Pretty NATSUSTAIN-18031277B final paper.pdf (672.23 kB)
Global assessment of agricultural system redesign for sustainable intensification
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 14:10 authored by Jules Pretty, Tim G Benton, Zareen Pervez Bharucha, Lynn V Dicks, Cornelia Butler Flora, H Charles J Godfray, Dave GoulsonDave Goulson, Susan Hartley, Nic Lampkin, Carol Morris, Gary Pierzynski, P V Vara Prasad, John Reganold, Johan Rockstrom, Pete Smith, Peter Thorne, Steve WrattenThe sustainable intensification (SI) of agricultural systems offers synergistic opportunities for the co-production of agricultural and natural capital outcomes. Efficiency and Substitution are steps towards SI, but system Redesign is essential to deliver optimum outcomes as ecological and economic conditions change. We show global progress towards SI by farms and hectares, using seven SI sub-types: integrated pest management, conservation agriculture, integrated crop and biodiversity, pasture and forage, trees, irrigation management, and small/patch systems. From 47 SI initiatives at scale (each >104 farms or hectares), we estimate 163M farms (29% of all worldwide) have crossed a redesign threshold, practising forms of SI on 453Mha of agricultural land (9% of worldwide total). Key challenges include investing to integrate more forms of SI in farming systems, creating agricultural knowledge economies, and establishing policy measures to scale SI further. We conclude that SI may be approaching a tipping point where it could be transformative.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Nature SustainabilityISSN
2398-9629Publisher
Springer NatureExternal DOI
Issue
8Volume
1Page range
441-446Department affiliated with
- Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Sussex Sustainability Research Programme Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-07-17First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-02-14First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-07-17Usage metrics
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