Land use patterns and pollution are causing mass extinction of diverse species; urgent action is needed
Today's patterns of human use and pollution of water, soil, and other resources are undermining the self-renewal capacity of these closely interlinked natural systems. One of the greatest risks of the 21st century is the collapse of these systems’ regenerative abilities, which could lead to irreversible effects. The current challenges faced by society and the economy stem from the fact that the resources upon which all life depends, including human life, are finite yet subject to increasing demands. There is a clear need for new methods to manage these essential resources and foster social coordination among different groups to address such complex challenges.
Many ways to tackle climate change increase the pressure on the land
Experts have demonstrated that our land use patterns and pollutant emissions are largely undermining, or even eliminating, the regenerative processes necessary for healthy soils, waters, and biodiversity. The driving factors include changes to land surfaces and ecosystems caused by human activities (e.g. urban sprawl, landscape development, river straightening, or draining wetlands for agricultural use) and the emission of pollutants or alteration of natural material cycles (e.g. industrial production processes, infrastructure maintenance, and the use of chemical fertilisers or pesticides in agriculture). While the current agricultural system ensures medium-term food security, it also contributes to increasing biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and pollutant contamination of the environment and water bodies. In Luxembourg, the condition of habitats and water quality is noticeably deteriorating, with the risk of heatwaves, water shortages, and summer droughts continuing to rise (Strategy and Action Plan, MECDD; Energy and Climate Plan, MEA).
Biodiversity regeneration, carbon sequestration, and nutrition must be considered together
Regenerative forms of cultivation offer significant potential to minimise agriculture’s negative impacts, ensure food security, and simultaneously improve the state of the environment and quality of life locally, securing them for the long term.
Integrated approaches such as agroforestry are required
Agroforestry refers to a land use practice where woody plants are combined with arable crops, vegetable cultivation, meadows, pastures, and livestock farming on a single area, resulting in ecological, economic, and, where possible, social benefits. It has been proven that agroforestry systems positively affect biodiversity and can, for example, contribute to greenhouse gas mitigation by sequestering atmospheric carbon on agricultural land. Various ground cover plants and natural grasses can protect the soil from erosion, while reduced silting enhances soil infiltration capacity and its water balance (FAO, 2017), allowing nutrients to be more effectively retained in the soil and plants compared to conventional agriculture. Consequently, fewer nutrients are introduced into nearby water bodies, improving water quality as well.
The high potential of agroforestry systems is further highlighted by funding opportunities at the European level, aimed at enabling the rapid and large-scale adoption of such regenerative practices in agriculture. As part of the Green Deal and the new CAP, Member States are explicitly required to design and implement national frameworks for introducing agroforestry systems across a wide range of agricultural land.
Objectives of the project and methodology
The key questions were: What is the potential of agroforestry in Luxembourg, and what are the conditions for success?
In a pilot project exploring the potential of agroforestry systems in Luxembourg, supported by the national Nature and Forest Administration, over 30 interviews and two workshops were conducted and analysed between May and December 2021. These workshops were organised in close cooperation with the company 'Triebwerk'. The result is an initial report with recommendations and conditions for the successful implementation of agroforestry on a larger scale in Luxembourg. The report also presents diverse perspectives on the opportunities, obstacles, contradictions (e.g. between existing policies), and scope for action.
The following main findings emerged from the interviews:
- Agroforestry has the potential to safeguard livelihoods by promoting soil and environmental protection and ensuring food security.
- The main prerequisite is to ensure and communicate the attractiveness and safety of agroforestry systems so that they are implemented in agriculture. Legal framework, support programs and value-creation opportunities are key.
- A clear legal framework that characterises agroforestry as agricultural land in the long term, without the risk of loss of value due to land conversion.
- Funding instruments should allow maximum freedom of design to permit flexible adaptations on site and to implement the area design as diversely as possible.
- Subsidies must be available in the long term with as little effort as possible for the subsidised parties. Additional planning security can be created by minimising long-term risks with, for example, insurance conditions against extreme weather events.
- Coherence and cooperation between different policy and practice areas, within agriculture and forestry, nature, water, soil, and climate protection, a clear and simple legal framework must be provided for the implementation of agroforestry systems.
- Networking and good communication between pioneers and pilot projects with well-coordinated accompanying research and certification courses for all interested parties in the areas of planning, implementation, legal and economic aspects, planting, maintenance, and harvesting.
- Innovations to diversify agricultural production in regional value chains with public involvement.
Research on ecosystems has introduced the concept of resilience—the ability to reorganise ourselves to ensure continued ecological and human health, even in times of rapid change. This requires a living web of fertile soils, healthy ecosystems, and biodiversity that form the foundation of our existence. To protect the habitats of humans and other life forms, we need the capacity to implement holistic and rapid changes, including in water and food systems and our consumer behaviour.
Next steps
- Recommendations for the promotion of agroforestry systems on conventional and organic agricultural land in Luxembourg.
- A certification course for agricultural advisors (led by Triebwerk; partner: Lycée Technique Agricole, University of Luxembourg) and farmers with suitable areas for conversion, which should also serve to co-design site-adapted pilot projects.
- Accompanying research - A concept with participatory data collection to capture various impacts of agroforestry systems in socio-ecological-technological systems through citizen science and remote sensing
- Creation of a networking platform to connect projects and realise new projects with communities
