Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production

Relevance Concerns about the environmental impact of farming has increasingly been the focus of discussions in the EU. Croplands, a primary land use in Europe, have a significant impact on the environment (soil, water bodies, global climate, local biodiversity and human health). The use of fertilisers and pesticides associated with conventional farming may lead to pollution and/or climate change. There is a continuing decline of farmland biodiversity (e.g. the Farmland Bird Index declines throughout the EU). The growing share of organic arable farming and organic food consumption shows that consumers are increasingly concerned about conventional agriculture. Why would anyone then consider intensifying conventional arable farming further? Why would you inflict further problems to the environment? The comforting answer is that a resource efficient, technological smart pathway exists.