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Transitioning to agroecology and bioeconomy. This figure illustrates how various agroecological practices also contributing to bioeconomy can be used to reach toward higher sustainability at different scales. The x-axis represents the degree of change implemented in the system, while the y-axis represents the organizational levels at which these changes are effected. Words that are color-coded identically represent the same practice type declined at various organizational levels and transition phase. Crop diversification (green), permanent agroecological infrastructures (brown), crop protection practices (black), recycling processes of by-products and wastes for crop fertilization (blue)
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Background and aims
One of the major challenges of modern agriculture is to transform agricultural systems to support food security under global change. The reduction of the agricultural carbon footprint requires the development of agroecological practices and eco-friendly processes for biomass and by-products transformation. The push towards decar...
Citations
... In this direction, the adoption of a systemic perspective is proposed [23]-a whole vision from a sector to a system [58] or a holistic system with thinking and planning to integrate the multifaceted sectors interconnected in the circular bioeconomy [69]. In addition, a holistic approach to encompass the relationships between the different concepts, in particular the BmBB-BtBB and BsBB, is advocated by [20,70,71]. The European Bioeconomy University included in its Forum 2023 in the thematic session "Identifying synergies for a holistic Bioeconomy approach" to provide an informative overview of the historical evolution and diverse concepts within the bioeconomy to overcome the complexity involving a range of visions, values, and narratives [72]. ...
Despite its relevance, measuring the contributions of the bioeconomy to national economies remains an arduous task that faces limitations. Part of the difficulty is associated with the lack of a clear and widely accepted concept of the bioeconomy and moves on to the connections between methods, data and indicators. The present study aims to define the concepts of bioeconomy and to explore the connections between concepts, methods, data, and indicators when measuring the bioeconomy economically and the limitations involved in this process. The bioeconomy concepts were defined based on a literature review and a content analysis of 84 documents selected through snowballing procedures to find articles measuring “how big is the bioeconomy?” The content of the 84 documents was uploaded to the Quantitative Data Analysis (QDA Miner) software and coded according to the bioeconomy concept, the methods or models used, the data sources accessed, the indicators calculated, and the limitations reported by the authors. The results of the occurrence and co-occurrence of the codes were extracted and analyzed statistically, indicating the following: the measurement of the bioeconomy (i) needs to recognize and pursue the proposed concept of a holistic bioeconomy; (ii) rarely considered aspects of a holistic bioeconomy (3.5%); (iii) is primarily based on the concept of biomass-based bioeconomy (BmBB) (94%); (iv) the association with the concept of biosphere (BsBB) appeared in 26% of the studies; (v) the biotech-based bioeconomy (BtBB) was the least frequent (1.2%); (vi) there is a diversity of methods and models, but the most common are those traditionally used to measure macroeconomic activities, especially input-output models; (vii) depending on the prevailing methods, the data comes from various official statistical databases, such as national accounts and economic activity classification systems; (viii) the most frequently used indicators are value added, employment, and Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions; (ix) there are various limitations related to the concept, methods and models, data, indicators, and others, like incomplete, missing, or lack of data, aggregated data, outdated data or databases, uncertainty of the estimated values, the subjectivity in the bio-shares weighting procedures, and other limitations inherent to methods and models. We conclude that current efforts only partially measure the contributions of the bioeconomy, and efforts should be encouraged toward a full assessment, starting by recognizing that the measurement of a holistic bioeconomy should be pursued.
... Soil is a complex ecosystem comprising living organisms like animals and plants as well as nonliving components such as organic matter and minerals that interact in various ways, especially via the biogeochemical cycles [1]. Furthermore, soil consists of pore systems [2] that are essential for soil health and soil quality [3] defned as the capacity of soil to sustain soil air and soil water quality, leading to proper soil functioning and maintenance of plant health and productivity [4]. ...
The concept of soil quality was developed to describe the capacity of soil to perform ecosystem functions properly. Nowadays, soil quality is affected by climate change effects. To remediate the problem, the ecosystem-based adaptation approach (EbA) was initiated to restore degraded ecosystems. In Rwanda, the approach was initiated in 2016 to restore degraded wetlands, savannas, and forests. However, nothing is known about how the restoration improved soil quality. This research aims to reveal the status of soil physicochemical properties in restored forests and savannas in Eastern Rwanda. Soil cores were collected and analyzed for soil pH, electrical conductivity, ammonium, nitrates, total nitrogen, organic carbon, available phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, cation exchange capacity, structure, texture, and soil water content. Results indicated that the restored and natural forests offer better conditions of soil properties. The restored forest (plot A) had lower level of soil pH and had higher electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, organic carbon, available phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, cation exchange capacity, and sandy loam soil type. The nonrestored forest (plot B) was rich in ammonium, silt, water content, and sandy loam soil type, while the natural forest (plot C) was rich in soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, organic carbon, calcium, magnesium, cation exchange capacity, and soil water content and had loam soil compared to plots A and B. In savannas, all plots were similar in vegetation type and tree species. Higher levels of ammonium were found in plots A and C. The available phosphorus and potassium content was significantly higher in plot A than in the plots B and C. In all savanna plots, soil was sandy loam. Like in the forests, sodium was the same in all plots. We recommend future studies to validate these findings.
... , P, and K, respectively) and other nutrient bioavailability (e.g., micronutrients). Our long-term field study provided interesting evidence about the use of agroecological practices (e.g., that has low cost and can be used for smallholder farmers worldwide without any limitation of technology) and their effects on soil, plant physiology, and fruit quality, that in turns may influence food human behavior and health [17]. Our findings showed that when compared with monocropping systems without mulching and biofertilization, the intercropping system combined with mulching (here acting as soil coverage and thus reducing soil nutrient leaching and soil erosion) and biofertilization (here acting as soil and plant nutrient source) increased the soil pH, available P, and Mg 2? to 8.98, 9.07, and 55.35%, respectively. ...
Changes in the soil fertility, physiological traits, and fruit quality of Morinda citrifolia were investigated between January 2012 and December 2020. Soil samples, physiological properties, and fruits of M. citrifolia were collected in a factorial scheme 2 × 2 × 2, with the use of intercropping with Musa spp., mulching, and biofertilization (e.g., presence and absence) within five blocks. We evaluated soil reaction (pH), P by Melich-1, soil exchangeable cations, potential acidity (H+ + Al3+), sum of bases, CEC, SOC, Fm, F0, Fv, Fv/F0, Fv/Fm, photochemical quenching, non-photochemical quenching, apparent electron transport rate, firmness, refractometric index, soluble sugar content, acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and fruit mineral content. Our results emphasized the influence of agroecological practices on soil chemical properties, plant physiological traits, and fruit quality of M. citrifolia. The combined use of intercropping, mulching, and biofertilization showed high values of soil pH, available P, Mg2+, electron transport rate, firmness, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity, fruit Zn content, and fruit Na content and low values of Ca2+ and K+ under field conditions. The results of this study highlight the importance of considering agroecological practices as promoters of fruit quality, and thus improving fruit properties with high importance for human mental health, fruit palatability, fruit development, fruit postharvest storage, and redox state of the human body.
... These bio-based production methods and new processes should generate new biomolecules for biostimulation, biocontrol, and fertilization (e.g., struvite, integrated biochar-compost), leading to innovation in crop protection [32]. The bioeconomy and agroecology could also constitute a synergistic solution for the further development of these new climate-smart agricultural systems, as reported by Faucon et al. [33]. They reported on the ecological role of crop diversification, waste recycling, and biomass transformation for agroecological development. ...
The accomplishment of food/nutrition security for all across sustainable food systems (SFS) is tied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SFS is connected to all SDGs via the traditional framework of social inclusion, economic development, environmental safety, inclusivity, and the development of sustainable food systems. We suggest that, for the world to achieve sustainable development, a shift to SFS is necessary to guarantee food/nutrition security for all, while operating within planetary boundaries to protect ecosystems and adapt to and mitigate climate change. Therefore, there is a requirement for original approaches that implement systemic and more participatory methods to engage with a wider range of food system stakeholders. However, the lack of skills and tools regarding novel methodologies for food system transformation is a key obstacle to the deployment of such approaches in practice. In the first part of this review, a summary of some challenges that occur in the governance of food system transformation is given. Through a case study of plant-based proteins and their biological and chemical modification as diets shift towards alternative proteins, we demonstrate that resource-efficient food systems and food waste, through system transformation, are useful in understanding both (i) how food system transformation has ensued and (ii) how the required transformation is prohibited. Finally, we discuss the implications of food system transformation in terms of nutrition and sustainable healthy diets, which are needed to achieve changes in food safety systems in the future. The linkage of food and the environment is evident, focusing on nutrition and sustainable healthy diets. This cannot be accomplished without system change and research towards new foods and, more specifically, new proteins such as plant-based ones and their biological and chemical modification.
L'optimisation du fonctionnement des agroécosystèmes représente un défi majeur à l'heure où la pression croissante sur les ressources naturelles et la nécessité de répondre aux besoins alimentaires mondiaux imposent une gestion plus efficiente et durable des terres agricoles. Dans ce contexte, l’un des objectifs de la transition agroécologique est de favoriser le bouclage des grands cycles en promouvant l’augmentation de la biodiversité et la substitution des intrants minéraux par des matières fertilisantes issues de ressources renouvelables. Cependant, compte tenu de la multiplicité des interactions biotiques et abiotiques opérant au sein du système sol-plante, l’acquisition de nouvelles connaissances sur les régulations biologiques et physico-chimiques des cycles biogéochimiques est requise afin d’être en mesure de quantifier et de prédire les intérêts et les limites des pratiques et techniques de culture innovantes et de mettre en place une gestion avisée des ressources pédologiques.
Dans ce mémoire, je m’attèle dans un premier temps à décrire l’évolution de mes réflexions sur la prise en compte des processus opérant au sein du système sol-plante en vue de concevoir des agroécosystèmes multifonctionnels et durables. Plus spécifiquement, je fais état de mes principales recherches sur la compréhension des processus rhizosphériques impliqués dans la mobilisation du phosphore et de leurs implications pour l’amélioration de la disponibilité du phosphore dans les sols. Puis, j’aborde la question de l’utilisation de co-produits industriels ou agricoles comme amendements multifonctionnels pour les sols. J’illustre ma démarche en accordant un intérêt particulier au biochar, objet de mes recherches depuis ma thèse jusqu’à aujourd’hui, et à ses effets sur le fonctionnement du système sol-plante.
Dans un second temps, je propose un projet de recherche basé sur une amélioration de la compréhension des processus biogéochimiques opérant au sein du système sol-plante à travers une approche holistique gravitant autour de trois piliers de l’agroécologie et de l’agriculture de conservation, à savoir le recyclage des nutriments au moyen d’amendements organiques, la réduction du travail du sol et l’implantation d’un couvert, en particulier diversifié en espèces. La démarche proposée dans ce projet se veut de complexité croissante : elle propose d’étudier les interactions sol-plante et leurs conséquences sur le fonctionnement du sol en réponse à l’apport d’amendements, puis aborde la question du travail du sol et de la stratification de la disponibilité en nutriments sur ces interactions et se clôture par l’intégration de la complexité de ces interactions dans les systèmes diversifiés en espèces végétales. Un exemple de perspectives à ces études termine ce projet en soulignant la nécessité d’étudier le couplage des cycles biogéochimiques à travers leurs liens directs et indirects afin de maximiser la fourniture de service écosystémiques par les sols et les agroécosystèmes.
