Open Access Pub publishes peer-reviewed, free-to-read open-access articles. Showing
articles matching Sustainable agriculture — open any to read the full text,
or download the PDF or XML.
Sep 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-2232.jf-23-4696
Baron ByronCorresponding author
Small island states, such as Malta face numerous, unique challenges in relation to agricultural sustainability, with solutions amenable to larger states being unfit given the particular characteristics of the island. These include the poor soil conditions, the limited water resources, the aging farmer population, farming being mainly part-time, and most farmers having no formal training. Currently farmers practice intensive agriculture to achieve higher crop productivity at lower production costs by relying heavily on agri-chemicals and over-extracting groundwater. This destroys the Maltese natural environment and urges for the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices, whereby traditional farming is supplemented with sustainable alternatives such that local agriculture remains productive in the long-term while safeguarding the local environment. Here we outline some of the critical issues that urgently need to be addressed and potential ways forward in relation to soil, water and biodiversity, implementing permaculture principles in small-scale, practical actions in order to improve the sustainability of local agricultural through a combination of scientific evidence, agricultural technology and traditional practices.
Apr 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-19-2732
Haroun Mohamed Adam AbubakerCorresponding author
Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture, University of Bahri.
The objectives of this study were to assess the Quality of Agricultural Graduates, employers’ perceptions of the employability and skills. A descriptive, analytical statistics, multistage random sampling method was adopted. Where two types of questionnaires were distributed to the Graduates and institutions associated with Sustainable agriculture (SA). The collected data was analyzed by Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed some respondents began higher education in Arabic (66.7%), while others in English (33.3%). The respondents faced with difficulties in understanding the courses due to teaching methods (36.7%), language (33.3%), and curriculum (30%). The result indicated some respondents (56.7%) do not have back ground about (SA). The respondents in the Ministries of Agriculture assessed the Graduates in regard to agricultural skills, and confidence to perform duties as fair (10%), and good (23.3%), but, for reliability, managerial skills, tactic and ability to participate in forums as fair (6.7%). Good (27.7%), fair (3.3%), and good (30%) respectively. Assessment of the Graduates at Research Centers, were assessed in relation to Research methodology, statistical analysis, and writing scientific papers as good (40 %,).While for Software skills as excellent (100%), and for Agricultural Technology Transfer as very good (80%). While; the respondents from Faculties of Agriculture, assessed the Graduated for practical skills, teaching ability, skills of writing scientific papers, participation in workshops and seminars as good (93.3%), very good (6.7%), fair (6.7) and very good (33.3%), respectively. The Graduates’ quality is below the expectations. Based on the above findings, the study recommends the review of the whole educational system, Faculties of Agriculture to include the concepts of sustainable agriculture in their curriculum and give high consideration to practical part. In the same context, further study is recommended including the whole Country.
Apr 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-21-3782
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Via A. Doria 10, 10123 Torino (Italy).
A systematic use of biofertilizers can improve both the quality of a farming system and the parameters of milk. Some issues related to biofertilization experiments on six farms in the Po Valley (NW Italy) involved in the production of milk from dairy cattle fed maize silage or grazed on hay produced from permanent meadows are reported in this paper. Biofertilized maize was found to lower the live stem pH by about 2.3%, and NIR spectroscopy foreshadowing major changes in the composition. Overall, the plant silage was improved in quantity (+10%) but also in quality, as shown by the delayed maturity stage of the leaves (crop maturity index -4%), the lower indigestible NDF content (-7%), and the higher digestible carbohydrates and protein in the whole plants. Such favorable feeding conditions, together with the improved palatability of the feed ration, boosted the nutrient values of the protein (+4.6%) and fat contents (+5.7%) in the milk. Moreover, the functional properties of the milk were ameliorated, as testified by the higher levels of vitamin A (+27%) and vitamin E (+25%) and the reduced levels of saturated fatty acids (-6%), especially myristic (-18%) and stearic (-32%) acids, while the unsaturated acids increased by 15%. As far as economy aspects are concerned, the biofertilization of maize for silage has led to consistent rewards pertaining to the marginal price of the milk, which in turn has led to a value chain increase of about 9%, because of the fields cultivation, but mainly of the cow transformation in milk quality issues. On another farm, intensive maize was substituted with permanent biofertilized meadows, over a greening path, and a + 17% value chain increase was obtained that already derived mainly from the best price for milk quality parameters. Such an evolutionary leap toward a new vision of sustainable agriculture for the environment and for animals, in which a better quality of products, animal welfare and company budget are combined with soil biofertilization, can be considered a bonanza.