Jarkko Kristian Niemi

Grain legumes play an important role in smallholder farming systems by providing plant-based protein, improving soil fertility through symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and enhancing cropping systems. However, limited access to high-quality seed remains a major constraint to legume productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the potential of semi-formal seed multiplication through the QDS (Quality Declared Seed) system for two important grain legumes, groundnut and cowpea, in Zambia Eastern Province. Seed multiplication was implemented across three districts and seven chiefdoms through a cooperative-based farmer network. Seeds of improved groundnut and cowpea varieties were distributed to over 1,200 smallholder farmers, and seed production outcomes were evaluated across locations. Results showed significant variation in seed production across studied sites and crop species, while gender had no significant effect on production. Our results demonstrate that semi-formal seed multiplication through farmer networks can substantially increase the local availability of improved legume seeds. Integrating seed systems with good agronomy practices and formal seed supply chains will be critical to improving productivity, food security, and resilience in smallholder farming systems in Africa.

Societal Impact Statement: Legume plants offer generous benefits for both the planet and people by supporting sustainable farming, food and feed systems through their ability to symbiotically fix atmospheric nitrogen. While grain legumes are cultivated and consumed globally, their adoption, market development, and integration into cropping systems vary. In Zambia, pigeonpea remains an underutilised legume crop despite its suitability for semiarid conditions and potential to diversify food and income sources. We implemented farmer field schools in the Eastern province of Zambia to introduce pigeonpea, strengthen farmer knowledge, and explore how participatory learning can support its adoption and early‐stage value chain development. Summary: Farmer field schools (FFSs) are transformative, participatory approaches to adult agricultural education that effectively promote farmers' learning and capacity building and empower farming communities with practical knowledge. Here, we present a case study of FFSs in the Katete district, Eastern province of Zambia, focused on good pigeonpea agronomic practices and the value chain. Three FFSs were established, focusing on pigeonpea variety trials, biological pesticides, and a pigeonpea‐specific rhizobial inoculant development and testing. Farmers received hands‐on training and resources and were guided through community‐led trials. Extreme weather conditions, free‐grazing livestock, an underdeveloped pigeonpea seed value chain, and a poor seed system hindered the implementation of the FFSs. Despite the challenges encountered, we successfully designed and tested pigeonpea‐specific rhizobial inoculants, trained farmers in good agronomic practices such as biological pest control, and provided access to seed of improved pigeonpea varieties. To strengthen the pigeonpea seed value chain, a seed dehuller is now available to farmers. Pigeonpea FFSs will support crop and food diversification, improve soil fertility and sustainable agriculture, and may increase household income.

Livestock farm biosecurity is crucial for animal health and economic sustainability, however uneven adoption/implementation across diverse livestock species and production systems persists. To improve uptake of biosecurity, it is necessary to identify critical economic behavioural, and systematic barriers, and to outline practical drivers. Perceived high costs, labour/time burdens, and uncertain benefits can suppress private investment, while poorly designed indemnities can create moral hazard. Conversely, targeted subsidies, risk-based insurance, and market standards (e.g., certification and procurement) can incentivise implementation. Knowledge and trust gaps, especially in smallholder and backyard settings, further limit compliance. Participatory, and context-specific training led by field veterinarians consistently outperforms top–down messaging, with effective element including: simple, low-cost “easy wins”, tiered checklists, and decision-support tools to help embed routines and demonstrate the value of biosecurity. Integrating clear cost–benefit evidence, incentive-based tools, and co-designed training can transform biosecurity from a perceived practical and cost burden into a resilient, profitable practice that delivers public-good benefits for animal health, trade, and One Health across Europe and beyond.

This study uses a modified Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explore how the ethical concern and familiarity with animal farming as proxies for self-identity and consumption strategies of ‘boycotting’ and ‘buycotting’, influence citizens’ intentions for purchasing and paying a premium for welfare-labeled pork. A survey was conducted with 400 Finnish respondents, and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationships within TPB constructs, including above-mentioned modifications of self-identity and consumption strategies, across different socioeconomic subgroups and the full sample. The findings indicate that attitudes toward farm animal welfare, ethical concerns, and familiarity with animal farming are the strongest predictors of purchasing intentions for welfare-labeled pork. While most respondents expressed a willingness to pay more for AW-labeled products, the role of boycotting emerged as more significant than buycotting, particularly among women and those sharing grocery shopping responsibilities. Social norms and perceived behavioral control showed limited influence in the full sample but were significant for specific groups, such as higher-educated consumers and middle-aged respondents. These results provide valuable insights into consumer motivations, particularly the role of self-identification with ethical concerns, and offer strategic opportunities for marketers and policymakers to promote ethical consumption and strengthen the market potential of welfare-labeled products.

This paper explores the relationship between animal welfare and economic outcomes in agriculture, focusing on whether improvements in animal welfare translate into better farm performance. Specifically, it examines a composite animal welfare index integrating multiple animal-based indicators and its association with milk revenue among Finnish dairy farms over the period 2010–2017. Utilizing multiple econometric approaches, including cross-sectional and panel data regressions, the study reveals a complex and heterogeneous relationship. While a negative association between poorer welfare and milk revenue is evident in cross-sectional estimations, this relationship weakens and generally loses statistical significance once farm-specific fixed effects are included, indicating that much of the association reflects structural or management differences rather than a direct causal effect. The findings underscore the importance of distinguishing correlation from causation when designing and interpreting animal welfare-related policies. Beyond policy relevance, the paper contributes to the limited empirical evidence on causal linkages between animal welfare and farm economic performance.

Summary: Farmer field schools (FFSs) are transformative, participatory approaches to adult agricultural education that effectively promote farmers’ learning and capacity building and empower farming communities with practical knowledge. Here, we present a case study of FFS in the Katete district, Eastern province of Zambia, focused on good pigeon pea agronomic practices and the value chain. Three FFSs were established, focusing on a variety of trials, bio-pesticides, and a pigeon pea-specific rhizobial inoculant. Extreme weather conditions, an underdeveloped pigeon pea seed value chain, and a poor seed system hindered the implementation of the FFSs. To strengthen the pigeon pea seed value chain, a seed dehuller is now available to farmers. Our results highlight the importance of the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the FFSs. Pigeon pea FFSs will support crop and food diversification, improve soil fertility and sustainable agriculture, and may increase household income.

In recent years, integrated veterinary herd health management (VHHM), improving animal health, welfare, food safety, public health, farm management, and economics, has become ever-more important in the European Union due to structural and regulatory advancements. A mixed-methods study analyzed the current state and gaps in VHHM education and training across Europe. Data from 41 European veterinary institutions showed that 83% (n = 34/41) offered VHHM education, either as standalone courses and/or integrated into other subjects. An online survey for veterinarians, primarily working with cattle, poultry, pigs, and small ruminants (75%; n = 86/114), assessed perceived training knowledge gaps and needs. The majority of respondents were unaware of VHHM training programs (69.4%, n = 43/62) or projects (59.6%, n = 59/99) and reported the biggest gaps in VHHM training certification (14%, n = 7/49), followed by soft skills (12%, n = 6/52) and demonstrating VHHM benefits to their clients (9%, n = 5/53). To conclude, while undergraduate VHHM education was generally adequate, enhancing post-graduate certified multi-species training opportunities, incl. soft skills VHHM training were perceived as essential. Our findings also underscored the urgent need for robust economic evaluations of preventive strategies across various animal species to allow veterinarians to better demonstrate VHHM’s direct and indirect benefits to farmers.

Today, connecting people, researchers, research topics, ideas and projects from different countries all around the Europe is more important than ever. One of the greatest examples how research ideas can connect and integrate new research ideas is European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), a funding agency for research and innovation networks. The main activity is to help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This is an interdisciplinary research network that brings researchers and innovators together to investigate a topic of their choice for 4 years. COST Actions are typically made up of researchers from academia, SMEs, public institutions and other relevant organisations or interested parties. More important, COST Actions are open to all science and technology fields, including new and emerging fields and offering an inclusive, pan-European environment for individuals of all levels of seniority to grow their professional research networks. In order to explain what all the possibilities are opened by participating in a COST action, we will present an example of a successful ongoing COST Action CA20103: Biosecurity Enhanced Through Training Evaluation and Raising Awareness (BETTER) in which researchers all around Europe are actively involved. In today's world it is essential for research to be interconnected, interdisciplinary, collaborative and data-intensive. COST provides networking opportunities for researchers and innovators in order to strengthen urope's capacity to address scientific, technological and societal challenges. By analysing the activities and presenting the results achieved so far in the COST Action BETTER, we want to highlight all the advantages and opportunities that are open to researchers in Europe by participating in the COST action.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide information on how citizens in nine countries across Europe perceive egg product quality and the importance of a product's sustainability attributes (animal welfare, country of origin and production method) in egg purchases.Design/methodology/approach: The data were gathered in 2021 via an online survey in nine European countries (Finland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Denmark). A total of 3,601 responses were collected. As methods of analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted when investigating the quality dimensions of egg products and the differences amongst the sociodemographic groups.Findings: Citizens in European countries considered animal welfare aspects, production method and country of origin important when purchasing egg products. Citizens' perceived quality of egg products was related to two dimensions (i.e. product properties and responsible production), and there were differences in perceptions by sociodemographic groups (i.e. age, gender, education and country of residence). Responsible production was most valued by younger women with higher education. Also in the Netherlands and Romania, citizens had stronger preferences for product properties compared to responsible production, whilst in Germany, responsible production was appreciated more than product properties.Originality/value: The study provides new information on citizens' perceived egg product quality and the role of a product's sustainability attributes in egg purchases. Furthermore, the results bring novel insights on the differences in perceptions amongst citizens living in nine European countries.