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An ecological approach to regulation of weeds, pests and diseases; Illustrated knowledge gaps based on field experimentation; Some ideas regarding long term experiments Conclusions - need to be explored in field experiments 1. Effects and mechanisms for ecological management of weeds, pests and diseases - preventive measures or combining preventive with curative direct control. 2. Long term and environmental effects of preventing, controlling and their combination 3. Sustainability (multiple criteria) assessments of cropping systems

Phenology algorithms in crop growth models have inevitable systematic errors and uncertainties. In this study, the phenology simulation algorithms in APSIM classical (APSIM 7.9) and APSIM next generation (APSIM-NG) were compared for spring barley models at high latitudes. Phenological data of twelve spring barley varieties were used for the 2014-2018 cropping seasons from northern Sweden and Finland. A factorial-based calibration approach provided within APSIM-NG was performed to calibrate both models. The models have different mechanisms to simulate days to anthesis. The calibration was performed separately for days to anthesis and physiological maturity, and evaluations for the calibrations were done with independent datasets. The calibration performance for both growth stages of APSIM-NG was better compared to APSIM 7.9. However, in the evaluation, APSIM-NG showed an inclination to overestimate days to physiological maturity. The differences between the models are possibly due to slower thermal time accumulation mechanism, with higher cardinal temperatures in APSIM-NG. For a robust phenology prediction at high latitudes with APSIM-NG, more research on the conception of thermal time computation and implementation is suggested.

The integration of grain legumes into European agricultural systems could contribute to the transition to more sustainable food production. While the general benefits from legume cultivation are widely known, especially in organic farming, there is little evidence on how to re-design organic cropping systems with legumes to make this option more attractive to farmers. The objectives of this study were to describe the constraints and opportunities of organic grain legume production perceived by farmers, explain the agronomic impacts of current grain legume cropping, explore technical options to improve grain legume agronomy, and to re-design current grain legume cropping systems in a participatory process with farmers. A co-design approach was implemented with organic farmers, advisors and scientists on 25 farms in northern Germany, that were part of two large demonstration networks of about 100 farms supporting grain legumes across Germany. We used the DEED research cycle (Describe, Explain, Explore and Design) as a conceptual framework combining on-farm research, crop rotation modelling, and on-station experiments. From it, we identified nine agronomic practices that either were novel or confirmed known strategies under new conditions, to re-design organic grain legume cropping systems at the field and farm level. We also demonstrate how to complement knowledge of farmers’ perceptions (Describe step) and formal knowledge from classical on-station experiments and modelling (Explain step) with on-farm research including the local views of farmers (Explore step) to identify tailored options for specific farm contexts rather than prescriptive solutions (Design step) to intensify legume production. This approach therefore contrasts with traditional methods that are often solely participatory and qualitative or model/experimental-based and quantitative. Hence, our results provide new insights in how to re-design cropping systems using a combination of participatory and quantitative approaches. While participatory approaches are common in developing countries, this study shows their potential in an industrialized context with large-scale farmers in Europe. These novel findings can be used as a starting point for further adaptations of organic cropping systems and contribute to the transitioning towards economically and environmentally more sustainable food and feed systems.

Rapid expansion of unsustainable farming practices in upland areas of Southeast Asia threatens food security and the environment. This study assessed alternative agroforestry systems for sustainable land management and livelihood improvement in northwest Vietnam. The performance of fruit tree-based agroforestry was compared with that of sole cropping, and farmers&rsquo, perspectives on agroforestry were documented. After seven years, longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.)-maize-forage grass and son tra (Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne)-forage grass systems had generated 2.4- and 3.5-fold higher average annual income than sole maize and sole son tra, respectively. Sole longan gave no net profit, due to high investment costs. After some years, competition developed between the crop, grass, and tree components, e.g., for nitrogen, and the farmers interviewed reported a need to adapt management practices to optimise spacing and pruning. They also reported that agroforestry enhanced ecosystem services by controlling surface runoff and erosion, increasing soil fertility and improving resilience to extreme weather. Thus, agroforestry practices with fruit trees can be more profitable than sole-crop cultivation within a few years. Integration of seasonal and fast-growing perennial plants (e.g., grass) is essential to ensure quick returns. Wider adoption needs initial incentives or loans, knowledge exchange, and market links.