Combining diversification practices to enhance the sustainability of conventional cropping systems

A major path helping agriculture achieve the dual challenges of production and environmental preservation, consists transitioning from current, external input-based, conventional farming systems to a biodiversity-based agricultural system that rely more on ecosystem services. One lever this transition diversifying agri-food using practices such as rotation extension, intercropping (IC), multiple cropping or multi-services cover crops (MSCC) implementation. Here, we investigated what extent combination diversification could contribute enhancement sustainability current through an ex ante evaluation. We compared performances five diversified (DIV) arable crop regions France their local less reference (REF) by calculating various criteria implementing multi-criteria decision aid model. 76 assessing three dimensions were calculated (10, 17 49 for economic, social respectively). Our analysis showed improve while maintaining priori economic at satisfactory levels according expert working group. The DIV always had lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions REF often improved air water quality above- belowground biodiversity. However, may also cause drawbacks some indicators, negative impacts observed from, gross margin, NO3 lixiviation, NH3 volatilization pesticide use, in cases. suggested effect indicator can be either positive pedo-climatic context, level performance compromises management response objectives performance.