Browsing by Author "Seddaiu, Giovanna"

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    Challenges and innovations for improving the sustainability of European agroforestry systems of high nature and cultural value: a stakeholder perspective
    (Springer, 2020-06-04) Rolo, Victor; Hartel, Tibor; Aviron, Stephanie; Berg, Staffan; Crous-Duran, Josep; Franca, Antonello; Mirck, Jaconette; Nunes Palma, Joao Henrique; Pantera, Anastasia; Paulo, Joana Amaral; Pulido, Fernando Javier; Seddaiu, Giovanna; Thenail, Claudine; Varga, Anna; Viaud, Valerie; Burgess, Paul John; Moreno, Gerardo
    Traditional forms of agroforestry are often recognized as exemplar systems that successfully integrate food production, biodiversity conservation and high cultural values. However many traditional agroforestry systems in Europe are in decline or are threatened and the perspectives of local stakeholders on the production, management, socio-economic, and environmental dimensions of such systems are not fully understood. To fill this gap, we present results of participatory research performed with ten stakeholder groups (SG) across Europe to search for solutions to improve the economic and ecological sustainability of High Nature and Cultural Value agroforestry systems (HNCV agroforestry). Stakeholders included both users and beneficiaries of the HNCV agroforestry. First, SGs held open discussions (227 participants) to identify major challenges for the long-term sustainability of HNCV agroforestry. Challenges were classified into production, management, socio-economic and the environment categories. Second, they responded to structured questionnaires (120 respondents) that explored the positive and negative perceptions of 45 possible attributes of HNCV agroforestry. Third, innovative solutions were identified by individual and group discussions to address the four categories of challenge. Challenges were mostly identified for the management and socio-economic categories, but several challenges concerning production and environment were also pinpointed. Besides, solutions matched poorly with the challenges identified, and, while challenges were at some extent common across countries, solutions to address them were more case-specific. The successful implementation of these solutions requires an in-depth understanding of the diversity of socio-cultural and natural contexts of the HNCV agroforestry systems and building bottom-up proposals and collective actions based on this understanding. The sustainability of HNCV agroforestry would be benefited by providing farmers and managers with a financial advantage from the high nature and cultural value of these systems.
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    How local stakeholders perceive agroforestry systems: an Italian perspective
    (Springer, 2017-09-30) Camilli, Francesca; Pisanelli, Andrea; Seddaiu, Giovanna; Franca, Antonello; Bondesan, Valerio; Rosati, Adolfo; Marcos Moreno, Gerardo; Pantera, Anastasia; Hermansen, John E.; Burgess, Paul J.
    This paper reports the results of a study conducted in Italy, within the AGFORWARD (2014–2017) project, aimed at promoting innovative agroforestry practices in Europe. Agroforestry offers a means for maintaining food production whilst addressing some of the negative environmental effects of intensive agriculture. This study aims to elicit the positive and negative points of view and perceptions of local stakeholders in Italy in relation to three types of agroforestry systems. The Participatory Research and Network Development was implemented in three workshops conducted in Sardinia, Umbria, and Veneto regions, and applied adopting a common methodological protocol. Qualitative data were obtained using open discussions with stakeholders on key issues, challenges and innovations. Quantitative data were obtained from stakeholders completing questionnaires during the workshops. A statistical analysis was applied to elicit the differences in stakeholders’ positive and negative perceptions in relation to production, management, environment and socio-economy aspects. Although the participants in the study came from different geographical and socioeconomic contexts with varied educational and cultural backgrounds, the different professional groups (farmers, policy-makers and researchers) and the three workshops generally shared similar perceptions of the benefits and constraints. The effects of agroforestry on production and the environment were generally perceived as positive, whilst those related to management were generally negative. The process of bringing the groups together seemed to be an effective means for identifying the key research gaps that need to be addressed in order to promote the uptake and maintenance of agroforestry.
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    Impacts of climate change adaptation options on soil functions: A review of European case‐studies
    (2018-05-12) Hamidov, Ahmad; Helming, Katharina; Bellocchi, Gianni; Bojar, Waldemar; Dalgaard, Tommy; Bahadur Ghaley, Bhim; Hoffmann, Christian; Holman, Ian; Holzkämper, Annelie; Krzeminska, Dominika; Kværnø, Sigrun H.; Lehtonen, Heikki; Niedrist, Georg; Øygarden, Lillian; Reidsma, Pytrik; Roggero, Pier Paolo; Rusu, Teodor; Santos, Cristina; Seddaiu, Giovanna; Skarbøvik, Eva; Ventrella, Domenico; Żarski, Jacek; Schönhart, Martin
    Soils are vital for supporting food security and other ecosystem services. Climate change can affect soil functions both directly and indirectly. Direct effects include temperature, precipitation, and moisture regime changes. Indirect effects include those that are induced by adaptations such as irrigation, crop rotation changes, and tillage practices. Although extensive knowledge is available on the direct effects, an understanding of the indirect effects of agricultural adaptation options is less complete. A review of 20 agricultural adaptation case‐studies across Europe was conducted to assess implications to soil threats and soil functions and the link to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The major findings are as follows: (a) adaptation options reflect local conditions; (b) reduced soil erosion threats and increased soil organic carbon are expected, although compaction may increase in some areas; (c) most adaptation options are anticipated to improve the soil functions of food and biomass production, soil organic carbon storage, and storing, filtering, transforming, and recycling capacities, whereas possible implications for soil biodiversity are largely unknown; and (d) the linkage between soil functions and the SDGs implies improvements to SDG 2 (achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture) and SDG 13 (taking action on climate change), whereas the relationship to SDG 15 (using terrestrial ecosystems sustainably) is largely unknown. The conclusion is drawn that agricultural adaptation options, even when focused on increasing yields, have the potential to outweigh the negative direct effects of climate change on soil degradation in many European regions.
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    Key challenges and priorities for modelling European grasslands under climate change
    (Elsevier, 2016-05-19) Kipling, Richard P.; Virkajarvi, Perttu; Breitsameter, Laura; Curnel, Yannick; De Swaef, Tom; Gustavsson, Anne-Maj; Hennart, Sylvain; Hoglind, Mats; Jarvenranta, Kirsi; Minet, Julien; Nendel, Claas; Persson, Tomas; Picon-Cochard, Catherine; Rolinski, Susanne; Sandars, Daniel L.; Scollan, Nigel D.; Sebek, Leon; Seddaiu, Giovanna; Topp, Cairistiona F. E.; Twardy, Stanislaw; van Middelkoop, Jantine; Wu, Lianhai; Bellocchi, Gianni
    Grassland-based ruminant production systems are integral to sustainable food production in Europe, converting plant materials indigestible to humans into nutritious food, while providing a range of environmental and cultural benefits. Climate change poses significant challenges for such systems, their productivity and the wider benefits they supply. In this context, grassland models have an important role in predicting and understanding the impacts of climate change on grassland systems, and assessing the efficacy of potential adaptation and mitigation strategies. In order to identify the key challenges for European grassland modelling under climate change, modellers and researchers from across Europe were consulted via workshop and questionnaire. Participants identified fifteen challenges and considered the current state of modelling and priorities for future research in relation to each. A review of literature was undertaken to corroborate and enrich the information provided during the horizon scanning activities. Challenges were in four categories relating to: 1) the direct and indirect effects of climate change on the sward 2) climate change effects on grassland systems outputs 3) mediation of climate change impacts by site, system and management and 4) cross-cutting methodological issues. While research priorities differed between challenges, an underlying theme was the need for accessible, shared inventories of models, approaches and data, as a resource for stakeholders and to stimulate new research. Developing grassland models to effectively support efforts to tackle climate change impacts, while increasing productivity and enhancing ecosystem services, will require engagement with stakeholders and policy-makers, as well as modellers and experimental researchers across many disciplines. The challenges and priorities identified are intended to be a resource 1) for grassland modellers and experimental researchers, to stimulate the development of new research directions and collaborative opportunities, and 2) for policy-makers involved in shaping the research agenda for European grassland modelling under climate change.
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    To what extent is climate change adaptation a novel challenge for agricultural modellers?
    (Elsevier, 2019-07-29) Kipling, Richard P.; Topp, Cairistiona F. E.; Bannink, André D.; Bartley, David J.; Blanco-Penedo, Isabel; Cortignani, Raffaele; del Prado, Agustín; Dono, Gabriele; Faverdin, Philippe; Graux, Anne Isabelle; Hutchings, Nicholas J.; Lauwers, Ludwig; Özkan Gülzari, Şeyda; Reidsma, Pytrik; Rolinski, Susanne; Ruiz-Ramos, Margarita; Sandars, Daniel L.; Sandor, Renata; Schönhart, Martin; Seddaiu, Giovanna; van Middelkoop, Jantine C.; Shrestha, Shailesh S.; Weindl, Isabelle; Eory, Vera
    Modelling is key to adapting agriculture to climate change (CC), facilitating evaluation of the impacts and efficacy of adaptation measures, and the design of optimal strategies. Although there are many challenges to modelling agricultural CC adaptation, it is unclear whether these are novel or, whether adaptation merely adds new motivations to old challenges. Here, qualitative analysis of modellers’ views revealed three categories of challenge: Content, Use, and Capacity. Triangulation of findings with reviews of agricultural modelling and Climate Change Risk Assessment was then used to highlight challenges specific to modelling adaptation. These were refined through literature review, focussing attention on how the progressive nature of CC affects the role and impact of modelling. Specific challenges identified were: Scope of adaptations modelled, Information on future adaptation, Collaboration to tackle novel challenges, Optimisation under progressive change with thresholds, and Responsibility given the sensitivity of future outcomes to initial choices under progressive change.
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    What is the future for agroforestry in Italy?
    (Springer, 2019-01-14) Paris, Pierluigi; Camilli, Francesca; Rosati, Adolfo; Mantino, Alberto; Mezzalira, Giustino; Dalla Valle, Cristina; Franca, Antonello; Seddaiu, Giovanna; Pisanelli, Andrea; Lauteri, Marco; Brunori, Antonio; Re, Giovanni Antonio; Sanna, Federico; Ragaglini, Giorgio; Mele, Marcello; Ferrario, Viviana; Burgess, Paul J.
    The successful promotion of agroforestry in Italy depends on both a recognition of tradition and the opportunities for innovation. In Italy, agroforestry has traditionally been a key component of landscape management. Complex systems, based on the integration among crops–livestock–fruit/forest trees, provided a wide variety of products (e.g. food, feed, fibers, fuelwood and timber) and other ecosystem services (e.g. soil erosion control and biodiversity preservation). Silvopastoral systems have been used for centuries and are still managed in marginal areas. The integration of fruits trees (in primis olive trees) with crops and grazing was widely practiced and is still profitable. Coltura promiscua was historically developed integrating fruit and forest trees and particularly multifunctional trees (e.g. Juglans regia L. and Prunus avium L.) to support vines and intercrops. Building on recent research, projects have also focused on innovation in agroforestry. The adoption of shade tolerant forage species and crops has been studied in silvopastoral and olive systems. Silvopastoral systems can significantly offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by livestock and shield grazing animals from “heat waves”. Integration of fast growing timber trees (like Populus) in arable systems can help reverse the decline in plantation forestry in Italy. Finally, the constraints imposed by the EU agricultural policy, especially the prevalent provisions for monocrops severely limiting the introduction of innovative agroforestry approaches, are discussed. New political measures and certification actions are strongly required.