The Role of Animals in Eco-functional Intensification of Organic Agriculture

Abstract

Eco-functional intensification is understood as building synergies in multi-functional and resilient agricultural systems in harmony with their surrounding environment and human systems, to the benefit of diversified production of food and beyond, as in, for example, ecosystem services. Integration of animals into eco-functionally intensified agricultural systems to enhance agricultural, ecological and social systems, can contribute to driving a future sustainable development of organic agricultural and food systems. This approach may respond to challenges of an increasing industrialization of livestock in the global north, a process which has led to heavy reliance on external inputs, and, to a large extent, a detachment of animals from farming systems, especially in the global south. Animals are living sentient beings, but often not acknowledged as such. Complex, well-integrated systems can be organized so that they support the health and welfare of animals, and let these animals be valuable resources within the farming system. There must be an emphasis on diverse genetic inheritance and locally adapted species. Complex systems require complex knowledge which must be continuously developed to respond to current challenges in constantly changing environments, e.g., climate change. A necessary driver in transition towards more eco-functionally intensified agricultural and food systems is a governance system which protect the actors without a voice, e.g., ecosystems, pollinators, animals, and future generations through regulation of consumption patterns, flow of external inputs, and resource use. This requires a change in attitudes both acknowledgment of the importance of protecting the environment, consumption, resource use; and seeing agricultural systems as necessary and valuable contributors to nourishing both people and the earth.

Triggering a positive research and policy feedback cycle to support a transition to agroecology and sustainable food systems

“…The prophylactic use of antibiotics in animal agriculture is driving the development of genetic resistance to antibiotics and threatens to play a major role in an emerging international public health crisis (Landers et al 2012;Shannon et al 2015;Tarpley 2014;WHO 2015). A ban of prophylactic (i.e., low dose) use of antibiotics in animal agriculture would dis-incentivize problematic practices and accelerate a transition to preventative and integrated pest management and improved animal welfare (Sossidou et al 2015;Vaarst 2015). Meanwhile, revenues generated through the taxation strategies described above could be used to support research and incentivize integrated and ecologically managed grazing systems (Bonaudo et al 2014;Moraine, Duru, and Therond 2016).…”

Innovations in Organic Food Systems for Sustainable Production and Ecosystem Services: An Introduction to the Special Issue of Sustainable Agriculture Research

“…The author calls for explicit efforts to create environments that encourage creativity, open communication, and reflection on both the experimental process as well as outcomes. Vaarst (2015) explores the role of farmer groups in addressing the need for context specific knowledge generation in the development of complex integrated animal farming. Padel et al (2015) discuss how the effective combination of experiential and experimental knowledge, via farmer-researcher collaboration and participatory research, can drive innovation, and can be encouraged through farmer research funds and innovation awards.…”