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Contribution of conservation agriculture to sustainable production systems

Contribution of conservation agriculture to sustainable production systems. Dr. Bernhard Streit Professor for Agricultural Mechanization Member of the board of the European Conservation Agriculture Federation ECAF. Swiss College of Agriculture SHL, Länggasse 85, CH-3052 Zollikofen

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Contribution of conservation agriculture to sustainable production systems

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  1. Contribution of conservation agriculture to sustainable production systems Dr. Bernhard Streit Professor for Agricultural Mechanization Member of the board of the European Conservation Agriculture Federation ECAF Swiss College of Agriculture SHL, Länggasse 85, CH-3052 Zollikofen bernhard.streit@bfh.ch

  2. Topics • The benefits of the carbon cycle • 3 pillars of Conservation Agriculture • Examples • Situation in Europe • Perspectives

  3. The key component is carbon! • food and feed production • the soil fertility • our lives • …depend on SOIL CARBON (in the topsoil) • talking about • food security • climate change • improving live quality • means: managing/maintaining/improving SOIL CARBON Source: G. Brändle, ART

  4. C The carbon cycle is critical für producing food for humanity and food for nature Photosynthesis Energy Use Energy Capture Respiration Reicosky, 2010

  5. Ecosystem Services Conservation Agriculture Soil Organic Carbon minimum soil tillage continuous residue cover crop rotations/ cover crops Conservation agriculture: The most efficient way to maintain the carbon cycle Reicosky 2010 For microorganisms in the soil:

  6. Conservation agriculture: Examples Direct drilling of maize in a turnip stand (P. Hofer, BSF Berne) Direct drilling of maize in a grass-clover stand.

  7. Conservation agriculture: Profile Strength: • increased soil fertility • increased resource efficiency (water, nutrient, labour,...) • increased biodiversity • less soil erosion • Weakness: • a cropping system against tradition • a demanding cropping system (for farmers, extension specialists, researchers,...): crop rotations, cover crops, seeding technique, plant protection, fertilization • transition period when abandoning the plow (1-3 years)

  8. Conservation agriculture: Adoption in Europe USA: 26 % Brazil: 70 % Argentina: 70 % Paraguay: 75 % (www.rolf-derpsch.com) data ECAF 2006/07

  9. Conservation agriculture: ECAF • European Conservation Agriculture Federation(http:www.ecaf.org): • Federation of 15 European national farmer associations • Founded 1999 • Objectives: - Know-how transfer on conservation agriculture/no-tillage, e.g. I World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, 2001, European Congress on Conservation Agriculture and ECAF Anniversary 2010 in Madrid- Providing information on CA (e.g. Soco-Project, Hearing on "EU Agriculture and climate change“ January 27th 2010)

  10. C Summary Conservation agriculture is the best way to manage soil carbon (= Agriculture’s Wheel of Fortune). These factors could help to overcome the barrier for adopting conservation agriculture (Derpsch and Friedrich, 2009):- availability of adequate technology- adequate policies to promote CA- support for know-how transfer

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