The Sustainability Imperative

Kasuni Vidanagamachchi, Dilupa Nakandala, and Athula Ginige examine the vulnerabilities of agri-food supply chains (ASCs), drawing on lessons learned from adaptations made during the pandemic. They posit that long-term viability, rather than short-term resilience, is essential for these systems to withstand prolonged crises. The article highlights the importance of diversifying food supply methods, incorporating local production, community-based sharing, and digital technologies to enhance adaptability and responsiveness to disruptions. Through a case study from Sri Lanka, they demonstrate how a combination of government support, community engagement, and digital innovation enabled effective adaptation during the pandemic.

Successfully integrating AI into agriculture requires a nuanced understanding of the social, cultural, and ecological contexts in which it is deployed. Vijaya Lakshmi and Jacqueline Corbett explore this concept, arguing that a conjoint-learning approach (one that combines the precision of AI with the rich tapestry of traditional agricultural knowledge) holds the key to unlocking truly sustainable solutions. Their article presents three case studies from India, each showcasing how farmers are blending generations-old practices with AI-powered tools to enhance decision-making, optimize resource use, and adapt to changing conditions.

Philip Webster, Habib Hussein, Kajetan Widomski, and Jonathan Jeyaratnam of Arthur D. Little together with Ruth Bastow and Mark Matthews of the UK Agri-Tech Centre introduce AI as a powerful tool capable of assisting farmers in making informed decisions about adopting new technologies and practices. The authors acknowledge the complexity of farming systems and the difficulty in identifying appropriate solutions amid a rapidly evolving technological landscape. They propose a use case–driven approach, using AI tools to analyze a range of factors, such as market trends, climate data, regulatory environments, and farm-specific variables, to recommend the most suitable innovations.

This issue of Amplify explores the complex relationship between climate change and agriculture, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to ensure food security and sustainable farming practices. We take readers on a journey from the frontlines of climate change’s impact on smallholder farmers to the potential of AI and data-driven technologies to transform the entire pathway across the agri-food supply chain.

Santosh Kumari, Athula Ginige, and Sanju Saharan shed light on the challenges faced by farmers in Haryana, India, a region heavily reliant on agriculture. Farmers are witnessing firsthand the effects of climate change — from shifting monsoon patterns and increased heat waves to water scarcity and soil degradation. The article emphasizes that these farmers are not passive victims; they are actively adapting by modifying planting schedules, experimenting with climate-resilient crops, and drawing on generations of traditional knowledge. They make it clear that existing adaptation strategies may not be enough to address the scale of the challenge. Some even augment the factors leading to climate change, underscoring the need for systemic solutions.

In this Advisor, a group from Oak Ridge National Laboratory explores energy-efficiency improvement as a feasible, low-cost approach that can bring immediate industrial CO2 emissions reductions around the globe.

Transitioning from a linear to a circular space economy is not just about sustainability — it’s about preventing orbital ecocide and ensuring the long-term viability of orbital space as a resource and habitat. By embracing resource efficiency, reuse, and innovation, we can safeguard the celestial environment and preserve the final frontier for future generations.

This Advisor explores the European Commission SUMP, a consolidated methodology to help local and regional authorities improve accessibility of urban areas by providing high-quality, sustainable transport to, through, and within the urban area. Essentially, it contains actionable guidelines for comprehensive and sustainable urban mobility planning.