Synecological farming: Theoretical foundation on biodiversity responses of plant communities

Abstract

A novel farming method, namely synecological farming (synecoculture in short), based on theory and observation of synecology has been proposed as total optimization of productivity, product quality, environmental load and adaptation capacity to climate change. Synecoculture is designed on a variety of environmental responses within ecological optimum in high-density mixed polyculture where various edible species were intentionally introduced. The whole methodology can be considered as anthropogenic augmentation of ecosystem functioning that promotes dynamic biodiversity-productivity relationship prevalent in natural ecosystems.In this review we summarize the theoretical foundation to provide a systematic definition of synecoculture and clarify the relationship with existing farming methods. We also collate previously reported analyses of organic and mineral components in farm products, and outline their physiological characteristics and functions in response to culture environments.

Human augmentation of ecosystems: objectives for food production and science by 2045

“…In the ecological theory of productivity optimization, the physiological optimum is defined as the optimization of a single organism (e.g., plant or animal) grown in cultura , while in natura , it is defined as the spontaneous organization of a community, where a species grows in association with others (i.e., the ecological optimum). 9 Modern societies are mainly situated under the strong regulations of a natural environment dictated by human activities ( in cultura ), where most of the medical cohort studies are performed. The loss of natural ecosystems under human population pressure has increased consistently throughout the history of agriculture, just as in cultura conditions dominated over in natura conditions in the human habitat and agricultural landscape.…”

“…Figure 1 shows the range and types of consequences that can arise spatially and temporally ( y -axis) as a function of the increasing complexity of technology ( x -axis). While conventional scenarios of city and farmland development would eventually lead to a global state shift typically represented as desertification, 1 innovative technologies for future food production would tend to focus on controlled environment solutions such as autonomous farming and plant factories, similar to in vivo experiments 9 and in vitro cultured meat production. 11 These emerging alternatives are based on highly controlled and confined environments compatible with cGMP laboratories and, in a most extreme case, with spacecraft on interplanetary journeys.…”

Humusica 2, article 17: techno humus systems and global change − three crucial questions

“…Organic products are "better" than corresponding non-organic's because their confection by plants and animals is achieved with a complex living network of relationships. It is well known that agricultural organic soils are more biodiverse than those under intensive agriculture, or that a monoculture must be integrated in a biodiverse landscape in order to resist sustainable exploitation (Chen and Wong, 2016;Dauber and Miyake, 2016;Cluzeau et al, 2009;Ekroos et al, 2016;Funabashi, 2016;Gathorne-Hardy, 2016;German et al, 2017;Hernández et al, 2014;Juárez and Diaz, 2016;Landis, 2017;Rahmann et al, 2017;Soto and Muñoz, 2002;Suso and Del Río, 2015). Living organism's relationships are the accomplishment of a long-term co-evolution.…”

Citizen Science and Topology of Mind: Complexity, Computation and Criticality in Data-Driven Exploration of Open Complex Systems

“…In particular, in solving global agenda such as sustainability goals, a comprehensive approach is required that should make use of the full potential of self-organisation in coupled social-ecological systems [5] [18] [19]. These efforts practically take on the engagement of citizens and multi-disciplinary stakeholders as important actors in the data acquisition and the implementation of an interactive management through guided self-organization, as a novel type of collective intelligence in the era of the fourth industrial revolution [3] [20] [21].…”