Resource-Conserving Agriculture Increases Yields in Developing Countries
Abstract
Despite great recent progress, hunger and poverty remain widespread and agriculturally driven environmental damage is widely prevalent. The idea of agricultural sustainability centers on the need to develop technologies and practices that do not have adverse effects on environmental goods and services, and that lead to improvements in food productivity. Here we show the extent to which 286 recent interventions in 57 poor countries covering 37 M ha (3% of the cultivated area in developing countries) have increased productivity on 12.6 M farms while improving the supply of critical environmental services. The average crop yield increase was 79% (geometric mean 64%). All crops showed water use efficiency gains, with the highest improvement in rainfed crops. Potential carbon sequestered amounted to an average of 0.35 t C ha(-1) y(-1). If a quarter of the total area under these farming systems adopted sustainability enhancing practices, we estimate global sequestration could be 0.1 Gt C y(-1). Of projects with pesticide data, 77% resulted in a decline in pesticide use by 71% while yields grew by 42%. Although it is uncertain whether these approaches can meet future food needs, there are grounds for cautious optimism, particularly as poor farm households benefit more from their adoption.
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Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices led to improved soil fertility, improved water use efficiency, increased yields, less pesticide use, and improved quality of life in rural areas.
“The findings showed that the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices led to improved soil fertility, improved water use efficiency, increased yields and less use of pesticides as well as improved quality of life in rural areas.”
From The era of sustainable agricultural development in Africa: Understanding the benefits and constraints (2018) · cites this paper as [34]
Adoption of soil fertility management and water harvesting technology improved millet and groundnut yield from about 300 to 900kg/ha.
“Adoption of soil fertility management and water harvesting technology led to improved production of millet and groundnut yield from about 300 to 900kg/ha.(34)”
From The era of sustainable agricultural development in Africa: Understanding the benefits and constraints (2018) · cites this paper as [34]
A transition to more sustainable agriculture occurs when the current need for food is met.
“A transition to more sustainable agriculture occurs when the current need for food is met.(34)”
From The era of sustainable agricultural development in Africa: Understanding the benefits and constraints (2018) · cites this paper as [34]
Efficient use of water and soil conservation methods restored degraded land, producing a surplus of 150kg per year from an annual cereal deficit of 650kg in Central Burkina Faso.
“For example, the efficient use of water and soil conservation methods led to the restoration of degraded land, resulting in the production of a surplus of 150kg per year from annual cereal deficit of 650kg in Central Burkina Faso.”
From The era of sustainable agricultural development in Africa: Understanding the benefits and constraints (2018) · cites this paper as [34]
A survey of 208 small-scale projects between 1999 and 2000 in 52 developing countries including SSA reveals some improvement in sustainable agriculture practices.
“A survey of 208 small scale projects between 1999 and 2000 in 52 developing countries including SSA reveals some improvement in sustainable agriculture practices.(25,34)”
From The era of sustainable agricultural development in Africa: Understanding the benefits and constraints (2018) · cites this paper as [34]
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“This is due to its varied potential benefits such as stabilisation of yields and productivity, enhanced resource use efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and culturally sensitive and socially just approaches (Altieri 2002; Pretty et al. 2006; D’Annolfo et al. 2021).”
Background
- Authors
- Pretty, J. N., Noble, A. D., Bossio, D., Dixon, J., Hine, R. E., Penning de Vries, F. W. T., & Morison, J. I. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Essex (GB)
- Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Environment and Society, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, U.K., International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P.O. Box 1025, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10903, Thailand, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Impact Targeting and Assessment Program, CIMMYT, Apdo. Postal 6-641, 06600 Mexico, Mexico, and International Project Office for Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional Study, Institute...
- Corresponding author
- Pretty, J. N.
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2005-12-21
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1114-1119
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W2011973778
- Cited by
- 631
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 50 · 2014: 47 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 38
- Type
- other
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Climate change impacts on agriculture
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agricultural Innovations and Practices
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
- Keywords
- sustainable agriculture, crop yield improvement, ecosystem services, water use efficiency, carbon sequestration, pesticide reduction, rainfed crops, food security, poverty reduction, developing countries, farm household welfare
- MeSH terms
- Agriculture, Conservation of Natural Resources, Developing Countries, Food Supply, Crops, Agricultural
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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
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