Viability Of Farms Research Articles

Systemic Review on Organic Farming (Green and Clean, That’s Our Dream: Organic Farming)

Organic agriculture has gained significant attention as a potential solution to India's food security challenges. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the existing literature on organic farming in India and to identify avenues for future research. This study aimed to examine the connection between organic farming practices and increased crop yields and agricultural output and assess the potential impact of organic agriculture on food security in India. The methodology involved a thorough review of relevant literature. The results of this study showed that organic agriculture has the potential to improve food security in India. However, further research is needed to understand this impact fully. The conclusions highlight the importance of long-term evaluations of the viability and scalability of organic farming as a solution to food security in India, as well as research on the economic and social variables impacting the acceptance and effectiveness of organic agricultural practices. This study also emphasizes the need for further studies comparing the outcomes of organic and conventional farming practices. The contribution of this study to the field is that it provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of organic farming in India and identifies areas for future research. The research limitations and implications and the practical and social implications of organic agriculture are also discussed. The limitation of this review is that the availability of data and information on the topic of organic agriculture in India might be limited, which can impact the comprehensiveness of the review and the ability to synthesize the existing literature fully

Comprehensive Synthesis and Integrative Review of Agricultural Dynamics in Southwest Nigeria: Assessing Economic Viability, Technological Advances, and Rural Development Approaches

The study focuses on agricultural economic viability, technological advancements, and rural development strategies. The review draws upon a spectrum of scholarly research to provide an integrative analysis, aiming to better understand and address the challenges and opportunities within this vital sector. The economic viability of agriculture in Southwest Nigeria is critically examined, highlighting the significance of credit acquisition and repayment among watermelon farmers, underscoring the financial challenges and opportunities within the sector. This aspect is crucial for understanding the broader economic context that shapes agricultural practices and outcomes. Additionally, the profitability of broiler production is explored, further illustrating the economic dimensions of agricultural practices in the region. Technological advances represent another pivotal aspect of agricultural dynamics. The influence of portable water supply on rural households is explored, reflecting how technological improvements in basic infrastructure can significantly affect agricultural productivity and rural lifestyles. The relationship between organizational citizenship behavior and job performance in agro facilities is also examined, highlighting the intersection of human factors and technology in agriculture. The importance of modern communication tools, such as video, in agricultural extension services, is emphasized, demonstrating how digital media can bridge knowledge gaps and facilitate better farming practices. It reveals how traditional practices are interwoven with modern innovations and how factors like credit acquisition, technological infrastructure, and rural development strategies impact agricultural productivity and sustainability. Recommendations are made based on these findings. The paper suggests the need for enhanced support systems for credit acquisition among farmers, investment in technological infrastructure to boost productivity, and adoption of sustainable and diversified farming practices to ensure long-term viability. It also highlights the importance of integrating socio-economic and environmental considerations into agricultural policies to address broader challenges.

Precarious prospects? Exploring climate resilience of agricultural commercialization pathways in Tanzania and Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT Smallholder agricultural commercialization is a central objective across Africa, one linked to poverty reduction, sectoral transformation and increasingly, climate resilience and adaptation. There is much attention given to the extent to which agricultural commercialization serves to reduce poverty, but less to the commercialization pathways that lead towards or away from that outcome. There are, likewise, many studies that project hugely adverse future impacts of climate change on commercial agricultural production, but surprisingly little empirical work on how climate impacts are affecting current agricultural commercialization prospects and pathways for smallholder farmers. This paper, therefore, offers an analysis of levels of climate vulnerability and resilience within existing commercialization pathways in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. It embeds the account within an analysis of the underlying causes of uneven distributions of vulnerability and resilience. We find that while being able to practise commercially viable agriculture can contribute to resilience, it does not do so for the people who most need commercialization to reduce poverty. It is more common for farmers to face what we term an adaptation trap. We conclude by considering what these cases add to our understanding of climate-smart agriculture (CSA).

Insects as Valuable Sources of Protein and Peptides: Production, Functional Properties, and Challenges.

As the global population approaches 10 billion by 2050, the critical need to ensure food security becomes increasingly pronounced. In response to the urgent problems posed by global population growth, our study adds to the growing body of knowledge in the field of alternative proteins, entomophagy, insect-based bioactive proteolysates, and peptides. It also provides novel insights with essential outcomes for guaranteeing a safe and sustainable food supply in the face of rising global population demands. These results offer insightful information to researchers and policymakers tackling the intricate relationship between population expansion and food supplies. Unfortunately, conventional agricultural practices are proving insufficient in meeting these demands. Pursuing alternative proteins and eco-friendly food production methods has gained urgency, embracing plant-based proteins, cultivated meat, fermentation, and precision agriculture. In this context, insect farming emerges as a promising strategy to upcycle agri-food waste into nutritious protein and fat, meeting diverse nutritional needs sustainably. A thorough analysis was conducted to evaluate the viability of insect farming, investigate insect nutrition, and review the techniques and functional properties of protein isolation. A review of peptide generation from insects was conducted, covering issues related to hydrolysate production, protein extraction, and peptide identification. The study addresses the nutritional value and global entomophagy habits to elucidate the potential of insects as sources of peptides and protein. This inquiry covers protein and hydrolysate production, highlighting techniques and bioactive peptides. Functional properties of insect proteins' solubility, emulsification, foaming, gelation, water-holding, and oil absorption are investigated. Furthermore, sensory aspects of insect-fortified foods as well as challenges, including Halal and Kosher considerations, are explored across applications. Our review underscores insects' promise as sustainable protein and peptide contributors, offering recommendations for further research to unlock their full potential.

Interactions between animal enterprises and marketing strategies shape organic multispecies farming systems

One of the key ways to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems is through diversification, taking advantage of synergies between farm enterprises. Among diversified systems, multispecies livestock farms with at least two animal enterprises have rarely been studied. We explored 95 organic farms from six countries, accounting for the proportion of animal enterprises, sales management, workforce size, and work organization. The study reveals various types of interactions between animal enterprises. Complementarities were observed between ruminant and monogastric enterprises, particularly fertilizer transfer from monogastric manure to grasslands. Milk production was often associated with on-farm processing and short distribution channels, which enhanced farm viability and reduced its dependency on herd productivity. Eleven out of the 95 farms combined above-average production efficiency, on-farm processing, and the majority of sales in short distribution channels. Their labor productivity converged toward 22 livestock units per annual work unit, regardless of the number of workers. Combining farm structure; livestock production efficiency; social elements, such as the workforce; and sales management led us to distinguish four types of farms: (i) small and very autonomous grassland farms with on-farm processing and short distribution channels; (ii) dairy farms associated with a high-density pig or poultry enterprise, whose feed purchase contributes to high rates of cattle feeding self-sufficiency and stocking rate; (iii) large farms with an extensive, grassland beef enterprise associated with either sheep or monogastrics; and (iv) dairy sheep associated with goat or beef cattle on rangelands, with high added-value products enhancing salaries. This study highlights for the first time the diversity of organic multispecies livestock farms and how consistent patterns of interactions among farm structure, livestock management, sales management, and workforce management shape them. The results are a preliminary basis for designing policy interventions aiming to scale up organic farming and value social assets of diversified and small farms.

Deep learning approaches for object recognition in plant diseases: a review

Plant diseases pose a significant threat to the economic viability of agriculture and the normal functioning of trees in forests. Accurate detection and identification of plant diseases are crucial for smart agricultural and forestry management. In recent years, the intersection of agriculture and artificial intelligence has become a popular research topic. Researchers have been experimenting with object recognition algorithms, specifically convolutional neural networks, to identify diseases in plant images. The goal is to reduce labor and improve detection efficiency. This article reviews the application of object detection methods for detecting common plant diseases, such as tomato, citrus, maize, and pine trees. It introduces various object detection models, ranging from basic to modern and sophisticated networks, and compares the innovative aspects and drawbacks of commonly used neural network models. Furthermore, the article discusses current challenges in plant disease detection and object detection methods and suggests promising directions for future work in learning-based plant disease detection systems.

Strategies for increasing agricultural viability, resilience and sustainability amid disruptive events: An expert-based analysis of relevance

Responding to disruptive events is important to maintain supply chain viability. It is of the utmost importance to maintain functioning of agrifood supply chains as they provide essential goods for maintaining the population. However, there is a diverse pool of possible strategies to ensure the viability of agribusiness and agrifood supply chains. This paper seeks to identify the most relevant strategies for ensuring agrifood supply chain viability amid disruptive events. The case of Lithuania is analysed with a focus on the sustainability of the whole agri-food supply chain. Expert interviews involving farmers, associations, public sector representatives and academia are carried out to identify an effective policy path. Innovation, cooperation, diversification and knowledge-building are assessed as the candidate strategy options.

HARNESSING SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY THROUGH INTEGRATED AGRO-TAKAFUL FRAMEWORK IN MALAYSIA

Agriculture is a crucial economic sector to generate income and supply food resources for a country. The agriculture sector contributes 7.1 per cent (RM101.5 billion) to Malaysia Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides 10.5 per cent (1,566.0 thousand) jobs in 2021. However, the agro-food agriculture sector is exposed to many risks due to disasters caused by climate change, diseases, and pest attacks. It is estimated that the loss suffered by the agro-food sector is around RM90.6 million due to the flood incidents that hit several states in recent years. This condition is quite concerning because it leads to the destruction of livestock and crops, which will have an impact on farmers' income. In the long run, this may have an impact on the assurance of national food security as well as the occurrence of poverty. Until now, there hasn't been a national takaful programme that safeguards the rice agro-food sector as the primary source of food supply in Malaysia. The takaful scheme is believed to have the potential to provide social security guarantees in the form of income protection for rice farmers and further ensure the national food supply. This study employs document analysis of article journals, internet sources and policy documents to understand the current state of Malaysia’s takaful business in addressing agriculture risks. It is also important to explore the understanding of the rice farmers in Malaysia on the agriculture takaful. The novelty of this study is to explore the potential of introducing a blended financing mechanism of Islamic social finance (ISF) on the existing takaful business structure to establish a viable agriculture takaful framework based on the principle of ta’awun (cooperation) that can secure farmers' income more sustainably as well as preserve the national food security.

What can we learn from the past? Tracking sustainability indicators for the Swedish dairy sector over 30 years

CONTEXTThe dairy sector has undergone profound transformation over recent decades, resulting in considerably fewer but larger and more specialised farms, with unclear implications across sustainability dimensions. OBJECTIVEThe objective was to develop and employ a framework for assessing sustainability in the Swedish dairy sector to shed light on how recent historical developments (1990–2020) have influenced sustainability outcomes. METHODSUsing a data-driven, multidisciplinary approach, main areas of concern for sustainability in the primary production stages of the dairy sector were identified. These were then populated with indicators to track developments over time and highlight synergies and trade-offs. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSFour areas of concern were identified and populated with eight indicators (listed in brackets): ‘supporting ecosystems’ (semi-natural grassland area, ley area, mean field size), ‘climate impact’ (methane from enteric fermentation), ‘animal welfare’ (veterinary treatments, percentage of culled cows due to diseases) and ‘farm viability’ (competitive wages, farmer age structure). The results showed that area of semi-natural grassland per dairy cow decreased by 27% from 2003 to 2020. Area of ley per cow decreased slightly but the proportion of arable land on dairy farms devoted to ley cultivation increased, due to improved roughage quality enabling an increase in proportion of roughage in feed rations. In terms of climate impact, enteric methane emissions per kg milk decreased by 21%. Regarding animal welfare, veterinary treatments of diseases decreased from 45% to 21% over the 30 years, with declining trends for most recorded diseases except hoof disease. The indicators for farm viability showed that the average dairy farm was unable to pay a wage comparable to the national average throughout most of the period 2004–2020, but a slightly positive trend was observed, although with large year-on-year variability. A rapid change in age structure was seen between 2003 and 2020, with the proportion of land managed by older farmers (+60 years) increasing from 12% to 22%, indicating challenges with demographic viability. SIGNIFICANCETracking changes over time across sustainability dimensions gives important insights into improvements made and challenges that remain to be solved. Overall, developments in the Swedish dairy sector have diminished its capacity to support ecosystems, particularly related to semi-natural grasslands, while reducing its climate impacts and improving animal welfare. An increased specialisation has also resulted in spillover effects where services and impacts have shifted from dairy herds to specialised beef herds. These findings are important in navigating policy processes targeting developments in the dairy sector.

Growing in relation with the land: Experiential learning of Root and Regenerate Urban Farms

The food landscape of Calgary, Canada, is sown with an abundance of polycultures. Alongside place-specific Indigenous foodways are food rescue, banking, and hamper programs, food studies scholars, a City of Calgary food resilience plan, and a growing number of alternative food network producers. Within the local alternative food network, there has been a boom in advancing indoor growing for our colder climate, including container, aquaponic, vertical hydroponic, and greenhouse growing. Situated as an agrarian ethno­grapher and an urban regenerative farmer, we seek to highlight the viability of agricultural techniques that are in relation with the land to grow more socially and ecologically sustainable food and farm systems in and around Calgary. From this posi­tion, we formed a collaboration between the University of Calgary, Root and Regenerate Urban Farms, and the Young Agrarians to document the cultivation process for a production urban farm. Over the course of one growing season—May to September, 2021—we harvested approximately 7,000 lbs (3,175 kg) of produce across nine urban spaces totaling 0.26 acres. The 48 vegetable varie­ties were distributed to 35 community supported agriculture shareholders, weekly farmers market customers, restaurant chefs, and members of the YYC Growers and Distributors cooperative. More­over, we donated 765 lbs (347 kg) of surplus pro­duce to the Calgary Community Fridge, Calgary Food Bank, and the Alex Community Food Cen­tre, which work to mitigate food insecurity. Through a reflexive practitioner approach, our reflective essay discusses the benefits and limita­tions of Small Plot Intensive Farming methods and urban land-sharing strategies, as well as the viability of land-based urban agriculture in a rapidly chang­ing socio-ecological climate. Our paper also demonstrates the potential for transcending siloed approaches to knowledge-making vis-à-vis experi­ential learning partnerships between graduate student researchers, farmers, and agricultural organizations.

Proposing a farm assessment toolkit: evaluating a South African land reform case study

ABSTRACT The paper presents a robust, scientific evaluation method to determine the potential viability of a farm, compared to its current performance. The comparison informs recommendations for sustainable farm development. The process entails a stepwise analysis of land suitability, enterprise potential, infrastructure status, operator capacity, inherent limitations and external risks of the farm. An expert panel considers quantitative and qualitative data to establish suitable development measures. Applied to a land reform initiative, ±2000 farms entailing 1.86 million hectares were evaluated, detailing corrective measures for each farm. Roughly 59% of the evaluated farms were potentially commercial, but only 7% performed accordingly. Correlations between farmer capability and farm performance, as well as between infrastructure and performance, were evident, indicating that post-settlement support is vital. As risk and limitation scores increased, farm viability tended to decrease. The tool accurately determined viability based on available resources (natural and physical), resulting in evidence-based policy advice. The evaluation informed land reform policy recommendations, proposing more coordinated support to improve access to services. The tool would also be useful for farmers to reflect on enterprise performance. The visual, sequential nature of the evaluation facilitates sound decision-making. The tool has potential as a valid agricultural development evaluation instrument.

Diversified grain rotations can be highly and reliably productive in unstable climates.

Abstract The crop rotation is a farm-scale management choice that dictates agronomic output, ecological impacts, and farm viability. Rotations have become less diverse recently. Re-diversifying may help agricultural systems meet the growing, dynamic demands from society and challenges from climate change. Using a long-term experiment, we tested whether diversified rotations could a) match the productivity (grain yield) of simplified rotations while b) stabilizing productivity against variable weather in the western Corn Belt. We identified rotation design choices that drive these productivity-stability dynamics. Although more productive rotations were more susceptible to weather ( r = 0.63; p < 0.001), this tradeoff was surmountable ( p < 0.001): the corn-oat-winter wheat-soybean ( Zea mays L., Avena sativa L., Triticum aestivum L., Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation was a) no less productive than the highly unstable, corn-soybean rotation ( p = 0.11); and b) only marginally less stable than the most stable rotation ( p = 0.06). Crop selection and sequencing were critical to this outcome. High productivity was due to a) overyielding of individual crops in diversified rotations that increased with time; b) sequencing to allow higher-yielding winter crops; and c) beneficial crop legacy effects. Stability was highest in rotations that included crops belonging to more weather-niches ( r 2 = 0.67; p < 0.001). Surprisingly, these weather-niches groups did not correspond to traditional categories like cool- vs warm-season crops. These results suggest four principles for the design, study, and implementation of diversified grain rotations that are stable under erratic weather and are as productive as current standard practices.

CAP 2023-2027: effects of direct payments internal convergence in Italy

The 2023-2027 CAP reform strongly emphasises Specific Objective 1, targeted to support viable farm income and resilience of the agricultural sector. The new CAP aims to achieve a fairer distribution of income support, in particular for small and medium-sized farms. This does not affect all Member States in the same way, depending on the choices made in previous programming periods. Italy has maintained the allocation of income support based on payment entitlements. Despite the internal convergence process that started in 2015, there are still important differences among farms in the level of unit support. This paper aims to analyse the effects of internal convergence of the Basic income support for sustainability (BISS), according to the Italian decisions established in the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. It exploits administrative micro-data containing the value of each of the 10.5 million payment entitlements stored in Italy in the Entitlement Register of the Integrated Administrative and Control System (IACS). The analyses are based on the development of an original simulation tool replicating the actual implementation methods adopted by Italy for the 2023-2027 period. The results highlight that the internal convergence determines a significant modification to the financial allocation at both farm and territorial levels. Indeed, the internal convergence transfers support from very small and large farms towards small- and medium-sized ones. At the territorial level, the areas with a specialized agricultural sector experience a reduction of support to the benefit of more marginal and rural areas.

Analysis of Government Subsidies on Livestock Farming Sustainability

Abstract
 Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the analysis of government subsidies on livestock farming sustainability.
 Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
 Findings: The findings revealed significant and concerning patterns. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and prolonged droughts are consistently linked to adverse health outcomes for livestock, including dairy cattle, sheep, poultry, and cattle, across various regions. These climate-induced stressors increase the incidence of heat-related health issues, malnutrition, dehydration, and the proliferation of vector-borne diseases among animals. Reduced milk production, higher mortality rates, and decreased grazing resources are common consequences.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Government subsidies play a crucial role in promoting sustainability in livestock farming. They bolster the economic viability of farms, particularly in resource-constrained environments, and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices, including improved animal welfare and reduced environmental impacts. The effectiveness of subsidies depends on their design, with direct payments to small-scale farmers proving more beneficial for sustainability. A balanced approach to subsidies, combining economic support with sustainability goals, enhances resilience in the livestock sector. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are essential to ensure that subsidies align with long-term sustainability objectives and do not inadvertently encourage unsustainable practices or overproduction.

Effects of Zero-budget Natural Farming on Yield, Earthworm Populations, Microbiological Activity, and the Requirement for Public Policy: A Review

At this moment, Indian agriculture is facing a crucial crisis due to the diminishing hope of the green revolution. Overuse and wasteful exploitation of the green revolution's crops have negatively impacted food security and the environment. In recent years, Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), a rapidly expanding farming method influenced by agroecological principles, has been suggested to increase farm viability and food security. By 2050, sixty percent of Indians will have severe food insufficiencies. There is an urgent need for increased food production, yet farmers are becoming indebted due to the high cost of production and shifting market pricing. This concept works on four concepts they are jeevamrith, bijamrith, mulching, and soil aeration. These four concepts help better soil health, increased microbial population, and enhanced crop yield. Different astras used to control pest infestation in natural farming. Here we discussed ZBNF is requires low input cost, good soil health management, and focused on major challenges and opportunities to adopt ZBNF and what are the policies need to improve this system. ZBNF is the best option for dropping farmers' input costs. This paper reviews the concepts of natural farming in the context of its eco-friendly nature and sustainability.

Alternate Day Feeding as a Cost-effective Strategy for Tank Culture of the Pacific Shortfin Eel Anguilla bicolor pacifica

There is a growing interest in the aquaculture of tropical anguillid eels as an export commodity. However, studies on feeding strategies, and the present demand to reduce feed costs need to be addressed to ensure the economic viability of eel farming. In this study, the effects of daily (DF) and alternate day (ADF) feeding on growth, feed utilization, body composition, blood chemistry, liver and intestinal morphology, and economic viability in the Pacific shortfin eel Anguilla bicolor pacifica were examined. Each feeding group of 30 elvers (166.25 ± 16.23 g mean initial wt) were randomly stocked in triplicate 4 m3 outdoor concrete tanks. These were fed for 155 d with formulated eel powder diet (49.77% crude protein; 10.21% crude lipid) made into a paste. Growth and survival were not significantly different between the two feeding groups. However, feed efficiency was improved in the ADF group, with significantly higher protein efficiency ratio (0.63) than in the DF group (0.39). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower in ADF (3.85) than in the DF group (6.44), resulting in a 40% reduction in total feed consumption. Biometric indices, body proximate composition, and blood chemistry were not significantly affected. Likewise, liver and intestinal morphology showed no apparent alterations between groups. Partial costs-and-returns analysis showed that ADF yielded higher net profit and profit index. These results suggest that feeding on alternate days promote compensatory growth, better feed utilization, and normal physiological condition of A. bicolor pacifica, and reduce feed cost in the rearing process. Therefore, alternate day feeding should be promoted as a sound feed management strategy in the tank culture of tropical anguillid eels.

Climate Change Effects on Employment in the Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector

Climate change poses mounting risks to agricultural development and rural livelihoods in Nigeria. This study investigates the impacts of climate change on agricultural sector employment in Nigeria. Agriculture provides income and sustenance for much of Nigeria’s rural population. However, smallholder rain-fed farming predominates, with minimal resilience to climate shifts. Historical data reveal rising temperatures and declining, erratic rainfall across Nigeria’s agro-ecological zones since the 1970s. Crop modeling predicts further climate changes will reduce yields of key staple crops. This threatens the viability of smallholder agriculture and risks widespread job losses. The study adopts a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) modeling approach to evaluate climate change effects on agricultural sector employment in Nigeria from 1990 to 2020. Findings reveal reduced rainfall initially raises employment, as farming requires more labor in dry conditions. However, protracted droughts significantly reduce agricultural jobs. Increased temperatures consistently lower farm employment through reduced yields and incomes. Based on these findings, the study recommends that adaptive strategies are urgently needed to build resilience, promote climate-smart agriculture, and safeguard rural livelihoods.

Assessing the Potential for an Agro-GeoHydroPark in Gedangrejo: An Integrated Geological and Agricultural Study

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of Gedangrejo, located in the Karangmojo district, Gunung Kidul regency, Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia, for agro-geohydropark development. Employing a comprehensive geological analysis, which included assessing geomorphological, lithological, and geological structures alongside hydrogeological conditions, the study also focused on the evaluation of water sources and agricultural potential. Gedangrejo, which falls within the Baturagung subzone of the Southern Mountains zone, presents a unique amalgamation of undulating plains, hills, karst hills, and alluvium deposits with formations belonging to Semilir, Oyo, and Wonosari. Geological structures constituted by joints and faults, including three horizontal faults with a Northeast-Southwest orientation, were noted. The hydrogeology uncovered two aquifer systems, with the Semilir fissured inter-grain aquifer controlling the Baturagung Embung. In terms of agricultural viability, the area exhibits fertile land capable of supporting ornamental and fruit plants, presenting potential for fruit-picking tourism. Therefore, findings suggest that the Gedangrejo region holds substantial potential for development as an agro-geohydropark, implying a sustainable economic upliftment of the local community through the prudent utilization of natural resources and local wisdom.

Obtaining reference values for nutrients in vineyard soils through boundary line approach using Bayesian segmented quantile regression on commercial farm data

Inefficient use of fertilizers in agriculture is a major issue in global food production as it hampers economic viability of farms and offers great risk of environmental pollution. Fertilizing recommendations are guided by plant nutritional assessments, which are compared to reference values so that decisions can be made regarding which nutrient and how much is to be supplied. Traditionally, these values are obtained by field trials that are particularly long and expensive for perennial crops such as grapevines. This research evaluated the use of boundary line (BL) approach and Bayesian segmented quantile regression (BSQR) in determining reference values for nutrients in vineyard soils using commercial farm data. Critical levels (CL) and sufficiency ranges (SR) of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B) and manganese (Mn) were estimated using datasets from a winery in the Campanha Gaúcha region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Results indicated lower P and higher K, S, Zn and Mn levels, as compared to current state recommendations. Great inconsistencies were found in CL estimates for Cu and, to a lesser extend, Ca and Mg. Model assessments indicated that BSQR estimates were highly sensitive to quantile selection but poorly affected by changes in the prior. Data simulated using fitted models were consistently over-dispersed. Allowing for variable slopes and intercepts may partition data variability more properly, leading to better fit, higher parameter precision and greater accuracy of estimates. Despite current limitations, the BSQR model provides a flexible framework for BL analysis, enabling the use of commercial datasets in establishing reference values to support group- and site-specific recommendations, a valuable contribution to increase efficiency and sustainability of grapevine fertilization.

Epigenetic Modulations for Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Shrimp Aquaculture.

Aquaculture assumes a pivotal role in meeting the escalating global food demand, and shrimp farming, in particular, holds a significant role in the global economy and food security, providing a rich source of nutrients for human consumption. Nonetheless, the industry faces formidable challenges, primarily attributed to disease outbreaks and the diminishing efficacy of conventional disease management approaches, such as antibiotic usage. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative to explore alternative strategies to ensure the sustainability of the industry. In this context, the field of epigenetics emerges as a promising avenue for combating infectious diseases in shrimp aquaculture. Epigenetic modulations entail chemical alterations in DNA and proteins, orchestrating gene expression patterns without modifying the underlying DNA sequence through DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA molecules. Utilizing epigenetic mechanisms presents an opportunity to enhance immune gene expression and bolster disease resistance in shrimp, thereby contributing to disease management strategies and optimizing shrimp health and productivity. Additionally, the concept of epigenetic inheritability in marine animals holds immense potential for the future of the shrimp farming industry. To this end, this comprehensive review thoroughly explores the dynamics of epigenetic modulations in shrimp aquaculture, with a particular emphasis on its pivotal role in disease management. It conveys the significance of harnessing advantageous epigenetic changes to ensure the long-term viability of shrimp farming while deliberating on the potential consequences of these interventions. Overall, this appraisal highlights the promising trajectory of epigenetic applications, propelling the field toward strengthening sustainability in shrimp aquaculture.