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<p>Sustainable agriculture plays a crucial role in tackling the issues brought on by climate change and securing food for the future. This study proposes an optimal cropping pattern model specifically for Beyza Plain in Fars Province, Iran, incorporating the economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainability. Utilizing a multi-objective optimization framework, the model seeks to maximize financial returns, reduce water and chemical fertilizer usage, and improve social benefits. Data was gathered via structured questionnaires, expert interviews, and local institutional records, with a sample of 102 farmers selected using the Cochran formula. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to prioritize the objectives, highlighting that reducing water consumption (0.43) emerged as the top priority, followed by enhancing social benefits (0.25), maximizing gross profit (0.20), and lowering fertilizer usage (0.12). The optimized cropping pattern for Beyza Plain prioritizes tomato, fodder corn, and onion, balancing economic returns ($140–200/ha), social benefits (157–170 labor/ha), and moderate environmental impacts. Staple crops (wheat, rice) showed resilience with minimal area reductions (&lt; 21%), while high-input crops (potato, cucumber) required &gt; 80% cuts due to unsustainable water/fertilizer demands. The proposed model improved the aggregate sustainability index by 44% (0.36 to 0.52), demonstrating triple-win potential when integrating economic, social, and environmental objectives. Policy interventions should prioritize subsidies for drip irrigation and water-efficient technologies to reduce the environmental footprint of high-value crops (e.g., tomato, onion). Additionally, promoting legume intercropping with fodder corn and targeted support for staple crops (wheat, rice) can enhance social equity and long-term resilience.</p>

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Balancing trade-offs in agriculture: an optimal cropping pattern model for social, economic, and environmental sustainability

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月17日

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  • Ayob Ebrahimi,
  • Mehdi Karami Dehkordi,
  • Ghasem Layani

摘要

Sustainable agriculture plays a crucial role in tackling the issues brought on by climate change and securing food for the future. This study proposes an optimal cropping pattern model specifically for Beyza Plain in Fars Province, Iran, incorporating the economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainability. Utilizing a multi-objective optimization framework, the model seeks to maximize financial returns, reduce water and chemical fertilizer usage, and improve social benefits. Data was gathered via structured questionnaires, expert interviews, and local institutional records, with a sample of 102 farmers selected using the Cochran formula. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to prioritize the objectives, highlighting that reducing water consumption (0.43) emerged as the top priority, followed by enhancing social benefits (0.25), maximizing gross profit (0.20), and lowering fertilizer usage (0.12). The optimized cropping pattern for Beyza Plain prioritizes tomato, fodder corn, and onion, balancing economic returns ($140–200/ha), social benefits (157–170 labor/ha), and moderate environmental impacts. Staple crops (wheat, rice) showed resilience with minimal area reductions (< 21%), while high-input crops (potato, cucumber) required > 80% cuts due to unsustainable water/fertilizer demands. The proposed model improved the aggregate sustainability index by 44% (0.36 to 0.52), demonstrating triple-win potential when integrating economic, social, and environmental objectives. Policy interventions should prioritize subsidies for drip irrigation and water-efficient technologies to reduce the environmental footprint of high-value crops (e.g., tomato, onion). Additionally, promoting legume intercropping with fodder corn and targeted support for staple crops (wheat, rice) can enhance social equity and long-term resilience.