Agroecology and sustainable intensification 1. definitions, practices and systems

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1 Agroecology and sustainable intensification 1. definitions, practices and systems Prof. Nicolas Lampkin Director Organic Research Centre, Newbury, UK

2 Acknowledgements This presentation presents the outcome of work funded by Scottish Natural Heritage on behalf of the UK Nature Conservation Agencies Land Use Policy Group. The report was prepared by a team of authors from the Organic Research Centre and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. The conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of SNH or the LUPG.

3 What is sustainable intensification? Producing more with less? (less input per unit output but still more in total?) Producing more with no added environmental impact? (are current impacts, resource use levels sustainable?) Producing more with positive environmental impacts (more ecosystem services, natural capital regeneration)? Producing enough, more efficiently, with positive environmental impacts?

4 Sustainable intensification should Mean more than more with less Place increased emphasis on sustainable Actively support environmental protection, production of ecosystem services and regeneration of natural capital alongside production of food etc. A sufficiency rather than productivist model where consumption issues also addressed

5 How does SI relate to Pretty s (1997) vision? of an agriculture relying on the integrated use of a wide range of technologies to manage pests, nutrients, soil and water. where local knowledge and adaptive methods are stressed rather than comprehensive packages of externally-supplied technologies Regenerative, low-input agriculture, founded on full farmer participation in all stages of development and extension, can be highly productive.

6 Agroecology is also subject to multiple definitions: Study of the ecology of agricultural systems Application of ecology to the design and management of agricultural systems Social movement for transformation of agriculture and food systems

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13 Agroforestry

14 Efficiency Substitution Redesign Framework Courtesy of Hill, MacRae and others, dating back to 1980s Conventional intensive systems Increased efficiency Input substitution S re al Increased efficiency Input substitution System redesign Susta food syste Input substitution System redesign Sustainable food systems

15 Agroecology by design requires Diversity AND complexity to deliver sustainable, stable, resilient and self-regulating systems. Multiple components deliver multiple functions The purpose of a functional and self-regulating design is to place elements or components in such a way that each serves the needs and accepts the products of other elements (Mollison) Functional biodiversity for eco-functional intensification Systems thinking and application

16 Systemic approaches While all these practices can be used by any farmer, the synergies between them mean more benefits if used in systemic framework Examples include: Integrated Pest, Crop, Farm Management Conservation agriculture Organic farming Agroforestry Permaculture More or less codified/regulated depending on market context

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18 Agroecology and sustainable intensification 2. evaluation of performance Prof. Nicolas Lampkin Director Organic Research Centre, Newbury, UK

19 Evaluations of potential SI contribution Outputs Productivity Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions Biodiversity and related ecosystem services Soil and water resource use/conservation Profitability Denominators Per unit land area or other limiting resource Per tonne produced Per tonne for human consumption (NSO) Literature review matter of judgement

20 Impact on productivity Output parameter Integrated Organic Agroforestry Yield/ha Net system output/ha Land equivalent ratio Labour use efficiency Input use efficiency /+ -/

21 Impact on energy and GHG emissions Output parameter Integrated Organic Agroforestry Energy use cultivations Energy use other inputs Soil organic carbon Above ground C sequestration - +/- - 0/ / GHG/NH 3 emissions/ha per unit food /

22 Impact on biodiversity Output parameter Soil microorganisms Integrated Organic Agroforestry Invertebrates Plants Pollinators Mammals Farmland birds + + +/-

23 Impact on soil and water resources Output parameter Reduced soil erosion Reduced soil compaction Soil fertility improvement Improved water quality Integrated Organic Agroforestry /- ++ 0/ /- Flood mitigation Improve drought tolerance

24 Output parameter Impact on profitability Integrated Organic Agroforestry Output level Enterprise mix value 0 - +/- Variable costs Fixed costs - 0/+ +/- Infrastructure needs 0 +/- + Premium markets /+ Agri-env. support + ++ [+] Farm profitability 0 0 [+]

25 Benefit of key practices and approaches 1 Practice/ approach Energy & GHGs Soil & water Productivity Biodiversity Profitability Legume leys +/- + +/ Organic amends Reduced tillage Limit agrochemicals Extended rotations + 0/ /- Polycultures ++ 0/ /- Variety mixtures + 0/ /-

26 Benefit of key practices and approaches 2 Practice/ approach Energy & GHGs Soil & water Field margins +/- 0/+ +/++ 0/+ +/- Biological control + 0/ Diverse pastures + 0/ /+ Mix crops/ livestock + 0/ /- Mix livstck species + 0/ /- Integrated farming /+ Organic farming -- +/ /-- Productivity Biodiversity Profitability Agroforestry /- ++ +/-

27 Key issues Potential for win-win situations in many cases But also trade-offs between productivity and environment, e.g. in organic case Land sharing, land sparing and functional biodiversity A major argument for wildlife-friendly farming and agroecological intensification is that crucial ecosystem services are provided by planned and associated biodiversity, whereas the land sparing concept implies that biodiversity in agroecosystems is functionally negligible. Tscharntke et al., 2012 Access to (and funding of) knowledge and research Focus on practices or systems? Role of markets and policy support in compensating for trade-offs and rewarding environmental outputs

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29 Agroecology and sustainable intensification 3. developing the contribution Prof. Nicolas Lampkin Director Organic Research Centre, Newbury, UK

30 What do we need to do? Emphasise ecosystem services and natural capital regeneration as part of sustainable intensification eco-functional or ecological intensification Recognise potential of agroecological approaches to deliver this Develop appropriate evaluation metrics to address local context and system complexity in support of business and policy decision making Consider/promote agroecological solutions to key problems linked to input use (emissions, pollution, soil erosion, antibiotic resistance, pollinator decline)

31 What else? Use agri-environmental support, payment for ecosystem services, and market mechanisms to encourage system change, not just practices Improve agroecological knowledge exchange and information systems knowledge intensification Deepen educational understanding of agroecology at all levels Support agroecological research and innovation with real participation of users needs shift from corporate/ technology focus of current funding models

32 How to achieve this Build on current good practice and expertise in UK Make more creative use of EU policy frameworks, in particular rural development and research, including: Establishment of agroforestry Agri-environment/climate Organic farming Advice, training and vocational skills EIP-Agri operational groups Ensure greater synergies between policies, using strategies and action plans where appropriate

33 Some examples Organic action plans in many countries, some (e.g. Denmark) included as chapters RDPs German Bundesprogramm Oekologischer Landbau now extended to include other forms of sustainable agriculture

34 French 2014 Action plan for Agroecology & 2015 law 1. Training and education 2. Collective action 3. Pesticide reduction plans 4. Promoting biological control 5. Reducing antibiotic use 6. Sustainable bee-keeping 7. Better use of livestock effluent 8. Encouraging organic production 9. Better plant breeding 10. Encouraging agroforestry

35 What drives these changes? Strong political backing at Ministerial level Active engagement of producers and other industry partners Public concern about environment and health issues Can we achieve something similar in the UK nations?