Shaping the future of agriculture: The role of diversity in low-input and organic cropping systems (Solibam)

 Several factors such as a rising world population, a need for greater environmental protection and climate change are increasing the pressure on agricultural systems worldwide. The major concern is how to ensure food security and food quality while maintaining environmental and socio-economic sustainability. The European Union is taking important policy decisions towards the ‘greening’ of agriculture, which are likely to alter considerably the mode of food production in the near future. Yet, are European farmers ready to take on this challenge? We believe that the key to sustaining food production is diversifying the cropping system at multiple levels, e.g. genetic, species and habitat. Such an approach should be translatable into concrete management strategies applicable to various low-input and organic cropping systems across Europe and elsewhere. The objective of the 1st SOLIBAM Stakeholders Congress is to provide an international forum for discussion amongst relevant stakeholders around four topical themes linked to policy foci. A special theme will address future research needs based on available evidence to prioritise activities and fully exploit the potential of diversity to shape the agriculture of tomorrow.