University of Cambridge\u2019s Department of Zoology<\/a>, and first author of the study.<\/p>\nEcological restoration<\/h3>\n Previous studies have identified priority areas for ecological restoration, but this is the first to plot the relocation of agricultural land to maximise long-term environmental benefits without compromising food security.<\/p>\n
While a complete global relocation of agricultural land is not a scenario that could currently be put into practice, the scientists say their models highlight places where croplands are currently very unproductive yet have potential to be hotspots for biodiversity and carbon storage.<\/p>\n
Taking a pared-back approach and only redistributing croplands within national borders, rather than globally, would still result in significant benefits. As a result of this, the global carbon impact would be reduced by 59% and biodiversity impact would be 77% lower than at present.<\/p>\n
Current issues with farmland redesign<\/h3>\n \u201cIt is currently not realistic to implement this whole redesign. But even if we only relocated a fraction of the world\u2019s cropland, focusing on the places that are least efficient for growing crops, the environmental benefits would be tremendous,\u201d explained Beyer.<\/p>\n
The study demonstrates that the optimal distribution of croplands will change very little until the end of the century, irrespective of the specific ways in which the climate may change.<\/p>\n
\u201cOptimal cropping locations are no moving target. Areas where environmental footprints would be low, and crop yields high, for the current climate will largely remain optimal in the future,\u201d said Andrea Manica, Professor at the University of Cambridge, and senior author of the paper.<\/p>\n
The researchers acknowledge that relocating cropland must be done in a way that is acceptable to the people it affects, both economically and socially. They cite examples of set-aside schemes that give farmers financial incentives to retire part of their land for environmental benefit. Financial incentives can also encourage people to farm in better suited locations.<\/p>\n
Alternative global distribution maps<\/h3>\n The model generated alternative global distribution maps depending on the way the land is farmed \u2013 ranging from advanced, fully mechanised production with high-yielding crop varieties, and optimum fertiliser and pesticide application, through to traditional subsistence-based organic farming. Even redistribution of less intensive farming practices to optimal locations would substantially reduce their carbon and biodiversity impacts.<\/p>\n
While other studies highlight that if we moved towards more plant-based diets we could significantly reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture, the researchers say that in reality diets are not changing quickly. Their model assumed that diets will not change and instead are focused on producing the same food as today but in an optimal way.<\/p>\n
Many of the world’s croplands are located in areas where they have a huge environmental footprint, having replaced carbon-rich and biodiversity-rich ecosystems, and are a significant drain on local water resources. These locations were chosen for historical reasons, such as their proximity to human settlements, but the researchers conclude that it is now time to grow food in a more optimal way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Scientists design a map to display the potential relocation of agricultural land to maximise long-term environmental benefits without compromising food security. Scientists have constructed a map demonstrating where the world\u2019s major food crops should be grown to maximise yield and minimise environmental impact. This relocation of agricultural land would capture large amounts of carbon, increase […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":19285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24433,785],"tags":[550,745,789],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Relocation of agricultural land could greatly reduce carbon emissions<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n