Abstract
Diversification of cropping and farming systems is a central agroecological principle, which may improve resource use efficiency, reduce pests and diseases, diversify income sources, and enhance the resilience of the production. The main objective of this study was to identify challenges related to the sustainability of organic cropping systems that were diversified according to one or several of the following practices: diverse crop rotation, integration of cover crops, and intercropping. The sustainability assessments were made using a multi-criteria decision aid method (MCDA) and a framework based on the FAO Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agricultural Systems (SAFA) guidelines. Social, economic and environmental aspects were integrated in the sustainability assessments and combined with semi-structured interviews to identify and discuss farmer's perceptions of barriers to crop diversification and sustainability transition. The results showed that diversified organic cropping systems could achieve high overall sustainability, especially in the environmental dimension thanks to non-inputs of pesticides or mineral fertilizers and efficient use of resources. On the other hand, social and economic dimensions were more variable, with challenges of lower sustainability in profitability and management complexity for several of the diversified cropping systems. Limited access to knowledge, technology and markets for minor crops, and concerns about the consistency of policies were highlighted by farmers as barriers for crop diversification. We discuss how the identified challenges can be overcome and argue that fostering collaboration among stakeholders may increase investment capacity and improve access to new or alternative markets, thereby stimulating transitions toward more diversified and sustainable cropping systems.
Highlights
Agricultural sustainability is still in need of significant developments to balance food production with environmental goals aligned with an economically viable and socially fair food system (Foley et al, 2011; Rockstrom et al, 2017; Willett et al, 2019)
Diversification of cropping systems is central for reaching the goals of ensuring the availability of resources for future generations, increasing the reliance on ecosystem services that replace external inputs, and promoting diverse diets, healthy agroecosystems, and securing livelihoods (IPES-Food, 2016)
The tools were not able to account for organic and natural products. For both sustainability assessment methods, the social dimension was characterized by a high score for all the systems, including the DRREF system
Summary
Agricultural sustainability is still in need of significant developments to balance food production with environmental goals aligned with an economically viable and socially fair food system (Foley et al, 2011; Rockstrom et al, 2017; Willett et al, 2019). The launch of the recent strategy “Farm to fork” within the frame of the EU green deal aims for enhancing the European food systems provision of fair and healthy food, with a neutral or positive environmental impact. This strategy highlights the need for supporting more sustainable practices in agriculture (European Commission, 2020). The addition of functional biodiversity to cropping systems across multiple spatial and temporal scales, through diversified crop rotations, integration of cover crops, green manures, and species mixtures (inter- and multi-cropping), can enhance resource use efficiency, promote the provision of ecosystem services and reduce negative environmental impacts (Kremen and Miles, 2012) without compromising crop yields in the production of food, feed, and raw materials (Tamburini et al, 2020)
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