Agricultural Safety and Health Culture

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2022) | Viewed by 19375

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CEF, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: agriculture; nitrogen; environment; safety; sustainability
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous activities around the world, as measured by work-related injuries, illness, disabilities, and deaths. Labor is a key factor of agricultural production, along with natural resources, capital, and entrepreneurship. However, the high risk of occupational injuries and ill health is a threat to the sustainability and development of the agricultural sector. Hundreds of fatalities and thousands of disabling injuries and work-related diseases result in significant financial and social losses. Aging, lack of education, and the image of farming as a dangerous and low-profit occupation make it difficult to attract young people into agriculture, helping to fix populations in rural areas. Building a better safety culture, adopting a vision of ‘zero injuries’ on farms, and using the ‘One Health’ principle to protect the welfare of workers, animals, as well as the environment is a topic of interest for decision makers, and for the sector itself. This Special Issue welcomes research and development work related to the promotion and implementation of safety culture in agricultural activities, and for workers, animals, and environment welfare and protection.

Prof. Dr. Cláudia Marques dos Santos Cordovil
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • agriculture
  • health
  • safety
  • environment
  • welfare
  • economic

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 3799 KiB  
Article
Study on Fugitive Dust Control Technologies of Agricultural Harvesting Machinery
by Yuan Liu, Long Shao, Wanzhang Wang, Jinfan Chen, Heng Zhang, Yue Yang and Baichen Hu
Agriculture 2022, 12(7), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12071038 - 16 Jul 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4343
Abstract
The fugitive dust generated by agricultural harvesting machinery not only causes harm to production safety, but also affects the living environment of people in agricultural areas. This is also one of the hot issues that have emerged in the green development of rural [...] Read more.
The fugitive dust generated by agricultural harvesting machinery not only causes harm to production safety, but also affects the living environment of people in agricultural areas. This is also one of the hot issues that have emerged in the green development of rural areas in recent years, which is related to agricultural safety and hygiene culture. Due to the lack of relevant research, many researchers still have considerable controversy on the issue of agricultural dust. Therefore, in combination with the actual production of agricultural mechanization, according to the cause of dust generation and particle characteristics, the selection of appropriate dust reduction technology and detection methods is of great significance for the research on the control of dust from agricultural harvesting machinery. Aiming at the dust problem in agricultural mechanization production, this research first introduces the relationship between fugitive dust and atmospheric particulate matter and the main components of fugitive dust, and then focuses on the causes of dust generated by wheat harvesters and peanut harvesters in field operations, and explains the main hazards of dust to human health, ecological environment, and climate. This study introduces four fugitive dust emission reduction technologies and five particle measurement methods, and compares and analyzes their feasibility in the application of agricultural harvesting machinery dust control. Finally, we put forward conclusions and suggestions on the dust control technology of agricultural harvesting machinery in order to provide reference for the control of agricultural harvesting machinery dust, improve the field operation environment, and promote the green development of modern agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Safety and Health Culture)
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12 pages, 607 KiB  
Article
Does Political Participation Influence the Waste Classification Behavior of Rural Residents? Empirical Evidence from Rural China
by Yiming Song, Yating Zhan, Yanbin Qi, Dingde Xu and Xin Deng
Agriculture 2022, 12(5), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12050625 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2847
Abstract
Waste classification is an important part of the renovation of rural human settlements, and the renovation of rural human settlements is also of great significance to global sustainable development. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to study the factors that affect the [...] Read more.
Waste classification is an important part of the renovation of rural human settlements, and the renovation of rural human settlements is also of great significance to global sustainable development. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to study the factors that affect the classification behavior for promoting waste classification behavior. However, few studies have focused on the political participation of rural residents as a driving factor. Therefore, this study aims to explore whether political participation affects rural residents’ waste classification behavior. In particular, this study uses the China Land Economic Survey (CLES), which surveyed 2628 rural households in Jiangsu Province, China, and uses the Probit model to explore the quantitative impact of political participation on farmers’ waste classification behavior. This study finds that: (1) Political participation may significantly improve farmers’ waste classification behavior. Specifically, farmers who participated in the general election were 10.6% more likely to conduct waste classification than those who did not vote in the general election. (2) Groups receiving government subsidies may be more likely to understand the government’s waste classification policy and then carry out waste classification. (3) Residents in areas with high economic development may be more sensitive to opportunity cost than residents in areas with low economic development, so residents in areas with high economic development degree are less willing to participate in waste classification action, and political participation has less influence on waste classification. Therefore, this research helps improve the efficiency of waste classification, ameliorate waste classification behavior, and provide the references for building a more civilized rural living environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Safety and Health Culture)
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18 pages, 638 KiB  
Article
Green Finance, Chemical Fertilizer Use and Carbon Emissions from Agricultural Production
by Lili Guo, Shuang Zhao, Yuting Song, Mengqian Tang and Houjian Li
Agriculture 2022, 12(3), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12030313 - 22 Feb 2022
Cited by 74 | Viewed by 6660
Abstract
This study aimed to understand green finance’s impact on fertilizer use and agricultural carbon emissions. We selected the macro panel data of 30 provinces (cities) in China from 2000 to 2019. The main research methods are standardized test framework (cross-sectional dependence, unit root [...] Read more.
This study aimed to understand green finance’s impact on fertilizer use and agricultural carbon emissions. We selected the macro panel data of 30 provinces (cities) in China from 2000 to 2019. The main research methods are standardized test framework (cross-sectional dependence, unit root and cointegration test), the latest causal test, impulse response, and variance decomposition analysis. Examined the long-term equilibrium relationship between green finance, fertilizer use, and agricultural carbon emissions. The results show: fertilizer consumption and agricultural carbon emissions have a positive correlation. However, green finance can significantly reduce agricultural carbon emissions. The causal test confirmed the bidirectional causal relationship between agricultural carbon emissions and fertilizer use. At the same time, verified one-way causality from green finance to both of them. Interpret the results of impulse response and variance decomposition analysis: among the changes in agricultural carbon emissions, chemical fertilizers contributed 2.45%, green finance contributed 4.34%. In addition, the contribution rate of green finance to chemical fertilizer changes reached 11.37%. Green finance will make a huge contribution to reducing fertilizer use and agricultural carbon emissions within a decade. The research conclusions provide an important scientific basis for China’s provinces (cities) to formulate carbon emission reduction policies. China has initially formed a policy system and market environment to support the development of green finance, in 2020, the “dual carbon” goal was formally proposed. In 2021, the national “14th Five-Year Plan” and the 2035 Vision Goals emphasized the importance of green finance. It plays an important supporting role in carbon emission reduction goals, and green finance has become an important pillar of national strategic goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Safety and Health Culture)
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16 pages, 724 KiB  
Article
Pesticide Use Culture among Food Crop Farmers: Implications for Subtle Exposure and Management in Barbados
by David Oscar Yawson
Agriculture 2022, 12(2), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020288 - 17 Feb 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4212
Abstract
Globally, there is a strong interest in on-farm pesticide use culture due to genuine concerns about the individual, public, and ecological health risks posed by pesticides. At farm scale, pesticide use culture can be captured via the assessments of knowledge, attitudes, and practices [...] Read more.
Globally, there is a strong interest in on-farm pesticide use culture due to genuine concerns about the individual, public, and ecological health risks posed by pesticides. At farm scale, pesticide use culture can be captured via the assessments of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) to inform intervention strategy and integrated science-based management. Despite the intensive use of pesticides in agriculture in the Caribbean, there is limited information on pesticide use culture or KAP assessment. This study assessed the pesticide use culture among selected food crop farmers in Barbados. A cross-sectional study of 93 food crop farmers, using a semi-structured instrument, was carried out. The results show that the respondents self-rated their level of knowledge on pesticide handling and application as medium to high but low on waste management. Over 50% of the respondents indicated they determine application rates and could understand and follow information on pesticide labels. The majority of the respondents relied on the Internet for information on pesticides, and less than half had received formal training on pesticide use in the three years preceding this study. On attitude, there was overwhelming support for the encouragement of pesticide usage to reduce losses in yield and quality of harvest. Knowledge did not always imply positive attitudes toward safe practices. While 86% agreed that pesticides posed considerable risks to the personal health of users, 60% agreed that one did not need to have all the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) before using a given pesticide. Due to gaps in the knowledge–attitude–practice continuum, some respondents applied pesticides when necessary, and there was low adherence to the use of recommended PPE when handling/applying pesticides or cleaning/repairing pesticide application equipment, and some respondents indicated a tendency to eat, drink, or smoke during or immediately after pesticide application. These suggest subtle exposure. It was concluded that the low use of recommended PPE, high reliance on the Internet for pesticide guidance, and, particularly, pesticide waste disposal practices require urgent attention from policy, regulatory, and practical levels to improve the pesticide use culture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Safety and Health Culture)
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