Conservation technologies

Conservation technologies used to manage resources sustainably

• Conservation technologies are at the heart of sustainable agriculture
  
  
• Increasing food production whilst protecting ecosystems and natural resources for future generations is made possible through dynamic conservation techniques utilising plant science technologies and products.
  
  
• Conservation technologies in agriculture deliver a range of benefits such as more efficient use of water, reduction in soil erosion, increased biodiversity, improved air quality and increased farm incomes.
  
  

Conservation technologies in agriculture are used to manage resources sustainably.  They allow farmers to switch from undesirable and destructive management techniques such as inversion ploughing or burning, to more environmentally responsible methods based on conservation tillage and selective application of crop protection products.  Such practices deliver a range of benefits for farmers and the environment.

Conservation technologies are at the heart of sustainable agriculture, providing dynamic solutions to problems encountered in increasing agricultural production while avoiding damaging ecosystems or depleting natural resources to the detriment of future generations.  Conservation technologies incorporate into normal agricultural practice natural regenerative processes, such as nitrogen fixation, nutrient recycling, maintenance of soil structure and fertility and protection of natural enemies of insect pests, weeds and diseases.

These innovative approaches make better use of the practical knowledge of farmers and, where appropriate, incorporate new science-based technologies for optimum results.

Maintaining permanent soil cover is one of the main principles of conservation agriculture.  Coupled with minimum or zero tillage, this helps to:

• Prevent wind and water erosion and loss of ground moisture.
  
  
• Improve soil biodiversity
  
  
• Increase soil fertility
  
  
• Reduce carbon emissions
  
  
• Reduce labour, time and farm energy costs.
  
  

Experience shows that implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches also assists with management of disease, insect, and weed problems.

Farming systems based on conservation technologies are not low output agriculture.  Conservation agriculture provides comparable yields to intensive conventional farming and relies on the sustainable use of high-input technologies.

Use of conservation techniques has already demonstrated marked economic and environmental benefits for small, medium and large farms in the developing and developed world alike.

The plant science industry has been working with researchers and farming communities throughout the world to assist in the development and dissemination of location-specific, sustainable practices.  As a result, to date, nearly 60 million hectares worldwide are under low or no tillage.

CropLife International’s report on conservation technologies  details some of the results of implementing conservation techniques in many countries around the world. For example:

• Farmers in Paraguay practice conservation tillage techniques on over 1 million hectares to help overcome the negative impact of mechanised ploughing and intensive crop management practices.
  
  
• In Canada, conservation tillage is used on more than 4 million hectares covering a range of crops, including wheat, maize and canola.
  
  
• In the U.K, nearly 30% of all agricultural land uses conservation agriculture to address soil degradation due to erosion.
  
  
• Conservation practices in South Asia have improved productivity, lowered cultivation costs, reduced weed populations and contributed to water savings for rice and wheat crops. These are the staple food crops in the region, feeding and providing livelihoods for 1.8 billion people.
  
  
• In Malaysia, the rubber and oil palm plantation industry has developed a zero-burning replanting technique. Besides contributing to a cleaner environment and reducing air pollution, this method replenishes soil organic matter and improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil.
  
  
• In Australia, planting of wheat without cultivation allows large areas to be covered quickly and crops to be established early, making full use of moisture from early season rains and shortening the period when soils are exposed to wind erosion.
  
  
• No-till farmers in Ghana obtained maize yields that were 45% higher than farmers who did not use this technology during normal years. In a dry year such as 2000, the yield was 48% higher.
  
  

For more information on conservation technologies, click on this link:

- Conservation technologies