Agroecology Ecologically-smart farming

Agroecology is the study of ecological processes agro-ecological way of using resources. Grassland that affect agriculture and may refer to a science, systems also have a high potential for good animal movement or practice. It looks at the interaction welfare. between flora and fauna (including humans) in the Ecological sustainability can only be achieved with environment. It aims to create stable, sustainable, minimal pollution in the form of leached fertilisers, resilient and productive farms. By integrating ammonia, antibiotics and fine particulate matter; ecological principles into agricultural systems, novel these problems are more common in industrial approaches and techniques may be found that agriculture than in more extensive systems could benefit both ecology and agriculture. Mimicking nature, not industry A circular economy One example of an agro-ecological livestock farming Compared with agro-ecological farms, intensive system is an integrated crop-livestock system. This systems maintain animal health by routine use of uses crop residues as animal feed and recycles veterinary medicines, including antibiotics. This animal manures - rich in nutrients and energy for contributes to antibiotic resistance and is therefore micro-organisms in the soil - as crop fertiliser. not sustainable nor resilient. Rather than being a pollutant, manure becomes a Good farm animal welfare is key to creating an agro- key resource. By growing nitrogen-fixing crops such ecological farm because good animal health is as legumes, external nitrogen inputs can be essential for a productive, stable, healthy and reduced. Diverse grasslands can also reduce sustainable farm. nitrogen leaching by complementary uptake of water and nitrogen. A proper agro-ecological system will develop good animal health without the need for regular Another agro-ecological example comes from Cuba, medication. It will instead build good veterinary which uses horses to graze a grass-legume mixture health by strengthening animals’ immunity. This within citrus trees The horses act as weed involves avoiding the stress produced by controllers and natural fertilisers, with the result overcrowding, excessive group sizes and inability to being a more productive and economical farm. perform natural behaviours. In France, agro-ecological dairies reduce fodder Because of the huge quantity of plants needed as input as mixed grass-legume pastures provide animal feed in industrial systems, feed crops tend to forage and allow for extended grazing seasons. be grown intensively in monocultures with This creates lower nitrogen pollution and also substantial use of environmentally damaging agro- reduces pesticide and energy use. The lower chemicals. Decreasing the inputs needed for productivity is compensated for by higher added- production is key to ensuring a sustainable agro- value products and reduced input costs. ecological farm. Feeding animals grass and crop Integrated pest control is another aspect of residues, which are inedible to humans, is a more agroecology, for example where chickens eat cutworms and sheep keep the weeds down. Cover species, disease treatment with plant extracts or crops like alyssum and clover prevent erosion and essential oils to replace chemicals, and use of tannin- can be grazed on by the sheep. rich forage species for parasite control;

For people, animals & the planet 2) Decrease the inputs needed for production, particularly by giving priority to locally-produced feed By allowing livestock to exhibit their natural (e.g. fresh grass, hay, silage) rather than human- behaviours, such as egg-laying hens foraging on edible food (e.g. cereals, pulses); clover and peas, health and production can be maintained, so high animal-welfare can be an 3) Decrease pollution by producing manure from indicator of a sustainable system. Allowing natural pasture-fed cows to fertilises field rather than creating polluting slurry from industrial farms and behaviours also reduces stress, which improves using energy-intensive manmade fertilisers; health and creates a more productive and less antibiotic-dependent system. 4) Enhance diversity to strengthen resilience, e.g. by using locally-adapted breeds for maximising grassland Soils can be enhanced on agro-ecological farms by using nitrogen-fixing legumes such as Lucerne in use whilst reducing concentrate feed; perennial grassland. Diverse crops, grasses, 5) Preserve wild biological diversity in agroecosystems livestock breeds and grazing management practices by adapting management practices. enhance resilience against adverse weather changes, disease and market price fluctuations, The potentially high capital investment and financial whilst also improving self-sufficiency. Economic risk in changing to an agro-ecological farm can be sustainability can be maintained by reducing input mitigated by highlighting the reduced input costs, costs through focusing on feeding livestock on increased market prices and environmental grasses rather than feed crops. outcomes. Good animal welfare is closely related to: the Food for thought production of healthy food; reduced incidence of By combining proposals from two recent reports we antibiotic resistance, and diseases; beneficial have devised the following recommendations for environmental outcomes (e.g. reduced ammonia agro-ecological livestock production: emissions and water pollution); and reduced competition for grain, which might potentially lower 1) Adoption of management practices aimed at grain prices and increase food security. improving animal health e.g. applying integrated disease and parasite control, rotational grazing, For more information on agroecology, please visit balanced feeding, adapted housing, hygiene, http://tinyurl.com/jgkmn7g or traditional breeds, mixed grazing of different livestock http://tinyurl.com/jsmzt34 (pdf).

Compassion in World Farming River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming GU7 1EZ, UK [email protected] | +44 1483 521 953 Registered charity number 1095050