Topics

Abstract/Full Paper/Posters are welcomed in the following research fields:

1. Ecological Agriculture

Ecological agriculture focuses on farming practices that work with nature rather than against it, prioritizing long-term soil health and ecosystem stability.

• Principles of Agroecology

  • Closed-loop nutrient cycling.

  • Enhancing biological synergies.

  • Reducing reliance on external chemical inputs.

• Soil Health & Management

  • Soil microbiology and the "Soil Food Web."

  • Conservation tillage and no-till farming.

  • Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils.

• Cropping Systems

  • Crop rotation and diversification.

  • Intercropping and companion planting.

  • Cover cropping and green manures.

• Sustainable Water Management

  • Drip irrigation and precision watering.

  • Rainwater harvesting and "Keyline" design.

  • Management of agricultural runoff and buffer strips.

• Alternative Farming Models

  • Permaculture and forest gardening.

  • Regenerative agriculture.

  • Biodynamic farming.

2. Biodiversity in Agriculture

Biodiversity provides the "ecosystem services" (like pollination and pest control) that make farming possible without heavy industrial intervention.

• Genetic Diversity

  • In-situ and ex-situ conservation of heirloom seeds.

  • Preserving rare and landrace livestock breeds.

  • Crop wild relatives (CWR) and climate resilience.

• Functional Biodiversity

  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) using natural predators.

  • Pollinator conservation (bees, butterflies, and bats).

  • Rhizosphere diversity (beneficial fungi and bacteria).

• Landscape-Level Biodiversity

  • Hedgerows, windbreaks, and wildlife corridors.

  • Agroforestry: Integrating trees with crops and livestock.

  • Restoration of degraded agricultural lands.

• Policy & Ethics

  • The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in farming.

  • Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) for genetic resources.

3. Waste Management & Circularity

In an ecological system, waste does not exist; every output is an input for another process.

• Organic Waste Upcycling

  • Aerobic composting techniques (static pile, turned windrow).

  • Vermicomposting (using earthworms).

  • Anaerobic digestion and biogas production.

• On-Farm Waste Reduction

  • Management of agricultural plastics (mulch films, irrigation pipes).

  • Silage wrap recycling.

  • Upcycling harvest residues into biochar or animal bedding.

• Nutrient Recovery

  • Closing the Nitrogen and Phosphorus cycles.

  • Safe application of treated wastewater in irrigation.

  • Management of livestock manure and slurry.

• The Circular Bioeconomy

  • Agricultural by-products for bio-plastics and textiles.

  • Post-harvest loss reduction strategies.

  • Community-supported waste-to-resource programs.

Integration & Policy

• Certification & Standards: Organic (USDA/EU), Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC), and Fair Trade.

• Economic Incentives: Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) and carbon credits.

• Climate Change Adaptation: Using biodiversity to buffer against extreme weather events.