Assessing Multi-Dimensional Impacts of Achieving Sustainability Goals by Projecting the Sustainable Agriculture Matrix Into the Future

Kyle, Page; Ollenburger, Mary; Zhang, Xin; Niazi, Hassan; Durga, Siddarth; Ou, Yang

doi:10.1029/2022ef003323

Assessing Multi-Dimensional Impacts of Achieving Sustainability Goals by Projecting the Sustainable Agriculture Matrix Into the Future

Journal Article · Thu Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Earth's Future

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ef003323· OSTI ID:2204815

^[1]; Ollenburger, Mary ^[2]; ^[2]; Niazi, Hassan ^[1]; Durga, Siddarth ^[1]; Ou, Yang ^[3]

Joint Global Change Research Institute, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (JGCRI‐PNNL), College Park, MD (United States)
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), Frostburg, MD (United States)
Peking University, Beijing (China)

The concept of sustainability inherently spans multiple spatial scales, sectors, variables, and time horizons. This study links a recently developed method of assessing present-day agricultural sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions with a process-based integrated assessment model, in order to allow forward-looking analysis of sustainability by region and scenario. The sustainable agriculture matrix estimates present-day agricultural sustainability at the national level using 18 indicator variables, of which this study estimates nine to the year 2100, using an enhanced version of the Global Change Analysis Model. Scenarios include a reference scenario, and scenarios that apply the following measures, both individually and in combination, that are thought to improve sustainability: yield intensification, transition toward more plant-based (“flexitarian”) diets, and economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. The scenarios illustrate considerable complexity and tradeoffs inherent to efforts to improve agricultural sustainability in all regions globally. For example, yield intensification typically increases nitrogen pollution, flexitarian diets can reduce agricultural output, and greenhouse gas mitigation efforts may either increase deforestation or crowd out crop and livestock production due to consequent bioenergy demands. However, there is considerable inter-regional heterogeneity in the responses, and the importance of such secondary responses also differs by region. The analysis and post-processing methods developed in this study allow quantification and visualization of the absolute and relative magnitude of the tradeoffs between agricultural sustainability indicator variables across regions, time periods, and scenarios.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2204815

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--179987

Journal Information:: Earth's Future, Journal Name: Earth's Future Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 11; ISSN 2328-4277

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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