Quantifying Sustainable Systems
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
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Technical Summary
Existing approaches to sustainability do not integrate the interactions between aspects of sustainability well. Also, we need to address the sustainability of modern agriculture and the impact on it of climate change and assess the developments that will accrue from other projects undertaken by Rothamsted.
We propose to adopt an ecosystem services approach (ES), including crop production, to develop methods to determine the trade-offs and synergies between services in agroecosystems, e.g. between yield and GHG emission and to quantify the overall sustainability of agricultural practices. Building on existing research, we will develop a mathematical framework to quantify, value and compare the provision of goods and environmental services. This project will liaise closely with others in the Rothamsted programmes (Delivering Sustainable Systems, 20:20 Wheat®, Designer Seeds and Carbon Capture), as well as with external research, to derive the necessary mechanistic understanding but also to obtain the data needed. We will quantify sustainability by first exploring exemplars and generalise later to other areas. Sustainable crop protection, including sustainable use of crop protection chemicals and the role of farmer choice, will be one of the key examplars.
To make progress we need to address 4 major challenges:
1) trade-offs- optimising production and environment or provisioning and other services
2) valuation of all ES not just production
3) resilience - consistent delivery of all services
4) spatial and temporal balance - ensuring that services are balanced locally, regionally and globally, now and for the foreseeable future
General Principle:
A sustainable system, comprising multiple aims, is one in which no single aim is compromised by attainment of another and where perturbation, as a result of environmental or management change, results in either improvement or a rapid return to the initial state and not system failure.
We propose to adopt an ecosystem services approach (ES), including crop production, to develop methods to determine the trade-offs and synergies between services in agroecosystems, e.g. between yield and GHG emission and to quantify the overall sustainability of agricultural practices. Building on existing research, we will develop a mathematical framework to quantify, value and compare the provision of goods and environmental services. This project will liaise closely with others in the Rothamsted programmes (Delivering Sustainable Systems, 20:20 Wheat®, Designer Seeds and Carbon Capture), as well as with external research, to derive the necessary mechanistic understanding but also to obtain the data needed. We will quantify sustainability by first exploring exemplars and generalise later to other areas. Sustainable crop protection, including sustainable use of crop protection chemicals and the role of farmer choice, will be one of the key examplars.
To make progress we need to address 4 major challenges:
1) trade-offs- optimising production and environment or provisioning and other services
2) valuation of all ES not just production
3) resilience - consistent delivery of all services
4) spatial and temporal balance - ensuring that services are balanced locally, regionally and globally, now and for the foreseeable future
General Principle:
A sustainable system, comprising multiple aims, is one in which no single aim is compromised by attainment of another and where perturbation, as a result of environmental or management change, results in either improvement or a rapid return to the initial state and not system failure.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Publications
Andrew IKS
(2017)
Using simulation models to investigate the cumulative effects of sowing rate, sowing date and cultivar choice on weed competition.
in Crop protection (Guildford, Surrey)
Balmford A
(2018)
The environmental costs and benefits of high-yield farming
in Nature Sustainability
Balmford A
(2018)
The environmental costs and benefits of high-yield farming.
in Nature sustainability
Bebber D
(2014)
The global spread of crop pests and pathogens
in Global Ecology and Biogeography
Bell J
(2012)
Putting the brakes on a cycle: bottom-up effects damp cycle amplitude
in Ecology Letters
Bell M
(2015)
Nitrous oxide emissions from fertilised UK arable soils: Fluxes, emission factors and mitigation
in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Bullock J
(2017)
Resilience and food security: rethinking an ecological concept
in Journal of Ecology
Charlton A
(2016)
Long-term Impact of Sewage Sludge Application on biovar : An Evaluation Using Meta-Analysis.
in Journal of environmental quality
Coleman K
(2017)
The landscape model: A model for exploring trade-offs between agricultural production and the environment.
in The Science of the total environment
Corstanje R
(2015)
Probing the basis of soil resilience
in Soil Use and Management
| Description | This grant is only part way through. We are developing a system for analysing objectively the sustainability of agricultural systems that could be applied more readily. Tradeoffs between production and environmental services both in the present and potentially in the future are put on the same basis. Optimal strategies can be devised. |
| Exploitation Route | The metrics may have wide applicability. I will seek additional funds for additional staff to widen the testing and application |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy |
| Description | I organised a workshop in March 2014 to bring together academia, practice and industry and discuss better ways of working together. This has led to a policy paper submitted to the ESRC nexus (a grant was won to to do this) and a website is being set up to circulate a draft 'manifesto' for cooperative sustainable intensification science in the UK |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Impact Types | Cultural Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Uptake of awareness of Soil Organic Matter among suppliers of fresh produce to Waitrose |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | About 1000 suppliers are required by Waitrose to consider aspects of their practice on the environment and social welfare. More than 80% now have a good understanding of the importance of maintaining soil organic matter, We are currently working towards the next farm assessment in 2018 |
| URL | http://www.sustainableagriculturewaitrose.org/research/waitrose-farm-assessment/ |
| Description | AHDB soil and water management |
| Amount | £1,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | BBSRC ISP S2N ASSIST |
| Amount | £8,500,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | BBSRC NERC ISP NC |
| Amount | £5,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | CropNet |
| Amount | £250,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/S016821/ |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | Defra revised Inventory |
| Amount | £1,200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2014 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | FACCE JPI Surplus |
| Amount | € 1,600,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | SIP |
| Amount | £2,500,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2014 |
| End | 04/2017 |
| Description | SOM Defra |
| Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2012 |
| End | 11/2015 |
| Description | Soil Management Yield Maps |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RD-2012-3785 |
| Organisation | Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2012 |
| End | 02/2016 |
| Description | Soil management SOM AHDB |
| Amount | £1,470,982 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RD-2012-3787 |
| Organisation | Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2012 |
| End | 08/2016 |
| Description | BBSRC Collabaorative Training Partnership |
| Organisation | Waitrose Limited |
| Department | Waitrose Agronomy Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The BBSRC CTP will fund 15 studentships over 3 years. University partners will also contribute studentships |
| Collaborator Contribution | Financial Network of growers with field problems Other academics in complementary disciplines |
| Impact | First cohort of student projects currently with BBSRC for approval |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Attendance of the FACCE-SURPLUS Knowledge Network on Sustainable Intensification |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | FACCE-JPI wishes to coordinate funding for research in the area of Sustainable Intensification research in Europe |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Attendances TempAg meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Coordination of research on sustainable agriculture in Temperate Agriculture |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Discussed possible studentships with the Waitrose Agronomy Group at their 2017 Science meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 6 potential projects identified for further work up as research projects in the Collaborate Training Partnership |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | First Annual Meeting of the SI research Community |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The purpose of the SI network was outlined and discussed Participants fed back the kinds of activities and actions they would like to see As a result a discussion forum is being set up and a workshop to engage social and biological scientists is being organised |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.sirn.org.uk |
| Description | Mid Career Scientists training group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | 30 young scientists were given training and took part in exercises to simulate grant and report writing. The focus was on the Defra 25 Year plan and the sustainable intensification research network. The event provided an opportunity for the scientists to network with one another |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://sirn.org.uk/event/sustainable-intensification-valuing-nature-in-dialogue-enabling-researcher... |
| Description | Speaking at The Anual Waitrose Agrocnomy Group Scientific conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Outlined ideas about using organic amendments in agriculture. consulted with practice about practical issues in relation to soils |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Tree of Tradeoffs - engagement with members of the public |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As part of the Rothamsted Festival of ideas celebrating 175 years of Rothamsted, we held an event over the last weekend in June 2018 to ask members of the public about what they would like to see from Agriculture. We had a manufactured tree on which visitors were invited to hang different coloured leaves representing their 4 choices from 6 possibilities: cheap food, rural livelihoods, environment, nutritious food, farm profit or food security. Crucially visitors were limited to the 4 choices. This enabled us to engage with them and talk about what issues were more important than others. Visitors were also encouraged to write comments on the leaves that they hung on the tree. We reached over 600 people in this way, many of them children |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Workshop Eliciting targets for the sustainable development goals and goal 2 in particular |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A workshop was convened in order to identify the views of stakeholders on the nature of agriculture in 2030 and 2050 and the ways in which agriculture might change to deliver to the UN SDGs in an full and meaningfull way as possible. Stakeholders were divided in to those representing arable, livestock or diary sectors and having identified reasonable targets by way of improving agriculture, reflected on pathways over time to reach these targets and goals |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |