Sustainable Intensification of Agricultural Systems
Channel: UW–Madison CALS
Date: 2014-12-18

Can we sustainably intensify food production to meet the needs of a growing population with changing consumption patterns? On November 14, 2014, the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (http://www.cias.wisc.edu) addressed this question through a lecture with Dr. Jules Pretty, Professor of Environment and Society, University of Essex. In this presentation, Dr. Pretty analyzes recent evidence of the impacts of sustainable intensification in both developing and industrialized countries, and demonstrates how both yield and natural capital dividends can occur. He provides observations on policies and incentives necessary for the wider adoption of sustainable intensification. This lecture was possible thanks to support from the Lectures Committee General Fund. Cosponsors included the F.H. King Students for Sustainable Agriculture, Slow Food UW, Agroecology Program, Department of Agronomy, Department of Soil Science and Wisconsin Prevention of Obesity and Diabetes.