Environmental Benefits of Precision Agriculture Adoption

2020 ◽  
pp. 637-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Medici ◽  
Søren Marcus Pedersen ◽  
Giacomo Carli ◽  
Maria Rita Tagliaventi
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Pesticide Application ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Biodiversity Policy ◽  
Lime Application

The purpose of this study is to analyse the environmental benefits of precision agriculture technology adoption obtained from the mitigation of negative environmental impacts of agricultural inputs in modern farming. Our literature review of the environmental benefits related to the adoption of precision agriculture solutions is aimed at raising farmers' and other stakeholders' awareness of the actual environmental impacts from this set of new technologies. Existing studies were categorised according to the environmental impacts of different agricultural activities: nitrogen application, lime application, pesticide application, manure application and herbicide application. Our findings highlighted the effects of the reduction of input application rates and the consequent impacts on climate, soil, water and biodiversity. Policy makers can benefit from the outcomes of this study developing an understanding of the environmental impact of precision agriculture in order to promote and support initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable agriculture.

scholarly journals Smart Farming Technologies in Arable Farming: Towards a Holistic Assessment of Opportunities and Risks

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6783
Author(s):  
Sebastian Lieder ◽  
Christoph Schröter-Schlaack
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Critical Infrastructure ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Rebound Effects ◽  
Agricultural Work ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Role Of The State ◽  
Arable Farming ◽  
Smart Farming

Agricultural production finds itself in an area of tension. As a critical infrastructure, it has the task of reliably feeding a growing global population and supplying it with energy. However, the negative environmental impacts caused by agriculture, such as the global loss of biodiversity and the emission of greenhouse gases, are to be reduced. The increasing use of digital technologies is often described as a panacea that enables sustainable agriculture. The relevant literature is very dynamic, but the large number of concepts and terminologies used makes it difficult to obtain an overall view. In addition, many contributions focus on presumed or modeled efficiency gains, but this ignores technical and societal prerequisites and barriers. Therefore, the aim of this work was to identify the opportunities and risks of smart farming (SF) for more ecological arable farming. For this purpose, a holistic and environmental view was taken. The potential of SF to aid in the reduction in the environmental impacts of individual agricultural work steps was examined via an analysis of current literature. In addition, rebound effects, acceptance barriers and political omissions were considered as risks that prevent the benefits from being realized. It was shown that SF is able to contribute to a significant reduction in the negative environmental effects of agriculture. In particular, a reduction in fertilizer and pesticide application rates through mapping, sensing and precise application can lead to environmental benefits. However, achieving this requires the minimization of existing risks. For this reason, a proactive role of the state is required, implementing the necessary governance measures.

scholarly journals Assessing the Effectiveness of Precision Agriculture Management Systems in Mediterranean Small Farms

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Loures ◽  
Alejandro Chamizo ◽  
Paulo Ferreira ◽  
Ana Loures ◽  
Rui Castanho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
World Population ◽  
Small Farms ◽  
The Impact

While the world population continues to grow, increasing the need to produce more and better-quality food, climate change, urban growth and unsustainable agricultural practices accelerate the loss of available arable land, compromising the sustainability of agricultural lands both in terms of productivity and environmental resilience, and causing serious problems for the production-consumption balance. This scenario highlights the urgent need for agricultural modernization as a crucial step to face forthcoming difficulties. Precision agriculture techniques appear as a feasible option to help solve these problems. However, their use needs to be reinvented and tested according to different parameters, in order to define both the environmental and the economic impact of these new technologies not only on agricultural production, but also on agricultural sustainability. This paper intends, therefore, to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of precision agriculture through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)/remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) techniques in small Mediterranean farms. We present specific data obtained through the application of the aforementioned techniques in three farms located along the Portuguese-Spanish border, considering three parameters (seeding failure, differentiated irrigation and differentiated fertilization) in order to determine not only the ecological benefits of these methods, but also their economic and productivity aspects. The obtained results, based on these methods, highlight the fact that an efficient combination of UAV/RPAS and NDVI techniques allows for important economic savings in productivity factors, thus promoting a sustainable agriculture both in ecological and economic terms. Additionally, contrary to what is generally defended, even in small farms, as the ones assessed in this study (less than 50 ha), the costs associated with the application of the aforementioned precision agriculture processes are largely surpassed by the economic gains achieved with their application, regardless of the notorious environmental benefits introduced by the reduction of crucial production inputs as water and fertilizers.

scholarly journals Product-Service Systems and Sustainability: Analysing the Environmental Impacts of Rental Clothing

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2118
Author(s):  
Emma Johnson ◽  
Andrius Plepys
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Service Systems ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Product Service ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Environmental Savings ◽  
Product Service Systems

Business models like product-service systems (PSSs) often recognise different sustainability goals and are seen as solutions for the impacts of consumption and fast fashion, but there is a lack of evidence supporting the environmental claims of such business models for clothing. The research aimed to understand if rental clothing business models such as PSSs have the environmental benefits often purported by quantifying the environmental impacts of rental formal dresses in a life-cycle assessment (LCA) in a case study in Stockholm, Sweden. The effects of varying consumer behaviour on the potential impact of a PSS vs. linear business model are explored through three functional units and 14 consumption scenarios. How users decide to engage with clothing PSSs dictates the environmental savings potential that a PSS can have, as shown in how many times consumers wear garments, how they use rental to substitute their purchasing or use needs, as well as how consumers travel to rental store locations.

scholarly journals Yield, germination and herbicide residue in seeds of preharvest desiccated wheat

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 304-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lais Tessari Perboni ◽  
Dirceu Agostinetto ◽  
Leandro Vargas ◽  
Joanei Cechin ◽  
Renan Ricardo Zandoná ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Application Time ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Herbicide Residue ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Weight Yield ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Dough Stage ◽  
Wheat Seeds

Abstract: The goals of this study were to evaluate herbicide application rates at different timings for preharvest desiccation of wheat (Trial 1), as well as to evaluate the effect of the timing of herbicide desiccation at preharvest and harvest timing (Trial 2) on yield, germination, and herbicide residue in wheat seed. In Trial 1, treatments consisted of two application rates of glufosinate, glyphosate, paraquat, or paraquat+diuron and a control without application; application time periods were in the milk grain to early dough stage, soft dough to hard dough stage, and hard dough stage. In Trial 2, treatments consisted of different application time periods (milk grain to early dough stage, and soft dough to hard dough stage), different herbicides (glufosinate, 2,4-D+glyphosate, and untreated control), and different harvest times (5, 10 and 15 days after herbicide application). One thousand seeds weight, yield, first and final germination count, and herbicide residue on seeds were evaluated. Preharvest desiccation with paraquat, glufosinate, and 2,4-D+glyphosate at the milk grain to early dough stage reduces wheat yield. Regardless of the herbicide and application rate, application in the milk grain to early dough stage and soft dough to hard dough stage provides greater germination of wheat seeds, except at the lower dose of paraquat. Systemic herbicides accumulate more in wheat seeds.

A greedy approach to improve pesticide application for precision agriculture using model predictive control

2021 ◽  
Vol 182 ◽  
pp. 105984
Author(s):  
Umar Zangina ◽  
Salinda Buyamin ◽  
Muhammad Naveed Aman ◽  
Mohamad Shukri Zainal Abidin ◽  
Mohd Saiful Azimi Mahmud
Keyword(s):  
Model Predictive Control ◽  
Predictive Control ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Pesticide Application ◽  
Greedy Approach

scholarly journals Environmental potential of carbon dioxide utilization in the polyurethane supply chain

2015 ◽  
Vol 183 ◽  
pp. 291-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas von der Assen ◽  
André Sternberg ◽  
Arne Kätelhön ◽  
André Bardow
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Supply Chain Optimization ◽  
Environmental Evaluation ◽  
Impact Reduction ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Utilization ◽  
Systematic Exploration ◽  
The Impact

Potential environmental benefits have been identified for the utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a feedstock for polyurethanes (PUR). CO2 can be utilized in the PUR supply chain in a wide variety of ways ranging from direct CO2 utilization for polyols as a PUR precursor, to indirect CO2 utilization for basic chemicals in the PUR supply chain. In this paper, we present a systematic exploration and environmental evaluation of all direct and indirect CO2 utilization options for flexible and rigid PUR foams. The analysis is based on an LCA-based PUR supply chain optimization model using linear programming to identify PUR production with minimal environmental impacts. The direct utilization of CO2 for polyols allows for large specific impact reductions of up to 4 kg CO2-eq. and 2 kg oil-eq. per kg CO2 utilized, but the amounts of CO2 that can be utilized are limited to 0.30 kg CO2 per kg PUR. The amount of CO2 utilized can be increased to up to 1.7 kg CO2 per kg PUR by indirect CO2 utilization in the PUR supply chain. Indirect CO2 utilization requires hydrogen (H2). The environmental impacts of H2 production strongly affect the impact of indirect CO2 utilization in PUR. To achieve optimal environmental performance under the current fossil-based H2 generation, PUR production can only utilize much less CO2 than theoretically possible. Thus, utilizing as much CO2 in the PUR supply chain as possible is not always environmentally optimal. Clean H2 production is required to exploit the full CO2 utilization potential for environmental impact reduction in PUR production.

scholarly journals Influence of Lime and Phosphorus Application Rates on Growth of Maize in an Acid Soil

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Asbon Opala
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Acid Soil ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Available P ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Exchangeable Acidity ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Lime Application ◽  
Phosphorus Application

The interactive effects of lime and phosphorus on maize growth in an acid soil were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. A completely randomized design with 12 treatments consisting of four lime levels, 0, 2, 10, and 20 t ha−1, in a factorial combination with three phosphorus rates, 0, 30, and 100 kg ha−1, was used. Maize was grown in pots for six weeks and its heights and dry matter yield were determined and soils were analyzed for available P and exchangeable acidity. Liming significantly reduced the exchangeable acidity in the soils. The effect of lime on available P was not significant but available P increased with increasing P rates. There was a significant effect of lime, P, and P by lime interactions on plant heights and dry matter. Without lime application, dry matter increased with increasing P rates but, with lime, dry mattes increased from 0 to 30 kg P ha−1but declined from 30 to 100 kg P ha−1. The highest dry matter yield (13.8 g pot−1) was obtained with a combined 2 t ha−1of lime with 30 kg P ha−1suggesting that lime application at low rates combined with moderate amounts of P would be appropriate in this soil.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Survey on Cyber-Physical Smart Grid Testbed Architectures: Requirements and Challenges

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1043
Author(s):  
Abdallah A. Smadi ◽  
Babatunde Tobi Ajao ◽  
Brian K. Johnson ◽  
Hangtian Lei ◽  
Yacine Chakhchoukh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smart Grid ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Time Data

The integration of improved control techniques with advanced information technologies enables the rapid development of smart grids. The necessity of having an efficient, reliable, and flexible communication infrastructure is achieved by enabling real-time data exchange between numerous intelligent and traditional electrical grid elements. The performance and efficiency of the power grid are enhanced with the incorporation of communication networks, intelligent automation, advanced sensors, and information technologies. Although smart grid technologies bring about valuable economic, social, and environmental benefits, testing the combination of heterogeneous and co-existing Cyber-Physical-Smart Grids (CP-SGs) with conventional technologies presents many challenges. The examination for both hardware and software components of the Smart Grid (SG) system is essential prior to the deployment in real-time systems. This can take place by developing a prototype to mimic the real operational circumstances with adequate configurations and precision. Therefore, it is essential to summarize state-of-the-art technologies of industrial control system testbeds and evaluate new technologies and vulnerabilities with the motivation of stimulating discoveries and designs. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the advancement of CP-SGs with their corresponding testbeds including diverse testing paradigms has been performed. In particular, we broadly discuss CP-SG testbed architectures along with the associated functions and main vulnerabilities. The testbed requirements, constraints, and applications are also discussed. Finally, the trends and future research directions are highlighted and specified.

scholarly journals The CNN effect: can the news media drive foreign policy?

1999 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
PIERS ROBINSON
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Real Time ◽  
News Media ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Berlin Wall ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Tiananmen Square ◽  
Time News ◽  
Tv News ◽  
The Cold War

During the 1980s the proliferation of new technologies transformed the potential of the news media to provide a constant flow of global real-time news. Tiananmen Square and the collapse of communism symbolised by the fall of the Berlin Wall became major media events communicated to Western audiences instantaneously via TV news media. By the end of the decade the question was being asked as to what extent this ‘media pervasiveness’ had impacted upon government – particularly the process of foreign policy making. The new technologies appeared to reduce the scope for calm deliberation over policy, forcing policy-makers to respond to whatever issue journalists focused on. This perception was in turn reinforced by the end of the bipolar order and what many viewed as the collapse of the old anti-communist consensus which – it was argued – had led to the creation of an ideological bond uniting policy makers and journalists. Released from the ‘prism of the Cold War’ journalists were, it was presumed, freer not just to cover the stories they wanted but to criticise US foreign policy as well. The phrase ‘CNN effect’ encapsulated the idea that real-time communications technology could provoke major responses from domestic audiences and political elites to global events.

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