Methodological Guide to Co-design Climate-smart Options with Family Farmers

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) seeks to improve productivity for the achievement of food security (pillar 1: Productivity), to develop a better ability to adapt (pillar 2: Adaptation), and to limit greenhouse gas emissions (pillar 3: Mitigation). Technical and organizational innovations are needed to find synergies among those three pillars. Innovation (its creation and its operation) is a social phenomenon. Many studies worldwide have shown that promoting a sustainable change and innovation within organizations has to be analyzed and implemented with stakeholders. Thus, the ability of local actors to tackle climate change and mitigate its effects will depend on their ability to innovate and mobilize material and non-material resources, to articulate links among national policies, not only between themselves, but also undertaking actions at the local level. To support stakeholders in the development of responses to this challenge, we propose the development of open innovation platforms, in which all local actors may participate. These platforms are virtual, physical, or physico-virtual spaces to learn, jointly conceive, and transform different situations; they are generated by individuals with different origins, different backgrounds and interests (Pali and Swaans, 2013).The purpose of this manual is to provide a seven-step methodology to allow family farmers to co-build and adopt CSA options to tackle climate change in an open innovation platfor

Co-designing climate-smart farming systems with local stakeholders: A methodological framework for achieving large-scale change

The literature is increasing on how to prioritize climate-smart options with stakeholders but relatively few examples exist on how to co-design climate-smart farming systems with them, in particular with smallholder farmers. This article presents a methodological framework to co-design climate-smart farming systems with local stakeholders (farmers, scientists, NGOs) so that large-scale change can be achieved. This framework is based on the lessons learned during a research project conducted in Honduras and Colombia from 2015 to 2017. Seven phases are suggested to engage a process of co-conception of climate-smart farming systems that might enable implementation at scale: (1) “exploration of the initial situation,” which identifies local stakeholders potentially interested in being involved in the process, existing farming systems, and specific constraints to the implementation of climate-smart agriculture (CSA); (2) “co-definition of an innovation platform,” which defines the structure and the rules of functioning for a platform favoring the involvement of local stakeholders in the process; (3) “shared diagnosis,” which defines the main challenges to be solved by the innovation platform; (4) “identification and ex ante assessment of new farming systems,” which assess the potential performances of solutions prioritized by the members of the innovation platform under CSA pillars; (5) “experimentation,” which tests the prioritized solutions on-farm; (6) “assessment of the co-design process of climate-smart farming systems,” which validates the ability of the process to reach its initial objectives, particularly in terms of new farming systems but also in terms of capacity building; and (7) “definition of strategies for scaling up/out,” which addresses the scaling of the co-design process. For each phase, specific tools or methodologies are used: focus groups, social network analysis, theory of change, life-cycle assessment, and on-farm experiments. Each phase is illustrated with results obtained in Colombia or Honduras

Co-designing Climate-Smart Farming Systems With Local Stakeholders: A Methodological Framework for Achieving Large-Scale Change

The literature is increasing on how to prioritize climate-smart options with stakeholders but relatively few examples exist on how to co-design climate-smart farming systems with them, in particular with smallholder farmers. This article presents a methodological framework to co-design climate-smart farming systems with local stakeholders (farmers, scientists, NGOs) so that large-scale change can be achieved. This framework is based on the lessons learned during a research project conducted in Honduras and Colombia from 2015 to 2017. Seven phases are suggested to engage a process of co-conception of climate-smart farming systems that might enable implementation at scale: (1) “exploration of the initial situation,” which identifies local stakeholders potentially interested in being involved in the process, existing farming systems, and specific constraints to the implementation of climate-smart agriculture (CSA); (2) “co-definition of an innovation platform,” which defines the structure and the rules of functioning for a platform favoring the involvement of local stakeholders in the process; (3) “shared diagnosis,” which defines the main challenges to be solved by the innovation platform; (4) “identification and ex ante assessment of new farming systems,” which assess the potential performances of solutions prioritized by the members of the innovation platform under CSA pillars; (5) “experimentation,” which tests the prioritized solutions on-farm; (6) “assessment of the co-design process of climate-smart farming systems,” which validates the ability of the process to reach its initial objectives, particularly in terms of new farming systems but also in terms of capacity building; and (7) “definition of strategies for scaling up/out,” which addresses the scaling of the co-design process. For each phase, specific tools or methodologies are used: focus groups, social network analysis, theory of change, life-cycle assessment, and on-farm experiments. Each phase is illustrated with results obtained in Colombia or Honduras

Quelles valeurs de référence pour l'analyse de la durabilité environnementale des systèmes de production animale ? Méthode de détermination et application aux exploitations laitières de Bretagne

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) offers a robust scientific framework to quantify multiple environmental impacts of agricultural systems. Currently, LCA does not estimate whether the environmental impacts calculated are compatible with sustainable development. The scientific objective of this work is to help define sustainable farm development by determining limits of environmental sustainability with a method based on Reference Values (RV). These RV were determined and quantified for dairy production systems in Brittany, France. They were calculated as maximum acceptable impacts on ecosystems (e.g., in coastal waters) and correspond to maximum farm-emission levels (e.g., of greenhouse gases or nitrogen) to respect the Critical Natural Capital. The RV represented limits that dairy farms would have to meet to follow sustainable development. The terminology used to designate RV in environmental analysis methods must be harmonized. The terms proposed in this thesis are normative RV and relative RV. The application of RV to a sample of dairy farms in Brittany shows that most of these farms exceed the values set, but there is large variability in impacts, whose analysis and evaluation yields insights. Comparative analysis of the farms revealed characteristics of conventional and organic farms that have lower environmental impacts. However, even these farms do not reach these environmental objectives while maintaining current production levels. To investigate the leeway that dairy farms have to respect the strictest RV, environmental impacts, milk production, and land uses were modelled by linear programming. This territorial-level approach concluded that a significant change in current dairy farms and the dairy sector must be envisaged to satisfy the environmental objectives (e.g., increasing the area of non-agricultural zones). The preservation of current production levels does not seem compatible with the environmental requirements defined by the RV. Alternatives might be found to insure new revenues to farmer, e.g. paying no productive services of agriculture. The integration of the context, societal expectations, and farmers' expectations is necessary for studies of agricultural sustainability and for proposing alternative land uses.L'Analyse de Cycle de Vie (ACV) offre un solide cadre scientifique pour réaliser une quantification multicritère des impacts environnementaux des systèmes agricoles. Dans sa forme actuelle, l'ACV ne permet pas de juger si la valeur calculée des impacts environnementaux est compatible avec le développement durable. L'objectif scientifique de ce travail est de participer à la définition du développement durable des exploitations agricoles par la détermination des limites de la durabilité environnementale en développant d'une méthode basée sur des Valeurs de Référence (VR). La détermination et la quantification de ces VR a été faite pour des systèmes de production laitiers en Bretagne (France). Ces valeurs ont été calculées à partir des valeurs d'impact maximale tolérable par les écosystèmes cible (par exemple dans des eaux côtières), elles correspondent aux niveaux d'émissions maximales acceptables des exploitations (par exemple émissions de gaz à effet de serre ou d'azote) pour respecter le Capital Naturel Critique. L'utilisation des VR a permis de dessiner le champ des possibles dans lequel doivent évoluer les exploitations laitières pour s'inscrire dans une logique de développement durable. Dans les méthodes d'analyse environnementale la terminologie employée pour dénommer les VR doit être harmonisée. Les termes proposés dans cette thèse sont VR normatives et VR relatives. L'application des VR à un échantillon d'exploitations laitières en Bretagne montre que la plupart d'entre elles dépassent les VR fixées mais qu'il existe une très grande variabilité en impacts, dont l'analyse et la valorisation sont potentiellement une source de progrès. L'analyse comparative des exploitations vis-à-vis des VR, a permis de déceler des caractéristiques d'exploitations conventionnelles et biologiques qui ont un faible impact sur l'environnement. Cependant, même ces exploitations n'atteignent pas les objectifs environnementaux imposés tout en gardant les objectifs actuels de production. Pour explorer la possibilité de respecter les VR les plus stricts, les variations des rapports impacts environnementaux/production laitière en fonction de la distribution des types de systèmes laitiers et de l'introduction de nouveaux usages des terres ont été simulées grâce à la programmation linéaire. Cette approche au niveau territoriale a conclu qu'une évolution profonde des systèmes de production actuels et du tissu agricole doit être envisagée afin de satisfaire globalement les objectifs environnementaux, et dans cette évolution il faut intégrer xii l'extension de zones non agricoles. L'intégration du contexte local et des attentes sociétales et les attentes des agriculteurs est nécessaire à la poursuite des études sur la durabilité agricole et à la production de propositions de changement applicables sur le terrain

Eco-Efficiency of the Fisheries Value Chains in the Gambia and Mali

The Gambian and Malian fisheries and fish processing value chains are predominantly artisanal and represent a key source of protein and livelihoods, yet their eco-efficiency has not been studied to date. A Life Cycle Assessment was used to estimate the associated environmental impacts of those value chains and provide information on the eco-efficiency indicators, which relate technical efficiencies to environmental impacts. The results showed that industrial Gambian fleets’ fuel use efficiency is rather low as compared with the global mean fuel use intensity (landed fish/consumed fuel) for both small pelagics and demersal fish. In Mali, the fuel use intensity of motorised artisanal fisheries is lower than the mean values for artisanal inland fisheries in developing countries, but the important increase of frozen imported fish from fish farming multiplies the estimated impacts by four. The least energy-intensive fisheries (cast nets and stow nets in Gambia and opportunistic fishers in Mali) feature better eco-efficiency scores. Based on the identified sources of inefficiencies, we suggest improvements in the landing/processing infrastructure and fishing units’ engines, coupled with technical and business training and improved processing methods, to ameliorate seafood eco-efficiency and a stronger recognition of the importance of the artisanal fisheries subsector to overcome challenges and improving resource management

Quelles valeurs de référence pour l analyse de la durabilité environnementale des systèmes de production animale ? (Méthode de détermination et application aux exploitations laitières)

L Analyse de Cycle de Vie (ACV) offre un solide cadre scientifique pour réaliser une quantification multicritère des impacts environnementaux des systèmes agricoles. Dans sa forme actuelle, l ACV ne permet pas de juger si la valeur calculée des impacts environnementaux est compatible avec le développement durable. L objectif scientifique de ce travail est de participer à la définition du développement durable des exploitations agricoles par la détermination des limites de la durabilité environnementale en développant d une méthode basée sur des Valeurs de Référence (VR). Dans les méthodes d analyse environnementale la terminologie employée pour dénommer les VR doit être harmonisée. Les termes proposés dans cette thèse sont VR normatives et VR relatives. L application des VR à un échantillon d exploitations laitières en Bretagne montre que la plupart d entre elles dépassent les VR fixées mais qu il existe une très grande variabilité en impacts, dont l analyse et la valorisation sont potentiellement une source de progrès. Pour explorer la possibilité de respecter les VR les plus stricts, des simulations ont été réalisés au niveau territorial par programmation linéaire. Une évolution des systèmes de production et du tissu agricole doit être envisagée afin de satisfaire globalement les objectifs environnementaux. L intégration du contexte local et des attentes sociétales et les attentes des agriculteurs est nécessaire à la poursuite des études sur la durabilité agricole et à la production de propositions de changement applicables sur le terrain.Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) offers a robust scientific framework to quantify multiple environmental impacts of agricultural systems. Currently, LCA does not estimate whether the environmental impacts calculated are compatible with sustainable development. The scientific objective of this work is to help define sustainable farm development by determining limits of environmental sustainability with a method based on Reference Values (RV). The terminology used to designate RV in environmental analysis methods must be harmonized. The terms proposed in this thesis are normative RV and relative RV. The application of RV to a sample of dairy farms in Brittany shows that most of these farms exceed the values set, but there is large variability in impacts, whose analysis and evaluation yields insights. Comparative analysis of the farms revealed characteristics of conventional and organic farms that have lower environmental impacts. To investigate the leeway that dairy farms have to respect the strictest RV, environmental impacts, milk production, and land uses were modelled by linear programming. This territorial-level approach concluded that a significant change in current dairy farms and the dairy sector must be envisaged to satisfy the environmental objectives (e.g., increasing the area of non-agricultural zones). The integration of the context, societal expectations, and farmers expectations is necessary for studies of agricultural sustainability and for proposing alternative land uses.RENNES-Agrocampus-CRD (352382323) / SudocSudocFranceF

The LCA4CSA framework: Using life cycle assessment to strengthen environmental sustainability analysis of climate smart agriculture options at farm and crop system levels

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) seeks to meet three challenges: improve the adaptation capacity of agricultural systems to climate change, reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of these systems, and ensure local and global food security. Many CSA assessment methods that consider these three challenges have emerged, but to better assess the environmental resilience of farming systems, other categories of environmental impacts beyond climate change need to be considered. To meet this need, we propose the LCA4CSA method, which was tested in southern Colombia for family farming systems including coffee, cane and small livestock production. This methodological framework is based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and multi-criteria assessment methods. It integrates CSA-related issues through the definition of Principles, Criteria and Indicators, and involves farmers in the assessment of the effects of CSA practices. To reflect the complexity of farming systems, the method proposes a dual level of analysis: the farm and the main cash crop/livestock production system. After creating a typology of the farming systems, the initial situation is compared to the situation after the introduction of a CSA practice. In this case, the practice was the use of compost made from coffee processing residues. The assessment at the crop system level made it possible to quantify the mitigation potential related to the use of compost (between 22 and 41%) by taking into account operations that occur on and upstream of the farm. However, it showed that pollution transfers exist between impact categories, especially between climate change, acidification and terrestrial eutrophication indicators. The assessment made at the farming system level showed that farms with livestock units could further limit their emissions by modifying the feeding of animals due to the large quantities of imported cereals. The mitigation potential of compost was only 3% for these farms. This article demonstrates the merits of using life cycle thinking that can be used to inform stakeholder discussions concerning the implementation of CSA practices and more sustainable agriculture

The Use of Reference Values in Indicator-Based Methods for the Environmental Assessment of Agricultural Systems

Many indicator-based methods for the environmental assessment of farming systems have been developed. It is not the absolute values of the indicators that reveal whether the impact of a system is acceptable, but rather the distance between these values and some reference values. We reviewed eight frameworks for the environmental assessment of agricultural systems that define reference values for their indicators. We analyzed the methods used to establish reference values and explored how to improve these methods to increase their usage and relevance. This analysis revealed a striking diversity of terminology, sources, and modes of expression of results. Normative reference values allow the assessment of a single system with a previously defined value; Relative reference values are based on indicator values for similar systems or a reference system. Normative reference values can be Science-based or Policy-based. A science-based normative reference value can be a Target value, which identifies desirable conditions, or an Environmental limit, which is the level beyond which conditions are unacceptable. The quantification of the uncertainty of reference values is a topic which is barely explored and warrants further research. Reference values present a means of introducing site specificity into methods for environmental assessment which seems, at present, largely under-exploited