6 th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture 22-25 June 2014, Winnipeg, Canada Sustainable Intensification and Conservation Agriculture Amir Kassam, Theodor Friedrich, Brian Sims, Josef Kienzle Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome
Outline What is sustainable intensification What kind of intensification do current tillage-based farming practices offer? How sustainable is tillage-based intensification? What does Conservation Agriculture offer in terms of sustainable intensification? Some broad conclusions
What is sustainable intensification? Term has become popular in recent years Ecological definitions increase in yields with minimum environmental damage, and building resilience and flow of ecosystem services. Broader definitions at the food and agriculture system levels minimizing wastage, institutional development, capacity building, economic growth, social equity etc. Sustainable intensification conditions being met with the spread of CA.
Technical objectives of SI Agricultural land productivity (output) Natural capital and flow of ecosystems services Enhanced input-use efficiency Simultaneously Use of biodiversity natural and managed (and carbon) to build farming system resilience (biotic and abiotic) Contribute to multiple outcome objectives at farm, community & landscape scales And Capable of rehabilitating land productivity and ecosystem services in degraded and abandoned lands But how?
Intensification with conventional tillage-based farming Gave us the Green Revolution paradigm, increased output Based on high soil disturbance, modern varieties, high purchased inputs, heavy energy and capital investment = higher output, but exposed soils, low biodiversity and excessive intrusion still being imposed (although being challenged), including in the developing world for poverty alleviation, food security and rural development Downside: loss of soil health and biodiversity, reduced production efficiency, higher production costs, soil erosion as an unavoidable side effect, pollution and land degradation
background Degradation of soil, water and biodiversity resources: All agricultural soils show signs of degradation World map of severity of land degradation GLASOD (FAO 2000)
So, how sustainable is tillage-based intensification? Tillage is the main root cause of land and ecosystem degradation, and loss of production system resilience. Pays little attention to soil ecological functions and to delivery of many important ecosystem services. Intensification based heavily on genetic improvement and excessive agrochemicals applications to support higher yields, but there is yield stagnation at higher output end, and maintenance costs keep going up. Not always suitable as a pro-poor development strategy. Climate change adaptability and mitigation ability poor
Ecosystem services Water cycling Carbon cycling Atmospheric circulation
soil health & adverse effects of tillage agriculture Erosion & water pollution from tillage agriculture silting picture: Dr. Strobel, LfA/Germany
The Future of Farming and Food in the UK Donald Curry policy commission report 2002, UK Cabinet Farming and food industry is on an unsustainable course in economic terms. We believe it is also unsustainable environmentally.. in the last 50 years soil organic content has declined Agriculture is now the number one polluter of water in the country. Land use changes have contributed to increased danger of extreme flood events, affecting thousands of homes. Beyond any doubt the main cause of this decay has been the rise of modern, often more intensive, farming techniques. things are still getting worse in soil compaction and erosion, in the loss of certain species. A lot of the environmental damage in the countryside over the last 50 years has to be laid at the door of modern farming techniques.. Much damage by farmers is not willful but arises out of ignorance. We believe a major advice effort will be needed to help farming meet its new challenges. It will be very important that advice should also cover environmental issues.
What does Conservation Agriculture offer in terms of sustainable intensification?
Technical objectives Agricultural land productivity Natural capital and flow of ecosystems services Enhanced input-use efficiency Simultaneously Use of biodiversity natural and managed (and carbon) to build farming system resilience (biotic and abiotic) Contribute to multiple outcome objectives at farm, community & landscape scales And Capable of rehabilitating land productivity and ecosystem services in degraded and abandoned lands But how?
Soil & Ecosystem Health Literally, by agriculture returning to its roots and rediscovering the importance of healthy soils (biological, physical, hydrological, chemical) and landscapes as living biological systems (and not just as inert geological entities), while conserving resources, enhancing natural capital and the flow of ecosystem services at all levels.
Ecological foundation for sustainable agriculture production is provided by application of Conservation Agriculture principles No/Minimum soil disturbance Soil Cover Crop Diversity
CA does not solve ALL problems (NO panacea) but complemented with other good practices CA base allows for high production intensity and sustainable agriculture in all production systems. Ecological Base of CA Pollinator/ Biodiversity management Organic agriculture Good seed Genetic potential Genetic resources mgmt Sustainable mechanization Compaction management, CTF Permanent Bed and Furrow Systems System of Rice Intensification Integrated Water management Integrated Pest Management Integrated Plant Nutrient Management Integrated Weed Management No/Minimum soil disturbance Soil Cover Crop Diversity
Ecological Base of CA Organic agriculture Sustainable mechanization Pollinator/ Biodiversity management Compaction management, CTF Good seed Genetic potential Genetic resources mgmt. Permanent Bed and Furrow Systems System of Rice Intensification Integrated Water management Integrated Pest Management Integrated Plant Nutrient Management Integrated Weed Management Minimum soil disturbance Soil Cover Crop Diversity 20
A healthy soil in which roots and soil processes can perform their functions is a living biological system
Ecoagriculture landscapes: harmonizing multiple objectives at farm, community, landscape scales her Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve provides important source of water in landscape and downstream Path to waterfall on private property brings income to locals in the form of ecotourism Windbreaks provide habitat and corridors for wildlife, control erosion and protect livestock from wind Fotos grandes. Solo arrastra una nueva imagen y pásala para átras Shaded coffee extends wildlife habitat from reserve and reduces erosion Coffee, corn, sugar cane and other products are sold at a local cooperative All fences are live rows of trees
Grain yield (t/ha) Conservation Agriculture Impact pattern of SPI with CA Increase yields, production, profit (depending on level and degradation) Less fertilizer use (-50%) less pesticides (-20%) Less machinery, energy & labour cost (-70%) water needs (-30%) Higher profit Wheat yield and nitrogen amount for different duration of no-tillage in Canada 2002 (Lafond 2003) More stable yields lower impact of climate (drought, floods, heat, cold) & cc mitigation Lower environmental cost (water, infrastructure) 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 20-year no-tillage 2-year no-tillage 0 30 60 90 120 nitrogen (kg/ha AG department brainstorming, April 12, 2012
Documented benefits of CA for food security, environment, sustainability, rehabilitation Conservation Agriculture Small scale -- Paraguay, Tanzania, India, China, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Large scale Canada, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Kazakhstan... publications Cross Slot Conference and Tour 2012 Germany/France
Regional perspective Southern Africa Conservation agriculture treatment yield (kg ha -1 ) 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 Conventional tillage yield (kg ha -1 ) Planting basins, Mozambique Jab planter, Mozambique Direct seeding, Zimbabwe Ripper, Zimbabwe Direct seeding, Zambia Ripper, Zambia Direct seeding, Malawi Intercropping, Malawi
Longer term maize grain yields on farmers fields in Malawi - Lemu 10000 9000 8000 Conventional control, maize (CPM) CA, maize (CAM) CA, maize/legume intercropping (CAML) Maize biomass yield (kg ha -1 ) 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 b a a b a a a a b a a b a a b a a 2000 b 1000 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Harvest year
Canada: Carbon offset scheme in Alberta Sequestering soil Carbon with CA and trading offsets with regulated companies to offset their emissions by purchasing verified tonnes (from ag and non-ag sectors)
Watershed services in Parana Basin, Brazil Water resources are threatened by conventional tillage agricultural practices. Conservation Agriculture is an alternative to reduce impacts on river s quality and to maintain a higher level of productivity and sustainability. Itaipu reservoir dam today (source: Itaipu Binacional) Cultivating Good Water Programme 28
Broad conclusions CA is potentially applicable in most if not all agroecosystems as a basis for sustainable intensification using locally formulated and adapted practices by small and large farmer. CA offers improved output and productivity (efficiency) enhancement with on-site and largescale ecosystem services, better system resilience and climate change adaptability and mitigation. CA is capable of rehabilitating degraded lands. CA is increasingly seen as a real alternative and constraints to adoption are being addressed.
And, the message, once understood, even makes people dance! More information: amirkassam786@googlemail.com http://www.fao.org/ag/ca