ES and Agroecology

Ecosystem Services: an opportunity for agroecology?Marc Dufrêne and Nicolas Dendoncker

ES and Agroecology

Ecosystem Services: Ecosystems’ dependencies for human well-being

SUPPORTING -Soil fertility and structure-Nutrient cycling-Water cycling-Genetic biodiversity

REGULATING-Soil maintenance-Pollination-Pest control-Habitat for crop auxiliaries-Water purification-Air quality

AGROECO-SYSTEMS

PROVISIONING-Food-Fibres-Agro-fuels

NOT IN MARKET-Water conservation-Soil conservation-Carbon storage-Landscape aesthetics-Spirituality-Habitats for Fauna and Flora

FOR

BY

FOSS

IL F

UEL

S

FOR

BY

ES and Agroecology

Ecosystem Services: Why should we care?

• Because everybody else does!

ES and Agroecology

Ecosystem Services: Why should we care?

• Because an ES assessment framework can provide a comprehensive yet operational tool for natural resource management and land use (including agricultural) planning

• Analytical-deliberative frameworks need to be developed, e.g. in the context of land consolidation plans

• The links between agroecology and ES have however yet to be unraveled

Ecosystems Services Society

PressuresImpacts Drivers

ES and Agroecology

Many publications on direct impact of agroecological practices on (functional) biodiversity and ecosystems

Only very few on final and global impact on a large diversity of ES

One meta-analysis on 12 ES :

Kremen and Miles, 2012. Ecosystem services in biologically diversified versus conventional farming systems: benefits, externalities, and trade-offs. Ecology and Society.

ES and Agroecology

biodiversity soil quality nutrient management water-holding capacity

carbon sequestration energy efficiency resistance to climate change crop productivity

control of weeds control of diseasescontrol of pestspollination services

Strong evidencePositive effect but not sufficient

• more research and field experience need to be conducted • as one practice influences multiple ES, research must be holistic• detailed agroecological research is needed to develop crop

productivity and region-specific approaches to control of weeds, diseases and pests

Conclusions :

Weak evidence

ES and Agroecology

Holistic approach : nested structure and processes

LandscapeFarmPlot

Multiscalar effect of agroecological methods on ES

ES and Agroecology : what are the links ?

RegulatingPollution,

water & mass flow, climate,

biotic

CulturalRecreational,

aesthetic, symbolic

values

Capital, work, energy

Abiotic factors

Plot - fields LandscapeFarm

Mixed varietiesMixed cropsLivestocks

Crop rotationCover cropsFallow fields

HedgerowsBuffer strips

Riparian corridorsWoodlotsMeadows

Natural areas

Agroecological methods

Farmer SocietyCommunity

Well-being (benefits and values)

Provisioning

Nutrition, water supply,

materials, energy

s

Ecosystem servicesFunctional agrobiodiversity

Soil structure & fertility, water supply, pollination, genetic

diversity, biological control, …(Supporting services)

s

Neutral biodiversity

Biotic factors

ES and Agroecology

Agro-ecological practices and ES

supporting provisioning regulating cultural other benefits

Soils

Functionnal biodiversity

Food

Water

Materials

Energy

Pollutions

Floods

Climate

Biological processes

Natural surroundings

Non-rival activities

Rival activities

Symbolic values

Neutral biodiversity

Insurance value

Farmer health

Empowering people

Plot scale

Species association X X X X X X X Permanent cover X X X X X X X X X Mulching, compost X X X X X X X X X X X Integrate livestock X X X X X XAerial nitrate fixation X X X X

Biological control X X X X X X XAgroforestry X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X XReduced tillage X X X X X X X Genetic diversity X X X XInterfaces Tree strips X X ● X X X X X X X X X X X X XGrassland strips X X ● X X X X X X X X X X XNature protection X X ● X X X X X X X X X X X XFarm scale Polycultures X X X X X X X X X X X X X XAlternative markets X X X X X X X

Organic farming X X X X X X X XAgrotourism X X X X X XLocal knowledge X X X X X X X X X XAdapted from Kremen & Miles (2012) or expected trends

Adap

ted

from

Glie

ssm

an (2

007)

● Potentially negative effect X

Crop capacity

Storm protection

Livestock

PollinationAir quality

Climate regulation

Timber production

Erosion control

Water regulation

Soil quality regulation

Water provision

Agroecology improve ES bundles

ES and Agroecology

From mono-functional landscape

to multi-functionallandscape

Adapted from Maes et al. (2011). European assessment of the provision of ES.

ES and AgroecologyThere are significant correlations between the need of

Plot LandscapeFarm

Harvest

Milk

Establish

Animal

FoodEnergyFibers

Manure

Grazing

Landscape consolidation• ES balance at landscape level

Supporting ES

Regulating ES

Cultural ES

Provisioning ES

• autonomy at farm level and

ES and AgroecologyResearch proposal : unraveling the links between agroecology and ecosystem services to facilitate an agroecological transition

• Research and field experience on agroecological methods

ES and Agroecology

• Performance of non-conventional agro-ecosystems ?

• Valorisation of field residues ?• Tools and methods ? • Alternative valorisation of

agricultural products ?

1. Agroforestry

2. Intercropping

3. Agrosylviculture

4. Herbaceous strips

5. Residue management

& cover crops

One example : AgricultureIsLife project at Gx-ABT

=> 15 PhD working together on 40 ha of experimental fields

FoodWater supply

Materials

Energy

Pollutionregulation

Erosion regulation

Climate regulation

Biologicalcontrol

Naturalsurroundings

Outdooractivities

Biodiversity

• Economic analyses of farms and (local) food systems • Economic analyses of farms and (local) food systems

• Research to optimise landscape structure to maximise ES, farm or local community autonomy

• Holistic monitoring of large case studies (mid and long term)• Holistic monitoring of large case studies (mid and long term)

• Research to optimise landscape structure to maximise ES, farm or local community autonomy

• Research and field experience on agroecological methods

ES and Agroecology

• PES analyses to evaluate when to support farm constraints

Research proposal : unraveling the links between agroecology and ecosystem services to facilitate an agroecological transition

Thank you for your attention !

• PES analyses to evaluate when to support farm constraints