A framework for designing multi-functional agricultural landscapes: Application to Guadeloupe Island. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chopin, Pierre; Blazy, Jean-Marc; Guindé, Loïc; Wery, Jacques; Doré, Thierry
• Is Part Of: Agricultural systems. Volume 157(2017)
• Page Start: 316
• Page End: 329
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Farming system design -- Cropping system mosaics -- Land use change -- Ecosystem services -- Scenarios; Agricultural systems -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 338.16
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2016.10.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-521X

Abstract

Abstract: To improve agriculture faced with regional sustainability issues, agricultural landscapes providing a diversity and high level of ecosystem services are necessary. We have developed and tested the MOSAICA-f framework to build innovative multi-functional agricultural landscapes that can consider explicitly: 1) the performance of cropping systems at the field scale, 2) farmers' decision processes on the adoption of cropping systems, and 3) possible scenarios for innovations and policy changes at the regional scale. This framework is based on a scenario approach that encompasses normative, exploratory and optimized scenarios to assess the relevance of combinations of new agricultural policies, changes to the external context (market and regulations) and innovations in cropping systems. The impacts of these changes on sustainability issues are simulated using the regional bioeconomic model MOSAICA for farmers' decision processes regarding the adoption of cropping systems at the field scale throughout a region. Applied in Guadeloupe (French West Indies), the MOSAICA-f framework enabled the design of a scenario increasing agricultural added value, food and energy self-sufficiency, employment and the quality of water bodies and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This sustainable scenario combines new cropping systems tuned to farm types with a reorientation of subsidies, an increased workforce and banning food crop production on polluted soils. It can be used to understand the potential contribution of agriculture to sustainability issues and to help local decision makers define policies that will account for the spatial diversities of farms and fields in a landscape. Beyond the design of such a win-win scenario, MOSAICA-f has revealed trade-offs in the provision of services by agriculture. Highlights: We propose a modelling framework to aid the design of multi-functional landscapes. The framework is based on a scenario approach coupled with an optimization model. Normative, optimized, exploratory scenarios with multiple innovations are combined. The framework is applied in Guadeloupe to design a sustainable scenario. This framework can be used to provide information on possible futures of agriculture.