The challenge of making the idea of Sustainable Intensification operational

Abstract

The intensification of agricultural production has become a topic of intense debate in academic and socio-political media worldwide. In southern South America agricultural intensification operates in two ways. On one hand, through the rThe intensification of agricultural production has become a topic of intense debate in academic and socio-political media worldwide. In southern South America agricultural intensification operates in two ways. On one hand, through the replacement of natural covers (forests and native grasslands dedicated, in general, to livestock) by annual or perennial crops (in general soybeans or pine and eucalyptus plantations). On the other hand, intensification is associated with the increasing input use and/or the implementation of management practices that increase production per area unit.eplacement of natural covers (forests and native grasslands dedicated, in general, to livestock) by annual or perennial crops (in general soybeans or pine and eucalyptus plantations). On the other hand, intensification is associated with the increasing input use and/or the implementation of management practices that increase production per area unit.