Summary
This global assessment, published in Nature Sustainability, examines the evidence base for redesigning agricultural systems to achieve sustainable intensification—increasing productivity whilst reducing environmental footprint. Drawing on an international team of experts across agronomy, ecology, and policy, the paper synthesises findings on which system redesigns deliver improved yields, soil health, and ecological outcomes. The authors appear to argue that well-designed intensification coupled with ecological principles offers a viable pathway to meeting food security demands whilst mitigating agriculture's environmental burden.
UK applicability
The findings are applicable to UK farming policy and practice, particularly for informing strategies to balance domestic food production with environmental commitments (net zero, biodiversity goals). The evidence base would support UK farm subsidy reform and agri-environment scheme design moving towards results-based sustainable intensification.
Key measures
Productivity gains, resource use efficiency, environmental impact reduction, adoption rates of sustainable intensification practices
Outcomes reported
The study assessed evidence on agricultural system redesign approaches that increase productivity whilst reducing environmental impact across global contexts. The assessment evaluated outcomes related to yield, resource efficiency, and ecological sustainability metrics.
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