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This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on the implementation of agroforestry practices.The first chapter reviews the use of integrated crop-livestock systems, with a focus on agroforestry systems. The chapter discusses the potential environmental and economic benefits of agroforestry systems, as well as their contribution to animal health and welfare.The second chapter considers the plantation and management of temperate agroforestry systems which combine timber trees and herbaceous crops. The chapter covers choice of tree species, techniques of tree planting, plantation maintenance and approaches to tree pruning and thinning.The third chapter provides an overview of the implementation of alley cropping in agroforestry systems. The chapter explores the economic and ecological benefits of alley cropping, as well as the challenges and major considerations of implementing these practices within North America.The fourth chapter addresses the challenges and key issues in the sustainable production and use of willow as feedstock for biofuel production in northern temperate regions, including the issues of feedstock quality for biofuel use.The final chapter explores the contribution of agroforestry to meet global strategies to increase biodiversity while sustainably increasing agricultural systems resource efficiency.

This book features four peer-reviewed reviews on zero/no-till cultivation.The first chapter assesses the effect of no-till (NT) practices on soil health. The chapter explores the wide range of research on the effects of NT on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils, as well as continuing challenges to address in NT research and practice.The second chapter reviews the role of no or minimum soil disturbance in Conservation Agriculture (CA) systems, focussing on the effects of soil tillage and tillage implements on the soil. The chapter also explores how soil disturbance can by minimised during farming activities such as land preparation, seeding, planting, pest, disease and weed management, and harvesting.The third chapter provides a useful overview of the core principles of CA before moving onto examining the concepts of no-tillage agriculture, cover crops and crop residue management. The chapter also discusses the environmental benefits and ecosystem services linked to CA as well as economic benefits.The final chapter considers the use of NT and the importance of a fully-integrated cropping and residue management system to maintain soil health and productivity. The chapter also reviews how NT can be used to reduce erosion risk, as well as its role in optimising soil functions, such as nutrient and water cycling.

This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on optimising agri-food supply chains.The first chapter provides an overview of agri-food supply chains and explores the unique characteristics which differentiate them from other manufacturing supply chains. The chapter also provides a framework for designing future agri-food supply chains.The second chapter reviews recent advances in agri-food traceability systems and technologies, as well as barriers to their implementation. The chapter also explores possible improvement pathways and policy interventions to promote deployment of advanced food traceability systems.The third chapter considers food governance and how it frames crisis management and product recalls in food supply chains. The chapter also addresses the use of Blockchain systems within public-private partnerships for food governance.The fourth chapter highlights the causes of food losses and waste (FLW) and outlines strategies to prevent/reduce FLW along the supply chain, including investments, good practices, behavioural changes and coordination within the food chain.The final chapter explores the role of decision support systems in improving data management in agri-food supply chains. The chapter also provides an overview of organisational models used in data communication along the supply chain.

This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on biofertiliser use in agriculture.The first chapter examines the role of biofertilisers and consortia of microorganisms to improve the effectiveness of organic fertilisation, before moving on to consider the use of animal excrement, including manures, slurry and guano.The second chapter presents the key issues in the optimum use of treated wastes in crop nutrition. The chapter also discusses technical processes such as precipitation of salts, incineration and post-treatment of ashes, as well as production of carbonaceous materials.The third chapter discusses some common issues regarding the use of bio-based fertilisers, such as the concentration of nutrients leading to losses of reactive nitrogen and phosphorus into the environment.The fourth chapter addresses the key issues of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and soil health, specifically focussing on improved soil structure and stability, soil contamination, carbon sequestration and nutrient retention.The final chapter provides an overview on the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria/rhizobacteria (PGPB/PGPR) and its consequent effects on plant and soil health. The chapter also explores interactions between PGPB/PGPR and other components of the rhizosphere, such as AMF.

There are an estimated 500 million smallholder farmers across the world, of which a suggested 60-80% are women. Despite this overwhelming majority, women smallholders remain largely unsupported and their contribution to agriculture is often devalued because of their sex.Women and smallholder farming: Addressing global inequities in agriculture provides a comprehensive overview of the main obstacles and challenges women smallholders continue to face, such as restricted access to markets and education, as well as a lack of control over assets and property rights. The book also assesses the impact of sociocultural factors on women smallholder farmers in different regions around the world, including Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. In highlighting these issues, the book considers how key stakeholders across the agri-food supply chain can support, empower and sufficiently compensate women smallholder farmers for their contribution to agriculture.Edited by two internationally-renowned experts on gender and agriculture, the book will be a standard reference for university and other researchers studying smallholder farming systems in departments of agricultural science, gender studies, international development, politics and development economics, as well as government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in development programmes focussing on women smallholders.Dr Carolyn Sachs is Professor Emerita of Rural Sociology at The Pennsylvania State University, USA. She serves on an expert panel to the United Nations Programme on Gender, Water and Sanitation and is involved in several extension and outreach programmes, including the Pennsylvania Women's Agricultural Network (PAWAgN), in which she provides agricultural, entrepreneurship and leadership training. Emerita Professor Sachs has held previous positions as Visiting Professor at Charles Sturt University, Australia and Visiting Professor at the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, Rome, Italy. She has published widely on gender and agriculture, contributing books, chapters and journal articles, and in 2020, she co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Gender and Agriculture with Dr Paige Castellanos and other notable researchers.Dr Paige Castellanos is Senior Manager of Gender Justice and Inclusion at Oxfam America, USA. Before moving into her new role in 2022, Dr Castellanos was previously Director for the Gender Equity through Agriculture Research and Education (GEARE) Initiative at The Pennsylvania State University, USA. From 2016-2019, Dr Castellanos acted as Project Manager for the Women in Agriculture Network (WAgN): Honduras - a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve women's participation in the horticulture value chain in Honduras. She has published widely on gender, empowerment and agriculture and co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Gender and Agriculture alongside Emerita Professor Carolyn Sachs and other notable researchers in 2020.

This book offers a unique insight into the recent research completed on achieving sustainable management of tropical forests. Chapters review the factors which determine tropical forests, the process of forest landscape restoration, as well as the interactions between forest ecosystems and the climate system.

This book provides a detailed overview of the current welfare issues affecting broiler production. Chapters review the role of intensive poultry production systems in the development of welfare issues, such as lameness, dermatitis and feather-picking.

This book reviews the development of resistance to the core group of fungicides used throughout global crop production. Chapters explore the mechanisms of resistance, as well as the challenges facing future fungicide development.