Quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture: The contribution of metrics and modelling

Ecological Indicators

Birka Wicke¹  Floor van der Hilst²  Munir Hoffmann³  Catharina Latka⁴  Taru Palosuo⁵  Reimund Paul Rötter⁶  Regine Berges⁷  Ioanna Mouratiadou⁷  Ignacio Jesus Lorite⁸  Christoph Müller⁸  Heikki Lehtonen⁹  Thomas Heckelei^1,10  Claas Nendel^1,10  Margarita Ruiz-Ramos^1,10  Tommaso Stella^1,11  Alfredo Rodríguez^1,11  Benjamin Leon Bodirsky^1,12  Babacar Faye^1,12  Heidi Webber^1,13  Frank Ewert^1,14 

[1] CEIGRAM, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;Corresponding author at: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands.;Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany;Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany;TROPAGS, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany;Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA) Center “Alameda del Obispo”, 14004 Córdoba, Spain;Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands;Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn, Nußallee 21, 53115 Bonn, Germany;Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany;Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany;Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland;Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Member of the Leibniz Association, 14473 Potsdam, Germany;Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Department of Economic Analysis and Finances, 45071 Toledo, Spain;agrathaer GmbH, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany;

关键词: Sustainable intensification;    Indicators;    Metrics;    Modelling of agricultural systems;    Ex-ante scenario assessment;    Sustainable development goals;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Sustainable intensification (SI) of agriculture is a promising strategy for boosting the capacity of the agricultural sector to meet the growing demands for food and non-food products and services in a sustainable manner. Assessing and quantifying the options for SI remains a challenge due to its multiple dimensions and potential associated trade-offs. We contribute to overcoming this challenge by proposing an approach for the ex-ante evaluation of SI options and trade-offs to facilitate decision making in relation to SI. This approach is based on the utilization of a newly developed SI metrics framework (SIMeF) combined with agricultural systems modelling. We present SIMeF and its operationalization approach with modelling and evaluate the approach’s feasibility by assessing to what extent the SIMeF metrics can be quantified by representative agricultural systems models. SIMeF is based on the integration of academic and policy indicator frameworks, expert opinions, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. Structured along seven SI domains and consisting of 37 themes, 142 sub-themes and 1128 metrics, it offers a holistic, generic, and policy-relevant dashboard for selecting the SI metrics to be quantified for the assessment of SI options in diverse contexts. The use of SIMeF with agricultural systems modelling allows the ex-ante assessment of SI options with respect to their productivity, resource use efficiency, environmental sustainability and, to a large extent, economic sustainability. However, we identify limitations to the use of modelling to represent several SI aspects related to social sustainability, certain ecological functions, the multi-functionality of agriculture, the management of losses and waste, and security and resilience. We suggest advancements in agricultural systems models and greater interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary integration to improve the ability to quantify SI metrics and to assess trade-offs across the various dimensions of SI.

【 授权许可】

Unknown