Farmer-Prioritized Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) focuses on productivity, climate-change adaptation, and mitigation, and the potential for developing resilient food production systems that lead to food and income security. Lately, several frameworks and tools have been developed to prioritize context-specific CSA technologies and assess the potential impacts of selected options. This study applied a mixed-method approach, the climate-smart agriculture rapid appraisal (CSA-RA) tool, to evaluate farmers’ preferred CSA technologies and to show how they link to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The chapter examines prioritized CSA options across diverse study sites. The authors find that the prioritized options align with the food security and livelihood needs of smallholder farmers, and relate to multiple sustainable development goals. Specifically, CSA technologies contribute to SDG1 (end poverty), SDG2 (end hunger and promote sustainable agriculture), SDG13 (combating climate change), and SDG15 (life on land). Limited awareness on the benefits of agriculture technologies and the diversity of outcomes desired by stakeholders’ present challenges and trade-offs for achieving the SDGs. The CSA-RA provides a methodological approach linking locally relevant indicators to the SDG targets.

The Role of Animal-Source Foods in Sustainable, Ethical, and Optimal Human Diets

Achieving sustainable, ethical food systems in support of human and planetary health is among the greatest challenges facing the global community. Globally, 815 million people are chronically undernourished, 108 million children and 604 million adults are obese, and more than two billion people are at risk of micronutrient deficiencies. Animal-source foods (ASFs), including milk, meat, fish, and eggs, provide high-quality protein and a variety of micronutrients in forms readily absorbed and used by the human body. Current research continues to explore the nutritional contributions of ASFs, their interactions with other dietary components, and their role in healthy human growth and development. This chapter uses the framework of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to consider the value of ASFs in human diets across a range of settings. It discusses opportunities for multidisciplinary efforts that harness science, technology, and innovation (STI) to mitigate risks of foodborne disease, to promote the efficient management of natural resources, to reduce nutrient losses within livestock value chains, and to support gender- and culturally sensitive communication around livestock management and human nutrition. In support of the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, this chapter proposes opportunities to meet the nutritional needs of current and future populations while supporting biodiversity and conserving scarce natural resources.

Vaccine Innovation and Global Sustainability

Innovative preventive vaccines against emerging and neglected infectious diseases, such as Zika, dengue, influenza, and HIV/AIDS, are examined from a global sustainability perspective in this chapter, aiming to integrate public health and innovation governance approaches. Innovation-intensive vaccines with reduced adverse effects can have an enormous impact on life expectancy and on the quality of life of the global population, but in contrast only one of the SDGs, SDG3, refers directly to vaccines (3.b.1). However, this chapter also identifies seven other SDGs strongly related to vaccines and six additional SDGs related to vaccines, leading to a total of 14 vaccine-related goals in 17 SDGs. Two of these goals are related to innovation and technological development of vaccines (SDG9 and SDG17). The authors examine vaccine performance indicators and current technological and regulatory obstacles to achieve these goals, particularly affecting developing countries, and propose STI governance strategies to overcome these gaps and increase access to vaccines. Policy recommendations for vaccine funding and incentives for innovation, development, and vaccine production are made. Recommendations are also given for specific vaccine STI performance indicators and strategies to achieve the 14 vaccine-related SDGs.

Linking Solar Energy Systems to Sustainable Development Goals in Africa

Energy was not stated as one of the millennium development goals (MDGs) but played an indirect role in helping meet the MDGs especially in the areas of housing, health, education, and poverty reduction in Africa. In contrast, the United Nations’ 2030 agenda includes 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), one of which is devoted to energy. SDG7 seeks to ensure “access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all,” thereby creating a vital role for the energy sector to join in the task of achieving SDGs. Renewable energy including solar energy will play a significant role in improving energy security in Africa and diversifying the energy mix by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This chapter examines the advantages of solar technologies in the context of social, economic, and environment benefits using case studies from Kenya and South Africa. This chapter also examines some of the key challenges that are associated with the application of solar energy technologies in these countries. Finally, the chapter discusses how solar energy technologies can help meet SDGs and summarizes policy and programs targeting the promotion of solar energy technologies for the implementation of SDGs.

Anti-Malarial Drug Development and Diffusion in an Era of Multidrug Resistance

The ability to ensure healthy lives and well-being (SDG3, healthy lives) is dependent on accessible and affordable healthcare for everyone in need. However, people in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) often lack access to health interventions such as innovative medicines to treat medical needs. This chapter develops a sustainable drug development and diffusion framework for LMICs. The framework is applied to evaluate a global health threat that challenges the achievement of SDG3 targets: the emergence of multidrug resistance to anti-malarial medicines. Malaria is a poverty-related infectious disease that is caused by parasites and transmitted through mosquitos. Malaria is well treatable and effective drugs do exist, but they often fail to reach the infected patients. These days, the first-line anti-malarial medicines are becoming less effective because of multidrug resistance. This requires urgent and coordinated action at the levels of drug development, diffusion, and utilization. The integrated framework evaluates this emerging health threat by discussing four themes: availability, affordability, accessibility, and acceptability. Moreover, the interdependence between those themes is assessed. Finally, policy implications are proposed to address this global health challenge and to proceed toward a sustainable system of drug development and diffusion in LMICs.

Toward Sustainable Agri-Food Systems in Brazil

Central to advancing the ambitious United Nations’ seventeen sustainable development goals (SDG) is the challenge of meeting the growing global demand for food and agricultural products while minimizing negative impacts on natural resources. Such a formidable mission requires both contributions from science, technology, and innovation (STI) to engineer sustainable production systems and the establishment of solid cross-sectoral policy frameworks supporting those efforts. This chapter identifies key leverage points across agricultural production systems, effective STI contributions, and policy frameworks aiming at meeting the global food demand in sustainable ways. The soybean production complex in Brazil is presented as a case study through which cross-sectoral efforts focused on developing sustainable agri-food systems are analyzed. Emphasis is placed on approaches contributing to harmonize agricultural production with the conservation of land ecosystems and key soil functions (SDG15, terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity), since those support the achievement of interlinked SDGs aiming to reduce poverty and hunger (SDGS 1, 2) and improve societal (SDGs 3, 6, 8) and environmental well-being (SDGs 12, 13, 15). Examples of successful partnerships (SDG17) between stakeholders across the agri-food supply chain are also discussed.

Optimal Nitrogen Management for Meeting Sustainable Development Goal 2

Sustainable development goal 2 aims to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.” SDG2 is one of the most challenging goals to achieve, as it needs to be achieved within the constraints of the multiple demands agriculture faces. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the roles that science, technology, and innovation (STI) can play in optimal nitrogen management as a way to meet sustainable development goal 2. Optimal nitrogen management will enhance food security by improving yields, and it will promote sustainable agriculture by limiting environmental externalities associated with nitrogen. Specifically, this chapter aims to address the following two questions: 1) How can new technologies help boost agricultural productivity while also reducing nitrogen pollution? And, 2) What policy and institutional changes will be needed to encourage innovation and diffusion of these technologies in developing countries? The authors present STI possibilities for improved nitrogen management in the following categories: new types of nitrogen fertilizers, integrated soil and fertility management technologies, precision agriculture technologies, technologies aiding biological nitrogen fixation, and biotechnology solutions. The chapter ends with a discussion of institutional and policy changes needed for widespread adoption of the technology options among resource-poor smallholder farmers.

The Systems Science of Industrial Ecology

This chapter explores how the interdisciplinary field of industrial ecology, a blend of environmental science, social science, engineering, and management, can help deliver sustainable development goals (SDGs). As a systems science, industrial ecology provides a source of knowledge that can guide sustainable manufacturing, waste and pollution reduction, and offer a framework for extending the life of physical goods in a circular economy. The chapter focuses on four industrial ecology approaches: material stock and flow analysis, life-cycle assessment, input-output analysis, and industrial symbiosis, offering descriptions and case examples that relate to specific SDGs and targets. Although these approaches are relevant to a broad range of SDG targets, the authors focus on those pertaining to responsible and efficient use of water and energy (SDG6 and target 7.3), economic growth (SDG8), reducing inequalities (SDG10), transportation (target 11.2), production and consumption systems (SDG12 and targets 2.4 and 9.4), and climate action (SDG13). Industrial ecology approaches are also beneficial to rapidly industrializing countries, where improvements in economic performance and the environment must be carefully balanced. Finally, by tracking flows of material and energy, industrial ecology promotes resource efficiency and provides a strong basis for making sustainable production and consumption decisions.

Comparing Renewable Energy Micro-Grids in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Laos

Sustainable development goal 7.1 aims to ensure access to electricity for approximately 800 million people who currently live without electricity. Despite its advantages over other electrification approaches, global diffusion of renewable energy-based micro-grids (RE-MG) is rather low. Typically, diffusion bottlenecks are thought to be related to issues of technological reliability; however, recent research suggests diffusion is highly related to socioeconomic factors, as well as the governance of the innovation, installation and operation of the technology. While global initiatives support many countries in their electrification strategies, often targeting RE-MG along with addressing sociopolitical and governance issues, it remains unclear to what extent and how such support should be tailored to individual country circumstances. There is little comparative research to address this question, as studies tend to focus on individual country case studies in isolation. To address this literature gap, this chapter conducts a comparative study of RE-MG innovation and diffusion in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Laos. The authors analyze each case at the international, national, and local level by using the Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) approach. The data is obtained through both desk research and fieldwork. The chapter finds that several issues exist to comparable extents in all three analyzed countries. At the global level, initiatives can address challenges similarly and facilitate best practice sharing among countries. At the national and local levels, however, important socioeconomic and cultural differences require approaches to RE-MG policy to be tailored to the national and local contexts.

A Systemic Perspective on the Global Sanitation Challenge

The sanitation target of the millennium development goals (MDGs) was not reached and progress toward the sustainable development goal on water and sanitation (SDG6) is very slow. The lack of sanitation is especially persistent in cities in the Global South, as the world is rapidly urbanizing. This problem demands long-term fundamental transformations of urban sanitation services and infrastructures. This chapter analyzes the challenges and opportunities of innovations that have the potential to contribute to solving urban sanitation problems. The authors therefore use a sociotechnical systems perspective that draws on insights from innovation studies and the sustainability transitions literature. Such a systemic perspective enables the analysis of the interplay between technologies, infrastructures and their associated actor networks, and institutions and user and provider practices. The chapter presents the analysis of the case of sanitation in Nairobi, Kenya, building on qualitative data from 104 expert interviews. Based on the analysis, the authors show that innovative efforts should focus on improving alignments between the various sanitation service regimes in the city—for example, through making utility services work in informal settlements or improving collaborations in the efforts to scale on-site sanitation innovations. The chapter illustrates how factors hindering innovation development toward reaching SDG6 often go beyond technological aspects, but rather represent system weaknesses related to actors, networks, and institutional aspects.