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Multi-stakeholder platforms for enabling agroecological transitions: Configurations and lessons from seven agroecological living landscapes
No full textAgroecological transition (AET) of agrifood systems is a multidimensional process involving diverse stakeholders. Participatory innovation and co-creation of knowledge are also at the heart of agroecology. Deliberately designed Multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) are collaborative spaces conducive to driving this type of collaboration and change. However, how these processes are operationalized is poorly documented. This study contributes to filling this gap by highlighting how MSPs can be important vehicles for enabling AETs. As part of the CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology, Agroecological Living Landscapes (ALLs) were set up as MSPs specifically focusing on co-creation of agroecological innovations. By examining different ALL configurations in seven countries, we analyze MSP attributes that can enable and shape AETs at different stages or “levels” of the transition pathway. We find that MSPs can advance different levels of the transition pathway simultaneously by working on multiple innovations involving various stakeholder coalitions. MSPs navigate complex environments, with diverse stakeholders playing multiple policy and non-policy roles to support AETs. The results also illustrate the intersection between MSP configuration and AET objectives, such as policy change, agroecology market support, and scaling adoption. Finally, we discuss the non-linear nature of AET pathways and political economy considerations for stakeholder engagement in MSPs
Improving yam production in Benin: Variety and quality concerns
Get PDFYam (Dioscorea sp.) is a staple food and plays a crucial role in food security across West Africa. It is widely consumed in both rural and urban areas. However, significant challenges threaten, such as declining yields, seed rot, soil fertility loss, as well as climate change. In response, various agricultural research institutions and farmers have adopted strategies to ensure year-round availability of high-quality yam and promote good agricultural practices. This Market Intelligence Brief highlights the innovations and technologies identified through a literature review and field survey conducted among yam producers, traders, and consumers in the following zones in Benin: Dassa, Glazoué, and Tchaourou. The findings revealed major constraints in yam production and processing, especially the seasonal unavailability of preferred varieties such as Laboko, Kodjewe, and Efourou, which are crucial for preparing pounded yam. Other varieties such as Aga and Ofegui are less valued at harvest because of low culinary quality but gain value after a few months of storage. To overcome these challenges and stabilize income, farmers have adopted strategies such as intercropping and the use of drought-tolerant, multi-cycle, and storable yam varieties that meet consumer preferences. These changes imply new directions for breeding programs, such as the following: • Adjusting quality thresholds (e.g., yield) and incorporating new criteria such as storability, ease of seed dissemination, and processability. • Evaluating D. alata hybrids for their potential in pounded yam processing, as some lines show promising agronomic and culinary traits, despite not being initially selected for this use. dried yam chips), and possible solutions resulting from recent advances in applicable innovative technologies (such as new varieties and postharvest storage) and scaling of local solutions
One Health and resilient landscapes: empowering communities through agroecological innovation
Get PDFShape matters: Microplastic fibers disrupt soil carbon cycling via shape-driven physical disturbance
Get PDFSoil microplastic (MP) pollution is an emerging concern with uncertain carbon (C) cycling impacts. Among MPs, fiber-shaped particles may exert distinct effects due to their high surface area and dissimilarity from natural soil structures. This study aimed to assess the physical and chemical mechanisms by which MP addition alters soil C dynamics, especially through their impacts on priming effect. We assessed two common MP polymers and shapes—low-density polyethylene beads and acrylic fibers—at two addition rates (0.1% and 1% w/w), paired with inert glass particle controls mimicking the same MP shapes and a negative control with soil only. Natural abundance δ1³C isotopic analysis distinguished MP-derived and soil-derived CO2 emissions over a 63-day incubation period. Fiber-shaped additions of either glass or MPs reduced total CO2 emissions by 25%, whereas bead-shaped additions had no measurable effect. Plastic-derived CO2 constituted a minor but detectable portion of total emissions, with similar decomposition rates across polymer types. Surprisingly, higher MP concentrations decomposed up to 10 times slower than lower concentrations, suggesting that MPs may clump together, reducing the surface area available for microbial colonization, thereby slowing down breakdown. Our results show that fiber-shaped MPs significantly disrupt soil C cycling, mainly through physical disturbance, while chemical effects (i.e., presence/absence of plastics) are secondary. Finally, soil priming effect increased with the amount of MPs added, raising additional concerns about the consequences of rising soil plastic contaminations worldwide
Economic drivers of pesticide use in Cameroon
Get PDFPesticide use in Cameroon has increased dramatically over the past three decades, raising concerns about human and environmental health. Although the economic mechanisms of pesticide use have been widely studied in Europe and the United States, this topic has rarely been explored in tropical countries, primarily due to the poor quality of available data. In this paper, we address this issue by using FAOSTAT data that has been cross-checked with the recently released GloPUT database to improve data reliability. We consider three main mechanisms: the effect of pesticide import prices, agricultural product prices, and labour availability. We used two independent methods to investigate the economic mechanisms of pesticide use: econometric analysis and a farmer survey. Our findings suggest that pesticide use is relatively inelastic with respect to its own price, with elasticity values greater than −1. However, due to a lack of statistical power, the significance levels of our estimates are relatively low, which warrants caution when interpreting the results and drawing conclusions