Search Results (327)

The convergence of Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things has given rise to the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), which enables connected systems to operate with greater autonomy, adaptability, and contextual awareness. In agriculture, this evolution supports precision farming, improves resource allocation, and strengthens climate resilience by enhancing the capacity of farming systems to anticipate, absorb, and recover from environmental shocks. This review provides a structured synthesis of the transition from IoT-based monitoring to AIoT-driven intelligent agriculture and examines key applications such as smart irrigation, pest and disease detection, soil and crop health assessment, yield prediction, and livestock management. To ensure methodological rigor and transparency, this study follows the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for systematic literature reviews. A comprehensive search and multi-stage screening procedure was conducted across major scholarly repositories, resulting in a curated selection of studies published between 2018 and 2025. These sources were analyzed thematically to identify technological enablers, implementation barriers, and contextual factors affecting adoption particularly within low-income countries where infrastructural constraints, limited digital capacity, and economic disparities shape AIoT deployment. Building on these insights, the article proposes an AIoT architecture tailored to resource-constrained agricultural environments. The architecture integrates sensing technologies, connectivity layers, edge intelligence, data processing pipelines, and decision-support mechanisms, and is supported by governance, data stewardship, and capacity-building frameworks. By combining systematic evidence with conceptual analysis, this review offers a comprehensive perspective on the transformative potential of AIoT in advancing sustainable, inclusive, and intelligent food production systems. Full article

Reproductive performance in livestock and poultry is a core determinant of economic efficiency in the animal industry. While traditional research has primarily focused on genetics, endocrinology, and immune regulation, emerging microbiome studies reveal that commensal microbiota within the gut and reproductive tracts play an underestimated yet pivotal role in host reproductive health. This review systematically synthesizes recent advances regarding the relationship between the microbiome and reproductive functions in major livestock species (cattle, pigs, sheep, and chickens). We first delineate the theoretical basis and mechanisms of the “gut-reproductive axis,” highlighting cross-system communication mediated by microbial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), indoles, and bile acids. Subsequently, we provide an in-depth comparative analysis of the microecological features of both female (vagina/uterus) and male (semen/epididymis) reproductive systems, examining their impacts on fertility, sperm quality, and pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, we explore the molecular and systemic mechanisms governing microbial regulation of reproduction, encompassing the modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, the balance of local mucosal immunity and inflammation, and epigenetic regulation. Finally, we address current challenges—such as causal validation and the scarcity of multi-species databases—and propose future directions, including spatial multi-omics, AI-integrated analysis, and microbial intervention strategies. Ultimately, this review aims to offer a theoretical foundation and translational insights for elucidating reproductive regulatory networks and developing microbiome-driven precision strategies to enhance reproductive performance. Full article

The Amazon Deforestation Arc remains a critical region for environmental governance, where land-use strategies must consider distinct legal and institutional frameworks across the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. This study applies the Potential Productivity Model (M3P), a theoretical radiation-based framework, to estimate the upper physiological limits of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) productivity on degraded pastures within the Arc of Deforestation. The model integrates satellite-derived solar radiation with climatic variables to quantify potential productivity under optimal biophysical conditions, providing an objective benchmark for planning-oriented bioenergy assessments. Estimated potential yields range from 153 to 178 t·ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹, consistent with global reference values reported for sugarcane in high-radiation environments and relevant for informing public policies such as Brazil’s Agroecological Zoning of Sugarcane. The results demonstrate that agroclimatic potential alone is insufficient to guide land-use decisions. While degraded pastures associated with the Cerrado biome may accommodate sugarcane cultivation as part of productive land recovery strategies, areas belonging to the Amazon biome require priority actions focused on ecological restoration through agroforestry and integrated crop–livestock–forest systems. Overall, the M3P model offers a scalable and scientifically grounded decision-support framework for strategic planning in environmentally sensitive tropical regions. Full article

Digital twin technology is widely promoted as a transformative step for precision livestock farming, yet no fully realized, engineering-grade digital twins are deployed in commercial dairy or poultry systems today. This work establishes the current state of knowledge on dairy and poultry digital twins by synthesizing evidence through systematic database searches, thematic evidence mapping and critical analysis of validation gaps, carbon accounting and adoption barriers. Existing platforms are better described as near-digital-twin systems with partial sensing and modelling, digital-twin-inspired prototypes, simulation frameworks or decision-support tools that are often labelled as twins despite lacking continuous synchronization and closed-loop control. This distinction matters because the empirical foundation supporting many claims remains limited. Three critical gaps emerge: life-cycle carbon impacts of digital infrastructures are rarely quantified even as sustainability benefits are frequently asserted; field-validated improvements in feed efficiency, particularly in poultry feed conversion ratios, are scarce and inconsistent; and systematic reporting of failure rates, downtime and technology abandonment is almost absent, leaving uncertainties about long-term reliability. Adoption barriers persist across technical, economic and social dimensions, including rural connectivity limitations, sensor durability challenges, capital and operating costs, and farmer concerns regarding data rights, transparency and trust. Progress for cows and chickens will require rigorous validation in commercial environments, integration of mechanistic and statistical modelling, open and modular architectures and governance structures that support biological, economic and environmental accountability whilst ensuring that system intelligence is worth its material and energy cost. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a significant global concern, undermining the efficacy of treatments in both human and veterinary medicine. Livestock production plays a major role in the emergence and dissemination of AMR, primarily due to the extensive use of antibiotics for therapeutic, prophylactic, and metaphylactic purposes. Addressing this multifaceted issue necessitates a One Health approach. At the international level, regulatory frameworks are predominantly non-binding, relying on soft-law instruments developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), which advocate for harmonized guidelines and national action plans. In contrast, the European Union has implemented binding regulations, including Regulation (EU) 2019/6 and Regulation (EU) 2019/4, which restrict non-essential antimicrobial use (AMU) and reinforce veterinary accountability. Initiatives such as the Farm to Fork Strategy and platforms like ClassyFarm further advance antimicrobial stewardship by integrating animal welfare, sustainability, and access to EU funding. Achieving substantial reductions in AMR within livestock systems requires coordinated, cross-disciplinary, and multi-level governance efforts. The EU model illustrates how enforceable legal frameworks, combined with science-based monitoring and welfare incentives, can facilitate prudent antibiotic use and promote sustainable animal production. This review aims to provide an integrated overview of international and European strategies for regulating antibiotic use in food-producing animals, focusing on how scientific, veterinary and legal perspectives contribute to combating AMR and promoting animal welfare by emphasizing prevention, and a prudent and responsible AMU. Full article

This study investigates how major agricultural commodities interact with diversified U.S. equity funds, sorted by their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risk exposure. Using daily Morningstar data on 880 U.S. equity mutual funds, we construct portfolios representing high- and low-ESG-risk equities and examine their linkages with prices for eight agricultural commodities. Applying Fourier-augmented Toda–Yamamoto VAR and LM-GARCH models that accommodate both abrupt and gradual structural breaks, we document clear heterogeneity across ESG risk segments. Low-ESG-risk portfolios exhibit minimal price and volatility spillovers from agricultural commodities, whereas high-ESG-risk portfolios display strong and often bidirectional transmissions—particularly for coffee, corn, cotton, livestock, and soybeans. These findings highlight ESG risk exposure as a key dimension shaping commodity–equity integration and provide new evidence on how sustainability-related risks influence equity market vulnerability to commodity shocks. Full article

Fusarium verticillioides is a common pathogenic fungus of corn since it causes severe yield losses and produces mycotoxins to threaten the health of both humans and livestock. Although extensive research has characterized specific genetic and environmental factors influencing mycotoxin production, a systematic understanding of the temporal transcriptional dynamics governing its developmental progression remains lacking. This study addresses this critical knowledge gap through a time-series transcriptomic analysis of F. verticillioides at four key cultivation stages (3, 5, 7, and 9 days post-inoculation). Transcriptomic analysis identified 1928, 2818, and 1934 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the comparisons of FV3 vs. FV5, FV5 vs. FV7, and FV7 vs. FV9, respectively. Gene Ontology enrichment revealed 76, 106, and 56 significantly enriched terms across these comparisons, with “integral component of membrane” consistently being the most enriched cellular component. Pathway analysis demonstrated “amino acid metabolism” and “carbohydrate metabolism” as the most significantly enriched metabolic pathways. Notably, the fumonisin (FUM) and fusaric acid (FA) biosynthetic gene clusters exhibited coordinated peak expression during the early cultivation, followed by progressive decline. Mfuzz clustering further delineated 12 distinct expression trajectories, highlighting the dynamic transcriptional networks underlying fungal adaptation. This work provided the first comprehensive temporal transcriptome of F. verticillioides, establishing a foundational resource for understanding its stage-specific biology and revealing potential time-sensitive targets for future intervention strategies. Full article

Dryland grasslands face elevated risks of rapid threshold crossing under a regime of warming, precipitation redistribution, and intensified interannual hydrothermal variability. Using the Ebinur Lake Basin (ELB) as a case, we developed an integrated structure × function assessment—linking land-use/cover change (LUCC) transitions with functional indicators of net primary productivity (NPP), net ecosystem production (NEP), soil conservation (SC), and grass supply (GS)—and coupled it with Bayesian-optimized XGBoost, SHAP, and partial dependence plots (PDPs) at a 30 m pixel scale to identify dominant drivers and ecological thresholds, subsequently translating them into governance zones. From 2003 to 2023, overall grassland status was dominated by degradation (20,160.62 km²; 69.42%), with restoration at 8878.85 km² (30.57%) and stability at 2.79 km² (0.01%). NPP/NEP followed a rise–decline–recovery trajectory, while SC exhibited marked bipolarity. Precipitation and temperature emerged as primary drivers (interaction X3 × X4 = 0.0621), whose effects, together with topography and accessibility, shaped a spatial paradigm of piedmont sensitive–oasis sluggish–lakeshore vulnerable. Key thresholds included an annual precipitation recovery threshold of ~200 mm and an optimal window of 272–429 mm; a road-density divide near ~0.06 km km⁻²; and sustainable grazing windows of ~2.2–4.2 and ~4.65–5.61 livestock units (LU) km⁻². These thresholds underpinned four management units—Priority Control (52.53%), Monitoring and Alert (21.53%), Natural Recovery (20.40%), and Optimized Maintenance (5.55%)—organized within a “two belts–four zones–one axis” spatial framework, closing the loop from threshold detection to adaptive governance. The approach provides a replicable paradigm for climate-adaptive management and ecological risk mitigation of dryland grasslands under warming. Full article

This study analyzes the establishment of Local Agri-Food Systems (LAFSs) in the triple-border region between the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, by identifying and mapping potential areas of primary peasant agri-food production. An integrated analysis of data sources was treated, processed, and integrated into a common spatial support. Land use and land cover data were used from demographic and agricultural censuses, from the Rural Environmental Registry, agrarian reform settlement projects and conservation units. Our study revealed that 23.73% of the regional area has potential for peasant production, identifying four regions that stand out in terms of this potential. The area presented livestock and animal husbandry as the main agri-food chain, with potential for processing within the territory itself, in addition to extractive activities in the Atlantic Forest biome. The results indicate that there are possibilities for the establishment of LAFSs as a local development strategy associated with social inclusion and environmental responsibility, although there is a need to expand and strengthen the transportation and marketing channels for products from these short chains. The cartographies produced aim to contribute as auxiliary instruments to land use planning and management, seeking to strengthen LAFSs at different scales of governance. Full article

Significant achievements have been made in the control of point source pollution. However, agricultural non-point source pollution (AGNPSP) has become a serious threat to ecological environment quality and is now the main source of pollution in the Yangtze River Basin. The topographical features of the upper Yangtze River region are primarily characterised by hilly and mountainous terrain, marked by steep slopes and pronounced undulations. This renders the land susceptible to soil erosion, thereby becoming a significant conduit for the entry of AGNPSP into water bodies. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify critical sources, areas and periods of AGNPSP and to promote the effective prevention and control of such pollution. The present study adopted the Yongchuan District of Chongqing, a region characterised by hilly and mountainous terrain in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, as a case study. The research, conducted from 2018 to 2021, sought to identify the “critical sources—areas—periods“ of AGNPSP. In order to surmount the challenge posed by the absence of fundamental data, the study constructed and integrated three models. The export coefficient model was used to calculate the pollution load, the pollutant load intensity model was used for spatial analysis, and the equal-scale pollution load equation was used to assess the contribution degree of different pollutants. Furthermore, the study developed a monthly pollutant flux model to accurately identify the critical pollution periods within the year. In conclusion, the research results have indicated the necessity of a governance strategy that is to be implemented with utmost priority. This strategy is to be based on the following hierarchy: critical sources, areas, and periods. The results of the study indicate the following: (1) The pollutants that exhibit the greatest contribution in Yongchuan District are total nitrogen (TN)and chemical oxygen demand (COD), accounting for 34% and 33%, respectively. The primary source of pollution is attributed to livestock and poultry breeding, accounting for 49.7% of the total pollution load. (2) The critical area of AGNPSP in Yongchuan District is located in the south of the district and primarily comprises Zhutuo Town, Hegeng Town and Xianlong Town. Among the critical areas identified, livestock and poultry farming accounts for 68% of the pollution load. (3) The monthly variation of pollutant fluxes demonstrates a single peak pattern, with the peak occurring in June. The data indicates that the flux of pollutants in June and July accounted for 37% of the total, thus identifying these months as critical periods for the management of AGNPSP in Yongchuan District. The critical source–area–period analysis indicates that the comprehensive management strategy for AGNPSP should focus on critical sources, areas and periods. Furthermore, it should adopt a prioritised, zoned and phased management approach. This approach has the potential to promote cost-effective and efficient prevention and control, thereby facilitating the achievement of sustainable agricultural development. Full article

Piggery farming is the largest source of livestock manure in South Korea, yet greenhouse gas (GHG) data from piggery wastewater treatment systems remain limited. This study quantified methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes from a full-scale treatment facility to develop stage-, seasonal-, and diurnal-specific emission factors. Continuous laser-based monitoring using a PVC air-pool chamber was applied across raw wastewater storage, an anoxic nitrogen-conversion reactor, and strongly aerated nitrification units. Mean CH₄ fluxes ranged from 1.1 to 15.6 mg s⁻¹ m⁻² peaking in summer, while N₂O fluxes ranged from 0.01 to 17,971 mg s⁻¹ m⁻², with maxima in fall. Emissions were dominated by two functional zones: aerated basins where vigorous mixing enhanced CH₄ stripping, and an upstream anoxic reactor where oxygen instability and nitrite accumulation produced extreme N₂O peaks. Derived emission factors were 0.11 kg CH₄ head⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 45.2 kg N₂O head⁻¹ yr⁻¹, equivalent to 3.1 and 12,300 kg CO₂-eq head⁻¹ yr⁻¹. CH₄ variability was controlled mainly by treatment stage and temperature, whereas N₂O was governed by internal redox conditions. These results refine emission factors for inventories and underscore the need for improved aeration stability and denitrification control to reduce GHG emissions from piggery wastewater systems. Full article

The living lab Enrekang, established in 2019 in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, was created to strengthen rural communication and support collaborative innovation across agriculture, livestock, environment, and extension services. Its flagship initiative, the Digital Farmer Field School (DFFS), was co-designed as a digital tool to improve farmers’ access to practical and locally adapted information. The early phase of collaboration generated strong momentum, culminating in a functional prototype tested with farmer groups by 2022. However, progress slowed soon after, revealing a gap between the initiative’s early promise and its subsequent stagnation. This qualitative case study, conducted between December 2024 and June 2025, draws on document reviews, focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, and participant observations to analyze how the slowdown emerged and how it altered communication, coordination, and relational expectations among participating actors. Applying the governance-of-innovation lifecycle and a social capital lens, the study shows that political transitions, leadership turnover, staff rotation, and the absence of policy and budgetary anchoring disrupted coordination routines and reduced cross-sector interaction, even as motivation among farmers and frontline staff remained high. The case also highlights the novelty and complexity of the living lab approach, which introduced coordination demands and institutional unfamiliarity that local systems were not yet equipped to absorb. This study contributes to ongoing debates on collaborative innovation by illustrating the vulnerability of living labs when governance arrangements do not evolve alongside innovation milestones. Sustaining similar efforts requires formal anchoring, adaptive coordination, and mechanisms that protect collaboration across political and institutional transitions. Full article

Biodegradable polymeric composites reinforced with natural fillers represent one of the most promising routes toward low-impact, circular, and resource-efficient materials. In recent years, a growing number of studies have focused on the valorization of plant- and animal-derived organic waste, ranging from agricultural residues and natural fibers to marine and livestock by-products. This review provides a comprehensive and comparative overview of these systems, analyzing the nature and origin of the waste-derived fillers, their pretreatments, processing strategies, and the resulting effects on mechanical, thermal, functional, and biodegradation properties. Particular attention is dedicated to the role of filler composition, morphology, and surface chemistry in governing interfacial adhesion and end-use performance across different polymeric matrices, including PLA, PCL, PBS, PHA, PHB, PBAT, and commercial blends such as Mater-Bi^®. The emerging applications of these biocomposites, such as packaging, additive manufacturing, agriculture, biomedical uses, and environmental remediation, are critically discussed. Overall, this work provides fundamental insights to support the development of the next generation of biodegradable materials, enabling the sustainable valorization of organic waste within a circular-economy perspective. Full article

Indonesia’s beef cattle sector plays a central role in achieving food security, enhancing rural livelihoods, and fostering economic resilience. However, it faces fragmented governance, import dependence, and persistent challenges of low productivity levels. To capture the evolving evidence base, this study conducted a scoping review of 61 peer-reviewed publications (2019–2025) drawn from six major databases. This study employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Scoping Review Protocol and Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. Key patterns, advances, and gaps, along with evidence and research recommendations, were identified using the PAGER analytical approach. The dominant themes include production efficiency, environmental sustainability, policy, market linkages, and technological innovation. The results show that most studies employed quantitative or system modelling designs. In the global literature, multidimensional sustainability frameworks have shifted away from production-centric ones, with regional studies highlighting different emphases, such as carbon metrics in South America and market access and livelihood resilience in Asia and Africa. Integrated crop, livestock, and forestry systems; legume-based nutrient management; genotype-specific feeding and breeding; and enabling policies within inclusive markets were revealed through the synthesis of the PAGER framework as four calculated levers for sustainable transformation. However, actors inadequately integrate feed, genetic, climate interactions, and governance mechanisms. According to this review, technological innovation must align with adaptive governance. Climate-resilient, low-carbon beef systems also require the development of inclusive institutional frameworks. Indonesia’s experience demonstrates the benefits of integrating science, policy, and the market to improve productivity, resource stewardship, and equity in tropical livestock systems, thereby enhancing a resilient agri-food supply chain in Indonesia. Full article

This study presents a sociotechnical framework for mitigating ethnic violent conflicts by integrating information and communication technologies (ICTs) with community-based social capital. Drawing on longitudinal case studies from three conflict-prone regions in Kenya, Mt. Elgon, Muhoroni, and the Turkana–West Pokot borderlands, the research examines how ICT-enabled peace networks, particularly the Early Warning and Early Response System (EWERS), mobilize bonding, bridging, and linking social capital to reduce violence. The study employs a multi-phase qualitative design, combining retrospective analysis, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, action participation, and thematic coding of EWERS data collected between 2009 and 2021. This approach enabled the reconstruction of system evolution, stakeholder dynamics, and community responses across diverse socio-political contexts. Findings demonstrate that embedding ICTs within trusted social structures fosters inter-ethnic collaboration, inclusive decision-making, and trust-building. EWERS facilitated confidential reporting, timely alerts, and coordinated interventions, leading to reductions in livestock theft, improved leadership accountability, emergence of inter-ethnic business networks, and enhanced visibility and response to gender-based violence. The system’s effectiveness was amplified by faith-based legitimacy, local governance integration, and adaptive training strategies. The study argues that ICTs can become effective enablers of peace when sensitively contextualized within local norms, relationships, and community trust. Operationalizing social capital through digital infrastructure strengthens community resilience and supports inclusive, sustainale peacebuilding. These insights offer a scalable model for ICT-integrated violence mitigation in low- and middle-income countries. This is among the first studies to operationalize bonding, bridging, and linking social capital within ICT-enabled peace networks in rural African contexts. By embedding digital infrastructure into trusted community relationships, the framework offers an analytical approach that can inform inclusive violence mitigation strategies across low- and middle-income settings. While the framework demonstrates potential for scalability, its outcomes depend on contextual adaptation and cannot be assumed to replicate uniformly across all environments. Full article