Conventional, intensive farming methods have been highly successful at boosting production. However, over time heavy use of inputs has gone hand in hand with landscape simplification and monoculture cropping. Further, Europe imports large volumes of feed for its large livestock sector. Such a system is having significant environmental consequences, including loss of biodiversity, deforestation, climate emissions, water pollution and soil erosion.

Further, today’s farming systems are increasingly vulnerable to both the impacts of extreme weather such as droughts and floods, and to the loss of biodiversity (pollinating insects and natural predators). Rural communities’ livelihoods and long-term food security therefore depend on a shift to sustainable farming and land use.