Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Essy C. Kirui, Michael M. Kidoido, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Dickson O. Okello, Komivi S. Akutse
Summary: Crucifers and traditional African vegetables (TAVs) are important to smallholders in Kenya and Tanzania, but their yield remains limited by pests and diseases. This study examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of farmers regarding agroecological-based pest management practices. The research found that farmers have low awareness and adoption rates of these practices, with negative attitudes being a major barrier. However, the study also highlights the positive impact of training on the adoption of these practices.
Article
Agronomy
Maxime Catalogna, Muriel Dunilac Dubois, Mireille Navarrete
Summary: This study aimed to understand the multiannual experimental itineraries followed by farmers when trying new agroecological practices on their farms. Through surveying 16 French farmers, it was found that farmers progressively build experimental itineraries over years after introducing a new practice, with different types of experimental situations occurring at different stages of the experimental itinerary.
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cassandra Vogel, Vera Mayer, Mwapi Mkandawire, Georg Kuestner, Rachel Bezner Kerr, Jochen Krauss, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
Summary: The conversion of woodland to farmland and subsequent management has negative impacts on biodiversity. The effects of agriculture on insect communities in tropical smallholder agricultural landscapes are understudied. The use of agroecological practices has social and agronomic benefits for smallholders, but their effects on biodiversity are missing, particularly in Africa.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Basharat Ali, Peter Dahlhaus
Summary: This paper identifies precision conservation agriculture, digital agriculture, and resilient agriculture practices as valuable approaches for improving agricultural performance. While the adoption of these practices would substantially enhance sustainability, there are barriers preventing widespread implementation.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Etienne Polge, Hugo Pages
Summary: The study examines the modes of resource access mobilized by farmers to adopt agroecological practices in France, revealing that farmers in conservation agriculture mainly rely on interpersonal relationships and have less support during implementation, while organic farmers rely more on farmers' groups and formalized arrangements with support organizations and downstream actors.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Bridget Bwalya, Edward Mutandwa, Brian Chanda Chiluba
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between smallholder farmer awareness of sustainable land management (SLM) technologies and land allocation to SLM at the farm level in Eastern Zambia. The findings show that farmers have a relatively high level of awareness of SLM, but the adoption rate is still relatively low. Farmer awareness is influenced by factors such as gender and access to agricultural extension services. The land allocated to SLM is also related to crop diversity, livestock ownership, and access to agricultural extension. Therefore, long-term training for farmers in SLM is crucial, and there should be consistency in the information provided by all relevant actors in the region.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gisele Alexandre, Lylian Rodriguez, Javier Arece, Jose Delgadillo, Gary Wayne Garcia, Kurt Habermeier, Andre M. Almeida, Audrey Fanchone, Jean-Luc Gourdine, Harry Archimede
Summary: This article emphasizes the importance of agroecological systems in tropical regions and presents solutions to minimize inputs. Through multiple case studies, it discusses how to improve the efficiency of tropical systems, including selecting the most suitable genotypes, matching agricultural system resources, controlling disease risks, and mitigating climate constraints.
TROPICAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Elena Testani, Corrado Ciaccia, Mariangela Diacono, Flavio Fornasier, Andrea Ferrarini, Francesco Montemurro, Stefano Canali
Summary: The redesign of organic vegetable systems using agroecological service crops (ASCs) and the in-line roller crimper (RC) has generated significant interest, although its impact on soil quality remains poorly understood. A two-year field experiment in Southern Italy compared two ASCs winter cereal/legume-based mixtures terminated by RC (ASC-RC treatment) with green manure and conventional controls for organic tomato cultivation. The study found that tomato yields were not significantly different between treatments, but there was a 67% decrease in ASC treatments compared to controls in 2016. Soil nutrient availability was not significantly affected by ASCs until the midpoint of the tomato cycle, where soil mineral N increased by 200% in the ASC with a higher presence of legumes. The study also found that ASC-RC had a positive effect on soil biological attributes, specifically enzyme activities, but microbial biomass did not show significant differences. Despite the mixed results on tomato yields, the implementation of agroecological management appears to be a promising strategy for improving soil quality in the long term, supporting soil metabolic activity and enhancing its self-regulating capacity.
NUTRIENT CYCLING IN AGROECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Vivienne P. Groner, Jessica J. Williams, Richard G. Pearson
Summary: Biodiversity plays a crucial role in providing ecosystem services, but the contribution of rare and endangered species (RES) to these services is unclear. A systematic review found a lack of quantitative research on the role of RES in agricultural production, which is a major driver of biodiversity change. Further research is urgently needed to inform conservation and agricultural policies.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Parthiban Subramanian, Seong-Hoon Kim, Bum-Soo Hahn
Summary: Over the past decade, there has been a noticeable decline in plant biodiversity due to climate change, ecosystem destruction for farmland, and selective breeding for limited traits. This loss of biodiversity presents a major challenge for plant biologists worldwide working on sustainable agricultural solutions. Plant genetic resources centers or genebanks that preserve plant germplasm can play a significant role in addressing this issue.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Environmental Studies
Renata Anibaldi, Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, Patricia David, Carina Roemer
Summary: Research plays a critical role in supporting farming practices for global food and climate security. However, progress is slow and more focus is needed on utilizing theories to explain constraints on sustainable practices.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Saeid Moushani, Hossein Kazemi, Hermann Klug, Mohammad Esmaeil Asadi, Afshin Soltani
Summary: This study evaluates ecosystem services in 48 Iranian soybean fields under conventional and conservation cropping systems, finding that conservation cropping systems generally outperform conventional cropping systems in providing ecosystem services.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alison C. Smith, Paula A. Harrison, Nicholas J. Leach, H. Charles J. Godfray, Jim W. Hall, Sarah M. Jones, Sarah S. Gall, Michael Obersteiner
Summary: Agricultural and environmental policies are being reviewed and redesigned in the UK after Brexit to address the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. The study shows that dietary changes, improvements in agricultural productivity, and waste reduction can lead to synergistic effects in achieving multiple sustainability targets under limited land availability.
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anne Jungandreas, Stephanie Roilo, Michael Strauch, Tomas Vaclavik, Martin Volk, Anna F. Cord
Summary: Land-use intensification in agroecosystems has led to population declines in many taxonomic groups, especially farmland birds. Two contrasting conservation strategies have therefore been proposed: land sharing and land sparing. This study modeled the effects of these strategies on the habitat area of endangered bird species in Germany and found that land sharing provided the largest breeding habitat area, making it a promising strategy for bird conservation in agricultural landscapes.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Acga Cheng, Nurul Syafiqah Noor Azmi, Yin Mei Ng, Didier Lesueur, Sumiani Yusoff
Summary: This article discusses the challenges of urbanization by mid-century and proposes the potential of agroecology transformation for sustainable development. Agroecological approaches can improve social cohesion and socioeconomic synergies while reducing the use of agricultural inputs.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alexander Wezel, Sabine Weizenegger
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2016)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marie Vanacker, Alexander Wezel, Florent Arthaud, Mathieu Guerin, Joel Robin
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2016)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alexander Wezel, Julia Goette, Elisabeth Lagneaux, Gloria Passuello, Erica Reisman, Christophe Rodier, Gregoire Turpin
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alexander Wezel, Margriet Goris, Janneke Bruil, Georges F. Felix, Alain Peeters, Paolo Barberi, Stephane Bellon, Paola Migliorini
Editorial Material
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alexander Wezel, Stephane Bellon
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alexander Wezel, Sibylle Stockli, Erich Tasser, Heike Nitsch, Audrey Vincent
Summary: The study reveals a decrease in habitat and species diversity in many areas across Europe, especially in mountain grasslands. Farmers have varying perceptions about the functions and services of their grasslands, with good pastures being associated with composition, forage quality, productivity, and soil characteristics. Proposed measures to increase biodiversity include upgrading forest edges, planting hedges or fruit trees, reducing fertilization, and expanding agricultural production. Factors hindering implementation include increased workload, lack of time, and insufficient financial support. Local initiatives that involve farmers and specialists could enhance biodiversity management.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Rachel Bezner Kerr, Sidney Madsen, Moritz Stuber, Jeffrey Liebert, Stephanie Enloe, Noelie Borghino, Phoebe Parros, Daniel Munyao Mutyambai, Marie Prudhon, Alexander Wezel
Summary: Agroecological practices have shown positive effects on food security and nutrition of households in low and middle-income countries, with more complex systems including components such as crop diversification and intercropping leading to better outcomes.
GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY-AGRICULTURE POLICY ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Sarah Grauby, Aurelie Ferrer, Vincent Tolon, Anthony Roume, Alexander Wezel, Emmanuel Jacquot
Summary: This study tested the potential of intercropping winter barley with clover to reduce the population size of aphids and lower the incidence of Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). The results showed that clover altered the distribution of aphids and reduced their population size, but did not affect the spread of BYDV.
Review
Agronomy
Alexander Wezel, Barbara Gemmill Herren, Rachel Bezner Kerr, Edmundo Barrios, Andre Luiz Rodrigues Goncalves, Fergus Sinclair
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2020)
Article
Geography
Kelly Bronson, Irena Knezevic, Chantal Clement
JOURNAL OF RURAL STUDIES
(2019)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Peter Andree, Lynn Langille, Chantal Clement, Patricia Williams, Emily Norgang
JOURNAL OF HUNGER & ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION
(2016)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Irena Knezevic, Phil Mount, Chantal Clement
HERD-HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS RESEARCH & DESIGN JOURNAL
(2016)
Article
Development Studies
Alexander Wezel, Maria Zipfer, Christine Aubry, Fabienne Barataud, Alois Heissenhuber
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2016)