Green Pathways in Agricultural Science and Technology

Abstract

               Agriculture is vital to global prosperity, sustainable development, and food security. However, climate change, socio-economic pressures, and regional environmental degradation—especially soil loss, erosion, and nutrient depletion—threaten the long-term viability of agricultural and food systems. While Governments and organizations worldwide have adopted sustainable food and agricultural policies, these frameworks do not sufficiently enable agronomic practices that promote water quality and preserve agricultural productivity. Green Pathways in Agricultural Science and Technology seeks to identify viable avenues to mitigate these adverse impacts through agronomic and technological transitions in agricultural systems across all crops, cropping systems, and regions.

The research questions guiding the work are as follows: What agronomic and technological practices, innovations, and systems increase productivity, resiliency, and sustainability while also maintaining or enhancing economic and societal viability? What boundaries and frameworks define these practices, innovations, or systems as “green pathways”? The manuscript comprises ten interlinked sections that clarify concepts, propose methods and innovations to increase sustainability, explore associated socio-economic and policy dimensions, present relevant case studies, and identify anticipated barriers and strategic research priorities. The concept of green pathways also provides a unifying frame for justification, evaluation, documentation, promotion, and diffusion of strategically selected practices that meet these criteria.

Keywords: green technologies sustainability, Agricultural Science and Technology.