Can conservation complement agriculture?

Agriculture will need to produce at least 70% more food by 2050 to ensure global food security (FAO 2009). However, increased productivity has historically come with on-farm and societal costs such as increased soil erosion and nutrient run-off. While conservation is often considered separate from the needs of agriculture, recent research at ISU suggests that targeted conservation practices can positively impact management of farm land, especially for preventing soil erosion and nutrient run-off. Long-term productivity and stability are already being realized through the implementation of conservation management techniques. Many farmers currently implement no-till and conservation tillage practices that help control erosion and run-off. These practices have been found to provide enhanced soil fertility and crop productivity (Lafond et al. 2008).