Production Of Agricultural Commodities Research Articles

ESG guidelines for agribusiness

Brazil is one of the main players in global agribusiness and leads the production and export of agricultural commodities. Companies that adopt strategies and business models, aligned with ESG guidelines, will differentiate themselves and create security for the maintenance and growth of the business. This article investigates how ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) guidelines can contribute to integration systems in Brazilian agribusiness. The work is a systematic literature review using the Parsifal® Software which resulted in 126 analyzed articles. We contribute to theory with 126 guidelines for ESG in agribusiness and to managerial practice with techniques and applications. We suggest future studies that address empirical evidence demonstrating ESG performance in different business models, as well as investigating how ESG impacts risk management to generate financial performance.

Design guidelines for sustainable utilization of agricultural appropriate technology: Enhancing human factors and user experience

Abstract The utilization of appropriate technology (AT) has become the Indonesian government strategy to increase productivity of agricultural commodities due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. However, the current utilization of AT remains suboptimal mostly due to design deficiencies that insufficiently account for human factors and user experience. In response, the aim of this study is to establish comprehensive AT design guidelines for sustainable AT utilization, focused on agricultural processing machines. An intensive observation was initially conducted in a rural community in Indonesia, to summarize difficulties faced by AT users. Supported by an exhaustive review of literature, a total of 44 human factors related design criteria were defined. Subsequently, these criteria underwent rigorous validation through a questionnaire administered to 197 respondents, consisting of AT designers, experts, and users. Employing the framework of principal component analysis (PCA), novel dimensions of AT design criteria were suggested, encompassing safety and error prevention, functionality and economics, user-friendly, low physical effort, physical workspace compatibility, and perceptible information. To augment the insights gleaned from the PCA, a matrix of importance-performance analysis was created, affording a map of the relative significance and concurrent performance of the defined criteria. The implications of this study are further discussed.

The War in Ukraine and Its Impact on Global Agricultural Trade

Summary The Russian invasion of Ukraine represents an unforeseen and significant market disruption for global trade with wide-ranging effects on global trade, particularly on the economies of the major import countries of Ukrainian agricultural commodities. The general impact and consequences of the war on the global economy are described, and key components of the market disruptions are identified and put into a historical and geographical context. The degree of interconnectedness between the war in Ukraine and world trade and global gross domestic product (GDP) indices is highlighted. Changes in production and export volumes of the main Ukrainian agricultural commodities and their impact on major import countries are described. Actual and future measures to stabilise and soften the volatility of affected agricultural markets are presented.

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AS AN ELEMENT OF SOIL PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION

The materials of the article are based on the study of the positive impact of organic farming on the reproduction and preservation of soils. The research methodology is based on a systematic approach and a dialectical method of understanding the organic principles of land use in agricultural production, taking into account retrospective analysis, monographic method, methods of synthesis and analysis. The essence of the system of organic farming from the point of view of ensuring balanced land use is revealed. It is shown the dynamics of land distribution by areas in Ukraine for 2018-2022, characterizing by an extremely high rate of agricultural development, which significantly exceeds the ecologically justified limits, as well as the distribution of soil areas of Ukraine by humus content. Organic fertilizers, plant residues, by-products, green manure, etc. remain the most important resource for soil humus reproduction, the application of which has a positive effect on the agrochemical, physical and water-air properties of soils. The structure of mineral and organic fertilizers application in 1994-2022 is given. The main problems of agricultural land use are highlighted. Under modern conditions of agricultural production and existing land use systems, it is impossible to achieve even a simple reproduction of soil fertility without a significant improvement of mechanisms for controlling their use by the state, as well as the introduction of more effective, mostly economic, mechanisms to support soil protection measures. International experience shows that new information technologies, in addition to traditional research methods, will provide effective control of land use and soil protection at different spatial levels, from the state to a specific field. The mechanism of preservation and reproduction of soil fertility in the system of organic farming is proposed for use by agricultural commodity producers. It includes a set of measures aimed at restoring stocks of organic substances and improving agro physical properties of soil. The state support in solving problematic issues is also important.It is recommended to supplement the developed mechanism with such components as legal, scientific and technical, economic, financial, scientific and educational supports.

An Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on Pest Infestation and Control Methods

Climate change has pervasive effects on agriculture, impacting various facets of production. The production of agricultural commodities is particularly susceptible to the influence of climate change. This is exemplified by the escalating losses incurred due to pests, which in turn, pose a significant threat to global food security. Notably, for every degree rise in temperature, insect predators are responsible for a substantial 10–25% reduction in production output. Climate change further exacerbates the situation by bolstering the diffusion, longevity, and adaptability of these pests. Alterations in temperature patterns lead to shifts in weather dynamics, while the emission of chemicals into the atmosphere induces noteworthy changes in the distribution, migration, and behavioral patterns of insect predators. Consequently, this exerts a palpable impact on the overall volume of sustenance generated worldwide. The predicament of crop infestations by insects and the resulting production losses is already a pressing concern for major agricultural powerhouses such as China, the United States, and France. This article delves into a comprehensive assessment of the repercussions of climate change on pest infestations, along with an exploration of viable pest control strategies.

Multicommodity international agricultural trade network equilibrium: Competition for limited production and transportation capacity under disaster scenarios with implications for food security

The number of people affected by disasters, including man-made ones, is on the rise globally, with rising food insecurity being one of the most critical impacts. Disasters, both sudden-onset and slow-onset ones, can cause disruptions to the production and transportation of agricultural commodities. Having the tools that can quantitatively assess the changes in agricultural commodity shipment volumes and their prices under disruptions caused by disaster scenarios is of major importance. In this paper, we utilize the theory of variational inequalities as the methodology to construct a multicommodity international agricultural trade network equilibrium model, which contains novel features of capacities on the production and transportation of multiple agricultural commodities to capture competition. The model includes exchange rates and accounts for multiple routes and possibly distinct transportation modes and combinations. Theoretical results are given and an algorithm is proposed. A series of numerical examples, both illustrative and algorithmically solved ones, inspired by Russia’s war on Ukraine, highlight the effects of reduced production and transportation capacities on food security in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries of Lebanon and Egypt. We also include sensitivity analysis results for exchange rates. The solutions reveal insights into the importance of the production and transportation capacities regarding food security, along with having multiple transportation routes that are cost-efficient as well as the importance of the magnitude of exchange rates.

Ranging ecology and resource selection of white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) in the world's largest tropical agricultural frontier.

Agricultural commodity production is one the main drivers of deforestation in Legal Brazilian Amazonia resulting in a deforested and/or fragmented landscape formed by forest remnants of different sizes and shape embedded within the agricultural matrix. As an ecosystem engineer and a crucial seed predator, white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) play a pivotal role in forest structure, biodiversity, and nutrient cycling. However, they are highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation and hunting pressure. White-lipped peccaries are, therefore, a wide-ranging "landscape species," the spatial and ecological requirements of which can be used to guide conservation planning in human-modified landscapes. Using data from GPS-tracked individuals in large-scale mechanized agriculture landscapes in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil's largest soybean and maize producer, we investiated the home range size and resource selection during both the crop and non-crop season. We observed a seasonal variation in home range size and an increased selection for croplands during the crop season. White-lipped peccaries favored native vegetation patches and also exhibited avoidance of locations distant from perennial water bodies and distant cropland locations far from forest remmants. This study can contribute to inform effective conservation strategies and land management practices aimed at preserving suitable habitats and promoting wildlife coexistence with working agricultural landscapes.

Hunger games search optimization with deep learning model for sustainable supply chain management

The supply chain network is one of the most important areas of focus in the majority of business circumstances. Blockchain technology is a feasible choice for secure information sharing in a supply chain network. Despite the fact that maintaining security at all levels of the blockchain is difficult, cryptographic methods are commonly used in existing works. Effective supply chain management (SCM) offers various benefits to organizations, such as enhanced customer satisfaction, increased operational efficiency, competitive advantage, and cost reduction. Potential SCM for agricultural and food supply chains needs distributors, coordination and collaboration among farmers, retailers, and stakeholders. The use of technology like Block Chain (BC), sensors, and data analytics, can boost traceability and visibility, decrease waste, and ensure safety and quality throughout the supply chain. Therefore, this study develops a Hunger Games Search Optimization with Deep Learning Model for Sustainable agricultural and food Supply Chain Management (HGSODL-ASCM) technique. The fundamental goal of the HGSODL-ASCM technique is to improve decision-making processes for agricultural and food commodity production and storage in order to optimise revenue. In the provided HGSODL-ASCM technique, a bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) model is built to determine the amount of productivity and storage required to maximise profit. In order to boost the performance of the Bi-LSTM classification process, the HGSO algorithm has been utilized in this work. The presented HGSODL-ASCM technique can independently achieve the SCM policies via interaction with complicated and adaptive environments. A brief set of simulations were performed to ensure the improved performance of the HGSODL-ASCM technique. The simulation results demonstrated how superior the HGSODL-ASCM method is to other methods already in use.

A framework for understanding land control transfer in agricultural commodity frontiers

AbstractAcross the globe, the expansion of large‐scale commodity agriculture is occurring not into empty space but over existing social systems. An understanding of the dynamics of expansion and associated impacts of commodity agriculture thus fundamentally requires examining how existing control regimes are dissolved and, simultaneously, how novel ones are assembled in order to make way for the changes in resources use that characterize these transitional moments. With this in mind, in this article, I provide a broad review of the strategies used to secure control over land prospected for agricultural commodity production, distinguishing between the tactics that are applied by agro‐interested actors in order to ‘break down’ forms of existing land control, those they apply in parallel to ‘build up’ new control structures, and those strategies that are applied by actors (often smallholders) wishing to ‘hold on to’ the control that they have. I then present a framework for examining the dynamics of control transfer that builds on this analytical structure of ‘breaking down’, ‘building up’, and ‘holding on to’ control.

Identification and interpretation of internal factors influencing the agricultural insurance market in Ukraine

The functioning of the agricultural insurance market in Ukraine is an objective reality and a necessity due to the urgent need to create a safe environment for agricultural production. The ability to consolidate financial resources in the field of insurance contributes to increased responsibility for probable risks distributed in space and time, so it is worth considering insurance relations in the agricultural sector. The purpose of the study is to theoretically and methodologically justify the processes of identifying internal factors influencing the further functioning of the agricultural insurance market in Ukraine. The methodological perspective of this study is based on the use of general scientific and specific methods of cognitive activity: abstract-logical, economic-statistical, structuralfunctional, deduction, induction, and formalisation. A panel database was formed for the period 2012-2021 broken down by the regions of Ukraine. The territorial features of changes in the ratio between insured and sown areas in the western, central, eastern, and southern regions of Ukraine are reflected. Based on the results of the conducted modelling (two models are presented simultaneously: a regular model and a one-year lag model), the influence on the insured area of such factors as sown area, yield, gross harvest, and internal price for agricultural products is established. A comparative characteristic of the statistical qualities of the presented models was made using indicators such as “Residual standard error”, “Multiple R-squared”, and “Adjusted R-squared”. The results of the regression analysis showed the statistical significance of certain factors in motivating agricultural commodity producers to participate in the insurance process. The practical value of the proposed measures lies in formulating practical recommendations for enhancing cooperation among stakeholders in the agricultural insurance market during wartime and post-war periods

Policy Communication in Developing Frankincense Commodity in Humbang Hasudutan Regency

Frankincense commodities play an important role in agricultural commodity production in Humbang Hasudutan. Traditional processing has become a local wisdom that has been practiced for years. However, the threat of eroding customary forests and the lack of marketing are obstacles faced by farmers. The purpose of this research is to find out the communication of government policies in developing frankincense commodities. The method used in this research is descriptive with a qualitative approach. The results show that policy communication is able to encourage the effectiveness of frankincense agricultural development in Humbang. Policies regarding socialization to farmers to understand how the food estate program takes place, encourage community involvement in supporting the development plan. Efforts to create farmer welfare, encourage the strengthening of farmer organizations to be an important need in supporting the development of frankincense commodities. Strengthening the organization is considered capable of overcoming the problem of marketing difficulties of frankincense production from farmers.

APPLICATION OF THE LATEST INFORMATION AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LAND RESOURCES OF AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES

Introduction. Land resources as an object of management are traditionally considered in connection with land relations that determine the content of systems of interactions of economic agents that arise in the process of ownership, management and use of land – an important factor of production and the spatial basis of human life. The structural and functional complexity of the management system is due to its multi-level nature, a wide range of general and specific management functions that are implemented, the heterogeneity of subjects of land relations, and the diversity of their economic interests. Methods. General scientific and special methods were used in the work in order to achieve the goal: the dialectical method of scientific knowledge – to consider the essence of the latest information and digital technologies in the management of land resources; synthesis – to clarify the interrelationships between subjects of land relations in the conditions of digitalization; graphic – for visual display of the obtained results; abstract and logical method – for forming research conclusions and proposals. Results. The meaning and role of land resources is revealed, various approaches to determining their economic essence in the conditions of the use of information and digital technologies in land resource management are considered. The main directions of digitalization of land resource management of agricultural enterprises are highlighted. Discussion. The obtained results of the research can be used for the implementation of the latest information and digital technologies in the practice of land resource management. This will enable agricultural commodity producers to analyse large volumes of data, control the state of land resources and the rationality of their use at different levels of management, which will contribute to the transparency of the functioning of the agricultural land market. In the future, the use of digital land management systems will make it possible to: create an informational computer system for assessing the quality and location of agricultural land plots based on their inventory, assessment of productive and territorial features; to complete the formation of the introduction of free circulation of agricultural land and the improvement of land legal relations, which will contribute to attracting additional credit resources to agribusiness against the pledge of land and improving the efficiency of the industry. Keywords: digitization, information technologies, land resources, land market, precision agriculture, geoinformation system.

Dynamics of a Newly Established Agricultural Commodities Market: Financialization, Hedging and Portfolio Diversification in Turkey

The purpose of this study is to investigate the dynamic relationship between financial assets and agricultural commodities market in Turkey. For this purpose, first, this study investigates financialization of agricultural commodities with a newly established agricultural commodities market of Turkey. Second, this paper analyzes hedging and portfolio diversification performances of agricultural commodities. By employing the DCC-GARCH approach of Engle (2002) and spillover index approach of Diebold and Yilmaz (2014), we analyze the financialization of agricultural commodities and calculate optimal hedge ratios and portfolio weights between two classes of assets. The results show the financialization of agricultural commodities at a very early age in Turkey. There exists a low degree of comovements and volatility spillovers between financial assets and agricultural commodities. Second, we show that agricultural commodities do not hedge financial investments sufficiently but they perform very well in terms of diversification and boost portfolio performances. Considering the previous limited literature on the topic, this study contributes to the literature by displaying the dynamics of a newly established agricultural commodities market in an emerging market. The findings of this study have many important implications for farmers and producers of agricultural commodities, and financial market actors such as individual investors, hedge funds and investment banks in terms of risk management and hedging.

PEMANFAATAN SISTEM RESI GUDANG DI CV TRIANOM AGROTEKTUR (KADATUAN KOFFIE) DENGAN IKATAN KELOMPOK TANI

Coffee farmers are still often faced with the problem of unstable coffee selling prices during the harvest season to a price level that is not profitable for farmers. This problem often occurs in almost all agricultural commodity producers. Meanwhile, agricultural commodities themselves are very vulnerable to price fluctuations where during the main harvest the price will fall, while during a famine, prices will soar. One way to overcome this problem is to delay the sale of their crops, but farmers will need money in cash to finance their daily needs. One alternative way to deal with the various losses incurred by farmers due to the drop in coffee prices is to implement a warehouse receipt system. The Warehouse Receipt System (SRG) is a system innovation created by the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag). This WRS aims to overcome various problems that occur during the harvest season. The main problem that often occurs when the harvest season arrives is the decline in commodity prices. This will certainly be detrimental to both farmers. When using SRG, farmers will feel the benefits. Utilization of WRS that will be obtained by farmers is the profit from the difference in selling prices obtained during harvest and post-harvest. The benefits of this WRS will be obtained by the availability of facilities and infrastructure in the warehouse. However, not all farmers are willing to use this WRS. Therefore, in implementing WRS, it is necessary to provide training in the form of outreach, education, and success stories to farmers and institutions such as cooperatives to accommodate their crops. Based on the results of the implementation of community service entitled "Utilization of the Warehouse Receipt System at CV Trianom Agrotektur (Kadatuan Koffie) with Farmers Group Association", the following conclusions are obtained: (1) Training can increase farmers' knowledge regarding the use of the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS); (2) Training encourages better problem solving through discussion and exchange of opinions regarding the utilization of the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS).

The state of the agricultural sector in Ukraine during wartime: The case of farmers

The military aggression of russia against Ukraine has a significant negative impact on the agricultural sector of the economy, which is one of the key industries for Ukraine. Among the consequences of this aggression are a decrease in production levels, an increase in costs for security and infrastructure restoration, an increased risk of losing personnel and crops, as well as complications in the export of products. The purpose of this study is to assess the state of the agricultural sector under the conditions of war and to investigate the peculiarities of the activities and adaptation to war of individual agricultural producers, using farmers as an example. To achieve this goal, the dialectical method of cognition of economic processes, the basic principles of modern economic theory, and scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists studying the impact of war on the development of the agricultural sector of the economy were used. A sociological research method, in particular interviews, was used to achieve the research goal. The article examines the role of the agricultural sector in the Ukrainian economy and global food security, analyzes the impact of the war on the agricultural sector, and characterizes the current state of agricultural activity under the conditions of war using farmers as an example. According to the obtained data, the impact of war on the agricultural sector is significant and has various economic, social, and environmental consequences. The study shows that some commodity producers, using farmers as an example, have adapted to the war and have been able to maintain their market positions, while others have suffered significant losses and could not function properly. This research can be an important source of information for the development of state policy on support for agricultural commodity producers, specifically farmers, under the conditions of war and post-war recovery. It is necessary to consider the possibility of attracting investments in the agricultural sector, supporting farmers through a credit system, and cooperating between farmers

Current issues of legislative support in the field of the governmental support of agricultural business under the martial law

The article is devoted to the study of the theoretical and legal foundations of the governmental support of agricultural business under the martial law. The current legislation in the field of the governmental support for agribusiness was analyzed. It was established that the central legislative act - the Ukrainian Law that is called "About Governmental Support of Agriculture of Ukraine" does not contain a definition of the concept of "governmental support of agriculture", has a significant number of amendments and a number of excluded provisions, which indicates the declarative nature of most norms, the lack of system and ineffectiveness of legal regulation in the specified field. The list of types of governmental support for agribusiness entities, such as financial, budgetary, credit, tax, organizational-regulatory, insurance, established at the regulatory and legal level, forms an idea of the sufficiency of providing agricultural commodity producers with governmental support for their successful implementation of economic activities, ensuring food security, development of rural territory However, most of the measures provided for by various types of governmental support do not find real implementation in the activities of agribusiness entities.
 Taking into account the full-scale military actions on the territory of Ukraine, the organizational structure of production in the field of agriculture, the structure of agricultural land use, the territorial location of agricultural producers, etc., has changed. Therefore, the expediency of developing the latest concept of governmental support for agribusiness entities, which will give an impetus to the use of the economic potential of rural areas, has been proven. The development of the newest concept of governmental support for agribusiness entities in the war and post-war period will provide an opportunity for the development of small-scale forms of management in agriculture, will contribute to food security, the formation of legal mechanisms for determining and financing strategic priorities of state support for agribusiness, taking into account the country's long-term socio-economic development.

Large gaps in voluntary sustainability commitments covering the global cocoa trade

The production and trade of agricultural commodities, such as cocoa, have important impacts on farmer livelihoods and the environment, prompting a growing number of companies to adopt public commitments to address sustainability issues in their value chains. Though trading companies, who handle the procurement and export of these commodities, are key actors in corporate sustainability efforts, cross-country data on their identity, market share, and adoption of sustainability commitments is lacking. Here, we address this gap for the cocoa sector by compiling detailed shipping data from eight countries responsible for 80% of global cocoa exports, developing a typology of trader types, and assessing their adoption of sustainability commitments. We find that cocoa trading is a highly concentrated market: seven transnational companies handled 62% of the global cocoa trade, with even larger shares in individual cocoa producing countries. The remaining 38% of exports were handled by domestic trading companies and farmer cooperatives. Overall, the adoption of public sustainability commitments is low. We estimated that just over one quarter (26%) of cocoa is traded under some form of sustainability commitment, with gaps arising from their exclusion of indirect sourcing, low adoption rates by domestic traders, and commitment blind spots, notably on forest degradation and farmer incomes. Low rates of traceability and transparency pose a further barrier to the broadscale implementation and monitoring of these commitments: one-quarter of traders report being able to trace at least some of their cocoa back to farmer cooperatives and only half of them openly disclose the identity of their suppliers. We discuss the opportunities and limitations of voluntary sustainability commitments in a highly concentrated market and argue that, to realize visions of sustainable trade, the gaps in commitment coverage must be closed by extending current efforts to smaller traders and indirect suppliers. However, companies must support, coordinate and align with government efforts so that voluntary initiatives are ultimately rendered more transparent and accountable.

Soil Health: Indicators of Soil Management for Vegetable Cultivation under the Clove Plant

Low soil health indicates poor productivity soil optimal for supporting agricultural businesses because it will reduce the production of agricultural commodities for vegetable crop farmers in Ternate City which are carried out under plantation crops. This study aims to determine the level of soil health of vegetable farms under clove plantations. Field observation methods and laboratory analysis were carried out to observe the characteristics of the land (soil and plants) which became the research variables. The drill and soil profile approach is used in observing and taking soil samples. Research data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by using a scale (scoring value) and then determined the level of soil health of agricultural land in the study location. Soil variables observed were physical properties (including soil morphology), chemical properties soil, and soil biological properties. The results showed that the level of soil health on vegetable farms under clove stands in Tobololo Village was in the medium (53-58%) and high (63-67%) classes. Soil health indicators which are variables that affect the decline in the value of soil health on vegetable farms under clove stands are C-organic, base saturation, total nitrogen, and available potassium. The provision of organic matter, nitrogen, and potassium fertilizers will increase base saturation as well as soil fertility and health.

Agribusiness and the COVID-19 syndemic: The unsustainable pathways.

It has been suggested that it would be more appropriate to term the COVID-19 pandemic a syndemic, as the infection interacts synergistically with pre-existing chronic conditions such as obesity. Both conditions occur with steep socio-economic inequalities, and Brazil is suffering a heavy burden from both. What and who drives the clustering and interaction of these disorders? In this commentary, we examine the pathways leading to the COVID-19 syndemic. Deforestation, declining biodiversity and factory farming are promoting the emergence of new pathogens. Widespread use of pesticides influences immune, endocrine and metabolic systems. The ingestion of ultra-processed food promotes malnutrition and obesity in a country where at the same time poverty and food insecurity is rising. Brazilian agribusiness is focused on the production and global export of agricultural commodities, mainly for animal food and meat production. It is made possible through a combination of expanded land use, with deforestation in Amazonas and other Brazilian biomes, and the intensification of land use and cultivation of genetically modified crops with fertilizers and pesticides. This development is not sustainable for either population health or the environment.

A Prize for the Village Ruling Class: “Village Funds” and Class Dynamics in Rural Indonesia

The Village Fund in Indonesia has been praised as a breakthrough policy in eradicating rural poverty. This article, based on a study of a “best practice village” in central Java, however, reveals that the Village Fund has simply facilitated the triumph of the village ruling class. Though village political institutions have adopted good governance measures (participation, transparency, accountability, and so on), the poor remain largely powerless and are unable to gain a significant share of the Village Fund. In contrast to existing “elite capture” literature which has often highlighted local elite domination, this article moves beyond this limited view. By looking at the economic bases of the powerful actors occupying village political positions and institutions, this article shows how members of the village ruling class are primarily capitalist farmers whose power lies in land ownership and agricultural commodity production. As a result, development projects in rural areas continue to be the “prize” for the village ruling class when there is no re-organisation in the structure of land ownership and production relations in the countryside.