Long-term farming system comparisons in the tropics - SysCom

The past efforts to maximise agricultural production through conventional agricultural practices is based on high external input use, such as fertilizer and pesticides. These practices have proven detrimental to the health and sustainability of agro-ecosystems, in particular with regards to soil, environmental and human health, despite higher yields in the short term. Therefore, research around new practices and farming methods, which ensure high productivity while being economically viable and environmentally sustainable, have started to develop and be implemented. Organic agriculture is a prominent alternative to conventional practices and is advocated for its benefits to health, social welfare and the environment, including soil fertility and biodiversity conservation. The systems approach to best practices in organic farming is increasingly being promoted, notably by the African Union. The SysCom project will provide scientific evidence on the benefits and drawbacks of organic versus conventional farming systems with the ultimate objective of supporting the development of policies and strategies that foster the adoption of sustainable land use practices at local, national, regional and global level. This fifth and last phase will specifically focus on:

1) profitability & resilience

2) soil fertility & health

3) Climate Change adaptation & water management

4) role of SysCom as a multiplier

5) institutional sustainability of the research units developed. 

Outcome 1)    Science-based knowhow on the comparative performance of organic and conventional agricultural production systems in different agro ecological regions in the tropics (India, Kenya, and Bolivia) is made available and taken up by stakeholders.

Outcome 2)    Transition barriers for local farming systems are addressed by organic and agro ecological research, and the continuation of system-oriented research for development is secured beyond phase V.

Resultados previstos:  

Good quality agronomic, ecological and economic data are generated and disseminated for the academic community, decision makers and sector relevant stakeholders (cocoa, cotton, food crops) at national and global level.

Innovations addressing bottlenecks of sustainable agricultural production systems are developed through participatory on-farm research in concert with LTEs and are taken up by local stakeholders.

Local partners have the capacity to independently conduct research and dissemination activities in organic/agro-ecological farming, supporting and supported by the continuation of the project sites with new ownership and funding structures.

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

Research:    The systems approach to best practice in organic farming implemented in phases I - IV has shown innovative, best results that are unique in their scope and time, revealing that : with time, organic farming system yields can be equal to or surpass conventional system yields (on multi-year crop rotation); yield gaps are narrowing or have been closed even in some of the more challenging crops (e.g. down to 5% in potato). In addition, soil fertility and health parameters are improving considerably after ten years of organic management.

Dissemination:    The research results obtained so far have been published in several renowned journals.

Institutionalisation:    Partner organizations are showing an increased capacity to retain and further advance the long-term trials set up under SysCom. The extended SysCom network has established itself as an important research programme in sustainable agroecological research and innovation transfer for smallholder farmers and cooperatives in the Global South.

Private sector:    The results of SysCom Bolivia have been presented in events of the Swiss Cacao Platform SWISSCO as successful case studies of cacao agroforestry systems, while SysCom India has been strong in promoting its results at relevant sectoral events such as the Organic Cotton Round Table. The participatory cotton breeding activities in India that were initiated by SysCom India are now funded and promoted by industry leaders and brands (e.g., C&A/Laudes foundation, H&M) via the Organic Cotton Accelerator.

Academia:    The SysCom team has been invited to provide lectures in BSc and MSc courses at different universities. Four universities have contacted FiBL for assistance in developing their curricula on organic and sustainable agriculture.

Science Policy interface:    The National Scientific Advisory Board members of the Kenya SysCom team used the findings from the SysCom trials to guide and assist in the development of the Kenya Organic Policy. SysCom India team members have been actively involved in providing scientific guidance on platforms like "Global Organic Cottonseed Task Force", "PAN Africa Sourcing Group of Textile Exchange" and ISO/IWA 32:2019(E).

Project coordination: Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative (EOAI) in Africa, CROPS4HD, A+FS network.

Partners coordination: icipe, CGIAR, BvAT and farmers’ Organizations, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC).