Future Proofing Agriculture Systems

The Food and Agriculture Organizationof the United Nations (FAO) and the Toilet Board Coalition (TBC) have collaborated on this piece of work to shine a light on the benefits and rationale for agricultural systems, and the local and national contexts in which they operate, to champion circular sanitation economies and the products coming from them. This paper focuses on discussing the entry points of circular sanitation economies for the agriculture sector and the role they can play to meet the expected increase in population, urbanisation and global food demand. The business case section of the paper highlights the growing role of the private sector in implementing these models linked with the Water-Energy-Food (WEF nexus), the opportunities and barriers to overcome. Finally, the paper ends with a call to action section for policy makers, governments, agriculture sector professionals and the private sector, as well as consumers at both local and national levels, to implement circular sanitation economies in order to achieve global food security.

A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR FARMERS! WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE EARTH IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS Steve Groff's message to his fellow farmers is profound and prophetic: they are in danger of becoming obsolete. Major market changes are forcing them to make difficult decisions. Farmers who adjust have an opportunity to thrive. Those who do not are likely to fade away. Consumers increasingly demand that the food they eat and the clothes they wear come from producers who observe responsible farming practices such as cover crops and reduced tillage. The major corporate players are positioning themselves for a profitable future. Farmers must do likewise to ensure they will have a continuing market for their goods. To future-proof their farms, they must heal the live-giving soil that sustains their livelihood. Steve Groff knows that what is good for the earth is good for business. He has taken his message across the nation and to the corners of the world, promoting a new mindset that could save the family farm from extinction. This book is his wake-up call.

This book features a comprehensive foresight assessment, exploring the pressures — threats as well as opportunities — on the global agriculture & food systems between now and 2050. The overarching aim is to help readers understand the context, by analyzing global trends and anticipating change for better planning and constructing pathways from the present to the future by focusing on the right questions and problems. The book contextualizes the role of international agricultural research in addressing the complex challenges posed by UN 2030 Agenda and beyond, and identifies the decisions that scientific leaders, donors and policy makers need to take today, and in the years ahead, to ensure that a global population rising to nine billion or more combined with rising incomes and changing diets can be fed sustainably and equitably, in the face of the growing climate threats.

This book is a comprehensive summary of current global research on no-till farming, and its benefits and challenges from various agronomic, environmental, social and economic perspectives. It details the characteristics and future requirements of no-till farming systems across different geographic and climatic regions, and outlines what is needed to increase the uptake of no-till farming globally. Over 35 chapters, this book covers in detail the agronomic and soil management issues that must be resolved to ensure the successful implementation of these systems. Important economic, environmental, social and policy considerations are discussed. It also features a series of case studies across a number of regions globally, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for no-till and how these may vary depending on climate and geopolitical location. This book is a remarkable compilation by experts in no-till farming systems. The promotion and expansion of no-till farming systems worldwide will be critical for food security, and resource and environmental sustainability. This is an invaluable reference for both researchers and practitioners grappling with the challenges of feeding the world’s rising population in an environment increasingly impacted by climate change. It is an essential reading for those seeking to understand the complexity of no-till farming systems and how best to optimise these systems in their region.

Part I: low-external-input and sustainable agriculture (leisa): an emerging option; Agriculture and sustainability; Sustainability and farmers: making decisions at the farm level; Technology development by farmers; Part II: Priciples and possibilities of leisa; Low-external-input farming and agroecology; Basic ecological principles of leisa; Development of leisa systems; Part III: Linking farmers and scientists in developing leisa technologies; Actors and actitities in developing leisa technologies; Participatory technology development in practice: process and methods; Appendices; Appendix A some promising leisa techniques and practices; Appendix B glossary of key terms; Appendix C useful contacts and sources of further information; References; Index.

Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Technologies A robust treatment of traditional and new techniques in sustainable agriculture In Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Technologies, a team of distinguished researchers delivers an up-to-date and comprehensive exploration of sustainable agriculture and its relationship to the drivers of climate change. Along with robust examinations of food security and the agrarian livelihood, the book covers the impact of climate change and variability on agriculture, water management in agricultural systems, and precision agriculture. This book represents a significant contribution to the scientific understanding of the application of technologies that address food insecurity and climate change through sustainable productivity, system diversification, irrigation practices, crop modeling, data analytics, and agricultural policy. It also explores the risks and benefits of different agricultural systems under changing climate scenarios. The book also offers: A thorough introduction to agriculture and food security, including the diversification of ecosystems and the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on food security and smallholder agricultural systems Comprehensive explorations of crop diversification and the impacts of climate variability on food security in Indonesia Practical discussions of water conservation agriculture and the quality of irrigation water for sustainable agriculture development in India In-depth examinations of geoinformatics, artificial intelligence, sensor technology, and big data Perfect for academics, scientists, environmentalists, and environmental consultants, Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Technologies will also earn a place in the libraries of computing experts working in the field of agricultural science.

Sustainable agriculture embodies many concepts in its attempt to integrate all the aspects of farming systems into a holistic system. This book explores the processes that occur within the components of a sustainable system and shows where we can build upon our existing knowledge to develop the concepts of sustainable agriculture into the new conventional agriculture. Well-known researchers examine a variety of aspects, including production goals, environmental considerations, and economics, to build a knowledge base that allows readers to see where changes in agriculture must be made and how challenges can be met. They compare existing systems against definitions of sustainability and pinpoint those areas where improvements can be made in current systems to further the concepts of sustainability.

"Researchers and practitioners will gain insight into the current and oncoming challenges in providing food for the hungry around the world. The neglect of environmental factors would inevitably lead to the collapse of both industry and agriculture. Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability: Considerations for the Future focuses on the economic, ecological, and sociological issues that intertwine with efforts for effective agricultural sustainability in the coming years. This crucial look to the future provides a clear view of what needs to be done in long-term land use to ensure sustainability of resources, economic viability, and environmental preservation."--PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE.