TY - JOUR

T1 - Multi-Functional Land Use Is Not Self-Evident for European Farmers

T2 - A Critical Review

AU - Schroder, Jaap J.

AU - Ten Berge, Hein F. M.

AU - Bampa, Francesca

AU - Creamer, Rachel E.

AU - Giraldez-Cervera, Juan V.

AU - Henriksen, Christian B.

AU - Olesen, Jørgen E.

AU - Rutgers, Michiel

AU - Sanden, Taru

AU - Spiegel, Heide

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Soils perform more functions than primary productivity. Examples of these functions are the recycling of nutrients, the regulation and purification of water, the regulation of the climate, and supporting biodiversity. These abilities are generally referred to as the soil quality. Soil management that favors primary productivity may have positive and negative impacts on the other functions, and vice versa, depending on soil and climatic conditions. All these functions are under pressure, particularly in intensive agriculture. In the absence of mandatory regulations, most European farmers give limited attention to other functions than primary productivity in spite of recommendations by scientists, society and policy makers to acknowledge the ecosystem services provided by soils. The present paper analyses the underlying causes of this limited attention for the multi-functionality of soils by farmers. It is concluded that their focus on primary productivity may stem from (1) insufficient visible proof for soil degradation and benefits of preventive measures over curative measures, (2) limited awareness or conviction of long-term synergies, (3) insufficient remuneration of ecosystem services by society or compensation of yield penalties in favor of these services, (4) lacking trustworthy knowledge about and support for multi-functional soil management, and (5) absence of incentives and regulations on soil management and their enforcement. All these shortcomings need to be addressed by advisors, scientists, and policy makers, whilst acknowledging the need for underpinning and differentiation of incentives and regulations.

AB - Soils perform more functions than primary productivity. Examples of these functions are the recycling of nutrients, the regulation and purification of water, the regulation of the climate, and supporting biodiversity. These abilities are generally referred to as the soil quality. Soil management that favors primary productivity may have positive and negative impacts on the other functions, and vice versa, depending on soil and climatic conditions. All these functions are under pressure, particularly in intensive agriculture. In the absence of mandatory regulations, most European farmers give limited attention to other functions than primary productivity in spite of recommendations by scientists, society and policy makers to acknowledge the ecosystem services provided by soils. The present paper analyses the underlying causes of this limited attention for the multi-functionality of soils by farmers. It is concluded that their focus on primary productivity may stem from (1) insufficient visible proof for soil degradation and benefits of preventive measures over curative measures, (2) limited awareness or conviction of long-term synergies, (3) insufficient remuneration of ecosystem services by society or compensation of yield penalties in favor of these services, (4) lacking trustworthy knowledge about and support for multi-functional soil management, and (5) absence of incentives and regulations on soil management and their enforcement. All these shortcomings need to be addressed by advisors, scientists, and policy makers, whilst acknowledging the need for underpinning and differentiation of incentives and regulations.

KW - land management

KW - primary productivity

KW - soil health

KW - soil quality

KW - soil degradation

KW - soil function

KW - ecosystem services

KW - DEPLETE SOIL-NITROGEN

KW - CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

KW - ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

KW - ORGANIC-MATTER

KW - GLOBAL DILEMMA

KW - CLIMATE-CHANGE

KW - CATTLE SLURRY

KW - COVER CROPS

KW - MANAGEMENT

KW - QUALITY

U2 - 10.3389/fenvs.2020.575466

DO - 10.3389/fenvs.2020.575466

M3 - Review

VL - 8

JO - Frontiers in Environmental Science

JF - Frontiers in Environmental Science

SN - 2296-665X

M1 - 575466

ER -