Future climate-zone shifts are threatening steep-slope agriculture

Wang, Wendi; Pijl, Anton; Tarolli, Paolo

doi:10.1038/s43016-021-00454-y

Cited by 35 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These findings contribute to concrete and robust indications for sustainable and future‐proof land and water management in these valuable landscapes. Steep‐slope agriculture represents an important source of income, food security, and often cultural landscape value (Wang et al, 2022; FAO, 1999; Tarolli & Straffelini, 2020), highlighting the importance of scientific research about the challenges and opportunities of these landscapes (Tarolli et al, 2021; Tarolli et al, 2014; Wei et al, 2016). As indicated by our results, traditional terracing vineyard systems – when properly designed, maintained and managed – could therefore offer a suitable solution to protecting both the natural resources of soil and water as well as the historical and cultural values of these landscapes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil and water conservation in terraced and non‐terraced cultivations: an extensive comparison of 50 vineyards

et al. 2022

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Understanding the soil and water conservation (SWC) impact of steep-slope agricultural practices (e.g. terraces) has arguably never been more relevant than today, in the face of widespread intensifying rainfall conditions. In Italy, a diverse mosaic of terraced and non-terraced cultivation systems have historically developed from local traditions and more recently from the introduction of machinery. Previous studies suggested that each type of vineyard configuration is characterised by a specific set of soil degradation patterns. However, an extensive analysis of SWC impacts by different vineyard configurations is missing, while this is crucial for providing robust guidelines for future-proof viticulture. Here, we provide a unique extensive comparison of SWC in 50 vineyards, consisting of 10 sites of 5 distinct practices: slope-wise cultivation (SC), contour cultivation (CC), contour terracing (CT), broad-base terracing (BT) and oblique terracing (OT). A big-data analysis approach of physical erosion modelling based on high-resolution LiDAR data is performed, while four predefined SWC indicators are systematically analysed and statistically quantified. Regular contour terracing (CT) ranked best across all indicators, reflecting a good combination of flow interception and homogeneous distribution of runoff and sediment under intense rainfall conditions. The least SWC-effective practices (SC, CC, and OT) were related to vineyards optimised for trafficability by access roads or uninterrupted inter-row paths, which created high upstream-downstream connectivity and are thus prone to flow accumulation. The novel large-scale approach of this study offers a robust comparison of SWC impacts under intense rainstorms, which is becoming increasingly relevant for the sustainable future management of such landscapes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil and water conservation in terraced and non‐terraced cultivations: an extensive comparison of 50 vineyards

et al. 2022

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“…It is estimated that 40% of the global population and 55% of children live in tropical climates, with these numbers projected to increase to 50% and 66% by 2050, respectively. , Although recent efforts to boost agricultural output in tropical regions increased local food security, , food supply is continuously threatened by desertification, loss of topsoil, and water scarcity. − Additionally, about one-third of the food produced in tropical regions is spoiled or wasted at the beginning of the supply chain, i.e., before it reaches consumers, often vanishing the efforts to increase land yield . Tropical climates are characterized by high temperatures and often high humidity, which in the absence of the cold-chain drive postharvest abiotic spoilage, accelerate biotic food decay, and even lead to foodborne disease outbreaks. , To mitigate food loss and waste, packaging plays a pivotal role in regulating the postharvest physiology of produce by acting as a physical barrier to water and oxygen . Thicker films or membranes for intensive packaging are used in tropical regions for better insulation, which inevitably drives up costs and increases environmental impact .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8 Tropical climates are characterized by high temperatures and often high humidity, which in the absence of the cold-chain drive postharvest abiotic spoilage, accelerate biotic food decay, and even lead to foodborne disease outbreaks. 9,10 To mitigate food loss and waste, packaging plays a pivotal role in regulating the postharvest physiology of produce by acting as a physical barrier to water and oxygen. 11 Thicker films or membranes for intensive packaging are used in tropical regions for better insulation, which inevitably drives up costs and increases environmental impact.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of Biodegradable, Climate-Specific Packaging Materials That Sense Food Spoilage and Extend Shelf Life

et al. 2023

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The AgriFood systems in tropical climates are under strain due to a rapid increase in human population and extreme environmental conditions that limit the efficacy of packaging technologies to extend food shelf life and guarantee food safety. To address these challenges, we rationally designed biodegradable packaging materials that sense spoilage and prevent molding. We nanofabricated the interface of 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to reinforce silk fibroin (SF) and obtain biodegradable membranes with augmented mechanical properties and that displayed an immediate colorimetric response (within 1 s) to food spoilage, using packaged poultry as an example. Loading COF with antimicrobial hexanal also mitigated biotic spoilage in hightemperature and -humidity conditions, resulting in a four-order of magnitude decrease in the total amount of mold growth in soybeans packaged in silk-COF, when compared to cling film (i.e., polyethylene). Together, the integration of sensing, structural reinforcement, and antimicrobial agent delivery within a biodegradable nanocomposite framework defines climate-specific packaging materials that can decrease food waste and enhance food safety.

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“…As the temperature rises beyond 1.5 °C, the emerging climate change regime will have a strong impact on terrestrial agriculture [ 1 ]. Staple food, in which a large proportion comes from cereals, needs urgent transformations to ensure food security and crop productivity [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Graph Pangenomes Track Genetic Variants for Crop Improvement

Hameed

Poznanski

Nadolska‐Orczyk

et al. 2022

IJMS

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Global climate change and the urgency to transform crops require an exhaustive genetic evaluation. The large polyploid genomes of food crops, such as cereals, make it difficult to identify candidate genes with confirmed hereditary. Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been proficient in identifying genetic variants that are associated with complex traits, the resolution of acquired heritability faces several significant bottlenecks such as incomplete detection of structural variants (SV), genetic heterogeneity, and/or locus heterogeneity. Consequently, a biased estimate is generated with respect to agronomically complex traits. The graph pangenomes have resolved this missing heritability and provide significant details in terms of specific loci segregating among individuals and evolving to variations. The graph pangenome approach facilitates crop improvements through genome-linked fast breeding.

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Future climate-zone shifts are threatening steep-slope agriculture

Cited by 35 publications

References 16 publications

Soil and water conservation in terraced and non‐terraced cultivations: an extensive comparison of 50 vineyards

Soil and water conservation in terraced and non‐terraced cultivations: an extensive comparison of 50 vineyards

Design of Biodegradable, Climate-Specific Packaging Materials That Sense Food Spoilage and Extend Shelf Life

Graph Pangenomes Track Genetic Variants for Crop Improvement

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