Agroecology can promote climate change adaptation outcomes without compromising yield in smallholder systems

Sieglinde Snapp Yodit Kebede Eva Wollenberg (2023, [Artículo])

A critical question is whether agroecology can promote climate change mitigation and adaptation outcomes without compromising food security. We assessed the outcomes of smallholder agricultural systems and practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) against 35 mitigation, adaptation, and yield indicators by reviewing 50 articles with 77 cases of agroecological treatments relative to a baseline of conventional practices. Crop yields were higher for 63% of cases reporting yields. Crop diversity, income diversity, net income, reduced income variability, nutrient regulation, and reduced pest infestation, indicators of adaptative capacity, were associated with 70% or more of cases. Limited information on climate change mitigation, such as greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration impacts, was available. Overall, the evidence indicates that use of organic nutrient sources, diversifying systems with legumes and integrated pest management lead to climate change adaptation in multiple contexts. Landscape mosaics, biological control (e.g., enhancement of beneficial organisms) and field sanitation measures do not yet have sufficient evidence based on this review. Widespread adoption of agroecological practices and system transformations shows promise to contribute to climate change services and food security in LMICs. Gaps in adaptation and mitigation strategies and areas for policy and research interventions are finally discussed.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CLIMATE CHANGE CROPS FOOD SUPPLY GAS EMISSIONS GREENHOUSE GASES FARMING SYSTEMS AGROECOLOGY FOOD SECURITY LESS FAVOURED AREAS SMALLHOLDERS YIELDS NUTRIENTS BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL CARBON SEQUESTRATION LEGUMES

Implementing the nature's contributions framework: A case study based on farm typologies in small-scale agroecosystems from the Mexico highlands

Laura Alicia Rodríguez-Bustos natalia palacios rojas (2023, [Artículo])

Small-Scale Agriculture MasAgro CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MAIZE POLICIES AGROECOSYSTEMS SMALL SCALE FARMING

Desarrollo de nanocompositos de cápside viral P22 para la terapia con profármacos enzimáticos en cáncer de mama

Development of P22 viral capsid nanocomposites for enzymatic prodrug therapy in breast cancer

Astrid Rebeca Luna Rios (2024, [Tesis de maestría])

Las estrategias actuales contra el cáncer de mama presentan limitaciones debido a la falta de selectividad, disminuyendo su efectividad. La mayoría de los fármacos, como el tamoxifeno, requieren la activación metabólica por parte de las enzimas de la familia citocromo P450 (CYP) para ejercer mayores efectos anticancerígenos. Sin embargo, la concentración del CYP es variable y baja en las células tumorales, especialmente en el cáncer de mama, lo que provoca efectos secundarios. En la terapia de activación enzimática de profármacos (EPT), las enzimas se dirigen al tumor para transformar el profármaco, lo que normalmente implica la administración de la enzima seguida del profármaco. Sin embargo, las diferencias entre la farmacocinética y farmacodinamia son un obstáculo para mejorar el tratamiento. Por lo tanto, la administración conjunta de profármaco y enzima es esencial para garantizar su interacción favorable en el tumor. Este trabajo reporta una nueva clase de nanocompositos terapéuticos basados en partículas tipo virus P22 confinando CYP, funcionalizadas superficialmente con glucosa oxidasa (GOx) que transforma la glucosa en D-glucono-δ-lactona produciendo H2O2, el aceptor final de electrones en la transformación de tamoxifeno mediado por CYP, y conjugadas con un derivado de tamoxifeno como profármaco y ligando dirigido utilizando polietilenglicol como conector. En un microambiente tumoral rico en glucosa, estos nanocompuestos pueden producir fármaco activo in situ. Se caracterizaron las propiedades fisicoquímicas y la catálisis secuencial mediada por glucosa de los nanocompositos. Los estudios in vitro demostraron una disminución en la viabilidad celular en líneas celulares de cáncer de mama ER+ y ER-. Sin embargo, la internalización celular en ausencia de glucosa mostró ser preferencial con las VLPs dirigidas en ambas líneas celulares. La administración conjunta de enzimas y profármacos con una localización mejorada de las VLPs desarrolladas después de la funcionalización del tamoxifeno, lo que sugiere el potencial de los nanocompositos desarrollados para superar los desafíos existentes de la EPT y mejorar los resultados terapéuticos con efectos secundarios reducidos.

Current treatment strategies against breast cancer have limitations due to lack in selectivity. Most drugs, such as tamoxifen, require metabolic activation by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes to perform greater anticancer effects. However, the concentration of CYP varies and is low in tumor cells, especially in breast cancer, resulting in side-effects. In enzyme prodrug therapy (EPT), enzymes are targeted to the tumor cells for prodrug transformation, typically involving the sequential delivery of the enzyme followed by the prodrug. However, differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are a major hindrance for improving treatment. Therefore, co-delivery of prodrug and enzyme is essential to ensure their favorable interaction in tumor. This work reports a new class of therapeutic nanocomposites based on P22 virus like particles (VLPs) confining the CYP activity, surface functionalized with glucose oxidase (GOx) that transforms glucose into D-glucono-δ-lactone producing hydrogen peroxide, the final electron acceptor in the CYP-mediated transformation of tamoxifen, and together conjugated with a tamoxifen derivative as prodrug and targeting ligand using polyethylene glycol as a linker. In glucose-rich tumor microenvironment, these nanocomposites can produce active drug in situ. The physicochemical properties and sequential glucose-mediated catalysis of the nanocomposites were characterized. In vitro studies demonstrated a decrease in cell viability in both ER+ and ER- breast cancer cell lines. However, cellular internalization in the absence of glucose showed improved uptake of targeted VLPs in both cell lines. The co-delivery of enzymes and prodrug with improved localization of developed VLPs after tamoxifen functionalization, suggests the potential of developed nanocomposites to overcome the existing challenges of EPT and improve the therapeutic outcomes with reduced side effects.

VLP-P22, Citocromo P45O, Glucosa oxidasa, Tamoxifeno, Terapia de activación enzimática de profármacos VLP-P22, Cytochrome P45O, Glucose oxidase, Tamoxifen, Enzyme prodrug therapy BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA QUÍMICA QUÍMICA FARMACÉUTICA DISEÑO.SÍNTESIS Y ESTUDIO NUEVOS FÁRMACOS DISEÑO.SÍNTESIS Y ESTUDIO NUEVOS FÁRMACOS

Multicriteria assessment of alternative cropping systems at farm level. A case with maize on family farms of South East Asia

Santiago Lopez-Ridaura (2023, [Artículo])

CONTEXT: Integration of farms into markets with adoption of maize as a cash crop can significantly increase income of farms of the developing world. However, in some cases, the income generated may still be very low and maize production may also have strong negative environmental and social impacts. OBJECTIVE: Maize production in northern Laos is taken as a case to study how far can farms' performance be improved with improved crop management of maize with the following changes at field level: good timing and optimal soil preparation and sowing, allowing optimal crop establishment and low weed infestation. METHODS: We compared different farm types' performance on locally relevant criteria and indicators embodying the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic and social). An integrated assessment approach was combined with direct measurement of indicators in farmers' fields to assess eleven criteria of local farm sustainability. A bio-economic farm model was used for scenario assessment in which changes in crop management and the economic environment of farms were compared to present situation. The farm model was based on mathematical programming maximizing income under constraints related to i) household composition, initial cash and rice stocks and land type, and ii) seasonal balances of cash, labour and food. The crop management scenarios were built based on a diagnosis of the causes of variations in the agronomic and environmental performances of cropping systems, carried out in farmers' fields. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that moderate changes in crop management on maize would improve substantially farm performance on 4 to 6 criteria out of the 11 assessed, depending on farm types. The improved crop management of maize had a high economic attractiveness for every farm type simulated (low, medium and high resource endowed farms) even at simulated production costs more than doubling current costs of farmers' practices. However, while an improvement of the systems performance was attained in terms of agricultural productivity, income generation, work and ease of work, herbicide leaching, improved soil quality and nitrogen balance, trade-offs were identified with other indicators such as erosion control and cash outflow needed at the beginning of the cropping season. SIGNIFICANCE: Using farm modelling for multicriteria assessment of current and improved maize cropping systems for contrasted farm types helped capture main opportunities and constraints on local farm sustainability, and assess the trade-offs that new options at field level may generate at farm level.

Bio-Economic Farm Model Smallholder Farms CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CASH CROPS INDICATORS SMALLHOLDERS CROPPING SYSTEMS MAIZE

How diverse are farming systems on the Eastern Gangetic Plains of South Asia? A multi-metric and multi-country assessment

Brendan Brown Pragya Timsina Emma Karki (2023, [Artículo])

While crop diversification has many benefits and is a stated government objective across the Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) of South Asia, the complexity of assessment has led to a rather limited understanding on the progress towards, and status of, smallholder crop diversification. Most studies focus on specific commodities or report as part of a singular index, use outdated secondary data, or implement highly localized studies, leading to broad generalisations and a lack of regional comparison. We collected representative primary data with more than 5000 households in 55 communities in Eastern Nepal, West Bengal (India) and Northwest Bangladesh to explore seasonally based diversification experiences and applied novel metrics to understand the nuanced status of farm diversification. While 66 crops were commercially grown across the region, only five crops and three crop families were widely grown (Poaceae, Malvaceae, and Brassicaceae). Non-cereal diversification across the region was limited (1.5 crops per household), though regional differentiation were evident particularly relating to livestock and off-farm activities, highlighting the importance of cross border studies. In terms of farmer's largest commercial plots, 20% of systems contained only rice, and 57% contained only rice/wheat/maize, with substantial regional diversity present. This raises concerns regarding the extent of commercially oriented high value and non-cereal diversification, alongside opportunities for diversification in the under-diversified pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. Future promotional efforts may need to focus particularly on legumes to ensure the future sustainability and viability of farming systems.

Agricultural Production Systems Farming Systems Change CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION CROPPING SYSTEMS DIVERSIFICATION FARMING SYSTEMS SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION

Preparing for, coping with and bouncing back after shocks. A nuanced resilience assessment for smallholder farms and farmers in Northern Ghana

Mirja Michalscheck Fred Kizito Carl Timler Jeroen Groot (2023, [Artículo])

Whole-Farm Model Health Shock CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION VULNERABILITY SMALLHOLDERS LANDSCAPE TECHNOLOGY

Innovative approaches to integrating gender into conventional maize breeding: lessons from the Seed Production Technology for Africa project

Rachel Voss Jill Cairns Michael Olsen Esnath Tatenda Hamadziripi (2023, [Artículo])

The integration of gender concerns in crop breeding programs aims to improve the suitability and appeal of new varieties to both women and men, in response to concerns about unequal adoption of improved seed. However, few conventional breeding programs have sought to center social inclusion concerns. This community case study documents efforts to integrate gender into the maize-focused Seed Production Technology for Africa (SPTA) project using innovation history analysis drawing on project documents and the authors’ experiences. These efforts included deliberate exploration of potential gendered impacts of project technologies and innovations in the project’s approach to variety evaluation, culminating in the use of decentralized on-farm trials using the tricot approach. Through this case study, we illustrate the power of active and respectful collaborations between breeders and social scientists, spurred by donor mandates to address gender and social inclusion. Gender integration in this case was further facilitated by open-minded project leaders and allocation of funding for gender research. SPTA proved to be fertile ground for experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration around gender and maize breeding, and has provided proof of concept for larger breeding projects seeking to integrate gender considerations.

Crop Breeding On-Farm Trials Tricot CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GENDER CROPS BREEDING ON-FARM RESEARCH SOCIAL INCLUSION CITIZEN SCIENCE MAIZE

Energy and economic efficiency of climate-smart agriculture practices in a rice–wheat cropping system of India

Manish Kakraliya Deepak Bijarniya Parbodh Chander Sharma ML JAT (2022, [Artículo])

Intensive Tillage Conventional Rice–Wheat Systems Energy Efficiency On-Farm Studies Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE RICE WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEMS

Chapter 17. Conserving wheat genetic resources

Filippo Guzzon Maraeva Gianella Thomas Payne (2022, [Capítulo de libro])

Genetic Reserves Seed Conservation Wheat Wild Relatives CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GERMPLASM BANKS ON-FARM CONSERVATION SEEDS SEED VIABILITY WHEAT

Sorghum value chain analysis in semi-arid Zimbabwe

Abbyssinia Mushunje Munyaradzi Junia Mutenje Charles Pfukwa (2019, [Artículo])

Small Scale Farmers Extension Networks CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA AGRO-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR MARKETING MARGINS SORGHUM VALUE CHAINS