Sustainable Intensification—An Overview

Abstract

Even though the intensive crop production practices adopted in achieving green revolution (using fertilizers, pesticides, and machines) led to enormous gains in food production and improved world food security, it had negative impacts on production, ecosystems, and the larger environment (causing environmental damage, pollution, reliance on fossil fuels) putting future productivity at risk. The food production in the developing world must be doubled, in order to feed a growing population that is expected to reach nine billion by 2050. This chapter outlines a new paradigm, Sustainable Crop Production Intensification (SCPI), which aims to produce more from the same area of land, through minimizing soil disturbance; enhancing and maintaining a protective organic cover; cultivating a wider range of plant species; using well-adapted, high-yielding varieties; enhancing crop nutrition; integrating pest (insect pests, diseases, nematodes, and weeds) management strategies; adopting efficient water management, using adequate and appropriate farm power and equipment; and integrating crop-livestock production. These ecologically based management strategies can increase the sustainability of agricultural production while reducing the off-site consequences.