Stable Food Supply Research Articles

FOOD RESILIENCE IN UKRAINE DURING MARTIAL LAW

The assessment of a country's food security level is a crucial task due to the need to ensure a stable supply of food during periods of economic and social upheaval, particularly during military conflicts or other emergencies. For Ukraine, amid ongoing hostilities, issues of food security and mitigating the negative effects of disruptions in agricultural production are of particular importance. As of today, there is no universally accepted scientific approach to assessing the level of food resilience that takes into account the specifics of each region and the country as a whole, allowing for analytical comparisons and providing scientifically grounded data for the formation of effective policies in this area. The aim of this study is to justify methodological recommendations for determining the level of food resilience using Ukraine as a case study. Accordingly, the proposed methodological recommendations include a set of indicators based on the selection of those that most comprehensively characterize the country’s food security in structural and cyclical aspects. It has been determined that the level of a country's food resilience is the degree of stability, adaptation, and recovery from external and internal shocks that affect the food system's ability to provide the population with sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. The results of the assessment of Ukraine's food resilience level using the Integrated Food Resilience Index in 2022 indicate an adequate level. The country has favourable conditions for food supply, although there are some issues in certain cyclical and structural aspects. The food system is developed despite the war, but there are opportunities for improvement.

Same goal, different measures: Obscure transformation in Japan's food security policy (1970–2020)

AbstractFor decades, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture has implemented various measures to ensure a stable food supply, considering food security a top priority due to the increasing uncertainty of the global economy. However, the ministry's food security policy has evolved substantially with a disproportionate focus on the domestic production of specific food products. This policy change occurred without being widely recognized by the public, media, or intellectuals. Why has the Agricultural Ministry's policy changed even though its goal has remained the same? By applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods, we investigated the context behind this obscure policy transition. Our findings reveal that, contrary to conventional understanding, this policy shift occurred not so much due to political pressure from the agricultural sector, but mainly because of a change in the definition of a key policy concept (i.e., the food self‐sufficiency rate) in the late 1980s.

Knowledge Atlas of Cultivated Land Quality Evaluation Based on Web of Science Since the 21st Century (2000–2023)

Cultivated land is the most important natural resource for human survival and development. The quality of cultivated land is closely related to grain output, and whether it can guarantee stable food supply is directly related to national food security. Cultivated land quality evaluation is an effective tool for understanding and mastering cultivated land quality. However, few studies have applied bibliometrics to quantitatively and systematically analyze this field. We used VOSviewer 1.6.19 and CiteSpace 6.3.1 software to visually analyze and construct 2478 documents related to cultivated land quality evaluation retrieved from the Web of Science core collection database from 2000 to 2023. Results show that cultivated land quality evaluation is still a popular research field. The collaboration ability among authors is weak and the distribution of institutions and countries publishing in this field is very uneven. In addition, the relevant research has been published in a variety of journals such as agriculture, environment, ecology, and computer technology. The research content is becoming more and more interdisciplinary. Keywords such as “Soil quality”, “Swat”, “Remote sensing”, “Heavy metals” and “Ecosystem services” have become hot topics in this field. In the future, it is necessary to further deepen the connotation of cultivated land quality, develop a long time series dynamic model of cultivated land quality evaluation and monitoring, and enhance the transformation of research results into practical applications.

Artificial intelligence as a tool for predicting the quality attributes of garlic (Allium sativum L.) slices during continuous infrared-assisted hot air drying.

Effective drying methods are a highly suitable solution for ensuring stable food supply chains, reducing postharvest agricultural losses, and preventing the spoilage of perishable fruits and vegetables. Moreover, machine learning techniques are innovative and dependable, especially in addressing food spoilage and optimizing drying processes. This study utilized a continuous infrared (IR) hot air dryer to dry garlic (Allium sativum L.) slices. The experiments were conducted at different levels of IR power, air velocities (V), and temperature (T). The relationships between the input process parameters (IR, T, and V) and response parameters, including effective moisture diffusivity (Deff), drying time, and physicochemical properties of the dried slices (rehydration ratio [RR], total color change, flavor strength, and allicin content in the garlic), were modeled using an artificial neural network (ANN). Our findings showed that the maximum Deff of 6.8×10-10m2/s and minimum drying time of 225min were achieved with an IR of 3000W/m2, an air velocity of 0.7m/s, and a temperature of 60°C. The total color change and RR values increased with IR and higher air temperature but declined with higher air velocity. Furthermore, the garlic's flavor strength and allicin content levels decreased as the IR and air temperature increased. The results demonstrated a significant influence of the independent parameters on the response parameters (p<0.01). Interestingly, the ANN predictions closely matched the test data sets, providing valuable insights for understanding and controlling the factors affecting drying behaviors.

Mitigating Salt Stress with Biochar: Effects on Yield and Quality of Dwarf Tomato Irrigated with Brackish Water.

The increase in the frequency and magnitude of environmental stresses poses a significant risk to the stability of food supplies. In coastal areas of the Mediterranean, brackish water has long been considered a limitation on horticultural production. In this scenario, the use of biochar in agriculture could be considered a valuable tool to cope with the deleterious effects of salt stress. This work aimed to investigate, in a protected environment, the effects of different concentrations of biochar (0, 1, and 2% v/v) obtained from poplar (Populus L.) biomass on the yield and quality of dwarf San Marzano ecotype tomatoes irrigated with saline water at different concentrations of NaCl (0, 40 and 80 mM). The increase in salt concentration from 0 to 80 mM NaCl reduced the total yield (-63%) and the number of fruits (-25%), but improved the main quality parameters such as dry matter (+75%), total soluble solids (+56%), and polyphenol content (+43%). Compared to control conditions, biochar supplementation improved the total yield (+23%) and number of fruits (+26%) without altering the functional and organoleptic characteristics of the fruits. The promising results underscore the potential of biochar as a sustainable solution to amend soils in order to improve tomato production under unfavorable conditions such as high salinity. However, there is a need to clarify which adaptation mechanisms triggered by biochar amending improve production responses even and especially under suboptimal growing conditions.

Socioeconomic Drivers of Food Insecurity Among Rural Households: Evidence from Participating Farmers in the Integrated Rice-Fish System in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Nigeria has been facing a food crisis problem, with most of the poor population having limited access to adequate quantity and quality food. Food security reflects the stability of food supply, availability of, and access to food, and affects the amount of food consumed, which has implications for the population’s health. Thus, this study examined the socio-economic drivers of food security among smallholder rice farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Primary data was collected under the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish (Integrated rice-fish farming system) funded by USAID through a three-stage sampling technique. Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) and the Endogenous Switching Regression model were applied in the data analysis. The mean per capita household food expenditure is N 2,456.42, and the food security line is N 1,026.43. The food security measure shows that 46.67 percent of the households experience the incidence of food insecurity, 24.6 percent point is the food insecurity depth, and 17.2 percent point is the severity of food insecurity. The ESR model shows that the drivers of food security are access to credit, marital status, farming experience, primary occupation, education, and farm size. The study proposed implementing more developmental programmes that focus on poverty alleviation, which should be gender inclusive with an option of credit support to the rice farmers.

Reutilization recovered nutrients from wastewater by synthesizing eco-friendly slow-release hydrogel fertilizer for sustainable vegetable production

Recovering and reusing resources from waste is a practical necessity for realizing sustainable development, while the lack of arable land and speedy release of fertilizer is also an urgent issue required to improve soil water and fertilizer conditions. Here, an eco-friendly biodegradable hydrogel was fabricated to serve as a slow-release carrier for nutrients that recovered from wastewater and investigated the potential role of it on vegetable growth. The hydrogel owned excellent water swelling and retention capacity, while degraded by more than 50 % within 11 weeks. Electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and ion exchange dominate the binding between nutrients and hydrogel, thus contributing to the maximum release period and efficiency for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium was 74.28 % in 21 days, 88.28 % in 28 days and 72.52 % in 7 days, respectively. Kinetic model fitting and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the Fickian diffusion controls the release of fertilizers. Vegetable yields and root elongation were significantly improved by applying the slow-release hydrogel fertilizer, with yield increases up to more than two-fold at the second round of cultivation. Overall, this work provides novel insights into the reutilization of high-value resources from wastewater and agriculture sources to support a stable food supply.

Soil volatilomics uncovers tight linkage between soybean presence and soil omics profiles in agricultural fields

Securing a stable food supply and achieving sustainable agricultural production are essential for mitigating future food insecurity. Soil metabolomics is a promising tool for capturing soil status, which is a critical issue for future sustainable food security. This study aims to provide deeper insights into the status of soybean-grown fields under varying soil conditions over three years by employing comprehensive soil volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling, also known as soil volatilomics. Profiling identified approximately 200 peaks in agricultural fields. The soil of soybean-presented plots exhibited markedly higher VOC levels than those of non-soybean plots during the flowering season. Pentanoic acid, 2,2,4-trimethyl-3-carboxyisopropyl, isobutyl ester, a discriminative soil VOC, was identified through multivariate data analysis as a distinctively present VOC in fields with or without soybean plants during the flowering period. Soil VOC profiles exhibited strong correlations with soil-related omics datasets (soil ionome, microbiome, metabolome, and physics) and no significant correlations with root microbiome and rhizosphere chemicals. These findings indicate that soil VOC profiles could serve as a valuable indicator for assessing soil status, thereby supporting efforts to ensure future global food security.

A High-Resolution Distribution Dataset of Paddy Rice in India Based on Satellite Data

India, as the world’s second-largest rice producer, accounting for 21.7% of global rice production, plays a crucial role in ensuring global food supply stability. However, creating high-resolution rice maps for India, such as those at 10 to 30 m, poses significant challenges due to frequent cloudy weather conditions and the complexities of its agricultural systems. This study used a sample-independent mapping method for rice in India using the synthetic aperture radar (SAR)-based Rice Index (SPRI). We produced 10 m spatial resolution rice distribution maps for three years (i.e., 2018, 2020, and 2022) for 23 states in India, covering 98% of Indian rice production. The method effectively utilized the unique characteristics of rice in the vertical–horizontal (VH) backscatter coefficient time series of Sentinel-1, from ttransplantation to the maturity stage, combined with cloud-free Sentinel-2 imagery. By calculating the SPRI values for each agricultural field object using adaptive parameters, the planting locations of rice were accurately identified. On average, the user, producer, and overall accuracy over all investigated states and union territories was 84.72%, 82.31%, and 84.40%, respectively. Additionally, the regional-scale validation based on the statistical area at the district level showed that the coefficient of determination (R2) ranged from 0.53 to 0.95 for each state, indicating that the spatial distribution of the statistical planted area at the district level was reproduced well.

Overcoming Infrastructure Challenges to Unlock Food Security in Rural Indonesia

General Background: Food security is a critical issue in rural areas, especially in developing countries, where sustainable agricultural practices and government support play a vital role in ensuring a stable food supply. Specific Background: In Sumorame Village, Candi District, Sidoarjo Regency, the local government has implemented a food security program aimed at improving agricultural productivity and community welfare. Knowledge Gap: Despite the program's significance, little is known about the specific factors influencing its success, particularly in the context of rural governance and local agricultural conditions. Aims: This study aims to describe and analyze the implementation of the food security program in Sumorame Village, focusing on four key factors: communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structure. Results: The findings reveal that communication between the village government, farmers, and community groups has been effective through targeted socialization efforts. Human resources are competent, with strong collaboration among farmer groups. Financial resources have been allocated in accordance with regulations, but physical infrastructure remains inadequate due to limited agricultural land, unfavorable geographical conditions, and suboptimal hydroponic yields. Disposition among stakeholders is positive, with high commitment observed. The bureaucratic structure has been functioning in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Novelty: This study highlights the importance of resource optimization, particularly in agricultural infrastructure, and stresses the need for improved technological integration to enhance program outcomes. Implications: The results suggest that strengthening communication and addressing physical resource limitations are crucial for improving food security program effectiveness in rural areas. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance rural food security initiatives. Highlights: Communication is crucial for successful food security program implementation. Infrastructure limitations present significant challenges to agricultural productivity. Collaboration and commitment among stakeholders enhance program effectiveness. Keywords: Food security, rural governance, agricultural infrastructure, communication, resource optimization

Food security challenges: A comparative review of USA and African Policies

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the food security challenges faced by the United States (USA) and African nations, examining the distinct policy approaches implemented to address these critical issues. The analysis focuses on key factors influencing food security, such as agricultural practices, economic structures, and political considerations. The United States and African nations grapple with diverse challenges in ensuring food security for their populations. This study undertakes a comparative review of the policies adopted by these regions to tackle the multifaceted issues related to food production, distribution, and accessibility. In the USA, the emphasis lies on advanced agricultural technologies and industrial farming practices. The country's policies are geared towards maximizing efficiency, ensuring a stable food supply, and promoting exports. However, challenges arise from the environmental impact of intensive farming, unequal distribution of resources, and the vulnerability of large-scale monocultures. Contrastingly, African countries face unique hurdles stemming from a combination of socio-economic factors, including limited access to modern farming technologies, land tenure issues, and inadequate infrastructure. Additionally, political instability and climate change exacerbate the challenges, impacting food production and distribution systems. The comparative analysis sheds light on the importance of tailoring food security policies to the specific needs and contexts of each region. It explores the potential for knowledge exchange and collaboration between the USA and African nations to address global food crises collaboratively. Emphasizing sustainable agricultural practices, equitable resource distribution, and adaptive governance strategies emerge as key recommendations to fortify both regions against future food security challenges. This study contributes valuable insights to policymakers, researchers, and practitioners aiming to develop effective strategies for enhancing global food security in a rapidly changing world.

Scientific achievements in Siberian agriculture and their development

A historical review of the formation and development of scientific farming in Siberia is given. The main achievements of the leading research institutes of the region are highlighted. The contribution of Siberian scientists to the development of scientific farming, including its constituent directions, is shown. It presents almost 100 years of development of research on agriculture - from the Omsk experimental farm (XIX century), agricultural experimental stations - to modern federal scientific centers. The evolution of farming from individual crop cultivation techniques to the formation of zonal and then adaptive-landscape farming systems and modern agro-technologies is demonstrated. Examples of completed scientific developments on farming, ready for implementation in production, the number of which runs into thousands, are given. Implementation of knowledge-intensive agro-technologies guarantees grain production in Siberia up to 25-30 million tons, sustainable development of farming, stable food supply and high return on non-renewable resources. The evolution of plant protection from individual methods against the most dangerous pests to the formation of integrated systems that take into account the phytosanitary state of agrocenoses and agro-ecological conditions of agricultural crops cultivation is shown. The most important techniques to optimize the relationship between the crop and pests are the selection of plant species and varieties resistant to their effects, optimization of mineral nutrition of plants and sowing dates. At present, the development of scientific farming is associated with the design of adaptive-landscape farming systems, selection and support of agro-technologies, rational use of land resources, improvement of approaches to the conservation and reproduction of soil fertility, soil treatment systems, fertilizers and integrated plant protection, formation of adaptive crop rotations, research of technological and biological processes in the cultivation of crops, use of GIS-technologies, remote sensing, and the use of remote sensing.

Food security in Ukraine today’s conditions

The system-forming element of national security is food security, which guarantees effective management of the food system, ensuring the food needs of the appropriate quantity and quality of each country’s citizen. Despite the significant potential of the agricultural sector, which forms the basis of food security, the need to analyse the state of food security in the current situation is due to military operations on the territory of Ukraine, which led to its negative global results. In this regard, the need to develop effective strategies and legal regulation is essential to ensure national and global food security, which in turn requires coordination of efforts of all countries and international organisations through international cooperation. The study aims to establish a pattern regarding the current state of food security by analysing the impact of availability, access, usefulness and stability of food supply on food security. Research methods: comparative analysis; taxonomic analysis; systematisation, generalisation. The survey found that Ukraine’s position in the Global Food Security Index (FSI) among 113 countries in 2022 worsened by 13 points, where the worst indicators for domestic food security are sustainability and adaptability (43.5 points out of 100 and 94th place globally) and economic affordability of food (48.1 points out of 100 and 93rd place in the world). It was found that the actual consumption of vegetables, melons, potatoes, and oil in 2021 was slightly higher than the rational norm, indicating sufficient consumption of these products, while the actual consumption of products that are lower than the rational norm includes meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, fish and fish products, and fruits, berries, and grapes. It has been determined that since 2016, the number of kilocalories in the daily diet of the population of Ukraine has not reached the minimum norm of consumption of basic foodstuffs for the working population. It has been established that in 2020 and 2021, the value of the taxonomic indicator for assessing the level of food security (I) has been decreasing, i.e. the distance to the reference vector has been increasing, which indicates a decrease in the level of food security. The forecasting results suggest a downward trend in the food security index for the period 2022–2027, and there is an urgent need to take measures to eliminate this trend and improve the value of the index, which is extremely important for the security of the state, especially in times of war.

The food security risks in the Yangtze River Delta of China associated with water scarcity, grain production, and grain trade

Grain production consumes a large amount of water and is affected by the degree of water scarcity and participation in the grain trade in various regions. The grain trade has changed the food security risks in regions where grain exports and imports. Therefore, it is crucial to consider regional water scarcity to understand food security risks from the grain trade network. Here, we construct a new framework for measuring regional food security risks associated with water scarcity, grain production, and grain trade based on a cross-city grain trade network combined with virtual water flows to evaluate the regional food security risks in the Yangtze River Delta region (YRD) of China in 2017. The results show that under the current domestic grain trade pattern in China, the YRD and its four provincial-level administrative regions are in a net grain import state. The grain trade within the YRD is concentrated in exports from the two major grain-producing areas of Anhui and Jiangsu to Zhejiang and Shanghai, especially from northern Jiangsu to southeastern Zhejiang. The net import results of virtual blue water in most cities indicate that the YRD has shifted its water resource pressure to other grain exporting regions in China, with Shanghai and Zhejiang being the greatest beneficiaries. Extreme risk only exists in Shanghai, and severe and moderate risks are concentrated in Jiangsu. The current grain trade has reduced the overall food security risk in the YRD by 1.3 % but increased the risks in Shanghai and Zhejiang by 2.1 % and 0.8 % respectively. This study highlights the potential risks that excessive production of food in water-scarce areas in the grain trade system may bring to a stable food supply, providing useful information for a comprehensive understanding of the food and water security situation and for future trade-offs.

A Review on Biotechnological Innovations in Developing Stress-Tolerant Crops for Adverse Environmental Conditions

The development of stress-tolerant crops through advanced biotechnological approaches is critical for enhancing global food security and sustainability in the face of climate change and increasing environmental stresses. Emerging tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and synthetic biology are revolutionizing genetic engineering by enabling precise, targeted modifications of plant genomes to improve drought, salinity, heat, and cold tolerance. Integrative approaches that combine genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics provide a comprehensive understanding of plant stress responses, facilitating the identification of key regulatory genes and metabolic pathways. High-throughput phenotyping and RNA interference (RNAi) technologies further enhance trait identification and manipulation, accelerating the development of robust stress-tolerant varieties. The deployment of these crops has demonstrated significant yield improvements and stability in adverse conditions, reducing the risk of crop failures and food shortages. Drought-tolerant maize and rice varieties have increased yields by 20-30% under water-scarce conditions, while salt-tolerant rice and wheat varieties have enabled cultivation in saline soils. Heat-tolerant crops maintain productivity in high-temperature regions, and cold-tolerant varieties extend growing seasons in temperate areas. These advancements not only enhance crop productivity but also promote sustainable agricultural practices by reducing the need for chemical inputs and supporting the resilience of food systems. Moreover, the socio-economic benefits include improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers through increased incomes and economic stability. Continued interdisciplinary research and collaboration are essential to fully realize the potential of these technologies in addressing global agricultural challenges and ensuring a stable food supply for future generations.

Variations in dietary patterns of living sloths revealed by finite element analysis of jaws.

Although extinct sloths exhibited a wide range of dietary habits, modes of locomotion, and occupied various niches across the Americas, modern sloths are considered quite similar in their habits. The dietary habits of living sloths can be directly observed in the wild, and understanding the mechanical behavior of their jaws during chewing through finite element analysis (FEA) provides a valuable validation tool for comparative analysis with their extinct counterparts. In this study, we used FEA to simulate the mechanical behavior of sloth mandibles under lateral mastication loads, using it as a proxy for oral processing. Our research focused on the six extant sloth species to better understand their diets and validate the use of FEA for studying their extinct relatives. We found that all living sloths have the predominancy of low-stress areas in their mandibles but with significant differences. Choloepus didactylus had larger high-stress areas, which could be linked to a reduced need for processing tougher foods as an opportunistic generalist. Bradypus variegatus and Choloepus hoffmanni are shown to be similar, displaying large low-stress areas, indicating greater oral processing capacity in a seasonal and more competitive environment. Bradypus torquatus, Bradypus pygmaeus, and Bradypus tridactylus exhibited intermediary processing patterns, which can be linked to a stable food supply in more stable environments and a reduced requirement for extensive oral processing capacity. This study sheds light on extant sloths' dietary adaptations and has implications for understanding the ecological roles and evolutionary history of their extinct counterparts.

Efficiency of agricultural cooperative members in Indonesia

The food supply's stability is dependent on agricultural productivity, which, in turn, depends on the efficient allocation of production factors. This research analyzes the efficiency levels of rice farmers and compares them between cooperative members and non-members. This study quantifies efficiency using the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) method and compares the results using the propensity score matching (PSM) method, which addresses potential selectivity bias resulting from the decision to join a cooperative. The study utilizes cross-sectional data from the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) of the Republic of Indonesia, encompassing a sample size of 68,204 farmers. The analysis reveals that the majority of farmers operate within an efficiency range of 70-90 percent. Cooperative members exhibit higher efficiency levels than non-members, with a 2.1 percent increase during the wet season and a 3.1 percent increase during the dry season. Researchers employ an alternative method, coarsened exact matching (CEM), to ensure robustness, yielding results similar to the PSM model. This research provides evidence that cooperatives have the potential to significantly enhance agricultural efficiency. The findings underscore the importance of developing and supporting cooperatives to enhance the overall welfare of farmers.

European Citizens’ Evaluation of the Common Agricultural Policy

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is crucial in ensuring food safety and security in Europe. Providing a stable and diverse food supply also supports rural economies and promotes social, environmental and economic sustainability. However, as CAP consumes approximately 30% of the EU budget, debates regarding its pertinence have arisen. This paper aimed to understand European citizens’ perceptions of CAP, its associated benefits and their level of agreement regarding the allocation of the EU budget. Ultimately, the goal was to gain insights into EU citizens’ attitudes and perceptions towards the CAP. Information and data come from the European Survey Eurobarometer. The methods include statistical inferential techniques adjusted to the nature of the variables and goals. The findings confirm that European citizens generally perceive the CAP positively and have positive attitudes about the CAP. While some differences among various social groups may exist, the results did not identify any specific group strongly opposing the CAP. Overall, European citizens hold a favorable attitude towards the CAP, its associated benefits and budget allocation. This paper brings new insights into new European CAP measures and programs to promote food security and the sustainability of agriculture among European countries and citizens. These insights may be useful for public decision-makers to define better policies and measures adjusted to European citizens and to promote food security and sustainability.

Mapping annual 10-m soybean cropland with spatiotemporal sample migration

China, as the world’s biggest soybean importer and fourth-largest producer, needs accurate mapping of its planting areas for global food supply stability. The challenge lies in gathering and collating ground survey data for different crops. We proposed a spatiotemporal migration method leveraging vegetation indices’ temporal characteristics. This method uses a feature space of six integrals from the crops’ phenological curves and a concavity-convexity index to distinguish soybean and non-soybean samples in cropland. Using a limited number of actual samples and our method, we extracted features from optical time-series images throughout the soybean growing season. The cloud and rain-affected data were supplemented with SAR data. We then used the random forest algorithm for classification. Consequently, we developed the 10-meter resolution ChinaSoybean10 maps for the ten primary soybean-producing provinces from 2019 to 2022. The map showed an overall accuracy of about 93%, aligning significantly with the statistical yearbook data, confirming its reliability. This research aids soybean growth monitoring, yield estimation, strategy development, resource management, and food scarcity mitigation, and promotes sustainable agriculture.

A density map-based method for counting wheat ears.

Field wheat ear counting is an important step in wheat yield estimation, and how to solve the problem of rapid and effective wheat ear counting in a field environment to ensure the stability of food supply and provide more reliable data support for agricultural management and policy making is a key concern in the current agricultural field. There are still some bottlenecks and challenges in solving the dense wheat counting problem with the currently available methods. To address these issues, we propose a new method based on the YOLACT framework that aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of dense wheat counting. Replacing the pooling layer in the CBAM module with a GeM pooling layer, and then introducing the density map into the FPN, these improvements together make our method better able to cope with the challenges in dense scenarios. Experiments show our model improves wheat ear counting performance in complex backgrounds. The improved attention mechanism reduces the RMSE from 1.75 to 1.57. Based on the improved CBAM, the R2 increases from 0.9615 to 0.9798 through pixel-level density estimation, the density map mechanism accurately discerns overlapping count targets, which can provide more granular information. The findings demonstrate the practical potential of our framework for intelligent agriculture applications.