Meeting global challenges with regenerative agriculture producing food and energy

Schulte, Lisa A.; Dale, Bruce E.; Bozzetto, Stefano; Liebman, Matt; Souza, Gláucia Mendes; Haddad, Nick M.; Richard, Tom L.; Basso, Bruno; Brown, Robert C.; Hilbert, Jorge Antonio; Arbuckle, J. Gordon

doi:10.1038/s41893-021-00827-y

Cited by 91 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Therefore, climate change may lead to directional shifts in species phenology and the timing of trophic interactions such that predatory-prey interactions may become more synchronous or asynchronous, with implications for biological control. Adding complexity, future land use practices that continue to promote simplification rather than diversification of landscapes may interact with climate change to influence coexistence outcomes among lady beetle species and their ecosystem services (Schulte et al 2021). Opportunistic generalist species such as H. axyridis may be better adapted to respond to environmental shifts associated with anthropogenic disturbances, which likely will give these species a competitive advantage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coexistence between similar invaders: The case of two cosmopolitan exotic insects

Arnold

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Crowell

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Biological invasions have become widespread, threatening native biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, most studies have focused on the impacts of exotic species on natives, and fewer have examined dynamics between invaders, when multiple adventive species successfully coexist in a novel environment. Exotic lady beetle species were introduced into North America for biological control in agricultural systems and have since become dominant species within many native communities. Competitive interactions have been primarily investigated among native and exotic lady beetle species to assess mechanisms of decline and the impact of invasion, and yet two species of invaders, Harmonia axyridis and Coccinella septempunctata have become co-dominant in many of these communities. In this study, we investigated coexistence via spatial and temporal niche partitioning among H. axyridis and C. septempunctata using a 31-year dataset from southwestern Michigan, USA. We found evidence of long-term coexistence of these two invaders through a combination of small-scale environmental, habitat, and seasonal mechanisms. Across years, H. axyridis and C. septempunctata experienced patterns of cyclical dominance likely related to yearly variation in temperatures and precipitation. Within years, populations of C. septempunctata peaked early in the growing season around 550 degree days, while H. axyridis populations peaked later in the season around 1220 degree days. Habitat preferences for C. septempunctata were primarily crops such as soybean, wheat, and alfalfa, whereas H. axyridis did not display strong habitat preferences. These findings suggest that within this region H. axyridis is a broad habitat and environmental generalist, while C. septempunctata has more specific environmental niche preferences. These ecological differences have contributed to the continued coexistence among these two invaders, seemingly via the storage effect. Understanding mechanisms that allow coexistence and success of dominant exotic species contributes to native biodiversity conservation management of invaded ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coexistence between similar invaders: The case of two cosmopolitan exotic insects

Arnold

Back

Crowell

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Animal manure nitrogen outputs are a major source of nitrogen recovery and recycling globally [6]. The digestate produced from anaerobic digestion of livestock manure can be spread over croplands to recover nitrogen [32]. However, organic fertilizers are often more expensive, slower in releasing nutrients, and are not presently capable of supporting the demands of current or future generations [6,9,87].…”

Section: Solutions To Reduce Ammonia Demandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy and food security implications of transitioning synthetic nitrogen fertilizers to net-zero emissions

Rosa

Gabrielli

2022

Environ. Res. Lett.

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By synthetically producing nitrogen fertilizers from ammonia, the Haber-Bosch process has been feeding humanity for more than one hundred years. However, current ammonia production relies on fossil fuels, and is energy and carbon intensive. This commits humanity to emissions levels not compatible with climate goals and commits agricultural production to fossil fuels dependency. Here, we quantify food and energy implications of transitioning nitrogen fertilizers to net-zero CO2 emissions. We find that 1.07 billion people are fed from food produced from imported nitrogen fertilizers. An additional 710 million people are fed from imported natural gas feedstocks used for fertilizers production, meaning that 1.78 billion people per year are fed from imports of either fertilizers or natural gas. These findings highlight the reliance of global food production on trading and fossil fuels, hence its vulnerability to supply and energy shocks. However, alternative routes to achieve net-zero emissions in ammonia production exist, which are based on carbon capture and storage, electrification, and biomass. These routes comply with climate targets while mitigating the risks associated with food security. Yet, they require more land, energy, and water than business-as-usual production, exacerbating land and water scarcity and the use of limited natural resources. Transitioning fertilizers to net-zero emissions can contribute to climate and food security goals, although water, land, and energy trade-offs should be considered.

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“…These producers can also improve cropland environmental outcomes through the implementation of regenerative farming practices. These practices allow a farm site to grow a diverse rotation of annual crops (e.g., corn, wheat, oats) to provide cover on croplands to protect soil and retain nutrients, while more environmentally sensitive soil is utilized to grow perennial grasses (Schulte et al, 2021). This application of crop diversity is beneficial for agricultural land rotation, soil conditions, and allows farmers greater flexibility to plant grain or lignocellulosic crops that correspond to the regional climate while meeting the demands for producing feedstocks needed to generate biofuels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing oxygen limiting fermentation conditions for 2,3-butanediol production from Paenibacillus polymyxa

2022

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2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) is a platform chemical that can be converted to a wide array of products ranging from bio-based materials to sustainable aviation fuel. This chemical can be produced by a variety of microorganisms in fermentation processes. Challenges remain for high titer 2,3-BDO production during fermentation due to several parameters, but controlling oxygen is one of the most relevant processing parameters to ensure viable product output. This work investigated the fermentation of plant biomass sugars by the 2,3-BDO producer Paenibacillus polymyxa. Aerobic and oxygen limited fermentation conditions were initially evaluated using molasses-based media to determine cell growth and 2,3-BDO output. Similar conditions were then evaluated on hydrolysate from pretreated sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) that contained fermentable sugars from structural polysaccharides. Fermentations in molasses media under aerobic conditions found that 2,3-BDO could be generated, but over time the amount of 2,3-BDO decreased due to conversion back into acetoin. Oxygen limited fermentation conditions exhibited improved biomass growth, but only limited suppression of 2,3-BDO conversion to acetoin occurred. Glucose depletion appeared to have a greater role influencing 2,3-BDO conversion back into acetoin. Further improvements in 2,3-BDO yields were found by utilizing detoxified SSB hydrolysate.

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Meeting global challenges with regenerative agriculture producing food and energy

Cited by 91 publications

References 48 publications

Coexistence between similar invaders: The case of two cosmopolitan exotic insects

Coexistence between similar invaders: The case of two cosmopolitan exotic insects

Energy and food security implications of transitioning synthetic nitrogen fertilizers to net-zero emissions

Assessing oxygen limiting fermentation conditions for 2,3-butanediol production from Paenibacillus polymyxa

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