Climate Smart Research Articles

A era da ebulição global: desafios e oportunidades para a resiliência climática na região centro-americana

[Introduction]: In July 2023 was announced the end of planetary warming and the beginning of the era of the global boiling. A climatic anomaly whose unprecedented, aggressiveness will hit the Central American region. [Methodology]: Through technological surveillance tools and data analytics, this study shows a series of challenges and opportunities to meet this threat and move towards resilient regional performance. [Results]: All countries have signed agreements and declaratory public policies for the climate resilience, however historical failures persist as well environmental passives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the strong dependence for the use of fossil energy. In contrast, Central America enjoys a matrix of opportunities to increase the climatic ambition, also a diverse mix of renewable energy sources, environmental pay mechanisms and actions to impulse circular economy and the bioeconomy [Conclusions]: The regional agenda fail in connect to a climate shielding to respond the rigors of the boiling era. Regarding those balances, and the scientific evidence, a road map, with climate smart and socially inclusive actions, is proposed. [Recommendations]: For the monitoring, research, and education programs on the boiling era, a regional observatory, on climate resilience (OR2C), is recommended.

Climate therapy: Developing a climate change charter for Cancer Trials Ireland (CTI).

e23214 Background: Climate change is a threat to human existence. Healthcare is the 5th leading cause of CO2 emissions globally, while clinical trials generate the equivalent of half the CO2 emissions of Denmark. Consequently, both enterprises represent significant, potentially modifiable, causes of climate change. In response to this climate toxicity (PMID 36773799), CTI launched the National Green Cancer Clinical Trials Initiative in 2022. A climate charter, which was to consist of a living document of actionable areas, was commissioned by the CTI board to implement them. Methods: Carbon footprint touch points of CTI’s activity on climate change were identified such as travel, procurement, energy use, financial management. An online scoping review of existing academic and non-academic sustainability initiatives, funding agency and national policy documents, peer reviewed and grey literature sources was conducted using the terms climate change and sustainability. Action points were categorised and collated. No exemplar climate charters for clinical trial organisations were identified in the search. Results: 5 pillars of interaction with sustainability initiatives were evident. These were education, engagement, empowerment, embedding, and emphasising. These pillars related to 8 themes for climate smart involvement by CTI staff and members. Personal commitment to sustainability at an individual level eg dietary choices, EU climate pact participation. Trial design and management eg sustainability assessment & integration into protocols Recycling and waste management at central office and sites. Energy and water use eg optimise computing infrastructure, prioritise low carbon sources. Procurement and contracts eg promote green purchasing, integrate environmental and social sustainability clauses in contracts, sustainability assessment of financial services including pensions Meetings and conferences eg prioritising virtual meetings, select conference venues and accommodation with environmental certs. Commuting and business travel. Outreach eg, to University partners, trainees, network with Green Trial groups. Conclusions: The climate charter provides a structure to facilitate sustainability integration at CTI. This living document registers existing activities, highlights areas for engagement, facilitates horizon scanning and outreach to emerging initiatives, empowers staff , and demonstrates an organisational commitment to climate smart, clinical trial conduct.

Evaluating effects of selected water conservation techniques and manure on sorghum yields and rainwater use efficiency in dry region of Zimbabwe

Sorghum production in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe is constrained by low and erratic rainfall, low fertility and soil moisture stress. Sorghum grain yields ranges from 0.2 to 0.4 t ha−1 in sandy-to-sandy loam soils respectively. The objective of the study was to assess cattle manure and rainwater harvesting techniques in improving sorghum grain yield in a semi-arid region of Zimbabwe. The experiment used a randomised complete block design with rainwater harvesting technique as a main treatment factor at three levels. Sub-plot factor was cattle manure at five levels (0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 t ha−1) and two sorghum varieties (Macia and SV1) as sub-sub plot factor. Sorghum grain yields were improved significantly (p < 0.05) for both varieties using tied contours. Increasing application rates of cattle manure, showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in sorghum grain yield over the control (0 t ha−1). Tied contour had higher grain yield (1.15 t ha−1) with the use of Macia variety. Stover yield was highly influenced by rainwater harvesting method of tied contour (p < 0.05) compared with infiltration pit and standard contour. Increase in application levels of cattle manure show significant (p < 0.05) increase in stover yields. Tied contour had the highest (3.11 kg ha−1 mm−1) rainwater use efficiency which show significant differences (p < 0.05) from infiltration pits and standard contour. Interaction of tied contour and different rates of cattle manure showed significant increments in rainwater use efficiency with increases in manure application rates. Tied contours, 15 t ha−1 cattle manure and Macia variety are potential strategy to achieve climate smart agriculture and improve food security in semi-arid areas. Sorghum production in marginalised areas can be productive with adoption of tested techniques.

Identification and prioritization of context-specific climate smart agricultural (CSA) practices in Ethiopia: a framework approach

Ethiopia’s diverse agroecological zones showcase a variety of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) Practices, yet the documentation and prioritization of best-bet practices have been lacking. To address this gap, this study utilized the Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS)-CSA Prioritization framework. This approach was deployed across nine key agro-ecologies in Ethiopia to identify and prioritize CSA practices based on the three pillars of CSA and gender-equity considerations. By employing this participatory framework, this study successfully identified and prioritized over 200 Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices within Ethiopia’s nine major agroecological zones. These practices were segmented into four main systems: crop management (40 practices), livestock management (41 practices), soil fertility management (40 practices), erosion control and water management (41 practices), and forest and agroforestry (40 practices). Notably, the results highlighted the significance of CSA practices linked to agroforestry/forestry management, rangeland/forage enhancement, exclosure strategies, and water management in addressing the goals associated with the three pillars (productivity, adaptation, mitigation) of CSA practices simultaneously. The findings also revealed that the majority of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices focused on improving productivity and enhancing adaptation to climate change. Additionally, the results demonstrated that trade-offs exist among the three pillars of CSA, emphasizing the need for integration with other practices to enhance complementarity and achieve all pillars simultaneously. Overall, this study underscores the importance of combining CSA practices of various categories to maximize their effectiveness and impact in sustainable agriculture.

Climate smart agriculture strategy for drought-prone areas: The role of land surface temperature data

Climate smart agriculture strategy for drought-prone areas: The role of land surface temperature data

Mechanized Fertilizer Deep Placement: A Transition Towards Climate Smart Agriculture

Mechanized Fertilizer Deep Placement: A Transition Towards Climate Smart Agriculture

Exploring effects of climate-smart agriculture innovations on women smallholders’ livelihoods in Ethiopia

AbstractStudies do not often provide evidence as to how innovations improve women smallholders’ livelihoods in male-headed households by analyzing women farmers in their own rights which is vital to develop and implement future gender responsive and transformative agricultural innovations. This study investigates if Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) – specifically conservation agriculture (CA) and small-scale irrigation schemes (SSIS) – improve women smallholders’ livelihoods. A concurrent mixed method was applied, and data was collected using survey, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). Descriptive and t- statistics were used to analyze quantitative data and thematic and narrative analysis methods to analyze qualitative data. Findings demonstrate that gender norms and intersectional identities and experiences of women together with the absence of gender equity and equality based structural works limit improvement in women’s livelihoods. While the use of CA did not change both men and women farmers livelihoods, SSIS improved men users’ financial and physical capitals. Hence, future CSA innovations should first identify the root causes of contextual gender inequalities and CSA innovations should be implemented based on women smallholders needs, experiences and realities. Building women smallholders’ livelihood capitals through off-farm income-generating activities and broadening the operational scale of CSA innovations for addressing strategic gender needs are desired. Explicitly, there is a need to move to a gender transformative approach (GTA) when implementing CSA innovations as GTA challenges and transforms gender norms and intersectional problems including unequal gendered access to livelihood capitals and decision-making power, unequal gender role distributions and gendered representations and implementation processes in economic policies.

Farmers’ Participation in Climate Smart Agriculture Initiatives and Adoption Decisions in the Arsi and East Shewa Zones of Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Climate change is a major challenge to sustainable agricultural production in the world. The intricacy of the problem requires farmers’ compliance with regenerative agricultural practices that can facilitate the conservation of fragile productive systems while sustaining their productivity. Accordingly, various climate change management strategies have been promoted in Ethiopia. This paper analyzed farmers’ participation in CSA practices and the determinants of adoption in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. The data were collected during the 2020 cropping season from 420 randomly selected farmers in the Arsi (highland) and East Shewa (lowland) zones of the Oromia region. The data was analyzed with descriptive and Logit regression. The results showed that of the total thirteen climate-smart agricultural practices that were assessed, about 6 and 4 were adopted by more than 50% of the farmers in the highland and lowland, respectively. Also, 21.0% and 42.4% of respondents from highland and lowland respectively participated in CSA programs or projects. Moreover, 35.5% and 34.8% of the highland and lowland agroecology farmers respectively adopted some CSA after project participation. In highland agroecology, crop rotation, crop residual management, crop diversification, and intercropping were the mostly used practices, while crop rotation, adjustment of planting time, minimum tillage, and planning of drought-resistant varieties were mostly used by lowland agroecology farmers. Moreover, logistic regression results reveal that CSA adoption is influenced by age, education, gender, family size, credit support, experience, extension support, non-agricultural income, and livestock holding. It was concluded that adoption of CSA was low, and promotion of extension support and CSA participation experiences will facilitate adoption of some CSA practices. More importantly, extension support should focus on CSA practices that were widely used by the farmers. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 11, No. 1, April 2024: 79-91

Phenotypic Characterization of Citron Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) Genotypes for Bioenergy Production

Citron watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) is an important climate smart crop, characterized by high oil content in the seeds and it is a popular fruit in southern Africa. To determine best performing genotypes eight phenotypic traits were assessed to identify cultivars with potential for biodiesel production. A field experiment was conducted at Sebele Agricultural Research Station, in Southern Botswana, during 2019 to 2020 cropping season. Four (4) melon genotypes were planted in a Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times and eight (8) characters were assessed. Except seed oil content (26.6%) there was significant (P &amp;lt; 0.05) difference among all the traits, an indication of higher genetic diversity in the selected citron watermelon. SC1-Sesoswane, exhibited highest seed yield (1540 kg/ha) and oil yield (435.03 kg/ha) while MMB-280-Lerotse recorded lowest seed yield and oil yield of 548.1 kg/ha and 144 kg/ha respectively. There was a significant correlation of (0.9) between oil yield (kg/ha), number of fruits produced, and seed yield (kg/ha), an indication that increasing the seed yield will positively increase the amount of oil produced. This study revealed the potential bioenergy production of the four cultivars. However, SC1-Sesoswane appears a more promising alternative cultivar for feedstock for biodiesel production.

Feasibility of Urban-Based Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Urban Centers of Southwest Ethiopia: From Local Climate Action Perspective

This study identified the practices of adaptation strategies to climate change in Jimma, Bedelle, Bonga, and Sokorru urban centers using a survey of 384 households, 55 key informant interviews, 4 focus group discussions, and field observations. A cross-sectional study design was employed from 2019 to 2021. The adaptive capacity of municipalities to reduce climate extreme events was rated as poor by the majority (51%), mostly reactive measures (76%). The climate hazards identified in four urban centers were riverine and flash floods, urban heat waves, landslides, and windstorms. The urban households practiced lifestyle modification, reduce paved surfaces, the use of air conditioner, planting trees, and multiple windows. The adaptation strategies practiced by municipalities include the relocation of prone areas, the support of basic amenities, the construction of protection walls, diversion ditches, the clearance of waterways and rivers, greenery, and park development. The adaptation actions were constrained by a lack of awareness, commitment, cooperation and coordination, adaptive capacity, and participation. Gray/physical infrastructures (costly but important) as adaptation actions were hampered by the low municipal capacity. We recommend that urban authorities should incorporate climate change adaptation strategies into urban planning and development proactively to ensure future resilient climate smart urban centers of southwest Ethiopia.

Factors influencing small holder farmers adoption of climate SMART agriculture practices in Welmera Woreda, Central Ethiopia

Adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices are believed to have significantly lessened the devastating impact of climate change on agriculture. However, in countries like Ethiopia, the adoption and use level of climate-smart agriculture practices remains low. The understanding of farmers’ levels of CSA practice adoption and influencing factors is therefore crucial. The goal of the study is to evaluate the degree to which various CSA practices were being used in the study area, as well as adoption determinants. The study was conducted in Welmera district, Oromia, Ethiopia. Three kebeles were chosen from the district, and a random sample of 306 farmers was picked. We used a cross-sectional household survey, a focus group discussion, and interviews with key informants. A multivariate probit model was employed to investigate the factors influencing the adoption of multiple climate-smart agriculture practices. According to the result, conservation agriculture, integrated soil fertility management, and crop diversification are the most often used CSA practices. The results also revealed that male farmers outperformed female farmers in terms of crop diversity and improved animal feed and feeding practice adoption. The age of farmers has a considerable and unfavorable impact on their likelihood of adopting improved soil fertility management and crop diversification practices. However, it has a positive and considerable impact on the adoption of agroforestry practices. With regards to economic factors, having a relatively big farmland area considerably enhances the adoption of conservation agriculture, enhances soil fertility management and crop diversity, and improves livestock feed and feeding methods and post-harvest technology practice. Improved livestock feed and feeding are more likely to be used with higher farm income. Having a significant number of animals strongly promotes the adoption of conservation agriculture, and access to financial services positively impacts agroforestry, diversification of crops, and postharvest technology practice adoption. Furthermore, institutional factors including access to agricultural extension services and training were discovered to be important and beneficial for crop diversification; similarly, access to field day participation was discovered to have a significant and positive impact on the adoption of conservation agriculture and improved soil fertility management practices. It is critical to raise awareness about climate change among farmers and experts, as well as to incorporate location-specific CSA practices into agricultural programs.

Greenhouse gas mitigation and soil carbon stabilization potential of forest biochar varied with biochar type and characteristics

Biochar is increasingly used in climate-smart agriculture, yet its impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and soil carbon (C) sequestration remains poorly understood. This study examined biochar-mediated changes in soil properties and their contribution to C stabilization and GHG mitigation by evaluating four types of biochar. Soil carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, soil chemical and biological properties, and soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization kinetics were monitored using greenhouse, laboratory, and modeling experiments. Three pine wood biochars pyrolyzed at 460 °C (PB-460), 500 °C (PB-500), 700 °C (PB-700), and one pine bark biochar from gasification at 760 °C (GB-760) were added into soil at 1 % w/w basis. Soils amended with biochar were used to cultivate sorghum for three months in a greenhouse, followed by three months of laboratory incubation. Data obtained from laboratory incubation was modeled using various statistical approaches. The PB-500 and PB-700 reduced cumulative N2O-N emissions by 68.5 % and 73.9 % and CO2 equivalent C emissions by 66.9 % and 72.4 %, respectively, compared to unamended control. The N2O emissions were positively associated with soil nitrate N, available P, and biochar ash content while negatively associated with SOC. The CO2 emission was negatively related to biochar C:N ratio and volatile matter content. Biochar amended soils had 49.2 % (PB-500) to 87.7 % (PB-700) greater SOC and 22.9 % (PB-700) to 48.1 % (GB-760) greater sorghum yield than the control. While PB-700 had more saprophytes than the control, the GB-760 yielded a greater yield than biochars prepared by pyrolysis. Microbial biomass C was 7.23 to 23.3 % greater in biochar amended soils than in control. The double exponential decay model best explained the dynamics of C mineralization, which was associated with initial soil nitrate N and available P positively and total fungi and protozoa biomass negatively. Biochar amendment could be a climate smart agricultural strategy. Pyrolysis pine wood biochar showed the greatest potential to reduce GHG emissions and enhance SOC storage and stability, and gasification biochar contributed more to SOC storage and increased crop yield.

Mitigating Emerging and Reemerging Diseases of Fruit and Vegetable Crops in a Changing Climate.

Fruit and vegetable crops are important sources of nutrition and income globally. Producing these high-value crops requires significant investment of often scarce resources, and, therefore, the risks associated with climate change and accompanying disease pressures are especially important. Climate change influences the occurrence and pressure of plant diseases, enabling new pathogens to emerge and old enemies to reemerge. Specific environmental changes attributed to climate change, particularly temperature fluctuations and intense rainfall events, greatly alter fruit and vegetable disease incidence and severity. In turn, fruit and vegetable microbiomes, and subsequently overall plant health, are also affected by climate change. Changing disease pressures cause growers and researchers to reassess disease management and climate change adaptation strategies. Approaches such as climate smart integrated pest management, smart sprayer technology, protected culture cultivation, advanced diagnostics, and new soilborne disease management strategies are providing new tools for specialty crops growers. Researchers and educators need to work closely with growers to establish fruit and vegetable production systems that are resilient and responsive to changing climates. This review explores the effects of climate change on specialty food crops, pathogens, insect vectors, and pathosystems, as well as adaptations needed to ensure optimal plant health and environmental and economic sustainability.

Community Organizing towards Climate Smart Disaster Risk Management in Flood-prone Settlement Revitalization Project (The Case of RW 01 Mojo, Surakarta, in Bengawan Solo Riverbank)

Squatter settlement of Bengawan Solo riverbank had been a complicated issue since early 2000s. The problem of land tenure, substandard infrastructure, illegal housing, and low socio-economic resilience adding up to the already flood-prone urban area of Surakarta. This paper aimed to understand the dynamics of community organization during the proses of revitalization project. Using a qualitative approach, a range of data were collected from official documents, two indepth interviews and two focus group discussions. Revitalization project came up looking like a panacea in a collaborative approach manifesting in negotiation on how revitalization took place. The findings were revealed using CSDRM tool, uncovered that upon the implementation, stakeholders network dynamics had undergone significant changes through the process of community organizing. External actors offered a trigger to the community to organize itself, to handle conflict and to plan a resolution. The dynamics of stakeholder network showed that innovative approach of urban revitalization in RW 1 Mojo has unleash the potentials of riverbank community to contribute more towards a resilient urban area, induced by the external stakeholders.

Farmer's climate smart livestock production adoption and determinant factors in Hidebu Abote District, Central Ethiopia.

This study aimed to identify the status, determining factors, and challenges in adopting climate smart livestock production practices by farmers. Three-staged sampling techniques were used to select the research sites and 233 sample farmer household respondents. Data were collected mainly using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also conducted to complement the household survey data. Descriptive statistics and an ordered logistic regression model were applied to analyze the quantitative data. The result revealed that the most adopted practices were composting (85.41%) and manure management (70.39%) while the least adopted technologies were biogas generation (3.86%) and rotation grazing (22.32%). The adoption status of the sampled farmers was also categorized into low (19.74%), medium (67.81%), and high adopter (12.45%). The high cost of improved breed, use of manure for fuel, free grazing, lack of information and awareness were the major constraints to adopting the climate smart livestock production technologies. The result also revealed that education, grazing land, total livestock holding, and extension agent contact contributed significantly and positively to the adoption of smart livestock production technology, while the distance from the water source had an insignificant and negative effect on the adoption status of climate smart livestock production practices. The study suggests the relevance of the cooperation of stakeholders and strengthening extension services for the maximum benefits of climate smart livestock production.

Importance of Horticulture in Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture in Ethiopia Short Systematic Review

This review is assessed in Debre Berhan university and the review mainly focused on the role of Horticulture in insuring climate smart agriculture in Ethiopia. Agriculture is the backbone of Ethiopian economy. Even though agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the country climate variability, change, and related extreme events are adversely affecting agricultural production by resulting in increased variability in precipitation, an increase in temperature and emission of greenhouse gases. Therefore, to bring solution Climate-smart agriculture which is an agriculture that sustainably increases productivity, enhances resilience of livelihoods and ecosystems, reduces and/or removes greenhouse gases emissions and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals is the primary solution. The principle of Horticulture (urban and per-urban agriculture, silviculture, agro forestry of perennial woody fruits with a variety of vegetables) is again has a wonderful capacity to adopt this climate smart agriculture.

Groundwater and climate smart agriculture: a reflection from West Bengal, India

Groundwater and climate smart agriculture: a reflection from West Bengal, India

Climate smart agriculture strategies for enhanced agricultural resilience and food security under a changing climate in Ethiopia

Climate smart agriculture strategies for enhanced agricultural resilience and food security under a changing climate in Ethiopia

Agro-technologies for greenhouse gases mitigation in flooded rice fields for promoting climate smart agriculture

We investigated methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), two important greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions using the closed chamber method from a flooded rice field in Brahmaputra valley of Assam, northeast part of India. We tried to understand the factors responsible for the emission and identify appropriate agro-technologies for their mitigation. Various factors like water level, drainage management, soil organic carbon management, crop management, fertilizer amendment, cultivar type etc. affect the GHG production and emission from the flooded rice soil. In this study, six treatments were employed, namely, farmer's practice (FP), recommended fertilizer dosage (RDF), direct seeded rice (DSR), intermittent wetting drying (IWD), use of efficient methanotrophs (MTH), and use of ammonium sulfate as a nitrogen source for real-time nitrogen management using leaf color chart, (AS). GHG flux was measured through the static closed chamber technique. Soil temperature, pH, and redox potential (Eh) and other soil physico-chemical and biological properties that have a potential role in GHG emission were also assessed. The lowest CH4 flux was observed in IWD treatment. The highest CH4 but lowest N2O flux was observed in RDF thus portraying a tradeoff relationship among these two GHGs. The highest N2O flux was observed in AS. Changes in Eh strongly altered CH4 and N2O emissions. The CH4 flux for the growing season varied from 62.5 to 86.3 kg ha−1 with an average of 72.4 kg ha−1. The average N2O flux was 0.89 kg ha−1 with values fluctuating between 0.72 – and 1.08 kg ha−1. The findings of this study could assist in understanding the factors affecting the source, production, and sink of these two important GHGs. IWD, along with judicious N-based fertilizer use, could provide significant respite from GHG emissions in rice-based agriculture. These climate-smart strategies not only reduce emissions but also have the potential to improve yield.

VISUALIZATION ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE RESEARCH IN ASIA BASED ON WOS AND CITESPACE

Purpose: This study conducts a quantitative analysis of relevant research literature in the field of Climate Smart Agriculture in Asian countries and regions included in the "Web of Science Core Collection" to clarify the current development status of Climate Smart Agriculture in Asia. Methodology: Based on bibliometric methods, this article searched the relevant research 617 literature in the field of Climate Smart Agriculture in Asian countries and regions included in WoS from 2014 to 2023. Analyzed from the perspectives of annual publication volume, publishing institution, author, country, keyword. Findings: The number of published papers from 2014 to 2023 showed an overall upward trend, and the largest number of papers was published in 2022, with 166 papers. India, China, and Pakistan rank within the top 3 countries in Asia based on the volume of publications they have produced. The most published author is Jat, ML (17 articles). The keywords with the highest frequency are Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Impacts, Management, Food Security, etc. Most of the literatures research hotspots in the field of Climate Smart Agriculture in Asia focus on climate change, food security, and agricultural management and attach importance to the study of agriculture's adaptability to climate change. Value: This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the WoS Core Collection of literature, which can point out the direction for researchers in the area of Climate Smart Agriculture to engage in related research, provide data reference and help predict the future development trend of the industry.