Sustainable Agriculture Research Articles

Transformative Approaches to Agricultural Sustainability: Automation, Smart Greenhouses, and AI

Agricultural sustainability is continually undermined by climate change, resource depletion, and the increasing worldwide need for food. Fundamental technologies, including automation, smart greenhouses, and artificial intelligence (AI), are changing modern agricultural methods by providing novel ways to improve sustainability in farming. This review study examines the significance of these technologies in advancing sustainable agricultural systems, particularly their effects on resource optimization, environmental conservation, and economic efficiency. Automation technologies, such as robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles, enhance farm management by enhancing efficiency and minimizing resource waste. Intelligent greenhouses, fitted with IoT sensors and temperature regulation systems, provide precise management of environmental conditions, therefore improving agricultural output while minimizing water and energy use. AI-driven technologies, including machine learning and predictive analytics, enhance crop health monitoring, pest management, and yield prediction, enabling data-informed decision-making. The research analyses the combination of various technologies, focusing their synergies in developing comprehensive smart agricultural systems that promote enduring sustainability. Despite the apparent promise, challenges like substantial initial investment, technological intricacy, and scalability persist. This review continues by addressing future directions, policy implications, and research requirements for promoting the use of these technologies to enhance global agricultural sustainability.

Ensemble Techniques in Plant Nutrient Deficiency Detection: A Survey

Abstract: Plant nutrient deficiency detection represents a critical challenge in modern agriculture, significantly im- pacting crop health, yield, and sustainable farming practices. This survey paper presents a comprehensive analysis of ensemble learning techniques for automated detection of plant nutrient deficiencies through image analysis. Our research evaluates a hybrid approach combining MobileNet’s efficient feature extraction capabilities with ensemble methods including Random Forest and Gradient Boosting algorithms. The methodology encompasses three key compo- nents: feature extraction using MobileNet’s lightweight architecture for processing plant leaf images, implementation of individual classification models, and development of ensemble techniques that leverage the strengths of multiple clas- sifiers. Through extensive experimentation and comparative analysis, our findings demonstrate that ensemble methods consistently outperform individual models, achieving superior accuracy in detecting nutrient deficiencies across various plant species. The integration of MobileNet with ensemble techniques provides a robust framework that balances com- putational efficiency with prediction accuracy. This research contributes to the advancement of precision agriculture by proposing a scalable, real-time solution for nutrient deficiency detection that can be practically implemented in field conditions, ultimately supporting improved crop management decisions and agricultural productivity..

Unlocking the potential: Sustainability finance as the catalyst for ESG innovations in Nigeria

This article explores the critical role that sustainable finance has to play in furthering Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) innovations within Nigeria, a regional leader in sustainability across West Africa. Over the last decades, Nigeria has made reasonable strides in the development of renewable energy, waste management, sustainable agriculture, and eco-friendly infrastructure. However, significant financial barriers exist that make scaling such initiatives difficult: a general lack of access to green financing, high costs of borrowing, and weak institutional support. It also, through the use of both global and local data, discusses the interaction of financial mechanisms with ESG innovation in successful projects such as the Solar Power Naija initiative, the issuance of Nigeria's first green bond. The analysis also looks at systemic challenges and proposes some actionable solutions, including policy reforms, private sector interventions, and innovative financing models such as blended finance and digital platforms. With emphasis on the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders, this article underlines the transformative potential of sustainability finance in driving Nigeria's ESG growth, fostering environmental resilience, and promoting social equity.

Factors influencing livestock ownership and herd intensity among smallholder farmers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

This study explores the factors influencing smallholder farmers' decisions on livestock ownership and herd size in the context of climate change. A cross-sectional approach was employed, using a multi-stage sampling method to survey 600 smallholder farmers, 495 of whom were engaged in livestock production. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using a double hurdle model. The findings reveal that the decision to own livestock is positively influenced by adherence to African traditional religion, access to climate information, membership in farming organizations, income diversification, possession of formal housing, exposure to high average temperatures, and the likelihood of being in female-headed households. In contrast, higher educational attainment and larger household sizes are associated with a lower likelihood of livestock ownership. The intensity of livestock herd is positively influenced by male-headed households, farm organization affiliation, access to diversified income streams, and higher average annual precipitation. While male-headed households are less likely to engage in livestock ownership initially, those that do, tend to have larger herds. The study concludes that both household capital and environmental factors significantly shape smallholder farmers' livestock ownership decisions. The findings suggest that smallholder farmers in the study area may increasingly rely on livestock as a sustainable and adaptive strategy in response to changing temperature patterns and evolving socio-economic needs. Based on these findings, policy recommendations include promoting gender-inclusive livestock policies to empower female-headed households, enhancing access to climate information, supporting farm organizations and income diversification, and fostering adaptation to environmental changes, to improve the sustainability and resilience of smallholder livestock farming.

Impact Investing and Social Entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia post-COVID-19

Impact investing and social entrepreneurship have garnered increasing traction in Southeast Asia as means to drive inclusive growth aligned with Sustainable Development Goals. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities and vulnerabilities across marginalized communities, creating pressing needs for market-based innovations catering to those left behind. This study undertakes an exploratory study to assess how the recovery trajectory is reshaping impact capital and social enterprise ecosystems to promote resilient, equitable development post-pandemic. Using a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 impact investors and social entrepreneurs operating across Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. Interview transcripts were coded through descriptive thematic analysis approach to map changing investor priorities, pivot in social enterprise models along with persistent and emerging barriers. Key trends identified include deepening digital divide driving focus on edtech and telemedicine enterprises, rising hunger and income precarity accelerating food security and livelihood-linked innovations. However, concerns remain around measuring real-world impact, human capital gaps and policy constraints regarding foreign investment and public procurement. The analysis informs recommendations including outcome-based blended finance vehicles, promotion of sustainable agriculture value chains, and streamlining cross-border investment flows for the ecosystem to drive recovery aligned with ASEAN sustainable development commitments.

Exploration of endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria of invasive plant Xanthium strumarium L. reveals their potential in plant growth promotion and bacterial wilt suppression.

Plant-associated microbiome plays important role in maintaining overall health of the host plant. Xanthium strumarium displaying resilience to various environmental fluctuations may harbor some bacterial isolates which can help this plant to grow worldwide. The present study aims to isolate endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria from X. strumarium and assess their plant growth-promoting and Ralstonia solanacearum antagonism activity. From a total of 148 isolated bacteria, 7 endophytic and 2 rhizospheric bacterial isolates were found to endow with significant in vitro plant growth promotion activities. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of the 7 endophytic isolates has revealed these bacteria belonging to 5 genera viz. Curtobacterium, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Microbacterium and Paracoccus whereas, the two rhizospheric isolates were identified as species of Ralstonia pickettii and Priestia megaterium. Maximum growth promotion was observed using the strains Pseudomonas fluorescens XSS6 and Microbacterium hydrothermale XSS20 in the assay conducted on tomato plants. In the in planta inhibition assay of R. solanacearum carried out in tomato seedlings using root bacterization method, Pseudomonas fluorescens XSS6 and Panotea vagans XSS3 showed antagonistic activity with biocontrol efficacy of 94.83% and 83.96%, respectively. GC-MS analysis detected several known antimicrobial compounds in the extract of the culture supernatant of Pseudomonas fluorescens XSS6 and Panotea vagans XSS3 strains, which may contribute to the inhibition of R. solanacearum by these strains. The results of our study indicated that the bacteria associated with X. strumarium exhibit multiple plant-beneficial effects. These bacteria have the potential to be developed as effective biofertilizers and biological control agents, promoting sustainable agriculture practices.

Response of Mango Trees to Organic and Biofertilizers to Enhance Crop Production and Quality in Egypt as A Step Towards Sustainable Agriculture. Review Article

Response of Mango Trees to Organic and Biofertilizers to Enhance Crop Production and Quality in Egypt as A Step Towards Sustainable Agriculture. Review Article

Application of enzyme-assisted extraction on the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus (Ochrophyta, Fucaceae) to produce extracts for a sustainable agriculture

Application of enzyme-assisted extraction on the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus (Ochrophyta, Fucaceae) to produce extracts for a sustainable agriculture

Development of a handheld GPU-assisted DSC-TransNet model for the real-time classification of plant leaf disease using deep learning approach

In agriculture, promptly and accurately identifying leaf diseases is crucial for sustainable crop production. To address this requirement, this research introduces a hybrid deep learning model that combines the visual geometric group version 19 (VGG19) architecture features with the transformer encoder blocks. This fusion enables the accurate and précised real-time classification of leaf diseases affecting grape, bell pepper, and tomato plants. Incorporating transformer encoder blocks offers enhanced capability in capturing intricate spatial dependencies within leaf images, promising agricultural sustainability and food security. By providing farmers and farming stakeholders with a reliable tool for rapid disease detection, our model facilitates timely intervention and management practices, ultimately leading to improved crop yields and mitigated economic losses. Through extensive comparative analyses on various datasets and filed tests, the proposed depth wise separable convolutional-TransNet (DSC-TransNet) architecture has demonstrated higher performance in terms of accuracy (99.97%), precision (99.94%), recall (99.94), sensitivity (99.94%), F1-score (99.94%), AUC (0.98) for Grpae leaves across different datasets including bell pepper and tomato. Furthermore, including DSC layers enhances the computational efficiency of the model while maintaining expressive power, making it well-suited for real-time agricultural applications. The developed DSC-TransNet model is deployed in NVIDIA Jetson Nano single board computer. This research contributes to advancing the field of automated plant disease classification, addressing critical challenges in modern agriculture and promoting more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

Newcastle disease awareness and vaccination practices among indigenous chicken farmers in the Biharamulo district of Tanzania

BackgroundIndigenous chicken production is a significant economic activity in rural sub-Saharan Africa. These chickens are naturally resilient to unfavourable environmental conditions such as poor-quality feed and infections, making them ideal for village conditions. However, Newcastle disease is a major challenge to village chicken production. Since the chickens are kept in a free-range system, they are more likely to catch the disease from the environment and spread it throughout the whole village. Vaccination is one of the main strategies for controlling Newcastle disease. However, various socio-economic and local environmental issues impede vaccination efforts. The study examined the awareness of and vaccination of indigenous chickens against Newcastle disease in rural areas of the Biharamulo district in northern Tanzania. It sought to understand the extent of knowledge among farmers about the disease, the availability of vaccines, and the factors influencing vaccination uptake. Data collection methods included household interviews, focus group talks, and key informant interviews.ResultsThe findings reveal both challenges and opportunities for improving Newcastle disease control and promoting sustainable poultry farming in the region. While most farmers reported being aware of Newcastle disease, many did not vaccinate their chickens. Those who vaccinated their chickens did so irregularly or used herbal medicines as vaccines. Various socio-demographic aspects, including the age and education level of the chicken owner, awareness of the disease, production experience, and previous experience with Newcastle disease outbreaks, determined the probability of vaccination. The farmers identified limited information about Newcastle disease vaccination as a major constraint on vaccinating their flocks.ConclusionThe study underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve Newcastle disease control among indigenous chicken farmers in rural areas of Biharamulo district. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening farmer education, expanding access to vaccines, and enhancing extension services. Promoting community-based vaccination programs and awareness campaigns can help bridge these gaps, contributing to sustainable poultry farming and improved livelihoods in the region.

Rural-urban transformation shapes oasis agriculture in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains

Traditional agricultural activities and rural livelihoods in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains are rapidly changing. This is triggered by increasing rural-urban interactions and new livelihood opportunities in cities. A typical example is the oasis of Tizi N’Oucheg in the country’s High Atlas Mountains, which over centuries was largely self-sufficient in food grain and livestock production. Improved infrastructure and better connections to distant urban centers have caused declining livelihood reliance on agricultural activities and enhanced dependence on remittances and the tourism sector in the region. Based on the case of Tizi N’Oucheg, this study aims at assessing the socio-economic and ecological implications of rural-urban transformation for ancient oasis systems in Morocco. Surveys on agricultural practices, census, and meteorological data were combined with GIS (Geographical Information System) -based analyses to examine land use and cropping pattern changes of 625 fields from 1967 to 2022. For the GIS analyses, historical aerial images, multispectral satellite images, and drone-based surveys were used to generate manually classified agricultural fields and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) time series. Our results show a major decline in cultivated land from 13 ha to 6.8 ha over the past 50 years accompanied by an expansion of modern infrastructure since the 2000s. Land management has shifted from labor-intensive multiple cropping and natural fertilization to monocropping of barley for local livestock feeding and increased application of mineral fertilization. The challenging geography of the oasis increased the hardship of practicing traditional agriculture, and therefore largely determines the response of the community to rural-urban transformation. Our data also highlight the increased financial dependence of rural populations on urban centers and the demise of traditional, sustainable agriculture in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains if policies on agricultural development are not adapted to rural circumstances.

Bioremediation of Soil Pollution: An Effective Approach for Sustainable Agriculture

Soil pollution, primarily caused by the excessive use of pesticides, heavy metals, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff, is a significant global environmental challenge. Traditional methods of soil remediation, such as chemical treatments and physical excavation, are costly, disruptive, and environmentally unsustainable. In contrast, bioremediation has emerged as a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution to restore contaminated soils. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of bioremediation techniques, their mechanisms, applications in agriculture, and their role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, it examines the potential benefits, challenges, and future prospects of bioremediation in addressing soil pollution while ensuring long-term soil health and agricultural productivity.

Development of a Robotic System for Agricultural Pest Detection: A Case Study on Chili Plants

Chili peppers, a key agricultural commodity in Indonesia, are highly susceptible to pest infestations and diseases, leading to significant economic losses and challenges in sustainable farming. This study presents the design and implementation of a real-time pest detection system that integrates robotics, computer vision, and deep learning to enhance agricultural productivity. The system is built on a Raspberry Pi 5 and Arduino Mega Pro Mini, utilizing a camera for image capture and ultrasonic sensors for navigation. A ResNet-based model was trained on a dataset of 2,703 chili leaf images, categorized into healthy and diseased classes, achieving a detection accuracy of 91%. The system provides early warnings to farmers through a web-based interface, allowing timely intervention and reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. While promising, the system faced challenges such as environmental variability, which influenced image recognition accuracy. By automating pest detection and promoting precision farming, this innovation addresses the need for sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to global food security and reducing environmental impact.

The mutation atlas of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera): a mutation database resource for natural knockouts

Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is a paramount species of immense ecological and economic importance. It forms dense underwater forests, providing crucial habitat and serving as a foundation species for diverse marine ecosystems. Understanding the genetics of giant kelp is essential for conservation and sustainable farming, safeguarding these valuable ecosystems and their benefits. By analyzing mutations based on their impact, we can gain insights into the potential functional consequences and implications for the organism, helping to identify critical genes or regions that may play a significant role in adaptation, development, and environmental response. To achieve this, we annotated the effects and impact of spontaneous mutations in 559 giant kelp individuals from four different populations. We found over 15.9 million mutations in genes of giant kelp, and classified them into modifier, low, moderate, and high impact depending on their predicted effects. The creation of this mutation effect database, attached to the seedbank of these individuals, offers several applications, including enhancing breeding programs, aiding genetic engineering with naturally occurring mutations, and developing strategies to mitigate the impact of environmental changes.

High-Efficiency CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing Unveils Biofilm Insights and Enhances Antimicrobial Activity in Bacillus velezensis FZB42.

Bacillus velezensis FZB42 is a prominent plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium and biocontrol agent known for producing a wide array of antimicrobial compounds. The capability to genetically manipulate this strain would facilitate understanding its metabolism and enhancing its sustainable agriculture applications. In this study, we report the first successful implementation of high-efficiency CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in B. velezensis FZB42, enabling targeted genetic modifications to gain insights into its plant growth-promotion and biocontrol properties. Deletion of the slrR gene, a key regulator of biofilm formation, resulted in significant alterations in biofilm structure and development, as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and quantitative biofilm assays. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of biofilm formation, which are critical for root colonization and plant growth promotion. Additionally, we overexpressed the bac gene cluster responsible for bacilysin biosynthesis by replacing its native promoter with the strong constitutive promoter P43 and integrating an additional copy of the bacG gene. This genetic manipulation led to a 2.7-fold increase in bacB gene expression and significantly enhanced antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus diolivorans. The successful implementation of the CRISPR-Cas9 system for genome editing in FZB42 provides a valuable tool for genetic engineering, with the potential to improve its biocontrol efficacy and broaden its applications in agriculture and other biotechnology areas. Our principles and procedures are broadly applicable to other agriculturally significant microorganisms.

Effect of Starch And Propolis Films On Post-Harvest Conservation of Tommy Atkins Mango

Objective: Develop protective films of cornstarch incorporated with propolis extract to preserve Tommy Atkins mango post-harvest. Method: The fruits were immersed in eight coatings of different proportions of starch and propolis extract and stored for evaluation every 3 days for 15 days, at the Laboratory of Teaching and Research in Food Analysis of the University of Pernambuco, Petrolina Campus. To evaluate their quality, the following were determined: mass loss, pulp firmness, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, SST/ATT ratio, determination of ascorbic acid, moisture, and characteristics of skin color and appearance. The results were analyzed using Jamovi software. Results and Discussion: Pronounced effects were observed on firmness, weight loss, soluble solids, moisture, skin color and appearance. However, analyses of pH, total acidity and vitamin C showed no significant difference in the preservation of the quality of the mangoes. Furthermore, the treatment that best preserved the physical-chemical and sensory characteristics of the fruits was 5% starch added to 2.5% propolis extract, followed by coating with only 5% starch. Research Implications: The implications highlighted are discussed in food technology, covering solutions for sustainable agriculture, food conservation with the potential to provide food security, objectives present in the 2030 agenda. Originality: This study has an innovative approach. Its relevance is proven by the functionality of the film, which gives the fruit better quality, in addition to providing an economic, social and cultural impact for the region, benefiting the farmer, the domestic and foreign markets and the consumer.

Agribusiness in the UAE: Challenges and Technological Advancements, A Review

This review comprehensively analyses the agribusiness landscape in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), highlighting the challenges and strategic responses that shape the sector. The UAE’s agribusiness is pivotal for economic diversification and reducing oil dependency. However, it faces significant obstacles due to the harsh desert climate, limited arable land, and freshwater scarcity. Soil salinity and water constraints necessitate innovative agricultural practices. Technological innovations such as vertical farming and hydroponics, alongside government initiatives like the ‘National Food Security Strategy 2051’, are crucial for sustainable agriculture. The paper examined the UAE’s reliance on food imports and the associated risks, including supply chain disruptions and market volatility. It outlines resilience strategies such as crop diversification, supply chain improvements, and continuous innovation. Through case studies of pioneering enterprises like Pure Harvest Smart Farms and Al Dahra, the paper showcases successful applications of climate-resilient crops and advanced farming techniques. These firms demonstrate the potential for successful agribusiness despite environmental challenges. The paper concludes that addressing these challenges is vital for the UAE’s food security, ensuring a stable food supply, and supporting a diversified, sustainable economy. Investment in AgriTech, research, innovation, and strategic policy implementation are key to the future of agriculture in the UAE.

Effect of Organic Farming Techniques on the Quality of Almond Fat

Almond fruit is characterized by a mature, hardened endocarp enclosing the seed. Despite being a drupe botanically, almonds are commonly referred to as nuts due to their low water content. The edible seed, known as the kernel, is the primary commercial product. Fatty acid composition was determined to value the quality of fat over four years in almonds of the Guara variety, from plots where the production system (organic and conventional), the irrigation system (intense irrigation, support irrigation and dry land), and the use of plant cover varied. The oil content and fatty acid composition were determined over four years in almonds of the Guara variety, using different sustainable agriculture techniques. Oil almond content ranged from 35% to 55% of total fresh weight of the kernel, with strong variability between years. Fatty acid composition was also highly variable, with significant differences depending on agricultural practices. Oleic acid, which ranged from 59% to 78%, was statistically higher with support irrigation. Plant cover also favored the synthesis of oleic acid. Linoleic acid, which ranged from 11% to 25%, had a statistically higher content in almonds from organic farming and dry land conditions. The atherogenic and thrombogenic indices and the value of health-beneficial fat was better in organically prod\uced almonds. The great variability observed in the quality of almond fat represents a very promising basis for establishing practices for adaptation to arid cultivation conditions, irrigation management, and organic and regenerative techniques, satisfying requirements for healthier and more sustainable diets.

Soil Microbial Mechanisms to Improve Pear Seedling Growth by Applying Bacillus and Trichoderma-Amended Biofertilizers.

Bacillus velezensis SQR9 or Trichoderma harzianum NJAU4742-amended bioorganic fertilizers might significantly improve the soil microbial community and crop yields. However, the mechanisms these microorganisms act are far away from distinctness. We combined amplicon sequencing with culturable approaches to investigate the effects of these microorganisms on pear tree growth, rhizosphere nutrients and microbial mechanisms. The SQR9 and T4742 treatments increased the total biomass of pear trees by 68% and 84%, respectively, compared to the conventional organic fertilizer treatment (CK). SQR9 tends to increase soil organic matter and available phosphorus, while T4742 more effectively enhances nitrogen, potassium, iron and zinc levels. These effects were primarily linked to changes in the microbial community. T4742 treatment enriched twice as many differential microbes as SQR9. SQR9 significantly enriched Urebacillus, Streptomyces and Mycobacterium, while T4742 increased the abundance of Pseudomonas, Aspergillus and Penicillium. In vitro experiments revealed that secondary metabolites secreted by B. velezensis SQR9 and T. harzianum NJAU4742 stimulate the growth of key probiotics associated with their respective treatments, enhancing soil fertility and plant biomass. The study revealed the specific roles of these bioorganic fertilizers in agricultural applications, providing new insights for developing effective and targeted bioorganic fertilizer products and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Optimizing Nano-DAP Application for Enhanced Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) Productivity

A field experiment was conducted at KSNUAHS, Shivamogga, India during Kharif 2023 to evaluate the effect of nano DAP on the growth and yield of groundnut. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with twelve treatments and replicated thrice. Various levels and methods of nano DAP treatments were evaluated, among the tested treatments application of 100 per cent recommended dose of N & P along with seed treatment of nano DAP 2.5 ml kg-1 of seeds and one foliar spray of nano DAP 4 ml l-1 at 30 DAS (T11) recorded higher plant height (58.50 cm), number of branches (15.92), number of effective root nodules at 30 and 60 DAS (47.43 and 85.27 respectively), the yield attributes like number of pods plant-1 (53.40), test weight (42.48 g), pod yield (3562.5 kg ha-1), kernel yield (2659.73 kg ha-1), haulm yield (4301.47 kg ha-1) and shelling percentage (74.69 %) were also found significantly higher in the same treatment. It also recorded higher gross returns (2,16,980 ₹ ha-1), net returns (1,41,716 ₹ ha-1), and B: C ratio (2.88) compared to the recommended dose of fertilizers, 12.4 per cent increased pod yield was noted with nano DAP application. This increase in yield can aid in ensuring food security, while the environmentally friendly properties of Nano DAP support the practice of sustainable agriculture.