Mon, Aug 02, 2021:On Demand
Background/Question/Methods
As we teeter towards 10 Billion humans on the planet by 2100, sustaining ecosystems services will be a herculean challenge. It will necessitate transformations on how we access enough safe and nutritious food for everyone as well as sustainable consumption, nature-positive production, equitable livelihood, and resilience to shocks and stresses. We must reconcile the need for production systems to meet the demands from the growing population coupled with increasing prosperity, with the necessity of restoring the environment and improving the quality of soil and the management of land, water, biodiversity and other natural resources. The strategy is to protect, manage and restore ecosystems to "produce more from less" and set aside some land and water for nature. In this context, landscapes are the essential units of intervention and action for adoption of and-positive innovations using science and technology, such as system-based regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, bio-inputs, integrated soil fertility management, soil and water conservation and recycling.
Results/Conclusions Ten inter- connected elements of nature-positive food production systems include diversity, co-creating and knowledge sharing, synergies, eco-efficiency including minimized food loss and waste, recycling, resilience, human/social values, culture and food traditions, prudent governance and a circular economy. Nature - positive approaches are based on bottom-up and territorial processes, strengthened by scientific innovations and enabling policy environments. Translating ecological science into action needs wise governance and policy interventions that reward farmers/land managers through payments for ecosystem services. It is, thus, important to invest in research and development to strengthen understanding of nature-positive production systems while increasing cooperation between public and the private sector. Furthermore, the concept of nature-positive production systems must be taught at schools at all levels, and also publicized to farmers and other citizens as consumers and producers of food. It is crucial that we promote nature-positive technologies for all but specifically empower female farmers in developing countries to access credit and essential inputs including expanding rights of ownership of the land they cultivate. There must be dialogue involving academic institutions, industry and the policy makers to translate scientific knowledge into viable action such as: (1). Sustainably managing existing food production systems to the benefit of both nature and people. (2). Restoring degraded ecosystems and rehabilitating soil function for sustainable food production. (3). Protecting natural ecosystems against new conversions for food, fuel, fibre and feed production. We will discuss some successful programs and lessons learned implementing these principles.
Results/Conclusions Ten inter- connected elements of nature-positive food production systems include diversity, co-creating and knowledge sharing, synergies, eco-efficiency including minimized food loss and waste, recycling, resilience, human/social values, culture and food traditions, prudent governance and a circular economy. Nature - positive approaches are based on bottom-up and territorial processes, strengthened by scientific innovations and enabling policy environments. Translating ecological science into action needs wise governance and policy interventions that reward farmers/land managers through payments for ecosystem services. It is, thus, important to invest in research and development to strengthen understanding of nature-positive production systems while increasing cooperation between public and the private sector. Furthermore, the concept of nature-positive production systems must be taught at schools at all levels, and also publicized to farmers and other citizens as consumers and producers of food. It is crucial that we promote nature-positive technologies for all but specifically empower female farmers in developing countries to access credit and essential inputs including expanding rights of ownership of the land they cultivate. There must be dialogue involving academic institutions, industry and the policy makers to translate scientific knowledge into viable action such as: (1). Sustainably managing existing food production systems to the benefit of both nature and people. (2). Restoring degraded ecosystems and rehabilitating soil function for sustainable food production. (3). Protecting natural ecosystems against new conversions for food, fuel, fibre and feed production. We will discuss some successful programs and lessons learned implementing these principles.