Focusing the future of farming on agroecology

Abstract

The future of humanity and how agriculture can continue to support the food and fiber needs of a burgeoning population are threatened by agriculture's persistent negative effects on the environment. Essential natural resources that will be needed in increasingly greater capacity are being undermined by agricultural practices that continue to deplete the soil resource base, pollute freshwater and coastal estuaries needed for life support, reduce habitat to support biodiversity, and emit harmful greenhouse gases that compromise our ability to withstand changes to the climate. Solutions to these problems are available in known and increasingly well documented approaches using agroecological principles that manage food production in harmony with nature, not against it. This commentary provides a message that we should be seeking healing of our planet, not just less harm than in the past. It is an important distinction that needs to be considered for the future health of people and the planet.

Grazed perennial grasslands can match current beef production while contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation

“…The U.S. agricultural landscape urgently needs transformation (Prokopy et al., 2020). Along with other annual grain crops, maize ( Zea mays L.) production is devastating soil, water, atmospheric, and biotic resources (Franzluebbers et al., 2020). Of the ∼137 million ha of agricultural land in the United States, ∼41 million ha grows maize, which is either (a) fed to livestock in confinement facilities or feedlots (39%), (b) converted to ethanol for gas tanks (27%), (c) used to make food additives (9%), (d) purchased mostly by affluent countries (16%)(Shahbandeh, 2021), or (e) stored as surplus (9%) (Iowa Corn Growers Association, 2021).…”

The Genetics of Thermoregulation in Pigs: A Review

“…The genetic selection of genotypes tolerant to HS is a promising long-term (adaptation) option that could be combined with other measures at the production system level ( 16 , 17 ). Furthermore, in the framework of agroecology ( 18 , 19 ), selection must be considered in relation to the food system and the value chain. This implies that we should no longer try to isolate animals from the fluctuations of the environment of production, but rather to favor their capacity to produce and to reproduce in less controlled environments, including in HS conditions ( 20 ).…”

Agroecological practices for whole-system sustainability

“…There is therefore a need for long-term assessment of all components combined [31], an analysis of alternative currencies that place relevant values on all ecosystem services, not just production [58], and a full LCA of costs and benefits across all aspects of economic, environmental and social sustainability [273,277]. A review of the many systems' indicators and indicator-based frameworks for whole-system assessment proposed in the literature (e.g.…”

“…The result is usually more yield from the same cultivated area [22] but relying less on external inputs [56,57]. A transition to biodiversity-based, agroecological farming offers a better alternative to systems that rely heavily on chemical or biological inputs, and can meet both food production and environmental needs through a whole-system approach that supports all ecosystem services, not just crop productivity [58].…”