Soil Consumption Research Articles

Comparison of Nitrous Oxide Consumption of Paddy Soils Developed from Three Parent Materials in Subtropical China

Paddy soils developed from various parent materials are widely distributed in the subtropical region in China and have a non-negligible but unclear potential to consume nitrous oxide (N2O) due to long-term flooding. This study selected three of the most common paddy soils in subtropical China, developing from quaternary red soil (R), lake sediment sand (S), and alluvial soil (C), to study their total N2O consumption and total nitrogen (N2) production using N2-free microcosm experiments. These paddy soils were treated with N2O addition (N2O treatment) or helium (He) addition (CK treatment) and incubated under flooding and anoxic conditions. The results showed that three alluvial soils (C1, C2, and C3) consumed over 99.93% of the N2O accumulated in the soil profile, significantly higher than R and S soils (p < 0.05). And the N2 production in three C soils was also significantly higher than other soils, accounting for 81.61% of the total N2O consumption. The main soil factors affecting N2O consumption in C, S, and R soils were soil clay content (p < 0.05), soil sand content (R2 = 0.95, p < 0.001), and soil available potassium (AK) (p < 0.01), respectively. These results indicate flooding paddy soils, no matter the parent materials developed, could consume extremely large amount of N2O produced in soil profiles.

Soil-Based Emissions and Context-Specific Climate Change Planning to Support the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Climate Action: A Case Study of Georgia (USA)

Soil-based emissions from land conversions are often overlooked in climate planning. The objectives of this study were to use quantitative data on soil-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the state of Georgia (GA) (USA) to examine context-specific (temporal, biophysical, economic, and social) climate planning and legal options to deal with these emissions. Currently, 30% of the land in GA has experienced anthropogenic land degradation (LD) primarily due to agriculture (64%). All seven soil orders were subject to various degrees of anthropogenic LD. Increases in overall LD between 2001 and 2021 indicate a lack of land degradation neutrality (LDN) in GA. Besides agricultural LD, there was also LD caused by increased development through urbanization, with 15,197.1 km2 developed, causing midpoint losses of 1.2 × 1011 kg of total soil carbon (TSC) with a corresponding midpoint social cost from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (SC-CO2) of USD $20.4B (where B = billion = 109, $ = U.S. dollars (USD)). Most developments occurred in the Metro Atlanta and Coastal Economic Development Regions, which indicates reverse climate change adaptation (RCCA). Soil consumption from developments is an important issue because it limits future soil or forest carbon (C) sequestration potential in these areas. Soil-based emissions should be included in GA’s carbon footprint. Understanding the geospatial and temporal context of land conversion decisions, as well as the social and economic costs, could be used to create incentives for land management that limit soil-based GHG emissions in a local context with implications for relevant United Nations (UN) initiatives.

Constructing Soils to Mitigate Land Occupation by Urban Expansion and Metabolism to Improve Healthy Cities

The number of city residents worldwide is increasing at the same that soil consumption around cities, which can be mitigated using technosols. Urban areas need to provide a healthy environment for residents, but this is threatened by climate change. Mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change does not involve one-size-fits-all global solutions; cities face varying economic and social contexts. Cities need to offer ecosystem services in order to operate as healthy urban ecosystems. The urban soils’ environmental services are often overlooked, leading to public administrations having little to no awareness about land management policies and ecosystem services. Technosols, artificial or human altered soils, have the potential to provide the same ecosystem benefits as natural soils and do not require as much time to develop in order to perform their functions. Additionally, technosols have the potential to enhance the circular economy using waste materials. In this sense, policy makers should incorporate urban technosols as a strategy to enhance the health of cities and address climate change. Our perspective on soils in urban areas needs to be altered, as technosols should be included in urban policies, have the potential to serve as a crucial component in providing ecosystem services and acting as a carbon sink and enhance urban well-being.

Scoping review on soil microbiome and gut health—Are soil microorganisms missing from the planetary health plate?

Abstract Evidence suggests that soil microorganisms, to which humans have been exposed throughout our evolutionary history, were essential for the evolution of the human gut microbiome and immunological resilience. In recent decades, gut microbial diversity has decreased along with urbanization and global loss of biodiversity. At the same time, the prevalence of chronic, non‐communicable inflammatory diseases has been increasing in urbanized societies. Here, we investigate whether the existing literature supports the hypothesis that ingesting soil microbiota provides immunological resilience. We focus on identifying research gaps and challenges that must be overcome to understand the effects of eating soil on immunological resilience. A scoping review of the peer‐reviewed empirical literature was carried out. The search focused on studies that exposed mammals to direct soil contact and measured the gut microbiota and host response; 12 articles, including four human, six mouse and two other mammal studies, were identified for inclusion in the review. In addition, seven articles related to human health risks associated with soil consumption were included in the review. Studies indicate that ingesting soil‐bound microorganisms supports immunological resilience. There is a lack of intervention studies that include human study subjects that test orally the effect of soil microorganisms on the gut microbiota and immunological resilience. Challenges, particularly soil heterogeneity and risks related to soil biological and chemical properties, have prevented progress to fully understand the effect of oral intake of soil‐bound microorganisms on human gut microbiota and health. The results encourage the development of technologies that allow daily exposure to soil microbiota. Future research should be aimed to precisely test the importance of oral intake of soil‐bound microorganisms in gut microbial homeostasis and immunological resilience. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

N2O consumption, uptake, and microbial reduction processes in flooded sandy loamy paddy soils

AbstractSandy loamy soils are widely distributed in fluvial floodplains and experience flooding events frequently, resulting in a large amount of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This case is more serious when the soil use is changed to paddies. It is of great significance to figure out the N2O consumption and its influencing factors in sandy loamy paddy soils to mitigate N2O emissions. In this study, three sandy loamy paddy soils (0–5 cm) originated from lake deposits were selected (S1, S2, and S3) as objectives. A certain concentration of exogenous N2O was added at the bottom of the flooded soil column to monitor the dynamics of N2O and nitrogen (N2) on the soil surface. Total N2O consumption, N2O uptake, and N2 production were quantified, and the abundance of nitrous oxide reductase genes (nosZI, and nosZII) and other soil properties (ammonium‐nitrogen, nitrate‐nitrogen, and dissolved organic carbon [DOC] content) were analyzed. The results showed that the sandy loamy paddy soil column with a depth of 0–5 cm could intercept more than 95% of the exogenous N2O under the flooded anaerobic condition, indicating that the three sandy loamy paddy soils all had extremely strong N2O consumption capacities. And the increment of N2 accounted for 68.73%–76.09% of the total N2O consumption, which had a stronger relationship with the increase of nosZI gene abundance than nosZII gene. In addition, the total N2O consumption and N2 increment of S1 and S3 soils were significantly higher than those of S2 soil. This difference was mainly related to soil organic matter content, total nitrogen content, DOC consumption, and the increase of nosZI gene abundance (p < 0.05). The strong N2O consumption potential of sandy loamy soils can provide feasible solutions for regulating N2O emissions in a wide range of similar environments in fluvial floodplains.

Geophagy by a large herbivore (capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) driven by a human sodium supply

AbstractReasons for geophagy (soil consumption) by herbivorous animals have long been debated. We provide direct evidence of artificial sodium (Na) enrichment driving geophagy by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), a large herbivore in western Amazonia.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

Counteract Soil Consumption through Ecosystem Services and Landscape Restoration for an Efficient Urban Regeneration

Soil consumption, marked by the expansion of artificial land cover for residential, productive, and infrastructural purposes, is a concerning trend in Italy, as revealed by the Copernicus land monitoring program. The issue is exacerbated by agricultural intensification and urbanization, particularly affecting regions like Lombardia and Piemonte. However, Sicilia, Abruzzo, and Lazio experience notable increases in processes of abandonment and re-naturalization. Data from Ispra highlights the need for in-depth study, especially in regions like Sicilia, where contrasting phenomena occur. This study utilizes Ispra data to monitor and formulate strategies for mitigating soil consumption and safeguarding ecosystem services. The research aligns with objectives related to combating climate change and facilitating the ecological transition of territories. The complexity of land consumption, influenced by interdependent factors, is evident in the achieved results. Effective strategies for containment and re-naturalization involve the implementation of town planning regulations and multi-level behavioral pathways. This study aims to identify contextual actions that can reduce land consumption, promote de-impermeabilization, and encourage re-naturalization, focusing on enhancing ecosystem services in land use activities. Thus, it focuses on understanding the contributions of ecosystem services, landscape restoration and green infrastructure on climate mitigation, and a reduction in land consumption in urban regeneration processes. As well, through open-source systems, it is important to monitor in real time the trend of the quantity of factors and variables and the state of the environment, and the reasons to intervene with systemic strategies and actions constitutes another lens of focus.

Enhancing Public Space Accessibility and Inclusivity in Residential Neighbourhoods: A Methodological Framework and Pilot Application

The paper adds to the debate on urban transformation, which plays a significant role in improving quality of urban life and liveability of public spaces, as also stated in UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 11. The research aims to test a methodology for identifying an abacus of urban regeneration interventions to enhance attractive and critical nodes through accessibility and inclusivity. The quality of the system of connections between polarities, the promotion of active mobility, zero soil consumption and the renaturalisation of urban spaces are fundamental criteria to define urban regeneration solutions. The proposed approach develops on two levels: a GIS-based spatial analysis of urban data and a participatory process. The innovative planning process is tested on the San Leonardo neighbourhood in the Municipality of Parma, Italy, which allows us to verify the potentials and limitations of the procedure, identifying future work perspectives. Moreover, the application allows us to check the replicability in other urban contexts, possibly envisaging other applications to more case studies. Our results consist of the identification of the vocations and the critical aspects of nodes and axes to regenerate urban space in medium-sized and large cities’ suburbs.

Earth Observation Data and Geospatial Deep Learning AI to Assign Contributions to European Municipalities Sen4MUN: An Empirical Application in Aosta Valley (NW Italy)

Nowadays, European program Copernicus’ Sentinel missions have allowed the development of several application services. In this regard, to strengthen the use of free satellite data in ordinary administrative workflows, this work aims to evaluate the feasibility and prototypal development of a possible service called Sen4MUN for the distribution of contributions yearly allocated to local municipalities and scalable to all European regions. The analysis was focused on the Aosta Valley region, North West Italy. A comparison between the Ordinary Workflow (OW) and the suggested Sen4MUN approach was performed. OW is based on statistical survey and municipality declaration, while Sen4MUN is based on geospatial deep learning techniques on aerial imagery (to extract roads and buildings to get real estate units) and yearly Land Cover map components according to European EAGLE guidelines. Both methods are based on land cover components which represent the input on which the financial coefficients for assigning contributions are applied. In both approaches, buffers are applied onto urban class (LCb). This buffer was performed according to the EEA-ISPRA soil consumption guidelines to avoid underestimating some areas that are difficult to map. In the case of Sen4MUN, this is applied to overcome Sentinel sensor limits and spectral mixing issues, while in the case of OW, this is due to limits in the survey method itself. Finally, a validation was performed assuming as truth the approach defined by law as the standard, i.e., OW, although it has limitations. MAEs involving LCb, road lengths and real estate units demonstrate the effectiveness of Sen4MUN. The developed approach suggests a contribution system based on Geomatics and Remote sensing to the public administration.

Comparison of Estimated Wild Giant Anteater (Myrmecopahaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758) Diets with Commercial Diets for Insectivores: Implications for Anteater Health

Using the stomach contents of 24 wild road-killed giant anteaters as proxies for their diet, we found that estimated wild diets were much lower in calcium (about ten times less) and phosphorus compared with manufactured feeds commonly fed to anteaters under human care. Indicators of soil consumption, such as ash, iron, and manganese were higher in the stomach contents than in either wild termites or manufactured diets, likely due to high levels of soil ingestion during feeding in the wild. Protein and fat levels in insects, stomach contents, and commercial diets all met carnivore recommendations. Both giant anteaters and tamanduas in managed care often develop hypercalcemia, perhaps because these taxa have an enhanced ability to retain calcium allowing them to survive on such low calcium diets. Results from this study indicate that, for anteaters in managed care, it is important to keep dietary calcium and vitamins D and K within recommended levels to prevent nutritional diseases such as hyper- and hypocalcemia and vitamin K deficiency.

Land Development Planning: New Principles and New Representations in the General Urban Plan of Parma

Since the entry of Emilia-Romagna Regional Law No. 24/2017 Disciplina regionale sulla tutela e l’uso del territorio, the processes guiding the development of the territory have profoundly changed, in principle, in the structuring through processes of participation and how contents are expressed and represented. Concepts such as the containment of soil consumption as a non-renewable resource; regeneration of urbanized territories; protection and enhancement of land, including agricultural land; protection and enhancement of historical and cultural elements; and promotion of greater levels of knowledge of the territory and its existing built heritage are the main principles of the law that give foundational importance to the entire process of forming the knowledge framework and strategic lines that structure General Urban Plans, which are designed to express planning contents through an ideogrammatic type of cartography. The analysis of the law and its contents also becomes an opportunity to reflect on the tools through which the governance of the territory is implemented, from GIS to web GIS up to the changes in the graphic language through which the planning principles are expressed, with specific reference to the planning tools of Parma, on which the new General Urban Plan (PUG) is being defined.

Predicting economic resilience of territories in Italy during the COVID-19 first lockdown

This paper aims to predict the economic resilience to crises of territories based on local pre-existing socioeconomic characteristics. Specifically, we consider the case of Italian municipalities during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging a large-scale dataset of cardholders performing transactions in Point-of-Sales. Based on a set of machine learning classifiers, we show that network-based measures and variables related to the social, economic, demographic and environmental dimensions are relevant predictors of the economic resilience of Italian municipalities to the crisis. In particular, we find accurate classification performance both in balanced and un-balanced scenarios, as well as in the case we restrict the analysis to specific geographical areas. Our analysis predicts that territories with larger income per capita, soil consumption, concentration of real estate activities and commuting network centrality in terms of closeness and Pagerank constitute the set of most affected areas, experiencing the strongest reduction of economic activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, we provide an application of an early-warning system able to provide timely evidence to policymakers about the detrimental effects generated by natural disasters and severe crisis episodes, thus contributing to optimize public decision support systems.

Allometry of sodium requirements and mineral lick use among herbivorous mammals

Sodium (Na) plays a critical role in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In Na‐poor regions, plant consumers may experience Na deficiency and adapt by seeking supplementary Na resources. This can markedly impact animal behavior, space‐use, and co‐existence, with concomitant impacts on ecosystems. Many studies have noted that Na‐seeking behaviors, such as soil consumption from mineral licks, are predominately observed for larger‐bodied herbivores. However, the mechanisms that drive interspecific variation in Na deficiency and mineral lick use remain poorly understood. Here, we examine whether allometric scaling of Na requirements can explain variation in mineral lick use by herbivorous and omnivorous mammals. We 1) collated data from published literature to derive an allometric scaling of Na requirements in mammals, 2) compared predicted Na requirements to estimated Na intake of mammal communities in three globally distant sites: the Peruvian Amazon, Kalahari Desert, and Malaysian Borneo and 3) examined the relationship between predicted Na deficiency and mineral lick use utilizing camera‐trap and mammal abundance data at each site. We found that minimum daily Na maintenance requirements in mammals scaled allometrically at a higher factor (BM0.91 (CI: 0.80–1.0)) than that of food and water Na intake (BM0.71–0.79), indicating that larger species may be more susceptible to Na limitation. This aligned with a positive association between mineral lick use and body mass (BM), as well as Na deficiency, by species at all sites, and increased artificial salt and mineral lick consumption by larger‐bodied mammals in the Kalahari. Our results suggest that larger herbivores may be more sensitive to anthropogenic impacts to Na availability, which may alter their functional roles in ecosystems, particularly in Na‐poor regions. Further research is needed to explore the consequences of changing Na availability on animals and ecosystems, as well as advance our understanding of Na physiology in mammals.

Evidences of Soil Consumption Dynamics over Space and Time by Data Analysis in a Southern Italy Urban Sprawling Area

A qualitative and quantitative deterioration of natural environments occurred recently worldwide. Loss of ecological capacities and agricultural decline are the critical consequences of urbanisation. This paper focuses on the value of assessing the urban sprawl in a southern Italy territory in order to evaluate the significant landscape transformations and provide a document to local administrators for a more balanced management of land use. The importance to calculate the soil consumption dynamics is remarkable in the investigated territory, Rende municipality in the Calabria region, southern Italy, since it is characterized by the same human pressure that occurred in other Mediterranean areas, so it is well representative of wider territories included in the Mediterranean setting. The transition from rural areas to urban settlements has been investigated via landscape analysis, and conducted for spatial and temporal changes over 25 years. The landscape analysis has integrated data from the orthophotos and Esri topographic base map. Quantitatively, the estimation of urban growth, in all its components, and soil consumption are evident by analysis of the number of patches. Qualitatively, the occurred consumption of fertile soil has caused a significant impact on local environmental conditions and on human activities resulting in decreasing of arable land, which decreased significantly over the considered period. This study addresses how knowledge of the change in urban areas is needed to effectively manage urban environmental impacts.

First record of geophagy in Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata) prior to egg-laying: an instinct for calcium supplement.

Geophagy has been documented in different animal taxa including Aves and particularly in Passeriformes. However, no geophagic activity has been reported in the genus Turdoides of the family Leiothrichidae belonging to the passerine order. Studies reveal the behaviour of geophagy to be aiding in nutrient supplementation, toxin neutralisation, cytoprotection, gut pH stabilisation and parasite liberation. Here, we provide a record of geophagy in Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata in a peri-urban area of Berhampur city in India. Although this species, being insectivorous, was thought to be feeding on insects, nevertheless, close observations confirmed the activity to be a case of geophagy, which was followed up by nest-building, egg-laying and hatching. The soil samplesfrom the geophagic sites (Ca = 2415mg/kg) contained 130% more Ca than that of the non-geophagic sites (Ca = 1050mg/kg). The biochemical requirement of calcium throughout the reproductive phase of Turdoides sp. may corroborate the soil consumption instinct, which was also extrapolated from the reproductive success observed, because the demand for calcium in birds remains high during the egg-laying time. Although the possible explanations for geophagy, reported for the first time in this species, were oriented specifically towards Ca supplement, the present findings provide impetus for furthering research in this domain.

Geophagy: a survey on the practice of soil consumption in N’Djamena, Chad

Background Geophagy, the recurrent intentional eating of soil, is well documented in many African countries, but little or nothing is known about this practice in Chad. We conducted a cross-sectional study among inhabitants of N’Djamena to assess: (i) source, type, and form of geophagic soil at purchase; (ii) event, daily frequency, daily cost, and duration of soil eating; (iii) habits at consumption and storage; (iv) specific motivation of soil eating and habit-forming events; (v) expected health benefits and awareness of health risks; and (vi) chance for intervention. Methods One main food market was randomly selected in each of the 10 districts of N’Djamena. In each food market, 10 vending points of geophagic soil were randomly selected. In each vending point, one geophagist was interviewed. A total of 100 geophagists (residents in N’Djamena) completed a self-reported structured questionnaire on hard copy. Outcomes were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 20.0 software. Results The main group of geophagists in Chad is represented by women in childbearing age (30.4 years old). Geophagic soil is generally locally extracted and easily available at the food market (77%). Kaoline is the most consumed soil (63%) followed by laterite (29%). Soil is preferentially consumed granulated (66%) or crushed (23%), but also in powder. Protective effect against cancer and gastritis figures out as main (35%) expected benefit of the practice, followed by protection against nausea and vomiting (25%) and pain (19%). One in 4 geophagists eats soil due to pleasure at taste, and some (2%) just follow the habit without specific purpose of pleasure. Geophagy in Chad is a culturally-transmitted form of pica. Interestingly, even if the vast majority of geophagists (94%) is unaware and uninformed about health risks of soil eating, the 43% were against the option of recommending it. Conclusions Based on these findings, we recommend awareness campaigns on: (i) the health risk of soil eating, (ii) erroneous beliefs, e.g., the protective effect of geophagic soil against cancer, and (iii) the misleading communication subtended by the vending of soil among food items.

The Effect of Stopping Irrigation, Potassium and low Consumption Elements on Growth Indicators of Fodder Corn

In order to investigate the effect of irrigation, potassium and low-use elements on the growth indicators of fodder corn 704, a study in 2022 in the form of split-split plots in the form of a basic randomized complete block design in three replications at the city of urmia was implemented. Irrigation treatment as the main factor in two levels (full irrigation and interruption of irrigation), potassium consumption as a secondary factor in two levels (no consumption and consumption of 200 kg/ha of potassium) and low-consumption elements as a secondary factor in three levels. (non-use, soil use and foliar spraying were low-use elements). Plant height, fresh fodder yield, stem and leaf dry weight, biological yield, flag leaf area, ear length and diameter, proline and leaf relative water content were studied. According to the results, the main effects of irrigation interruption were significant in reducing plant height, flag leaf area, ear length, fresh fodder yield, stem and leaf dry weight, and increasing proline. Potassium consumption had a significant effect in increasing plant height, biological yield, ear length and diameter, proline, and also reducing stem dry weight. The three-way interaction effect of irrigation interruption, potassium consumption and soil consumption of low consumption elements significantly increased leaf dry weight by 20% and proline by 0.34%. But in the condition of stopping irrigation and using potassium, the non-use of low-use elements increased the relative water content of the cell by 8% compared to the foliar application of low-use elements. Therefore, in the conditions of drought stress, the use of potassium together with low-use elements has improved the mentioned traits, under such conditions, the use of these elements is recommended for the cultivation of fodder corn in the region.

Impact of Organic Acids and Biological Treatments in Foliar Nutrition on Tomato and Pepper Plants

As a result of global warming related to the development of industry and agriculture, the proportion of atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased, and temperatures have risen to unprecedented levels. As a result, heat stress, aridity, and salinity in soil has increased, leading to significant research focused on soil deterioration and reduced agricultural productivity. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the means to maintain crop productivity. Agricultural research is seeking novel solutions that guarantee stability and increase the production and quality of crops, including innovative models for feeding crops using non-traditional methods, the most important of which is nourishing plants via their leaves to ensure the cessation of their soil consumption. It is considered an integrated pest-control method, and the technique could be included in plant nutrition. Foliar nutrition has been shown to be a perfect substitute for providing secondary nutrients and micronutrients to plants; however, it cannot be substituted for the fertigation or the fertilization of maintain the soil’s macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). This study shed light on the most important research, conclusions, and generalizations on the technique of foliar feeding using organic acids and biological treatments, especially for tomato and pepper plants.

RivEr/Generation_LAB-Linking Resilience with Inclusiveness in the Urban-Built Environment of Rome

The impact of metropolization processes and climate change effects on natural and anthropic environments, together with energy waste, the excessive consumption of agricultural and natural soils and their progressive waterproofing and a reduction in vegetation cover, highlights the need for sustainable management of existing resources, in terms of equitable and ethical development, towards sustainable and inclusive communities able to adapt to the negative effects of emergency phenomena. This contribution presents the results of the activities conducted in the RivEr/Generation_LAB, a project organized by three CIVIS members (Sapienza University of Rome, Universitè libre de Bruxelles, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid) as a part of the CIVIS Project “RivEr/Generation_LAB. Linking resilience with inclusiveness in the urban built environment of Rome, Brussels, and Madrid”, financed by the Hub4 Cities, Territories & Mobilities’ Call for proposals 2021. The project proposes a methodology of intervention in the Flaminio district, in particular in the Olympic Village and its relationship with the Tiber River, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the New European Bauhaus, to establish new relationships between cities and the natural environment, favoring sustainable and inclusive public spaces.

The 7th Italian Agricultural Census: new directions and legacies of the past

The release of the new Italian Agricultural Census shows many features in line with the previous decades and also some novelties, which shall be properly investigated in the upcoming future. The reduction in number of farms was largely announced and in line with the overall declining trend. However, in 2020 the average farm size has grown, showing a slowdown of land abandonment and soil consumption in agriculture and a reorganization of the farm structures. In this paper the main economic, social and functional transformations are analysed, by aggregating some of the most relevant trends in evidence. More in-depth analyses from scholars, stakeholders and policymakers are advocated, with the ultimate goal of highlighting and interpreting the long-term paths of Italian agriculture.