International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology (5 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• The governance of agricultural transitions: A mapping towards sustainable food systems  
  by Amanda Ferreira Guimarães, Marie Dervillé 
  Abstract: Food system sustainability requires shifting from industrial food chains towards greater diversity, inclusiveness, and environmentally friendly practices. Although localized innovations have emerged worldwide, their scope remains limited. How to scale sustainable practices remains unknown. The literature shows that such transitions require more than public policies to trigger effective changes in practices and social relations. We address this gap through interdisciplinary scientometric data analysis from 2007-2023. By combining bibliometric and semantic analyses with an in-depth reading of the literature, we map the scientific field studying the governance of agricultural transitions. We show that it is a recent research field, with accelerated growth from 2017 onwards. We distinguish two periods and find that agricultural transitions require dedicated public policies and an interplay between adaptive technical and organisational collective initiatives. The governance of agricultural transitions requires a systemic, multiscalar, and interdisciplinary approach in which territorialized processes are crucial for articulating coherent alternatives.
  Keywords: governance; agricultural transitions; sustainability; agriculture; food systems; sustainable food systems; scientometrics; bibliometrics; public policy; adaptive governance.
  
  
• Economic and environmental effects of the ban on log exports in the CEMAC zone  
  by Mathieu Juliot Mpabe Bodjongo, Josué Kevin Fotso Mbobda 
  Abstract: This study aims to examine the potential economic and environmental impacts of a total ban on log exports in three of the six countries in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC): Cameroon, Republic of the Congo and Chad. The results, based on a computable general equilibrium model (CGEM), show that the policy of a total log export ban is less economically beneficial than a log export quota, particularly in terms of: 1) the value of total output in the timber sector; 2) the value added in the timber sector; 3) employment in the timber sector; 4) tax revenue; 5) the income and welfare of urban and rural households; 6) real GDP. However, in environmental terms, the total log export ban is more effective than a log export quota.
  Keywords: trade barrier; timber; economy; environment; computable general equilibrium model; CGEM.
  
  
• Weather intervention-based pest forewarning model for increasing crop yield using Bayesian discriminant analysis  
  by S.R. Krishna Priya, N. Naranammal 
  Abstract: Forewarning crop pests can help prevent crop damage, which helps to increase the crop yield. This paper is an attempt to forewarn the sucking pests of cotton crops such as aphids, jassid, thrips and whitefly. The data used for the study is the pest incidence of sucking pests on cotton from the years 2015-2016 to 2022-2023. A comparative study has been carried out using the Bayesian discriminant analysis with weather variables and weather indices for two groups as well as three groups. Regression model is built by taking the posterior probability obtained from both weather variables and weather indices, along with the trend as a regressor and pest incidence as a response variable for forewarning. The models are compared by goodness of fit measures. It has been identified that two groups of Bayesian discriminant analysis using weather indices performed better for aphids and jassid, while three groups using weather indices performed better for thrips and whitefly.
  Keywords: forewarning; discriminant analysis; crop pest; posterior probability; goodness of fit; weather indices; meteorological parameters; sustainable agriculture; integrated pest management; cotton.
  
  
• Impacts of organic and inorganic input usage on agricultural productivity in Burkina Faso in a security crisis  
  by Aimé Okoko, Tibi Didier Zoungrana 
  Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa faces food insecurity, worsened by rapid population growth outpacing agricultural output. Inorganic fertilisers offer potential solutions, but their current low usage is insufficient to meet food demands. This study explores the impact of inorganic fertiliser use on agricultural productivity in Burkina Faso, using data from the World Bank's living standards measurement study. By comparing plots that used inorganic inputs with those that used only organic ones, we found that the use of inorganic inputs positively affects productivity, particularly in high-yield plots. Crop-specific analysis showed significant impacts on maize, cowpea, sesame, and paddy rice. However, their effectiveness was lower in conflict-affected areas, with the Mouhoun region being an exception. These results highlight the need for tailored fertiliser strategies based on crop type and regional conditions.
  Keywords: agricultural productivity; inorganic inputs; conflicts; food security; Burkina Faso.
  
  
• Organic farming vs. integrated pest management: which strategies do greenhouse tomato growers choose to reduce pesticide use? Tomato grower pesticide reduction strategies  
  by Magali Aubert, Geoffroy Enjolras 
  Abstract: This study focuses on the implementation of two agri-environmental strategies aimed at reducing pesticide use: organic farming (OF) certification and integrated pest management (IPM). The originality of our analysis is to consider that each strategy represents a different management philosophy, guided by specific determinants. After a literature review on the determinants of innovation practices in agriculture, we designed and administered a questionnaire to 159 greenhouse tomato growers in the South of France. The results suggest that OF and IPM, although focused on the objective of reducing pesticide use, rely on different drivers. OF relies on managerial aspects, as the farmer's personal profile (education and environmental concerns) is essential for adoption. IPM practices are more influenced by technical factors (farm size, diversification, and labour intensity).
  Keywords: sustainable agriculture; pesticides; organic farming; integrated pest management; IPM; tomatoes.