Next Giant Leap

The idea of sustainability, in all of its forms, in the food and agricultural chains is not new, but it has recently gained a great deal of attention. One of the most important aspects of being sustainable is the adoption of agricultural conservation practices. By conservation practices, we mean practices such as nutrient management, 4R nutrient stewardship, reduced tillage, strip-till or no-till, cover crops, more diverse crop rotations, water management and other practices in the same vein. These practices play a critical role in reducing input use, improving soil health, enhancing water quality, sequestering carbon and reducing other greenhouse gas emissions. However, despite many of these practices showing promise in also reducing production costs and enhancing yields, adoption rates remain stubbornly low, ultimately limiting the desired sustainability impacts of these practices.