1. Mixed crop-livestock farm: definitions and research issues. A review
- Author
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Annick Gibon, Julie Ryschawy, Alexandre Joannon, Agrosystèmes Cultivés et Herbagers (ARCHE), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-École nationale supérieure agronomique de Toulouse [ENSAT]-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Dynamiques Forestières dans l'Espace Rural (DYNAFOR), AGroécologie, Innovations, teRritoires (AGIR), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP), SAD Paysage (SAD Paysage), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-AGROCAMPUS OUEST, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS (FRANCE), Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Formation de l'Enseignement Agricole - ENSFEA (FRANCE), Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse - Toulouse INP (FRANCE), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - INRA (FRANCE), Ryschawy, Julie, and Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse - INPT (FRANCE)
- Subjects
farm ,mixed farming ,sustainable development ,farming system ,Natural resource economics ,[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law ,Crop livestock ,Farming system ,Politics ,Sustainable development ,Ecologie, Environnement ,2. Zero hunger ,business.industry ,Environmental resource management ,15. Life on land ,Farm ,Incentive ,Mixed farming ,Agriculture ,Sustainability ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Livestock ,business ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
For two decades, mixed crop-livestock farms have once again been attracting worldwide interest, in particular in the northern hemisphere, where mixed crop-livestock farms have been decreasing. As they are considered to be a good way of limiting environmental problems while being productive and economically viable, mixed crop-livestock systems could be a way to tackle environmental challenges linked to specialised agriculture. The definition of mixed crop-livestock farming nevertheless includes many different types of farming around the world. According to the level of interactions between livestock and crops within farm, mixed crop-livestock farms could be more or less able to meet sustainability challenges. The research works reviewed are mostly focused on biophysical flows between crops and livestock within farms. Farmers' decisions and practices are not taken into account in these works. Mixed crop-livestock studies are based mainly on technical or economic arguments, or on contrasted case studies of the southern hemisphere. Systemic approaches are needed to allow a rethink of the way in which mixed crop-livestock farming could contribute to sustainable development. To limit misunderstanding, the definition of mixed crop-livestock systems should better explained in research studies on the topic, in particular the level of integration between crops and livestock considered. Specific political incentives would be needed to develop and maintain mixed crop-livestock systems, especially in the northern hemisphere.
- Published
- 2014