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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The Regenerative Lens: A conceptual framework for regenerative social-ecological systems

One Earth, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(7), P. 824 - 842

Published: July 1, 2023

Societies must transform their dynamics to support the flourishing of life. There is increasing interest in regeneration and regenerative practice as a solution, but also limited cohered understanding what constitutes systems at social-ecological scales. In this perspective we present conceptual, cross-disciplinary, action-oriented framework, Regenerative Lens, informed by wide literature review. The framework emphasizes that maintain positive reinforcing cycles wellbeing within beyond themselves, especially between humans wider nature, such "life begets life." We identify five key qualities needed encourage dynamics: an ecological worldview embodied human action; mutualism; high diversity; agency for non-humans act regeneratively; continuous reflexivity. apply Lens envisioned future food system illustrate its utility reflexive tool stretching ambition. hope conceptual clarity provided here will aid necessary acceleration learning action toward systems.

Language: Английский

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Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture: Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Production, Food Security, and Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Agronomy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 565 - 565

Published: Feb. 25, 2025

Without transformative adaptation strategies, the impact of climate change is projected to reduce global crop yields and increase food insecurity, while rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions further exacerbate crisis. While agriculture a major contributor through unsustainable practices, it also offers significant opportunities mitigate these adoption sustainable practices. This review examines climate-smart (CSA) as key strategy for enhancing productivity, building resilience, reducing GHG emissions, emphasizing need strategic interventions accelerate its large-scale implementation improved security. The analysis revealed that nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has in developed countries, NUE remains at 55.47%, precision nutrient management integrated soil fertility strategies enhance productivity minimize environmental impacts. With 40% world’s agricultural land already degraded, sustainability alone insufficient, necessitating shift toward regenerative practices restore degraded water by improving health, biodiversity, increasing carbon sequestration, thus ensuring long-term resilience. CSA including agriculture, biochar application, agroforestry, improve security, emissions. However, result variability highlights site-specific optimize benefits. Integrating multiple enhances health more effectively than implementing single practice alone. Widespread faces socio-economic technological barriers, requiring supportive policies, financial incentives, capacity-building initiatives. By adopting technologies, can transition sustainability, securing systems addressing challenges.

Language: Английский

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A genealogy of sustainable agriculture narratives: implications for the transformative potential of regenerative agriculture

Agriculture and Human Values, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 40(4), P. 1379 - 1397

Published: May 1, 2023

Abstract The agri-food system is facing a range of social-ecological threats, many which are caused and amplified by industrial agriculture. In response, numerous sustainable agriculture narratives have emerged, proposing solutions to the challenges system. One such narrative that has recently risen prominence regenerative However, drivers for rapid emergence not well understood. Furthermore, its transformative potential supporting more underexplored. Through genealogical analysis four prominent narratives; organic agriculture, conservation intensification, agroecology; we consider how agriculture’s growing momentum can be contextualised within existing explore implications this might potential. This reveals genealogies these led number contestations complementarities coalesced drive We also find that, in contrast agroecology, shares with other Global North limited scope offering pathways agricultural production. largely due their inadequate consideration power equity issues argue therefore risks inhibiting deeper transformations address both social ecological unifying it claims be. Nonetheless, could contribute towards broader plurality collectively enable transformation sustainable, diverse, just

Language: Английский

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Regenerative agriculture: a potentially transformative storyline shared by nine discourses

Sustainability Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 18(4), P. 1833 - 1849

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Abstract Modern agriculture is underpinned by a colonial, industrial and productivist discourse. Agricultural practices inspired this discourse have fed billions but degraded socio-ecological systems. Regenerative (RA) prominent alternative seeking to transform food production repair ecosystems. This paper proposes that RA supported shared storyline binding diverse actors discourses together—a coalition. Consequently, multiple contribute the over-arching of RA. A analysis was conducted on texts from ninety-six organisations complimented twenty-two interviews in Australia USA. identified nine contributing discourse: Restoration for Profit; Big Picture Holism; Organic; Regrarian Permaculture; Cultures; Deep First Nations; Agroecology Food Sovereignty; Subtle Energies. describes examines these component discusses tensions may make vulnerable co-optation greenwashing, diluting its transformative potential.

Language: Английский

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Sustainable Farming in Practice: Building Resilient and Profitable Smallholder Agricultural Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(7), P. 5731 - 5731

Published: March 24, 2023

Sub-Saharan Africa is at crossroads. With a rapidly growing population of 1.2 billion and changing climates, the continent faces major development challenges, including food insecurity, climate change, resource degradation, poverty, gender inequality, social exclusion. While there are multiple competing narratives promoted in high-input, industrialised world to address change resilience agricultural systems (e.g., regenerative agriculture, agroecology), an ongoing debate genuine questions about appropriateness these approaches small-scale farmers SSA. African unique, characterised by low productivity, nutrient mining, land hoe culture, fragmented diversified small farms. Though environmental pollution over-dependence on fossil fuel-powered mechanisation rarely topping priority list, becoming concern. The top-down from environment-concerned communities lack tools most pressing immediate challenge local Africa, namely (i) intensification increased crop productivity per unit inputs, (ii) access rural energy forcing use available biomass for cooking instead soil regeneration; (iii) intent no or reduced mineral fertilisers, system marred mining over centuries; (iv) failure recurrent drought through integrated water management interventions. To specific we present context-specific, outcome-oriented farming solutions as viable appropriate strategy called ‘sustainable farming’. We argue that nature-based will remain be important but better adopted if they respond demands context-specific challenges farmers. By means three successful restoration programmes East eight outcomes should addressed ensure sustainable holdings reduce risk change. For innovations scale, proposed put place incentive mechanisms functional last-mile delivery systems.

Language: Английский

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Moving towards an anti-colonial definition for regenerative agriculture

Agriculture and Human Values, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 40(4), P. 1697 - 1716

Published: May 4, 2023

Language: Английский

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Addressing the politics of mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems

Agricultural Systems, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 211, P. 103747 - 103747

Published: Aug. 26, 2023

Mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems (MAIS) are becoming more prevalent in view of tackling the challenges agri-food transformation. In this perspective, we argue that politics MAIS requires comprehensive and considerable attention field, given contested deeply normative nature direction innovations Literature from development studies, policy sciences, transition studies is reviewed to inform perspective. We question structured around dimensions 4D framework: directionality, diversity, distribution democracy. Regarding should explicitly consider how power dynamics shape future systems, which extent these hinder desirable directions. Considering diversity means need stimulate a transformation pathways; include actors, communities knowledge; roles both humans non-humans Questions regarding resources effects across ecosystems imply actively advance just transitions different scales geographical contexts. Finally, democratization our ways knowledge produced through be democratic deliberative, though may challenging since missions strong steering. stress considerations also bring along important implications for policies research on MAIS, system broadly, considered. Confronting not an easy endeavor, but critical directions only sustainable transformative, socially desirable. This researchers develop awareness their work feeds into conversely influenced by it.

Language: Английский

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Complementing or co-opting? Applying an integrative framework to assess the transformative capacity of approaches that make use of the term agroecology

Environmental Science & Policy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 156, P. 103748 - 103748

Published: April 10, 2024

The paper discusses the increasing use of term agroecology in scientific literature and how its meanings vary different contexts. However, key issue is not understandings per se, but whether various interpretations align with intrinsic systemic transformative meaning. To address this, presents an integrative framework to assess approaches that agroecology, distinguish between enabling disabling interpretations. applied yield- non-yield-oriented (sustainable intensification, conservation agriculture, organic farming regenerative farming), revealing concerns hijacking or co-opting through (1) simplification, (2) false equivalence (3) confusion. prevent and/or respond – necessarily intentional - process neutralization potential we propose a combination accountability regulatory efforts, education collaboration protect integrity principles it represents as well ensure just contribution for (re-)shaping agri-food systems.

Language: Английский

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