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Towards sustainable agriculture

Towards sustainable agriculture. Louise O. Fresco. Most Humans have been Hunters and Gatherers. Agriculture as the basis for urban development, art and science. Agriculture is… human activities transforming solar energy at the earth’s surface into useful energy through plants and animals.

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Towards sustainable agriculture

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  1. Towards sustainable agriculture LouiseO. Fresco

  2. Most Humans have been Hunters and Gatherers

  3. Agriculture as the basis for urban development, art and science

  4. Agriculture is…human activities transforming solar energy at the earth’s surface into useful energy through plants and animals Food chain: “from plant to plate”

  5. Mixed Farming in the Middle Ages – Duc de Berry

  6. Potatoes and Andean Tubers imported from the New World after 1492

  7. EarlyMechanisation

  8. Urbanisation Bombay 15-20 M Inhabitants

  9. Human interventions: agroecosystems Increasing control over nutrients, water and pathogens Substituting human and animal labour by power Area expansion versus Yield increases BUT HIGH ECOLOGICAL COSTS

  10. Environmental Damage Destruction of Rain Forest

  11. Environmental Damage Salinization

  12. Water and Agriculture (2030)70 % of All Renewable Water Resources used in Agriculture Increase Irrigated Area in Developing Countries by 34%: Only 14 % more water to do so How is this possible? Changing food habits -> increase water needs Efficiency (rice vs wheat 2:1; animal feed) Irrigation efficiency increases from 38 to 42 % Major regional differences In many countries > 4% annual efficiency increase needed

  13. Can we feed 9 bn and fuel the economy sustainably?

  14. New Technologies - Precision Agriculture

  15. New technologies - Tissue culture

  16. Biotechnology

  17. Closed System Agriculture

  18. Globalisation, Labeling & Consumers Improve Food Production and Quality (Animal Proteins and Horticulture) Novel & Health Foods Climate Mitigation (CO2, CH4 fix) Ecosystems Management (Water, Biodiversity) Biofuels Future challenges

  19. Protest during WTO Meetings in Hong Kong

  20. WTO Negotiations Geneva

  21. Dramatic Increase in Trade Volume Volume of Agricultural Products Increase More Trade within Regions Reduction of Domestic Support to Agriculture and Export Subsidies Increased Market Access (Reduced Tariffs but Technical Barriers Remain) Trade Liberalisation Continues (Positive Effects on Consumers) Labeling (GMO and Fair Trade) Agricultural Trade: Negotiations Continue

  22. Quality Control along the Food Chain

  23. Agriculture and Ecosystem Management . Diversity .Hydrology .Landscape Variety trial Rice variations

  24. New Challenges: Climate and Bio-energy

  25. Benefits of higher CO2

  26. Canola (Brassica spp) Biofuel= energy produced directly or indirectly from biomass

  27. Sugarcane for Ethanol, Australia

  28. Figure 4. Biofuel Yields of Ethanol and Biodiesel Feedstock Source: Fulton et al. 7000 6000 Ethanol Feedstock Biodiesel Feedstock 5000 4000 Liters Per Hectare 3000 2000 1000 0 Barley Wheat Corn Sugar Sugar Soybean Castor Sunflower Rape- Jatropha Palmoil Beet Cane Beans Seed seed

  29. The Promise of Bio-energy Potential ¼-th – 2 times current global primary energy requirements Short term : vegetable oils and ethanol from sugar cane , wheat sugar beet (1st generation) Coming up: cellulosic ethanol and synthetic diesel (Fisher Tropsch, BTL 2nd generation) allows for wider range of feedstock greater reduction in well to wheel CO2-emission per litre of fuel Key success factors costs of production and distribution Organisation of the value chain CSR issues (civilization in the value chain) Energy and GHG- balance Competition with food Bio-diversity, erosion

  30. Some Price Induced Competition may occur Biofuel Production from Edible Crops is limited anyway Conflict can be avoided by Clever Choice of Feedstock MSW and Agricultural Residues High Yield (Perennial) Crops Increased Agricultural Productivity and More Efficient Conversion Processes, will free up Land for Food, Feed and Fuel Bio-energy will be complemented by Energy Efficiency and Other Renewables Food or Fuel? Revenues from energy farming can boost agricultural productivity and sustainable rural development

  31. - Ecosystem services (biodiv, water, green space) - Effects on climate GHG NOx & hydrology (?) - Contribution to climate mitigation (CO2 fixation and biofuels) And then: sustainability…. Definitions (desirabilities). Intergenerational. Social, political and environmental. Trade offs and substitutions. Growth, resilience and stability. Markets & externalities

  32. Demand-driven chains are becoming predominant Multiformity and differences in interests between sectors is becoming more accepted Knowledge and insights in basic processes are becoming predominant Agriculture in a changing world

  33. A bio-based economy…? Let’s speculate: Biotechnology for (new) chemicals and materials – at least in processing steps Eco-efficient use of renewable resources as raw materials for the industry Bio- energy (ethanol derived from lingo-cellulose, little starch or oil) Rural bio-refineries will replace port-based oil refineries Recognition of ecological services of agriculture Strong links between research, industry, agriculture and civil society And after 2030?

  34. Arcimboldo We are what we eat and what we produce…

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