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Actinomycetes are a suitable microbial group for the synthesis of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. Enzymes that may degrade organic material, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, are released by actinomycetes. The aim of this research was to isolate actinomycetes from Rajkot, Gujarat, India’s soil and evaluate the activity of their cellulase and Xylanase enzymes. Starch Casein Agar (SCA) was used to identify a total of 30 isolates of actinomycetes. A qualitative plate assay (CMC-Na, Congo red) revealed that the highest zone of catalysis for MMD1 was 36 mm. Five strains were discovered to be effective for quantitative quantification of endoglucanase utilising filter paper and CMC as substrates: MMD1, MMD2, MMD3, MMD4, and MMD8. Following MMD 1 (endoglucanase 5.4 IU; FPase 4.4 IU), MMD 2 (endoglucanase 4.5 IU; FPase 3.4 IU) has demonstrated considerable endoglucanase and FPase activity. Beechwood xylan was used to treat sugarcane bagasse in order to test Xylanase, and 45% of the xylan (hemicellulose) fraction was obtained. MMD1 and MMD2 measured the xylanase enzyme activity (4.8IU and 4.2IU) in quantitative and qualitative assays (34 mm and 22 mm for BWX and 32 mm and 14 mm for agro-waste xylan). The strain MMD1 was identified as Streptomyces chartreusis through morphological, biochemical, and finally molecular characterization by 16S rRNA sequencing. It was then submitted to NCBI GenBank with the accession number MT254830. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biodegradable paper pulp pots has been gaining traction, especially among environmentally conscious consumers and horticultural practitioners who prioritize sustainability. The choice between paper pulp and polyethylene nursery pots in horticultural practices is a complex decision, involving considerations such as environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, durability, and overall sustainability. This study aims to provide practical insights into the comparative performance of paper pulp and polyethylene pots, specifically in terms of plant health, degradation, and techno-economic considerations. The study involved the growth performance assessment of four plant species, Cannonball Tomato, Celebrity Tomato, Parris Island Lettuce, and French Marigold, in a greenhouse experiment setup. Additionally, a degradation analysis was conducted to determine the average degradation rate and pattern. Finally, a techno-economic analysis compared the value of plant health and degradation with the market price. By evaluating the quality performance aspects of paper pulp pots, this study not only provides valuable insights but also identifies potential areas of improvement for other biodegradable pots, thereby contributing to the ongoing efforts to promote sustainable horticultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development trends and research layout of agricultural resources and the environment (ARE) are the focus of global attention. In this study, we compiled a data set of SCI papers published in the ARE field since the 13th Five-Year Plan. Thereafter, the topic extraction model of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) was used to mine the text content so as to explore the research layout of global ARE. The results show that, between 2016 and the time of this study, 31,559 articles were published in the ARE field, exhibiting an overall upward trend. During this time, China and the United States were the main forces in paper publishing. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, and the US Department of Agriculture were the top three publishing institutions. Research institutes in China, the United States, Russia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Australia cooperated closely, and the CAS was at the center of the cooperation network. The clustering results of text topics based on the LDA model show that three topics—namely, the interaction mechanisms of plants, the rhizosphere, and microorganisms; the mechanisms and predictive evaluation of soil landslides or erosion; and the decomposition and interaction response of organic matter in agroforestry ecosystems—have been the hot research areas in this field since 2016. The management and efficient utilization of farmland nutrients, and the technology and mechanisms of agricultural waste resource utilization have become key research directions since 2019. The research layouts of China and the United States in this field were analyzed, and the similarities and differences were compared. In addition, suggestions for the future development of ARE are proposed. This study is of great significance for the overall development trend of ARE, the timely tracking of scientific research hotspots, outlining key research and development directions, and promoting scientific and technological innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural and applied economists have maintained a public discourse at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) meetings and subsequently published papers discussing the mission of land‐grant institutions and the role of AAEA members in that mission. With a content analysis of 4001 Invited Papers and Presidential Speeches, we find agricultural and applied economists questioned their profession's purpose and role within the land‐grant system. The reflective questions still apply to land‐grant institutions and the agricultural and applied economics profession. We argue that AAEA members are crucial in addressing the food and agricultural challenges connected to society's deepest needs today and into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is an important reservoir of innumerable natural and biological resources fundamental to the sustainability of life and the earth's functionality. The soil is complex due to changing biodiversity, physicochemical characteristics, disturbances, and pedogenesis, which are constituent indices required for the measurement of its healthiness. Hence, there is a need to concertedly protect the soil by consciously promoting practices and behaviors that optimize its priority functions in delivering ecosystem services. It is further significant for crop yield, hence the need to pay more attention to its health. Soil healthiness is also a reflection of its capacity to support biogeochemical processes, abiotic communities, and plant and animal productions. However, agronomic studies, until recently, focused more on the use of chemical indicators in determining soil health, despite the versatile ecophysiological role of microorganisms in soil formation, resource cycling, and management. These biological phenomena expressed by soil microbial communities form the basis for the conversion of diverse organic matters into bioutilizable resources for plants' healthy development. This review, therefore, explored the underlining mechanisms, particularly climate change-related, that caused divergent soil properties and how this impacted the microbial composition of healthy soil. Likewise, several pieces of agronomic literature on the physical characteristics, ecological services, and functions of a healthy soil were compared toward innovative best management practices for improving soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the applications of fast breeding technologies in crop improvement and functional genomics studies. These technologies, including molecular selection, gene mapping, haploid induction, and genome editing, have greatly expedited the process of modifying crop traits and mapping genes. Examples of these technologies being used include the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to modify crop traits and the development of new haploid inducer lines in various plants. The article also highlights specific research papers on genetic improvement in melon, potato, wheat, rice, and tomato crops using these technologies. Additionally, the document discusses various research papers in the field of plant science, covering topics such as stress tolerance in tomatoes, doubled haploid plants in maize and wheat, and gene exploration in different crops. These papers provide valuable insights into breeding materials, marker development, and the cloning of new genes, contributing to the development of new germplasms and varieties in crops. [Extracted from the article]

Rupert Jethro Best (1903–91), working alone at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute in Adelaide between 1934 and 1937, was among the first to purify tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and to propose that it was a complex macromolecule containing protein and another reactive group that was responsible for infectivity of the virus. However, his research was completely overshadowed by that of Wendell Stanley and the duo of Frederick Bawden and Norman (aka Bill) Pirie, working in the United States of America and Great Britain, respectively, to the point where Best is not even mentioned in modern histories of TMV. Many factors have contributed to this lack of recognition for Best. Professor James Prescott, a soil scientist and Best's supervisor at the Waite Institute, failed to appreciate the significance of his research, leading to critical delays in publication that prevented him from claiming precedence for purifying TMV. When Best's research was eventually published, it was in Australian journals that were not broadly distributed, resulting in minimal international exposure for his research. The plant virology community within which he worked in Australia was very small and entirely focused on plant disease control, and not concerned with fundamental questions about the composition of viruses. Communication with similarly interested scientists in the Northern Hemisphere was hindered by the great distances involved. In this paper, pioneering research done by Best on TMV is reviewed, and placed in context with that undertaken by Stanley and by Bawden and Pirie, who are best remembered for purifying TMV and characterising its physicochemical properties. Rupert Jethro Best, working alone in Adelaide at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, was among the first to purify tobacco mosaic virus and to provide evidence that it was a heterogeneous macromolecule, composed mainly of protein but also small prosthetic groups with the properties of a weak acid, wherein lay the activity of the virus. This paper describes the contributions of Rupert Best to early theories on the material nature and mode of reproduction of viruses. Photographer unknown, State Library of South Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems & Community Development's spring-summer 2024 issue features commentaries from the 2023 Agroecology Summit in the U.S. These commentaries challenge the dominant global industrial food system and emphasize the need for unity among progressives in the agroecology movement. The issue also includes open-call papers on various topics, such as college student food security, emergency food assistance, and agrihood development. The journal aims to promote a more equitable and resilient global food system by encouraging collaboration and finding common ground. [Extracted from the article]

Detecting foodborne contamination is a critical challenge in ensuring food safety and preventing human suffering and economic losses. Contaminated food, comprising biological agents (e.g. bacteria, viruses and fungi) and chemicals (e.g. toxins, allergens, antibiotics and heavy metals), poses significant risks to public health. Microfluidic technology has emerged as a transformative solution, revolutionizing the detection of contaminants with precise and efficient methodologies. By manipulating minute volumes of fluid on miniaturized systems, microfluidics enables the creation of portable chips for biosensing applications. Advancements from early glass and silicon devices to modern polymers and cellulose‐based chips have significantly enhanced microfluidic technology, offering adaptability, flexibility, cost‐effectiveness and biocompatibility. Microfluidic systems integrate seamlessly with various biosensing reactions, facilitating nucleic acid amplification, target analyte recognition and accurate signal readouts. As research progresses, microfluidic technology is poised to play a pivotal role in addressing evolving challenges in the detection of foodborne contaminants. In this short review, we delve into various manufacturing materials for state‐of‐the‐art microfluidic devices, including inorganics, elastomers, thermoplastics and paper. Additionally, we examine several applications where microfluidic technology offers unique advantages in the detection of food contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, allergens and more. This review underscores the significant advancement of microfluidic technology and its pivotal role in advancing the detection and mitigation of foodborne contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the potential of a paper diary for strengthening accountability in public agricultural extension services. Therefore a paper diary called 'Diary for Agricultural Extension Officers' was developed and tested in Uganda. A qualitative case study research approach was applied for the development and assessment of the diary. Data were collected using focus group discussions and individual face-to-face interviews. Data analysis was conducted using the content analysis method. Paper diaries can strengthen accountability in public agricultural extension services by enabling alignment of the extension activities of the field agents to the goals of the extension service and to the needs of the beneficiaries, in addition to mitigating information asymmetry about the extension activities. However, the implementation of paper diaries requires sensitization of the beneficiaries on the need for verification and feedback. This study is centred around addressing a practical problem of field agents' accountability and results have the potential to improve management of public services such as agricultural extension. Moreover, the findings could also be relevant for all types of organizations and service delivery methods. This study expanded the boundaries of the principal-agent theory by applying it to the accountability of agricultural extension services using paper diaries, which have hitherto not been widely applied. This study advances the debates of accountability and coordination of agricultural extension services by assessing the potential of a paper diary as the literature has to date assessed the potential of electronic diaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture, alongside construction and mining, is one of the three most hazardous industries, and is characterized by numerous risk factors for occupational accidents. Unlike other industries, agriculture faces significant safety concerns related to the natural environment. Determining the causes of accidents is therefore imperative for accident prevention. However, the difficulty in investigating accidents owing to inadequate reporting and management systems among self-employed farmers hampers the determination of their causes. This study aims to determine the factors influencing agricultural accidents through a literature review. A systematic literature search was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The initial search yielded 165 articles of which 34 papers were selected after removing those by applying the selection criteria. The selected papers were categorized into three domains: work accidents, machinery accidents, and farmer safety promotion. Accident causes were classified using the 4M technique: machine, media, man, and management. The results were visualized with a heat map. The main causes of accidents thus identified were insufficient operation/management, inappropriate work situation, and insufficient education/training. The findings of this study can serve as foundational data for developing measures to improve working environments not only in agriculture but also in other high-hazard industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an innovative IoT-enabled crop storage monitoring system designed to revolutionize the preservation and quality assurance of stored agricultural produce. Central to this system are IoT sensors strategically deployed within storage facilities. These sensors are tasked with the continuous tracking and monitoring of crucial environmental parameters, specifically temperature, humidity, and gas levels. Leveraging this real-time data, the system is engineered to promptly detect and respond to any deviations from the prescribed optimal storage conditions. The core strength of this system lies in its ability to generate instantaneous alerts upon detecting irregularities. These alerts serve as preemptive measures, effectively averting potential spoilage and curtailing post-harvest losses by enabling timely interventions and corrective actions. By harnessing IoT technology, this paper aims to create a proactive, automated, and responsive framework that ensures the integrity and safety of stored agricultural produce, ultimately contributing to enhanced food security and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper shows how the agri-sector is influenced by the emergence and development of the digitisation process. This is presented using a bibliometric analysis. The importance of studying and understanding the current challenges facing the agricultural sector including the emergence and development of the digitisation process of the sector is the main aim of this paper. All these challenges are felt by both the agricultural sector and the economy as a whole. This paper contributes to the literature. This is due to the bibliometric analysis through which the most important aspects of the challenges facing the entire agricultural sector today are observed. Among the current challenges facing the agricultural sector, climate change is among the most important. The results of the bibliometric analysis show that the keywords searched and their clustering confirm that the emergence and rapid development of digitisation brings both positive and negative effects to the whole agricultural sector. Following the search of Web of Science and Scopus databases, 203 papers were identified in Web of Science and Scopus using the phrase "the impact of digitization on agriculture". The bilbiometric analysis comprises several steps, including the analysis of the years of emergence of studies on the emergence of the digitisation process in agriculture. Thus, within this stage, the analysis of the years, it is signalled the transition from some aspects that concern the technological side to other economic and even human aspects. On the whole, there is a shift in research topics towards studying how the emergence and development of the digitisation process brings both positive and negative influences between the agricultural sector and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses four relevant climate actions in Indian agricultural sector through the lens of United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to understand how climate actions (SDG 13) are linked with other SDGs and their targets and what measures can be taken to scale up these actions. Four board categories of climate actions are considered for this exercise: shift to less-flooded paddy water management practices; minimizing overuse of nitrogen-based fertilizer, system of rice intensification and climate smart agricultural practices. A mixed method has been followed: first, scoping review of literature between 2010 and 2022 is undertaken to capture the growing body of literature and then a normalized weighted score is used to understand the net strength of the linkages. Scoping review helped in identifying 100 studies spanned across Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) and the eastern part of Peninsular India. Findings from the scoring method suggest that these practices have linkages with 15 SDGs and as many as 43 SDG targets. Almost all linkages are positive (synergy) but there are a few negative linkages (trade-offs) as well. Trade-offs include exacerbating inequalities including gender, high upfront cost, requirement of skilled labor, lack of access to information and finance. This paper provides a detailed description of these trade-offs and suggests measures to tackle and minimize them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2007/2008, a triple crisis of food, fuel and finance sparked a global rush for agricultural land; tens of millions of hectares were acquired, primarily by foreign investors, within countries in the Global South. Amidst those transactions, intergovernmental organizations, national governments, investors, and community members envisioned what "success" of such investments entails. Although not explicitly defined, each stakeholder had different conceptualizations and measures of it, based upon the descriptions used and desired outcomes sought. Despite a large amount of literature analyzing the global rush for land, as far as we are aware no one has analyzed the diverse viewpoints about what success entails. This paper compares conceptualizations among four key stakeholder groups, based on ideal types from dominant narratives, and develops a typology of ideal stakeholder framing of success to allow comparisons of uses and thereby provide a foundation for researchers who are assessing the global land rush. This paper provides clarity about widely used, but inconsistently defined, framing providing an important foundation for clarity of meaning and comparative differences between stakeholders. The typology advances the discourse on the land rush by providing nuance to this widely used framing and makes explicit its diverse meanings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy justice remains relatively under-researched outside of the Western context, especially in Asia. This paper addresses that gap by investigating the process of energy transition in Taiwan through the socio-spatial lens and institutional points of view. The paper underscores the urgency of recognizing and addressing the overlooked social injustices across different territories, advocating an integrated planning approach that incorporates a just energy transition perspective to reduce the uneven negative impacts of deploying renewable energies across communities and regional territories. Drawing on a case study of the Changhua region, the paper identifies conflicts arising from the rapid deployment of renewable energy, such as land use changes that displace farming activities and negatively affect rural stakeholders. The findings suggest the need to urgently address the gap between top–down goals in energy transition and bottom–up considerations to raise awareness and prevent injustices that risk deepening the existing socio-economic inequities. This paper also proposes a new framework for both new research and policy for (just) energy transition, incorporating distributional, procedural, and recognitional concerns together with a critical view on the cross-scale and cross-sectoral integration as part of the spatial planning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Chinese government has initiated assertive centralization efforts in its approach to environmental governance. However, the efficacy of these initiatives demonstrates marked variability across different sectors. While the central-local relational framework has traditionally been employed to elucidate these disparities, its explanatory power is showing signs of strain. This paper, through policy analysis and field interviews, investigates regulatory conflicts in land use for ecological and agricultural purposes within China. The findings highlight instances of overlapping jurisdictions and discordant policy objectives among agencies responsible for delineating ecological spaces and agricultural zones. While these conflicts seem to stem from the dynamics between the central and local governments, they more accurately reflect the inherent characteristics of fragmented authoritarianism. This paper aims to expand the theory of fragmented authoritarianism by incorporating the dimension of inter-departmental competition into environmental governance, moving beyond the traditional binary analysis framework of central-local relations. It seeks to understand and critique its limitations from a broader perspective, emphasizing the role of departmental competition within fragmented authoritarianism. By analyzing this internal mechanism, the paper reveals a more nuanced governance landscape, essentially replacing the traditional central-local paradigm with a model that situates departmental competition within the overall context of fragmented authoritarianism. We propose two models for delineating competition among governmental institutions: the bureaucratic model and the charisma model, thereby advancing and deepening the application of fragmented authoritarianism theory in China's environmental governance. This provides new theoretical insights for understanding the current challenges and developments in China's environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing food loss and waste on each level of agrifood chain is a responsible action, thus each stakeholder on the agrifood chain must create actions that are related to food waste prevention. In this matter, this paper presents an analysis of a statistical study run on a sample of respondents related to food loss and waste on a consumer level of agrifood chain. The study takes into account both quantity and quality parameters and serves as a provider of training data for a model which will be developed based on prediction. Another important aspect of the paper is related to the determination of food loss and waste economical Another crucial aspect discussed in the paper concerns identifying economic behavioural patterns associated with food loss and waste throughout various levels of the agrifood chain. This data will be instrumental in training models for those respective levels. The study emphasizes the significance of raising awareness and taking action to minimize food waste across all phases of the agricultural and food distribution process. It also emphasizes the necessity of developing models and strategies to effectively approach this challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of sustainable water use serves as an indicator of environmental, economic, and social pressure on freshwater resources globally; however, the social element of sustainability is not well researched within water-consumption studies. The objective of this paper is to consider the current state of the literature on social sustainability indicators for water use in agriculture, as well as to describe the social (people) element of sustainability and establish water use as an element of society. By combining viewpoints, systematic literature reviews address research topics with a strength that no single work can have. From 314 papers published between 2013 and 2023, 42 papers were eligible for the review. This work employed a mixed-methods approach that included a systematic review following the (PRISMA) framework, scientific mapping through VOSviewer software (version 1.6.19), thematic reviews, and a review of the grey literature retrieved from artificial intelligence and deep learning technologies. The findings indicate that social sustainability indicators are based on environmental indicators. There are no set standards for what to consider as a social indicator of water use or for how these indictors can be measured. Life-cycle assessment and water-footprint assessment frameworks have shown progress with indicators that capture the social value of water such as productivity-reducing externalities, equity, and jobs per cubic metre of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, the numerous, dispersed family farms with small areas continued their activity in many cases considering a certain tradition as closed or partially open systems. After the accession of our country to the European Union in 2007, there has been a tendency to reduce small holdings through mergers, a phenomenon which is otherwise naturally manifested in all the states of the EU, but not to the extent that would be necessary for Romania. Following the analysis of agricultural holdings in Romania by size class in 2020, it was found that out of the 2,887.00 thousand of agricultural holdings, 2,606.98 are under 5 ha in size (54% are under 1 ha, and 36.30% are between 1 and 5 ha). The average size of farms increased in the period 2010-2020 from 3.45 ha to 4.42 ha. The chronic under capitalization of subsistence and semi-subsistence agricultural holdings also contributes to the modest performance of the Romanian agricultural and agri-food sector, compared to its natural potential and the population's expectations that agriculture and the food industry quickly adapt to the EU's common agricultural policy. Since these categories of farms mostly ensure self-consumption for the rural population in most Romanian villages, their association is required to achieve a level of economic development and efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to present a functional and performing agricultural cooperative from Nădlac, Arad County, Romania, that can be a model of good practices for the association of small farmers and Romanian agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to draw a research agenda for unveiling the underlying bottlenecks and possibilities for improving the agricultural total factor productivity in the European Union (EU). To this aim, the paper first surveys the key challenges for the modern agricultural economy. Then, the case of the EU is discussed by looking at the convergence in the partial productivity indicators (including the GHG emission) and growth efficiency that relate to the gap in the total factor productivity growth. The results suggest that the EU member states exhibited growth inefficiency (i.e., a gap in the total factor productivity growth) of 5–9% on average during 2004–2021. The paper also discusses the possibilities to utilize the production theory for assessing the pathways towards improvements in the productivity and sustainability of the EU agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the EU, policies towards territorial development and the sustainability of agrofood systems are exemplified above all in Pillar II of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). However, policies for the promotion of sustainable food systems and networks are mainly driven by municipalities and large cities. In order to understand multi-level configurations of policies to promote Sustainable Food Systems (SFS), this paper strives to identify the challenges that municipal policymakers face in implementing sustainable agro-food policies, from a multilevel governance perspective. To this end, and through in-depth interviews and secondary documentation analysis, the policies implemented in 10 different municipalities of the Madrid Region (Spain) are studied and the challenges these municipalities are facing are analysed from a multi-scale and territorialised perspective. The following research objectives are addressed: (1) description of the type of policies implemented for the promotion of SFS and the narrative frameworks in which they are shaped; (2) identification of challenges of local policies to support SFS especially governance challenges; and (3) proposals for the promotion of sustainable food systems through a multi-level, territorialised governance perspective. The paper identifies three main axes of tension and discoordination--municipal Vs regional powers; agricultural vs. food policies; and rural vs. urban territories--that constrains the sustainability potential of multi-level agro food policies. Finally, we provide a comprehensive, sustainable scheme to assess local agro-food governance throughout a multi-level and multi-actor approach, setting interrelations between the different levels, actors and agencies involved to overcome the lock-ins identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection technology of soft-shell crab breaks the traditional soft-shell crab breeding method. Conventional farming practices rely heavily on human labor for the identification of soft-shell crab birth, and manual inspections are prone to issues such as delayed and inaccurate results. In this paper, we propose an improved high-precision detection algorithm called YOLOF based on YOLOv5. This algorithm achieves precise detection of soft-shell crab. To address the absence of soft-shell crab detection datasets on the internet, this paper establishes the Crab Molting Detection Dataset (CMP) for the purpose of training neural networks. The detection algorithm has undergone several improvements in the following aspects: the introduction of the FassterNetT1 feature extraction network to replace the original CSPDarknet53 backbone network significantly reduces model complexity and computational overhead; The incorporation of an additional auxiliary prediction feature layer of size 5 × 5 enhances the model's adaptability for detecting various molting states of crabs; the activation function GeLU was introduced, to enable the model to extract features more smoothly and reduce information loss during feature extraction; additionally, the definition of Mixed Convolution (MConv) was proposed to replace Partial Convolution (PConv) in the FasterNet Block. MConv exhibits comparable speed to PConv while possessing high-performance convolution capabilities, allowing the backbone network to extract more abundant semantic information; The introduction of the Content-Aware ReAssembly of FEatures (CARAFE) operator, a universal upsampling algorithm, enhances the extraction of crab shell contour information, thereby improving the model's accuracy in detecting soft-shell crab; addition of an Explicit Visual Center (EVC) in the network neck to strengthen the model's grasp of long-range dependencies and critical information in the image, enhancing the model's robustness. The experimental results demonstrate that YOLOF achieves a 5.4% improvement in mean average precision compared to the original YOLOv5s algorithm. The average precision for the classes "shedding_crab" and "end_unshell" increased by 1.7% and 16.3% respectively. The model running speed is 28FPS, indicating that the proposed YOLOF algorithm can accurately and efficiently identify the molting states of crabs. This study provides the theoretical foundation and technical support for the realization of an automated system for soft-shell crab cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper starts from an observation of a discrepancy between the ambitions for sustainable change in the agro-industry and the actual changes being implemented. We offer one possible explanation by investigating the organizational structures conditioning change in this industry. Design/methodology/approach: We apply a case study methodology, focusing on the Danish pig industry and its organizational conditions for change. Based on interviews and document analysis, and building on systems theory, we develop the concept of change structures, understood as decision premises that guide the change of further decision premises. Findings: The analysis suggests that the pig industry's change structures predominantly enable changes that cut costs and optimize the production, which may conflict with and possibly foreclose the changes needed to realize the industry's sustainable ambitions. This conflict and its implications are not acknowledged by the industry. Practical implications: The analysis indicates that the industry may be locked in its current form of organizational change. We suggest a way to overcome the lock-in by fostering organizational mechanisms that enable alternative interpretations to emerge internally. Without this, achieving the required sustainable change in the industry may hinge on stronger external regulation and support. Originality/value: Conceptually, the notion of change structures supplements actor-oriented analytical approaches that focus on change agents and sense-making. Empirically, we contribute with an analysis of the conditions of possibility for sustainable change in an important yet understudied industry in organization studies; namely, the conventional agro-industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The global turkey market represents a sector of increasing growth in the previous decade, and projections for the next decade reflect the probable continuation of this growth. Industry trends also indicate the globalization of turkey meat production, as the loci of production has continually shifted from one dominated by the United States to one with an increasing number of production units globally. In contrast with other popular meat products, comparatively fewer resources have been devoted to academic research concerning the growth, production, distribution, and sale of turkey and turkey products. This lack of research is particularly notable in the area of supply chain management and environmental sustainability. Given the increasing volume of turkey production and lower volume of academic interest, it stands to reason that there remain many opportunities for improvement across the value chain in this industry. Methods: In this paper, we take a "green logistics" approach and use data provided by one of the largest turkey producers in the United States to formulate a mixed-integer program aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of turkey products in a segment of the product supply chain. Results: Implementation of the resulting brooder-finisher farm assignments developed by the model would yield an average 50% decrease (184 metric ton) in greenhouse gas emissions at the operation under investigation while also addressing other areas of significant vulnerability for the industry (production costs, biosecurity risk, and animal wellbeing). Discussion: As consolidated turkey meat production systems continue to expand globally, we argue that a similar approach could readily be deployed by these growing and emerging production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecologists have long been interested in the interactions between plants and insects. However, there are few recent reviews and syntheses on plant-insect interactions research. To explore the current state of plant-insect interactions research and promote the research progress of plant-insect interactions, we used bibliometric methodologies to analyze the annual publication volume, research strength, and research hotspots of the literature about plant-insect interactions included in the Web of Science from 2001 to 2021. The results showed that the number of publications on plant-insect interactions research increased steadily from 2001 to 2021, with the initial development stage occurring before 2004 and a steady growth stage from 2005 to 2009, as well as a steady growth trend in the number of publications. After 2010, it entered a phase of rapid development, with the highest number of articles in 2021, with 352 publications. The studies were mostly conducted in developed countries. The USA had the most publications and the greatest influence, with a total of 1,218 publications. Furthermore, China had the second-highest number of publications and the strongest growth in the last 5 years (from 2017 to 2021) in terms of recent publication output. The University of California System stands out as the research institution with the highest number of publications, followed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) were the top two among the top 15 institutions in terms of article publication in the past five years. The author with the most publications was Dicke M, while Wei TY had been more active with 66.67% of the total number of papers published in the last five years. Oecologia was the journal that published the most academic articles in plant-insect interactions research, but PNAS had the highest impact factors. The hotspots primarily concentrated on understanding the impact of insect-plant interactions on genes, the interconnections between insects and plants, and the effects of these interactions on the diversity of ecosystems. The number of Chinese publications increased rapidly during the previo us five years, indicating some strength in plant-insect interaction research. However, there is still much opportunity for improvement in terms of both the quality and number of study findings. With China's continued investment in scientific research in recent years, it is projected that plant-insect interaction research will have a significant developmental tendency in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review examines the essential components of a circular economy (CE) in relation to the agricultural sector. The bioeconomy and circular economy are crucial for sustainable global industrial growth, focusing on closed-loop systems. The sustainability debate centers on intergenerational equity and natural capital. The CE requires new environmental technologies and global coordination in order to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. In addition, efficient food production and waste reduction are essential due to population growth. However, biomass is vital for a bio-based economy, impacting food waste and climate change. Grasslands support sustainable dairy production and carbon sequestration. Thus, effective waste and wastewater management are critical, with biomass energy providing renewable alternatives. Nonetheless, biofuels remain key for sustainability, focusing on pollution control and Green Chemistry. It is well known that sustainable transportation relies on bioenergy, with ongoing research improving processes and discovering new fuels. One notable challenge is managing heavy metals in biofuel production, and this underscores the need for eco-friendly energy solutions. The main purpose for this review paper is to create a connection between circular economy aspects and the agricultural system, with focus on the following: bioeconomy research, biomass utilities, and biofuel production. Extensive research was performed on the specialized literature by putting in common the main problems. Key subjects in this paper include the use of biomass in agriculture, the problems of plastic recycling, and the function of the CE in mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss. Efficient food production and waste minimization are highlighted due to their relevance in a growing population. The study's detailed research and discussion aim to give important insights into how these practices might promote economic development and sustainability. Furthermore, the study covers important waste management issues such as food waste, plant composting, and chemical waste neutralization. These topics are critical to understanding the circular economy's broader implications for minimizing environmental damage and implementing sustainable waste management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the main service mode and management mode of socialized service, agricultural production trusteeship services (APTS) are an important way to realize the tight link between farmers and modern agricultural development, which is highly important for ensuring national food security. By constructing a utility model of farmers, this paper deduces the decision-making mechanism of farmers' APTS from the dual mechanism of natural risk and non-agricultural employment income (NAEI) and uses the survey data of 956 farmers in the three northeastern provinces to verify the empirical results by using multivariate logit (Mlogit) and propensity score matching (PSM) methods. The research shows that natural risk hinders farmers' choice of the APTS; NAEI has a positive impact on APST, and an increase in NAEI weakens the negative effect of natural risk on the choice of the APTS, and has an enhanced moderating effect. In addition, the scale heterogeneity analysis revealed that the impacts of natural risk and NAEI on farmers of different scales are significantly different. The NAEI adjustment effect has the greatest impact on small-scale farmers, followed by medium-scale farmers. In view of this, the government should stabilize the nonagricultural employment market and improve the nonagricultural employment opportunities of farmers. APTS organizations should transfer natural risks and improve the agricultural insurance system. According to the differences of different scales of farmers, different promotion policies are formulated, and the expansion of management and deepening services is proposed to further promote the development of APTS and consolidate the foundation of food security in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the quality of the air in rural areas is essential for determining base emissions of air pollutants, evaluating the effects of dust pollutants particular to rural areas, modeling the dispersion of pollutants, and developing appropriate pollution mitigation systems. The absence of a systematic review based on the assessment of air quality levels in agricultural settings based on integrated weather variables and air pollutants in the literature draws attention to the deficiencies and the necessity of further research in this area. Hence, our study aimed to develop an Arduino monitoring system with related sensors to acquire some air pollutants and weather parameters. Additionally, we proposed an innovative solution to compare air quality levels by suggesting a new criterion called an integrated indicator for air quality assessment (IAQA). It was created based on the weighted average method to combine the investigated air pollutants and weather parameters. This criterion was evaluated while conducting field measurements in 29 environmentally different agricultural regions located within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To determine the integrated indicator, all the values of the variables were normalized between 0 and 1. The agricultural setting with the lowest integrated indicator was the best environmentally. The lowest and highest values of the integrated indicator ranged from 37.03% and 66.32%, respectively, with an arithmetic average of 48.24%. The developed criterion can change its value depending on the change in the weight value of the variables involved, and it is suitable for application to any other agricultural or non-agricultural setting to evaluate the pollution level in the air. Although similar research has been published, this paper presents novelty findings based on integrated values of air pollutants and weather variables for defining a new criterion called IAQA. Additionally, this paper presents original results for air pollutants and weather aspects in different agricultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a typical necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungus, which has a wide host range and can cause a variety of diseases, leading to serious loss of agricultural production around the world. It is difficult to control and completely eliminate the characteristics, chemical control methods is not ideal. Therefore, it is very important to know the pathogenic mechanism of S. sclerotiorum for improving host living environment, relieving agricultural pressure and promoting economic development. In this paper, the life cycle of S. sclerotiorum is introduced to understand the whole process of S. sclerotiorum infection. Through the analysis of the pathogenic mechanism, this paper summarized the reported content, mainly focused on the oxalic acid, cell wall degrading enzyme and effector protein in the process of infection and its mechanism. Besides, recent studies reported virulence-related genes in S. sclerotiorum have been summarized in the paper. According to analysis, those genes were related to the growth and development of the hypha and appressorium, the signaling and regulatory factors of S. sclerotiorum and so on, to further influence the ability to infect the host critically. The application of host-induced gene silencing (HIGS)is considered as a potential effective tool to control various fungi in crops, which provides an important reference for the study of pathogenesis and green control of S. sclerotiorum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) has brought about transformative changes across diverse industries, and its application in agriculture, particularly in soil management, has become a focal point of research and innovation. This paper explores the paradigm shift enabled by IoT in detecting organic carbon in soil, with the overarching goal of advancing agricultural productivity and sustainability. Emphasizing the pivotal role of organic carbon in soil health, the research addresses the existing challenges associated with its detection and underscores the potential advantages offered by IoT-based solutions for precise and real-time monitoring. The study meticulously examines various IoT technologies, including sensors, data analytics, and wireless communication protocols, within the specific context of organic carbon detection. A thorough review of contemporary techniques, methodologies, and devices utilized in IoT-based organic carbon detection in soil is presented. The paper not only sheds light on the current state-of-the-art but also explores the advantages, limitations, and prospects inherent in the implementation of IoT-enabled systems in agriculture. The envisioned outcomes encompass enhanced soil management practices, heightened crop yields, and the simultaneous preservation of the environment. In essence, this research contributes to the expanding body of knowledge surrounding IoT applications in agriculture, specifically emphasizing the transformative potential of IoT-enabled organic carbon detection for revolutionizing farming practices and promoting sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A common thought is that extensive and organic breeding systems are associated with lower prevalence of infections in livestock animals, compared to intensive ones. In addition, organic systems limit the use of anti-microbial drugs, which may lead to lower emergence of antimicrobial resistances (AMR). Methods: To examine these issues, avoiding any a priori bias, we carried out a systematic literature search on dairy cattle breeding. Search was targeted to publications that compared different types of livestock farming (intensive, extensive, conventional, organic) in terms of the circulation of infectious diseases and AMR. Results and discussion: A total of 101 papers were finally selected. These papers did not show any trend in the circulation of the infections in the four types of breeding systems. However, AMR was more prevalent on conventional dairy farms compared to organic ones. The prevalence of specific pathogens and types of resistances were frequently associated with specific risk factors that were not strictly related to the type of farming system. In conclusion, we did not find any evidence suggesting that extensive and organic dairy farming bears any advantage over the intensive and conventional ones, in terms of the circulation of infectious agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability within food systems (FS) transcends approaches that only consider FS transformation via changing agricultural practices or consumption patterns. The essence lies in addressing the root causes of current unsustainable FS and their associated social and environmental ramifications. This paper aims to outline the solutions needed to revamp these challenges, by paying special attention to the state-capital nexus in the context of the FS'global core-periphery dialectics. Thereby, we embrace radical political agroecology as being essential in promoting sustainability within the FS, especially in the Global South. Agroecology is proposed as the strategy to address the food system's complexity in terms of the social, environmental, and economic embeddedness. We conclude with potential solutions that contribute to the pathway for FS sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to understand how caring for new-born livestock is made possible, which practices of care are privileged and to what effect? These aims are situated in attempts to promote the prudent use of antibiotics amongst livestock farmers to prevent antimicrobial resistance. In focusing on the rearing of new-born calves on dairy and beef farms in England and Wales, the paper reveals how care is configured by different temporal orders, the tensions between different temporalities of care, the reasons for them and the strategies employed by calf rearers to manage these tensions. Drawing on the concept of the 'timescape', the paper shows how calf care temporalities are relationally enacted and configured by materials, infrastructures and technologies. Common (productivist) agricultural temporalities of care emphasise speed, urgency and efficiency. However, by analysing the practice of feeding colostrum and 'tubing' – the forced feeding of calves via a tube inserted into the oesophagus – we highlight how these rapid caring temporalities conflict with the slower, patient skills of calf rearing. At the same time, however, we show how care is rendered fluid as calf rearers find ways of accommodating seemingly discordant temporalities – what we call 'patient urgence' – allowing different temporalities to co-exist within agricultural timescapes. Nevertheless, we show how these practices of accommodation are themselves the result of a productivist temporal order that marginalises calves and calf rearers. We argue that these timescapes point to the need for broader structural and cultural changes within agriculture to reduce the use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the pesticide safety behaviours and related factors among cabbage farmers in Kalaw Township, Myanmar. Background: Unsafe chemical pesticide practices affect farmers' health and the environment. Understanding pesticide safety behaviours is necessary for healthcare providers to protect agriculture workers against unwanted adverse health effects. Methods: The cross‐sectional study was conducted among 195 cabbage farmers from March to May 2019. Safety behaviours and factors applied in the PRECEDE–PROCEDE model as a framework were assessed using questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify any associations. Results: Altogether, 72.1% of the farmers had a low level of safety behaviours. Goggles and masks were rarely used before and during pesticide applications. All of the farmers experienced adverse health effects after using pesticides. The attitudes toward pesticide poisoning; support from family, co‐workers and healthcare providers; and the availability of personal protective equipment were significantly associated with safety behaviours. Conclusion: Our data provide novel empirical evidence for an opportunity to design effective nursing interventions to promote pesticide safety behaviours among Myanmar agricultural workers. Nurses should pay more attention to promoting comprehensive interventions to reduce both exposure and health effects among agricultural workers through the involvement of supported stakeholders. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Farmers and agricultural workers have extensively used pesticides in all steps of cultivation and face a greater risk of pesticide exposure, which could result in adverse health effects.Owing to the lack of research on community health promotion conducted in Myanmar, the burden of the consequences and adverse effects of pesticides remains a significant health issue. What this paper adds? Findings reveal a clear framework for better understanding and assessing pesticide safety behaviours among agricultural workers and farmers in Myanmar.Findings contribute new knowledge for nursing community health promotion by enhancing understanding of multilevel factors, including international and external factors, associated with safety behaviours among agricultural workers and farmers. The implications of this paper: Nurses and other healthcare professionals should be aware of the importance of preventing adverse health effects among agricultural workers in the community and interventions aimed at promoting safety behaviours should be focused not only on individuals but also on the involvement of social supports—particularly family and co‐workers.Nursing policymakers should consider strengthening the nursing role in the recognition of pesticide risk exposure and health outcomes, management of pesticide poisoning and exposure and prevention of pesticide‐related health conditions both in nursing education and nursing practice.Local authorities and policymakers should focus their attention on health promotion and health services to promote safety behaviours when using pesticides, and treatment and extension services should be provided for cases of suspected pesticide poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the global concern over antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacterial pathogens causing infections in various settings. The document emphasizes the need for collaboration between specialists in microbiology, medicine, molecular biology, and bioinformatics to understand the mechanisms of resistance development and dissemination. The document also highlights the importance of molecular and whole-genome sequencing methods for detecting global clones and investigating AMR genes. The special issue includes papers on the genomic analysis of specific bacterial strains, molecular and genomic epidemiology studies, and novel methods for bacterial detection and prevention. These findings are valuable for researchers studying bacterial pathogen surveillance, detection, and treatment. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Protecting crops from various threats, including vermin, pests, animals and rodents, is essential for sustaining agriculture. In India, especially in regions like Rajasthan, animal attacks result in significant crop losses, up to 40%. This section underscores the importance of safeguarding crops against these threats. Methods: According to our sustainable agriculture assessment and cognition of the primary issue of the community that was conducted across multiple rural sites within the Sawai Madhupur district of Rajasthan from 2020 to 2023. This paper employs a comparative method to conduct a comprehensive review of animal-repellent systems, along with delving into interdisciplinary research in related fields to identify key factors influencing their effectiveness and proposes a novel holistic farm protection solution system. Result: The proposed system offers robust crop protection while aiding environmental conservation and preserving local wildlife in Rajasthan, India. This paper underscores the importance of adopting IoT-based technologies for sustainable agriculture. It is a valuable resource for researchers, agronomists and various agriculture stakeholders to implement these advancements. This system holds promise for enhancing crop security, minimizing resource waste and ensuring food chain stability for generations to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holistically, after the green revolution, India has been a global agricultural powerhouse of various crops and in present most of the farmers adopt the traditional irrigation methods but challenging task is in utilizing minimum water resource for more productivity per crop in diversified Indian environmental conditions. Water is a precious & scarce resource in many areas of the country due to traditional agricultural irrigation & industrial use. Hence, to limit water loss & wastage in farming it is important for maximum water application efficiency. Indeed, Systematic Irrigation System (SIS) for farming is need of hour and hence, attempt is made for development of SIS using computational device, and NodeMCU & Sensor technology are illustrated in this article. The SIS prototype has developed deploying ESP8266 Wi-Fi SoC development board and various sensors such as humidity, temperature, soil moisture, PIR & rain sensor . Graphic User Interface is developed in Blynk platform. This prototype has been tested in the laboratory successfully for application efficiency and has found good performance as expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An estimated two billion people do not have sufficient access to nutritious food, and nearly half are dependent on small‐scale and subsistence farming. Projections show that the global population is not on track to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. With this in mind, development actors are increasingly seeking to better integrate rural farmers into agricultural markets. This synthesis of the literature can help to inform policy decisions to improve outcomes for smallholder farmers in low‐ and middle‐income countries, and to enable the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. This work is the most comprehensive and up‐to‐date review synthesizing evidence from 262 interventions. Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review is to appraise and synthesize evidence of the effects of five types of interventions facilitating farmers' access to output markets in low‐ and middle‐income countries. We examine how these effects vary across contexts and subgroups. We also identify evidence on program costs and evidence gaps in the literature. Search Methods: The search of included studies was based on nine major databases/search engines and 25 institutional websites, using a set of English search terms. We also conducted forward and backward citation tracking of literature, published a public call for papers, and contacted key experts. Selection Criteria: We included studies on the effects of five types of output market access interventions, focusing on participants residing in low‐ and middle‐income countries: (1) Farm‐to‐market transport infrastructure interventions; (2) Access to output market information interventions; (3) New marketplaces or alternative marketing opportunities interventions; (4) Contract farming interventions; (5) Improved storage infrastructure and technologies interventions. We included published and unpublished studies from 2000 onwards, with experimental and quasi‐experimental study designs focusing on relevant outcomes. Data Collection and Analysis: We screened 52,366 studies, identifying a total of 439 papers representing 289 unique studies on the effects of 262 interventions in 53 countries. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were completed by two independent reviewers. Main Results: All five types of output market access interventions resulted in small‐to‐moderate positive effects on almost all measures of market participation, agricultural production, and welfare outcomes. These improvements occurred through a reduction in transaction costs, adoption of improved practices, greater farm investment, access to higher prices for farmers, greater volume sold, and increased farm income. Effects vary by intervention type. However, the body of evidence is comprised of a large share of included studies with a high risk of bias. Few studies have information on the cost of interventions, and there are gaps in the available evidence. Authors' Conclusions: Output market access interventions are effective in reducing transaction costs and addressing market failures, thereby leading to higher income levels. Evidence of effects on food security and nutrition is sparse and has not provided conclusive findings. We also found that multi‐component interventions are not necessarily more effective than single component interventions. The specific needs and dynamics of each context should inform the choice of the intervention and approach. Investments in additional research with low risk of selection bias and confounding effects will improve the evidence base, especially for outcomes that constitute gaps in the literature. For example, the effects on quality of agricultural products and group participation are under‐researched, and we did not find any included studies focusing on North Africa or the Middle East. Collecting and reporting information on interventions' cost‐effectiveness will help decision‐makers to prioritize limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, agricultural non-point source pollution has become the main source of water pollution, which mainly comes from the excessive use of agricultural chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers. The TRS is another land system reform in China after the household contract responsibility system, which relaxes the management rights of rural land and clarifies the ownership of land. Using this land reform in China as a case study, this paper constructs panel data for 30 provinces in China to explore the impact of land tenure intensification on agricultural non-point source pollution, using the difference-in-difference (DID) model to identify the causal relationship between the two. The results show that the coefficient of the TRS policy variable is −4.056 at the 1% significance level, indicating that this round of land reform has suppressed agricultural non-point source pollution. The provinces that have implemented TRS have seen an average annual reduction of 405,600 tons in Agnps emissions compared to those that have not implemented TRS, and the scale operation of agriculture and the size of the agricultural economy act as two paths. Moreover, heterogeneity analysis shows that the policy effect of the provinces in non-major food-producing areas is smaller than that of the provinces in major food-producing areas, and the path to realization is also different. Therefore, we should continue to encourage large-scale agricultural operations, cultivate new agricultural business entities, and strengthen the inhibitory effect of TRS on agricultural non-point source pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to explore the impact mechanism of agricultural digital transformation in alleviating the mismatch of agricultural land resources and provide an effective path for the formation of new quality agricultural productivity. Using the balance panel data of 29 provinces in China from 2011 to 2022, this paper analyzed the mitigation effect and mechanism of agricultural digitalization on agricultural land resource misallocation from the perspectives of land scale management and agricultural socialization services. The results indicate that agricultural digitalization can alleviate the misallocation of agricultural land resources, promote the large-scale management of agricultural land, and improve the level of agricultural socialization services, all significant ways to reduce the mismatch of agricultural land resources. The heterogeneity test showed that the mitigation effect of agricultural digitalization on the agricultural land resource mismatch in eastern and central China and major grain-producing areas was better than that in western China and non-major grain-producing areas. Hence, we ought to strengthen the construction of agricultural digital infrastructures and play into the role of agricultural land scale management and agricultural socialization services in slowing down the mismatch of agricultural land resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid advancement of Remote Sensing Technology, monitoring the agricultural land has become a facile task. To surveil the growth of paddy crops and provide detailed information regarding monitoring soil, drought, crop type, crop growth, crop health, crop yield, irrigation, and fertilizers, different types of remote sensing satellites are used like Landsat 8, Sentinel 2, and MODIS satellite. The main aim of Landsat 8, Sentinel 2 and MODIS satellites is to monitor the land and vegetation area and to provide data regarding agricultural activities. Each of these satellites possesses a different spectral band, resolution, and revisit period. By using the remote sensing spectral indices, different types of vegetation indices are calculated. This survey paper provides comprehensive about Remote Sensing and the major parameters that influence for growth of paddy crops, like soil and water, and the future scope of agriculture and its demand in research is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current geopolitical and socioeconomic landscape creates a difficult and uncertain operating environment for farming and agri-food businesses. Technological innovation has not been suggested to be a "silver bullet" but is one of the ways organizations can seek to reduce environmental impact, deliver net zero, address the rural skills and labor deficit and produce more output from fewer resources and as a result, make space for nature. But what barriers limit this promissory narrative from delivering in practice? The purpose of the paper is to firstly explore the reported social, technical and systemic barriers to agri-technology adoption in an increasingly uncertain world and then secondly identify potential research gaps that highlight areas for future research and inform key research questions. Socio-technical and infrastructural barriers have been identified within the context of the complex hollowing out and infilling of rural communities across the world. These barriers include seventeen factors that emerge, firstly those external to the farm (economic conditions, external conditions including bureaucracy, market conditions, weather uncertainty and the narratives about farmers), those internal to the farm business (farming conditions, employee relations, general finance, technology and time pressures) and then personal factors (living conditions, personal finances, physical health, role conflict, social isolation and social pressure). Adaptive resilience strategies at personal, organizational and community levels are essential to address these barriers and to navigate agri-technology adoption in an uncertain and dynamic world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field experiment to study, the role of farming systems and the rise of the mowing in the growth, output and quality of the green fodder qualities of Moringa oleifera Lam, was carried out during the 2021 autumn season in one of the fields of the Sharqat district of Salah Al-Din governorate. The experiment included the study of two important factors: Four transplant distances (10 × 20cm, 20 × 20cm, 20 × 30cm, 30 × 30cm) and three cutting levels. (5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm), took the first mowing after 70 days of planting, The results showed that the cultivation system exceeded 20 × 20cm and the cutting level was morally 15cm in the plant's height at 191.0cm in the first mowing and 78.50cm in the second mowing. The cultivation system exceeded 30x30cm in the highest branch number per plant at 5cm in the first mowing at 15.50 branches in the first mowing at 14.53cm in the second mowing at 80cm at 7cm Plant-1 agriculture system exceeds 10X20 cm and cutting level of 10 cm in total wet weight of vegetable total of 10.53 kg m2 in First Mowing, 6.83 kg m2 in Second Mowing, wet weight of leaves 4.13 kg m2 in First Mowing, 3.92 kg m2 in Second mowing, 6.22 kg m2 in First Mowing and 1.09 kg kg II Dry leaves 1.32 kg m2 in the first mowing and 0.98 kg m2 in the second mowing also exceed the paper area of 2557.7 cm2. The agriculture system exceeds 20X20 cm and the cut level of 10 cm in the paper area is 2386.9 cm in the second mowing and the cultivation system exceeds 10X20 cm and the cut level is 5 cm in the dry weight of stems 2.05 kg-2 in the first mowing and 0.71 kg-2 in the second mowing . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been transformed into a useful analytical technique with significant advantages in relation to sensitive and low-concentration chemical analyses. However, SERS substrates are expensive and the analyte sample preparation is complicated; hence, it is only used in limited areas. We have fabricated a tattoo paper-based SERS substrate by using non-complicated inkjet printing. The sensitivity of the SERS substrate was increased by removing the carbon residues via exposure to ultraviolet light without damaging the substrate. Thus, low concentrations of pesticides (up to 1 μM thiram) were measured. The SERS substrate was attached to the curved surface of an apple to demonstrate its advantages, such as the flexibility and easy attachability of tattoo paper, and its feasibility was verified by measuring 1 μM thiram on the apple's surface. Due to its economic cost, simple usage, and rapid measurement, it will be helpful for the identification of both agricultural adulterants and food adulterants and for water-based pollutant detection. It will also possibly be helpful for medical purposes related to human body surfaces in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on evaluating the spatial variability of chemical attributes of soils under different agricultural use and native forest, indicating which are the possible indicator attributes of changes in environmental, through the use and management of the soil. The study was carried out in the southern region of the Amazonas state, in an Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo (Ultisol). Sampling grids were established measuring: 90 m × 70 m with regular soil collection spacing of 10 m for the guarana and forest areas; 90 m × 56 m spaced at 10 m × 8 m for annatto area; and 54 m × 42 m with spacing between points of 6 m for the cupuaçu area, totaling 80 sampling points in each area, with soil samples collected at depths of 0.0-0.05; 0.05-0.10 m and 0.10-0.20 m. The following attributes were determined: pH, Al3+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, P, H + Al, CEC, V% and m%. Descriptive, geostatistical and multivariate statistical analyzes were performed. The results show that it is possible to state that the descriptive, geostatistical and multivariate statistical techniques were able to identify the difference between the spatial variability of the attributes according to each specific use of individual soils. The multivariate analysis made it possible to select the attributes that most contribute to the variability of these soils, and with that, it was found that the forest showed less spatial variability in the surface layer, with higher reach values by scaled semivariograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite modern chemistry's success in providing affordable fertilizers for feeding the population and supporting the ammonia industry, ineffective nitrogen management has led to pollution of water resources and air, contributing to climate change. Here, we report a multifunctional copper single-atom electrocatalyst-based aerogel (Cu SAA) that integrates the multiscale structure of coordinated single-atomic sites and 3D channel frameworks. The Cu SAA demonstrates an impressive faradaic efficiency of 87% for NH3 synthesis, as well as remarkable sensing performance with detection limits of 0.15 ppm for NO3- and 1.19 ppm for NH4+. These multifunctional features enable precise control and conversion of nitrate to ammonia in the catalytic process, facilitating accurate regulation of the ammonium and nitrate ratios in fertilizers. We thus designed the Cu SAA into a smart and sustainable fertilizing system (SSFS), a prototype device for on-site automatic recycling of nutrients with precisely controlled nitrate/ammonium concentrations. The SSFS represents a forward step toward sustainable nutrient/waste recycling, thus permitting efficient nitrogen utilization of crops and mitigating pollutant emissions. This contribution exemplifies how electrocatalysis and nanotechnology can be potentially leveraged to enable sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant diseases pose a significant menace to agricultural output and global food security. Detecting these diseases promptly and precisely is pivotal for effective disease control and optimization of crop yield. This survey paper presents a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in plant disease detection leveraging deep learning and wavelet neural network approaches. Thirty notable papers are reviewed, emphasizing the diverse methodologies and datasets employed. The analyzed papers collectively showcase the efficacy of convolutional neural networks, wavelet transformations, and deep learning models in accurately identifying and classifying plant diseases. While conventional Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have proven effective in image-based disease detection, they might encounter challenges in capturing frequency-domain nuances within plant images. Several papers emphasize specialized datasets such as Field Plant, Plant Village,and others, catering to real-world scenarios. Moreover, research indicates a continuous trend towards enhancing model performance, optimizing accuracy, and enabling real-time disease detection, promising a significant impact on agricultural practices. Precision, Recall, and F1-Score are essential performance metrics that can be used to conduct a thorough evaluation of the presented models. Additionally, the Confusion Matrix and Area Under the Precision-Recall Curve (AUC-PR) can be used to measure key parametric performance and real-world feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]