A new discussion paper on land use options for sustainable farming has been written by Chris Smaje.
The paper examines eight land use options for sustainable small-scale farming, including various combinations of vegetable production (organic/conventional; till/no till; with-stock/stock-free), livestock production, nut cultivation and woodland. It assesses their potential in terms of gross and net energy productivity, greenhouse gas emissions and fuel-use.
It suggests that a mixed farming strategy incorporating organic vegetable production with onsite fertility, nut agroforestry and woodland can optimise productivity in relation to greenhouse gas emissions and fuel use. If generalised, this strategy could feed the current UK population without extending the margin of cultivated land, albeit requiring a larger agricultural workforce than presently exists.
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