Search Results (277)

Enhancing farmers’ digital literacy is both an inevitable requirement for adapting to the digital age and an important measure for promoting the sustainable development of livestock and poultry manure resource utilization. This study surveyed and obtained data from 1047 farm households in Ningxia and Gansu, two provinces in China that have long implemented livestock manure resource utilization policies, from December 2023 to January 2024, and employed the binary probit model to analyze how digital literacy influences farmers’ willingness to adopt two livestock manure resource utilization modes, as well as to analyze the moderating role of three policy regulations. This paper also explores the heterogeneous results in different village forms and income groups. The results are as follows: (1) Digital literacy significantly and positively impacts farmers’ willingness to adopt both the “household collection” mode and the “livestock community” mode. For every one-unit increase in a farmer’s digital literacy, the probability of farmers’ willingness to adopt the “household collection” mode rises by 22 percentage points, and the probability of farmers’ willingness to adopt the “livestock community” mode rises by 19.8 percentage points. After endogeneity tests and robustness checks, the conclusion still holds. (2) Mechanism analysis results indicate that guiding policy and incentive policy have a positive moderation effect on the link between digital literacy and the willingness to adopt the “household collection” mode. Meanwhile, incentive policy also positively moderates the relationship between digital literacy and the willingness to adopt the “livestock community” mode. (3) Heterogeneity analysis results show that the positive effect of digital literacy on farmers’ willingness to adopt two livestock manure resource utilization modes is stronger in “tight-knit society” rural areas and in low-income households. (4) In further discussion, we find that digital literacy removes the information barriers for farmers, facilitating the conversion of willingness into behavior. The value of this study is as follows: this paper provides new insights for the promotion of livestock and poultry manure resource utilization policies in countries and regions similar to the development process of northwest China. Therefore, enhancing farmers’ digital literacy in a targeted way, strengthening the promotion of grassroots policies on livestock manure resource utilization, formulating diversified ecological compensation schemes, and establishing limited supervision and penalty rules can boost farmers’ willingness to adopt manure resource utilization models. Full article

Global marine coastal aquaculture increased by 6.7 million tons in 2024, with whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) dominating crustacean production. However, reliance on a single species raises sustainability concerns, particularly in the face of climate change. Diversifying shrimp farming by cultivating native species, such as the European brown shrimp (Crangon crangon), presents an opportunity to develop a sustainable blue bioeconomy in Europe. C. crangon holds significant commercial value, yet overexploitation has led to population declines. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) offers a viable solution by utilizing fish farm wastewater as a nutrient source, reducing both costs and environmental impact. Research efforts in Germany and other European nations are exploring IMTA’s potential by co-culturing shrimp with species like sea bream, sea bass, and salmon. The physiological adaptability and omnivorous diet of C. crangon further support its viability in aquaculture. However, critical knowledge gaps remain regarding its lipid metabolism, early ontogeny, and reproductive biology—factors essential for optimizing captive breeding. Future interdisciplinary research should refine larval culture techniques and develop sustainable co-culture models. Expanding C. crangon aquaculture aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by enhancing food security, ecosystem resilience, and economic stability while reducing Europe’s reliance on seafood imports. Full article

Our study aimed to identify the overall and cluster-specific characteristics of Czech beef cattle breeding systems. We used data from an online survey to ascertain farmers’ preferences in breeding objectives. Considering various evaluation criteria and clustering approaches in 41 farms, three beef systems were defined according to herd size, management, marketing, breeding strategies and structures, and farmer age. Breeding values and performance were jointly used as the primary information in all three systems. Cow temperament and calf viability, maternal fertility and longevity, and animal health were found to be the most important traits. Cluster 1 represents pure-breeding farms that specialize in producing breeding animals. Farms in clusters 2 and 3 combined pure- and crossbreeding strategies with production, which was partially (cluster 2) and fully (cluster 3) diversified for all beef categories. Farms also prioritized calving performance and calf growth (clusters 1 and 2) and exterior traits (cluster 3). Production type scores significantly (p < 0.05) differed in clusters 3 (4.12) and 2 (3.25). The proportion of production, functional, and exterior trait categories was 12:37:51, with low variability among clusters (±1 to 2 percentage points). The inter-cluster comparison showed that specific characteristics were compatible with certain breeding goal trait preferences. Full article

Rice is one of the most important staple foods worldwide. Asia, particularly South and Southeast Asia, is a major rice producer, and rice production is also gradually increasing in Africa. However, rice cultivation poses economic and environmental challenges, which are exacerbated by climate change. Hence, diversification of rice-based production systems is highly imperative to improve soil health and thus sustain productivity while also enhancing income opportunities. Vegetables and pulses are crucial components for diversifying rice-based production systems as they have the potential to increase income and improve soil health. The World Vegetable Center has introduced mungbeans and vegetable soybeans to diversify the cereal-based production systems in Asia. About 27–93% of the mungbean area in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar is planted with varieties containing improved germplasm developed by WorldVeg in collaboration with national agricultural research systems. Additionally, the introduction of vegetables and legumes is highly remunerative and improves dietary diversity, leading to better nutrition. For instance, the productivity of vegetable crops increased by 200–350% when they were combined with improved production practices. Such diversification also holds great promise for improving income and nutrition in Africa. It also enhances the resilience of farming systems, particularly in a changing climate. Hence, governments should prioritize system diversification to enhance the income and livelihood opportunities for smallholders in Asia and Africa. Full article

Diversified application scenarios and business models are effective ways to improve the utilization and economic benefits of energy storage systems. In response to the current problems of single application scenarios, high idle rates, and imperfect price formation mechanisms faced by energy storage on the power generation side, a robust two-stage optimization operation strategy for shared energy storage is proposed, taking into account leasing demand and multiple uncertainties, from the perspective of the sharing concept. A multi-scenario application framework for shared energy storage is established to provide leasing services for wind farm clusters, as well as auxiliary services for participating in the electric energy markets and frequency regulation markets, and the participation sequence is streamlined. Based on the operating and opportunity costs of shared energy storage, a pricing mechanism for leasing services is designed to explore the driving forces of wind farm clusters participating in leasing services from the perspective of cost assessment. Considering the uncertainty of wind power output and market electric prices, as well as the market operational characteristics, an optimized operation model for shared energy storage in the day-ahead and real-time stages is constructed. In the day-ahead stage, a Stackelberg game model is introduced to depict the energy sharing between wind farm clusters and shared energy storage, forming leasing prices, leasing capacities, and energy storage pre-scheduling plans at different time periods. In the real-time stage, the real-time prediction results of wind power output and electric prices are integrated with scheduling decisions, and an improved robust optimization model is used to dynamically regulate the pre-scheduling plan for leasing capacity and shared energy storage. Based on actual data from the electricity market in Guangdong Province, effectiveness verification is conducted, and the results showed that diversified application scenarios improve the utilization rate of shared energy storage in the power generation side by 52.87%, increasing economic benefits by CNY 188,700. The proposed optimized operation strategy has high engineering application value. Full article

Climate variability and extremes adversely affect the agricultural production system, food security, livestock sector, and water resources. With the cumulative effects of climate variability, there is a need to anticipate and develop appropriate adaptation strategies to cope with changing climatic conditions. It is necessary to study the adaptation strategies that are to be followed for climate change to examine the ability of vulnerable communities and people, frequently affected by drought and other climate-related risks, to adapt to climate change impacts. Hence, the present study examined the determinants of various climate change adaptation strategies followed by farmers as a measure to face climate variability, which will be ultimately beneficial and enlightening to policymakers to gain knowledge about the measures to be taken to mitigate the impact of climate change. The study was undertaken using data collected from 105 farm households with an organized pre-tested interview schedule in the central agro-climatic zone of Afghanistan. The multivariate probit econometric model was used to analyze the factors responsible for major adaptation strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change. The key findings of the model indicated that the probability of educated farmers migrating to the non-agricultural sector for employment has increased by 1.3 percent, and those who have more land area have adopted a reduction in irrigation by 5.2 percent as an adaptive mechanism. The study also found that having access to technical guidance from extension officials increased the likelihood of farmers changing their cropping pattern by 18.6 percent and of diversifying their farms by 19.2 percent. On the other hand, expert guidance reduced the likelihood of drilling new bore wells by 20.5 percentage points and decreased the probability of selling livestock by 10.8 percentage points. The results of the study provide policy insights to improve the ability of farmers to modify their practices through improvement in extension services, irrigation infrastructure facilities, watershed development, and climate-resilient agricultural systems. Full article

Climate change poses significant challenges to smallholder farmers, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where agriculture is highly vulnerable to changing climatic conditions. This study examines the socioeconomic determinants influencing the adoption of strategies for adapting to climate change among smallholder farmers in Mbombela, South Africa. A quantitative research approach was employed, using structured questionnaires to collect data from 308 randomly selected smallholder farmers. Furthermore, the study utilised binary logistic regression to analyse the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the adoption of adaptation strategies. The results revealed that gender, age, income sources, access to climate information, and cooperative membership significantly influenced farmers’ adoption of adaptation strategies. Findings further showed that female farmers, older farmers, and those relying solely on farming income were less likely to adopt adaptation strategies, while younger farmers and those with diversified income sources were more likely to embrace adaptation strategies. Moreover, the study found that access to climate information and cooperative membership were negatively associated with the adoption of adaptation strategies. This negative association may be attributed to inefficiencies in current information dissemination, where climate-related information may not be tailored to the specific needs of farmers, or to cooperative structures that may not effectively facilitate knowledge sharing or collective action. The study concludes that targeted interventions, such as gender-sensitive policies, livelihood diversification, improved extension services, and strengthened cooperative structures, are essential to enhance smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity. Full article

Urban agriculture is considered by many scientists and policymakers as a key strategy to build climate change-resilient communities within cities by strengthening food systems, with positive food security, biodiversity, nutrition and health outcomes. The estimated potential of urban agriculture to provide between 15 and 20% of the global food supply can be enhanced by applying agroecological principles and practices that revitalize urban agriculture cropping systems, thus leading to the design of highly diversified, productive and resilient urban farms on a planet in polycrisis. Two pillars are used in agroecology: (a) restoring spatial and temporal crop combinations that deter pests by enhancing biological control with natural enemies, and (b) increasing soil organic matter through green manures, compost and other organic practices that enhance soil fertility and beneficial microorganisms. In addition to technical and environmental obstacles, there are a series of social, economic and political barriers that limit the scaling-up of urban agriculture. For this reason, it is important to launch policies that establish mechanisms for cities to provide incentives for urban agriculture, including access to land, water, seeds and technical knowledge. The creation of producer–consumer networks around markets with solidarity is critical for local equitable food provision and consumption. Full article

The abandonment of farmland in Europe is a significant issue due to its environmental, socio-economic, and landscape consequences. This tendency mainly impacts marginal and inner areas, located far from large urban districts, because of biophysical and/or socio-economic factors. Although European and national regulations try to turn the fragility of these territories into an opportunity for sustainable development, many of these areas, especially in southern Europe, continue to suffer socio-economic disparities. For this reason, it is necessary to consider regional and district-wide initiatives that can economically revitalize marginal areas while safeguarding their natural capital. Alternative cropping systems, capable of optimizing the quality of some food crops, can play an essential role in the economic development of populations living in marginal areas. These areas, represented by inland zones often abandoned due to the difficulty of applying mechanized agriculture, can represent an opportunity to rediscover sustainable and profitable practices. Among the high-value crops, saffron (Crocus sativus L.), “red gold” and “king of spices”, stands out for its potential. Indeed, thanks to the use of tuff tubs, a more eco-sustainable choice compared to the plastic pots already mentioned in the literature, it is possible to improve the quality of this spice. Furthermore, Crocus sativus L. not only lends itself to multiple uses but also represents a valid opportunity to supplement agricultural income. This is made possible by its high profitability and beneficial properties for human health, offering a way to diversify agricultural production with positive economic and social impacts. It is known that the saffron market in Italy suffers from competition from developing countries (Iran, Morocco, India) capable of producing saffron at lower costs than European countries, thanks to the lower cost of labor. Therefore, this study seeks to identify marginal areas that can be recovered and valorized through an eco-sustainable cultivation system with the potential to enhance the quality of this spice, making it unique and resilient to competition. Specifically, this paper is organized on a dual scale of investigation: (a) at the local level to demonstrate the economic-ecological feasibility of saffron cultivation through the adoption of an alternative farming technique on an experimental site located in Tricarico (Basilicata—Southern Italy, 40°37′ N, 16°09′ E; 472 m. a.s.l.) that, although fertile, is not suitable for mechanized cropping systems; (b) at the regional level through a spatially explicit land suitability analysis to indicate the possible location where to export saffron cultivation. The final map, obtained by combining geo-environmental variables, can be considered a precious tool to support policymakers and farmers to foster a broad agricultural strategy founded on new crop management systems. The adoption of this alternative agroecological system could optimize the use of land resources in the perspective of increasing crop productivity and profitability in marginal agricultural areas. Full article

Agritourism has emerged as a strategic tool for fostering sustainable rural development by diversifying farm income, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting environmental stewardship. This study presents a global bibliometric analysis of research on agritourism and rural development, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the field, identify key trends, and highlight future research directions. Utilizing the Web of Science database, 171 relevant publications from 2004 to 2024 were analyzed through bibliometric techniques, focusing on publication trends, keyword co-occurrence, and co-citation analysis. Findings indicate a growing academic interest in agritourism, with sustainability as a dominant theme. The study identifies five thematic clusters: economic contributions, policy frameworks, tourist motivations, environmental sustainability, and agritourism’s broader role in landscape conservation. Co-citation analysis highlights the intellectual evolution from foundational perspectives on rural tourism to complex discussions on sustainability and innovation. Despite these advancements, knowledge gaps persist, particularly in geographic representation, digital innovation, climate change mitigation, and policy governance. Addressing these gaps will enhance academic discourse and provide practical insights for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and rural communities. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking to navigate the expanding literature on agritourism and rural development. Full article

Faced with the dual challenge of increasing agricultural production (both intensified and diversified) and improving soil health, this study investigated the capacity of legume-based integrated farming systems to restore soil health in the Brazilian Cerrado. For that, we evaluated two experiments in the Minas Gerais State comparing the following land use systems: native vegetation (NV), conventional tillage with Zea mays (CT-8), two pasture systems with Urochloa decumbens (PAST-13) and Urochloa brizantha (PAST-1), and three integrated production systems arranged with Cratylia argentea + Zea mays (IPS-8A), Gliricidia sepium + Zea mays (IPS-8B) and Cratylia argentea + Urochloa brizantha (IPS-1). To assess seasonal variations in microbial attributes (microbial carbon [Cmic], microbial quotient (qMIC), and enzymatic activity, we collected soil samples during the rainy season (December 2021) and the dry season (July 2022). Soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks were also evaluated. The soil C and N stocks in pasture systems were similar to VN, with values of 120 and 8.2 Mg ha⁻¹ in PAST-1 at 0–30 cm. Additionally, integrated systems with legume crops promoted an increase in soil C stocks up to 24% (IPS-8B) when compared to monoculture cultivated under conventional tillage (CT-8). We also found that the legume-based integrated farming systems increased Cmic and β-glucosidase activity at the surface layers. Our findings demonstrate that integrated systems utilizing Cratylia argentea and Gliricidia sepium offer a promising approach to soil health restoration and a potential replacement for annual crop and pasture monocultures in the Brazilian Cerrado. Full article

With the development of new agricultural business entities in China, a complex competitive evolutionary dynamic has emerged among diversified agricultural business entities (abbreviated as ABEs), including farmers (traditional ABEs), cooperatives, agricultural enterprises, and family farms (new ABEs). Based on the Lotka–Volterra model, the dominance index, the Shannon–Wiener index of ecological theories, and the geo-detector, this study examines the spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of ABEs’ structural changes across 286 Chinese cities from 2012 to 2021. Key findings include: (1) Farmers maintain absolute numerical dominance, but their relative advantage has declined. (2) The Shannon–Wiener index of diversified ABEs has increased significantly, indicating that differences between ABEs decreased, which means a trend toward structural homogenization. High Shannon–Wiener index values were observed in the Northeast Plain, Xinjiang, Hebei, Gansu, and Shanxi, while low values were concentrated in Yunnan, Guizhou, and the Guangdong-Guangxi region. Both areas experienced a shrinking trend. (3) Agricultural production factors such as multiple cropping indexes and theindustrial structure strongly explained the structural changes to ABEs, while the explanatory power of socio-economic factors can be enhanced after the interaction with agricultural production factors. (4) The relationship between farmers and new ABEs has shifted from a symbiotic relationship favoring farmers to a symbiotic relationship favoring new ABEs, with a significant spatial heterogenous layout among 286 cities. This study proposes a three-stage differentiation framework for ABEs: a simple structure dominated by traditional farmers, a competitive evolutionary dynamic among diversified ABEs, and a modernized structure led by new agricultural business entities. Based on these stages, this paper provides targeted recommendations for building a high-quality ABE system and advancing agricultural modernization. Full article

Manual annotation of piglet imagery across varied farming environments is labor-intensive. To address this, we propose a semi-automatic approach within an active learning framework that integrates a pre-annotation model for piglet detection. We further examine how data sample composition influences pre-annotation efficiency to enhance the deployment of lactating piglet detection models. Our study utilizes original samples from pig farms in Jingjiang, Suqian, and Sheyang, along with new data from the Yinguang pig farm in Danyang. Using the YOLOv5 framework, we constructed both single and mixed training sets of piglet images, evaluated their performance, and selected the optimal pre-annotation model. This model generated bounding box coordinates on processed new samples, which were subsequently manually refined to train the final model. Results indicate that expanding the dataset and diversifying pigpen scenes significantly improve pre-annotation performance. The best model achieved a test precision of 0.921 on new samples, and after manual calibration, the final model exhibited a training precision of 0.968, a recall of 0.952, and an average precision of 0.979 at the IoU threshold of 0.5. The model demonstrated robust detection under various lighting conditions, with bounding boxes closely conforming to piglet contours, thereby substantially reducing manual labor. This approach is cost-effective for piglet segmentation tasks and offers strong support for advancing smart agricultural technologies. Full article

Facility agriculture is essential for diversifying food supply and advancing agricultural modernization. Guided by the concept of new quality productive forces, this study establishes a comprehensive framework to analyze the optimization of facility agricultural land allocation in Zhejiang Province. The findings indicate a relatively low overall allocation level, with higher intensity in the breeding industry compared to crop cultivation. Facility agricultural land is predominantly located in areas with lower elevations, gentler slopes, proximity to roads and rivers, and moderate distances from urban centers. Service areas vary significantly, with grain cultivation having the largest impact, followed by other crop cultivation, fruit and vegetable cultivation, aquaculture, other livestock breeding, and pig farming. As agriculture transitions from small-scale to large-scale and facility-based production, service areas exhibit an inverted U-shaped trend, initially increasing before declining. To optimize decision-making, this study proposes a classification system (shared, modern, safeguard), an entry list (encouraged, restricted, prohibited), and strategies for spatial layout, flexible control, and intensive land use. Guided by green and high-quality development goals, this research establishes a contemporary standard system and optimization strategies, offering scientific and practical guidance for sustainable facility agricultural land development and supporting land resource allocation and industry upgrading. Full article

The modern electric power-distribution grid is increasingly integrating various components, including distributed sources of renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs), and Bitcoin-mining operations. This shift signals a transformation in energy management and consumption. The growing presence of solar and wind energy contributes to a more diversified and sustainable energy mix, while the incorporation of EVs advances the pursuit of sustainable transportation. However, the addition of Bitcoin-mining operations introduces new complexities, raising concerns over energy consumption and grid stability. To address these challenges, this study conducted 24-h load-flow analyses on a power system that integrates intermittent renewable sources, Bitcoin-mining farms, and EVs, considering the variability in power demand. The analysis examined changes in bus voltage and power factor throughout the day using a Matlab/Simulink 2016b program. Simulation results indicate that bus voltages remained relatively stable despite the fluctuations in the generation of renewable energy and load variations. However, as the penetration of distributed generation of renewable energy increased, power factors exhibited a significant decline, dropping as low as 0.59 at certain buses due to increased injection of reactive power. At 13:00, during the period of peak generation of solar energy and high EV demand, voltage levels increased by up to 1.1 p.u., while power factors deteriorated significantly. This study highlights the importance of limiting the production of reactive power from local renewable sources under high-production conditions to sustain power factor stability. The findings emphasize the importance of detecting unfavorable system conditions and implementing safeguards to ensure reliable resource management in the evolving landscape of electric power-distribution grids. Full article