides a scientific basis for the development and management of ecological restoration programs in intensively managed agricultural regions worldwide, particularly those undergoing multiple, overlapping restoration interventions, from a multi-scale spatial perspective. Full article

Cocoa production in West Africa supplies most of the global demand but is increasingly constrained by yield stagnation, soil degradation, disease pressure, and climate variability. This review examines how integrating regenerative agriculture (RA) with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and artificial intelligence (AI) can support more precise and resilient cocoa management across heterogeneous smallholder landscapes. A PRISMA-guided systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2024 was conducted, yielding 49 core studies analyzed alongside supporting evidence. The synthesis evaluates regenerative agronomic outcomes, UAV-derived multispectral, thermal, and structural diagnostics, and AI-based analytical approaches for stress detection, yield estimation, and management zoning. Results indicate that regenerative practices consistently improve soil health and yield stability, while UAS data enhance spatial targeting of rehabilitation, shade management, and stress interventions. AI models further improve predictive capacity and decision relevance when aligned with data availability and institutional context, although performance varies across systems. Reported yield stabilization or improvement typically ranges from 12–30% under integrated approaches, with concurrent reductions in fertilizer and water inputs where spatial targeting is applied. The review concludes that effective scaling of RA–UAS–AI systems depends less on technical sophistication than on governance arrangements, extension integration, and cooperative service models, positioning these tools as enabling components rather than standalone solutions for sustainable cocoa intensification. Full article