In the heart of Bavaria, at the Centre for Climate Resilience of the University of Augsburg, a team of researchers led by Katharina Waha has been delving into a critical yet often overlooked aspect of global agriculture: multiple cropping. Their findings, recently published in the journal “Communications Earth & Environment” (which translates to “Communications Earth and Environment”), challenge the status quo of land use modelling and could significantly impact the future of sustainable agriculture and, by extension, the energy sector.
Multiple cropping, the practice of growing several crops simultaneously or sequentially on the same piece of land, is a global phenomenon. It’s a strategy that farmers have long used to intensify and diversify their production, but it’s a practice that’s largely ignored in global assessments of food production, sustainability, and climate impacts. These assessments, which often inform decision-making and policymaking, typically rely on models that assume monocropping, neglecting the carryover effects between crops and their implications for land use.
“This limitation compromises the representativeness of these studies and the conclusions they draw,” Waha explains. “It’s like trying to understand a symphony by listening to each instrument separately. You’re missing the harmony, the interplay, and the full impact.”
The implications of this oversight are profound. By not accounting for multiple cropping, these models overlook a substantial option space for sustainable intensification and nature-based solutions. They also miss out on understanding the resulting land-atmosphere feedback, which can have significant implications for the energy sector.
For instance, understanding the full range of agricultural practices can help in developing more accurate models for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. This, in turn, can inform policies and practices that not only boost agricultural productivity but also contribute to climate change mitigation.
The research team identifies several development requirements to enhance the inclusion of multiple cropping in land-use models. These include improving data availability and quality, developing more sophisticated modelling approaches, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
As the world grapples with the challenges of feeding a growing population while mitigating climate change, the need for accurate and comprehensive land use modelling has never been greater. Waha’s research serves as a timely reminder that the solutions to these complex problems lie in understanding and embracing the full complexity of agricultural systems.
In the words of Waha, “It’s time we start seeing the bigger picture. It’s time we start listening to the symphony.” The energy sector, along with the rest of the world, is eagerly awaiting the performance.