Food and Energy Security最新文献

High nitrogen (N) application usually increases protein content to impair rice cooking and eating quality. Mitigating this deterioration under high N conditions remains to be explored. Alternate wetting and moderate drying irrigation (AWMD) can interact with N fertilizer to improve rice quality. To investigate the effects of AWMD on rice protein content and cooking and eating quality, Nanjing 9108 (NJ9108), a superior-tasting japonica variety, was planted. With 150 kg N hm⁻² applied as the base-tiller fertilizer, four panicle-stage N rates (0, 70, 140, and 210 kg hm⁻², denoted as 0, 70, 140, and 210 N, respectively) were tested. Two irrigation regimes of conventional irrigation (CI) and AWMD were implemented during the grain-filling stage. The results showed that increasing panicle N fertilizer enhanced the contents of protein and total amino acids (TAAs) in milled rice, as well as the activities and gene expressions of the key enzymes involved in protein synthesis. Compared with CI, AWMD increased the contents of protein and TAAs and enzymatic activity and gene expressions under 0 and 70 N treatments, but it reduced these parameters at high panicle N rates (140 and 210 N). Principal component analysis indicated that expression levels of OsAAT and OsAlaAT1 genes and TAAs content can be key parameters for evaluating protein synthetic capacity in rice grains. Correlation analysis revealed that the measured parameters related to protein synthesis had a significant negative correlation with rice cooking and eating quality. These results suggest that the AWMD regime can alleviate the decline in rice cooking and eating quality by reducing protein content at high panicle N fertilizer levels. The taste quality of superior taste japonica rice can be improved by adopting the AWMD regime under high panicle N fertilizer conditions.

High nitrogen (N) application usually increases protein content to impair rice cooking and eating quality. Mitigating this deterioration under high N conditions remains to be explored. Alternate wetting and moderate drying irrigation (AWMD) can interact with N fertilizer to improve rice quality. To investigate the effects of AWMD on rice protein content and cooking and eating quality, Nanjing 9108 (NJ9108), a superior-tasting japonica variety, was planted. With 150 kg N hm⁻² applied as the base-tiller fertilizer, four panicle-stage N rates (0, 70, 140, and 210 kg hm⁻², denoted as 0, 70, 140, and 210 N, respectively) were tested. Two irrigation regimes of conventional irrigation (CI) and AWMD were implemented during the grain-filling stage. The results showed that increasing panicle N fertilizer enhanced the contents of protein and total amino acids (TAAs) in milled rice, as well as the activities and gene expressions of the key enzymes involved in protein synthesis. Compared with CI, AWMD increased the contents of protein and TAAs and enzymatic activity and gene expressions under 0 and 70 N treatments, but it reduced these parameters at high panicle N rates (140 and 210 N). Principal component analysis indicated that expression levels of OsAAT and OsAlaAT1 genes and TAAs content can be key parameters for evaluating protein synthetic capacity in rice grains. Correlation analysis revealed that the measured parameters related to protein synthesis had a significant negative correlation with rice cooking and eating quality. These results suggest that the AWMD regime can alleviate the decline in rice cooking and eating quality by reducing protein content at high panicle N fertilizer levels. The taste quality of superior taste japonica rice can be improved by adopting the AWMD regime under high panicle N fertilizer conditions.

Despite extensive research on climate-related vulnerabilities in Bangladesh's wetland ecosystems, there remains limited empirical evidence on the drivers of combined harvester adoption in rice cultivation, particularly in flash flood-prone regions. This study examines the determinants of combined harvester adoption and its subsequent effects on market participation and household welfare among smallholder farmers in the wetland areas of Sunamganj district in Bangladesh. Leveraging a multistage random sampling technique, we collected household-level data from 200 boro rice growers. The empirical strategy employs a Probit model to identify the determinants of combined harvester adoption and a Heckman two stage selection model to account for potential selection bias in estimating the effects on market participation and welfare outcomes. Our findings indicate that combined harvester adoption is significantly influenced by farm size, household income, land tenure arrangement, and access to agricultural information. Landowners exhibit an 11.4% higher likelihood of adoption, while access to information increases adoption probability by 16.1%, underscoring the salience of information asymmetries in technology diffusion. Moreover, combined harvester adoption significantly enhances market participation, leading to higher per capita income and expenditure among smallholders. Additionally, Heckman two stage estimates indicate that adopters benefit from increased productivity and reduced labor constraints than non-adopters. These findings highlight the importance of improving information access, strengthening extension services, and enabling land consolidation to promote combined harvester adoption in the clmate vulnerable wetland areas. Overall, expanding information access, strengthening extension services, and supporting larger farm operations can significantly boost combined harvester adoption and market participation, ultimately improving smallholder resilience and livelihoods.

Despite extensive research on climate-related vulnerabilities in Bangladesh's wetland ecosystems, there remains limited empirical evidence on the drivers of combined harvester adoption in rice cultivation, particularly in flash flood-prone regions. This study examines the determinants of combined harvester adoption and its subsequent effects on market participation and household welfare among smallholder farmers in the wetland areas of Sunamganj district in Bangladesh. Leveraging a multistage random sampling technique, we collected household-level data from 200 boro rice growers. The empirical strategy employs a Probit model to identify the determinants of combined harvester adoption and a Heckman two stage selection model to account for potential selection bias in estimating the effects on market participation and welfare outcomes. Our findings indicate that combined harvester adoption is significantly influenced by farm size, household income, land tenure arrangement, and access to agricultural information. Landowners exhibit an 11.4% higher likelihood of adoption, while access to information increases adoption probability by 16.1%, underscoring the salience of information asymmetries in technology diffusion. Moreover, combined harvester adoption significantly enhances market participation, leading to higher per capita income and expenditure among smallholders. Additionally, Heckman two stage estimates indicate that adopters benefit from increased productivity and reduced labor constraints than non-adopters. These findings highlight the importance of improving information access, strengthening extension services, and enabling land consolidation to promote combined harvester adoption in the clmate vulnerable wetland areas. Overall, expanding information access, strengthening extension services, and supporting larger farm operations can significantly boost combined harvester adoption and market participation, ultimately improving smallholder resilience and livelihoods.

Low dairy sector performance is a significant barrier to agricultural transformation in developing countries, where improving dairy productivity can drive market participation and commercialization. Smallholder farmers often struggle to realize the benefits of commercialization due to institutional challenges and supply-side constraints that limit productivity and reduce marketable surpluses. This study investigates the socioeconomic, infrastructural, and institutional factors affecting dairy sector performance and its role in boosting smallholder commercialization in Bangladesh. Using data from rural smallholder farmers in the Sirajganj district, the study employs Cragg's Double-Hurdle model to examine dairy commercialization as a two-step process: market participation and the extent of participation (sales volume). The findings reveal that higher milk production enhances both market participation and sales volume. Moreover, household head age and experience positively influence market participation, while education level, vocational training, and family labor increase sales. However, greater market distance hinders participation, underscoring the need for improved infrastructure. Policy recommendations include increasing milk production through training and resources, enhancing market infrastructure, reducing transport costs, expanding vocational training, addressing gender barriers, and promoting education. These measures can strengthen smallholder dairy farmers' market engagement and improve their economic outcomes, contributing to agricultural transformation in Bangladesh.

Low dairy sector performance is a significant barrier to agricultural transformation in developing countries, where improving dairy productivity can drive market participation and commercialization. Smallholder farmers often struggle to realize the benefits of commercialization due to institutional challenges and supply-side constraints that limit productivity and reduce marketable surpluses. This study investigates the socioeconomic, infrastructural, and institutional factors affecting dairy sector performance and its role in boosting smallholder commercialization in Bangladesh. Using data from rural smallholder farmers in the Sirajganj district, the study employs Cragg's Double-Hurdle model to examine dairy commercialization as a two-step process: market participation and the extent of participation (sales volume). The findings reveal that higher milk production enhances both market participation and sales volume. Moreover, household head age and experience positively influence market participation, while education level, vocational training, and family labor increase sales. However, greater market distance hinders participation, underscoring the need for improved infrastructure. Policy recommendations include increasing milk production through training and resources, enhancing market infrastructure, reducing transport costs, expanding vocational training, addressing gender barriers, and promoting education. These measures can strengthen smallholder dairy farmers' market engagement and improve their economic outcomes, contributing to agricultural transformation in Bangladesh.

Understanding land-use/cover (LUC) change in response to landscape-based driving forces is essential for regular land-use/cover monitoring, forecasting, and the formulation of sustainable resource management strategies. However, land-use/cover change in response to local-level driving forces has often received major emphasis, while landscape-based driving forces are typically overlooked in land-use/cover change analyses. This study explores the process of land-use/cover change between 1986 and 2024 and its associated driving forces in the humid and sub-humid highlands of the East African Rift System. Geospatial and binary logistic regression analyses were employed for data analysis. The findings reveal that rapid land-use/cover change has occurred in the region. The cropland area increased by 105,132.5 ha (12.98%), at the expense of woodland (9.43%), water bodies (0.08%), grassland (7.04%), forestland (0.57%), and marshes (0.37%). Additionally, urban/built-up areas and bare land expanded rapidly. Furthermore, land-use/cover transitions are triggered by the interaction of 15 drivers linked to economic, social, and environmental factors. Economic factors such as proximity to markets and roads, decreased the odds of land-use change by 17.1% (Exp (B) = 0.829) and 2.1% (Exp (B) = 0.979), respectively. Social factors such as higher population density and greater distance to lakes, increased the odds to land-use change by 1% (Exp (B) = 1.010) and 28.7% (Exp (B) = 1.010), respectively. Environmental factors such as moderate slopes reduced the odds of transitions by 15.6% (Exp (B) = 0.844), while the presence of bare lands made change far more likely, increasing the odds by 64.6% (Exp (B) = 7.460). Therefore, proper land-use planning and management strategies that consider the trade-offs between social, economic, and environmental needs are required to mitigate the impacts of land-use/cover changes.

Excessive nitrogen (N) inputs from manure and synthetic fertilizers are a major cause of high N leaching loss in greenhouse vegetable cultivation systems. However, significant gaps remain in quantifying dissolved organic N (DON) leaching losses and developing strategies to reduce total N (TN) leaching losses. We conducted a cucumber-cultivating field experiment with three treatments: (i) traditional farmers' practice (FP), based on surveys from typical greenhouse vegetable production areas, with a total input of 1070 kg N ha⁻¹ from chicken manure and synthetic fertilizer; (ii) current recommended nutrient management (CRNM), based on literatures and guidelines, with a total input of 400 kg N ha⁻¹ from animal-source commercial organic fertilizer and synthetic fertilizer; and (iii) designed balanced nutrient management (DBNM), targeting zero surplus (N input = crop N removal), with a total input of 283 kg N ha⁻¹ from plant-source organic materials and synthetic fertilizer. The seasonal mean fruit yields were significantly enhanced by 14.8% under CRNM compared to FP, while DBNM and FP did not differ significantly. Seasonal N leaching was highest under FP, accounting for 14.5% of total N input, with DON contributing 29.5% of total N leaching. Compared to FP, CRNM significantly reduced NO₃⁻ leaching by 22.5% and DON leaching by 36.6%. DBNM further reduced N surplus and NO₃⁻ leaching losses by 37.2% and 10.7%, respectively, compared with CRNM. Compared to FP (966 kg N ha⁻¹), CRNM and DBNM decreased the seasonal N surplus to 274 kg N ha⁻¹ and 172 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively, without compromising cucumber yield. Overall, these findings suggest that improved nutrients management strategies, particularly through balancing organic and inorganic inputs in DBNM, should be implemented to achieve high productivity and environment-friendly greenhouse vegetable production.

Global agri-food systems face unprecedented challenges from climate change, necessitating enhanced climate resilience. This study examines the impact of digital agriculture on the climate resilience of agri-food systems in China. Using panel data from 31 provinces from 2012 to 2021, we construct comprehensive indices for digital agriculture and climate resilience and employ two-way fixed effects, panel threshold, and spatial Durbin models for empirical analysis. Results indicate that digital agriculture significantly improves climate resilience, with a coefficient of 0.203. A threshold effect is identified: once the digital agriculture index exceeds 0.219, its marginal effect increases substantially. Heterogeneity analysis reveals stronger effects in major grain-producing regions. Spatial econometric results confirm positive spillover effects, where digital agriculture in neighboring regions also enhances local resilience. These findings underscore the transformative potential of digital technologies in building systemic climate resilience and call for integrated, region-specific policies to harness digital dividends for sustainable agri-food systems.

Rural household energy consumption in China is shaped by the interplay of natural resource availability, regional economic conditions, policy frameworks and technological access, resulting in highly heterogeneous energy usage patterns. However, existing analyses often overlook pronounced regional heterogeneity in natural and socio-economic conditions. This study examines energy consumption profiles and transition dynamics of rural households in central China, with a particular focus on Shaanxi province. Data were collected through a comprehensive field survey involving interviews with 594 rural households, complemented by field observations. The analysis explored energy source types, determinants of energy choices, and challenges related to energy access and sustainability. Spatial distribution and consumption trends were modelled using a kriging approach to provide a detailed picture of current patterns and scenario-based transition tendencies. The findings reveal a continued reliance on traditional energy sources, such as biomass and coal, alongside a gradual shift towards cleaner alternatives, including electricity and biogas. Solar energy uptake was anticipated to expand, particularly in central Shaanxi, driven by favourable geographic conditions and targeted policies. Key factors influencing energy use included socio-economic variables, geographic context and government interventions. Overall, rising rural incomes and enhanced policy support were likely to accelerate the adoption of modern energy technologies, such as solar and biogas, reducing dependence on labour-intensive traditional biomass. The results underline the need for region-specific strategies that incentivise the use of agricultural and forestry residues for bioenergy, while promoting renewable technologies to advance sustainable rural electrification and reduce carbon emissions.