Climate Risk Research Articles

Green credit’s impact on pollution and economic development: A study from Vietnam

Vietnam is actively pursuing sustainable economic development while transitioning to a greener economy, facing challenges in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. The evaluation of current sustainable development efforts and the identification of effective green financial tools are critical for Vietnam's progress. This study introduces the Sustainable Economic Development (SED) Index, a comprehensive measure of sustainable economic development quality across Vietnam's 63 provinces from 2015 to 2022. Using a range of analytical techniques, we explore the relationships between green credit, environmental pollution, and sustainable economic development during this period. Our findings indicate rapid growth in sustainable economic development until 2019, followed by a deceleration due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. Green credit emerges as a pivotal factor in supporting sustainable economic growth, managing climate risks, and mitigating environmental pollution, particularly during times of uncertainty. Additionally, we observe spatial spillover effects, where the benefits of green credit and the challenges of environmental pollution transcend provincial boundaries. The study recommends promoting green credit policies, fostering regional cooperation, and enhancing local competitiveness, digital transformation, and social equality to advance Vietnam's journey toward sustainable economic development.

Gender and climate resilience: A study probing the agricultural adherent behavior through climate information services in southern Punjab

Climate change poses a significant threat to agriculture, with gender dynamics playing a critical role in influencing adaptive behaviors. Despite this, there remains a notable gap in addressing gender-specific factors in climate change adherent behaviors within the agricultural sector, especially in the Asian Regions. Pakistan's agriculture, particularly in underdeveloped regions, is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Climate information is predominantly disseminated through vernacular media, which serves as a crucial tool for adaptation. To fill the gap in this tapestry, a study conducted in the district of Rahim Yar Khan in southern Punjab, Pakistan, proposes a conceptual framework grounded in existing theories and literature to examine agricultural adherence to climate information services (CIS) and highlight the potential of digital media in promoting climate-resilient behaviors among agricultural workers. To ensure the robustness of the results, a cross-sectional research design was employed, integrating a broad survey that traversed on a gender basis within this underdeveloped precinct. A probability sampling technique, specifically systematic random sampling, was utilized to gather responses from 200 respondents related to farming and yielding through a closed-ended questionnaire. The study found that over half of the participants, irrespective of gender, recognized climate change as a significant concern for agriculture. Notably, females exhibited a higher level of awareness compared to their male counterparts. Local media emerged as the primary source of climate information for both genders. Post-CIS exposure, notable behavioral changes were observed, underscoring the critical role of CIS in managing climate change risks. The findings highlight significant gender differences and stress the importance of gender-responsive approaches in delivering climate information services to ensure equitable engagement and effective management of climate change risks in agriculture. The research also suggests theoretical and social implications, along with practical recommendations for policy and practice.

Exploration of a model driven by climate to simulate pond water temperature in aquaculture systems

IntroductionInterannual climate variability in the Asian mega deltas has been posing a wide range of climate risks in the aquaculture systems of the region. Water temperature variation is one of the key risks related to disease outbreak, fish health, and loss and damage in fish production. However, Climate information can improve the ability to predict changes in pond water quality parameters at the farm level using publicly available weather and climate data. Little research has been done to translate weather data into water temperature forecasts using mechanistic models in order to provide farmers with relevant forecasting information in the context of climate services.MethodsThe advantage of mechanistic models over statistical models is that they are based on physical processes and can therefore be used in a wider range of environmental conditions. In this study, we used an energy balance model to investigate its ability to simulate pond water temperature at daily and seasonal timescales in the southwest and northeast regions of Bangladesh. The model was able to adequately simulate pond water temperature at a daily timescale using publicly available weather data, and the accuracy of the model was lower at the study site with very heavy rainfall events.ResultsSensitivity analyses showed that the model was also able to simulate the impact of air temperature cold and hot spells on the pond water temperature. Connecting the model with seasonal air temperature forecasts resulted in very small variations in the forecasted seasonal pond water temperature, in large part due to the low variability observed in water temperature at seasonal scale in the study sites.DiscussionClimate information can improve the ability to predict changes in pond water quality parameters at the farm level using publicly available weather and climate data. Hence, these improved predictions are important to help fish-farmers make informed decisions for managing associated climate risks.

Understanding the Effect of Climate Risk on Banking Business—A Panel Data Analysis of Indian Firms

The enormous phenomenon of climate change, which is affecting many organisations of different sectors today, has a special impact on the financial sector in terms of credit risk. Awareness and action on environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and climate change impacts have been rapidly increasing worldwide. In this article, we present a firm-level panel data analysis to link ESG ratings and CO2 emissions with the default risk and solvency position of selected companies. We perform various univariate and multivariate analyses on selected top Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) top 200 companies that have disclosures in Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reports over 5 years (2017–2021). We find strong empirical evidence that a firm’s risk of default is linked to its environmental performance along with the level of carbon emission. Our findings will enable banks to establish a linkage between credit risk and climate change risk. This will assist banks as well as policymakers to adjust borrower-level ratings and align their lending and investments with net zero emissions. JEL Codes: G32, G33, Q2, Q5

Tackling local environmental challenges with livelihoods strategies: insights from small-scale farmers in the vulnerable region of Ghana

ABSTRACT Climate risks pose significant challenges to farmers' livelihoods, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the complex interplay of factors intensifies the impact on small-scale farmers (SSFs). While there is a broad understanding of climate change's effects on agriculture, there is a need for deeper insights into the key determinants and preferences influencing SSFs' adaptation strategies in vulnerable regions to better inform agricultural policy and planning. Data were collected from 325 SSF randomly selected in Juaben Municipality, Ghana. Quantitative analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. The study identified shifting planting dates, altering farm operation timings and mulching as primary adaptation strategies. Significant associations were found between socio-economic factors and the adaptation strategies employed by SSFs, with the Relative Importance Index highlighting affordable tools, land ownership and access to fertile land as crucial for enhancing livelihoods and adaptation. The findings underscore the need for training programmes to equip extension officers with the knowledge to support SSFs in developing skills and efforts related to adaptation and viable livelihood options.

Systematic Mapping of Climate Change Impacts on Human Security in Bangladesh

There is an increasing consensus that climate change undermines human security by exacerbating existing challenges, acting as a “threat multiplier”. Bangladesh is a climate hot spot due to its geographical location, dense population and vulnerable socio-economic infrastructure. Although there is an increasing number of studies on the impacts of climate change in Bangladesh, aggregated research that combines this evidence and provides a comprehensive overview is lacking. The aim of this research is to thoroughly investigate the characteristics of the academic literature on the complex pathways through which climate variability affects different components of human security in Bangladesh, allowing for determination of the trends and research gaps, as well as whether they lead to conflict or cooperation. We used a systematic mapping methodology to search and screen 1839 publications in Web of Science, including 320 publications for the final synthesis. We found a predominant research focus on rural areas, especially in the southwestern region, with declining crop yield, economic loss, migration, water shortage, food scarcity and health hazards being the highlighted impacts of climate change for Bangladesh. The impacts on food, economic, environmental, health and water security have been well studied, but we found significant research gaps in some human security components, especially energy security. Women and the economically disadvantaged are disproportionately affected, and the causal pathways between conflict or cooperation and the ever-changing climate lack research efforts, implying a dire need to focus on under-researched areas before they become more complex and difficult to address. Policies and interventions should prioritise climate-resilient agricultural practices and infrastructure in high-risk areas, building local capacities and integrating climate risk assessments into urban planning, considering the high influx of environmental migrants. This systematic map provides a foundation for future longitudinal studies, establishes a baseline for this era for future comparisons and serves as a reliable database for relevant stakeholders and policy makers.

Examining the impact of climate information access on adaptive behaviors during heatwaves: insights from Central Vietnam

This study focuses on the correlation between the different sources of climatic information involving the Short Message Service (SMS), social networks, local governments, online platforms, and workplaces and the individual adaptation measures concerning heatwaves. The survey data were obtained from four areas in central Vietnam involving 400 respondents. We used propensity score matching (PSM) to estimate the average treatment effect on the treated, aiming to mitigate selection bias. Findings indicate that the availability of various information sources encourages communities to address rising heat stress, with information sourced from SMS, social media platforms, local authorities, and workplaces being prominent. The findings signal the need to increase the visibility of heatwave data, which can change people’s behavior to reduce climate risks. In order to accomplish this goal, it is important to focus on climate change information sharing through platforms such as social networks, local administration offices, and the workplace in coping with climate change-related threats.

Managing climate risks: new evidence from integrated analysis at the basin scale

ABSTRACT Safe, reliable, and equitable water access is critical for healthy livelihoods. Climate change-related water stress is challenging, and using the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus is an appealing approach for sustainable management. The contribution of this paper is formulating a comprehensive framework integrating water sectors and ecosystems. The paper fills previous gaps in the literature by taking Spain’s Ebro Basin as a case study for evidence to guide science-based policies. Results deliver a framework for measuring the distribution of benefits and costs among sectors and stakeholders. Findings reveal choices that increase stream flows, enhance water security and biodiversity, and reduce climate risks.

Does the subsidiary's climate risk matter? Evidence from the stock price crash

Combining satellite climate data with the subsidiaries’ geographical locations of listed firms in China, we document a significant positive relation between subsidiary-level climate risk exposure and future stock price crash risk of conglomerate. The results are stronger for firms with higher CEO performance pressure, higher subsidiary climate risk management costs and weaker external governance. Our findings shed light on the economic consequences of climate risks at the subsidiary level.

A Multi-Hazard Approach to Climate Migration: Testing the Intersection of Climate Hazards, Population Change, and Location Desirability from 2000 to 2020

Climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, profoundly altering demographic landscapes globally and within the United States. This study investigates their impact on migration patterns, using propensity score matching and LASSO techniques within a larger regression modeling framework. Here, we analyze historical population trends in relation to climate risk and exposure metrics for various hazards. Our findings reveal nuanced patterns of climate-induced population change, including “risky growth” areas where economic opportunities mitigate climate risks, sustaining growth in the face of observed exposure; “tipping point” areas where the amenities are slowly giving way to the disamenity of escalating hazards; and “Climate abandonment” areas experiencing exacerbated out-migration from climate risks, compounded by other out-migration market factors. Even within a single county, these patterns vary significantly, underscoring the importance of localized analyses. Projecting population impacts due to climate risk to 2055, flood risks are projected to impact the largest percentage of areas (82.6%), followed by heatwaves (47.4%), drought (46.6%), wildfires (32.7%), wildfire smoke (21.7%), and tropical cyclone winds (11.1%). The results underscore the importance of understanding hyperlocal patterns of risk and change in order to better forecast future patterns.

A Sustainable Future : The Importance and the Development of Sustainable Finance In the 21st Century

The environmental problems that have emerged along with rapidly increasing global warming in recent years have made the concept of sustainability an important issue in the world in general. This fact has been largely effective in increasing the sensitivity of businesses and leading corporations to the environmental problems. This situation has led businesses to implement environmental friendly policies and invest in these areas, both interms of efficient use of natural resources and minimizing the damage to the environment. With the increasing global warming, climate change has recently become one of the most important problems in the world, and many countries have started to make efforts to reduce the risk of climate change. The inadequacy of environemental measures taken so far has necessitated the search for solutions in different areas regarding this issue. In this sense, financial institutions also contribute to climate awareness by following environmental policies in their activities and developing products that prioritize the environment. The concept of sustainable finance has led to the development of various financial products and to the development of financing projects aimed at protecting the environment. While the concept of sustainable finance is perceived as the responsibility of public authorities, the private sector has also been included in the process with the Sustainable Development Goals in the UN 2030 Agenda. There is no doubt that sustainable banking and finance practices, especially the implementation of sustainability practices by banks and other corporations in developing countries will contribute to the development of these countries considerably. In this study, it is aimed to draw attention to the global climate crisis, to emphasize the relationship between finance and the environment, and to contribute to the increase of applications in this field in the world by introducing green financing tools. One of the important functions of sustainable finance against the climate crisis is the evolution of companies funded within the scope of ESG criteria into a production process that tends to be sensitive to carbon emissions, as well as acquiring social and governance sensitivity. In this way, an economic process can be carried out on the axis of environmental and social awareness. In addition to combating climate change, it can be an important supporter in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Natural and natural-anthropogenic measures for adapting transport infrastructure to climate change

The purpose of the study is to analyze and develop natural and natural-anthropogenic measures for adapting transport infrastructure to climate change. The analysis was based on national and international regulations, best practices in the development and implementation of technical, organizational, natural and natural-anthropogenic measures for adapting transport infrastructure facilities to a changing climate. Although technical adaptation measures can be seen as the basis for ensuring safety against climate risks, the adoption of complementary or alternative nature-based measures will allow effective adaptation to be achieved more cost-effectively based on sustainable and long-term solutions. In some cases, technical adaptation measures are clearly determined, which largely deprives decision makers of flexibility when choosing a set of measures for a specific territory. Thus, hybrid solutions combining natural and technical measures can provide an optimal level of safety, taking into account the environmental impact, the area required to accommodate adaptation means, and the magnitude of costs.Current engineering adaptation measures used at transport infrastructure facilities have been identified. With the exception of a number of procedural changes to current practice, most current measures are technical solutions. It has been established that complementing technical and organizational measures with natural and natural-human adaptation measures has the potential not only to provide ecosystem services that could increase biodiversity and ecological connectivity, but also to ensure the resilience of transport infrastructure to climate change. The widespread use of these adaptation measures will make it possible to position railway transport as a reliable, sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Factors Affecting Farmers’ Attitude towards Climate Resilient Agricultural Technologies in Telangana, India

Agriculture and climate change are interdependent processes on a global scale. To address the climatic risks in agriculture, adopting climate-resilient practices from the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) Project instead of traditional cropping methods is a strategy that not only enhances agricultural sustainability but also boosts farmers' income. Farmers' attitude is vital in the adoption of new technology. This paper examines the factors influencing farmers' attitude towards climate-resilient technologies under the NICRA project in the Suryapet and Khammam districts of Telangana, India. An ex-post facto research design was employed, with a sample of 200 respondents selected through a multistage simple random sampling technique. The profile characteristics viz., education, annual income, landholding, economic motivation, and innovative proneness, demonstrated a positive and significant correlation with farmers' attitude, as indicated by the correlation coefficient. Additionally, occupation and the farming system showed a significant positive association with attitude through the chi-square test. Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified factors such as water resource availability, economic motivation, risk-taking ability, education, individual and mass media exposure, and landholding as having a significant effect on farmers' attitude. To enhance the adoption of climate-resilient technologies under the NICRA project, efforts should focus on improving farmers' education, economic motivation, and access to water resources. Additionally, leveraging individual and mass media exposure can further strengthen positive attitude towards these technologies, ultimately leading to greater agricultural sustainability and increased income for farmers.

Identifying climatic risks and relevant adaptation strategies for selected smallholder farming regions, Limpopo Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT Due to low adaptive capacities and high reliance on weather-sensitive natural ecosystems for their livelihoods and food production, smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to risks associated with climate change and variability. Such risks are location-specific; thus, to cope with them, smallholder farmers require tailored adaptation strategies. To support these farmers, this study aimed to identify climatic risks threatening sustainable smallholder farming in the Limpopo Province regions of Gavaza, Ga-Makanye and Giyani. Weather station records spanning up to 1980–2021 were used to identify climatic risks, for the October–April dryland maize growing season. Risks were identified based on temporal trends and/or interannual variability patterns for reference evapotranspiration and a suite of agriculturally relevant rainfall and temperature indices. Based on the identified risks, tailor-made adaptation strategies were devised for application by farmers within the study region. The results revealed the specific risks of growing seasons becoming shorter and increasingly hotter with highly irregular rainfall patterns. To adapt and improve agricultural productivity despite these prevailing climatic risks, farmers within the study region will benefit if they plant drought tolerant, early maturing and higher yielding crop varieties, apply soil water conservation techniques and make use of seasonal and daily weather forecasts to guide their decision-making.

Climate change adaptation mainstreaming through strategic environmental assessments. An in-depth analysis of environmental indicators from spatial plans in Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (Italy)

Climate change adaptation, CCA henceforth, is nowadays a shared concern, deeply investigated and advocated by international research and political organisations. However, both CCA implementation and its monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are challenges yet to be properly addressed. From a spatial planning perspective, local plans are the land-use-oriented tools with the highest potential to enhance CCA operativity. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is also acknowledged to be a key instrument to integrate climate change concerns and hence, to monitor and evaluate climate change (CC) risks and CCA efforts. This study addresses two hypotheses, i.e., i) indicators included in SEAs' spatial plans may be used at the service of CCA M&E, ii) the full extent of indicators can be captured by multi-level planning analyses. To this aim, this study provides an in-depth analysis, through a multi-step systematic categorization, of the indicators used within the SEA of regional and municipal plans in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (Italy). This study brings novelty in the SEA research field by bridging the climate risk theoretical principles to the methodological approach for analysing SEAs' indicators, which are classified within the risk function frame. Key insights come from the metrics, the indicators' explicitness for CCA, and the indicators' extent into the climate risk function. Finally, the paper paves the way for further research of CC- and CCA-related indicators in both spatial planning and other public sectors to support CCA mainstreaming through SEAs.

Smallholder access to purchased seeds in the presence of pervasive market imperfections and rainfall shocks: panel data evidence from Malawi and Ethiopia

Seed purchasing enables farmers to respond to adverse events that may cause chronic and temporary seed insecurity by allowing them to exploit opportunities associated with accessing new seeds. However, as with other inputs, seed purchasing is complicated by pervasive market imperfections and climate risk common in Sub-Sahara Africa. This study uses balanced household panel data for Malawi (2010–2018) and Ethiopia (2012–2016) and applies dynamic random effects Probit and Tobit models to assess how seed purchase decisions are affected by earlier participation in the market, lagged rainfall shocks, and historical climate variables. Our findings show that there are nonlinear effects of lagged seed purchase decisions on subsequent decisions with strong initial effects (weakening over time). For instance, initial maize seed purchase decisions are associated with about 11 and 22% higher probability of purchase and 1 and 2% higher shares of seed volumes purchased in later rounds in Malawi and Ethiopia, respectively. Seed purchase decisions also respond to climate variability and shocks. For instance, lagged drought shocks enhance subsequent maize purchase decisions in both countries. Historical average rainfall and temperature enhance maize seed purchase decisions in both countries. Overall, results point to state dependency on the demand side of the seed market, leading to selective access to purchased seeds. Also, seed purchase in smallholder farming is a liquidity and risk-dependent input choice. Policy efforts need to continue targeting reducing transaction costs and other barriers to entry into seed markets to enhance access to off-farm seed and support adaptation to rainfall shocks.

Experiential Factors as a Determinant for Climate Change Mitigation Behavior: A Case of Tourist Hotel Managers in Naivasha Sub-County, Kenya

Climate change is typically abstract, large scale, slow and often unrelated to the welfare of people’s usual activities. There are however moments when the consequences of climate change are readily apparent, such as through experiencing extreme weather events. This study examined the association between personal experiences with extreme weather events together with emotions and taking actions that mitigate the consequences of climate change, a largely under researched topic. This relationship was tested among 182 randomly selected tourist hotel managers in Naivasha Sub-County in Kenya using paper and pencil survey techniques. An instrument made up of questions on the managers’ extent of their personal involvement with extreme climate risks and events was utilized. Another set of questions that rated the managers’ level of emotions towards climate change was also included. The study identified two categories of climate change mitigation behaviors (CCMB) using principle component analysis that are adopted by managers namely efficiency and curtailment practices. A beta regression model that accounts for the non-normality of the data was used to examine the relationship between experiential factors and CCMB. Findings indicate a moderate engagement in CCMB among the surveyed managers. Experiencing disasters was negatively and significantly associated with both curtailment and efficiency CCMB. Emotions were positively associated with efficiency CCMB but had a negative association with curtailment CCMB. The findings suggest that public education would benefit from strategies that focus on connecting experiencing weather related disasters and emotions with the reality of climate change.

Lessons Learned from Adopting Sustainable Agricultural Practices to Address Food Insecurity and Climate Change Risks: Opportunities, Constraints, and Limitations

Conventional agriculture has been blamed for its ecological and economic concerns. Consequently, sustainable agriculture has emerged as a feasible and viable alternative for addressing food insecurity and climate change risks, despite its low uptake and unmet expectations. This study examined the opportunities, challenges, and limitations of adopting sustainable agriculture. To do this, a questionnaire survey and group discussions were used to collect information from a random sample of households. The collected data were examined using the percentage, priority ranking, and content analysis. Farmers have mentioned several economic benefits and ecological viability of sustainable agriculture: enhanced soil fertility, improved vegetation coverage, reduced land degradation, generated employment, and increased water availability. These results have then led to increased agricultural productivity, reduced carbon emissions, and improved food security. However, it was found that lack of information, limited institutional support, labour shortages, and fragmented farmland are the major constraints to adopting sustainable agriculture. Other problems include an increased workload, waterlogging, sedimentation, loss of cultivated and grazing land, the spread of external predators, and the emergence of diseases and pests. All of these problems may prohibit farmers from fully accepting and implementing sustainable agriculture. Hence, it is imperative to organize on-the-spot demonstrations, information-sharing, and capacity building for farmers and extension workers in order to comprehend the attributes, benefits, and constraints of sustainable agriculture. Farmers should also be given technical and financial assistance to implement sustainable agricultural practices. It is imperative that policymakers and development actors must establish and empower local institutions to promote sustainable agriculture, in order to fully explot its potential benefits and expand its reach to areas that are prone to drought and water shortages.

Development of a coupled agent-based generation expansion planning tool with a power dispatch model

Power companies need to adapt their generation expansion planning in response to changing market, climate and regulatory conditions as global warming, electrification, and technology breakthroughs continue. To fortify energy system resilience, it is critical to understand the collective effects of their autonomous decisions on power systems operations and reliability. To this end, we developed an integrated framework, an agent-based model (ABM) coupled with a power dispatch model (PDM) (referred to as ABM-PDM), tested on the Texas 123-bus transmission system in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region. Agents (power generation companies) can invest in natural gas, solar, and wind technologies to maximize profits from 2021 to 2050, using market information from the PDM based on their capital budget and perceived costs, financial incentives for renewable energy, and climate risks. We applied ABM-PDM to assess how power companies respond to future technological advancements and climate change. After demonstrating model credibility, we explored 25 combinations of cost and capacity factors reflecting a variety of technological evolution trajectories. Results indicated that to replace wind over solar for replacing existing fossil-fuel power plants due to lower costs and higher capacity factors. Additionally, as more agents invest, the energy market becomes more competitive, and system-wide electricity prices drop. We also analyzed the impacts of temperature increases on investments using seven projections, from 0 to 6 °C, during the modeling period. The results showed that as temperatures rise, agents invest more to accommodate the increasing loads. ABM-PDM incorporates risk attitude and learning into companies’ decision-making, providing additional information on generation expansion for the non-optimal future of power systems.

Trends and Collaborations in Livestock Extension Research: A Bibliometric Analysis (2015-2024)

This study employs bibliometric analysis to investigate trends in livestock extension research from January 2015 to June 2024, utilizing data sourced from the dimension.ai database. The analysis encompasses a comprehensive review of publication trends, research categories, influential journals, collaborative networks among authors, and the impact of seminal studies. The findings reveal a notable increase of 51.55 per cent in scholarly interest and publications over the years, indicating growing attention towards enhancing livestock productivity, sustainability, and socio-economic outcomes. Key research domains such as agricultural, veterinary, and food sciences emerge as predominant areas of focus, with significant contributions observed in interdisciplinary fields like environmental sciences and human geography. Network analyses using tools like VOSviewer highlight robust collaborative relationships among researchers, identifying central figures and clusters that drive collaborative research efforts in livestock extension. The study also identified “Climate change vulnerability, adaptation and risk perceptions at farm level in Punjab, Pakistan” published in 2016, with nearly 294 citations as top-cited article and other affiliations, emphasizing their pivotal roles in advancing knowledge and practices within the field. Overall, this bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of livestock extension research, demonstrating how such analytical approaches contribute to understanding research trends, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and guiding future research directions in agricultural sciences.