Reporte del II Intercambio de Experiencias en Agricultura Sostenible Adaptada al Clima entre Colombia y Centroamérica – 2019

El II Intercambio de experiencias en Agricultura Sostenible Adaptada al Clima entre Colombia y Centroamérica se llevó a cabo del 7 al 12 de Abril de 2019 en Colombia. Contó con la presencia de representantes de Colombia, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala e instancias regionales como el Consejo Agropecuario Centroamericano (CAC) and the Comité Regional de Recursos Hidráulicos (CRRH). Los participantes se reunieron durante una semana para fortalecer sus capacidades en temas relacionados con “servicios climáticos para la agricultura” y “ganadería sostenible”. Realizaron salidas de campo y jornadas de diálogo entre instituciones de servicios climáticos, agricultura y ganadería de Colombia y Centroamérica. The II Exchange of Experiences in Climate-Smart Agriculture between Colombia and Central America took place from April 7 to 12, 2019 in Colombia. Representatives attended the event from Colombia, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and regional bodies such as the Central American Agricultural Council (CAC) and the Regional Water Resources Committee (CRRH). Participants met for a week to strengthen their capacities on issues related to "climate services for agriculture" and "sustainable livestock". During the exchange, experts conducted field trips and dialogue sessions between climate services, agriculture and livestock institutions in Colombia and Central America

Results on life cycle assessments to determine impacts of agronomic management choices in the Cauca and Honduras CSV

The intense management of the crops, that characterizes current agricultural cropping systems, has resulted in increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). In this study, we used the field-scale agricultural assessment model - Cool Farm Tool (CFT), to model GHG emissions and uptake estimates (Hillier et al., 2011). This tool combines different algorithms that integrate climate, soil and crop data and presents outputs on carbon footprints in a format that is accessible to non-experts. Furthermore, the CFT provides the possibility to compare GHG emissions and uptake estimates from different production sites and systems. Finally, the tool CFT enables crop producers and stakeholders to take a more informed and holistic approach to environmental sustainability in the agricultural sector

COVID-19 y variabilidad climática, una combinación crítica para al sector agropecuario de Guatemala

La Unidad de Cambio Climático del Ministerio de Agricultura Ganadería y Alimentación de Guatemala (MAGA) y el Programa de Investigación de CGIAR en Cambio Climático, Agricultura y Seguridad Alimentaria (CCAFS), diseñaron conjuntamente un instrumento con el propósito de conocer los impactos del aislamiento preventivo en la producción agropecuaria de Guatemala a partir de la percepción de los extensionistas del MAGA. En este documento se presentan los resultados de la aplicación de encuestas en Guatemala, así como un análisis de diferentes escenarios y recomendaciones para el sector agropecuario guatemalteco

Scaling up the use of low-emissions development (LED) research outputs in Colombia: Linking science to policy for supporting country’s LED agriculture

Key messages – National greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories can be improved to achieve Colombia’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) target and support low-emissions development (LED) agriculture by reducing uncertainties in emission calculations using activity data for fertilizer application and estimates of emission reduction potentials from cacao plantations. – Co-design of LED research outputs (i.e., activity data for fertilizer emission estimates and GHG mitigation potential of cacao plantations) and evaluation of their impact pathway with users ensures scaling up the use of outputs by implementing key actions along the impact pathway. – Communication, engagement, and capacity- strengthening for the use of activity data for fertilizer emission estimates and GHG mitigation potentials of cacao plantations are key components of scaling research outputs and generating impacts

Science effectively informs policy processes in Colombia toward low-emission agriculture: Reflections on the process of incorporating EC-LEDS research results into national low-carbon policies in agriculture

The translation of low-emission development policies into implementation on the ground requires research outputs that can be developed in collaboration with key stakeholders. This helps to understand stakeholders’ roles and policy processes as well as enhancing technical capacity that facilitates the uptake of scientific results. An improved GHG National Inventory by decreasing uncertainties in emission calculations and estimates of emission reduction potential from cacao plantations can help to achieve Colombia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target. Scaling the use of low-emission development research outputs need institutionalization and capacity strengthening of key stakeholders at different levels. There is a need to better support decision-makers’ use of technical information for strategic emission reductions planning, policy development, and implementation to deliver significant mitigation outcomes in agriculture. The creation of an effective communication platform, including LED resources, can serve this purpose

Manual de implementación de prácticas de Agricultura Sostenible Adaptada al Clima (ASAC). Experiencias de los TeSAC de Guatemala y Honduras.

Este manual recoge algunas de las prácticas agropecuarias implementadas en el TeSAC de Olopa (en las comunidades de El Guayabo, Nochán, Tituque (Caserío Tishmuntique y Tuticopote abajo), así como en el TeSAC de Santa Rita, (en las comunidades de Tierra Fría, La Casita, Aldea nueva, Queseras y Villanueva). Dichas prácticas son el resultado de un esfuerzo entre las comunidades mencionadas, CCAFS y sus socios implementadores tanto en Guatemala (la Asociación Regional Campesina Ch'orti' - ASORECH), como en Honduras (la Comisión de Acción Social Menonita - CASM)

Scaling-up climate services with users in Latin America

Latin America farmers are highly vulnerable to climate variability, with crop losses observed throughout the region on a virtually annual basis. For instance, as indicated by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Program (WFP), the 2014–2017 drought conditions in Central America affected over 3.5 million people in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. At the same time, local stakeholders and farmers generally have limited access to existing climate and forecast information, do not have sufficient capacities to understand the climate information and/or mechanisms to relate this information to the impact that climate variations can generate at a local level. This precludes the translation of information into actionable knowledge, and therefore into action. In this study, we describe a process through which scientists and strategic partners have co-developed, tested and scaled out an approach to assess, co-produce, translate and transfer climate information to enable agricultural decision making –the Local Technical Agroclimatic Committees (LTAC). LTACs allow open and clear dialogues about climate variations at multiple timescales, how these can affect crops, and the design of measures to reduce crop loss, particularly providing agronomic recommendations to farmers. We systematically describe the process of evidence generation, creation, partner engagement, scaling up, and monitoring of the approach throughout Latin America. Currently, 35 LTACs exist in 9 Latin American countries, engaging more than 250 public and private institutions, increasing the resilience and food security of an estimated 330,000 farmers, and potentially transforming how Latin American farmers manage climate risk. The study illustrates changes in institutional and farmers' capacities to co-produce, translate and use climate information and explores how better climate and crop prediction models can effectively underpin this process. We show how strategic alliances with farmer organizations, national public, and private and regional climate outlook forums help deliver improved and accurate climate information to users. Finally, we document how LTACs and their integration with other local-scale processes have led to changes in farmers’ management practices to take better advantage of good climatic conditions or avoid losses

Cosecha de Alcances: Valoración de las transformaciones producidas por las Mesas Técnicas Agroclimáticas (MTA) en Latinoamérica

Durante el 2019 se realizó un proceso de análisis de las transformaciones que han generado las Mesas Técnicas Agroclimáticas (MTA), en los territorios en que han sido establecidas durante los últimos 6 años. El estudio se enfoca en los cambios observables de comunidades, organizaciones o instituciones que han modificado sus acciones, relaciones, políticas y prácticas en cuatro países de Latinoamérica. Cinco áreas de transformación han sido identificadas i) mayor confianza en la calidad de información climática y agroclimática en el nivel local; ii) información agroclimática más conocida, comprensible y conectada; iii) democratización de conocimiento climático; iv) transformaciones en las prácticas agrícolas, y v) incidencia política y transformación institucional. Se verifican más de 140 alcances o cambios sobre dichas áreas. Se evidencia que las MTA analizadas han promovido un mayor acercamiento de las Instituciones Meteorológicas Nacionales a las necesidades de los territorios, lo que, a su vez, ha propiciado la creación de comunidades de práctica locales sobre la aplicación de conocimientos de clima en la toma de decisiones. En efecto, se tiene evidencia que los agricultores adaptan sus prácticas productivas tomando decisiones basadas en información de variabilidad climática local, reduciendo pérdidas y aumentando rentabilidad. Se demuestra, además, que el desarrollo de alianzas inter-institucionales derivadas de las MTA en los países, ayudan a la construcción y fortalecimiento de políticas públicas locales y nacionales para la adaptación al cambio y la variabilidad climática en la agricultura. Finalmente, se identifican diversas oportunidades y desafíos relacionados con liderazgo y la sostenibilidad del proceso de establecimiento de las MTA en Latinoamérica.During 2019 a process of analysis of the effects or transformations that the Local Agro climatic Technical Committees (MTA) have been carried out, in the territories in which they have been established during the last 5 years. The study focuses on the observable changes of individuals, communities, organizations or institutions that have modified their actions, relationships, policies and practices in five Latin American countries. Five areas of transformation have been identified as outcomes of the MTAs, among which are analyzed: i) greater confidence in the quality of climate and agro climatic information at the local level; ii) best-known, understandable and connected agro climatic information; iii) democratization of climate knowledge; iv) transformations in agricultural practices, and v) political influence and institutional transformation. More than 140 scopes or changes over these areas are verified. There is evidence that the MTAs have promoted a closer approach of the national meteorological institutions to the need of the territories farmers, which in turn has led to the creation of local communities of practice on the application of climate knowledge in decision making agricultural. Indeed, evidence shows that farmers adapt their productive practices by making decisions based on information on local climate variability, reducing losses and increasing profitability. It is also demonstrated that the development of inter-institutional alliances derived from MTAs in the countries, helps to build and strengthen local and national public policies for adaptation to climate change and variability in agriculture. Finally, various opportunities and challenges related to leadership and the sustainability of the MTA establishment process in Latin America are identified