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DSpace is a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes digital material. Repositories are important tools for preserving an organization's legacy; they facilitate digital preservation and scholarly communication.

Recent Submissions

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    Open Data Kit (ODK): New Technology on Data Collection
    Author(s): Al-Shamaa, Khaled (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2026-02-10)
    Date: 2026-02-10
    Type: Presentation
    Status: Timeless limited access
    This presentation was conducted during the training course on ODK for the "Consortium of Red Palm Weevil Control (C4RPWC) Program" project, which was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from January 26 to 28, 2026.
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    Smart Reproduction for Better Flocks: Innovative Practices for the Reproductive Management of Sheep and Goat Flocks in Tunisia
    Author(s): Tebourbi, Ons; Rouatbi, Mariem; Aloulou, Rafik; Chouaibi, Mohamed Amine; Kefi, Rouaya; Ben Said, Samia; Niama, Wejdene; Chemingui, Oumayma; Hamdene, Mounir; Zaidi, Ismail; Rekik, Mourad (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA))
    Date: 2025-12-31
    Type: Internal Report
    Status: Open access
    This report is about the development and the deployment of clean reproductive technologies and biotechnologies aiming at improving the productivity of sheep and goats under various production systems and contexts within the Mediterranean Landscape. These systems cover mixed, rainfed agro-pastoral systems, halophyte-based systems and more intensified forage-based systems in the North of Tunisia. The innovations are meant to be clean, green and ethical applications to monitor, assess and improve the reproductive performance of sheep and goats. The applications were co-designed, co-developed and co-implemented with national partners from both the research and the development systems.
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    System Dynamics Modelling of Olive Supply Chain to Support Socio-ecological Gains in Multi-functional Landscape: General Model and Specification for Tunisian Semi-arid Region
    Author(s): Le, Quang Bao; Dhehibi, Boubaker (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA))
    Date: 2025-12-25
    Type: Working Paper
    Status: Open access
    Olive value chains in the Mediterranean face linked problems: limited inclusion of smallholders, women, and youth; unpriced environmental harm; high exposure to climate and market shocks; weak incentives for stewardship; slow uptake of better practices; thin market information; infrastructure gaps; and weak ties among farmers, cooperatives, and processors. Because these pressures interact across stages, a single fix often shifts problems elsewhere. This motivates a system dynamics (SD) view that can display feedbacks, delays, and trade-offs within one structure. The paper has two aims. First, it specifies a transparent SD prototype for Tunisia’s olive sector that stakeholders can use now for discussion and later for calibration. Second, it makes three core outcomes central to analysis: socio-ecological gains (joint improvements in productivity and product quality, with lower environmental harm and fairer access to benefits), resilience (the ability to absorb shocks and recover), and inclusion (meaningful participation and benefits for smallholders, women, and youth). The first aim is not predictive: the model prototype serves as a clear boundary structure to organise participatory qualitative work—checking assumptions, locating leverage points, designing policy and technology scenarios, and sketching impact pathways—before full calibration and numerical testing. The model has seven modules. Four are supply-chain subsystems: (i) planting and tree cohorts (young, mature, senescent; rain-fed vs. irrigated), (ii) harvesting (losses, pick rates, technology adoption), (iii) processing and market allocation (extraction, capacity, local/export and premium channels), and (iv) demand (domestic and export). Three are cross-cutting: (v) ecosystem services (soil fertility, water, basic biodiversity), (vi) climate and adaptation (rainfall/heat indices, drought frequency, adaptive investment), and (vii) policy–finance (subsidies, certification premia, tax revenue, budget constraint). We present causal-loop and stock-and-flow diagrams, there variables and parameters, as well as define scenario levers. Empirical calibration and operational simulations will follow. The prototype adds value by adopting a cradle-to-cradle scope that links field stewardship and climate stress to losses, extraction, and premium channels; by keeping structural detail for drought response, stand renewal, and practice adoption; by treating resilience and inclusion as explicit outcomes with clear policy entry points; and by offering user-friendly system dynamics diagrams for co-learning. The Tunisia case is preliminary parameterized-ready yet portable to other Mediterranean regions. We outline next steps: assemble data (cooperatives, mills, prices, remote sensing), verify model structure with wider expert consultation, package an operational model version in Vensim DSS, conduct calibration and validation screening, and test policy and technology scenarios.
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    Soil Quality Assessment for Sustainable Cultivation of Opuntia ficus-indica in Kutch (India): Identifying Key Edaphic Factors
    Author(s): Louhaichi, Mounir; Naorem, Anandkumar; Hassan, Sawsan (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA))
    Date: 2025-05-10
    Type: Presentation
    Status: Timeless limited access
    The presentation addressed the soil quality assessment necessary for the sustainable cultivation of Opuntia ficus-indica (cactus pear) in Kutch, India. Recognizing its potential to improve food security in arid regions, the study explores key edaphic factors affecting growth and yield. Soil samples were collected from farmers' fields, analyzing physical and chemical properties such as texture, pH, and nutrient availability. Findings suggest that sandy loam soils with a pH of 6.5–7.5, moderate electrical conductivity, and high organic matter (≥1.5%) are optimal. Balanced macronutrient availability enhances growth, while soil moisture retention helps mitigate water stress. The research offers valuable insights for effective soil management practices and recommendations for soil amendments, promoting sustainable agriculture in the region.
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    Cactus pear ”Opuntia ficus-indica”: The 5F Crop for Food, Feed, Fuel, Fashion, and Fertilizer Enhancing Sustainability in Arid Regions
    Author(s): Louhaichi, Mounir; Hassan, Sawsan (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA))
    Date: 2025-05-10
    Type: Presentation
    Status: Timeless limited access
    The presentation highlighted the versatility of Opuntia ficus-indica (cactus pear) as a "5F crop," offering food, feed, fuel, fashion (bio-leather), and fertilizer. Well-suited to arid and semi-arid environments, OFI shows resilience against harsh conditions, making it vital for sustainable agriculture. However, assessments of its applications in these domains and their implications for food security are limited. Through extensive literature reviews, data on OFI's nutritional value, biomass yield, biofuel potential, textile applications, and soil enhancement were collected. Out of over 15,000 studies, 210 relevant articles were critically analyzed. The findings indicate that OFI enhances food security, provides renewable energy, offers sustainable textile alternatives, and improves soil health through biofertilizer use. This review underscores OFI's multi-dimensional benefits and its potential role in sustainable development.