VFRC’s Conceptual
Framework
The VFRC Cockpit
To address such a comprehensive
and fundamental issue, VFRC
created a conceptual framework
incorporating systematic descriptions
of agro-ecosystems and life-cycle
processes of nutrients. It helped
to structure plant-soil-microbeswater-nutrient related processes
and types of fertilizer interventions.
Describing
relevant
processes
following basic production ecological
principles provide a scientific birdseye view, or a “cockpit” overview
(Figure 7), of intervention options
along the entire chain of mineral
fertilizer production, agricultural
production and environmental losses,
grouped in seven distinguishable
areas. Prioritization of search
pathways for innovative fertilizers and
fertilization technologies should be
based on a backbone of fundamental
state-of-the-art knowledge. This will
prevent haphazard interventions and
allow systematic search for innovative
solutions to leapfrog the agrotechnical, environmental and socioeconomic hurdles associated with
fertilizers.
Leapfrogging development: Mobile phones transform agriculture.
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