Digital Commons Network^™

Continental-Scale Suppression Of An Invasive Pest By A Host-Specific Parasitoid Underlines Both Environmental And Economic Benefits Of Arthropod Biological Control, Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Prapit Wongtiem, Aunu Rauf, Anchana Thancharoen, George E. Heimpel, Nhung T. T. Le, Muhammad Zainal Fanani, Geoff M. Gurr, Jonathan G. Lundgren, Dharani D. Burra, Leo K. Palao, Glenn Hyman, Ignazio Graziosi, Vi X. Le, Matthew J. W. Cock, Teja Tscharntke, Steve D. Wratten, Liem V. Nguyen, Minsheng You, Yanhui Lu, Johannes W Ketelaar, Georg Goergen, Peter Neuenschwander

Entomology Faculty Publications

Biological control, a globally-important ecosystem service, can provide long-term and broad-scale suppression of invasive pests, weeds and pathogens in natural, urban and agricultural environments. Following (few) historic cases that led to sizeable environmental up-sets, the discipline of arthropod biological control has—over the past decades—evolved and matured. Now, by deliberately taking into account the ecological risks associated with the planned introduction of insect natural enemies, immense environmental and societal benefits can be gained. In this study, we document and analyze a successful case of biological control against the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) which invaded Southeast Asia in 2008, where …

Reorganizing School Lunch For A More Just And Sustainable Food System In The Us, Jennifer Gaddis, Amy K. Coplen

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Public school lunch programs in the United States are contested political terrains shaped by government agencies, civil society activists, and agri-food companies. The particular organization of these programs has consequences for public health, social justice, and ecological sustainability. This contribution draws on political economy, critical food studies, and feminist economics to analyze the US National School Lunch Program, one of the world's oldest and largest government-sponsored school lunch programs. It makes visible the social and environmental costs of the "heat-and-serve" economy, where widely used metrics consider only the speed and volume of service as productive work. This study demonstrates that …

Modeling The Impact Of Irrigation Systems On Agriculture Sustainability In Ardabil Province, Hadi Veisi, Reza Deihimfard Dr., Alireza Shahmohammadi Mr.

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Irrigation system practices have various impacts on agriculture in terms of ecological, social and economic aspects. Understanding these effects may contribute to develop appropriate policies and strategies for sustainable agriculture.This research was carried out to evaluate the developmental effects of irrigation projects on agricultural sustainability in Ardabil province. In this research, 60 stakeholder’s views in the field of sustainable agriculture including agricultural experts, promotion specialists, university professors associated with irrigation projects and members of nongovernmental organizations were explored using a hierarchical method. A hierarchical network was created to select the best irrigation system at two levels. The results showed that …

Agroecology In Argentina: Transitioning Farmers To Resilient Agriculture, Ashley D. Kunesh

University Honors Theses

In the context of the ecological crisis that our planet currently faces under the threat of climate change, agroecology is becoming a pertinent solution in the scientific community as a resilient approach to agricultural production. Despite vast evidence of the benefits it is not widely promoted by government and NGOs. This paper seeks to address the gap of knowledge in understanding how to help producers transition to agroecological practices with a case study in Argentina, a country with diverse eco-regions where industrial-agriculture is dominant. We identify key motivations and obstacles to adopt agroecological practices and assessed possible strategies for moving …

Subsidizing Climate Change: How The Agricultural Business Is Harming Our Planet, Caroline Berejka

Student Theses 2015-Present

In exploring the concept of environmental sustainability in the modern age, it is important to look at the practices of the agriculture industry and the role of agricultural production in the multifaceted issue of climate change. The agriculture industry's overwhelming power in the US government and its resistance to moving toward more sustainable practices is an issue that the average American has little awareness of. In order to push the movement of environmental sustainability forward, it is necessary to examine the economic reasons for the slow shift towards sustainable agriculture and possible incentives for industrial farmers to modify their practices. …

Farming The Bronx: The Potential For Controlled-Environment Agriculture To Address Environmental Degradation And Urban Social Issues, Reyna Wang

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper and design proposal explores the possibilities of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) to address the issue of impending global food insecurity and widespread loss of ecosystem services while providing communities in the Bronx with tools for social empowerment. Chapter 1 presents quantitative data from sources like the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment regarding the widespread environmental impacts of industrial agriculture and shows how these harmful impacts can be limited or reduced through a transition to CEA in urban areas. Chapter 2 describes CEA design methods and technologies that can be combined in different ways to suit a diverse variety of settings and …

The Detriments Of Factory Farming, Carrie Williams

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis discusses the detrimental effects that industrialized farming practices have on public health, animal welfare, and ecological systems and includes factual support. It also provides practical application of this information as well as possible solutions and a detailed description of a related art exhibition.

Sustainability, Ezra Small

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

In 2017, UMass Amherst installed over 15,000 photovoltaic panels on existing buildings and as part of three solar parking-lot canopies on campus. This project is just one of the many components of the “Sustainable UMass” program which strives to both practice and teach about creating and maintaining a sustainable world. This workshop will provide an overview of the work of the campus sustainability program ranging from academics and research to waste and recycling, with a focus on the science and technology of solar electric energy and emissions accounting. Skills such as problem solving, data analysis, predicting and modeling will be …

Increasing Carbon Footprint Of Grain Crop Production In The Us Western Corn Belt, Chaoqun Lu, Zhen Yu, Hanqin Tian, David A. Hennessy, Hongli Feng, Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Yuyu Zhou, Tom Sauer, Raymond Arritt

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Global agriculture is challenged to increase soil carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing products for an increasing population. Growing crop production could be achieved through higher yield per hectare (i.e. intensive farming) or more hectares (extensive farming),which however, have different ecological and environmental consequences.Multiple lines of evidence indicate that expanding cropland for additional production may lead to loss of vegetation and soil carbon, and threaten the survival of wildlife. New concerns about the impacts of extensive farming have been raised for the US Corn Belt, one of the world’s most productive regions, as cropland has rapidly expanded …

Diseño De Estrategias Agrosostenibles Para Los Sistemas Productivos De Plátano Desarrollados Por Estudiantes De Cuarto Año De Ingeniería Agronómica, Daihana Liseth Hernández Chinchilla

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

El propósito de este trabajo fue diseñar estrategias agro-sostenibles que mejorar las condiciones de los sistemas productivos de plátano teniendo en cuenta los aspectos económicos, productivos y medioambientales. El estudio considera los proyectos de desarrollo por seis estudiantes de Ingeniería Agronómica de la Universidad de La Salle - Campus Yopal. Teniendo en cuenta que todos los estudiantes de Ingeniería Agronómica tienen que desarrollar un proyecto productivo en su comunidad de origen, es importante incluir el componente ambiental en la etapa de formulación, desarrollo y evaluación del proyecto, que permita a la Universidad mejorar el conocimiento sobre el Impactos que este …

Utilización De Compostaje Tradicional Y Vermicompostaje Como Estrategia Para La Implementación De Agricultura Urbana En Altos Del Pino, Cazucá, Diana Laritza Vanegas Arévalo

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

No abstract provided.

The Fungus Among Us: The Effect Of Copper Fungicide On Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi And Implications For Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Francois J. Hartnett

Senior Projects Spring 2018

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Factibilidad Del Uso Del Compostaje Como Alternativa De Tratamiento Para Los Residuos Orgánicos Expuestos A Medicamentos De Cuarta Generación De Las Caballerizas De La Clínica De Grandes Animales De La Universidad De La Salle, María Alejandra Posada Morales, María Camila Pulido Hurtado

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

El compostaje se ha empleado como alternativa para la disposición final de residuos orgánicos (Ministerio de Vivienda, Ciudad y Territorio, 2012), generando un producto aprovechable por plantas y organismos que ofrece un alto potencial de nutrientes para una producción agrícola sostenible (Román, Martínez, & Pantoja, 2013). El presente proyecto, planteó evaluar la factibilidad del compostaje como técnica de disposición final para los residuos orgánicos generados en la Clínica Veterinaria de Grandes Animales de la Universidad de La Salle, por equinos tratados con medicamentos de cuarta generación. La metodología propuesta, consistió en tomar una muestra completamente al azar de cuatro (4) …

Implementación De 10.000 M² De Plátano (Musa Paradisiaca), En La Vereda De Las Malvinas Municipio De Tame Como Alternativa Para El Fortalecimiento Del Sector Productivo Platanero, Ilciar Joan Leguizamo Arias

Ingeniería Agronómica

El siguiente proyecto se realizó partiendo del papel que juega la agricultura en el desarrollo de cualquier departamento e incluso del país, participando como el motor de crecimiento del sector agropecuario (Red Ormet, 2013), es necesario recalcar el valor que tiene el campo y mostrar que dentro de las oportunidades de una mejor calidad de vida está la agricultura.

Por eso se lleva a cabo la ejecución del proyecto productivo en zona de origen en donde el propósito fundamental es ser un modelo demostrativo en marcado con los diferentes componentes: agronómico, social, investigativo y Empresarización del campo brindando así nuevas …

Plátano Hartón (Musa Paradisíaca) Una Alternativa De Producción Para Contribuir A La Sostenibilidad De Las Familias De La Vereda Punto Nuevo, Municipio De Yopal – Casanare, Lizeth Karine Díaz Sánchez

Ingeniería Agronómica

El presente trabajo tiene como finalidad, brindar una alternativa para contribuir a la sostenibilidad de las familias, mediante la implementación y producción de plátano hartón. Se describe detalladamente la metodología para desarrollo del proyecto, desde el establecimiento del cultivo hasta su producción y comercialización, además, se ejecutó el componente de investigación, cuyo objetivo fue evaluar el área de inhibición para el control de (Dickeya chrysanthemi) utilizando dos productos bactericidas bajo condiciones de laboratorio; bacteria que genera la enfermedad conocida comúnmente como pudrición acuosa y puede llegar a ocasionar perdidas. Durante la ejecución del proyecto se desarrolló un análisis económico que …

Implementación De Un Cultivo De Plátano Hartón (Musa Paradisiaca L) Como Modelo De Producción Tecnificada En La Vereda El Naranjal De San Vicente Del Caguán – Dpto. Del Caquetá, David Becerra Pérez

Ingeniería Agronómica

En el presente documento se da a conocer la temática desarrollada en la implementación de un cultivo de plátano hartón en el departamento del Caquetá municipio de San Vicente del Caguán vereda el Naranjal, el cual tenía como objetivo ser un modelo de producción sostenible en la región, buscando que los habitantes cambien la trayectoria de la ganadería extensiva por alternativas agrícolas viables. Con este proyecto se dan a conocer las estrategias utilizadas en el manejo agronómico, establecimiento y producción del cultivo de plátano, además de las herramientas utilizadas, el intercambio de conocimientos técnicos sobre el manejo agronómico de cultivos …

Implementación De 5.000 M2 De Maní (Arachis Hipogaea) Para El Fortalecimiento En La Cadena Productiva Del Municipio De San Pablo De Borbur- Boyacá, Jimmy Alexander Rojas Bonilla

Ingeniería Agronómica

No abstract provided.

Implementación De Un Sistema De Producción En 1 Hectárea De Sandía (Citrullus Lanatus) En La Vereda La Mata Municipio De Neiva, Departamento Huila, Con Fines Comerciales, Sandra Patricia Imbachi Valencia

Ingeniería Agronómica

El cultivo de la sandía es muy importante porque tiene grandes beneficios. En el Departamento del Meta es el mayor productor que ha producido rango de 60.000 toneladas con una participación del 60%, comparando esta cifra con la producción total del país casi 100.000 toneladas es una producción muy alta, (Agronet, 2007). El proyecto productivo se lleva a cabo con el fin de ser una oportunidad para mostrarle a la región que se pueden sembrar otros cultivos que sean confiables y que además generen ingresos en poco tiempo y negocios. Esto conduce a una alternativa de superación en el ámbito …

Sisters In Sustainability: Gender-Driven Agricultural Initiatives Promoting Socioeconomic, Environmental, And Cultural Sustainability, Becky Jacobs

College of Law Faculty Scholarship

An increasing number of women are choosing to pursue careers in agriculture. A higher percentage of women are represented among sustainable farmers than are counted among conventional farmers. For example, in the United States, this percentage is 21percent as compared to 9percent. The way in which women farmers approach sustainable agriculture is consistent with the feminist ethic of care that encompasses responsibility, nurturing, relationality, and interdependence. These characteristics are expressed in a number of ways on women-owned or operated sustainable farms. Their farms, for example, have fewer acres than those of male farmers; they plant, cultivate, and harvest by hand …

A Multi-Criteria And Dynamic Sustainability Assessment Of Crop Rotation Alternatives, Saturnina Fabian Nisperos

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

With the food security challenge faced by nations globally, agriculture sustainability has been a significant consideration for concerned agencies. Sustainability assessments are significant tools in providing support to stakeholders in their crop production planning. Agricultural sustainability assessment, however, is complex and it involves numerous criteria that can be conflicting. Limitations on crop rotation sustainability assessment methods include: non-dynamic assessment; lack of regard to cover crops and to the individual crop production preferences of farmers; and focused only on single-year and single-crop rotation. We sought to address these limitations by developing a multi-criteria and dynamic sustainability assessment model that considers the …

Growing Youth Programming At Garden City Harvest Through Participatory Action Research, Hannah B. Oblock

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This professional paper presents a program evaluation and strategic plan for the youth development farming programs at Garden City Harvest (GCH), a non-profit in Missoula, Montana, which coordinates community-centered agriculture projects and facilitates sustainable agriculture education. The youth programs, Youth Harvest (YH) and Youth Farm (YF), hire adolescents of 15-18 years of age to work on their urban farms to learn about sustainable agriculture, job readiness skills, and social-emotional well-being. As the organization continues to expand, especially with the addition of a new facility, GCH administration and staff are interested in learning how the programs impact the youth employees and …