Social-ecological feedbacks drive tipping points in farming system diversification

Authors

Melissa Chapman, University of California, Berkley
Serge Wiltshire, University of California, Berkley
Patrick Baur, University of Rhode Island
Timothy Bowles, University of California, Berkley
Liz Carlisle, University of California, Santa Barbara
Federico Castillo, University of California, Berkley
Kenzo Esquivel, University of California, Berkley
Sasha Gennet, Nature Conservancy
Alastair Iles, University of California, Berkley
Daniel Karp, University of California, Davis
Claire Kremen, University of California, Berkley
Jeffrey Liebert, Cornell University
Elissa M. Olimpi, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Joanna Ory, University of California, Berkley
Matthew Ryan, Cornell University
Amber Sciligo, The Organic Center
Jennifer Thompson, University of California, Berkley
Hannah Waterhouse, University of California, Berkley
Carl Boettiger, University of California, Berkley

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

3-18-2022

Abstract

The emergence and impact of tipping points have garnered significant interest in both the social and natural sciences. Despite widespread recognition of the importance of feedbacks between human and natural systems, it is often assumed that the observed nonlinear dynamics in these coupled systems rests within either the underlying human or natural processes rather than the rates at which they interact. Using adoption of agricultural diversification practices as a case study, we show how two stable management paradigms (one dominated by conventional, homogeneous practices and the other by diversified practices) can emerge purely from temporal feedback between human decisions and ecological responses. We explore how this temporal mechanism of tipping points provides insight into designing more effective interventions that promote farmers' transitions toward sustainable agriculture. Moreover, we present a flexible modeling framework that could be applied to other cases as well as questions in social-ecological systems research and environmental policy design.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

One Earth

Volume

5

Issue

3

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Chapman, Melissa, Serge Wiltshire, Patrick Baur, Timothy Bowles, Liz Carlisle, Federico Castillo, Kenzo Esquivel, Sasha Gennet, Alastair Iles, Daniel Karp, Claire Kremen, Jeffrey Liebert, Elissa M. Olimpi, Joanna Ory, Matthew Ryan, Amber Sciligo, Jennifer Thompson, Hannah Waterhouse, and Carl Boettiger. "Social-ecological feedbacks drive tipping points in farming system diversification." One Earth 5, 3 (2022). doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2022.02.007.