The Promotion of Alternative Crop Production Paradigms Should Be Founded on Proven Science-Based Approaches

Recent discourse on the need to adopt alternative approaches to sustainable crop production has strongly criticized modern, usually referred to as "industrial", agriculture as the main cause of environmental problems and a loss of biodiversity, which is concerning given that modern agriculture currently feeds over 90% of the global population. Ongoing criticisms of modern agriculture have escalated into calls to replace it, largely based on the belief that alternative approaches will lead to sustainable crop production, although food production potential is rarely mentioned. This paper critically analyzes two such alternatives, agroecology and the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), a sub-set of agroecological approaches with a focus on the Global South. In the case of agroecology, this paper considers the role of diversity in cropping systems and the input reduction paradigm, as well as labor productivity. Modern agriculture already provides a wide range of science-based, proven crop and field diversification options without the need to rely on in-field crop species diversity. Furthermore, a reduction in or the elimination of chemical fertilizers with a preference for compost and manure is not a viable strategy where soils are severely degraded. In the case of the VACS, the planned emphasis on "opportunistic", locally adapted, traditional/indigenous crops is challenged by the importance of introduced crops to food production, especially in Africa. We conclude by recommending a pragmatic approach to using all of the available agricultural practices wisely to produce enough food in an environmentally responsible manner. Global leadership is needed to bring the divergent views of scientists and environmentalists together to improve food production and nutrition, livelihoods, and the agricultural environment.