Functional Agro-Biodiversity: An Evaluation of Current Approaches and Outcomes

Lindsay C. Maskell; Alan Radbourne; Lisa R. Norton; Sabine Reinsch; Jamie Alison; Liz Bowles; Katrien Geudens; David A. Robinson

doi:10.3390/land12112078

Functional Agro-Biodiversity: An Evaluation of Current Approaches and Outcomes

Lindsay C. Maskell^*, Alan Radbourne, Lisa R. Norton, Sabine Reinsch, Jamie Alison, Liz Bowles, Katrien Geudens, David A. Robinson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Ecoscience - Biodiversity and Conservation

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Review › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The European Union’s ‘Green Deal’ proposes an ambitious roadmap towards climate neutrality by 2050 and the adoption of a circular economy. Functional AgroBiodiversity (FAB) measures, which balance food production with minimised impacts on nature, are a promising way to achieve this on farmland. Here, we undertake a rapid evidence assessment to highlight Functional Agro-Biodiversity (FAB) management measures which help to realise biodiversity, climate neutrality, efficiency in use of natural resources and the circular economy. We report evidence on the effectiveness of 10 common FAB measures employed in Europe following a resurgence of interest and increased availability of data on their impact. The review found that the outcomes of implementing FAB measures were largely positive, with a number of mixed effects. There are evidence gaps, e.g., the impact of FAB measures on yield, the magnitude and timescale of impacts, the effect of landscape context. We signpost the most relevant and well-documented FAB measures, providing a reference for land managers and practitioners to select FAB measures to achieve specific ecological and agricultural outcomes. It is also important to note that a combination of measures implemented in a strategic way can enhance the output success.

Original language	English
Article number	2078
Journal	Land
Volume	12
Issue	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112078
Publication status	Published - Nov 2023

Keywords

agroforestry
cover crops
crop rotations
organic matter input
reduced tillage
reduction in plant protection products

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10.3390/land12112078

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@article{159a2b2ccb8b49f3ac35611b9c39e2a3,

title = "Functional Agro-Biodiversity: An Evaluation of Current Approaches and Outcomes",

abstract = "The European Union{\textquoteright}s {\textquoteleft}Green Deal{\textquoteright} proposes an ambitious roadmap towards climate neutrality by 2050 and the adoption of a circular economy. Functional AgroBiodiversity (FAB) measures, which balance food production with minimised impacts on nature, are a promising way to achieve this on farmland. Here, we undertake a rapid evidence assessment to highlight Functional Agro-Biodiversity (FAB) management measures which help to realise biodiversity, climate neutrality, efficiency in use of natural resources and the circular economy. We report evidence on the effectiveness of 10 common FAB measures employed in Europe following a resurgence of interest and increased availability of data on their impact. The review found that the outcomes of implementing FAB measures were largely positive, with a number of mixed effects. There are evidence gaps, e.g., the impact of FAB measures on yield, the magnitude and timescale of impacts, the effect of landscape context. We signpost the most relevant and well-documented FAB measures, providing a reference for land managers and practitioners to select FAB measures to achieve specific ecological and agricultural outcomes. It is also important to note that a combination of measures implemented in a strategic way can enhance the output success.",

keywords = "agroforestry, cover crops, crop rotations, organic matter input, reduced tillage, reduction in plant protection products",

author = "Maskell, {Lindsay C.} and Alan Radbourne and Norton, {Lisa R.} and Sabine Reinsch and Jamie Alison and Liz Bowles and Katrien Geudens and Robinson, {David A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 by the authors.",

year = "2023",

month = nov,

doi = "10.3390/land12112078",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

journal = "Land",

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T2 - An Evaluation of Current Approaches and Outcomes

AU - Maskell, Lindsay C.

AU - Radbourne, Alan

AU - Norton, Lisa R.

AU - Reinsch, Sabine

AU - Alison, Jamie

AU - Bowles, Liz

AU - Geudens, Katrien

AU - Robinson, David A.

PY - 2023/11

Y1 - 2023/11

N2 - The European Union’s ‘Green Deal’ proposes an ambitious roadmap towards climate neutrality by 2050 and the adoption of a circular economy. Functional AgroBiodiversity (FAB) measures, which balance food production with minimised impacts on nature, are a promising way to achieve this on farmland. Here, we undertake a rapid evidence assessment to highlight Functional Agro-Biodiversity (FAB) management measures which help to realise biodiversity, climate neutrality, efficiency in use of natural resources and the circular economy. We report evidence on the effectiveness of 10 common FAB measures employed in Europe following a resurgence of interest and increased availability of data on their impact. The review found that the outcomes of implementing FAB measures were largely positive, with a number of mixed effects. There are evidence gaps, e.g., the impact of FAB measures on yield, the magnitude and timescale of impacts, the effect of landscape context. We signpost the most relevant and well-documented FAB measures, providing a reference for land managers and practitioners to select FAB measures to achieve specific ecological and agricultural outcomes. It is also important to note that a combination of measures implemented in a strategic way can enhance the output success.

AB - The European Union’s ‘Green Deal’ proposes an ambitious roadmap towards climate neutrality by 2050 and the adoption of a circular economy. Functional AgroBiodiversity (FAB) measures, which balance food production with minimised impacts on nature, are a promising way to achieve this on farmland. Here, we undertake a rapid evidence assessment to highlight Functional Agro-Biodiversity (FAB) management measures which help to realise biodiversity, climate neutrality, efficiency in use of natural resources and the circular economy. We report evidence on the effectiveness of 10 common FAB measures employed in Europe following a resurgence of interest and increased availability of data on their impact. The review found that the outcomes of implementing FAB measures were largely positive, with a number of mixed effects. There are evidence gaps, e.g., the impact of FAB measures on yield, the magnitude and timescale of impacts, the effect of landscape context. We signpost the most relevant and well-documented FAB measures, providing a reference for land managers and practitioners to select FAB measures to achieve specific ecological and agricultural outcomes. It is also important to note that a combination of measures implemented in a strategic way can enhance the output success.

KW - agroforestry

KW - cover crops

KW - crop rotations

KW - organic matter input

KW - reduced tillage

KW - reduction in plant protection products

U2 - 10.3390/land12112078

DO - 10.3390/land12112078

M3 - Review

AN - SCOPUS:85178097793

SN - 2073-445X

VL - 12

JO - Land

JF - Land

IS - 11

M1 - 2078

ER -

Functional Agro-Biodiversity: An Evaluation of Current Approaches and Outcomes

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Keywords

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