as the final goal, the United Nations (1987) stated: “meet the present needs without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Bioeconomy application is expected to be applied in all sectors, not only agriculture
but also all business sectors, even though there will be a big challenge ahead.
Adopting a new system in the middle of old conventional paradigm is a big
challenge since it is highly related to society. Integrated Bio-cycles Farming System
is expecting to facilitate and educate the farmers to maintain and improve their
quality of life and the quality of life of future generations to live and act sustainably
(Agus et al. 2011, 2018) without leaving aside local wisdom. Further, the transformation from conventional farming systems to Integrated Bio-cycles Farming
systems requires a united effort, time, and commitments.
10.2 Sustainable Development in Agroecosystem
The equatorial and tropical region of the Earth are rich in biodiversity and natural
resources (Andresen et al. 2018). Natural resources are a key in sustainable agricultural development, and therefore must be managed and utilized as a pathway to
future prosperity and environmental sustainability (Sivakumar et al. 2000). Agriculture is an activity of managing biological natural resources assisted by technology,
capital, labor, and management to produce agricultural commodities that cover food
crops, horticulture, plantations, and livestock in an agroecosystem management unit
(Anonymous 2019). The agricultural sector has a considerable contribution in
supporting the wealth of nation or economic growth, especially in agricultural
countries, in which it has always been a top priority in the pillars of the national
development plan. Such contribution is shown through its ability, especially in
national food supplies. Additionally, this sector has the potential to produce industrial raw materials, food, fiber, biocompost, biopesticides, bioenergy, and biogas
(Kern 2002; Agus 2013).
Efforts to enhance agricultural production are continually made in line with the
rapid population growth rate, particularly in developing countries (Stephens et al.
2003). Modern farming through intensification of agriculture has been a shortcut for
solving food-related problems. Agricultural intensification is usually featured using
advanced technology, mechanical equipment, modern method of cultivation, hybrid
seeds from superior genetics, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides, monoculture, and
the support of various government policies (Rivai and Anugrah 2011; Prasad et al.
2014, 2017). Nevertheless, the practice of such intensification is mostly targeted to
gain high yields while ignoring its potential risk to the environment, including
pollution, soil erosion and topsoil degradation (De Neergaard et al. 2008), excessive
groundwater exploitation (Maqsood et al. 2005), biodiversity loss and increased
resistance to weeds and pests (Zhu et al. 2012), caused by inappropriate
agroecosystem management.
According to FAO (2019), there are 10 interlinked and interdependent elements
of agroecosystem, namely diversity, co-creation, and sharing of knowledge,
synergies, efficiency, recycling, resilience, human and social values, culture and
212
C. Agus et al.
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Bioeconomy application is expected to be applied in all sectors, not only agriculture
but also all business sectors, even though there will be a big challenge ahead.
Adopting a new system in the middle of old conventional paradigm is a big
challenge since it is highly related to society. Integrated Bio-cycles Farming System
is expecting to facilitate and educate the farmers to maintain and improve their
quality of life and the quality of life of future generations to live and act sustainably
(Agus et al. 2011, 2018) without leaving aside local wisdom. Further, the transformation from conventional farming systems to Integrated Bio-cycles Farming
systems requires a united effort, time, and commitments.
10.2 Sustainable Development in Agroecosystem
The equatorial and tropical region of the Earth are rich in biodiversity and natural
resources (Andresen et al. 2018). Natural resources are a key in sustainable agricultural development, and therefore must be managed and utilized as a pathway to
future prosperity and environmental sustainability (Sivakumar et al. 2000). Agriculture is an activity of managing biological natural resources assisted by technology,
capital, labor, and management to produce agricultural commodities that cover food
crops, horticulture, plantations, and livestock in an agroecosystem management unit
(Anonymous 2019). The agricultural sector has a considerable contribution in
supporting the wealth of nation or economic growth, especially in agricultural
countries, in which it has always been a top priority in the pillars of the national
development plan. Such contribution is shown through its ability, especially in
national food supplies. Additionally, this sector has the potential to produce industrial raw materials, food, fiber, biocompost, biopesticides, bioenergy, and biogas
(Kern 2002; Agus 2013).
Efforts to enhance agricultural production are continually made in line with the
rapid population growth rate, particularly in developing countries (Stephens et al.
2003). Modern farming through intensification of agriculture has been a shortcut for
solving food-related problems. Agricultural intensification is usually featured using
advanced technology, mechanical equipment, modern method of cultivation, hybrid
seeds from superior genetics, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides, monoculture, and
the support of various government policies (Rivai and Anugrah 2011; Prasad et al.
2014, 2017). Nevertheless, the practice of such intensification is mostly targeted to
gain high yields while ignoring its potential risk to the environment, including
pollution, soil erosion and topsoil degradation (De Neergaard et al. 2008), excessive
groundwater exploitation (Maqsood et al. 2005), biodiversity loss and increased
resistance to weeds and pests (Zhu et al. 2012), caused by inappropriate
agroecosystem management.
According to FAO (2019), there are 10 interlinked and interdependent elements
of agroecosystem, namely diversity, co-creation, and sharing of knowledge,
synergies, efficiency, recycling, resilience, human and social values, culture and
212
C. Agus et al.