Save and Grow

Factsheets

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FACTSHEET 1

Farming systems
that save and grow

Integrated crop-livestock production
Sustainable rice-wheat production
Agroforestry
Higher yields without agrochemicals
Ripper-furrower system
in Namibia

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FACTSHEET 2

Soil health: technologies that save and grow

Increasing soil organic matter in soils in Latin America
Biological nitrogen fixation to enrich N-poor soils in African savannas
“Urea deep placement” for rice
in Bangladesh
Site-specific nutrient management in intensive rice
Evergreen agriculture in Africa’s Sahel

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FACTSHEET 3

Crops and varieties: approaches that save and grow

Improving the conservation and use of plant genetic resources
Developing improved and adapted varieties
Improving seed production and distribution

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FACTSHEET 4

Water management: technologies that save and grow

Rainwater harvesting in Africa’s Sahel
Deficit irrigation for high yield and maximum net profits
Supplemental irrigation on rainfed dryland
Multiple uses of water systems

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FACTSHEET 5

Plant protection: approaches that save and grow

Ecosystem approach to citrus diseases
Control of viral diseases in tomatoes
Reduced insecticide use in rice
Biocontrol of cassava pests
Natural enemies of cotton pests

Save and Grow (FAO, 2011) can be purchased from publications@fao.org

1. The challenge

To feed a growing world population, we have no option but to intensify crop production. But farmers face unprecedented constraints. In order to grow, agriculture must learn to save.

2. Farming systems

Crop production intensification will be built on farming systems that offer a range of productivity, socio-economic and environmental benefits to producers and to society at large.

3. Soil health

Agriculture must, literally, return to its roots by rediscovering the importance of healthy soil, drawing on natural sources of plant nutrition, and using mineral fertilizer wisely.

4. Crops and varieties

Farmers will need a genetically diverse portfolio of improved crop varieties that are suited to a range of agro-ecosystems and farming practices, and resilient to climate change.

5. Water management

Sustainable intensification requires smarter, precision technologies for irrigation and farming practices that use ecosystem approaches to conserve water.

6. Plant protection

Pesticides kill pests, but also pests’ natural enemies, and their overuse can harm farmers, consumers and the environment. The first line of defence is a healthy agro-ecosystem.

7. Policies and institutions

To encourage smallholders to adopt sustainable crop production intensification, fundamental changes are needed in agricultural development policies and institutions.

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Save and Grow A policymaker's guide to the sustainable intensification of smallholder crop production (FAO, 2011)
ISBN 978-92-5-106871-7
112 pp. 182 x 257 mm, paperback

How to order this book
Write to: publications@fao.org

See also...