Addressing the politics of mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems

Agricultural Systems, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 211, P. 103747 - 103747

Published: Aug. 26, 2023

Mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems (MAIS) are becoming more prevalent in view of tackling the challenges agri-food transformation. In this perspective, we argue that politics MAIS requires comprehensive and considerable attention field, given contested deeply normative nature direction innovations Literature from development studies, policy sciences, transition studies is reviewed to inform perspective. We question structured around dimensions 4D framework: directionality, diversity, distribution democracy. Regarding should explicitly consider how power dynamics shape future systems, which extent these hinder desirable directions. Considering diversity means need stimulate a transformation pathways; include actors, communities knowledge; roles both humans non-humans Questions regarding resources effects across ecosystems imply actively advance just transitions different scales geographical contexts. Finally, democratization our ways knowledge produced through be democratic deliberative, though may challenging since missions strong steering. stress considerations also bring along important implications for policies research on MAIS, system broadly, considered. Confronting not an easy endeavor, but critical directions only sustainable transformative, socially desirable. This researchers develop awareness their work feeds into conversely influenced by it.

Language: Английский

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Green Food Packaging with Integrated Functions of High-Efficiency Radiation Cooling and Freshness Monitoring

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(41), P. 15135 - 15145

Published: Sept. 29, 2023

An optimal temperature environment is crucial for ensuring that the freshness of agricultural products maintained during transportation. However, packaging materials often have a limited ability to dissipate heat and cannot accurately indicate condition products, leading significant losses in logistics. Here, order achieve fresh delivery we constructed ZnO-nanorods/cellulose membrane-starch membrane@blueberry anthocyanins (ZnO-NRs/CM-SM@BA) material has efficient dissipation delay spoilage via color changes. The ZnO-NRs/CM layer exhibited high visible reflectivity (94.4%) infrared emissivity (98.8%) with help rod-like structure ZnO-NRs, which contributed substantial reduction input strong accumulation. Compared PE film when outdoor mode, obtained membrane was able realize passive cooling 6.5 °C. Furthermore, addition caused Zn-NRs/CM-SM@BA be sensitive pH changes, showing different colors face environments. When applied monitor ZnO-NRs/CM-SM@BA showed change from celadon pink decay products. prepared combines intelligent radiation materials, thus making superior contribution reducing unnecessary product logistics expanding single indicating role field thermal management.

Language: Английский

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Complementing or co-opting? Applying an integrative framework to assess the transformative capacity of approaches that make use of the term agroecology

Environmental Science & Policy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 156, P. 103748 - 103748

Published: April 10, 2024

The paper discusses the increasing use of term agroecology in scientific literature and how its meanings vary different contexts. However, key issue is not understandings per se, but whether various interpretations align with intrinsic systemic transformative meaning. To address this, presents an integrative framework to assess approaches that agroecology, distinguish between enabling disabling interpretations. applied yield- non-yield-oriented (sustainable intensification, conservation agriculture, organic farming regenerative farming), revealing concerns hijacking or co-opting through (1) simplification, (2) false equivalence (3) confusion. prevent and/or respond – necessarily intentional - process neutralization potential we propose a combination accountability regulatory efforts, education collaboration protect integrity principles it represents as well ensure just contribution for (re-)shaping agri-food systems.

Language: Английский

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Agroecological and technological practices in European arable farming: Past uptake and expert visions for future development

Land Use Policy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 153, P. 107553 - 107553

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Contested agri-food futures: Introduction to the Special Issue

Agriculture and Human Values, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 40(3), P. 787 - 798

Published: Aug. 8, 2023

Abstract Over recent decades, influential agri-food tech actors, institutions, policymakers and others have fostered dominant techno-optimistic, future visions of food agriculture that are having profound material impacts in present worlds. Analyzing such realities has become paramount for scholars working across the fields science technology studies (STS) critical studies, many whom contribute to STSFAN—the Science Technology Studies Food Agriculture Network. This article introduces a Special Issue featuring scholarship STSFAN members, which cover range case interdisciplinary transdisciplinary engagements involving contested futures. Their contributions unique they emerged from network’s specific modus operandi: workshopping practice supports constructive, dialogue necessary research rigorous analyses settings. introduction offers an overview STS scholarship, including their historical entanglements respective scandals, scientific regimes technological determinism. We illustrate how engagement these contributed emergent field what we term technoscience this speak to. After brief discussion concepts, theories methods shaping policy, design manufacturing, eleven three thematic clusters: actors imaginaries; obfuscated (material) technologies; conflictual constructive academia agri-food. The ends with short reflection on trajectories scholarship.

Language: Английский

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Imagining AI-driven decision making for managing farming in developing and emerging economies

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 221, P. 108946 - 108946

Published: April 30, 2024

Language: Английский

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Are AgriFoodTech start-ups the new drivers of food systems transformation? An overview of the state of the art and a research agenda

Global Food Security, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 40, P. 100726 - 100726

Published: Dec. 12, 2023

AgriFoodTech start-ups are coming to be seen as relevant players in the debate around and reality of transformation food systems, especially view emerging or already-established novel technologies (such Artifical Intelligence, Sensors, Precision Fermentation, Robotics, Nanotechnologies, Genomics) that constitute Agriculture 4.0 Food 4.0. However, so far, there have only been limited studies this phenomena, which scattered across disciplines, with no comprehensive overview state art outlook for future research. In paper, we argue start-up ecosystems should receive more attention by researchers policy makers a relatively new, potentially transformative, component agrifood innovation adopt narrative offering solution global challenges sustainability security. To end review extant literature provide brief field study, sketch what constitutes an start-up, from they often emerge show potentials pitfalls contribution security systems transformation. order spur further research area, outline four main lines agenda: 1) geography ecosystems; 2) role different system pathways resolving challenges; 3) effect on innovation, and; 4) influence public policies ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Transformational Agroecology: The Making and Unmaking of Zero Budget Natural Farming in India

Science Technology and Society, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 15, 2025

Agroecology is increasingly seen to have the potential transform agriculture towards sustainability and social justice. Recent studies highlighted different characteristics principles of such transformative agroecology. Scholars also shown that agroecology practices can be scaled up achieve broader transformation. However, process systematising approaches often creates a static vision transformation, which could achieved once for all. The view illusionary binaries goods bads separate ideological scholarly from everyday, contested messy practices. In this article, we discuss case Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in India argue transformational made unmade repeatedly at sites, networks it gets entangled in. As result, rather than thinking as goal or target achieved, more useful see an everyday struggle requiring unwavering scrutiny with commitment care marginal concerns.

Language: Английский

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The need for more inclusive deliberation on ethics and governance in agricultural and food biotechnology

Journal of Responsible Innovation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: March 1, 2024

An inclusive and socially legitimate governance structure is absent to address concerns over new agricultural biotechnologies. Establishing an bioethics commission devoted deliberation on ethics in food biotechnology urgent. Highlighting the social ethical dimensions of current bioengineering disputes system, we discuss how a nationally recognized policy forum could improve decision-making increase public understanding issues. We clarify ways concepts that are used categorize frame affect consumer choices, dissemination information mode can contribute inequities. cite record medically-oriented bioethic commissions history international support our argument, end by discussing what such dedicated agriculture issues reasonably be expected achieve.

Language: Английский

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On techno-fixes in the era of crises: genomic interventions in food crops

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 49(4), P. 563 - 586

Published: Nov. 27, 2024

Agri-biotech promotes genetically modified organisms (GMO) as solutions to achieve food security by increasing yields, reducing pesticide use through introduced resistance herbicides and strategy for climate change mitigation adaptation. After 30 years of biotechnological crops, these proposals have failed on their pledges, while the risk assessment, non-considered outcomes environment, biodiversity health been overlooked. New Plant-Breeding Technologies (NPBTs), with capacity inserting, deleting, or modifying DNA RNA nucleotides in specific genetic regions emerged last 15 years. The most prominent technique used edit genomes is CRISPR-Cas. Its proponents argue that mutations via genome editing pose no environment and/or human health; thus, products should be exempted from any regulation, traceability labeling, a push would actually restrict freedom choose farmers consumers. Our work summarizes reported scientific literature gene tools crops. We discuss perspectives upgrading biosafety governance new GMO order promote autonomy farmers, away positivist techno-scientific fixes downplay systemic crises which industrial agriculture plays major role

Language: Английский

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