Land use modelling needs to better account for multiple cropping to inform pathways for sustainable agriculture
Abstract Multiple cropping, the simultaneous cultivation of several crops in space or time, is a global practice essential for intensifying and diversifying agriculture. Despite its substantial impact on environmental and socioeconomic outcomes of farming, multiple cropping is hardly accounted for in assessments of global food production, sustainability, and climate impacts. Such studies, often relying on modelling of cropping systems, land use change, and eventually the Earth system, are of growing importance in decision-making and policymaking. However, they primarily assume monocropping, neglecting carryover effects between crops and their implications for land use. This limitation compromises the representativeness of these studies and the conclusions they draw, essentially overlooking a substantial option space for sustainable intensification, nature-based solutions, and resulting land-atmosphere feedback. Herein, we outline the relevance of multiple cropping, reflect on its consideration in land-use models, and identify development requirements to enhance their inclusion in informing policymaking for sustainable food systems.
Authors
- Jeffrey W. White (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2051-4645)
- Andrew James Hartley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1905-9112)
- Karina Williams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1185-535X)
- Qiangyi Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6457-3583)
- Christian Folberth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6738-5238)
- Stefan Olin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8621-3300)
- Koen De Vos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4607-7877)
- Gerrit Hoogenboom (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1555-0537)
- Camilla Mathison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6269-4605)
- Alex C. Ruane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5582-9217)
- Katharina Waha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8631-8639)
- Jonas Jägermeyr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8368-0018)
- Albert Nkwasa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8685-8854)
- Hester Biemans (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8750-2553)
- Esther Boere (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3863-8731)
- Alberte Bondeau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8729-5061)
- Christoph Müller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9491-3550)
- Yuan Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5238-9711)
Institutions
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies (US)
- Met Office (GB)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of Leeds (GB)
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (AT)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- University of Augsburg (DE)
- Lund University (SE)
- Aix-Marseille Université (FR)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- Leibniz Association (DE)
- University of Florida (US)
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (CN)
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science (GB)
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering (CN)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (DE)
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (BE)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
- Hebei GEO University (CN)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Earth & Environment
- Published
- 2025-09-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02724-0
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 32.16
Funders
- European Commission
- Met Office
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme