Integrated Crop Management Vol.6-2008
An international technical workshop Investing in sustainable crop intensification: The case for improving soil health
This publication is a report of a Workshop that brought together people from a wide range of institutions - farmers, researchers, ecologists extensionists, policy makers, donors – from 40 countries who share a common concern about the non-sustainability of ways in which farm land is now being used and who are convinced that this must change. The Workshop, which was hosted by FAO and the UK Tropical Agriculture Association (TAA), focused on the growing evidence of success in the adoption and spread of CA systems in developing countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa, and on ways of mainstreaming CA principles and practices as a sound basis for increasing productivity while sustaining – and enhancing – soil health, biodiversity and other environmental services. CA-based approaches to sustainable production intensification are highly relevant to the global response to rising food and energy prices, increasing soil and environmental degradation, pervasive rural poverty, climate change and increasing water scarcity.