About this Research Topic

Background

In the field of agriculture and food production, the increasing global population pressures necessitate not only enhanced food production but also careful consideration of production quality. Various biotic and abiotic factors inherent in natural agro-environmental conditions limit food production capacity, posing significant challenges to food security and sovereignty. The push for high-volume food production often overlooks the importance of practices that could improve food quality or the synthesis of valuable biocompounds, creating a gap that needs addressing through focused research and innovative practices.

The increasing emphasis on healthy eating in the food industry has driven modifications in primary production practices. As documented by Gaffiney et al. (2019), these adaptations consider both internal and external factors that influence the productivity and quality of crops. Furthermore, as noted by García-Parra et al. (2022), these primary production alterations have significant ramifications on secondary production, primarily affecting the quality of plant raw materials which in turn bolster various industries. This highlights the crucial linkage between initial farming practices and the resulting enhancements in the agricultural value chain. However, research that explores the interconnections between primary, secondary, and tertiary agricultural production often concentrates on a select few plant species. This narrow focus results in significant gaps in understanding and cultivating other species that are crucial for food and economic security, particularly in regions where complex challenges restrict the interactions between soil, plant, climate, and human activity, thereby exacerbating issues related to food security and sovereignty.

In this context, this Research Topic aims to fill the existing knowledge gap regarding the effect of primary production practices on the diversity and quality of plant-based raw materials and their broader industrial applications. The goal is to broaden the focus of research to encompass a wider variety of plant species, particularly those in regions where agricultural challenges are intensified by environmental and socio-economic factors. These studies are vital for improving food security and sovereignty through optimized production strategies. Through detailed exploration, the objective is also to clarify how initial cultivation methods influence the properties of final agricultural products, emphasizing the need for sustainable and adaptable farming approaches that do not compromise on quality for quantity.

To gather further insights into sustainable and efficient food production systems, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Sustainable crop production strategies: research that addresses the development of agricultural practices (i.e. use of microorganisms, organic amendments, agronomic practices) that balance yield with environmental and social sustainability, considering elements such as precision agriculture and agroforestry.

• Crop Ecophysiology Under Stress: Investigate specific abiotic and biotic stressors (e.g., drought, pests, waterlogging, temperature, nutritional status, salinity) and their physiological impacts on different crop species. Focus on understanding how these stressors affect the expression of genotype and phenotype, with the aim of developing stress-resilient crops that ensure high-quality raw materials.

• Production of plant raw materials: Impact of primary production conditions on the quality and utility of plant materials.

Articles of various types, including original research papers, reviews, and case studies, are welcome to contribute to this comprehensive examination of crop production.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Primary production, ecophysiology, agro-food, raw materials, agroclimatic.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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