AGROECOLOGY IMPLEMENTED THROUGH BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES FOR RURAL LANDSCAPE PROTECTION

Abstract

Agroecology is a scientific subject, an innovative practice and a social movement, which studies ecological processes in relation to agro-food systems, providing new concepts and tools for mainstreaming advanced management strategies of the agroecosystems. The implementation of Agroecology principles may strongly benefit from Biosystems Engineering techniques. Indeed, their synergical integration may contribute to the reduction of the environmental footprint of agriculture, while protecting biodiversity and ecosystems, so leading to better techniques, materials and tools for planning the rural landscape. Several techniques characterized by an eco-friendly impact are currently investigated by Biosystems Engineering, e.g.: building elements for bio-architecture, produced/integrated with natural materials (bricks insulated with straw/wool; concrete reinforced with natural fibers; “adobe” bricks; etc.); Nature-Based Solutions (NBS); fully biodegradable materials (e.g., for soil mulching); remote-sensed data (from drone/satellite) exploited for precision agriculture, to optimize the use of resources (water; soil; agrochemicals; etc.). These solutions may support the formulation of strategies for re-designing agroecosystems at the landscape level, focusing on ecosystem services, biodiversity, water conservation, crop/livestock production, agrochemicals limitation, pollution reduction, and climate change adaptation. This review paper presents the main technical solutions of Biosystems Engineering for Agroecology, able to integrate territorial planning, reducing pollution from agriculture and protecting the rural landscape.