Identifying Farming Strategies Associated With Achieving Global Agricultural Sustainability

Summary

This global correlative analysis of 121 countries examined which farming strategies—input intensity, GM crop use, and organic production—associate with achievement of UN sustainability metrics. Countries with higher development indices, greater income equality, and lower food insecurity showed both higher organic production and intensive input use, whilst input-intensive strategies correlated with greater agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The authors hypothesise that national development drives agricultural strategy adoption rather than vice versa, and longitudinal data (2004–2018) suggest countries are generally reducing inputs whilst increasing organic production share.

UK applicability

The findings suggest that the UK, as a high-HDI nation with established institutional capacity, may achieve sustainability goals through policy supporting organic production and input reduction without compromising food security—though contextual factors (climate, soil type, market structure) differ from global averages. The causal hypothesis (development drives strategy, not vice versa) may not fully account for UK-specific policy incentives or subsidy regimes.

Key measures

Input intensity (fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation per area); percentage organic agriculture; GM crop adoption; 12 FAO sustainability metrics; Human Development Index; income equality; food insecurity; cereal yields; agricultural greenhouse gas emissions; SDG progress indicators

Outcomes reported

The study identified correlations between farming strategies (input intensity, GM crop adoption, organic production) and 12 UN FAO sustainability metrics across 121 countries. It examined associations with Human Development Index, food security, greenhouse gas emissions, and progress towards SDGs using quantile regression and longitudinal analysis (2004–2018).

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