Optimising economic, environmental, and social objectives: a goal-programming approach in the food sector

The business-decision environment is increasingly complicated by the emergence of competing economic, environmental, and social goals, a notion typified by the current pressures of global economic instability and climate-change targets. Trade-offs are often unclear and contributions by different actors and stakeholders in the supply chain may be unequal but, due to the interdependencies between businesses and stakeholders in relation to total environmental or social impact, a whole chain, simultaneous, and strategic approach is required. After a review of relevant literature and the identification of knowledge gaps, the author introduces and illustrates the use of goal programming as a technique that could facilitate this approach and uses real case evidence for alternative food supply chain strategies, at local, regional, and national levels. It is shown that the method can simplify a complex simultaneous decision situation into a useful and constructive decision and planning framework. Results show how a priori beliefs may be challenged and how operational and resource efficiency could be improved through the use of such a model, which enables a broad stakeholder appreciation and the opportunity to explore and test new environmental or social challenges

Fusing optical and SAR time series for LAI gap filling with multioutput Gaussian processes

The availability of satellite optical information is often hampered by the natural presence of clouds, which can be problematic for many applications. Persistent clouds over agricultural fields can mask key stages of crop growth, leading to unreliable yield predictions. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) provides all-weather imagery which can potentially overcome this limitation, but given its high and distinct sensitivity to different surface properties, the fusion of SAR and optical data still remains an open challenge. In this work, we propose the use of Multi-Output Gaussian Process (MOGP) regression, a machine learning technique that learns automatically the statistical relationships among multisensor time series, to detect vegetated areas over which the synergy between SAR-optical imageries is profitable. For this purpose, we use the Sentinel-1 Radar Vegetation Index (RVI) and Sentinel-2 Leaf Area Index (LAI) time series over a study area in north west of the Iberian peninsula. Through a physical interpretation of MOGP trained models, we show its ability to provide estimations of LAI even over cloudy periods using the information shared with RVI, which guarantees the solution keeps always tied to real measurements. Results demonstrate the advantage of MOGP especially for long data gaps, where optical-based methods notoriously fail. The leave-one-image-out assessment technique applied to the whole vegetation cover shows MOGP predictions improve standard GP estimations over short-time gaps (R 2 of 74% vs 68%, RMSE of 0.4 vs 0.44 [m 2 m −2 ]) and especially over long-time gaps (R 2 of 33% vs 12%, RMSE of 0.5 vs 1.09 [m 2 m −2 ])

Competing Claims on Natural Resources: What Role for Science?

Competing claims on natural resources become increasingly acute, with the poor being most vulnerable to adverse outcomes of such competition. A major challenge for science and policy is to progress from facilitating univocal use to guiding stakeholders in dealing with potentially conflicting uses of natural resources. The development of novel, more equitable, management options that reduce rural poverty is key to achieving sustainable use of natural resources and the resolution of conflicts over them. Here, we describe an interdisciplinary and interactive approach for: (i) the understanding of competing claims and stakeholder objectives; (ii) the identification of alternative resource use options, and (iii) the scientific support to negotiation processes between stakeholders. Central to the outlined approach is a shifted perspective on the role of scientific knowledge in society. Understanding scientific knowledge as entering societal arenas and as fundamentally negotiated, the role of the scientist becomes a more modest one, a contributor to ongoing negotiation processes among stakeholders. Scientists can, therefore, not merely describe and explain resource-use dynamics and competing claims, but in doing so, they should actively contribute to negotiation processes between stakeholders operating at different scales (local, national, regional, and global). Together with stakeholders, they explore alternatives that can contribute to more sustainable and equitable use of natural resources and, where possible, design new technical options and institutional arrangements

Desarrollo del prototipo AndaLAND para evaluar suelos agrícolas y agua en el marco del cambio climático

16 páginas.-- 7 figuras.-- 26 referencias.-- Annex 1. Equivalents of USDA and FAO soil classifications (IUSS Working Group WRB 2006)[ES]: There is a critical need to incorporate concerns on soil and water use and protection into land use planning policies and practices, not exclusively in protected areas, especially taking into account the widespread power transfer to local authorities regarding land-use decision making. Accordingly, it is extremely useful what Decision Support Systems (DSS) do on land use. AndaLAND is a prototype DSS which has been developed as a web-based application. It helps to define the vulnerability and the efficiency of the use and protection of soils in the selected target region: Andalusia (Southern Spain). AndaLAND integrates a complete catalogue of information on climate, soil and soil management, to make land vulnerability evaluation. By using Web Map Services (WMS), AndaLAND is fed with available databases from public mapping services (the Geographic Information System for the Common Agricultural Policy-SIGPAC) and other external sources (Microcomputed-based Land Evaluation Information System, MicroLEIS). Climate change scenarios are considered jointly with other relevant global change elements, such as land use change. Soil evaluation is based on decision rules that follow a decision tree. This method was established from Drools (a powerful hybrid reasoning system), using agrological rules for determining soil capacity in plots. The tool is capable of evaluating individually more than 6 million plots currently existing in the Andalusian region. AndaLAND’s final output is a report on the particular vulnerability of a user-specified plot. The report includes information on the plot’s geographical location, its environmental status regarding to (current and potential) impacts, degradation and/or pollution in the water-soil-crop system and eventual affections due to climate change-induced events. The report also provides practical recommendations for sustainable use and management of plots (in particular, for irrigated crops, these recommendations are linked to available irrigation technologies and water consumption).[PO]: Cada vez é mais evidente a necessidade de implementar políticas e práticas que integrem critérios de ordenamento do território para a proteção do uso do solo e da água, não só nas áreas protegidas, tendo em consideração o papel das autoridades locais e dos pequenos agricultores na tomada de decisão sobre os diversos usos do solo. Por isso, e uma vez que existe uma prática cada vez mais difundida no uso de Sistemas de Apoio à Decisão (SAD) para a gestão do uso do solo, o AndaLAND é apresentado como um protótipo dos SAD desenvolvido como uma aplicação web. Esta ferramenta permite determinar a vulnerabilidade e eficiência no uso e proteção do solo na área de estudo: Andaluzia (Sul de Espanha). O AndaLAND integra um catálogo abrangente de informações sobre o clima, solo e gestão da mesma, para permitir a avaliação da vulnerabilidade dos solos alvo. Usando serviços Web Map (WMS), o AndaLAND permite descarregar as informações dos bancos de dados de mapeamento de serviços públicos (Sistema de Informação Geográfica para a Política Agrícola Comum-SIGPAC) assim como de outras fontes diversas (sistemas de informação para a avaliação de serviços web do solo existentes MicroLEIS). Os cenários de alterações climáticas são construídos como informação relevante para prever os potenciais impactos associados com as mudanças no uso do solo. A avaliação global do solo é estabelecida a partir de regras definidas usando árvores de decisão. Este método foi implementado através do sistema Drools (sistema de regras de gestão), utilizando critérios agronómicos para determinar a capacidade agrológica das parcelas. Assim, esta ferramenta é capaz de avaliar individualmente mais de 6 milhões de explorações atualmente existentes na Andaluzia. O resultado final do uso AndaLAND é um relatório individual sobre a vulnerabilidade da parcela definida pelo utilizador como parcela-alvo. Esta documentação inclui informações sobre a localização geográfica da parcela, o seu estado ambiental em relação a atuais e potenciais impactos, possível fase de degradação e / ou contaminação no sistema solo-água-cultura e a robabilidade de ser afetada pelos efeitos associados às alterações climáticas. O relatório final inclui recomendações práticas para a utilização e gestão sustentável na parcela-alvo (especialmente no caso das culturas de regadio estas orientações referem-se às tecnologias de rega existentes e ao consumo de água).[ES]: Cada vez se hace más patente la necesidad de implementar políticas y prácticas de planificación territorial que integren criterios para la protección del uso del suelo y el agua, no sólo en las zonas naturales protegidas, y considerando a su vez el papel desempeñado por las administraciones locales y pequeños agricultores en la toma de decisiones sobre los distintos usos del suelo. Por ello, y dado que existe una práctica cada vez más generalizada en el uso de Sistemas de Ayuda a la Decisión (SAD) para la gestión de los usos del suelo, AndaLAND se presenta como un prototipo de SAD desarrollado como una aplicación web. Esta herramienta permite determinar la vulnerabilidad y la eficiencia en el uso y protección de los suelos en la región objetivo de estudio: Andalucía (S España). AndaLAND integra un catálogo muy completo sobre información climática, de suelos y de manejo de los mismos, para poder realizar la evaluación de la vulnerabilidad de suelos objetivo. Mediante el uso de Web Map Services (WMS), AndaLAND es capaz de volcar la información procedente de las bases de datos de servicios de cartografía públicos (el Sistema de Información Geográfica de la Política Agraria Común-SIGPAC), así como otras fuentes muy diversas (sistemas de información de evaluación de suelos ya existentes en servicios web, MicroLEIS). Los escenarios de cambio climático están incorporados como información relevante para poder predecir los posibles impactos asociados a los cambios de uso del suelo. La evaluación global del suelo se establece a partir de reglas definidas mediante árboles de decisión. Dicho método fue implementado a través del sistema Drools (sistema de gestión de reglas), utilizando criterios agronómicos para determinar la capacidad agrológica en las parcelas. De esta forma, la herramienta es capaz de evaluar individualmente más de 6 millones de explotaciones declaradas actualmente en Andalucía. El resultado final del uso de AndaLAND es un informe individual sobre la vulnerabilidad de la parcela objetivo definida por el usuario. Dicha documentación incluye información sobre la localización geográfica de la parcela, su estado medioambiental con respecto a actuales y potenciales impactos, la posible fase de degradación y/o contaminación en el sistema suelo-agua-cultivo, y la probabilidad de verse afectada por los efectos asociados al cambio climático. El informe final incorpora recomendaciones prácticas para el uso y gestión sostenible en la parcela objetivo (en particular, en el caso de cultivos de regadío estas pautas están referidas a tecnologías de riego existentes y hacia el consumo de agua).This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the framework of the new Precommercial Public Procurement (CPP). The AndaLAND DSS has been jointly developed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS-CSIC) and two Spanish companies: INCLAM, specialized in water and environmental engineering; and EVENOR-TECH, specialized in Information and Comunication Technologies (ICT) applied to land use planning.Peer reviewe

Games for a new climate: experiencing the complexity of future risks

This repository item contains a single issue of the Pardee Center Task Force Reports, a publication series that began publishing in 2009 by the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future.This report is a product of the Pardee Center Task Force on Games for a New Climate, which met at Pardee House at Boston University in March 2012. The 12-member Task Force was convened on behalf of the Pardee Center by Visiting Research Fellow Pablo Suarez in collaboration with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre to “explore the potential of participatory, game-based processes for accelerating learning, fostering dialogue, and promoting action through real-world decisions affecting the longer-range future, with an emphasis on humanitarian and development work, particularly involving climate risk management.” Compiled and edited by Janot Mendler de Suarez, Pablo Suarez and Carina Bachofen, the report includes contributions from all of the Task Force members and provides a detailed exploration of the current and potential ways in which games can be used to help a variety of stakeholders – including subsistence farmers, humanitarian workers, scientists, policymakers, and donors – to both understand and experience the difficulty and risks involved related to decision-making in a complex and uncertain future. The dozen Task Force experts who contributed to the report represent academic institutions, humanitarian organization, other non-governmental organizations, and game design firms with backgrounds ranging from climate modeling and anthropology to community-level disaster management and national and global policymaking as well as game design.Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centr

Stakeholder narratives on trypanosomiasis, their effect on policy and the scope for One Health

Background This paper explores the framings of trypanosomiasis, a widespread and potentially fatal zoonotic disease transmitted by tsetse flies (Glossina species) affecting both humans and livestock. This is a country case study focusing on the political economy of knowledge in Zambia. It is a pertinent time to examine this issue as human population growth and other factors have led to migration into tsetse-inhabited areas with little historical influence from livestock. Disease transmission in new human-wildlife interfaces such as these is a greater risk, and opinions on the best way to manage this are deeply divided. Methods A qualitative case study method was used to examine the narratives on trypanosomiasis in the Zambian policy context through a series of key informant interviews. Interviewees included key actors from international organisations, research organisations and local activists from a variety of perspectives acknowledging the need to explore the relationships between the human, animal and environmental sectors. Principal Findings Diverse framings are held by key actors looking from, variously, the perspectives of wildlife and environmental protection, agricultural development, poverty alleviation, and veterinary and public health. From these viewpoints, four narratives about trypanosomiasis policy were identified, focused around four different beliefs: that trypanosomiasis is protecting the environment, is causing poverty, is not a major problem, and finally, that it is a Zambian rather than international issue to contend with. Within these narratives there are also conflicting views on the best control methods to use and different reasoning behind the pathways of response. These are based on apparently incompatible priorities of people, land, animals, the economy and the environment. The extent to which a One Health approach has been embraced and the potential usefulness of this as a way of reconciling the aims of these framings and narratives is considered throughout the paper. Conclusions/Significance While there has historically been a lack of One Health working in this context, the complex, interacting factors that impact the disease show the need for cross-sector, interdisciplinary decision making to stop rival narratives leading to competing actions. Additional recommendations include implementing: surveillance to assess under-reporting of disease and consequential under-estimation of disease risk; evidence-based decision making; increased and structurally managed funding across countries; and focus on interactions between disease drivers, disease incidence at the community level, and poverty and equity impacts

Complementary Use of Ground-Based Proximal Sensing and Airborne/Spaceborne Remote Sensing Techniques in Precision Agriculture: A Systematic Review

As the global population continues to increase, projected to reach an estimated 9.7 billion people by 2050, there will be a growing demand for food production and agricultural resources. Transition toward Agriculture 4.0 is expected to enhance agricultural productivity through the integration of advanced technologies, increase resource efficiency, ensure long-term food security by applying more sustainable farming practices, and enhance resilience and climate change adaptation. By integrating technologies such as ground IoT sensing and remote sensing, via both satellite and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and exploiting data fusion and data analytics, farming can make the transition to a more efficient, productive, and sustainable paradigm. The present work performs a systematic literature review (SLR), identifying the challenges associated with UAV, Satellite, and Ground Sensing in their application in agriculture, comparing them and discussing their complementary use to facilitate Precision Agriculture (PA) and transition to Agriculture 4.0

Paving the Way for Development: The Impact of Road Infrastructure on Agricultural Production and Household Wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Given its vast land resources and favorable water supply, the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) natural agricultural potential is immense. However, the economic potential of the sector is handicapped by one of the most dilapidated transport systems in the developing world (World Bank, 2006). Road investments are therefore a high priority in the government's investment plans, and those of its major donors. Whilst these are encouraging signs, very little is known about how the existing road network constrains agricultural and rural development, and how these new road investments would address these constraints. To inform this issue the present paper primarily employs GIS-based data to assess the impact of market access on agricultural and rural development (ARD). Compared to existing work, however, the paper makes a number of innovations to improve and extend the generic techniques used to estimate the importance of market access for ARD. First, the DRC road network data is augmented with survey-based data from Minten and Kyle (1999) on agricultural transport times to calculate improved “market access” measures for the DRC. Second, we follow Dorosh et al (2009) in estimating the long run relationship between market access and agricultural production, although we also investigate the relationship with household wealth. Finally, we run simulations of how proposed infrastructure investments would affect market access, and how market access would in turn affect agricultural production and household wealth.Infrastructure, market access, road and river transport, agricultural production, poverty., Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Food Security and Poverty, Production Economics,