Informing the Grazing Debate With Empirical Data on Black Wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) Patch Use

Rangeland Ecology & Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 95, P. 11 - 19

Published: May 11, 2024

High-density short-duration grazing (SDG) is widely suggested to increase productivity. Among various SDG practices, the most widespread and popular, "holistic grazing," claims mimic movement patterns of wild African ungulate herds improve rangeland health promote biodiversity. However, this claim has rarely been empirically tested. Focusing on Karoo Escarpment Grasslands in eastern Karoo, South Africa, we compared patch use black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) a continuously grazed wildlife system with cattle paddock farms implementing management same landscape. Camera trap data revealed heterogeneous over 26-mo sampling period, consistently using some patches more intensely than others. Mean intensity by varied factor 10, from 0.05 LSU · ha−1 day−1 0.51 across patches. The relative difference mean among ranged similar magnitude < 0.01 0.18 for least paddocks, respectively. Grazing durations 3-15 d (mean = 8 d), range 3-60 18 d) cattle. Intense periods 0 2 1 30 7 farms. greatest was between rest intervals, lasting 5 average patches, 60–365 Our findings suggest that systems prevalent differ aspects. These add growing literature behavior herbivores, effectively contrasts these farming practices

Language: Английский

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Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: Oct. 9, 2024

The agricultural and social landscape of rural Australia is changing, with many farmers interested in, some actively moving towards, regenerative agriculture—but what do we understand the undertaking these transitions? Regenerative agriculture a holistic way managing landscapes that aims to move beyond sustainability regenerate natural systems, while supporting farming system viability. While several authors have discussed higher-level philosophical underpinnings agriculture, there are few empirical studies exploring motivators for implement suite practices within tool-kit. By an online survey targeting farmers, this study identifies common attributes as well key for, barriers change, including perceived benefits arising from approach. An was promoted through media pages three groups, resulting in 96 self-identifying Australian included analysis. Results demonstrate clear recent shift has taken place group, who may feel ostracized their local community, hence often rely on information international sources information. This article builds core understanding goals, attributes, aspirations challenges offers definition derived farmer responses.

Language: Английский

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Joining the ideational and the material: transforming food systems toward radical food democracy

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: April 5, 2024

This paper presents a conceptualization of radical food democracy (RFD) which links the diverse economies approach Gibson-Graham with Tully’s notion citizenship. Despite its invaluable contribution to theorizing role alternative networks (AFNs) in transforming unsustainable industrial systems, scholarship has been criticized for essentializing autonomy economic practices—hence risking confound emancipatory social change punctuated forms “local,” “quality,” “organic certified” products, nevertheless remain embedded market-mediated capitalist relations, and displacement and/or deferral negative impacts. aims address such critiques, contending that realization RFD requires both (1) experimentation new practices carve out working logic capital accumulation, (2) cultivation political subjects capable universalizing these particular struggles. After situating various existing associated framework modes democratic citizenship, we underpin our understanding theory informed by Bob Jessop’s strategic-relational structures, agents’ reflexive actions, their contingency. Following critical scientific academics, this theoretical is illustrated using case study from Germany. The empirical work draws on participant observation semi-structured interviews leaders Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) cooperatives Food Policy Council (FPC) conducted Cologne, Berlin, Frankfurt 2018–2020. To conclude, argues potential should cultivate lighthouse are connected people’s everyday lives, imagination dares critically engage institutions. Likewise, praxis constant back forth between ideational practical, abstract concrete, actionable analytical, challenge symbolic-discursive material dimensions agri-food systems.

Language: Английский

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Is human activity driving climate change? Perspectives from Australian landholders

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: June 5, 2024

Australian agriculture and the rural communities that depend upon it are expected to experience significant impacts from climate change. The recognition of human role in change is central design implementation effective strategies mitigate adapt its impacts. Understanding extent which members public, such as private landholders, acknowledge human-caused critical, given their custodians large tracts natural resources. Rural social benchmarking studies a useful tool for understanding landholder values beliefs. Here, we use survey examine agreement regarding humans contribute across four agricultural regions. We perform hierarchical clustering analysis determine subgroups landholders with similar patterns responses. then evaluate this effect cluster membership demographic characteristics using Bayesian ordinal regression on levels statement “that activities influencing change.” Our findings reveal three distinct clusters based responses questions eliciting participants beliefs norms. Cluster exhibits strongest positive influence (0.52, 95% CI: 0.37 0.67). This was followed by higher education (0.32, 0.22 0.41). Gender showed moderately uncertain but influence. Years residing property, participant age, property size very little influence, while rainfall zones negative of-0.29 (95% −0.47 to-0.12). results underscore need extension programs consider typologies combination lived demographics.

Language: Английский

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Knowledge co-production for identifying indicators and prioritising solutions for food and land system sustainability in Australia

Sustainability Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 4, 2024

Language: Английский

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