UK-Finland Sustainability Knowledge Exchange 19-21 October 2020

1. Quantifying the contribution of ‘Nature
Based Solutions’ to productivity
Prof. Jonathan Storkey
(Rothamsted Research, UK)

2. Talk outline
• Jargon buster
• Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Systems
• A new Long Term Experiment at Rothamsted

3. Talk outline
• Jargon buster
• Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Systems
• A new Long Term Experiment at Rothamsted

4. Jargon buster: ‘Sustainable intensification’
“…a process or system where agricultural yields are increased*
without adverse environmental impact and without the conversion
of additional non-agricultural land”
*or maintained?

5. Jargon buster: ‘Ecological intensification’
“…the environmentally friendly replacement of anthropogenic inputs and/or
enhancement of crop productivity, by including regulating and
supporting ecosystem services management in agricultural practices”
= ‘Nature based solutions’
Trends in Ecology and Evolution 28: 230-238

6. Jargon buster: ‘Natural and human capital’
Jones L. et al. (2016) Land Use Policy 52: 151-162

7. Talk outline
• Jargon buster
• Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Systems
• A new Long Term Experiment at Rothamsted

8. ASSIST
A five year (2017-2022) ‘multi centre’ National Capability and Strategic Programme Award

9. ASSIST: A large scale field experiment

10. ASSIST: A large scale field experiment

11. ASSIST: concepts also being applied
in horticulture

12. ASSIST: Nature based solutions in
livestock systems
1500
2000
2500
3000
kgDM/ha
Herbage mass
Cell Continuous

13. Talk outline
• Jargon buster
• Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Systems
• A new Long Term Experiment at Rothamsted

14. The Large Scale Rotation Experiment (LSRE)
Sir John Bennet Lawes
Sir Joseph Henry Gilbert
If these gentlemen were
alive today, what
experiment would they
start?
Single technological solution
→ A systems based approach
The Broadbalk Experiment

15. LSRE: Treatment structure
vs
vs

16. LSRE: Three rotations

17. LSRE: Data stock take
Pressures States Processes Outcomes
Tillage Soil chemistry
(inc. SOC / clay ratio)
(De)nitrification (GHG
measurements)
Yields
Crop diversity Aggregate stability Water flux
(Double ring
infiltrometer)2
Crop quality
Organic inputs Bulk density (water quality)
Agrochemical
inputs
Microbiology
Functional Biodiversity
(worms / carabids)
Pests, weeds and
diseases

18. LSRE: Establishing causality

19. Concluding remarks: guiding principles
1. Re-diversification of the system: Move from simple crop sequences,
farm landscapes and management systems towards:
- Greater functional diversity of crops (inc. cover and companion crops)
- Integrated Pest and Weed management
- Optimal use of un-cropped land to provide ecosystem services
2. Tightening nutrient cycles: Move from high throughput, leaky, open
systems reliant on external inputs of energy and nutrients towards:
- More efficient cycling of nutrients within the system (>RUE)
- Increased availability of nutrients through biological processes
(N fixation, mycorrhizal activity)
- Minimising losses from the system

20. Thank you