Experimental Agriculture | Special Collection Call for Papers | A Global Perspective on Tropical Pastures

Tropical pastures are vital for livestock production and food security in many parts of the world. They occupy approximately 29% of global agricultural land and represent a wide range of ecosystems, encompassing permanent, planted, and native pastures, as well as temporary pastures (FAOSTAT, 2023). Tropical countries possess about 55% of the world's cattle population and are responsible for 29% of global beef production (in carcass weight equivalent) and 32% of milk production (FAOSTAT, 2025). However, they face numerous challenges, including land degradation, climate change impacts, and the imperative for sustainable intensification. Scientific knowledge and the utilisation of cultivated tropical pastures have advanced significantly in recent decades, which has stimulated the compilation of this issue. Our objective in addressing various themes associated with tropical pastures in this prestigious journal is to explore the latest advancements, pressing issues, and future directions in tropical pasture research and management, by fostering the exchange of knowledge and experiences from diverse tropical regions across the globe. The outcome will be a comprehensive overview for scientists, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

Guest Editors

Dr. Rosangela Maria Simeão: Embrapa Beef Cattle, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Orcid iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-83...
E-mail: rosangela.simeao@embrapa.br

Areas of Expertise:  Grass and legume forage breeding; tropical forages; genomic selection; quantitative genetics

Dr. Juarez Campolina Machado: Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil 

Orcid iD: orcid.org/0000-0003-2551-2080
E-mail: juarez.machado@embrapa.br

Areas of Expertise: Forage breeding; elephant-grass; bioenergy

Prof. Dr. Janaina Azevedo Martuscello: Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Orcid iD: orcid.org/0000-0003-3237-7657
E-mail: janaina@ufsj.edu.br

Areas of Expertise: Forage plant physiology; pasture management and fertilization; forage breeding 

Dr. Christopher Stephen Jones: ILRI - International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Orcid iD: orcid.org/0000-0001-9096-9728
E-mail: c.s.jones@cgiar.or

Areas of Expertise:  Plant biotechnology; forages; molecular plant breeding; functional genomics; plant phenotyping; plant transformation

Special Collection Topics

• Advancing tropical forage selection and breeding through genomic and phenomic innovations;
• Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from tropical pasture systems including strategies to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions;
• Integrated systems in tropical regions discussing their role in improving soil health, providing shade for livestock, enhancing biodiversity, and increasing carbon sequestration;
• Precision pasture management highlighting the application of satellite imagery, drones, and other remote sensing technologies for monitoring pasture biomass, identifying areas of degradation, and guiding precise fertiliser application and grazing management;
• Integrated recovery strategies for degraded tropical pastures: leveraging crop-pasture rotation, biofertilizers, and minimum tillage for enhanced soil fertility and productivity;
• Socio-economic drivers and barriers to adoption of sustainable pasture technologies in tropical farming systems;
• Tropical pasture resilience and livestock production in a globally changing climate;
• Developing novel legume-based pasture systems for improved forage quality and reduced nitrogen fertiliser dependence;
• The future of tropical pasture research: challenges and opportunities.

Deadline for manuscript submissions: February 28th 2026