Greenhouse technology in agriculture promises a bright and sustainable future. It does not just boost crop yields; it paves the way for a more efficient and sustainable way of growing food. It helps plants produce more, enhances quality, increases the value of produce, and significantly reduces loss. Greenhouse farming enables us to grow crops year-round, regardless of seasonal variations. Greenhouses can control the humidity and temperature of the environment inside them, opening up a world of possibilities for agriculture. Farmers can overcome the challenges of a growing population and climate change affecting food production with various innovations in greenhouse farming. Greenhouse technology has transformed modern agriculture by creating controlled environments that enhance plant growth and boost crop yields. The future of greenhouse technology is not just promising; it is optimistic. Advancements in automation, artificial intelligence, and data analytics are transforming greenhouses into highly efficient and intelligent systems. Intelligent sensing, artificial intelligence, vertical farming, robotics, and data analytics will shape the next generation of greenhouses, improving efficiency, sustainability, and crop quality.
Milky mushrooms, also called "white vegetables" or "boneless vegetarian meat," are rich in proteins, vitamins, and fibre, offering significant nutritional and medicinal benefits. Cultivated in over 100 countries, they serve as a source of income for small-scale farmers, promoting rural development and poverty alleviation. Milky mushrooms (Calocybe indica), ideal for tropical climates with temperatures of 30-35°C, are particularly advantageous due to their extended shelf life, resistance to contamination, low production costs, and high biological efficiency. Discovered in Tamil Nadu, this species thrives in organic-rich substrates and has been successfully adapted for commercial cultivation. With a robust nutritional profile and bioactive compounds, milky mushrooms exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antioxidant properties, garnering attention for their potential in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. Economically, they offer sustainable yields, simple cultivation techniques, and growing market demand, presenting a lucrative opportunity for small-scale growers in India.
Micronutrient deficiencies are typically caused by a lack of nutrient dense meals. The global burden of malnutrition continues to increase, with more than 768 million people suffering from hunger in 2020, that is 118 million more than that in 2019. As a result, nearly 320 million more people faced food insecurity in 2020 than in 2019, an increase of almost one third. Food fortification involves adding one or more micronutrients that the meal is deficient in to increase its nutritional value. The chapter highlights the importance of biofortification of crops to enhance crop nutritional profile by advanced agricultural practices (Agronomic biofortification, genetic engineering, traditional breeding) to diminish micronutrient deficiencies and thus micro-nutrient malnutrition and to combat hidden hunger. In order to fight with hidden hunger, many international agencies, national programs, and seed companies are developing bio-fortified crops. Harvest Plus, launched in 2006, brings together international and national efforts to improve the micronutrient levels of major staple crops. The chapter explores all the fundamental concepts and approaches of biofortification to increase crop nutritional value. The purpose of agronomic biofortification is to increase the proportion and bioavailability of nutrients in land or agricultural crops, in order to promote crop strength and productivity. Examples of some biofortified food crops are high iron beans, provitamin A maize, golden rice, zinc wheat, provitamin A orange fleshed sweet potatoes. Collaboration between government and corporate agencies is required to enhance biofortification for sustainable environmental development and to reduce malnutrition in society.
Important advances in plant pathology have changed our knowledge about plant diseases and how to treat them. Recent advances include the use of cutting-edge molecular tools for gene editing, such as CRISPR/Cas9, which creates precise changes to increase plant disease resistance. Research on interactions between plants and microorganisms This has resulted in innovative biological control techniques. which uses helper bacteria to successfully fight infection The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to monitor crop health is a key focus of emerging developments. Technologies like drones, IoT devices are transforming precision farming by providing insights into disease outbreaks and providing rapid response. Environmentally friendly pesticides and biological modifications are examples. of sustainable techniques that create stress-tolerant crop varieties to alleviate hardships caused by new diseases and climate change through sophisticated breeding methods that are becoming increasingly popular to reduce their environmental impact. from agricultural operations Implementation of environmentally sustainable practices digital farming and international cooperation Important future directions These initiatives aim to improve food security. Reduce crop loss and support sustainable agricultural systems This brief highlights how modern plant pathology is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, technology, and sustainability to solve problems in agriculture around the world.
Heavy metal contamination of soil and water poses a significant threat to ecosystem health and food security. Metals such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium, and nickel are toxic to plants, soil organisms, and animals, disrupting vital soil functions, impairing crop development, and accumulating through the food chain. Human activities such as mining, industrial emissions, and agricultural practices exacerbate this pollution. Traditional remediation methods are costly and environmentally damaging, making phytoremediation a promising, sustainable alternative. Techniques like phytoextraction, Phyto stabilization, phytovolatilization, and Phyto filtration harness plants' natural abilities to cleanse contaminated environments, offering cost-effective, low-impact solutions. However, challenges remain, including the need for careful plant selection and long-term monitoring to prevent re-emission and ensure safety. A combined approach integrating phytoremediation with other technologies and sustainable practices is essential for effective, long-term environmental restoration. Continued research and global cooperation are needed to optimize these strategies, advancing a sustainable solution to heavy metal contamination and promoting better soil health and agricultural Production on sustainable basis.
Waste is one in all the most important demanding situations dealing with the arena today, and the destiny of waste management relies upon on every person. While all stakeholders and authorities, Government, capital city, municipalities, and neighbourhood groups are operating difficult to manipulate the large quantity of waste generated each day. And accordingly, an intensive alternate in attitude on the person degree is the want of the hour. The developing hassle of waste is inflicting fitness hazards, in particular for most of the people who stay close to landfills. Poorly controlled rubbish at the roadside can cause disorder transmission and have an effect on public fitness. So, it is imperative for concerted study and research regarding diversity, dynamics, understanding about the solid waste and its proper management for Sustainable Development for both ecology, environment and biosphere. It is very pertinent for planning and policy intervention for judicious solid waste management.
Northeast India is renowned for its rich biodiversity and diverse ethnic heritage, particularly in its use of medicinal plants, which are deeply entrenched in local traditions. This study examines the ethnomedicinal knowledge of ethnic communities in Tripura, highlighting their insightful connections to native flora. Through interviews with 30 knowledgeable informants, 55 medicinal plant species were documented, addressing ailments including common skin disorders to complex immune-related problems. The South and Dhalai districts, particularly among the Chakma and Reang communities, exhibited the highest concentrations of medicinal plant knowledge, reflecting their extensive herbal traditions. Key species such as Azadirachta indica, Chromolaena odorata, Justicia adhatoda, Ocimum tenuiflorum, and Zingiber officinale ranked high in ethnobotanical indices, demonstrating significant cultural and therapeutic value. The study reveals the interconnected use of medicinal plants across the 9 communities, with the Chakma community emerging as a central hub for treating conditions such as wounds, jaundice, and kidney stones, displaying their specialized knowledge. As modernization and environmental degradation threaten traditional practices, documenting and preserving ethnobotanical knowledge is vital for biodiversity conservation and sustainable wisdom. Furthermore, integrating ethnomedicinal knowledge with modern healthcare through pharmacological validation and clinical trials is essential to ensure efficacy and safety. By bridging traditional wisdom with scientific research, this study supports conservation efforts while promoting the inclusion of plant-based therapies into contemporary healthcare systems.
The agricultural industry faces significant challenges in ensuring food security as the global population rises and the climate crisis intensifies. Abiotic stressors are widely recognized for reducing crop yield potential and hindering agricultural development worldwide. Among these stressors, water logging, drought, salinity, and heavy metal (HM) contamination are the primary factors that negatively affect plant growth and agricultural productivity. In response to these stresses, plants activate a range of defence mechanisms that alter their biochemical and morpho-physiological processes. Traditional fertilization methods often fail to address these issues effectively, resulting in nutrient losses and environmental degradation. In contrast, nanofertilizers have emerged as a promising alternative, offering enhanced nutrient bioavailability, precise delivery, and improved plant stress tolerance and thus nano-technology is expanding rapidly in nutrient management sector for sustainable crop production.
The coevolution of diseases and plants over millions of years, combined with diverse environmental conditions, has moulded plant immunity, leading to a high degree of molecular complexity. By means of the effectors, the invasive pathogens stimulate the immune system of their host. A proper transcription of genes triggers an immune response congruent with the observed invasion, and the plant immune system is a sophisticated network of interconnected parts that work together to recognize the presence and activity of possible biotic threats. Hence, plant immunity in the context of ecosystem diversity is an important and interesting domain of research and a study area for plant scientists.
The use of drone technology in horticulture is a revolutionary development that will have a big impact on crop management, especially for plants classified as plantations, spices, medicinal and aromatic crops. Drones with multispectral sensors, thermal imaging capabilities and high-resolution cameras provide for precise data collection and monitoring, facilitating improved management techniques i.e., 3 D mapping, crop monitoring, crop surveillance, crop health assessment etc. Drones provide data of crop health assessment, temperature and horticultural plots' topography making and yield forecasts for plantation crops like tea and coffee, maximizing resource utilization and boosting output. Drones help in the early detection of pests and diseases in spice crops, which enables prompt interventions and lower crop losses. In addition to collecting data, drones can be utilized for targeted applications of fertilizer and pesticides. By reducing the amount of chemicals needed and sure they are only use, when necessary, this method reduces costs and its negative effects on the environment.
Seed quality assessment is a critical component of agricultural productivity, influencing germination rate and crop yield. Traditional seed testing methods such as physical purity, genetic purity, germination and viability test have been widely used but are often time consuming, labour intensive and prone to subjectivity. In response to these limitations, advanced seed testing methods have emerged offering rapid, non-destructive and highly accurate alternatives. These methods enable precise analysis of seed quality parameters. This chapter explores the advanced seed testing methodologies, emphasizing their significance in improving seed quality assurance. The adoption of these modern technologies is crucial for meeting the growing demands of high-quality seeds by the seed industry. This chapter has also illustrated DNA fingerprinting that can be used in seed registration to ensure the purity and authenticity of seed varieties grown in the field when compared with the DNA profiles of registered seed samples thus facilitating to prevent fraudulent practices and maintaining seed quality which is of utmost importance for sustainable crop production. This advanced methodology is now utilized for purity testing, seed certification, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Protection and reliable tool for identification of variety across different Geographic and Environmental condition.
The horticulture sector is acknowledged for its potential to boost farm income, ensure livelihood security, and contribute to foreign exchange earnings. Horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants, and plantation crops offer extensive opportunities for value addition, which provides extra employment for farming families. It serves as the backbone of Indian agriculture, contributing approximately 30% to the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP). Fruits and vegetables, which are highly nutritious horticultural products with significant health advantages for humans, are vulnerable to various insects, pests, and diseases, resulting in losses both in standing crops and post-harvest stages; they are also highly perishable and susceptible to spoilage during storage, causing a decline in quality attributes and inducing food loss. A considerable quantity of fruits and vegetables produced worldwide is wasted due to inadequate management of insects, pests, and diseases, poor handling, transportation, post-harvest operations, and insufficient processing. Such losses could be mitigated by implementing effective management strategies and enhancing post-harvest research, development, management, and processing of horticultural products. Establishing and adopting innovative approaches and policies to reduce global losses of fruits and vegetables, which are accessible to small-scale farmers in developing countries, could significantly curb these losses. Minimizing losses can contribute to achieving sustainability by balancing economic, social, and environmental aspects. A strong emphasis should be placed on developing advanced technologies to enhance global food security by enriching the world's agricultural economy while minimizing waste of consumable fruits and vegetables. Some recent initiatives, such as focusing on production of planting materials, cluster development programs, credit initiatives, and the formation and promotion of farmer producer organizations (FPOs), represent positive steps in this direction. Emerging technologies in recent years, including drone cameras, remote sensing, aerial Ultra-low volume (ULV) applicators, drone sprayers, and aerial unmanned vehicles, have been transforming how farmers manage crops and fields. Additionally, advanced technologies like nanotechnology, ecological engineering, and the push-pull strategy are cost-effective, intelligent, and sustainable. These are essential steps in creating safe, cost-effective, and sustainable pest management strategies for horticultural crops and contributing to future food security.
