eChapters

Meteorology is not merely the study of weather patterns; it is a critical science that intersects agriculture and allied sectors in numerous ways. In a world where food security is intimately tied to climatic variability, understanding the basic principles of meteorology is essential for both traditional farming practices and modern integrated food production systems. This chapter explores the foundational concepts of weather and climate, examines the atmospheric dynamics that directly impact agricultural systems, and contrasts historical meteorological practices with modern forecasting approaches. By delving into these topics, we can better appreciate how the environment influences agricultural productivity and how innovative meteorological tools can improve decision-making in the food production chain. Weather describes the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place. It is the sum of short-term atmospheric conditions such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility. In contrast, climate refers to the long-term average of weather patterns over a period of decades or more. Understanding this distinction is crucial for agriculture, as farmers and allied sector professionals must respond to immediate weather events (such as sudden frost or heavy rainfall) while also adapting to long-term climatic trends (like gradual temperature increases or shifting precipitation patterns).

The rapid pace of technological innovation, coupled with mounting environmental challenges and shifting societal expectations, is fundamentally reshaping the landscape of sustainable food production. In this chapter, we explore the future outlook of this dynamic field by examining emerging trends in weather intelligence, the transformative potential of innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and data integration, as well as the evolving policy and ethical considerations that underpin sustainable agriculture. The integration of advanced technologies with traditional agronomic practices has led to the development of data-driven systems that not only forecast weather with greater accuracy but also optimize crop management, resource utilization, and risk mitigation. As we look toward the future, the convergence of these disciplines promises to usher in a new era of resilient, efficient, and environmentally conscious food production systems. We begin by outlining the current landscape and identifying key trends that are driving change. The discussion then transitions into an exploration of cuttingedge innovations in AI, IoT, and data integration that are revolutionizing weather intelligence. Subsequent sections address the policy frameworks and ethical dilemmas accompanying rapid technological adoption in agriculture, before concluding with a vision for future research directions and strategic planning. Finally, the chapter suggests additional topics—such as blockchain for supply chain transparency and urban vertical farming—to ensure a holistic view of sustainable food production in a rapidly changing world.
12.1 Emerging Trends in Weather Intelligence and Food Production
Over the past decade, advancements in sensor technologies, communication networks, and computational algorithms have revolutionized weather forecasting and climate monitoring. These breakthroughs are not only critical for predicting weather events but also serve as the foundation for proactive decision-making in agricultural management. High-resolution satellite imagery and remote sensing techniques now provide granular data about atmospheric conditions, soil moisture levels, and crop health (Fig.12.1).

1. Introduction
Hydrogenation plays a vital role in the transformation of organic compounds, making it essential for synthesizing fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. This process is widely utilized in both laboratories and for industrial applications (Andersson et al., 2008). Typically, two approaches are used for hydrogenation: traditional one involves direct hydrogenation using pressurized hydrogen gas, and the other relies on transfer hydrogenation (TH), which involves addition of hydrogen into a molecule from a non-H2 sources (Johnstone et al., 1985). The use of high-pressure hydrogen gas, however, demands significant investment in infrastructure, making it less economically feasible for developing a sustainable hydrogenation industry. In contrast, TH has gained increasing attention due to its sustainability, particularly when employing hydrogen donors derived from biomass, such as alcohols and organic acids, which are abundant, cost-effective, and easy to handle instead of using non-renewable H2 gas for reduction of CO2 (Becattini et al., 2021) (Figure 1).
2. Historical Background and Classification
The hydrogen transfer process has a rich history spanning over a century. In 1903, Knoevenagel first demonstrated that palladium black effectively promoted the disproportionation of dimethyl 1,4-dihydroterephthalate into dimethyl terephthalate and cis-hexahydroterephthalate, in which hydrogen transfer was occurred between identical molecules (identical donor and acceptor) (Knoevenagel et al., 1905). This pioneering work established the foundation for hydrogen transfer reactions. Braude and Linstead later categorized these reactions into three distinct types (Braude et al., 1954):

As we stand at the threshold of this final chapter, “Harvest For Future,” we reflect on the journey that has brought us to this moment. Throughout the preceding chapters, we’ve explored the intricate relationships between rural households, agricultural practices, and the ever-changing climate. We’ve examined the critical role that operational agricultural meteorology plays in empowering rural communities to adapt, innovate, and thrive in the face of uncertainty. From understanding local weather patterns to leveraging climate-resilient agricultural practices, we’ve traversed the complexities of sustainable rural development. Our exploration has taken us through the nuances of climate variability and its impact on agricultural productivity, water management, and soil health. We’ve discussed the importance of effective early warning systems, drought management strategies, and crop insurance programs in mitigating the risks associated with climate-related shocks. We’ve also highlighted the critical role that information and communication technologies can play in disseminating climate information, agricultural advisories, and market intelligence to rural households. Moreover, we’ve examined the human side of sustainable rural development, including the social, economic, and cultural factors that influence decision-making processes within rural households. We’ve looked at the ways in which agricultural meteorology can be used to support climate-resilient agriculture, enhance food security, and promote sustainable livelihoods. Through case studies and examples, we’ve seen how operational agricultural meteorology has been successfully implemented in various parts of the world, leading to improved agricultural productivity, increased incomes, and enhanced resilience among rural households. Now, as we look to the horizon, it’s time to distill the insights, strategies, and lessons learned into a cohesive vision for the future. What does a sustainable rural household look like in the context of a rapidly evolving climate? How can operational agricultural meteorology continue to support and uplift these communities, fostering resilience, equity, and prosperity? In this final chapter, we’ll synthesize the key takeaways from our exploration and chart a course for harnessing the full potential of agricultural meteorology to create a more sustainable, food-secure, and climate-resilient future for rural households worldwide. We’ll explore the opportunities and challenges associated with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things, and how they can be leveraged to enhance the delivery of climate services to rural households. We’ll also examine the policy and institutional frameworks that are needed to support the widespread adoption of operational agricultural

The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time, with farreaching consequences for global agriculture, ecosystems, economies, and societies as extreme weather events, shifting rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures threaten crop yields and food security. However, the climate crisis is not a new phenomenon. Its roots can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution, when human activities such as8 burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and land-use changes began to release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In the 1960s and 1970s, scientists began to sound the alarm about the potential consequences of human-induced climate change. The first climate models were developed, and researchers such as Roger Revelle and Charles David Keeling began to track the rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The 1980s saw the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which has since become the leading international body for assessing climate change science.
1.1 Climate Crisis
Despite these early warnings, the climate crisis has continued to worsen. The past decade has seen a proliferation of extreme weather events, from heat waves and droughts to floods and storms. The year 2024 was the hottest on record, with global temperatures averaging 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels (Fig. 1.1). The consequences of climate change are already being felt, from melting glaciers and sea-level rise to devastating wildfires and water scarcity.

Description and Distribution
Sage is the dried leaf of the of the plant Salvia officinalis Linn. which is a member of the mint family. It grows and is also cultivated in Yugoslavia, Italy, Albania, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, England, Canada, and, the USA. It is also grown in several other European countries. It is native of the Mediterranean region. It is a hardy and a variable sub-shrub, and is often cultivated as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Stems are shrubby, white and woolly, 30-cm tall; the leaves are greyish green, aromatic, entire, petiolate, oblong, 7-8 cm long, base narrowed or spear shaped or round. On drying, the leaves turn silvery grey, and they have soft velvety texture. The flowers are blue, purple or white in simple racemes. The cultivation of Sage or “Garden Sage” has been tried for its essential oil in Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir State of India), which is currently being imported for use in perfumery and soap industries. The plants are reported to have done quite well. It should be propagated in India to save foreign exchange. The cultivation of Sage in the Dalmatian region of Yugoslavia, is considered by the trade to be the best in quality, and the product derived from the cultivated plants in this region is rated the next in preference. The odor is strong, fragrant and aromatic, and the taste is aromatic, warm, somewhat astringent and a little bitter. Other product such as Spanish Sage and Greek sage derived from the other species of Salvia are used either as a substitute or adulterant of the genuine product.
Area, Production and Trade
No reliable published information is available on both area and production of Sage in India or in the world, at large. However, the available information on the international trade of Sage is summarized as follows:

The drug conventionally used for sedation is xylazine, which is an alpha-2 agonist (Dugdale, 2010; Rankin, 2015). Dexmedetomidine is the latest drug of the same class used for sedation, and is more specific to alpha2 receptors than xylazine (Ishyama et al., 1995). Doses of 1-2 mg per kg body weight of xylazine (Hall and Clarke, 2001) and upto 20 mcg per kg body weight of dexmedetomidine (Ko, 2013) are required for sedation when used alone (Hall and Clarke, 2001; Rankin, 2015). Similar degrees of sedation could still be achieved at lower doses of xylazine (0.2 to 0.4 mg per kg body weight) and dexmedetomidine (2.5 to 5 mcg per kg) if administered in combination with any opioid drug like hydromorphone / oxymorphone / fentanyl / buprenorphine / butorphanol / nalbuphine / tramadol at their usual doses (Hunt et al., 2013). Another drug - acepromazine, which is a phenothiazine tranquiliser, is used at its doses of 0.01 to 0.05 mg/kg combined with an opioid for achieving sedation (Smith et al., 2001; Dugdale, 2020; Ko, 2013). Combination of an opioid with either a phenothiazine tranquiliser or an alpha2 agonist sedative drug provides neurolept anaesthesia/analgesia (Dugdale, 2020; Rankin, 2015). An anticholinergic drug - glycopyrrolate is administered in combination with acepromazine and opioid to prevent bradycardia (Dyson and James-Davies, 1999). Anticholinergics are generally not recommended with sedative cocktails containing dexmedetomidine, but preferred with sedative cocktails containing xylazine (Congdon et al., 2011; Billah et al., 2017). If sedation is to be achieved with acepromazine alone, higher doses need to be administered where there will be an increase in its dose dependent side effects, and hence not preferred (Simon and Steagall, 2020). Benzodiazepines are another class of sedative drugs, which generally doesn’t provide predictable sedation in animals. Paradoxical excitement is caused in healthy adults when these drugs are used alone (Herron et al., 2008). Predictable sedation is achieved when these drugs are administered in combination with any opioids (KuKanich and Wiese, 2015). Also, benzodiazepines can be combined with an alpha2-opioid combination to enhance the overall sedation (Maze et al., 1992). Various balanced sedative cocktails prepared with the drugs available for a veterinary practitioner in India, are presented. The balanced sedative cocktails are prepared with either

8.1 Introduction
Every fusion welding procedure that uses a heat source capable of producing incredibly high weld input levels is known as high energy density welding. For welding, the density of the energy obtainable from a heat source is frequently more significant than the source’s absolute energy. Electron beam welding (EBW) and laser beam welding (LBW) are the two main categories of high energy density welding technologies. In both procedures, a very high-intensity beam is used as the heating source for the weld, and this beam’s energy is highly concentrated due to optical or electromagnetic lenses, respectively. These processes have an energy density of roughly 1010–1013 W/m2. The energy density of typical arc welding procedures is roughly 5 x108 W/m2. As fast-moving electrons in EBW and photons in LBW collide with the workpiece, their kinetic energy is converted into heat. This causes melting, vaporisation, and heating in a very small region. Due to non-uniform weld metal shrinkage or thermal contraction, penetration into the workpiece can be significant. This results in deep, thin, parallel-sided fusion welds with narrow heat-affected zones and little angular distortion. Since the electron beam welding is nearly always done autogenously, the joint fit needs to be flawless.
This welding is classified into the following types.
i. Plasma arc welding
ii. Electron Beam welding (EBW)
iii. Laser bean welding (LBW)
8.2 Plasma Arc Welding
An electric plasma arc and a non-consumable electrode are used in the fusion welding method known as plasma arc welding (PAW) to fuse metals together. The electrode is typically constructed of thoriated tungsten, just like in TIG. It is an excellent option for welding thin metals and producing deep, narrow welds because of its distinctive torch design, which provides a more focused beam than TIG welding. Compared to conventional procedures, plasma welding is frequently used to weld tough metals like aluminium, stainless steel, and others. This method, like oxy-fuel welding, can also cut metal (plasma cutting), which gives fabricators and manufacturers another useful tool.

Introduction
In recent years, global attention has increasingly focused on the interconnection between health, happiness, and sustainable development, recognizing their collective role in enhancing quality of life. Often viewed as personal endeavors these elements drive societal well-being and contribute to long-term sustainability. In this context, rooted in ancient India, yoga has become vital in promoting individual wellness and broader social progress. Yoga offers holistic benefits that address well-being across multiple dimensions—physical fitness, mental clarity emotional balance, and social cohesion—making it an invaluable approach to fostering contentment and sustainable living. Yoga integrates mindfulness minimalism, and responsible consumption, aligning with global initiatives to address environmental issues and advance sustainable development goals (SDGs). This chapter explores the transformative potential of yoga in promoting health, happiness, and sustainability. By reviewing its role in physical and psychological well-being, social development, and ecological consciousness, the chapter aims to demonstrate how yoga can serve as a personal wellness practice and a contributor to global sustainable development efforts. Through this examination, we can better understand the broader impacts of yoga, highlighting its capacity to support individual transformation while contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world.
Yoga: Historical and Philosophical Foundations
Yoga has its roots in ancient India, dating back over 5,000 years, which was developed as a system of physical, mental, and spiritual practices aimed at achieving harmony and self-realization (Sengupta, 2012). The term “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, which translates to “to unite” or “to join.” This signifies the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit. The philosophical foundations of yoga are laid out in texts such as Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita where yoga is described as a path to achieving balance, clarity, and peace through discipline, meditation, and ethical living. One of the significant branches of this system is Hatha Yoga, which emphasizes physical postures (asanas), breathing control (pranayama), and mental concentration. Hatha yoga is deeply rooted in ancient Indian texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Svatmarama and the Gheranda Samhita, where it is described as a tool for mastering body and mind. While traditional yoga aimed at spiritual liberation, Hatha yoga was mainly concerned with physical and mental control, often seen as preparatory for more profound meditative practices. In the modern world, yoga has evolved into a global wellness practice, emphasizing physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation. This adaptation has made yoga accessible to a diverse audience including those seeking physical health, mental clarity, or spiritual growth. Yoga’s core values of mindfulness, non-attachment, and ethical living continue to offer relevant solutions to contemporary challenges, such as mental health, sustainability and social responsibility. Its holistic nature makes it a valuable tool for fostering individual well-being while promoting broader ecological and societal harmony.

Introduction 
Life’s unpredictability is a common thread that weaves through our experiences, prompting the use of various societal mechanisms to help us navigate the uncertainties we face (Lenhart, 2020). On a personal level, a typical strategy for managing this uncertainty includes utilizing financial instruments, commonly known as insurance (Ito & Kono, 2010). Today a diverse range of items is now eligible for insurance, encompassing aspects such as health, travel, and personal belongings, typically categorized as health, travel, and property insurance respectively. In India, the recognition of life insurance is prevalent, but with the increase in literacy and financial awareness, a growing number of individuals and families are starting to grasp the importance of health insurance (Kumar & Duggirala, 2021). Following this cause, the third goal of sustainable development that highlights the significance of ensuring and promoting healthy lives is worth mentioningtowards the effort of massification of the health insurance. By integrating finance, the third Sustainable Development Goal emphasizes a crucial initiative aimed at achieving universal health coverage for every citizen, which encompasses state health insurance for all individuals(Pauly, 1994). This initiative aims to equip citizens with the financial resilience needed to navigate an uncertain future, particularly concerning health-related challenges. In the context of health insurance frameworks, understanding the accessibility of initiatives aimed at the bottom of the pyramid is crucial for realizing universal health coverage towards achieving the SDGs’ (Pablos-Mendez, Cavanaugh, & Ly, 2016). The effectiveness of accessibility is intricately linked to the level of awareness that exists within the community. As the landscape of health insurance is ever-dynamic, understanding its intricacies will be crucial moving forward.For a thorough exploration, a researcher should have a wide-ranging grasp of the discipline, including theoretical, contextual, and methodological perspectives. Taking this into consideration, present chapter aims to explore a theoretical aspect of the review through a bibliometric analysis (Faruk, Rahman, Heliyon, & 2021, n.d.) of the literature spanning from 1984 to 2024 (Lebek, Uffen, Neumann, Hohler, & Breitner, 2014). This theoretical perspective will guide us in exploring how to reflect on the answers effectively. Theories illustrate methods for examining and establishing a structure for comprehending occurrences (Mahajan, n.d.). Furthermore, the theory clarifies how phenomena connect with the practical world, providing a distinct path and perspective for the researcher. This upcoming section will outline the reasoning behind this study, which entails performing a bibliometric analysis of the literature through the PRISMA Protocol (Moher et al., 2009), succeeded by a comprehensive text analysis of the chosen literature. The next section provides a concise overview of the theories explored within the realm of health insurance literature. This review adopts the PRISMA protocol (Moher et al., 2009) to scrutinize the articles to be included in the review. The protocol involves two phases of scrutinization, which consist of identification and screening. In the identification phase, I selected the Scopus register (Malanski, Dedieu, & Schiavi, 2021) and collected a database of 16797 articles. I gathered this database based on the “Article titles” criterion, including the keywords “Health Insurance” or “Health” and “Insurance” from 1984 to 2024, encompassing 50 years of literature. The year selection provides a timeline of the 50 years of academic scholarship related to the subset of health insurance as a research topic. After applying the language filter of English, duplication, and automation tools to this dataset, I were able to obtain 10961 articles for the subsequent screening stage. In this stage of screening, I have used the filter of subject area by selecting the subject area of Social Sciences; Business, Management, and Accounting; Decision Science; Economics, Econometrics, and Finance, which leads the collection of the 2580

Introduction 
There is a significant transformation undergoing in the health insurance sector, driven by technological advancements, shift in the regulatory frameworks and uplifting the consumer expectations towards the sector. There is a rise in the healthcare costs in recent times and as a result the insurers are increasingly Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration, Girijananda Chowdhury University, Assam challenged to provide sustainable and equitable coverage to ensure the quality of treatments of the patients. This evolving landscape health insurance claims a comprehensive understanding of the upcoming patterns and trends to shape the future of health insurance. The digital health technologies have evolved recent developments in the form of telemedicine, artificial intelligence and blockchain etc are continuously contributing as how insurance providers assess risk, deliver services, and engage with policyholders. These innovations not only enhance operational effectiveness but also empower consumers to play a more vital role in their healthcare decision making. Thereafter, the importance of the value-based care becomes more remarkable and the insurers are exploring new models that focus upon patient outcomes over volume, aligning incentives between providers and payers. Additionally, the technological advancements along with the demographic shifts that includes aging population and the increasing rate of chronic diseases are changing the direction of health insurance. The service providers must transform their plans and policies to meet the diversified needs of a changing population that significantly prioritizes personalized and accessible care solutions. Since the emergence of alternative insurance models such as on-demand coverage, direct primary care, and self-insured employer plans etc., the industry navigates these changes and results a shift away from traditional insurance practices. Health insurance significantly plays a vital role achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), aiming to secure healthcare and encourage well-being along with poverty reduction and economic growth of the country. By providing financial safeguard against high-cost medical treatments, health insurance minimises the risk of destructive health expenditures which may lead to positioned the individuals and their families into the line of poverty. As the people in India is having access to better healthcare services, the disparities in healthcare services can be reduced and the equality of healthcare services among all the sections in the society can be attained. It boosts the awareness to access the essential healthcare services that includes maternal health, precautionary care and treatment for non-communicable diseases. However, health insurance stimulates sustainable financing for healthcare with an assurance of pooling the funds equitably to cover the needs of various class of people to enhance the attainment of SDG 3 targets and overall sustainability of global health.

Introduction 
The ancient educational systems of renowned universities not only advanced knowledge across various disciplines but also significantly influenced the economic and social structures of their times. Education serves as a gateway to liberation and development, providing individuals with a wealth of opportunities. Conversely, a lack of education limits one’s ability to pursue personal and professional aspirations. In the educational environment, the initial relationship a child forms is with their teacher. When teachers understand their students, it fosters strong relationships, effective communication, innovative learning approaches, and capacity building. Since students spend a significant portion of their day at school, mutual respect and tolerance between students and teachers are essential for a productive learning environment. Over recent years, the education system has evolved rapidly, incorporating new teaching methods and strategies as alternatives to traditional models. However, traditional views often assert that “learners must submit themselves to teachers” (Menges, 1977, p.5), implying that teacher authority is crucial for student learning. Hurt, Scott, and McCroskey (1978) argued that a certain degree of teacher authority is always present in the classroom, and its usage tends to reinforce the need for more control. This perspective highlighted the critical role of the classroom as a space for students’ educational success (Anderson & Burns, 1989; Borich, 1988; Fraser & Walberg, 1991; Walberg, 1968). Positive teacher-student relationships are essential for fostering a sense of belonging and encouraged cooperative participation in classroom activities (Hughes & Chen, 2011, p.278). Such relationships not only engage students in learning but also enhance their holistic development, social skills, and confidence. As we know, historical institutions such as Takshila and Nalanda exemplify ancient centers of learning that combined theoretical and practical education. Takshila, located in present-day Pakistan, was one of the earliest centers of higher learning in ancient India, offering diverse subjects including medicine, engineering, astrology, and statecraft. Nalanda, in present-day Bihar, was a prominent center for Buddhist learning, focusing on philosophy, logic, and practical subjects like agriculture and technology. These ancient educational hubs were pivotal in advancing knowledge and contributing to the economic and intellectual development of their societies. The principles of vocational education and holistic development emphasized in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 align with these historical practices (Makam, 2022). Effective implementation of NEP 2020 requires a fresh approach through comprehensive teacher training and rigorous evaluation of expectations and feedback focused on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) is focused upon to create a relation with ancient practices.

Introduction
Education and Its Evolution
Education is a process of learning, which involves both formal and informal modes of learning, which transforms the behaviour, skills, knowledge attitudes, and beliefs of the learner. For this reason, it is more deliberate than other education activities since it is a deliberate effort to create learning in a bid to achieve set goals and objectives. Ordinarily, education is characterized by a systematic learning system that is complemented by curricula and instructional materials in different disciplines. This includes talking and explaining, discussing and questioning, performing and observing so as to reach individual students. Communication is also considered as necessary as education is a process of interconnecting people, exchanging information, and learning how to deal with society members. It also develops critical skills such as analysis and developing insights, due to its capacity to offer information to be analyzed, find solutions and then make sound decisions. Education implies character building and it shapes people into responsible members of society. Education also fosters a construct of perpetuity learning which in this case is strengths toward self and career. There is the principle of non-selectiveness as one of the basic principles of education, as education must be provided to all so that all students should be given an equal opportunity. Learners’ understanding and progress can be measured therefore, assessment and evaluation were part of the program to ensure that teaching strategies can be improved. In addition, it has a 96 | Sustainable Development Goals, Health & Education sociocultural function of passing on a culture from one generation to another, and thus preserving social and cultural development and growth. In its strictest sense education is learning as it is getting acquainted with information as well as has the added dimension of moulding positive character in the learners so that they and society can be the better for it. From antiquity to the present, education has undergone tremendous change, having a huge impact on the advancement of society. When education was first developed in ancient communities, it took the form of apprenticeships, oral traditions, and storytelling to impart cultural values, religious convictions, and useful survival skills. For the elite, it was frequently reserved, preventing access for the general public and preserving social hierarchies. A teacher-centered approach limited student interaction and critical thinking, and the curriculum prioritized memorization and rote learning with a focus on mythology and societal responsibilities. In comparison, the goal of contemporary education is to develop students’ ability to think critically, be creative, and solve problems in a formal, structured manner. Regardless of one’s background, access to it is considered a fundamental right that fosters inclusivity and social fairness. The curriculum’s diversity promotes inquiry and discovery by including technology, the arts, and the sciences. A variety of student-centered, modern teaching techniques are used to improve critical thinking and participation. Education is now a key factor in social and economic development as a result of this change, encouraging creativity and producing knowledgeable citizens who take an active role in solving global issues. After all, if education in the past served to uphold hierarchical institutions, education today aims to dismantle obstacles and promote equality in society.

Introduction 
Artificial intelligence (AI) has undoubtedly had an important influence in the restructuring of higher education by altering traditional teaching techniques and opening the way for long-term growth and innovation. This paradigm shift is distinguished by the usage of sophisticated software algorithms, data mining models, and data analytics into pedagogical and administrative practices. AI technologies have the potential to transform higher education by improving individualized learning experiences, streamlining institutional procedures, and enabling novel research approaches. Universities and colleges that embrace AI technology can not only better prepare students for the problems of tomorrow’s labor market, but also make important contributions to accomplishing sustainable development goals (Lomine, 2024). The inclusion of AI into higher learning is about more than just keeping up with technical breakthroughs; it is about completely altering the educational landscape to satisfy the demands of a digitally native population. Furthermore, the use of AI in this domain not only promises to improve educational outcomes, but it also poses important concerns regarding equity, ethics, and educators’ future role. Artificial intelligence (AI) has undeniably transformed the structure of higher learning, providing a blueprint for long-term progress and innovation in academia. The prospect of AI to revolutionize traditional education techniques and drive long-term growth for future leaders is unsurpassed. Aggarwal, Sharma, & Saxena (2023) proposed that incorporating AI into higher education is critical for educating graduates for the dynamic needs of tomorrow’s labor market as well as also building a more inclusive and forward-thinking academic environment. This paradigm shift toward integrating AI in academia has the capacity to generate a lively and efficient learning ecosystem which suits the different demands of students while also giving real-time feedback to improve academic achievement and retention rates. Furthermore, the application of AI in academic settings can transform research processes by enabling data-driven insights, boosting interdisciplinary partnerships, and hastening the pace of innovation in a variety of disciplines of study.

Introduction
As one of the biggest youth demographics worldwide, especially in India Gen Z, represents a distinct consumer segment defined by their digital fluency and progressive values. Their deep integration with technology has reshaped traditional shopping habits, making e-commerce platforms central to their purchasing decisions (Smith, 2020). This generation highly values health and sustainability, pushing e-commerce platforms to address these priorities. This shift is crucial in meeting the evolving behaviours of Gen Z, who emphasize wellness and environmental considerations in their purchasing choices. E-commerce platforms possess powerful tools that influence consumer behaviour, especially with the Gen Z demographic. This generation is well known for its tech-savviness and strong social and environmental consciousness and responds uniquely to online marketing strategies. E-commerce platforms are pivotal in shaping Gen Z’s health and sustainability practices. They achieve this by providing a wide variety of wellness-oriented products and information, which assists in educating and motivating consumers about healthy lifestyle. Additionally, these platforms feature eco-friendly products and promote sustainable practices, aligning the Gen Z’s growing concern for environmental issues. The choice of this topic was inspired by a few things such as health consciousness and sustainable consumption. This interdisciplinary topic combines insights from consumer psychology, digital marketing, and environmental science, offering valuable implications for businesses and policymakers aiming to engage this tech-savvy generation effectively. The focus on this emerging area of research helps fill gaps in existing literature and provides strategic guidance for optimizing digital commerce strategies. Case studies on MyFitnessPal and Nike’s Move to Zero initiative demonstrate how an e-commerce platform can promote health awareness and sustainable consumption among Gen Z. This topic will aid businesses and marketers in customizing their online strategies to align with Gen Z’s emphasis on health and sustainability. It assists policymakers and environmental organizations in formulating improved practices and regulations for responsible consumption. Developers of e-commerce platforms can leverage these insights to design features that align with users’ values. For researchers, it enriches the understanding of consumer behaviour and digital marketing. Finally, it helps consumers to make more informed decisions by demonstrating how e-commerce influences their health and environmental choices.

1.1. Meteorology and Climatology
Atmospheric science encompasses the main subfields of meteorology and climatology that are similar in the scientific principles and phenomena being examined, but usually differ by approach, time scale, and application. Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere and weather including weather forecasting. It is an interdisciplinary science that involves observing, understanding and predicting weather conditions likely to prevail well in advance (Fig.1.1). The study of meteorology has been around thousands of years, but significant progress did not begin until the 18th century. Climatology is an atmospheric science that focuses on the processes that create weather patterns and variability. Climatology was developed as a science that is based on weather data recorded at multiple locations for comparatively longer periods, usually for 30 years or more. The study of climatology based on the physical processes is influenced by the geographical features, topography and interaction between land and oceans.
1.2. Agricultural Production
Life demands food. The production of food depends upon 4 major factors that are soil, genetic material, management practices and weather. Over a period of time, formers have evolved the cropping strategies based on their local knowledge and experience on the changes in weather within a cropping season. With rapid advances in agricultural sciences, several new varieties of crops were developed, appropriate soil and water management practices were evolved and suitable measures for reducing abiotic and biotic stresses on crops were identified. However, the recent threats of climate change due to increased atmospheric

The atmosphere near Earth’s surface, often referred to as the boundary layer, exhibits unique properties influenced by the interaction between the surface and the atmosphere. These properties are crucial for understanding weather patterns, climate, and various environmental processes. Ancient Indians use to worship five natural elements i.e. earth, water, air, energy and the sky. Perhaps they were aware of the interactive effects and processes between these 5 elements that govern life on earth. In a sense, meteorology itself is a science based on interactive effects of these natural elements. Microclimatology is all about the effect of the interactions between these 5 elements on life over the earth. For a beginner of microclimatology, it is important to understand the properties of the atmosphere near the earth’s surface and get familiar with the concept and terminology used to describe/quantify the physical processes taking place between the lower layers of the atmosphere and the earth’s surface.
2.1. Energy
The major source of energy in the earth atmosphere system is solar energy (Fig.2.1). The outer surface of the sun is very hot and its temperature is estimated to be around 6000°Kelvin (symbol K).
The Kelvin is the base unit of temperature in the international system of units (SI). The Kelvin scale is the absolute temperature scale that begins at the lowest possible temperature that can be attained (absolute zero) taken as 0 degree K. The magnitude or value of each degree of temperature in the Centigrade scale and Kelvin scale is same. The temperature measured in centigrade scale can be converted to Kelvin scale by adding 273.15. The sun emits heat energy in the form of solar radiation. As the solar radiation passes through the atmosphere, it gets partly depleted before reaching the earth’s surface. The processes through which the solar radiation gets depleted in the

energy plants need to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen. The carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis are used for vegetative and reproductive growth and to increase crop biomass. The solar energy required for photosynthesis is available during day time. In crop canopies radiation is transmitted through leaves and between leaves resulting in changes of spectral composition rapidly with depth. In the absence of vegetation, solar radiation reaches the earth surface after it gets depleted in the atmosphere due to:
• Reflection of incoming radiation by the cloud tops
• Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone present in the atmosphere and infrared radiation by the greenhouse gases and water vapour
• Scattering of radiation by the solid particles suspended in the atmosphere
The remaining parts of solar radiation called insolation i.e. incoming solar radiation reach the earth surface. After it is incident on the earth surface, a fraction of the solar radiation gets reflected back into the atmosphere. The difference between the incoming solar radiation and outgoing solar radiation is called net radiation. The net radiation can be calculated using radiation balance which takes into consideration both incoming solar radiation and outgoing solar radiation. The equation for radiation balance can be written as:

During most of the years, there will be loss of agricultural production by at least 15 to 20 per cent per annum due to unfavourable weather situations. The farmers practicing agriculture expect uniform returns every year as the investment costs are much higher and cannot afford loss in production. Of late, the inter-seasonal and intra seasonal variations in weather are very frequent. The weather conditions observed were found to exceed even beyond known limits. Exceptional deviation from any one single weather parameter like air temperature, rainfall and wind can trigger considerable loss in production or sometimes even crop failure (Fig.12.1). Fig. 12.1: Components of a microclimate and its interlinkages Large scale weather modification is not practicable to a greater extent as uniform results cannot be expected under these conditions. There is need to explore cost effective management options that may significantly alter some weather parameter that is detrimental to crop production at field level by the farmers themselves. Therefore, microclimatic modification is an emerging technology to alter or change the unfavourable weather conditions detrimental to crop growth using cost effective and easily manageable techniques for minimizing the loss in crop production. The options for microclimatic modification have to be decided based on whether and the nature of weather aberrations. For example, dry spells are most common during rainy season in most of the arid and semi-arid regions. The farmers growing crops under rainfed conditions suffer considerable loss in production due to occurrence of dry spells as the crop experiences moisture stress. These dry spells may occur any time during the growing season. In such situations, the farmer needs to adopt a management option even before sowing a crop. Sometimes, the occurrence of weather aberration cannot be anticipated and the farmer has to prepare for adopting a management option based on weather forecast. Such measures are temporary and needs to be adopted to ward off the unfavourable weather conditions to a certain extent. Microclimatic modification can be a permanent, seasonal or temporary option depending upon the climate of the region. The crop microclimate refers to the climate just above and within the crop canopy and in the soil root zone that can be influenced by the day-today management practices. Microclimate modification is a measure to change or regulate the weather parameter at farm level. The microclimate management option also depends upon the nature and type of the soil as well.

Remote sensing is a technology that enables us to acquire information about one object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object. Generally, we are used to take observations in site or at the site. Development of remote sensing technology is now making it possible to quickly and almost simultaneously to collect information from the earth surface and other planets as well. Remote sensing is used to measure the thermal complexity and structural complexity of microclimates and how organisms respond to environmental changes. The thermal complexity is a result of the response and behaviour of different characteristics of the earth surface including vegetation, soils, structures, water bodies etc. Optical remote sensing makes use of visible, near infrared and short-wave infrared sensors to form images of the earth’s surface by detecting the solar radiation refl ected from targets on the ground. Different materials refl ect and absorb differently at different wavelengths. Thus, the targets can be differentiated by their spectral refl ectance signatures in the remotely sensed images (Fig.18.1). Satellite Refelcted Solar Radiation Forest Water Grass Bare Soil Paved Road Built-up Area Atmosphere Incident Solar Radiation Sun
Structural complexity is defi ned as minimum number of numerical specifi cations required to describe an object in physical space. Structural complexity is a key ecological factor that describes the three-dimensional physical structure of the ecosystem. It is often linked with biodiversity.

Introduction
The Directorate of Extension Education, came into existence during 1967 under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology. This directorate is engaged with various projects viz: University Extension Block Programme, Distance Education, Digital Extension, Information wing, Gender resource center, Educational Museum besides managing 31 KVKs in 28 districts of Odisha except Cuttack and Khordha district in which University Extension Block Programme and Farmers FIRST program is in operational. This directorate adopted several innovative extension approaches which made the OUAT KVKs unique in operational modalities and effective in delivering for the development of farming community in Odisha, some of the innovative approaches are: Development of KVK Action Plan, CoE on FPOs, R-E Linkage and Krushi Samrudhi helpline.
Development Process of Action Plan
Krishi Vigyan Kendras work as a knowledge resource center in agriculture and allied field for the district (Singh et al., 2012) where in, production and supply of critical technological products, both tangible and intangible is the major component other than having scientifically maintained demonstration units, crop cafeteria etc. Development of complete feasible action plan of KVKs requires sincere efforts in identifying the real problems on one hand and sourcing the frontline technologies on the other. The logical fitment of suitable technological options for testing, in addressing situation specific problems are also an important activity requiring our understanding of the major farming systems in the AES, micro-farming situations of different crops & commodities and our scientific orientation. For this OUAT adopts a uniform action planning process since last few years which involves different activities.
1. Identifying the problems
2. Prioritizing the problems
3. Analyzing the problems and finding root cause(s) of the prioritized problems.
4. Sourcing alternative technologies and listing possible solutions nearer to hit the root cause and address the problems.
5. Taking into consideration the follow up activities require to be undertaken for previous year OFTs and FLDs
6. Planning interventions including those for other extension activities, production of critical inputs etc.
7. Consolidation of interventions and finalization of action plan with respect to OFT, FLD, Capacity building, other extension activities or combination of these.

Introduction
Globally, the agricultural sector plays an important role in poverty reduction, food security and promotion of nutritious food (Jones & Ejeta, 2016). Although agricultural crop production is essential, there are challenges associated with plants due to pests and diseases infestation in the value chain of crop production. Plant health problems can be resolved through appropriate diagnosis and identification of plant pests affecting agricultural (Ausher et al., 1996). However, Oerke (2006) reported that 40 per cent of crop yield losses are caused by plant pests and diseases of economic importance. The majority of smallholder farmers are faced with risks associated with pests and diseases in plant production. To address challenges faced by smallholder farmers, plant health clinics are important for plant pests and disease diagnosis. The plant health clinics can be defined as a system in which farmers obtain advisory services on the plant pest problem affecting agricultural crops and provide management control strategy for pest management (Alokit et al., 2014). There are many plant health clinics initiatives within the Indian region that provides plant pests and diseases advisory services to all categories of the farmers (Boa et al., 2016). Many plant clinics in developing countries which are run by international research institutions are more efficient and effective as compared to those not run by the research institutions. This review seeks to investigate and assess the state of global plant clinics with the aim of obtaining the efficient and effective plant health clinic model for South Africa. The knowledge, awareness, availability and accessibility of basic plant healthcare to smallholder farmers for plant pests and diseases diagnosis to ensure early detection, pest management and pest reporting remain a challenge. Furthermore, there is limited literature and research on plant health clinics’ establishment and its importance to smallholder farmers in the Indian developing country.
Background of the Plant Health Clinics
To date, there are about 34 countries operating plant health clinics globally and it is estimated that there are 4,500 plant clinics across the globe Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), 2020; Tambo et al., 2020). These include plant clinics in Africa, South America and Asia respectively (Boa, 2009; CABI 2020). The first plant health clinics were established in 2003 in Bolivia (Bentley et al., 2009; Boa, 2009). In Africa alone, plant clinics were established with the help of CABI to assist smallholders and household to respond effectively and efficiently towards plant pests and diseases. According to Boa et al. (2016), there are two types of plant health clinics in terms of service provisions, namely (1) Fixed structure with appropriate laboratory equipment

Introduction 
Food is the prime necessity of the life without which the existence of the human being may be perhaps dubious. India is agriculture predominant country where majority of its population depends on agriculture directly or indirectly. Agriculture plays a vital role in India’s economy. About 54.60 per cent of the total workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sector activities (Census, 2011). Agriculture and Allied sector accounts for about 18.4 per cent of India’s GVA at current prices during 2022-23. Given the importance of the agriculture sector, Government of India has taken several steps for its development in a sustainable manner (Agriwelfare.gov.in/en/Dept). India with massive network of about 63 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), three Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs), four deemed universities and four central universities with agricultural faculty along with Indian Council of Agricultural Research accords due priority to the agricultural education, research and extension (ICAR Annual report, 2023-24). The role of these universities & ICAR in addressing the farm related problems cannot be overlooked. As per the All India report on Agriculture Census, 2015-16, India is a country with majority of the farmers being small (17.60 %) and marginal (68.50 %). Agriculture is very diversified with varied agro-climatic conditions which require different practices and strategies to perform. The role of agricultural research and extension in achieving food self-sufficiency is immense. Agriculture is a state subject and various players make agriculture profitable and farming a viable option. But the data indicates that, there is scarcity of extension officers at various levels in India. As per the report of the Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income, 2017 (Volume XI “Empowering the Farmers 214 Innovations of University Extension in Indian Agriculture through Extension and Knowledge Dissemination”) reported that, the ratio of Extension Service Provider (ESP) to operational farm holdings is around 1: 1156. Coupled with this, the system has mainly focused on the input supply chain and crop cultivation activities. In the era of 21st century, innovation is the buzz word, and pervading in all spheres of life. It is astonishing to know that, todays discoveries are outdated tomorrow. In today’s rapidly changing world, innovation is crucial for organizations and societies to adapt, grow, and maintain a competitive edge. It drives economic development, addresses complex challenges, and improves the quality of life. Over the years, agriculture sector has also seen rapid changes in all aspects, and India’s efforts in this development pursuit are quite inspiring. Starting from food deficit nation to the nation with surplus food production, the role of agricultural research and extension viz a viz., innovation cannot be overlooked. As a result of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in the year 2014, the Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University was established on 03-09-2014 by an act of legislature. Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) named in honour and memory of Professor Jayashankar, an eminent educationist and an ardent Telangana ideologue is the only Farm University of Telangana State. PJTAU has eleven constituent colleges with eight of those devoted to faculty of Agriculture, two to faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology and one to faculty of Community Science. In addition, there are twelve constituent polytechnics (eleven in Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering). The research component in the agriculture is addressed by Sixteen Agricultural Research Stations, including three Regional Agricultural Research Stations. As part of front-line extension support to reach the unreached, the University has established about nine District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centres (DAATTCs), eight Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), one each of Extension Education Institute (EEI), Agricultural Information and Communication Centre (AI&CC), Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) and Electronic Media Wing spread across the State to cater to various needs of the farming community. To address the farm problems and make agriculture profitable, the Agricultural University not only strives in research but also a pioneer in the institutional Innovations of University Extension system to cater to the emerging needs of the farming community by means of various innovations such as., Flag method of Extension, Interactive Information Dissemination System, Innovative farmers’ networking, Developing Farmer – Master trainers, Interactive

Introduction
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an escalating threat to global health, eroding the efficacy of antibiotics and complicating the management of bacterial infections. The proliferation of resistant pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum betalactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has driven significant increases in morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. The ability to detect AMR accurately and promptly is paramount for guiding clinicians in selecting effective therapies, implementing targeted infection control measures, and informing public health strategies to curb the spread of resistant organisms. Conventional methods, rooted in phenotypic assessments, have served as the cornerstone of AMR detection in clinical microbiology laboratories for decades. These techniques evaluate bacterial growth under controlled exposure to antibiotics, offering direct evidence of resistance or susceptibility that molecular approaches, which focus on genetic markers, may miss due to silent mutations, complex regulatory mechanisms, or novel resistance pathways. This chapter provides an exhaustive examination of conventional AMR detection methods, encompassing disk diffusion, broth and agar dilution, gradient diffusion, and automated susceptibility testing systems. These approaches, refined through decades of clinical and research application, remain indispensable for their reliability, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability across diverse settings, from well-resourced tertiary hospitals to laboratories in low-income regions. By exploring their principles, procedures, applications, and limitations, we aim to underscore their enduring significance amidst the rise of rapid molecular diagnostics. The discussion also addresses specialized tests for detecting specific resistance mechanisms, such as beta-lactamase production, inducible clindamycin resistance, and carbapenem’s activity, which are critical for tailoring antimicrobial therapy. Through a critical lens, this chapter evaluates the strengths and challenges of these methods, offering insights into their role in addressing the global AMR crisis, their integration with emerging technologies, and their continued relevance in both routine diagnostics and epidemiological surveillance. The value of conventional methods lies in their ability to translate laboratory findings into actionable clinical decisions. Unlike genotypic methods, which detect resistance genes but may not predict phenotypic behaviour, these techniques assess how bacteria respond to antibiotics under conditions mimicking in vivo environments, aligning closely with therapeutic outcomes. As resistance patterns grow increasingly complex, driven by mechanisms like carbapenem’s and efflux pumps, conventional methods provide a practical foundation for diagnostics, particularly in resource-limited settings where advanced molecular tools are often inaccessible. Their role in global AMR surveillance, such as through the World Health Organization’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS), further underscores their importance in tracking resistance trends and informing policy.

Introduction
Antibiotic-resistant E. coli develops as a result of the heavy use of antibiotics in the production of food animals, which is then found in the meat from those animals. There have been reports of a number of antimicrobial resistant E. coli infections linked to the ingestion of tainted milk and chevon. As a result, the existence of antibiotic resistant E. coli is a significant and expanding global public health risk. Escherichia coli of animal origin has also been seen to colonise humans, and because it is resistant to many conventional antibiotics, it can cause serious illnesses for which there are few effective treatment choices. Due to its ubiquitous presence in the environment, E. coli has traditionally been recognised as the main vehicle for the transmission of various antibiotic resistance genes and vectors.Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), which can make the bacteria resistant to some frequently used antimicrobial treatments, are tiny proteins (enzymes) that some strains of E. coli have been shown to manufacture under favourable conditions. A major issue around the world is the emergence of different E. coli strains that produce ESBL in foods that come from animals that are raised for food. The ESBL enzymes TEM, SHV, and CTX-M from Group A have been widely reported to be generated by E. coli and have been shown to hydrolyze ampicillin, carbenicillin, oxacillin, and an extended spectrum of cephalosporins, including ceftazidime and cefotaxime.
Extended beta spectrum lactamase producing E. coli
The occurrence of antimicrobial resistance and the presence of corresponding resistance genes in the environment is an ancient phenomenon. This is largely due to the fact that many of today’s antimicrobial agents are derived from natural precursors produced by soil bacteria such as Streptomyces. These natural compounds likely evolved to mediate microbial competition for

Introduction
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern that poses a significant threat to contemporary healthcare systems, potentially hindering the management and treatment of various diseases. Microorganisms can act as reservoirs for AMR across various ecological niches; thus, a “one health” proposal is essential for coordinating a multisectoral strategy aimed at investigating and tackling this alarming issue. This method seems to be an effective strategy for addressing and alleviating the challenges posed by AMR; however, it demands the collaborative efforts and assets that are consistently and efficiently executed by health practitioners. Horses have been pivotal in human history; they have served in wars, provided transportation, and even aided in mining operations. In contemporary society, horses are significant as sport animals and in therapeutic settings involving animals. Given these close interactions between humans and equines, it becomes essential to effectively identify infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) impacting both species, particularly in instances of highly contagious diseases. Resistant bacteria represent a significant threat to the health of both equines and humans. Horses may obtain resistant bacteria through several avenues, such as interaction with other animals, exposure to contaminated materials, or to antibiotic uses. The responsible utilization of antibiotics and the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs are essential in reducing the transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within equine populations. A variety of zoonotic pathogens that exhibit resistance to antibiotics has been identified in equines. This includes Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL) which produces E. coli, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), and Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Salmonella. Horses can develop AMR through various channels like:

Introduction 
The discovery and introduction of antimicrobial agents to clinical medicine was one of the greatest medical triumphs of the 20th century that revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the gradual emergence of populations of antimicrobial resistant pathogenic bacteria, resulting from use, misuse and abuse of antimicrobials has today become a major global health concern. Antibacterial drugs have revolutionized our ability to control bacterial disease, and their clinical availability has led to dramatic decreases in morbidity and mortality. (Walsh and Wright, 2005). As such, these therapeutics underpin modern medicine. Despite the integral role of antibiotics in sustaining our modern lifestyle, they are undervalued in both cost and significance by society. Over the past century, their use has provided strong selective pressure on microorganisms, leading to preferential survival and spread of those harbouring antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Multidrug resistance is now commonplace amongst bacterial pathogens with antibiotic resistance now affecting all antibiotic classes. (Coates et al, 2011). This is particularly worrisome in the case of Gram-negative bacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii) for which treatment options are already limited. The ‘broken’ economics of antibacterial research and development is often quoted as the main reason for the lack of new therapies but the truth is that it is hard to discover new antibacterial drugs, and the science is not sufficiently advanced to allow discovery of efficient and effective drugs. This has led to fears of a ‘post-antibiotic era’ as it has been estimated that 5–20 novel antibacterial drugs need to enter clinical development in order to effectively contend with the current resistance problem. However, given the attrition rate within the existing drug discovery model, at least 200 discovery programmes would be needed in order to achieve this outcome. Hence, new approaches to antibiotic discovery are needed. The antibiotic pipeline The antibiotic pipeline is not what it once was.4 Pharmaceutical companies were once the main provider of novel antibiotic molecules but they largely withdrew in the late 1990s because of the lack of success and low financial returns in bringing new antibacterial drugs to the market.5 The environment of discovering and developing new antibiotics was quite different during the so-called ‘golden era’ of drug discovery. Antibiotics worked remarkably well because resistance was low and physicians had access to a variety of efficacious antibiotics. Antibiotic research and development programmes were inclined to focus on improved pharmacology to achieve less frequent dosing e.g. once a day, rather than innovative new antibiotics. Natural product screening strategies tended to result in rediscovery of compounds rather than finding new ones. There was also no need to consider those natural products with undesirable properties such as toxicity. Today, only a few large companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Merck and Roche are still actively engaged in antibiotic R&D, with many of the original antibiotic provide.The natural world remains the largest source of novel drug scaffolds making this a viable option in the search for new antibiotic compounds. Advances in bacterial culture techniques, molecular biology and metagenomics will make natural product drug discovery easier and more costeffective, obviating these limiting factors. Screening procedures must include whole-bacterial cell assays, addressing the issue of bacterial permeability and efflux early in the discovery process (Shore and Coukell, 2016). Additionally, the generation of training schemes by, and with, pharmaceutical companies that cover all aspects of the pipeline and include natural product drug discovery, are essential and will ensure that expertise is passed on to future researchers. Investment should also be made into the study of previously characterized lead compounds that did not reach the clinic, so called old leads. The reasons that led to these compounds being dropped from further development vary, ranging from financial issues to trial design, dosing problems and toxicity. It may be that there is now sufficiently improved technology and expertise to develop these as safe and efficacious antibacterials. The revival of interest in old leads could also provide an additional source of novel antimicrobials. A freely accessible database of antibiotics that were never developed has recently been launched, Antibiotic with the aim to reduce unnecessary duplication of Pharmaceutical agents such as nanospheres, liposomes, and immunoglobulins for example have been developed which can alter the pharmacodynamics of a compound, act as carriers for sustained or controlled drug release, and for immunization therapy.

Introduction
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a mounting global crisis that threatens public health, food security, and development. The rapid spread of resistant pathogens has rendered many conventional antibiotics ineffective, leading to longer illnesses, increased mortality, and escalating healthcare costs(1)(2). The World Health Organization characterizes AMR as a top-ten global health threat, driven by overuse, misuse, and inadequate dosing of antibiotics. It already kills 700,000 people a year and is expected to kill 10 million people a year by 2050 if nothing is done about it(3). After penicillin was introduced to the market in 1941, the first signs of resistance appeared in staphylococci, streptococci, and gonococci. By 1942, Staphylococcus aureus, which was penicillin-resistant, emerged(4). Drug resistance must be effectively addressed for a few reasons, including public health, economic considerations, and the long-term viability of medicine. Maintaining the effectiveness of existing treatments for infectious diseases is an important objective(5). NDDS technologies have emerged as powerful tools to enhance the delivery, bioavailability, and targeting of antimicrobial agents, potentially reviving older antibiotics, and maximizing the efficacy of novel compounds(6). Parallelly, AI has found impactful applications in biomedical data analysis, drug discovery, and the rational design of therapies by processing complex datasets, predicting resistance patterns, and guiding the creation of new molecules. The integration of AI with NDDS marks a paradigm shift to optimizes delivery systems, guides individualized treatment plans, and advances the field towards precision medicine for infectious diseases (7). This chapter surveys the convergence of these technologies, exploring how AIenhanced NDDS platforms are reshaping the response to AMR. Additionally, it examines diverse AI models and algorithms employed in the prediction, optimisation, and management of drug resistance, enhanced by real-time case studies for thorough comprehension(fig1.).

Introduction
The discovery of antibiotics and their subsequent use in combating infectious diseaseswas amedical breakthroughin the 20th century, as it completely changed the treatment approach to infections in general and bacterial infections in particular. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin that started the started the so-called “golden age of antibiotic”. However, later in course of time the underuse, overuse and misuse of antibiotics in medical and veterinary practice led toemergence of drug-resistant pathogens resulting in phenomenon called antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In last few decades AMR has evolved silently and now threatening the human and animal health and has acquired the potential to be a next pandemic. AMR develops in a microorganism (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) when it accumulates genetic changes over time and fails to respond to antibiotic(s) leading to severe illness and mortality due to infection. Although, AMR is an evolutionary event occurring naturally in microbes, but inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animal medicine act as key driver to its spread. Global antibiotic consumption increased between 2016 and 2023, with total consumption rising by 16.3% to 34.3 billion defined daily doses (DDDs) in reporting countries and a projected 20.9% increase when extrapolated to nonreporting countries. World Health Organization (WHO) and other authorities have called for coordinated action to address antimicrobial resistance, a threat looming large on horizon. In 2021, there were an estimated 1.14 million deaths attributed directly to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), with globally another 4.71 million deaths associated with AMR infections. This dataindicates a significant global health burden, with prophecy that AMR deaths could increase dangerously by 2050 if current trends continue. Global Action Plan (GAP) of the WHO highlights the importance of “One Health approach” calling for the joint action in human health, food production, animals and environmental sectors, to achieve better results. In the year 2015, the WHO initiated the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS)to collect, analyze and share AMR data received from all countries. The Global Action Plan on AMR lists five strategic objectives to contain AMR viz., 1. optimizing the use of antimicrobials, 2. preventing infections (including the use of vaccines), 3. strengthening surveillance and research, 4. improving awareness and understanding of AMR, and 5. investing in new medical products. Vaccines stimulate the body’s immune system to recognize and attack specific pathogens and thus can prevent AMR through several ways viz., 1. reduce the incidence of infections leading to reduction in morbidity and mortality, 2. vaccines can prevent secondary bacterial infections e.g. Streptococcus pneumoniae after an initial infection with influenza, 3. produce herd immunity, 4. Prevention of infections resulting in decrease in use of antibiotics that reduces development of AMR. Immunotherapeutics can both combat and be complicated by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Other immunotherapies antibodies, and immune-boosting agents can directly fight AMR by preventing infections and reducing the need for antibiotics.

Introduction
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constitutes a profound global health crisis, jeopardizing the efficacy of antibiotics and posing a severe threat to the foundation of modern medical practice. The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, which exhibit resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, has significantly escalated the global burden of infectious diseases, complicating treatment protocols and increasing morbidity and mortality rates. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), AMR could lead to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if current trends continue, accompanied by economic losses projected to reach trillions of dollars due to prolonged hospitalizations, increased healthcare costs, and reduced productivity. The traditional antibiotic development pipeline has stagnated, hampered by scientific complexities, high financial costs, and stringent regulatory frameworks, resulting in a critical shortage of novel antimicrobial agents. This necessitates the exploration of innovative strategies to combat AMR and preserve the utility of existing antibiotics. Among these strategies, Crispr-Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and Crispr-associated proteins) systems have emerged as a groundbreaking gene-editing platform with transformative potential for addressing AMR. Initially identified as a bacterial adaptive immune mechanism, Crispr-Cas has been repurposed to enable precise targeting of genetic elements, offering novel therapeutic, diagnostic, and environmental solutions. This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of Crispr-Cas systems in the context of AMR, exploring their molecular mechanisms, diverse applications, current limitations, and future prospects across clinical, agricultural, and environmental domains. By leveraging the precision and programmability of Crispr-Cas, researchers aim to develop targeted interventions that mitigate the spread of resistance while minimizing collateral damage to beneficial microbial communities.

Introduction
AMR is a critical global problem that affects human, environmental, and animal health. AMR is a complex problem; it is necessary to look at it from different disciplines to frame it within the One Health approach [Shrestha,2018].The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified AMR as a top ten global public health threat.Globally, there were an estimated 4.95 million deaths associated with bacterial AMR in 2019, including 1.27 million deaths attributable to bacterial AMR [O’Neill, J. (2016)]. The economic impact is equally alarming. The World Bank projects that AMR could lead to an additional US$ 1 trillion in healthcare costs by 2050, and over US$ 1 trillion in annual gross domestic product (GDP) losses by 2030.The One Health approach is defined as a joint effort of various disciplines that come together to provide solutions for human, animal, and environmental health. AMR is linked to each of these three components due to the irresponsible and excessive use of antimicrobials in various sectors (agriculture, cattle raising, and human medicine). Under the pressure of antimicrobial selection, bacteria acquire resistance genes and mobile genetic elements that can spread to other bacteria of the same or different genus. When bacteria acquire resistance to antimicrobials, they also acquire a greater ability to proliferate in animals, humans, and the natural world. Mismanagement of antimicrobials, inadequate infection control, agricultural debris, contaminants in the environment, and migration of people and animals infected with resistant bacteria facilitate the spread of resistance [Collignon,et.,al,2018]. AMR represents a global public health problem, for which epidemiological surveillance systems have been established, aiming to promote collaborations directed at the well-being of human and ani mal health and the balance of the ecosystem. Several international organizations (The World Organisation for Animal Health [OIE], WHO, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO]) have joined forces to develop a Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance-WHO. Action taken in this plan included understanding the AMR from surveillance and research. The advisory group established guidelines for AMR surveillance to ensure all countries implement integrated surveillance, which will cover the use and consumption of antimicrobials in the human and animal population. These guide lines will provide a clear understanding of how AMR spreads in different settings and specific areas. It will allow to study the correlation between AMR and antimicrobial use in a different setting (animals, humans, and environment) and to assess the effect of interventions within and between sectors [W.H.O 2015,2017].

Introduction
Animal sector is growing very fast particularly in India as people’s purchasing power is increasing day by day. With increase in income, people’s dietary habit is shifting towards more animal origin products. The use of antibiotics for animal food production is growing very fast and India is the 4th largest country in the world regarding consumption of antibiotics in veterinary and animal husbandry sector. There is urgent need of AMR mitigation strategies to reduce the effect on human and animal health. As per the World Bank AMR can affect the global GDP upto 3.8% by 2050. Most of the countries in the world are very cautious regarding antibiotic residues and rejecting the livestock products which lead to economic loss. Many world agencies/forum such as CodexAMR Guidelines, UN Political Declaration on AMR Guidelines, Global Leaders Group on AMR reiterated judicious use of antibiotics. All-India Network Project on AMR inLivestock and Fisherieswas started in India to reduce the effect of AMR by educational awareness, adoption at field level, surveillance system and diagnosis but it didn’t meet out the desired outcome. Capacity building programmes in the field of AMR by training, reform in curriculum, collaboration from different fields of professionals can mitigate the harmful effect of AMR. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), education and training play pivotal roles in translating knowledge into practical implementation, warranting the inclusion of Antimicrobial Use and AMR as integral components in professional education, postgraduate training, and continuing education within the food and agricultural sectors Training Strategies It involve Antimicrobial Stewardship training for healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns, farmer education, and veterinary training on responsible antimicrobial use. Other critical elements include fostering collaboration through professional networks, building surveillance capacity, utilizing AI-driven tools for better decision-making, and promoting hygiene and infection prevention to reduce infection incidence and the need for antibiotics.
Training for Healthcare Professionals
There is substantial evidence that both healthcare workers and members of the public have knowledge gaps about appropriate use of antibiotics and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Surveillance is a prerequisite to estimate the magnitude of the AMR burden and to establish any intervention strategies, such as antimicrobial stewardship. In order to launch successful intervention approaches through cooperative efforts from different stakeholders (e.g., international agencies, human and veterinary medicine sectors, agriculture and animal production industries, and consumers), the existing knowledge gap needs to be addressed first.

Irrigation: definition and objectives; Importance: Function of water for plant growth, water resources and irrigation development for different crops in India.
Introduction
The effect of supplemental water application as irrigation for crop production at its needs during rainless period is well established throughout the world. The plant has life, so it requires water for growth and development to give us proper quality and good yield. Water is required for metabolic activities including solubilization, absorption and translocation on the way of biochemical processes in photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration. India with 2.4% of the world’s total area has 16% of the world’s population; but has only 4% of the total available fresh water. This clearly indicates the need for water resource development, conservation, and optimum use.
Importance of irrigation water management
The importance of irrigation in the world is well stated “Irrigation in many countries including India is an age-old art–as old as civilization – but for the whole world it is a modern science–science of survival”. The pressure of survival and the need for additional food supplies are necessitating a rapid expansion of irrigation throughout the world including India. Production and productivity of agricultural lands is primarily dependent upon the availability of irrigation water to crops. Expansion of irrigation has paid rich dividends in India. fter independence, production registered nearly 4.52 times increase from around 50.8 million tons in 1950-51 to about 230 million tons in 2007-08. This has been mainly attributed to three factors viz., high yielding cereals, expansion of area under irrigation and fertilizer use. Irrigation may be considered as the major factor of modern intensive agriculture as it aids in efficient use of costly fertilizers and other inputs besides meeting crop water needs.

5.1 Introduction
One of the main methods for cost avoidance and prevention is value engineering/ value analysis. “Society of American Value Engineers (SAVE)” states that value Analysis is the systematic use of known procedures which determine the function of a product or service, define a monetary value for the function, and provide the essential function reliably at the lowest overall cost. If these are applied to a new product, it is called value engineering. By analysing the function of any product, material part, component, system, or service, it is possible to find extraneous expenditures connected with them and effectively remove them without compromising the product’s quality, functional dependability, or ability to provide services. The principles and steps of value analysis/ value engineering will supplement the effort of design thinking.
5.2 Symptoms for Introducing Value Analysis (VA)
If one or more of the following symptoms exist, starting a VA programme is expected to yield very positive effects.
i. Sales of the company’s products are declining.
ii. The prices of the products of the company are greater than those of the products of its rivals.

Introduction
Managing the diverse array of stresses confronting cultivated lands stands as a pressing necessity within the agricultural domain, demanding swift adaptability to navigate shifts and satisfy evolving requisites along the production-consumption continuum. In India, approximately 7.0 million hectares of agricultural terrain grapple with salt-related predicaments, a figure poised for escalation owing to factors like secondary salinization in irrigation networks, amplified dependence on substandard water reservoirs in arid and semi-arid locales, and the complexities posed by phenomena such as sea water encroachment and brackish water aquaculture in coastal regions. Forecasts indicate a potential expansion of salt-affected soil regions in India to encompass roughly 13 million hectares by the year 2025. Within this landscape of challenges, agronomists shoulder a pivotal responsibility, entrusted with the mandate of bolstering productivity via pioneering research endeavors and the formulation of holistic strategies. This undertaking necessitates a nuanced comprehension of salt-affected soils, coupled with the crafting of contingency blueprints predicated upon resourceefficient, economically sound, and ecologically sustainable methodologies. Given the flux in climatic patterns, the adoption of proactive measures assumes heightened significance. Scholarly discourse, exemplified by Singh’s seminal work in 1998, furnishes a retrospective lens on the saga of salt-affected soils. Building upon this historical scaffold, the present exposition endeavors to trace the trajectory of agronomic inquiry spanning epochs ranging from the Vedic era through pre-independence and post-independence epochs. By spotlighting the seminal contributions of researchers in tackling salt-induced soil adversities, the paper endeavors to underscore the profound ramifications of such endeavors on societal wellbeing and environmental equilibrium.
Soil Salinity in Ancient India: Pre- and Post-Vedic Perspectives
Landforms and landscapes emerge from the weathering of rocks and minerals, incorporating salts as essential constituents. These salts have been present

Introduction
The word “calcareous” has been commonly used as the generic description of all materials containing calcium carbonates greater than 10%. In the context of agricultural problem soils, calcareous soils are soils in which a high amount of calcium carbonate dominates the problems related to agricultural land use. They are characterized by the presence of calcium carbonate in the parent material and by a calcic horizon, a layer of secondary accumulation of carbonates (usually Ca or Mg) in excess of 15% calcium carbonate equivalent and at least 5% more carbonate than an underlying layer. Calcareous soils are common in the arid areas of the earth (FAO, 2016) occupying >30% of the earth’s surface. In the world Reference Base (WRB) soil classification system calcareous soils may mainly occur in the Reference soil group of calcisols.
Formation / genesis of calcareous soils
The soil are formed largely by the weathering of calcareous rocks and fossil shell beds like varieties of chalk, marl , lime stone and frequently a large amount of phosphates. Soils also can become calcareous through long term irrigation with water contains small amounts of dissolved CaCO3 that can accumulate with time.
The secondary CaCO3 are formed under arid and semi-arid climatic conditions, when the carbonate concentration in the soil solution remains High Accumulation starts in the fine and medium sized pores at the surface of contact between the soil particles. This accumulation may be rather concentrated in a narrow zone of the solum or more dispersed depending upon the quantity and frequency of rainfall, topography, soil texture and vegetation. In high rainfall area i.e. in highly weathered soils, CaCO3 is dispersed from the surface horizons. While in arid and semi-arid regions due to low rainfall and limited leaching carbonates may be present in relatively high amounts. In medium deep and deep black clay soils carbonates are generally accumulated in subsurface horizons. However in some eroded shallow black soils they may be exposed right at the surface of soils. In some soils CaCO3 deposits are concentrated into layers that may be very hard and impermeable to water also

Introduction
Soil is considered as a thin layered living entity over the earth’s surface, poses a profound implication on the solidity of ecosystems. It act as a transient nutrient sink for the plants and plays a crucial role in the crux of biogeochemical cycling of Earth’s elements which is being carried out by distinct microbial assemblages present in the soil profile. Soil is the most diverse niche for the microbial communities in which large proportion of taxa exists at a very low correlative abundance. Despite the extensive importance of this entity it has been snubbed lately with the various undesirable activities done by human kind. Therefore, the scientific understanding of soil origin is critical. Scientifically speaking, formation of one inch of soil almost took 15 years if the parent materials are soft whereas hard parent material might takes hundreds of year for its development. Soil horizon involves the arrangement of mature soil in a series of zones. Each horizon encompasses the distinct texture and composition that varies with different kinds of soils. Soil profile is the cross sectional view of the horizons in a soil. The O horizon is the topmost layer of soil, mainly consists of partially decomposed leaves, animal wastes, fungi and other organic materials. A horizon is looser than other deeper layers of soil, mainly dark in colour and considered as the uppermost layer of the soil consisting of partially decomposed organic matter known as humus. Generally, in the upper layers of soil the roots of most plants exist. As long as these layers are supported by vegetation, it acts as a storehouse of water which gets released in a trickle throughout the year. Plant roots grow in the soil and absorb nutrients and water which are required during the process of photosynthesis that helps in the growth and development of plants. Soil contains essential nutrients which are being adsorbs by the plants and is beneficial to all living organisms such as herbivores and omnivores depends on plants for their food, then these being eaten up by carnivores and omnivores in the food web, so nutrients that are absorbed from the soil is reached to all strata of living entity. Soil is a niche for different organisms as its top layers harbors a large population of bacteria, fungi, earthworms and many other small insects that

Any undesirable change in physical, chemical and biological properties of air is called air pollution. Air pollution interferes with wellbeing of living livelihood. Various human made and anthropogenic sources which deteriorate the air quality are called air pollutant. Some of the common air pollutant are dust, smoke, smog, fog, aerosol, SO2, CO2, O3 and NOx etc.
Sources of Air Pollution
The sources of air pollution are classified into two categories:
1. Natural source
2. Man-made source
1. Natural sources
• Ash from burning volcanoes, dust from storm, forest fires
• Pollen grains from flowers in air are natural sources of pollution
2. Anthropogenic (man-made) sources
They are population explosion, deforestation, urbanization and industrialization whose effect can be explained as fallow:
a) Power stations using coal or crude oil release CO2 in air
b) Also furnaces using coal, cattle dung cakes, firewood, kerosene, etc.
c) Steam engines used in railways, steamers, motor vehicles, etc. give out CO2.
d) So do Motors and internal combustion engines which run on petrol, diesel and kerosene. etc.
e) Vegetable oils, kerosene, and coal as household fuels
f) Sewers and domestic drains emanating foul gases
g) Pesticide residues in air
h) Carbon monoxide and Nicotine from smoking
i) Thermal power plants pollute air by emitted sulphur dioxide and fly ash
j) Fertilizers and pesticides

Introduction
Land is one of the most valuable natural resources on Earth. However, its significance varies across professions. Engineers view land as a foundation for constructing roads, buildings, and flyovers, whereas agriculturists consider it a medium for cultivating crops. For business professionals, land represents a space for establishing offices and industries. Although “land” and “soil” are sometimes used interchangeably, they are distinct. Land is typically regarded as a two-dimensional surface, while soil is three-dimensional, extending in depth. Another key difference is that land refers to any portion of the Earth’s surface, whereas soil consists of weathered rock materials enriched with essential nutrients, making it capable of supporting plant growth. The utilization of land should be aligned with its potential and limitations. Being a finite resource, land use is not solely determined by human needs but also by its capability. Over the past two decades, land degradation has become a growing concern globally, particularly in India. Land serves multiple purposes, primarily supporting agriculture, pastures, and forestry. A standard soil survey map illustrates the various types of soil that are important and their distribution in relation to other landscape features. These maps are designed to cater to users with diverse needs and, therefore, contain detailed information to highlight essential soil distinctions. For a soil map to be useful, the information it presents must be clearly explained to the user. These explanations are referred to as interpretations. Soil maps can be understood in two ways: (1) by examining the individual soil types showed on the map and (2) by grouping soils that exhibit similar responses to management and treatment. Since there are numerous types of soil, there are also many specific soil interpretations. These interpretations provide users with all the relevant information that a soil map can offer. However, many users require more generalized information than that of individual soil-mapping units. To address this, soils are classified in different ways based on the specific needs of the map users. The composition of these soil groups and the allowable variation

Introduction
Agroforestry, social forestry, community forestry, village forestry, and farm forestry are all practices that involve tree cultivation primarily outside designated forest reserves. Agroforestry, in particular, is a land-use approach that integrates trees with agricultural crops, shrubs, pastures, or livestock. This combination of trees and shrubs within land management systems can be structured in a spatial arrangement or occur in a sequential manner over time. The term ‘woody perennials’ is sometimes used to describe these trees and shrubs, referring to all long-lived plants that persist for more than a year, including bamboos and palms. In agroforestry systems, trees may not always be deliberately planted; natural regeneration may be encouraged by protecting emerging seedlings, or mature trees may be intentionally retained in fields and pastures. These woody perennials are often categorized as “multipurpose trees” (MPTs) or “multipurpose trees and shrubs” (MPTS) due to their diverse uses. While most trees can be considered multipurpose, this distinction highlights the varied benefits trees offer in agroforestry systems, as opposed to singlepurpose timber plantations focused solely on wood production.
Conversely, tree cultivation in designated forest areas is often directed toward industrial needs, commonly referred to as industrial forestry. The promotion of MPTs in agroforestry holds great promise for addressing land-use challenges and improving livelihoods by enhancing environmental sustainability and economic opportunities for local communities. Agroforestry research has now advanced to a stage where suitable tree-crop combinations, their management practices, and genetically improved planting materials can be recommended for specific conditions. Furthermore, continuous advancements in research by international and national agroforestry organizations are contributing to the benefit of farmers. The availability of information on multipurpose tree species (MPTs) for many species has facilitated the adoption of agroforestry as a viable land-use system. However, for certain MPTs, a lack of fundamental data on growth rates, breeding patterns, resilience to environmental stress,

The words “Economy” and “Ecology” have the same root. Both these words derived from Greek ‘Oikos’ mean house or house holds and both imply thrifty economical way of dealing with valuable resources. However, for some reason we seem to find these two words coming opposite each-other in many situations.
The destruction and degradation of the environment has become the greatest problem of our century. Our survival will depend on how well we are able to redefine our technologies and our relationship with nature. We therefore need a new sustainable eco-agri revolution and a country like India is in an ideal situation to give a model for that. In the new economy, good ecology will be fundamental to good business.
BEYOND GREEN REVOLUTION
We have often emphasized that perhaps the two greatest successes in India since independence have been maintaining a stable democracy and success in bringing the green revolution, which changed us from a food-begging country to a food self-sufficient nation. We should rightfully feel happy and proud about these achievements, but at the same time remember that the global problems, environmental issues, priorities and the technological scenario have vastly changed in the last two decades. Another feature of Indian agriculture is the vast varieties of agricultural and horticulture practices as shown in Fig. 1.

Agriculture is the most significant part of economies of all African countries and can therefore contribute towards major priority for eradication of hunger and poverty. It also forms the strong base for rapid industrialization, employment and environmental management.
N. KozanaDiaminiLuma, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission has emphasized that ‘the year 2014 – the year of Agriculture in Africa’ will be used as an opportunity to accelerate the drive for food security. The major thrust for that has to be on ensuring that the farmers make their profession on economic activity that generate well-being for all in a sustainable manner (1, 2). Africa will have a population of 2 billion people by 2050, the majority women and youth. This prediction and the climate change problem summarize the scale of agricultural challenge for them. Currently more than half of all people living in Africa depend on agriculture for all or part of their livelihood. *Based on Key Note address by the author at the First International Agri Business Conference at Mauritius, Africa : 25 – 28 September 2008
EVER GREEN REVOLUTION OR ECO AGRI REVOLUTION FOR AFRICA
Nearly all agree that Africa needs technology for farming comparable to the Green Revolution of Asia. In 2006, two major philanthropic foundations namely Gates Foundations & Rockefeller foundations joined in a joint venture called Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). They emphasized the importance of introducing African small fodder farmers to modern agricultural science.However, this was rejected strongly by some calling it “naivete” about the causes of hunger and warned that this approach

Agriculture worldwide is undergoing a profound shift toward sustainability, driven by the need for increased productivity and environmental stewardship. Among the many innovations shaping this transition, biostimulants have gained prominence as a vital tool for enhancing crop performance, improving soil health, and promoting sustainable farming. Unlike conventional agrochemicals, biostimulants work by activating natural plant processes, enhancing nutrient uptake, and increasing resilience to environmental stress. The global agrichemical industry now distinctly categorizes biopesticides, biofertilizers and biostimulants.
WHAT ARE BIOSTIMULANTS?
Biostimulants are natural synthetic substances that enhance plant growth and development without being fertilizer or pesticides. They work by improving nutrient uptake, increasing stress resistance, and stimulating beneficial microbial activity in the soil. Unlike chemical fertilizers, which directly supply nutrients, biostimulants enhance the plant’s ability to utilize nutrients more efficiently.
TYPES OF BIOSTIMULANTS
Biostimulants are categorized based on their composition and mode of action:
Humic and Fulvic Acids – Improve soil structure, enhance nutrient availability and increase root growth.
Seaweed Extracts – Rich in phytohormones and trace elements that promote plant growth and stress resistance.
Amino Acids – Play a crucial role in protein synthesis and help plants recover from environmental stress.
Microbial Biostimulants – Beneficial bacteria and fungi that enhance nutrient uptake and improve soil health.
Brassinoloilds & Tricontanols – Help in vegetative growth and fruit development.
Alkaloids – Improve plant defense mechanism.

The recent earthquake in Nepal brings back memories of 26th January 2001. While the nation was busy in celebrating Republic Day, an earthquake shattered Gujarat especially Kutch and Saurashtra regions. A large number of buildings and houses collapsed within moments. Thousands were injured and many lost their lives and many more became homeless. Bhachau – Kutch soon after the earthquake in 2001 (Picture – 1) Kutch received quick responses from all over the world and a large number of individuals, institutions, government and semi-government bodies, professional experts, religious and social organizations etc. sprang into action to bring back some normalcy in the lives. However, long-term rehabilitation program based on scientific planning is most vital after such disasters. Since agriculture was the main source of livelihood of majority of Kutch people, a plan based on scientific agriculture and integration of the same with livelihood, nutritional and long term social considerations was required. It has also been observed that new and appropriate technology can be fast adopted even by small and marginal farmer women and men under such circumstances.

Agriculture is increasingly being looked through the angle of environment and sustainability now. On global scale, the move is towards a balanced need for food production and ecological factors. Green revolution made a huge contribution for food security but now we face the following challenges.
1. Since the green revolution, land has witnessed an indiscriminate and prolonged use of chemicals and the strong need for moving away to more eco-friendly farming is felt.
2. We need to promote eco technologies which integrate the principles of ecology in technology development and dissemination. We also need to promote production and use of biological software for sustainable agriculture and food security.
Therefore, the terms like Regenerative Agriculture, Nature base solutions, Agro Ecology, Eco Agriculture, Conservation Agriculture, Organic Farming, Holistic Resource Management, Climate Smart Agriculture, Prakrutik Kheti etc etc have been gaining prominence in policy and funding spaces related to food systems. Global policy floors like the UN Food Systems Summit and the UN Climate and biodiversity conferences have used these terms as bywords for Sustainable Development. Different Names – Eco Agriculture Revolution Encompasses all ! Regenerative Agriculture is defined by many in ways that closely resemble Agro Ecology / Eco Agriculture. Broadly it describes farming, ranching and pastoral practices that stabilize our planet’s climate and carbon cycles by rehabilitating organic matter and microbial activity in the soil, thereby increasing carbon storage, retaining moisture and safeguarding bio diversity and living systems.

8.1 Introduction
The increasing rate of waste generation due to consumption patterns has emerged as a significant environmental management challenge. The valorization of this waste hold great potential in production of bio-based products, provided they meet the multi-criteria of environmental sustainability and economic viability (Dragone et al., 2020). Within this framework, the advancement of biorefineries is considered to be a valuable strategy. These transform lignocellulosic biomass to valuable bio-based products including biofuels and biobased chemicals which promote circular economy (Mariana et al., 2021). The incorporation of biorefineries into the market value chain necessitates the establishment of production framework which aims high recovery and generation of value-added products from biomass (Meramo- Hurtado and González-Delgado, 2019). However, the upscaling of these biorefineries faces various challenges such as process efficiency and technological advancement. Additionally, the largescale operation of biorefineries requires consistent and stable biomass supply. Addressing these challenges require technological advancements and policy framework (Makepa and Chihobo, 2024). These could ensure the economic viability and profitability of biorefineries which is essential for their successful implementation in long-term sustainability goals (Arias et al., 2023). In this context, the early-stage evaluation comprises production capacity, market demand, technological limitations and environmental impact.
8.2 Challenges in Upscaling of Biorefineries
For fulfillment of the global demand for bio-based products it is important to upscale biorefineries from laboratory to industrial scale. Biorefineries are closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as several SDGs emphasize the efficient and circular utilization of resources to promote sustainability. Additionally, SDSs promotes adoption of practices which encourage climate change mitigation, economic growth, societal well-being and advancements in research and innovations (Lange et al., 2021). However, the establishment of biorefineries faces various technical challenges similar to those encountered in conventional refinery plants. These challenges arise primarily due to the large volume of biomass required for processing to achieve industrial scale production of bioproducts (Ahmed et al., 2023).