Abstract

The origins, history, and recent advances in Conservation Agriculture (CA) are reported. CA is now practiced worldwide on some 200 million hectares, important for mitigating climate change and ensuring food security. Its bedrock is Zero Tillage (ZT) with crop rotation and retention of crop residues. CA approaches Organic Agriculture (OA) when coupled to biological control providing opportunity for OA to become truly sustainable. Ley Farming (LF) and agroforestry with ZT are important for carbon sequestration and land use intensification. Hidden cost: each ton of carbon immobilizes 83 kg of N, 29 kg of P, and 14 kg of S. Industry-backed Regenerative Agriculture (RA) variants have no scientific definition, but generally adopt CA. Sustainable, profitable, and compatible new technologies are emerging and CA needs to embrace them to present a holistic, sustainable package to the farmer. How? A single definition for agricultural sustainability via a multi-stakeholder world congress would standardize certification and de-confuse the market. RA describes exactly what CA does for soil health and all farmers need to unite around a new “Combined Regenerative Agriculture” (CRA) to lobby for adequate payments for environmental services. Expansion of CA is critical for world sustainability. Many gaps and constraints exist, especially for smallholders.

Highlights

  • This concept paper is not a literature review but uses references to support its precepts.The text expresses the concern that the world has assimilated the principles of ConservationAgriculture (CA) but has been blinkered to other compatible and sustainable agricultural practices that could be combined with Conservation Agriculture (CA) and generate higher profits for the farmer

  • This is compatible with Regenerative Agriculture (RA) and Organic Agriculture (OA), providing they accept the three principles of CA

  • During the First World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA), in a multistakeholder event, held in Madrid in 2001, the concept of CA was consecrated in the Declaration of Madrid [1]

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Summary

Introduction

This concept paper is not a literature review but uses references to support its precepts. The most recent definition of CA by the FAO is found as [2]: “Conservation Agriculture is a farming system that promotes minimum soil disturbance (i.e., no tillage), maintenance of a permanent soil cover, and diversification of plant species It enhances biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface, which contribute to increased water and nutrient use efficiency and to improved and sustained crop production”. To generate a World Congress on Sustainable Agricultural Practices to consecrate the above Fulfilment of these objectives would lead to reductions in GHG emissions, improved farm profits, and better food security. Besides improved efficiency of the technology per se, the steps for CA promotion must encompass significantly increased contributions to the reduction of global warming and to the world’s food security This will come mostly by increasing the area under sustainable practices and the total volume of continued increases in agricultural production and climate-smart agriculture [5]. The complete adoption of CA principles and other recognized sustainable practices should qualify for the payment of environmental services (PES) under certification recognized by governments or other organizations [9]

Nomenclature and Definitions
The Origins of CA
Recent Evolution
Expansion of CA
Off-Farm Benefits of CA and Payments for Environmental Services
The Game-Changer
Important Parts of the Solution
CA Is Approaching OA and Vice Versa
The Unfinished Symphony of Soil Biology
Future Perspectives
Modifications to Update the CA Definition
The Expansion of Eco-Friendly Farming Systems
Findings
Recommendations

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