The world is facing a number of challenges such as climate change, diminishing soil quality and stagnant crop yields, which call for scalable solutions to ensure food security for a growing population. In this paper, we explore the role of data science in modern agriculture, highlighting the importance of big data analytics, geospatial technology, and machine learning.

The SIMFS initiative in Ethiopia is implemented under the scheme of sustainable intensification of crop-livestock mixed farming systems. Its purposes are to encourage the adoption and innovation of sustainable intensification technologies that improve crop, livestock, and water productivity, and conserve natural resources for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.

The limited number of agricultural extension agents (EAs) in sub-Saharan Africa limits farmers’ access to extension services. Artificial intelligence (AI) assistants could potentially aid in providing answers to farmers’ questions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of an AI chatbot assistant (ChatGPT) to provide quality responses to farmers’ questions. We compiled a list of 32 questions related to irrigated rice cultivation from farmers in Kano State, Nigeria. Six EAs from the state were randomly selected to answer these questions.

Odisha’s rural economy is reshaping because of urbanization, market expansion, increased livelihood opportunities in the non-farm sector and changes in land use patterns. Economic and institutional reforms are underway, and their successful implementation in the next few years will increase the per capita income and improve the average living standard of the people.

Restoring / enhancing soil health is key for sustainable intensification and regenerative agriculture in the Global South, while reducing vulnerability of
smallholder farmers to climate change.
A flexible framework is proposed that can be used to target, monitor and adapt soil health interventions with relevant stakeholders
Development of biological soil health indicators and assessment methods require more research – given the key role of soil biology for soil health/functions

Mali, situated in the Sahelian region of West Africa, faces vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, and these effects are already evident across various sectors. Noteworthy consequences of climate change in Mali encompass heightened temperatures, increased frequency of droughts, water scarcity, and the progression of desertification. Indirect impacts include health impacts, such as the spread of vector-borne diseases, and resource conflicts, exacerbating existing tensions arising from diminishing resources.

To improve the farming efficiency, Egypt has been struggling to narrow the water, energy, and yield gaps owing to exacerbated water shortage. For quantitative diagnosis of farming performance, the paper presented an on-farm water, energy, food, and carbon-footprint (WEFC) nexus index made up of four equally pillars. The arithmetic average preserved the multi-centric approach and equal importance of the four pillars.

Seed is life and can be a source of empowerment and disempowerment for women and men farmers. In this study, to close the gender gaps in seed, the Community Enterprises Development Organization, the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT and the National Agricultural Research Organization developed a seed credit model available to men and women belonging to farmer groups. A mixed method was used to collect information from two districts in central Uganda on how the seed credit model reconstructed access, use, control and resulting benefits.

Sustainable agricultural intensification (SI) seeks to address multiple development objectives at the same time, among them

This study conducted a participatory appraisal of climate vulnerabilities and conflict risks three communities across Guatemala: 1) Maya Chʼortiʼ Indigenous Peoples farmers in La Lima village, Camotán, Chiquimula department; 2) Farmers, ranchers and sand harvesters in Tenedores village, Morales, Izabal department; and 3) Farmers in El Carpintero village, Chiantla, Huehuetenango department. The impacts of climate variability in Guatemala are leading to the depletion of natural resources and the destabilization of established weather patterns, which are critical for many livelihoods.

Smallholder farmers residing in drylands represent the demographic most susceptible to the effects of climate change and variability. These individuals often grapple with limited resources, restricted access to credit, and a scarcity of arable land, which exacerbates their vulnerability. Managing climate risks within their production environment is not merely important, but a necessity. This is crucial to guarantee their food security and enhance their livelihood amidst the prevailing and future climate conditions.