Seminar: Narrowing the ecological yield gap to sustain crop yields with less inputs

At this seminar Martin van Ittersum will introduce the concept of an ‘ecological yield gap’ and illustrate it with some empirical examples.

Producing sufficient and healthy food sustainably requires efficient use of agricultural inputs. In many regions of the world with intensive agriculture and relatively small yield gaps, this calls for a reduction of external inputs (fertilizers and pesticides) while maintaining yields.

Empirical evidence on variation in input use, use efficiency and yields suggests significant scope to reduce external inputs while maintaining yields. Ecological intensification, defined as the use of practices that enhance on-farm ecosystem services to reduce external input requirements, has been proposed as a strategy to achieve this. However, the effects of ecological intensification are context- and input-dependent, creating uncertainty regarding which practices should be implemented where, and the extent to which they can sustain yields.

You are welcome to attend the seminar in Tammsalen at the Ecology Centre in Ultuna, Uppsala. If you prefer to follow the seminar online, please fill in the form below and we will send you the Zoom link.