Title of document: Agroecological and agroforestry practices in tropical wet zones Authors: A collective work coordinated by Justine Scholle (GRET) Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: GRET Year of publication: 2017 Geographic focus: Mekong Region and Central Africa Summary: This guide is designed as a support tool for technicians and farmers involved in actions to promote and develop agroecology. It is a follow-up to a first technical guide published in 2014 in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the DEFIV project, a food security project implemented by GRET, funded by the European Union and Agence française de développement. This guide features two parts: The first part presents the current context and issues of agroecology in tropical wet regions. Having demonstrated the limits of conventional agricultural systems, analysed the effects of deforestation, the green revolution and climate change, the authors specify the objectives and the principles of agroecology, and remind readers of the conditions necessary to promote it. The second part is very operational and covers the various agroecological techniques, which were tested in a tropical wet context with satisfying results in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DEFIV project), Cambodia (APICI project) and Myanmar (Delta and NRS projects). Firstly, the various agroecological techniques are presented, and secondly the plants used to implement these techniques are described. Naturally, techniques such as plant inventories mentioned in this guide are not exhaustive.   Read More

Title of document: Assessing farm sustainability with the IDEA method - From the concept of agriculture sustainability to case studies on farms. Authors: Frédéric Zahm, Philippe Viaux, Lionel Vilain, Philippe Girardin, Christian Mouchet Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: The French Ministry of Agriculture Year of publication: 2008 Geographic focus: ASEAN Summary: The IDEA method (Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles or Farm Sustainability Indicators) is based on research work conducted since 1998 and is one way of giving practical expression to the concept of sustainable farms. Based on 41 sustainability indicators covering the three dimensions of sustainability, this method is designed as a self-assessment tool not only for farmers but also for policy makers to support sustainable agriculture. The scientific approach is based on identifying three different scales of sustainability. The application of the IDEA method is illustrated using French case studies. Linking the IDEA method with the Farm Accounting Data Network is noted as an interesting possibility to assess the sustainability level of different farming systems. The conclusion is that there is not just one farm sustainability model, and therefore the indicators must be adapted to local farming before using the IDEA method. The IDEA method seeks to give practical content to the notion of sustainability and has been tested for 7 years. The method is capable of observing differences in sustainability between production systems. Indeed, even though certain principles are common to all sustainable farming systems, there is not just one single farm sustainability model. The proposed system of indicators does not claim to be final or to establish a model of sustainability that must never be changed. An extension of the IDEA method to other Member States or types of agriculture could be possible as long as the following points are considered: - The need to adapt the method to local context and specific agriculture. It would be unrealistic to believe that a single method could cover all different types of production (from the Mediterranean to boreal climates). The indicators will have to be adapted to local contexts while continuing to comply with the key principles regarding their scientific construction; - The need to add specific points to take better account of the links between the particular issues of a landscape and its farms;   - The need to adapt the method to the specific aspects of the farms in certain new EU member States.     Read More

Title of document: Promotion of Climate Resilience for Food Security in ASEAN. Rice, Maize and Cassava. Authors: Dr. Men Sarom; Mr. Sothat Leng; Dr. Perdinan; Ms. Kiki Kartikasari; Ms. Marissa Malahayati; Dr. Outhai Soukkhy; Mr. Xayavong Chanthasone; Dr. Khin Lay Swe; Ms. Aye Kyawt Swe; Dr. Romeo V. Labios; Ms. Donna Bae N. Malayang; Dr. Suwit Chaikiattiyos; Dr. Margaret C. Yoovatana; Dr. Tran Cong Thang; Ms. Do Lieng Huong; Dr. Felino P. Lansigan; Ms. Imelda V. Bacudo Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für; Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: ASEAN Summary: Southeast Asia is one of the regions in the world that are most vulnerable to climate change. Climate hazards, such as temperature increase, erratic rainfall patterns, and extreme climatic events, disrupt ecosystems, livelihoods, and various aspects of human systems. Climate change threatens agricultural production, consequently endangering food security, ecological stability, and sustainable development. The research composed of national studies from the participating member states focused on climate change adaptation measures employed in crop production systems of rice, maize and cassava following the Value Chain Approach. The research composed of national studies from the participating member states focused on climate change adaptation measures employed in crop production systems of rice, maize and cassava following the Value Chain Approach. It has the following objectives: (1) To identify good practices in the ASEAN region, which address climate change related vulnerabilities that could lead to food insecurity of the three critical food crops in the region: Rice, Maize and Cassava using a value chain mapping approach. (2) To identify where vulnerabilities exist or are likely to exist, in the supply of the identified food crops, with a primary focus on production and related inputs and a secondary focus on post-production activities; specifically drawing out where regional collaboration could be most valuable. (3) To identify the good practices in terms of its technical requirements for practical applications, institutional issues and implementation challenges focused on scaling up regionally.   (4) To use the learning from existing good practices to stimulate and spread meaningful action across the region.   Read More

Title of document: FARMER RESEARCH NETWORKS AS A STRATEGY FOR MATCHING DIVERSE OPTIONS AND CONTEXTS IN SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE. Authors: REBECCA NELSON, RICHARD COE, and BETTINA I. G. HAUSSMANN Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA; World Agroforestry Center, Nairobi, Kenya and Statistics for Sustainable Development, UK and Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population, Genetics, University of Hohenheim, Germany Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: Global level Summary: The agricultural research and development institutions in most developing countries are poorly equipped to support the needs of millions of smallholder farmers that depend upon them. The research approaches taken by these systems explicitly or implicitly seek simple, one-size-fits-all solutions for problems and opportunities that are extremely diverse. Radical change is needed to facilitate the agroecological intensification of smallholder farming. We propose that large-scale participatory approaches, combined with innovations in information and communications technology (ICT), could enable the effective matching of diverse options to the wide spectrum of socio-ecological context that characterize smallholder agriculture. We consider the requirements, precedents and issues that might be involved in the development of farmer research networks (FRNs). Substantial institutional innovation will be needed to support FRNs, with shifts in roles and relationships amongst researchers, extension providers and farmers.Where farmers’ organizations have social capital and strong facilitation skills, such alignmentsmay be most feasible. Novel information management capabilities will be required to introduce options and principles, enable characterization of contexts, manage data related to option-by-context interactions and enable farmers to visualize their findings in useful and intelligible ways. FRNs could lead to vastly greater capacity for technical innovation, which could in turn enable greater productivity and resilience, and enhance the quality of rural life.   Read More

Title of document: Ecological Intensification Management of Maize in northeast China: Agronomic and Environment Response Authors: Rongrong Zhao, Ping He, Jiagui Xie, Adrian M. Johnston, Xinpeng Xu, Shaojun Qiu, Shicheng Zhao Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: China Url original document: www.elsevier.com/located/agee Summary: Optimum field management practices need to be developed and improved to solve the challenge of increasing food production while retaining the ecological integrity of farming system underlying the goal of sustainable agriculture. In this study, the concept of ecological intensification (EI) was applied to a spring maize cropping system in Jilin province, China during 2009-2013. Results indicated that the average grain yield was 11.8 t/ha in the EI treatment; while the farmers’ practice (FP) treatment had an average of 11.4 t/ha grain yield across five seasons.   Read More

Title of document: Permaculture/Agroecology System in Timor-Leste National School Curriculum for Basic Education   Authors: Eugenio Lemos   Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Feed the Future Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Timor-Leste Url original document: http://www.fao.org/3/a-bl923e.pdf Summary: Timor-Leste is a half Irland country with a total population of 1.2 million people; it is geographically situated between Asia and Pacific region. It is a tropical country and 80% of its population live in rural areas. Agriculture, fishery and forestry are the main economical mainstays.   Read More

Title of document: The Current and Future Roles of Small Farm Resources Centre in Extension and Advisory Services   Authors: Abram J. Bicksler; Ricky Bates; Rick Burnette; Boonsong  Thansrithong   Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Feed the Future Year of publication: 2014 Geographic focus: Southeast Asia Url original document: Summary: Small Farm Resources Centre (SFRC) model is not a new approach to agricultural outreach. Extension variations on this theme have been in operation in many parts of the world for years, yet thorough assessment of the regional efficacy of SFRC is lacking.   Read More

Title of document: Habitat eradication and cropland intensification may reduce parasitoid diversity and natural pest control services in annual crop fields   Authors: Deborah K. Letourneau; Sara G. Bothwell Allen; Robert R. Kula; Michael J. Sharkey; John O. Stireman   Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Science of the Anthropocene Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: USA Url original document: elementascience.org Summary: Ecosystem services, through vital for the future of U.S. agricultural production and profitability are several threatened by agricultural intensification. Pollinator declines, persistent crop losses from pests, increase crop and water contamination and variable climate effects on project food production have prompted major research and policy initiatives in the U.S. and Europe targeting sustainable crop production and biodiversity conservation.   Read More

Title of document: Consolidated account of the 4 national multi stakeholder workshops on agroecological transition in the Mekong Region Authors: Pierre Ferrand Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: ALiSEA Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar & Vietnam Summary: This report presents a short consolidated account of 4 national multi-stakeholder workshops addressing Agroecological Transition in the Mekong Region and bringing together 225 participants that have been organized between March and June 2016 (Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam Lao PDR). Such workshops aimed at sharing knowledge, information and actions between agricultural development stakeholders.   Read More

Title of document: Climate Resilient Agriculture: Educational/Training Posters Series Authors: Julian Gonsalves Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: CIAT Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Southeast Asia Url original document: https://ccafs.cgiar.org/publications/climate-resilient-agriculture-educationaltraining-posters-series#.V01EUiGwEgg Summary: These posters are based on key messages derived from a sourcebook of reading/reference materials in a companion production entitled "Towards Climate Resilience in Agriculture for Southeast Asia - An Overview for Decision-makers". They were produced by CIAT with CCAFs funding for an FP1.1 project entitled “Integrated agricultural technologies for enhanced adaptive capacity and resilient livelihoods in climate-smart villages (CSVs) of Southeast Asia”. These posters are designed for use in training or educational events, primarily for starting discussions on important issues facing agriculture in a changing climate. The poster series cover a range of topics/ issues related to climate change in agriculture.They can be used one at a time, and not necessarily in any particular sequence. These pictures can also be enlarged to serve as educational posters, displayed one at a time. They can be used in power point presentations . The illustrations can serve as prototypes for local adaptation and further improvement by local artists. Any use of the illustrations should provide adequate credits to the source   Read More