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The report analyzes how the transition to a market economy (Doi Moi) in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, has exposed rural communities to multiple stressors. It focuses on the rapid expansion and subsequent price collapse of coffee, significant in-migration, and increasing environmental hazards like droughts and floods. Through case studies in Cu M’gar, Lak, and Dak R’lap districts, the study finds that while economic reforms increased opportunities, they also created new vulnerabilities, particularly for indigenous ethnic minorities who lack the capital and market experience of the Kinh majority. The report argues that diversification of livelihoods and adaptive management are essential to building resilience against unpredictable economic and environmental futures.

The report identifies Burkina Faso as highly vulnerable to climatic shocks, epidemics, and environmental degradation, with 44.5% of the population living below the absolute poverty line. It highlights the critical role of agriculture, particularly cotton, and the risks associated with rainfall variability and drought. The document details the sensitivity of vulnerable groups—especially women, children, and nomadic pastoralists—and examines migration as a key coping strategy. It concludes that reducing vulnerability requires integrated environmental management, improved food security, and targeted support for marginalized populations.

The report identifies Mali as highly vulnerable to environmental and climatic stresses, particularly droughts and floods, which exacerbate poverty and food insecurity. It highlights that vulnerability is shaped by regional disparities, social hierarchies, and health crises like HIV/AIDS. Environmental degradation, driven by deforestation and unsustainable agricultural expansion (especially cotton), further reduces the resilience of rural populations. The document argues for integrated strategies to reduce vulnerability, focusing on income diversification, improved water and sanitation, and targeted support for the most marginalized groups, including women and children.

The report identifies four critically stressed ecosystem services in Rwanda: maintenance of biodiversity, food and fibre provision, water supply, purification and regulation, and fuel provision. These stresses are linked to threats in human well-being, specifically the ability to be adequately nourished, access clean water, obtain energy for warmth and cooking, and earn a livelihood. The analysis highlights Kibungo and Butare as priority areas where multiple ecosystem services and well-being constituents are simultaneously under threat. The report argues that increasing food production through land expansion is unfeasible and recommends agricultural intensification and improved watershed management.

The report identifies four critically stressed ecosystem services in Tanzania: maintenance of biodiversity, food and fibre provision, water supply/purification/regulation, and fuel provision. These ecological declines directly threaten human well-being, specifically the ability to be adequately nourished, access clean water, obtain energy for cooking and warmth, and earn a livelihood. Morogoro is highlighted as a priority region because it experiences stress across all four ecosystem services and well-being constituents. Pervasive water scarcity and income poverty are noted as mutually reinforcing challenges affecting all mainland regions, driven largely by a high reliance on subsistence farming and a population growth rate of five per cent annually.

The document provides a comprehensive framework for full cost accounting (FCA) in agriculture, focusing on the valuation of non-market environmental and social costs and benefits. It details various valuation frameworks, such as Total Economic Value (TEV), and examines specific methodologies including market-based, circumstantial, and survey-based approaches. The paper applies these concepts to agricultural case studies in the UK and Japan, and reviews meta-analyses of wetland and water resource valuations to inform future integrated economic and environmental modelling for Agriculture and Agri Food Canada.

The report assesses the intersection of trade and sustainable development in Central American agriculture, focusing on the constraints imposed by the WTO Agreement on Agriculture and the potential for 'green' preferences. It provides detailed environmental impact matrices for key crops and livestock, highlighting a high reliance on agrochemicals and a lack of state incentives for sustainable conversion. The authors argue that while trade liberalization is a necessary condition, it is insufficient without comprehensive institutional investment, technological innovation, and a strategic shift toward sustainable production to ensure long-term rural development and environmental health.

Tropical hillside communities in Latin America, Africa, and Asia are highly vulnerable to soil erosion and deforestation, which are exacerbated by climate change. The PASOLAC program in Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador demonstrates that Sustainable Soil and Water Management (SSWM) techniques—such as agroforestry, organic fertilization, and the construction of dams—increase resilience to droughts and heavy rainfall. Key outcomes include improved soil water retention, reduced topsoil loss, and the restoration of year-round water flows. The document argues that integrating human-based approaches, financial instruments like payments for environmental services, and market access is essential for long-term adaptation and livelihood security.

The report examines the adoption and effects of first-generation GMO crops, noting that while RR soybeans facilitate no-till farming and replace some toxic herbicides, they are associated with 'yield drag' and increased herbicide volumes. It warns that high selection pressure in Argentina increases the risk of weed resistance and shifts. Additionally, the document highlights emerging concerns regarding glyphosate's impact on soil microbial communities, specifically the increase of Fusarium fungi, and the impairment of nitrogen fixation in soybeans.

The report analyzes the impact of WTO accession on Chinese agriculture, noting that while it promotes commercialization and efficiency, it may aggravate rural poverty and ecological degradation. It examines China's current use of Green Box measures—primarily focused on infrastructure and food reserves—and argues that these measures should be expanded to include income support and environmental protection. The authors contend that the current WTO Green Box framework is biased toward developed nations and call for stricter criteria to prevent trade distortion and greater flexibility for developing countries to achieve domestic policy goals.

The document outlines various biomass sources, including residues and perennial energy crops like switchgrass, and describes conversion technologies ranging from direct combustion to fuel cells. It argues that expanding biomass production can revitalize rural economies and protect land quality while potentially providing a significant share of U.S. electricity and motor fuel.

The report examines the deployment of first-generation GMO crops in the US and Argentina. It finds that while RR soybeans facilitate no-till farming and replace more toxic herbicides, they often result in a 5-10% yield drag and increased total herbicide volume. The author warns that high selection pressure, particularly in Argentina, risks accelerating weed resistance and shifts. Additionally, the paper highlights emerging concerns regarding glyphosate's impact on soil microbial communities, specifically the buildup of Fusarium fungi, and potential impairments to plant immune responses and nitrogen fixation.

Under CEO Robert Shapiro, Monsanto pivoted to the 'life sciences' by spinning off its chemicals business and investing $8 billion in seed and biotechnology acquisitions. While the company achieved significant financial growth and market dominance in genetically engineered (GE) crops, it faced intense consumer and NGO backlash in Europe and developing countries over health, environmental, and ethical concerns.

The report analyzes how Argentina's trade liberalization in the 1990s affected its environmental footprint. It finds that while the manufacturing export pattern remained dominated by high-pollution sectors, the agro-industrial sector experienced a 'virtuous' cycle where technological adoption, such as no-till farming and transgenic crops, improved soil health and reduced certain chemical residues. The document argues that Argentina's competitive advantage in sustainable agriculture could be leveraged in international negotiations, provided that national policies continue to support research and development in 'soft' technologies.

The document analyzes the impact of 1990s trade liberalization on Argentina's environment, finding a divergence between sectors. In manufacturing, liberalization did not shift the export pattern toward cleaner industries, though some firms improved management to reduce costs. In contrast, the agricultural sector in the Pampas region experienced a 'virtuous cycle' where growth and the adoption of technologies like direct sowing and GMOs led to environmental benefits, such as reduced soil erosion and carbon fixation, despite a lack of formal environmental policies.

The report identifies a significant gap between the environmental focus of the Sarhad Province Conservation Strategy (SPCS) and the immediate social priorities of local stakeholders, such as poverty and food security. It highlights critical deficiencies in data collection, noting a lack of systematic monitoring for water and air quality and the absence of provincial macroeconomic data. The author argues that the current centralized data system is inadequate for sustainable development monitoring and recommends a phased, decentralized approach using simple, action-oriented indicators to guide implementation.

The report assesses the vulnerability of Canadian Prairie agriculture to climate change, highlighting the historical impact of droughts in the 1930s and 1988. It projects that while warming may extend growing seasons and open northern lands for cultivation, increased evaporation and potential precipitation deficits could lead to more frequent and severe droughts, reducing average potential yields by 10-30%. The document emphasizes the need for policy shifts to incentivize sustainable land management and diversification, noting that current income protection programs may discourage adaptation. It also discusses Canada's potential shift in global competitive advantage, suggesting increased opportunities for wheat and corn exports if other global regions face diminished production.

Global Witness reports that despite a May 1, 1995, timber export ban by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), illegal timber continues to enter Thailand via land and sea. The investigation finds that Thai military officers and companies maintain direct trade links with the Khmer Rouge, with some companies signing multi-year concessions. Global Witness estimates the Khmer Rouge earn between US$10 million and US$20 million per month from the timber trade. The report highlights that the Thai government is undermining the 1991 Paris Peace Accords and the RGC's efforts to curb deforestation, which has already contributed to rice harvest failures and malnutrition in Cambodia.

Platanera Rio Sixaola S.A., the first banana plantation to receive Eco-O.K. certification, faced significant financial losses in 1994, with production costs of $7.22 per box exceeding revenues of $5.32. Despite implementing standards more stringent than the Rainforest Alliance's Eco-O.K. requirements—such as avoiding chemical fertilizers and herbicides—the company struggled to differentiate its product from the 'Big Three' (Chiquita, Dole, and Del Monte) who dominate 70% of the global market. The company's efforts were further complicated by European Community import quotas on Latin American bananas, which raised retail prices in Germany but limited supply. To achieve profitability, the owner, Volker Ribniger, explored options including the introduction of a Black Sigatoka-resistant banana strain, personal branding, and agritourism.

The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 (and its associated regulations) provides a legal framework for the protection of agricultural resources in South Africa. It establishes mandatory control measures to prevent soil erosion, waterlogging, and salination, regulates the use of veld and the management of veld fires, and creates a classification system for combating weeds and invader plants. The document also outlines the administrative functions of conservation committees and the technical specifications for soil conservation beacons.