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Revamping Ecosystem Services through Agroecology—The Case of Cereals

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  • Gomathy Sethuraman

    (Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Nurul Amalina Mohd Zain

    (Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Sumiani Yusoff

    (Institute of Ocean and Earth Science, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Yin Mei Ng

    (Department of Applied Statistics, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Niranjan Baisakh

    (School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Science, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA)

  • Acga Cheng

    (Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

Abstract

Globally, farming systems are mostly dominated by monoculture, which has the advantage of profitability at the expense of ecological systems. Recent years have witnessed an increasing momentum in global efforts to deploy sustainable agriculture practices that mimic ecological processes, with agroecology at the forefront. In addition to the ecological aspect, agroecology also encompasses economic and social aspects targeting the whole food system. Transformative agroecology has been recognized as a stepping stone to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), due to its great potential to build climate change-resilient farming systems while enhancing ecosystem services and reducing biodiversity loss. Nonetheless, the available literature on the recent developments and future trajectories of the adoption of agroecology approaches for improving the production of cereals, the most important group of food crops, is limited. This review aims to highlight the blueprint of agroecology that can contribute to the achievements of the SDGs, allowing explicit interpretation of the term that will benefit twenty-first century agriculture. Using cereal crops as the case study, we provide insights into how far this field has come and the main barriers to its adoption, and conclude that this approach of “science for and with society” is the way forward for building a resilient future.

Suggested Citation

  • Gomathy Sethuraman & Nurul Amalina Mohd Zain & Sumiani Yusoff & Yin Mei Ng & Niranjan Baisakh & Acga Cheng, 2021. "Revamping Ecosystem Services through Agroecology—The Case of Cereals," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:3:p:204-:d:509243
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Daniel Amoak & Isaac Luginaah & Gordon McBean, 2022. "Climate Change, Food Security, and Health: Harnessing Agroecology to Build Climate-Resilient Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Keshav Lall Maharjan & Clarisse Mendoza Gonzalvo & Wilson Jr. Florendo Aala, 2022. "Drivers of Environmental Conservation Agriculture in Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    4. Silvio Franco & Barbara Pancino & Angelo Martella & Tommaso De Gregorio, 2022. "Assessing the Presence of a Monoculture: From Definition to Quantification," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-10, September.

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