Is it possible to rely on the principles of Agroecology to design more sustainable farming systems in the large-scale, mechanised and export oriented agricultural sector? This article explores how, and what needs to happen in terms of research.
Full article: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2020.584605/full
Summary
Agroecology promises a third way between common global agriculture tradeoffs such as food production and nature conservation, environmental sustainability and ecosystem services. However, most successful examples of mainstreaming agroecology come from smallholder, family agriculture, that represents only about 30% of the world agricultural area. Mainstreaming agroecology among large scale farmers is urgently needed, but it requires addressing specific questions in research, technology and policy development to support sustainable transitions.
Two contrasting worlds
Here we take stock of the existing knowledge on some key aspects necessary to support agroecological transitions in large scale farming, considering two contrasting starting points: highly subsidized and heavily taxed agricultural contexts, represented here by the examples of Western Europe and temperate South America.
A research agenda
We summarize existing knowledge and gaps around service crops, arthropod-mediated functions, landscape and watershed regulation, graze-based livestock, nature-inclusive landscapes, and policy mechanisms to support transitions. Then, we propose a research agenda for agroecology in large scale farming organised in five domains:
(i) Breeding for diversity;
(ii) Scalable complexity;
(iii) Managing cycles beyond fields and farms;
(iv) Sharing the cultivated landscape; and
(v) Co-innovation with farmers, value chains and policy makers.
Agroecology has the potential to instil a renewed impetus in large scale farming: attracting the youth, fostering clean technological innovation, and promoting a new generation of large-scale farmers that take pride in contributing to feeding the world while serving the planet and its people.
Reference: Tittonell, P., Piñeiro, G., Garibaldi, L.A., Dogliotti, S., Olff, H., Jobbagy, E.G., 2020. Agroecology in large scale farming: A research agenda. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.584605