Agri-food Production Research Articles

Agricultural Robotics and Automation [TC Spotlight

Agricultural production is a key economic activity providing a growing world population with resources such as food, fibers, fuels, and chemical basic components. Yet, agriculture also plays a crucial role in the depletion of resources, including fresh water, fossil fuels, and nutrients (e.g., phosphate), and has a significant impact on our living environment through emissions and the use of chemicals. Despite a growing world population, labor participation in agricultural production is declining. Technology has been instrumental in the very successful development of agriculture throughout the centuries and will play a crucial role in the transition to more sustainable agrifood production in the years that lie ahead of us.

Integrated Agrogeophysical Approach for Investigating Soil Pipes in Agricultural Fields

Soil erosion is one of the most significant challenges for soil management and agri-food production threatening human habitat and livelihood. Although soil erosion due to surficial processes is well-studied, erosion due to subsurface processes such as internal soil pipes has often been overlooked. Internal soil pipes directly contribute to the total soil loss in agricultural fields and impede agricultural sustainability. Locating, measuring, and mapping internal soil pipes and their networks are vital to assessing the total soil loss in agricultural fields. Their hidden and uncorrelated nature of subsurface occurrences constricts the applicability of manual and remote sensing-based detection techniques. Non-invasive agrogeophysical methods can overcome these limitations with detailed subsurface pictures and high spatial resolution. In this study, the applicability of three agrogeophysical methods including seismic refraction tomography (SRT), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was tested at Goodwin Creek, an experimental field site with established internal soil pipes. SRT showed low P and S wave velocities anomalies in soil pipe-affected zones. ERT results indicated the location of soil pipes with high resistivity anomalies. However, both SRT and ERT lack resolution to identify individual soil pipes. GPR diffraction hyperbolas and their apexes however effectively identified individual soil pipes. The agrogeophysical anomalies for soil pipes were compared with the low penetration resistance of the cone penetrologger (CPL) results. Correspondence between low PR in CPL and agrogeophysical anomalies verify the locations of internal soil pipe-affected zones. Moreover, the fragipan layer is identified below the soil pipe-affected zone by all three methods.

Antifungal Potential of Capsaicinoids and Capsinoids from the Capsicum Genus for the Safeguarding of Agrifood Production: Advantages and Limitations for Environmental Health.

Opportunistic pathogenic fungi arise in agricultural crops as well as in surrounding human daily life. The recent increase in antifungal-resistant strains has created the need for new effective antifungals, particularly those based on plant secondary metabolites, such as capsaicinoids and capsinoids produced by Capsicum species. The use of such natural compounds is well-aligned with the One Health approach, which tries to find an equilibrium among people, animals, and the environment. Considering this, the main objective of the present work is to review the antifungal potential of capsaicinoids and capsinoids, and to evaluate the environmental and health impacts of biofungicides based on these compounds. Overall, capsaicinoids and their analogues can be used to control pathogenic fungi growth in plant crops, as eco-friendly alternatives to pest management, and assist in the conservation and long-term storage of agrifood products. Their application in different stages of the agricultural and food production chains improves food safety, nutritional value, and overcomes antimicrobial resistance, with a lower associated risk to humans, animals, and the environment than that of synthetic fungicides and pesticides. Nevertheless, research on the effect of these compounds on bee-like beneficial insects and the development of new preservatives and packaging materials is still necessary.

Whole transcriptome sequencing analysis of synergistic combinations of plant-based antimicrobials and zinc oxide nanoparticles against Campylobacter jejuni

The emergence of antibiotic resistance among animal farms impels the development of novel antimicrobials or strategies for agri-food production. The combinational use of agents to achieve a synergistic antimicrobial effect provides many advantages such as dosage reduction, shortened treatment time, and avoidance of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we evaluated the killing efficacy of single agent or combinational use of three antimicrobials, including cinnamon oil, encapsulated curcumin and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), against a leading foodborne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. We then investigated the antimicrobial mechanism using whole transcriptome sequencing analysis (RNA-Seq). The single-agent treatment of cinnamon oil, encapsulated curcumin, or ZnO NPs showed a significant antimicrobial effect against C. jejuni by generating more than 8-log reduction within 3 h. The transcriptional signatures of C. jejuni in response to these agents varied, indicating that these agents shared distinct mechanisms of action and were likely to generate synergistic effects. Cinnamon oil affected the integrity of cell membrane, which might lead to an increase in cell permeability. Encapsulated curcumin and ZnO NPs disrupted bacterial outer membranes and cell membranes against the same membrane protein targets. The combinational use of these agents showed synergistic antimicrobial effects and distinct mechanisms of action compared to single treatment. The combination of cinnamon oil and encapsulated curcumin provoked the expression of cellular signaling, but repressed the chemotaxis-associated genes. The antimicrobial resistance associated genes showed a low expression level in the combination of encapsulated curcumin and ZnO NPs. The tri-combination treatment systematically overexpressed genes involved in the amino acid synthesis, protein translation, and membrane protein synthesis. This study provides new insights in combating Campylobacter with minimizing the development of antimicrobial resistance in long-term usage.

Marketing Support of Corporate Social Responsibility of Agri-Food Enterprises

The article considers the peculiarities of marketing support of corporate social responsibility of agri-food enterprises of Ukraine. The purpose of this study is to develop scientific positions to carry out the marketing support concept of corporate social responsibility of agri-food enterprises. Created positions will be directed toward building reliable partnerships with stakeholders. The logical architecture of realization of the concept of marketing support of corporate social responsibility of agrifood enterprises is formalized. The directions of harmonization of interests of business structures (stakeholders) and the state in the marketing support of corporate social responsibility of agri-food enterprises are presented. The graph-model of rational architecture of probabilistic time lag of profitability and competitiveness in the current business process of agri-food enterprises is structured. The three-level vector of realization of marketing programs of corporate social responsibility of the enterprises of agri-food production is defined. Economic indicators and the volume of expenditures on environmental and social aspects of agri-food enterprises in the range of Steppe, Forest-Steppe, Polissia and Western zones of Ukraine are analysed. Factors influencing the sustainable level of marketing support of corporate social responsibility, which increases the motivation and productivity of employees, business, and public reputation of enterprises in the agri-food sector of the economy and reduces the risk of market losses, are substantiated. It is proved that socio-economic development of ethnic communities in the Steppe, Forest-Steppe, Polissia and Western zones of Ukraine in the context of the concept of marketing support of corporate social responsibility is carried out through the implementation of environmental, motivational levers for health protection, education, cultural values, infrastructure and other social projects, that is, by increasing the flow of social investment

Industry Structure of Agri-Food Production and Consumer Food Price Index

It is believed that one of the main conditions for the absence of a shortage and stability of food prices on the domestic market is a sufficient level of food self-sufficiency, calculated as the ratio of the volume of production of this type of food to the volume of its use in the territory of the given country. However, this approach has a weak point: production volumes in the numerator are agricultural raw materials, and not consumer-ready industrial products. Considering the export channel of the extraction of food raw materials, the production volumes of agricultural goods sufficient for food self-supply do not guarantee their availability at national enterprises of the food industry to produce semifinished foods and ready-made food in a quantity sufficient for the food market to function without a deficit. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the violation of industry proportions of agri-food production is one of the reasons for the growth of the consumer price index in the food market of Ukraine. The authors of this study proposed the “coefficient of the ratio of gross value added created in the food industry to gross value added created in agriculture” as an indicator that describes the sectoral structure of agri-food production. It was found that, provided the other factors of influence remain unchanged, an increase in the coefficient “the ratio of gross value added created in the food industry to gross value added created in agriculture” by 1% leads to a decrease in the consumer price index of food products and soft drinks by 0.317%. It was concluded that to ensure the stability of national food prices, such a coefficient should not be less than 1. The prospects of further research include the development of an organisational and economic mechanism for the development of a closed value chain in the system of national agri-food production.

Shared responsibility for global water stress from agri-food production and consumption and opportunities for mitigation

Understanding how agri-food consumption by individual countries contributes to their own water stress and that of other agri-food producer countries, and identifying opportunities to help reduce global water stress is important for ensuring responsible agri-food consumption and production. Assessing 26 agri-food commodities traded between 189 countries using a multi-regional input-output model (MRIO), the contribution of agri-food production to the water stress of producer countries was quantified. Then, the responsibility of consumer countries in aggravating the water stress of producer countries was assessed. Finally, an indicator of opportunity for consumer countries to target co-investment in improving the water-use efficiency of producer countries where they can achieve the highest marginal reduction in water stress was developed. The USA was the most significant contributor to global water stress, adding 42 percentage points to its own domestic water stress and 179 percentage points to the water stress of other producer countries via trade. The opportunity for reducing water stress was highest for the Dominican Republic, Qatar, and Ukraine. Production of irrigated Vegetables, fruits & nuts for export was the major contributor to the national water stress of these countries. This work can help nations reduce their contribution to global water stress through targeted investments in water-use efficiency measures across their global supply chain and help to progress towards Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 17 (Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development).

Investigating the Effect of Nudges on Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Genetically Modified Corn Oil

Shifting from conventional methods of food production to genetic modification methods benefits sustainable agri-food production and environmental preservation. However, one of the main problems genetically modified food manufacturers have ever had to deal with is the public acceptability of GM foods. This study has two major objectives. First, it intends to apply principles from behavioral economics to investigate how consumers’ willingness to pay for GM corn oil can be affected. For this purpose, two different nudges are tested by providing consumers with positive information regarding GMO and changing the wording of the GMO label. Then, a comparison between the effectiveness of each of them is provided. Second, it investigates the impact of trust in GM food institutions, GMO information, and perceived GMO risk on both WTP for GM edible oil and the effectiveness of each nudge. A between-subjects choice experiment with a sample size of 550 Iranian corn oil consumers was conducted in Mashhad from March to April 2021. The results of mixed logit models indicate that both nudges affected consumer valuation of GM corn oil significantly, while their effectiveness differed according to the consumer level of trust in the GM food institutions and the perceived risk of GMO. Increasing consumer trust and information raises the WTP for GM corn oil; however, perceived risk has no effect. This study introduces effortless tools that GM food manufacturers can consider in their marketing strategies to affect consumers in the desired way.

Time to clean up food production? Digital technologies, nature-driven agility, and the role of managers and customers

This article employs a multiple-case study research design to unpack the complex relationship between digital transformation, agility, and environmental sustainability in the agri-food industry. Our findings show that to achieve a cleaner food production that does not compromise the natural life cycle, firms need to deploy nature-driven agility, a novel type of agility. We conceptualized nature-driven agility as the firm ability to flexibly and effectively utilize natural resources to adapt the full production process to market changes and capture new value-creation opportunities within nature constraints. This study found that nature-driven agility relies on digital technologies to make predictions about natural resource dynamics that may impact the critical steps of the agri-food production process. We also identify some factors that clarify how the benefits of nature-driven agility on cleaner food production strongly depend on managers' commitment to environmental sustainability and the pressure of customers for new products aligned with ecological sustainability purposes. Finally, we synthesized the findings in the Nature-driven Agility (NaDrA) framework, which practitioners can use to design proper operations that capture value-creation opportunities while improving agri-food firms' environmental performance.

Are We Adapting to Climate Change? Evidence from the High-Quality Agri-Food Sector in the Veneto Region

Adaptation to climate change is an issue of growing concern for the agri-food sector, particularly for Geographic Indications (GIs). Agri-food GIs are deeply grounded on the concept of terroir, whose key aspects can be altered by climate change. In this context, understanding whether and how agents involved in agri-food GIs production are adapting to climate change is a crucial issue, together with pointing out the role played by either economic incentives or subsidies in the implementation of adaptation measures. To answer these questions, this research focuses on the case of the agri-food sector of the Veneto Region. First, a subsample of agri-food GIs is identified. Second, a mixed-methods approach is implemented, including 14 semi-structured in-depth interviews with key informants and two focus group discussions to analyze the effects related to climate change and the implementation of adaptation measures. Different levels of concern regarding the effects of climate change are observed. Similarly, the implementation of adaptation measures largely varies in relation to the type of GI (e.g., animal-based or crop-based), crop system (annual or permanent crops) and altitude of the production areas (e.g., mountains or plain). Additionally, several groups of barriers to adaptation are outlined, including behavioral, socioeconomic, policy- and governance-related, informative and structural ones. Several recommendations are suggested: de jure recognition of the current functions of some Consortia and Producers Organizations, scaling up adaptation strategies beyond the GI system through cooperation and institutionalized networks and developing knowledge provision systems based on participatory approaches.

Going in Circles: Key Aspects for Circular Economy Contributions to Agro-industrial Cooperatives

The global agribusiness context faces at the same time challenges of feeding a growing global population that is used to safe and nutritious food, opportunities based on innovation, high technology and efficiency in the agri-food production systems from field to table. Given the context, this article aims to present the main key aspects of the circular economy to agro-industrial cooperatives. These contributions were named key aspects, such as circular and symbiotic practices, competitive advantages, innovation, cooperation and barriers and opportunities. The field presents a problem that few literature in fact discusses circular economy approaches in the context of agro-industrial cooperatives. As a methodological procedure, a literature review was carried out in three databases to obtain relevant documents and thus analyse and discuss some characteristics based on circular economy practices applied in agro-industrial cooperatives. As a result, a diagnosis of the current scenario that agro sector organizations are facing in terms of the main rural activities and sustainable practices that relate to the circular economy; measures taken to generate competitive advantage; innovation behaviour; and how linear and circular business models are being applied in the agroindustry. A framework is presented to show potential routes strategies for closing the cycle in an agro-industrial cooperative. The opportunities are based on the implementation of high technology in the field, the use of bioenergy and the development of new circular business models throughout the agro-value chain. The study has contributions to rural properties and managers of cooperatives in terms of waste reduction, innovation generation and increases in activities and processes based on circular economy.

Climate resilient integrated soil-crop management (CRISCM) for salt affected wheat agri-food production systems.

Maximizing opportunities for climate resilient agriculture is vital for global food security, and ecological sustainability. To explore the improvement potential of mitigation and adaptation strategies in stabilizing wheat production and increasing farm income in sodicity-prone Ghaghar Basin of Haryana, India, participatory research trials on land reclamation (gypsum/pressmud) and crop management (varieties, nutrient management and weed control) practices were undertaken during 2016-2020. Results indicated that combining gypsum and pressmud together accelerated the reclamation process (soil pH: -3.3% and ESP: -22.1%) and improved plant adaptability (RWC: 10%; MI: -15%; Pn: 40%; gS: 36%; NaK_S: -38% and NaK_R: -42%), which in turn increased wheat yield by 20% compared to unamended control. With increasing sodicity stress, salt tolerant wheat variety KRL 210 exhibited better morpho-physiological adaptation, lesser yield reduction (0.8-1.1 t ha-1) and attained 4.1% mean yield advantage compared to traditionally cultivated HD 2967. There were genotypic differences for N requirements in sodicity stressed wheat, with 173 kg ha-1 in KRL 210 and 188 kg ha-1 in HD 2967 as the economically optimum dose; further advocating for upward revision of current N recommendations beyond 150 kg N ha-1. Balanced nutrition through foliage applied K compensated the sodicity hazards with lower proportion of Na+/K+ in leaf tissues (13%), and attained higher grain yield (4%) and incremental income (34 US$ ha-1) compared to farmers' practice. Sequential use of herbicides provided affordable solution to check Phalaris minor infestation (84% WCE) and enhanced wheat productivity (5.7% higher) with incremental income of 48 US$ ha-1 compared to farmers' sole dependency on post-emergence herbicides. Synergistic integration of gypsum and pressmud-mediated sodic land reclamation, usage of stress tolerant wheat variety, 15% higher N application, foliar K-nutrition and effective P. minor control substantiate appreciable reduction in soil sodicity, improved crop resilience, and ultimately translated into 5% and 26% higher yields over the recommended and local farm practices, respectively. The key insights of this study suggest a range of opportunities wherein inputs of CRISCM could potentially stabilize the wheat production, improve farm economy and reduce environmental risks beyond what is currently being achieved with existing farm practices.

Effect of Biochar and Inorganic or Organic Fertilizer Co-Application on Soil Properties, Plant Growth and Nutrient Content in Swiss Chard

From the perspective of sustainable agri-food production, farmers need to make the best use of natural resources. Biochar can be a solution to adopt a more sustainable way of farming. Despite its environmental and agronomic advantages, biochar has a low plant nutrient value. This study evaluated the effect of biochar and the co-application of an inorganic or organic fertilizer on the soil properties, growth and nutrient content of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla, Caryophyllales order, Chenopodiaceae family). The experiment consisted of two factors: biochar type (from vineyard prunings and wood chips) and fertilizing source (ammonium nitrate and vermicompost). Biochars were applied at a 2% rate (w/w) and fertilizers at a dose providing 280 kg N ha−1. The soil properties (pH, EC, extractable anions, cations, total N, Corg and C/N ratio) were measured before the plants were transplanted and at the end of the growing cycle, along with the growth parameters (leaf number, length and fresh weight) of each leaf cut, the productive parameters (total number of leaves and yield per plant) at the end of the growing cycle and the leaf content of anions (NO3−, P2O43−, SO42−), cations (NH4+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and total N. The co-application of biochar and a fertilizing source had a positive effect on soil properties and leaf nutrient content. Vermicompost increased plant growth by 22% and plant yield by 116%, in contrast to biochar, and increased limited leaf NO3− accumulation by about 81% in comparison to ammonium nitrate. The co-application of biochar and vermicompost is the better option to increase Swiss chard yield while preserving the nutritional and health qualities of the product.

Agriculture, food and global value chains: issues, methods and challenges

Agriculture, food and global value chains: issues, methods and challenges

Social impact and social performance of paddy rice production in Iran and Malaysia.

PurposeSustainable agri-food production is incredibly important for society. Despite Iran and Malaysia being one of the highest production countries for paddy rice, there is no study on the social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) for rice production for both countries in the literature. The lack of data and complexity of social issue are the challenges of conducting the S-LCA study. This study compared the social impacts from the related stakeholders in the life cycle of paddy rice production between Malaysia and Iran.MethodsThis study applied S-LCA based on UNEP (UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, 2020) as an evaluation technique to investigate social issues and social performance of paddy rice production in Malaysia and Iran. This research included workers, local communities, and farmers as the stakeholders. The inventory data were collected by using questionnaires. The subcategories for evaluation were adapted from UNEP 2020 guideline. The items in the questionnaire were separately validated by experts in Malaysia and Iran, and the reliability was done by conducting pilot studies in Malaysia and Iran. The questionnaires were distributed by multistage sampling method. The following four steps were conducted following the ISO14040 framework: (1) goal and scope definition, (2) social life cycle inventory analysis (S-LCI), (3) social life cycle impact assessment (S-LCIA), and (4) interpretation.Results and discussionThe result showed that the social performance of workers and farmers in Malaysia was better than Iran because of low cost with high yield for farmers, contributing to increased income. Rice cultivation in Iran for local community did not show good performance regarding health and safety because of burning of rice residue. Around 62% of local Iranian people reported air pollution from rice residue burning. However, the overall social performance for local community was not different in Iran and Malaysia, showing good performances with respect to job opportunity. Sexual harassment was identified as one of the negative social issues in Iran with the score of 60%, including unwanted sexual attention. Moreover, the farmers showed poor performance in Iran, resulting from low satisfactory from income, and low yield and high cost of paddy production in Iran.ConclusionThe key investigation from this research revealed that social performance of crop production in different geographical areas could show different results. The key finding from this study reported that modern agriculture could increase social and economic performance by reducing the production cost, and increasing productivity and social performance in terms of satisfactory from income for farmers. The result of this study can be used for policy makers to improve social performance by using modern agriculture.

Caporalato capitalism. Labour brokerage and agrarian change in a Mediterranean society

ABSTRACT This article analyses a contemporary form of illegal labour mediation, known in Italian as caporalato, which persists in industrialized agricultural production in southern Italy despite a decade of unrelenting legal and policy reforms. Focusing on the regions of Puglia and Basilicata during the so-called Mediterranean ‘refugee crisis’ (2011-2018), this article addresses the question of how practices of caporalato remain a central infrastructure of globalized agri-food production, while segregating migrant workers in rural society. Adopting an infrastructural lens, we propose two main arguments. First, we highlight the need to shift analytical concerns from ‘criminal’ labour gangmasters and their protection business to a broader analysis of their role in the reproduction of precarious migrant labour. Second, we highlight how caporalato infrastructures contribute to adversely incorporating migrant ‘seasonal’ workers into local agricultural labour markets in a context of increasingly globalized retail agriculture and changing state policies.

Chemical composition and technofunctional properties of carrot (Daucus carota L.) pomace and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) pulp as affected by thermomechanical treatment

Fiber rich by-products derived from primary agri-food production such as carrot pomace and potato pulp are available in large quantities, but their functional properties do not necessarily meet the requirements for use in specific food applications. Thermomechanical treatment (extrusion) of carrot pomace and potato pulp changes both dietary fiber polysaccharide structures and technofunctionality of the materials. Solubility of dietary fiber constituents changes, resulting in higher levels of water- and ethanol-soluble poly-/oligosaccharides. On a structural level, particularly arabinans and galactans as neutral side chains of type I rhamnogalacturonan were degraded under thermomechanical stress. Galacturonic acid portions (preferably from homogalacturonan or rhamnogalacturonan I) and their degree of methylation were also negatively affected. On a functional level, water absorption of potato pulp increased up to three times following extrusion, whereas water absorption of carrot pomace decreased with extrusion processing. The observed, enhanced swelling behavior for extruded carrot pomace was accompanied by higher complex viscosity of the dispersions. Swelling of potato pulp particles increased largely (up to 25 times) following extrusion, resulting in highly viscous pastes. Phytochemicals were retained up to 50%, heat-induced contaminants were formed only to a small extent (up to 8.1 mg 5-hydroxymethylfurfural·kg− 1 dry matter for carrot pomace; up to 71 µg acrylamide·kg− 1 dry matter for potato pulp).Graphical abstract

Food Waste-Derived Biomaterials Enriched by Biostimulant Agents for Sustainable Horticultural Practices: A Possible Circular Solution

The horticultural industry claims the substitution of plastic plantlet containers, which derive from oil-based raw materials and cannot be recycled, with bio-based ones, aiming to decrease waste management costs and increase the overall production sustainability. Bio-based fully biodegradable nursery pots can be directly placed in soil, thus decreasing the plantlet transplant stress and labor, and avoiding waste generation. The development of biomaterials specifically obtained from food-derived wastes like fruit and vegetables will add further advantages by an improved use of resources, the production of added-value materials and the replenishment of food losses, in a perfect circular economy approach. A multidisciplinary strategy combining material science, microbiology, agronomy and economy will, moreover, allow the development of functionalized food-waste derived materials, enriched in biostimulant extracts, alive plant-growth promoting microorganisms and thermal buffering molecules, obtaining biodegradable and biofertilising plant multiplication plugs with the potential to increase the sustainability of the overall agri-food production chain.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Induce Tolerance to Salinity Stress in Taro Plantlets (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) during Acclimatization.

Soil salinity is a problem that affects soil fertility and threatens agri-food crop production worldwide. Biotechnology, through plant micropropagation and the use of biofertilizers such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), is an alternative to increase productivity and induce tolerance to salinity stress in different crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of the fungus Glomus intraradices on the ex vitro development of taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott cv. Criolla) plantlets under salinity stress during the acclimatization stage. In vitro-obtained C. esculenta plantlets were inoculated at different doses (0, 100, and 200 spores per plantlet) of G. intraradices during acclimatization. At 60 d of acclimatization in the greenhouse, plantlets were exposed to 100 mM NaCl salinity stress for 10 d. After the stress period, plantlet development, colonization percentage, and biomass were evaluated. In addition, the content of chlorophyll, carotenoids, proteins, proline, glycine-betaine, soluble phenols, and antioxidant capacity were quantified. The results showed differences in the developmental, physiological, and biochemical variables evaluated; however, no changes in total protein content were observed. Spore colonization showed that the symbiotic association has positive effects on the development of plantlets with or without salinity stress. This symbiotic interaction contributes to salinity stress tolerance in C. esculenta plantlets. The early application of AMF in in vitro-obtained taro plantlets is an alternative to increase or maintain the productivity of this crop in saline soils.

Contrasting National Plant Protection Needs, Perceptions and Techno-Scientific Capabilities in the Asia-Pacific Region

Pests and pathogens inflict considerable losses in global agri-food production and regularly trigger the (indiscriminate) use of synthetic pesticides. In the Asia-Pacific, endemic and invasive organisms compromise crop yields, degrade farm profitability and cause undesirable social-environmental impacts. In this study, we systematically assess the thematic foci, coherence and inclusiveness of plant protection programs of 11 Asia-Pacific countries. Among 23 economically important diseases and 55 pests, survey respondents identified rice blast, rice brown planthopper, citrus greening disease, Tephritid fruit flies and fall armyworm as threats of regional allure. These organisms are thought to lower crop yields by 20–35% and cause management expenditures up to US$2,250 per hectare and year. Though decision-makers are familiar with integrated pest management (IPM), national programs are invariably skewed toward curative pesticide-intensive control. Pesticide reductions up to 50–100% are felt to be feasible and potentially can be attained through full-fledged IPM campaigns and amended policies. To rationalize farmers' pesticide use, decision criteria (e.g., economic thresholds) wait to be defined for multiple crop x pest systems and (participatory) training needs to be conducted e.g., on (pest, disease) symptom recognition or field-level scouting. Efforts are equally needed to amend stakeholder perceptions on ecologically based measures e.g., biological control. Given that several Asia–Pacific countries possess robust techno-scientific capacities in various IPM domains (e.g., taxonomy, molecular diagnostics, socioeconomics), they can take on an active role in regionally coordinated campaigns. As such, one can reinvigorate IPM and ensure that preventative, non-chemical pest management ultimately becomes the norm instead of the exception throughout the Asia–Pacific.