The paper proposes an analysis of the relationship between Brent crude oil prices and global food prices within the framework of the Energy–Food Nexus. Using monthly data for the period January 1990–May 2026, the analysis considers the FAO Food Price Index and its main commodity sub-indices: meat, dairy products, cereals, vegetable oils, and sugar. The methodology combines descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, unit root testing, ARDL modelling, and Granger causality testing to assess both overall and commodity-specific transmission effects. The results show strong positive relationships between oil prices and food prices, with the highest correlations observed for dairy products and cereals. ARDL estimates confirm positive long-run effects of Brent crude oil prices on the FAO Food Price Index and selected food commodity groups. Dairy products and cereals appear to be the most sensitive categories, while meat prices show comparatively lower volatility and weaker sensitivity to oil market fluctuations. The findings highlight the heterogeneous nature of the Energy–Food Nexus and suggest that energy price shocks are transmitted unevenly across food markets. These results have important implications for food security, agricultural policy, and the resilience of global agri-food systems in a context of geopolitical instability and commodity market volatility.

The agricultural economy of Nigeria depends on tomato farming because it provides employment and ensures food security and supplies raw materials to agro-industrial operations. The socio-economic characteristics including gender together with age, marital status and educational level strongly affect both farming practices and productivity levels. The research examines the demographic features of tomato farmers in Kano and Oyo and Plateau states through survey responses from 310 participants. The survey results indicate that men control tomato farming since they comprise 91.61% of all farmers. The majority of farmers (69.67%) belong to the age group between 26 and 45 years old which shows that young and middle-aged people actively participate in farming. The majority of respondents (80.65%) are married which indicates that family support plays a crucial role in their farming activities. The educational background of farmers shows marked differences between states because Kano has the most uneducated farmers at 41.5% yet Oyo has the most farmers with tertiary education at 26.53%. These observed disparities reveal different levels of access to agricultural resources and training and extension services. The research shows that specific policy measures need to focus on enhancing farmer education while addressing gender inequalities and supporting young farmers to adopt contemporary agricultural methods.

This qualitative study explores the local agricultural beliefs and daily practices of farmers in Duhok Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan. Because existing literature often focuses on macro-economic agricultural development, there is a critical lack of research emphasizing the lived realities of local farmers. This study employs a qualitative, exploratory design and semi-structured interviews with 14 current and former farmers across five diverse villages around Duhok City. Findings reveal a profound disconnection between farmers’ agricultural knowledge and beliefs and their daily practices. Participants showed a strong desire for food sovereignty, and recognized ecological and health benefits of organic inputs. However, structural neglect, lack of governmental support, and economic pressures force them to rely on chemical inputs and adopt harmful practices. There is a resulting demoralization among farmers, and the younger generation is distancing itself from farming. To ensure agricultural sustainability, the study suggests strict regulatory oversight of chemical inputs, expanded extension services, and the adoption of protective policies to hedge against imported crops.

Potato production in Iraq is increasingly exposed to accelerated warming, recurrent heat stress, and shifting seasonal conditions that may disrupt crop developmental timing and reduce yield stability. This study developed an integrated agroclimatological framework combining ERA5 climate data, MODIS land surface temperature, satellite-derived vegetation dynamics, and potato production statistics to evaluate three major thermal instability periods (2008–2011, 2015–2018, and 2022–2024). A weighted Thermal–Phenological Gap Index (TPGI) was constructed to integrate thermal accumulation, heat-stress frequency, NDVI temporal displacement, and growing season contraction. Random Forest regression was additionally applied to evaluate predictor importance and model performance. Overall results showed a gradual increase in the magnitude of thermal and phenological stress during subsequent instability periods, especially in the central and southern Iraqi agroecosystems. Weighted TPGI showed significant negative correlations with potato yield variation ((r=-0.74), (p<0.001)), indicating that the downward trend of production was more related to a combination of thermal and phenological disruption rather than seasonal warming per se. The study highlights the importance of a combined remote sensing and agroclimatological approach for monitoring climate-related crop instability in dryland agricultural systems.

Agriculture still forms the largest share of the Afghanistan economy in terms of GDP and is a means of livelihood for the rural population. However, the sector has generally remained stabile due to constraints in production and marketing activities. A comprehensive synthesis that systematically integrates evidence on both production and marketing challenges over the past fifteen years is lacking. This systematic review aims to fill this gap by bringing together fragmented findings and providing a precise analytical framework for evidence-based policymaking. Systematic literature searches were conducted in Google, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus, resulting in research articles that were peer-reviewed and published between 2010 and 2025. In line with the PRISMA 2020 guideline, 40 studies were reviewed, and qualitative thematic synthesis was conducted on these studies. Market access and price-related barriers have been reported in the largest number of articles (62.5%), followed by post-harvest and infrastructural deficiencies (55%), technical and farm management issues (52.5%), natural resource and climate-related problems (50%), and institutional and financial problems (45%). The study found market access and price-related challenges to be the topmost constraint. Importantly, the analysis also reveals that these problems do not act individually but as a closely interlinked system of vulnerabilities. This systematic review develops the first integrative framework that maps the constraints of agriculture in Afghanistan. It is revealed that sustaining the agricultural transformation would require the initiation of coordinated and multi-level policy interventions tackling areas such as market governance, infrastructural development, financial inclusion, and skills upgrading among farmers.

Urban tree planting (UTP) plays an important role in human existence, it provides raw materials, food, shelter, clothing, medicine, etc. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the economic benefits of UTP in Idi-shin area of Oyo State. Idi-shin was specifically selected for this study. Sampling intensity (2.5%) was used to select 142 respondents. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic analysis. The result shows that most (63.4%) of the respondents had information about tree planting; of which (26.8%) had it online. Many (77.5%) of the respondents were interested in planting trees but those who are not interested gave reasons such as lack of space (26.1%), difficulty in planting trees (21.4%) and lack of technical knowledge (21.4%). Mangifera indica was the most widespread tree species with about 27 stands in the region. Provision of Shade was the most important socio- economic benefit of trees with odds-ratio of 22.14. Enlightenment campaign should be encouraged while participation in UTP is important for sustainable management of the area.

In recent years, food consumption patterns in the Republic of Moldova have undergone significant changes, largely influenced by media promotion strategies and the increasing use of digital platforms in everyday life. Available data indicate that approximately 63.9% of adults are overweight and 22.7% are obese. Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 57.8% of all deaths in 2023, while life expectancy, at approximately 72 years, remained nearly 10 years below the European Union average. Aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods through television, social media, and other digital platforms, combined with insufficient regulation of food advertising, contributes to the deterioration of dietary habits, particularly among children, adolescents, and rural communities. Law No. 62/2022 on advertising represents legislative progress; however, its enforcement remains limited. This paper examines current food consumption patterns, the role of media in shaping dietary behaviours across population groups, and the strategies needed to promote healthier and more active lifestyles. It also proposes policy measures aimed at protecting vulnerable population groups.

Digital technologies are on the trajectory of reshaping agricultural markets and rural economic systems across developing regions. This article examines how digital marketplaces and e-commerce platforms influence income generation, agricultural value chains, and entrepreneurship among rural farmers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study employs a systematic literature review methodology to synthesise recent scholarly and institutional literature on digital agriculture, rural digital markets, and e-commerce adoption among smallholder farmers. Academic databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were used to identify relevant publications produced between the year 2020 to the most recent publications of 2026. The findings indicate that digital marketplaces allow farmers to reach wider consumer markets, lessen their reliance on intermediaries, and enhance price transparency and profitability for primary producers. Evidence also shows that e-commerce platforms enhance value chain coordination and support the emergence of rural agricultural entrepreneurship. However, persistent challenges remain, including digital literacy gaps, infrastructure limitations, and unequal access to internet connectivity. The article contributes to the growing body of research on digital transformation in agriculture by highlighting the opportunities and structural barriers associated with rural digital commerce. The findings suggest that targeted policy interventions, digital infrastructure investment, and capacity development programmes are necessary to maximise the benefits of digital marketplaces for smallholder farmers in Limpopo and other rural regions.

This study investigated the effect of cooperative societies on smallholder agribusiness farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, types of cooperative societies present, benefits derived from membership, socio-economic factors influencing cooperative effectiveness. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents; data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. The results indicated that 56.7% of the respondents were male, 77.5% were married, with a mean age of 44.2 years. About 56.7% practiced peasant farming. Most of the respondents borrowed between ₦50,000 and ₦150,000 at interest rates of 5-10%, and 59.2% engaged in cassava farming. Major benefits derived from cooperative societies included access to improved farm inputs, credit facilities, affordable goods and services, elimination of middlemen, and risk management. Multipurpose and crop cooperatives were the dominant types of cooperative societies in the study area. Regression analysis revealed that marital status (β = 5.035, p < 0.01) had a positive and significant effect on the effectiveness of cooperative societies, while gender (β = −7.493, p < 0.01), Age (β = −1.071, p < 0.05) and educational level (β = −1.192, p < 0.05) showed negative significant relationships. The model explained 53.4% of the variation (R² = 0.534). Key constraints included land tenure issues, shortage of skilled personnel, administrative bottlenecks, and unfavorable government policies. The study recommends increased awareness campaigns to enhance farmers’ participation in cooperative societies for improved productivity.

Ethiopia possesses the largest bamboo resource in Africa, primarily the highland bamboo (Yushania alpina) and lowland bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica). This review synthesizes empirical evidence from the past five years (2000-2025) to analyse the interconnected environmental, economic, and social benefits the "Bamboo Nexus" and evaluates its realized and potential contribution to Ethiopia's sustainable development. Findings reveal a significant paradox: despite abundant natural stock and well-documented ecological benefits (soil erosion control, carbon sequestration, watershed protection), socioeconomic utilization remains sub-optimal, informal, and spatially fragmented. Economically, bamboo provides critical supplemental income, contributing 11-38% of annual cash for households in key growing regions, yet value chains are underdeveloped, dominated by raw pole production. Socially, bamboo supports livelihoods, fuel, and construction, but lacks integration into formal green job strategies. We argue that leveraging the Bamboo Nexus requires an integrated, systemic approach moving beyond subsistence use towards a strategic, climate-smart bio economy. This review proposes a consolidated framework for action, positioning bamboo as a cross-cutting pillar for achieving Ethiopia's Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy, promoting rural industrialization, and fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work), 12 (Responsible Consumption), and 13 (Climate Action).

Invasive species are commonly viewed as ecological threats; however, community-led approaches can transform these management challenges into opportunities for rural livelihood development. This qualitative case study examines a women-led initiative near the Beas Conservation Reserve (BCR), Punjab, India, where invasive water hyacinth biomass is managed through manual removal and value-added reuse. Semi-structured interviews, participant observations and photographic documentation of processing and production activities were conducted to understand perceived ecological changes, livelihood outcomes and social dimensions. The intervention generated supplementary household income through handicraft production while strengthening skills, participation and leadership roles among rural women. The findings demonstrate a transferable community-based approach that links invasive species management, sustainable biomass utilization and gender-responsive rural development. The study contributes to rural development scholarship by showing how institutional facilitation—rather than subsidy-driven interventions - can support locally driven environmental action and livelihood generation. The approach aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), by illustrating how women-led rural innovations can integrate community-based invasive species management with social and economic empowerment.

Agritourists are considered tourists who visit rural destinations and consume goods and services associated with agriculture. Agritourism providers offer goods and services in the form of educational, recreational and nature-based activities for tourists. The study aims to examine the factors influencing tourists’ willingness to participate (WTP) in agritourism. Convenience sampling was used to conduct a face-to-face interviewer-completed survey with 300 respondents visiting selected tourist attractions in the Mpumalanga province. Using a probit model, the study found that countries of origin, educational experiences, agritourism activities, learning about farming, social media, and customer service positively influenced tourists' WTP for agritourism. Whereas paying for agritourism activities was found to be negatively influencing tourists’ WTP. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the provincial government collaborate with tourism authorities and service providers to formulate a dedicated agritourism strategy to encourage tourists to participate in agritourism.

The excessive utilisation of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in modern agriculture generates major problems for the environment, human health and soil quality. In this context, European policymakers, researchers, and farmers are increasingly focusing on alternative solutions that contribute to more sustainable agriculture. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are regarded as biotechnological tools that align well with environmentally friendly alternatives. Numerous PGPR strains are being studied as an ecological alternative to environmentally harmful synthetic preparations (chemical fertilizers, pesticides) and tested for introduction into crop technologies under different formulations, in order to optimize plant growth and improve the production yield. These highly beneficial bacteria colonize on plant roots, stimulating their development through direct and indirect mechanisms. PGPR can improve nutrient availability (nitrogen fixation, phosphorus, potassium, zinc solubilization, etc.) and can influence optimal plant development by producing siderophores and regulating phytohormones. PGPR have the capacity to change the potential for water transport and absorption by roots. Additionally, they can contribute to plant protection by inhibiting pathogens or by stimulating host defence mechanisms, including the production of antibiotics, antioxidants, hydrolytic enzymes, exopolysaccharides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and osmotic balancing. The paper provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding PGPR and their importance to enhancing crop productivity and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

This study investigates the role of home gardening as an effective and sustainable strategy in mitigating food insecurity in communities in Ogun state. The study employed a mixed method research approach, which included 200 households across four LGA in Ogun state with quantifiable survey interviews of Agricultural and Nutritional professionals. Data analysis which included descriptive and inferential approach were employed to measure the impact of home gardening on Household food security, food expenditure, Household income and Dietary diversity. Results indicate that 70 % of the households practicing home gardening reported improved yearly access to quality nutritious food items, 65% utilized garden produce as supplementary income source. The study concludes that the implementation of home gardening training into community developmental plans significantly bring an adaptable solution to food insecurity in Ogun state. It also recommends youth participation and policy prioritization which would prioritize agricultural subsidies and gardening input to foster unbiased food systems. The research highlights home gardening as a viable cost-effective solution to food diffidence, as it secures sustainable livelihood and food control for low-income households.

This study examines the socioeconomic factors affecting youth participation in forest-based enterprises in Ibadan. The research is motivated by the persistent challenge of youth unemployment and the need to explore sustainable livelihood opportunities within the forestry sector. Specifically, the study analyzes the effects of access to finance, education, skills acquisition, unemployment status, and social networks on the level of youth participation using a binary logistic regression model. A cross-sectional research design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 247 youths selected through a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were employed to achieve the study objectives. The results reveal that youth participation in forest-based enterprises is relatively low (44.1%), despite the sector’s significant potential for income generation and employment creation. The regression findings indicate that access to finance, education, skills acquisition, unemployment status, and social networks all have positive and statistically significant effects on youth participation. Notably, access to finance, skills acquisition, and social networks emerged as the most influential determinants. The study concludes that improving financial inclusion, enhancing vocational skills, and strengthening social capital are critical for increasing youth engagement in forest-based enterprises. The findings give emphasis to the relevance of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and Human Capital Theory in explaining participation dynamics. The study contributes to existing literature by providing empirical, location-specific evidence and offers practical insights for policymakers and development practitioners. Enhancing youth participation in forest-based enterprises has the potential to promote sustainable livelihoods, reduce unemployment, and support environmental conservation efforts.

High mortality rates caused by environmental stress and infectious diseases remain a major constraint to small-scale broiler production in sub-Saharan Africa. This study presents the design, development, and field validation of a low-cost Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)-based early warning system for real-time monitoring of environmental and biological indicators in poultry housing systems. The system integrates temperature, relative humidity, and a novel infrared-based faecal consistency sensor with a microcontroller and GSM module to deliver automated short message service (SMS) alerts when critical thresholds are exceeded. Field validation was conducted over an eight-week production cycle across three small-scale broiler farms in Niger State, Nigeria. System performance was evaluated in terms of sensor accuracy, communication reliability, response latency, and impact on flock health outcomes. Results indicate a GSM alert success rate of 96%, with sensor measurement errors within acceptable engineering tolerances (±0.4°C for temperature and ±1.8% for relative humidity). The system enabled early detection of environmental stress events and disease onset, contributing to a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in mortality from 14.8% (baseline) to 7.2% during the intervention period. Economic analysis revealed a payback period of less than one production cycle, highlighting the system’s financial viability for smallholder adoption. The study demonstrates that affordable, context-specific precision livestock technologies can substantially enhance productivity and resilience in resource-constrained poultry systems.

Agricultural extension systems in South Africa face increasing pressure to provide timely, location-specific, and risk-aware advisories to dryland grain farmers under intensifying climate variability. Statistical climate modelling has emerged as a critical bridge between climate science and farm-level decision-making, yet its application within extension practice remains uneven. This review synthesises peer‑reviewed literature published between 2010 and 2026 on climate data curation, statistical and spatial modelling, and crop–climate integration relevant to agricultural extension in South Africa and comparable semi‑arid regions. Trends in climate variability affecting dryland grain systems are examined alongside statistical methods used to link climate drivers with yield and risk outcomes. Approaches for embedding modelling outputs into extension advisory systems are assessed. Results indicate a shift from descriptive analyses towards integrated, multi‑model decision‑support frameworks combining downscaled climate data, regression and time‑series techniques, and process‑based crop models. Persistent gaps remain in local calibration, uncertainty communication, and extension capacity. A consolidated, extension‑oriented modelling framework is proposed, with priorities for research, policy, and capacity development identified to strengthen climate‑smart agricultural extension.

Roadside open sun drying remains the dominant post-harvest food preservation method among smallholder farmers and rural agro-processors across Nigeria, driven by zero operational cost, cultural tradition and the absence of possible alternatives. Despite its economic rational, the practice systematically exposes commodities to dangerous arrays of chemical, microbial and physical contamination hazards. Chemical risks often arise from vehicular emissions depositing heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds on the drying produce, while direct contact with bituminous road surfaces introduces hydrocarbon residues. Microbial hazards include contamination by pathogenic bacteria, mycotoxigenic fungi, and zoonotic vectors, compounded by slow and interrupted drying cycles that aid conditions favorable to aflatoxin-producing fungi and enteric pathogens. Physical contaminants including dust, insect fragments and animal droppings further compromise product safety, quality and marketability. These cumulative hazards impose a great public health concern on Nigerian consumers, particularly vulnerable populations including children and women. Improved solar drying technologies like cabinet, tent, direct, indirect, and hybrid solar-biomass systems represent evidence-based mitigation strategies that address these hazards while preserving the solar-powered, low-operational-cost nature of traditional drying. These enclosed systems achieve increased drying temperatures, rapid moisture removal, and exclusion of environmental contaminants and thermal inactivation of pathogens, producing commodities that consistently meet NAFDAC, SON, and international food safety standards, thereby unlocking premium domestic and export market access currently unavailable to open sun-dried products. Despite these demonstrated food safety and economic benefits, adoption of improved solar dryers among Nigerian smallholders remains critically low, constrained by high initial capital costs, limited technical awareness, inadequate extension services and weak regulatory enforcement. This review consolidates current evidence on the food safety risks of roadside open sun drying, evaluates the mitigating role of improved solar drying technologies and opportunities necessary to safeguard public health across Nigeria's food value chain.

Considering that the agricultural sector is one of the most important areas of activity worldwide, this article aims to analyse how existing technological tools in agriculture can support risk management on farms. Based on the existing specialized literature, we aim to examine three essential aspects: how technology has revolutionized traditional agriculture, specific technological tools for global risk management, the degree of farmers' adaptability to these changes, and the extent to which technology is implemented on farms. The study shows that although there are numerous tools for improving and automating agricultural activities, there are still countries where the adoption of digital technologies is limited—mainly due to a lack of educational training, insufficient support, and farmers' reluctance to change. In this context, the use of technology becomes a key factor not only in reducing risks but also in promoting sustainability in modern agriculture. The paper proposes an integrated framework that links risk identification with technological solutions and specific training modules.