Identifying the Barriers and Drivers to Agriculture Entrepreneurship in India

This study mainly focuses on the identification of barriers and drivers to agriculture entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship not only includes the creation of new ventures or start-ups but includes innovation and growth. Agri-entrepreneurship can address the current issues of lower farm mechanisation and low productivity of the livestock sector. It can be helpful for farmers in general and agri-entrepreneur in particular. Understanding barriers and drivers to agri-entrepreneurship have become a necessity in current times. Agriculture entrepreneurship has the ability to raise the living standards and helps in the creation of wealth not only for the entrepreneurs but also for other farmers. Agriculture entrepreneurship is beneficial in the global food supply in least-developed and developing countries. The purpose of this chapter is to familiarise the readers with the meaning, prospects, barriers, and key drivers of agri-entrepreneurship to engage in agri-entrepreneurship.

Globalisation, Logistics and Food Supply: Evidence from Vietnam

Most countries satisfy domestic food consumption by importing from foreign supplies, thus highlighting the role of agricultural exports in maintaining and diversifying the global food supply. In the age of globalisation, whether the flourishing number of regional trade agreements (RTAs) has been facilitating greater market access of agricultural and food products is questioned by national governments. Meanwhile, logistics performance has been the bottleneck of emerging economies, which exerts negative impacts on agricultural export competitiveness in foreign markets. Overall, the interlink between globalisation, logistics and food supply has not been addressed adequately. Therefore, this paper employs the trade gravity model to examine the relationship between agricultural exports, RTAs membership, and logistics performance in the case of Vietnam and her 97 major trading partners. Static and dynamic panel data estimation are employed with the methods applied to solving the zero trade and endogeneity concerns. Findings confirm the interlink between globalisation, logistics and food supply. RTAs-based globalisation and logistics policies are intertwined to secure and diversify import-driven food supply. The unified framework for long-term and sustainable development which aims at strengthening the interlink between globalisation, logistics, agriculture and global food supply should be considered in policy formulation.

Biological Efficacy of Cochlioquinone-9, a Natural Plant Defense Compound for White-Backed Planthopper Control in Rice

Rice is exposed to various biotic stresses in the natural environment. The white-backed planthopper (Sogatella furcifera, WBPH) is a pest that causes loss of rice yield and threatens the global food supply. In most cases, pesticides are used to control WBPH. However, excessive use of pesticides increases pesticide resistance to pests and causes environmental pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to develop natural product-based pesticides to control WBPH. Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites for protection. Secondary metabolites act as a defense against pathogens and pests and are valuable as pesticides and breeding materials. Cochlioquinone is a secondary metabolite that exhibits various biological activities, has a negative effect on the growth and development of insects, and contributes to plant defense. Here, we compared plant growth after treatment with cochlioquinone-9 (cq-9), a quinone family member. cq-9 improved the ability of plants to resist WBPH and had an effect on plant growth. Gene expression analysis revealed that cq-9 interacts with various defense-related genes to confer resistance to WBPH, suggesting that it is related to flavonoid compounds. Overall, this study provides insight into the mechanisms of WBPH resistance and suggests that cq-9 represents an environmentally friendly agent for WBPH control.

Domestic and foreign experience of antimonopoly regulation of the food market in the context of economic globalization

The globalization of the economy creates new opportunities for the formation of global food supply chains as a new type of infrastructure, which requires improved antitrust regulation of global food markets. The purpose of this work is to identify trends in the system of antimonopoly regulation of the food market in the context of globalization based on the systematization of the most important research results of foreign and domestic authors and the practice of competition authorities. The work uses the methods of a systematic approach, logical-structural analysis. The study is based on the provisions and conclusions of modern theories of the foundations of competition, competitive advantage. Information and analytical materials of the Federal Antimonopoly Service play an important role in the work. Results. The content of changes in the contours of global food supply chains is revealed, which manifests itself in the complication of the chain around leading large retailers; active education in the chain of new technology companies; improving chain management processes, leading to lower costs. The analysis of theoretical views on antitrust regulation of global food supply chains is carried out, which makes it possible to identify a number of fundamental provisions on which the activities of competition authorities should be based - to stimulate the competitive behavior of participants in the chain. An assessment of the practice of antimonopoly regulation of global food supply chains in a number of countries is given, focusing on a detailed analysis of all links of the chain, identifying constraints on the development of competition in the segments of the chain. The dynamics of the main indicators of the activities of FAS Russia in the food market is presented, indicating an increase in the identified violations in this economy. Attention is focused on new mechanisms for ensuring competition through the technological transfer of innovative material to Russian companies to enhance their competitiveness. Scientific novelty. The trends and features of the development of global food supply chains are identified based on the identification of specific factors in the context of globalization. Some principles of state antimonopoly control of global food supply chains have been formed, which makes it possible to improve the practice of their regulation.

Untapped power of food system by-products to increase global food supply

Many animal feeds compete for resources with human food production. The current use of food system by-products and residues as feed could potentially be increased to reduce the competition. We gathered a harmonised global food system material flow database for crop, livestock and aquaculture production including the availability of food system by-products. This allowed us to analyse the potential to replace the food-competing feedstuff, here cereals, whole fish, vegetable oils and pulses, that currently account for 11% of total feed used globally, with available food system by-products. While considering the nutritional requirements in animal production, we found that the replacement could free food-grade feeds for human consumption and increase the current food supply in kcal by 11-17% (6-11% if the use of crop residues is not accounted for) and in terms of protein 11-15% (9-14%). Our results thus indicate that the increased feed use of by-products has considerable potential, particularly when used in combination with other measures, in the much needed transition towards more sustainable and circular food systems.

Policy adjustments for enhanced agricultural production in Nigeria after COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to global food supply chains. It has led to severe economic stress and malnutrition particularly in developing countries. This paper outlines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on agriculture and livelihoods in Nigeria, measures put in place by the Nigerian Government to cushion the effect and parses evidence on programmes and policies that can help speed up sustainable economic recovery that Nigeria desperately needs post COVID-19 pandemic, through agricultural growth. Identifying appropriate policies to enhance agricultural production and trade post COVID-19 pandemic is important for maintaining a robust global food supply. The paper concludes that it may be time for a fundamental reassessment of policies designed to tackle challenges in the agricultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa particularly Nigeria. The state of agriculture in any country is a reflection of the long-term agricultural plan designed and pursued by the Government to move the sector forward. In designing strategies, policies and programmes to enhance agricultural growth, the starting point is to diagnose the challenges faced by the sector and the impacts of previous measures put in place to tackle the challenges, so that lessons could be drawn for designing better and more appropriate policies. Key words: COVID-19 pandemic, agricultural policy, agrifood systems, agrarian development