Biomimicry
for shaping future
Agriculture
Scoping process
Modern agriculture has had immense benefits in terms of reducing hunger and improving nutrition, especially since the second half the the 20th century and the introduction of fertilizers, pesticides and other technologies of the 'Green Revolution’. Together, these new techniques have considerably increased the yields (FAO, 2001; Stoate et al. 2001; Tilman et al., 2002; WHO, 1990). Sustaining this level of production is a major challenge for our generation but, at the same time, the associated environmental impacts of such practices have to be greatly reduced (Tilman et al., 2001; Vitousek, 1997; Carpenter, 1998).
The natural cycles of nutrient are essential for life (Martin, 2010). Current agricultural practices have however disrupted these cycles through the harvesting of crops, erosion of soils, water runoff, leaching and volatilization of nutrients and inadequate cultural methods (excess of fertilizers, monocultures, livestock exclusion, etc.); leading to an unsustainable agriculture on the long term (Gruhn et al., 2000; Pedro et al. 1997). The causes of this disruption can be classified into two categories: the leakage of the nutrients from the system, and inadequate cultural practices.
Leakage of nutrients from the system
Increased addition of nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium, iron, and calcium among others) through synthetic fertilizers, animal manure, or use of N-fixing plants on cultivated lands, is the keystone of agricultural intensification of the 20th century. Also, deposition of airborne pollutants (like NOx and SOx) adds to the increased nutrient load. These additional inputs have resulted in large-scale changes in nutrient cycles in the last decades (Howarth et al., 2005). Under the influence of percolating water, dissolved nutrients leach out to the groundwater, contributing to water contamination. The nutrient loss from the soil is linked to the decrease of fertility and consequently, a higher nutrient input is required. This positive feedback leads to the excessive use of fertilizers and further degradation of the quality of the ecosystem (Carpenter et al., 1998).
Inadequate cultural practices
The capacity of ecosystems to use and retain nutrients has also been dramatically damaged by the simplification of our landscapes into large-scale, low-diversity agricultural fields (Howarth et al., 2005). The reduction of biodiversity caused by monocultures, both at the species and landscape level, also leads to nutrient losses (Bennett et al., 2012; Ewel et al., 1991; Howarth et al., 2005; Swift & Anderson, 1993; Vitousek & Hooper, 1993;). Indeed, more diverse ecosystems, with higher number of species and niches, result in a more complete utilization of resources compared with monocultures (Hector et al., 2000b); the nutrients that are not used in monoculture then leave the system and end up in groundwaters. Additionally, livestock production enhances the runoff of nutrients together with the surface water, leading to an insufficient nutrient cycling (Oenema et al., 2007).
Eastern Europe
As an opportunity for implementing innovations in agriculture, we look at Eastern Europe. Agriculture in this region has been associated with higher yields since World War II. Indeed, fertilizers use has generally increased in the last decennia, with a shift towards more intensive agriculture and more advanced techniques resulting in bigger yields. However, these changes are associated with an increase of the damages for natural areas; land use change and cropping patterns are causing acidification, soil erosion, salinization, and chemical pollution (Bouma J et al., 1998). Because a further increment in productivity and intensification is predicted in Eastern Europe (Bouma et al. 1998), it is important to design and implement solutions that cope with present and future agricultural pollution sources.
