Gender and innovation processes in maize-based systems

This MAIZE report offers a panorama of the gender dimensions of local agricultural innovation processes in the context of maize-based farming systems and livelihoods

Strengthening climate resilience of rural communities by co-producing landscape-specific integrated farming systems in Cambodia

Climate change poses a major threat to the livelihoods of rural smallholder farmers in Cambodia. Adaptation measures through sustainable land management (SLM) and farming practices can help farmers to increase their resilience to climate change and secure their livelihoods. This paper presents a novel approach for promoting landscape-specific integrated farming systems (IFS) through multi-stakeholder engagement, knowledge-based decision-making and improved land use planning. It presents a stepwise participatory approach, applied under an IFAD-funded project, to define context-specific IFS models. Through co-production processes with multiple stakeholders, three landscape units and seven landscape-specific IFS models consisting of different SLM technologies were defined and demonstrated on 1,500 farms in two case study sites. The process included training and awareness raising to enhance local stakeholder engagement in developing integrated farm plans. This paper provides insights into how such a novel approach can be embedded in rural development projects to enhance smallholders’ resilience and livelihoods

Chapter 5: Food Security

The current food system (production, transport, processing, packaging, storage, retail, consumption, loss and waste) feeds the great majority of world population and supports the livelihoods of over 1 billion people. Since 1961, food supply per capita has increased more than 30%, accompanied by greater use of nitrogen fertilisers (increase of about 800%) and water resources for irrigation (increase of more than 100%). However, an estimated 821 million people are currently undernourished, 151 million children under five are stunted, 613 million women and girls aged 15 to 49 suffer from iron deficiency, and 2 billion adults are overweight or obese. The food system is under pressure from non-climate stressors (e.g., population and income growth, demand for animal-sourced products), and from climate change. These climate and non-climate stresses are impacting the four pillars of food security (availability, access, utilisation, and stability)

Review of agricultural production systems in eastern Africa in relation to food and nutrition security and climate change

The goal of this paper is to provide a unified resource for Eritrea, Djibouti, Somaliland, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. For each country the review covers the topics of livestock production systems and agroecological zones, food and nutrition security, climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) with a focus on the role of, or impact on, livestock systems. Each of these topics is broad and many excellent studies and reviews have been produced covering these topics either at the country level or for the entire East Africa region. It is the goal of this paper to provide an accessible introduction to these topics and to direct readers to the resources that exist for gathering detailed information on livestock production, food nutrition and security, climate change, GHG emissions and climate-smart livestock production in each country

Advances in Deep Learning Algorithms for Agricultural Monitoring and Management

This study examines the transformative role of deep learning algorithms in agricultural monitoring and management. Deep learning has shown remarkable progress in predicting crop yields based on historical weather, soil, and crop data, thereby enabling optimized planting and harvesting strategies. In disease and pest detection, image recognition technologies such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) can analyze high-resolution images of crops to identify early signs of diseases or pest infestations, allowing for swift and effective interventions. In the context of precision agriculture, these advanced techniques offer resource efficiency by enabling targeted treatments within specific field areas, significantly reducing waste. The paper also sheds light on the application of deep learning in analyzing vast amounts of remote sensing and satellite imagery data, aiding in real-time monitoring of crop growth, soil moisture, and other critical environmental factors. In the face of climate change, advanced algorithms provide valuable insights into its potential impact on agriculture, thereby aiding the formulation of effective adaptation strategies. Automated harvesting and sorting, facilitated by robotics powered by deep learning, are also investigated, as they promise increased efficiency and reduced labor costs. Moreover, machine learning models have shown potential in optimizing the entire agricultural supply chain, ensuring minimal waste and optimum product quality. Lastly, the study highlights the power of deep learning in integrating multi-source data, from weather stations to satellites, to form comprehensive monitoring systems that allow real-time decision-making

De biologische landbouw in Vlaanderen: Onderzoek 2013-2014

In de publicatie “De biologische landbouw in Vlaanderen: onderzoek 2013-2014” stellen onderzoekers in Vlaanderen hun lopend onderzoek voor de biologische landbouw en voeding voor in de periode 2013-2014. Het overzicht werd samengesteld ter gelegenheid van de studienamiddag ‘Biolandbouw en voeding: een uitdaging voor elke onderzoeker!’. NOBL organiseerde deze studienamiddag samen met CCBT en Biobedrijfsnetwerken. NOBL, CCBT en Biobedrijfsnetwerken zijn partners in het Vlaamse onderzoeks- en kennisnetwerk voor biologische landbouw & voeding

Essays on Flood Disaster Relief Recovery Practices and Policy: Applying the Lens of Service Operations Strategy

This dissertation uses a service operations lens to investigate flood disasters’ recovery phase, the least-studied area of Humanitarian Operations and Crisis Management (HOCM). Comprising three essays, my dissertation deepens our knowledge of disaster recovery by using two different units of analysis, including province (state) and household levels. In Essay 1, entitled “The Influence of Industrialization and Internet Usage on Per-Capita Income: A Longitudinal Analysis of Flood Events in Thai Provinces,” we introduce a novel approach to research HOCM by using econometric analyses. We use panel data as a tool to guide decision makers in understanding the notion of flood recovery, broadly measured by a province’s per-capita income at any given time. Using panel data from 2006-2012 across 75 Thai provinces, we empirically address the question of how industrialization level and Internet usage affect per-capita income changes during and after a flood incident. Using these results, we then identify groups of provinces that recovered “best” and “worst” in order to further evaluate other identifying factors that contribute to “best-worst” recovery performance. Essay 2, entitled “Antecedents of Financial Recovery Effectiveness from Floods: A Structural Econometric Analysis of Flooding in Thailand,” uses a sample survey of approximately 34,000 households in Thailand with data pre-, during-, and post-flood disaster in 2011. Using a service operations lens, our study aims to identify where and how in the flood cycle various stakeholders—individuals, communities and governments—can act to increase the likelihood of a successful service recovery. More specifically, this research asks what type of strategic actions policy makers can take to better allocate precious resources in all three flood phases to improve the overall recovery effectiveness. Essay 3, entitled “The Influence of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Factors on the Utilization of Healthcare Services During Floods,” proposes a research framework that examines flood-response healthcare service delivery in developing countries. Because resources are scarce, service operations’ strategies with regards to household water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are critical for improving the post-disaster flood recovery phase. Using field and archival data, we empirically investigate the influence of WASH strategies on households’ decisions and access to healthcare services during floods. Collectively, these essays argue for the importance of a service operations strategy perspective for disasters, providing a research blueprint to improve recovery effectiveness

LAW OF RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION OF FOOD RESOURCES IN THE FRAMEWORK OF STRENGTHENING FOOD SECURITY

AbstractFood security is a multidimensional problem that covers economic, social and legal aspects. This economic problem arises from the existence of commodity aspects in food resources that correlate with the social conditions of the community related to research and use of food, also to the law which becomes the guiding rule in its function to protect the constitutional rights of research and use of food. In this paper, the research covers food availability and affordability, while utilization covers production to food consumption. Availability and affordability of food needs have been done through food diversification, among others by genetic engineering, which then at the utilization level will result in acceleration of the food security program. The interdisciplinary approach results a humanist legal concept of research and utilization by not leaving human aspects and the survival of biological resources, so that in the research and utilization of food resources the existence of life values cannot be reduced by commodity factors. The strengthening of research regulations and the utilization of food resources is carried out by constructing legislation at the level of applicable Government Regulations with the revitalization of the Food Security Institution at the regional level that performs the function of controlling and evaluating research and food resources in the regions within the frame of humanity and justice.Keywords: endurance; food; natural resourcesAbstrakKetahanan pangan adalah masalah multidimensi yang mencakup aspek ekonomi, sosial dan hukum. Masalah ekonomi ini muncul dari adanya aspek komoditas dalam sumber daya pangan yang berkorelasi dengan kondisi sosial masyarakat terkait dengan penelitian dan penggunaan pangan, juga hukum yang menjadi pedoman aturan dalam fungsinya untuk melindungi hak-hak konstitusional penelitian dan menggunakan makanan. Dalam makalah ini, penelitian mencakup ketersediaan dan keterjangkauan pangan, sedangkan pemanfaatan mencakup produksi untuk konsumsi makanan. Ketersediaan dan keterjangkauan kebutuhan pangan telah dilakukan melalui diversifikasi pangan, antara lain oleh rekayasa genetika, yang kemudian pada tingkat pemanfaatan akan menghasilkan percepatan program ketahanan pangan. Pendekatan interdisipliner menghasilkan konsep hukum humanis penelitian dan pemanfaatan dengan tidak meninggalkan aspek manusia dan kelangsungan hidup sumber daya hayati, sehingga dalam penelitian dan pemanfaatan sumber daya makanan keberadaan nilai-nilai kehidupan tidak dapat dikurangi oleh faktor-faktor komoditas. Penguatan peraturan penelitian dan pemanfaatan sumber daya makanan dilakukan dengan membangun undang-undang di tingkat Peraturan Pemerintah yang berlaku dengan revitalisasi Lembaga Ketahanan Pangan di tingkat daerah yang melakukan fungsi mengendalikan dan mengevaluasi penelitian dan sumber daya makanan di wilayah dalam bingkai kemanusiaan dan keadilan.Kata kunci: ketahanan; pangan; sumber daya ala

Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture Annual Report, 1998-1999

The Leopold Center was established by the Iowa Legislature as part of the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act of 1987. Its mandated missions are to identify impacts of agricultural practices, contribute to the development of profitable farming systems that conserve natural resources, and cooperate with Iowa State University Extension to inform the public of new findings.Information for this report was compiled by Leopold Center staff with the help of its researchers and educators who are committed to improving Iowa agriculture and the lives of Iowans