Sustainability and Global Food Systems .

Farmers and ranchers are already facing devastating impacts from the realities of Climate Change – including severe floods, extreme heat and drought, and increased pressures from changing disease and pest patterns. Major advantages of conservation agriculture are:1)Reduced wind and water erosion of topsoil. 2)Increased water use efficiency through improved water infiltration and retention. 3)Increased nutrient use efficiency through enhanced nutrient cycling and fertilizer placement adjacent to seed. 4) Reduced oscillation of surface soil temperatures. 5)Increased soil organic matter and diverse soil biology. 6)Reduced fuel, labor and overall crop establishment costs. It’s a win-win situation for the environment AND the economy when it comes to introducing legumes into agricultural systems, says new research,Good for you, good for the planet, and good for the smallholder farmer. Pulses like chickpea and pigeonpea contribute towards the new Sustainable Development Goals to reduce poverty and hunger, improve health and gender equity, promote responsible consumption and help adapt to climate change. continue