Effects of farm type on food production, landscape openness, grassland biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions in mixed agricultural-forestry regions

The global demand for food is expected to continue increasing decades, which may drive both agricultural expansion and intensification. associated environmental impacts are potentially considerable but will depend on how the sector develops. Currently, there contrasting regional developments in agriculture; and/or intensification some regions abandonment others, as well changes type of farming. However, consequences farm not understood. We have evaluated production three key variables—landscape openness, grassland biodiversity greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—in marginal Sweden. do this by first dividing population farms each region into types, based their land-use livestock holdings using an innovative clustering method. Thereafter we analysed activities types over time food-production impacts, where landscape openness quantified a novel indicator. Our results show that one single would simultaneously maximize production, biodiversity, whilst minimizing GHG emissions. exists potential manage trade-offs between these variables. For example, reducing land use dairying instead cropping extensive grazing maintain biodiversity-rich semi-natural pastures, it keep at similar levels. typology allows us assess multifunctionality farming, relating multiple ecosystem services, emissions informing policy towards more sustainable agriculture. demonstrated with examples under Swedish conditions, should large extent also be applicable other countries.