2. INRM Research (research on alternative solutions)

3a. Production functions•Quantity of food and fibre•Quality•Genetic x Environment matching efficiency

3b. Human well-being•Risk management•Participation of resource users in decisions

3c. Ecosystem functions•Nutrient cycling•Carbon sequestration•Biodiversity•Water balance

4. Tradeoffs and Options•Analysis of tradeoffs and competing interests•Identification of ranges of flexible adaptative options

5. Outcomes•Extrapolation•Dissemination•Policy implementation•Wide-scale adoption

1. Participatory problem analysis•Food insecurity•Increasing poverty•Degrading natural environments•Policy constraints

6. FeedbackModel of the INRM Research ProcessFrom: A brief report on the INRM CGIAR workshop held in Penang, Malaysia21- 25 August 2000

Scales matter and research at different levels needs to be integrated

• Need to adopt/develop novel research methods and widen our range of skills

• Time scale: understanding the dynamics, trajectories, shocks, drivers. Innovation. Theory of change…

• Spatial scale/level• Field (data gaps, GxExM, weed resistance, adaptation,

mech., mitigation, P mobilization, …)• Farm (resource allocation, gender, nutrient cycling…) • Landscape (communal res., social cap) • Country, region

• Multi-scale prospective/ex-ante analysis, targeting and recommendation domains

Adoptability/constraints to adoption CA in a broader context• Knowledge intensive (not a single technology)• Biomass tradeoff in mixed crop livestock

systems • Change in resource allocation and need for

investment (machinery, herbicides and other inputs)

• Access to mechanization options• Weeds• Farm size? • For some systems, performance in early years• Adoptability limit regarding aridity

Source: Herrero et al. 2010

Benefits and costs Incidence of CA at various scales

Farm Regional

National Global

Benefits

Reduction in on-farm costs: savings in time, labour and mechanized machinery

x

Increase in soil fertility and moisture retention, resulting in long-term yield increase, decreasing yield variations and greater food security

x x

Stabilization of soil and protection from erosion leading to reduced downstream sedimentation

x

Reduction in toxic contamination of surface water and groundwater x

More regular river flows, reduced flooding and the re-emergence of dried wells

x

Recharge of aquifers as a result of better infiltration x

Reduction in air pollution resulting from soil tillage machinery x

Reduction of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere (carbon sequestration) x

Conservation of terrestrial and soil-based biodiversity x

Costs

Purchase of specialized planting equipment x

Short-term pest problems due to the change in crop management x

Acquiring of new management skills x

Application of additional herbicides x x

Formation and operation of farmers’ groups x x

High perceived risk to farmers because of technological uncertainty x x

Development of appropriate technical packages and training programs x x

Source: Adapted from Knowler and Bradshaw (2007)

• My TO, your TO, their TO: Perception, values, ethics, gender, weight, uncertainties, present vs. future!

• What is our core development model? • Is global food security vs. poverty reduction in

small scale farming systems a TO? • The optimistic Win-Win, Best Bet, SMART etc…

• Harmonization and implementation of quantitative and qualitative indicators across scales…