Synecoculture: A New Paradigm in Ecological Farming

Polyculture Farming: Blending Ecology with Agriculture

Synecocultural agriculture relies heavily on strategic companion planting strategies that facilitate enhanced ecosystem productivity through functional interactions within the ecosystem, formation of ecological niches, and controlled food chains respectively (Hooper et al., 2005; Paquette and Messier, 2011). Integration of ecological principles with agricultural practices not only improves biodiversity but also enhances the overall health and productivity of the agroecosystem.

Building Resilience: Agricultural Ecosystems and Polyculture

The paradox of synecoculture is that plants are simultaneously in competition and symbiosis. Complex and yet quite simple cooperative interaction between plant community members contributes to more diverse soil microbial activity, improved soil structure, greater water holding capacity and better land fertility. Despite the system looking overly saturated and full of fierce competition for light and resources, members of the synecological community seem to adapt and find their spot under the sun.

Exploring High-Density Polyculture: A Sustainable Approach

The core principles of Synecoculture are high-density and high-diversity polyculture, thinning harvest from competitive plant populations and absence of tillage, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.

Maximizing Ecosystem Services through Polyculture Strategies

High plant density and diversity may contribute to high ecosystem resistance to weed, insect and disease infestation, embodying the essence of ecological farming.

Armoured by ecosystem services and guarded by dense ground cover, synecological agroecosystems greatly reduce the possibility of alien pests, weed or insect invasion. Selective harvesting opens new growing spaces and unlocks access to nutrients for the next generation of useful plants, marking a significant step in agricultural ecosystem resilience. High plant density and diversity in polyculture farming contribute to a balanced environmental impact and enhanced agricultural biodiversity. These strategies are pivotal in maximizing the ecosystem services in agricultural settings.

Eliminating previously described external chemical and fertilizer inputs and strategic mechanical soil disturbances brings ecosystem balance closer to the ecological optimum. When reached, land productivity plateaus to near saturation point, requiring only selective disturbance that would compromise ecosystem functionality with sustainable long-term productivity.

Synecoculture: Revolutionizing Modern Farming Practices

Most notably, up to 5 times greater revenue/maintenance cost ratio per unit land area compared to conventional farming has been reported in a 4-year study conducted by Dr. Masatoshi Funabashi's Synecoculture research team at Sony Computer Science Laboratories in Japan.

Polyculture Agriculture: A Synthesis of Diversity and Productivity

A well-designed synecological system could convert previously low-productivity landscapes into high-functioning ecosystems through a smooth ecological succession. Synecological experiments conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa resulted in a 40-to-150-fold increase in land productivity with cost efficiency being 10-fold greater than the national average (Tindano and Funbashi, 2018). Once fully established it resembles an oasis, with diverse plant communities, and efficient cycling of water and nutrients. An oasis that could harbour a diversity of insects, birds and animals.

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Further Reading:

Funabashi. M. and Otsuka. T. (2016) 2016 Synecoculture Manual_compresed.pdf

Hooper, D.U., Chapin. F. S. III, Ewel, J.J., Hector, A., Inchausti, P., Lavorel, S., Lawton, J.H., Lodge, D.M., Loreau, M., Naeem, S., et al. (2005) Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning: A consensus of current knowledge. Ecol Monogr 75: 3–35

Paquette. A., and Messier. C. (2011) The effect of biodiversity on tree productivity: From temperate to boreal forests. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 20: 170–180

Putman, R.J., and Wratter, S.D. (1984) Principle of Ecology. University of California Press, USA

Tindano, A. and Funabashi, M. (2018) Proceedings of the 2nd African Forum on Synecoculture (English Version). Research and Education material of Uni Twin UNESCO Complex Systems Digital Campus, e-laboratory: Open Systems Exploration for Ecosystems Leveraging, No. 7.

Oleksandr Alba

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Synecoculture: A New Paradigm in Ecological Farming

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