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Project title

Relationships between functional diversity and food production and quality under ecological intensification

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University College Dublin (UCD)

Lead Applicant

Tara Dirilgen

Project Abstract

Agricultural intensification contributes to global food security and health by supplying the food demand of a growing human population, but also causes environmental problems. Ecological intensification has been proposed as viable alternative to achieve a balance between negative environmental issues, such as the ongoing loss of biodiversity, and sufficiently high and qualitative food production. It focuses on promoting biodiversity and key natural regulatory processes, such as pest control or pollination, that support crop health and human society (�ecosystem services�) while reducing negative environmental impacts. Organic agriculture and managed permanent grasslands are two popular elements of future ecological intensification strategies with high potential for these benefits.This project will provide key operational knowledge for policy makers to guide the implementation of ecological intensification throughout Europe while preserving a competitive and healthy food production sector. Given the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP2020) reform across the EU member states, it is evident that a better understanding of land-use effects on functional diversity and the resulting consequences for ecosystem services, plant and human health is crucial. Expected outputs from this project include academic publications with tentative titles such as 1.) Ecological intensification increases the functional diversity of animal communities in agroecosystems across Europe, 2.) Ecological intensification to manage functional diversity for crop protection and crop health across Europe and 3.) Ecological intensification as a strategy to reduce yield gaps and improve food quality via links to functional diversity. A BiodivERsA policy brief will also be published to summarize project results to policy makers at the EU level, and online blogs will be published in relevant places to disseminate findings to a broader audience. Outputs also include a press release.

Grant Approved

�10,033.00

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Natural capital and ecosystem services including soils and biodiversity

Start Date

02/01/2020

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/01/2023