Dr. Jana Epperlein Federation of European National Associations promoting Conservation Agriculture

Transcription

1 ECAF (European Conservation Agriculture Federation) Agriculture of the Future resource saving profitable sustainable Dr. Jana Epperlein Federation of European National Associations promoting Conservation Agriculture

2 Our objectives o To promote of the concept of Conservation Agriculture throughout Europe o To be the European platform for exchange of information, training and experience in Conservation Agriculture o To establish the framework for a sustainable o To establish the framework for a sustainable agriculture

3 Why? o Changes in the demands of land use and farming o Drawbacks of traditional farming practices (environmental, economic, agronomic) o Conservation Agriculture matches the o Conservation Agriculture matches the demands of a sustainable agriculture

4 More Information Europe: Germany:

5 The problems Soil (threats) Environmental Water Air Farm income Economic Input/yield ratio (competitiveness Environmental costs Soil fertility Agronomic Soil compaction Soil quality and resilience Water conservation

6 The problems Land abandonment Social Discrimination Growing dissatisfaction Negative image Costs of CAP Political Surpluses Discrepancies i between countries

7 Fundamental questions: How to counteract? environmental problems (Climate change, OM, Erosion, flooding, degradation, compaction, ) - economic problems (solve farm income, competitive, environmental costs) - resource shortage (oil, fertilizers, soil, water)

8 One of the SOLUTIONS

9 3 Pillars of Conservation Agriculture! Conservation Agriculture minimum soil tillage crop rotations continuous cover residues/cover crop Soil Organic Carbon

10 CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRINCIPLES (1) Crop establishment through minimum possible soil disturbance (reduced/minimum, non-inversion tillage, zone/strip-tillage, no/zero-tillage )

11 CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRINCIPLES (2) Permanent soil cover (crop residues, cover crops) (arable crops and perennials)

12 No-Tillage SURFACE RESIDUE NO REMOVAL ORGANIC MATTER Dynamics and distribution POROUS SYSTEM Geometry and stability RADIATION WATER BALANCE ORGANIC BALANCE MATTER BALANCE Improve crop efficiency

13 Cropping system under continuous CA/No-Till Immobilize the soil and continually cover it with residues. Regeneration of stable macrospores Improve efficiency of water use Increase organic matter Increase biological activity Improve chemical fertility Is the most sustainable cropping system

14 CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRINCIPLES (3) Balanced crop rotations to minimize need for external inputs (herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides)

15 In order to understand this challenge we need to know which is the: Difference between Traditional Agriculture and Sustainable Agriculture/Conservation Agriculture

16 TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE/ CA Environment Plant Adaptation and Modification Technology (soil) Plant Yield potential Environment Sustainable production potential ti with a minimal disturbance

17 Advantages of Conservation Agriculture/No-Till Improves water absorption in soil Increases efficiency in the use of production resources Decreases formation of surface crusts Protects against erosion Improves organic matter balance Increases sowing opportunities Increases cultivable land over arable land Extends the agricultural cycle Solves problems due to limited land Reduces the quantity of machineries needed Provides greater yield stability...

18 ...for reaching the condition of sustainable agriculture Challenge: find the best combination of plant genetics, climate and soil through management design specific management strategies based on the characteristics of the different environments

19 Worldwide Distribution of No-Till Total 95 Mill. ha Kanada 12,5 USA 25,3 Brasilien 23,6 Paraguay 1,7 Argentinien 18,3 Rest der Welt 3,7 Europa Asien Afrika Australien 9,0 (Derpsch, 2005)

20 No-Till in Europe (W. Sturny)

21 Situation of CA in Europe The development is being slower than in other parts of the world: Less than 10% under Direct Drilling in all countries Country Minimum tillage (1000 ha) No-till (1000 ha) Cover crops in perennial woody crops (1000 ha) Total surface CA (1000 ha) % NT/arable land % CA/arable land Belgium 140 n.d. n.d Denmark 230 n.d. n.d Finland n.d France n.d Germany n.d Greece n.d Ireland 10 n.d. n.d Italy n.d Hungary n.d Portugal Russia n.d Slovak Republic Spain Switzerland United Kingdom n.d Total (data ECAF 2004/05)

22 Reasons for the poor adoption of CA in Europe (I) Cultural l entrenchment t of tillage Favourable natural conditions - Rainfall and its distribution - Soil fertility (SOM) - Risk of soil erosion - Frost to counteract compaction and favour soil structure

23 Reasons for the poor adoption of CA in Europe (II) Common Agricultural l Policy - Changing objectives - Production oriented Low economic pressure - Welfare transfer through subsidies

24 Reasons for the poor adoption of CA in Europe (III) Crop residue management - Regions with excess of crop residues Technical problems with drilling equipment High soil moisture content - Regions with lack of crop residues Slow improvement of soil conditions Missing/reduced agronomic and environmental benefits

25 Reasons for the poor adoption of CA in Europe (IV) Lack of problem oriented research - Missing demand from farmers - Top-down approach not bottom-up - Diversity it of specific conditions

26 The future: Favourable conditions for CA Increased consciousness of farmers to protect their resources (sustainability) Pioneer farmers that practice CA for many years with great success (worldwide) Support from international organizations like: FAO, CYMMIT, EU (influence on public opinion) Progression of the adaptation of CA techniques to local conditions (increasing number of research studies)

27 The future: Favourable conditions for CA Greater and better availability of adequate machinery and other production factors Technicians and extentionists with more and more know-how regarding CA Intermediate revision of Common Agricultural Policy: (Subsidies based on environmental compliance of farming) European Directive on Soil Protection: (administration is forced to provide solutions)

28 Agro climatic characteristics of the Regions

29 Winter wheat (No-Tillage) Production Costs per ha, US$ 705 Производственные затраты на га, US$ Seedbed preparation, p seeding 74 Подготовка почвы,, посев Fertilizer applications 383 Применение удобрений Pesticides and Herbicides applications 105 Применение средств защиты растений Harvesting and transport to storage 142 Уборка и транспортировка на склад Yields per ha, t 6,0 Урожайность на га, т Production costs per t, US$ 117 Производственные затраты на т, US$ Farm gate price per t, US$ 217 Цена реализации за т, US$ Farm income per ha, US$ * 597 Фермерский доход на га, US$* * land costs not included *cтоимость земли не включена

30 Barley (No-Tillage) Production Costs per ha, US$ 470 Производственные затраты на га, US$ Seedbed preparation, seeding 74 Подготовка почвы, посев Fertilizer applications 162 Применение удобрений Pesticides and Herbicides applications 92 Применение средств защиты растений Harvesting and transport to storage 142 Уборка и транспортировка на склад Yields per ha, t 7,0 Урожайность на га, т Production costs per t, US$ 67 Производственные затраты на т, US$ Farm gate price per t, US$ 189 Цена реализации за т, US$ Farm income per ha, US$ * 853 Фермерский доход на га, US$* * land costs not included *cтоимость земли не включена

31 Rape (No-Tillage) Production Costs per ha, US$ 672 Производственные затраты на га, US$ Seedbed preparation, seeding 74 Подготовка почвы, посев Fertilizer applications 400 Применение удобрений Pesticides and Herbicides applications 57 Применение средств защиты растений Harvesting and transport to storage 142 Уборка и транспортировка на склад Yields per ha, t 3,5 Урожайность на га, т Production costs per t, US$ 192 Производственные затраты на т, US$ Farm gate price per t, US$ 472 Цена реализации за т, US$ Farm income per ha, US$ * 980 Фермерский доход на га, US$* * land costs not included *cтоимость земли не включена

32 Thank you for the Attention! (Bayer, 2006)

33 Thank you! Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I will remember. Involve me, and I will understand. Confucius