Ecological intensification of agriculture – sustainable by nature

In this article (PDF) by Pablo Tittonell, conceptual differences between sustainable and ecological intensification as used in research, development, policy and the industry are examined. Particular focus is on the balance between agriculture and nature. The study compares different discourses on models of intensification. The aim is to design multifunctional agroecosystems that are both sustained by nature and sustainable in their nature. The article’s concluding remarks are that while sustainable intensification is generally loosely defined, so that almost any model or technology can be labelled under it, ecological intensification proposes landscape approaches that make smart use of the natural functionalities that ecosystems offer.

Curated from wageningenur.nl