Crop-Livestock Integration (CLI) through biomass exchanges between crop and livestock enhances the sustainability of mixed farming systems, improving production, autonomy, efficiency and recycling. By analysing the diversity and recent changes in mixed farms and modelling potential CLI pratices changes, we assess the effect of these changes on farm performance and sustainability in Ðiện Biên District, Northwest Vietnam.

CLI enables farms to improve animal feed and environmental performances if pressure on land resources remains minimal. High pressure on pasture land may force pasture-dependent farms to cease animal production despite support for forage development. Agroforestry (fruits and forage) could enhance animal feed and farm performance with high-value products, though still its innovative stage. The results show that local authorities must continue to develop innovative models for the production and conservation of forage and crop residues, while also devising additional strategies to support resource-constrained farms. It suggests exploring new forage production systems and biomass management between farms with a broader district-level vision.

The key takeaways from this policy paper is as follows;

CLI improves animal feed and environmental performance on farms with ample land.

High resource pressure may force pasture-dependent farms to cease livestock activities, despite forage development support.

Agroforestry, though still at the innovation stage, offers promising solutions for improving animal feed, farm performance and high-value products.

There is a need for innovation in forage production, to support resources-strained farms and to explore new models for biomass management between farms.