Agricultural History Research Articles

SUSTAINABILITY OF APPLE PRODUCTION IN THE TROPICS USING LAND RENT ANALYSIS IN BATU CITY INDONESIA

Apples have gone through a long process of adapting to the Indonesian climate. Limited availability of non-renewable land creates fierce competition for land use. The purpose of this study was to a) determine the history and condition of apple farming, b) to analyze the land rent value of apple plants with plants that have the potential to replace them, namely oranges, guava, and seasonal plants, c) to determine the factors that affect the land rent value of citrus, guava, and seasonal plants. Data obtained through interviews with selected informants using a questionnaire and analyzed using land rent analysis to determine the value and factors that influence it. The results showed that apple plants' introduction has resulted in several varieties that have successfully adapted to the Indonesian climate. Indonesian apples' development is still 99.81% centered in East Java, with bad apples' sustainability because the land rent value is much lower than other commodities.

Iowa Agricultural History: Old Perspectives and New Directions

Iowa Agricultural History: Old Perspectives and New Directions

A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Early Neolithic Pyrotechnological Structures. The Case Study of Portonovo (Marche, Italy)

AbstractThe introduction of agricultural practices fostered the development of specific technologies for the new subsistence practices and the production of new artefacts. Pyrotechnological structures such as ovens are part of the Neolithic equipment and accompanied the spread of agriculture from the Near East across Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Ovens located within settlements – mainly domed, above-ground structures – have been traditionally linked to cooking and baking. The function is usually deduced from techno-morphological traits, although experimental approaches or ethnoarchaeological observations have often been used. This article aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary approach to understand the function of fire structures. An integrated methodology that combines archaeological analysis, archaeometry, and experimental archaeology has been applied to study the underground ovens of the Early Neolithic site of Portonovo (Marche, Italy) dated to the sixth millennium BCE. Samples of hardened sediment of archaeological ovens’ inner surface and selected pottery fragments were analysed through X-ray powder diffraction to estimate the temperature reached. A life-size replica of an underground oven was then created to perform firing experiments, including pottery firing. Samples of the oven’s walls and experimental vessels were analysed with the same method, and the values were compared. Our results indicate that the Portonovo ovens are potentially multifunctional structures, built for about 700 years, always with the same technique exploiting the natural soil’s insulating properties.

XXXVII сессия Симпозиума по аграрной истории Восточной Европы (Воронеж, 22–26 сентября 2020 г.)

The 37th Session of the Symposium on the Agricultural History of Eastern Europe was held in Voronezh in September 2020. The participants of the session raised an academic issue of “The Rural Social Life in the 10th–21st Century: Landowners/Landlords and Farmers”. Russian and Belorussian academics introduced the latest findings related to the social evolution of landowners and farmers and their relations with the state authorities.

From Garden to Table: Cultivating Southern Hospitality through Italian American Gardening Traditions

AbstractWhile petitions around the country circulate demanding that American academic institutions rename buildings that pay tribute to historic figures tarnished by their ties to practices of racial subjugation, this article imagines a future in which namesake buildings can heighten inclusivity, equity, and universities’ commitment to the economic well-being of their surrounding communities. Specifically, the article draws upon the meaning of the term “transformative” to examine the philanthropic endeavor of an Italian American family whose donations made possible the creation of a culinary science center at Auburn University in Alabama. Drawing upon the center's “garden to table” slogan, the article examines the intersection between Italian American gardening traditions for self-sufficiency and Black Alabamians’ historical involvement in farming as a practice for self-sustenance. Named the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, this facility can commemorate the history of its Italian American donors, uphold the rich history of Black farming in Alabama, be a driving force in advancing diversity on campus, and fulfill the mission of its land-grant institution by becoming the proponent of transformative food and transformative placemaking.

Diffusion of Organic Agriculture in Russia: Features and Implications for Rural Development

—In recent decades, organic agriculture has played an increasingly prominent role in the global and Russian agricultural sector. This trend emerged in opposition to industrial agrarian production, in response to growing demands for environmental protection and social justice. The article analyzes the place of organic agriculture among the agrarian systems of the mid-20th–early 21st centuries, the specifics of its development in Russia, and the geographical patterns of this process. In contrast to European countries, large investors initially gave impetus to development of the sector in Russia; the main motives of pioneers were associated with healthy eating and to a lesser extent with environmental or social issues. From the standpoint of the theory of diffusion of innovation, the development of organic agriculture is in its early stages; however, the number of farms and land areas under organic production are steadily growing, service industries and sales channels are being formed, and an institutional environment has been arisen in the form of industry associations and national legislation. The location of farms with different specializations can be traced to the dependence on natural conditions and the agrarian history of the territory. Refineries gravitate towards Moscow as the largest sales market. The last part of the article discusses the implications of organic agriculture for the development of rural areas in Russia: mitigating socioeconomic contrasts between suburban and peripheral rural areas, preserving the traditional cultural landscape and supporting rural tourism, and promoting environmental ideology in the agricultural sector and in society.

Review of changes in livelihood in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula during the Neolithic Age - Focusing on the aspects of fishing gear -

본고는 어로구의 양상을 중심으로 신석기시대 한반도 북부지역의 생업상에 대하여 살펴보고자 한다. 이를 위해 한반도 북부의 서북지역인 길장지역, 본계지역, 단동-한반도 중서부지역, 요동반도지역과 동북지역인 압록강 중상류 및 두만강 중류, 목단강지역, 삼강평원, 한반도 동북-연해주지역에 대해 1~3단계로 구분하고 각 지역별로 단계별 어로구 조성변화에 관하여 살펴보았다. 본고에서의 검토결과, 1단계는 각 지역별로 다양한 어로문화가 성립된다. 1단계에는 각 지역 환경에 따라 다양한 형태의 작살이 제작되었하지만 2단계 이후 한반도 북부지역은 급격한 어로문화의 변동이 나타나게 된다. 서북지역의 다양한 형태의 어로구 조성은 어망추 중심의 어로구 조성으로 변화하며, 동북지역의 작살 중심의 어로구 조성 역시 어망추 중심으로 변화한다. 도구조성 상에서도 2단계 이후 어망추와 더불어 굴지구류 및 갈돌·갈판과 같은 제분구류가 전지역에서 중심을 이루게 된다. 이러한 변동양상은 초기농경의 전파와 관련이 있는 것으로 생각된다. 동북아시아의 초기농경은 요서지역에서 등장하여 주변지역으로 확산하게 된다. 본고의 대상지역에서는 단동-한반도 서북부 지역이 초기농경문화가 확산되는 주요경로로 생각되는데, 단동-한반도 서북부지역의 어로구 조성이 이른 시기부터 어망추 중심이며, 도구조성에서 굴지구류와 갈돌·갈판이 중심을 이룬다. 즉, 2단계 이후 한반도 북부 대부분의 지역이 단동-한반도서북부와 유사한 생업도구조성을 가지게 되는 것이다. 이러한 전체적인 변화는 초기농경의 확산과 더불어 어로문화도함께 연동하여 변화하고 있음을 의미한다.This paper intends to examine the livelihoods of the northern part of the Korean Peninsula in the Neolithic Era, focusing on the aspects of fishing gear. To this end, the northwest and northeast regions of the northern part of the Korean Peninsula were divided into stages 1 to 3, and changes in the composition of fishing gear were examined in each region. As a result of the review in this paper, in the first stage, various fishing cultures are established in each region. In the first stage, various types of harpoons were produced according to the environment of each region, but after the second stage, a sharp change in fishing culture appeared in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. The formation of various types of fishing gear in the northwest region changes to fishing gear centered on fishing nets, and the harpoon-centered fishing gear construction in the northeast region also changes to fishing nets. In terms of tool composition, after the second stage, grinding tools along with fishing nets will become the center of gravity in the entire region. These changes are thought to be related to the spread of early farming. These changes are thought to be related to the spread of early farming. Early agriculture in Northeast Asia appeared in the liaoxi(some parts of liaoning province, china) area and spread to the surrounding areas. In the target area of this paper, Dandong-northwest region of the Korean peninsula is considered to be the main route for the spread of early agricultural culture. form the center In other words, after the second stage, most of the northern part of the Korean Peninsula will have a similar structure of subsistence to Dandong-Northwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. This overall change means that, along with the spread of early farming, the fishing culture is also changing.

Anthropogenic impacts on Late Holocene land-cover change and floristic biodiversity loss in tropical southeastern Asia

Southern China and Southeast Asia witnessed some of their most significant economic and social changes relevant to human land use during the Late Holocene, including the intensification and spread of rice agriculture. Despite rice growth being associated with a number of earth systems impacts, how these changes transformed tropical vegetation in this region of immense endemic biodiversity remains poorly understood. Here, we compile a pollen dataset incorporating ∼150,000 identifications and 233 pollen taxa to examine past changes in floral biodiversity, together with a compilation of records of forest decline across the region using 14 pollen records spanning lowland to mountain sites. Our results demonstrate that the rise of intensive rice agriculture from approximately 2,000 y ago led not only to extensive deforestation but also to remarkable changes of vegetation composition and a reduction in arboreal diversity. Focusing specifically on the Tertiary relic tree species, the freshwater wetland conifer Glyptostrobus (Glyptostrobus pensilis), we demonstrate how key species that had survived changing environmental conditions across millions of years shrank in the face of paddy rice farming and human disturbance.

Metagenomic Analyses of Plant Growth-Promoting and Carbon-Cycling Genes in Maize Rhizosphere Soils with Distinct Land-Use and Management Histories.

Many studies have shown that the maize rhizosphere comprises several plant growth-promoting microbes, but there is little or no study on the effects of land-use and management histories on microbial functional gene diversity in the maize rhizosphere soils in Africa. Analyzing microbial genes in the rhizosphere of plants, especially those associated with plant growth promotion and carbon cycling, is important for improving soil fertility and crop productivity. Here, we provide a comparative analysis of microbial genes present in the rhizosphere samples of two maize fields with different agricultural histories using shotgun metagenomics. Genes involved in the nutrient mobilization, including nifA, fixJ, norB, pstA, kefA and B, and ktrB were significantly more abundant (α = 0.05) in former grassland (F1) rhizosphere soils. Among the carbon-cycling genes, the abundance of 12 genes, including all those involved in the degradation of methane were more significant (α = 0.05) in the F1 soils, whereas only five genes were significantly more abundant in the F2 soils. α-diversity indices were different across the samples and significant differences were observed in the β diversity of plant growth-promoting and carbon-cycling genes between the fields (ANOSIM, p = 0.01 and R = 0.52). Nitrate-nitrogen (N-NO3) was the most influential physicochemical parameter (p = 0.05 and contribution = 31.3%) that affected the distribution of the functional genes across the samples. The results indicate that land-use and management histories impact the composition and diversity of plant growth-promoting and carbon-cycling genes in the plant rhizosphere. The study widens our understanding of the effects of anthropogenic activities on plant health and major biogeochemical processes in soils.

Analyzing Spatiotemporal Development of Organic Farming in Poland

Organic farming is one of the most widely known sustainable models of agricultural production. Success in eco-agriculture also depends greatly on agri-environmental, territorial, economic, social, institutional and spatial conditions. Polish eco-farming is very regionally dispersed and diversified. Regarding the important contribution of organic farming, a better understanding of how this phenomenon develops and which factors affect its spatial distribution can be influential for policymakers in planning strategies that pursue sustainable development objectives in rural areas. This paper assesses the development and analyses the spatial distribution of organic farming in Polish LAU-2. The country’s eco-agriculture was mapped and defined using a synthetic measure, described by 27 sub-measurements of ecological crop cultivation, animal maintenance and eco-production. The local spatial patterns (direction, scale, and range) of organic farming were detected by spatial autocorrelation measurements. The analysis was conducted for the period 2014–2020. Possible external and internal determinants of this spatial dispersion were also defined. The results indicate that the distribution and spread of organic farming in Poland are related to public support, institutional regulations, social considerations, environmental concerns, the local job market and spatial dependencies.

What Do Values Have to Do With It?: Resilience of Two Types of Farmers in Hawai‘i to the COVID-19 Pandemic

A history of agriculture and socio-cultural formation has led to a complex local food system in Hawai‘i. Customary agricultural systems built by Kānaka ‘Ōiwi (Indigenous Hawaiian) are now rested within a landscape filled with many different crops tended by farmers from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Value systems dictating farming practices and crop selling decisions differ. In Hawai'i, values of food security or food sovereignty are of particular importance, especially as growing movements seek to increase local production and decrease the state's reliance on imported food in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we systematically compare two different groups of farmers in Hawai'i and their values related to production and distribution. We then analyze the experiences of these two groups of farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic and their responses to them. The study is based on interviews with 22 Indigenous Kānaka ‘Ōiwi (IF) and Non-Indigenous local farmers (LF) from the island of O‘ahu. Ninety percent of IF say values associated with both food security and sovereignty drive their production and distribution decisions, while 75% of LF describe food security as the sole driver. Sixty percent of IF follow a non-profit economic model and emphasize cultural and educational values in their production decisions. LF follow profit-driven models and emphasize the influence the market has in their decisions. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, IF sold or donated the bulk of their crops to the local community through farm pickups, while restaurants were the primary buyers of LF crops. During the pandemic, the local community continues to be the primary recipient for IF, and due to the closure of many restaurants, LF have pivoted their sales to the community as well. Farmer interviews are augmented by three interviews with Hawai'i food system experts and relevant literature to suggest multiple pathways state agencies and local organizations could implement to support farmers from different backgrounds through COVID-19 and into the future.

Our Pigs, Ourselves

Our Pigs, Ourselves

Science and Agribusiness in the History of Pig Factory Farming in Ontario

The article explores some of the connections between science and agribusiness in the history of pig factory farming in Ontario, Canada, between the 1950s and the present. The factory farm model of pig production submits animals to a very artificial way of life, which would not be possible without the inputs of scientific and technological innovations of the 20th century. Topics discussed include the use of antibiotics, swine nutrition, feed conversion (in)efficiency, and pork promotion and consumption. The primary sources utilized are a trade magazine, a census of agriculture, and other government and industry publications. The article sheds light on how notions such as “progress”, “improvement”, “modern” or “efficiency”, frequently used by scientists when referring to results of pig production, are restricted to narrow or internal considerations of the industry that, in turn, can be challenged by broader analysis of aspects (social, economic, environmental) of the food system. Scientists have not just produced scientific knowledge but in some cases have also promoted ideologies about animals and the food system. These ideologies of “progress”, “improvement”, “modern” or “efficiency”, as in the context of pig production in Ontario, only make sense if we understand the particular historical moment in the analysis, which since the 1950s has markedly been one of strong agribusiness interventionism.

On the Efficacy of Handcrafted and Deep Features for Seed Image Classification.

Computer vision techniques have become important in agriculture and plant sciences due to their wide variety of applications. In particular, the analysis of seeds can provide meaningful information on their evolution, the history of agriculture, the domestication of plants, and knowledge of diets in ancient times. This work aims to propose an exhaustive comparison of several different types of features in the context of multiclass seed classification, leveraging two public plant seeds data sets to classify their families or species. In detail, we studied possible optimisations of five traditional machine learning classifiers trained with seven different categories of handcrafted features. We also fine-tuned several well-known convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and the recently proposed SeedNet to determine whether and to what extent using their deep features may be advantageous over handcrafted features. The experimental results demonstrated that CNN features are appropriate to the task and representative of the multiclass scenario. In particular, SeedNet achieved a mean F-measure of 96%, at least. Nevertheless, several cases showed satisfactory performance from the handcrafted features to be considered a valid alternative. In detail, we found that the Ensemble strategy combined with all the handcrafted features can achieve 90.93% of mean F-measure, at least, with a considerably lower amount of times. We consider the obtained results an excellent preliminary step towards realising an automatic seeds recognition and classification framework.

Cultured Milk

Animal milk use started between ca. 9000 and 6500 BCE at the onset of the Neolithic in Southwest Asia, and it subsequently accompanied the spread of farming into Europe from 6800/6700 BCE onward. Against the background of lambing seasons, climate, and technology, it is likely that prehistoric adults consumed not fresh milk but variants of lactose-reduced fermented milks and cheeses. While this is well in line with genetic lactose intolerance prevailing in the Neolithic, the strong selective force behind the regional emergence of genetic lactase persistence in later prehistory is still unknown. In a synopsis of the currently available archaeological data as well as knowledge of recent traditional dairying and microbiology, in this paper we trace the role of fermented dairy products in the prehistory of Southwest Asia and Europe, address possible spillover effects with other fermented products such as bread, beer, and wine, and outline working hypotheses for future research. Particular attention is drawn to the distinction between meso- and thermophilic fermentation as a possible clue as to the reasons for the strong selective advantage of lactase persistence.

Olive Trees By-Products as Sources of Bioactive and Other Industrially Useful Compounds: A Systematic Review.

The need to produce an ever-increasing quantity of material products and food resulting from the planet globalization process has contributed to the spread of modern agriculture based on a linear production resulting in the generation of tons of waste. This huge amount of waste is generally accumulated in landfills, causing different environmental problems. Hence, researchers moved on to study the processes used to recover agro-industrial by-products within a circular and sustainable bio-economy concept. A systematic quest on Scopus and PubMed databases was performed to identify the data available to date on recycling agro-industrial by-products of Olea europaea L. This systematic review summarizes the knowledge regarding the use of olive trees by-products for producing animal feed, biocomposites, bioethanol, cellulose pulp, activated carbon, and as a fuel source for energy production. Furthermore, the data regarding the potential biological activity of extracts from olive roots, wood, bark, and pruning were analyzed. Olive trees by-products are, indeed, rich in molecules with antioxidant, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and anticancer activity, representing a promising candidate for treat several human diseases.

Detecting the land use of ancient transhumance routes (Tratturi) and their potential for Italian inner areas’ growth

Transhumance is an ancient form of pastoralism involving the traditional use of natural resources. Nowadays, the routes that characterised it are disappearing. Only a few fragments of the old pathways still survive in some European countries. In Southern Italy, transhumance developed along grassy paths named Tratturi. The paper aims to determine the potential of ancient transhumance routes in Italian inner areas’ development, by verifying their state of preservation and their possible connections with economic activities located along the paths. Methodologies employed rely on orthophotos interpretation with GIS software, and statistical analysis, in particular correspondence analysis and correlation analysis. Results show that Tratturi land uses have changed over time, often with negative impacts on the preservation of the paths. Ancient transhumance routes are currently threatened by renaturation processes, which follow the progressive abandonment of grazing and the spread of intensive agriculture. Tratturi could play a very important role in regional growth, but the analyses highlight how they are not able to contribute to the development of new economic activities related to their exploitation. The findings suggest the need to implement public policies for inner areas’ growth based on the potential deriving from the preservation, recovery and enhancement of Tratturi.

Ijara as an Innovative Product in Agricultural Financing

The relevance of the study is due to the necessity to solve the problems of agricultural lending in the Kyrgyz Republic. The problems of financing and lending to agriculture are still urgent in the Kyrgyz Republic, therefore, specific financial instruments of Islamic banking, which are highly appreciated in the practise of other countries, are well suited for project financing, work in conditions of high uncertainty characteristic of agriculture in the Kyrgyz Republic. The purpose of the study was to identify alternative loan products for agricultural economic entities based on Islamic principles of financing in the Kyrgyz Republic. Research objectives: to provide brief information on the current state in the field of agricultural lending; give brief information on the development of Islamic principles of lending in the Kyrgyz Republic; define the concept and classification of Islamic banking instruments in agriculture; define the financial instrument “Ijara” and identify its advantages. Research methods: methods of the empirical level (studying of literature and other sources of information, observation, comparison), methods of the theoretical level (study and generalisation, analysis and synthesis). In the process of writing this article, Islamic banking instruments have been reviewed and classified. The concept of Ijara contract was considered, new modern technologies in the field of Islamic banking were investigated. The main distinctive principles of Islamic banking from the Western model of financial leasing were analysed. The credit history of agriculture and forestry of the Kyrgyz Republic was analysed.

Sequential analyses of bovid tooth enamel and dentine collagen (δ18O, δ13C, δ15N): new insights into animal husbandry between the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age at Tana del Barletta (Ligurian Prealps)

Tana del Barletta is an upland cave used from the Late Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age, located in the vicinity of the coast in Liguria (NW Italy). The excavation revealed the presence of a faunal assemblage dominated by caprine and cattle remains. In order to gain new data on late prehistoric farming strategies (e.g. seasonal mobility, coastal grazing, animal diet), intra-tooth series of stable oxygen and carbon isotopes have been obtained from cattle and sheep/goat tooth enamel, along with intra-tooth series of nitrogen and carbon isotopes from cattle dentine collagen. Due to the prevalence of maxillary teeth, a modern calf has also been analysed to assess intra-individual isotopic differences between the maxillary and mandibular dentition. Modern data on oxygen isotope values of meteoric water from different altitudes around the area of the site were used as a reference for interpretation. The results indicate that the water ingested by the herd was mostly characterised by particularly low δ18O values, highlighting the importance of the uplands for the late prehistoric farmers of the region. However, the input of water sourced from lower elevations, especially during the winter months, cannot be dismissed. In addition, the nitrogen isotopic composition of cattle collagen rules out the ingestion of salt-tolerant vegetation or seaweed, suggesting that grazing did not occur directly on the coastal plain.

Research on the Online Spread of Rumors about the Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products in the New Media Era Using an Improved SEIRS Model

The rapid development and dissemination of new media have increased online rumor transmission. Fermentation of some rumors regarding quality and safety of agricultural products has created serious problems that have negatively impacted agriculture in China and the consumption of goods such as poultry. Thus, it is imperative to explore the network dissemination mechanisms regarding how rumors about agricultural product quality and safety spread in the new media era. This study used “fast-growing chicken hormone-boosting” as the base rumor, and it developed an improved SEIRS model to identify the spread of rumors regarding agricultural product quality and safety. This study innovatively introduced a conversion rate and analyzed its impact on the secondary transmission of rumors. Using MATLAB software simulation, the research produced the following findings: an increase in netizens does not affect the threshold of rumor outbreaks; improving the immunity rate of contact netizens and the cure rate of spread netizens is the key to both controlling Internet ru`mors and reducing the contact rate of ordinary netizens. At the same time, an increase in the conversion rate could lead to a secondary outbreak of rumors.