Numerous sources provide evidence of trends and patterns in average farm size and farmland distribution worldwide, but they often lack documentation, are in some cases out of date, and do not provide comprehensive global and comparative regional estimates. This article uses agricultural census data (provided at the country level in Web Appendix) to show that there are more than 570 million farms w...

The customary occurrence of crop residue burning substantially increases air pollution. Authors examine the effects of nudges and cash compensation in curbing this practice using a field experiment in the rice-growing region of northern India. Information treatments include positively-framed and negatively-framed social norms and environmental awareness nudges. Authors identify the effects of info...

Crop residue burning contributes to poor air quality and imposes a health burden on India. Despite government bans and other interventions, this practice remains widespread. Here authors estimate the impact of changes in agricultural emissions on air quality across India and quantify the potential benefit of district-level actions using an adjoint modeling approach. From 2003 to 2019, authors find...

Given Indonesia’s abundant biomass resources, co-firing biomass presents an opportunity to reduce coal plant carbon emissions. However, the emissions profile of this strategy depends upon biomass sourcing, which, if derived from non-waste biomass (purpose-grown at plantations), could induce substantial land use change emissions, shifting emissions offset from coal plants to land. Here we use a pla...

India faces significant air quality challenges, contributing to local health and global climate concerns. Despite a national ban on agricultural residue burning and various incentive schemes, farmers in northern India continue to face difficulties in curbing open-field burning. Using data from 1021 farming households in rural Punjab in India, authors examine the patterns and drivers of the adoptio...

More than five billion metric tons of agricultural residues are produced annually worldwide. Despite having multiple uses and significant potential to augment crop and livestock production, a large share of crop residues is burned, especially in Asian countries. This unsustainable practice causes tremendous air pollution and health hazards while restricting soil nutrient recycling. In this review,...

Deliberate open burning of crop residues emits greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. This study investigates the environmental impacts (global warming potential, GWP) and economic impacts (net cash flow) of nine agricultural residue management schemes, including open burning, fertilizer production, and biochar production for corn residue, rice straw, and sugarcane leaves. The ...

Despite bans and air quality concerns, farmers continue to burn crop residues; an integrated response that applies systems thinking across economic, regulatory, and information policy is needed for change....

The inclusion of environmental criteria in microfinance products to promote sustainable activities, access to clean or more efficient use of energy or to reduce climatic and environmental risk for low-income households or microenterprises (i.e., green microfinance)—is a dynamic and growing market in LAC, with existing and forthcoming opportunities. However, client outreach, clear strategies and in...

This blog discusses agroforestry and sustainable land management in Haiti.Land conversion of forests to agriculture and pastureland is a major threat to biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean. Deforestation and slash-and-burn practices also strip the soil of its nutrients and of its capability to retain water. This results in soil erosion and watershed degradation, which in turn ultimatel...