Sustainable agriculture

10. Rural infrastructure and farmer support programmes

by Mike Muller

Sustainable Ecologies, Unsustainable Politics: Chinampa Farming in Ancient Central Mexico

by Christopher Morehart

Mapping ancient chinampa landscapes in the Basin of Mexico: a remote sensing and GIS approach

by Christopher Morehart

Designing multifunctional peri-urban agro-landscapes for sustainable agriculture

by Grace Docuyanan

Co-authored with J.C.J. Groot and S.J. Oosting, contribution to the International Conference on Multifunctional Agriculture in an Urbanising Society (http://www.agricultureinanurbanizingsociety.com/UK)

As the countryside becomes urbanised, socio-economic demands on farming evolve. Farmers adapt by diversifying... more As the countryside becomes urbanised, socio-economic demands on farming evolve. Farmers adapt by diversifying activities. However, trade-offs and synergies exist among multifunctional goals and related services. Identifying the most beneficial development direction involves clarifying societal demands for services and generating options to adjust farm and landscape management to supply these services. Here we apply the Landscape IMAGES framework to a peri-urban area to generate landscape management plans that are expected to perform better given societal preferences and sustainability indicators, and to identify policy instruments that could be effective to achieve a desired plan. We established trade-offs among farmers’ economic benefits and public benefits in terms of plant diversity, ecological health, landscape quality and meadow bird habitat quality. The most desirable plans for society could be attained by improved extension, without additional subsidies. We conclude that the presented framework was effective in identifying plans and policies to satisfy multifunctional objectives for farm enterprises.

India's Second Green Revolution? The Sociopoltiical Implications of Corporate-driven Agricultural Growth

by Jeffrey Witsoe

Supporting wild pollinators in a temperate agricultural landscape: maintaining mosaics of natural features and production.

by Pia Lentini

Lentini, PE, Martin, TG, Gibbons, P, Fischer, J and Cunningham, SA (2012) Supporting wild pollinators in a temperate agricultural landscape: maintaining mosaics of natural features and production. Biological Conservation 149, 84-92.

Pollination has received attention recently due to reported sharp declines of Apis mellifera in several locations, and... more Pollination has received attention recently due to reported sharp declines of Apis mellifera in several locations, and it has been proposed that diverse native bee communities may be key for continued pollination of economically important crops. However, there is some inconsistency in the literature as to how these communities should best be managed. To address this issue, we collected bees from an intensively managed agricultural region in eastern Australia using blue vane traps. Both linear remnants of vegetation, which form part of a larger corridor network, and adjacent fields of native and exotic pastures, wheat, canola, and lucerne were sampled. A total of 3 249 individual bees, representing four families and 36 species were collected. Highly modified environments of nectar-bearing crop supported the most species-rich bee assemblages, and the highest abundance of individual bee species. Distance from the remnants did not limit the body size of species occupying fields (up to 400m). However, richness of bee assemblages also responded positively to the presence of conservation land in nearby areas, or the number of remnant native trees surrounding traps. Linear remnants of native vegetation contributed to assemblage heterogeneity by adding unique species to the regional pool. Our findings indicate that agricultural industries that currently rely on pollination by A. mellifera should ensure that intensive land use is complemented by untilled areas in the form of conservation land, or farm dams and scattered trees in fields, to support wild pollinators that may act as insurance against further future losses of managed hives.

"Facilitating Sustainable Change" Solomon Islands Youth Project - A Concept Paper

by alexis stergakis

Alexis Stergakis Co - Authored with Ikarini Wulundari, Rebecca Smith, Azlan Petra, Jacqueline Lim

A concept paper sets forth to shape a project to be re-engage with the Temotu region as a starting point for... more A concept paper sets forth to shape a project to be re-engage with the Temotu region as a starting point for addressing assumed key issues around youth and sustainable agriculture. We aim to facilitate discussions with community groups, which are targeted towards the people of Temotu working together to find solutions for the issues in their own region.

This projects overarching objective is to provide a forum for community members to practice community mobilisation and facilitation of their own discussions through the rhetoric of agricultural sustainability.

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?

Farming the Indigenous Way

by Tahir Hasnain

Analysis of the reclamation treatment capability of a constructed wetland for reuse

by Antonio Albuquerque

F. Pedrero, A. Albuquerque, L. Amado, H. Marecos do Monte, J. Alarcón
Water Practice & Technology, 2011, V. 6, 3, 9 p.

A research project was conducted during 2008-2009 in Portugal to evaluate the potential of reclaimed water from... more A research project was conducted during 2008-2009 in Portugal to evaluate the potential of reclaimed water from constructed wetlands for irrigation reuse. A 21 month monitoring campaign was set up in a Filtralite-based horizontal subsurface flow bed. Results showed a significant fluctuation of the hydraulic loading rate that has influenced the hydraulic retention time and the wastewater characteristics over time and, therefore, the removal efficiencies for BOD5, COD, TSS, nitrogen and phosphorus were lower than the reported values for CW performance. If the hydraulic loading rate could be properly controlled the treatment performance, as well as the quality of the reclaimed water, can be improved considerably. The effluent concentrations of conductivity (EC), BOD5, COD, TN, K, Ca, Mg and phytotoxic elements (Na, Cl and B), showed a suitable quality for irrigation reuse according to different international standards, although it is necessary to improve the removal of phosphorous and a final disinfection must be implemented to decrease the pathogenic content.

Analysis of constructed wetland performance for irrigation reuse

by Antonio Albuquerque

H. Marecos do Monte, A. Albuquerque
Water Science and Technology, 2010, V. 61, 7, 1699-7105.

Most of the wastewater treatment systems in small rural communities of the Cova da Beira region (Portugal) consist of... more Most of the wastewater treatment systems in small rural communities of the Cova da Beira region (Portugal) consist of constructed wetlands (CW) with horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF). It is believed that those systems allow the compliance of discharge standards as well as the production of final effluents with suitability for reuse. Results obtained in a nine-month campaign in an HSSF bed pointed out that COD and TSS removal were lower than expected. A discrete sampling also showed that removal of TC, FC and HE was not enough to fulfill international irrigation goals. However, the bed had a very good response to variation of incoming nitrogen loads presenting high removal of nitrogen forms. A good correlation between mass load and mass removal rate was observed for BOD5, COD, TN, NH4-N, TP and TSS, which shows a satisfactory response of the bed to the variable incoming loads. The entrance of excessive loads of organic matter and solids contributed for the decrease of the effective volume for pollutant uptake and therefore, may have negatively influenced the treatment capability. Primary treatment should be improved in order to decrease the variation of incoming organic and solid loads and to improve the removal of COD, solids and pathogenic. The final effluent presented good physical–chemical quality to be reused for irrigation, which is the most likely application in the area.

Alternative Food Networks

by Michael Goodman

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.

2008 - Impacts of Industrial Farming (CAFOs)

by Matt Lievertz

Impacts of CAFOs examined from a primarily environmental perspective, with some discussion of land rights/ethics. Impacts of CAFOs examined from a primarily environmental perspective, with some discussion of land rights/ethics.

Sustaining local agriculture barriers and opportunities to direct marketing between farms and restaurants in Colorado

by Amory Starr

2003 Co-authored with Garry Auld, et. al., Agriculture and Human Values 20

Research explored methods for “shortening the food links” or developing the “local foodshed” by connecting farmers... more Research explored methods for “shortening the food links” or developing the “local foodshed” by connecting farmers with food service buyers (for restaurants and institutions) in Colorado. Telephone interviews were used to investigate marketing and purchasing practices. Findings include that price is not a significant factor in purchasing decisions; that food buyers prioritize quality as their top purchasing criterion but are not aware that local farmers can provide higher quality, that institutions are interested in buying locally; that small farms can
offer comparable or higher quality produce and service; and that farmers need to show buyers what the quality of produce and service they can provide.

Landscapes over Time: Resilience, Degradation, and Contemporary Lessons (2005)

by Gary Feinman

Christopher T. Fisher and Gary M. Feinman, 2005)

Striking a balance in the palm oil debate

by Rory Padfield

Co-authored with Sune Hansen (Technical University Denmark)

The environmental impact of palm oil is a subject that has stirred considerable interest and opinion in recent years.... more The environmental impact of palm oil is a subject that has stirred considerable interest and opinion in recent years. Rory Padfield and Sune Hansen attempt to provide some much-needed balance and perspective to recent debates.

Impact Assessment on Oil Palm Development

by Fitrian Ardiansyah

Co-authored with Dr Asril Darussamin (IPOC) and Suhandri (WWF-Indonesia). The paper is presented at the 2nd Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Palm Oil, 6 October 2004.