CGIAR Initiative on Low-Emission Food Systems
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117896
Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Systems Transformation.
Primary CGIAR impact area: Climate adaptation and mitigation
https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/32-mitigate-plus-research-for-low-emission-food-systems/
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Item Guía técnica para el establecimiento de viveros comunitarios(Manual, 2024-09-02) Diaz Forero, Oscar Eduardo; Durango Morales, Sandra Guisela; Calderon, Victor HugoThe scarcity of plant material in rural areas is hindering the implementation of silvopastoral systems, which are crucial for livestock adaptation to climate change. This deficiency threatens animal production and welfare in the face of droughts and floods and negatively impacts ecosystems. Restoring areas degraded by deforestation is a vital opportunity, reducing the effects of unsustainable practices on forests and strategic ecosystems. The establishment of community nurseries emerges as an effective solution. These nurseries propagate native and agroforestry species, promoting biodiversity and facilitating biological corridors. They improve production systems by migrating towards more sustainable practices, mitigating vulnerability to climate change, and promoting carbon sequestration by integrating trees into livestock farms. In addition, community nurseries foster associativity between communities, strengthening social cohesion and self-management, training participants, and cultivating community leaders to coordinate activities, promoting inclusive and sustainable rural development. This technical guide details the key steps for establishing and operating community nurseries in the cattle-growing areas of San Martín Province, Perú. It is part of the commitment of the Alliance Bioversity & CIAT within the PERU-Hub project, which is focused on Silvopastoral Systems and sustainable landscape management.Item Agriemission monitor: Database for emission data visualization in livestock production systems(Poster, 2024-07) Verchot, Louis; Durango, Sandra; Romero, MiguelItem CGIAR Research Initiative on Low-Emission Food Systems: Annual Technical Report 2024(Report, 2025-04-15) CGIAR Initiative on Low-Emission Food SystemsItem New breeding trends in sorghum(Book Chapter, 2024-11-13) Elango, Dinakaran; Wang, Wanyan; Francis, Neethu; Chatterjee, Debamalya; Murithi, Ann; Chandra, Visalakshi; Parthasarathi, Theivasigamani; David, Einstein Mariya; Jayaraman, Vanitha; Govindarajan, Kamaleeswari; Gogoi, Bonti; Punnuri, Somashekhar; Thudi, Mahendar; Govindaraj, Mahalingam; Are, Ashok Kumar; Jiao, Yinping; Chopra, SurinderItem A Six-step Approach for scaling low-emission food systems: Evidence and guidelines(Manual, 2025-04-01) Amahnui, George Amenchwi; Sylvester, Janelle Marie; Vanegas Cubillos, Martha; Castro Nunez, AugustoThe global food system is a major contributor to climate change and is responsible for approximately one-third of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In many low- and middle-income countries, scaling innovations for climate-change mitigation requires identifying the right incentives, as well as navigating complex realities such as policies, regulations, and value chainrelated barriers. Consequently, efforts aimed at transforming food systems to low emissions may not yet deliver the desired impacts and, in some instances, may even produce undesirable effects on other Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) outcomes. This “Six-step Approach” to scaling lowemission food systems aims to bridge this gap. It provides a structured guide for creating an enabling environment that enhances scaling innovations for low-emission food system transformation, while delivering co-benefits and minimizing trade-offs and unintended side effects on SDG outcomes. These six steps include: (1) identifying direct and underlying drivers of food system GHG emissions and GHG emission sources; (2) identifying geographical areas where government development priorities overlap with food system GHG mitigation opportunities; (3) identifying farm-level drivers of adoption of innovations; (4) implementing value chain upgrading strategies to overcome adoption barriers; (5) promoting sustainable business models and financial mechanisms to scale innovations; (6) measuring climate action benefits, SDG co-benefits, and undesired effects. In this document, we present the approach and key considerations for its use in developing an enabling environment for scaling innovations toward low-emission food systems. Furthermore, we explore each step in-depth, discussing evidence, relevant methodological approaches, and information required for each step. To illustrate the approach’s application, we present a case study on scaling silvopastoral systems undertaken during the implementation of a project aimed at delivering climate-change mitigation and peacebuilding outcomes in the Colombian Amazon. The guidelines presented here emphasize the need for scaling practitioners to identify key delivery partners at the nexus between government SDG priorities (national and regional) and food system GHG mitigation opportunities, to secure political and social support for scaling low-emission food systems.Item Enfoque de seis pasos para escalar sistemas alimentarios de bajas emisiones: evidencia y guías(Manual, 2025-04-01) Amahnui, George Amenchwi; Sylvester, Janelle Marie; Vanegas Cubillos, Martha; Castro Nunez, AugustoEl sistema alimentario mundial es uno de los principales causantes del cambio climático y es responsable de aproximadamente un tercio de todas las emisiones antropogénicas de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI). En muchos países de ingresos bajos y medios, escalar las innovaciones para mitigar el cambio climático requiere identificar los incentivos adecuados y superar realidades complejas, como las políticas, regulaciones y obstáculos relacionados con la cadena de valor. En consecuencia, los esfuerzos para transformar los sistemas alimentarios hacia bajas emisiones aún podrían no generar los impactos deseados y, en algunos casos, incluso provocar efectos adversos en otros resultados de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS). Este “Enfoque de Seis Pasos” para escalar los sistemas alimentarios de bajas emisiones busca cerrar esa brecha. Ofrece una guía estructurada para crear un entorno favorable que facilite escalar innovaciones orientadas a la transformación de los sistemas alimentarios de bajas emisiones, promoviendo a la vez beneficios complementarios y minimizando disyuntivas y efectos colaterales no deseados en los resultados de los ODS. Dichos pasos consisten en: (1) la identificación de los factores directos y subyacentes que generan emisiones de GEI en el sistema alimentario y las fuentes de emisiones; (2) la identificación de las áreas geográficas donde las prioridades de desarrollo sostenible se alinean con las oportunidades de mitigación de GEI en el sistema alimentario; (3) la identificación de los factores que impulsan la adopción de innovaciones a nivel de finca; (4) la implementación de estrategias para mejorar la cadena de valor y superar las barreras de adopción; (5) la promoción de modelos de negocio sostenibles y mecanismos financieros para escalar las innovaciones; y (6) la medición de los beneficios de la acción climática, los beneficios complementarios de los ODS y los efectos no deseados. En este documento presentamos el enfoque metodológico y las consideraciones clave para su aplicación en el desarrollo de un entorno favorable para escalar innovaciones que ayuden a lograr sistemas alimentarios de bajas emisiones. Además, analizamos en profundidad cada paso, abordando la evidencia, los enfoques metodológicos relevantes y la información necesaria para su implementación. Para ilustrar la aplicación de la metodología, ofrecemos un estudio de caso sobre el escalamiento de sistemas silvopastoriles, realizado durante la ejecución de un proyecto orientado a lograr resultados en mitigación del cambio climático y consolidación de la paz en la región amazónica colombiana. Las directrices presentadas aquí destacan la necesidad de que los responsables del escalamiento identifiquen a los socios clave en el nexo entre las prioridades gubernamentales en materia de ODS (nacionales y regionales) y las oportunidades de mitigación de GEI en los sistemas alimentarios, con el fin de asegurar el apoyo político y social para escalar los sistemas alimentarios de bajas emisiones.Item Portafolio de instrumentos hacia la acción climática y la construcción de paz.(Report, 2024-11-30) Yomayuza, Karoll Valentina; Vanegas, Martha; Borda, Carlos Andrés; Casallas Martinez, Ivon; Diaz, Lizette Maritza; Hurtado, Jhon Jairo; Calderon, Victor Hugo; Velez, Andres Felipe; Castro Nunez, AugustoThis document outlines the integration of sustainable practices in the cocoa sector, aimed at promoting climate action and peacebuilding in regions affected by deforestation and conflict. It highlights the role of business models that incorporate small-scale producers, with a focus on enhancing business models and fostering market connections. The approach seeks to build resilience against climate change while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Item Agrilac: Integración mitigación del cambio climático y desarrollo sostenible(Video, 2024-12-15) Casallas Martinez, Ivon Maritza; Yomayuza Herrera, Karoll Valentina; Pradel, Willy; Vanegas Cubillos, Martha CristinaThe AgriLAC Resilient project drives strategies that integrate climate change mitigation with sustainable development objectives in agroecosystems and value chains across Latin America and the Caribbean. This video highlights key achievements, including the implementation of Sustainable Land Use Systems (SLUS), the creation of enabling conditions for sustainable practices, the strengthening of value chains, and the mobilization of resources through innovative mechanisms. With a participatory approach, these actions contribute to territorial resilience and agro-food sustainability.Item Biological control protects carbon sequestration capacity of plantation forests(Journal Article, 2025-05-22) Wyckhuys, Kris A. G.; Giron, E.; Hyman, G.; Barona, E.; Castro-Llanos, F. A.; Sheil, D.; Yu, L.; Du, Z.; Hurley, B. P.; Slippers, B.; Germishuizen, I.; Bojacá, C. R.; Rubiano, M.; Sathyapala, S.; Verchot, L.; Zhang, WeiIn many natural and managed forest and tree systems, pest attacks and related dieback events have become a matter of increasing global concern. Although these attacks modify the carbon balance of tree systems, their contribution to climate forcing and the relative impact of nature-based mitigation measures is seldom considered. Here, we assess the extent to which biological control protects or reconstitutes carbon sequestration capacity and storage in monoculture tree plantations globally. Specifically, we draw upon field-level assessments, niche modeling and forest carbon flux maps to quantify potential risk of carbon sequestration loss due to three globally important insect herbivores of pine and eucalyptus. Specifically, herbivory by the tree-feeding insects Sirex noctilio, Leptocybe invasa and Ophelimus maskelli conservatively reduces carbon sink capacity by up to 0.96–4.86% at the country level. For a subset of 30, 11 and nine tree-growing countries, this potentially compromises a respective 4.02%, 0.80% and 0.79% of the carbon sink capacity of their tree hosts. Yet, in the invasive range, released biological control agents can help regain lost sink capacity to considerable extent. Equally, across both the S. noctilio native and invasive range, carbon sequestration capacity is protected by resident biota to the tune of (max.) 0.28–0.39 tons of CO2 equivalent per hectare per year. Our exploratory valuation of pest-induced sequestration losses and their biodiversity-driven mitigation informs climate policy, biosecurity, and management practice.Item A one health approach to address foodborne diseases in low‑ and middle‑income countries(Journal Article, 2025-01) Kumar, Praveen; Zhang, WeiFoodborne diseases (FBDs) are defined as any diseases that result from the ingestion of contaminated or naturally hazardous food [1]. Health outcomes due to FBDs lead to more than 100 million USD of annual preventable economic burden, and over 90% of these economic losses occur in low‑ and middle‑income countries (LMICs) [2]. FBDs disproportionately impact children under 5 years of age. Representing only 9% of the global population, they experience detrimental health outcomes including 38% of all FBD incidence and as much as 30% of premature mortality [3]. Stunting and wasting are pernicious consequences of FBDs among children under 5 years of age. Africa and South‑East Asia have the highest FBD incidence and mortality. Although 41% of the global population are poor, they account for 75% of FBD‑related premature mortality and a 72% loss in global disability‑adjusted life years (DALYs) [3]. In LMICs, FBDs arise primarily owing to the interconnected issues of dwindling animal and plant health, food systems vulnerable to contaminations, and food pathogens and zoonotic threats [1, 2, 4]. There has been a dramatic upsurge in urbanization in LMICs. This trend has accompanied dietary shifts. For example, there is an increase in consumption of animal products (the foods with the highest FBD risk) and intensively managed farming systems. Further, simple food value chains have been supplanted with complex food systems with little traceability. It is now widely acknowledged that human health is intricately linked with animal health, along with our shared ecosystem. The reduction of FBDs, thus, demands a unified framework that pays concurrent attention to the health of humans, animals, and the shared environment. This merits increased attention to adopting a One Health (OH) approach to address FBDs, and by extension, contributing to food security.Item Impact of farm size on the function of landscape-level payments for ecosystem services: An agent-based model study(Journal Article, 2025-03) Wu, Vince; Bell, Andrew Reid; Zhang, WeiReducing pesticide use and restoring biodiversity are among the most pressing environmental challenges. Enhancing natural pest control ecosystem services through the integration of non-crop habitats (NCH) offers promising potential, creating a positive feedback loop by harnessing insect biodiversity to reduce pesticide reliance. Policy support is needed at the landscape level to encourage adoption of this currently underutilized approach, which depends on spatial coordination and collective behavioral change. Farm size, which critically influences farmers' agrochemical inputs, agroecological practices, and interactions with neighboring farms, varies across agricultural landscapes. It is unclear what role farm size plays in landscape-scale agri-environmental incentive programs, which have recently seen growing attention in scientific research and policy implementation. We employ framed field games and agent-based modeling as complementary research tools, exploring how farm size impacts the function of landscape-scale NCH subsidies aimed at encouraging coordinated provision and sharing of natural pest control services to reduce pesticide use. Our model simulation shows that, in landscapes of larger average farm size or lower farm size heterogeneity, NCH subsidies are significantly more effective at reducing pesticide use and increasing NCH efficiency in providing joint production benefits. Our results imply that landscape-scale payments for natural pest control ecosystem services face fewer obstacles as incentive-based mechanisms in landscapes of larger, more homogeneous farms, supporting the implementation of landscape-scale initiatives in such areas to effectively enhance ecosystem services. Our findings contribute to the growing discussion around landscape-level financial incentive programs that depend on spatial coordination, highlighting the importance of farmers' land holding size.Item Implementación del programa de pagos por servicios ambientales de conservación de la Biodiversidad en el Distrito de conservación de suelos y aguas del Caquetá, Belén de los Andaquíes(Infographic, 2024-03) Borda, CarlosInfografía con los datos generales del proyecto de Obras por Impuestos, que promueve la conservación de la biodiversidad, la mitigación del cambio climático y la construcción de paz en Colombia. El proyecto incluye un esquema de pago por servicios ambientales que beneficiaría a ASPROABELÉN, una asociación de productores de cacao en el departamento colombiano de Caquetá.Item Introducing green investments into Colombia’s works-for-taxes mechanism: A peacebuilding project in Belén de los Andaquíes(Case Study, 2024-12) Castro Nunez, Augusto Carlos; Borda Almanza, Carlos Andrés; Amahnui, George Amenchwi; Vanegas Cubillos, Martha CristinaThe Bioversity-CIAT Alliance helped integrate green business projects into Colombia’s Works-for-Taxes mechanism, enabling investments in low-emission food systems through cocoa agroforestry in conflict-affected Belén de los Andaquíes. This model allows companies to offset taxes by investing in sustainable projects that replace illicit economies and restore land. The pilot’s success paves the way for expanding similar initiatives, increasing funding for low-emissions development in Colombian regions impacted by deforestation and conflict.Item Implementation of the payments for environmental services program for biodiversity conservation in the soil and water conservation district of Caquetá, Belén de los Andaquíes(Infographic, 2024-03) Borda, CarlosInfographic with general data on the Works for Taxes project, which promotes biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and peace building in Colombia. The project includes a payment for environmental services scheme that would benefit ASPROABELÉN, an association of cocoa producers in the Colombian department of Caquetá.Item Understanding pastoralist adaptations to drought via games and choice experiments: Field testing among Borana communities(Journal Article, 2025-03) Bell, Andrew Reid; Rakotonarivo, O. Sarobidy; Zhang, Wei; De Petris, Caterina; Kipchumba, Adams; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.Transhumant and nomadic pastoralism in arid and semi-arid spaces from West through Central, East, and Southern Africa is regarded as critical to regional system resilience and food security. Although pastoral systems are highly adapted and adaptive to uncertainty and change, recent decades of severe climatic events and increasing resource pressure are pushing pastoral systems to adopt novel norms and practices. Importantly, forage residue conservation and private forage enclosures are becoming important practices among herders and non-herders alike. As one part of considering the relevance of these responses in shaping the future trajectory of transhumant pastoralism, we developed a multi-part intervention for measuring and observing preferences in pastoral systems, including a novel experimental game called GreenReserve, and tested it in Borana communities in northern Kenya. We found that GreenReserve captured dimensions of human-environment dilemmas faced by pastoralists, and shifted preferences around herd size, losses, and the use of time, as measured through a repeated discrete choice experiment. We found game groups with younger players and with more female players to include more exploration of pastoral adaptations such as the use of grass reserves and the harvesting of grass, as well as to have less conflict within the game. We also observed both preferences as well as game strategy to shift along the length of the study: as the region moved further into a drought and failed short rainy season, players were more conscious of large herds, bad rainfall-year losses, and made better use of reserves in game play, though it was beyond the scope of the current study to determine causality. Future research is needed to unpack the mechanisms underlying the variations and possible shift in preferences and subsequently help identify entry points for targeted interventions (including agricultural extension services) to support pastoral communities in climate change adaptation. Further, these first fieldwork findings suggest two key dimensions for expanded work beyond this study to identify whether mixed methods approaches such as this aid experiential learning in agriculture contexts.Item Cálculo de emisiones de CH₄ y N₂O por el Ganado(Presentation, 2024-12-15) Durango, Sandra; Paez, CristhianItem Integrated sustainable landscape management through deforestation-free jurisdiction project in Lam Dong and Dak Nong, Vietnam(Report, 2024-04-01) Reymondin, Louis; Vantalon, Thibaud; Luong, Phuong ThiTerra-i operation and use for near real-time forest monitoring in Lac Duong, Di Linh district (Lam Dong province) and Dak Glong, Dak R’lap district (Dak Nong province)Item Chinese Governance and Transformation Towards Carbon Neutrality(Book, 2024) Binlei Gong; Sujian Guo; Jun Xu; Arndt, ChanningItem Revealing hidden food loss and waste data can fast-track emission reduction(Blog Post, 2024-12-02) Smith, GeorginaItem System transformation: mitigation and transformation initiative for GHG reductions of agrifood systems related emissions (MITIGATE PLUS)(Dataset, 2024-12-03) Kakai, L.F.; Noufa, C.K.; Sapkota, T.B.; Corbeels, M.