Sustainability and productivity represent the indicator of the efficiency of the use of natural and anthropogenic resources of a Farm. The evaluation of efficiency is based on the accounting of production both in terms of consumption and in terms of inputs / outputs.
How to produce more for new needs by limiting the impact on the environment? The methodological approach of the future must aim at the balance of resources through careful planning of consumption
The population, if it is not controlled, it grows in geometric proportion, means of subsistence only grow in arithmetic proportion, Thomas Malthus (1776-1834)
The availability of natural resources is a limiting factor to economic growth
The parameters of development related to the consumption of resources must adapt to the circularity of natural systems
Each farm must develop a development plan based on the circularity of natural resources
Sustainable development must respect the perpetuation of the animal and plant communities of the future
The use of soils must improve the amount of organic matter and its fertility
Consumption in the world will tend to increase due to the increase of the population
The cultivated and arable areas are limited
The increase in arable land leads to erosion of biodiversity
Improving the efficiency of crops and livestock is a necessity
Production resilience is the new paradigm of farm crops
The rationalization of fertilizers and pesticides is a necessity
Intensive farming leads to an excessive use of resources
15.000 liters per kilogram of beef and high levels of CO2 production
Increase the efficiency of farms through extensification
Increase the diversity of the animal diet
Decrease and diversify the consumption of meat to favor the diversification of animal production in farms
Reduce the animal load in the pastures
the diversification of animal and vegetable productions in farms is a fundamental practice
crop rotation is an efficiency factor of sustainability
alternating legumes and cereals improves the efficiency of the soils
the conversion of urban areas to agricultural production increases sustainability
the diversification of the use of farm buildings increases the variability of cultivation
the use of animal breeds with a triple aptitude increases sustainability
Productivity depends on the fertility of the soils
Productivity efficiency is related to the availability of nutrients for crops during the different phenological phases
The indiscriminate use of inorganic fertilizers leads to inefficiency and the loss of sustainability
Plant protection must respect systemic cyclicality
The spread of pesticide residues causes a loss of productivity over time
Animal welfare is key to improving animal productivity
The rationalization of the forms of farming is a strategic objective
Threats
- Increase the impact on natural resources
- Decrease the organic substance of the soils, increase erosion, decrease sustainability
- Generate "super pests" and "super insects" (bio-pollution)
- Reduce biodiversity and negatively increase the repercussions on natural ecosystems
- Increase the exploitation of natural resources
- Increase the use of water, soil, energy, fertilizers and pesticides
- Resort more frequently to the use of GMOs
- Concentrating profitability in the hands of a few
- Promote the intensification of agricultural production
Opportunity
- Securing more food for future population growth
- Increase technical-agronomic measures to ensure sustainable development models
- Replace production and product factors with the intelligent use and recycling of biomass, biorefining and recycling
- Reduce post-harvest losses
- Change consumption patterns that can mitigate the push to increase primary production
- Change the course in the direction of a different growth according to conditions of competitiveness and sustainability
- Investing in research and innovation for sustainable productivity
- Create a competitive primary sector, technological, at the forefront but attentive to global sustainability
The cyclical use of resources increases productivity
Producing energy with crop waste and animal manure increases efficiency
Decrease and rationalize water consumption through precision systems
Increase the use of information technology for the rationalization of production processes
The use of precision machines increases sustainability and production efficiency
The seasonal rationalization of crops increases the social awareness of consumption
Evaluate the geographic context, climatic, pedological and socio-economic
The objectives of productivity and sustainability must be pursued in a specific way and tailored to the territorial context of the farms
It rationally plans agricultural production while respecting the “specificity” of the micro-environments of cultivation
It elaborates fertilization and agronomic use plans aimed at long-term productive sustainability
Elaborates plans and projects for the disposal of wastewater and reuse of plant residues aimed at energy efficiency, draws up prevention and intervention plans to protect sustainable crops over time
It elaborates crop and utilization projects plans aimed at the diversification of agricultural ecosystems