"Climate change hurts agriculture the most, but we don't respond to these risks well.”
The agronomic model of the green revolution, based on varietal improvements, chemical inputs and mechanization is now questioned. Faced with potential health risks, both societal demand and current political guidelines are calling for a reduction in plant protection products and chemical inputs, as also made evidence in many national and European research strategies. Agriculture faces then many challenges: reduction in the use of chemistry, resistance to pests, resistance to erosion, lower yields, lower nutritional value, carbon sequestration, reintroduction of biodiversity, lack of transparency. Only a global approach seems relevant to meet these challenges
Decrease of nutrinional values over last 40 years
Agroecology today seems to be able to meet the agronomic challenges based on the principles of life: providing food and shelter, that is to say, not (over)working the soil and nourishing biological activity. There are many benefits from conservation farming practices: carbon sequestration, lower phytosanitary products, soil degradation, development of functional biodiversity. However today there are no studies on the link virtuous farming practices - nutritional quality. It is also difficult to measure the results of these practices at low cost, for example in terms of reducing water pollution or carbon sequestration.
The agroecological community is asked to have solutions for measuring the results of agroecological practices at all levels: soil, plant, food, water so as to be able to both assess the overall performance of these new systems and steer in real time the different processes related to agriculture: plant growth, food conservation, industrial transformation without deterioration of nutritional quality . Our solutions co-developed with farmers address the food chain through some key measurements and with innovative device
Agroecology from FAO
Quoting : "Agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems. It seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while taking into consideration the social aspects that need to be addressed for a sustainable and fair food system ..."
Agroecology from EU - Horizon Europe R& I programme
Quoting: " Agroecology is a holistic approach that relies on and maximizes the use of ecological processes to support agricultural production. By working more with nature and ecosystem services, agroecology has the potential to increase the circularity, diversification and autonomy of farms, and drive a full transformation of farming systems and agricultural value chains, from input substitution and beyond. Agroecological farming systems therefore have great potential to enhance the sustainability performance of agriculture and agricultural value chains contribute to the objectives of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy.Research & Innovation (R&I) will speed up the transition to sustainable and competitive agriculture by unlocking the potential of agroecology, including enhancing organic farming in the agroecological transitions, increasing EU-grown plant proteins and advancing digital and data technologies as enablers