Sustainable Agricultural Development Economics and Policy

• Other Authors: Hoshide, Aaron K. (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2023
• Subjects: Development economics & emerging economies; consumers' food preference; contingent valuation; purchasing power; market prospects; rural economy; sustainability; agricultural development; agricultural economic cycle; agricultural policies; binary outcome models; off-farm; rural development; principal component analysis; wage employment; child health; commercialization potential; conservation status; livelihood; policy; sustainable; agricultural mechanization; structural equation model (SEM); partial least square (PLS); affecting factors; agri-food supply chain; almond nuts; export demand; retaliatory tariff policy; feed brand loyalty; switching behavior of egg producers; egg-producing farmers; logistic regression; edible beans; planting behavior; high quality; multilevel model; determinants; China; "Belt and Road"; agriculture products; trade structure; social networks; QAP; content-based analysis; media coverage; spatiotemporal distribution; sustainability trade-offs; Targeted Poverty Alleviation Strategy; industry chain; government grants; technological innovation in agricultural enterprises; R&D investment; fast growing tree plantations; inherently nutrient-poor soil; improved germplasms; increased stand wood biomass; healthier soils; sustainable development goals; diversity indexes; cultivars; livestock breeds; Maine; climate change; farm irrigation facilities; agriculture total factor productivity (TFP); technical advancement; roadside vegetation; reduced mowing; pollinators; ecotypic seed; native plant material; human food; Opuntia stricta; organic production; non-conventional vegetable; soluble solids; agrometeorological modeling; multiple linear regression; statistical model; sugarcane; yield prediction; agricultural frontier; Brazil; land conversion; land use; southern Amazon; supervised classification; Teles Pires River; territorial dynamics; agricultural education; agricultural producers; agricultural professionals; education and learning processes; questionnaires; rural extension; environmental impact; soil conservation; water erosion prediction; watershed; WEPP parameters; Amazon; beef; deforestation; environmental impacts; greenhouse gases; livestock intensification strategies; Cerrado-Amazon; crops; geoprocessing; GIS; mapping; rainfall simulator; satellite images; soil erosion; ecological forest ranger; policy satisfaction; fuzzy set; qualitative comparative analysis; influencing factors; Amazonia; Google Earth Engine; hydro-sedimentology; reflectance; satellite imagery; available water capacity; hydraulic conductivity; pore distribution curve; retention curve; soil texture; n/a
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

The sustainable development of agriculture is not only dependent on economics and policy but also relies on decisions to increase sustainability through either (1) specialization (e.g., sustainable intensification) or (2) diversification (e.g., ecological intensification). Understanding the historical context of the region being evaluated is critical to selecting ideal development strategies. Depending on the emphasis on either specialization or diversification, sustainable development can follow different pathways. Specialization during agricultural development is typically concentrated in specific geographic areas with comparative advantages in terms of agricultural production. However, tradeoffs to agricultural specialization include greater reliance on purchased external inputs, greater dependence on government support, and international and interregional interdependence. Addressing the economic and environmental challenges of specialized agricultural production requires a focus on detailed models and field experiments to help balance productivity with reduced environmental impacts. Diversification can incorporate both enterprise diversification as well as ecological intensification strategies, such as integrating livestock and agroforestry with crops. Despite the promises of maintaining the diversity of small shareholders in the developing world, challenges remain. Regional case studies can be used to inspire and implement diversified agricultural systems for the creation of more sustainable future food systems around the world.