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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2022

Learning from innovative practitioners: Evidence for the sustainability and resilience of pasture fed livestock systems

Norton, Lisa; Maskell, Lindsay; McVittie, Alistair; Smith, Laurence; Wagner, Markus; Waterton, Claire; Watson, Christine

Abstract

There is an urgent need for transformational change in agriculture to address current and future issues caused by climate change, biodiversity loss and socio-ecological disruption. But change is slow to come and is hindered by a lack of transdisciplinary evidence on potential approaches which take a systems approach. The research described here was co-developed with the Pasture Fed Livestock Association in the UK to objectively evidence their practices. These include producing pasture-based meat from livestock fed on pasture and pasture-based forages alone. This approach sits alongside wider aims of fitting their practices with the ecological conditions on each individual farm to facilitate optimal production and working collaboratively through a forum for sharing knowledge. The research provides strong indications that the PFLA approach to livestock production is resilient and viable, as well as contributing to wider public goods delivery, despite variability within and between farms. It also reveals that learning and adaption of practice (through farmer experience) is central to farming using agro-ecological approaches. This fluidity of practice presents challenges for reductionist approaches to "measuring" agricultural innovations.

Keywords

innovative practitioners; holistic assessment; pasture fed livestock; sustainability; resilience; grassland

Published in

Frontiers in sustainable food systems
2022, volume: 6, article number: 1012691
Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

Authors' information

Norton, Lisa
UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH)
Maskell, Lindsay
UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH)
McVittie, Alistair
Scotland's Rural College
Smith, Laurence G (Smith, Laurence)
Organic Research Centre
Smith, Laurence G (Smith, Laurence)
University of Reading
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biosystems and Technology
Wagner, Markus
UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH)
Waterton, Claire
Lancaster University
Watson, Christine
Scotland's Rural College

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG15 Life on land

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1012691

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/120923