1. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu Management of agro-ecology for eco-functional intensive systems Cristina Micheloni – AIAB, Italy i n co-operation with: Niels Alberg, ICROFS, Urs Niggli and Otto Schmid, FIBL

2. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu Needs for agricultural research for from AIAB point of view: interprofessional association link to organic farming but valid for agriculture as a whole = to serve all society needs

3. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu Can organic systems be intensified? To intensify environmental services and not only production food/feed/fiber etc. but as well biodiversity, landscape, energy and water use, climate change mitigation, animal welfare....

4. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu organic systems are already at high environmental performance

5. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu Aubert, 2007

6. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu Niggli et al., 2009,

7. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu organic and biodiversity TaxonPositiveNegativeNo difference Birds72 Mammals2 Butterflies11 Spiders73 Earthworms724 Beetles1353 Other arthropods 712 Plants132 Soil microbes98 Total66825 Hole et al., 2005

8. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu But still with some weaknesses (compared with conventional) Crops –Wheat: 29 % less energy use/tonne –Leeks: 58 % less –Carrots: 25 % less –Potatoes: 2 % more –Tomatoes: 30 % more Livestock –Milk/Beef: 38/35 % less –Pigmeat: 13 % less –Eggs: 14 % more –Chicken: 32 % more

9. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu The concept of eco-functional intensification EFI is a more efficient use of natural resources and processes, improved nutrient recycling techniques, and innovative agro-ecological methods for enhancing the diversity and the health of soils, crops and livestock. Such intensification builds on the knowledge of all stakeholders involved, and relies on powerful information and decision- making tools in combination with new research knowledge and tools in the biological and ecological sciences. Eco- functional intensification is characterized by cooperation and synergy between different components of agro-eco systems and food systems, with the aim of enhancing the productivity and stability of the agro-ecosystems, and the health of all components.

10. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu conventional intensification: more energy, more nutrients more water sometimes also more labour per hectare eco-functional intensification More farmer knowledge per hectare Higher complexity per land area (at farm and regional level) Better (and not destructive) use of supporting, regulating, cultural and preserving eco-system services for food and fibre production, better use of natural compounds better exploiting the genetic variability clever use of low risk modern technologies

11. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu eco-functional intensification some existing examples: Mediterranean policulture Animal husbandry and biogas production Functional biodiversity Participatory breeding

12. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu eco-functional intensification in vegetables...still complex and not always rentable

13. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu eco-functional intensification in fruit production...still complex but innovation is taking place

14. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu eco-functional intensification and resilience –Adaptive management by community knowledge and knowledge-intensive farming methods (Borron, 2006). –Resilience within agro-ecosystems: Soils fertility building, physical soil properties (Reganold, 1987, Mäder et al., 2002, Pimentel et al., 2005). Above and below ground macro and micro flora & fauna (Hole et al., 2005; Bengtsson et al, 2005). Crop diversity in time and space (rotations, agroforestry) Genetic diversity in crops through on farm selection (Kotschi, 2006).

15. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu What is the vision and what are the challenges identified for eco functional intensification?

16. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu Securing food and ecosystems by eco-functional intensification By 2025, the availability of food and the stability of food supply will be noticeably increased through eco-functional intensification, and access to food will be considerably improved thanks to revitalized rural areas (see 7.1). Knowledge among farmers about how to manage ecosystem services in a sustainable way will be much greater, and animal welfare and environmentally sound farming will be cutting-edge technologies in food production. Vision 2025

17. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu TP Organics Theme 2: (Niels Halberg with support of Cristina Micheloni) TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu Securing food and ecosystems by eco-functional intensification Key challenge 1: Improved ecological support functions Key challenge 2: Modern mixed farming systems Key challenge 3: Resilient organic crop production systems Key challenge 4: Appropriate and robust livestock production Key challenge 5: Green improvement of genetic resources Key challenge 6: Development and adaptation of novel technology Key challenge 7: Technology assessment and cross disciplinary evaluation Other proposals for key challenges and research goals (cross cutting issues)

18. TP Organics – Technology Platform for organic food and farming |www.tporganics.eu Know more and participate: www.tporganics.eu