Achieving agricultural and environmental targets in a changing climate requires a wholesystem based approach

Abstract

Feeding the large future population is associated with severe environmental challenges to which climate change is adding further complications and stress to the global food supply system. The strategies to the challenges posed on ecosystem conservation and climate neutrality would be best achieved by integrating the most current scientific findings in ‘best practice’ policies and their implementation. This paper presents the outcomes from the fourth International Catchment Science Conference in Ireland, a three-day multi-actor conference, and calls for action to improve soil fertility, reduce GHG emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce pollution loss to waters. It was concluded that an accountable management of the agricultural landscape requires a multi-actor, multidisciplinary and multiscale approach with collaboration between the scientific community, policy makers and farmers. Importantly there should be a focus on linking research, technology, education, information, engagement and innovation. Following needed requirements were identified: (i) long-term monitoring, high-temporal and high-spatial resolution data collection, (ii) combining temporarily and spatially rich datasets, (iii) long-term planning horizons to be adopted by key institutional stakeholders, (iv) mitigation strategies to adapt to changing climate and agricultural practices, and (v) an adequate advisory support and training for farmers. Some progress has been achieved to a situation where it is possible to counter or mitigate some of the more urgent issues in the food systems under consideration in the review.

Keywords

Water quality; Soil quality; Greenhouse gas; Mitigation measures; Socioeconomy; Knowledge exchange

Published in

Discover geoscience
2025, volume: 3, number: 1, article number: 205

SLU Authors

• Bieroza, Magdalena

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Djodjic, Faruk

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hallberg, Lukas

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Birmingham

• Kyllmar, Katarina

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Elmi Lannergård, Emma

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Livsey, John

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Wynants, Maarten

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Ghent University

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44288-025-00321-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/145343