Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture: Strategies and Partnerships. NGFA April 1, 2014

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1 Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture: Strategies and Partnerships NGFA April 1, 2014

2 Our mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends

3 We work in 36 countries And all 50 of the United States. Magnificent sea anemone with pink anemone fish near Solomon Islands in the South Pacific Daniel & Rovvie Wisdom

4 We own and manage the largest network of private preserves in the United States. Hiking in the Conservancy s Folsom Point Preserve in Iowa s Loess Hills Chris Helzer

5 We work with the trust and support of more than one million members. Children fishing at the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area in McIntosh County Georgia Erika Nortemann

6 We pursue nonconfrontational, pragmatic solutions to conservation challenges. Patagonia grasslands, Argentina Bridget Besaw

7 The Nature Conservancy has helped protect more than 119 million acres of land worldwide. River leading to Iliamna Lake, Alaska habitat the gravel bottoms provide habitat for king salmon Ami Vitale

8 Where We Work in Agriculture UNITED STATES CHINA MEXICO COLOMBIA TANZANIA BRAZIL ARGENTINA

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10 A Title 10

11 A Title 11

12 Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture The agricultural challenge: Feeding humanity while conserving

13 Global Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Irrigation Use

14 Dead Zones of the World Major known eutrophic and hypoxic areas. Reprinted from Selman et al. 14

15 billion bushels corn and million tons nutrient (N, P2O5, K2O) U.S. Corn Production and Nutrient Use on Corn 13 Corn Production Nutrient Use on Corn +87% % Source: Computed by TFI from data reported by NASS, USDA

16 High Leverage Ag Strategies TNC traditionally worked mostly at this level High leverage: Farm Bill, supply chain engagement, soil health and nutrient stewardship partnerships Producer Processors, Food and Beverage Companies Retailers 16

17 4R Nutrient Stewardship Sustainability A management strategy

18 4R Certification

19 Getting to Scale Relationships between biological, water quality and water availability outcomes and conservation practices. Help establish realistic desired conditions Develop tools that guide strategic conservation

20 Nature Desired Sustainable Condition Current Condition Defining OUTCOMES Setting Sustainable Agricultural Watershed Goals Setting the Decision Point Wedge of Solutions $ Cost Tools/Calculator Agriculture BMPs & Water

21 Practices Wedge of Solutions In-Field Practices Conservation Tillage, cover crops, nutrient management Edge-of Field Practices Nutrient Treatment Wetlands, Bioreactors, 2-stage ditches Downstream Practices Restoring Wetlands, Reconnecting Floodplains, Stabilizing Streambanks

22 Forecasting Costs and Benefits Current Condition 25% BMP Implementation

23 Forecasting Costs and Benefits Current Condition 50% BMP Implementation

24 Online Tools Groundwater, Sediment, and Nutrient Facilitate strategic placement of BMPs Track cumulative placement of BMPs and progress toward goals Support Transactions

25 Supply Chain Initiatives: Field to Market

26 What is the Fieldprint Calculator? An online education tool for row crop farmers that indexes their agronomics and practices to a fieldprint Helps growers evaluate their farming decisions and compare their sustainability performance In the areas of: Land use Soil conservation Soil carbon Water use Energy use Greenhouse gas emissions Against: Their own fields Their own performance over time County, state and national averages Water Quality and Biodiversity in development

27 Sample Results: Resources per bushel, Corn 27

28 Field to Market : Resources per bushel, Soybeans 28

29 A Closer Look Soybean Results: Soil Erosion TOTAL PER ACRE PER BUSHEL Total soil erosion decreased over most of the study period, but has increased more recently (similar for corn) Per acre soil erosion decreased during first half of study period, then leveled off (similar for corn, cotton, and wheat) 29

30 Questions? Sean McMahon Scott Warren