Quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture: The contribution of metrics and modelling
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 mu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21005355 |
| _version_ | 1819022094837481472 |
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| author | Ioanna Mouratiadou Catharina Latka Floor van der Hilst Christoph Müller Regine Berges Benjamin Leon Bodirsky Frank Ewert Babacar Faye Thomas Heckelei Munir Hoffmann Heikki Lehtonen Ignacio Jesus Lorite Claas Nendel Taru Palosuo Alfredo Rodríguez Reimund Paul Rötter Margarita Ruiz-Ramos Tommaso Stella Heidi Webber Birka Wicke |
| author_facet | Ioanna Mouratiadou Catharina Latka Floor van der Hilst Christoph Müller Regine Berges Benjamin Leon Bodirsky Frank Ewert Babacar Faye Thomas Heckelei Munir Hoffmann Heikki Lehtonen Ignacio Jesus Lorite Claas Nendel Taru Palosuo Alfredo Rodríguez Reimund Paul Rötter Margarita Ruiz-Ramos Tommaso Stella Heidi Webber Birka Wicke |
| author_sort | Ioanna Mouratiadou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:17:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b13ba61b501045faabfe15fcfa6970a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:17:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-b13ba61b501045faabfe15fcfa6970a02022-12-21T19:16:17ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2021-10-01129107870Quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture: The contribution of metrics and modellingIoanna Mouratiadou0Catharina Latka1Floor van der Hilst2Christoph Müller3Regine Berges4Benjamin Leon Bodirsky5Frank Ewert6Babacar Faye7Thomas Heckelei8Munir Hoffmann9Heikki Lehtonen10Ignacio Jesus Lorite11Claas Nendel12Taru Palosuo13Alfredo Rodríguez14Reimund Paul Rötter15Margarita Ruiz-Ramos16Tommaso Stella17Heidi Webber18Birka Wicke19Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands; Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany; Corresponding author at: 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, GermanyCopernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the NetherlandsPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Member of the Leibniz Association, 14473 Potsdam, Germanyagrathaer GmbH, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, GermanyPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Member of the Leibniz Association, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany; Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, GermanyInstitute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, GermanyInstitute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn, Nußallee 21, 53115 Bonn, GermanyLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany; TROPAGS, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 6, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyNatural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, FinlandAndalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA) Center “Alameda del Obispo”, 14004 Córdoba, SpainLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, GermanyNatural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, FinlandUniversidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Department of Economic Analysis and Finances, 45071 Toledo, Spain; CEIGRAM, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainTROPAGS, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use (CBL), University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg, 1, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyCEIGRAM, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, GermanyLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, GermanyCopernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the NetherlandsSustainable 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21005355Sustainable intensificationIndicatorsMetricsModelling of agricultural systemsEx-ante scenario assessmentSustainable development goals |
| spellingShingle | Ioanna Mouratiadou Catharina Latka Floor van der Hilst Christoph Müller Regine Berges Benjamin Leon Bodirsky Frank Ewert Babacar Faye Thomas Heckelei Munir Hoffmann Heikki Lehtonen Ignacio Jesus Lorite Claas Nendel Taru Palosuo Alfredo Rodríguez Reimund Paul Rötter Margarita Ruiz-Ramos Tommaso Stella Heidi Webber Birka Wicke Quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture: The contribution of metrics and modelling Ecological Indicators Sustainable intensification Indicators Metrics Modelling of agricultural systems Ex-ante scenario assessment Sustainable development goals |
| title | Quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture: The contribution of metrics and modelling |
| title_full | Quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture: The contribution of metrics and modelling |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture: The contribution of metrics and modelling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture: The contribution of metrics and modelling |
| title_short | Quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture: The contribution of metrics and modelling |
| title_sort | quantifying sustainable intensification of agriculture the contribution of metrics and modelling |
| topic | Sustainable intensification Indicators Metrics Modelling of agricultural systems Ex-ante scenario assessment Sustainable development goals |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21005355 |
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