Co-innovation of family farm systems in Uruguay: the role of

farm modeling

3rd farming Systems Design ConferenceBrisbane 26-29th September 2011

Dogliotti S, Aguerre V, Chilibroste P, Casagrande M, Rossing WAH

Facultad de Agronomía, Montevideo, UruguayInstituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Uruguay

Wageningen Centre for Agro-ecology and Systems Analysis (WaCasa), Wageningen University, The Netherlands

The learning cycles

Model based exploratory study: alternative development

strategies

2002-2003

Discussion of results with stakeholders: motivation and funding for a participatory research project

2003-2004

Co-innovation of vegetable and mixed farm systems: close

farmer-researcher interaction on 16 pilot farms

2005-2010

Model based exploratory study: potential for improvement within

<> farm types and scenarios

2010-2011

Discussion of results with stakeholders: training of extension agents, research agenda, policy

briefs

2011-2012

Characterization & diagnosis of vegetable farming systems: On-Farm sustainability assessment

1997-2002

The unsustainability cycle

Decreasing vegetables

prices

Decreasing Family Income

Decreasing soil quality

Increasing use of irrigation and

inputs

Increasing production

costs

Increasing prices of

inputs

Increasing crop yields ?

Intensify and specialize the farm

system

The unsustainability cycle

The learning cycles

Characterization & diagnosis of vegetable farming systems: On-Farm sustainability assessment

1997-2002

Discussion of results with stakeholders: motivation and funding for a participatory research project

2003-2004

Co-innovation of vegetable and mixed farm systems: close

farmer-researcher interaction on 16 pilot farms

2005-2010

Model based exploratory study: potential for improvement within

<> farm types and scenarios

2010-2011

Discussion of results with stakeholders: training of extension agents, research agenda, policy

briefs

2011-2012

Model based exploratory study: alternative development

strategies

2002-2003

An alternative development strategy

For a large proportion of vegetable farms might be possible to significantly increase family income and at the same time reduce soil erosion by a factor 2-4 and reverse soil organic matter decline, by:

√ Reducing the area of vegetable crops√ Matching labor availability and demand through the year

by diversifying crop choice and varieties√ Introducing long rotations with pastures, forage and

cereal crops √ Introducing cover crops and animal manure applications

during the inter-crop periods√ Introducing beef-cattle production into the farm system

The learning cycles

Characterization & diagnosis of vegetable farming systems: On-Farm sustainability assessment

1997-2002

Model based exploratory study: alternative development

strategies

2002-2003

Discussion of results with stakeholders: motivation and funding for a participatory research project

2003-2004

Model based exploratory study: potential for improvement within

<> farm types and scenarios

2010-2011

Discussion of results with stakeholders: training of extension agents, research agenda, policy

briefs

2011-2012

Co-innovation of vegetable and mixed farm systems: close

farmer-researcher interaction on 16 pilot farms

2005-2010

A co-innovation approach to more sustainable farm systems

(Complex) systems approach

Social learning settingDynamic project monitoring

Co-innovation

(Complex) systems approach

Social learning settingDynamic project monitoring

(Complex) systems approach

Social learning settingDynamic project monitoring

Co-innovation

MONTEVIDEO

CANELONES

RÍO DE LA PLATA

Sistemas de producción convencional

Sistemas de producción orgánica

Capitales departamentales

Characterization and diagnosis

Re-designImplementation, monitoring and

evaluation

Results of co-innovation in pilot farms

Planned improvements % adoption

Drainage and erosion control 83

Green manures 88

Chicken manure 100

Crop Rotation 75

Rotation with pastures 64

Area of Crops 100

Crop manag 93

Strategic weed control 81

Record sheets 44

Farm % adoption1 502 203 944 885 1006 1007 728 789 8910 7811 9412 8613 8814 10015 4416 75

Results of co-innovation in pilot farms

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

Family Income per cápita/ Averageincome in rural areas

Income per hour of family labor

Actual main crops yield/ Attainable Yield

Direct Costs / Gross Product

Costs in cash / Total Costs

Free time and leisure

Health problems

SOC actual / SOC mineralizableIrrigated Area / Vegetable crops Area

Family Labor/ Total labor

Family labor/ Vegetable crops area

Distribution of Income over productionactivities (gini index)

distribution of area among crops (giniindex)

Participation in training activities

Relationship with groups and localnetworks

Initial Average Final Average

The learning cycles

Characterization & diagnosis of vegetable farming systems: On-Farm sustainability assessment

1997-2002

Model based exploratory study: alternative development

strategies

2002-2003

Discussion of results with stakeholders: motivation and funding for a participatory research project

2003-2004

Co-innovation of vegetable and mixed farm systems: close

farmer-researcher interaction on 16 pilot farms

2005-2010

Discussion of results with stakeholders: training of extension agents, research agenda, policy

briefs

2011-2012

Model based exploratory study: potential for improvement within

<> farm types and scenarios

2010-2011

Exploring potential for improvement: soil erosion and income

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Soil erosion (Mg ha-1 yr-1)

Fa

mily

Inc

om

e (

$u

yr-1

)

Farm 1 Farm 2

Initial

Initial

Actual

ActualPotential

Potential

Soil erosion and family income for pilot farms 1 and 2. Initial refers to the situation before implementation of plans, Actual to the results of 2009-2010, and Potential to the lowest attainable erosion level without reducing Actual family income based on explorations with Farm IMAGES

Exploring potential for improvement: soil erosion and income

Trade-off between soil conservation and family income for pilot farms 1 and 2 explored with Farm IMAGES.

y = 31.696x - 21.09

y = 5.2632x + 470.31

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Soil erosion (Mg ha-1 yr-1)

Fa

mily

inc

om

e (

10

3 $u

yr-1

)

Finca 1 Finca 2

The learning cycles

Characterization & diagnosis of vegetable farming systems: On-Farm sustainability assessment

1997-2002

Model based exploratory study: alternative development

strategies

2002-2003

Discussion of results with stakeholders: motivation and funding for a participatory research project

2003-2004

Co-innovation of vegetable and mixed farm systems: close

farmer-researcher interaction on 16 pilot farms

2005-2010

Discussion of results with stakeholders: training of extension agents, research agenda, policy

briefs

2011-2012

Model based exploratory study: potential for improvement within

<> farm types and scenarios

2010-2011

Concluding remarks

• Main contribution of whole-farm bio-economic modeling and simulation was to center the discussion at the farm level and show stakeholders that in most cases there was significant room for improvement of farm systems sustainability within the limitations imposed by resource endowment and a constraining socio-economic environment

• Bio-economic models contributed to improve insights of the research team, but we did not used models or model results to interact with farmers during diagnosis, re-design and evaluation

• Results of the co-innovation process and the second round of explorative simulation were used to produce policy briefs and discuss with stakeholders which resulted in a change in the way the technical assistance to farmers is subsidized: from a ‘per crop’ basis to a ‘per farm’ basis.