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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #340043
Title: Integration of crop and livestock production in temperate regions to improve agroecosystem functioning and ecosystem services

Author
item Kronberg, Scott
item RYSCHAWY, JULIE - Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique (INRA)

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2018
Publication Date: 1/5/2019
Citation: Kronberg, S.L., Ryschawy, R. 2019. Integration of crop and livestock production in temperate regions to improve agroecosystem functioning, ecosystem services, and human nutrition and health. In: Lemaire, G., Carvalho, P. C. F., Kronberg, S., Recous, S., editors. Agroecosystem diversity: reconciling contemporary agriculture and environmental quality. London, UK: Academic Press. p. 75-90.

Interpretive Summary: Integrated crop-livestock production systems offer many advantages for reducing environmental impacts from food production. Diversity of both crops and livestock produced in integrated production systems is important, but not the only aspects to consider. The variety of ecosystems services provided by these systems is important too as is the biodiversity they support. To adjust to the high environmental performance expected, these systems need to be fully integrated to maximize recycling of nutrients. There are some sophisticated integrations of crop and livestock production systems in temperate regions of the world that are currently unique and have greater agroecosystem functioning. These systems provide more ecosystem services and more profitability for farmers especially if they market their products directly to consumers who will pay more to support farming practice that externalize fewer of their costs to the environment.

Technical Abstract: Sophisticated integrated crop-livestock production systems offer many advantages for reducing environmental impacts from producing high quantities of healthful, nutritious foods. Diversity of both crops and livestock produced in integrated production systems is important in several respects, but not the only important aspects. The variety of ecosystems services provided by these systems is important too as is the biodiversity they support. To adjust to the high environmental performance expected, these systems need to be fully integrated to maximize recycling of nutrients. There are a few sophisticated integrations of crop and livestock production systems in temperate regions of the world that are currently unique. These unique systems likely have improved agroecosystem functioning, provide more ecosystem services and in many cases more profitability for farmers especially if they market their products directly to consumers who are willing to pay more in order to support farming practice that externalize fewer of their costs to the environment.