Journal•ISSN: 1473-5903
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
Taylor & Francis
About: International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability is an academic journal published by Taylor & Francis. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Agriculture & Sustainability. It has an ISSN identifier of 1473-5903. Over the lifetime, 651 publications have been published receiving 19791 citations. The journal is also known as: IJAS.
Topics: Agriculture, Sustainability, Food security, Sustainable agriculture, Conservation agriculture
Papers published on a yearly basis
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors report that food outputs by sustainable intensification have been multiplicative and additive, by combining the use of new and improved varieties and new agronomic agroecological management (crop yields rose on average by 2.13-fold).
Abstract: Over the past half-century, agricultural production gains have provided a platform for rural and urban economic growth worldwide. In African countries, however, agriculture has been widely assumed to have performed badly. Foresight commissioned analyses of 40 projects and programmes in 20 countries where sustainable intensification has been developed during the 1990s–2000s. The cases included crop improvements, agroforestry and soil conservation, conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, horticulture, livestock and fodder crops, aquaculture and novel policies and partnerships. By early 2010, these projects had documented benefits for 10.39 million farmers and their families and improvements on approximately 12.75 million ha. Food outputs by sustainable intensification have been multiplicative—by which yields per hectare have increased by combining the use of new and improved varieties and new agronomic—agroecological management (crop yields rose on average by 2.13-fold), and additive—by which ...
1,008 citations
TL;DR: The authors in this article estimate that there are now some 106 million ha of arable and permanent crops grown without tillage in CA systems, corresponding to an annual rate of increase globally since 1990 of 5.3 million ha.
Abstract: Conservation Agriculture (CA) has been practised for three decades and has spread widely. We estimate that there are now some 106 million ha of arable and permanent crops grown without tillage in CA systems, corresponding to an annual rate of increase globally since 1990 of 5.3 million ha. Wherever CA has been adopted it appears to have had both agricultural and environmental benefits. Yet CA represents a fundamental change in production system thinking. It has counterintuitive and often unrecognized elements that promote soil health, productive capacity and ecosystem services. The practice of CA thus requires a deeper understanding of its ecological underpinnings in order to manage its various elements for sustainable intensification, where the aim is to optimize resource use and protect or enhance ecosystem processes in space and time over the long term. For these reasons CA is knowledge-intensive. CA constitutes principles and practices that can make a major contribution to sustainable production inten...
727 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an analytical framework that combines both extrinsic and intrinsic factors in farmers' decisions to adopt new agricultural technologies and apply the framework to agroforestry adoption as a case study.
Abstract: Despite the great potential of agricultural innovations, the uptake by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa seems to be slow. We reviewed existing theories and frameworks for the uptake of agricultural innovations and found that these tend to emphasize the role of extrinsic factors such as the characteristics of the adopter and the external environment in the decision-making process. In this paper, we argue that intrinsic factors such as the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of the potential adopter towards the innovation play a key role, but this has been less studied. We present an analytical framework that combines both extrinsic and intrinsic factors in farmers' decisions to adopt new agricultural technologies and apply the framework to agroforestry adoption as a case study. We review the literature on agroforestry adoption in sub-Saharan Africa and identify the extrinsic and intrinsic variables affecting the uptake of agroforestry technologies. We conclude that the uptake of agricultural tech...
474 citations
University of Essex1, University of Cambridge2, International Center for Tropical Agriculture3, United States Department of Agriculture4, University of Wisconsin-Madison5, CABI6, Department for International Development7, University of East Anglia8, University of Otago9, Agricultural & Applied Economics Association10, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board11, University of Bern12, Bangor University13, University of Matanzas14, University of Oxford15, Chiang Mai University16, University of Sussex17, Secretariat of the Pacific Community18, Millennium Institute19, CGIAR20, Fara21, Ohio State University22, City University London23, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources24, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills25, International Water Management Institute26, Wageningen University and Research Centre27, Indian Institute of Science28, University of the Philippines Los Baños29, University College Cork30, Fujian Normal University31, South China Agricultural University32, World Agroforestry Centre33, University of Aberdeen34, University of Colorado Boulder35, University of Victoria36, University of California, Davis37, International Institute for Environment and Development38, United Nations39, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds40
TL;DR: The UK Government's Foresight Global Food and Farming Futures project as mentioned in this paper aims to improve dialogue and understanding between agricultural research and policy by identifying the 100 most important questions for global agriculture.
Abstract: Despite a significant growth in food production over the past half-century, one of the most important challenges facing society today is how to feed an expected population of some nine billion by the middle of the 20th century. To meet the expected demand for food without significant increases in prices, it has been estimated that we need to produce 70-100 per cent more food, in light of the growing impacts of climate change, concerns over energy security, regional dietary shifts and the Millennium Development target of halving world poverty and hunger by 2015. The goal for the agricultural sector is no longer simply to maximize productivity, but to optimize across a far more complex landscape of production, rural development, environmental, social justice and food consumption outcomes. However, there remain significant challenges to developing national and international policies that support the wide emergence of more sustainable forms of land use and efficient agricultural production. The lack of information flow between scientists, practitioners and policy makers is known to exacerbate the difficulties, despite increased emphasis upon evidence-based policy. In this paper, we seek to improve dialogue and understanding between agricultural research and policy by identifying the 100 most important questions for global agriculture. These have been compiled using a horizon-scanning approach with leading experts and representatives of major agricultural organizations worldwide. The aim is to use sound scientific evidence to inform decision making and guide policy makers in the future direction of agricultural research priorities and policy support. If addressed, we anticipate that these questions will have a significant impact on global agricultural practices worldwide, while improving the synergy between agricultural policy, practice and research. This research forms part of the UK Government's Foresight Global Food and Farming Futures project.
467 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed the implementation of a large-scale agricultural input subsidy program in Malawi from 2005/06 to 2008/09 and found that the latter years of the programme have been accompanied by high international fertilizer prices and costs and high maize prices, the latter undermining the programme's food security, poverty reduction and growth benefits for many poor Malawian farmers.
Abstract: Malawi's implementation of a large-scale agricultural input subsidy programme has attracted significant international interest. This paper reviews the programme from 2005/06 to 2008/09. Nationwide disbursement of heavily subsidized fertilizers and seed to large numbers of beneficiaries represents a significant logistical achievement and substantially increased national maize production and productivity, contributing to increased food availability, higher real wages, wider economic growth and poverty reduction. However, the latter years of the programme have been accompanied by high international fertilizer prices and costs and high maize prices, the latter undermining the programme's food security, poverty reduction and growth benefits for many poor Malawian farmers relying on purchased maize for substantial amounts of their staple food requirements. Estimated economic returns to the programme have been satisfactory, given other programme benefits not captured in cost—benefit analysis. With substantial re...
398 citations