INTEGRATING CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS—TOWARDS AGRICULTURAL GREEN DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This special issue contains a collection of papers dealing with various aspects of Integrating livestock and crop production systems in different parts of the world. Drafts of some papers were presented and discussed at a 2-day international workshop in Quzhou, Hebei, China, during October 9-12, 2019. The workshop was combined with a 2-day field trip to visit dairy and poultry farms and rural villages in Hebei. The workshop was organized by the National Academy of Agriculture Green Development of China Agricultural University. There were 13 Chinese and 11 international scientists (from five continents) and 20 Chinese postdoctoral researchers and PhD students participating in the workshop.The objectives of the workshop were (1) to discuss experiences with integrated/integrating crop and livestock production systems across the world, (2) to discuss institutions, markets and technologies needed for integrating crop and livestock production, and (3) to discuss and identify knowledge gaps, and to explore opportunities for joint research.Integrating livestock and crop production systems is one of the four research themes of the National Academy of Agriculture Green Development of the China Agricultural University in Beijing. The overall objective of this research theme is “To lay the scientific foundation for integrating crop and livestock production systems in China, which are (a) productive and competitive, (b) ecologically sound and (c) accepted by the society[1].” The research theme reflects the need of developing more sustainable livestock production systems in China, where the changes in livestock production have been huge over recent decades[2,3]. Livestock production has strongly increased, and production systems have dramatically changed over the last 20 years (Fig. 1). The dependence on feed imports has greatly increased, while manure management practices pollute the environment, and biosecurity is often at stake. Integrating livestock and crop production systems is seen as a way to develop more sustainable livestock and crop production.This editorial briefly explains the broader background of the workshop, and summarizes the main experiences of participants with integrating crop and livestock production systems. In addition, it briefly summarizes the outcome of a survey of participant’s views on integrating crop and livestock production systems.

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