Abstract The world’s growing population raises concerns about future food security. At the same time, environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the depletion of natural resources must be addressed, calling for a transformation of agriculture. This need is exacerbated by the limited availability of land suitable for arable farming. In this study, we examined the potential of agricultural land for arable farming and grassland use in Switzerland, under the premise that agricultural land use should align with the biophysical and environmental capacity of each location. In an iterative co-design process with scientists and public authorities, we elaborated three scenarios for agricultural transformation, which progressively incorporated (i) biophysical constraints (soil, climate, and topography) and (ii) environmental constraints (soil loss and eutrophication due to risk of erosion), as well as (iii) greenhouse gas emissions from drained organic soils. Our results show that the allocation of 40% arable land and 60% grassland in the most restrictive scenario closely resembles the current distribution (46% and 54%), respectively. However, the scenarios also revealed significant spatial shifts between arable land and grassland at the local level: only two-thirds of today’s arable land areas match their natural site conditions. Evidence from this study underscores the critical importance of site-adapted transitions of agricultural land use and the need for site-adapted management alternatives for farmland presently assigned to inadequate land use. Overall, this research provides a novel contribution by allowing the identification of hotspot areas for agricultural transformation at the local scale. We show that these site-specific land use analyses are essential for guiding effective land use planning and policy advice that strengthen the integrity of environmental performance and agricultural productivity, and support the development of targeted and sustainable land use strategies.

Abstract Long-term studies are crucial for evaluating how intercropping affects the agronomic, environmental, and socio-economic sustainability of sugarcane systems. Intercropping with cover crops is expected to improve soil fertility and reduce herbicide use; however, its long-term effects on yield, weed dynamics, and production costs remain unclear, particularly under tropical conditions. Weed pressure has been hypothesized to drive yield decline over time, yet the temporal evolution of weed communities and their consequences for system sustainability remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that intercropping would modify ecosystem functions and services by increasing weed diversity and soil fertility, reducing herbicide use, and also increasing labor and production costs. To test this hypothesis, we conducted the first 7-year field experiment on Reunion Island, comparing four sugarcane intercropping systems with conventional chemical and low weed control systems. A multi-criteria approach assessed weed community dynamics, soil fertility, sugarcane yield and quality, herbicide use, labor, and economic performance over a complete crop cycle, including multiple ratoons. We show that weed pressure increased over time in both chemical and intercropping systems due to greater weed cover and species richness. Weed community structure differed during the first 3 years but later homogenized under sugarcane dominance. This increase led to more manual weeding in intercropping systems and to increased herbicide use in chemical ones, resulting in a 61% reduction in herbicide use under intercropping. After 7 years, soil chemical and biological fertility remained unchanged, while physical fertility improved with companion crop and weed development. Sugarcane yield and sucrose content were maintained, but production costs and working hours increased. This study demonstrates that sugarcane intercropping reduces herbicide dependence without compromising yield, though at higher labor costs. Systems maintaining spontaneous flora in inter-rows appear to offer a promising compromise for sustainable weed management. Further research on this system should be conducted in different pedoclimatic conditions.

Abstract Addressing environmental degradation and fostering agricultural sustainability are critical challenges of the twenty-first century. Agroecological practices such as organic and biodynamic farming are vital for transforming agriculture and enhancing ecosystem services by avoiding synthetic inputs. While often criticized for lower yields, little is known about how these systems adapt and perform over extended periods under varying climatic conditions, particularly for perennial crops such as grapevines. This represents a major knowledge gap, as understanding their long-term adaptive capacity is essential for designing resilient and sustainable production systems under climate change. This 18-year field trial in Geisenheim, Germany, addresses this gap by assessing the long-term effects of organic, biodynamic, and integrated management on Vitis vinifera cv. Riesling. It represents the only long-term study on perennial crops to systematically compare these systems’ impact on agronomic parameters, plant performance, and grape quality, observing their evolution post-conversion and response to climatic variability. Initially, organic (−17%) and biodynamic (−14%) systems showed lower yields and reduced vine vigor compared to integrated management. However, yield gaps narrowed significantly after approximately a decade. Change point analysis revealed improved relative yields in organic and biodynamic plots 8–9 years after conversion, accompanied by stable or improved Ravaz index values. Notably, in hot, dry vintages, organic and biodynamic systems exhibited enhanced yield effect sizes (+2.3% and +9.0%, respectively) and increased yeast-available nitrogen. Conversely, yield gaps persisted in cooler, wetter vintages, likely due to pathogen-induced losses. Nutrient deficiencies were not the primary cause of initial yield reductions, and grape quality parameters showed minimal treatment differences. These long-term findings demonstrate that organic and biodynamic viticulture can overcome initial yield deficits and potentially outperform integrated management under increasingly warm, dry conditions. The results highlight the adaptive capacity and climate resilience of agroecological systems, offering a sustainable path for future perennial agriculture.

Abstract Amidst global climate change, increasing food demand, and land-use competition between agriculture and energy production, agrivoltaic systems are emerging as a potential solution energy. However, the spatial heterogeneity of existing physical research infrastructure limits the generalizability of plant growth and growth conditions findings across diverse climate zones. This study aims to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive meta-analysis across 20 countries. Unlike previous work, our approach integrates key variables, including photovoltaic system design parameters, crop yield responses, and microclimate changes, into a unified analytical framework. It further maps the empirical evidence onto a global climate context. The analysis reveals several novel insights. First, distinct design patterns were observed in photovoltaic system deployment: small-scale installations (<1000 m 2 ) are often associated with increased mounting heights (3.05 m vs. 2.57 m), which alters ground-level conditions. At the same time, photovoltaic installation characteristics (e.g., panel height and array size) also vary across different climate zones, reflecting differences in installation objectives (e.g., energy optimization vs. experimental). Second, we identified a previously undocumented “tipping point” in system size (~2 ha), beyond which microclimate temperature effects reverse. Third, crop yield responses under shading vary by crop physiology and climatic zone; for example, lettuce showed tolerance to increased shading under certain environmental conditions. In addition, we suggest that a potential trade-off point may exist between crop yield and photovoltaic shading, which could enable a balance between maintaining agricultural productivity and achieving effective energy generation. These findings demonstrate that the performance of agrivoltaic systems is highly climate- and crop-dependent. Therefore, region-specific and plant-centered design principles should be central to future agrivoltaic innovations and policy frameworks. By presenting the first global climate–integrated map of agrivoltaic study locations, this work provides a foundational evidence base to guide climate-smart agrivoltaic planning and implementation.

Yields in organic farming have been stagnating, widening the gap with conventional systems. Thus, there is the need to reconsider traditional organic crop rotations and adopt innovative strategies that will maximize nutrient supply, weed suppression, and reduce disease risks. Overwintering legume cover crops offer potential solutions, but their role in nutrient cycling, weed management and pathogen dynamics needs to be clarified. In two multi-factorial field trials, we examined organic farming systems using no-till or minimal tillage with a 2-year rotation of winter-hardy legumes as cover crops, maize and a wheat/pea mixture. The risks of soil-borne pathogens and their transmission to subsequent crops were also assessed. The effects of the following factors were investigated: (a) cover crop type: winter vetch and crimson clover, (b) date of cover crop kill, (c) sowing technique: no-till or shallow tillage, and (d) use of cover crop biomass: green manure or mulch vs. harvest. The strong weed suppression of legumes allowed for herbicide-free implementation of minimum tillage and no-tillage systems, while their substantial nitrogen contributions supported the high maize yields. It was also possible to harvest the cover crop biomass before maize sowing instead of using it as mulch or green manure, without significantly affecting maize yields. Infestations with seed and root rot pathogens were generally low, and there was no risk of pathogen accumulation or transfer to subsequent crops. To our knowledge, this is the first systemic assessment of agronomic and phytopathological aspects in a rotation involving winter-hardy legumes, maize and a wheat/pea mixture under differential tillage practices. Taken together, our results demonstrate that, with proper management, legume-intensive rotations can maximize agronomic benefits, minimize phytopathological risks, and enhance productivity and sustainability in both organic and conventional farming, while contributing to a reduction of yield gap between systems.

Transitioning to a fossil fuel free society requires an increase in solar energy production. However, expanding solar power to farmland competes with food production. Additionally, climate change threatens food security and leads increasingly to yield losses. Agrivoltaic systems produce solar energy and food on the same field, while sheltering crops. In agrivoltaic systems, crops grow in a protected environment with reduced solar irradiance, a modified microclimate, and a potential physical cover protecting against hail damage. The agrivoltaic system may help safeguard crop yields from extreme weather events such as frost during flowering or sunburn during heat waves. Studies on agrivoltaic fruit production have previously focused on raspberry or apple. However, multiyear field trials are often lacking, and no study has described agrivoltaic pear cultivation. This research describes the multiyear effect of agrivoltaics on pear fruit, revealing that a predictable fruit yield and quality can be attained under solar panels in a temperate maritime climate. Tree rows were fitted with semi-transparent monofacial c-Si photovoltaic modules at a ground coverage ratio of 25.45%. Across three growing seasons, we recorded a 24% light reduction at canopy level. Agrivoltaic pear trees yielded 15% less than the reference control plots in 3 consecutive years. Flowering and fruit-set were unchanged, while agrivoltaics reduced leaf flavonoid levels. The leaf photosynthetic performance was identical, yet delayed leaf senescence under agrivoltaics suggests an adaptation to the modified environment. Agrivoltaics impacted fruit shape, as there was an increase in the number of bottle-shaped pears and a reduction in caliber. Other fruit quality traits were unaffected, including postharvest ethylene production. A land equivalent ratio of 1.44 was reached in the agrivoltaics orchard. This study demonstrates that agrivoltaics hold potential for pear production under temperate climates and highlights how pear productivity and quality is predictable when compared with conventional cultivation methods.

This virtual issue reports on the use of digital technologies in On-Farm Experimentation (OFE) in varied farming systems across the world. The authors investigated diverse questions across contrasted environments and scientific domains, with methodologies that included review, empirical studies, interviews, and reflexive accounts. The contributions thus showcase the multiplicity of research directions that are relevant to OFE. This includes addressing the two intertwined types of research objects in OFE: the farmers’ questions (how to improve management) and the methodologies required to address these (how to improve research through OFE)—with the notable support of digital tools. The issue includes a systematic review exploring OFE practices and farmer-researcher relationships as reported in the scientific literature; a meta-analysis comparing experimental scales in the USA; reflexive analyzes on a feed assessment tool and a tree crop decision support system rooted in OFE that are connecting farmers and researchers in Africa; a retrospective on a large CGIAR program combining citizen sciences and OFE; the use of video recordings and work analysis to characterize farmers’ knowledge in French vineyards; and in the same sector in Australia, two accounts of the use of digital tools in spatially explicit OFE: one an investigation into farmers’ and consultants’ perceptions, the other a retrospective on the roles of precision agriculture. Findings from these examples validate the use of varied digital tools to scale the design, implementation, and learning stages of OFE processes. These include how to better harness and bridge the knowledge of farmers, researchers and other parties, examples of data management and analytics, the improved interpretation of results, and capitalizing on experiences. The international conference this issue was part of also led to acknowledgement of a lack of policy linkages, required to scale OFE endeavors by incentivizing institutional change toward more farmer-centric research practices and responsible digital deployment.