Call for papers/Topics

Topics of interest for submission include any topics related to:

I. Organic Agriculture: Principles, Practices & Innovation

• Soil Health and Fertility Management:
  • The role of organic matter, microbial life, and nutrient cycling.
  • Composting, cover cropping, and no-till/reduced-tillage in organic systems.
  • Impact of soil health on carbon sequestration and climate resilience.
• Organic Crop Production & Management:
  • Crop rotation, intercropping, and polyculture systems.
  • Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM) in organic farming (biological controls, beneficial insects, resistant varieties).
  • Organic seed systems and breeding for diversity and resilience.
  • Water conservation and irrigation techniques in organic agriculture.
• Organic Livestock Production & Welfare:
  • Animal welfare standards and practices in organic systems.
  • Sustainable feed management and pasture-based systems.
  • Reducing antibiotic use and promoting animal health naturally.
• Sustainable Farming Systems: Beyond Organic:
  • Agroecology and agroforestry: principles and implementation.
  • Permaculture and regenerative agriculture: building resilient and productive ecosystems.
  • Biodynamic agriculture and its holistic approach.
  • Small-scale organic farming, urban agriculture, and Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA).
  • Organic aquaculture and sustainable seafood production.
• Organic Certification & Standards:
  • Global and regional organic standards and regulations.
  • Certification processes, challenges, and integrity in supply chains.
  • Traceability and transparency in organic food systems.
  • Economic and social impacts of organic certification for farmers and consumers.
• Innovation & Technology in Organic Agriculture:
  • Precision organic agriculture and digital tools (e.g., drones, AI for monitoring).
  • Biopesticides, biofertilizers, and microbial inoculants.
  • Resilient crop varieties for changing climates.
  • Post-harvest technologies for organic produce.

II. Biodiversity: Conservation & Ecosystem Services

• Biodiversity in Agroecosystems:
  • The role of biodiversity in soil health, nutrient cycling, and water regulation.
  • Pollinator conservation and management in agricultural landscapes.
  • Beneficial insects and natural pest control services.
  • Genetic diversity in organic crops and livestock (landraces, heritage breeds).
  • Importance of wild relatives of crops for genetic resilience.
• Ecosystem Services from Organic Farming:
  • Biodiversity and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
  • Carbon sequestration in organic farming systems.
  • Water purification, infiltration, and groundwater recharge.
  • Pest regulation and disease suppression.
  • The economic valuation of ecosystem services in sustainable agriculture.
• Conservation & Management:
  • Habitat restoration and creation in agricultural landscapes.
  • Integrating biodiversity conservation into organic farming practices (e.g., hedgerows, buffer zones).
  • Impact of organic agriculture on wild biodiversity (e.g., birds, amphibians, mammals).
  • Conservation of traditional agricultural biodiversity and agro-biodiversity hotspots.
• Biodiversity Monitoring & Assessment:
  • Tools and methodologies for assessing biodiversity in agroecosystems.
  • Citizen science in biodiversity monitoring.

III. Public Health: Food, Environment & Well-being

• Food Safety & Nutrition:
  • The nutritional quality of organic foods: comparative studies.
  • Reducing pesticide residues, antibiotic resistance, and GMOs in the food supply.
  • Impact of organic food consumption on human health outcomes (e.g., allergies, chronic diseases).
  • Food security, food sovereignty, and access to healthy, sustainably produced food.
• Environmental Health & Exposure:
  • Impact of organic agriculture on water and air quality (reduced runoff, less pesticide drift).
  • Reducing exposure to agricultural chemicals for farmworkers and rural communities.
  • The role of organic agriculture in mitigating climate change and its health effects.
  • The connection between soil health, environmental health, and human health.
• Community Health & Well-being:
  • Social and economic benefits of organic agriculture for rural communities.
  • Promoting healthy diets and lifestyles through organic food systems.
  • Access to green spaces and psychological well-being from biodiverse environments.
  • The "One Health" approach: The intersection of animal, human, and environmental health in organic systems.
  • Reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases in organic livestock practices.

IV. Interdisciplinary & Policy Aspects

• Policy and Regulation:
  • National and international policies supporting organic agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
  • Incentives, subsidies, and financial mechanisms for organic and ecological farming.
  • Consumer protection and labeling regulations for organic products.
• Consumer Behavior & Market Trends:
  • Drivers and barriers to organic food consumption.
  • Consumer perceptions of organic food, health, and sustainability.
  • Market growth, supply chains, and economic impacts of the organic sector.
• Economics of Organic Agriculture & Sustainable Food Systems:
  • Cost-benefit analysis of organic vs. conventional farming.
  • Value chain development and market access for organic producers.
  • Investment in sustainable food systems.
• Education, Outreach & Capacity Building:
  • Promoting knowledge and skills in organic agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
  • Farmer-to-farmer learning and extension services.
  • Public awareness campaigns on the benefits of sustainable food systems.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) & Integration:
  • How organic agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and public health contribute to achieving various SDGs (e.g., Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Life on Land, Climate Action).
  • Synergies and trade-offs between different sustainability objectives.
• Ethical Considerations:
  • Animal welfare ethics in farming.
  • Environmental justice and equitable access to healthy food.
  • Responsibilities of producers, consumers, and policymakers.
• Research Methodologies:
  • Interdisciplinary research approaches linking agriculture, ecology, and public health.
  • Longitudinal studies on health outcomes of organic diets.
  • Ecosystem service valuation methods.