EcologicalEcologicalintensificationintensification ofof
agriculturalagricultural productionproductionELELÍÍAS FERERESAS FERERES
IASIAS--CSIC CSIC andand Univ. Univ. ofof CCÓÓRDOBA, SPAINRDOBA, SPAIN
ECOLOGICAL INTENSIFICATION?
STAY AWAY FROM BUZZ WORDS!
The question of scale: from molecules to crop communities
J. Passioura, 2010
AGRONOMISTS WORK AT MULTIPLE SCALES
What is ecological intensification?
CARRY OUT INTENSIFICATION ACCORDING TO THE ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES WHICH GOVERN
THE FUNCTIONING OF CROP PLANT COMMUNITIES(& FARMERS’ FIELDS, FARMS, AND REGIONS)
INTENSIFICATION ~ PRODUCTIVITY INCREASE
OUTPUTP=
INPUT
REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FARMINGREDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FARMING
1. Intensification of an extensive agricultural system:Wheat in Australia
EXAMPLES OF INTENSIFICATION
From R. A. Fischer, 2009
THE SALINAS VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
Are
a(h
a)
1979 1989 1999 2009Year Source: Monterey Co. Ag Commisioner
Evolution of horticultural crops (herbaceous) in Monterey Co., California
0
1000
2000
3000
4000Actual valueCPI
1979 1989 1999 2009
Cro
pVa
lue
(Mill
ions
dolla
rs)
Year
Evolution of horticultural crops (herbaceous) in Monterey Co., California
Source: Monterey Co. Ag Commisioner
Rel
ativ
ein
crem
enti
n su
rface
area
orva
lue
(%)
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
1979-89 1989-99 1999-2009
AreaValue
This reflects a large investment in private sector breeding andpublic sector research, combined with modern farming and favourable
soils & climate
CR
OP
YIEL
D
100%
Ym
YmjYex
Yp
BENCHMARKING: QUANTIFYING THE YIELD GAP
POTENTIAL ACTUAL
THEGAP
UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERLYING CAUSES
• ON ECOLOGICAL INTENSIFICATION(the need for benchmarking; no silver
bullet, multiple drivers for closing the yieldgap)
• CROPPING SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT ( tools integrating farm surveys,
simulation models for evaluation/simulationof cropping systems required toformulate strategies for EI of production; assessment of sustainability)
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ESA 2010
CHALLENGES FACED BY ECOLOGICAL INTENSIFICATION:
-CLIMATE CHANGE(Modelling CC effects in Europe; impact,
adaptation, and mitigation and their interactions)
- DEALING WITH INCREASING PEST PRESSURES
(New wave exploring the interactionsbetween crop protection and agronomy; efforts toreduce pesticide use; approaches to developintegrated crop management; working at multiplescales)
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ESA 2010
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO CONSERVE RESOURCES UNDER ECOLOGICAL INTENSIFICATION
(Through: the design of integratedcropping systems; intercropping of
annuals and agroforestry; use of catchcrops in organic farming; crop rotations
dynamics; conservation tillage)
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ESA 2010
DEALING WITH CHANGE AND WITH VARIABILITY
THANK YOU!
