Organic agriculture

A strategic research and development plan for the New Zealand pipfruit industry

by Peter Mellalieu

Hill, R., Jones, G., Hewitt, E., Banks, N., Scott, D., Mellalieu, P. J., Ferguson, I., et al. (1996). A strategic research and development plan for the New Zealand pipfruit industry (Strategic plan) (p. 48). Hastings, New Zealand: Pipfruit R&D Strategic Planning Group.

This related paper describes the process used to develop the strategy documented in the paper:

Mellalieu, P. J. (1997). Research-based innovation strategy and the New Zealand pipfruit industry. New Zealand strategic management, 3(2 (Spring)), 12. Retrieved from http://tinyurl.com/pjm-pipfruit

The future success and economic viability of the New Zealand pipfruit industry depends on innovation: the introduction... more The future success and economic viability of the New Zealand pipfruit industry depends on innovation: the introduction of new or improved products, processes and services to meet the needs of both existing and new customers. The strategic plan described focuses on opportunities for Research and Development (R&D) to help achieve premium returns from New Zealand's fresh pipfruit exports. The plan provides strategic direction to research users, funders, and providers. The plan excludes consideration of processed pipfruit products.

The project team asked the question "What are the critical issues affecting R&D-based innovation in the New Zealand pipfruit industry?" In response to the question nine critical issues were identified. The issues impact on the industry's R&D investments and research management infrastructure. In considering the nine issues four strategic R&D goal areas were identified: (1) Improving the timeliness and cost-effectiveness of new product and process development; (2) Advancing the adoption of environmentally-sustainable production, handling, and delivery practices in relation to market access requirements; (3) Optimizing market returns through improved prediction and control of product quality; (4) Adopting investment-informed approaches to R&D management, technology transfer, and intellectual property management. The plan identifies specific goals and measures of success for each of the goal areas identified.

Research-based innovation strategy and the New Zealand pipfruit industry

by Peter Mellalieu

Mellalieu, P. J. (1997). Research-based innovation strategy and the New Zealand pipfruit industry. New Zealand strategic management, 3(2 (Spring)), 12.

For the strategic plan described in this paper, see the related:
Hill, R., Jones, G., Hewitt, E., Banks, N., Scott, D., Mellalieu, P. J., Ferguson, I., et al. (1996). A strategic research and development plan for the New Zealand pipfruit industry (Strategic plan) (p. 48). Hastings, New Zealand: Pipfruit R&D Strategic Planning Group. Retrieved from http://unitec.academia.edu/PeterMellalieu/Papers/1569486/A_strategic_research_and_development_plan_for_the_New_Zealand_pipfruit_industry

The New Zealand pipfruit industry takes around twenty years to develop a new apple variety up to full commercial... more The New Zealand pipfruit industry takes around twenty years to develop a new apple variety up to full commercial production. The industry’s success is increasingly dependent on the introduction of new pipfruit products. How can the industry plan for effective research, science, and technology (RS&T) investments for supplying products into an international marketplace which is increasingly volatile?

Biodiversity and Complexity of Rice Farm Ecosystems: An Empirical Assessment

by Debal Deb

Fragmented Barley Grains from the Late Bronze Age Turnov-Maškovy Zahrady Site in North Bohemia

by Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica IANSA

Organic Food and Farming in Iran

by Hossein Mahmoudi

The world of organic agriculture - statistics and emerging trends 2012/ IFOAM, Bonn and Fibl, Switzerland
February 2012

ACTIVE ‘EXTENSION’ BY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS : HOPE TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY

by Pradeep Dwivedi

Paper presented at NATIONAL SEMINAR ON FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE organised by UPRT Open University, Allahabad, UP, India, 9-10 Feb. 2012

All successful moves to more sustainable agriculture have in common coordinated action by groups or communities at the... more All successful moves to more sustainable agriculture have in common coordinated action by groups or communities at the local level (Pretty, 1995). But the problem is that platforms for resource use negotiation generally do not exist, and so need to be created and facilitated (Brinkman, 1994). Similarly, extension services by different universities/ higher education institutes and government / non- government organizations (NGOs) must have a common platform for effective delivery of non- formal education bringing behavioural changes desireable for participation in sustainable agriculture initiatives. Dwivedi (2008) suggested multi-ministerial approach by establishing an apex body to coordinate wide range of extension services and formulating Right to Extension Education (Act) to ensure efficient community engagement at different level of knowledge sharing by different stakeholders.

ACTIVE ‘EXTENSION’ BY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS : HOPE TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY

by Pradeep Dwivedi

Paper presented at NATIONAL SEMINAR ON FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE organised by UPRT Open University, Allahabad, UP, India, 9-10 Feb. 2012

All successful moves to more sustainable agriculture have in common coordinated action by groups or communities at the... more All successful moves to more sustainable agriculture have in common coordinated action by groups or communities at the local level (Pretty, 1995). But the problem is that platforms for resource use negotiation generally do not exist, and so need to be created and facilitated (Brinkman, 1994). Similarly, extension services by different universities/ higher education institutes and government / non- government organizations (NGOs) must have a common platform for effective delivery of non- formal education bringing behavioural changes desireable for participation in sustainable agriculture initiatives. Dwivedi (2008) suggested multi-ministerial approach by establishing an apex body to coordinate wide range of extension services and formulating Right to Extension Education (Act) to ensure efficient community engagement at different level of knowledge sharing by different stakeholders.

Organic Agriculture in Egypt: Production Economics and Challenges (A Case Study of Fayoum Governorate)

by Ayman Shelaby

Producing the natural fiber naturally: Technological change and the US organic cotton industry

by Mrill Ingram

Organic Retailers in Italy: challenges and growth trends

by Cristina Santini

A vision, a wine and a shining Star in the shadow of Montalcino: the story of a biodynamic pioneer in the heart of Tuscany.

by Cristina Santini

Conference Paper presented @ the 2011 International AWBR conference in Bordeaux. Co-authored with Prof. Armand Gilinsky & Dr. Marianna Claps

Are there spatial spillovers in the adoption of clean technology? The case of organic dairy farming

by Brian E Robinson

Land Economics (2011), with David J Lewis and Brad Barham

This paper examines spatial spillovers associated with the adoption of organic dairy farming. We hypothesize that... more This paper examines spatial spillovers associated with the adoption of organic dairy farming. We hypothesize that neighboring farmers can help to reduce the uncertainty of organic conversion by lowering the fixed costs of learning about the organic system. A spatially explicit 10-year panel dataset of more than 1,900 dairy farms in southwestern Wisconsin is used as input into a reduced-form econometric model of the decision to convert to organic production. Using an identification strategy that exploits the panel aspect of the micro dataset, we find evidence that the presence of neighboring organic dairy farms affects the conversion decision.

210Po and major ions in drainage water from soil treated with various types of fertilizers

by Fernando Jimenez

Fernando Jiménez, Raúl López, Luis Debán, Rafael Pardo, Marta García-Talavera


Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering (2007) 42 1051-1056

Organic fertilizer,NPK fertilizer, sewage sludge, leaching, 210-Polonium

The levels of (210)Po, nutrients (NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-), PO(4)(3 -)) and major ions (Na(+), K(+), Mg(2 +), Ca(2 +), F(-),... more The levels of (210)Po, nutrients (NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-), PO(4)(3 -)) and major ions (Na(+), K(+), Mg(2 +), Ca(2 +), F(-), NO(2 -), Br(-), Cl(-), SO(4)(2 -)) were determined, by means of lysimeter experiences, in drainage waters for agricultural soils untreated and treated with different types of fertilizers (animal manure, sewage sludge and NPK synthetic fertilizer) applied at several rates. Analytical determinations were performed by using alpha -spectrometry in the case of (210)Po, or Ion Exchange liquid chromatography for the other ionic species. Statistical uni and multivariate analysis of the results shown significant differences among lixiviates according to the different fertilizer treatments. Sewage sludge and manure applications resulted in similar compositions of lixiviates with low (210)Po levels, whereas synthetic fertilizers produced higher (210)Po concentrations and different concentration patterns of ionic species when applied at or above the recommended rates. All (210)Po levels were well below the limits proposed by the 2001/928/ Euratom Recommendation. The concentrations of the rest of the ionic species, exception made from NH(4)(+) and NO(3)(-), were also below the limits proposed by Spanish regulations.

Effect of Compost on Gherkin Productivity

by D.A.M.S. Silva

Proceedings of 10th Agriculture Research Symposium, 12th -13th Augest 2010, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management,
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila (NWP)

An experiment was carried out to find out the effect of level of compost on yield of Gherkin and to evaluate it’s... more An experiment was carried out to find out the effect of level of compost on yield of Gherkin and to evaluate it’s economic benefits. Four compost treatments were added per plant basis. They were 250 g (T2), 500 g (T3), 750 g (T4) and 1000 g (T5). One treatment was kept without adding any compost (T1). Among treatments T3 recorded the highest weight per fruit (17.22 g), number of fruits per vine (127.73), Yield per vine (2.20 kg) and Total yield (29.87 T/ha). T5 recorded the highest fruit length (69.40 mm), fruit diameter (22.58 mm) and T2 recorded the lowest CRS percentage (18.2 %). T5 showed higher number of leaves, plant height, root and shoot dry weight. With the increase in compost, roughness of the fruit skin was increased. T3 gave the highest profit (Rs. 176,000) and Benefit percentage (74.2 %). Higher compost doses have shown a better root growth, which may have helped to absorb more nutrients by plants to get better vegetative growth. 500 g of compost per plant (T3) recorded to be the best treatment with highest productivity and profitability.

Controls over soil microbial biomass responses to carbon amendments in agricultural systems: A meta-analysis

by Cynthia Kallenbach

Kallenbach, C.M. and A.S. Grandy. 2011. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment, Vol 144: Pages 241-252.

Soil microbial biomass (MB) facilitates key ecosystem functions such as soil aggregation and nutrient cycling and... more Soil microbial biomass (MB) facilitates key ecosystem functions such as soil aggregation and nutrient cycling and makes a substantial contribution to soil organic matter. While agricultural conversion drastically reduces MB, the use of organic amendments is an effective way to rebuild depleted MB. Yet, little is known about broad-scale, global controls over MB responses to organic inputs. We used a meta-analysis to identify the degree to which soil properties, agricultural management, and geographic location regulate MB response (carbon, Cmic; nitrogen, Nmic; and C:N ratio, C:Nmic) to animal manure-based inputs relative to inorganic fertilizers. We show that organic amendments increased Cmicby 36% and Nmicby 27% across all observations. The chemistry of amendments and their application rates were the strongest regulators of Cmicbut edaphic properties were also important. C:Nmicaveraged 8.6 and was not influenced by organic amendments under any conditions, providing evidence that the physiological requirements of microbes, rather than management or environmental factors, constrain their elemental stoichiometry. Our study indicates that even small quantities of organic amendments can be used to rapidly restore MB across a range of cropping systems but specific responses depend upon the type and rate of inputs as well soil characteristics.

Recycling pulp mill sludge to improve soil fertility using GIS tools

by Antonio Albuquerque

P. Ribeiro, A. Albuquerque, L. Quinta-Nova, V. Cavaleiro
Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2010, V. 54, 12, 1303–1311.

Pulp mill sludge produced in the Cova da Beira region (Portugal) contains organic matter (11–47%), nitrogen (38–2560mg... more Pulp mill sludge produced in the Cova da Beira region (Portugal) contains organic matter (11–47%), nitrogen (38–2560mg N/kg) and phosphorus (167–370mg P/kg), which may be valuable for increasing soil productivity. The levels of heavy metals are below the limits recommended by legislation and the
amount of nitrogen and phosphorous to be introduced in soils does not present a risk for nutrient leaching.
After identifying the environmental and technical restrictions on its application, an area of 1650 ha was identified where the sludge can be applied in forage crops, fruit trees, olive groves and vineyards. A suitable area was also found for a biosolids storage centre. The use of GIS allowed to define a sludge
application index and to produce land-use suitability maps, which can be useful for sludge management.

Back to the Farm, Forward to the Future: Land Grant tradition is fertile soil for Idaho's student organic farm

by Claudia Pine

2004. Hemphill (Pine), Claudia, Amie-June Brumble, K.D. Hatheway-Dial, Luis Guerrero, Troy Hall, Heidi Heffernan, Jodi Johnson-Maynard, Meagan Rose, Ariel Spaeth, and Gordon Toevs. Poster presentation at Education for Sustainability-West (EFS-West), Portland, Oregon, October 2004.

I wrote a brief history of the Soil Stewards student-run, organic, campus farm as part of my Fall 2005 Sustainability... more I wrote a brief history of the Soil Stewards student-run, organic, campus farm as part of my Fall 2005 Sustainability seminar at the University of Idaho. The farm's start-up exemplifies many things -- not least, how students - or in my case, a grad student/adjunct - often form the leading edge of innovation in higher ed curricula.

It began in Fall 2002 with my take-home final for Environmental Philosophy students. I challenged them to: "Name 5 things you think this campus would need to do to be a sustainable place, and explain why. Try to provide such a powerful moral argument that people will actually go out and support this idea, and bring it into being!"

One of the top 5 items: There should be an organic farm offering education, carrying out research for the region and the state, and most importantly, providing fresh local community-supporting organic produce. Our campus currently had none.

This at a land-grant university sitting in the Palouse, one of the world's richest, deepest agricultural soils. Hmmmmm.....

* The UI has a great College of Agriculture & Life Sciences -- but no ecological agriculture program. I was taking a course through the CALS Plant Science division on 'sustainable small-acreage farming,' which included organic farming as one option -- but again, there was no UI organic farm program to provide tours, speakers, or practical experience.
* On the other hand, in my Env. Science courses there were students from Natural Resources, Env. Sci, social sciences and other programs who believed a sustainable farm for our campus would be an important part of UI practicing and teaching sustainability. However, they had no way to start one.
* But meanwhile, Soil Science professor Jodi Johnson-Maynard was also thinking about how to do this. She told me she had the research acres to raise organic vegetables, on the Plant Science Research Farm east of Moscow -- but not enough students.
* I said I knew where they were!
* Still, we lacked any program in ag to support the project. So -- with Jodi as advisor, we started it as a club. Since sustainability requires democratic participation, a club format provided this cooperative framework. Our goal was to continue this even after we became successful enough to be "adopted" into the university structure.

Soil Stewards was thus Philosophy in Action: A student-run farm with research relationships, a club to build community, and broad, if unofficial, support. In our first summer, 2003, we had hundreds of plants and about 5 people to water -- by hose, from a water truck. By fall we had scores coming to pick, eat and learn. Thousands of pounds of fresh, healthy, organically grown food went to students, staff and faculty on our campus -- from the freshman dining hall up to the President.

Campus Dining Services was skeptical till I brought them a 20-pound basket of our first harvest -- then the managing director joined the club! We sold to campus dining, started a farmstand and a CSA (community-supported agriculture, or member shares) last fall, and between those sales and support from our Plant, Soil & Entomological Science department chair, were able to pay our land fees, install irrigation, and send 6 members to the first western U.S. conference on Sustainability in Higher Education, in October 2004 in Portland, Oregon, where this poster was presented.

Unintended Consequences of Green Technologies

by Ozzie Zehner

Zehner, Ozzie. “Unintended Consequences.” In Green Technology, edited by Paul Robbins, Dustin Mulvaney and J. Geoffrey Golson, 427-32. London: Sage, 2011.

Green technologies (e.g. wind turbines, solar cells, and biofuels) and initiatives (e.g. efficiency, recycling, and... more Green technologies (e.g. wind turbines, solar cells, and biofuels) and initiatives (e.g. efficiency, recycling, and organics) yield distinct unanticipated consequences that can partially or fully offset intended environmental benefits.

Promotion of Organic Vegetable Production through Farmers' Field School in Chitwan, Nepal

by Rajan Ghimire

Organic certification systems and international trading of agricultural products in gravity models

by Maurizio Canavari