Agricultural Technology Development Research Articles

Hydroponics as an advanced vegetable production technique: an overview

In the recent past, population explosion across the globe has presented many challenges that include the availability of arable land diminishing per capita for traditional soil-based farming. Therefore, the development of advanced agricultural technologies and methods has become important in response to these persistent situations. Amongst these innovations, soilless crop cultivation has emerged as one of the promising solutions, leading from the forefront. This current review offers a comprehensive investigation of hydroponics as an advanced technology for vegetable production. It explains many aspects related to hydroponic systems, viz., methods used in hydroponics, its advantages, challenges as well as application in vegetable production. This paper also explores the hydroponics evolution historically, various hydroponic systems, their essential components, and nutrient solution role in plant growth facilitation. Furthermore, it highlights various advantages of farming under hydroponic culture, viz., increase in yields, efficient usage of water, optimum space utilization, and less environmental impact. Additionally, this review also sheds light on challenges related to hydroponics, like initial setup cost, technical complexity, and management of diseases. Moreover, it also enlightens about vegetables that are suitable to cultivate under hydroponic culture and provides insight into continuing research, and forthcoming projections in the area of vegetable production under hydroponic cultivation.

Impact of Land-Use Intensification on the Development of Sustainable Agricultural Green Innovation Technology

Impact of Land-Use Intensification on the Development of Sustainable Agricultural Green Innovation Technology

Current Trends in the Study of Promising Medicinal Plant Species

This publication presents the views of Nikolay I. Sidelnikov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, on the current developments in the cultivation of medicinal plants, the search for and study of herbal drug sources, and the development of herbal medicinal products. The All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants carries out comprehensive studies of medicinal plants, including the evaluation of natural resources in the context of environmental management, the development of agricultural technologies, the search for biologically active substances, preclinical pharmacology and toxicity studies, and the development of technologies for the production of active substances and medicinal.

Climate services for agriculture: Steering towards inclusive innovation in Australian climate services design and delivery

CONTEXTClimate services are integral to climate change adaptation in agriculture. Inclusive innovation prioritises inclusion of marginalised actors, grassroots knowledge and accessibility of use. Yet many innovation processes are multi-stakeholder, complex and may not prioritise inclusion from the outset. In these circumstances, researchers and designers may seek to influence existing projects towards greater inclusivity. OBJECTIVESThis paper explores efforts to increase the inclusivity of existing innovation processes, focusing on the design of My Climate View, an online Australian climate services platform for agriculture. Findings relate to contemporary issues in inclusive innovation literature, including: (1) Who should be included in innovation processes (within given resourcing)?; (2) How requirements for inclusion or exclusion can emerge through the design and use of a technology; and (3) The influence of program level structures upon inclusivity and design. METHODSOur approach is informed by Responsible Innovation and Inclusive Innovation theory and enacted through user-centred design. Findings are synthesised from analysis of 60 semi-structured interviews with farmers, advisors and extension officers. We additionally draw on observations as researchers in the multi-actor My Climate View development team, where extensive engagement separate to research activities has included agricultural and Indigenous stakeholders. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONEngaging with a broad sample of potential target users enabled diverse and sometimes unexpected use cases. Customisation of interface parameters allowed the incorporation of tacit knowledge and positively affected the inclusivity of My Climate View, extending the value of the platform to growers of niche commodities outside of the original scope. Inclusivity in innovation can be impacted by diverse factors, including design team decisions, structural factors, budget and external factors. Requirements for inclusion and exclusion can emerge and evolve throughout a design process, supporting Responsible Innovation's framing of inclusivity alongside principles of reflexivity and responsiveness. SIGNIFICANCEThe findings enrich the evidence base for climate services and broader agricultural technology development processes by providing insights for those seeking greater impact by practicing inclusivity in innovation. We provide four implications for increasing inclusivity in the design of climate services: (1) Maximising customisation and avoiding prescriptive interpretation enables greater flexibility of use; (2) Sampling broadly within target users to uncover unanticipated values and opportunities for inclusion and exclusion; (3) It is important to embed efforts towards inclusion alongside processes of reflexivity; and (4) Responsible and inclusive approaches to climate services design are valuable even if brought in once development has commenced.

Large reductions in nutrient losses needed to avoid future coastal eutrophication across Europe

Rapid technological development in agriculture and fast urbanization have increased nutrient losses in Europe. High nutrient export to seas causes coastal eutrophication and harmful algal blooms. This study aims to assess the river exports of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and identify required reductions to avoid coastal eutrophication in Europe under global change. We modelled nutrient export by 594 rivers in 2050 for a baseline scenario using the new MARINA-Nutrients model for Europe. Nutrient export to European seas is expected to increase by 13–28% under global change. Manure and fertilizers together contribute to river export of N by 35% in 2050. Sewage systems are responsible for 70% of future P export by rivers. By 2050, the top ten polluted rivers for N and P host 42% of the European population. Avoiding future coastal eutrophication requires over 47% less N and up to 77% less P exports by these polluted rivers.

A Redactable Blockchain-Based Data Management Scheme for Agricultural Product Traceability.

With the development of agricultural information technology, the Internet of Things and blockchain have become important in the traceability of agricultural products. Sensors collect real-time data in agricultural production and a blockchain provides a secure and transparent storage medium for these data, which improves the transparency and credibility of agricultural product traceability. However, existing agricultural product traceability solutions are limited by the immutability of the blockchain, making it difficult to delete erroneous data and modify the scope of data sharing. This damages the credibility of traceability data and is not conducive to the exchange and sharing of information among enterprises. In this article, we propose an agricultural product traceability data management scheme based on a redactable blockchain. This scheme allows agricultural enterprises to encrypt data to protect privacy. In order to facilitate the maintenance and sharing of data, we introduce a chameleon hash function to provide data modification capabilities. Enterprises can fix erroneous data and update the access permissions of the data. To improve the efficiency of block editing, our scheme adopts a distributed block editing method. This method supports threshold editing operations, avoiding single-point-of-failure issues. We save records of data modifications on the blockchain and establish accountability mechanisms to identify malicious entities. Finally, in this paper we provide a security analysis of our proposed solution and verify its effectiveness through experiments. Compared with the existing scheme, the block generating speed is improved by 42% and the block editing speed is improved by 29.3% at 125 nodes.

Exploring inclusion in UK agricultural robotics development: who, how, and why?

AbstractThe global agricultural sector faces a significant number of challenges for a sustainable future, and one of the tools proposed to address these challenges is the use of automation in agriculture. In particular, robotic systems for agricultural tasks are being designed, tested, and increasingly commercialised in many countries. Much touted as an environmentally beneficial technology with the ability to improve data management and reduce the use of chemical inputs while improving yields and addressing labour shortages, agricultural robotics also presents a number of potential ethical challenges – including rural unemployment, the amplification of economic and digital inequalities, and entrenching unsustainable farming practices. As such, development is not uncontroversial, and there have been calls for a responsible approach to their innovation that integrates more substantive inclusion into development processes. This study investigates current approaches to participation and inclusion amongst United Kingdom (UK) agricultural robotics developers. Through semi-structured interviews with key members of the UK agricultural robotics sector, we analyse the stakeholder engagement currently integrated into development processes. We explore who is included, how inclusion is done, and what the inclusion is done for. We reflect on how these findings align with the current literature on stakeholder inclusion in agricultural technology development, and suggest what they could mean for the development of more substantive responsible innovation in agricultural robotics.

Minat Kerja Generasi Muda Pada Sektor Pertanian di Desa Ngablak Magelang

Agriculture is the use of natural resources to produce food. The phenomenon that occurs is a decrease from year to year in the number of workers. Data shows that there has been a shift in interest in working in the agricultural sector. Efforts to increase the interest of the younger generation in the agricultural sector require an intensive and structured policy design. This research was carried out in Ngablak village, Magelang Regency. This research uses a qualitative method with a case study approach. The research subjects were young people aged 19 to 27 years. Data analysis was carried out with 3 participants and 1 informant using purposive sampling techniques. Data collection by observation and interviews. Non-participant observation, while the interview technique carried out by the researcher was an in-depth interview using a semi-structured method. Passion research results emerged because of work motivation, attractiveness to work and work activities. External factors that influence this are HR innovation, technology upgrades and human resource improvements. Other factors include government support, namely agricultural extension officers and fertilizer subsidies. This research also indicates that the interest of rice farming family members is low in working in the rice farming sector because of minimal income. A person's passion in the agricultural sector is influenced by interest in the field of work, motivation and work activities. External factors that influence passion are HR innovation, technology upgrades. and improving human resources. The suggestion is that there is an additional variable, namely the gender variable. Suggestions for improvement for the development of agricultural technology include agribusiness development, collaboration or research with developed countries that have already used technology in agriculture.

Enhancing Sustainability through Ecosystem Services Evaluation: A Case Study of the Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System in Digang Village

The Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System, as a paradigm of traditional Chinese agricultural recycling models, represents a distinct ecosystem. This study focuses on the Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System in Digang Village, Huzhou, as a typical case. The village serves as a core conservation base for the Huzhou Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System, hosting the Huzhou Agricultural Science and Technology Development Center’s Academician and Expert Workstation and the world’s only Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System Visitor Center. These facilities provide strategic guidance for the conservation, development, planning, and inheritance of the Huzhou Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System. Considering the unique environment and limitations in data acquisition, this study employed the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE) to develop an ecosystem service assessment framework encompassing eight aspects and 29 factors assessing the provisioning, regulating, and cultural services of the Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System. The results indicate that the ecosystem services of the Digang Village Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System perform at a high level, with cultural services playing a significant role in the overall ecosystem services. The regulating services are relatively weak, highlighting deficiencies in mulberry land management, while the capacity of provisioning services is strong. These findings are crucial for understanding the value of ecosystem services in Digang Village’s Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System, identifying management shortcomings, and providing direction for future assessments and management. This study also offers a practical and effective assessment method for ecosystem service evaluation at smaller scales, where the targeted approach and the presence of significant ambiguity and uncertainty in data are prominent.

A framework for quantification and integration of green development of cultivated land in China: From the perspective of adaptability‐vitality‐resistance

AbstractExploring the green development of cultivated land (GDCL) and solving the problem of “high consumption and high pollution” caused by the traditional model are of great significance for achieving sustainable use of cultivated land and green agricultural growth. However, the existing consensus on action lacks theoretical support and quantitative analysis. To this end, the objective of this study was to develop a new multidimensional framework considering as an integrated capacity to adaptability‐vitality‐resistance (A‐V‐R) assess GDCL according to the essential requirement of green development. The analytical framework and evaluation system proposed in this study are expected to provide empirical support for the green transition of cultivated land use in China or worldwide. This study determines spatiotemporal differentiation and influencing mechanism of GDCL in China from 2000 to 2020. The results demonstrated that the GDCL level of China was low and characterized by a W‐shaped fluctuation. The regional difference in GDCL is greater than that within the regions and the evolution of different types of regions showed significant path dependence and spatiotemporal inertia. The reason behind this phenomenon is that agricultural technology and socioeconomic development factors such as agricultural mechanization level, urban–rural income equity index and extensively influenced GDCL in different regions. The interaction among driving factors forms a complex multi‐resultant force to construct a comprehensive action mechanism at the GDCL level driven by demand, economy, technology, and ecology. Therefore, this study suggests coordinating the relationship between technological progress, technological diffusion, agricultural total factor productivity, and the GDCL path, in order to effectively reduce the internal and external contradictions of GDCL.

Advancements in Agricultural Technology: A Comprehensive Review of Machine Learning and Deep Learning Approaches for Crop Management and Disease Detection

Traditional agricultural practices often lack personalized guidance for farmers, which leads to poor crop choices, wasteful fertiliser use, and inadequate disease control. As a result, sustainability and productivity decline. In order to address these issues, this review examines the developments in agricultural technology, with a focus on the fusion of deep learning and machine learning techniques. We look at techniques like ensemble modelling, which optimises crop selection and fertiliser consumption depending on soil properties, and advanced image processing methods, which use leaf images to diagnose plant diseases accurately. Our goal in conducting this study is to provide light on how agricultural technology is developing and how it affects contemporary farming methods. We emphasise the major trends, approaches, and developments in the field of agricultural technology by examining a variety of research papers covering many elements of the subject. Our thorough analysis highlights the potential of deep learning and machine learning techniques to transform agricultural disease diagnosis, fertiliser selection, and crop management. With this investigation, we hope to add to the current conversation about using technology to solve the urgent problems facing the agriculture industry and, in the process, open the door for more effective and sustainable farming methods in the future

Impact of Agriculture Corporate Farm Increase Productivity Widespread Destructive Activity on Earth Democracy in India

Agricultural productivity in India can be improved by investing in agricultural research and development, improving irrigation infrastructure, promoting farm mechanization, and strengthening agricultural extension services. Agriculture is the foundation of the civilization, culture and heritage of India. It most commonly refers to corporations that are large-scale farms, market agricultural technologies in particular pesticides, fertilizers, and GMO's, have significant economic and political influence, or some combination of the three. The large-scale corporate agriculture is more efficient than peasant farming in the country. It leads to better allocative efficiency, induces higher private investment in agriculture, and results in higher output, income and exports. During 2021-22, in the countries total exports agricultural exports contributed of to the tune of US $ 50.2 billion with a 20% increase from US $ 41.3 billion in 2020-21. In FY 2023, it is projected that the Indian agriculture sector will grow at the rate 3.5%. Agriculture in India is a complex mosaic of distinct agro-ecosystems, differentiated by climatic, soil, vegetation and other natural features. About half of the Indians derive their livelihood from agriculture and allied activities. Technology and Research Corporate farming enterprises usually invest in research and development of new agricultural technologies, seeds, and farming practices. Farmers who are part of these systems can benefit from access to cutting-edge technology and knowledge that can improve productivity and efficiency. It is one of the oldest systems of the world characterized by its diversity and heterogeneity, unorganized and stressed on account of natural and anthropogenic vagaries from ‘seed to market’. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, contributing to around 16.5% of India's GDP and employing over 50% of the workforce. The Indian agriculture market is valued at USD 435.9 billion as of 2022 and is expected to reach USD 580.82 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of around 4.9% between 2023 and 2028. Historically, stressed natural resources due to unfavourable weather, monsoon and natural calamities resulted in crop failures leading to food shortage that made serious impacts on the civilization. Post-Independence, the Indian agriculture transformed from a food-scarce to food-exporting country primarily due to science led innovations that caused multi-fold increase in the agricultural production from 135 million tons in 1950/51 to over 1300 million tons in 2021/22 in spite of increasing abiotic and biotic stresses and depleting along with deteriorating natural resources. Agriculture is one amongst the few sectors that made progressive growth after independence and marched well with the need of the country. Success in agriculture since Independence has been the backbone of India’s success.

The Modern Agriculture Development of Arid and Semi-Arid Areas in China

It was very important to study the agricultural development of arid and semi-arid areas in China for national food security. This area accounts for about 1/3 of China's land area. However, due to long-term water scarcity, strong sandstorms, and severe soil salinization, local agricultural development was limited.Nowadays, with the continuous development of agricultural technology in arid and semi-arid areas, the agricultural development in arid and semi-arid areas of our country had undergone earth-shaking changes. In this paper, from the initial unification of plastic film cover in arid and semi-arid areas to the normalization of greenhouses and solar greenhouses, and with the development of electrification technology and the gradual maturity of information technology, agricultural development has gradually moved from traditional to the era of modernization, information and intelligence, the above four aspects to discuss the agricultural development process in arid and semi-arid areas of our country.

Cultivation of e-commerce management talents based on F2C model in the context of scientific and technological development of agriculture

Abstract Based on the LISEREL model and the characteristics of ordered categorical variables, this paper establishes a structural equation model with ordered categorical variables to study the cultivation effect of e-commerce management talents under F2C mode. The measurement model and structural model are constructed using the content and cultivation effect of e-commerce management talent training and e-commerce sales performance, and the degrees of freedom of exogenous observation variables, endogenous observation variables and parameters in the model are estimated. Path analysis was utilized to determine the degree of influence of the F2C talent cultivation model on e-commerce management talent competency and management performance, as well as the effect size. The results show that all the dimensions of e-commerce talent competence under F2C talent cultivation mode are between 3.5 and 4.5, and the relationship between F2C talent cultivation mode on e-commerce talent sales performance is significant at the level of P-value 0.001, and the path coefficients of talent cultivation and sales performance are between 0.1-0.3, and that the F2C cultivation mode is beneficial for the enhancement of e-commerce managerial talent competence.

The effect of drainage, fertilizers, and agro-reclamation techniques on spring wheat productivity

The current study was conducted at the agricultural site ‘Gubino’ of the All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands (Tver Region) in 2011–2022. The purpose was to study the efficiency of drainage of waterlogged soils, fertilizers and agro-reclamation techniques when growing spring wheat in the conditions of the North-Western part of the Non-Blackearth region. The soil of the agricultural site was soddy-podzolic, light loamy and gleyic sandy loam, drained by closed drainage. The field trials have established the influence of drainage of gleyic soils, the use of fertilizers, volumetric slotting of the soil to a depth of 45–50 cm, ridge plowing and ridge belt-scattering method of sowing on spring wheat productivity. Drainage increased wheat productivity on the extensive background by 17.8 % (0.34 t/ha), on the medium-intensive and intensive background by 16.9–19.4 % (0.56–0.60 t/ha). Mineral fertilizers improved productivity more significantly, against a drained background, wheat productivity increase at medium fertilizer rates (N45Р15K45) was 1.20 t/ha (53.3 %) and at high fertilizer rates (N90Р30K90) it was 1.91 t/ha (84.9 %). The combined effect of drainage and fertilizers improved spring wheat productivity on waterlogged soil by 2.2 times (by 2.25 t/ha). The highest payback of 1 kg of fertilizers by a spring wheat yield was obtained on a drained plot with average fertilizer application rates of 9.8 kg of grain. A high effect was obtained from agro-reclamation techniques aimed at improving the water-air regime of soil. With volumetric slotting of the soil, spring wheat productivity raised by 0.50–0.97 t/ha (13.2–26.4 %), with ridge plowing by 0.36 t/ha (12.0 %), with ridge belt-scattering method of sowing with growing spring wheat on ridges 40–80 mm high by 0.45 t/ha or 13.7 %, in relation to the existing technology of row sowing. The study results can be used in the development of adaptive agricultural technologies for cultivating spring wheat on drained lands.

Financing of the agricultural industrial complex of Ukraine: problems and prospects

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the financing of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine, the identification of problems and prospects of this process. During the research, methods of a scientific and empirical nature were used the collection and comparison of information, as well as complex analytical methods, which include synthesis and generalization. The informative basis of the paper is the scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists who consider the issue of financing the agro-industrial complex and the problems associated with its development. The paper noted that Ukraine with its fertile land has great potential for the growth of this sector of the economy. However, the unconscious and inefficient use of natural resources, as well as internal and external economic challenges put it at risk. Factors that hold back the development of this industry include insufficient financing, lack of available credit, low level of investment, bureaucratic obstacles, corruption and instability, infrastructure problems. The experience of foreign countries can be useful for Ukraine in the field of state support of the agro-industrial complex. The conclusion emphasizes that financing the development of the domestic agricultural sector is an urgent problem that requires a comprehensive approach. To ensure the sustainable development of the industry, it is necessary to increase state support, expand lending programs on favorable terms, support scientific research and development of agricultural technologies. Tax incentives for agricultural producers and the development of processing of agricultural products can contribute to an increase in added value and the number of jobs. Strengthening the financial stability of the sector and increasing the export potential of products with high added value can have a positive effect on the country's economy and ensure the sustainable growth of agriculture. A close relationship between state institutions, enterprises and scientific institutions is necessary for the successful implementation of these measures.

Navigating the Complex Terrain of Food Security in Decentralised Systems: Insights from South Africa and Nigeria

Despite their substantial economies and populations, South Africa and Nigeria encounter significant challenges primarily due to constraints in accessing to agricultural input resources. The study adopts an interpretivist approach, which involves acknowledging reality and making meaningful contributions through qualitative research. As such, secondary data was collected and analysed thematically. This paper delves into the multifaceted nature of food insecurity, highlighted by historical factors, widespread poverty and unemployment, further exacerbated by escalating global food prices. The correlation between exorbitant input expenses and restricted agricultural yields and production, resulting in heightened food prices, is thoroughly explored. Additionally, the review critically examines the influence of climate change on the agricultural sector and its implications for the availability and accessibility of food in rural areas. The narrative in this paper emphasises the imperative of fairness, equity, transparency, and accountability in formulating sustainable strategies to combat these challenges. The paper advocates for contextually appropriate, evidence-based policy approaches, emphasising the significance of collaborations between research institutions and government entities. Such partnerships are crucial for developing efficacious responses to issues like drought, which necessitate comprehensive monitoring systems and mitigation strategies. The role of local government in fostering the growth of agro-based enterprises is underscored, illustrating how local processing of agricultural products can augment revenue, employment, and overall agricultural productivity. The paper also proposes policies to attract private sector investment, such as subsidies for farming equipment and fertilisers, and the development of climate-resilient agricultural technologies that integrate local indigenous knowledge. Lastly, the paper addresses the critical imperative of enhancing the resilience of supply chains against unforeseen disruptions, encompassing natural disasters and market fluctuations. This entails implementing risk management strategies, investing in infrastructure, adopting advanced technologies, and fostering collaboration throughout the supply chain. The paper concludes that such measures are indispensable for ensuring a stable and consistent supply of agricultural products, ultimately benefiting both producers and consumers and contributing to the overarching goal of attaining food security in South Africa, Nigeria, and similar contexts. Keywords: Food security, Rural livelihoods, Strategic policies, Vulnerable communities, South Africa, Nigeria

A review of smart agricultural transition to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): smart irrigation system

Smart agriculture is important in achieving the SDGs, especially food and water. The transition to using smart irrigation systems is highly recommended, considering that this transition can optimize agricultural production. A smart irrigation system is a unified irrigation process integrated with automated technology and IoT (Internet of Things) that drives a new direction of smart agricultural technology development. This study highlights the smart irrigation system as the smart agricultural transition concerning SDGs. The main method was a qualitative review based on a literature study with the criteria for exclusion consisting of indexed journals, review papers or research articles, and publications published within the last decade. The review shows the irrigation control and monitoring used in recent years. Other than that, as a brief report on the current status of IoT-related smart irrigation development, several types of effective smart irrigation that have been done before are compared. Discussed the perspective of SDGs, the goal indicators achieved through smart irrigation showed good results; 11 indicators were achieved. Thus, the challenges and prospects of IoT-related development for smart irrigation are discussed. This study will help researchers and farmers understand clever irrigation more effectively and precisely.

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF KAZAKHSTAN

This paper aims to analyze the dynamics of key indicators and reveal challenges for Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector. In so doing, the paper applies statistical and comparative methods. The paper shows a significant transformation in Kazakhstan’s agriculture. At the same time, many important issues such as low levels of investment and development of agricultural technologies, changing production patterns, and policy inefficiencies. Climate change and water deficit also pose significant threats to the agricultural sector. The government of Kazakhstan develops policies to strengthen the agricultural capacities of the country. The paper provides policy recommendations, that can complement the developed programs and contribute to competitiveness improvement. These policy recommendations cover both domestic and international directions.

Blessing or Curse? The Impact of Digital Technologies on Carbon Efficiency in the Agricultural Sector of China

Digital technology can be used to adjust the structure of energy production, promote the development of new agricultural production technologies, and reduce carbon emissions. With the increasing integration of digital technology in various fields, rural development is also entering a critical period of digital transformation. Therefore, this paper uses digital technology and agricultural carbon emission intensity as research objects. We use panel data from 2011 to 2019. We first measure and analyse the level of digital technology development in China. This article empirically tests the impact between digital technology and the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions. Digital technology can be used to significantly suppress the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions. The suppressive effect is more significant in the western region of China than in the central and eastern regions.