How to increase the joint provision of ecosystem services by agricultural systems. Evidence from coffee-based agroforestry systems

Agroforestry can provide ecosystem services and benefits such as soil erosion control, microclimate modification for yield enhancement, economic diversification, livestock production and well-being, and water quality protection. Through increased structural and functional diversity in agricultural landscapes, agroforestry practices can also affect ecosystem services provided by insect pollinators. A literature review was conducted to synthesize information on how temperate agroforestry systems influence insect pollinators and their pollination services with particular focus on the role of trees and shrubs. Our review indicates that agroforestry practices can provide three overarching benefits for pollinators: (1) providing habitat including foraging resources and nesting or egg-laying sites, (2) enhancing site and landscape connectivity, and (3) mitigating pesticide exposure. In some cases, agroforestry practices may contribute to unintended consequences such as becoming a sink for pollinators, where they may have increased exposure to pesticide residue that can accumulate in agroforestry practices. Although there is some scientific evidence suggesting that agroforestry practices can enhance crop pollination and yield, more research needs to be conducted on a variety of crops to verify this ecosystem service. Through a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of agroforestry practices on pollinators and their key services, we can better design agroforestry systems to provide these benefits in addition to other desired ecosystem services.

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Ant-mediated ecosystem services and disservices on marketable yield in cocoa agroforestry systems

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2017.07.004 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 247 ◽

pp. 409-417 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

D.H.B. Bisseleua ◽

Dibier Begoude ◽

Henri Tonnang ◽

S. Vidal

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Cocoa Agroforestry

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Transforming soil phosphorus fertility management strategies to support the delivery of multiple ecosystem services from agricultural systems

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.272 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 649 ◽

pp. 90-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Katrina A. Macintosh ◽

Donnacha G. Doody ◽

Paul J.A. Withers ◽

Richard W. McDowell ◽

Douglas R. Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Fertility Management

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Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps-2014-173 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 95 (6) ◽

pp. 1049-1072 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Joanne R. Thiessen Martens ◽

Martin H. Entz ◽

Mark D. Wonneck

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Crop Production ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Organic Production ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Canadian Prairie ◽

Research Education

Thiessen Martens, J. R., Entz, M. H. and Wonneck, M. D. 2015. Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1049–1072. Redesign of agricultural systems according to ecological principles has been proposed for the development of sustainable systems. We review a wide variety of ecologically based crop production practices, including crop varieties and genetic diversity, crop selection and rotation, cover crops, annual polyculture, perennial forages, perennial grains, agroforestry systems, reducing tillage, use of animal manures and green manures, soil biological fertility, organic production systems, integrated crop–livestock systems, and purposeful design of farm landscapes (farmscaping), and discuss their potential role in enhancing the profitability, environmental sustainability, and resilience of Canadian prairie cropping systems. Farming systems that most closely mimic natural systems through appropriate integration of diverse components, within a context of supportive social and economic structures, appear to offer the greatest potential benefits, while creating a framework in which to place all other farming practices. Our understanding of ecological relationships within agricultural systems is currently lacking, and a major shift in research, education, and policy will be required to purposefully and proactively redesign Canadian prairie agricultural systems for long-term sustainability.

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Sustainable Agricultural Systems: A Bibliometrics Analysis of Ecological Modernization Approach

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12229635 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (22) ◽

pp. 9635

Author(s):

Lucia Rocchi ◽

Antonio Boggia ◽

Luisa Paolotti

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Basic Research ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Farming System ◽

Ecological Modernization ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Current State ◽

Alternative Systems ◽

Diversified Farming Systems ◽

Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Agricultural systems need to be more sustainable. Nowadays, the global food production has a remarkable impact in terms of greenhouse gases production, terrestrial acidification, eutrophication and land consumption. Moreover, one of the effects of unsustainable agriculture is depletion of ecosystem services (ES) on which agricultural systems themselves are dependent. Alternative agricultural systems are possible: the aim of this review was to analyze one of these alternative systems, i.e., strong ecological modernization, to understand relevant topics and current state of the art connected with it. As a result that strong ecological modernization can be considered an ecosystem services-based farming system, we focused on the development of topics related to ecosystem services but also to diversification. The review has been conducted applying a bibliometrics approach to recognize the main papers, authors, organization and countries, as well as trend topics and main themes investigated. The results showed that basic research content involves agrobiodiversity, agroecology and diversified farming systems. At the same time, the review revealed a lack about the social and economic dimensions of sustainability that need to be addressed for promoting a true transition to a strong ecological modernization.

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