Achieving agricultural and environmental targets in a changing climate requires a whole-system based approach

Feeding the large future population is associated with severe environmental challenges to which climate change is adding further complications and stress to the global food supply system. The strategies to the challenges posed on ecosystem conservation and climate neutrality would be best achieved by integrating the most current scientific findings in ‘best practice’ policies and their implementation. This paper presents the outcomes from the fourth International Catchment Science Conference in Ireland, a three-day multi-actor conference, and calls for action to improve soil fertility, reduce GHG emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce pollution loss to waters. It was concluded that an accountable management of the agricultural landscape requires a multi-actor, multidisciplinary and multi-scale approach with collaboration between the scientific community, policy makers and farmers. Importantly there should be a focus on linking research, technology, education, information, engagement and innovation. Following needed requirements were identified: (i) long-term monitoring, high-temporal and high-spatial resolution data collection, (ii) combining temporarily and spatially rich datasets, (iii) long-term planning horizons to be adopted by key institutional stakeholders, (iv) mitigation strategies to adapt to changing climate and agricultural practices, and (v) an adequate advisory support and training for farmers. Some progress has been achieved to a situation where it is possible to counter or mitigate some of the more urgent issues in the food systems under consideration in the review.