Systems-oriented approaches to harness the potential of
multifunctional farms and landscapes for sustainable
intensification in the humidtropics
Jeroen Groot, Piet van Asten, Katrien Descheemaeker
Humidtropics
SI and multifunctionality
• SI requires assessment of systems for multiple functions
and services
• Explore solution spaces to examine tradeoffs and
synergies
Groot et al (2009) Journal of Environmental Management 90, S147-S160.
Best guess
scenarios
Single objective
optimization
Constrained
optimization
Multi-objective
optimization
F1 F1 F1 F1
F2 F2 F2 F2
Means vs. goal oriented
• Means-oriented assumes a priority superiority
(sustainability) of particular practices or techniques
• Goal-oriented is based on comparison of the productive,
environmental and social performance to a set of goals
Goal definition Formulation of a case-specific
perception of multifunctionality
Indicator set Metrics to evaluate the
performance of the system
System definition Definition of the system,
components and process
Integrative model Expresses system performance
in terms of indicator set
Multifunctionality
assessment
Rossing et al., 2007. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment.
Relate land-use and mgt. to indicators
• How can we adjust:
– Crop areas, product composition, use
– Animal number, mgt., productivity, product composition, use
– Manure management
– Food acquisition
– Labor use
– And other farm and household choices
• To improve performance of multiple functions?...
• …and which tradeoffs and synergies do we face?
Ecological
Quality
(Goal 2)
Economic
Returns
(Goal 1)
Current situation
Differently managed landscapes
Solution space
Solution spaces change
Natural
resource
base
Profitability
• Income contribution by crop sales is highly
diverse between households in same region
• Nebbi all HH`s dependant and mostly on crop
sales
• Moyo: off farm largest income source, large
portion no crop sales
Diversity in income sources
in West-Nile – HH survey data
• Crop enterprises highly diverse in
profit margin and returns on labor
• HHs enterprise selection deviates
largely from profitability levels
Profitability comparisons
Differences between regions
Food self sufficiency
in West-Nile districts, UG
Food security – incl off-farm
Potential is not the problem
Decision
making
->
Adoption
Farmers adapt stepwise
Gap = cost of risk insurance
+ gender preferences?
0
5,000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000
20,000,000
25,000,000
30,000,000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Farm
incomeinUgandan
Shillingsinoneyear
Current,plannedandop malrevenuescenario
Currentrevenue
Plannedrevenue
Op malrevenue
• In-depth study shows
that resource
endowments may be
less important for
technology adoption
than often thought.
• Attitudes of farmers
plays an important role
• Understanding
attitudes will give
further insights into
farmer decision-
making.
… I don’t like your attitude?
Thank you