Towards an Integrated Agroforestry Policy Agenda

Sara J. Scherr, Ecoagriculture Partners 2 nd World Agroforestry Congress, Nairobi, August 24, 2009 Towards an Integrated Agroforestry Policy Agenda

21 st century agricultural policy: Agroforestry can help
Meet food & fiber demand for 10 billion people ( ↑ 50-100% by 2030)
Reduce rural food insecurity and poverty; secure urban food supply
Contribute to sustainable energy through biofuels
Adapt to climate change
Restore degraded resources critical for production
Shift from a major source of greenhouse gases, to a net sink
Contribute to and restore critical ecosystem services

Projected land use for agriculture with existing trends

21 st century environmental policy in ag’l regions: Agroforestry can help

Agriculture and land use: 31% of global greenhouse gas emissions GHG emissions by sector in 2004, Source: IPCC

Impacts of ecosystem degradation on agricultural productivity

Policymakers are paying attention … . Now is the moment!
Climate change and ag
Biofuels and biodiversity
Energy and food systems
Food price crisis & hunger
GMO controversy
Food safety
Consumer movements

Our Vision Expanding Ecoagriculture Potentials Urgency to move towards ‘win-win-win’ solutions

Ecoagriculture landscapes for people, food and nature (thru AF)

Climate action– a potential driver for policy integration & investment mitigation potential with carbon prices upto $20 and $100 (Source: IPCC)
Carbon in soils
Perennials in farming system
Climate-friendly livestock pdn
Restoring degraded lands & watersheds
Protecting natural forests & grasslands

Feed 10 billion, protect ecosystems? Integrating the policy agendas
Help farmers raise production in the context of climate risks
Mitigate climate threats by shifting agriculture from major source to net sink of greenhouse gases
Restore degraded farm, pasture and forest lands
Secure water for agriculture by protecting water quality and watershed functions
Support farming communities to be major stewards of biodiversity

Use production systems with ecosystem benefits => agroforestry
* Select crop varieties for shade
tolerance, deep-rooting, high-
yield polycultures, high biomass
* Diversify with perennial/ minor/
wild crops; polycultures, multi-
product marketing; perennial
livestock feeds & biofuels
Use agroecological practices
Reduce input pollution
Support farmer innovation
systems for diversified systems
Embrace diversity…..

Support and promote ecoagriculture landscape initiatives ( agroforestry!)
1) Empower multi-stakeholder landscape action
2) Recognize farmers’ leading role as ecosystem service managers
3) Provide X-sectoral technical support
4) Pursue market development from a landscape perspective
5) Coordinate ag, env & rural dev. policies & programs

Embed ecosystem management in agricultural investments
Private sector investment (through standards, regulations, incentives)
International & regional development Banks & Funds
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD—CAADP)
Bilateral donor investment for MDGs on Hunger, Environment
Foundation support (e.g., Gates, AGRA)

Promote “green” agricultural markets and value chains
Minimum regulatory standards
Eco-certification
Public procurement
Food industry standards (Sust. Food Lab, Sust Ag Init, Keystone, Roundtables)
Include social standards

Expand payments for ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes
Shift agricultural subsidy systems to ecosystem service payments
Climate offsets with co-benefits for agriculture & ecosystems (e.g., in REDD, AFOLU, CDM)
Voluntary carbon & biodiversity offsets by companies/consumers
PES in GEF portfolio
United Nations: UNEP/UNDP/FAO/IFAD initiatives

Support farmer organizations to lead in ecosystem stewardship
Leadership emerging (IFAP, National Farmers’ Union, Indigenous Peoples Org’s, Landcare Int’l, CKS)
Address tenure and access to agr’l & natural resources
Help smallholders aggregate for market & info in ways that are efficient and inclusive
Align strategies for food sovereignty and urban supply

Research integrating agriculture & ecosystem management is essential
Targeted research initiatives, e.g.: AASTD, DIVERSITAS, CSIRO & USDA Ecosystems, IFOAM, Nat’l Academy Science
CGIAR system research
Private sector research
National public systems
NGO-led research (ag, env)
Farmer research networks
Ensure agroforestry research
is incorporated

Yale Univ/World Econ Forum National Environmental Performance Index
Global remote sensing and interpretation capacity (e.g., World Conservation Monitoring Center)
Spatial organization of FAO agriculture data
Google map applications for local landscape management
Landscape Measures Initiative (www.landscapemeasures.org)
Get the data: Integrate monitoring of agriculture, environment, well-being

Communicate the benefits and costs to policymakers
They don’t care about:
Tons of soil (sorry…!)
Tree growth
Biodiversity indexes
They do care about:
Increased and stable food supply
Food security
Increased income
Reliable, clean water
Wildlife for tourists
Human health

Mobilize policy action at the scale required to make a difference …..
Agroforestry Policy Initiative
Engage leaders at all levels who embrace X-sectoral action
Have agroforestry champions at the table for all key policy dialogues (not just AF policy)
Design research to answer policymakers’ questions
Craft core, simple messages of how AF achieves policy goals
Be prepared to quickly provide guidance for implementation

www.ecoagriculture.org Please visit our website at… Thanks…. www.ecoagriculture.org Agroforestry - the future of global land use …… It really is!

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Towards an Integrated Agroforestry Policy Agenda

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Towards an Integrated Agroforestry Policy Agenda Presentation Transcript