Sara Burbi | Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (original) (raw)
Papers by Sara Burbi
Italian Journal of Animal Science
Frontiers in Environmental Science
Agroforestry integrates woody vegetation with crop and/or livestock production to benefit from th... more Agroforestry integrates woody vegetation with crop and/or livestock production to benefit from the ecological and economic interactions. The objective of this paper is to systematically determine the spatial distribution of agroforestry in the EU, and changes in the areas and types of agroforestry from 2009 to 2018. This was achieved using the Land Use/Cover Area Statistical (LUCAS) dataset. Agroforestry was categorised into silvopastoral, silvoarable, agrosilvopastoral, grazed permanent crops, intercropped permanent crops and kitchen gardens systems. In our categorisation of ‘agroforestry’, sites combing trees and shrubs with understorey grass or forage were required to show evidence of grazing. In 2018, the total area of agroforestry in the EU28 was 114,621 km2 equivalent to 6.4% of the utilised agricultural area (UAA), and a majority located in the Mediterranean bioregion. Silvopastoral was the most widespread system, representing 81% of the total agroforestry area (5% of UAA), w...
Land
Home gardens play a transcendental role in food sovereignty, for which the management of habitats... more Home gardens play a transcendental role in food sovereignty, for which the management of habitats above ground and underground are complementary strategies. This study aims to compare the biodiversity of soil mesofauna groups between agroecosystems with a conventional and an agroecological design. Through the combination of quantitative (plant inventories) and qualitative (mobile interviewing and talking maps) techniques, the units of this study was described. Soil samples were mounted in a Berlesse–Tullgren system, and the abundance, richness, diversity, and equality of soil organisms were determined. The relationships between functional groups were compared taxonomically and biocenotically. The results indicated higher equality in the conventional home garden, while the communities studied present a medium taxocenotic similarity, without great biocenotic differences. The diversity and richness of taxa, as well as the abundance in each group identified, were higher in the agroecolo...
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nov 16, 2022
Improving farm practices and evaluating livestock farmers’ attitudes to greenhouse gas emission m... more Improving farm practices and evaluating livestock farmers’ attitudes to greenhouse gas emission mitigation In recent years the farming sector has been under growing pressure. Markets influence demand and prices, challenging farmers to improve production, business competitiveness and reduce environmental impact. Agriculture accounts for 9% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom. Quantitative scientific literature provides useful strategies to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions from livestock farms. Their adoption may depend on their effectiveness and the influence of farmers’ perceptions of climate change on their decision-making. Adopting concepts of translational research and participatory action research, the study builds social capital among 14 livestock farmers in the South West and West Midlands, and evaluates the potential for adoption of emission mitigation strategies. The Rapid Farm Practices Appraisal (RFPA) tool was created to assess farm pract...
Development, 2016
This article considers a phenomenon seldom analyzed: The return to the roots, to family and frien... more This article considers a phenomenon seldom analyzed: The return to the roots, to family and friends, to the home village, when hardship hits. It looks into the role of peasant farming as a refuge, for those whose livelihoods have deteriorated, usually due to economic and financial crises for which they have no responsibility and even less say. Listening to the testimonies of those who go back to the countryside, or those returning to the sea (with examples in Greece, Spain, Portugal and Iceland), one hears a mix of struggle and hope, loneliness and fear, success and fulfilment. A destiny not always chosen, an imposed tabula rasa. These movements usually go unnoticed, but some governments provide the means to facilitate them, understanding the potential they hold for the country's wealth. A few examples are chosen here to inspire policymakers and provide insights into how to revive national economies, particularly in times of financial and economic hardship. These examples also lead us to reconsider our perspectives on the gap between the rural and the urban, and invite us to see what we may consider as a continuum of mutually reinforcing synergies.
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 2016
This document is the author's post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the p... more This document is the author's post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer-review process. Some differences between the published version and this version may remain and you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it. Achieving successful farmer engagement on greenhouse gas emission mitigation
Science-based evidence on agricultural GHG emissions currently found in literature covers a wide ... more Science-based evidence on agricultural GHG emissions currently found in literature covers a wide range of mitigation options. However, the measurements used are not standardised. System boundaries for LCA models are also not always uniformly defined. It is difficult to compare results and assess which findings better reflect the actual conditions on farms. The most commonly used free carbon calculators are CLA CALM and Cplan GHG calculator. They all use science-based evidence but provide different estimates, relying on proxy measures and estimates, and they may miss key areas on GHG emissions. The initial desk study provided a detailed compendium on the current scientific evidence on GHG emissions assessment, with particular focus on emissions from manure. A database has been compiled and the mitigation strategies related to manure emissions take into consideration diet manipulation, animal housing and grazing management, manure storage and treatment and manure application to soil. ...
ANADOLU JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, 2014
This study was carried out to survey wild flora (on herbaceaus plants and some shrubs) around the... more This study was carried out to survey wild flora (on herbaceaus plants and some shrubs) around the town of Cirencester in the summer of 2013. The purpose of the study was to categorise wild species and provide a review of the most frequent plants available based on their role in the human environment. In the survey, 32 families, 96 genuses and a total of 126 species were identified. According to number of genus, the top 5 families were Asteraceae 20 genus (21.5%),
Sustainability
Agroecology has proven to be successful in responding to the demands and needs of a collective du... more Agroecology has proven to be successful in responding to the demands and needs of a collective due to the relevance of its approach and proposals, which are built collaboratively between all the actors under a specific context that focuses on the actions developed. This is facilitated when spaces of horizontal interaction are generated through dialogues between different perspectives and experiences. In this perspective, agroecological training in higher education, i.e., university level, requires structural changes that go beyond the incorporation of technical content. Based on a critical documentary analysis of the records generated in the implementation of teaching innovation projects, the learning itinerary in agroecology is presented, consisting of four certifications based on transformational learning and supported by active methodologies. The potentialities, including marketing potential, of the proposed learning itinerary relate to curricular design, the articulation of the ...
from manure application to soil vary significantly (0.01-0.2 for N 2 O; 0.01-43.18 for NH 3) depe... more from manure application to soil vary significantly (0.01-0.2 for N 2 O; 0.01-43.18 for NH 3) depending on manure type, soil type, temperature, soil moisture and application methods. Strategies to reduce CH 4 emissions are frequent slurry removal (40% reduction), slurry separation (35%), straw addition (45%) (Chadwick et al., 2011). DISCUSSION The initial study confirmed that the range of emissions can vary significantly based on a number of factors: diet, housing (building and management), manure storage, treatment and application to soil. Uncertainty cannot be avoided (i.e.: manure and slurry cover). However, there is enough scientific data to support the most effective practices to reduce emissions from manure and therefore to assess their socioeconomic impact. CONCLUSIONS Key areas where farm practices can reduce emissions have been identified. These will be the focus of the following step to test the decision tree tool that will help farmers identify possible changes in practices. Results will provide valuable information to support the GHG Action Plan for the agricultural sector.
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 2016
Land, 2021
In the context of current agrarian reform efforts in South Africa, this paper analyses the liveli... more In the context of current agrarian reform efforts in South Africa, this paper analyses the livelihood trajectories of ‘emergent’ farmers in Eastern Cape Province. We apply a rural livelihoods framework to 60 emergent cattle farmers to understand the different capitals they have drawn upon in transitioning to their current class positions and associated vulnerability. The analysis shows that, for the majority of farmers, no real ‘transition’ from subsistence farming has occurred. However, they draw limited resilience from increased livestock holdings, continued reliance on social grants and connections with communal villages. A transition into small-scale commercial farming is apparent for a small number of farmers through the deployment of financial, human and social capitals. However, in following these trajectories, most of these farmers have been made more vulnerable to shocks and stresses than previously. We suggest that key to mitigating this vulnerability will be access to low...
Italian Journal of Animal Science
Frontiers in Environmental Science
Agroforestry integrates woody vegetation with crop and/or livestock production to benefit from th... more Agroforestry integrates woody vegetation with crop and/or livestock production to benefit from the ecological and economic interactions. The objective of this paper is to systematically determine the spatial distribution of agroforestry in the EU, and changes in the areas and types of agroforestry from 2009 to 2018. This was achieved using the Land Use/Cover Area Statistical (LUCAS) dataset. Agroforestry was categorised into silvopastoral, silvoarable, agrosilvopastoral, grazed permanent crops, intercropped permanent crops and kitchen gardens systems. In our categorisation of ‘agroforestry’, sites combing trees and shrubs with understorey grass or forage were required to show evidence of grazing. In 2018, the total area of agroforestry in the EU28 was 114,621 km2 equivalent to 6.4% of the utilised agricultural area (UAA), and a majority located in the Mediterranean bioregion. Silvopastoral was the most widespread system, representing 81% of the total agroforestry area (5% of UAA), w...
Land
Home gardens play a transcendental role in food sovereignty, for which the management of habitats... more Home gardens play a transcendental role in food sovereignty, for which the management of habitats above ground and underground are complementary strategies. This study aims to compare the biodiversity of soil mesofauna groups between agroecosystems with a conventional and an agroecological design. Through the combination of quantitative (plant inventories) and qualitative (mobile interviewing and talking maps) techniques, the units of this study was described. Soil samples were mounted in a Berlesse–Tullgren system, and the abundance, richness, diversity, and equality of soil organisms were determined. The relationships between functional groups were compared taxonomically and biocenotically. The results indicated higher equality in the conventional home garden, while the communities studied present a medium taxocenotic similarity, without great biocenotic differences. The diversity and richness of taxa, as well as the abundance in each group identified, were higher in the agroecolo...
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nov 16, 2022
Improving farm practices and evaluating livestock farmers’ attitudes to greenhouse gas emission m... more Improving farm practices and evaluating livestock farmers’ attitudes to greenhouse gas emission mitigation In recent years the farming sector has been under growing pressure. Markets influence demand and prices, challenging farmers to improve production, business competitiveness and reduce environmental impact. Agriculture accounts for 9% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom. Quantitative scientific literature provides useful strategies to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions from livestock farms. Their adoption may depend on their effectiveness and the influence of farmers’ perceptions of climate change on their decision-making. Adopting concepts of translational research and participatory action research, the study builds social capital among 14 livestock farmers in the South West and West Midlands, and evaluates the potential for adoption of emission mitigation strategies. The Rapid Farm Practices Appraisal (RFPA) tool was created to assess farm pract...
Development, 2016
This article considers a phenomenon seldom analyzed: The return to the roots, to family and frien... more This article considers a phenomenon seldom analyzed: The return to the roots, to family and friends, to the home village, when hardship hits. It looks into the role of peasant farming as a refuge, for those whose livelihoods have deteriorated, usually due to economic and financial crises for which they have no responsibility and even less say. Listening to the testimonies of those who go back to the countryside, or those returning to the sea (with examples in Greece, Spain, Portugal and Iceland), one hears a mix of struggle and hope, loneliness and fear, success and fulfilment. A destiny not always chosen, an imposed tabula rasa. These movements usually go unnoticed, but some governments provide the means to facilitate them, understanding the potential they hold for the country's wealth. A few examples are chosen here to inspire policymakers and provide insights into how to revive national economies, particularly in times of financial and economic hardship. These examples also lead us to reconsider our perspectives on the gap between the rural and the urban, and invite us to see what we may consider as a continuum of mutually reinforcing synergies.
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 2016
This document is the author's post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the p... more This document is the author's post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer-review process. Some differences between the published version and this version may remain and you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it. Achieving successful farmer engagement on greenhouse gas emission mitigation
Science-based evidence on agricultural GHG emissions currently found in literature covers a wide ... more Science-based evidence on agricultural GHG emissions currently found in literature covers a wide range of mitigation options. However, the measurements used are not standardised. System boundaries for LCA models are also not always uniformly defined. It is difficult to compare results and assess which findings better reflect the actual conditions on farms. The most commonly used free carbon calculators are CLA CALM and Cplan GHG calculator. They all use science-based evidence but provide different estimates, relying on proxy measures and estimates, and they may miss key areas on GHG emissions. The initial desk study provided a detailed compendium on the current scientific evidence on GHG emissions assessment, with particular focus on emissions from manure. A database has been compiled and the mitigation strategies related to manure emissions take into consideration diet manipulation, animal housing and grazing management, manure storage and treatment and manure application to soil. ...
ANADOLU JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, 2014
This study was carried out to survey wild flora (on herbaceaus plants and some shrubs) around the... more This study was carried out to survey wild flora (on herbaceaus plants and some shrubs) around the town of Cirencester in the summer of 2013. The purpose of the study was to categorise wild species and provide a review of the most frequent plants available based on their role in the human environment. In the survey, 32 families, 96 genuses and a total of 126 species were identified. According to number of genus, the top 5 families were Asteraceae 20 genus (21.5%),
Sustainability
Agroecology has proven to be successful in responding to the demands and needs of a collective du... more Agroecology has proven to be successful in responding to the demands and needs of a collective due to the relevance of its approach and proposals, which are built collaboratively between all the actors under a specific context that focuses on the actions developed. This is facilitated when spaces of horizontal interaction are generated through dialogues between different perspectives and experiences. In this perspective, agroecological training in higher education, i.e., university level, requires structural changes that go beyond the incorporation of technical content. Based on a critical documentary analysis of the records generated in the implementation of teaching innovation projects, the learning itinerary in agroecology is presented, consisting of four certifications based on transformational learning and supported by active methodologies. The potentialities, including marketing potential, of the proposed learning itinerary relate to curricular design, the articulation of the ...
from manure application to soil vary significantly (0.01-0.2 for N 2 O; 0.01-43.18 for NH 3) depe... more from manure application to soil vary significantly (0.01-0.2 for N 2 O; 0.01-43.18 for NH 3) depending on manure type, soil type, temperature, soil moisture and application methods. Strategies to reduce CH 4 emissions are frequent slurry removal (40% reduction), slurry separation (35%), straw addition (45%) (Chadwick et al., 2011). DISCUSSION The initial study confirmed that the range of emissions can vary significantly based on a number of factors: diet, housing (building and management), manure storage, treatment and application to soil. Uncertainty cannot be avoided (i.e.: manure and slurry cover). However, there is enough scientific data to support the most effective practices to reduce emissions from manure and therefore to assess their socioeconomic impact. CONCLUSIONS Key areas where farm practices can reduce emissions have been identified. These will be the focus of the following step to test the decision tree tool that will help farmers identify possible changes in practices. Results will provide valuable information to support the GHG Action Plan for the agricultural sector.
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 2016
Land, 2021
In the context of current agrarian reform efforts in South Africa, this paper analyses the liveli... more In the context of current agrarian reform efforts in South Africa, this paper analyses the livelihood trajectories of ‘emergent’ farmers in Eastern Cape Province. We apply a rural livelihoods framework to 60 emergent cattle farmers to understand the different capitals they have drawn upon in transitioning to their current class positions and associated vulnerability. The analysis shows that, for the majority of farmers, no real ‘transition’ from subsistence farming has occurred. However, they draw limited resilience from increased livestock holdings, continued reliance on social grants and connections with communal villages. A transition into small-scale commercial farming is apparent for a small number of farmers through the deployment of financial, human and social capitals. However, in following these trajectories, most of these farmers have been made more vulnerable to shocks and stresses than previously. We suggest that key to mitigating this vulnerability will be access to low...