About this Research Topic
Agricultural systems are complex and dynamic, and their resilience can be affected by a range of factors, including changes in weather patterns, soil quality, pests and diseases, and market demand, among others. One way to enhance agricultural resilience is through management systems that integrate multiple elements, in a way that enhances the overall health and productivity of the system, rather than relying on individual components in isolation. Multi-species cropping (i.e., intercropping or agroforestry systems) and crop-livestock production systems that utilize grazing by multiple livestock species and also crop-livestock integration can improve soil health, reduce erosion, increase nutrient cycling, improve productivity and provide diverse sources of income for farmers. These systems also have great potential to increase food security and improve livelihoods, particularly in regions facing environmental and economic challenges.
There is a need to further explore the specific impacts of these diversified systems in arable and livestock farming, on both environmental and economic sustainability. Such knowledge could provide valuable insights towards overall ecosystem health and productivity, as well as towards the mitigation of climate change and the enhancement of biodiversity. Furthermore, reports that assess the impact of climate change and other environmental stressors on crops and livestock lack specific consideration of multi-species cropping or crop-livestock integrated systems. Therefore the collection of articles obtained through this issue could provide a one-point access to this critical information. The Research Topic aims to advance knowledge of the potential benefits for these diversified and integrated agricultural practices.
This Research Topic welcomes article submissions on, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Effects of multi-species cropping (i.e. intercropping and agroforestry) and crop-livestock systems and mixed grazing on the resilience of agricultural systems
- Environmental stress and crop-livestock systems
- Relationship between sward or crop phytodiversity and system performance
- Role of policy and institutional frameworks in promoting diversified systems
- Potential impacts of diversified systems on resilience to weather anomalies
- Economic benefits of diversified systems in arable or organic livestock farming
- Potential innovative technologies for improving crop-livestock production systems
There is a need to further explore the specific impacts of these diversified systems in arable and livestock farming, on both environmental and economic sustainability. Such knowledge could provide valuable insights towards overall ecosystem health and productivity, as well as towards the mitigation of climate change and the enhancement of biodiversity. Furthermore, reports that assess the impact of climate change and other environmental stressors on crops and livestock lack specific consideration of multi-species cropping or crop-livestock integrated systems. Therefore the collection of articles obtained through this issue could provide a one-point access to this critical information. The Research Topic aims to advance knowledge of the potential benefits for these diversified and integrated agricultural practices.
This Research Topic welcomes article submissions on, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Effects of multi-species cropping (i.e. intercropping and agroforestry) and crop-livestock systems and mixed grazing on the resilience of agricultural systems
- Environmental stress and crop-livestock systems
- Relationship between sward or crop phytodiversity and system performance
- Role of policy and institutional frameworks in promoting diversified systems
- Potential impacts of diversified systems on resilience to weather anomalies
- Economic benefits of diversified systems in arable or organic livestock farming
- Potential innovative technologies for improving crop-livestock production systems
Keywords: Multi-Species, Crop-Livestock, Mixed Grazing, Mixed Systems, Intercropping, Agroforestry, Biodiversity, Resilience, Integrated Agricultural Systems
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
