Call for papers
Topics of interest for submission include any topics on Conference Topics: Ecological Agriculture, Biodiversity & Waste Management
Here are some potential areas:
I. Ecological Agriculture:
- Principles and Practices of Ecological Agriculture:
- Agroecology: Integrating ecological principles into agricultural systems.
- Organic Farming: Methods, certification, and market trends.
- Biodynamic Agriculture: Holistic and spiritual approach to farming.
- Conservation Agriculture: Minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining permanent soil cover, and crop rotation.
- No-Till Farming: Benefits for soil health and carbon sequestration.
- Integrated Farming Systems: Combining crops, livestock, aquaculture, etc.
- Agroforestry: Integrating trees and shrubs into farming landscapes.
- Permaculture: Designing sustainable human settlements and agricultural systems.
- Urban Agriculture: Ecological food production in urban environments.
- Soil Health and Fertility:
- Soil biodiversity and its role in nutrient cycling.
- Composting and vermicomposting for soil enrichment.
- Cover cropping and green manure for soil improvement.
- Reduced tillage and its impact on soil structure.
- Mycorrhizal fungi and plant nutrient uptake.
- Organic soil amendments and fertilizers.
- Soil erosion control and management.
- Ecological Pest and Disease Management:
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
- Biological control of pests and diseases.
- Use of beneficial insects and microorganisms.
- Resistant crop varieties and their role.
- Natural pesticides and biopesticides.
- Weed management without synthetic herbicides.
- The role of biodiversity in pest and disease regulation.
- Water Management in Ecological Agriculture:
- Water conservation techniques (e.g., rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation).
- Water quality protection in agricultural landscapes.
- Efficient irrigation practices for organic systems.
- The role of soil health in water retention.
- Wastewater treatment and reuse in agriculture (safely managed).
- Livestock and Ecological Agriculture:
- Pasture-based livestock systems and their benefits.
- Animal welfare in ecological farming.
- Rotational grazing and its impact on land health.
- Manure management for soil fertility and reduced emissions.
- Integration of livestock and crop production for nutrient cycling.
- Breeds adapted to ecological farming systems.
- Climate Change and Ecological Agriculture:
- Ecological farming practices for climate change mitigation (e.g., carbon sequestration).
- Adaptation strategies to the impacts of climate change (e.g., drought-resistant crops).
- The role of biodiversity in building resilient agricultural systems.
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
- Carbon farming and payment for ecosystem services.
II. Biodiversity:
- The Importance of Biodiversity in Agriculture:
- Ecosystem services provided by biodiversity (pollination, pest control, nutrient cycling, water purification).
- The role of genetic diversity in crop and livestock resilience.
- Wild relatives of crops and their potential for breeding.
- The importance of pollinators and their conservation.
- Soil biodiversity and its contribution to soil health.
- Agrobiodiversity for food security and nutrition.
- Biodiversity Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes:
- Creating and managing habitats for wildlife on farms (e.g., hedgerows, buffer strips, wildflower meadows).
- Agroforestry systems and their role in biodiversity conservation.
- Conservation tillage and its impact on soil organisms.
- The role of organic farming in promoting biodiversity.
- In-situ and ex-situ conservation of agricultural genetic resources.
- Connecting agricultural landscapes for wildlife movement.
- Impacts of Conventional Agriculture on Biodiversity:
- Habitat loss and fragmentation due to agricultural expansion.
- The effects of pesticides and herbicides on non-target organisms.
- Monoculture and its impact on species diversity.
- The role of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on biodiversity (various perspectives).
- Water pollution from agricultural runoff and its effects on aquatic biodiversity.
- Valuing Biodiversity in Agriculture:
- Economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by biodiversity.
- Payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes in agriculture.
- The role of biodiversity in sustainable food systems.
- Market opportunities for biodiversity-friendly agricultural products.
- Policy and Governance for Agrobiodiversity Conservation:
- National and international policies related to agrobiodiversity.
- The role of seed banks and genetic resource conservation programs.
- Farmers' rights and access to genetic resources.
- Integrating biodiversity conservation into agricultural extension services.
- Public awareness and education on the importance of agrobiodiversity.
III. Waste Management:
- Sources and Types of Agricultural Waste:
- Crop residues (straw, stalks, leaves, etc.).
- Animal manure and bedding.
- Food processing by-products.
- Agrochemical containers and packaging.
- Plastic films and other agricultural plastics.
- Wastewater from agricultural activities.
- Slaughterhouse waste.
- Sustainable Agricultural Waste Management Practices:
- Waste reduction and prevention strategies on farms.
- Composting and vermicomposting of organic waste.
- Anaerobic digestion for biogas production and digestate fertilizer.
- Biochar production from agricultural biomass.
- Using crop residues for animal feed or bedding.
- Mulching with organic agricultural waste.
- Recycling of agricultural plastics and other materials.
- Innovative uses for agricultural waste (e.g., bio-based materials).
- Environmental Impacts of Improper Agricultural Waste Management:
- Water pollution from manure runoff and agrochemicals.
- Air pollution from burning agricultural waste.
- Greenhouse gas emissions from manure storage and decomposition.
- Soil contamination from improper disposal of hazardous waste.
- Impacts on biodiversity from waste contamination.
- Policies and Regulations for Agricultural Waste Management:
- National and regional regulations on agricultural waste disposal.
- Best management practices for minimizing environmental impact.
- Incentives and support for sustainable waste management technologies.
- The role of circular economy principles in agricultural waste management.
- Technological Innovations in Agricultural Waste Management:
- Advanced composting and anaerobic digestion technologies.
- Biomass gasification and pyrolysis for energy and bio-product recovery.
- Sensors and monitoring systems for waste management processes.
- Mobile processing units for on-farm waste treatment.
- Development of biodegradable agricultural plastics.
- Using artificial intelligence for optimizing waste management.
IV. Interconnections and Synergies:
- The role of biodiversity in enhancing ecological agriculture.
- How ecological agriculture minimizes waste generation.
- Using agricultural waste to improve soil health and biodiversity.
- Policy frameworks that integrate ecological agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and waste management.
- Case studies of successful integrated systems.
- The economic benefits of adopting holistic approaches.
- The social and ethical dimensions of sustainable agriculture.