Synecoculture experiments: Human augmentation of ecosystems and Planetary Hhealth

Abstract

Transformative change in primary food production is urgently needed in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. Synecoculture (synecological farming) is designed on a variety of environmental responses within ecological optimum in high-density mixed polyculture, where various edible species were intentionally introduced.

In this talk, I overview essential experimental results and activities of Synecoculture in relation to Planetary Health. The scientific methods underlying this research include the following:

Field Experiments: Conducted in Japan and Sub-Saharan Africa, these experiments tested Synecoculture's diverse, mixed-species agroecosystems without conventional inputs (e.g., tillage, fertilizers, and agrochemicals), assessing biodiversity, overall productivity, and soil health.

Big Data and AI: Developed an open-source biological interaction database, used AI and drone image analysis for automated field assessment, and 3D ecosystem modeling to manage and understand ecological complexity.

Ecological Data Analysis: Monitored seasonal community dynamics of Synecoculture plots and used CSR triangle theory to analyze plant adaptive strategies. These analyses demonstrated adaptive diversification and its link to ecosystem productivity.

Theoretical Modeling: Established the Integrated Model of Physiological and Ecological Optima (IMPEO) to analyze the comprehensive productivity of densely mixed polyculture in marginal environments.

Health Impact Studies: Evaluated Synecoculture's health benefits through metabolome analysis of tea products, as well as biomarker analysis and clinical assessments for elderly patients, showing anti-inflammatory effects and improved physical and cognitive health outcomes through rehabilitation activities in biodiverse environments.

Socio-Economic Assessment: Measured economic impacts in sub-Saharan Africa and established collaborative efforts towards scaled-up implementation in the Global South with local governments and NGOs, highlighting Synecoculture's contribution to sustainable food systems and land restoration. In the urban area of Japan, participatory studies were performed on green infrastructure to enhance biodiversity and mitigate environmental risks. Educational programs based on the “Syneco Portal” engaged students in hands-on learning about the self-organization of ecosystems. Additionally, we developed a model linking biodiversity to healthcare costs, offering services that enhance biodiversity and utilize ecosystem benefits supported by medical data and AI.

The overall results showed that the self-organized primary production of ecosystems performs better compared with conventional monoculture methods in 1) promoting diversity and total quantity of products along with a rapid increase of in-field biodiversity that autonomously adapt to environmental variability; 2) a fundamental reduction of inputs and environmental load; and 3) multiple benefits to human wellbeing through enhanced nutrition and environmental quality.

These benefits imply substantial possibilities for a new typology of sustainable farming based on human-guided augmentation of ecosystem that could overcome the historical trade-off between productivity and biodiversity, which provide a fundamental platform for human and ecosystem health in both rural and urban environments.