Building a global outdoor classroom and laboratory on sustainable foodscapes

LIGHTHOUSE FARM NETWORK

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RKThe challenge: Why do we need “lighthouse farms”

Global agriculture finds itself at a historic cross-roads: while population growth and rising affluence

are leading to an increasing demand for food, agriculture is using land, energy and resources

at rates that exceed the planetary boundaries and can thus not be sustained indefinitely.

Notwithstanding recent efforts to incrementally improve the sustainability of our food, more radical

changes are now required if we are to deliver on the many Sustainable Development Goals that

refer to agriculture. The ‘grand challenge’ is to transform global farming systems so that they

simultaneously:

This transformation requires the design of new future farming systems that meet

the five objectives for a range of soils, climates, cultures and local conditions.

Design of radically new future farming systems...

1) contribute to food security2) maximise resource use efficiency3) ensure stability and resilience4) minimise environmental impact 5) contribute to social justice

Photo credits: Yavanna Aartsma1

Bridging the think-do gap

But ‘designing solutions’ does not equate to ‘solving the challenge’. Decision makers (e.g. farmers, policy makers) encounter numerous obstacles to implementation, known as the ‘think-do gap’. Examples include issues relating to land fragmentation, taxation structures, gender inequality or poor local infrastructure. Whilst these obstacles may appear to relate only indirectly to the topic of sustainability, they can lead farmers to conclude, perfectly rationally, that optimised lighthouse systems are out of reach within their unique farming contexts. Therefore, if we want our lighthouse farm systems to have an impact on global agriculture, there is little point in simply ‘trying to convince the neighbours to follow suit’. Instead, through co-innovation and in a transdisciplinary approach, we will involve researchers and students in engaging with the local communities of actors, to identify and understand barriers to transformation, and either chart a path to removing these, or iteratively ‘redesign the lighthouses’ to be compatible with local decision making.

Involve researchers and students in engaging with the local communities of actors

THE THINK-DO GAP

“Think” (design)

“Do” (facilitate)

Farm A

Farm B Farm C

?

organicfarming

multi-functioningfarming community / fair

trade agriculture

urban /verticalfarming

insect farming

smart agriculture

(Hi-tech/ITC)

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RKWhat is a Lighthouse Farm?

A lighthouse farm is an existing, commercially operating farm in the real world, that is ‘already in 2050’, providing sustainably produced food and ecosystem services. It demonstrates what can be achieved within the bio-physical and socio-economic solution spaces.

What is the Lighthouse Farm Network?

The network of lighthouse farms consists of a mosaic of customised farming systems, for contrasting environments, climates, farmers and cultures. This network of lighthouses will create a uniquely tangible ‘real-life’ global outdoor classroom and laboratory on sustainable food security that:

1. Provides excellent opportunities for engagement and collaboration with farmers, stakeholders, industry and policy makers2. Facilitates valuable shared learning between contrasting ‘lighthouse systems’3. Provides a platform to anchor international collaborations

Photo credits: Yavanna Aartsma3

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FARMING SYSTEMS ECOLOGY

What we doThe Farming Systems Ecology (FSE) group of Wageningen University and Research (WUR) focuses on the analysis and redesign of farming systems and foodscapes, so that they deliver multiple benefits to humankind, using natural processes as our starting point.

Who we areOur multi-disciplinary team includes expertise in (complex) systems analysis, modelling, agro-ecology, co-innovation, policy formation and immersive education. We uniquely combine a strong platform of simulation models with hands-on, empirical assessments of outstanding examples of sustainable farms and landscapes in all continents.

Working togetherWe develop innovative solutions together with a very wide and diverse network of research actors and external stakeholders. These include national, European and global research organisations (such as the CGIAR programmes), farmers, NGOs, industry and regional, national and EU policy makers. We lead and participate in a number of European Horizon 2020 projects, as well as numerous national and regional programmes.

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RKSyntropic farming in Brazil

Syntropic Agriculture is a high density and diversity agro-ecologic farming system, developed by Ernst Götsch. In this agroforestry system, species are planted and managed based on their function and place in ecological succession. Green manure crops are harvested and applied as mulch on top of the soil in order to build soil, prevent erosion, retain water and provide nutrients. The hypothesis is that constant pruning makes Syntropic Agriculture more productive compared to conventional production systems.

Crops are planted and managed based on their function and place in ecological succession...

Photo credits: Fazanda Ouro Fino

Symbiosis: an organic community in Finland

Symbiosis is creating a local circular economy, including an organic arable farm, hen house, bakery, shop and biodigester. They have the ambition to become net exporters of both food and energy. The leading farm was named “Farmer of the Year of the Baltic Sea Region” by the World Wildlife Fund. Symbiosis is supported by the University of Helsinki and the The Finnish Ministry of Environment.

Net exporters of both food and energy...

Adaptation of photo by Niklas Maisi

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Complex rice systems in Indonesia

These systems combine rice production with the cultivation of fish, azolla and ducks, creating a complex, resilient system,

with higher net revenues for smallholder farmers than conventional systems.

A complex, resilient ecosystem, with higher revenues for smallholder farmers...

Photo credits: Uma Khumairoh

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The Lands at Dowth in Ireland

The aim is to combine healthy and sustainable animal production on the historic World Heritage site of Dowth, by developing a healthy ecosystem from soil to grass to animal. Led by Devenish Nutrition, this project has engaged with WUR in the Heartland proposal, which will draw on lessons from yesteryear to define sustainability for tomorrow.

A healthy ecosystem from soil to society...

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Pablo Modernel (FSE): pablo.modernelhristoff@wur.nl

Arni Janssen (FTE): arni.janssen@wur.nl

For more information about the Lighthouse Farm Network, please contact:

www.wur.eu/fse www.wur.eu/fte

© 2017 Farming Systems Ecology, WUR. All rights reserved.Graphic design: Yavanna Aartsma