Search Results (66)

Digestate valorization is essential for sustainable waste management and circular economy strategies, yet large-scale adoption faces technical, economic, and environmental challenges. Beyond waste-to-energy conversion, digestate is a valuable soil amendment, enhancing soil structure and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. However, its agronomic benefits depend on feedstock characteristics, treatment processes, and application methods. This study reviews digestate composition, treatment technologies, regulatory frameworks, and environmental impact assessment through Life Cycle Assessment. It analyzes the influence of functional unit selection and system boundary definitions on Life Cycle Assessment outcomes and the effects of feedstock selection, pretreatment, and post-processing on its environmental footprint and fertilization efficiency. A review of 28 JCR-indexed articles (2018–present) analyzed LCA studies on digestate, focusing on methodologies, system boundaries, and impact categories. The findings indicate that Life Cycle Assessment methodologies vary widely, complicating direct comparisons. Transportation distances, nutrient stability, and post-processing strategies significantly impact greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient retention efficiency. Techniques like solid–liquid separation and composting enhance digestate stability and agronomic performance. Digestate remains a promising alternative to synthetic fertilizers despite market uncertainty and regulatory inconsistencies. Standardized Life Cycle Assessment methodologies and policy incentives are needed to promote its adoption as a sustainable soil amendment within circular economy frameworks. Full article

Climatic events are expected to significantly impact global agricultural production, with China being particularly vulnerable. Research in China emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices that address climate change, implement effective management strategies to mitigate the impacts of climatic events, and ensure food security. Therefore, this study examines the impact of climatic events on agricultural production optimization in Northeast China. To complete this objective, this study uses Method-of-Moments Quantile Regression (MM-QR) and data from 2003 to 2020. The main findings reveal that climatic factors, such as the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and High-Temperature Days (HTDs), have a more pronounced effect on agricultural outcomes at higher production levels, particularly for larger producers. In addition, machinery power (TPAM) enhances productivity. Its role is more focused on risk mitigation than on expanding production. Insurance payouts (AIPE) increase grain production capacity at higher quantiles, while fertilizer use (FEU) has diminishing returns on capacity but encourages planting. Granger causality tests further demonstrate that management factors—such as machinery, irrigation, and insurance—play a more significant role in shaping agricultural outcomes than extreme climatic events. To improve agricultural sustainability in the context of climate change, policy recommendations include promoting climate-resilient crops, investing in smart irrigation systems, expanding affordable agricultural insurance, and encouraging sustainable fertilizer use through incentives and training. These strategies can help mitigate climate risks, enhance productivity, and reduce the environmental impact of agricultural activities. Full article

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plays a crucial role in the revitalization of the dairy industry and grassland agriculture in China. However, regional differences in economic and environmental performance have not been adequately specified or quantified. This study compares alfalfa production in Wuhe County (Southern China) and Ar Horqin Banner (Northern China) by integrating cost–benefit analysis (CBA) with life cycle assessment (LCA). Field data from 22 enterprises were analyzed using one ton of alfalfa hay and a net profit of CNY 10,000 as functional units, over a three-year evaluation period (2017–2019). The assessment encompassed four impact categories: primary energy demand (PED), global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), and water use (WU). The northern case systems exhibited 67.45% higher production costs but 96.99% greater profitability per ton compared to the southern case, alongside 2.13 × 10⁻² greater environmental impact. Conversely, the southern case systems were less profitable and demonstrated an 18.6% higher environmental impact per CNY 10,000 net profit compared to the northern case. Regional environmental hotspots differed: fertilizer use dominated impact in the south, whereas irrigation and electricity consumption drove burdens in the north. To facilitate a sustainable transition, policymakers should implement region-specific support measures, such as ecological incentives and crop rotation schemes for the south, and water-saving technologies along with renewable energy integration for the north. Farmers and enterprises are encouraged to adopt precision input strategies and climate risk management tools, while researchers should focus on advancing adaptive breeding techniques and optimizing resource utilization. The development of a unified system that integrates economic and environmental metrics is crucial for enabling stakeholders to drive the sustainable transformation of alfalfa production. Full article

The UN 2030 Agenda implicitly recognizes the crucial role of the agricultural land market in several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to food security, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. However, the dynamics of agricultural land prices are highly complex, shaped by multiple economic, social, and environmental factors, making it essential to conduct a systematic analysis of the mechanisms driving their variability. This study aimed to identify the key factors influencing agricultural land prices, both at the microlevel (parcel) and the macroeconomic level (country). To achieve this goal, a systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The analysis highlighted how intrinsic factors (soil fertility, access to water resources, plot size, and location) and extrinsic factors (urban pressure, fiscal policies, demographic changes, and climate variations) interact in the determination of land prices. The results suggest that the growing demand for agricultural land, combined with competition from other land uses, is contributing to a significant variation in market values, with implications for the sustainability of the agricultural sector. This study provides a framework for investors, policymakers, and researchers, highlighting the need for more transparent land policies, incentives for sustainable land management, and tools to counter land price speculation. Full article

While green infrastructure (GI) offers numerous benefits, its implementation in low-resource settings remains constrained by limited policy support and upfront costs, highlighting the need for context-sensitive strategies. This paper highlights the value of integrating GI within sustainable agricultural systems and the effectiveness of various GI techniques in improving soil microbial communities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The transition to sustainable agricultural systems requires innovative strategies that balance productivity, environmental conservation, and resilience to climate change. Sustainable agriculture increasingly leverages technological innovations in GI to enhance productivity, biodiversity, and microclimate resilience. Green infrastructure has found direct application in agroforestry, conservation buffers, precision agriculture, soil health monitoring systems, and nature-based solutions such as regenerative soil management. These applications are crucial in enhancing soil health, water retention, and biodiversity, while mitigating microclimatic impacts. Precision agriculture tools, like IoT sensors, drones, and AI-driven analytics, allow farmers to optimize water, nutrient, and pesticide use, boosting yields and efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. Simultaneously, advanced soil health monitoring technologies track soil moisture, nutrients, and biological activity in real time, informing practices that maintain long-term soil fertility and carbon sequestration. This integrated approach yields practical on-farm benefits, such as higher crop stability during droughts and enhanced habitats for beneficial species. In conclusion, there is a need for supportive frameworks, like subsidies for GI adoption, application of precision tools, incentives for improving soil microclimate, development of innovative GI programs, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, to encourage farmer adoption. 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

Water scarcity and pollution are critical challenges affecting agriculture and aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluates the environmental benefits of using reclaimed water (RW) for irrigation in southern Spain by applying a comprehensive cost–benefit analysis (CBA) to a water reuse project. This method allows us to assess financial feasibility and environmental externalities of RW use for irrigation, with particular focus on the reduction in eutrophication and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the proposed CBA highlights the potential of RW to provide essential nutrients for crops, reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and mitigate the ecological impact of fertilizer manufacturing and transportation. Results indicate that, while the direct financial returns of RW are limited, the integration of environmental benefits significantly improves the overall economic viability of water reuse projects. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses suggest that policy measures, such as adjusted water pricing and financial incentives, could enhance the adoption of RW in agriculture. This study supports the role of RW as a sustainable alternative for irrigation, contributing to water conservation, pollution reduction, and climate resilience. Future research should focus on long-term agronomic impacts, optimized pricing models, and policy frameworks that promote water reuse as a key strategy in sustainable water management. Full article

The traditional rough development method for irrigation and fertilization techniques has resulted in the waste of fertilizer and water sources and the degradation of black soil. The implementation of integrated water and fertilizer technology has the potential to address these issues. However, its success depends on farmers’ willingness to adopt it. This study aims to explore the incentives for farmers to adopt water and fertilizer integration technology through a practical investigation in China, revealing the driving mechanisms. The study constructed a technology adoption model and conducted a cross-sectional field study with farmers in Northeastern China. Financial consequences were incorporated into the integrated UTAUT-NAM to examine farmers’ acceptance. The validity and applicability of the model were evaluated through a partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling. The results showed that personal norms and financial consequences were the most critical factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt water–fertilizer integration technology. In addition, expected performance, facilitating conditions, and effort required were also significant predictors. The study further highlighted the pivotal role of awareness of consequences and responsibility in influencing farmers’ intentions to adopt the new technology, while social influence had no significant impact. The findings demonstrated that the established research model elucidated 69.1% of the observed variation in farmers’ intention to adopt water–fertilizer integration technology. The results of this study provide theoretical support for promoting water–fertilizer integration technology and inform practical strategies for its implementation. The study offers actionable insights for policymakers, agricultural advisors, and technology developers to promote resource-efficient irrigation and fertilization methods. Full article

Long-term intensive agricultural management practices have led to a continuous decline in farmland soil quality, posing a serious threat to food security and agricultural sustainability. Green manure, as a natural, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly cover crop, plays a significant role in enhancing soil quality, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural development. The improvement of soil quality by green manure is primarily manifested in the enhancement of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Specifically, it increases soil organic matter content, optimizes soil structure, enhances nutrient cycling, and improves microbial community composition and metabolic activity. The integration of green manure with agronomic practices such as intercropping, crop rotation, conservation tillage, reduced fertilizer application, and organic material incorporation demonstrates its potential in addressing agricultural development challenges, particularly through its contributions to soil quality improvement, crop yield stabilization, water and nutrient use efficiency enhancement, fertilizer input reduction, and agricultural greenhouse gas emission mitigation. However, despite substantial evidence from both research and practical applications confirming the benefits of green manure, its large-scale adoption faces numerous challenges, including regional variability in application effectiveness, low farmer acceptance, and insufficient extension technologies. Future research should further clarify the synergistic mechanism between green manure and agronomic measures such as intercropping, crop rotation, conservation tillage, reduced fertilization and organic material return to field. This will help explore the role of green manure in addressing the challenges of soil degradation, climate change and food security, develop green manure varieties adapted to different ecological conditions, and optimize green manure planting and management technologies. Governments should comprehensively promote the implementation of green manure technologies through economic incentives, technology extension, and educational training programs. The integration of scientific research, policy support, and technological innovation is expected to establish green manure as a crucial driving force for facilitating the global transition towards sustainable agriculture. Full article

Continuous incorporation of rice straw has caused significant CH₄ emissions from the paddy field production system in East China. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of the rice straw has been considered as a promising approach that could not only mitigate the land-based CH₄ emissions, but also generate low-carbon electricity and high-quality organic fertilizer. However, this approach, in many circumstances, is unable to be cost-competitive with other straw treatment processes or power sources. To understand the potential incentives that recently launched carbon trading schemes, the China Carbon Emission Trade Exchange (CCETE) and Chinese Certified Emission Reduction (CCER), could bring to the rice straw utilization value chain, we conducted a cradle-to-factory gate life cycle assessment and economic analysis of a small-scale AD system with rice straw as the main feedstock in East China. The results indicate that, depending on the choice of allocation method, the climate change impact of the bioenergy generated through the studied small-scale AD system is 0.21 to 0.28 kg CO₂eq./kWh, and the digester fertilizer produced is 6.88 to 22.09 kg CO₂eq./kg N. The economic analysis validates the financial sustainability of such small-scale AD projects with rice straw feedstock under carbon trading mechanisms. The climate mitigation potential could be achieved at the marginal reduction cost of 13.98 to −53.02 USD/t CO₂eq. in different carbon price scenarios. Full article

The birth rate data in Italy continue to be discouraging. They are taking on the nature of a structural problem given the continuous decline in population, which is neither accompanied by significant structural policies to promote parenthood, nor supporting the births of fertile generations. This study uses a mixed methods approach and was started in 2022 with the creation of six focus groups in the southern Italian regions of Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Molise, Puglia, and Sicily. Images taken from the “Fertility Day” social communication campaign were used as a visual stimulus to initiate the discussion. In 2024, it continued with a survey based on a pilot study at a hospital involving pregnant women in southern Italy. The results show that the choice to become parents is not only interconnected with either socio-economic issues or the presence/absence of services and incentives but also relates to emerging cultural models that need to be better understood. On this basis, the dual role of institutions in promoting policies therefore becomes fundamental. On the one hand, the “guarantors” of human, civil, and social rights, which have been developed and established over the centuries, are significant. On the other hand, the “promoters” of parental support pathways are needed. Full article

Without transformative adaptation strategies, the impact of climate change is projected to reduce global crop yields and increase food insecurity, while rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions further exacerbate the crisis. While agriculture is a major contributor to climate change through unsustainable practices, it also offers significant opportunities to mitigate these emissions through the adoption of sustainable practices. This review examines climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as a key strategy for enhancing crop productivity, building climate resilience, and reducing GHG emissions, while emphasizing the need for strategic interventions to accelerate its large-scale implementation for improved food security. The analysis revealed that while nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has improved in developed countries, the global NUE remains at 55.47%, emphasizing the need for precision nutrient management and integrated soil fertility strategies to enhance productivity and minimize environmental impacts. With 40% of the world’s agricultural land already degraded, sustainability alone is insufficient, necessitating a shift toward regenerative agricultural practices to restore degraded soil and water by improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and increasing carbon sequestration, thus ensuring long-term agricultural resilience. CSA practices, including precision agriculture, regenerative agriculture, biochar application, and agroforestry, improve soil health, enhance food security, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. However, result variability highlights the need for site-specific strategies to optimize benefits. Integrating multiple CSA practices enhances soil health and productivity more effectively than implementing a single practice alone. Widespread adoption faces socio-economic and technological barriers, requiring supportive policies, financial incentives, and capacity-building initiatives. By adopting climate-smart technologies, agriculture can transition toward sustainability, securing global food systems while addressing climate challenges. Full article

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

As rural labor prices have risen constantly over the last two decades, Chinese grain production that relies heavily on manual labor has been subjected to considerable challenges and has experienced profound changes in land use patterns. Using a fixed effect model and translog profit function model, this paper investigates the effects of rising rural labor prices on land use patterns in Chinese grain production. The empirical results from 2004–2022 province-level panel data showed that the rising rural labor prices provided significant incentives to adjust the land use patterns of three staple grain crops. The increase in labor prices had a negative effect on the share of the planting area of rice and maize, while wheat experienced a substantial increase in its proportion of planting area in the context of rising labor prices. A further mechanism test based on 2004–2012 farm-level panel data revealed that the factor substitutions, especially labor substitution with fertilizer and machinery, were a significant contributor to the changes in land use patterns. In the spatial–temporal analysis, changes in land use patterns were found to be more pronounced in regions with more rolling terrain conditions but remained relatively stable across years. These findings highlight the importance of the development and promotion of labor-saving technologies in grain production, especially enhanced-efficiency fertilizer and small-sized agricultural machinery. In addition, agricultural subsidies targeted at farmers in hilly and mountainous regions might be a good way to mitigate potential land abandonment in the context of rising labor prices. Full article

Fertilizer carbon emissions contribute the largest proportion to agricultural carbon emissions in China, while the extension of low-carbon fertilization technologies (LCFTs) is an effective measure to address this issue. Research suggests that the relational networks surrounding farmers significantly influence their carbon reduction behavior. This study conducted a field survey of 239 large-scale grain producers in August 2022 on China’s Poyang Lake Basin, which is the nation’s largest freshwater lake and a vital agricultural production area. Using cross-sectional data, probit and ordered probit models were employed to analyze the impacts of multidimensional relational networks (market, government, and social networks) on the adoption of LCFTs by large-scale grain producers. Additionally, a mediating-effect model was used to examine the pathways through which relational networks influence LCFT adoption. The findings indicated that relational networks not only increased the likelihood of large-scale grain producers adopting LCFTs but also enhanced the intensity of adoption. However, the effects of different relational networks on low-carbon behavior varied. The market network exerted the most prominent influence on LCFT adoption, followed by the social and government networks. A mediation analysis identified information sharing, demonstration effects, and resource guarantees as the mediating pathways between multidimensional relational networks and LCFT adoption by large-scale grain producers. Furthermore, a heterogeneity analysis revealed that the effects of multidimensional relational networks on LCFT adoption differed across generations and carbon intensity levels. The impact was greater among older grain producers than the younger generation, and those in the high-carbon-intensity group exhibited a stronger incentive compared to the medium- and low-carbon-intensity groups. Full article