Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Marco D'Urzo, Cristian Campagnaro
Summary: The circular economy aims to reduce waste and maximize the recovery of discarded matter, but often emphasizes recycling practices that may create limited job opportunities. This paper introduces the DLRR framework to address the shortcomings of small and medium-sized organizations in the circular economy, providing a sustainable and accessible approach for organizations with limited resources.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Harpinder Sandhu
Summary: The global agenda for sustainable development includes alleviating poverty and hunger through sustainable agriculture and food systems. Intensive farming systems and sustainable technologies are promoted for improving agricultural productivity and reducing environmental impacts, yet they can have adverse effects on local culture and environment.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Joshua Earl Arnold
Summary: Urban areas are experiencing rapid growth, with an estimated 70% of the global population living in cities by 2060. As urban populations increase, issues of food sovereignty and security have become more prominent, leading to a surge in urban farming and gardening activities. However, the impact of urban farms on local food security and their social, ecological, and economic composition have often been overlooked. A survey conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area examined the characteristics of 29 urban farms, focusing on management practices, spatial composition, and estimated productivity. The findings highlight trends in spatial composition, including a high proportion of farm area dedicated to infrastructure and underutilized production space.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mathilde Duvallet, Patrice Dumas, David Makowski, Julien Boe, Patricio Mendez del Villar, Tamara Ben-Ari
Summary: West Africa is highly concerned with food and nutrition security, with rice playing a key role in the diet but showing lower yield stability compared to alternative crops. Research suggests that alternative crops have higher yield stability in certain regions, highlighting the importance of considering yield stability in West African rice expansion scenarios and supply strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Puck J. A. M. Mulders, Edwin R. van den Heuvel, Jacob van den Borne, Rene van de Molengraft, W. P. M. H. (Maurice) Heemels, Pytrik Reidsma
Summary: The study aims to provide a data analysis methodology to analyze within-year variability in crop growth and identify year-independent factors influencing growth. The novel methodology was applied to analyze potato growth data of a farm in the Netherlands, revealing significant correlations between various factors and crop growth outcomes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jesus Lopez-Angulo, Laura Stefan, Nadine Engbersen, Christian Schöb
Summary: Higher plant species diversity decreases variability of plant community productivity. The stabilizing effect of plant diversity can result from species-specific responses to environmental fluctuations and from shifts in competitive hierarchies. Evolutionary adaptation of species to surrounding plant diversity could further decrease productivity variability.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Thomas Thaler, Marie-Sophie Attems, Sven Fuchs
Summary: This paper assesses and explains institutional innovations in natural hazard risk management by analyzing examples of multi-functional protection schemes. The results highlight the importance of bottom-up initiatives and risk acceptance among decision makers and the public in driving institutional innovations in risk management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chiara Marradi, Ingrid Mulder
Summary: Bottom-up initiatives by active citizens demonstrate sustainable practices in local ecosystems, but face challenges in taking root in new contexts due to socio-cultural barriers. A three-phased approach is introduced to facilitate cross-cultural and ecosystem collaboration.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jekaterina Markow, Andrew F. Fieldsend, Susanne von Muenchhausen, Anna Maria Haering
Summary: Current research has focused on how agricultural innovation projects are influenced by the Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS), but little attention has been given to the reverse direction of this relationship. This paper argues that agricultural innovation project can have spillover effects on AIS, even if they were not designed with that intention. It suggests that designing agricultural innovation projects to maximize positive and reduce negative spillovers on AIS would be beneficial.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Caroline Harkness, Francisco J. Areal, Mikhail A. Semenov, Nimai Senapati, Ian F. Shield, Jacob Bishop
Summary: Stable food production and income under changing climate conditions are essential for food security and livelihoods. Variability in temperature and rainfall negatively affects the stability of food production and farm income. However, our study shows that farm management practices have a larger impact on stability than climate, highlighting the importance of agricultural policies that promote agricultural diversity, efficient agrochemical use, and agri-environmental management. Flexibility in adaptation strategies is also necessary due to differences in climate impacts and adaptation options between farm types.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Cecilia Berrueta, Gustavo Gimenez, Santiago Dogliotti
Summary: The study evaluated the redesign process in five vegetable farms in south Uruguay, focusing on synergies and trade-offs between crop yield and farm system improvement. Results showed conflicts between farm system adjustment and crop yield maximization, highlighting the importance of dealing with crop constraints at the farm level.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2021)
Review
Agronomy
Davide Bellone, Antoine Gardarin, Muriel Valantin-Morison, Alan Kergunteuil, Foteini G. Pashalidou
Summary: The heavy use of synthetic pesticides in agriculture has negative impacts on human and environmental health, calling for the development of sustainable pest management strategies. This paper reviews the use of three agricultural techniques in annual cash crops, namely crop spatial diversification, crop temporal diversification, and soil management, to control crop pests through the integration of bioprotection agents. The findings show that each technique targets specific pests and supports different categories of bioprotection agents. The adoption of semiochemicals and natural substances for pest control remains largely unexplored. The integration of bioprotection with agricultural techniques can reduce synthetic pesticide inputs and promote the transition towards sustainable agroecosystems.
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Carlos Agustin Alesso, Pablo Ariel Cipriotti, German Alberto Bollero, Nicolas Federico Martin
Summary: The study demonstrates that applying geographically weighted regression to on-farm precision experimentation studies can help farmers understand site-specific responses to inputs. The spatial layout of the experiment and the spatial structure of the yield response impact experiment performance, with improvements requiring detailed information on these factors.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Arndt Feuerbacher, Tristan Herrmann, Sebastian Neuenfeldt, Moritz Laub, Alexander Gocht
Summary: This article assesses the economics and adoption potential of agrivoltaics using national farm accountancy data in Germany. The results show that solar radiation and investment costs are key determinants, and economies-of-scale favor farms with large arable land area. Policy support is needed to make agrivoltaics competitive and ensure its land-efficiency advantage.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Erythrina Erythrina, Arif Anshori, Charles Y. Bora, Dina O. Dewi, Martina S. Lestari, Muhammad A. Mustaha, Khadijah E. Ramija, Abdul W. Rauf, Wilda Mikasari, Yanto Surdianto, Ahmad Suriadi, Rima Purnamayani, Valeriana Darwis, Haris Syahbuddin
Summary: The study aimed to improve rice farmers' productivity and profitability in rainfed lowlands of Indonesia by closing the yield gap during the dry season. By comparing recommended practices with farmers' current practices, the research found that implementing improved varieties and nutrient management, along with water reservoir infrastructure and information access, significantly increased rice yield and net returns. This suggests there is potential to increase rice production in rainfed lowlands through appropriate crop and nutrient management, supplemental irrigation, and reducing the yield gap.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sara Vitalini, Francesca Orlando, Valentina Vaglia, Stefano Bocchi, Marcello Iriti
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stefania Coppa, Andrea Pronti, Giorgio Massaro, Roberto Brundu, Andrea Camedda, Luca Palazzo, Giorgio Nobile, Elena Pagliarino, Giuseppe A. de Lucia
Summary: Overfishing is a major impact on the marine environment, and multiple-use Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are seen as a useful tool for conservation and sustainable resource exploitation. However, ensuring effective protection on the ground is challenging, as demonstrated by the analysis of a sea urchin fishery in an Italian MPA. The study reveals that non-compliance with regulations by stakeholders is a key factor in the unsustainable management of the fishery, leading to a decline in sea urchin populations and the prevalence of illegal fishing activities.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Giovanni Dara Guccione, Elena Pagliarino, Ilaria Borri, Alessandra Vaccaro, Patrizia Borsotto
Summary: Italy is the leading European rice producer, and transitioning to organic farming could contribute to environmental protection, economic sustainability, consumer safety, and climate mitigation. The study proposes advice for improving control and certification in the organic rice sector.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ambrogio Zanzi, Federico Andreotti, Valentina Vaglia, Sumer Alali, Francesca Orlando, Stefano Bocchi
Summary: The study evaluates the benefits of an agroecological requalification of a dismissed peri-urban area in the South Milan Agricultural Regional Park (Italy) by assessing two possible scenarios. The software I-Tree Eco is used to simulate the ecosystem services provision of planting new hedgerows, with the study showing an increase in carbon sequestration at the end of the simulation. This study serves as a replicable example for assessing ecosystem services in urban and peri-urban environments.
Article
Agronomy
Elena Pagliarino, Secondo Rolfo
Summary: This paper discusses the implementation of a participatory approach in an agricultural research project aimed at transitioning towards organic farming in the Italian rice district. The study explores the relationships between scientists and stakeholders, highlighting the scientists' lack of knowledge and skills, negative attitudes towards participatory research, and their tendency to retain decision-making power. Through in-depth analysis of a case study, the paper emphasizes the importance of researchers and their attitudes in participatory agricultural research.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Elena Pagliarino, Elena Santanera, Greta Falavigna
Summary: This research project in an Italian public school aimed to assess parents' willingness to participate in food procurement decisions, their accuracy in predicting children's food choices at school lunch, and their support for sustainable food choices. Results suggest that delegating the school's role in the food arena to parents may not be ideal.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Andrea Bresciani, Valentina Vaglia, Francesca Saitta, Dimitrios Fessas, Maria Cristina Casiraghi, Daniela Erba, Maria Ambrogina Pagani, Ji Yoon Lee, Ju Won Kang, Jong-Min Ko, Stefano Bocchi, Jun Hyeon Cho, Alessandra Marti
Summary: The National Institute of Crop Science in Korea is developing new rice varieties suitable for Western rice-based foods like risotto. A study compared Korean rice samples with the 'Carnaroli' Italian variety in terms of biometric properties, cooking behavior, starch properties, and digestibility. The Korean varieties have a wide range of physicochemical traits, with amylose content affecting cooking performance and starch digestibility. 'Saemimyeon' and 'Shingil' are currently considered the best Korean varieties for risotto.
FOOD SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sara Vitalini, Marcello Iriti, Valentina Vaglia, Stefania Garzoli
Summary: The chemical composition of leaf essential oils from two species of Gymnosperms was studied using SPME-GC-MS technique. The results showed the presence of 51 identified volatile compounds in the liquid and vapor phases. Monoterpenes were the dominant components in both oils, with variations in qualitative and quantitative properties. The phytotoxic activity of the oils was demonstrated by their dose-dependent effects on seed germination and seedling development of target species. An exploratory survey on the residual presence of volatile compounds in the soil was also conducted.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Valentina Vaglia, Jacopo Bacenetti, Francesca Orlando, Sumer Alali, Ezio Bosso, Stefano Bocchi
Summary: Rice cultivation plays a vital role in global food security, but it also has negative impacts on the environment and human health. Transitioning to organic agriculture can improve the environmental performance of rice farming. This study evaluates the variability and mitigation potential of four organic rice production management strategies in Northern Italy through life cycle assessment (LCA). The results indicate a significant potential for organic rice production to reduce its impact on natural resources, depending on the chosen agricultural practices.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Stefania Garzoli, Valentina Vaglia, Marcello Iriti, Sara Vitalini
Summary: The chemical content of essential oils from four Pinaceae plants (Abies alba, Picea abies, Pinus cembra, and Pinus mugo) was analyzed using SPME-GC-MS technique. Monoterpenes, such as alpha-pinene, limonene, and beta-myrcene, were the most abundant compounds. The liquid phase of the essential oils was dominated by mono- and sesquiterpenes. The essential oils exhibited significant phytotoxic activity against Lolium multiflorum and Sinapis alba, reducing germination and growth rates.
Article
Environmental Studies
Ambrogio Zanzi, Valentina Vaglia, Roberto Spigarolo, Stefano Bocchi
Summary: The study presents a peri-urban requalification experience in Milan, Italy, where eight agri-food start-ups began their activities in a peri-urban area at the southern gates of the city within the European funded project OpenAgri. The research assesses the sustainability of these start-ups using the Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems (SAFA), revealing both positive aspects and limitations. It describes a scalable and replicable example of peri-urban agriculture's potential in solving environmental, social, and economic issues.
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Elena Pagliarino, Francesca Orlando, Valentina Vaglia, Secondo Rolfo, Stefano Bocchi
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF FUTURES RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Elise Audouin, Mariana Odru, Dominique Masse, Gualbert Seraphin Dorego, Valerie Delaunay, Philippe Lecomte, Jonathan Vayssieres
Summary: Agricultural intensification is important for food security and limiting rural exodus in sub-Saharan Africa. Livestock farming has the potential to improve the sustainability of farming systems, but landscape-level studies are rare. By considering the interactions between animals, crops, and trees, the landscape level is the only level where the impacts of livestock farming can be fully understood. This study developed a methodology to compare different livestock systems based on territorial metabolism and sustainability indicators.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Idsert Jelsma, Turinah, Frederic Gay, Jean Ollivier, Bruno Rapidel
Summary: Our study aims to analyze the resilience of farmer organizations in the Ophir plantation during replanting. By examining a 40-year period in five farmer cooperatives, we provide unique insights on the dynamics that influence the resilience of farmer organizations, shed light on smallholder oil palm replanting strategies, and draw several key lessons from this case.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Maria Rodriguez-Barillas, Laurens Klerkx, P. Marijn Poortvliet
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Alexis Thoumazeau, Romane Mettauer, Turinah, Heri Junedi, Victor Baron, Cecile Cheron-Bessou, Jean Ollivier
Summary: This study investigates the effects of fertilization and understory vegetation management on soil health and oil palm performances. It aimed to isolate and decipher the specific effects of some key practices on the overall plantation performances.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Pritha Datta, Bhagirath Behera, Dil Bahadur Rahut
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the potential of South Asian agroforestry systems as a viable agroecological approach for ensuring farmers' food security. A systematic literature review found that out of 95 reviewed studies, only nine focused on food security and none of them examined all four dimensions of food security simultaneously. Moreover, the majority of studies were skewed towards the Himalayan belt and lacked quantitative measurement, making it challenging to determine the significance of this field.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Octave Lacroix, Francoise Lescourret, Michel Genard, Mohamed-Mahmoud Memah, Gilles Vercambre, Pierre Valsesia, Daniele Bevacqua, Isabelle Grechi
Summary: In this study, a pest-crop model was developed to examine the impact of multiple pests on fruit tree functioning and ecosystem services provided by orchards. Through simulations and analysis, it was found that pests significantly affected indicators such as fruit sugar content, marketable yield, carbon sequestration, and water drainage.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Malve Heinz, Valeria Galetti, Annelie Holzka
Summary: This paper presents an innovative approach for identifying climate-adapted alternative food crops that can help diversify existing cropping systems, increase their climate resilience, and contribute to nutritious plant-based regional diets with reduced emissions.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Vianny Ahimbisibwe, Eliza Zhunusova, Habtemariam Kassa, Sven Guenter
Summary: This study examines the technical efficiency levels of home gardens and woodlot systems in Ethiopia and investigates the factors that contribute to technical efficiency.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Robert Huber, Bartosz Bartkowski, Calum Brown, Nadja El Benni, Jan-Henning Feil, Pascal Grohmann, Ineke Joormann, Heidi Leonhardt, Hermine Mitter, Birgit Mueller
Summary: Farm typologies help identify patterns in farm systems and support agricultural policy design, but they are often developed without much connection to previous studies and policy making.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Mina Devkota, Krishna Prasad Devkota, Gokul Prasad Paudel, Timothy J. Krupnik, Andrew James McDonald
Summary: Wheat production in the Terai region of Nepal has not met the increasing demand, with low average productivity and high spatial and temporal variability. This study identifies strategies for closing yield gaps through field surveys, on-farm experiments, and simulation models. The results suggest that improving agronomic practices, such as fertilization and irrigation management, can significantly increase wheat productivity.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Angie Haslem, Andrew F. Bennett, James Q. Radford
Summary: This study integrates knowledge on the benefits and disbenefits of (semi)natural vegetation on farms for achieving six objectives, and develops a conceptual model of the relationships between these objectives and different types of vegetation. The results show that (semi)natural vegetation provides more benefits than disbenefits, with greater support for the benefits of native vegetation. Farm-level restoration contributes towards reversing vegetation loss, but the process takes time. Management practices play a role in enhancing the benefits of (semi)natural vegetation.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Aymeric Mondiere, Michael S. Corson, Julie Auberger, Daphne Durant, Sylvain Foray, Jean-Francois Glinec, Penny Green, Sandra Novak, Frederic Signoret, Hayo M. G. van der Werf
Summary: This study assessed the productivity and environmental impacts of different livestock production systems and found that biodiversity-friendly systems perform better in terms of environmental impact. The results emphasize the importance of considering the multiple functions and overall environmental performance of these systems.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Nadine Andrieu, Elodie Dorey, Steewy Lakhia, Paul Meynard, Esther Hatil, Loic Normand, Jean-Luc Gourdine, Jean-Christophe Bambou
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Philipp Loew, Bernhard Osterburg
Summary: This study evaluated the nitrogen performance of the German agricultural sector and identified the potential for nitrogen utilization in different farm types. The study also revealed the relationships between nitrogen performance and independent variables such as soil fertility, crop selection and diversity, production type, operating profit, and consulting services received.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Rika Ratna Sari, Lisa Tanika, Erika N. Speelman, Danny Dwi Saputra, Arief Lukman Hakim, Danae M. A. Rozendaal, Kurniatun Hairiah, Meine van Noordwijk
Summary: This study aims to clarify the design principles of the FORCES game and apply it to diverse watershed contexts. The game design balances generic and site-specific information, and the performance and impact of the game are evaluated through testing and assessment.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2024)