Agronomy and the Sustainability of Crop Production

Lessons learned since the discovery of agriculture suggest that good agronomy, as an integrative science, is essential for improving the sustainability of current agricultural systems. To meet the challenges of producing sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for a growing population, future agronomists will have to combine advances in plant breeding and biotechnology with new approaches to increase further the efficiency of nutrient and water use in agricultural production. There is significant potential in many areas to increase yields by bridging the gap between potential and actual yields, but as average yields increase with time, such potential diminishes. The threats of soil degradation and water scarcity will require widespread adoption of conservation practices based on strong extension efforts and new IT technologies. The most likely path to the sustainable intensification of production would be through continuous, small productivity improvements rather than through a few revolutionary discoveries, at least in the short term.