Evaluation of multicropping systems (sequential cultivation) from an agroecological perspective

Europe's commitment to sustainability drives the need for agricultural practices that are more environmentally friendly. This transition emphasizes the protection of biodiversity, reduction of environmental harm, efficient use of resources, and the simultaneous preservation of farming profitability and food security. To support this shift, various agroecological strategies are being examined for their impact on both productivity and environmental sustainability.

The presentation will show the results of a systematic review of existing research on multicropping (MC) to evaluate its potential to enhance the environmental sustainability of agro-ecosystems while maintaining or even increasing food production. MC is defined as the sequential cultivation of more than one crop on the same field within approximately 12 months.

While MC is widely practiced in developing countries, in the European region agriculture largely relies on single-cropping, with some exceptions in the Mediterranean region. Climate change will likely allow a future expansion of MC systems in Europe. As a result, MC practices are expected to play a more prominent role in future European agriculture, necessitating an evaluation of their broader implications. The review analyses the current knowledge on the impacts of MC system implementation for yields, soil water availability, soil properties and biodiversity.