CIAT Decision and Policy Analysis - DAPA

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/56648

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Multi-stakeholder platforms for value chain analysis and upgrading. The case of Cocoa in the Colombian Northern Amazon
(Poster, 2017-11) Charry, Andres; Jäger, Matthias; Hurtado Bermudez, Jhon Jairo
The Colombian government is implementing a post conflict agenda that includes rural reforms, focused on areas previously under the FARC guerrilla’s control. Simultaneously and connectedly, the country is experiencing increasing rates of deforestation. To align efforts against deforestation and the promotion of new development models for the Amazon Region, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development created a program called Visión Amazonía (VA). One of VA components includes the strengthening of agricultural value chains (VCs) committed to zero deforestation goals (MADS, 2015) through the collective construction of upgrading strategies. The cocoa VC has been prioritized given its reforestation capacity, suitability to local conditions, market potential and the existence of committed producer organizations in the region. The International Center of Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) facilitated the consolidation of multi-stakeholder platforms for developing the sector´s VC upgrading strategy in the departments of Guaviare and Caquetá, by using a participatory process that involves key stakeholders along the entire VC.
Who has the better story? On the narrative foundations of agricultural development dichotomies
(Journal Article, 2020-11) Mockshell, Jonathan Yaw; Birner, Regina
While there is consensus on the need to promote agricultural development in Africa to achieve food security and use agriculture as an engine of growth, there is a lively policy debate on appropriate policies to achieve this goal. In the past two decades, there has been a revival of policies that favor government support to agriculture in Africa, especially in the form of input subsidies. Such policies have remained highly controversial, reflecting a long-standing dichotomy in agricultural development policy between those who consider subsidies as essential to increase agricultural productivity and those who criticize such state-focused policy instruments and favor market-oriented approaches. In the literature, agricultural policy choices have mainly been analyzed using models that capture economic or political interests. Some studies have focused on policy beliefs to explain the dichotomy, but what has not received much attention is the use of language in agricultural policy discourses, in spite of increasing evidence that narratives matter for policy-making. To address this gap, we combine the Advocacy Coalition Framework with Narrative Policy Analysis to examine agricultural policy discourses in Senegal. Applying a cluster analysis to coded transcripts of in-depth interviews with policy stakeholders, we identified two opposing advocacy coalitions and labelled them “agricultural support coalition” and an “agricultural support critique coalition”. An analysis of the argumentative structure of the narratives of each coalition revealed interesting differences: while the agricultural support coalition told a range of straight-forward stories that explain how government support, such as input subsidies, addresses the problem of low agricultural productivity, the opposing coalition formulated their stories mostly in the form of critiques rather than telling equally straight-forward counter-stories. Based on the analysis, we examine possible meta-narratives, which take arguments of both coalitions into account and may have the potential to overcome the long-standing dichotomy in agricultural development.
Can Cali measure sustainability in its food systems? Using the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact to gauge progress- Policy brief
(Report, 2019) Aronson, Sandra
Assessing the carbon footprint and climate risk of most consumed food products in Cali, Colombia: Methodological development of a decision support tool
(Report, 2019) Gerbal, Lisa
Title : Assessing carbon footprint and climate risk of most consumed food products in Cali, Colombia: Methodological development of a decision support tool Cities are spreading, and with it, the impacts of a growing urban population on the environment through the provisioning of food, water, and energy. Changing climate is also threatening our food systems: the kinds of foods that can be produced, and peoples’ ability to buy them. In this context, this study aims at developing a methodological approach to better assess, understand, and use information on environmental sustainability and resilience of highly consumed products in a city. The proposal is to assess carbon footprint using a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology and complement it with the Ecocrop model that can project potential changes across space and time, of crops suitability under different future scenarios. In this way, we can assess both the impacts of a community’s diet on the environment, as well as the potential impacts of climate change on that diet. The case-study of the methodological proposition is the city of Cali, department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia and focus on the five most commonly consumed food products (per day) in Cali, determined as the “caleño typical plate”. The results found that the caleño plate emits 431.5 grams of CO2eq. The meat portion (poultry) has the highest carbon footprint per kg (2.04 kg CO2eq/kg), followed by rice (1.46 kg CO2eq/kg), plantain (0.28 04 kg CO2eq/kg), potato (0.23 04 kg CO2eq/kg) and tomato (0.09 04 kg CO2eq/kg). The Ecocrop model found that climate change could open new areas of cultivation for plantain (68% of the region will be more suitable to its production), whereas potato and most of all rice will not be suitable for culture in a majority of areas (loss of 60% of the suitable areas at the national level for rice). This proposal can be an important tool for decision makers, especially for our case study in Cali, where a fair portion of the food is produced in Valle del Cauca or else in Colombia. We hope that the results of this study will demonstrate to local policy makers the challenges of food systems, what is at stake, and the key areas for intervention.
Assessing the carbon footprint and climate risk of most consumed food products in Cali, Colombia: Methodological development of a decision support tool
(Brief, 2019) Gerbal, Lisa
This document is a methodological support complementing the combined methodology proposal. It lists all the steps to be followed to implement it. The initial proposal used Cali as a case study. Nevertheless, this type of methodology can be adapted at different levels: national, regional or other.
GeoFarmer App: A tool to complement extension services and foster active farmers participation and knowledge exchange
(Brief, 2020) Eitzinger, Anton; Bartling, Mona; Feil, Christian; Bonilla Findji, Osana; Andrieu, Nadine; Jarvis, Andy
GeoFarmer is an app designed to support experience exchanges between farmers – be they positive or negative – so that they can learn from each other by asking questions and by sharing suggestions on how their crop, animal and farm management can be improved. Project implementers can also use it to obtain continuous feedback and follow up with farmers during project implementation. GeoFarmer is a flexible tool that can be used for data collection (including spatial functionalities and location data to geo-reference information), as a knowledge library, or for efficient monitoring and evaluation of agricultural technologies and practices implemented by farmers.
Conceptualizing sustainable diets in Vietnam: Minimum metrics and potential leverage points
(Journal Article, 2020-02) Mayton, Holly; Beal, Ty; Rubin, Julia; Sánchez, Alejandra; Heller, Martin; Hoey, Lesli; Haan, Stef de; Duong, Thanh Thi; Huynh, Tuyen; Burra, Dharani Dhar; Khoury, Colin K.; Jones, Andrew D.
Improving African bean productivity in a changing global environment
(Journal Article, 2020-08) Taba-Morales, Gebel; Hyman, Glenn G.; Rubiano Mejía, Jorge Eliécer; Castro-Llanos, Fabio Alexander; Beebe, Stephen E.; Rubyogo, Jean-Claude; Katungi, Enid M.; Buruchara, Robin Arani
Minimising the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in an intact landscape under risk of rapid agricultural development
(Journal Article, 2020-01-01) Williams, Brooke A.; Grantham, Hedley S.; Watson, James E.M.; Álvarez, Silvia J.; Simmonds, Jeremy S.; Rogéliz, Carlos A.; Silva, Mayesse Aparecida da; Forero-Medina, Germán; Etter, Andrés; Nogales, Jonathan; Walschburger, Tomas; Hyman, Glenn G.; Beyer, Hawthorne L.
As humanity's demand for resources continues to rise and productive arable lands become increasingly scarce, many of Earth's remaining intact regions are at heightened risk of destruction from agricultural development. In situations where agricultural expansion is inevitable, it is important to manage intact landscape transformation so that impacts on environmental values are minimised. Here, we present a novel, spatially explicit, land use planning framework that addresses the decision making needed to account for different, competing economic-environment objectives (agricultural production value, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem service retention) when land use change is inevitable within an intact landscape. We apply our framework to the globally significant savannahs of the Orinoquia (Colombia), which in a post-conflict era is under increased agricultural development pressure. We show that while negative environmental impacts can be reduced through planning, the total area of land converted to agriculture is the unavoidable principal driver of biodiversity and ecosystem service loss. We therefore identify planning solutions that perform well across all objectives simultaneously, despite trade-offs among them. When 15%, 20%, 30% and 40% of the study area is allowed to be converted to agriculture, on average planning can improve species persistence and ecosystem service retention by up to 16%, 15%, 12%, and 9%, respectively, when compared to agricultural-focused solutions. Development in the region so far has had an unnecessarily large impact on environmental objectives due to a lack of effective land use planning, creating an 'opportunity debt'. Our study provides an evidence base to inform proactive planning and the development of environmentally sensible agricultural development policy and practice in the region. This framework can be used by stakeholders to achieve agriculture expansion goals and maximise economic profit while minimising impacts on the environment in the Orinoquia, or any relatively intact region that is being developed.
Are we messing with people's resilience? Analysing the impact of external interventions on community intrinsic resilience
(Journal Article, 2020-04) Béné, Christophe
Vietnam and Indonesia daily climate data (precipitation and temperature) per sub-geographical units 2000-2018
(Dataset, 2020-01-22) Achicanoy Estrella, Harold Armando; Mora, Brayan; Ramírez Villegas, Julián Armando; Prager, Steven D.
Daily climate data (precipitation and temperature) for Vietnam and Indonesia per sub-geographical units during the period 2000-2018
Toward integrated conservation of North America's crop wild relatives
(Journal Article, 2020-01-14) Khoury, Colin K.; Greene, Stephanie L.; Krishnan, Sarada; Miller, Allison J.; Moreau, Tara; Williams, Karen A.; Rodríguez Bonilla, Lorraine; Spurrier, Carol S.; Zalapa, Juan; Nabhan, Gary Paul
North America harbors a rich native flora of crop wild relatives—the progenitors and closely related species of domesticated plants—as well as a range of culturally significant wild utilized plants. Despite their current and potential future value, they are rarely prioritized for conservation efforts; thus many species are threatened in their natural habitats, and most are underrepresented in plant genebanks and botanical gardens. Further coordination of efforts among land management, botanical, and agricultural science organizations will improve conservation and general public awareness with regard to these species. We present examples of productive collaborations focused on wild cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos) and chile peppers (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum). We then discuss five shared priorities for further action: (1) understand and document North America's crop wild relatives and wild utilized plants, (2) protect threatened species in their natural habitats, (3) collect and conserve ex situ the diversity of prioritized species, (4) make this diversity accessible and attractive for plant breeding, research, and education, and (5) raise public awareness of their value and the threats to their persistence.
Improving seasonal precipitation forecast for agriculture in the Orinoquía Region of Colombia
(Journal Article, 2020-04-01) Fernandes, Katia; Muñoz, Angel; Ramírez Villegas, Julián Armando; Agudelo, Diego; Llanos Herrera, Lizeth; Esquivel, Alejandra; Rodríguez Espinoza, Jeferson; Prager, Steven D.
Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is used to improve the skill of seasonal forecasts in the Orinoquía region, where over 40% of Colombian rice is produced. Seasonal precipitation and frequency of wet days are predicted, as rice yields simulated by a calibrated crop model are better correlated with wet-day frequency than with precipitation amounts in June–August (JJA). Prediction of the frequency of wet days, using as predictors variables from the NCEP Climate Forecast System, version 2 (CFSv2), results in a forecast with higher skill than models predicting seasonal precipitation amounts. Using wet-day frequency as an alternative climate variable reveals that the distribution of daily rainfall is both more relevant for rice yield variability and more skillfully predicted than seasonal precipitation amounts. Forecast skill can also be improved by using the Climate Hazards Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) merged satellite–station JJA precipitation as the predictand in a CCA model, especially if the predictor is CFSv2 vertically integrated meridional moisture flux (VQ). The probabilistic hindcast derived from the CCA model using CHIRPS as the predictand can successfully discriminate above-normal, normal, and below-normal terciles of over 80% of the stations in the region. This is particularly relevant for stations that, due to discontinuity in their time series, are not included in station-only CCA models but are still in need of probabilistic seasonal forecasts. Finally, CFSv2 VQ performs better than precipitation as the predictor in CCA, which we attribute to CFSv2 being more internally consistent in regards to sea surface temperature (SST)-forced VQ variability than to SST-forced precipitation variability in the Orinoquía region.
Adoption of technologies that enhance soil carbon sequestration in East Africa: What influence farmers’ decision?
(Journal Article, 2020-03) Karanja Ng'ang'a, Stanley; Anyango Jalang'o, Dorcas; Girvetz, Evan Hartunian
"The last two decades have seen a rise of interest in the adoption and diffusion of agricultural technologies aimed at improving the sustainability of agricultural lands among smallholder farmers in developing countries. This papers set out to understand factors that influence the adoption of technologies that enhance soil carbon sequestration among smallholder farmers, using secondary data recorded in the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) database from 45 to 50 smallholders’ farmers in selected places in Kenya and Ethiopia respectively. A Probit model was used to analyse whether socio-economic, institutional, off-farm income, technical know-how, farmers’ perceptions, and land use characteristics influences the adoption of technologies that enhance soil carbon sequestration. The results show that smallholder farmers that positively perceived net benefits of the soil carbon enhancing technologies were more likely to adopt such technologies that enhance soil carbon sequestration in both countries. Access to off-farm income and land ownership with title deeds were also found to be positively associated with adoption. Off-farm income positively influences adoption among farmer with a moderate income (100-500US$ per year) but not the rich (>500US$) farmers. Moderate to high level of skills and technical know-how required for implementing and maintaining a technology on the farm had a negative influence on adoption. This shows that interventions, aimed at addressing specific factors such as inadequate skills and knowledge, change in perception among farmers, and off-farm income are likely to have the greatest impact in decisions relating to the adoption of the soil carbon enhancing practices among farmers in East Africa.
Sustainable food systems global index
(Dataset, 2019-02-21) Achicanoy Estrella, Harold Armando; Álvarez, Patricia; Béné, Christophe; Prager, Steven D.; Lamotte, Lea; Bonilla, Camila
Assess and measure the food system sustainability worldwide in a robust and consistent manner (2019-02-21)
Impacts of smallholder agricultural adaptation on food security: evidence from Africa, Asia, and Central America
(Journal Article, 2020-02) Lim, Krisha; Wichmann, Bruno; Luckert, Martin K.; Läderach, Peter R.D.
A systematic approach to assess climate information products applied to agriculture and food security in Guatemala and Colombia
(Journal Article, 2019-12) Bouroncle, C.; Müller, A.; Giraldo, D.; Ríos, D.; Imbach, P.; Girón, E.; Portillo, P.; Boni, A.; Etten, Jacob van; Ramírez Villegas, Julián Armando
Increased interannual climate variability affects agricultural livelihoods throughout the world. In many regions, climate services support decision-makers in their adaptation efforts. The range of these services and the number of associated information products have increased dramatically in recent years. However, the relationships between these products and their use and usability for targeted decision-making have rarely been systematically evaluated. Here, we report on the development of a systematic and user-centered approach to assess climate information products and networks of products; and apply it to products covering the nexus of climate, agriculture, and food security in Guatemala and Colombia. Across both countries, we assessed 28 products used for agricultural decision making, outreach, planning research, and design of emergency responses. While climateonly information products play a central role in each network, information products intended to support agriculture and food security need to integrate information from different themes or disciplines and sources at different scales. We find that major improvements in the credibility, legitimacy, scale, cognition, procedures, recommendations, and content of most existing products are required. Brevity and clarity of language are highlighted as desirable in both countries, as well as use of trusted and publicly-available data, and non-paperbased delivery formats. The approach and methodology are valuable for facilitating the prioritization of actions for improvement and/or the development of new products, thereby helping climate services for agriculture and food security to realize their true potential.
Distributions, conservation status, and abiotic stress tolerance potential of wild cucurbits (Cucurbita L.)
(Journal Article, 2020-05) Khoury, Colin K.; Carver, Daniel; Kates, Heather R.; Achicanoy Estrella, Harold Armando; Zonneveld, Maarten van; Thomas, Evert; Heinitz, Claire; Jarret, Robert L.; Labate, Joanne A.; Reitsma, Kathy; Nabhan, Gary P.; Greene, Stephanie L.
Crop wild relatives are valuable genetic resources for crop improvement. Knowledge gaps, including with regard to taxonomy, distributions, and characterization for traits of interest constrain their use in plant breeding. These deficiencies also affect conservation planning, both with regard to in situ habitat protection, and further collection of novel diversity for ex situ maintenance. Here we model the potential ranges of all 16 known wild cucurbit taxa (Cucurbita L.), use ecogeographic information to infer their potential adaptations to abiotic stresses, and assess their ex situ and in situ conservation status. The taxa occur from the central USA to Central America, plus two South American species. Predicted taxon richness was highest in central Mexico and in the western borderlands between Mexico and the USA. We find substantial ecogeographic variation both across taxa and among populations within taxa, with regard to low temperatures, high and low precipitation, and other adaptations of potential interest for crop breeding. We categorize 13 of the taxa medium priority for further conservation as a combination of the ex situ and in situ assessments, two low priority, and one sufficiently conserved. Further action across the distributions of the taxa, with emphasis on taxonomic richness hotspots, is needed to comprehensively conserve wild Cucurbita populations.
Soil carbon enhancing practices: a systematic review of barriers and enablers of adoption
(Journal Article, 2019-12) Karanja Ng'ang'a, Stanley; Anyango Jalang'o, Dorcas; Girvetz, Evan Hartunian
Sustained adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices (SCEPs) at scale remains an aspiration goal to maintain sufficient amount of soil carbon in household farms in order to impact on the sustained farm productivity caused by sustained soil fertility. The objective of this study is to systematically evaluate the current evidence base to identify: (a) which factors enable or constrain adoption of SCEPs and hence maintain soil carbon in Kenya and Ethiopia; (b) to be able to lessons learnt concerning what influences the adoption of the SCEPs for the purpose of maintaining soil fertility among smallholder farms; and (c) how this can be improved going into the future for the purpose of formulating appropriate policies in Kenya and Ethiopia in both the short and long run. A systematic review was conducted using established review methodology and extensive searches of published and unpublished literature sources. Data extraction and quality appraisal of quantitative, qualitative and case studies that met the inclusion criteria were conducted while checking for reliability. A broad range of interrelated enabling and constraining factors was identified for the SCEPs. All the factors matter, and some of most of these factors are important to be considered during planning and implementation of SCEPs aiming at promoting soil carbon sequestration. Despite the limitation in the quantity of evidence, this systematic review provides a useful starting point for the scaling up programmes to ensure more effective adoption of SCEPs. This review also underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach in understanding what determines the adoption of SCEPs to capture a holistic view.
Global map and indicators of food system sustainability
(Data Paper, 2019-11-25) Béné, Christophe; Prager, Steven D.; Achicanoy Estrella, Harold Armando; Álvarez Toro, Patricia; Lamotte, Lea; Bonilla, Camila; Mapes, Brendan Robert
This paper presents the first global map of food systems sustainability based on a rigorous protocol. The choice of the metric dimensions, as well as the individual indicators included in the metric, were initially identified from a thorough review of the existing literature. A rigorous inclusion/exclusion protocol was then used to refine the list and shorten it to a sub-set of 27 indicators. An aggregate sustainability score was then computed based on those 27 indicators organized into four dimensions: environment, social, food security & nutrition and economic. The paper shows how the availability of data (or lack therefore) results in an unavoidable trade-off between number of indicators and number of countries, and highlights how optimization can be used to present the most robust metric possible given the existence of this trade-offs in the data space. The process results in the computation of a global sustainability map covering 97 countries and 20 indicators. The sustainability scores obtained for each country are made available over the entire range of indicators.

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