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: Composite farming systems in an era of change: Nagaland, Northeast India. Authors: Malcolm Cairns and Harold Brookfield Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Department of Anthropology, School of Culture, History and Language, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, Canberra A.C.T., Australia. Year of publication: 2011 Geographic focus: India Summary: Composite farming systems, first clearly identified by Rambo, are those in which radically different technologies are found together in a single farming complex. Data from diaries kept by groups of farming families in two Angami Naga villages in northeast India, Khonoma and smaller Tsiesema, detailing inputs into and outputs from wet-rice terraces and jhum (swidden) fields in the years 2000 and 2001, are presented and discussed to detail the workings of related but different composite systems. The 2000–2001 survey caught an important set of changes in midstream. Although returns to labour from the first-year jhums were much higher than those from the wet-rice terraces in 2000–2001, jhums were declining in significance as a growing non-farm economy joined the production of cool-climate vegetables and a spice crop for the Indian market as principal sources of livelihood. This story is told in the light of recent writing on the demise of swidden in the larger Southeast Asian region, and it is suggested that greater attention be paid to the composite systems, which are not uncommon in this region. This might help diversify what has perhaps been an oversimplified discussion.   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: Shifting Forests in Northeast India: Management of Alnus nepalensis as an Improved Fallow in Nagaland. ALDER CHAPTER 30 Authors: Malcolm Cairns, Supong Keitzar, and T. Amenba Yaden Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: the India-Canada Environment Facility (ICEF), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Year of publication: Geographic focus: India Summary: This chapter describes an ancient but little-documented example of farmer manipulation of A. nepalensis in Nagaland, Northeastern India, which has enabled a significant intensification of the swidden cycle without concomitant ecological decline (see color plate 35). It offers a hypothesis that this intensification was partly prompted by security concerns in an atmosphere of intertribal warfare and headhunting, and gives a brief cultural profile of the main innovators, the Angami Nagas. Much of the historical detail is drawn from early reports by the British colonial government. These provide rich insights into the people of Nagaland and the historical environment that spawned the innovation of alder fallows. The chapter then focuses on a village in Kohima District of Nagaland as a case study, and provides a description of standard jhum cultivation as it is practiced in the region as well as a more detailed diagnosis of the alder fallow innovation. It draws on these findings to elucidate pertinent research issues and to examine the role this system could play in enabling intensification of shifting cultivation in a sustainable way across a broader landscape.   If Asia-Pacific’s forest remnants and their contained biodiversity are to be protected, and swidden communities are to be afforded a better standard of living, pathways toward stabilizing and enhancing the productivity of stressed swidden systems are urgently needed. One of the most promising approaches to identifying biophysically workable and socially acceptable innovations is to document and understand indigenous adaptations toward improved fallow management.   Read More

Title of document: Making Rice Production More Environmentally-Friendly Authors: Norman Uphoff and Frank B. Dazzo   Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: SRI International Network and Resources Center, International Programs, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI , USA. Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Global level Summary: Irrigated rice production is one of the most essential agricultural activities for sustaining our global population, and at the same time, one of the agricultural sectors considered most eco-unfriendly. This is because it consumes a larger share of available freshwater resources, competing with varied ecosystems as well as other economic sectors; its paddy fields are responsible for significant emission of greenhouse gases; and the reliance on chemical fertilizers and various agrochemicals contributes to pollution of soils and water systems. These stresses on soils, hydrology and atmosphere are actually not necessary for rice production, which can be increased by modifying agronomic practices though more agroecologically-sound management practices. These, combined under the rubric of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), can reduce requirements of irrigation water, chemical fertilizer   and agrochemicals while increasing paddy yields and farmer’s net incomes. Here we discuss how irrigated rice production can be made more eco-friendly for the benefit of farmers, consumers and the environment. This is achieved by introducing practices that improve the growth and functioning of rice plants’ root systems and enhance the abundance, diversity and activity of beneficial soil organisms that live around plant roots and within the plants themselves as symbiotic endophytes.   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: Agroecology as a Transdisciplinary, Participatory, and Action-Oriented Approach. Authors: V. Ernesto Méndez , Christopher M. Bacon & Roseann Cohen (2013) Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Agroecology and Rural Livelihoods Group (ARLG), Department of Plant and Soil Science & Environmental Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA; Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, USA; Community Agroecology Network, Santa Cruz, California, USA Year of publication: 2012 Geographic focus: Global level Summary: This article traces multiple directions in the evolution of agroecology, from its early emphasis on ecological processes in agricultural systems, to its emergence as a multidimensional approach focusing on broader agro-food systems. This review is timely, as agroecology is being increasingly applied within a diversity of scientific-, policy-, and farmer-based initiatives. We contrast different agroecological perspectives or “agroecologies” and discuss the characteristics of an agroecology characterized by a transdisciplinary, participatory and action-oriented approach. Our final discussion describes the contents of the special issue, and states our goal for this compilation, which is to encourage future work that embraces an agroecological approach grounded in transdisciplinarity, participation, and transformative action. Hence, the specific objectives of this introductory article and of this inaugural issue of Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems were to: 1) discuss the implications of the increasing use and adoption of agroecology in unprecedented scientific, social and political spaces; 2) examine the evolution of the field of agroecology into distinct perspectives, or agroecologies; and 3) present conceptual and applied contributions of an agroecological perspective grounded in transdisciplinary, participatory, and action-oriented approaches. We finalize this article with a description of how the other contributions to the special issue complement each other to form a coherent and integrated agroecological approach.   Read More

Title of document: Journal de l'Agro-écologie, n°0 Authors: Mireille RAZAKA, Joachin RASOLOMANJAKA, Tahina RAHARISON, RAKOTONDRAMANANA Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: GSDM, Professionnels de l'Agroecologie Year of publication: Janvier à Mars 2017 Geographic focus: France, worldwide Summary: Ce bulletin d’information, intitulé « Journal de l’Agro-écologie » est un outil de communication, édité trimestriellement par le GSDM. Uniquement diffusé en version électronique, il s’adresse à toutes entités, acteurs de développement ou individus oeuvrant dans le développement durable, en particulier lié au secteur agricole. Le «Journal de l’Agro-écologie » propose aux lecteurs plusieurs rubriques, et parle essentiellement des dernières actualités, des problématiques, des solutions adaptées, ainsi que de la recherche en termes d’Agro-écologie au niveau national et international. Il offre également une large latitude de réflexion à travers les capitalisations, leçons apprises ou encore par les témoignages paysans issus de divers projets. Dans cette première édition, «numéro N°0», période janvier à mars 2017, le GSDM vous invite chaleureusement à découvrir le «Journal de l’Agro-écologie» et les rubriques qu’il propose.   Read More

Title of document: Innovative approaches: to linking sustainable and agroecological production with markets in developing countries Authors: Marcello Vicovaro, Allison Loconto, Emilie Vandecandelaere and Pilar Santacoloma Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: Worldwide   Summary: This document is the final report of a serie of workshops. This workshop is the result of two research projects: the first, on “Sustainable practices, sustainable markets? Exploring the institutional changes that link sustainable agricultural practices with markets in developing countries” and the second, on “An analysis of the marketing channels of agroecological produce.” Both projects attempted specifically to understand the ways in which sustainable agroecological production was linked to markets in developing countries. The workshop brought together specialists and researchers who shared innovative experiences about more productive and sustainable agricultural practices in the context of market integration. It is hoped that the experiences documented in the present workshop report will facilitate the spread of new experiences and create new awareness about the linkages between sustainable production and markets, contributing to the development of sustainable and fficient food systems.   Read More

Title of document: Landscapes for Agrobiodiversity. Agrobiodiversity perspectives in land-use decisions. Authors: Team of researchers Alberto Tarraza Rodríguez; Alejandro González Álvarez; Dunja Mijatovic; Epsha Palikhey; Ghanimat Azhdari; Helga Gruberg Cazón; Lal Kumara Wakkumbure; Maede Salimi; Natalia Estrada Carmona; Reuben Mendakor Shabong; Sajal Stapit; Sonthana Maneerattanachaiyong; Stanley Zira and Toby Hodgkin. Language editors: Loredana Maria and Kate Ferguson. Photo credits: Epsha Palikhey, Helga Gruberg Cazón, Maede Salimi and Dunja Mijatovic. Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Platform for agrobiodiversity Research (PAR) Year of publication: August 2016 Geographic focus: Worldwide Summary: The importance of agrobiodiversity and its custodians has been ignored in both conservation and agricultural development, as reflected in the debate about whether land “sparing” or land “sharing” is better for biodiversity and meeting future food needs.1 This debate has largely ignored the ways in which decisions on land use, cultivation practices, and crop and animal production choices affect the amount and distribution of agrobiodiversity in any production system and hence, ecosystem services, agro-ecosystem health and livelihoods. In this booklet, we present the results of an interdisciplinary research project in eight biocultural landscapes undertaken by the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research (PAR) in collaboration with local partners and communities from around the world. The aim of the project was to illustrate the importance of including agrobiodiversity in land-use decisions. The project brought together young researchers with different backgrounds, including sociologists, biologists and geographers, with expertise in various areas that were of relevance to this study such as participatory mapping, animal and crop diversity, agroecology and resilience. The tables presented over the following pages describe the eight landscapes in which the project team worked and summarise the findings.   Read More