Agricultural Systems最新文献

{"title":"Trajectories of farming systems reshape land use/land cover dynamics in the agricultural zones of the Galapagos Islands","authors":"Fatima L. Benitez ,&nbsp;Carlos F. Mena ,&nbsp;Francisco Laso ,&nbsp;Maria B. Zapata ,&nbsp;Gonzalo Rivas-Torres ,&nbsp;Anne Gobin","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Understanding land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics is essential for food security and biodiversity conservation, particularly in fragile island ecosystems like the Galapagos. In the highland agricultural zones, these dynamics result from complex socio-ecological interactions involving farming practices, labor structures, and ecological pressures such as invasive species.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This study investigates how farming system trajectories influence LULC changes in the Galapagos agricultural zones, aiming to identify key trends and socio-economic drivers shaping land transformations and their implications for sustainability.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>We applied an integrated approach that combines remote sensing-based LULC classification (2018–2024) with multivariate analysis of farm census data (2000, 2014, 2022). Spatial analysis quantified land cover changes, while shifts in farming systems were assessed using ordination and clustering techniques.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Findings reveal that approximately 41 % of the agricultural land remains under productive use (perennial crops, annual crops, and pastures), with Santa Cruz and Isabela surpassing 50 %. Between 2018 and 2024, perennial crops declined by 33 %, while annual crops expanded by 92 %, reflecting a shift towards crop specialization and an increase in diversified mixed systems. Key drivers of these transitions include rising female labor participation (from 2 % to 20 %), household gender roles, crop diversity, market orientation, and association membership. However, land abandonment persists at 16 %, and invasive species, particularly in Santa Cruz, continue to threaten agroecosystem resilience. It is important to note that, while the census data mainly reflect productive farms, the remote sensing analysis encompasses the entire agricultural zones, including abandoned and marginal parcels. This difference in scope explains some discrepancies between both approaches and underscores their complementary value.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This study underscores the value of integrating remote sensing and socio-economic data to monitor land use transitions, inform adaptive and sustainable land management policies, enhance invasive species control, and support both food sovereignty and biodiversity conservation in fragile island ecosystems like Galapagos.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 104506"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145046504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Climate warming enhances sugarcane yield and increases annual harvest frequency in northern coastal New South Wales, Australia","authors":"Shijin Yao ,&nbsp;De Li Liu ,&nbsp;Bin Wang ,&nbsp;Jonathan K. Webb ,&nbsp;Siyi Li ,&nbsp;Alfredo Huete ,&nbsp;Keyu Xiang ,&nbsp;Qiang Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104502","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104502","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Australia is a leading exporter of raw sugar on the global market. Rising temperatures could enable sugarcane to achieve harvestable yields in a 1-year growth cycle instead of the traditional 2-year cycle in the subtropical regions of northern New South Wales (NSW). However, no study has evaluated how climate change impacts annual harvest frequency, leaving a critical gap in understanding sugarcane production's future in Australia.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>We aim to quantify the impacts of climate change on sugarcane yield and annual harvest frequency and identify the main climatic drivers that determine yield change.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>We used sugarcane yield data collected from three milling regions, Condong, Broadwater, and Harwood, to validate the QCANE sugarcane model in northern coastal NSW. The validated model was then driven by climate data downscaled from 27 global climate models under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 to simulate sugarcane growth and sugar accumulations.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>The QCANE model showed strong agreement between simulated and observed values, with an R² of 0.83 for stalk fresh weight (FW) and 0.80 for sucrose weight (SW), and nRMSE values of 9.4 % for FW and 10.0 % for SW. Under rising emissions (SSP126 to SSP585), yield projections indicated increases by the end of the 21st century, with FW rising by 6–34 Mg ha⁻¹ (i.e., 6–29 %), biomass dry weight (DW) by 2–11 Mg ha⁻¹ (6–29 %), and SW by 1–7 Mg ha⁻¹ (10–46 %) across the three study sites. Additionally, the annual harvest frequency was expected to increase from 50 to 80 % during the baseline period (1981–2020) to 68–96 %, with a greater proportion of future years supporting frequent annual harvests. Climate variables accounted for 93–96 % of the yield variation, with elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration as the dominant contributor to yield increases.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>These findings highlight opportunities to enhance sugarcane production by adopting a 1-year harvest cycle under future climate conditions, providing valuable insights for the sugarcane industry to adapt and thrive in the face of climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 104502"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145046505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The potential to increase maize yields and mitigate climate change by adopting integrated soil fertility management across different regions in Kenya — A simulation study","authors":"Moritz Laub ,&nbsp;Magdalena Necpalova ,&nbsp;Marijn Van de Broek ,&nbsp;Marc Corbeels ,&nbsp;Juhwan Lee ,&nbsp;Monicah Wanjiku Mucheru-Muna ,&nbsp;Daniel Mugendi ,&nbsp;Samuel Mathu Ndungu ,&nbsp;Rebecca Yegon ,&nbsp;Wycliffe Waswa ,&nbsp;Bernard Vanlauwe ,&nbsp;Johan Six","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104477","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context:</h3><div>To avoid soil fertility decline and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it has been recommended to improve maize yields in sub-Saharan Africa with sustainable practices such as Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM), instead of relying solely on mineral fertilizer. However, the yield responses and environmental trade-offs of ISFM likely depend on soil and climatic conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Objective:</h3><div>To explore this, we used the DayCent model to simulate 30-year average yields of maize monoculture across Kenya under 17 different ISFM scenarios, co-created with Kenyan smallholder farmers. We compared yields, changes in SOC stocks and N₂O emissions against current baseline conditions (monocropping with minimal nutrient inputs).</div></div><div><h3>Methods:</h3><div>The scenario that best represented a ’feasible-input’ level consisted of 2 t C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of farmyard manure and 60 kg N ha⁻¹ season⁻¹ of mineral fertilizer. Other scenarios included different amounts (0, 1, and 2 t C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and types of organic inputs in combination with four rates of mineral N fertilizer (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg N ha⁻¹ season⁻¹). The uncertainty of model predictions was quantified through Monte Carlo simulations.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Conclusions:</h3><div>The model results indicate a significant potential for yield improvements in the humid regions of western Kenya (from 3.7 to 8.1 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) with the ‘feasible-input’ compared to the baseline scenario; GHG emissions per kg of yield were generally lower (the median value reduced from 0.9 to 0.5 kg CO₂-eq kg⁻¹ yield). However, in the semi-arid regions of eastern Kenya, maximum yields under any scenario were 1.1 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, reached at inputs of 1 t C farmyard manure ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ or 60 kg mineral N ha⁻¹ season⁻¹. The uncertainty analysis showed a high confidence in the ‘feasible-input’ scenario’s ability to increase yields and reduce SOC losses compared to the baseline, but a high uncertainty regarding its impact on GHG emissions. Specifically, the 95% credibility intervals for the combined CO₂ and N₂O emissions ranged from reductions of up to 1000 kg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ to increases of up to 200 kg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹.</div></div><div><h3>Significance:</h3><div>These results strongly support the use of ISFM practices to enhance maize yields and mitigate soil fertility losses, particularly in areas with sufficient rainfall. However, due to the high uncertainty surrounding simulated N₂O emissions, we cannot establish with certainty whether ISFM reduces GHG emissions on a per hectare basis or increases them.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 104477"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145011081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial arrangement of action-oriented versus hybrid agri-environmental schemes: implications for the optimisation of grassland ecosystem services","authors":"Solen Le Clec'h ,&nbsp;Robert Huber ,&nbsp;Robert Finger ,&nbsp;Jean-Marc Delore ,&nbsp;Franziska J. Richter ,&nbsp;Valentin H. Klaus","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104490","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104490","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The potential of agri-environmental schemes to create synergies among biodiversity conservation and further ecosystem services while accounting for the trade-off with food production is still widely overlooked.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This paper provides a methodological framework to improve the effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes in permanent grasslands at the regional level.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The framework comprises three steps that integrate existing approaches to provide decision-makers with a structured and systematic approach for holistic assessments of ecosystem service and guide the spatial targeting of agri-environmental schemes. Step 1 focusses on better understanding the current system and in particular of how agri-environmental measures co-vary with environmental characteristics that are relevant for agricultural production, biodiversity, and further ecosystem services. Step 2 assesses spatial (mis)matches between the current allocation of agri-environmental schemes and ecosystem services hot- and cold-spots. Step 3 focuses on reducing mismatches through a reallocation of agri-environmental schemes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;We illustrated our framework in the canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, to examine how environmental conditions for differently designed agri-environmental schemes (action-based vs. hybrid) and spatial heterogeneity can support synergies between biodiversity and two regulating ecosystem services (climate regulation and pollination) and reduce trade-offs with forage production at the regional level.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Our stepwise framework provides a guideline to assess and improve the effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes in grasslands. Each step is methodologically flexible and can be adapted to specific contexts, including the selection of ecosystem services, appropriate indicators, and modelling approaches.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In our case study, extensive grasslands, especially those in hybrid schemes, were predominantly situated on marginal lands, when compared to intensively managed grasslands. Over 90 % of pastures (grazed grasslands) under each of the two agri-environmental schemes overlapped with hotspots of regulating services. Around 15 % of meadows (mown), under each of the two agri-environmental schemes, overlapped with yield hotspots, resulting in considerable trade-offs with food production. 34 % of the grassland area could be set aside for biodiversity conservation instead of being used for (intensive) forage production, as it was located in potential hotspots of regulating ecosystem services and on potential yield coldspots. Pastures under agri-environmental schemes generally showed a better fit with yield coldspots and regulating ecosystem services hotspots than respective meadows. Spatial targeting reduced trade-offs in some cases, but it did not eliminate them, as the focus on specific services reflected local geogr","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 104490"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144932443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comprehensive review of traditional irrigation systems: Sustainability and future prospects","authors":"Carla da-Silva-Branco ,&nbsp;António Guerreiro de Brito ,&nbsp;Paulo Castro Seixas","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104481","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104481","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Traditional Irrigation Systems (TIS) are ancient, complex hydro-social systems that entangle a network of socio-technical-ecological relationships, having endured for centuries. TIS faces threats from rural desertification, climate change, and poor maintenance, among others. These systems rely on knowledge transmitted across generations and practices tailored to local environmental, social, and economic conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The aim is to review and analyse the current state of TIS-related research, the evolution of publications, research themes, methodologies, findings, and research gaps. Additionally, by examining different dimensions of sustainability, it seeks to identify how TIS have preserved and managed water resources sustainably over extended periods.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic literature review (SLR) of peer-reviewed journal articles was conducted, using a combined scientometric and content analysis techniques based on data extracted from selected studies.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>This review demonstrates that TIS are not just historical or cultural artefacts, but active, multifunctional systems reflecting sustainability principles. Using a four-pillar framework, evidence shows that TIS play a crucial role in environmental stewardship through biodiversity conservation, water and energy efficiency, and landscape protection; their economic sustainability relies on low-cost practices, resource sharing, and ecosystem services that benefit rural communities; inclusion, traditional rights, and cultural identities are supported; governance contributes to their success by aiding community coordination, conflict resolution, and planning.</div><div>Findings emphasise that 1) sustainability strategies should be tailored to local contexts to be effective, equitable, and ensure long-term preservation; 2) it is important to integrate traditional knowledge with modern practices to enhance TIS's sustainability, especially in the face of climate change; 3) TIS should be incorporated into broader conservation, rural development, and climate change strategies, policies, and plans, with inclusive solutions aligned with local capacities; 4) policy implications include the need for integrated policy coordination and participatory community planning, as well as recognising TIS as cultural heritage; 5) cost-effective strategies should prioritise local governance, affordable infrastructure maintenance, and technical support.</div></div><div><h3>Signicance</h3><div>This review provides a comprehensive roadmap for revitalising TIS as a crucial asset for sustainable water governance and rural resilience, based on evidence across the four pillars of sustainability: environmental stewardship, economic viability, social equity, and governance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 104481"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144932442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Why AWD isn't taking off: Understanding barriers and pathways for scaling in gravity-fed irrigation systems in rice landscape","authors":"Gio Karlo Evangelista ,&nbsp;Kristine Samoy-Pascual ,&nbsp;Romeo J. Cabangon ,&nbsp;Manuel J. Regalado ,&nbsp;Yuji Enriquez ,&nbsp;Rubenito Lampayan ,&nbsp;Arnel Rala ,&nbsp;Sudhir Yadav","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) offers considerable potential to reduce water use and methane emissions in irrigated rice systems without compromising yields. However, despite decades of promotion, AWD adoption remains limited, especially in gravity-fed irrigation systems where institutional and agro-environmental complexities pose challenges to implementation.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This study assessed the biophysical, socio-economic, and institutional determinants of AWD adoption at the turnout level in a gravity-fed irrigation system in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. The aim was to identify key barriers and opportunities for scaling AWD under spatially heterogeneous and rotationally scheduled irrigation conditions.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>Six turnouts within the Lateral G canal of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System were selected. Data were collected on plot elevation, soil texture, ownership patterns, water application, and grain yield. Water governance structures were analysed through focus group discussions and interviews with stakeholders. A decision logic framework was used to classify AWD adoption based on field-level water depth measurements.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>AWD reduced irrigation input by 21 % in the dry season and 50 % in the wet season while maintaining yields. However, adoption was constrained by elevation-driven water flow patterns, clay distribution, tenant-operated plots, and rigid rotational schedules. AWD adoption was more feasible during the wet season due to reduced irrigation risk. Weak farmer engagement in decision-making limited field-level adaptability.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>Scaling AWD requires reconfigured irrigation governance, integration of real-time water monitoring technologies, and economic incentives such as carbon financing. Context-specific, multi-level interventions are essential to enable large-scale AWD implementation in gravity-fed systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 104491"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144926146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoding local terroir: Data mining to predict sensory profiles of coffee beverage","authors":"Raul Silva Oliveira ,&nbsp;Luana Sousa Costa ,&nbsp;Hugo de Almeida Santiago ,&nbsp;Yhan da Silva Mutz ,&nbsp;Rafael de Oliveira Faria ,&nbsp;Luisa Pereira Figueiredo ,&nbsp;Paulo Henrique Sales Guimarães ,&nbsp;Nilton Curi ,&nbsp;Michele Duarte de Menezes","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104487","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104487","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Secondary metabolism aids plant adaptation to environmental stress, suggesting that terroir may reflect stress-induced coffee crop responses. Additionally, soil and environmental conditions affect plant growth, which in turn influences bean composition and beverage typicity.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>To explore data mining to promote concise pattern discovery and assist in the farm routine driven by coffee beverage typicity in a commercial farm, in the Campos das Vertentes indication of origin, Minas Gerais state, Southeastern Brazil.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>Firstly, a multivariate dataset was created for two harvest seasons (2019/2020 and 2020/2021) to characterize seven local terroir zones. The dataset included information of soil parent material (via airborne gamma-ray spectroscopy), soil properties (chemistry, physics, and magnetic susceptibility via proximal sensing), relief (via digital terrain models), leaf data (ICP-OES and NDVI via remote sensing) coupled with coffee beverage analysis (sensory and chemical analysis) of <em>Coffea arabica</em> (cultivar Acaiá IAC 474–19) in a pilot farm. Data mining tools were explored to identify concise pattern discovery and assist in the farm routine driven by coffee beverage typicity. Thus, MFA was used to assess whether beverage sensory profiles could distinguish terroir zones at the local scale. Random forest-RFE identified key soil-environmental attributes linked to sensory notes.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</h3><div>Three terroir zones were clustered based on beverage intensity and dominant sensory notes. Random forest accurately predicted fruity and caramel notes. The B content in the soil subsurface was ranked for the fruity note, while magnetic susceptibility, organic matter, and the topographic wetness index were ranked for the caramel. A rough undesirable note was linked to P, Mg, and Zn content in the soil subsurface. Overall, soil fertility at the subsurface and relief primarily drive coffee typicity and should guide farm precision management.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This study demonstrates that data mining techniques can enhance precision agriculture by stratifying agricultural systems and facilitating terroir characterization. This approach enables site-specific management, improves coffee quality, and supports certification processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"230 ","pages":"Article 104487"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Policies for integrated seed sector development: insights from case studies in Africa and Asia","authors":"Marja Helen Thijssen ,&nbsp;Abishkar Subedi ,&nbsp;Gareth Denis Borman ,&nbsp;Joep van den Broek ,&nbsp;Mohammed Hassena ,&nbsp;Rowland Addo ,&nbsp;Chinedu Agbara ,&nbsp;Geoffrey Otim ,&nbsp;San Kyi ,&nbsp;Walter Simon de Boef","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104483","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104483","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>To enhance agricultural productivity in the face of global challenges, the role of seed is paramount. Recent literature calls for a pluralistic seed sector, integrating various seed systems, to meet farmers' diverse seed needs. Achieving this goal requires seed policies that recognize the complementarity of farmer-managed, intermediary, and formal seed systems, while effectively balancing the interests of all stakeholders involved.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This study examines the alignment of seed policies in selected countries with the principles of integrated seed sector development (ISSD) to promote a pluralistic seed sector. It also identifies the critical conditions in policy formulation that facilitate this development.</div></div><div><h3>METHODOLOGY</h3><div>The analysis concentrated on the national seed policies of Ghana and Uganda and seed sector strategies of Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Myanmar. These documents were assessed for alignment with indicators derived from eight ISSD guiding principles. The policy and strategy development processes were mapped using a multistakeholder engagement framework.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>In all five cases, it was found that stakeholders were familiar with the concept of ISSD and that the seed sector policies also generally align with the ISSD principles. These principles emphasize pluralism by recognizing the roles of farmer-managed, intermediary, and formal seed systems. They incorporate diverse stakeholder interests, support various crop groups, and promote entrepreneurship through multiple seed business models. The extent of alignment is moderated by the interests and priorities of participants in the policy formulation process. Divergence features importantly in capturing diversity and making stakeholder engagement contribute to pluralistic seed policy. Sponsorship of related investments in seed sector development in all five case studies was foreign, making seed policy formulation open to accompanying interests. Navigating trade-offs in these and also domestic interests and finding synergies is challenging in the complex contexts of the seed sector. While public and private sector roles are acknowledged, further investment is needed for the development of public-private and private business models for tasks traditionally handled by the public sector.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>The study's results do not provide an evaluation of the seed policies in question, nor do they include a counterfactual to the application of ISSD guiding principles. What the study does offer are valuable insights for seed sector stakeholders and policymakers on how to promote pluralistic seed policy, enhance multistakeholder engagement in seed policy formulation, and a measure of the applicability of ISSD guiding principles in diverse contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"230 ","pages":"Article 104483"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Landscape, welfare, and distributional trade-offs from smallholder agroforestry contracting: An agent-based model approach","authors":"Daniel Hill,&nbsp;Oscar Cacho,&nbsp;Jonathan Moss","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104493","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104493","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Agroforestry value chains have been extensively promoted as potential ‘win-win’ vehicles for Sustainable Intensification in tropical upland landscapes. Coffee contract farming in particular can support landscape environmental policy objectives through improvements in soil erosion and biomass carbon, while also providing smallholders with higher agricultural profits.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This paper explores the extent in which coffee agroforestry contract farming influences household welfare and landscape environmental outcomes using a case study of the peri-urban uplands of Bandung, Indonesia.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>We develop an agent-based simulation model to test the welfare and landscape effects of coffee contracting interventions. The model incorporates household survey data with granular land cover and soil maps. Smallholder farmer agents interact with coffee value chains and other agricultural and labour markets, and make land use decisions that have landscape-level environmental and household welfare implications.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>The modelling simulations show that coffee contracting can achieve improved incomes for farmers, and increased agroforestry landcover. However, transaction costs can impede many households from accessing contract coffee markets, resulting in trade-offs between higher incomes and increasing rural income inequality. Contract coffee displaces lower-input agroforestry where opportunity costs are low, resulting in significant landscape declines in biomass carbon and increases in soil erosion – an outcome akin to a Jevon's Paradox.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>Agroforestry value chain interventions deliver trade-offs when seeking to address multiple and complex landscape challenges. Complementary non-market interventions that better align smallholder incentives with environmental policy objectives are necessary for these value chain interventions to be effective tools for Sustainable Intensification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"230 ","pages":"Article 104493"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144912327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Towards a holistic framework: Exploring the relationship between seed security and food security dynamics among smallholder farmers in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe","authors":"Bulisani Lloyd Ncube ,&nbsp;Rachel Paula Wynberg ,&nbsp;Shawn Joseph McGuire","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Agriculture is the primary livelihood for households in rural Southern Africa, with crop production a crucial source of food and income. Although government and development partners provide seed and crop inputs to enhance crop production and food security, the causal link between seed security and food security is not always evident.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aims to investigate the relationship between seed security and food security among smallholder farming households in Chimanimani, eastern Zimbabwe. Specifically, it seeks to examine how different seed systems contribute to varying seed security outcomes, explore the influence of household characteristics on both seed and food security, and identify the broader socio-economic, environmental, and policy-related factors shaping these outcomes. Ultimately, the study intends to develop a framework that strengthens understanding of the relationship between seed security and food security, thereby providing insights to support the resilience and livelihoods of smallholder farmers.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were collected via a household survey of 227 participants, in-depth interviews with key respondents, and focus groups. Using a systems lens and quadrant typology, the study analysed seed and food security across diverse agro-ecologies, seed systems, and socio-environmental factors, leading to a framework illustrating their interrelationships.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>Results reveal a complex, non-linear relationship between seed and food security, shaped by socio-economic, political, and climatic factors. Our findings question assumptions that seed security always ensures food security or that seed insecurity always causes food insecurity.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>The study highlights challenges of using seed distribution and subsidies to address seed security, and urges context-specific interventions that address systemic constraints and reflect farmers' realities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"230 ","pages":"Article 104492"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}