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This review paper addresses the importance of increasing agrobiodiversity to cope with climate change and, at the same time, providing a sufficient amount of healthy food. This is in agreement with the messages from ecology and medicine indicating the advantages of biodiversity in general and agrobiodiversity in particular for the planet and for our health. Plant breeding is considered to be one of the causes of the decline in agrobiodiversity, and therefore, this paper illustrates alternatives to the commonly used approach based on centralized selection. The first alternative is decentralized participatory breeding, which adapts crops to both different agronomic environments and client preferences, representing an "option by context" model of research. The second alternative is evolutionary breeding, which is a more dynamic strategy than participatory plant breeding because it merges the advantages of decentralization with the ability of dynamic mixtures and evolutionary populations to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses and evolve, thus adapting to climate change and to the associated changes in the spectrum of pests. A crop capable of evolving as the environment around it evolves appears to be the most ideal way of responding to climate change and increasing agricultural biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current soil‐ and land degradation seriously challenge our societies; it contributes to climate change, loss of biodiversity and loss of agricultural productions. Yet, soils are also seen as a major part of the solution, if maintained or restored to provide ecosystem services. Climate‐smart sustainable management of soils can provide options for soil health maintenance and restoration. In the European Union, the resource management and sustainability challenge are addressed in the Green Deal that, among other goals, aspires towards a healthy climate‐resilient agricultural sector that will produce sufficient products without damaging ecosystems and contribute to better biodiversity and mitigate climate change. The European Joint Programme (EJP) SOIL was set up to contribute to these goals by developing knowledge, tools and an integrated research community to foster climate‐smart sustainable agricultural soil management that provides a diversity of ecosystem service, such as adapting to and mitigating climate change, allowing sustainable food production, and sustaining soil biodiversity. This paper provides an overview of the potential of climate‐smart sustainable soil management research to the targets of the Green Deal that are related to soils most directly. The EJP SOIL EU‐wide consultation (interviews and questionnaires) and literature analysis (national and international reports and papers) done in the first year (2020–2021) generated a wealth of data. This data showed that there are specific manners to do research that are essential for it to be effective and efficient and that can actively contribute to the Green Deal targets. We concluded that research needs to be: (i) interdisciplinary, (ii) long‐term, (iii) multi‐scaled, from plot to landscape, (iv) evaluating trade‐offs of selected management options for ecosystem services and (v) co‐constructed with key stakeholders. Research on climate‐smart sustainable soil management should be developed (1) on plot scale when mobilizing soil processes and on landscape scale when addressing sediment and water connectivity and biodiversity management; and (2) address the enabling conditions through good governance, social acceptance and viable economic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development of a transdisciplinary knowledge network dedicated to supporting agroecology knowledge exchange and capacity building that is particularly focused on the sustainable use and conservation of agrobiodiversity. The network—Fostering Effective Agroecology for Sustainable Transformation, or FEAST—includes nodes in Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and Canada's Northwest Territories and has been engaged in Participatory Action Research activities since 2015. This paper examines the development of the network over time, including a workshop held in 2019 in and around Curitiba, Brazil, and reflects on the outcomes of knowledge exchange activities. We discuss how the development of the FEAST network has informed participants' local practice and their sense of belonging to a larger-scale, international movement for agroecology, agrobiodiversity conservation, and food system sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to their food security and ecological benefits, urban community gardens support human well-being in numerous non-material ways. In this paper, we investigate whether experience of these cultural ecosystem services (CES) shapes how gardeners choose to manage the garden ecosystem, which may influence the ability of these multifunctional green spaces to provide other local ecosystem services (ES). Using questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and plant community analysis, we assess the relationship between perception of CES by community gardeners, the management practices they utilize, and the agroecological characteristics of their garden plots, such as presence and prevalence of species that provide regulating and supporting ES. We find that while almost all survey participants report sociocultural benefits of gardening, experience of these CES varies significantly between gardeners, with garden structure influencing which group of benefits is most perceived. Experience of some CES was also correlated with local ecological knowledge and use of certain sustainable garden management practices, such as utilizing integrated pest management strategies and planting a wide variety of species, but not with observed non-provisioning plant agrobiodiversity. These results provide important insights into the complex role that CES play in encouraging environmental stewardship and shaping ecological outcomes in collectively managed urban green spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuba is struggling with a growing environmental problem: the uncontrolled spread of the allochthonous weed species marabou (Dichrostachys cinerea) throughout the country. Over the last 70 years, marabou has become a formidable invasive species that poses a threat to Cuban biodiversity and agricultural productivity. In this paper, we present a free and affordable method for regularly mapping the spatial distribution of the marabou based on the Google Earth Engine platform and ecological surveys. To test its accuracy, we develop an 18-year remote sensing analysis (2000–2018) of marabou dynamics using the Valle de los Ingenios, a Cuban UNESCO World Heritage Site, as an experimental model. Our spatial analysis reveals clear patterns of marabou distribution and highlights areas of concentrated growth. Temporal trends illustrate the aggressive nature of the species, identifying periods of expansion and decline. In addition, our system is able to detect specific, large-scale human interventions against the marabou plague in the area. The results highlight the urgent need for remedial strategies to maintain the fragile ecological balance in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous peoples and local communities are key actors in the preservation of important biodiversity resources around the world. However, the ever-encroaching agricultural frontier and expansion of conventional agricultural practices threaten these communities, their autonomy over the land, and the traditional knowledge and practices associated with biodiverse ecosystems. Agroecology emerges as an important solution to support the continuation of agrobiodiversity, food security, and environmental conservation, but top-down solutions often do not resonate with the lived realities of traditional, Indigenous, and small-scale farming communities. This paper examines a collaborative research and narrative network developed over the past several years around traditional erva-mate agroforestry production in Southern Paraná, Brazil. It offers an example of how oral environmental history and public history can support conservation practices through agroecology. The key outcomes of this interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional research and engagement were the development of a candidacy for the system to be recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the implementation of a Dynamic Conservation Action Plan to address the threats and challenges farmers and communities are facing. The discussion explores two concepts that were integral to these processes, the creation of narrative networks and a focus on plurivocity. Both approaches ensured that the actions, knowledge, and narratives developed through the GIAHS candidacy were not imposed but agreed upon and generative through narrative and dialogue, remaining true to the realities and lived experiences of community members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity monitoring in agricultural landscapes is important for assessing the effects of both land use change and activities that influence farmland biodiversity. Despite a considerable increase in citizen science approaches to biodiversity monitoring in recent decades, their potential in farmland-specific contexts has not been systematically examined. This paper therefore provides a comprehensive review of existing citizen science approaches involving biodiversity monitoring on farmland. Using three complementary methods, we identify a range of programmes at least partially covering farmland. From these, we develop a typology of eight programme types, reflecting distinctions in types of data collected and nature of volunteer involvement, and highlight their respective strengths and limitations. While all eight types can make substantial contributions to farmland biodiversity monitoring, there is considerable scope for their further development—particularly through increased engagement of farmers, for whom receiving feedback on the effects of their own practices could help facilitate adaptive management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agriculture, the geography of specific crops can successfully support productivity monitoring and farming practices management. Vineyards particularly have a key role in modeling and protecting Mediterranean landscapes, representing a fundamental asset in the economies of inner areas. In this paper, we mapped the 2017 coverage of vineyards of the Vulture-Melfese, a specialized agricultural district of Basilicata (Southern Italy) renowned for hosting the Aglianico grapevine variety. To achieve this objective, we combined information extracted from free-accessible multisource data by leveraging the traditional photo-interpretation technique. Then, we characterized the mapped vineyards based on simple geo-environmental variables (size, elevation, climate). This detailed inventory can help public bodies and land managers to shape more specific local agricultural policies to strengthen the profitability of the agricultural sector, preserve agrobiodiversity and face climate change effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnobotany genomics is gaining popularity, and there is a renewed interest in traditional medicine around the world. Ethnobotany genomics is proving useful not only for the conservation of biodiversity and agricultural productivity but also for drug discovery. In terms of traditional medicine and biodiversity, India is one of the world's richest countries. However, as industrialisation, population pressures, migrations, and urbanisation have increased, socio-environmental changes have become more dynamic and complex. This has raised concerns about sustainable production and consumption, as well as governance. As a result, the current paper is an attempt to map the emerging innovation system in Indian ethnobotany genomics. The paper examines the actors', agencies', and institutions' responses to the emerging innovation system's requirements. Finally, this paper provides new insights into the opportunities and challenges of developing Indian ethnobotany genomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper describes the investigation of the first outbreaks of adenoviral gizzard erosions (AGE) in Sweden, in five broiler flocks. The investigation included whole viral genome sequencing and investigation of genomic organization and sequence relationships with other adenoviruses. All five flocks had a history of decreased growth and uneven size of birds since 9-10 days of age. Macroscopically, lesions consistent with AGE (detached koilin layers, discolouration, bleeding, erosions) were identified in gizzards in all five flocks. In four flocks histology was performed, and degeneration and inflammation of the koilin layer and gizzard mucosa were identified in all four. In one flock, intranuclear inclusion bodies typical for fowl adenovirus (FAdV) were detected in trapped epithelial cells in the koilin layer. In four flocks in situ hybridization was performed, and cells positive for FAdV serotype 1 (FAdV-1) were demonstrated in the koilin layer and gizzard mucosa. FAdV species A (FAdV-A) was detected in gizzard, liver, caecal tonsils and bursa of Fabricius by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. Ten out of ten examined parent flocks of the affected chickens were seropositive for FAdV, indicating former or on-going infection. However, FAdV was not detected in embryos from seropositive parent flocks and thus vertical transmission was not demonstrated. The entire nucleotide sequence of one sample was determined and found to be 43,856 base pairs (bp) in length. The genome sequence and organization were found to be similar to that of the reference apathogenic avian adenovirus "chicken embryo lethal orphan" (CELO). AGE in Swedish broilers: necropsy, histopathology, ISH, PCR, whole-genome sequencing. Whole FAdV-genome analysed: 43,856 bp, found to be most similar to CELO (U46933.1). Multiple point mutations, site insertions and deletions identified compared to CELO. Paper adds knowledge about European disease situation and pathogenic FAdV-strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homegarden, a type of agroforestry system, is one of the earliest thriving traditional food systems reported. Studying the contribution of homegardens in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is crucial when the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered the achievement of many of the crucial SDGs. In this review, we focused on 94 peer-reviewed papers on homegardens from 2010 to 2021 to interrelate them with the corresponding targets and indicators of each SDG. The SDGs were classified into five categories, each focusing on a specific aspect: Category 1 (SDGs 1–5, poverty dimension), Category 2 (SDGs 6–9, development infrastructures), Category 3 (SDGs 10–12, sustainable production and consumption), Category 4 (SDGs 13–15, green infrastructures), and Category 5 (SDGs 16–17, green institutions). The distribution of the 94 papers analyzed was 92%, 23%, 33%, 51%, and 50% in each of the SDG categories, respectively. Category 1 and SDG 2 were found to be most realized in the homegarden literature. Important observations were found that highlight homegardens' probable use in providing food security, nutritional needs, health and wellness, preservation of agrobiodiversity, and enduring sustainability. Homegardens appear to be an important strategy for attaining the SDGs and can be accomplished with proper planning, in addition to taking into consideration how the traditional societies have sustained it for long. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the vast literature on homegardens, most of the studies have focused on describing their properties and functions, while there is scant knowledge about the socioeconomic determinants of homegardening patterns. This paper contributes to filling this gap by assessing the planned agrobiodiversity of homegardens in Yucatán, Mexico, and studying the association between homegardening patterns and contextual and household characteristics. In doing so, the paper draws on key elements of the Capability Approach and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. Data was collected in four Yucatecan communities showing different urbanization levels, the heterogeneous presence of a Mayan Indigenous population, and diverse attachment to traditional agricultural livelihoods. A mixed-methods approach was followed, involving household surveys and interviews, and quantitative analysis informed by qualitative insights. Principal components analysis, cluster, and regression analyses were applied to develop a homegarden typology and identify associations among four homegardening patterns and five relevant household characteristics: (1) the household structure and family life cycle; (2) ethnicity; (3) rural-urban interactions; (4) wealth; and (5) participation in government-led development interventions. The paper contributes to broader debates on the nexus of agrobio-diversity and sociocultural and economic interactions and on how these influence alternative pathways to the dominant trend of agrobiodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been widely argued that agroecological science, which originally developed as the application of ecological principles to agricultural systems, should engage with the social and political issues that affect production agriculture, and incorporate knowledge from a variety of sources. In this paper, we use techniques from network science and bibliometrics to evaluate the degree to which this transformation has taken place. By creating networks based on over 3,000 agroecology papers and the roughly 160,000 references they cite, we distinguish the sub-fields ("research fronts") that made up agroecology in three time intervals: 1982–2004, 2005–2013, and 2014–2018. We also identify the main disciplines from which the research fronts in 2014–2018 drew their supporting knowledge. We suggest that, very broadly, themes in agroecological research include: Ecosystem services; (agro)biodiversity; approaches to agricultural intensification; tropical agroecosystems (particularly coffee); pest and weed management; organic agriculture; cropping systems; system transitions, modeling, and design; climate change adaptation; food sovereignty; education; and the nature and purpose of agroecology itself. Some research fronts mainly cite papers in natural science fields such as ecology, environmental science, agriculture, and entomology. However, others draw upon work in social science areas including development studies, environmental studies, and anthropology. The analysis presented in this paper demonstrates that agroecology has indeed evolved to possess many of the characteristics of an "ecology of [the entire] food system." We anticipate that this work will also be of use to those wishing to gain an overview of the field or identify key papers, knowledge gaps, and potential collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salar is a Turkic-speaking Islamic ethnic group in China living mainly in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County (Xunhua or Xunhua County), Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Salar people are skilled in horticulture and their homegarden (HG) management. They are regarded as the first people on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to practice horticulture, especially manage their HGs, traditional farming systems, and supplementary food production systems. Traditional knowledge of Salar people associated with their HGs always contributes significantly to the local livelihood, food security, ornamental value, and biodiversity conservation. The cultivation of different plants in HGs for self-sufficiency has a long tradition in China's rural areas, especially in some mountainous areas. However, Salar traditional HGs have not been described. The present paper aims to report the features of Salar HGs mostly based on agrobiodiversity and its ecosystem services. Methods: The methods used in this work included semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. A total of 60 households in three townships, 9 villages were surveyed. There are 4–12 family members in each household, aged from 20 to 86 years old. The homestead size is between 200 and 1200 m2. Plant species cultivated in Salar HGs were identified according to Flora of China. Based on a comprehensive survey of Salar HGs and related to background data, we identified and characterized the most important services and functions provided by Salar HGs. Results: According to primary production systems, there are 4 different types of Salar HGs, including ornamental focus, product focus, dual-purpose and multi-purpose. In total, 108 (excluding weeds and bonsai) plant species were recorded in Salar HGs, within 43 plant families. The most important and frequently used plants are Rosa chinensis, Armeniaca vulgar, Prunus salicina, and Ziziphus jujuba. About 4 to 32 plant species were recorded in each homegarden. We found that the Salar HGs, as a typical agroecosyste, prossess multiple servcices and functions that directly benefit households according to the field investigation. Conclusion: This paper reveals the floristic diversity of Salar HGs. It presents useful information in the homegarden agroecosystem of Salar people, such as HG types and species diversity in Salar HGs. Ecosystem functions and services research suggested that the Salar HG agroecosystem provides agroecosystem services mainly related to supply and culture services. Salar HGs are important as food supplement resources, aesthetics symbol, and cultural spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the realm of international agricultural biodiversity conservation, there has been a surge of funding for "pre‐breeding" of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Molecular high‐throughput analysis, among other techniques, attempts to discern, document, and digitise the genomic traits of farmer/landrace varieties and crop wild relatives stored in gene banks to render them legible fodder for professional breeding. But pre‐breeding necessitates thorough phenotypic evaluation and characterisation to understand the physiological attributes, heritable traits, and responses of a plant through its life cycle, under various growing and climactic conditions. This paper explores the irony that a range of surveillance technologies have been developed and deployed to mimic the agrarian work and skills of observing plants and attending to how they are faring, what they like and do not like over many seasons and contexts. These calls and technologies acknowledge the need for heedful attention to crops, even as they further displace actual farmers and their longstanding modes of selecting and saving open‐pollinated seeds each harvest. Here, attending to crops entails remembering and communicating collectively gathered information of and from the plant. Such agrarian expertise of caring for plants has been systematically devalued and de‐intellectualised, with gendered implications. Drawing on feminist geographies and political ecology, a landscape of care framework discloses the matrix of human and beyond‐human care at work in cultivating agricultural biodiversity. Rather than ushering in a new valuation of this expertise, new pre‐breeding technologies and trainings continue to ignore on‐farm, plant‐based care work and the farmers who do it. Calling out this contradiction could help re‐centre such agrarian care skills as the crux to effective agricultural biodiversity utilisation. The proliferation of pre‐breeding technologies could signify the co‐optation of agrarian care skills or the opportunity to re‐centre and revalue them. A range of technologies have been developed and deployed to facilitate the 'pre‐breeding' of plant germplasm for commercial crop varieties; as such, they enter agrobiodiversity's landscape of care. This paper explores the irony that the pre‐breeding technologies mimic the skills of attending to plants to assess their agronomic performance and traits, even as they continue to displace actual farmer‐breeders who do this. Accordingly, the proliferation of pre‐breeding technologies could signify the co‐optation of agrarian care skills – or the opportunity to re‐centre and revalue them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key policy instrument to conserve biodiversity in agricultural landscapes are agri-environment schemes (AES). AES typically incentivise specific conservation measures which are independent of a specific state of an ecosystem or a species. In this paper we take up the idea of state-dependent conservation measures which means that in each period of interest the decision about the design of the conservation measure is made dependent on the state of the ecosystem or the species of interest. We develop a modelling framework to compare the cost-effectiveness of AES which incentivise state-dependent conservation measures (AES-SD) with AES which incentivise state-independent conservation measures (AES-SI). We apply the framework to a case study of meadow bird conservation through specific mowing regimes in the Aller river valley in Germany, and compare an AES-SI with fixed mowing dates and an AES-SD with mowing dates depending on the phenological start of spring. We find that AES-SD substantially outperforms AES-SI. Cost-effectiveness gains arise as the connection of mowing dates to phenological events increase the breeding success of the meadow birds but also as farmers accept slightly lower compensation payments as mowing in dependence of the state of the grassland reduces fluctuations in their fodder yields. • We analyse the cost-effectiveness of state-dependent AES. • The design of state-dependent AES depends on the state of the ecosystem. • State-dependent conservation is known in conservation planning but new to AES design. • We design a state-dependent AES for meadow bird conservation in Germany. • We show that cost-effectiveness gains of a state-dependent AES can be substantial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contextualization: Colombia has experienced multiple land-cover changes derived from socio-economic policies that have reduced the high biodiversity of the country. Knowledge gap: In the Orinoquía region, the pressure to expand the agricultural frontier is increasing, without considering the importance of its natural resources. Purpose: This paper aimed to analyze the land-cover variations associated with agricultural practices, in the department of Vichada, with a special interest in vulnerable ecosystems, such as the Bita's river basin, using Geographic Information System [GIS] analysis of historical images taken by a remote sensor from the United States Geological Service [USGS] Earth Explorer portal. Methodology: Documental review and an analysis of satellite images from 1985 to 2017. Results and conclusions: The results showed that in Vichada, during a 32-year period, there was a transition from forest to cropland and pastures, in which 60% of the forest cover got lost. Moreover, areas of natural savannas were also replaced with pastures for livestock production. These land-cover changes were associated with government policies that fomented illegal occupation of land, monocultures, and nonnative plantation forests. Bita's river basin also lost a significant part of forest cover because of agribusiness development in the municipality of Puerto Carreño (Vichada). These land-cover changes have an impact on the ecological integrity of significant ecosystems and in their functionality in the region, that is why, conservation measures must be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity and agriculture have an inseparable relationship, with interdependent interactions between their constituent components. Agriculture as a basic anthropogenic activity is one of the main factors in the directions of development in biodiversity. Agrobiodiversity is the basis of the existence of food production processes and provides and secures many essential aspects of modern living. Many of these processes are completely unknown, and some of them we are not even aware that they are a consequence of the biological activity of various organisms. Thus, biodiversity provides food, clean drinking water, energy, raw materials for industry, tourism and recreational opportunities, scientific research, and medicine. If agricultural practices that promote biodiversity are used, such as: crop rotation, cover crops, buffer zones, use of biopesticides, beneficial insects and intercrops, then natural processes in soil, plants and environment are significantly intensified for the benefit of farmers, plants and the overall environment. On the other hand, if techniques and methods that reduce biodiversity are applied in the agroecosystem and its environment, such as fertilizers, chemical pesticides, hormones, intensive processing, monoculture and others, processes of reduction, disappearance and pollution of the environment and the overall biodiversity occur. Therefore, careful selection of agricultural practices is needed that would not jeopardize the survival of the species, and at the same time high yields with good quality will be achieved. The aim of this review paper is to present up to date relationship between biodiversity and agriculture and to highlight current issues of biodiversity loss and methods for its conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper investigates a situation of coexistence of landraces and modern crop varieties for market-oriented production in the Yunnan rice fields in China. Through a fieldwork survey of an experiment by the government with the introduction of modern varieties in traditional villages, the paper shows that landraces and modern crop varieties can co-exist. The analysis shows that the major features that play a role in the choices made by the individual farmers between modern crop varieties and landraces are not the agronomic conditions, although they certainly play a role, but economic and social drivers. The results of the analysis allows a better understanding of the distinct socio-economic drivers and impacts of each of the production systems. The latter can provide insights for policy strategies aimed at promoting agrobiodiversity rich landscapes in situations of co-existence of heterogeneous socio-technical production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global models of biodiversity and ecosystem services base their calculations on land use classifications, where agricultural land is only divided into a few categories of management intensity. These land use classifications were not developed to underpin biodiversity models. This is why crop diversity and the presence of non-crop plants or livestock in agricultural land are not considered in these classifications, despite the effect they have on agrobiodiversity and the supply of ecosystem services. Therefore, the use of these classifications in models results in neglecting current diversified agricultural systems and the effect of diversification practices on biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this paper, we present a new global classification of agricultural land management systems organized as a matrix of diversity and intensity ranges. The classification is based on a literature review and expert interviews and is illustrated by examples of agricultural systems around the world. This classification is a first step to build land use and land cover maps that consider diversified agricultural systems, which could then be used by global biodiversity and ecosystem services models. The matrix structure of the classification makes it flexible and adjustable to use for different purposes, such as exploring the potential of preserving biodiversity in agricultural land through land-use scenarios or assessing trade-offs between intensity and diversity. • Agricultural diversity and intensity classification to improve biodiversity models. • Mixture of crops, livestock and non-crop species characterize cropland diversity. • Pesticide use, fertilizer type and amount, and irrigation characterize intensity. • Grazing intensity, sowing and mowing management and age characterize grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional agrobiodiversity (FAB) has severely declined during the last decades. Current efforts to reinforce FAB are mainly focused on single-actor, parcel-based measures, whereas multi-actor landscape approaches are supposed to be more effective. In this paper, we propose a social–ecological framework that structures how different land users at both the parcel and landscape level interact with FAB as a natural resource. Furthermore, we introduce 1 m2 FAB gardens as an interactive multipurpose measurement tool to gather data on ecosystem services in collaboration with land users. The presented action research approach provides new insights on motivations and interests of different land users in FAB and how knowledge exchange can result in a higher motivation to invest in FAB. Using a case study in Flanders, we illustrate the FAB-garden concept and highlight its strengths and necessary considerations to properly complement other research approaches in this social–ecological system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates transformations and trends in a traditional agricultural system in Kiangan, Philippines as a consequence of evolving social-ecological scenarios. For this study, Modified Sustainable Livelihood Framework (MSLF) and Drivers-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses (DPSIR) framework identified major driving forces in Kiangan social-ecological system (SES) and elucidated relationships and interactions between them. This study however unveiled the highly disturbed state of Kiangan SES and erosion of Ifugao culture and belief systems owing to the ingress of modernization, mind-set change among locals and weak institutional support. In particular, the polytheism to Christianity shift was a causative factor leading to abandonment of traditional rice varieties and farming rituals as well as the transformation of Kiangan upland landscape and its associated biophysical structures. Furthermore, productivity-driven approach to food production also resulted in wide scale agro-biodiversity losses, environmental degradation and cultural erosion. It was nonetheless observed that the Kiangan SES has, as of this time, not yet shifted to an alternative state and is still able to conserve its main features despite pressures to it. Interventions are therefore warranted to redirect the trajectory of Kiangan SES, steer it toward sustainable agricultural development and consequently into its preservation on behalf of the people that depend on it for food and livelihood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding farmers' views, knowledge and perceptions regarding the potential loss of traditional varieties is an important input for any on-farm conservation initiative or policy. With almost exclusive focus on scientists' recommendations, the paper argues that one of the major reasons for past failure of agrobiodiversity policies to result in the level of impact expected is their failure to adequately integrate farmers' knowledge. With regard to the different views and sometimes results, and given that farmers' knowledge is the true reflection of the reality on the ground, it remains essential to understand their assessment and perceptions of the causes and consequences of replacement. Characterizing farmers and distinguishing between those who perceive replacement and loss and those who do not can assist in bridging the science-policy gap. Thus, this paper aims to explain farmers' perceptions of the potential loss of traditional varieties of crops. As part of a bigger project, called the Genetic Resources Policy Initiative, data for this paper was elicited from 395 farm households in Northern Ethiopia in 2007. The survey did not focus on a specific crop variety, as the purpose of the study was to broadly elicit farmers' general perceptions for traditional varieties of crops in the study areas. The data was analyzed by using a principal components analysis followed by the Poisson regression analysis. The findings suggest that replacement and loss lead to the disappearance of traditional varieties which, in turn, affects farmers' livelihoods. This happens mainly because traditional varieties lose their desirable traits and soils increasingly become less suited to these varieties. Prosperous farmers earn most of their income from crop production and are less dependent on traditional varieties. Unlike them, resourcepoor farmers' livelihoods are more dependent on a portfolio of traditional varieties, and they are therefore more interested in, concerned with and informed about the replacement. Rather than what farmers do themselves, their perceptions are shaped by observing others, their dependence on traditional varieties, their concern, and the information they receive. To avoid trade-offs and take advantage of the synergies between crop productivity and crop diversity, mitigation measures will remain indispensable in terms of linking agricultural extension services with on-farm conservation initiatives. Measures could include the development of on-farm conservation partnership with farmers who acknowledge the causes and consequences (to their livelihoods) of the replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to propose principles for creating a metadata extension to the Darwin Core standard that addresses the agrobiodiversity data, with a scope on ecological interactions. These principles have been compiled from the scientific literature, giving special attention to recommendations of the DCMI Abstract Model, which outlines the principles for creating metadata. The DCMI Abstract Model governs the creation of the Dublin Core metadata standard upon which Darwin Core is based. The requirements of ISO/IEC 11179-4/2004 standard for the definition of metadata were also taken into consideration. A prototype of a metadata record for the field of ecological interactions, which is the scope of this research within agrobiodiversity, was created to demonstrate the format that metadata will have when the extension is finished. This research an effort to propose more effective tools for agrobiodiversity data management, but it is necessary to mature and deepen the discussions around the conceptual aspects of the ecological interactions in agrobiodiversity and the relationship of the new metadata extension with the vocabulary of the Darwin Core, as well a robust methodology to create DwC extensions is still pending of being developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nepal ranks 49th in the world for biodiversity richness. Among 577 cultivated species in Nepal, 484 are indigenous and 93 are introduced. About 85% of these cultivated crop species are neglected and underutilized. The use of landraces in research and breeding is only about 5%. Just three crops, viz., rice (Oryza sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and maize (Zea mays L.), cover 83% of the total cultivated area. Monogenotyping (the use of genotypes containing genetic material from a single parent) field, kitchen, market, and food items have triggered new problems. In Nepal, neglected and underutilized species (NUS) are those crop species that are not included in formal research, education, and development. Future smart crops (FSCs) are NUS that are known for their high potential for food, nutritional security, and high adaptability to changing climate. FSCs have tremendous potential to contribute to food security, nutrition, dietary and culinary diversification, health, income generation, and are well adapted to marginal soils and harsh climatic conditions. To manage (conserve and utilize) all agricultural genetic resources, including NUS and FSC, 25 conservation methods, along with more than 30 good practices, have been practiced in Nepal. Many of the NUS have not been adequately studied for their nutritional value and adaptability to harsh environments. This paper provides current status and potential of NUS and FSCs for developing site-specific staple, nutritious, diversified products and climate-resilient varieties. This review also addresses the prospects of long-term conservation and sustainable agriculture systems in Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a shortage of studies about slash-and-burn in well-established agricultural systems and its importance for improving food production and enhancing biodiversity and agricultural diversity in the tropics and sub-tropics. A long and important tradition of slash-and-burn in black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production persists in the Prudentópolis municipality in southern Brazil. This agricultural system is practised over hilly terrain with shallow soil. In addition, mountainous areas prevent agricultural modernization, ensuring the persistence of this farming technique. Using an official dataset of bean production and semi-structured interviews with farmers and agricultural experts, the paper investigates slash-and-burn characteristics in a consolidated agricultural region and assesses the prospects for its persistence. The slash-and-burn system, intended mainly for bean crops, corresponds to 30% of the total bean yield in Prudentópolis. Slash-and-burn agriculture has a vital role to play for local food production and a sustainable eco-system. Therefore, a demographic and land-use transition might be experienced in this region and in similar regions in the tropics, with social and environmental implications for food production, land use dynamics and rural migration and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increasing evidence of threats to Indigenous food systems, many Indigenous communities are innovating to enhance their resilience while conserving and promoting their traditional food systems, offering important lessons for rural development policy. This community-based case study explores one such Indigenous initiative: Sanjeevini, in Andhra Pradesh, India. Sanjeevini has been effective in designing and implementing creative strategies for seed sovereignty and biocultural conservation. Interviews with key persons associated with Sanjeevini (n = 8) and participatory field-research in the Araku Valley region, including interviews with small scale farmers (n = 30), revealed community development strategies emphasising a link between biological and cultural heritage in Indigenous food systems. These include hosting cultural seed festivals, establishing and maintaining community-based seed banks, and facilitating inter-community seed exchanges. Importantly, these strategies take place against a backdrop of community-organising that counteracts the dominant neo-liberal development agenda while resisting deforestation that threatens Indigenous livelihoods. Sanjeevini's success demonstrates that through the adaptive assertion of self-determination, rural social change is possible. This paper highlights alternative, community-driven articulations of seed sovereignty while underscoring the significance of this community's own vision in guiding rural innovation and offering promising working models for cultivating rural resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autochthonous Pramenka (Zackel) sheep has been recognized as an important element of regional agro-biodiversity, relevant to the tradition that encompasses the cultural heritage of Serbia. The recognition that locally adapted animal breeds gained genetic resistance and adaptability through evolution; modern sustainable farming practices are far more attuned to the need for preserving and utilizing Zackel sheep types. The risk factors leading to rapid and severe decline in Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep population have been described in the paper. The objective of the study was to obtain the data necessary for development of conservation and sustainable use strategies of Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep. Determination of the conservation value upon characteristics of the breed was performed, in aim to identify priorities in accordance with the criteria of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The positive and negative characteristics of the Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep, opportunities for utilization, as well as ambiental challenges that affect the breed were analyzed in the paper. The importance of this breed for maintenance of cultural tradition, landscape preservation and long-term rural development by in-situ conservation through utilization is also discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a comprehensive framework for analysing formal rules regulating the involvement of various actors in protected areas decision-making over time and apply it to Poland. Based on the analysis of legal acts and policy documents, we suggest that since the democratic transition started in 1989, the governance of Polish protected areas has been increasingly multi-level and participatory. However, different designations indicate different levels of involvement by non-state actors, with Natura 2000 standing out from the traditional protected areas. Regarding governance issues, establishing and taking management decisions were characterised by the greatest changes in actors’ involvement. While participation of non-public actors is still limited mostly to information and consultation, the involvement of non-state public actors of various levels increased significantly. The paper highlights the importance of a systematic analysis of legal rules as a starting point for empirical investigation of the governance of protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

India with 2.4% of total global land area is home for about 8% of global biological diversity. In providing goods and services to 18% of world's human population this megadiverse country is losing its biological wealth at an alarming rate. The degradation of terrestrial (forests, grasslands, agriculture, etc.) and aquatic (small to large fresh and marine water bodies) ecosystems has been the key factor in accelerating this irreversible and unrepairable loss. Although ecosystem restoration targets are well reflected in various programs and policies of India, the scientific insights and preparedness on this topic and critical analysis of this knowledge to guide policy initiatives for ecosystem restoration was lacking. Therefore, this editorial paper reviewed 22 papers, published in special issue on ' Ecological Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems in India: Science and Practices ' in Ecological Engineering journal, to analyse the scientific knowledge to inform policy and practices towards achieving ecosystem restoration goals in India (https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/ecological-engineering/special-issue/109W0PCNQBM). Most studies in this special issue focus on providing solutions for restoration of different degraded ecosystems. A few of them are solving the dilemma of native and non-native species selection for reforestation and afforestation activities. One study provides insights on management of an invasive species in grassland ecosystems. Three studies suggest adopting conservation agriculture practices to enhance agricultural biodiversity, carbon sequestration and socio-economic benefits for marginal farmers. Two out of five papers dealing with aquatic ecosystems provide a framework to quantify the magnitude of degradation, other two propose restoration technologies for coastal zones on India and one assessing the effectiveness of relocating collar reef from degraded urban coasts to reference coastal sites. • Twenty-two papers published in a special issue are reviewed here. • Papers cover terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem restoration studies from India. • 87% papers provide pragmatic solutions for restoration of degraded ecosystems. • Timely collection on scientific preparedness of India for ecosystem restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively few farmers today actively maintain crop biodiversity, but for most of the history of agriculture this was the norm. Archaeobotanical analyses can reveal the processes that led to the evolution of crop biodiversity throughout the Holocene, an issue of critical importance in an era of climate change and agrobiodiversity loss. Indigenous eastern North Americans domesticated several annual seed crops, called the Eastern Agricultural Complex, beginning c. 1800 BC. Using population morphometrics, this paper reports new evidence for the evolution of a domesticated sub-species of one of these crops, erect knotweed (Polyongum erectum L.), and its subsequent diversification under cultivation. Morphometric analyses were conducted on archaeological erect knotweed populations spanning its ancient cultivated range, and these were directly dated to c. 1–1350 AD, anchoring the evolution of this crop in both time and space. Domesticated erect knotweed first appears c. 1 AD in the Middle Ohio Valley. A diachronic series of populations from western Illinois shows that this species was domesticated again c. 150–1000 AD. This study shows how agricultural knowledge and material were maintained and shared (or not) by communities during an important era in eastern North America's history: when small communities were aggregating to form the earliest urban center at Cahokia, in the American Bottom floodplain. A distinctive landrace was developed by farmers in the American Bottom which is significantly different from cultivated populations in other regions. Subsequent Mississippian assemblages (c. 1000–1350 AD) indicate divergent agricultural communities of practice, and possibly the eventual feralization of erect knotweed. Archaeobotanical studies have a vast untapped potential to reveal interaction between communities, or their isolation, and to investigate the evolution of crops after initial domestication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As a semi-natural ecosystem, the agroecosystem is both a major provider and a major beneficiary of ecosystem services (ES). The aim of this paper was to contribute to the scientific understanding of the current status of AES research, recognize the knowledge base and influential articles, and uncover the key research themes and how the research themes have evolved over the past decade. Bibliometric methods based on the ISI Web of Science (WoS) database were used to analyse articles related to AES published between 2008 and 2017. A total of 3573 records were evaluated during this study. The results show that there has been a significant increase in research interest in the AES field. The most frequent keywords were "Biodiversity", "Land use change" and "Climate change". This study divides the common keywords into 7 categories and analyses them over two periods. Agrobiodiversity and land use have been emphasized in current AES research, which is a trend that will likely continue in the future. Valuation is indispensable, but AES research has needs beyond monetary valuation. In the future, multisubject and multimethod integrative research for understanding, modelling, evaluating, and managing the AES will be more abundant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the relationship between agrobiodiversity and food security. Results demonstrate that agrobiodiverse landscapes can contribute to food and nutrition security. Maize and bean production, as well as overall agrobiodiversity, were significantly correlated with a reduction in number of months of food insecurity. Due to the volatility of the coffee market, the high prices of food, the inadequate quality of food, and the limited availability and access to food produced inside or outside the communities, strategies that strengthen and diversify local food systems are essential to improving food and nutrition security, as well as livelihoods in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional agricultural landscape (TAL) in Slovakia comprises mosaics of small-scale arable fields and permanent agricultural cultivations with balks (mounds, heaps, or terraces). Traditional farming management has been significantly influenced by agricultural collectivization, by the change from centrally planned to market economy after 1989, and the 2004 Slovakia accession to the EU. Detailed results of a questionnaire survey inspired the main objective of this paper; analysis and comparison of local residents' attitudes to the TAL, its management and the various socioecological factors in three different TAL study areas. Identified differences and commonalities between the opinions of different groups of respondents on TAL management contribute to fine-tuning recent agricultural and rural policies and local management plans. Rural identity expressed in the knowledge and perception of local land users is crucial in TAL maintenance and sustainable rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land morphology influences and shapes the distribution of biodiversity, agricultural production and economic activity. It can be systematized into landforms and quantitatively categorized using the land morphology concept (LMC). The LMC classifies landforms according to their hydrological position in the watershed. This paper presents an automated method to categorize LMC in a way that facilitates land morphology mapping (LMM) by using three criteria: flat areas, surface curvature and hydrological features. The LMM presents a different view to evaluate and describe landforms by distinguishing valley bottoms and hilltops from flat areas considered as a landform per se in common practice in landform classification. The main goal is to establish and validate criteria to automatize LMM method and create a 25 m spatial resolution GIS map of mainland Portugal's land morphology and landforms. The validation of the automated LMM method was done by comparison between automated and manual procedures in three representative Portugal landforms. To evaluate the compatibility between national and local scales, the LM map was compared with two local level applications using the same automated LMM method, for the Lisbon and Loures municipalities. The LM map was also compared with the distribution of soils from wet system in order to interpret local relationships between soils distribution and landforms, and two widely known automated landform classifications. The results show that the automated LMM method and data used is robust enough to map landforms on a national scale, with sufficient detail to capture finer landforms details at the local scale. This method can be applied across regions and countries (simply by modifying slope gradient) and is a complementary tool to other landform classifications to solve the mapping issues that occur in flat areas when the hillslope is absent. It also may contribute to enhance ecological land unit's maps and soil maps, by modelling natural systems and map ecosystem services accurately, e.g. valley bottoms and floodplains, give information about flood risk areas. It may contribute to support environmental and planning authorities in taking decisions based on a more thorough analysis of land value and ecological functions, across scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary diversity and consequent nutritional security are vital for a healthy life. Changes in socioeconomic conditions and commercialisation of agriculture have led long lasting changes in the land use pattern and gradual decline of home gardens in Kerala. Present paper illustrates the strategies adopted to revive home gardening in Wayanad district of Kerala. With the support of quantitative and qualitative data, this paper analyses the impacts of home gardening on small and marginal farm households in terms of ensuring dietary diversity, quality vegetables and fruits, and exercising choice of people. Study shows that home gardening increased women's status in terms of increased consumption of vegetables, exchanging seeds and vegetables with neighbours and relatives, and increased their capacity in household decision making pertained to food and diet of the family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the temporal practices inherent in the work of global agrobiodiversity conservation, drawing on ongoing research with the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. It contrasts the distinctive, future-making practices inherent in the work of ex situ cold seed storage, with the normative, entropic view of the relationship of species diversity with time that arises from the field of biodiversity conservation more generally. These differences point to the value of comparative studies of natural and cultural heritage conservation practices that focus on their politics and ontologies to reveal the heterogeneity of approaches across these fields, and the different worlds they each produce in conserving their endangered objects for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the functional diversity of home gardens and their socio-ecological determinants is essential for mainstreaming these agroforestry practices into agrobiodiversity conservation strategies. This paper analyzed functional diversity of home gardens, identified the socio-ecological drivers of functions assigned to them, and assessed the agrobiodiversity benefits of home gardens functions. Methods: Using data on occurring species in home garden (HG) and functions assigned to each species by the gardeners, the study combined clustering and discriminant canonical analyses to explore the functional diversity of 360 home gardens in Benin, West Africa. Next, multinomial logistic models and chi-square tests were used to analyze the effect of socio-demographic characteristics of gardeners (age, gender, and education level), agroecological zones (humid, sub-humid, and semi-arid), and management regime (single and multiple managers) on the possession of a functional type of home gardens. Generalized linear models were used to assess the effect of the functions of home gardens and the determinant factor on their potential in conserving agrobiodiversity. Results: Seven functional groups of home gardens, four with specific functions (food, medicinal, or both food and medicinal) and three with multiple functions (more than two main functions), were found. Women owned most of home gardens with primarily food plant production purpose while men owned most of home gardens with primarily medicinal plant production purposes. Finding also showed that multifunctional home gardens had higher plant species diversity. Specifically, crops and crop wild relatives occurred mainly in home gardens with food function while wild plant species were mostly found in home gardens with mainly medicinal function. Conclusions: Home gardening is driven by functions beyond food production. These functions are mostly related to direct and extractive values of home gardens. Functions of home gardens were gendered, with women mostly involved in home food gardens, and contribute to maintenance of crops and crop wild relatives while men were mostly home medicinal gardeners and contribute to the maintenance of wild plant species in home gardens. Although multiple functional home gardens were related to higher plant diversity, there was no guarantee for long-term maintenance of plant species in home gardens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a historical perspective on the interactions between legal standards and agricultural practices relating to guaraná, an energy-inducing Amazonian plant that is in increasing demand. Guaraná is managed in a number of socio-technical contexts, ranging from the fizzy drink industry to alternative agro-ecological farming systems, and is subject to a great many legal rules that determine the conditions for its use and appropriation. The paper shows how, in guaraná's native region of Maués, Brazilian Amazonia, various stakeholders including the indigenous population, associations of smallholdings and multinationals use legal standards in order to gain prerogatives over the plant and/or win a share of a growing market. In spite of the fact that the plant has been domesticated by the Sateré- Mawé and that traditional knowledge has been recognized in Brazil, to a certain extent history has dispossessed them of their rights to guaraná. New political and economic circumstances have favoured those actors committed to strategies of agricultural modernization and industrial processing. On the other hand, the ecologization of agriculture and the increasing numbers of instruments for differentiating production (such as fair trade, organic farming and geographical indications) seem to be favouring diversification in the methods of managing guaraná, as well as a certain re-appropriation of the plant by local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autochthonous Pramenka (Zackel) sheep has been recognized as an important element of regional agro-biodiversity, relevant to the tradition that encompasses the cultural heritage of Serbia. The recognition that locally adapted animal breeds gained genetic resistance and adaptability through evolution; modern sustainable farming practices are far more attuned to the need for preserving and utilizing Zackel sheep types. The risk factors leading to rapid and severe decline in Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep population have been described in the paper. The objective of the study was to obtain the data necessary for development of conservation and sustainable use strategies of Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep. Determination of the conservation value upon characteristics of the breed was performed, in aim to identify priorities in accordance with the criteria of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The positive and negative characteristics of the Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep, opportunities for utilization, as well as ambiental challenges that affect the breed were analyzed in the paper. The importance of this breed for maintenance of cultural tradition, landscape preservation and longterm rural development by in-situ conservation through utilization is also discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role of direct compensation payments for agrobiodiversity conservation, using minor millet landraces in India as an example. The cost of farmer participation in a hypothetical ‘payments for agrobiodiversity conservation services’ (PACS) scheme is estimated using a stated preference valuation approach. Significant inter-crop and inter-varietal differences are observed with respect to consumption values, upon which the compensation demanded by farm households is shown to primarily depend. Drawing on a categorisation of consumption values and farmer preferences, the paper points to the importance of simultaneously considering a range of potential interventions in order to conserve a priority portfolio of agrobiodiverse resources in predominantly subsistence-based agricultural systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Understanding farmers' reasons for growing diverse crop portfolios is essential for supporting the conservation of agricultural biodiversity to foster social-ecological resilience and conserve crop genetic resources. In this paper, Q methodology is applied to examine the motivations for growing diverse crops among semi-subsistence rural farmers in Papua New Guinea. Various types of farmers are identified including so-called ‘marketer-consumers,’ who are highly motivated by crop sale, and ‘exhibitionists,’ who prioritize the ‘show’ values of crops. This approach can be applied to better target programs seeking to conserve crop diversity and promote new crop varieties in regions undergoing rapid transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diet and nutrition-related behaviours are embedded in cultural and environmental contexts: adoption of new knowledge depends on how easily it can be integrated into existing knowledge systems. As dietary diversity promotion becomes an increasingly common component of nutrition education, understanding local nutrition knowledge systems and local concepts about dietary diversity is essential to formulate efficient messages. Methods: This paper draws on in-depth qualitative ethnographic research conducted in small-scale agricultural communities in Tanzania. Data were collected using interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation in the East Usambara Mountains, an area that is home primarily to the Shambaa and Bondei ethnic groups, but has a long history of ethnic diversity and ethnic intermixing. Results: The data showed a high degree of consensus among participants who reported that dietary diversity is important because it maintains and enhances appetite across days, months and seasons. Local people reported that sufficient cash resources, agrobiodiversity, heterogeneity within the landscape, and livelihood diversity all supported their ability to consume a varied diet and achieve good nutritional status. Other variables affecting diet and dietary diversity included seasonality, household size, and gender. Conclusions: The results suggest that dietary diversity was perceived as something all people, both rich and poor, could achieve. There was significant overlap between local and scientific understandings of dietary diversity, suggesting that novel information on the importance of dietary diversity promoted through education will likely be easily integrated into the existing knowledge systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of plum varieties is generally done on the base of distinctive plant traits such as shape, size, and fruit drupe color identified during the variety registration, following official descriptors. In this paper, image analysis techniques were applied to study endocarps variability of 23 Prunus domestica cultivars from Sardinia. Digital images were acquired and analysed using a macro specifically developed to measure morpho-colorimetric endocarps features. The data were later statistically processed applying the stepwise Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) to implement a statistical classifier able to classify each variety and identify plausible synonymy groups. The present study represent the first attempt to investigate the morphology and morphometry of plum endocarps in order to characterize the whole Sardinian plum agrobiodiversity. It is also the evidence of the usefulness of image analysis techniques in taxonomic investigations too, as well as for the conservation and enhancement of traditional plums for consumer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cadastral district of Horný Tisovník represents a traditionally managed Carpathian mountain agricultural landscape with extensive terraces. It was historically governed by two counties with different feudal economic systems - agricultural and industrial. This paper aims to enrich traditional methods in environmental history. We applied geospatial statistics and multivariate data analysis for the assessment of environmental factors influencing the distribution of agricultural terraces. Using linear models, the hypothesis was tested that the terrace distribution is functionally related to selected factors (affiliation to the historic counties; average altitude and slope; distance from water, buildings and settlements; units of natural potential vegetation; and current land use). Significantly greater amounts of terraces were located in the agricultural county compared to the industrial county. A principal component analysis showed the coincidence between the current agricultural land use and higher concentrations of terraces occurring in lower altitudes, closer to settlements and buildings, and within the unit of Carpathian oak-hornbeam forests. These findings regarding the most significant factors influencing the distribution of terraces are used in proposals for incentives to improve the management of the traditional agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over time, grassland use has changed from traditional (extensive) to intensive agricultural management, a change which has caused biodiversity loss in the European grassland area. To save Europe's biodiversity, the most important measure was the establishment of the Natura 2000 network. Goričko Landscape Park in Slovenia is in Natura 2000 to preserve its traditional and extensive small-scale farming. The aims of this research were to identify potential obstacles to proper management of the extensively used meadows in this region and identify major factors that would affect such management in order to prepare more appropriate strategies for habitat conservation. The data was collected by online survey and in paper and pencil format. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling, we can conclude that less than a half of 228 respondents can identify what activities are permitted in a Natura 2000 area, which indicates a lack of knowledge about Natura 2000. The majority agree with meadow management in the welfare of protected plants and animals but would accept management under stricter regulations only if accompanied by higher subsidies in for management under stricter regulations. These respondents are not prepared to participate in measures for preserving biodiversity without beneficiaries. Respondents have in average a positive opinion toward protected plants and animals, but the procedure for obtaining environmental subsidies for meadows seems to them too complicated. Although the majority of respondents do not see a Natura 2000 area as a place for quality living, it is the factor with the highest significant effect on willingness to participate in measures to preserve biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the problem of categorizing plant images at the variety level, i.e. at a finer taxonomic grain than state-of-the-art studies usually working at the species level. It therefore introduces two new evaluation datasets of agro-biodiversity interest, each being related to concrete scenarios on large-scale plant resources. They have been chosen so as to involve very different acquisition protocols and visual patterns in order to evaluate if state-of-the-art image classification techniques can generalize to such specific contexts and avoid the cost of building specific ad-hoc solutions. The first one is a collection of 2071 pictures of loose rice seeds built from 95 accessions kept in a bank of seeds. The second one is a collection of 2037 pictures of grape leaves taken in the fields and belonging to 34 varieties among the most commonly ones used in viticulture. Both datasets exhibit a very low inter-class variability resulting in two challenging fine-grained classification tasks, even for expert human operators. A baseline experimental study was conducted on the two datasets using the two most effective families of classification techniques in the state-of-the-art, i.e. convolutional neural networks on one side and fisher vectors-based discriminant models on the other side. It shows that the achieved classification performance is very different between the two problems. It is actually pretty bad for the grape leaves collection but much better in the case of the rice seeds collection for which the acquisition protocol was much more constrained and the morphological variability more visible. The conclusion is that automatically identifying plant varieties might already be feasible for some specific scenarios and in controlled environments but that it is still an open problem in the general case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the contents of a special issue of Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment dedicated to “Agrobiodiversity & Africa”. Placed within the context of the scientific literature on agricultural biodiversity, its contribution to sustainable production and its importance in Africa, this special issue starts off with background articles which reviewed major agroecosystems in Africa, descriptions of their biodiversity resources, management, limitations and concerns. The follow-up scientific papers covered major components of biodiversity for agriculture namely soil biota, species diversity and germplasm diversity. The soil biota papers report research and findings on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere, termite and bacterial communities and evidence on the influence of their diversity on crop production. The crop species diversity papers provide evidence on the role of the diversity in influencing soil microbial properties as well as managing pest and diseases in crop production. Scientific evidence on the role and interactions of germplasm diversity and provenance with the environment are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]