Presentation of the principles of agroecology
Etienne Hainzelin In collaboration with Cirad researchers
FAO 9 April 2015
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Outline
1. Agriculture : high on the global agenda and on the verge of a radical transformation with a new vision of performance
2. Agroecology is one of the main avenues of this transformation since it is based on ecosystemic services
3. Agroecology has many incarnations but no consensual definition. Its founding principles and lowest common denominator is found at plot level : mobilization of ecosystemic services.
4. Agroecology strongly relies on locally available natural resources and knowledge. Research exploring agroecology must renew its role.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2000-2015
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1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development
Agriculture, high on the global agenda
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2000-2015
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development
Agriculture, high on the global agenda
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2016-2030 (draft)
1. End Extreme Poverty Including Hunger 2. Promote Economic Growth and Decent Jobs Within Planetary Boundaries 3. Ensure Effective Learning for All Children and Youth for Life and Livelihood 4. Achieve Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Human Rights for All 5. Achieve Health and Wellbeing at All Ages 6. Improve Agriculture Systems and Raise Rural Prosperity 7. Empower Inclusive, Productive, and Resilient Cities 8. Curb Human-Induced Climate Change and Ensure Sustainable Energy 9. Secure Biodiversity and Ensure Good Management of Water, Oceans, Forests and Natural ressources 10. Transform Governance and Technologies for Sustainable Development
http.//unsdsn.org/
Agriculture, high on the global agenda
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2016-2030 (draft)
1. End Extreme Poverty Including Hunger 2. Promote Economic Growth and Decent Jobs Within Planetary Boundaries 3. Ensure Effective Learning for All Children and Youth for Life and Livelihood 4. Achieve Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Human Rights for All 5. Achieve Health and Wellbeing at All Ages 6. Improve Agriculture Systems and Raise Rural Prosperity 7. Empower Inclusive, Productive, and Resilient Cities 8. Curb Human-Induced Climate Change and Ensure Sustainable Energy 9. Secure Biodiversity and Ensure Good Management of Water, Oceans, Forests and Natural resources 10. Transform Governance and Technologies for Sustainable Development
http.//unsdsn.org/
Agriculture, high on the global agenda
A radical transformation of agriculture
A radical transformation of agriculture
New meaning of agriculture performance
D’après Dabouineau et Ponsero, extrait « Le râle d’eau », vol. 137 . 9-7, 2009
Natural ecosystems
Intensive cereal crop
Crop with restaured
ecosystemic services
Water quality
Flood regulation
Habitat preservation
Forest production
Carbon sequestration
Pest regulation
Air quality
Production
Water quality
Flood regulation
Habitat preservation
Forest production
Carbon sequestration
Pest regulation
Air quality
Production
Water quality
Flood regulation
Habitat preservation
Forest production
Carbon sequestration
Pest regulation
Air quality
Production
Visualisation of ecosystem services with different cropping systems (service value from 0 to 8)
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Compared intensitivity of cropping systems (adapted from M. Griffon 2013)
Natural resources / ecosystem services
Inputs
Products / biomass
Positive externalities
Negative externalities
Conventionally intensified
farming systems
Natural resources / ecosystem services
Inputs
Products / biomass
Positive externalities
Negative externalities
AE. Ecologically intensified
farming systems
Compared intensitivity of cropping systems (adapted from M. Griffon 2013)
Adapted from M. Griffon 2013
Natural ecosystem
Conventionally intensified
farming systems
AE. Ecologically intensive farming systems
Diversification Complexification “aggradation”
Uniformization Simplification Degradation
Regulated dynamics
Natural dynamics
Traditional farming
systems with no input
Agroecology themes(2500 references 1975 – 2012)
Rebout et al. 2014
Agricultural systems & food
production, organic
landscape management &
natural habitats, biodiversity
Cropping systems &
rotation, management
Biological control / pesticide use,
intergated pest management
N and P balance,
management and
disponibility
Soil Organic matter and
mineralization
Agroecological zone,
agriculture forecast
Agricultural land use systems &
environmental degradation
Ecosystem services & landscape
management, Biological control &
conservation 13
Agroecology Integrated
pest management
Organic agriculture
conservation agriculture
Permaculture
Ecological intensification
Organic and resource-conserving
agriculture Eco-Agriculture
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The very diverse incarnations of ‘Agroecology’
and many more …
The very diverse incarnations of ‘Agroecology’
Inspired from Wezel et al, 2009
Agroecology
Scientific Discipline
Ecology of plots, fields,
herds
Ecology of Food systems
Ecology of
agrosystems
Environne- mentalism
Rural Development
Sustainable agriculture
Technologies
Social Movement Practices
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Among the diverse “incarnations” of AE, the lowest common denominator is found at plot level.
The basic and common principle is to to enhance the services provided by living organisms, taking the optimal advantage of natural resources, especially those which are abundant and free (solar energy, air carbon and nitrogen, rainfall, biodiversity).
• planning and optimizing functional biodiversity aboveground, at
different scales over space and time, both to intensify biological cycles and synergies for nutrients, water and energy, and to control crop pests.
• managing functional biodiversity underground by amplifying biogeochemical cycles in the soil, by recycling the nutrients from deep profiles and by increasing biotic activities.
The basic principles of agroecology at plot level
Expected advantages at plot level. • increased biomass production and C-sequestration in plants and soil • enhanced soil biology and fertility in the long term • Reduced inputs costs and solutions for the challenges of resources • stability of output, resistance to stress, perturbation and aggressors
Increased number
of cultivated species or genotypes
Optimizing plant functional biodiversity means complexification of cropping systems
Ex 1. Association of 2 rice genotypes to reduce Pyricularia incidence
Li et al., 2013 Encyclopedia of Biodiversity 2nd Edition 382-395 19
Ex 2. Complexification of cropping systems.
Conservation agriculture in Mato Grosso
(1980-2010)
Source. L. Seguy et al., (2009) La symphonie inachevée du semis direct dans Brésil central http.//agroecologie.cirad.fr/librairie_virtuelle 20
Ero
sio
n
Ex 3. A large family of applications of « stimulo-deterrent » technologies against
the pests
D’après J. Van den Berg
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Ex 4. Multiples examples of agroforestry
From planned associated cropping
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…… to complex agroforests
Agroforestry
Agriculture
Forest
… 100 ha agroforestry produce as much wood and food products as 160 ha conventionnal separate cropping.
100 ha 160 ha
Agroforestry with intensive cereal crop
Conventionnal separate cropping
Source: Dupraz et al, INRA
~
Economic market
Landscape
Adapted from M. Griffon 2013
Watershed basin
Farm
Animal productions
Plant productions
Field
The different space scales of integration
Food systems
Agroecology strongly relies on locally available natural resources, including agro-biodiversity, and therefore it does not prescribe ready-to-use technical packages to farmers :
Models and solutions are built mingling scientific and traditional knowledge and strongly relying on local learning and innovation processes.
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Implications
- The importance of local context. shift from “ready-to-use” to “custom-made” cropping systems put the producers at the center of local innovation systems, to combine technologies and traditional knowledge.
- Need for public policies favoring AE: transition policies for family agriculture, payment of environmental services, training, etc.
- Agrobiodiversity, a key component of resilience, must remain accessible to small farmers at no cost, as a capital for future adaptation;
- The role of scientific research is questioned: path dependency, knowledge management, local partnerships, priority and funding settings, global orchestration, etc.
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Bouthan, 2011
Thanks for your attention