Financial Risk Management for Sustainable Agricultural Development Based on Corporate Social Responsibility in the Interests of Food Security

This paper focuses on the problem of the high financial risks of agricultural entrepreneurship, which hinder the sustainable development of agriculture and do not provide food security. This problem is especially topical in the conditions of the COVID-19 crisis when financial risks are urgent. The research basis is the theory of financial risks of entrepreneurship. This paper’s RQ is as follows: how should financial risks for the sustainable development of agriculture be managed for the provision of food security? The purpose of this paper is to find ways of managing the financial risks of agricultural entrepreneurship based on its corporate social responsibility for sustainable development and the provision of food security. The contribution to the literature is that the authors offer a solution to the problem of the financial risks of agricultural entrepreneurship. The originality of this paper is that the solution is corporate social responsibility. The universal character of the paper is due to the description of the international experience of corporate social responsibility and proving the contribution of this responsibility for the sustainable development of agriculture and food security as well as its demonstration—based on the case experience of modern Russia of specific, effective, and perspective practices of corporate social responsibility that make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of agriculture and food security. The results are very important for decision making in managing the financial risks of agricultural entrepreneurship.

Melatonin Promotes SGT1-Involved Signals to Ameliorate Drought Stress Adaption in Rice

Drought has become one of the environmental threats to agriculture and food security. Applications of melatonin (MT) serve as an effective way to alleviate drought stress, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we found that foliar spray of 100-µM MT greatly mitigated the severe drought stress-induced damages in rice seedlings, including improved survival rates, enhanced antioxidant system, and adjusted osmotic balance. However, mutation of the suppressor of the G2 allele of skp1 (OsSGT1) and ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 5 (OsABI5) abolished the effects of MT. Furthermore, the upregulated expression of OsABI5 was detected in wild type (WT) under drought stress, irrespective of MT treatment, whereas OsABI5 was significantly downregulated in sgt1 and sgt1abi5 mutants. In contrast, no change of the OsSGT1 expression level was detected in abi5. Moreover, mutation of OsSGT1 and OsABI5 significantly suppressed the expression of genes associated with the antioxidant system. These results suggested that the functions of OsSGT1 in the MT-mediated alleviation of drought stress were associated with the ABI5-mediated signals. Collectively, we demonstrated that OsSGT1 was involved in the drought response of rice and that melatonin promoted SGT1-involved signals to ameliorate drought stress adaption.

Mechanical Properties of Rammed Earth Stabilized with Local Waste and Recycled Materials

Traditional techniques of construction using natural and locally available materials are nowadays raising the interest of architects and engineers. Clayey soil is widely present in all continents and regions, and where available it is obtained directly from the excavation of foundations, avoiding transportation costs and emissions due to the production of the binder. Moreover, raw earth is recyclable and reusable after the demolition, thanks to the absence of the firing process. The rammed earth technique is based on earth compressed into vertical formworks layer by layer to create a wall. This material owes its strength to the compaction effort and due to its manufacture procedure exhibits layers resembling the geological strata and possessing high architectural value. The hygroscopic properties of rammed earth allow natural control of the indoor humidity, keeping it in the optimal range for human health. Stabilization with lime or cement is the most common procedure to enhance the mechanical and weather resistance at once. This practice compromises the recyclability of the earth and reduces the hygroscopic properties of the material. The use of different natural stabilizers, fibers, and natural polymers by-products of the agriculture and food industry, can offer an alternative that fits the circular economy requirements. The present study analyses the mechanical strength of an Italian earth stabilized with different local waste and recycled materials that do not impair the final recyclability of the rammed earth.

Climate Change Impact on Agriculture and Food Security

Research on the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security is important, especially in the agricultural economies, not only to know the severity of impact but also the policies to be adapted to halt climate change and the technology to be used to mitigate the impact of climate change. The study was conducted in Kapiri Mposhi district of Central Province in Zambia to find out the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security. The objectives of study include to know the intensity of climate change and its impact on area under cultivation, late sowing of seed and damage of seed due to lack of water, fertilizer absorption reduction, food shortage, livestock, and productivity. The chapter also focuses on the sources of credit to the farmers.

Land and Water Systems: Looking to the future and a more resilient and sustainable society and environment

Food, land, and water systems are facing unprecedented change. The world’s population is projected to grow to approximately 10 billion people by 2050, while aging and declining in some regions. Global average incomes are expected to keep increasing at a slow but steady pace. With increasing incomes and the ability of consumers to purchase more and better food in combination with population growth, food demand is projected to grow substantially over the next three decades. Meanwhile, demographic changes and economic development also drive urbanization, migration, and structural transformation of rural communities. At the same time changes to precipitation and temperature as well as the occurrence of extreme events driven by climate change are becoming more prevalent and impacting society and the environment. Currently, humanity is approaching or exceeding planetary boundaries in some areas, with over-use of limited productive natural resources such as water and phosphate, net emissions of greenhouse gases, and decreases in biodiversityMuch is published about food and agriculture and the supporting/underpinning land and water systems, but no single source focuses regularly and systematically on the future of agriculture and food systems, particularly on the challenges and opportunities faced by developing countries. This working paper is part of an effort by the CGIAR foresight team to help fill that gap. The effort recognizes that there is much to learn from past experience, and there are clearly many urgent and immediate challenges, but given the pace and complexity of change we are currently experiencing, there is also an increasing need to look carefully into the future of food, land, and water systems to inform decision making today.

6′-O-Lactose Ester Surfactants as an Innovative Opportunity in the Pharmaceutical Field: From Synthetic Methods to Biological Applications

Glycolipid surfactants are biocompatible and biodegradable compounds characterized by potential applications in various sectors including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, and food production. A specific overview regarding synthetic methodologies and properties of 6′-lactose-based surfactants is presented herein, particularly all the synthetic approaches to this class of lactose esters, such as enzymatic and traditional organic syntheses. Moreover, detailed descriptions of physicochemical data and biocompatibility properties of these molecules, that is, surface tension, critical micelle concentration, emulsifying ability, foaming, particle size distribution, biocompatibility, and safety, are described. Biological applications with a focus on permeability enhancing, antimicrobial activity, and antibiofilm properties of 6′-lactose-based esters are also reported.

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy: Applications in Agriculture and Food Safety

Recent global warming has resulted in shifting of weather patterns and led to intensification of natural disasters and upsurges in pests and diseases. As a result, global food systems are under pressure and need adjustments to meet the change—often by pesticides. Unfortunately, such agrochemicals are harmful for humans and the environment, and consequently need to be monitored. Traditional detection methods currently used are time consuming in terms of sample preparation, are high cost, and devices are typically not portable. Recently, Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has emerged as an attractive candidate for rapid, high sensitivity and high selectivity detection of contaminants relevant to the food industry and environmental monitoring. In this review, the principles of SERS as well as recent SERS substrate fabrication methods are first discussed. Following this, their development and applications for agrifood safety is reviewed, with focus on detection of dye molecules, melamine in food products, and the detection of different classes of pesticides such as organophosphate and neonicotinoids.

Expanding Opportunities: A Framework for Gender and Socially-Inclusive Climate Resilient Agriculture

Limiting global warming to the 2°C target that countries have committed to in the 2015 Paris Agreement, and reaching the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, will require large-scale expansion of climate-resilient approaches in agriculture and food systems. In order to achieve the scale of change required, coordinated action is needed from global to local levels, from research to policy and investment, and across private, public, and civil society sectors. But at the same time, differential approaches are needed to address gender equality and women's concerns in climate-resilient agriculture. This article sets out a conceptual framework for scaling up climate resilient agriculture (CRA) approaches that are gender and socially inclusive by taking into account these constraints and inequalities across wider areas and different aspects of CRA. It builds on gender and climate-resilient agriculture research and project experience to argue that the additional integration of women's empowerment approaches and dimensions into this scaling framework provides the opportunity to promote gender equality while scaling up. It also identifies gaps and areas for further analysis and research. The intention is to identify potential pathways for developing a gender- and socially-inclusive set of options and strategies, in four key dimensions: climate resilient technologies and practices; climate information services that reach under-reached groups; inclusive finance mechanisms; and promoting leadership in decision-making.