Sustainable intensification of agriculture for human prosperity and global sustainability

Abstract

There is an ongoing debate on what constitutes sustainable intensification of agriculture (SIA). In this paper, we propose that a paradigm for sustainable intensification can be defined and translated into an operational framework for agricultural development. We argue that this paradigm must now be defined—at all scales—in the context of rapidly rising global environmental changes in the Anthropocene, while focusing on eradicating poverty and hunger and contributing to human wellbeing. The criteria and approach we propose, for a paradigm shift towards sustainable intensification of agriculture, integrates the dual and interdependent goals of using sustainable practices to meet rising human needs while contributing to resilience and sustainability of landscapes, the biosphere, and the Earth system. Both of these, in turn, are required to sustain the future viability of agriculture. This paradigm shift aims at repositioning world agriculture from its current role as the world’s single largest driver of global environmental change, to becoming a key contributor of a global transition to a sustainable world within a safe operating space on Earth.

Food for Hope: The Role of Personal Resources in Farmers’ Adoption of Green Technology

“…First, a large share of the world's population still relies on agriculture for income. Second, agriculture comprises one of the economic sectors most vulnerable to climate change [2]; and third, agriculture contributes to a negative impact on the environment and human health [3,4]. For instance, agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-especially in developing countries, where this sector accounts for an average of 35% of all GHG emissions [5].…”

Preservation of Agricultural Land as an Issue of Societal Importance

“…These types of developments in production methods could mean that fewer hectares are needed to produce the same amounts of foodstuffs. However, researchers such as Lambin (2012), Meyfroidt et al (2013) and Rockström et al (2017) claim that using such methods to increase production will have severe negative effects on economic, environmental and social aspects, especially in a long-term and global perspective. This calls for precaution with the land now in use for agricultural production.…”

Climate Change Influence on Agriculture and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Central and Eastern European Countries

“…Climate change is defined as a change in the state of the climate that can be identified by modifications in the mean and/or the variability of its properties together with persistence, which may be for decades or longer (Bernstein et al, 2008). As mentioned by NASA, the evidence for rapid climate change is "compelling" (NASA, 2017) and agriculture represents a sector of national economies strongly influenced by climatic conditions (Błażejczyk et al, 2015); as well as being a primary driver of change (Rockström et al, 2017). Adaptation to climate change requires modifications to current agricultural systems to meet new challenges; changes that need to be embraced even by modern agriculture (Carof et al, 2012).…”

“…Unfortunately, agricultural systems continue to degrade land, water, biodiversity and climate on a global scale, impacting world food security and sustainability needs (Foley et al, 2011). On the positive side, while worldwide sustainable agricultural intensification has dramatically increased in recent decades (Foley et al, 2011;Rockström et al, 2017), the CEE region's legacy of communist agricultural policy has led to lower average levels of land use intensity, affecting not only the structure and use of farmland, but also better preserving farmland biodiversity, which has been lost in the West (Sutcliffe et al, 2015). Even today, in some of the CEE countries, farming and pasture are managed as they were in the past (Pǎtru-Stupariu et al, 2015).…”