Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Jean-Francois Hocquette
INRA(French National Institute for Agricultural Research), France
Keynote: What type of meat will we eat in the future: Still conventional meat from livestock, in vitro meat or meat analogues?
Time : 10:00-10:40
Biography:
Jean-Francois Hocquette is a Scientist at the INRA(French National Institute for Agricultural Research), France. His research interest mainly concerns with muscle biology as relevant to muscle growth and beef eating quality. His scientific activity resulted in 250 papers, 2 patents, over $7M in grants, Mentor to 27 scholars, Adjunctship (800 students) and 60 lectures worldwide. He was the Head of the Herbivore Research Unit and currently works for the High Council for Evaluation of Research & Higher Education. Besides, he is also involved in the activities of the European Association for Animal Production and of the French Meat Academy. He was an Associate Editor of BMC Genomics, edited two EAAP books and is currently Editor-in-Chief of the French Meat R&D Journal
Abstract:
The global population is estimated to reach 9 billion by the year 2050 and the meat industry would need to increase its production by approximately 50-73% based on current consumption trends. In response, there are several different options that have the potential to satisfy demand and increase production. One of these options is the production of cultured meat, which regularly generates media interest because of the potential contribution to food production while protecting the environment and respecting animal life. Proponents of artificial meat have been successful in engaging the interest of public media with an effective communication strategy. Cell culture has been performed successfully in research laboratories, however, there are significant technical difficulties limiting large-scale production including prohibitive cost and a lack of similarity of the obtained product with animal derived-meat. Other alternatives include selective breeding, animal cloning, genetic modification, agroecology systems and orientation towards bio-economy (those parts of the economy that use renewable biological resources). Furthermore, new protein sources from plants, fungi, algae or insects could also be used as a substitute for meat proteins. In the future, it is likely that meat substitutes will increase market share through competition with low-grade cuts of meat, cheap meat, ground meat and processed meat. To meet growing demands for protein and in the face of growing competition from other protein sources, the conventional meat industry must adopt new farming systems. The traditional more extensive livestock system (pasture-based beef and lamb) is one option likely to satisfy consumers’ expectations for natural products. Grazing systems are also the best to convert low-grade cellulose from grass into high quality organoleptic and healthy products. Ultimately, consumer acceptance of artificial meat will depend on moral or ethical concerns about the technology, as well as the usual food product concerns such as price, quality and providence.
Keynote Forum
Jerry Johnson
Colorado State University, USA
Keynote: Using decision trees for variety selection
Time : 11:00-11:40
Biography:
Dr. Johnson is Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado USA. He has conducted food crop variety trials in Francophone West Africa, the state of Washington USA, and in Colorado USA from 1976 to present. Sally Jones is the Research Agronomist for the Crops Testing program in Colorado. Sorghum research is her principal area of interest although she collaborates for testing multiple crop species, uses the most appropriate model to analyze each variety trial and co-publishes six crop reports and multiple popular publications of trial results
Abstract:
Crop variety trials may consist of 50 entries or more. The main purpose of variety trials is to provide unbiased and reliable information to producers for making better variety selections. Variety selection is a very important and easily managed decision for each field every year. Better variety decisions lead to 1-2% increase in yearly yield. Variety trial results are often presented as a list of varieties in descending order of yield. These tables are deceptive because there is no expected difference in yield for the top varieties, yet the table leads producers to believe that the top variety is better than a lower ranked variety. The reasons for the continued use of deceptive variety trial tables are investigated. Wheat variety trials in Colorado USA are used to illustrate the confusion and ineffectiveness of common reporting practices and how we alleviate ambiguities by the use of variety selection decision trees and on farm testing of select varieties. A combination of these practices has led to vastly improved rates of new variety adoption and improved planting of certified seed of superior Colorado State University varieties
in the state in addition to higher yields.
Keynote Forum
Elie K. Barbour
King Abdulaziz University, KSA
Keynote: Global research ensuing in an invention for comprehensive control of coccidiosis in poultry
Time : 11:40-12:20
Biography:
Elie K Barbour has completed his MS in Animal Sciences at the American University of Beirut, and his PhD at University of Minnesota, St. Paul. He has served for many years as Chairman of the Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department at the American University of Beirut, and as a Consultant to major intensive domestic farms in the Middle East. He is on the Editorial Board of the World Animal Health Organization (Revue Scientifique Et Technique Journal), and Veterinaria Italiana Journal. He has around 125 manuscripts published in international journals in the field of animal production and health.
Abstract:
This study deals with a global research data, compiled of eight countries, aimed at replacement of synthetic poultry
coccidiostats by an invented comprehensive dual approach of decontaminating poultry barns by Wide Spectrum Disinfectant (WSD) and intermittent supplementation of drinking water with natural emulsion of Essential Oil Blend in Water Extract (EOBWE) of plants. Six trials of this global research were concluded in isolation unit facilities and laboratories, while the other four trials were performed in the field. The six isolation facility and laboratory trials had different objectives that included, analyzing the protection methods against coccidiosis by intermittent or continuous administration of EOBWE in drinking water against controlled challenge by sporulated oocyctes of Eimeria spp., via the mouth or contaminated floors. Another two objectives were to study the effect of different concentrations of EOBWE and WSD on lysis of Eimeria-oocyctes. A fourth objective compared the control of coccidiosis in broilers by the invented dual approach of using WSD and EOBWE versus classical disinfectants and synthetic coccidiostats. The field trials were four. The first compared the dual intervention by classical disinfectants and synthetic coccidiostat vs. the invented intervention by WSD and EOBWE against controlled
floor contaminated-challenge in broilers by equivalent number of sporulated oocysts of 8 Eimeria spp. The second and third
trials had the same comparison but against field challenge of broilers by Eimeria spp. The fourth trial compared the impact of
synthetic coccidiostat alone vs. concurrent administration of both the synthetic coccidiostat and the EOBWE on protection of
broilers against field challenge by Eimeria spp. The compiled data of this global research resulted in a US patented-invention
of dual method for decontamination of surfaces by WSD and for drinking water supplementation by natural EOBWE, that led
to comprehensive control of coccidiosis in poultry, by significant reduction of oocyctes output and its associated lesions, and
consistent enhancing of the chicken performance.
- Sustainable Agriculture | Agricultural Biotechnology & Agro-forestry | Plant Science & Weed Science | Plant Biotechnology | Food Value Chains | Crop Protection and Awareness
Session Introduction
Roberto Pasqualino
Anglia Ruskin University, UK
Title: Complexity in the global agricultural system – Threats to human development and opportunities for science
Biography:
Roberto Pasqualino is a System Policy and Risk Scientist at the Global Sustainability Institute and works as a Research Fellow under the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity in the UK. His research interests are in global sustainability and systemic risk within financial and trade networks, mostly looking at the interconnection between natural resources availability and financial risk. He has demonstrated a passion for global system change and his expertise spans energy and agriculture systems modeling, supply chain management, finance and systemic inequality. His work in sustainability includes sustainable supply chains, global system modeling based on the famous limits to growth World3 model, and agriculture systems risks and complexity.
Abstract:
The complexity of the global agricultural system is a tremendous barrier to the understanding of possible consequences and impacts of policies and business decisions on society at both global and national levels. Aiming at feeding 9 billion people by 2050, agriculture has a fundamental role for human development in providing livelihood to 40% of global population as both food
and energy supplier, and representing a key leverage for most SDGs’ achievement. At the same time agriculture is both a cause of, and the most vulnerable economic sector to, climate change. It consumes above 70% of freshwater withdrawal globally, and is heavily dependent on mineral resources at the cusp of global production. Continuous and cumulative environmental degradation puts agriculture at risk of dangerous ecosystem tipping points including sea level rise, change in nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, and
most frequent and disruptive climatic shocks (i.e. extreme weather events). Aware of the long term risk to human condition on the planet, international agreements and measures will be gradually taken at both international and national levels to coercively bring the world within the ecosystem’s limits in the next decades. Within a complex network of trading countries, such policies might result in economic shocks and cascade effects among countries with implication on their economic performance. A world system computer
model is being developed relying on system dynamics modeling, networks, econometric analysis and public available datasets to model food and energy systems and trade among macro-regions and allows for testing of both climate and policy shocks to assess their possible outcomes and risks in the medium to long term future. The final outcome is to provide policy makers with a data
transparent simulation tool to support clarity and resilience of decision making outcomes while leading on a global scale transition towards sustainability.
Petras Lazauskas
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Title: The law of the field crop performance (agrophytocenosis) productivity: The key to the future of agriculture
Biography:
Petras Lazauskas has graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Agriculture. As a Scientist, he started working on the problems of weed control applying a traditional empirical method of cognition. Subsequently, he was involved in a non-chemical weed control using theoretic geo-botanic method of cognition. He has
participated in organic farming and weed control events in Germany, France, SA, Italy, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia and Russia. In 1997, he has
won a Bursary to attend the British Crop Protection Council Conference in Brighton
Abstract:
The worldwide conventional deep soil tillage by annual ploughing has no proved theoretical fundamentals and is based only on the primitive sensual empirical experience. The greatest disadvantage of this method is its negative impact on the soil: its degradation, soil carbon material mineralization, rising emissions of carbon dioxide, and climate warming. According to the geo-botany theory the typical field crops stands are natural field plant communities (agrophytocenosis). Their cognition productivity therefore should be evaluated from the theoretical point of view. The soil tillage and weed control can been proved by the novel law of crop and weed communities’ performance. This law can be defined as follows: Productivity of a typical field plant community (agrophytocenosis), including overall dry mass of crop and weeds, growing under identical conditions is relatively constant. In general, this phenomenon
can be described by the following equation: A=Y+X b, where A signifies maximum productivity of the whole dry mass of the whole community; Y - crop dry mass yield under the existing growing conditions of the community; X - weed mass; b - yield depression rate, indicating the degree of yield increase or decrease when weed mass changes by one unit. Based on this finding we can predict that this novel field crop performance productivity law will theoretically and practically revolutionize the cognition of soil tillage and weed
control. Consequently, in the nearest future, the soil tillage and weed control disciplines will adopt this theoretical background and modernize the traditional empirical basis of soil tillage technologies. New theoretical cognition will have to reject annual deep plough and apply shallow precise soil tillage. These means will mitigate soil degradation, reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emission into the environment, slow climate warming, and will save costs of the non-regenerative energy in agriculture.
Alvaro Sotomayor
Forest Research Institute, Chile
Title: Development and results of agroforestry in Chile: A way to connect forest and agriculture
Biography:
Alvaro Sotomayor is a Forestry Engineer with Doctoral studies in Spain and Masters in the United States. He has focused on the study of the potential of
agroforestry in Chile, as a way of complementing forestry and agriculture with small and medium agricultural producers. His work at the Forestry Institute of Chile, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, has allowed him to work with more than 1,600 farmers promoting agroforestry, obtaining resources from both the central and regional government, and from research funds.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Since Chilean colonization, agricultural use in the fields has been developing thinking that trees were competitors of agricultural production, and consequently trees were burned or cut, even with state policies that promoted opening of native forests for development of agriculture and livestock. This situation has led to 49.1% of the national soil, equivalent to 36.8 million hectares, with some degree of erosion. The major factors responsible for this erosion have been human action, the geological
processes of the landscape and the climatic aggressiveness.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: In Chile, during the last 15 years, an alternative agroforestry model has been studied for small and medium-sized agricultural producers, encouraging the introduction of woody species in the fields, considering the cultural identity, the life system of these producers and the conditions soil and climate. The establishment of trees on the farm is done under a different concept from traditional forest plantations, based on systems in an agroforestry approach.
Results: Thus, with this form of tree introduction, in an agroforestry approach, decreases in erosion processes have been obtained with reduction of soil losses of more than 1,700% in relation to traditional agricultural uses; reduction of wind up to 200% by the establishment of trees in silvopastoral design in prairies for livestock production purposes; increased productivity of forage species by the use of windbreaks by 41%; reduction of contaminants in watercourses through the use of biofilters, mitigation of climate change,
and other social and economic benefits.
Conclusion: This way of reintroducing trees in the fields has been found to have a better acceptance than that of industrial plantations, where 93.1% of the farmers preferred to establish trees in an agroforestry arrangement versus 27.5% disposition to forest with traditional plantations; and, silvopastoral systems and windbreaks were preferred.
Sangwani Gondwe Makoko
African Institute of Corporate Citizenship, Malawi
Title: From farm to table: Rice quantitative value chain in Malawi
Biography:
Sangwani Gondwe Makoko is a seasoned Agribusiness Specialist. Her current work with Africa Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC), Malawi (AICC) entails active involvement in the coordination of the National Rice Development Platform and the Legumes Development Trust whose mandates are to ensure the vibrancy of the rice and legume value chains in Malawi. She has received her Master of Science degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness from the University of Malawi-Bunda College.
Abstract:
Rice is the second main cereal crop from maize which accounts for 70,000 ha of cultivated land in Malawi. It is also an industrial crop grown by smallholder farmers. For some time yields of rice have been revolving around 1500 kg to 3000 kg against the potential of 4000 kg to 6500 kg which could be achieved if optimal factors of production are applied. Majority of smallholder farmers
have low to medium levels of production and one factor that aggravates the situation is the use of poor quality and over recycled seed. The main players in the rice value chain are smallholder farmers, input suppliers especially fertilizers, middlemen/vendors, processors/packers and government. Each of these players has a unique role to play in the rice value chain and their benefits and challenges also vary. The quantitative value chain study was aimed at assessing the competitiveness of price for the various rice value chain stages and suggests weak links that require attention in order to improve its competitiveness. The study targeted rice growing schemes of Mphinga, Mkondezi, Msenjere, Lifuwu, Domasi, Likangala and Nkhate. Middlemen, traders, transporters, retailers and consumers operating in the schemes were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to capture data from smallholder farmers. The study revealed that on average smallholder farmers sold their rice at $0.6 per
kg while retailers got $1.13 per kg indicating a price margin of $0.53 between the two players. Lower prices received by farmers are basically because farmers mostly sell paddy which fetches lower price than milled rice sold by the subsequent players. It is therefore be recommended that smallholder farmers should make use of the cooperatives, bulk their rice, mill and package the rice as a group if they are to be competitive.
Thuzar Linn
Ghent University, Belgium
Title: Mapping and analyzing value chain of rice crop in Ayeyarwady region
Biography:
Thuzar Linn is a Doctoral student studying in the Department of Business Informatics and Operations Management under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Broos
Maenhout in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administrations at the Ghent University, Belgium. She is currently a Doctorate student. She is an Assistant
Lecturer and has more than 10 years of work experience in teaching and research. She has one international publication in the field of value chain analysis. Her
doctoral research also specializes in the area of value chain analysis.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: In this paper, the value chain of rice crop in Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar is analyzed. The issues with respect to the rice value chain are complex and multifaceted in this region. The challenge for Myanmar is thus to understand and, more importantly, identify the constraints facing the marketing system and develop strategies to overcome these bottlenecks. The purpose of this study is to structure of the rice value chain in Ayeyarwady Region, to analyze the marketing costs and margins of the
various actors along the rice value chain, to study the socio-demographic characteristics of actors and to identify the different types of constraints on the value chain.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The different characteristics of different actors are identified by purposive and simple random sampling methods. The descriptive statistics, cost and return analysis, and marketing cost and marketing margin analysis are used in this study.
Findings: The studied rice value chain encompasses different actors: i.e. farmer, primary collector, miller, wholesaler, retailer and exporter. In this value chain, the millers receive the highest profit share and the farmers have the highest marketing margin distribution. The observed rice value chain is not efficient since the marketing margin is unequally distributed along the chain. The encountered internal constraints are primarily material and production constraints. The external constraints are related to financial, distribution and institutional issues.
Conclusion & Significance: The rice miller is the most profitable actor and the primary collectors and farmers are the most vulnerable actors in the rice value chain. Farm mechanization and improving public and private extension programs are needed to raise the profit of the farmers. The development in infrastructure such as transportation, power supply and banking is needed to support through private-public partnership for the development of the rice value chain sector.
Mxolisi Arnold Stemele
Fort Hare University, South Africa
Title: Farmer’s decision making toolbox for Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) management on fresh market cabbage
Biography:
Mxolisi Arnold Stemele is an Entomology Lecturer at the University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape, South Africa. His research interest includes biological control,
host plant resistance, toxicology, insect-plant interaction chemical ecology, insect pathology and molecular approaches in entomological research. He is currently
working on a project ‘Decision making tools for farmers in pest management’ and ‘Molecular characterization and DNA barcoding of the Lepidoptera stem borers
on cereal crops and natural vegetation’.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: In absence of the pest economic thresholds, farmers apply insecticides prophylactically based on calendarsprays with no regard to pest density. In addition, there tends to be no clear guidelines for the integration of the insecticides with the natural pest control. Consequently, the impact of the insecticides on Biological Control (BC) agents (compatibility), the impact of the BC agents on the pest (levels of parasitism), seasonality of pest and BC agent’s populations and the action thresholds (weekly counts) of the insect pests are not taken into account in pest management decision making. This practice constitutes a major threat to biodiversity in agroecosystem and the surrounding environments.
Methods: Population dynamics of Plutella xylostella, an important insect pest of cabbage and its dominant parasitoid, Cotesia vestalis (=plutellae) were investigated on cabbage treated with conventional and a selective insecticide under three insecticide treatment routines. The data was used to develop a simple framework to develop insect pest thresholds and estimate yields through integration of insect density, yield loss ratios, technical efficiencies and damage abetment factors. In addition, the impact of a conventional and a selective insecticide on the BC agents was investigated.
Findings: Plutella xylostella populations varied between the seasons, the conventional and a selective insecticide and the insecticide treatment routines. P. xylostella incidence correlated well with the effective yields and the mean action threshold for the optimal cabbage yields was estimated at as single larvae per plant. Parasitism of P. xylostella was higher in insecticide free and selective insecticide treated crop compared to conventional insecticides.
Conclusion: The results indicated that, while cabbage cannot be cultivated without applications of insecticide against P. xylostella during certain periods of the year, adoption of action thresholds reduce number of sprays. In addition, application of selective insecticides reduces the insecticides impact on the parasitoids population.
Biography:
Amir Mor-Mussery has his expertise on implementation of sustainable cultivation practices for arid loamy soils. His fields of interests include defying rehabilitation
(or depredation) states of different cultivation practices, planning and monitoring grazing plans for arid rangelands, designing and managing agriculture terraces for
halting runoff and rehabilitation of cultivated areas, savannas planning for increasing rangelands' productivity. He wrote many papers in peer reviewed journals onthese issues and guide students and high school students on these issues.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Many studies were conducted on the ants' life cycles; food supply etc., still their functioning in cultivated arid areas and as result, their rehabilitation efficiency for these areas is poorly analyzed.
Aim: Defining the harvester ants’ impacts on different cultivated arid areas and their potential use for rehabilitation and sustainable management.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: A long term study carried out between 2008 and 2017 in the northern Negev (A heavily degraded and desertified area due to maximum levels of mismanagement, by repeated tilling and grazing without fertilizer inputs, fertility or grazing management) in different cultivated areas some conserved and other open lands on the harvester ants Messor ebeninus and M. arenarius functioning.
Findings: Our findings indicate that in tilled areas at the first years after conservation, the harvester ants raised yearly the soil organic matter in by 0.5%, due to their foraging, than by 0.5-1% per year by their nests functioning (which serve as sink for spreading nutrients in the area underground zone). At final state in well managed rainfed Triticum aestivum field we found an increase of 15% of the yields (grains and vegetative biomass for grazing) in 30% ants' nests cover. In rangelands we got a yearly continuant increase
of 0.5-1% of SOM and for other fertility parameters as nutrients and vegetative biomass an increase of 30% per year caused by their nest-sink functioning and their soil loosening. In cultivated soil terraces the ants encouraged the herbaceous vegetal growth by their soil loosening, accumulated organic matter and enriched clay content.
Conclusion & Significance: Using adequate soil practices which do not interfere with ants’ activity will accelerate rehabilitation, sustainable and profitable cultivation use for many degraded arid lands all over the globe.