Sustainable intensification?

Source: University of Michigan

It is still not clear what sustainable intensification might look like on the ground, how it might differ amongst production systems, in different places, and given different demand trajectories, and how the tradeoffs that inevitably arise, might be balanced.Garnett and Godfray, 2012

In its current use, the term “sustainable intensification” is often weakly and narrowly defined, and lacks engagement with key principles of sustainabilityLoos et al. 2014

Key considerations for SI R4DPlace research and technical innovation in bio-physical, social and economic contexts

Spatial dimension (heterogeneity at various levels)

Temporal dimension (drivers of change, trajectories, systems in transition)

Smallholders farming systems are multi-commodity and multi-functional

Rural livelihoods increasingly depending on non-farm activities

Avoid to be lost in ‘complexity’!

Agriculture and the environment (link to CCAFS and WLE)

Source: FAO

Shammi Mehra/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Farmers’ Unchecked Crop Burning Fuels India’s Air PollutionAlgae development in the Sea of Cortes due to ag. nitrate pollution

Gully erosion in a groundnut field in Malawi

• Over 1 billion people are employed in world agriculture, representing 1 in 3 of all workers

• In sub-Saharan Africa over 60 percent of the entire workforce are involved in agriculture

Livelihood, equity and social justice The role of agriculture varies very much across geographies

In Tittonell et al. 2013

Smallholder farming systems: A poverty trap?

Harris and Orr, 2014

Complex and tortuous impact pathways (compared to seed systems and breeding IP)

Cover the full R4D continuum

- Systems research- Development of frameworks (analytical

and operational)- M&E&L is key and needs to include

indicators/metrics- Impact through complex partnership

with public and private sector (broker role)

- Technology and knowledge generation to guide development

-> Need better M&E&L and impact assessment

Herrero et al., 2009

Technology generation

Community to landscape system

HH farming systemField Institutions & Markets

Process research

Enabling & analysis tools

Output target ‘Last mile providers’

Innovation systemsParticipatory co-innovation & learning

- System interactions: - Livestock, cash crops; trees

HH typologies (livelihood & biophysical)

Trade-off analyses Bio-economic models

Geospatial (domains, impact)

- Knowledge products

- Identify inefficiencies (markets, providers)

Outcome Increased productivity & stability of farming systems

Increased income of smallholder farmers

Scale

- Systems for the future

Increased yield of maize/wheat for smallholder farmers

- System impacts on NRM & ecosystem services

- Mechanization

Business models

- Communication products

Sustainable Intensification Framework

- Water- Nutrients- Seeds- Weeds- Pest & diseases- Soil health

- Tillage- Rotation- Intercropping

Scaling

FP 5Develop

CoA 1.4Adoption, impact,

M&E&L

CoA 1.1Foresight and

targeting

CoA 4.2 • Understanding of farmer decision making

processes and adoption patterns.• Decision support systems• Institutional arrangements evaluated for

SI potential

CoA 3.1 Elite biotic and abiotic stress

tolerant

CoA 4.1• Farming systems analysis to guide targeting

of interventions) for specific environmental and agroecological contexts

• Understanding and prioritization of actual and potential demand for SI options across geographies and landscapes

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Integrated knowledge for development and performance feedback to research

CoA 4.3 • Proof of concepts, and knowledge on crop

management interventions • Participatory technology adaptation• Options to lower yield gaps, improve

productivity, efficiency, yield stability.

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CoA 4.4• Business model research and

development• Partnerships for scaling SI interventions

and assessment of partners’ capacity• Innovation capacity development R&D

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INFORMATION

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Knowledge and product flows between CoAs- 4.3 to 4.1 Integration of agronomy performance into systems analysis- 4.1 to 4.3 Prioritization for further field scale research in CRPs agro-

ecologies- Inform participatory research design and prioritized technologies to be

integrated according to agro-ecologies and farm types- Feedback loop and improvement of framework- Agronomy/technical know-how to participatory research actors- Feedback on in-situ performance of technologies and their integration

for further improvement by agronomists

- Meta-level targeting information to systems analysis- Feedback loop on meta-level foresight and targeting - Methodological support to SI scaling. - Provides prototyped decision support tools/Systems- Feedback to participatory approaches and DST/DSS- Provide adoption figures + process indicators to CoA 1.4- Supply of promising germplasm for targeted environments- Feedback on G×E×M, with emphasis on closing yield gaps- Business model intelligence to leverage public-private partnerships- Innovation capacity research and development- 4.2 to 4.3 integration from research from practice and back (feedback)

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CoA 4.2Integration of technological and

institutional options in rural livelihood systems

CoA 4.1Multi-scale farming system

framework to better integrate and enhance adoption of sustainable

intensification options

CoA 4.3Multi-criteria evaluation and participatory adaptation of

cropping systems

Sustainable Intensification Flagships (FP4) for MAIZE (and WHEAT)

CRP IEA (Item 146): The MAIZE CRP illustrates the type of systems research that would be useful within the CGIAR. As the evaluation pointed out, systems research conducted within this CRP focused on the characterization and assessment of trade offs in farming systems, the ‐identification of optimization options, and support for sustainable intensification trajectories. Methods included surveys, modeling, field experimentation and statistical analysis.