Intensification for redesigned and sustainable agricultural systems. 2018

Jules Pretty
School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Essex, UK. jpretty@essex.ac.uk.

Redesign of agricultural systems is essential to deliver optimum outcomes as ecological and economic conditions change. The combination of agricultural processes in which production is maintained or increased, while environmental outcomes are enhanced, is currently known as sustainable intensification (SI). SI aims to avoid the cultivation of more land, and thus avoid the loss of unfarmed habitats, but also aims to increase overall system performance without net environmental cost. For example, large changes are now beginning to occur to maximize biodiversity by means of integrated pest management, pasture and forage management, the incorporation of trees into agriculture, and irrigation management, and with small and patch systems. SI is central to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and to wider efforts to improve global food and nutritional security.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010571 Pest Control The reduction or regulation of the population of noxious, destructive, or dangerous plants, insects, or other animals. This includes control of plants that serve as habitats or food sources for animal pests. Pest Management,Control, Pest,Management, Pest
D010575 Pesticides Chemicals used to destroy pests of any sort. The concept includes fungicides (FUNGICIDES, INDUSTRIAL); INSECTICIDES; RODENTICIDES; etc. Pesticide
D005523 Food Supply The production and movement of food items from point of origin to use or consumption. Food Supply Chain,Chain, Food Supply,Food Supplies,Food Supply Chains,Supplies, Food,Supply Chain, Food,Supply Chains, Food,Supply, Food
D000069599 Crop Production The science and practice of cultivating PLANTS that have economic value to man. It includes plant breeding, seed production, weeding, use of fertilizers, harvesting, storage, transportation, and marketing. Production, Crop
D000076502 Sustainable Development A process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development; and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations. (http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-02.htm#I) Sustainable Development Goals,Smart Growth,Development Goal, Sustainable,Development Goals, Sustainable,Development, Sustainable,Developments, Sustainable,Sustainable Development Goal
D014197 Trees Woody, usually tall, perennial higher plants (Angiosperms, Gymnosperms, and some Pterophyta) having usually a main stem and numerous branches. Tree
D014480 United Nations An international organization whose members include most of the sovereign nations of the world with headquarters in New York City. The primary objectives of the organization are to maintain peace and security and to achieve international cooperation in solving international economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian problems. UNICEF,ESCAP,Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific,Latin American Demographic Center,UN,UNHCR,United Nations Children's Fund,United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
D017753 Ecosystem A functional system which includes the organisms of a natural community together with their environment. (McGraw Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Ecosystems,Biome,Ecologic System,Ecologic Systems,Ecological System,Habitat,Niche, Ecological,System, Ecological,Systems, Ecological,Biomes,Ecological Niche,Ecological Systems,Habitats,System, Ecologic,Systems, Ecologic
D044822 Biodiversity The variety of all native living organisms and their various forms and interrelationships. Biological Diversity,Diversity, Biological
D057914 Agricultural Irrigation The routing of water to open or closed areas where it is used for agricultural purposes. Agricultural Irrigations,Irrigation, Agricultural,Irrigations, Agricultural

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