Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
emissions, biological diversity, integrated pest management and reduced
pesticide risk, safe and fair working conditions and economic viability
for agricultural producers. They range from private to multi-stakeholder
in terms of inclusivity during development, whole farm to crop-specific
in scope, practice-based to outcomes-based in implementation and self-
assessment to certification to consumer-facing eco-label in terms of
verification. From this review, we conclude that this first set of
evaluation, monitoring and reporting protocols and standards (Tier 1)
allow for a second Tier of sustainability that focuses on the use of
metrics and other measures of the impacts of agriculture toward
reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture, identifying
synergies through innovation and improving critical outcomes in
human dimensions. We propose the concept of Tier 3 sustainability
whereby we commit to actions in agriculture and food systems that, in
aggregate, will move us into ''safe operating space'' for human beings
and our planet.
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1 Introduction
Soil science has always had strong ties with agriculture, and soil science
knowledge has made large contributions to the increase in agricultural
production A better understanding of soils has been essential for research
questions on climate change, environmental regulation, crop productivity and
nutrient management in agricultural and ecosystem services. We begin the 21
st
century with an energised recognition of the role that soil and soil science will
play in the renovation of agriculture to better meet human needs within
planetary safe operating space.
1
We also begin the 21
st
century suffering the
effects of reduced funding for soil science, and agricultural research more
generally, that started in many countries in the mid-1980s; this followed
widespread governmental budget cuts and a reduced interest in agriculture.
Today there is widespread concern about the land base necessary to meet
current and future energy (biofuels), food (hunger alleviation, increasing
population) and feed (increasing animal production) needs. High oil prices
contribute to greater demand for biofuels. In some parts of the world, the
cultivation of biofuel crops is competing with food crops and driving up
commodity prices.
2
Although the environmental - and particularly soil -
impact of the shift towards growing crops for energy and increased food
production is still under assessment, it is widely realised that global soil
information is not accurate nor digitally available and is not up-to-date.
3
After the Bruntland report of 1987 on Our Common Future and the Earth
Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, there has been a global debate on the issue
of sustainability, particularly in relation to soils, land and agriculture. The end
of the 20th century will be remembered as an era in which the term
'sustainability' was overwhelmingly present in the agriculture and soil science
