Measures related to Systemic Shift 2: Scaling sustainable agricultural production models
Promoting the design and implementation of integrated, sustainable production systems
Integrated and sustainable production systems constitute a potential solution for addressing deforestation and broader food system transformation by increasing agricultural output while protecting the environment. Integrated production systems can increase production by leveraging synergies between components of cropping, livestock breeding or both, rather than solely intensifying input use. In particular, by polycropping, multicropping, intercropping, and integrating trees with agricultural crops, animals or both on farmland through agroforestry systems, farmers can diversify their livelihoods, enhance food security, improve ecosystem services and biodiversity, and strengthen the climate resilience of agricultural landscapes. Agroforestry systems encompass agrosilvicultural, silvopastoral and agrosilvopastoral systems.
| Guidance | · ASEAN guidelines: ASEAN Guidelines for Agroforestry Development: ASEAN senior officials on forestry 2018 · FAO publication: Climate Smart Agriculture Sourcebook |
| Reports | · FAO working paper: Advancing agroforestry on the policy agenda · CGIAR report: Transitioning to agroecological food systems: A review of incentives for adoption of agroecological practices and outcomes · FAO publication: Structuring Markets for Resilient Farming Systems |
| Platforms | · Working group: Agroecology Coalition - Finance and Investment Working Group · Working group: Agroecology Coalition – Implementation Working Group |
| Initiatives/ projects | · FAO initiative: Forest and Farm Facility · FAO project: Sustainable Livestock in the forest region of the Argentine Parque Chaqueño through Forest Management with Integrated Livestock (MBGI) · GCF project: PREFOREST CONGO - Project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from forests in five departments in the Republic of Congo · GRET and CIRAD-coordinated project: Agroecology and Safe Food System Transitions · Tropenbos International initiative: Towards bankable business cases for sustainable agroforestry and forestry |
| Academic publications | · Emeana, E. M., Trenchard, L., Dehnen-Schmutz, K., & Shaikh, S. 2019. Evaluating the role of public agricultural extension and advisory services in promoting agro-ecology transition in Southeast Nigeria. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 43(2), 123–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2018.1509410 · Kiyani, P., Andoh, J., Lee, Y., & Lee, D. 2017. Benefits and challenges of agroforestry adoption: A case of Musebeya sector, Nyamagabe District in southern province of Rwanda. FOREST SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 13(4), 174–180. https://doi.org/10.1080/21580103.2017.1392367 · Paudel, S., Baral, H., Rojario, A., Bhatta, K., & Artati, Y. 2022. Agroforestry: Opportunities and Challenges in Timor-Leste. FORESTS, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/f13010041 · Talerngsri-Teerasuwannajak, K., & Pongkijvorasin, S. 2021. Agricultural business model and upland sustainability: Evidence from northern Thailand. CURRENT RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2021.100085 |
| Case studies/ examples | Promoting responsible cocoa production through agroforestry models in Côte d’Ivoire (PROMIRE) Côte d’Ivoire has experienced one of the world’s fastest rates of deforestation and forest degradation, of which nearly two third is attributable to agriculture, particularly to cocoa production. In response, the Ivorian government and FAO launched the PROMIRE project in 2021, an initiative to develop agroforestry models decoupled from deforestation in three Southern regions of Côte d'Ivoire - Agnéby-Tiassa, La Mé and Sud-Comoé. The project supports farmers in 30 selected villages in adopting integrated, sustainable production models by providing training on organic and fair-trade cocoa production, rehabilitating cocoa plots, establishing nurseries, and enhancing market access. Following guidelines from the Conseil Café Cacao (CCC), the agroforestry systems maintain a tree density of at least 800 trees per hectare with 30-50% shade coverage, combining tree species compatible with cocoa production while involving farmers in the species selection process. By the end of 2023, as part of the project, 3,650 smallholders have transitioned to responsible cocoa production, leading to increased productivity and income through crop diversification and certified cocoa prices. Moreover, newly introduced species such as fruit trees, along with food crops, offer additional income opportunities for farmers and improve nutritional security. PROMIRE's activities are also expected to reduce emissions by 5.5 million tCO2e over 20 years through agroforestry, assisted natural regeneration of forests and avoided deforestation. The project’s approach illustrates well how transitioning to agroforestry models can support smallholders in increasing and diversifying their income while strengthening food security and reducing deforestation and related emissions. |
Fostering the adoption of good agricultural practices, appropriate technologies, and knowledge co-creation and exchange
A wide range of good agricultural practices and technologies exist that can improve productivity while addressing the environmental, economic and social sustainability of on-farm processes. These include the optimization of crop selection and spatiotemporal arrangements, improved management practices including integrated pest and pollinator management techniques, adaptive irrigation techniques, integrated soil health management, agroecological and climate-resilient approaches, and good hygiene, sanitation, and biosecurity practices. Strengthening the adoption of these practices, especially among smallholder farmers, can increase farm output and make more sustainable use of available natural resources, while potentially reducing agricultural expansion into forestland when coupled with appropriate policies, regulations and incentives for conservation.
| Guidance | · FAO guidance: Handbook on establishing and operating multi-actors agricultural innovation platforms |
| Reports | · FAO policy brief: Strengthening the contribution of agricultural research, extension, and education in mainstreaming agroecology in the Asia-Pacific · FAO report: Engaging with Academia and Research Institutions (ARIs) to Support Family Farmers and Food System Transformation During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia · OECD-FAO report: Environmental Sustainability in Agriculture |
| Platforms | · APEC working Group: Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG) |
| Initiatives/ projects | · FAO initiative: The Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP) |
| Academic publications | · Bragança, A., Newton, P., Cohn, A., Assunçao, J., Camboim, C., de Faveri, D., Farinelli, B., Perego, V., Tavares, M., Resende, J., de Medeiros, S., & Searchinger, T. 2022. Extension services can promote pasture restoration: Evidence from Brazil’s low carbon agriculture plan. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 119(12). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2114913119 · Isiordia-Lachica, P.C., Valenzuela, A., Rodríguez-Carvajal, R.A., Hernández-Ruiz, J. & Romero-Hidalgo, J.A. 2020. Identification and Analysis of Technology and Knowledge Transfer Experiences for the Agro-Food Sector in Mexico. Journal of Open Innovation, 6(3),59; https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc6030059 · MacLaren, C., Mead, A., van Balen, D., Claessens, L., Etana, A., de Haan, J., Haagsma, W., Jäck, O., Keller, T., Labuschagne, J. and Myrbeck, Å., 2022. Long-term evidence for ecological intensification as a pathway to sustainable agriculture. Nature Sustainability, 5(9), pp.770-779. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-00911-x · Octavia, D., Suharti, S., Murniati, Dharmawan, I., Nugroho, H., Supriyanto, B., Rohadi, D., Njurumana, G., Yeny, I., Hani, A., Mindawati, N., Suratman, Adalina, Y., Prameswari, D., Hadi, E., & Ekawati, S. 2022. Mainstreaming Smart Agroforestry for Social Forestry Implementation to Support Sustainable Development Goals in Indonesia: A Review. SUSTAINABILITY, 14(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159313 |
| Guidance | · FAO guideline: Save and Grow. A Policymaker’s Guide to the Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Crop Production · FAO guideline: E-Agriculture Strategy Guide - Piloted in Asia-Pacific countries · Youth and Agroecology Business and Learning Track in Africa handbook: Handbook on Agroecology Production · GRET technical guide: Agroecological and agroforestry practices in tropical wet zones |
| Reports | · FAO policy brief: Enabling extension and advisory services to promote agroecology · FAO working paper: Incentives for the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices · FAO report: Agriculture and climate change: Challenges and opportunities at the global and local level · Global Forum on Rural Extension Services toolkit: The New Extensionist Learning Kit · FAO report: Scoping review on the role of social protection in facilitating climate change adaptation and mitigation for economic inclusion among rural populations |
| Platforms | · Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) tool: ICT for Agriculture · FAO sourcebook: Climate Smart Agriculture Sourcebook |
| Initiatives/ projects | · FAO initiative: Youth and Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools · FAO Initiative: Global Soil Partnership · GCF Project: Ouémé Basin Climate-Resilience Initiative (OCRI) Benin |
| Case studies/ examples | · FAO case studies: Climate-smart agriculture case studies 2021 |
| Academic publications | · Bragança, A., Newton, P., Cohn, A., Assunçao, J., Camboim, C., de Faveri, D., Farinelli, B., Perego, V., Tavares, M., Resende, J., de Medeiros, S., & Searchinger, T. 2022. Extension services can promote pasture restoration: Evidence from Brazil’s low carbon agriculture plan. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 119(12). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2114913119 · Maguire-Rajpaul, V., Khatun, K., & Hirons, M. 2020. Agricultural Information’s Impact on the Adaptive Capacity of Ghana’s Smallholder Cocoa Farmers. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00028 · Ngoma, H., Pelletier, J., Mulenga, B., & Subakanya, M. 2021. Climate-smart agriculture, cropland expansion and deforestation in Zambia: Linkages, processes and drivers. LAND USE POLICY, 107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105482 |
| Reports | · FAO report: Climate-Smart Agriculture in China – From Policy to Investment · FAO background paper: Incentives for the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices · Climate Focus report: Unlocking Smallholder Finance for Sustainable Agriculture in Southeast Asia · Climate Policy Initiative report: The Climate Finance Gap for Small-Scale Agrifood Systems: A growing challenge |
| Initiatives/ projects | · IFAD initiative: Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme |
| Academic publications | · Carrasco, L., Papworth, S., Reed, J., Symes, W., Ickowitz, A., Clements, T., Peh, K., & Sunderland, T. 2016. Five challenges to reconcile agricultural land use and forest ecosystem services in Southeast Asia. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, 30(5), 962–971. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12786 · Duker, A., Tadesse, T., Soentoro, T., de Fraiture, C., & Kemerink-Seyoum, J. 2019. The implications of ignoring smallholder agriculture in climate-financed forestry projects: Empirical evidence from two REDD plus pilot projects. CLIMATE POLICY, 19, S36–S46. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2018.1532389 · Piñeiro, V., Arias, J., Dürr, J., Elverdin, P., Ibáñez, A.M., Kinengyere, A., Opazo, C.M. et al. 2020. A scoping review on incentives for adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and their outcomes. Nature Sustainability, 3(10): 809–820. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-00617-y |
Restoration of degraded agricultural lands for sustainable production
To optimize the use of land, reduce agricultural expansion into forests, and contribute to the achievement of climate, food security and sustainable development targets, one possible solution is to redirect agricultural expansion onto previously degraded lands. In many parts of the world, vast areas of degraded lands exist that could be repurposed for agricultural production by being put under restoration. This may range from restorative agricultural practices such as agroforestry for poorly productive lands to concerted and more holistic restoration efforts for lands that no longer produce. Such approaches would not only take pressure off existing forests but also enhance overall ecosystem services and agricultural production. To support the restoration of degraded land for sustainable production, governments can provide economic, fiduciary and financial incentives to local stakeholders while ensuring equal access to technical support.
| Guidance | · UNCCD principles: Land Degradation Neutrality principles |
| Reports | · FAO report: Land Degradation Neutrality: A rationale for using participatory approaches to monitor and assess rangeland health · FAO and WRI report: The Road to Restoration: A Guide to Identifying Priorities and Indicators for Monitoring Forest and Landscape · FAO report: Africa Open Data for Environment, Agriculture and Land (DEAL) and Africa’s Great Green Wall · FAO, IUCN, CEM and SER booklet: Principles for ecosystem restoration to guide the United Nations Decade 2021–2030 |
| Academic publications | · Dockendorff, C., Fuss, S., Agra, R., Guye, V., Herrera, D., & Kraxner, F. 2022. Committed to restoring tropical forests: An overview of Brazil’s and Indonesia’s restoration targets and policies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 17(9). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac8ab2 · Mekuria, W., Langan, S., Johnston, R., Belay, B., Amare, D., Gashaw, T., Desta, G., Noble, A., & Wale, A. 2015. Restoring aboveground carbon and biodiversity: A case study from the Nile basin, Ethiopia. FOREST SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 11(2), 86–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/21580103.2014.966862 · Sietz, D., Fleskens, L., & Stringer, L. 2017. LEARNING FROM NON-LINEAR ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS IS VITAL FOR ACHIEVING LAND DEGRADATION NEUTRALITY. LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT, 28(7), 2308–2314. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2732 |
| Reports | · FAO report: The key role of forest and landscape restoration in climate action · FAO report: Enabling farmer-led ecosystem restoration: Farmer field schools on forestry and agroforestry · World Vision report: The social, environmental and economic benefits of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) · CIFOR-ICRAF report: Technical report on Greening and Restoration of Wastelands with Agroforestry |
| E-learning modules | · E-learning modules: The Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism e-learning courses |
| Initiatives/ projects | · Initiative: UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration · GCF Project: Building a Resilient Churia Region in Nepal (BRCRN) · GCF Project: Increased climate resilience of rural households and communities through the rehabilitation of production landscapes in selected localities of the Republic of Cuba (IRES) |
| Case studies/ examples | · Case study: Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in Uganda · Case study: Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in Kenya · Video case studies: Mechanism for forest and landscape restoration |
| Academic publications | · Chazdon, R. 2008. Beyond deforestation: Restoring forests and ecosystem services on degraded lands. SCIENCE, 320(5882), 1458–1460. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1155365 · Chomba, S., Sinclair, F., Savadogo, P., Bourne, M., & Lohbeck, M. 2020. Opportunities and Constraints for Using Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration for Land Restoration in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 3, 571679. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2020.571679 · Kandel, M., Anghileri, D., Alare, R. S., Lovett, P. N., Agaba, G., Addoah, T., & Schreckenberg, K. 2022. Farmers’ perspectives and context are key for the success and sustainability of farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR) in northeastern Ghana. World Development, 158, 106014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106014 · Reij, C., & Garrity, D. 2016. Scaling up farmer-managed natural regeneration in Africa to restore degraded landscapes. Biotropica, 48(6), 834–843. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12390 · Toledo, R., Santos, R., Verheyen, K., & Perring, M. 2018. Ecological restoration efforts in tropical rural landscapes: Challenges and policy implications in a highly degraded region. LAND USE POLICY, 75, 486–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.03.053 |
| Reports | · FAO working paper: Local financing mechanisms for forest and landscape restoration – A review of local level investment mechanisms · World Bank report: Scaling Up Ecosystem Restoration Finance · World Resources Institute brief: Healing The Wounded Land: The Role of Public Economic Incentives in Scaling Up Restoration Efforts in Six Latin American Countries |
| E-learning modules | · FAO E-learning: Sustainable financing of forest and landscape restoration https://elearning.fao.org/course/view.php?id=675 |
| Initiatives/ projects | · FAO initiative: The Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism · GCF Project: Poverty, Reforestation, Energy and Climate Change Project (PROEZA) |
| Academic publications | · Djalilov, B. M., Khamzina, A., Hornidge, A. K., & Lamers, J. P. A. 2016. Exploring constraints and incentives for the adoption of agroforestry practices on degraded cropland in Uzbekistan. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 59(1), 142–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2014.996283 · Löfqvist, S., Garrett, R.D. & Ghazoul, J. 2023. Incentives and barriers to private finance for forest and landscape restoration. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 7(5): 707–715. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02037-5 · Raes, L., D’Haese, M., Aguirre, N., & Knoke, T. 2016. A portfolio analysis of incentive programmes for conservation, restoration and timber plantations in Southern Ecuador. LAND USE POLICY, 51, 244–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.11.019 · Richards, R., Kennedy, C., Lovejoy, T., & Brancalion, P. 2017. Considering farmer land use decisions in efforts to “scale up” Payments for Watershed Services. ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, 23, 238–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.12.016 |
Sustainable biomass optimization in agriculture
Optimizing biomass use holds the potential to reduce production costs and increase the efficiency of the overall food system, improve food security and nutrition, and contribute towards environmental sustainability. A more efficient production system can make a positive contribution towards reducing deforestation by increasing revenues and reducing the need to extend the production area for income. This can be achieved through the application of good harvesting and post-harvesting practices, including integrated pest management, which help maintain product quality while reducing resource pressures. Complementing these practices with affordable and efficient storage and transportation solutions ensures that agricultural outputs are preserved and utilized more effectively. Adopting sustainable bioeconomy practices can additionally support the optimization of biomass use.
| Guidance | · G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy: G20 High-Level Principles on Bioeconomy · FAO guidance: Aspirational Principles and Criteria for a Sustainable Bioeconomy. |
| Reports | · Global Bioeconomy Summit Communiqué. 2024. One Planet – Sustainable Bioeconomy Solutions for Global Challenges. · FAO report: Bioeconomy for sustainable food and agriculture: a global opportunity · FAO report: How to mainstream sustainability and circularity into the bioeconomy? |
| Platforms | · FAO knowledge hub: Circular Economy: Waste-to-Resource · FAO platform: Global Bioeconomy Dashboard |
| Academic publications | · Englund, O., Börjesson, P., Berndes, G., Scarlat, N., Dallemand, J., Grizzetti, B., Dimitriou, I., Mola-Yudego, B., & Fahl, F. 2020. Beneficial land use change: Strategic expansion of new biomass plantations can reduce environmental impacts from EU agriculture. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS, 60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.101990 · Yanfika, H., Effendi, I., Sumaryo, & Ansari, A. 2024. The role of agricultural extension services on supporting circular bioeconomy in Indonesia. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1428069 |