Sustainable Intensification The challenges

1. Sustainable IntensificationThe challenges Rachel Carrington NFU Senior Policy Adviser 16 November 2011 The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members

2. The ‘perfect storm’: • Population – 9 billion by 2050 (+50%) • Income growth and changing consumption patterns • A doubling of world food demand in just 39 years! • Greater demand for water and energy • Increased urbanisation

3. Sustainable Intensification An integrating concept to meet all primary challenges: “Simultaneously raising productivity, increasing resource use efficiency and reducing negative environmental impacts of agriculture”

4. Sustainable Intensification Producing as efficiently as possible on the smallest footprint of land capable of delivering market requirements is the “greenest” and usually the most profitable way to farm.

5. Other crops Desert/mountain/ice 7% 32% Forest & Savannah 30% Cereals 5% Pasture & Range 26% Current global land use (13,009Mha)

6. The global significance of crop loss due to diseases, pests and weeds

7. Sustainable intensification will contribute to: • Reducing GHG emissions and adapting to climate change • Increasing production efficiency • Increasing competitiveness • Land sparing for: • carbon capture and storage • bioenergy • biodiversity conservation • Maintaining ecosystems services

8. How do we meet the challenge of increasing food production? • Need the right price and; • the right policy signals • Greater productivity • Increased efficiency • Farm more efficiently on the most productive land

9. Solutions • Increase R&D spend • Increased use of technology • GPS/GIS • Precision farming • Machinery • Crop and variety choice – genetics and plant breeding • Biotechnology • Attention to detail • Policies that recognise the need for food security

10. Dairy farming Mexico style 12,000 cows

11. Soya harvest/cotton sowing Brazil style

12. The global food system must not fail on sustainability... • Sustainability needs to move to centre stage • Agriculture currently consumes 70% of total global water withdrawals from rivers and aquifers • Agriculture directly contributes 10-12% of GHG emissions • Ever increasing public interest in the countryside

13. Six main points • UK challenges and global challenges are closely connected • R&D is essential (but not sufficient) • Efficient land use and its management provide the key to meeting the challenge (= “Sustainable Intensification”) • A focus is needed on increasing and realising genetic potential as well as reducing waste and environmental impact • Innovation which adopts an “ecosystems approach” coupled with new technologies is necessary • Climate change presents opportunities as well as risks and adaptation will require investment (and more information)

14. Sustainable Intensification Environmental Sustainability Alex Dinsdale NFU Countryside Policy Adviser 16th November 2011 The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members

15. Environmental schemes • Part of the Common Agricultural Policy • Since the 1980s • ESA and CSS • Environmental Stewardship • CAP reform

16. Campaign for the Farmed Environment • Promotion of, and an add-on to, Environmental Stewardship • Targets to hit by June • An alternative to regulation

17. Water quality • Water Framework Directive • Catchment sensitive farming • AE schemes • Nitrates Directive • Education and awareness

18. Water availability • Variability and unpredictability of precipitation • Likely to become more of a problem • More reservoirs • Rainwater harvesting, water management efficiency

19. Climate Change • Renewable energy – many options • Scale • Diversification • Energy • Adaptation

20. Soil • Not as much focus as there should be – will this change? • Cultivation • Organic matter • Climate adaptation • Water pollution

21. CAP reform • Greening • Ecological Focus Areas • Rotation • Permanent pasture ploughing ban