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Transcript of TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming | Management of agro-ecology for...
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
Management of agro-ecology for
eco-functional intensive systems
Cristina Micheloni – AIAB, Italy
in co-operation with: Niels Alberg, ICROFS, Urs Niggli and Otto Schmid, FIBL
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
Needs for agricultural research for from AIAB point of view:
• interprofessional association
• link to organic farming
but valid for agriculture as a whole
= to “serve” all society needs
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
Can organic systems be “intensified”?
To intensify environmental services and not only production
food/feed/fiber etc. but as well biodiversity, landscape, energy and water use, climate
change mitigation, animal welfare ....
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
organic systems are already at high environmental performance
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Yields
Nutritional value of food
Taste of food
Naturalness of food
Animal welfare
Use of veterinary medicine
Biodiversity
Endangered speciesSoil quality
Water quality
Reduction of pesticides
Optimum recycling
Energy use
Reduced GHG emmisions
Organic matter
Best practice
Organic
Conventional no till
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
Mitigating effects of OA (compared with CA) CO2 CH4 N20
Crop production l lNo synthetic nitrogen fertilizers l lBest manure recycling livestock -> crops l lEnhanced use of legumes l lEnhanced use of composts l lBest crop rotations lHigh proportion of hedge rows, field margins etc. l lCareful and reduced soil tillage l lReduced mineral N concentrations l lLess soil compaction, more stabile aggregates l l lLess erosion lSoil Carbon stock enhanced l l
LivestockLivestock density per area l lFeeding rations (roughage/concentrates) l lLongevity of dairy cows l l
Aubert, 2007
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
Nig
gli
et
al.
, 2
00
9,
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
organic andbiodiversity
Taxon Positive Negative No difference
Birds 7 2Mammals 2Butterflies 1 1Spiders 7 3Earthworms 7 2 4Beetles 13 5 3Other arthropods
7 1 2
Plants 13 2Soil microbes 9 8Total 66 8 25
Hole et al., 2005
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
But still with some weaknesses (compared with conventional) Crops
– Wheat: 29 % less energy use/tonne– Leeks: 58 % less– Carrots: 25 % less– Potatoes: 2 % more– Tomatoes: 30 % more
Livestock– Milk/Beef: 38/35 % less– Pigmeat: 13 % less– Eggs: 14 % more
– Chicken: 32 % more
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
The concept of eco-functional intensification
EFI is a more efficient use of natural resources and processes, improved nutrient recycling techniques, and innovative agro-ecological methods for enhancing the diversity and the health of soils, crops and livestock.
Such intensification builds on the knowledge of all stakeholders involved, and relies on powerful information and decision-making tools in combination with new research knowledge and tools in the biological and ecological sciences. Eco-functional intensification is characterized by cooperation and synergy between different components of agro-eco systems and food systems, with the aim of enhancing the productivity and stability of the agro-ecosystems, and the health of all components.
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
“conventional” intensification:more energy,
more nutrients
more water
sometimes also more labour per hectare
eco-functional intensificationMore farmer knowledge per hectare
Higher complexity per land area (at farm and regional level)
Better (and not destructive) use of supporting, regulating, cultural and preserving eco-system services for food and fibre production,
better use of natural compounds
better exploiting the genetic variability
clever use of low risk modern technologies
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
eco-functional intensificationsome existing examples:
• Mediterranean policulture
• Animal husbandry and biogas production
• Functional biodiversity
• Participatory breeding
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
eco-functional intensification
in vegetables...still complex
and not always rentable
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
eco-functional intensification
in fruit production...still complex
but innovation is
taking place
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
eco-functional intensification and resilience
– Adaptive management by community knowledge and knowledge-intensive farming methods (Borron, 2006).
– Resilience within agro-ecosystems:• Soils fertility building, physical soil properties (Reganold, 1987,
Mäder et al., 2002, Pimentel et al., 2005).
• Above and below ground macro and micro flora & fauna (Hole et al., 2005; Bengtsson et al, 2005).
• Crop diversity in time and space (rotations, agroforestry)• Genetic diversity in crops through on farm selection (Kotschi,
2006).
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
What is the vision and what are the challenges identified for eco functional intensification?
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
Securing food and ecosystems by eco-functional intensification
By 2025, the availability of food and the stability offood supply will be noticeably increased througheco-functional intensification, and access to foodwill be considerably improved thanks to revitalizedrural areas (see 7.1). Knowledge among farmersabout how to manage ecosystem services ina sustainable way will be much greater, and animalwelfare and environmentally sound farming will becutting-edge technologies in food production.
Vision 2025
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
TP Organics Theme 2: (Niels Halberg with support of Cristina Micheloni)
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
Securing food and ecosystems by eco-functional intensification
Key challenge 1: Improved ecological support functionsKey challenge 2: Modern mixed farming systemsKey challenge 3: Resilient organic crop production systemsKey challenge 4: Appropriate and robust livestock productionKey challenge 5: Green improvement of genetic resourcesKey challenge 6: Development and adaptation of novel
technologyKey challenge 7: Technology assessment and cross
disciplinary evaluationOther proposals for key challenges and research goals (cross
cutting issues)
TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu
Know more and participate:
www.tporganics.eu