The future of farming: Who will produce our food?

Food Security, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 13(5), P. 1073 - 1099

Published: Sept. 3, 2021

Abstract Achieving SDG2 (zero hunger) in a situation of rapid global population growth requires continued focus on food production. Farming not merely needs to sustainably produce nutritious diets, but should also provide livelihoods for farmers, while retaining natural ecosystems and services. Rather than focusing production principles, this article explores the interrelations between farms farming systems system. Evaluating around world, we reveal bewildering diversity. While family predominate, these range size from less 0.1 ha more 10,000 ha, hand hoe use machine-based cultivation, enabling one person plant 500 day. Yet, different parts world is highly interdependent, least because prices paid farm are largely determined by markets. Furthermore, economic viability problem, globally. We highlight trends major regions explore possible trajectories future ask: Who farmers future? Changing patterns land ownership, rental exchange mean that concept ‘what farm’ becomes increasingly fluid. Next declining employment rural depopulation, foresee environmentally-friendly, external input dependent, regionalised systems. This may require reversal trend towards increasing specialisation recoupling arable livestock farming, resilience it provides. It might slow-down or widespread scale enlargement agriculture. enlargement, small persist Asia: consolidation proceeds at snail’s pace South-east Asia 70% India ‘ultra-small’ – 0.05 ha. Also Africa, where find smallholder much smaller often assumed (< 1 ha), households insecure. A raft pro-poor policies investments needed stimulate small-scale agriculture as part broader development address persistent poverty hunger. Smallholder will remain an important source income, social safety net absence alternative livelihood security. But with limited possibilities smallholders ‘step-up’, agricultural engine appears be broken. cannot deliver rate currently many policy initiatives Africa.

Language: Английский

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Novel approaches and practices to sustainable agriculture

Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10, P. 100446 - 100446

Published: Nov. 8, 2022

The world population is increasing in a disquieting rate while the quantity of food to gratify this snowballing human an annoyance agrarian scientists and policymakers around globe. Today's snatching natural resources from future which can endanger generation's right have nutritious clean air. causes for challenge be enumerated listed out, but singled out as lack and/or poor implementation novel approaches practices sustainable agriculture. Some are not limited climate smart agriculture (CSA), organic farming, biodynamic agriculture, intensification regenerative agriculture; integrated farming system (IFS), precision nutrient management (INM) pest (IPM). adoption these has been proven safeguard agricultural sustainability.

Language: Английский

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Actions to halt biodiversity loss generally benefit the climate

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(9), P. 2846 - 2874

Published: Jan. 31, 2022

The two most urgent and interlinked environmental challenges humanity faces are climate change biodiversity loss. We entering a pivotal decade for both the international agendas with sharpening of ambitious strategies targets by Convention on Biological Diversity United Nations Framework Climate Change. Within their respective Conventions, have largely been addressed separately. There is evidence that conservation actions halt, slow or reverse loss can simultaneously anthropogenic mediated significantly. This review highlights which largest potential mitigation change. note mainly synergistic benefits few antagonistic trade-offs mitigation. Specifically, we identify direct co-benefits in 14 out 21 action draft post-2020 global framework Diversity, notwithstanding many indirect links also support These relationships context scale-dependent; therefore, showcase examples local be incentivized, guided prioritized objectives targets. close interlinkages between biodiversity, mitigation, other nature's contributions to people good quality life seldom as integrated they should management policy. aims re-emphasize vital timely manner, major Conferences Parties about negotiate strategic frameworks goals decades come.

Language: Английский

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Challenges and potential pathways towards sustainable agriculture within the European Green Deal

Agricultural Systems, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 207, P. 103634 - 103634

Published: March 14, 2023

Agriculture plays a central role in the European Green Deal with various policies and strategies converging to promote sustainable agriculture food systems. The Farm Fork strategy approaches from systems perspective. Sustainable is also Biodiversity strategy, Long-term vision for EU Rural areas Soil strategy. Despite clear policy objectives, there still long way towards an effective transition based on integrated, science based, solutions. This paper aims contribute debate challenges opportunities Europe, of practical approaches. We reviewed documents, scientific literature global data reflect other affecting agriculture, focussing which instruments are foreseen reach their key-challenges related achieve more farming, possible attain agriculture. provide overview synergies shared objectives between different aiming support environmental, social economic perspectives. identified several often reported systems: reduced yields, increased land demand, nitrogen needs, changes diet, waste, distribution access food, externalities third countries. Finally, we discuss two main potential complementarity fulfil as reflected strategies. intensification focus environmental- friendly production, agroecology ecology, justice sovereignty. how both can be integrated create optimize delivery multiple ecosystem services. transformation expected revised strategies, not just technical question farming practices, but requires holistic approach considering social, economic, cultural, environmental aspects. Local adaptations, stakeholder participation, recognition that produces than crops, key this alignment aspects, including acknowledgment farmers, managers agroecosystems cultural landscapes delivering range

Language: Английский

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Agroecology for a Sustainable Agriculture and Food System: From Local Solutions to Large-Scale Adoption

Annual Review of Resource Economics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(1), P. 351 - 381

Published: July 12, 2023

Agroecology is often considered as the ultimate and most comprehensive solution to many challenges of agricultural food system, also referred agri-food system. This review investigates what extent agroecology can become mainstream model for transforming agriculture toward more sustainable resilient systems within given economic political context. We find that enhancing will require a fully integrated multiscale approach from farm region globe. The must consider relevant processes relationships, actors stakeholders well drivers, sustainability indicators, respective assessment methods across all scales. Giving specific attention drivers related economy, technology, policy we point out needs be economically viable farmers other system actors. In particular, new emerging technologies digitalization breeding should consideration in agroecological transformation. stress need an analytical operational framework adequate design suggest six areas needed support large-scale adoption agroecology.

Language: Английский

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Regenerative agriculture—agroecology without politics?

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Aug. 2, 2022

Agroecology and regenerative agriculture have plenty in common: soil ecosystem restoration, reliance on biological interactions services, integration of domestic plants animals, efficient use the photosynthetic potential annual perennial combinations, amongst other principles. One aspect agroecology that does not always fit comfortably realm is political activism, or place emphasis 'social' dimension takes definition social-ecological system. This perhaps one reasons why more closely associated with peasant movements, for whom claims rights access to natural resources are urgent. Regenerative an approach increasingly – but exclusively adopted by commercial, often large-scale farmers external investors less concerned e.g. land tenure security water genetic resources. Is it possible think about resilience, adaptability sustainability without considering their overarching social dimensions? Here we explore what extent different types approaches internalise issues, as well principles agroecology, relying lexical analysis scientific literature (n = 647 publications) first-hand engagement authors both farming parts world. Three (RA) were identified: 'philosophy RA', 'Development RA' 'Corporate They share degrees ecological easily at farm than community level. By creating tighter links science movement fundamentally, engaging much needed debates foster agri-food transitions transformations, will be able build broader legitimacy among relevant stakeholders.

Language: Английский

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Regenerative Agriculture and Its Potential to Improve Farmscape Function

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(10), P. 5815 - 5815

Published: May 11, 2022

Recent reviews have identified major themes within regenerative agriculture—soil health, biodiversity, and socioeconomic disparities—but so far been unable to clarify a definition based on practice and/or outcomes. In recent years, the concept has seen rapid increase in farming, popular, corporate interest, scope of which now sees agriculture best viewed as movement. To define guide further practical academic work this respect, authors returned literature explore movement’s origins, intentions, potential through three phases work: early academic, current academic. A consistent intention from supporters regeneration, or rebuilding, agricultural resources, soil, water, biota, human, energy necessary achieve sustainable agriculture. This aligns well with international impetus improve ecosystem function. The yet be confirmed definition, an for iterative design, emerging consumer service markets present several avenues deliver these intentions. assist, propose Farmscape Function framework, monitor impact change our resources over time, mechanism support data-based innovation. These tools intentions position state rather than type

Language: Английский

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The input reduction principle of agroecology is wrong when it comes to mineral fertilizer use in sub-Saharan Africa

Outlook on Agriculture, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 52(3), P. 311 - 326

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Can farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) boost crop yields and improve food availability without using more mineral fertilizer? This question has been at the center of lively debates among civil society, policy-makers, academic editorials. Proponents “yes” answer have put forward “input reduction” principle agroecology, i.e. by relying on agrobiodiversity, recycling better efficiency, agroecological practices such as use legumes manure can increase productivity need for fertilizer. We reviewed decades scientific literature nutrient balances SSA, biological nitrogen fixation tropical legumes, production smallholder farming systems, environmental impact Our analyses show that fertilizer is needed SSA five reasons: (i) starting point agricultural “agroecological” default, is, very low use, widespread mixed crop-livestock systems large diversity including but leading to poor soil fertility a result mining, (ii) needs crops cannot be adequately met solely through animal manure, (iii) other nutrients like phosphorus potassium replaced continuously, (iv) fertilizers, if used appropriately, cause little harm environment, (v) reducing fertilizers would hamper gains contribute indirectly expansion deforestation. Yet, principles directly related fertility—recycling, diversity—remain key improving health nutrient-use are critical sustaining long run. argue nuanced position acknowledges combination with adequate policy support.

Language: Английский

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Sustainable agriculture for food and nutritional security

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 25 - 90

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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The role of food industries in sustainability transition: a review

Environment Development and Sustainability, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 16, 2024

Language: Английский

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